Exelon Corporation (NYSE:EXC), Constellation Energy (NYSE:CEG) and
Baltimore Gas and Electric Company today announced that, in connection
with their proposed merger, they have reached a settlement with the
State of Maryland, the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), the City of
Baltimore and the Baltimore Building and Construction Trades Council.
The settlement agreement includes an expanded package of benefits for
Maryland, the City of Baltimore and BGE customers – now totaling more
than $1 billion and expected to create more than 6,000 jobs statewide.
"Completing our merger with Constellation is a major objective of
Exelon’s growth strategy, and we are pleased to announce this settlement
today,” said Exelon President and COO Christopher M. Crane. "We
recognize that addressing the reasonable interests of the State of
Maryland is an important element of the merger approval process. We
listened carefully to questions posed by the Maryland Public Service
Commission and the other parties during our merger proceeding, and we’ve
been engaged in discussions with the State of Maryland, City of
Baltimore and others to understand their needs and expectations for this
merger. As a result, we enhanced the already robust package of benefits
that the merger will provide for the State of Maryland and BGE
customers.”
In the settlement, Exelon commits to:
-
Develop 285-300 megawatts (MW) of new generation in Maryland,
including 165-180 MW of renewable generation and 120 MW of gas-fired
generation. The new generation projects will be built within the
state, are expected to create more than 2,800 local jobs, and will
benefit BGE customers and the public by helping Maryland transition
toward renewable forms of electricity. The total investment in energy
generation is at least $625 million.
-
Contribute $32 million for offshore wind research and development –
Exelon will assist the State of Maryland in its efforts to develop a
major offshore wind energy project. Of the $32 million, $2 million
will be awarded to a Maryland institution of higher learning to
facilitate research on wind energy applications. This initiative is
expected to create about 430 jobs in Maryland.
-
Provide $50 million to weatherize and provide energy-conservation
measures for 12,500 low-to-moderate income homes, helping make up
for cuts in federal funding for this purpose. This initiative is
expected to create nearly 500 jobs in Maryland.
-
Further measures to preserve BGE as a leading Maryland company
– Exelon will take numerous steps to ensure BGE remains a strong
company, responsive to the Maryland communities it serves as well as
its employees. Among the commitments included in the settlement is BGE
maintaining its capital and operations and maintenance spending and
paying no dividends to Exelon through 2014, to continue to support its
high level of investment in smart meters, reliability and other key
initiatives.
"The Exelon-Constellation merger, once completed, will serve as the
catalyst for a wide array of energy initiatives in Maryland,” said Mayo
A. Shattuck III, chairman, president and CEO of Constellation. "In turn,
these will create jobs and economic activity in the state, while helping
Maryland achieve its clean energy and environmental goals.”
The 285-300 MW of new generation offered by the companies as part of
this settlement includes 165-180 MW of renewables, including wind, solar
and energy generated from poultry litter; this represents 140 MW of
renewables above the companies’ original 25 MW proposal. It also
includes 120 MW of natural gas generation developed by 2015. As an added
benefit, the poultry litter project is expected to reduce pollution
negatively affecting Chesapeake Bay.
Additionally, the settlement includes commitments previously put forth
by Exelon and Constellation, including:
-
$112 million to fund a $100 rate credit for each BGE residential
customer within 90 days after consummating the merger;
-
$95-120 million for the construction of a new headquarters building in
downtown Baltimore
-
A $10 million contribution toward the Electric Universal Service
Program
-
A $10 million contribution toward EmPower Maryland energy-efficiency
programs
In addition, the companies have committed to maintain charitable giving
at an average level of $7 million per year for at least 10 years, for a
total of $70 million.
"Exelon continues to serve as an economic engine making large-scale
investments and contributions in the key states where it operates,” said
Crane. "Under the merger settlement we are announcing today, so long as
it is approved, Exelon will be able to play a similar economic
investment role in Maryland. We are hopeful other parties will review
this offer and join in the settlement.”
The settlement requires approval by the Maryland Public Service
Commission (PSC), and a filing seeking the PSC’s approval will be made
shortly.
In addition to the companies’ merger filing with the Maryland PSC,
Exelon and Constellation made other regulatory filings in support of
their proposed merger. On Aug. 3, the Public Utility Commission of Texas
approved the merger. The merger also requires regulatory approvals by
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, the New York State Public Service Commission and the
Department of Justice. Shareholders of both companies overwhelmingly
approved the transaction on Nov. 17. Pending all required approvals,
Exelon and Constellation expect to complete their merger in early 2012.
About Exelon
Exelon Corporation is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities
with more than $18 billion in annual revenues. The company has one of
the industry’s largest portfolios of electricity generation capacity,
with a nationwide reach and strong positions in the Midwest and
Mid-Atlantic. Exelon distributes electricity to approximately 5.4
million customers in northern Illinois and southeastern Pennsylvania and
natural gas to approximately 490,000 customers in the Philadelphia area.
Exelon is headquartered in Chicago and trades on the NYSE under the
ticker EXC.
