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Merger and Acquisitions (Exelon, Generation, ComEd, PECO and BGE)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Business Acquisition [Line Items]  
Mergers and Acquisitions (Exelon, Generation, ComEd, PECO and BGE)

4.   Merger and Acquisitions

 

Merger with Constellation (Exelon, Generation, ComEd, PECO and BGE)

 

Description of Transaction

 

On March 12, 2012, Exelon completed the merger contemplated by the Merger Agreement among Exelon, Bolt Acquisition Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Exelon (Merger Sub), and Constellation. As a result of that merger, Merger Sub was merged into Constellation (the Initial Merger) and Constellation became a wholly owned subsidiary of Exelon. Following the completion of the Initial Merger, Exelon and Constellation completed a series of internal corporate organizational restructuring transactions. Constellation merged with and into Exelon, with Exelon continuing as the surviving corporation (the Upstream Merger). Simultaneously with the Upstream Merger, Constellation's interest in RF HoldCo LLC, which holds Constellation's interest in BGE, was transferred to Exelon Energy Delivery Company, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Exelon that also owns Exelon's interests in ComEd and PECO. Following the Upstream Merger and the transfer of RF HoldCo LLC, Exelon contributed to Generation certain subsidiaries, including those with generation and customer supply operations that were acquired from Constellation as a result of the Initial Merger and the Upstream Merger.

 

Regulatory Matters

 

In February 2012, the MDPSC issued an Order approving the Exelon and Constellation merger. As part of the MDPSC Order, Exelon agreed to provide a package of benefits to BGE customers, the City of Baltimore and the State of Maryland, resulting in an estimated direct investment in the State of Maryland of approximately $1 billion.

 

The following costs were recognized after the closing of the merger and are included in Exelon's, Generation's and BGE's Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Description Payment Period BGE Generation Exelon Statement of Operations Location
BGE rate credit of $100 per residential              
 customer (a) Q2 2012 $113 $0 $ 113 Revenues
Customer investment fund to invest in              
 energy efficiency and low-income              
 energy assistance to BGE customers  2012 to 2014  0  0   113.5 O&M Expense
Contribution for renewable energy,              
 energy efficiency or related projects              
 in Baltimore 2012 to 2014  0  0   2 O&M Expense
Charitable contributions at $7 million per              
 year for 10 years 2012 to 2021  28  35   70 O&M Expense
State funding for offshore wind              
 development projects  Q2 2012  0  0   32 O&M Expense
Miscellaneous tax benefits Q2 2012  (2)  0  (2) Taxes Other Than Income
 Total   $139 $35 $ 328.5  

  • Exelon made a $66 million equity contribution to BGE in the second quarter of 2012 to fund the after-tax amount of the rate credit as directed in the MDPSC order approving the merger transaction.

 

The direct investment estimate includes $95 million to $120 million relating to the construction of a headquarters building in Baltimore for Generation's competitive energy businesses. On March 20, 2013, Generation signed a 20 year lease agreement that is contingent upon the developer obtaining all required approvals, permits and financing for the construction of the building. Once required approvals are received and financing conditions are met, construction will commence and the building is expected to be ready for occupancy in approximately 2 years after building construction commences.

 

The direct investment estimate also includes $600 million to $650 million for Exelon's and Generation's commitment to develop or assist in development of 285 — 300 MWs of new generation in Maryland, expected to be completed over a period of 10 years. The MDPSC Order contemplates various options for complying with the new generation development commitments, including building or acquiring generating assets, making subsidy or compliance payments, or in circumstances in which the generation build is delayed, making liquidated damages payments. Exelon and Generation expect that the majority of these commitments will be satisfied by building or acquiring generating assets and, therefore, will be primarily capital in nature and recognized as incurred. If in the future Exelon determines that it is probable that it will make subsidy, compliance or liquidated damages payments related to the new generation development commitments, Exelon will record a liability at that time. As of December 31, 2013, it is reasonably possible that Exelon will be required to make subsidy or liquidated damages payments of approximately $40 million rather than build one of the generation projects contemplated by the commitments, given that the generation build is dependent upon the passage of legislation and other conditions that Exelon does not control.

