HOUSTON, TX, Feb 29, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) --GenOn Energy, Inc. (NYSE: GEN)
-- Successfully completed merger integration and achieved $160 million
annual cost savings
-- Reflecting commodity price declines, lowered 2012 adjusted EBITDA
guidance to $440 million from $496 million and 2013 adjusted EBITDA
guidance to $665 million from $761 million
-- Expect to deactivate 3,140 MWs of generation between June 2012 and May
2015
GenOn Energy, Inc. (NYSE: GEN) today reported adjusted EBITDA of $622
million for 2011 compared to $638 million for 2010. For 2011, GenOn
reported an adjusted loss from continuing operations of $132 million
compared to adjusted income from continuing operations of $163
million for 2010. GenOn reported a net loss of $189 million for 2011
compared to a net loss of $233 million for 2010.
GenOn was formed on December 3, 2010 through the merger of Mirant
Corporation and RRI Energy, Inc. The merger was accounted for as a
reverse acquisition, and Mirant was deemed to be the acquirer for
accounting purposes. The consolidated financial statements therefore
reflect Mirant's historical financial information through December 2,
2010 and GenOn's results thereafter, in accordance with the
acquisition method of accounting for business combinations. On a pro
forma basis, adjusted EBITDA for 2010 was $919 million, adjusted
income from continuing operations was $103 million and the net loss
was $740 million. The pro forma information gives effect to the
merger as if it had occurred on January 1, 2010.
"GenOn's strategy of hedging and maintaining adequate liquidity
positions us to manage comfortably through the significant decline in
commodity prices facing the industry today," said Edward R. Muller,
chairman and chief executive officer of GenOn.
Generation Deactivations
GenOn expects to deactivate 3,140 MWs of
generating capacity in PJM between June 2012 and May 2015 because
forecasted returns on investments necessary to comply with
environmental regulations are insufficient. The affected power plants
are the following:
Expected
Deactivation
Plant / Location MWs Date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elrama / PA 460 June 2012
Niles / OH 217 June 2012
Portland / PA 401 January 2015
Avon Lake / OH 732 April 2015
New Castle / PA 330 April 2015
Shawville / PA 597 April 2015
Titus / PA 243 April 2015
Glen Gardner / NJ 160 May 2015
--------------------
Total 3,140
====================
The units expected to be deactivated and timeframes are subject to
further review based on market conditions. In particular, while the
initial analysis for additional environmental controls at Avon Lake
indicated that forecasted returns on those investments were
insufficient, the evaluation of the returns on those environmental
controls is continuing.
The coal-fired units at Shawville, which is leased, will be placed in
long-term protective layup. The required lease payments will continue
to be made and the assets will be maintained in accordance with the
lease.
Other expected fleet reductions are: (i) the May 2012 expiration of a
tolling agreement for the 630 MW Vandolah facility in Florida; (ii)
the previously announced retirement of the 482 MW Potomac River
generating facility in Virginia in October 2012; and (iii) the
previously announced retirement of the 674 MW Contra Costa generating
facility in California in May 2013, subject to regulatory approvals.
Additionally, in January 2012, GenOn sold the previously mothballed
586 MW Indian River generating facility in Florida for $11.5 million.
These fleet reductions, taken together with 3,140 MW of deactivations
in the table above, total 5,512 MW of generating capacity.
GenOn will have 19,490 MW of generating capacity, after giving effect
to the deactivations and fleet reductions described above, and adding
the 719 MW Marsh Landing generating facility in California, which is
scheduled to become operational in mid-2013. This includes 4,085 MW
of coal-fired capacity in PJM.
Environmental Capital Expenditures
Since 2000, GenOn has invested
approximately $2.4 billion in environmental controls for the existing
plants expected to remain in GenOn's fleet after the deactivations.
Compared to 1990 emission levels, 2011 NOX emissions were reduced by
78% and SO2 emissions were reduced by 90% for those generating
facilities. In addition, GenOn expects to make further improvements
by investing $586 to $726 million over the next ten years for major
environmental controls at some of its generating stations to meet air
and water environmental regulations.
