Houston-based Calpine – which claims to be America’s largest wholesale generator of electricity from natural gas and geothermal resources – entered into an agreement on July 20 to purchase Champion Energy Marketing, a retail electric provider, also headquartered in Houston. The transaction will cost $240 million, subject to working capital adjustments.
Champion expects to supply about 22 TWh of residential, commercial and industrial customer load in 2015 – concentrated in the Texas and the Northeast US markets, where Calpine already has a substantial power generation presence.
“This highly accretive transaction is an extension of our deliberate efforts over the past several years to be closer to our end-use customers,” said Calpine CEO Thad Hill. “Champion’s presence in Texas and the Northeast makes it the ideal retail complement to our wholesale generation portfolio.”
Champion will continue to operate under the Champion brand after the transaction closes. Champion’s customers will experience no disruption in service as a result of the acquisition, and all existing customer contracts will be honored. David Tudor, Champion’s CEO, will remain in his leadership role at the company, preserving continuity of customer care while continuing to advance growth efforts.
Specifically, Calpine will acquire the business from Champion Energy Holdings, a subsidiary of Crane Holding Companies, which owns a 75 percent interest, and EDF Trading North America, which owns a 25 percent interest. Calpine intends to fund the acquisition with cash-on-hand. The transaction is expected to close by the fourth quarter of 2015.
