American Water to sell its regulated operations in Arizona and New Mexico to EPCOR USA for $470 million

VOORHEES, N.J. — American Water Works Company Inc. has entered into an agreement with EPCOR Water (USA) Inc. to sell 100 percent of the stock of its companies that provide regulated water and wastewater services located in Arizona and New Mexico, for an estimated sale price of $470 million, subject to certain adjustments.

American Water’s total investment in both subsidiaries was approximately $450 million as of Dec. 31, 2010. American Water said it plans to use the proceeds from the sale to reduce both equity and debt financing. The completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approval by public utility commissions in both Arizona and New Mexico.

“This transaction allows us to direct our focus to those operations where we can best serve customers and meet business objectives,” said Jeff Sterba, president and CEO of American Water. “Additionally, with this transaction we do not anticipate the need for an equity offering in 2011.”

American Water serves approximately 174,000 customers in Arizona and New Mexico. Both American Water and EPCOR are committed to working together to ensure that the transition is a smooth one for customers and that reliable service will continue throughout the transition. Both companies also place significant value in the more than 220 employees who work in New Mexico and Arizona and pledge to make this change as seamless as possible.

EPCOR USA anticipates that employees will continue to operate these systems within the EPCOR family, once the transaction closes.

EPCOR USA is in the business of building, owning, and operating water and wastewater treatment facilities in the southwestern United States. In 2010, EPCOR USA entered into an agreement with American States Water to purchase and operate the Chaparral City Water Company, which serves 13,000 customers in the town of Fountain Hills, Ariz. EPCOR USA is a wholly owned subsidiary of EPCOR Utilities Inc. (EUI). EUI builds, owns, and operates water and wastewater treatment facilities, and electric transmission and distribution networks. It provides water and wastewater services to more than 1 million people in more than 70 communities in western Canada.

Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest investor-owned U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs more than 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater, and other related services to approximately 15 million people in more than 30 U.S. states and parts of Canada.