Recent US deals could power more M&A

Mergers and acquisition activity could be on the up in the US power market in spite of staid economic conditions. Pauline McCallion examines the outlook for M&A

One-time Enron suitor, Dynegy announced on August 13, 2010 that it had agreed to a $4.7 billion acquisition deal with private equity company The Blackstone Group. Under the terms of the transaction, which is expected to close by the end of 2010, Blackstone would assume the independent power producer's (IPP's) existing debt and also plans to sell four of Dynegy's natural gas plants to wholesale power generator NRG Energy for $1.36 billion. The acquisition is contingent upon the concurrent closing