Guidance
GenOn reduced adjusted EBITDA guidance for 2012 to $440
million from $496 million and reduced adjusted EBITDA guidance for
2013 to $665 million from $761 million. The guidance for both years
is based on forward commodity prices on January 24, 2012 and excludes
the previously expected impacts from the Cross-State Air Pollution
Rule (CSAPR). The CSAPR was stayed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for
the District of Columbia Circuit on December 30, 2011.
Financial Information
On December 31, 2011, GenOn had 771,692,734
common shares outstanding.
2011 versus 2010
Net Loss to Adjusted Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations and Adjusted
EBITDA
------------ ------------ ------------
Year Ended Year Ended Year Ended
December 31, December 31, December 31,
(in millions) 2011 2010(1) 2010(1)
------------ ------------ ------------
Pro Forma
Net Loss $ (189) $ (740) $ (233)
Unrealized (gains) losses (224) (27) 42
Merger-related costs 72 - 114
Western states litigation and
similar settlements - 17 -
Impairment losses 133 926 565
Lower of cost or market inventory
adjustments, net (3) (22) (4)
Postretirement benefits
curtailment gain - (37) (37)
Gain on bargain purchase, as
retroactively amended - - (335)
Potomac River settlement
obligation - 32 32
Kern River settlement - (40) -
Loss on early extinguishment of
debt 23 - 9
Major litigation costs, net of
recoveries 15 - -
Large scale remediation and
settlement costs 59 - -
Reversal of Montgomery County
carbon levy assessment for prior
year (8) - -
Other, net (10) (6) 10
------------ ------------ ------------
Adjusted Income (Loss) from
Continuing Operations $ (132) $ 103 $ 163
============ ============ ============
Benefit for income taxes - (2) (2)
Interest expense, net 379 427 253
Depreciation and amortization 375 391 224
------------ ------------ ------------
Adjusted EBITDA $ 622 $ 919 $ 638
============ ============ ============
1. Results of operations have been retroactively amended for revisions to
the provisional allocation of the merger purchase price at December 3,
2010.
Adjusted EBITDA was $622 million for 2011 compared to $919 million on
a pro forma basis for 2010. The decline resulted from a reduction in
energy gross margin in Eastern PJM because of reduced generation
volumes and lower contracted and capacity. The decline was partially
offset by lower adjusted operating and other expenses primarily
related to merger cost savings and reduced planned outages and
projects.
The adjusted loss from continuing operations was $132 million for
2011 compared to adjusted income from continuing operations of $103
million on a pro forma basis for 2010. The decline was primarily
related to the same items that affected adjusted EBITDA, partially
offset by a reduction in interest expense, net and depreciation and
amortization expense.
GenOn's net loss was $189 million for 2011 compared to a net loss of
$740 million on a pro forma basis for 2010. The decrease in net loss
was primarily a result of a $793 million decrease in impairment
losses and an increase in unrealized gross margin. These were
partially offset by merger-related costs and $59 million recognized
in 2011 for large scale remediation and settlement costs and the same
items that affected adjusted income/loss from continuing operations.
Impairment losses in 2011 were related to emissions allowances used
to comply with the Clean Air Interstate Rule. Impairment losses in
2010 were related to the Dickerson, Potomac River, Elrama, Niles, New
Castle and Titus generating facilities.
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations
was $265 million for 2011 compared to $199 million for 2010.
Liquidity
Total cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2011 was
$1.7 billion. When taken together with availability under existing
credit facilities, GenOn's total available liquidity at December 31,
2011 was $2.2 billion.
Total debt at December 31, 2011, excluding unamortized debt discounts
and adjustments to fair value of debt, was $4.2 billion. The
unamortized debt discounts and adjustments to fair value of debt
totaled $(60) million.
