Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Enron to sell Portland utility

A private investment group has signed an agreement to purchase Oregon's largest utility from bankrupt Enron for $2.35 billion. A group of Oregon businessmen, including former Gov. Neil Goldschmidt, plan to purchase Portland General Electric, which serves
|
|
 
  
Published: Nov. 18, 2003 at 5:22 PM
Advertisement

HOUSTON, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- A private investment group has signed an agreement to purchase Oregon's largest utility from bankrupt Enron for $2.35 billion.

A group of Oregon businessmen, including former Gov. Neil Goldschmidt, plan to purchase Portland General Electric, which serves half the state's population. The group, Oregon Electric Utility, has the backing of a Texas investment group.

Portland developer Tom Walsh and Seattle venture capitalist Gerald Grinstein joined Goldschmidt in the new ownership group. Texas Pacific Group is one of the nation's leading private equity investment firms.

Enron board of directors approved the transaction, which also has the support of the official unsecured creditors committee. It requires the approval of the bankruptcy court and several state and federal regulatory agencies.

Under the bankruptcy court rules there will also be an "overbid" process, which allows other potential buyers to submit superior bids on the utility. If the Oregon Electric Utility deal is approved, a closing could come as soon as the second half of 2004.

Topics: Tom Walsh
© 2003 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
Protesters, police clash at NATO summit Notable deaths of 2012 2012 Billboard Music Awards
The 137th Preakness Stakes Annual Solar eclipse occurs in U.S. Chen Guangcheng arrives in the U.S.
Additional Business News Stories
1 of 25
Protests at the 2012 NATO Summit in Chicago
View Caption
fark
Waitress forgets to hit the virgin button, serves daiquiris to a pair of four-year-olds. Well, it's...
Attorney's "DWI DUDE" vanity plate request rejected. ASS MAN seen smirking
Planned Parenthood beats off all competitors when it comes to encouraging masturbation for elementary...
"Hello, 911? I wish to report a drunk driver. He's driving my car and looks exactly like me. I'm...
Bad news: it's National Vegetarian Week in the UK. Good news: the world's meatiest sandwich has...
US Airways jetliner en route from Paris to Charlotte, North Carolina, has been diverted to Bangor,...