NRG Energy, Inc. Reports Second Quarter Results and Reaffirms 2017 Financial Guidance

NRG Energy, Inc. Reports Second Quarter Results and Reaffirms 2017 Financial Guidance

Key Highlights

• Launched Transformation Plan targeting cost savings, asset sales and debt reduction
• Reaffirming 2017 Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow before Growth (FCFbG) guidance
• Closed drop down of remaining 25% interest in NRG Wind TE Holdco to NRG Yield; offered 38 MW portfolio of distributed and small utility-scale solar assets to NRG Yield; offered NRG Yield the opportunity to form a new distributed solar partnership
• Reached agreement with creditors to restructure GenOn Energy, Inc. and its subsidiaries through consensual bankruptcy process

NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG) today reported second quarter income from continuing operations of $99 million. The loss from continuing operations for the first six months in 2017 of $70 million, or $0.05 per diluted common share, compared to a loss from continuing operations of $220 million, or $0.34 per diluted common share for the first six months in 2016. Adjusted EBITDA for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, was $685 million and $1,071 million, respectively. Year-to-date cash from continuing operations totaled $112 million.

“NRG delivered another quarter of solid operational and financial performance,” said Mauricio Gutierrez, NRG President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are fully engaged in implementing the Transformation Plan we announced in July that will enhance our leading integrated platform, provide a low-cost structure, and create a best-in-class balance sheet needed to thrive in all market cycles.”

Consolidated Financial Results

GenOn's results are excluded from the results for three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and for 2016 following the bankruptcy filing of GenOn and certain of its subsidiaries on June 14, 2017. As a result, NRG no longer consolidates GenOn and its subsidiaries for financial reporting purposes.

Segment Results

Table 1: Income/(Loss) from Continuing Operations

^{1. In accordance with GAAP, 2016 results have been restated to include full impact of the assets in the NRG Yield Drop Down transactions which closed on September 1, 2016, and March 27, 2017.}

^{2. Includes mark-to-market gains and losses of economic hedges.}

Table 2: Adjusted EBITDA

^{1. Generation regional Reg G reconciliations are included in Appendices A-1 through A-4.}

^{2. In accordance with GAAP, 2016 results have been restated to include full impact of the assets in the NRG Yield Drop Down transactions, which closed on September 1, 2016, and March 27, 2017.}

^{3. See Appendices A-1 through A-4 for Operating Segment Reg G reconciliations.}

Generation: Second quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $152 million, $51 million lower than second quarter 2016 primarily driven by:

• Gulf Coast Region: $70 million decrease due primarily to lower realized energy margins in Texas from lower hedged prices and higher coal transportation costs, which was partially offset by lower operating expenses in South Central
• East/West¹: $19 million increase following the distribution from our Doga (Turkey) asset and favorable trading results in BETM

Retail: Second quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $203 million, $13 million lower than second quarter 2016 due primarily to lower margins from mild weather and higher supply costs, which was partially offset by customer growth and reduced operating costs.

Renewables: Second quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $56 million, $23 million higher than second quarter 2016 due to higher solar and wind generation, and insurance recoveries at Ivanpah for property damage incurred during 2016.

NRG Yield: Second quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $270 million, $13 million higher than second quarter 2016 due to the acquisition of the Utah utility-scale solar assets, partially offset by a forced outage at Walnut Creek.

Corporate: Second quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $4 million, $15 million higher than the second quarter 2016 due to the elimination of operating losses at residential solar following its full wind down of operations.

^{1 Includes International, BETM and generation eliminations.}

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Table 3: Corporate Liquidity

^{1. Includes unrestricted cash held at Midwest Generation (a non-guarantor subsidiary), which can be distributed to NRG without limitation.}

NRG-Level Cash as of June 30, 2017, was $514 million, a decrease of $56 million from December 31, 2016, and $1.5 billion was available under the Company’s credit facilities at the end of the second quarter 2017. Total liquidity was $2.7 billion, including restricted cash and cash at non-guarantor subsidiaries (primarily NRG Yield).

