NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) (“NiSource”) today announced that it has completed the issuance of a 19.9% indirect equity interest in the company’s Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (“NIPSCO”) subsidiary to an affiliate of Blackstone Infrastructure Partners (“Blackstone Infrastructure”), the dedicated infrastructure group of Blackstone Inc. (NYSE: BX). As previously announced, through the transaction the Blackstone affiliate has acquired a 19.9% non-controlling equity interest in NIPSCO Holdings II LLC, which owns all the equity interests of NIPSCO, and NiSource will own the remaining 80.1% of NIPSCO Holdings II LLC.
Blackstone Infrastructure is an active perpetual capital investor across the utility, energy transition, transportation, digital infrastructure, water and waste infrastructure sectors. Blackstone Infrastructure seeks to apply a long-term buy-and-hold approach to large-scale infrastructure assets and is focused on responsible stewardship and stakeholder engagement to create value for its investors and the communities it serves. Blackstone Infrastructure is committed to investing behind NIPSCO's energy transition and decarbonization programs, as well as helping to increase gas and electric grid resiliency for the customers of Indiana.
NiSource intends to use the capital infusion to support its fastest growing utility and its ability to serve customers, strengthen its balance sheet and fund ongoing capital needs associated with the renewable generation transition underway. Since 2018, NIPSCO has been executing on one of the fastest transitions from coal-fired electricity in the U.S. utilities sector, targeting 0% coal-fired generation mix by 2028 (compared to 75% coal generation mix in 2018). Through 2030, NIPSCO expects to make significant investments in its electric generation transition, primarily focused on installing new renewable generation to replace coal-fired generation retirements. NIPSCO also intends to support the continued growth and modernization of its gas and electric transmission and distribution systems, which will play critical roles in the energy transition as NIPSCO continues to deliver a reliable, diverse and sustainable energy mix, bringing customer, environmental and economic benefits.
“We are pleased to announce the completion of this transaction and are excited about the long term partnership we have entered into with Blackstone,” said NiSource president and CEO, Lloyd Yates. “The transaction strengthens our balance sheet, supports our financing plan and provides greater flexibility to execute on high-quality capital investments that will enhance the safety, reliability and sustainability of our gas and electric systems for the benefit of our customers. It’s important to reinforce that our commitment to Indiana remains unchanged, and we will continue to drive sustainable growth for our stakeholders. This financing transaction will have no impact on NIPSCO's current strategic direction or on our commitment to our gas and electric customers in Indiana.”
“We are incredibly excited to close this transaction and to begin our long-term partnership with NiSource and NIPSCO,” said Sebastien Sherman, Senior Managing Director, Blackstone Infrastructure. “This investment underscores Blackstone’s commitment to decarbonization to create value for our investors and our desire to help facilitate the reindustrialization of the Midwest. We are excited to invest behind NIPSCO, one of the fastest growing utilities in the country with one of the nation’s fastest decarbonization plans. Blackstone looks forward to supporting the vital role that NIPSCO plays in communities across Northern Indiana.”
NIPSCO is Indiana's largest vertically integrated electric and gas distribution company, providing critical utility service to almost 1.3 million customers in an economically robust service territory, with a proven track record of providing value for its customers. NIPSCO is at the forefront of the energy transition and is developing one of the lowest-cost portfolios of renewable energy projects, the majority of which are utility-owned, and intends to retire all coal-fired generation by the end of 2028. These near-term renewable and generation transition investments add to a multi-decade capital plan with the goal to significantly grow NIPSCO's rate base through investments across gas, electric transmission and distribution and electric generation, which should drive significant continued value for NIPSCO's customers. NIPSCO operates in Indiana, one of the most constructive utility jurisdictions in the United States, with strong support for utility-owned generation and affordable energy, and a strong economic service territory benefitting from on shoring and migration trends as well as robust development.
Advisors
Lazard Freres & Co. LLC served as lead financial advisor, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC served as co-financial advisor and McGuireWoods LLP served as legal counsel to NiSource. Barclays served as financial advisor and Latham & Watkins LLP and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP served as co-legal counsel to Blackstone. Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation provided committed financing for the transaction.
About NiSource
NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) is one of the largest fully-regulated utility companies in the United States, serving approximately 3.3 million natural gas customers and 500,000 electric customers across six states through its local Columbia Gas and NIPSCO brands. The mission of our approximately 7,200 employees is to deliver safe, reliable energy that drives value to our customers. NiSource is a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability - North America Index, has been named as one of TIME Magazine’s World’s Best Companies and is on Forbes list of America’s Best Employers for Diversity. Learn more about NiSource’s record of leadership in sustainability, investments in the communities it serves and how we live our vision to be an innovative and trusted energy partner at www.NiSource.com. NI-F
About Blackstone Infrastructure Partners
Blackstone Infrastructure Partners is an active investor across energy, transportation, digital infrastructure and water and waste infrastructure sectors. We seek to apply a long-term buy and-hold strategy to large-scale infrastructure assets with a focus on delivering stable, long-term capital appreciation together with a predictable annual cash flow yield. Our approach to infrastructure investing is one that focuses on responsible stewardship and stakeholder engagement to create value for our investors and the communities we serve.