 

On July 26, 2013, Generation executed an engineering procurement and construction contract to expand its Perryman, Maryland site with 120MW of new natural gas-fired generation to satisfy certain of these commitments and achievement of commercial operation is expected in 2015. In December 2013, Generation acquired the Fourmile Ridge Project in western Maryland and executed a wind turbine supply agreement for construction of a 32.5 MW project targeted for commercial operation in November 2014. This project will satisfy a portion of the 125 MW Tier I land-based renewables commitment. See Note 22 – Commitments and Contingencies for additional information. As of December 31, 2013, amounts reflected in the Exelon and Generation consolidated financial statements include $24 million of capital expenditures and $6 million of development costs included within operating and maintenance expense associated with pursuit of these commitments for new generation in the State of Maryland.

 

Associated with certain of the regulatory approvals required for the merger, on November 30, 2012, a subsidiary of Generation sold three Maryland generating stations and associated assets, Brandon Shores and H.A. Wagner in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, and C.P. Crane in Baltimore County, Maryland, to Raven Power Holdings LLC (Raven Power), a subsidiary of Riverstone Holdings LLC. The sale agreement included a base price with purchase price adjustments based on fuel inventory, working capital, capital expenditures, and timing of the closing, resulting in net proceeds from the sale of approximately $371 million.  Decisions by certain market participants to remove themselves from the bidding process, combined with the deadlines and limitations on the pool of potential buyers imposed by the merger approval orders, resulted in realized sales proceeds below Generation's estimated fair value of the Maryland generating stations. Consequently, Exelon and Generation recorded a pre-tax loss of $272 million in 2012 to reflect the difference between the sales price and the carrying value of the generating stations and associated assets. In the first quarter of 2013, Exelon and Generation recorded a pre-tax gain of $8 million to reflect the final settlement of the sales price with Raven Power.

 

In connection with the sale of the Maryland generating stations, Exelon agreed to indemnify Raven Power for certain costs associated with the treatment of hazardous substances at off-site disposal facilities and any claims arising as a result of, or in connection with, any toxic tort, natural resource damages, loss of life or injury to persons due to releases of, or exposure to hazardous substances in connection with Raven Power's remediation of environmental contamination or Exelon's non-compliance with environmental laws or permits prior to the closing date of the sale.

 

Pursuant to the MDPSC merger approval conditions, BGE is restricted from paying any dividend on its common shares through the end of 2014, was required to maintain specified minimum capital and O&M expenditure levels in 2012 and 2013, and is not permitted to reduce employment levels due to involuntary attrition associated with the merger integration process for two years following the closing of the merger. Additionally, BGE is subject to other merger approval conditions to enhance BGE's ring-fencing measures established by order of the MDPSC.

 

Subsequent to the merger, Generation discovered that, for the first two weeks following the merger, due to a software error, Generation inadvertently bid certain generating units into the PJM energy market at prices that slightly exceeded the cost-based caps to which it had agreed. This error was a violation of the commitments made in connection with merger approvals by DOJ, FERC and the MDPSC. Generation reported the error to the DOJ, FERC and the MDPSC and committed to remedy the impacts of its error. The MDPSC held a hearing to review the error, and accepted Generation's proposed remediation. Subsequent close examination by Generation of its cost-based bids also revealed the need for some minor adjustments to the cost build up for certain of its PJM units. Generation has coordinated with PJM to determine the impact on Generation's revenues and the market from this error and these adjustments, and Generation has worked with PJM to reverse the financial impacts. In November 2012, Generation reached a settlement with the DOJ regarding this matter. The final resolution did not have a material impact on Exelon's or Generation's results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

 

       Exelon was named in suits filed in the Circuit Court of Baltimore City, Maryland alleging that individual directors of Constellation breached their fiduciary duties by entering into the proposed merger transaction and Exelon aided and abetted the individual directors' breaches. Similar suits were also filed in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. The suits sought to enjoin a Constellation shareholder vote on the proposed merger until all material information was disclosed and sought rescission of the proposed merger. During the third quarter of 2011, the parties to the suits reached an agreement in principle to settle the suits through additional disclosures to Constellation shareholders. On June 26, 2012, the court approved the settlement and entered final judgment.

 

Accounting for the Merger Transaction

 

The fair value of Constellation's non-regulated business assets acquired and liabilities assumed was determined based on significant estimates and assumptions that are judgmental in nature, including projected future cash flows (including timing); discount rates reflecting risk inherent in the future cash flows; and future market prices. There were also judgments made to determine the expected useful lives assigned to each class of assets acquired and duration of liabilities assumed.

