Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Infrastructure: Blackstone Is Buying An Electric Utility (BX; TXNM)

This is something we will see more of, private equity in regulated utilities. It's hard to asset-strip the darn things due to said regulators but boy-oh-boy do they cash flow. Just ask Warren Buffet.

From Dow Jones via Morningstar, May 19:

Blackstone Infrastructure to Buy TXNM Energy for $5.7 Billion 

Asset manager Blackstone is expanding its flourishing infrastructure business with a deal to buy energy holding company TXNM Energy for nearly $5.7 billion in cash.

Blackstone Infrastructure has agreed to pay $61.25 a share for the TXNM, the companies said Monday, a roughly 16% premium to Friday's closing price of $52.88 for the Albuquerque, N.M., company.

The deal, slated to close in the second half of 2026, carries an enterprise value of $11.5 billion, including net debt and preferred stock, the companies said.

In the interim, Blackstone Infrastructure plans to invest $400 million in TXNM by buying 8 million newly issued shares at $50 apiece in support of TXNM's growth plans, the companies said, adding that TXNM Energy expects to issue an additional $400 million of equity prior to the deal's closing.

TXNM provides electricity to about 800,000 homes and businesses in New Mexico and Texas. Blackstone Infrastructure, with $60 billion of assets under management, focuses on investing behind North American infrastructure platforms.

Blackstone's stand-alone infrastructure strategy, which the New York company formed in 2017, has been playing an increasingly important role in the asset manager's expansion.

The companies said Blackstone Infrastructure will fund the purchase price entirely with equity and doesn't plan to increase TXNM's leverage....

....MUCH MORE