

Note 2 — Business Combinations

On April 13, 2016, Cleco Holdings completed its merger with Merger Sub whereby Merger Sub merged with and into Cleco Corporation, with Cleco Corporation surviving the Merger, and Cleco Corporation converting to a limited liability company and changing its name to Cleco Holdings, as a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Cleco Group and an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Cleco Partners. At the effective time of the Merger each outstanding share of Cleco Corporation common stock, par value $1.00 per share (other than shares that were owned by Cleco Corporation, Cleco Partners, Merger Sub, or any other direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Cleco Partners or Cleco Corporation), were cancelled and were converted into the right to receive $55.37 per share in cash, without interest, with all dividends payable before the effective time of the Merger.

Regulatory Matters

On March 28, 2016, the LPSC approved the Merger. The LPSC’s written order approving the Merger was issued on April 7, 2016. Approval of the Merger was conditioned upon certain commitments, including $136.0 million of customer rate credits, a $7.0 million one-time contribution for economic development in Cleco Power’s service territory to be administered by LED or other state agency, $6.0 million of charitable contributions to be disbursed over five years, and $2.5 million of contributions for economic development for Louisiana state and local organizations to be disbursed over five years. These commitments were accrued on April 13, 2016, and are included in Merger transaction and commitment costs and Merger commitment costs on Cleco and Cleco Power’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, respectively. In addition, the Merger Commitments also included $1.2 million of annual refunds to customers representing cost savings due to the Merger. For more information on the cost savings refunds due to the Merger, see Note 10 — “Regulation and Rates.”

Accounting for the Merger Transaction

The total purchase price consideration was approximately $3.36 billion, which consisted of cash paid to Cleco Corporation shareholders of $3.35 billion and cash paid for Cleco LTIP equity awards of $9.5 million. There were no remaining LTIP equity awards as of the close of the Merger.

Pushdown accounting was applied to Cleco Holdings, and accordingly, the Cleco Holdings consolidated assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded on April 13, 2016, at their estimated fair values as follows:



Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation
(THOUSANDS)	AT APR. 13, 2016
Current assets	$	455,016
Property, plant, and equipment, net	3,432,144
Goodwill	1,490,402
Other long-term assets	1,003,255
Less
Current liabilities	228,515
Net deferred income tax liabilities	1,060,487
Other liabilities	258,204
Long-term debt, net	1,470,126
Total purchase price	$	3,363,485

Cleco Power’s assets and liabilities were recorded at historical cost since Cleco did not elect pushdown accounting at the Cleco Power level.

The following tables present the preliminary fair value adjustments to Cleco Holdings’ balance sheet and recognition of goodwill:



(THOUSANDS)	AT APR. 13, 2016
Property, plant, and equipment	$	(1,334,932	)
Accumulated depreciation	1,565,776
Goodwill	1,490,402
Intangible assets	93,251
Regulatory assets	228,752
Deferred tax liabilities	127,401
Long-term debt	$	198,599

Most of the carrying values of Cleco’s assets and liabilities were determined to be stated at fair value at the Merger date, considering that most of these assets are subject to regulation by the LPSC and FERC. Under such regulation, rates charged to customers are established by a regulator to provide for recovery of costs and a fair return on rate base and are generally measured at historical cost. As such, a market participant would not expect to recover any more or less than the carrying value of the assets. Prior to the Merger, the Coughlin step-up was not recorded on Cleco’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet due to the accounting treatment for the transfer of that asset in March 2014. However, the recovery of the step-up value of the Coughlin asset was approved by the LPSC for recovery in rate base, including a return on that rate base. On the date of the Merger, the step-up value for the Coughlin asset was recognized on Cleco’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet since Cleco Power is able to earn a return on and recover these costs from its customers. The beginning balance of fixed depreciable assets was shown net at the date of the Merger, as no accumulated depreciation existed on the date of the Merger.

The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of assets acquired and the liabilities assumed was $1.49 billion, which was recognized as goodwill by Cleco Holdings at the Merger date. The goodwill represents the potential long-term return of Cleco to its member.

On the date of the Merger, a fair value adjustment was recorded on Cleco’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet to reflect the valuation of the Cleco trade name. This adjustment is classified as an Intangible asset on Cleco’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The valuation of the trade name was estimated by applying the relief-from-royalty method under the income approach. This valuation method is based on the premise that, in lieu of ownership of the asset, a company would be willing to pay a royalty to a third-party for the use of that asset. The owner of the asset is spared this cost, and the value of the asset is estimated by the cost savings. The projected revenue attributed to the trade name was based on projections of Cleco’s wholesale customers. Management is currently evaluating the economic useful life of the trade name. When determined, the trade name intangible asset will be amortized over the useful life. The amortization of the Cleco trade name will be included in Depreciation and amortization on Cleco’s Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income.

On the date of the Merger, fair value adjustments were recorded on Cleco’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet for the difference between the contract price and the market price of long-term wholesale power supply agreements. These adjustments are classified as Intangible assets on Cleco’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The valuation of the power supply agreements was estimated using the income approach. The income approach is based upon discounted projected future cash flows associated with the underlying contracts. The intangible assets for the power supply agreements will be amortized over the remaining term of the applicable contract. The amortization of the power supply agreements is included in Electric operations on Cleco’s Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income.

The net increase in deferred tax liabilities on Cleco’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet represents the differences between the assigned fair values of assets acquired and their related income tax basis, net of a deferred tax asset representing the net operating loss carryforward that will be utilized in future periods. As the underlying asset assigned fair values are amortized, the related deferred tax liabilities will be included in income tax expense. Goodwill is not deductible for income tax purposes; therefore, no deferred income tax assets or liabilities were recognized for goodwill.

On the date of the Merger, other fair value adjustments were recorded for long-term debt, SERP deferred losses, and interest rate derivative settlement gains/losses. These fair value adjustments are subject to rate regulation, but do not earn a return. In these instances, a corresponding regulatory asset was established, as the underlying utility asset or liability amounts are recoverable from or refundable to customers at historical cost through the rate setting process. These regulatory assets established to offset fair value adjustments are amortized in amounts and over time frames consistent with the realization or settlement of the fair value adjustments. For more information, see Note 4 — “Regulatory Assets and Liabilities.”

The valuations performed in the second quarter of 2016 to estimate the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed are considered preliminary as a result of the short time period between the closing of the Merger and the end of the second quarter of 2016. Accounting guidance provides that the allocation of the purchase price may be modified up to one year from the date of the Merger, as more information is obtained about the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The preliminary amounts recognized are subject to revision until the valuations are completed and to the extent that additional information is obtained about the facts and circumstances that existed as of the date of the Merger. Cleco has not yet completed its evaluation and determination of the fair value of certain assets and liabilities acquired, primarily the final valuation and assessment of postretirement benefit plans as of April 13, 2016, and the economic useful life of the Cleco trade name. Cleco expects these final valuations and assessments will be completed by the end of 2016, which may affect the purchase price allocation and could affect goodwill.