Talen Energy Reports Third Quarter 2016 Results

ALLENTOWN, Pa., Nov. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

2016 Financial Results

2016 Guidance Ranges

• Adjusted EBITDA projection narrowed to $705-$805 million
• Adjusted Free Cash Flow projection increased and narrowed to $500-$600 million

Transaction Update

• Stockholders voted overwhelmingly to approve merger with an affiliate of Riverstone Holdings LLC
• Merger approvals received from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and New York Public Service Commission
• $600 million term loan B facility for merger financing successfully priced
• Transaction on schedule to close by end of 2016, subject to Nuclear Regulatory Commission approval and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions

Talen Energy Corporation (NYSE: TLN) today reported Net Income of $88 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, compared with a Net Loss of $401 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015, and Adjusted EBITDA of $247 million, compared with $357 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, Talen Energy reported Net Income of $236 million, compared with a Net Loss of $279 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, and Adjusted EBITDA of $614 million, compared with Adjusted EBITDA of $765 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

The 2015 Net Losses reflected non-cash goodwill and other asset impairment charges detailed at that time.

Based on results through the end of the third quarter, Talen Energy narrowed 2016 guidance for Adjusted EBITDA to $705-$805 million, and increased and narrowed 2016 guidance for Adjusted Free Cash Flow to $500-$600 million.

On June 3, 2016, Talen Energy announced a merger agreement with affiliates of Riverstone Holdings LLC, a private investment firm. Talen Energy stockholders overwhelmingly approved the merger on Oct. 6, 2016. The merger has been approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the New York Public Service Commission. The parties also have been granted early termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2016, subject to approval by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

A Talen Energy subsidiary, Talen Energy Supply LLC, has successfully priced a $600 million term loan B facility, the net proceeds of which are expected to be used to fund the payment of fees and expenses in connection with the term loan B issuance and the merger, for working capital needs and for other general corporate purposes of Talen Energy, including repayment of debt under Talen Energy Supply's revolving credit facility. Closing of the term loan B is subject to customary closing conditions and completion of the merger.

Looking at operating highlights, natural gas co-firing capability at the coal-fired Brunner Island plant in York County, Pa. is in commercial operation for Unit 3 and expected to be in commercial operation for Unit 2 by the end of 2016. The company decided to defer completion and commercial operation of co-firing capability for Unit 1 until the spring of 2017, to avoid taking the unit out of service during the winter demand season. Talen Energy also has decided to evaluate further plans it announced in June 2016 to add natural gas co-firing capability at the coal-fired Montour plant in Montour County, Pa., to consider operating experience and results from the Brunner Island Unit 3 project. There is no current timetable for completing the Montour project, and the company has excluded the estimated $70 million capital cost from its forecasted capital expenditures.

Review of Segment Results

Financial information presented in this news release for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 represents nine months of legacy Talen Energy Supply results, consolidated with four months of RJS Power results. Financial information for three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 excludes results from the Athens, Millennium and Harquahala plants because they were acquired in November 2015.

East Segment

The East segment includes operations in PJM, New York ISO and ISO New England.

In the third quarter of 2016, Operating Income increased by $566 million compared with the third quarter of 2015 primarily due to the impact of non-recurring, non-cash goodwill and asset impairment charges in 2015, a coal contract modification charge in 2015, and unrealized gains from hedging activities, partially offset by factors that affected Adjusted EBITDA, which are described in the next paragraph.

In the third quarter of 2016, Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $81 million compared with the third quarter of 2015 primarily due to lower margins, partially offset by lower operation and maintenance costs. The decrease in margins was primarily due to lost energy and capacity revenues from assets sold in 2016, and lower capacity prices, realized energy prices and spark spreads, partially offset by the addition of margins from the Athens and Millennium plants acquired in 2015 and other portfolio margins. The decrease in operation and maintenance costs was primarily due to reduced non-outage costs at the Susquehanna nuclear plant and lower costs associated with assets sold in 2016, partially offset by additional costs associated with assets acquired in 2015.

For the first nine months of 2016, Operating Income increased by $732 million compared with the first nine months of 2015, primarily due to gains on assets sold in 2016, the impact of non-recurring, non-cash goodwill and asset impairment charges in the third quarter of 2015, and a coal contract modification charge in the third quarter of 2015, partially offset by an impairment charge related to the Bell Bend nuclear project in the second quarter of 2016, unrealized losses from hedging activities, higher depreciation driven by assets acquired in 2015, and factors that affected Adjusted EBITDA, which are described in the next paragraph.

