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Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Duke Energy Shareholders Approve Progress Energy Merger




Duke Energy logo. (PRNewsFoto/Duke Energy)

Aug 23, 2011 10:48 ET
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Duke Energy Shareholders Approve Progress Energy Merger

PR Newswire
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) shareholders today overwhelmingly approved the proposed merger with Progress Energy. More than 90 percent of the Duke Energy shares voted supported the proposal.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20040414/DUKEENERGYLOGO )
Duke Energy shareholders specifically approved a 1-for-3 reverse stock split as well as the issuance of Duke Energy common stock to Progress Energy shareholders upon closing of the merger transaction. The reverse stock split is designed to reduce the number of outstanding Duke Energy shares.
Progress Energy shareholders also approved the merger this morning during a separate meeting in Raleigh.
"Our shareholders have voiced their strong support for the merger between these two companies," said Jim Rogers, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Duke Energy. "The merger will increase our ability to more economically modernize our generation fleet and grid while providing significant savings to customers through improved fuel purchasing power and greater plant dispatch efficiency.
"At its core," Rogers continued, "the merger enhances both companies' abilities to ensure strong shareholder value, provide exceptional customer service and deliver affordable and reliable electricity in the face of current high levels of economic, regulatory, and industry uncertainty."
The merger is on track to close by the end of the year. The combined company will be the country's largest utility, with:
  • Approximately $65 billion in enterprise value and $37 billion in market capitalization (as of Dec. 31, 2010)
  • The country's largest regulated customer base, providing service to approximately 7.1 million electric customers in six regulated service territories -- North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio
  • Approximately 57 gigawatts of domestic generating capacity from a diversified mix of coal, nuclear, natural gas, oil and renewable resources
  • The largest regulated nuclear fleet in the country

Bill Johnson, Progress Energy's current chairman, president, and chief executive officer, will take the helm of the new company as the president and chief executive officer upon completion of the merger.
Rogers will serve as executive chairman for two years post merger. He will advise Johnson and the board on strategic matters, play an active role in government relations and technology development, and serve as the company's lead spokesperson on energy policy.
Integration planning is under way, with leaders from both companies assuming key management roles in the new organization.
The companies have made all appropriate regulatory filings and have received approval from some state and federal agencies, with others pending:
  • The companies have satisfied Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Department of Justice review under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.
  • The Kentucky Public Service Commission approved, subject to conditions, the merger application this month.
  • The Federal Communications Commission has approved the transfer of the Progress Energy licenses to Duke Energy.
  • Merger-related hearings are scheduled for Sept. 20 by the N.C. Utilities Commission.
  • A procedural schedule for the Public Service Commission of South Carolina Commission is expected shortly.
  • The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission are expected to issue rulings this fall.

About Duke Energy
Duke Energy is one of the largest electric power holding companies in the United States. Its regulated utility operations serve approximately 4 million customers located in five states in the Southeast and Midwest, representing a population of approximately 11 million people. Its commercial power and international business segments own and operate diverse power generation assets in North America and Latin America, including a growing portfolio of renewable energy assets in the United States. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 500 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available on the Internet at: www.duke-energy.com.
About Progress Energy
Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN), headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a Fortune 500 energy company with about 22,000 megawatts of generation capacity and approximately $10 billion in annual revenues. Progress Energy includes two major electric utilities that serve about 3.1 million customers in the Carolinas and Florida. The company has earned the Edison Electric Institute's Edison Award, the industry's highest honor, in recognition of its operational excellence, and was the first utility to receive the prestigious J.D. Power and Associates Founder's Award for customer service. The company is pursuing a balanced strategy for a secure energy future, which includes aggressive energy-efficiency programs, investments in renewable energy technologies and a state-of-the-art electricity system. Progress Energy celebrated a century of service in 2008. Visit the company's website at: www.progress-energy.com.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "should," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "target," "forecast," and other words and terms of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements involve estimates, expectations, projections, goals, forecasts, assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Progress Energy and Duke Energy caution readers that any forward-looking statement is not a guarantee of future performance and that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statement. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the proposed merger involving Duke Energy and Progress Energy, including future financial and operating results, Progress Energy's or Duke Energy's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, the expected timing of completion of the transaction, and other statements that are not historical facts. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties relating to: the ability to obtain the requisite Duke Energy and Progress Energy shareholder approvals; the risk that Progress Energy or Duke Energy may be unable to obtain governmental and regulatory approvals required for the merger, or required governmental and regulatory approvals may delay the merger or result in the imposition of conditions that could cause the parties to abandon the merger; the risk that a condition to closing of the merger may not be satisfied; the timing to consummate the proposed merger; the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully; the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; disruption from the transaction making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers; the diversion of management time on merger-related issues; general worldwide economic conditions and related uncertainties; the effect of changes in governmental regulations; and other factors discussed or referred to in the "Risk Factors" section of each of Progress Energy's and Duke Energy's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These risks, as well as other risks associated with the merger, are more fully discussed in the joint proxy statement/prospectus that is included in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 that was filed by Duke Energy with the SEC in connection with the merger. Additional risks and uncertainties are identified and discussed in Progress Energy's and Duke Energy's reports filed with the SEC and available at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement and neither Progress Energy nor Duke Energy undertakes any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE MERGER AND WHERE TO FIND IT
In connection with the proposed merger between Duke Energy and Progress Energy, Duke Energy filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that includes a joint proxy statement of Duke Energy and Progress Energy and that also constitutes a prospectus of Duke Energy. The Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC on July 7, 2011. Duke Energy and Progress Energy mailed the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus to their respective shareholders on or about July 11, 2011. Duke Energy and Progress Energy urge investors and shareholders to read the Registration Statement, including the joint proxy statement/prospectus that is a part of the Registration Statement, as well as other relevant documents filed with the SEC, because they contain important information. You may obtain copies of all documents filed with the SEC regarding this transaction, free of charge, at the SEC's website (www.sec.gov). You may also obtain these documents, free of charge, from Duke Energy's website (www.duke-energy.com) under the heading "Investors" and then under the heading "Financials/SEC Filings." You may also obtain these documents, free of charge, from Progress Energy's website (www.progress-energy.com) under the tab "Our Company" by clicking on "Investor Relations," then by clicking on "Corporate Profile" and then by clicking on "SEC Filings."

CONTACTS:

Media
Tom Shiel

800-559-3853


Investors
Stephen De May
704-382-2620

Bill Currens
704- 382-1603



SOURCE Duke Energy
Web Site: http://www.duke-energy.com

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