ATCO Buys 40% Stake in South American Port

Calgary-based natural gas, electrical and real estate giant ATCO is getting into the transportation business after buying a 40-per-cent stake in a South American port operator Neltume Ports for about CAD$450 million (USD$340 million).

Neltume Ports, a subsidiary of Ultramar, operates in 16 port facilities and three stevedoring businesses primarily located in Chile and Uruguay.  

“This acquisition represents an important milestone in the execution of ATCO’s long-term strategy to diversify and complement our portfolio of existing businesses and geographies in industries that are fundamental to global growth and prosperity: housing, real estate, energy, water, transportation and agriculture,” said Nancy Southern, Chair & Chief Executive Officer with ATCO. “We are excited to announce our investment in Neltume Ports which further builds and strengthens our existing partnership with Ultramar. Both of our companies view South America as an area poised for significant growth.”

Headquartered in Santiago, Chile, Neltume Ports’ portfolio is highly diversified across both cargo types and volume mix. Neltume Ports handles nearly 51 million tonnes of product annually, including copper, forestry products, consumer goods and agricultural products, and employs approximately 3,900 employees.

“After a competitive sale process, we are proud to announce ATCO as our strategic partner – a partner with shared values and cultural fit with Ultramar,” said Richard von Appen, Chairman of Ultramar. “We have defined a growth strategy with both sizeable and attractive opportunities that support the company’s long-term regional development. This agreement reaffirms Neltume’s commitment to the port sector and represents a great opportunity for ATCO to meaningfully contribute to the company’s growth plans in a highly dynamic South American infrastructure market.”

ATCO will fund its investment in Neltume Ports with a combination of cash on-hand and funds from committed credit facilities, and later refinance a portion through a capital markets transaction. ATCO will acquire a 40 per cent interest in Neltume Ports through the issuance of new shares from Neltume Ports. Funds from ATCO’s investment will be used by Neltume Ports to finance opportunities for growth.

The acquisition is expected to be accretive to ATCO’s earnings per share in the first full year of ownership, as well as deliver sustainable profitability through the execution of Neltume’s growth plans.

The transaction complements ATCO’s existing businesses, which include electricity and natural gas infrastructure, modular construction and logistical support services, and further cements ATCO’s position as a premier global infrastructure holding company.

ATCO partnered with Ultramar in 2016 through ATCO-Sabinco, which provides modular solutions, container offices and workforce mining camps in Chile. Recently, the company completed construction on a new, 100,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility.