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Acquisitions, Divestitures and Discontinued Operations Acquisitions and Divestitures (Notes)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]  
Mergers, Acquisitions and Dispositions Disclosures [Text Block]
Acquisitions and Divestitures
Acquisition of Fore River Energy Center
On November 7, 2014, we, through our indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary Calpine Fore River Energy Center, LLC, completed the purchase of Fore River Energy Center, a power plant with a nameplate capacity of 809 MW, and related plant inventory from a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation, for approximately $530 million, excluding working capital adjustments. The addition of this modern, efficient, natural gas-fired, combined-cycle power plant increased capacity in our East segment, specifically the constrained New England market. Built in 2003, Fore River Energy Center is located in North Weymouth, Massachusetts and features two combustion turbines, two heat recovery steam generators and one steam turbine. One turbine features dual-fuel capability that will enable it to run this winter on either natural gas or fuel oil, depending on market conditions, with the other turbine scheduled to be modified to be dual-fuel capable by winter 2016. The purchase price was funded with cash on hand and primarily allocated to property, plant and equipment. Although the purchase price allocation has not been finalized, we do not expect to record any material adjustments to the preliminary purchase price allocation nor do we expect to recognize any goodwill as a result of this acquisition. The pro forma incremental impact of Fore River Energy Center on our results of operations for each of the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 is not material.
Acquisition of Guadalupe Energy Center
On February 26, 2014, we, through our indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary Calpine Guadalupe GP, LLC, completed the purchase of a power plant owned by MinnTex Power Holdings, LLC with a nameplate capacity of 1,050 MW, for approximately $625 million, excluding working capital adjustments. The addition of this modern, natural gas-fired, combined-cycle power plant increased capacity in our Texas segment, which is one of our core markets. The 110-acre site, located in Guadalupe County, Texas, which is northeast of San Antonio, Texas, includes two 525 MW generation blocks, each consisting of two GE 7FA combustion turbines, two heat recovery steam generators and one GE steam turbine. We also paid $15 million to acquire rights to an advanced development opportunity for an approximately 400 MW quick-start, natural gas-fired peaker. We funded the acquisition with $425 million in incremental CCFC Term Loans and cash on hand. See Note 6 for a further description of the incremental CCFC Term Loans. The purchase price was primarily allocated to property, plant and equipment and was finalized during the third quarter of 2014 which did not result in any material adjustments to the preliminary purchase price allocation nor the recognition of any goodwill. The pro forma incremental impact of Guadalupe Energy Center on our results of operations for each of the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 is not material.
Acquisition of Bosque Energy Center
On November 7, 2012, we, through our indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary Calpine Bosque Energy Center, LLC, completed the purchase of a power plant with a nameplate capacity of 800 MW owned by Bosque Power Co., LLC, for approximately $432 million. The modern, natural gas-fired, combined-cycle power plant increased capacity in our Texas segment and is located in Central Texas near the unincorporated community of Laguna Park in Bosque County. The site includes a 250 MW generation block with one natural-gas turbine, one heat recovery steam generator and one steam turbine that achieved COD in June 2001 and a 550 MW generation block with two natural-gas turbines that went online in June 2000 as well as two heat recovery steam generators and one steam turbine that achieved COD in June 2011. We funded the $432 million purchase price with cash on hand. The purchase price, which was finalized in 2013, was primarily allocated to property, plant and equipment. We did not record any goodwill as a result of this acquisition.
Sale of Six Power Plants
On July 3, 2014, we completed the sale of six of our power plants in our East segment to NatGen Southeast Power LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of LS Power Equity Partners III. The purchase and sale agreement, dated April 17, 2014, stipulates the sale of 100% of the limited liability company interests in (i) Mobile Energy LLC, (ii) Santa Rosa Energy Center, LLC, (iii) Carville Energy, LLC, (iv) Decatur Energy Center, LLC, (v) Columbia Energy LLC and (vi) Calpine Oneta Power, LLC and thereby sell assets comprising 3,498 MW of combined-cycle generation capacity in Oklahoma, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida and South Carolina for a sale price of approximately $1.57 billion in cash, plus approximately $2 million for working capital and other adjustments at closing. In accordance with the purchase and sale agreement, we have paid $12 million for certain maintenance events at December 31, 2014 and may also be required to make up to $4 million in future cash payments for planned maintenance. The divestiture of these power plants has better aligned our asset base with our strategic focus on competitive wholesale markets.
We recorded a gain on sale of assets, net of approximately $753 million during the third quarter of 2014 and will use existing federal and state NOLs to almost entirely offset the projected taxable gains from the sale. The sale of the six power plants did not meet the criteria for treatment as discontinued operations.
The six power plants included in the transaction are as follows:
Plant Name
 
Plant Capacity
 
Location
Oneta Energy Center
 
1,134

MW
 
Coweta, OK
Carville Energy Center(1)
 
501

MW
 
St. Gabriel, LA
Decatur Energy Center
 
795

MW
 
Decatur, AL
Hog Bayou Energy Center
 
237

MW
 
Mobile, AL
Santa Rosa Energy Center
 
225

MW
 
Pace, FL
Columbia Energy Center(1)
 
606

MW
 
Calhoun County, SC
Total
 
3,498

MW
 
 
___________
(1)
Indicates combined-cycle cogeneration power plant.
Sale of Riverside Energy Center
Our 603 MW Riverside Energy Center had a PPA that provided WP&L an option to purchase the power plant and plant-related assets upon written notice of exercise prior to May 31, 2012. On May 18, 2012, WP&L exercised their option to purchase Riverside Energy Center, LLC, one of our VIEs which owned Riverside Energy Center. The sale closed on December 31, 2012 for approximately $402 million, and we recorded a pre-tax gain of approximately $7 million, which is included in (gain) on sale of assets, net on our Consolidated Statements of Operations. We used the sale proceeds for our capital allocation activities and for general corporate purposes. The sale of Riverside Energy Center did not meet the criteria for treatment as discontinued operations.
Sale of Broad River
On December 27, 2012, we, through our indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary Calpine Power Company, completed the sale of 100% of our ownership interest in each of the Broad River Entities for approximately $423 million. This transaction resulted in the disposition of our Broad River power plant, an 847 MW natural gas-fired, peaking power plant located in Gaffney, South Carolina, and includes a five-year consulting agreement with the buyer. We recorded a pre-tax gain of approximately $215 million in December 2012, which is included in (gain) on sale of assets, net on our Consolidated Statements of Operations. We used the sale proceeds for our capital allocation activities and for general corporate purposes. The sale of the Broad River Entities did not meet the criteria for treatment as discontinued operations.