Blackstone merger advances with bigger concessions; $400M equity raise dilutes
Blackstone merger concessions could win regulatory approval TXNM and Blackstone asked New Mexico regulators to let them refile their merger application with more than double the customer rate credits ($220M) and a nearly $5B grid investment pledge. If approved, Blackstone still pays $61.25 per share in cash, which supports the stock price.
This is the main event driving TXNM: the merger's path to approval and the cash price shareholders would receive.
$400M stock sale dilutes shareholders about 6.4% TXNM sold 7.08 million new shares at $56.50 to raise $400M, mainly to repay a term loan. This increases the share count by about 6.9%, so each existing share owns a smaller slice of the company and earnings per share could fall if the Blackstone deal is delayed or fails.
The equity offering is the period's biggest new financial event and directly pressures the share price through dilution.
Public-ownership debate adds uncertainty to merger review Opponents of Blackstone's purchase want New Mexico to study taking a public stake in the utilities instead, or to impose tough conditions. This keeps the deal's outcome uncertain, which can hold the stock below the $61.25 offer price until regulators decide.
It is the main counterweight to the merger and explains why the stock may not fully reflect the offer price.
Dividend maintained, but weak growth raises sustainability questions TXNM declared its regular $0.4225 quarterly dividend, a steady return to shareholders. However, revenue, earnings and EBITDA have shrunk over recent years, so the payout uses a high share of profits and future increases may be harder to fund.
The dividend is a recurring shareholder-return signal, and the weak growth metrics are the honest caveat readers need.