About Constellation Energy
Constellation Energy is a leading competitive supplier of power, natural
gas and energy products and services for homes and businesses across the
continental United States. It owns a diversified fleet of generating
units, totaling approximately 12,000 megawatts of generating capacity,
and is a leading advocate for clean, environmentally sustainable energy
sources, such as solar power and nuclear energy.
The company delivers electricity and natural gas through the Baltimore
Gas and Electric Company (BGE), its regulated utility in Central
Maryland. A FORTUNE 500 company headquartered in Baltimore,
Constellation Energy had revenues of $14.3 billion in 2010. Learn more
online: www.constellation.com.
For the latest information about the Exelon-Constellation merger, visit
the merger website: www.exelonconstellationmerger.com.
Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information
Except for the historical information contained herein, certain of the
matters discussed in this communication constitute "forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, both as amended by the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may,” "will,”
"anticipate,” "estimate,” "expect,” "project,” "intend,” "plan,”
"believe,” "target,” "forecast,” and words and terms of similar
substance used in connection with any discussion of future plans,
actions, or events identify forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements
regarding benefits of the proposed merger of Exelon Corporation (Exelon)
and Constellation Energy Group, Inc. (Constellation), integration plans
and expected synergies, the expected timing of completion of the
transaction, anticipated future financial and operating performance and
results, including estimates for growth. These statements are based on
the current expectations of management of Exelon and Constellation, as
applicable. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking
statements included in this communication regarding the proposed merger.
For example, (1) the companies may be unable to obtain regulatory
approvals required for the merger, or required regulatory approvals may
delay the merger or result in the imposition of conditions that could
have a material adverse effect on the combined company or cause the
companies to abandon the merger; (2) conditions to the closing of the
merger may not be satisfied; (3) an unsolicited offer of another company
to acquire assets or capital stock of Exelon or Constellation could
interfere with the merger; (4) problems may arise in successfully
integrating the businesses of the companies, which may result in the
combined company not operating as effectively and efficiently as
expected; (5) the combined company may be unable to achieve cost-cutting
synergies or it may take longer than expected to achieve those
synergies; (6) the merger may involve unexpected costs, unexpected
liabilities or unexpected delays, or the effects of purchase accounting
may be different from the companies’ expectations; (7) the credit
ratings of the combined company or its subsidiaries may be different
from what the companies expect; (8) the businesses of the companies may
suffer as a result of uncertainty surrounding the merger; (9) the
companies may not realize the values expected to be obtained for
properties expected or required to be divested; (10) the industry may be
subject to future regulatory or legislative actions that could adversely
affect the companies; and (11) the companies may be adversely affected
by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Other unknown
or unpredictable factors could also have material adverse effects on
future results, performance or achievements of Exelon, Constellation or
the combined company. Discussions of some of these other important
factors and assumptions are contained in Exelon’s and Constellation’s
respective filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC),
and available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov,
including: (1) Exelon’s 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K in (a) ITEM 1A.
Risk Factors, (b) ITEM 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations and (c) ITEM 8. Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data: Note 18; (2) Exelon’s Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2011 in
(a) Part II, Other Information, ITEM 1A. Risk Factors, (b) Part 1,
Financial Information, ITEM 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations and (c) Part I, Financial
Information, ITEM 1. Financial Statements: Note 13; (3) Constellation’s
2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K in (a) ITEM 1A. Risk Factors, (b) ITEM
7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations and (c) ITEM 8. Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data: Note 12; and (4) Constellation’s Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2011 in (a) Part
II, Other Information, ITEM 1A. Risk Factors and ITEM 5. Other
Information, (b) Part I, Financial Information, ITEM 2. Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
and (c) Part I, Financial Information, ITEM 1. Financial Statements:
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Commitments and
Contingencies. These risks, as well as other risks associated with
the proposed merger, are more fully discussed in the definitive joint
proxy statement/prospectus included in the Registration Statement on
Form S-4 that Exelon filed with the SEC and that the SEC declared
effective on October 11, 2011 in connection with the proposed merger. In
light of these risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors, the
forward-looking events discussed in this communication may not occur.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this
communication. Neither Exelon nor Constellation undertake any obligation
to publicly release any revision to its forward-looking statements to
reflect events or circumstances after the date of this communication.
Additional Information and Where to Find it
In connection with the proposed merger between Exelon and Constellation,
Exelon filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that
included the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus. The
Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC on October 11,
2011. Exelon and Constellation mailed the definitive joint proxy
statement/prospectus to their respective security holders on or about
October 12, 2011. WE URGE INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS TO READ THE
DEFINITIVE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT
DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION
about Exelon, Constellation and the proposed merger. Investors and
security holders may obtain copies of all documents filed with the SEC
free of charge at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov.
In addition, a copy of the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus
may be obtained free of charge from Exelon Corporation, Investor
Relations, 10 South Dearborn Street, P.O. Box 805398, Chicago, Illinois
60680-5398, or from Constellation Energy Group, Inc., Investor
Relations, 100 Constellation Way, Suite 600C, Baltimore, MD 21202.
