TransCanada Announces Preferred Share Issue

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - June 17, 2010) - TransCanada Corporation (TSX:TRP), (NYSE:TRP) (TransCanada) today announced that it will issue 12 million cumulative redeemable first preferred shares, series 5 (the "Series 5 Preferred Shares") at a price of $25.00 per share, for aggregate gross proceeds of $300 million on a bought deal basis to a syndicate of underwriters in Canada led by Scotia Capital Inc., RBC Capital Markets, and BMO Capital Markets.

The holders of Series 5 Preferred Shares will be entitled to receive fixed cumulative dividends at an annual rate of $1.10 per share payable quarterly on the 30th day of January, April, July and October, as and when declared by the board of directors of TransCanada, yielding 4.40 per cent per annum, for the initial fixed rate period ending January 30, 2016. The first quarterly dividend payment date is scheduled for November 1, 2010. The dividend rate will reset on January 30, 2016 and every five years thereafter at a rate equal to the sum of the then five-year Government of Canada bond yield plus 1.54 per cent. The Series 5 Preferred Shares are redeemable by TransCanada, at its option, on January 30, 2016 and on January 30 of every fifth year thereafter.

The holders of Series 5 Preferred Shares will have the right to convert their shares into cumulative redeemable first preferred shares, series 6 (the "Series 6 Preferred Shares"), subject to certain conditions, on January 30, 2016 and on January 30 of every fifth year thereafter. The holders of Series 6 Preferred Shares will be entitled to receive quarterly floating rate cumulative dividends, as and when declared by the board of directors of TransCanada, at a rate equal to the sum of the then 90-day Government of Canada treasury bill rate plus 1.54 per cent.

TransCanada has granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable at any time up to 48 hours prior to the closing of the offering, to purchase up to an additional two million Series 5 Preferred Shares at a price of $25.00 per share.

The anticipated closing date is June 29, 2010. The net proceeds of the offering will be used to partially fund capital projects, for other general corporate purposes and to reduce short term indebtedness of TransCanada and its affiliates, which short term indebtedness was used to fund TransCanada's capital program and for general corporate purposes.

The Series 5 Preferred Shares will be offered to the public in Canada pursuant to a prospectus supplement that will be filed with securities regulatory authorities in Canada under TransCanada's short form base shelf prospectus dated September 21, 2009. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy, nor will there be any sale of these securities, in any province, state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such province, state or jurisdiction.

With more than 50 years' experience, TransCanada is a leader in the responsible development and reliable operation of North American energy infrastructure including natural gas and oil pipelines, power generation and gas storage facilities. TransCanada's network of wholly owned natural gas pipelines extends more than 60,000 kilometres (37,000 miles), tapping into virtually all major gas supply basins in North America. TransCanada is one of the continent's largest providers of gas storage and related services with approximately 380 billion cubic feet of storage capacity. A growing independent power producer, TransCanada owns, or has interests in, over 11,700 megawatts of power generation in Canada and the United States. TransCanada is developing one of North America's largest oil delivery systems. TransCanada's common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol TRP. For more information visit: www.transcanada.com Information

Forward-Looking

This news release may contain certain information that is forward-looking and is subject to important risks and uncertainties. The words "anticipate", "expect", "believe", "may", "should", "estimate", "project", "outlook", "forecast" or other similar words are used to identify such forward looking information. Forward-looking statements in this document are intended to provide TransCanada securityholders and potential investors with information regarding TransCanada and its subsidiaries, including management's assessment of TransCanada's and its subsidiaries' future financial and operational plans and outlook. Forward-looking statements in this document may include, among others, statements regarding the closing of the offering of the Series 5 Preferred Shares, the use of proceeds of the offering, the anticipated business prospects and financial performance of TransCanada and its subsidiaries, expectations or projections about the future, strategies and goals for growth and expansion, expected and future cash flows, costs, schedules, operating and financial results and expected impact of future commitments and contingent liabilities. All forward-looking statements reflect TransCanada's beliefs and assumptions based on information available at the time the statements were made.

Actual results or events may differ from those predicted in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, the ability of TransCanada to successfully implement its strategic initiatives and whether such strategic initiatives will yield the expected benefits, the operating performance of the Company's pipeline and energy assets, the availability and price of energy commodities, capacity payments, regulatory processes and decisions, changes in environmental and other laws and regulations, competitive factors in the pipeline and energy sectors, construction and completion of capital projects, labour, equipment and material costs, access to capital markets, interest and currency exchange rates, technological developments and economic conditions in North America. By its nature, forward-looking information is subject to various risks and uncertainties, which could cause TransCanada's actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or expectations expressed. Additional information on these and other factors is available in the reports filed by TransCanada with Canadian securities regulators and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date it is expressed in this news release or otherwise, and to not use future-oriented information or financial outlooks for anything other than their intended purpose. TransCanada undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

CONTACT INFORMATION

TransCanada
Media Inquiries
Cecily Dobson/Terry Cunha
(403) 920-7859 or (800) 608-7859
or
Investor & Analyst Inquiries
David Moneta/Terry Hook
(403) 920-7911 or (800) 361-6522
www.transcanada.com