History of Southern Union

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History of Southern Union Southern Union’s history dates back to the 1920s as a holding company for several gas utilities in Texas. Over the next sixty years the company expanded its gas utility operations and diversified into natural gas processing, exploration and production, refining, gas appliance sales, and real estate. This diversification strategy failed and in the late 1980s SUG divested everything but its natural gas distribution operations. In 1990 Southern Union was acquired by mobile phone company Metro Mobile, Inc; however, the resulting entity took the name Southern Union. The mobile phone operations would eventually be sold to Bell Atlantic and SUG re-focused on its natural gas distribution activities acquiring over 1.5mm customers through acquisitions in Missouri and the Northeast. In 2002, the company changed course once again decided to divest most of its gas distribution business and use the proceeds to expand into interstate natural gas pipelines. SUG acquired Panhandle Energy for $1.8bn in 2002 and its 50% stake in Citrus Corp, which owns Florida Gas Transmission, in 2006. Diversification continued when SUG acquired the natural gas gathering and processing firm, Sid Richardson, for $1.6bn. See the appendix for a map of Southern Union’s current operations. Transportation and Storage (projected as 57% of 2009 EBITDA) This segment consists of the three natural gas pipelines: Panhandle Eastern, Trunkline, and Sea Robin, natural gas storage assets, and the Trunkline LNG terminal. The three pipelines have a total length of approximately 10,000 miles and transport 5.5 Bcf/d of natural gas. The Panhandle Eastern pipeline transports natural gas from the Rocky Mountains and Midcontinent supply areas to... ... middle of paper ... ... of revenues was Louis Dreyfus Energy Services (average contract life is 5.8 years) while the remaining top ten customers accounted for another 49% of revenues. Distribution (projected as 12% of 2009 EBITDA) The distribution segment consists of two natural gas local distribution companies. Missouri Gas Energy serves 500,000 customers in Missouri, including Kansas City. The New England Gas Company serves 50,000 customers in Massachusetts. Missouri Gas Energy has volume decoupling for its residential and small general service customers, creating more stable earnings. A recent rate case set an allowed ROE of 10% and approved a $16mm increase in rates starting on February 28th 2010. Other (projected as 1% of 2009 EBITDA) A catch-all category that covers the corporate segment, PEI power (70 MW of generation assets in PJM), and a legacy gas appliance business.

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