Centrica Acquires Shares of Enbridge Services Inc. for $1 Billion

In a deal closed on May 7, 2002, Centrica plc (United Kingdom)/Centrica North America (Canada) acquired Enbridge Services Inc. The transaction, valued at $1 billion, more that doubled the customer base of Centrica’s Canadian business. Centrica plc is a leading provider of energy and essential services in the U.K. under AA and British Gas brands. In North America Centrica is the market leader in the unregulated sector of over two million households.

Centrica was represented by in-house counsel Herman Wilton-Siegel and Steve Bodley. The retained as outside counsel the Bennett Jones LLP team of Bruce Barker, Donald Salisbury, Andrew Kingsmill (transitional services), Martine Band and (regulatory), Sharon Duffy (employment) Mark Bain (outsourcing), Martin Kratz (IP, branding/trademarks), Jo-Anne Strekaf (competition), Beth Riley (competition), Stan Ebel (tax), Chris Brown (pensions/benefits) and Nicole Riggs (due diligence). Additional U.S. advice was given by Richard Willoughby of Torys’ New York office. Enbridge was represented by in-house counsel David Purdy, and by Richard Shaw, Ian Palm, Doug Ewens (tax), Danielle Buh (IP), Lori Anne Heckbert (Transistional services), Greg Winfield (Pensions/Benefits) and Paula McMullan of McCarhty Tetrault LLP.