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Fitch to buy Algorithmics
Fitch Group, parent of credit rating agency Fitch Ratings, is to acquire New York-based risk management software provider Algorithmics. The purchase, valued at $175 million, is expected to close in January, said Fitch today.
GE Commercial Finance Energy Financial Services to arrange and underwrite debt
Energy companies now have another option when it comes to choosing who will help finance a project or arrange a debt placement for them. GE Commercial Finance Energy Financial Services is to broaden its role as an equity and debt investor to include…
AsiaRisk Awards
Here we feature two outstanding winners from our sister publication AsiaRisk’s Annual Awards, published in October. Thanks largely to Macquarie Bank, alternative investments are gaining a real foothold in Australia, while Westpac has been instumental in…
Calpine trades up
US power company Calpine installed a new trading floor this year due both to its own growth and its aim to provide more companies with energy services. Joe Marsh reports
Energy users demand trading oversight
The debate continues over whether speculative traders are distorting energy prices, following a letter sent by the Industrial Energy Consumers of America (IECA) to Congress last week. “Energy markets have changed drastically, and regulatory oversight,…
BNP beefs up energy team
BNP Paribas has expanded its energy derivatives team in London with four significant hires.
Gazprom completes Rosneft merger, appoints head of new company
Sergei Bogdanchikov will retain his job as chief executive of Gazpromneft, the new company formed yesterday by the merger of Russian gas monopoly Gazprom and state oil company Rosneft. He was previously head of Rosneft.
Merrill Lynch completes Entergy-Koch takeover
Investment bank Merrill Lynch today completed its acquisition of Entergy-Koch Trading (EKT), a venture of New Orleans-based energy company Entergy Corp and Kansas-based Koch Industries (see Energy Risk , October 2004, p.6).
Nymex names head of new strategy department
John D’Agostino will head up a new department at the New York Mercantile Exchange, which will focus on strategic options for expansion and growth. The exchange has promoted D’Agostino to vice-president of strategy and business development from manager…
Evolution starts brokering US natural gas and power
US coal and emissions broker Evolution Markets has expanded its services to include over-the-counter (OTC) brokerage services for North American natural gas and power. Jeff Rosenzweig has joined as managing director of the new gas and power desk, and…
Peabody promotes head of US coal and emissions trading
Missouri-based coal company Peabody Energy has promoted Raphael Pierce to vice-president of trading at its Peabody Coaltrade subsidiary. He will continue to head up US coal and emissions trading, but with added responsibilities.
Refco hires OTC energy broking team
The European arm of New York-based financial services firm Refco has hired two brokers to form an over-the-counter (OTC) energy derivatives team. Glen Ward and Andrew Riddell join Refco Overseas in London from US broker Amerex’s London office.
Offshore wind to be big business, says new Fitch MD
Offshore wind projects and the newly expanded European Union will both bring good opportunities to Fitch Ratings over the coming 18 to 24 months, according to the Fitch Energy Group’s new European, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) managing director Andrew…
A fresh landscape
Prebon Energy’s Kevin McDermott says that much has changed in the electricitybroking world post-Enron. And it’s all for the better. By Paul Lyon
Teething troubles
Following decades of cloistered state control and the exit of a number of largeUS players, the Australian power market is going through a period of hiccups. Paul Lyon reports on the outlook for the country’s electricity sector
SunGard acquires ASP pioneer Kiodex
SunGard has acquired New York based Kiodex, a supplier of web-based risk management, financial reporting, FAS 133 compliance and market data solutions for companies exposed to commodity price risk.
CCX and IPE team up to offer EU emissions contracts
The Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) and the International Petroleum Exchange (IPE) today signed an agreement to list cash and futures contracts in European Climate Exchange carbon financial instruments (ECX CFIs) on the IPE. Greenhouse gas emissions…
CMS Energy names new chief executive
Michigan-based power and natural gas utility CMS Energy yesterday promoted chief operating officer David Joos to chief executive.
Mirant CFO Burns handed extra role of chief restructuring officer
Bankrupt Atlanta-based energy company Mirant has given chief financial officer Michele Burns the additional role of chief restructuring officer.
Banc of America Securities hires senior oil analyst
Banc of America Securities (BAS) yesterday hired Daniel Barcelo as a senior equity research analyst covering the global integrated oil sector. He joins the Bank of America subsidiary from rival bank Lehman Brothers and will be based in New York. He will…
ABN continues BNP raid
ABN Amro has hired five senior energy derivatives executives, two of whom join from BNP Paribas. The move comes just three months after the Dutch bank poached Wayne Harburn and Vincent Chevance from French rival BNP. The pair now serve as global head of…
RWE Trading names Senior replacement
Brian Senior, Swindon-based managing director and head of UK energy at RWE Trading, will step down at the end of the year, and Peter Kreuzberg, head of risk management at parent company RWE, will replace him.
Looking to the east
Can power market operators in the new EU member states in eastern Europe gainthe liquidity they need to challenge either bilateral electricity contracts orthe established exchanges? Joe Marsh reports