Structured products
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
Buyouts are back
Private equity funds have been making bold inroads into energy markets in the past year – the number of deals has doubled since 2003, and the acquisitions are getting bigger. CatherineLacoursiere reports
Weather Board of Trade's Parker joins NIF
Dan Parker, formerly chief executive of Atlanta-based Weather Board of Trade (WBOT), has joined NIF Weather Risk Management, a division of New York-based insurance holding company NIF Group. He plans to use a weather index originally developed for use by…
Merrill Lynch snaps up Entergy-Koch Trading
Investment bank Merrill Lynch is set to acquire the energy trading businesses of Entergy-Koch Trading (EKT), a joint venture between New Orleans-based Entergy Corp and Koch Industries in Kansas. Energy Risk reported in June that the bank was a top…
Allegheny sells West Virginia gas ops for $228m
Monongahela Power Company, a subsidiary of Pennsylvania-based Allegheny Energy, is to sell its natural gas operations in West Virginia for $141 million in cash and $87 million in assumed long-term debt to a private investment partnership.
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
Putin’s endgame
The geopolitical premium on oil prices is rising as Russia pursues its ‘oligarchs’. Catherine Lacoursiere reports on the wider effects of Russian oil giant Yukos’ collapse
Oklahoma utility sells $140 million of 30-year senior notes
Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company (OG&E), the power utility subsidiary of OGE Energy Corp, has sold $140 million of 6.5% 30-year senior notes to help finance a power plant purchase.
Edison Mission sells off foreign power assets, posts Q2 loss
California-based Edison Mission Energy is to sell its remaining foreign generation assets to London-based generator International Power and Japanese trader Mitsui & Co for $2.3 billion. International Power will take a 70% stake and Mitsui a 30% stake of…
Nomura creates energy capital markets group
Japanese bank Nomura has created an energy capital markets group based in New York and London. The group will focus on the strategic acquisition of assets and financing of investments in energy and related infrastructure.
Edison needs "broad EDF shoulders" says exec
A senior executive at Italian utility Edison has said the company would benefit from a takeover by a larger European utility, possibly Electricité de France (EDF). “Edison is too small in the long run to always remain independent,” he says. “So we need…
CME appoints lead market maker for fertiliser futures
Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME ) yesterday said that Agriliance will be the lead market maker for the exchange’s new fertiliser contracts traded on Globex, the exchange’s electronic trading platform. Minnesota-based Agriliance markets crop nutrients,…
King of convenience
The need for Sarbanes-Oxley certification has boosted sales of internet servicerisk systems, says web pioneer Martin Chavez of Kiodex. By James Ockenden
El Paso sells four power plants
Houston-based energy company El Paso Corp is continuing its mass sell-off of assets by closing the sale of a further four power plants to Northern Star Generation. El Paso Merchant Energy, a business unit of El Paso Corp, sold the facilities on July 2…
Faith in the figures
There are signs that price reporting will remain voluntary, despite the drop-offin reporting levels, but proposals are still being made on all sides. EricFishhaut looks at the progress being made to achieve greater price transparency
Nordic volumes heading south
Nordic region electricity trading volumes are falling fast, which is damagingprofits at Oslo-based power exchange Nord Pool. The company may face postinga loss for 2004 if it cannot reverse this trend. Joe Marsh reports
Bank of America settles Enron case
Bank of America (BoA) has agreed to pay $69 million as part of an agreement to settle a class action lawsuit brought on behalf of purchasers of Enron securities and led by the Regents of the University of California (UC).
Centrica sells AA, looks to acquire energy assets
British utility Centrica is to sell its Automobile Association (AA) motoring organisation for £1.75 billion to private equity firms CVC and Permira. The sale will raise cash to pay a higher dividend and buy back shares and Centrica will also use the…
Merrill Lynch tipped to bid for EKT
Rumours are circulating that Merrill Lynch may snap up Entergy-Koch Trading (EKT) following last week’s news that New Orleans-based Entergy Corporation and Wichita’s Koch Industries are considering selling their Houston-based energy trading business.
Private equity firm buys into Refco
US private equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners (THL) has acquired a majority stake in Refco, the New York-based broker.
Nymex fires opening shots for ICE
Nymex has made a $150 million cash bid for the Atlanta based Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), and would also pay $67 million for shareholders of the International Petroleum Exchange (IPE), according to a senior Nymex official. The bid, which includes…
Amerada Hess forms LNG division
US energy company Amerada Hess has formed a joint venture with an affiliate of New York-based Poten & Partners, to be known as Hess LNG. The joint venture will be based at Amerada's New York headquarters and will pursue investments in liquefied natural…
Natural gas storage swaps catch on
London-based GFI has brokered its first over-the-counter (OTC) swap based on US natural gas inventory data, between Houston-based hedge fund Centaurus and another unnamed hedge fund. Centaurus also traded a second such swap on the same day, with an…