NRG Strategic Developments

Transformation Plan

On July 12, 2017, NRG announced its Transformation Plan designed to significantly strengthen earnings and cost competitiveness, lower risk and volatility, and create significant shareholder value. The three-part, three-year plan is comprised of the following targets:

Operations and cost excellence — Cost savings and margin enhancement of $1,065 million recurring, which consists of $590 million of annual cost savings, $215 million net margin enhancement program, $50 million annual reduction in maintenance capital expenditures, and $210 million in permanent SG&A reduction associated with asset sales.

Portfolio optimization — Targeting $2.5-$4.0 billion of asset sale net cash proceeds, including divestitures of 6 GWs of conventional generation and businesses (excluding GenOn) and the monetization of 50-100% of its interest in NRG Yield, Inc. and its renewables platform.

Capital structure and allocation — A prioritized capital allocation strategy that targets a reduction in consolidated total (net) debt from $19.5 billion ($18 billion, net) to $6.5 billion ($6 billion, net). Following the completion of the contemplated asset sales, the Company expects $4.8-$6.3 billion in excess cash to be available for allocation through 2020 after achieving its targeted 3.0x net debt / Adjusted EBITDA corporate credit ratio.

The Company expects to fully implement the Transformation Plan by the end of 2020, with significant completion by the end of 2018. The plan also expects to realize (i) $370 million non-recurring working capital improvements through 2020 and (ii) approximately $290 million in one-time costs to achieve.

The full Board of Directors will maintain oversight of the execution of the Transformation Plan with monthly updates provided to the Board’s Finance and Risk Management Committee. A scorecard will be provided to the investment community and will be updated on future quarterly earnings calls.

NRG Yield Drop Downs

On August 1, 2017, the Company closed on the sale of its remaining 25% interest in NRG Wind TE Holdco, a portfolio of 12 wind projects, to NRG Yield for total cash consideration of $41.5 million, excluding working capital adjustments. The transaction also includes potential additional payments to NRG dependent upon actual energy prices for merchant periods beginning in 2027.

The Company offered NRG Yield a 38 MW portfolio of distributed and small utility-scale solar assets, primarily comprised of assets from NRG's Solar Power Partners (SPP) funds, in addition to other projects developed since the acquisition of SPP. NRG’s interest in SPP is not part of the ROFO Agreement.

In addition, NRG offered NRG Yield, Inc. the opportunity to form a new distributed solar partnership enabling up to $50 million in investment by NRG Yield, Inc.

GenOn Energy Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing

On June 12, 2017, NRG, GenOn and certain of its subsidiaries, and the ad hoc group of Noteholders entered into a restructuring support agreement (RSA). Pursuant to the RSA, on June 14, 2017, GenOn, GenOn Americas Generation and certain of their directly and indirectly-owned subsidiaries, (collectively the GenOn Entities) filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division.

As a result of the bankruptcy filings and beginning on June 14, 2017, GenOn and its subsidiaries were deconsolidated from NRG’s consolidated financial statements. NRG has determined that this disposal of GenOn and its subsidiaries is a discontinued operation; and, accordingly, the financial information for all historical periods have been recast to reflect GenOn as a discontinued operation. In connection with the disposal, NRG has recorded a loss on disposal of $208 million during the three months ended June 30, 2017.

2017 Guidance

After adjusting for the deconsolidation of GenOn and the impact of the Transformation Plan on 2017 as announced on July 12, 2017, NRG is reaffirming its guidance range for fiscal year 2017 with respect to both Adjusted EBITDA and FCFbG.

Table 4: 2017 Adjusted EBITDA and FCF before Growth Investments Guidance

^{1. Non-GAAP financial measure; see Appendix Tables A-1 through A-5 for GAAP Reconciliation to Net Income that excludes fair value adjustments related to derivatives. The Company is unable to provide guidance for Net Income due to the impact of such fair value adjustments related to derivatives in a given year.}

Capital Allocation Update

On July 20, 2017, NRG declared a quarterly dividend on the company's common stock of $0.03 per share, payable August 15, 2017, to stockholders of record as of August 1, 2017, representing $0.12 on an annualized basis.

The Company’s common stock dividend, debt reduction and share repurchases are subject to available capital, market conditions and compliance with associated laws and regulations.

