BY MORGAN CHILSON
Kansas Reflector
TOPEKA — Black Hills Energy Corp. announced it will merge with NorthWestern Energy Group, pending regulatory approval.
Black Hills offers natural gas services in Kansas, primarily in the southwest and south-central part of the state. It is regulated by the Kansas Corporation Commission.
Company leaders said in a joint investor call this week that merger approval is needed in the three states in which both companies currently operate, Montana, Nebraska and South Dakota, and possibly in Arkansas.
The all-stock transaction is expected to close in 12 to 15 months.
In the agreement, NorthWestern shareholders will receive a fixed exchange ratio of 0.98 shares of Black Hills for each share of NorthWestern they own at the close of the transaction, a press release said.
Black Hills shareholders will continue to hold the same number of shares of the combined company that they hold of Black Hills immediately before the closing of the transaction, the press release said. Once the merger is completed, Black Hills shareholders will own approximately 56% and NorthWestern shareholders will own approximately 44% of the combined company.
In an investor call, Black Hills CEO Linn Evans said the merger strengthens both companies, which have been operating in the same areas for the past 20 years.
“We’ve talked about potentially combining these two companies, and given the organic growth opportunities we have before us and the impact on customer affordability, the benefits of scale, we would argue, have never been more relevant, and merging our businesses now has never made more sense,” Evans said.
Upon closing, the company will have a new name and trade under a new stock ticker, Evans said. NorthWestern president and CEO Brian Bird will lead the merged company, and Evans said he will retire after the merger concludes.
The company will be headquartered in Rapid City, South Dakota, where Black Hills headquarters are currently located.