Consortium Led by Fiera Axium Infrastructure Acquires Montreal Gateway Terminals from Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners

A consortium led by Fiera Axium Infrastructure Inc. and composed of Fiera Axium Infrastructure Canada II L.P., Desjardins Group, via its insurance subsidiaries and its Pension Plan, Manulife, Fonds de solidarité FTQ and Industrial Alliance is pleased to announce it has acquired a 100% ownership interest in Montreal Gateway Terminals from Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners.

Montreal Gateway Terminals is the largest container terminal operator at the Port of Montreal, operating two of the Port's three international terminals (Racine and Cast) and servicing seven global shipping lines. In 2014, Montreal Gateway Terminals handled 800,000 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEU), representing 58 percent of all containers handled at the Port of Montreal.

The Port of Montreal is the leading container port in Eastern Canada and a major international port linked to over 140 countries around the world. It is strategically located to support trade between Europe, Canada, and large U.S. population centers. It benefits from its proximity to major European ports, as well as an extensive railway and highway network connecting Montreal to key North American markets.

"This investment fits well within our core infrastructure strategy as Montreal Gateway Terminals represents an essential infrastructure asset" said Stéphane Mailhot, President and Chief Operating Officer of Fiera Axium Infrastructure Inc. "Our consortium is comprised of partners with a long-term investment horizon and vested interests in the economic development of Greater Montreal, Quebec and Canada. We look forward to partnering with the Port and other key stakeholders to promote the Port of Montreal's status as an international trade hub" added Mr. Mailhot.

BMO Capital Markets acted as exclusive financial advisor and Norton Rose Fulbright acted as legal advisor to Fiera Axium Infrastructure Inc. and the consortium on the transaction.

BMO Capital Markets acted as Sole Bookrunner and Underwriter for the debt financing raised in conjunction with the transaction. The lending group also includes: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, MUFG, Royal Bank of Canada, la Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, and The Bank of Nova Scotia.