Feb 9 (Reuters) - Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp AQN.TO :
* ALGONQUIN POWER & UTILITIES CORP SAYS DEAL WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO APUC'S ANNUAL DIVIDEND GROWTH TARGET OF 10%
* algonquin power & utilities corp. to acquire the empire district electric
company in c$3.4 billion (us$2.4 billion) transaction
* algonquin power & utilities corp - deal expected to be immediately
accretive to apuc's earnings per share
* algonquin power & utilities corp aqn.to says empire shareholders to
receive us$34.00 per common share in cash
* algonquin power & utilities corp -empire will maintain its headquarters
in joplin after the acquisition
* algonquin power & utilities corp - has obtained a us$1.6 (c$2.2) billion
fully committed bridge debt financing
* algonquin power & utilities -apuc expects to retain all existing empire
employees
* algonquin power & utilities corp - avg annual accretion to eps,ffops from
deal expected to be about 7% to 9% and 12% to 14%, respectively
* algonquin power & utilities -empire management team will lead liberty
utilities' central us region
* algonquin power & utilities - wells fargo securities acted as lead merger
advisor and jpmorgan acted as lead financial and strategic advisor to apuc
* Source text for Eikon ID:nBw6Wh13Ha
* Further company coverage AQN.TO