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NRG Reports Continued Strong Cash Flow Generation through Third Quarter; Raises Full-Year Outlook

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NRG Reports Continued Strong Cash Flow Generation through Third Quarter; Raises Full-Year Outlook

November 9, 2004 at 6:12 AM EST

PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 9, 2004--NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG) today reported earnings of $54 million, or $0.54 per diluted share, for the third quarter ended September 30, 2004. This included $11 million or $0.11 per diluted share related to discontinued operations. Earnings from ongoing operations were $43 million, or $0.43 per diluted share. Net earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 were $167 million or $1.67 per diluted share. Year-to-date net earnings included $23 million from discontinued operations or $0.23 per diluted share. The Company's net earnings have contributed to net cash flow generation of $554 million year-to-date.

Adjusted net income, excluding discontinued operations and other nonrecurring items, was $88 million or $0.87 per diluted share for three months ended September 30, 2004 and $171 million or $1.71 per diluted shares for nine months ended September 30, 2004. Adjustments were primarily associated with asset impairments, restructuring and relocation charges and litigation settlements.

"The fact that we could achieve such a healthy result and strong cash generation, notwithstanding the mild summer weather, provides further validation for our multifuel, multiregional business model," said David Crane, President and Chief Executive Officer. "It is a testament to our people that we are positioned to raise our full-year adjusted EBITDA target in a year when we have re-established the Company and are building the platform for future growth."

Third Quarter Highlights:

  • $1.6 billion of liquidity, an increase of $260 million since 6/30/2004;
  • $284 million of net cash flow for the quarter; and
  • $272 million of adjusted EBITDA(1).

Business Summary

Adjusted EBITDA by region for the third quarter 2004 was as follows:


Northeast Region                                        $110
South Central Region                                     $30
Western Region                                           $47
Australia                                                 $9
Other International                                      $34
Other North America(2)                                   $38
Alternative Energy                                        $6
Nongeneration (Thermal)                                  $12
Corporate - Unallocated                                 $(14)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                                                   $272

Northeast: Mild weather limited production from our intermediate and peaking plants in the third quarter. As a result, energy revenues were less than expected for the quarter from our western NY and PJM assets.

The Northeast represented approximately 44% of total capacity revenues for the third quarter, largely driven by our New York City and Connecticut assets. The third quarter included three out of the six months of the summer capability period during which capacity prices in New York City were at their highest level.

Several of our Connecticut facilities (Middletown, Montville, and Devon 11-14) continued to receive cost based reliability-must-run (RMR) payments, which were effective as of January 17, 2004. On November 2, 2004, NRG together with the Connecticut Department of Utility Control, the Connecticut Office of Consumer Council, ISO-New England and other parties, filed an uncontested settlement of all outstanding RMR matters for approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). We expect this development to provide NRG with certainty regarding our RMR units' revenues through 2005.

South Central: Our long-term contracts generally provided for capacity and energy payments while strong generation performance, particularly out of Big Cajun 2, provided for increased merchant energy sales, resulting in higher revenues.

Our South Central assets contributed 27% of our capacity revenues this quarter. These capacity payments are typically steady quarter to quarter, and are relatively unaffected by seasonal shifts.

West Coast: Equity earnings from West Coast Power, our 50% joint venture with Dynegy Inc., were higher than expected due to favorable market conditions. NRG and its partner Dynegy Inc., continue to work with the CAISO and incumbent load serving utilities in an effort to secure a replacement contract for the California Department of Water Resources contract that expires at year-end 2004. The Cabrillo I and II RMR (net 575MW) contracts have been extended through 2005.

International: Our Australian results, consisting of 100% owned Flinders and 37.5% interest in Gladstone, benefited from strong pool prices driven primarily by a significant number of plants being out of service. This drove up the prices across the National Electricity Market, including South Australia. Equity earnings from our investment located in the United Kingdom benefited from a $13 million mark-to-market gas contract adjustment. As the German assets (MIBRAG and Schkopau) are fully contracted, sales and profit are not sensitive to spikes in weather or commodity prices.

