M&A News

Entergy, ITC Discontinue Pursuit of Transmission Spin/Merger

Entergy and ITC Holdings mutually agreed to end their pursuit of a spin/merger of Entergy's transmission business with ITC. The companies formally terminated the merger agreement and filed pleadings to withdraw the remaining transaction approval applications with Entergy's retail regulators, as well as the Missouri Public Service Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The companies originally announced the deal on Dec.

EDF Renewable Energy Closes MIPSA on Lancaster Solar Project and Commences Construction

EDF Renewable Energy closed on the membership interest purchase and sale agreement (MIPSA) and started construction on the 5.86-MW Lancaster Solar Project. EDF Renewable Energy and Urban Green Technologies (UGT) signed the MIPSA in October 2013. The power generated will be delivered to the Town of Billerica, Massachusetts under a long-term PPA. EDF Renewable Energy will develop, own and operate the solar project with commercial operation expected in spring, 2014. EDF Renewable Energy has also executed an EPC contract with M+W U.S.

UNS Energy Agrees to Be Acquired by Fortis Utility Group

UNS Energy approved a definitive merger agreement with Fortis, Canada’s largest investor-owned gas and electric distribution utility, that calls for Fortis to acquire all of the outstanding common stock of UNS Energy for $60.25 per share in cash. The $4.3 billion transaction, which includes the assumption of approximately $1.8 billion in debt, would provide additional capital and new resources for UNS Energy’s subsidiaries, including Tucson Electric Power (TEP) and UniSource Energy Services (UES).

EDF Sells Stake in Spinning Spur II Wind Farm Project to UBS

EDF Renewable Energy (EDF) and UBS International Infrastructure Fund (UBS) signed a definitive agreement under which UBS will acquire a 50 percent equity interest from EDF in the 161-MW Spinning Spur II wind farm project, subject to completion of construction and customary conditions precedent. Spinning Spur II, located in Oldham County Texas, commenced construction in June 2013 with an expected commercial operation date on or about July 1, 2014. Spinning Spur II will utilize 87 General Electric wind turbines with a rated capacity of 1.85 MW each.

Illinois Power Holdings Completes Acquisition of Ameren Energy Resources

Illinois Power Holdings (IPH) completed its acquisition of New Ameren Energy Resources (AER), an Ameren subsidiary. The transaction includes AER and its subsidiaries Ameren Energy Generating Company (Genco), New AERG (AERG), and Ameren Energy Marketing Company (AEM). The AEM retail and marketing businesses, doing business as Homefield Energy, and the following plants are included in the transaction: Duck Creek, Coffeen, E.D. Edwards, Newton, and Joppa.

Alterra Completes Revised PPA for Jimmie Creek Hydro and Acquires 100% of Project

Alterra completed an amendment of its PPA for the 62-MW Jimmie Creek run-of-river hydroelectric project. Under the agreement, the Jimmie Creek project will sell 100% of its power to BC Hydro for 40 years commencing in August 2016. Alterra has also agreed to purchase the 49% project stake currently held by an affiliate of General Electric Energy Financial Services. Upon closing of this transaction, Alterra will own 100% of the Jimmie Creek project. All first nations agreements and environmental permits for Jimmie Creek are in place.

Allete Clean Energy to Purchase Wind Energy Facilities in Three US states

ALLETE Clean Energy signed an acquisition agreement to purchase wind farms in Minnesota, Iowa and Oregon from The AES Corporation in early 2014 and has also signed an option agreement to acquire a fourth wind energy facility in Pennsylvania in mid-2015. Under the acquisition agreement, ALLETE Clean Energy would acquire AES’ position in operating wind energy projects in Lake Benton, Minn., Storm Lake, Ia., and Condon, Ore. with a total output of 231 MW for $27 million. All three wind farms to be acquired have PPAs in place for their entire electric output.

TransAlta Renewables Acquires 144-MW Wind Farm from NextEra Energy Resources

TransAlta Renewables, through a wholly owned subsidiary of TransAlta, will acquire the economic interest in a 144-MW wind farm in Wyoming for approximately US$102 million from an affiliate of NextEra Energy Resources. The wind farm is fully operational and contracted under a long-term PPA until 2028 with an investment grade counterparty. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close by the end of December 2013.