For the first nine months of 2016, Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $126 million compared with the first nine months of 2015 primarily due to lower margins and higher operation and maintenance costs. The decrease in margins was primarily due to lost energy and capacity revenues from assets sold in 2016, and lower realized energy prices, nuclear plant availability, spark spreads and capacity prices, partially offset by the addition of margins from assets acquired in 2015 and other portfolio margins. Operation and maintenance costs increased primarily due to additional costs associated with assets acquired in 2015.

West Segment

The West segment includes operations in the ERCOT and WECC markets in Texas, Montana and Arizona.

In the third quarter of 2016, Operating Income decreased by $23 million compared with the third quarter of 2015, primarily due to factors that affected Adjusted EBITDA, which are described in the next paragraph.

In the third quarter of 2016, Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $28 million compared with the third quarter of 2015, primarily due to lower margins and higher operation and maintenance costs. Margins decreased primarily due to lower realized energy prices in Texas and Montana, partially offset by the addition of margins from the Harquahala plant acquired in 2015. Operation and maintenance costs increased primarily due to additional costs associated with assets acquired in 2015.

For the first nine months of 2016, Operating Income decreased by $82 million compared with the first nine months of 2015, primarily due to factors that affected Adjusted EBITDA, which are described in the next paragraph, and higher depreciation driven by assets acquired in 2015, partially offset by a decrease in unrealized losses from hedging activities.

For the first nine months of 2016, Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $62 million compared with the first nine months of 2015, primarily due to lower margins and higher operation and maintenance costs. Margins decreased primarily due to lower realized energy prices in Texas and Montana, and lower availability of the Colstrip plant, partially offset by the addition of margins from the Harquahala plant acquired in 2015. Operation and maintenance costs increased primarily due to additional costs associated with assets acquired in 2015.

Other

The "Other" category includes general and administrative expenses not allocated to a segment.

For the third quarter of 2016, Operating Loss and Adjusted EBITDA were relatively flat compared with the third quarter of 2015.

For the first nine months of 2016, Operating Loss decreased by $35 million and Adjusted EBITDA improved by $37 million compared with the first nine months of 2015, primarily due to lower corporate expenses.

Adjusted Free Cash Flow

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The decrease in short-term debt was primarily due to the use of proceeds from assets sold in 2016 to repay $600 million of outstanding borrowings under revolving credit facilities, partially offset by a drawdown on revolving credit facilities to repay $350 million in debt that matured in May 2016.

Net cash provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, and the changes between periods were as follows.

2016 Financial Outlook

Talen Energy narrowed 2016 guidance for Adjusted EBITDA to $705-$805 million from the previously announced $655-$855 million. The company increased and narrowed guidance for Adjusted Free Cash Flow to $500-$600 million from the previously announced $260-$460 million. The primary drivers of the increase in Adjusted Free Cash Flow guidance include lower expected tax payments, updated working capital assumptions and lower capital expenditures.

For a detailed itemization of adjustments and reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA to Operating Income (Loss) and Adjusted Free Cash Flow to Cash from Operations, see the tables at the end of the news release.

About Talen Energy

Talen Energy is one of the largest competitive energy and power generation companies in the United States. Our diverse generating fleet operates in well-developed, structured wholesale power markets. To learn more about us, visit www.talenenergy.com.

The Investors & Media section of the website contains a significant amount of information about Talen Energy, including financial and other information for investors. Talen Energy encourages investors to visit its website periodically to view new and updated information. Slides describing third quarter financial performance have been posted on the Events & Presentations page in the Investors & Media section of the website.