Coal Sourcing: We continue to work diligently on the implementation of our long-term coal strategy. This strategy is based on an integrated approach to multisource procurement of private railcar capacity, rail transportation services and the commodity itself. The Company, during the third quarter, implemented a critical component of this strategy by ordering 1,540 new bulk coal railcars from Johnstown America Corporation. NRG expects to begin taking delivery of this railcar fleet in the first quarter 2005.

Liquidity and Cash Flow

Liquidity as of September 30, 2004, increased to $1.6 billion as set forth below:


Table 1: Corporate Liquidity
 (in millions)                               June 30,    September 30,
                                               2004          2004
Unrestricted Cash:
    Domestic                                    676           936
    International                               145           169
Restricted Cash:
    Domestic                                     97            94
    International                                55            55
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Cash                                      973         1,254
Letter of Credit Availability                   118            97
Revolver Availability                           250           250
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Total Current Liquidity                      $1,341         1,601

During the third quarter, NRG completed sales of noncore assets (Batesville and McClain), resulting in $27 million in cash proceeds and $449 million debt reduction. Additionally, NRG executed a purchase and sale agreement for its Kendall facility, which is expected to reduce consolidated debt further by nearly $450 million. Excluding Kendall, our net debt to total capital, excluding operating cash, stood at 50% at the end of the third quarter. We anticipate the Kendall sale to close by year-end.

"As a necessary first step in our capital allocation plan, we are working to refinance our senior bank facility," said Robert Flexon, Chief Financial Officer. "Our goal for refinancing is to reduce our interest costs and to improve the allocation of capital for the benefit of our shareholders."

Outlook

The Company's updated outlook for 2004 is as follows:


Table 2: 2004 EBITDA Outlook(3)
 ($millions)                                 Prior          Updated
Reported Cash from Operations                $513           $555
Reported EBITDA(4)                           $837           $873
Adjusted Cash from Operations                $441           $480
Adjusted EBITDA                              $850           $875

Through the remainder of the year, the Company's gross margin is substantially hedged. With respect to 2005, fuel supply interruptions related to Hurricane Ivan and more general market concerns about the adequacy of winter gas supplies have recently resulted in a significant increase in forward gas prices. Although we believe long term natural gas prices remain well supported we expect prices to be highly volatile and extremely sensitive to weather, in the short term. As a result, while we continue to manage our generation portfolio actively, the recent run up in forward prices has provided an opportunity to increase our hedging of coal margins for 2005.

S-4 Filing

On November 3, 2004, the Company filed a Registration Statement on Form S-4 with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This is the first step in the registration of the $1.75 billion of our 8% second priority senior secured notes due 2013 that were issued in December 2003 and January 2004.

Earnings Conference Call

On November 9, NRG will host a conference call at 9 a.m. EST to discuss these results. To access the live webcast and accompanying slide presentation, log on to NRG's website at http://www.nrgenergy.com and click on "Investors." To participate in the call, dial 877.407.8035. International callers should dial 201.689.8035. Participants should dial in or log on approximately five minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

The call will be available for replay shortly after completion of the live event on the "Investors" section of the NRG website.

About NRG

NRG Energy, Inc. owns and operates a diverse portfolio of power-generating facilities, primarily in the Northeast, South Central and West Coast regions of the United States. Its operations include baseload, intermediate, peaking, and cogeneration facilities, thermal energy production and energy resource recovery facilities. NRG also has ownership interests in international generating facilities in Australia, Germany and the United Kingdom.

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 include, but are not limited to, expected earnings, future growth and financial performance, and typically can be identified by the use of words such as "expect," "estimate," "anticipate," "forecast," "plan," "believe" and similar terms. Although NRG believes that its expectations are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct, and actual results may vary materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated above include, among others, general economic conditions, hazards customary in the power industry, weather conditions, foreign exchange rates, 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 and related government regulation, the condition of capital markets generally, our ability to access capital markets, unanticipated outages at our generation facilities, our ability to convert facilities to burn western coal, our substantial indebtedness and the possibility that we may incur additional indebtedness, adverse results in current and future litigation, the willingness of counterparties to negotiate new contracts in California, and the amount of proceeds from asset sales.