Earnings Conference Call

On August 3, 2017, NRG will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m. Eastern to discuss these results. Investors, the news media and others may access the live webcast of the conference call and accompanying presentation materials by logging on to NRG’s website at http://www.nrg.com and clicking on “Investors.” The webcast will be archived on the site for those unable to listen in real time.

About NRG

NRG is the leading integrated power company in the U.S., built on the strength of our diverse competitive electric generation portfolio and leading retail electricity platform. A Fortune 500 company, NRG creates value through best in class operations, reliable and efficient electric generation, and a retail platform serving residential and commercial businesses. Working with electricity customers, large and small, we implement sustainable solutions for producing and managing energy, developing smarter energy choices and delivering exceptional service as our retail electricity providers serve almost three million residential and commercial customers throughout the country. More information is available at www.nrg.com. Connect with NRG Energy on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @nrgenergy.

Safe Harbor Disclosure

In addition to historical information, the information presented in this communication includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These statements involve estimates, expectations, projections, goals, assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties and can typically be identified by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “objective,” “projection,” “forecast,” “goal,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “expect,” “intend,” “seek,” “plan,” “think,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “predict,” “target,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the Company’s future revenues, income, indebtedness, capital structure, plans, expectations, objectives, projected financial performance and/or business results and other future events, and views of economic and market conditions.

Although NRG believes that its expectations are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct, and actual results may vary materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated herein include, among others, general economic conditions, hazards customary in the power industry, weather conditions, including wind and solar performance, competition in wholesale power markets, the volatility of energy and fuel prices, failure of customers to perform under contracts, changes in the wholesale power markets, changes in government regulations, the condition of capital markets generally, our ability to access capital markets, unanticipated outages at our generation facilities, adverse results in current and future litigation, failure to identify, execute or successfully implement acquisitions, repowerings or asset sales, our ability to implement value enhancing improvements to plant operations and companywide processes, our ability to implement and execute on our publicly announced transformation plan, including any cost savings, margin enhancement, asset sale, and net debt targets, our ability to proceed with projects under development or the inability to complete the construction of such projects on schedule or within budget, risks related to project siting, financing, construction, permitting, government approvals and the negotiation of project development agreements, our ability to progress development pipeline projects, the timing or completion of the GenOn restructuring, the inability to maintain or create successful partnering relationships, our ability to operate our businesses efficiently, our ability to retain retail customers, our ability to realize value through our commercial operations strategy and the creation of NRG Yield, the ability to successfully integrate businesses of acquired companies, our ability to realize anticipated benefits of transactions (including expected cost savings and other synergies) or the risk that anticipated benefits may take longer to realize than expected, our ability to close the Drop Down transactions with NRG Yield, and our ability to execute our Capital Allocation Plan. Debt and share repurchases may be made from time to time subject to market conditions and other factors, including as permitted by United States securities laws. Furthermore, any common stock dividend is subject to available capital and market conditions.

NRG undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. The adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow guidance are estimates as of August 3, 2017. These estimates are based on assumptions the company believed to be reasonable as of that date. NRG disclaims any current intention to update such guidance, except as required by law. The foregoing review of factors that could cause NRG’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the forward-looking statements included in this presentation should be considered in connection with information regarding risks and uncertainties that may affect NRG's future results included in NRG's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.

Appendix Table A-1: Second Quarter 2017 Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation by Operating Segment

The following table summarizes the calculation of Adj. EBITDA and provides a reconciliation to income/(loss) from continuing operations:

^{(a) Includes International, BETM and generation eliminations.}

Second Quarter 2017 condensed financial information by Operating Segment:

^{(a) Includes International, BETM and generation eliminations.}

^{(b) Excludes deactivation costs of $4 million.}

^{(c) Excludes reorganization costs of $9 million.}

The following table reconciles the condensed financial information to Adjusted EBITDA:

^{(a) Other adj. includes reorganization costs of $9 million.}

Appendix Table A-2: Second Quarter 2016 Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation by Operating Segment

The following table summarizes the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA and provides a reconciliation to income/(loss) from continuing operations:

^{(a) Includes International, BETM and generation eliminations.}

Second Quarter 2016 condensed financial information by Operating Segment:

