DTE Energy is locked in discussions with three companies, including Trans-Elect, the only for-profit independent transmission outfit in the U.S., to divest its Michigan-based wires unit, International Transmission System and hopes to finalize a preferred bidder this month. Dave Meador, cfo at DTE, told PFR at Lehman Brothers' CEO Energy/Power Conference in New York last week, that it plans to whittle down the shortlist to one bidder imminently and announce a sale by year-end. Beyond Trans-Elect, Meador declined to reveal the other bidders, but characterized one as a financial player. He adds the wires unit has a book value of $375 million.
September 08, 2002