Transactions help support local business and keep dollars in the local economy

PECO and its parent company, Exelon Corporation, have arranged $123 million in credit lines with 31 minority and community-owned banks in PECO’s service area and other regions where Exelon operates. These transactions help to grow local businesses and keep valuable dollars in the local economies.

Exelon’s minority and community banking program, which began in 2003, remains unique in the energy industry. Locally, the United Bank of Philadelphia served as a lead arranger for the $34 million credit facility for PECO. Administered by JP Morgan Chase since its inception, the program has more than tripled in credit facility size and quadrupled the number of participating banks.

In a challenging economic climate, Craig Adams, PECO president and CEO, said these agreements provide PECO and Exelon with an additional source of credit at competitive prices while offering minority and community banks an opportunity to grow their relationships with Fortune 500 companies. Adams added that these agreements are part of PECO and Exelon’s ongoing efforts to engage minority-owned firms, demonstrate their commitment to diversity and inclusion in all business relationships, and provide greater opportunity for minority banks to participate in major transactions.

“Supplier diversity is an important part of our diversity and inclusion strategy,” said Adams. “Diversity and inclusion are about increasing opportunities and ensuring broad access, not just in terms of how we hire, but as a fundamental way of doing business every day.”

“We are pleased to facilitate a relationship between minority and community banks and a large money center bank in order to accomplish an important business objective,” said Phil Barnett, PECO senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer. “This working partnership is unique, and we’re proud to have played a role.”

“Syndicated credit facilities have a direct impact on the bottom line at minority and community banks, improving our capacity to serve our customers,” said Evelyn F. Smalls, United Bank of Philadelphia president and CEO. “Exelon has demonstrated vision and leadership in extending this opportunity to our institutions – we hope other companies will follow their example.”

Exelon and PECO have demonstrated a commitment to supplier diversity and have made it a critical part of the company’s overall supply chain strategy. In 2013, PECO spent $102 million with diversity-certified suppliers, equaling 15 percent of its supply contracting totals. PECO spent $76 million, or 11 percent, of the total spend with diversity-certified prime contractors and service providers based in Pennsylvania. Exelon’s corporate spending with certified minority- and women-owned businesses reached more than $906 million in 2013.

Based in Philadelphia, PECO is an electric and natural gas utility subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC). PECO serves 1.6 million electric and more than 500,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania and employs about 2,400 people in the region. PECO delivered 85.7 billion cubic feet of natural gas and 37.8 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2013. Founded in 1881, PECO is one of the Greater Philadelphia Region's most active corporate citizens, providing leadership, volunteer and financial support to numerous arts and culture, education, environmental, economic development and community programs and organizations. For more information visit PECO.com, and connect with the company on Facebook and Twitter.

If you are a member of the media and would like to receive PECO news releases via e-mail please send your e-mail address to PECO.Communication@exeloncorp.com

PECOBen Armstrong, 215-841-4137 or 215-841-5555benjamin.armstrong@exeloncorp.com

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