Clearway Energy, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results

• Signed binding agreement to acquire a 413 MW wind portfolio
• Executed new Resource Adequacy contracts for Marsh Landing; plant now fully contracted through 2026
• Reaffirming 2022 financial guidance and raising pro forma CAFD outlook
• TotalEnergies entered into an agreement to acquire a 50% interest in Clearway’s sponsor from Global Infrastructure Partners
• Increasing the quarterly dividend by 2% to $0.3604per share in the third quarter of 2022, or $1.442 per share annualized
• Continue to target annual dividend per share growth in the upper range of 5% to 8% through 2026

PRINCETON, N.J., Aug. 02, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clearway Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CWEN, CWEN.A) today reported second quarter 2022 financial results, including Net Income of $1,149 million, Adjusted EBITDA of $366 million, Cash from Operating Activities of $186 million, and Cash Available for Distribution (CAFD) of $176 million.

"Clearway’s year to date financial performance is materially in-line with expectations as 2nd quarter consolidated CAFD results were within the Company’s sensitivity range,” said Christopher Sotos, Clearway Energy, Inc.’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “With the binding agreement to acquire the Capistrano wind portfolio, the Company has now committed to, or has line of sight on, the future deployment of over 55% of the $750 million of excess proceeds from the Thermal sale and remains on track to achieve its long-term growth objectives, including the ability to deliver at the upper range of its dividend growth target through 2026.”

Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution used in this press release are non-GAAP measures and are explained in greater detail under “Non-GAAP Financial Information” below.

Overview of Financial and Operating Results

Segment Results

Table 1: Net Income/(Loss)

Table 2: Adjusted EBITDA

Table 3: Cash from Operating Activities and Cash Available for Distribution (CAFD)

For the second quarter of 2022, the Company reported Net Income of $1,149 million, Adjusted EBITDA of $366 million, Cash from Operating Activities of $186 million, and CAFD of $176 million. Net Income increased versus 2021 primarily due to the one-time $1.29 billion gain from the sale of the Thermal Business. Adjusted EBITDA results in the second quarter of 2022 were higher than 2021 as the contribution from growth investments was offset by the disposition of the Thermal Business and the timing of spring outages at the Conventional segment. CAFD results during the second quarter of 2022 were higher than 2021 primarily due to growth investments and the timing of project level debt service from the Viento refinancing, which was completed in March 2022, partially offset by the disposition of the Thermal Business.

Operational Performance

Table 4: Selected Operating Results

In the second quarter of 2022, availability at the Conventional segment was lower than the second quarter of 2021 primarily due to the timing of spring outages versus last year and a forced outage at the El Segundo Energy Center which ended in early July of 2022. Generation in the Renewables segment during the second quarter of 2022 was 31% higher than the second quarter of 2021 primarily due to the contribution of growth investments.

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1 Excludes unconsolidated projects
2 Generation sold excludes MWh that are reimbursable for economic curtailment; volumes do not include the MWh generated/sold by the Company's equity method investments

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Table 5: Liquidity

Total liquidity as of June 30, 2022, was $1,696 million, which was $875 million higher than as of December 31, 2021, primarily due to the proceeds received from the sale of the Thermal Business. This was partially offset by the repayment of $305 million in outstanding borrowings under the Company's revolving credit facility and the $335 million under the Bridge Loan Agreement.

As of June 30, 2022, the Company's liquidity included $333 million of restricted cash. Restricted cash consists primarily of funds to satisfy the requirements of certain debt arrangements and funds held within the Company's projects that are restricted in their use. As of June 30, 2022, these restricted funds were comprised of $143 million designated to fund operating expenses, approximately $42 million designated for current debt service payments, and $122 million of reserves for debt service, performance obligations and other items including capital expenditures. The remaining $26 million is held in distribution reserve accounts.

Potential future sources of liquidity include excess operating cash flow, availability under the revolving credit facility, asset dispositions, and, subject to market conditions, new corporate debt and equity financings.

Divestitures

Thermal Disposition

On May 1, 2022, the Company completed the sale of 100% of its interests in the Thermal Business to KKR for net proceeds of approximately $1.46 billion, inclusive of working capital adjustments, which excludes approximately $18 million in transaction expenses that were incurred in connection with the disposition. The Thermal Disposition resulted in a gain of $1.29 billion. The proceeds from the sale were utilized to repay temporary cash borrowings including $305 million of outstanding borrowings under the Company's revolving credit facility and the $335 million under the Bridge Loan Agreement. The remaining proceeds were invested in short-term investments classified as cash and cash equivalents on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2022.

