The Financial Post reports in its Friday, Jan. 29, edition that 2015 was the kind of year Canadian energy companies had to use every tool at their disposal to fortify their balance sheets. The Post's Yadullah Hussain writes that in 2015 crude oil shed 45 per cent of its value. RBC investment banker Trevor Gardner says: "The industry adopted a very pragmatic and very nimble approach. They saw their business models changing and had to reconsider their financial position on a very frequent basis throughout the year." CIBC investment banker Mike Freeborn says: "Through the first part of the year, we saw a good deal of equity financing where a lot of it was to shore up balance sheets. They were glad they did as the year turned out even worse than anyone expected." In a bid to boost growth and dividends, Enbridge proceeded with a stock-and-debt drop down of its Canadian liquids pipeline business and renewable assets valued at $30.4-billion to subsidiary Enbridge Income Fund Holdings, making it the largest 2015 deal with a Canadian target, according to CIBC. Subsequently, EIFH issued a $700-million equity issuance as part of the transaction, and the fund is planning similar offerings annually till 2018.