The transaction announced Monday by the two North Carolina company would create a business with about 7.1 million electric customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.

It would also have a sizable business in nuclear energy.

Under the agreement, Progress Energy’s shareholders will receive 2.6125 shares of common stock of Duke Energy in exchange for each share of Progress Energy common stock.

Based on Duke Energy’s closing share price on Friday, Duke said Progress Energy shareholders would get stock worth about $46.48 per share, or $13.7 billion.

That represents a 7.1 percent premium to the closing stock price of Progress Energy last Wednesday.

Duke Energy also will assume approximately $12.2 billion in Progress Energy net debt.

Progress Energy shares rose 68 cents to $45.40 in pre-market trading Monday, while Duke edged up 5 cents to $17.84.