 

The financial statements of BGE do not include fair value adjustments for assets or liabilities subject to rate-setting provisions for BGE. BGE is subject to the rate-setting authority of FERC and the MDPSC and is accounted for pursuant to the accounting guidance for regulated operations. The rate-setting and cost recovery provisions currently in place for BGE provide revenue derived from costs including a return on investment of assets and liabilities included in rate base. Except for debt, fuel supply contracts and regulatory assets not earning a return, the fair values of BGE's tangible and intangible assets and liabilities subject to these rate-setting provisions are assumed to approximate their carrying values and, therefore, do not reflect any net adjustments related to these amounts. For BGE's debt, fuel supply contracts and regulatory assets not earning a return, the difference between fair value and book value of BGE's assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recorded as a regulatory asset and liability at Exelon Corporate as Exelon did not apply push-down accounting to BGE. See Note 1Significant Accounting Policies for additional information on BGE's push-down accounting treatment. Also see Note 3 — Regulatory Matters for additional information on BGE's regulatory assets.

 

The preliminary valuations performed in the first quarter of 2012 were updated in the second, third and fourth quarters of 2012, with the most significant adjustments to the preliminary valuation amounts having been made to the fair values assigned to the acquired power supply and fuel contracts, unregulated property, plant and equipment and investments in affiliates. There were no significant adjustments to the purchase price allocation in the first quarter of 2013 and the purchase price allocation was final as of March 31, 2013.

 

The final purchase price allocation of the Merger of Exelon with Constellation and Exelon's contribution of certain subsidiaries of Constellation to Generation was as follows:

 

 

Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation, excluding amortizationExelonGeneration
Current assets$4,936$3,638
Property, plant and equipment 9,342 4,054
Unamortized energy contracts 3,218 3,218
Other intangibles, trade name and retail relationships 457 457
Investment in affiliates 1,942 1,942
Pension and OPEB regulatory asset 740 0
Other assets 2,265 1,266
Total assets 22,900 14,575
     
Current liabilities 3,408 2,804
Unamortized energy contracts 1,722 1,512
Long-term debt, including current maturities 5,632 2,972
Non-controlling interest 90 90
Deferred credits and other liabilities and preferred securities 4,683 1,933
Total liabilities, preferred securities and non-controlling interest 15,535 9,311
Total purchase price$7,365$5,264

Intangible Assets Recorded

 

For the power supply and fuel contracts acquired from Constellation, the difference between the contract price and the market price at the date of the merger was recognized as either an intangible asset or liability based on whether the contracts were in or out-of-the-money. The valuation of the acquired intangible assets and liabilities was estimated by applying either the market approach or the income approach depending on the nature of the underlying contract. The market approach was utilized when prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving comparable transactions were available. Otherwise the income approach, which is based upon discounted projected future cash flows associated with the underlying contracts, was utilized. The measure is based upon certain unobservable inputs, which are considered Level 3 inputs, pursuant to applicable accounting guidance. Key estimates and inputs include forecasted power and fuel prices and the discount rate. The fair value amounts are amortized over the life of the contract in relation to the present value of the underlying cash flows as of the merger date. Amortization expense and income are recorded through purchased power and fuel expense or operating revenues.

 

Exelon and Generation present separately in their Consolidated Balance Sheets the unamortized energy contract assets and liabilities for these contracts. Generation's amortization expense for the year ended December 31, 2013 amounted to $470 million. Generation's amortization expense for the period March 12, 2012 to December 31, 2012 amounted to $1,101 million. In addition, Exelon Corporate has established a regulatory asset and an unamortized energy contract liability related to BGE's power supply and fuel contracts. The power supply and fuel contracts regulatory asset amortization was $77 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 and $116 million for the period March 12, 2012 to December 31, 2012. An equally offsetting amortization of the unamortized energy contract liability has been recorded at Exelon Corporate in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

 

The fair value of the Constellation trade name intangible asset was determined based on the relief from royalty method of the income approach whereby fair value is determined to be the present value of the license fees avoided by owning the assets. The measure is based upon certain unobservable inputs, which are considered Level 3 inputs, pursuant to applicable accounting guidance. Key assumptions include the hypothetical royalty rate and the discount rate. Exelon's and Generation's straight line amortization expense for the fair value of the Constellation trade name intangible asset for the year ended December 31, 2013 and for the period March 12, 2012 to December 31, 2012 amounted to $26 million and $20 million, respectively. The trade name intangible asset is included in deferred debits and other assets within Exelon's and Generation's Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