Growth Investments and Strategic Announcements

Resource Adequacy Agreements at Marsh Landing

In July 2022, the Company contracted with several load serving entities to sell the remaining 20% of Marsh Landing’s available capacity commencing in May 2023. The agreements are for approximately three and a half years. Marsh Landing's capacity is now 100% contracted for a weighted average contract tenor of approximately four years commencing in May 2023 at terms sufficient to maintain project level CAFD in-line with current expectations.

Binding Agreement to Acquire a 413 MW Wind Portfolio

On June 23, 2022, the Company entered into a binding agreement to acquire a portfolio of operating wind projects from Capistrano Wind Partners, LLC (“Capistrano Portfolio”) for, subject to closing adjustments, cash consideration of $255 million, plus the assumption of approximately $160 million of non-recourse debt. The Capistrano Portfolio consists of five utility-scale wind projects representing 413 MW of capacity located in Texas, Nebraska, and Wyoming that achieved commercial operations between 2008 to 2012. The assets within the portfolio sell power under power purchase agreements with investment-grade counterparties that have a weighted average remaining contract duration of approximately 10 years. Concurrent with the acquisition, the Company has also entered into a Development Agreement with Clearway Energy Group ("Clearway Group"), whereby Clearway Group will pay $10 million to the Company to partially fund the acquisition of the Capistrano Portfolio for an exclusive right to develop, construct, and repower the projects in the Capistrano Portfolio (“Rights Fee”)3.

The Company expects its total long-term corporate capital commitment for the acquisition to be approximately $110-130 million4 and is estimated to provide incremental annual levered asset CAFD on a five-year average basis of approximately $12-14 million beginning January 1, 2023. The Company expects the transaction to close in the second half of 2022.

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3 The Development Agreement is subject to certain terms and conditions. Upon the first repowering, if any, the Company will reimburse Clearway Group for the Rights Fee at a pre-agreed internal rate of return
4 Subject to customary working capital and other closing adjustments; the long-term corporate capital commitment factors in estimated closing adjustments, proceeds from the Rights Fee, and new non-recourse debt

TotalEnergies Agreement to Acquire a 50% Interest in Clearway Group

On May 25, 2022, the Company, and its renewable development partner and parent company, Clearway Group, announced that Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) had entered into an agreement whereby TotalEnergies will acquire half of GIP’s interest in Clearway Group. In consideration, GIP will receive $1.6 billion cash consideration (subject to purchase price adjustments) and an approximately 50% interest in the TotalEnergies subsidiary that holds its 51% ownership in SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ: SPWR).

TotalEnergies is expected to enhance growth prospects for the Clearway enterprise by providing (i) a right of first offer on its U.S. onshore renewable assets to the Company and (ii) access to TotalEnergies' power marketing capabilities and corporate relationships to optimize the commercial value of Clearway’s development and operating projects.

The closing of the transaction is subject to customary conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the second half of 2022.

Financing Update

Bridge Loan Agreement

On November 30, 2021, Clearway Energy Operating LLC entered into a senior secured bridge credit agreement, or the Bridge Loan Agreement, that provided for a term loan facility with an aggregate principal amount of $335 million. The borrowings under the Bridge Loan Facility were used to acquire the Utah Solar Portfolio on December 1, 2021. On May 3, 2022, the Company used proceeds from the disposition of the Thermal Business to repay the outstanding principal of $335 million.

Quarterly Dividend

On August 1, 2022, Clearway Energy, Inc.’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend on Class A and Class C common stock of $0.3604 per share payable on September 15, 2022, to stockholders of record as of September 1, 2022.

For 2022, the Company anticipates that, due to the sale of the Thermal Business, it may have positive current year earnings and profits. As a result, a portion of any dividends paid to holders of Class A and Class C common stock in 2022 may be treated as taxable dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Such portion of the dividends that could be treated as taxable will depend upon a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the amount of actual gain from the Thermal business sale, overall business performance, and other business activity during the year.

Seasonality

Clearway Energy, Inc.’s quarterly operating results are impacted by seasonal factors, as well as weather variability which can impact renewable energy resource. Most of the Company's revenues are generated from the months of May through September, as contracted pricing and renewable resources are at their highest levels in the Company’s portfolio. Factors driving the fluctuation in Net Income, Adjusted EBITDA, Cash from Operating Activities, and CAFD include the following:

• Higher summer capacity prices from conventional assets;
• Higher solar insolation during the summer months;
• Higher wind resources during the spring and summer months;
• Debt service payments which are made either quarterly or semi-annually;
• Timing of maintenance capital expenditures and the impact of both unforced and forced outages; and
• Timing of distributions from unconsolidated affiliates

The Company takes into consideration the timing of these factors to ensure sufficient funds are available for distributions and operating activities on a quarterly basis.

