Westaim reduces ABCP exposure( CALGARY Nov. 26 / The Westaim Cor...),Health

CALGARY, Nov. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - The Westaim Corporation announced today that it has reached an agreement to sell 50 per cent of its holdings in Canadian third party asset-backed commercial paper (ABCP) with a book value of $7.0 million for immediate proceeds of $6.0 million. Westaim retains the right to receive additional proceeds in the event the buyer re-sells the related ABCP within six months; in such event, Westaim will receive 50 per cent of any proceeds received by the buyer in excess of $7.2 million.

Westaim has holdings in eight trusts affected by the ABCP market, which has been frozen since mid-August 2007. As part of today's announced sale, Westaim has reduced its holdings in each of the eight trusts by 50 per cent. Until the paper is restructured, or a market otherwise forms for this ABCP, Westaim cannot be certain of the ultimate value it will realize for its remaining holdings.

"Westaim is diversifying its risk in this uncertain global credit market," said Drew Fitch, President & CEO of Westaim. "While we have the option to borrow against our ABCP holdings using the previously announced credit line, we are taking a conservative approach by not being fully exposed to ABCP market values fully covered with debt."

In the third quarter, the Company wrote down its investment in ABCP by $3.0 million to $14 million. Following today's sale, the book value of Westaim's ABCP will be $7 million. The Company announced on November 2, 2007 the receipt of an offer, subject to final documentation, for a credit line of $12.6 million from a major financial institution. The credit facility will be available for one year and will be secured by the equivalent value of ABCP held by the Company. As a result of the Company's agreement to sell certain of its ABCP, the available credit on the proposed credit line will be reduced.

The Westaim Corporation's technology investments include iFire Technology Corp., which is developing a low
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