NRG undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The adjusted EBITDA guidance is an estimate as of today's date, November 9, 2004 and is based on assumptions believed to be reasonable as of this date. NRG expressly disclaims any current intention to update such guidance. 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 news release 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.

More information on NRG is available at www.nrgenergy.com

(1) The Company reported $230 million of EBITDA for the three months ended September 30, 2004. Adjusted EBITDA excludes certain unusual or nonrecurring items that are listed in the attached EBITDA reconciliation tables.

(2) Includes Kendall EBITDA of $14 million for the quarter

(3) Includes Kendall EBITDA of $42 million. This outlook assumes normalized weather conditions for the remainder of the year, the existing portfolio of assets and no additional unusual or unforeseen events or significant changes in foreign exchange rates and/or changes in power prices and fuel costs which may cause significant changes in counterparty collateral calls as well as other factors listed under the caption "Safe Harbor" below. This outlook does not include any costs associated with a potential refinancing.

(4) Includes the net impact of discontinued operations.


                   NRG ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                              (Unaudited)

                       Reorganized Predecessor Reorganized Predecessor
                           NRG       Company       NRG       Company
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
                            Three Months             Nine Months
                                Ended                   Ended
                       ----------------------- -----------------------
                       September   September   September   September
                           30,         30,         30,         30,
                          2004        2003        2004        2003
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
                        (In thousands, except for per share amounts)
Operating Revenues
 Revenues from
  majority-owned
  operations             $606,663    $570,701  $1,780,551  $1,507,186
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Operating Costs and
 Expenses
 Cost of majority-
  owned operations        381,010     384,386   1,116,021   1,142,976
 Depreciation and
  amortization             51,373      56,510     159,547     179,225
 General,
  administrative and
  development              54,307      34,420     136,445     122,052
 Other charges
    Legal settlement           --     396,000          --     396,000
    Corporate
     relocation
     charges                5,713          --      12,474          --
    Reorganization
     items                 (5,245)     20,698      (1,656)     27,032
    Restructuring and
     impairment
     charges               40,507       6,252      42,183     298,019
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
    Total operating
     costs and
     expenses             527,665     898,266   1,465,014   2,165,304
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Operating
 Income/(Loss)             78,998    (327,565)    315,537    (658,118)
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Other Income (Expense)
 Minority interest in
  (earnings) losses of
  consolidated
  subsidiaries                128          --        (581)         --
 Equity in earnings of
  unconsolidated
  affiliates               53,373      63,272     117,187     155,758
 Write downs and
  gains/(losses) on
  sales of equity
  method investments      (13,524)     12,310     (14,057)   (136,717)
 Other income, net          5,502       7,300      17,210      10,118
 Interest expense         (66,883)    (34,424)   (226,254)   (294,460)
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
  Total other income
   (expense)              (21,404)     48,458    (106,495)   (265,301)
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Income/(Loss) From
 Continuing Operations
 Before Income Taxes       57,594    (279,107)    209,042    (923,419)
Income Tax Expense         14,264       5,437      64,866      42,779
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Income/(Loss) From
 Continuing Operations     43,330    (284,544)    144,176    (966,198)
Income/(Loss) From
 Discontinued
 Operations, net of
 Income Taxes              10,891        (250)     23,304      60,371
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net Income/(Loss)         $54,221   $(284,794)   $167,480   $(905,827)
                       =========== =========== =========== ===========

Weighted Average
 Number of Common
 Shares Outstanding --
 Diluted                  100,616                 100,328
Income From Continuing
 Operations per
 Weighted Average
 Common Share --
 Diluted                    $0.43                   $1.44
Income From
 Discontinued
 Operations per
 Weighted Average
 Common Share --
 Diluted                     0.11                    0.23
                       -----------             -----------
Net Income per
 Weighted Average
 Common Share --
 Diluted                    $0.54                   $1.67
                       ===========             ===========