^{(a) Includes International, BETM and generation eliminations.}

^{(b) Excludes deactivation costs of $5 million.}

^{(c) Excludes reorganization costs of $9 million.}

^{(d) Excludes loss on sale of business of $83 million, loss on debt extinguishment of $80 million, and impairments of $56 million.}

The following table reconciles the condensed financial information to Adjusted EBITDA:

^{(a) Other adj. includes reorganization costs of $9 million.}

^{(b) Other adj. includes loss on sale of business of $83 million, loss on debt extinguishment of $80 million, and impairments of $56 million.}

Appendix Table A-3: YTD Second Quarter 2017 Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation by Operating Segment

The following table summarizes the calculation of Adj. EBITDA and provides a reconciliation to income/(loss) from continuing operations:

^{(a) Includes International, BETM and generation eliminations.}

YTD Second Quarter 2017 condensed financial information by Operating Segment:

^{(a) Includes International, BETM and generation eliminations.}

^{(b) Excludes deactivation costs of $5 million.}

^{(c) Excludes reorganization costs of $16 million.}

^{(d) Excludes impairments of $63 million, acquisition-related transaction & integration costs of $8 million, and loss on debt extinguishment of $2 million.}

The following table reconciles the condensed financial information to Adjusted EBITDA:

^{(a) Other adj. includes reorganization costs of $16 million.}

^{(b) Other adj. includes impairments of $63 million, acquisition-related transaction & integration costs of $8 million, and loss on debt extinguishment of $2 million.}

Appendix Table A-4: YTD Second Quarter 2016 Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation by Operating Segment

The following table summarizes the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA and provides a reconciliation to income/(loss) from continuing operations:

^{(a) Includes International, BETM and generation eliminations.}

YTD Second Quarter 2016 condensed financial information by Operating Segment:

^{(a) Includes International, BETM and generation eliminations.}

^{(b) Excludes deactivation costs of $13 million.}

^{(c) Excludes reorganization costs of $19 million.}

^{(d) Excludes loss on sale of business of $83 million, loss on debt extinguishment of $69 million, impairments of $56 million, and acquisition-related transaction & integration costs of $7 million.}

The following table reconciles the condensed financial information to Adjusted EBITDA:

^{(a) Other adj. includes reorganization costs of $19 million.}

^{(a) Other adj. includes loss on sale of business of $83 million, loss on debt extinguishment of $69 million, impairments of $56 million, and acquisition-related transaction & integration costs of $7 million.}

Appendix Table A-5: 2017 and 2016 QTD and YTD Second Quarter Adjusted Cash Flow from Operations Reconciliations

The following table summarizes the calculation of adjusted cash flow operating activities providing a reconciliation to net cash provided by operating activities:

^{(1) 2016 includes cost-to-achieve expenses associated with the $150 million savings announced on September 2015 call.}

^{(2) Includes insurance proceeds of $27 million in 2016}

^{(1) 2016 includes cost-to-achieve expenses associated with the $150 million savings announced on September 2015 call.}

^{(2) Reflects change in NRG’s cash collateral balance as of 2Q2017 including $79MM of collateral postings from our deconsolidated affiliate (GenOn)}

^{(3) Includes insurance proceeds of $18 million and $30 million in 2017 and 2016, respectively}

Appendix Table A-6: Second Quarter YTD 2017 Sources and Uses of Liquidity

The following table summarizes the sources and uses of liquidity through second quarter of 2017:

^{(1) Reflects change in NRG’s cash collateral balance as of 2Q2017 including $79MM of collateral postings from our deconsolidated affiliate (GenOn)}

^{(2) Includes insurance proceeds of $18 million.}

Appendix Table A-7: 2017 Adjusted EBITDA Guidance Reconciliation

The following table summarizes the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA providing reconciliation to net income:

^{(1) For purposes of guidance, fair value adjustments related to derivatives are assumed to be zero.}

^{(2) Includes deactivation costs, gain on sale of businesses, asset write-offs, impairments and other non-recurring charges}.

Appendix Table A-8: 2017 FCFbG Guidance Reconciliation

The following table summarizes the calculation of Free Cash Flow before Growth providing reconciliation to Cash from Operations:

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures. These measurements are not recognized in accordance with GAAP and should not be viewed as an alternative to GAAP measures of performance. The presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that NRG’s future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items.

