Duke bids $13.7 billion for Progress

The deal would create the countryÂ’s largest utility, with $22.7 billion in revenue and more than 7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.

The boards of both companies unanimously approved the all-stock deal, which is expected to increase profit in the first year.

“Our industry is entering a building phase where we must invest in an array of new technologies to reduce our environmental footprints and become more efficient,” James E. Rogers, the chairman, president and chief executive of Duke Energy, said in a statement. “By merging our companies, we can do that more economically for our customers, improve shareholder value and continue to grow.”

It is the latest in a wave of utility deals, as companies seek to cut costs and combat falling prices by increasing their customer bases. Energy and power deals made up the biggest share of merger activity in 2010, accounting for 20 percent of announced takeovers, based on Thomson Reuters data.

Duke bought Cinergy of Ohio in 2005 in a $9 billion all-stock deal.

Shares in Progress have risen more than 3 percent since DealReporter first reported on potential deal talks on January 6. The companyÂ’s stock closed at $44.72 on January 7 The $47.48 a share bid is 6.4 percent above the average closing share price of Progress Energy in the 20 days through January 7.

The companies hope to complete the deal by the end of 2011. Several regulators will have to sign off, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and two state authorities.

If the deal is cleared, Mr. Rogers is expected to become executive chairman, a role in which he would advise the chief executive on strategy and be the companyÂ’s main voice on energy policy.

William D. Johnson, the chairman, president and chief executive officer of Progress Energy would become president and chief executive of the newly formed company, to be called Duke Energy.

“This combination of two outstanding companies is a natural fit,” Mr. Johnson said in a statement. “It makes clear strategic sense and creates exceptional value for our shareholders.”

Duke was advised by JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. Progress was advised by Lazard, Barclays Capital and the law firm Hunton & Williams.