Fourth Quarter 2011 versus Fourth Quarter 2010
Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted Loss from Continuing Operations and Adjusted
EBITDA
------------ ------------ ------------
Quarter Quarter Quarter
Ended Ended Ended
December 31, December 31, December 31,
(in millions) 2011 2010(1) 2010(1)
------------ ------------ ------------
Pro Forma
Net Income (Loss) $ 100 $ (896) $ (631)
Unrealized (gains) losses (283) 264 221
Merger-related costs 11 - 101
Impairment losses - 565 565
Potomac River settlement
obligation - 32 32
Kern River settlement - (40) -
Lower of cost or market inventory
adjustments, net 10 (3) (3)
Gain on bargain purchase, as
retroactively amended - - (335)
Major litigation costs, net of
recoveries 3 - -
Large scale remediation and
settlement costs 29 - -
Other, net (1) (1) 20
------------ ------------ ------------
Adjusted Loss from Continuing
Operations $ (131) $ (79) $ (30)
============ ============ ============
Benefit for income taxes (4) (3) (3)
Interest expense, net 89 137 103
Depreciation and amortization 103 95 67
------------ ------------ ------------
Adjusted EBITDA $ 57 $ 150 $ 137
============ ============ ============
1. Results of operations have been retroactively amended for revisions to
the provisional allocation of the merger purchase price at December 3,
2010.
Adjusted EBITDA was $57 million for the fourth quarter of 2011
compared to $150 million on a pro forma basis for the same period of
2010. The decline primarily resulted from a reduction in energy gross
margin in the Eastern PJM and Western PJM/MISO segments because of
lower generation volumes and lower contracted and capacity. These
declines were partially offset by lower adjusted operating and other
expenses related to reduced planned outages and projects, and merger
cost savings.
The adjusted loss from continuing operations was $131 million for the
fourth quarter of 2011 compared to $79 million on a pro forma basis
for the same period of 2010. The decline was primarily related to the
same items that affected adjusted EBITDA, partially offset by a
reduction in interest expense, net.
GenOn's net income was $100 million for the fourth quarter of 2011
compared to a net loss of $896 million on a pro forma basis for the
same period of 2010. The improvement was primarily a result of a
decline in impairment losses, unrealized gains in 2011 compared to
unrealized losses in 2010, and the same items that affected adjusted
loss from continuing operations. The impairment losses in the fourth
quarter of 2010 were related to the Dickerson and Potomac River
generating facilities.
Net cash used in operating activities of continuing operations was
$17 million for the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to $144 million
reported for the same period of 2010.
Conference Call
GenOn Energy will host its fourth quarter 2011
earnings conference call beginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on
Wednesday, February 29, 2012. The conference call will be webcast
live with audio and slides at www.genon.com in the Investor Relations
section. A replay of the call can be accessed approximately two hours
after the call's completion.
About GenOn Energy, Inc.
GenOn Energy, Inc. (NYSE: GEN) is one of
the largest competitive generators of wholesale electricity in the
United States. With power generation facilities located in key
regions of the country and a generation portfolio of approximately
23,700 megawatts, GenOn is helping meet the nation's electricity
needs. GenOn's portfolio of power generation facilities includes
baseload, intermediate and peaking units using coal, natural gas and
oil to generate electricity. We have experienced leadership,
dedicated team members, financial strength and a solid commitment to
safety, the environment, operational excellence and the communities
in which we operate. GenOn routinely posts all important information
on its web site at www.genon.com.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release includes "non-GAAP
financial measures" as defined in Regulation G under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Reconciliations of these measures
to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are contained herein.
This press release is available in the Investor Relations section of
our web site at www.genon.com. To the extent required, the Company
has included a more detailed description of each of the non-GAAP
financial measures used in this press release, together with a
discussion of the usefulness and purpose of these measures as an
exhibit to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K furnished to the
SEC with this press release, which is also available on our web site.
Certain factors that could affect GAAP financial measures are not
accessible on a forward-looking basis, but could be material to
future reported earnings and cash flow.
