Monday

The Sempra Energy-KN Energy merger leaped its first hurdle last Monday, as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) cleared it under the Hart Scott Rodino Act. Shareholders from both companies as well as other federal and state regulatory authorities still need to approve the deal.

Semco Energy bought Iowa Pipelines Associates (IPA) for anundisclosed amount Monday, in the company’s initial move tostrengthen its gas construction services after exiting the gasmarketing business. IPA will continue to operate with its own name under the Semco Energy Ventures section of the company. Semco saidthe deal should close sometime this week. “By acquiring IowaPipeline Associates, we have expanded our capacity to providequality engineering and construction services for an ever-wideningcustomer base,” said William Johnson, Semco Energy’s CEO. Semcorevealed its strategy last month, when it sold its gas marketingassets to CoEnergy, an MCN affiliate, for an undisclosed amount.Johnson, said the sale allowed the company to concentrate onbecoming “one of the largest providers of underground engineeringand construction services in North America.” IPA builds undergroundnatural gas pipelines and local gas distribution networks forcustomers in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.

Columbia Energy Services, the nonregulated gas and electricmarketing subsidiary of Columbia Energy Group, signed a deal Mondayto supply many of the Eckerd Corp.’s drugstores with gas andelectric management. No terms of the deal were released.

The Sempra Energy-KN Energy merger leaped its first hurdleMonday, as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) cleared it under theHart Scott Rodino Act. Shareholders from both companies as well asother federal and state regulatory authorities still need toapprove the deal.

Feeding off late gains notched by the expiring April contractMonday, May kicked off its campaign as the spot month at Nymexyesterday by continuing higher in active trading. And whereas Aprilcontract made its mark in a late short squeeze, May was promptedhigher throughout the day by a steady stream of commercial andspeculative buying. Several sources also pointed to buy-stoporders, which were triggered as the market moved through the$1.93-95 range as a reason for the strength. May finished up 9.5cents at $1.978.

A study released Monday by Energy ERA, a Calgary-based energyconsulting firm, estimated that two scenarios involving differentpipeline expansions – one involving Vector and Millennium andanother involving Independence and MarketLink-from the Midwest intothe Northeast will have the same spot price impact. Both wouldcause an average $0.30/MMBtu price decline in New York Citygateprices over the next five years.

After apparently teasing volatility-loving traders Monday,natural gas futures have returned to the somewhat unspectaculartrading which marred the month of February by chopping lazilysideways for the past two days. Only subtle differences-Tuesday’slate decline vs. Wednesday’s late uptick-were seen asdistinguishing features in an otherwise featureless market. TheApril contract saw the largest gains, notching a 2.7-cent gain tofinish at $1.723 in light to moderate trading Wednesday.

Industry merger and acquisition activity yesterday was astartling confirmation of two major trends: the convergence of gasand electricity operations, and consolidation. Two more of thenation’s largest diversified gas pipeline companies were snatchedup by two major energy distributors. Sempra Energy (SRE) bought KNEnergy (KNE) in a stock-and-cash transaction valued in theaggregate at $6 billion, a 24% premium to KNE’s recent stock price,and Dominion Resources bought Consolidated Natural Gas Co. (CNG)for about $6.3 billion in stock, a 25% premium.

A tight range and relatively quiet trading returned to thenatural gas futures pit on Monday following last Friday’s failedrally that briefly touched overhead resistance. And althoughyesterday’s highs did not approach the $1.875 notched last week,some traders felt the move was constructive for prices. Theprompt-March contract was limited to a 1.8-cent gain to finish at$1.818 for the day.