                   NRG ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (REORGANIZED COMPANY)
                              (Unaudited)

                                           September 30, December 31,
                                               2004          2003
                                           ------------- -------------
                                                 (In thousands)

ASSETS
Current Assets
 Cash and cash equivalents                   $1,104,783      $551,223
 Restricted cash                                148,919       116,067
 Accounts receivable -- trade, less
  allowance for doubtful accounts of $908
  and $0                                        242,245       201,921
 Xcel Energy settlement receivable                   --       640,000
 Current portion of notes receivable --
  affiliates                                         --           200
 Current portion of notes receivable            121,599        65,141
 Taxes receivable                                30,931            --
 Inventory                                      214,980       194,926
 Derivative instruments valuation                 5,516           772
 Prepayments and other current assets           196,078       222,138
 Current deferred income taxes                      989         1,850
 Current assets -- held for sale                 43,851            --
 Current assets -- discontinued operations        3,042       119,601
                                           ------------- -------------
  Total current assets                        2,112,933     2,113,839
                                           ------------- -------------
Property, Plant and Equipment
 In service                                   3,439,499     3,885,465
 Under construction                              68,135       139,171
                                           ------------- -------------
  Total property, plant and equipment         3,507,634     4,024,636
 Less accumulated depreciation                 (156,643)      (11,800)
                                           ------------- -------------
 Net property, plant and equipment            3,350,991     4,012,836
                                           ------------- -------------
Other Assets
 Equity investments in affiliates               689,974       737,998
 Notes receivable, less current portion --
  affiliates                                    118,200       130,152
 Notes receivable, less current portion         612,443       691,444
 Intangible assets, net of accumulated
  amortization of $45,593 and $5,212            326,030       432,361
 Debt issuance costs, net of accumulated
  amortization of $7,372 and $454                60,658        74,337
 Derivative instruments valuation                48,928        59,907
 Funded letter of credit                        250,000       250,000
 Other assets                                    95,441       118,940
 Non-current assets -- held for sale            519,986            --
 Non-current assets -- discontinued
  operations                                         --       623,173
                                           ------------- -------------
  Total other assets                          2,721,660     3,118,312
                                           ------------- -------------
Total Assets                                 $8,185,584    $9,244,987
                                           ============= =============


                   NRG ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (REORGANIZED COMPANY)
                              (Unaudited)

                                           September 30, December 31,
                                               2004          2003
                                           ------------- -------------
                                            (In thousands, except for
                                                   share data)

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities
 Current portion of long-term debt and
  capital leases                               $100,105      $801,229
 Short-term debt                                     --        19,019
 Accounts payable -- trade                      115,270       158,646
 Accounts payable -- affiliates                   5,301         3,092
 Accrued taxes                                       --        16,095
 Accrued property, sales and other taxes         13,672        22,301
 Accrued salaries, benefits and related
  costs                                          33,362        19,330
 Accrued interest                                65,011         8,982
 Derivative instruments valuation                18,038           429
 Creditor pool obligation                        25,000       540,000
 Other bankruptcy settlement                    220,492       220,000
 Other current liabilities                      127,073       102,860
 Current liabilities -- held for sale             6,855            --
 Current liabilities -- discontinued
  operations                                      1,752       114,198
                                           ------------- -------------
   Total current liabilities                    731,931     2,026,181
                                           ------------- -------------
Other Liabilities
 Long-term debt and capital leases            3,511,231     3,327,782
 Deferred income taxes                          143,129       149,493
 Postretirement and other benefit
  obligations                                   113,640       105,946
 Derivative instruments valuation               140,787       153,503
 Other long-term obligations                    385,496       480,937
 Non-current liabilities -- held for sale       555,546            --
 Non-current liabilities -- discontinued
  operations                                      1,081       558,885
                                           ------------- -------------
   Total non-current liabilities              4,850,910     4,776,546
                                           ------------- -------------
Total Liabilities                             5,582,841     6,802,727
                                           ------------- -------------
Minority Interest                                 5,592         5,004
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders' Equity
 Serial Preferred Stock; 10,000,000 shares
  authorized, none issued and outstanding
  at September 30, 2004 and December 31,
  2003                                               --            --
 Common stock; $.01 par value; 500,000,000
  shares authorized; 100,008,053 shares at
  September 30, 2004 and 100,000,000
  shares at December 31, 2003 issued and
  outstanding                                     1,000         1,000
 Additional paid-in capital                   2,413,962     2,403,429
 Retained earnings                              178,505        11,025
 Accumulated other comprehensive income           3,684        21,802
                                           ------------- -------------
   Total stockholders' equity                 2,597,151     2,437,256
                                           ------------- -------------
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity   $8,185,584    $9,244,987
                                           ============= =============


