Shareholders of Spectra Energy Corp. and Enbridge Inc. have voted to approve thecombination of Spectra with Enbridge Inc. in a stock-for-stock transaction. Of the common shares of Enbridge voted at a special shareholders meeting, 99.42% were voted in favor of the issuance of Enbridge shares as consideration for the transaction, and 99.80% of the Enbridge shares were voted in favor of proposed amendments to general bylaw No. 1 of Enbridge. More than 661 million, or about 70.5%, of outstanding Enbridge shares, were voted in person or by proxy at the meeting. About 73% of the total outstanding shares of Spectra common stock, and about 98% of the total shares voted at a special shareholders meeting, were voted in favor of the transaction. The combination will create the largest energy infrastructure company in North America and one of the largest globally, with a pro-forma enterprise value of about C$165 billion (US$127 billion), Spectra said. Completion of the transaction remains subject to other customary closing conditions. Closing is expected during the first quarter.
Voted
Articles from Voted
House Bill Bars Interior from Enforcing Federal Frack Rules
The House Natural Resources Committee Wednesday voted out a bipartisan bill that would prohibit the Department of Interior from enforcing federal hydraulic fracturing (fracking) regulations.
House Panel Approves NatGas Pipe Permitting Bill
The full House Energy and Commerce Committee last Wednesday voted out amended legislation that aims to speed up the permitting of interstate natural gas pipelines by both federal and state agencies.
NatGas Pipe Permitting Bill Advances to House Energy Committee
A House subcommittee last Wednesday voted out a Republican-sponsored bill that seeks to speed up the permitting of interstate natural gas pipelines by both federal and state agencies.
Industry Briefs
Williams’ board has voted to approve the company’s Bluegrass Pipeline project. The company has been engaged in development work on the proposed natural gas liquids (NGL) pipeline, which has a targeted in-service date of late 2015. The Bluegrass Pipeline will connect supply from the Marcellus and Utica shales to growing petrochemical and export markets in the U.S. Gulf Coast (see Shale Daily, May 30; March 7). The pipeline also will connect NGL supply with the developing petrochemical market in the U.S. Northeast. Williams and Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP in May formalized joint-venture agreements tied to the project and related fractionation, storage and export projects.
Time to Execute, Says Chesapeake COO
It’s been a year since Chesapeake Energy Corp.’s shareholders voted out most of the board of directors, chastised then CEO Aubrey McClendon and drew a line on corporate governance (see Daily GPI, June 11, 2012). Prized assets since have been sold, capital budgets have been cut, offices closed.
Church Group Lifts Leasing Ban, in Talks Over Shell Pipeline
Members of the Pittsburgh Presbytery voted to end a one-year moratorium on shale development, a decision that could potentially open property from the organization’s 150 churches to Marcellus Shale oil and gas leasing.
Pittsburgh Presbytery Ends Drilling Moratorium
Members of the Pittsburgh Presbytery voted to end a one-year moratorium on shale development, a decision that could potentially open property from the organization’s 150 churches to Marcellus Shale oil and gas leasing.
Industry Briefs
Plains Exploration & Production Co. will become part of mining conglomerate Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. after a majority of shareholders voted to approve the $6.6 billion merger. Freeport, based in Phoenix, in December offered close to $9 billion total to buy Plains, as well as to bring back into the fold McMoRan Exploration Co., which it had spun off in 1994 (see NGI, Dec. 10, 2012). McMoRan shareholders are scheduled to vote June 3 on the merger, comprised of about $2.4 billion cash and a share of future royalties on some assets. The approval came after Freeport and Plains agreed to give Plains shareholders $3.00/share in a one-time special cash dividend and another $1.00 for each Freeport share when the merger is completed. The one-time dividend will cost Freeport an estimated $1 billion. Assuming the merger is completed as scheduled by Friday (May 31), Freeport plans to also complete $1.5 billion in asset sales from the combined company as a way to reduce capital spending. Freeport claims that it would become the fifth-largest U.S.-based natural resource company by enterprise value once the mergers are complete, trailing ExxonMobil Corp., Chevron Corp., ConocoPhillips and Occidental Petroleum Corp.
People
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted out the nomination of Gina McCarthy to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The nomination cleared the Senate panel by 10-8, with key Republicans voting no, including Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), the ranking member. He said his support for McCarthy’s nomination on the Senate floor would hinge on the nominee’s answers to Republicans’ requests involving greater transparency at the agency. All eight Republicans on the committee had boycotted an earlier vote, preventing the panel from advancing the appointment to the Senate floor. Democrats were unable at the time to establish a quorum despite holding a two-seat advantage on the panel. McCarthy’s nomination is not out of the woods yet. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) still has a hold on McCarthy’s nomination over a dispute involving a water project in his state.
