MidAmerican Energy to buy Constellation for $4.7B

By MARK WILLIAMS

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is reaching into its deep pockets to give a steady hand to Constellation Energy Group Inc. and, at the same time, grab a bargain.

Berkshire's MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co. said Thursday that it will buy Constellation for $4.7 billion and give it an immediate $1 billion infusion after shares of the nation's largest wholesale power seller plummeted and liquidity concerns had analysts worried it would go out of business.

"Obviously we're in unprecedented times," MidAmerican President and CEO Gregory Abel said. "Liquidity and solvency issues are a top priority for many companies. We don't have any of those concerns, again, at MidAmerican and Berkshire."

Des Moines, Iowa-based MidAmerican will pay $26.50 per share in cash for Baltimore-based Constellation, well off the utility's 52-week high of $107.97 reached Jan. 8. The shares traded as high as $67.87 last week before hitting a low of $13 Tuesday.

Constellation shares fell 57 cents, or 2.3 percent, to $24.20 Thursday.

The companies planned to sign a definitive agreement by the end of business Friday, and Constellation will receive $1 billion by giving MidAmerican preferred equity, the companies said.

MidAmerican Energy to buy Constellation for $4.7B....