Panda Energy International, Inc. was an Americanprivately held company headquartered in Dallas, Texas which constructs, maintains and operates environmentally friendlypower plants. The organization has been recognised by Newsweek magazine as one of the top ten eco-friendly energy companies in America. As of 2010, it has been affiliated with Panda Power Funds. Panda Energy informed its shareholders that it would shut down at the end of 2018.
History
Panda Energy, headquartered in Dallas, Texas was founded in 1982 and has financed, constructed and operated large-scale energy facilities both domestically and internationally. The company built the two largest gas-fueled merchant electric generation facilities in the United States totaling 4,400 megawatts of generating capacity; was responsible for the first U.S sponsored, internationally financed run-of-the-river hydroelectric project in the Himalayan nation of Nepal; and obtained the first U.S. capital markets financing for construction of a power plant in the People’s Republic of China. Altogether, the company has raised over U.S. $4.9 billion to develop and build more than 9,000 megawatts of generating capacity. Through a combination of financing, construction and operational activities, Panda Energy is involved in the creative developing, structuring, and financing of complex, capital-intensive energy projects that represent more than 9,000 megawatts of clean gas technology with a total cost of more than $5 billion in financing. Panda Energy designs, builds and in some cases administers power plants, with a focus on renewable energy sources such as agricultural products, ethanol, clean coal, biofuel and hydro. The Carter family have owned a controlling stake in the company ever since, making Panda Energy a family business. Robert W. Carter has been the chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Panda Energy International Inc., holding company offices as manager of Panda Rosemary, LLC. He serves as the chairman and chief executive officer of Panda Global Energy Company. He has held similar chief executive positions with Panda Energy Corporation, a subsidiary of Panda International and its subsidiaries since he founded PEC in 1982. Carter also is president of Robert Carter Oil & Gas, Inc., which he founded in 1980. From 1978 to 1980, Carter was vice president of oil and gas lease sales for Reserve Energy Corporation. From 1974 to 1978, he served as a marketing consultant to Forward Products, Inc.. Carter was executive vice president of Blasco Industries from 1970 to 1974. He served as a sales representative and sales manager for Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation from 1965 to 1970. From 1960 to 1965, he was a sales representative for Inland, Mead Paper Company in Atlanta. He has been the chairman and director of Panda Ethanol Inc. since November 6, 2006. Carter serves as director of Panda Energy International Inc. Carter attended the University of Georgia.
TNA Entertainment, LLC.
In October 2002, Panda Energy purchased a controlling interest of the Nashville, Tennessee-based professional wrestling promotionTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling from founder and CEOJerry Jarrett. The seemingly unlikely acquisition came about after TNA publicistDixie Carter, the daughter of Robert W. Carter, contacted her father and persuaded him to purchase the company. On October 31, 2002, Panda Energy created the limited liability company TNA Entertainment in order to administer TNA. While Jeff Jarrett, the former president of TNA, was appointed vice president, the majority of other management positions were filled by former Panda executives. Chris Sobol, the Panda manager of business development, was appointed vice president of operations, and Frank Dickerson was appointed chief executive officer, while Dixie Carter was made president. On September 16, 2015, it was reported that Jarrett's minority ownership has been bought out, meaning that he is, as of now, 100% divested of the promotion and Panda Energy has full control of it. As of April 18, 2016, it's been reported that, upon Jarrett selling his stake in TNA, Panda Energy completely divested themselves of TNA, resulting in Panda Energy founder Robert Carter and president and chief executive officer Janice Carter's daughter, Dixie, acquiring both Jarrett & Panda Energy's ownership interests, resulting in her becoming owner, as well as continuing as president. On September 6, 2018, Panda chairman Janice Carter sent what she referred to as "this final shareholder letter." The letter states, "Independent power companies can no longer compete in today's power market against government subsidized renewables, such as wind." Panda Energy International, Inc. will officially shut down its operations by the end of the year. Over the past 36 years we have returned approximately 20X money to our initial investors. Panda's current assets have an appraised value of approximately $ 7.8 Million which it will endeavor to sell to the highest bidder. If a sale is successful, these funds will then be distributed as a dividend to its Shareholders. She closes by thanking all Shareholders for their support over the years.
