NextEra to sell Canadian wind and solar assets to CPPIB

(Reuters) - U.S. utility NextEra Energy Partners said on Monday it would sell its wind and solar assets in Ontario to Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) for about $582.3 million. CPPIB, Canada's biggest public pension fund, would also assume existing debt of about $689 million, NextEra said. NextEra said the sale is part of a strategy to reinvest capital back into its U.S. assets to take advantage of the recent cut in corporate tax rate. U.S. corporate tax rate was reduced to 21 percent from 35 percent following the enactment of a new tax code in December. An affiliate of NextEra would continue to operate all the facilities in Canada as per a 10-year services agreement with CPPIB, NextEra said. NextEra said it expects the sale to close during the second quarter of 2018. (Reporting by Akshara P in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)