Year Ended December 31, 2010 Pro Forma Net Loss to Adjusted Income (Loss)
from Continuing Operations and Adjusted EBITDA
----------- ---------- -------------- ---------
Pro Forma Pro
(in millions) Reported(1) RRI Energy Adjustments(1) Forma(1)
----------- ---------- -------------- ---------
Net Loss $ (233) $ (489) $ (18) $ (740)
Net income from
discontinued operations - (6) - (6)
Unrealized (gains)
losses 42 (69) - (27)
Postretirement benefits
curtailment gain (37) - - (37)
Merger-related costs 114 25 (139) -
Gain on bargain
purchase, as
retroactively amended (335) - 335 -
Potomac River settlement
obligation 32 - - 32
Kern River settlement - (40) - (40)
Lower of cost or market
inventory adjustments,
net (4) (18) - (22)
Impairment losses 565 361 - 926
Western states
litigation and similar
settlements - 17 - 17
Other, net 19 - (19) -
----------- ---------- -------------- ---------
Adjusted Income (Loss)
from Continuing
Operations $ 163 $ (219) $ 159 $ 103
=========== ========== ============== =========
Provision (benefit) for
income taxes (2) 57 (57) (2)
Interest expense, net 253 152 22 427
Depreciation and
amortization 224 237 (70) 391
----------- ---------- -------------- ---------
Adjusted EBITDA $ 638 $ 227 $ 54 $ 919
=========== ========== ============== =========
1. Results of operations have been retroactively amended for revisions to
the provisional allocation of the merger purchase price at December 3,
2010.
Quarter Ended December 31, 2010 Pro Forma Net Loss to Adjusted Income (Loss)
from Continuing Operations and Adjusted EBITDA
----------- ---------- -------------- ---------
Pro Forma Pro
(in millions) Reported(1) RRI Energy Adjustments(1) Forma(1)
----------- ---------- -------------- ---------
Net Loss $ (631) $ (63) $ (202) $ (896)
Net income from
discontinued operations - (2) - (2)
Unrealized losses 221 43 - 264
Merger-related costs 101 6 (107) -
Lower of cost or market
inventory adjustments,
net (3) - - (3)
Impairment losses 565 - - 565
Gain on bargain
purchase, as
retroactively amended (335) - 335 -
Potomac River settlement 32 - - 32
Kern River settlement - (40) - (40)
Other, net 20 - (19) 1
----------- ---------- -------------- ---------
Adjusted Income (Loss)
from Continuing
Operations $ (30) $ (56) $ 7 $ (79)
=========== ========== ============== =========
Provision (benefit) for
income taxes (3) (12) 12 (3)
Interest expense, net 103 30 4 137
Depreciation and
amortization 67 41 (13) 95
----------- ---------- -------------- ---------
Adjusted EBITDA $ 137 $ 3 $ 10 $ 150
=========== ========== ============== =========
1. Results of operations have been retroactively amended for revisions to
the provisional allocation of the merger purchase price at December 3,
2010.
Net Loss to Adjusted Loss from Continuing Operations and Adjusted EBITDA
Guidance
------------- -------------
Year Ending Year Ending
December 31, December 31,
(in millions) 2012 2013
------------- -------------
Net Loss $ (819) $ (513)
Unrealized losses 508 399
Merger-related costs 8 3
Costs to deactivate generating facilities 31 5
Major litigation costs, net of recoveries 5 -
Reversal of Potomac River settlement
obligation (32) -
Gain on sale of assets (6) -
Other, net 5 -
------------- -------------
Adjusted Loss from Continuing Operations $ (300) $ (106)
============= =============
Interest expense, net 366 376
Depreciation and amortization 374 395
------------- -------------
Adjusted EBITDA $ 440 $ 665
============= =============
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements,
estimates or projections that are "forward-looking statements" as
defined under U.S. federal securities laws. In some cases, one can
identify forward-looking statements by words such as "will,"
"expect," "estimate," "think," "forecast," "guidance," "outlook,"
"plan," "lead," "project" or comparable words. Forward-looking
statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from our historical
experience and our present expectations or projections. These risks
include, but are not limited to: (i) legislative and regulatory
initiatives or changes in regulations affecting the electric
industry; (ii) changes in, or changes in the application of,
environmental or other laws and regulations; (iii) failure of our
generating facilities to perform as expected, including due to
outages for unscheduled maintenance or repair; (iv) changes in market
conditions or the entry of additional competition in our markets; and
(v) those factors contained in our periodic reports filed with the
SEC, including in the "Risk Factors" section of our most recent
Annual Report on Form 10-K. The forward-looking information in this
document is given as of the date of the particular statement, and we
assume no duty to update this information. Our filings and other
important information are also available on the Investor Relations
page of our web site at www.genon.com.
SOURCE: GenOn Energy, Inc.