                   NRG ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                              (Unaudited)

                                               Reorganized Predecessor
                                                   NRG       Company
                                               ----------- -----------
                                                  Nine Months Ended
                                                    September 30,
                                               -----------------------
                                                  2004        2003
                                               ----------- -----------
                                                   (In thousands)
                                               -----------------------
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income/(loss)                                $167,480   $(905,827)
 Adjustments to reconcile net income/(loss) to
  net cash provided by operating activities
  Distributions less than equity in earnings
   of unconsolidated affiliates                   (13,703)    (47,500)
  Depreciation and amortization                   164,872     211,201
  Amortization of debt issuance costs              22,440      14,306
  Amortization of debt discount                    15,685          --
  Deferred income taxes                            67,655      18,502
  Minority interest                                 1,961       2,010
  Unrealized gains on derivatives                 (33,232)    (12,500)
  Asset impairment                                 42,183     353,871
  Write downs and losses on sales of equity
   method investments                              14,057     136,531
  Gain on sale of discontinued operations         (29,924)   (217,920)
  Amortization of power contracts and emission
   credits                                         42,822          --
  Reserve for note and interest receivable          4,572          --
 Cash provided by changes in certain working
  capital items                                   128,553     568,641
                                               ----------- -----------
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities         595,421     121,315
                                               ----------- -----------

Net Cash Provided (Used) by Investing
 Activities                                       210,806    (160,124)
                                               ----------- -----------

Net Cash Used by Financing Activities            (227,633)    (24,119)
                                               ----------- -----------

Change in Cash from Discontinued Operations       (22,527)     31,309

Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and
 Cash Equivalents                                  (2,507)    (52,537)
                                               ----------- -----------

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash
 Equivalents                                      553,560     (84,156)

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of
 Period                                           551,223     360,860
                                               ----------- -----------

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period     $1,104,783    $276,704
                                               =========== ===========


                   NRG ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             Reconciliation of NonGAAP Financial Measures

                  Adjusted Net Income Reconciliation

The following table summarizes the calculation of adjusted net income
and provides a reconciliation to GAAP net income/(loss), including per
share amounts:

                           Three Months Ended              YTD
                     Reorganized        Predecessor September 30, 2004
                         NRG                NRG
(Dollars in           September  Diluted  September            Diluted
 thousands, except       30,       EPS       30,                 EPS
 per share amounts)     2004                2003
Net Income (Loss)       $54,221   $0.54  $(284,794) $167,480    $1.67
Plus:
  (Income) Loss from
   Discontinued
   Operations, net
   of tax                  (400)      -       (374)     (915)   (0.01)
  (Gain) Loss from
   Discontinued
   Operations           (10,491)  (0.10)       624   (22,389)   (0.22)
  Corporate
   relocation
   charges, net of
   tax                    4,296    0.04          -     8,607     0.08
  Reorganization
   items, net of tax     (3,944)  (0.04)    20,305    (1,143)   (0.01)
  Restructuring and
   impairment
   charges, net of
   tax                   30,461    0.30      6,133    29,106     0.29
  FERC-authorized
   settlement with
   Connecticut Light
   and Power, net of
   tax                        -       -          -   (26,466)   (0.26)
  Write down of Note
   Receivable, net
   of tax                 3,438    0.03          -     3,155     0.03
  Write downs and
   (gains)/losses on
   sales of equity
   method
   investments, net
   of tax                10,170    0.10    (12,064)   13,776     0.14
                     ----------- ------- ---------- --------- --------
Adjusted Net Income     $87,751   $0.87  $(270,170) $171,211    $1.71