EBITDA represents net income before interest (including loss on debt extinguishment), taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is presented because NRG considers it an important supplemental measure of its performance and believes debt-holders frequently use EBITDA to analyze operating performance and debt service capacity. EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our operating results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are:

• EBITDA does not reflect cash expenditures, or future requirements for capital expenditures, or contractual commitments;
• EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, working capital needs;
• EBITDA does not reflect the significant interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on debt or cash income tax payments;
• Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements; and
• Other companies in this industry may calculate EBITDA differently than NRG does, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.

Because of these limitations, EBITDA should not be considered as a measure of discretionary cash available to use to invest in the growth of NRG’s business. NRG compensates for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA only supplementally. See the statements of cash flow included in the financial statements that are a part of this news release.

Adjusted EBITDA is presented as a further supplemental measure of operating performance. As NRG defines it, Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA excluding impairment losses, gains or losses on sales, dispositions or retirements of assets, any mark-to-market gains or losses from accounting for derivatives, adjustments to exclude the Adjusted EBITDA related to the non-controlling interest, gains or losses on the repurchase, modification or extinguishment of debt, the impact of restructuring and any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring items plus adjustments to reflect the Adjusted EBITDA from our unconsolidated investments. The reader is encouraged to evaluate each adjustment and the reasons NRG considers it appropriate for supplemental analysis. As an analytical tool, Adjusted EBITDA is subject to all of the limitations applicable to EBITDA. In addition, in evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, the reader should be aware that in the future NRG may incur expenses similar to the adjustments in this news release.

Management believes Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors and other users of NRG's financial statements in evaluating its operating performance because it provides an additional tool to compare business performance across companies and across periods and adjusts for items that we do not consider indicative of NRG’s future operating performance. This measure is widely used by debt-holders to analyze operating performance and debt service capacity and by equity investors to measure our operating performance without regard to items such as interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization, which can vary substantially from company to company depending upon accounting methods and book value of assets, capital structure and the method by which assets were acquired. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA as a measure of operating performance to assist in comparing performance from period to period on a consistent basis and to readily view operating trends, as a measure for planning and forecasting overall expectations, and for evaluating actual results against such expectations, and in communications with NRG's Board of Directors, shareholders, creditors, analysts and investors concerning its financial performance.

Adjusted cash flow from operating activities is a non-GAAP measure NRG provides to show cash from operations with the reclassification of net payments of derivative contracts acquired in business combinations from financing to operating cash flow, as well as the add back of merger, integration and related restructuring costs. The Company provides the reader with this alternative view of operating cash flow because the cash settlement of these derivative contracts materially impact operating revenues and cost of sales, while GAAP requires NRG to treat them as if there was a financing activity associated with the contracts as of the acquisition dates. The Company adds back merger, integration related restructuring costs as they are one time and unique in nature and do not reflect ongoing cash from operations and they are fully disclosed to investors.

Free cash flow (before Growth Investments) is adjusted cash flow from operations less maintenance and environmental capital expenditures, net of funding, preferred stock dividends and distributions to non-controlling interests and is used by NRG predominantly as a forecasting tool to estimate cash available for debt reduction and other capital allocation alternatives. The reader is encouraged to evaluate each of these adjustments and the reasons NRG considers them appropriate for supplemental analysis. Because we have mandatory debt service requirements (and other non-discretionary expenditures) investors should not rely on Free Cash Flow before Growth Investments as a measure of cash available for discretionary expenditures.

Free Cash Flow before Growth Investments is utilized by Management in making decisions regarding the allocation of capital. Free Cash Flow before Growth Investment is presented because the Company believes it is a useful tool for assessing the financial performance in the current period. In addition, NRG’s peers evaluate cash available for allocation in a similar manner and accordingly, it is a meaningful indicator for investors to benchmark NRG's performance against its peers. Free Cash Flow before Growth Investment is a performance measure and is not intended to represent net income (loss), cash from operations (the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure), or liquidity and is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

NRG Energy, Inc.
Media:
Sheri Woodruff, 609-524-4608
or
Marijke Shugrue, 609-524-5262
or
Investors:
Kevin L. Cole, CFA, 609-524-4526
or
Lindsey Puchyr, 609-524-4527

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