The fair value of the retail relationships was determined based on a “multi-period excess method” of the income approach. Under this method, the intangible asset's fair value is determined to be the estimated future cash flows that will be earned on the current customer base, taking into account expected contract renewals based on customer attrition rates and costs to retain those customers. The measure is based upon certain unobservable inputs, which are considered Level 3 inputs, pursuant to applicable accounting guidance. Key assumptions include the customer attrition rate and the discount rate. The intangible assets for the fair value of the retail relationships are amortized as amortization expense on a straight line basis over the useful life of the underlying assets. Exelon's and Generation's straight line amortization expense for year ended December 31, 2013 and for the period March 12, 2012 to December 31, 2012 amounted to $21 million and $15 million, respectively. The retail relationships intangible assets are included in deferred debits and other assets within Exelon's and Generation's Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

Exelon's intangible assets and liabilities acquired through the merger with Constellation included in its Consolidated Balance Sheets, along with the future estimated amortization, were as follows as of December 31, 2013:

 

 

 

            Estimated amortization expense
DescriptionWeighted Average Amortization (Years) (b) Gross Accumulated Amortization  Net  2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 and Beyond
Unamortized energy contracts, net (a) 1.5 $1,499 $(1,378) $121 $75 $18 $(31) $(21) $11 $69
Trade name 10.0  243  (46)  197  24  24  24  24  24  77
Retail relationships 12.4  214  (36)  178  19  18  18  18  18  87
                             
Total, net  $1,956 $(1,460) $496 $118 $60 $11 $21 $53 $233

       

  • Includes the fair value of BGE's power and gas supply contracts of $12 million for which an offsetting Exelon Corporate regulatory asset was also recorded.

(b) Weighted average amortization period was calculated as of the date of acquisition.

 

Impact of Merger

 

It is impracticable to determine the overall financial statement impact for the Constellation subsidiaries contributed down to Generation following the Upstream Merger for the year ended December 31, 2012. Upon closing of the merger, the operations of these Constellation subsidiaries were integrated into Generation's operations and are therefore not fully distinguishable after the merger.

 

The impact of BGE on Exelon's Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income includes operating revenues of $3,065 million and $ 2,091 million and net income (loss) of $210 million and $ (31) million during the years ended December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2013, Exelon, Generation, ComEd, PECO and BGE incurred merger and integration-related costs of $142 million, $106 million, $16 million, $9 million and $6 million, respectively. Of these amounts, Exelon, ComEd and BGE deferred $17 million, $11 million and $6 million, respectively, as a regulatory asset as of December 31, 2013. Additionally, Exelon and BGE established a regulatory asset of $6 million as of December 31, 2013 for previously incurred 2012 merger and integration-related costs.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2012, Exelon, Generation, ComEd, PECO and BGE incurred merger and integration-related costs of $804 million, $340 million, $41 million, $17 million and $182 million, respectively. Of these amounts, Exelon, ComEd and BGE deferred $58 million, $36 million and $22 million, respectively, as a regulatory asset as of December 31, 2012.

 

The costs incurred are classified primarily within Operating and Maintenance Expense in the Registrants' respective Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income, with the exception of the BGE customer rate credit and the credit facility fees, which are included as a reduction to operating revenues and other, net, respectively, for years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012. See Note 22 — Commitments and Contingencies for additional information.

 

 

Pro-forma Impact of the Merger

The following unaudited pro forma financial information reflects the consolidated results of operations of Exelon and Generation as if the merger with Constellation had taken place on January 1, 2011. The unaudited pro forma information was calculated after applying Exelon's and Generation's accounting policies and adjusting Constellation's results to reflect purchase accounting adjustments.

The unaudited pro forma financial information has been presented for illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of results of operations that would have been achieved had the merger events taken place on the dates indicated, or the future consolidated results of operations of the combined company.