Financial Guidance and Pro Forma CAFD Outlook

The Company is reaffirming its 2022 full year CAFD guidance of $365 million. The Company's 2022 financial guidance factors in the contribution of committed growth investments based on current expected closing timelines and the closing of Thermal disposition on May 1, 2022. 2022 CAFD guidance does not factor in the timing of when CAFD is realized from new growth investments pursuant to 5-year averages beyond 2022.

With the effects above, the timing of CAFD realization pursuant to 5-year averages, the acquisition of the Capistrano Portfolio, and asset CAFD across all segments being materially in-line with current profiles, the Company is increasing its pro forma CAFD outlook expectations to approximately $400 million from $385 million.

Financial guidance and the pro forma CAFD outlook continue to be based on median renewable energy production estimates for the full year.

Earnings Conference Call

On August 2, 2022, Clearway Energy, Inc. 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 Clearway Energy, Inc.’s website at http://www.clearwayenergy.com and clicking on “Presentations & Webcasts” under “Investor Relations.”

About Clearway Energy, Inc.

Clearway Energy, Inc. is one of the largest renewable energy owners in the US with over 5,000 net MW of installed wind and solar generation projects. The Company's over 7,500 net MW of assets also include approximately 2,500 net MW of environmentally-sound, highly efficient natural gas generation facilities. Through this environmentally-sound diversified and primarily contracted portfolio, Clearway Energy endeavors to provide its investors with stable and growing dividend income. Clearway Energy’s Class C and Class A common stock are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols CWEN and CWEN.A, respectively. Clearway Energy, Inc. is sponsored by its controlling investor, Global Infrastructure Partners.

Safe Harbor Disclosure

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and typically can be identified by the use of words such as “expect,” “estimate,” "target," “anticipate,” “forecast,” “plan,” “outlook,” “believe” and similar terms. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding, the Company’s dividend expectations and its operations, its facilities and its financial results, impacts related to COVID-19 (including any variant of the virus) or any other pandemic, statements regarding the anticipated consummation of the transactions described above, the anticipated benefits, opportunities, and results with respect to the transactions, including the Company’s anticipated future relationship and arrangements with Global Infrastructure Partners, TotalEnergies and Clearway Energy Group, as well as the Company's Net Income, Adjusted EBITDA, Cash from Operating Activities, Cash Available for Distribution, the Company’s future revenues, income, indebtedness, capital structure, strategy, plans, expectations, objectives, projected financial performance and/or business results and other future events, and views of economic and market conditions.

Although Clearway Energy, Inc. believes that the 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 above include, among others, the Company's ability to maintain and grow its quarterly dividend, impacts related to COVID-19 (including any variant of the virus) or any other pandemic, risks relating to the Company's relationships with its sponsors, the failure to identify, execute or successfully implement acquisitions or dispositions (including receipt of third party consents and regulatory approvals), the Company's ability to acquire assets from its sponsors, the Company’s ability to raise additional capital due to its indebtedness, corporate structure, market conditions or otherwise, hazards customary in the power industry, weather conditions, including wind and solar performance, the Company’s ability to operate its businesses efficiently, manage maintenance capital expenditures and costs effectively, and generate earnings and cash flows from its asset-based businesses in relation to its debt and other obligations, the willingness and ability of counterparties to the Company’s offtake agreements to fulfill their obligations under such agreements, the Company's ability to enter into new contracts as existing contracts expire, changes in government regulations, operating and financial restrictions placed on the Company that are contained in the project-level debt facilities and other agreements of the Company and its subsidiaries, cyber terrorism and inadequate cybersecurity and the Company’s ability to borrow additional funds and access capital markets. Furthermore, any dividends are subject to available capital, market conditions, and compliance with associated laws and regulations.

Clearway Energy, Inc. undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The Cash Available for Distribution are estimates as of today’s date, August 2, 2022, and are based on assumptions believed to be reasonable as of this date. Clearway Energy, Inc. expressly disclaims any current intention to update such guidance. The foregoing review of factors that could cause Clearway Energy, Inc.’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the forward-looking statements included in this news release should be considered in connection with information regarding risks and uncertainties that may affect Clearway Energy, Inc.’s future results included in Clearway Energy, Inc.’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. In addition, Clearway Energy, Inc. makes available free of charge at www.clearwayenergy.com, copies of materials it files with, or furnishes to, the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contacts:

CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)

CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)

CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)

CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2022
(Unaudited)

CLEARWAY ENERGY, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2021
(Unaudited)

Appendix Table A-1: Three Months Ended June 30, 2022, Segment Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation
The following table summarizes the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA and provides a reconciliation to Net Income/(Loss):

Appendix Table A-2: Three Months Ended June 30, 2021, Segment Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation
The following table summarizes the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA and provides a reconciliation to Net Income/(Loss):

