The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Friday cleared the transfer of operating licenses for Constellation Energy Group Inc. (CEG) nuclear-power plants to the joint venture created by the purchase of half the company's nuclear business by Electricite de France SA (EDF.FR).

Completion of the $4.5 billion deal, struck in December, has been delayed pending various regulatory approvals. Once completed, EDF would own 49.99% of the nuclear business, with Baltimore-based Constellation owning the remaining 50.01% through two intermediate companies.

The NRC placed several conditions on the deal, including requiring that at least half the board members of the nuclear company, Constellation Energy Nuclear Group, be U.S. citizens. NRC rules prohibit nuclear licenses from being owned, controlled or dominated by a foreign individual or company. The nuclear unit's chief executive, chief nuclear officer and chairman of the board must also be U.S. citizens, the NRC said in a press release.

-By Mark Long, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2145; mark.long@dowjones.com