                         EBITDA Reconciliation

The following table summarizes the calculation of EBITDA and provides
a reconciliation to net income/(loss):

                                       Three Months Ended       YTD
                                    Reorganized  Predecessor
                                        NRG          NRG
                                    ----------- ------------
                                    September    September   September
                                        30,          30,        30,
                                       2004         2003       2004
                                    (Dollars in thousands)

Net Income / (Loss)                    $54,221    $(284,794) $167,480
Plus:
  Income Tax Expense                    14,264        5,437    64,866
  Interest expense, excluding
   amortization of debt issuance
   costs and debt discount/
   (premium)                            61,061       30,932   193,260
  Depreciation and amortization         51,373       56,510   159,547
  WCP CDWR contract amortization
   (included in equity in earnings
   of unconsolidated affiliates)        28,098            -    89,704
  Amortization of power contracts        3,715            -    29,294
  Amortization of emission credits       4,919            -    14,837
  Amortization of debt issuance
   costs and debt
   discount/(premium)                    5,822        3,492    32,994
                                    ----------- ------------ ---------
EBITDA                                $223,473    $(188,423) $751,982
Plus:
  (Income) Loss from Discontinued
   Operations,
   net of Income Taxes                    (400)        (374)     (915)
  (Gain) Loss from Discontinued
   Operations                          (10,491)         624   (22,389)
  Corporate relocation charges           5,713            -    12,474
  Reorganization items                  (5,245)      20,698    (1,656)
  Restructuring and impairment
   charges                              40,507        6,252    42,183
  FERC-authorized settlement with
   Connecticut Light and Power               -            -   (38,357)
   Write down of Note Receivable         4,572            -     4,572
   Write downs and (gains)/losses
    on sales of equity method
    investments                         13,524      (12,310)   14,057
                                    ----------- ------------ ---------
Adjusted EBITDA                       $271,653    $(173,533) $761,951


               Forecasted Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation

The following table summarizes the calculation of adjusted EBITDA and
provides a reconciliation to forecasted cash flow from operations:

$ in millions                             Reported Adjustment Adjusted
                                          Outlook             Outlook
EBITDA                                        865         10      875
    Interest Payments                        (278)        15     (263)
    Income Tax                                (32)        --      (32)
    Other Cash Used by Operations             (40)        --      (40)
    Working Capital Changes                   (60)        --      (60)
    Xcel Settlement, net                      100       (100)      --
                                          -------- ---------- --------
Cash Flow from Operations                     555       ( 75)     480

EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income are nonGAAP 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 and adjusted net income 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, 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 debts;
  • 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 press release.

Adjusted EBITDA is presented as a further supplemental measure of operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA adjusted for reorganization, restructuring, impairment and corporate relocation charges, discontinued operations, and write downs and losses on the sales of equity method investments; factors which we do not consider indicative of future operating performance. 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 presentation.

Similar to Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income represents net income adjusted for reorganization, restructuring, impairment and corporate relocation charges, discontinued operations, and write downs and losses on the sales of equity method investments; factors which we do not consider indicative of future operating performance. The reader is encouraged to evaluate each adjustment and the reasons NRG considers it appropriate for supplemental analysis. In addition, in evaluating Adjusted net income, the reader should be aware that in the future NRG may incur expenses similar to the adjustments in this presentation.

Untitled Document
Contact:
 
NRG Energy, Inc.

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Nahla Azmy
609.524.4526
Katy Sullivan
609.524.4527

 
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609.524.4522