ACO.Y ATCO Ltd

ATCO Ltd. today reported increased annual earnings of $283.3 million ($4.89 per share) for 2009, compared to $272.2 million ($4.71 per share) for 2008, a 4% increase. Adjusted earnings (1) for 2009 were $278.4 million ($4.81 per share), compared to $266.3 million ($4.61 per share) for 2008, a 5% increase. Adjusted earnings exclude certain items not in the normal course of business or day to day operations.

For the fourth quarter, 2009 earnings were $78.2 million ($1.35 per share), compared to earnings of $74.8 million ($1.29 per share) for 2008. Adjusted earnings increased to $79.3 million ($1.37 per share), compared to $72.8 million ($1.26 per share) for 2008.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

--  On November 12, 2009, the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) issued its
    decision on the 2009 Generic Cost of Capital proceeding (2009 Generic
    Cost of Capital Decision). In this decision, the AUC set the 2009 and
    2010 generic return on equity at 9.0% for all Alberta utilities that it
    regulates and established the common equity ratios for each of ATCO's
    utility companies.
--  ATCO declared a first quarter dividend for 2010 of 26.5 cents per Class
    I Non-Voting and Class II Voting share, a 6.0% increase over the 25.0
    cents paid in each of the previous four quarters. Dividends have
    increased each year since 1993.
--  ATCO Structures & Logistics (ASL) has announced it will build, own and
    operate ATCO Lodge, a 202-room open camp style accommodation complex in
    Estevan, Saskatchewan, to meet growing demand from the oil and
    construction industries.
--  ATCO Group released its first corporate sustainability report to
    investors, customers, business partners, employees, the environment and
    the communities it serves. This report is available on ATCO Ltd.'s
    website (www.atco.com).
--  ATCO and its employees, through their company-wide ATCO Employees
    Participating in Communities (EPIC) fundraising program, pledged $2.97
    million to more than 500 charitable organizations.
--  Brian R. Bale was appointed Senior Vice President & Chief Financial
    Officer effective December 1, 2009. Mr. Bale who was most recently the
    Senior Vice President, Finance and Regulatory, ATCO Gas, replaced Karen
    M. Watson who retired after 33 years of dedicated service to ATCO Group.

Financial Summary and Reconciliation       For the Three     For the Twelve
of Adjusted Earnings                        Months Ended       Months Ended
                                             December 31        December 31
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                                         2009       2008    2009       2008
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($ Millions except per share data)
Reported Earnings                        78.2       74.8   283.3      272.2
ATCO Power Mark-to-Market Adjustment      1.1        0.5     3.9        1.0
H.R. Milner Tax Decision                    -          -    (8.8)         -
Reallocation of Post Employment
 Benefits                                   -       (0.8)      -       (3.6)
Other Tax Decisions                         -       (1.7)      -       (3.3)
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Adjusted Earnings (1)                    79.3       72.8   278.4      266.3
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Earnings Per Share                       1.35       1.29    4.89       4.71
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Adjusted Earnings Per Share (1)          1.37       1.26    4.81       4.61
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Revenues                                861.4      906.4 3,108.9    3,265.6
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Funds Generated By Operations (1) (2)   272.0      280.1   935.1      923.5
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(1) These measures are not defined by Generally Accepted Accounting
    Principles and may not be comparable to similar measures used by other
    companies.
(2) This measure is cash flow from operations before changes in non-cash
    working capital.

The increase in 2009 annual adjusted earnings were attributable to two primary drivers:

(1) cost efficiencies throughout the organization; and
(2) higher utility investment in rate base.

During 2009, the Utilities Segment invested $776.1 million in new infrastructure in Alberta. Earnings in the Utilities Segment also improved in 2009 due to the impact of the ATCO Pipelines negotiated settlement decision for 2008 and 2009. Earnings in the Energy Segment were lower than 2008 primarily due to lower power prices and related spark spreads in the Alberta electricity market for ATCO Power and ATCO Resources. ATCO Structures & Logistics experienced higher earnings in 2009 primarily as a result of earnings from its Saadiyat Island Project in the United Arab Emirates, increased manufacturing activities in South America and increased activities relating to its lodging operations and Kandahar projects.

The increase in fourth quarter adjusted earnings was primarily attributable to the Utilities Segment. The earnings growth in this segment was due to the impact of the 2009 Generic Cost of Capital Decision, higher utility investment in rate base and cost efficiencies related to operating and maintenance expense. Adjusted earnings in the Energy Segment were essentially unchanged. Improvements in ATCO Midstream's natural gas storage earnings were partially offset by lower earnings in ATCO Power and ATCO Resources due to lower power prices and related spark spreads in the Alberta electricity market.

ATCO Ltd.'s cash position at December 31, 2009 was $1.0 billion compared to $0.8 billion at December 31, 2008. This increase in cash occurred during a year in which capital expenditures were $1.0 billion compared to $1.1 billion in 2008.

ATCO Ltd.'s consolidated financial statements, management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2009, will be available on ATCO Ltd.'s website (www.atco.com) or via SEDAR (www.sedar.com) or can be requested from the Corporation.

With more than 7,500 employees and assets of approximately $10.0 billion, ATCO Group delivers service excellence and innovative business solutions worldwide with leading companies engaged in Utilities (pipelines, natural gas and electricity transmission and distribution), Energy (power generation, natural gas gathering, processing, storage and liquid extraction), Structures & Logistics (manufacturing, logistics and noise abatement) and Technologies (business systems solutions). More information can be found at www.atco.com.

Forward-Looking Information:

Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. The Corporation believes that the expectations reflected in the forward- looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon.

Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Corporation's expectations as of the date hereof, and is subject to change after such date. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation.

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Contacts: ATCO Ltd. B.R. (Brian) Bale Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer (403) 292-7502 www.atco.com

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