Appendix Table A-3: Six Months Ended June 30, 2022, Segment Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation
The following table summarizes the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA and provides a reconciliation to Net Income/(Loss):

Appendix Table A-4: Six Months Ended June 30, 2021, Segment Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation
The following table summarizes the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA and provides a reconciliation to Net Income/(Loss):

Appendix Table A-5: Cash Available for Distribution Reconciliation
The following table summarizes the calculation of Cash Available for Distribution and provides a reconciliation to Cash from Operating Activities:

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5 Primarily relates to Thermal Development Expenses
6 2022 excludes $50 million of contributions related to the funding of Mesquite Sky, Black Rock, and Mililani; 2021 excludes $107 million of contributions related to funding of Rattlesnake
7 2022 excludes $660 million for the repayment of the Bridge Loan Facility and revolver payments, $186 million for the refinancing of Tapestry Wind, Laredo Ridge, and Viento, and $27 million for the repayment of bridge loans in connection with Mililani; 2021 excludes $868 million total consideration for the redemption of Corporate Notes and revolver payments and $52 million in connection with Pinnacle repowering

Appendix Table A-6: Six Months Ended June 30, 2022, Sources and Uses of Liquidity
The following table summarizes the sources and uses of liquidity in 2022:

Appendix Table A-7: Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution Guidance and Pro Forma Outlook

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8 Distribution from unconsolidated affiliates can be classified as Return of Investment on Unconsolidated Affiliates when actuals are reported. This is below cash from operating activities
9 Primarily related to Thermal Development Expenses
10 Includes tax equity proceeds and distributions to tax equity partners

Appendix Table A-8: Growth Investments 5 Year Average CAFD

Non-GAAP Financial Information

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, and Cash Available for Distribution (CAFD) 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 non-GAAP financial measures should not be construed as an inference that Clearway Energy’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 Clearway Energy considers it an important supplemental measure of its performance and believes debt and equity 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 Clearway Energy 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 Clearway Energy’s business. Clearway Energy 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. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA adjusted for mark-to-market gains or losses, non-cash equity compensation expense, asset write offs and impairments; and factors which we do not consider indicative of future operating performance such as transition and integration related costs. The reader is encouraged to evaluate each adjustment and the reasons Clearway Energy 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 Clearway Energy may incur expenses similar to the adjustments in this news release.

Management believes Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors and other users of our financial statements in evaluating our operating performance because it provides them with an additional tool to compare business performance across companies and across periods. This measure is widely used by investors to measure a company’s 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.

Additionally, Management believes that investors commonly adjust EBITDA information to eliminate the effect of restructuring and other expenses, which vary widely from company to company and impair comparability. As we define it, Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA adjusted for the effects of impairment losses, gains or losses on sales, non-cash equity compensation expense, dispositions or retirements of assets, any mark-to-market gains or losses from accounting for derivatives, adjustments to exclude gains or losses on the repurchase, modification or extinguishment of debt, and any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring items plus adjustments to reflect the Adjusted EBITDA from our unconsolidated investments. We adjust for these items in our Adjusted EBITDA as our management believes that these items would distort their ability to efficiently view and assess our core operating trends.

In summary, our 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 our Board of Directors, shareholders, creditors, analysts and investors concerning our financial performance.

Cash Available for Distribution

A non-GAAP measure, Cash Available for Distribution is defined as of June 30, 2022 as Adjusted EBITDA plus cash distributions/return of investment from unconsolidated affiliates, cash receipts from notes receivable, cash distributions from noncontrolling interests, adjustments to reflect sales-type lease cash payments and payments for lease expenses, less cash distributions to noncontrolling interests, maintenance capital expenditures, pro-rata Adjusted EBITDA from unconsolidated affiliates, cash interest paid, income taxes paid, principal amortization of indebtedness, changes in prepaid and accrued capacity payments, and adjusted for development expenses. Management believes CAFD is a relevant supplemental measure of the Company’s ability to earn and distribute cash returns to investors.

We believe CAFD is useful to investors in evaluating our operating performance because securities analysts and other interested parties use such calculations as a measure of our ability to make quarterly distributions. In addition, CAFD is used by our management team for determining future acquisitions and managing our growth. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to CAFD is cash provided by operating activities.

However, CAFD has limitations as an analytical tool because it does not include changes in operating assets and liabilities and excludes the effect of certain other cash flow items, all of which could have a material effect on our financial condition and results from operations. CAFD is a non-GAAP measure and should not be considered an alternative to cash provided by operating activities or any other performance or liquidity measure determined in accordance with GAAP, nor is it indicative of funds available to fund our cash needs. In addition, our calculations of CAFD are not necessarily comparable to CAFD as calculated by other companies. Investors should not rely on these measures as a substitute for any GAAP measure, including cash provided by operating activities.