Forward-Looking Information

Statements contained in this news release, including statements with respect to future earnings, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA or Adjusted Free Cash Flow results, cash flows, tax attributes, financing, regulation and closing of the Merger, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements often include such words as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "target," "project," "forecast," "seek," "will," "may," "should," "could," "would" or similar expressions. Although Talen Energy believes that the expectations and assumptions reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the statements. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements are: failure to complete the Merger as a result of the failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals or otherwise; the payment by Talen Energy of a termination fee if the Merger Agreement is terminated in certain circumstances; the loss of key customers and suppliers resulting from any uncertainties associated with the Merger; the negative impact on Talen Energy's business and the market price for Talen Energy's common stock should the Merger not be consummated; adverse economic conditions; changes in commodity prices and related costs; the effectiveness of Talen Energy's risk management techniques, including hedging; accounting interpretations and requirements that may impact reported results; operational, price and credit risks in the wholesale and retail electricity markets; Talen Energy's ability to forecast the actual load needed to perform full-requirements sales contracts; weather conditions affecting generation, customer energy use and operating costs and revenues; disruptions in fuel supply;  circumstances that may impact the levels of coal inventory that are held; the performance of transmission facilities and any changes in the structure and operation of, or the pricing limitations imposed by, the RTOs and ISOs that operate those facilities; blackouts due to disruptions in neighboring interconnected systems; competition; federal and state legislation and regulation; costs of complying with environmental and related worker health and safety laws and regulations; the impacts of climate change; the availability and cost of emission allowances; changes in legislative and regulatory policy; security and safety risks associated with nuclear generation; Talen Energy's level of indebtedness; the terms and conditions of debt instruments that may restrict Talen Energy's ability to operate its business; the performance of Talen Energy's subsidiaries and affiliates, on which its cash flow and ability to meet its debt obligations largely depend; the risks inherent with variable rate indebtedness; disruption in financial markets; Talen Energy's ability to access capital markets; acquisition or divestiture activities, and Talen Energy's ability to realize expected synergies and other benefits from such business transactions, including in connection with the completed MACH Gen acquisition; changes in technology; any failure of Talen Energy's facilities to operate as planned, including in connection with scheduled and unscheduled outages; Talen Energy's ability to optimize its competitive power generation operations and the costs associated with any capital expenditures, including the Brunner Island dual-fuel project; significant increases in operation and maintenance expenses; the loss of key personnel, the ability to hire and retain qualified employees and the impact of collective labor bargaining negotiations; war, armed conflicts or terrorist attacks, including cyber-based attacks; risks associated with federal and state tax laws and regulations; any determination that the transaction that formed Talen Energy does not qualify as a tax-free distribution under the Internal Revenue Code; Talen Energy's ability to successfully integrate the RJS Power businesses and to achieve anticipated synergies and cost savings as a result of the spinoff transaction and combination with RJS Power; costs of complying with reporting requirements as a newly public company and any related risks of deficiencies in disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting as a standalone entity; and the ability of affiliates of Riverstone to exercise influence over matters requiring Board of Directors and/or stockholder approval. Any such forward-looking statements should be considered in light of such important factors and in conjunction with Talen Energy's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and other reports on file with the SEC.

Definition of Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to disclosing financial results in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the accompanying earnings release contains non-U.S. GAAP financial measures EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow, which we use as measures of our performance.

EBITDA represents net income (loss) before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA further adjusted for certain non-cash and other items that management believes are not indicative of ongoing operations, including, but not limited to, unrealized gains and losses on derivative contracts, stock-based compensation expense, asset retirement obligation accretion (net of gains or losses on retirements), gains and losses on securities in the nuclear decommissioning trust fund, impairments, gains or losses on sales, dispositions or retirements of assets, debt extinguishments, and transition, transaction and restructuring costs.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not intended to represent cash flows from operations or net income (loss) as defined by U.S. GAAP as indicators of operating performance and are not necessarily comparable to similarly-titled measures reported by other companies. We believe EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are useful to investors and other users of our financial statements in evaluating our operating performance because they provide additional tools to compare business performance across companies and across periods. We believe that EBITDA is widely used by investors to measure a company's operating performance without regard to such items as interest expense, income 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, we believe 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. We adjust for these and other items, 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 EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as measures of operating performance to assist in comparing performance from period to period on a consistent basis and to readily view operating trends, as measures for planning and forecasting overall expectations and for evaluating actual results against such expectations, and in communications with our Board of Directors, stockholders, creditors, analysts and investors concerning our financial performance.

Adjusted Free Cash Flow represents Cash from Operations less capital expenditures, excluding growth-related capital expenditures, adjusted for changes in counterparty collateral and further adjusted for after-tax transaction and restructuring costs, and certain other after-tax cash items that management believes are not indicative of ongoing operations. Adjusted Free Cash Flow should not be considered an alternative to Cash from Operations, which is determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We believe that Adjusted Free Cash Flow, although a non-U.S. GAAP measure, is an important measure to both management and investors as an indicator of the company's ability to sustain operations without additional outside financing beyond the requirement to fund maturing debt obligations. These measures are not necessarily comparable to similarly-titled measures reported by other companies as they may be calculated differently.

Contacts:   
Media Relations - George Lewis, 610-774-4687
Investor Relations - Andy Ludwig, 610-774-3389

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SOURCE Talen Energy