 

 Generation Exelon
  Year Ended December 31,  Year Ended December 31,
(unaudited) 2012  2011 (a)  2012  2011 (b)
Total Revenues$17,013 $19,494 $26,700 $30,712
Net income attributable to Exelon 1,205  324  2,092  974
            
Basic Earnings Per Share n.a.  n.a. $2.56 $1.15
Diluted Earnings Per Share n.a.  n.a.  2.55  1.14

_________________

  • The amounts above include non-recurring costs directly related to the merger of $203 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.
  • The amounts above include non-recurring costs directly related to the merger of $236 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

Acquisitions (Exelon and Generation)

 

Consistent with the applicable accounting guidance, the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed was determined as of the acquisition date through the use of significant estimates and assumptions that are judgmental in nature.  Some of the more significant estimates and assumptions used include: projected future cash flows (including the amount and timing); discount rates reflecting the risk inherent in the future cash flows; and future power and fuel market prices.   Additionally, market prices based on the Market Price Referent (MPR) established by the CPUC for renewable energy resources were used in determining the fair value of the Antelope Valley assets acquired and liabilities assumed.  There were also judgments made to determine the expected useful lives assigned to each class of assets acquired and the duration of the liabilities assumed. Generation did not record any goodwill related to any of the respective acquisitions.

 

The following table summarizes the acquisition-date fair value of the consideration transferred and the assets and liabilities assumed for each of the companies acquired by Generation during the year ended December 31, 2011:

  Acquisitions  
  2011  
  Wolf Hollow   Antelope Valley  
Fair value of consideration transferred       
Cash$ 305 $ 75  
Plus: Gain on PPA settlement   6   -  
        
Total fair value of consideration transferred$ 311 $ 75  
        
Recognized amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed       
        
Property, plant and equipment$ 347 $ 15  
Inventory  5   -  
Intangible assets (a)   -   190  
Payable to First Solar, Inc. (b)  -   (135)  
Working capital, net  (5)   -  
Other Assets  -   5  
        
Total net identifiable assets$ 347 $ 75  
        
Bargain purchase gain$ 36 $ -  

________________________

(a)       See Note 10 - Intangible Assets for additional information.

(b)       Generation concluded that the remaining, yet-to-be paid $135 million in consideration was embedded in the amounts payable under the Engineering, Procurement, Construction (EPC) agreement for First Solar, Inc. to construct the solar facility. For accounting purposes, this aspect of the transaction is considered to be akin to a "seller financing" arrangement. As such, Generation recorded a liability of $135 million associated with the portion of the future payments to First Solar, Inc. under the EPC agreement to reflect Generation's implicit amounts due First Solar, Inc. for the remainder of the value of the net assets acquired. The $135 million payable to First Solar, Inc. will be relieved as Generation makes payments for costs incurred over the project construction period. At December 31, 2012, $87 million remained payable to First Solar, Inc. During 2013, a subsidiary of Generation paid off the remaining balance of the payable to First Solar, Inc.

       

 

Wolf Hollow, LLC. On August 24, 2011, Generation completed the acquisition of all of the equity interests of Wolf Hollow, LLC (Wolf Hollow), a combined-cycle natural gas-fired power plant in north Texas, for a purchase price of $311 million which increased Generation's owned capacity within the ERCOT power market by 720 MWs. The acquisition supports the Exelon commitment to low-carbon generation as part of Exelon 2020.

 

Generation recognized an approximately $36 million non-cash bargain purchase gain (i.e., negative goodwill). The gain was included within Other, net in Exelon's and Generation's Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income.

 

The pro forma impact of this acquisition would not have been material to Exelon's or Generation's results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

Antelope Valley Solar Ranch One. On September 30, 2011, Generation announced the completion of its acquisition of all of the interests in Antelope Valley Solar Ranch One (Antelope Valley), a 230-MW solar PV project under development in northern Los Angeles County, California, from First Solar, Inc., which is developing, building, operating, and maintaining the project. The first portion of the project began operations in December 2012, with six additional blocks coming online in 2013. Exelon has been informed by First Solar of issues relating to delays in the certification of certain components relating to the final two blocks of the project, which will delay commercial operation of these two blocks until the first half of 2014. When fully operational, Antelope Valley will be one of the largest PV solar projects in the world, with approximately 3.8 million solar panels generating enough clean, renewable electricity to power the equivalent of 75,000 average homes per year. The project has a 25-year PPA, approved by the California Public Utilities Commission, with Pacific Gas & Electric Company for the full output of the plant. The acquisition supports Exelon's commitment to renewable energy as part of Exelon 2020.

Exelon expects to invest up to $650 million in equity in the project through 2014. The DOE's Loan Programs Office issued a guarantee for up to $646 million for a non-recourse loan from the Federal Financing Bank to support the financing of the construction of the project. See Note 13 – Debt and Credit Agreements for additional information on the DOE loan guarantee.

 

The pro forma impact of this acquisition would not have been material to Exelon's or Generation's results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2011.