UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): | November 24, 2008 |
NRG Energy, Inc.
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 001-15891 | 41-1724239 |
_____________________ (State or other jurisdiction |
_____________ (Commission |
______________ (I.R.S. Employer |
of incorporation) | File Number) | Identification No.) |
211 Carnegie Center, Princeton, New Jersey | 08540 | |
_________________________________ (Address of principal executive offices) |
___________ (Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: | 609-524-4500 |
Not Applicable
______________________________________________
Former name or former address, if changed since last report
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
[x] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 8.01 Other Events.
On November 24, 2008, NRG Energy, Inc. ("NRG") issued a press release announcing the NRG Board of Directors' (the "Board") rejection of the Exelon Corporation ("Exelon") unsolicited exchange offer and the Board’s recommendation to NRG stockholders not to tender their shares into Exelon’s offer. The press release announcing the response, as well as a letter to employees and a letter to stockholders, are attached as Exhibits 99.1, 99.2, and 99.3, respectively, to this Current Report and are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
Exhibit 99.1 - Press Release dated November 24, 2008
Exhibit 99.2 - Letter to Employees dated November 24, 2008
Exhibit 99.3 - Letter to Stockholders dated November 24, 2008
Disclaimer
Important Information
This Current Report does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of proxy of any stockholder of NRG Energy, Inc. (“NRG”). NRG plans to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and furnish to its stockholders a proxy statement in connection with its 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2009 Annual Meeting”). INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF NRG ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE 2009 ANNUAL MEETING IN ITS ENTIRETY WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
In response to the exchange offer proposed by Exelon Corporation referred to in this press release, NRG has filed with the SEC a Solicitation/ Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9. Stockholders of NRG are advised to read NRG's Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Sch
edule 14D-9 in its entirety because it contains important information.
Investors and stockholders will be able to obtain free copies of NRG’s proxy statement (when it becomes available), the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9, any other documents filed by NRG in connection with the exchange offer by Exelon Corporation, and other documents filed with the SEC by NRG at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Free copies of any such documents can also be obtained by directing a request to Investor Relations Department, NRG Energy, Inc., 211 Carnegie Center, Princeton, New Jersey 08540.
NRG and its directors and executive officers and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with its 2009 Annual Meeting. Information regarding NRG’s directors and executive officers is available in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, which was filed with the SEC on February 28, 2008, and its proxy
statement for its 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 2, 2008. Detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of individuals who may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies of NRG’s stockholders will also be available in NRG’s proxy statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting.
Safe Harbor Disclosure
Certain statements contained herein may constitute 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 “will,” “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “forecast,” “plan,” “believe” and similar terms. Although NRG believes that its expectations are reasonable, it can give no assurance th
at 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, risks and uncertainties related to the capital markets generally.
NRG undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The foregoing review of factors that could cause NRG’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the forward-looking statements included herein 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.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
NRG Energy, Inc. | ||||
November 24, 2008 | By: |
/s/ J. Andrew Murphy
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Name: J. Andrew Murphy | ||||
Title: Executive Vice Pres & General Counsel |
Exhibit Index
Exhibit No. | Description | |
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99.1
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Press Release, dated November 24, 2008 | |
99.2
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Letter to Employees, dated November 24, 2008 | |
99.3
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Letter to Stockholders, dated November 24, 2008 |
Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NRG Energys Board of Directors Rejects
Exelon Corporations Unsolicited Exchange Offer
Company reiterates inadequacy of Exelon proposal; Board strongly urges stockholders not to
tender their shares into Exelons offer
PRINCETON, NJ; November 24, 2008NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG) today announced that its Board of Directors, after careful consideration with its independent financial and legal advisors, voted unanimously to reject Exelon Corporations (NYSE: EXC) unsolicited proposal to exchange 0.485 of its shares for each share of NRG stock and recommended that NRG stockholders not tender their shares into Exelons offer. In doing so, the Board noted that the exchange ratiothe number of shares being offered for each NRG sharebeing offered by Exelon was unchanged from the unsolicited proposal Exelon originally made on October 19, 2008, which the Board thoroughly considered and subsequently rejected on November 9, 2008, as not in the best interests of NRGs stockholders. The basis for the Boards recommendation is set forth in NRGs Schedule 14D-9 filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Board of Directors is unanimous in its belief that the Exelon offer is inadequate, dilutive, significantly undervalues NRG and does not fully reflect the underlying fundamental value of NRGs assets, operations and strategic plan, including our strong market position and future growth prospects, said Howard Cosgrove, Chairman of NRGs Board of Directors. The NRG Board and management team believe that the Companys standalone development plan will provide greater long-term value to our stockholders than Exelons proposal. While NRG believes in consolidation, we are not advocates for pursuing scale for scales sake. We have said before that we are a willing buyer or seller at the right price, utilizing a structure that makes sense. Exelons proposal, however, achieves none of those criteria. For these reasons, NRGs Board strongly urges stockholders to reject Exelons offer and not tender their shares, Cosgrove added.
Additional reasons for the NRG Boards recommendation to reject Exelons exchange offer, which the Company detailed in its 14D-9 filing, include:
| Under Exelons own analysis, the exchange offer does not compensate NRGs stockholders adequately for the value of Exelons own estimates of achievable net synergies, or the very substantial cost to achieve these synergies or the risks to achieve these synergies; |
| The value of the consideration being offered following the exchange offer is uncertain and dependent on the value of Exelon common stock; |
| A combination with Exelon will dilute, and might derail, NRGs continued growth; |
| The exchange offer by Exelon is subject to numerous conditions, is likely to require NRGs support, and creates significant uncertainty. Specifically, consummation of the exchange offer requires the receipt of numerous governmental and regulatory approvals and there is no assurance that the necessary approvals will be received, when they will be received or what conditions might attach to their receipt; |
| The exchange offer may require refinancing of all or a significant amount of NRGs existing indebtedness and yet Exelon has not publicly announced that it has committed financing for the offer, which presents real risks of non-consummation to NRGs stockholders; and |
| Exelons exchange offer does not compensate NRGs stockholders adequately for the risks in the proposed transaction structure. |
The Board expressed concern about the viability of Exelons proposal, in light of the extensive list of conditions and necessary approvals detailed by Exelon in its exchange offer, and noted that neither a credible debt financing plan nor credit rating comfort has been demonstrated by Exelon despite previous promises to provide them. Nor has Exelon provided even a summary business plan outlining how it intends to manage the combined company or how it would extract value out of the combined companys assets and opportunities.
NRG intends to continue on the path of fundamental economic value creation that has produced record earnings, record liquidity and record free cash flow generation this year, said David Crane, NRG President and Chief Executive Officer. We will remain focused on managing through the current economic crisis, as we have done successfully thus far, while positioning NRG for the upturn which will follow. In the course of so doing, we will seek to minimize the economic waste and opportunity cost associated with responding to Exelons offer.
Crane concluded, Exelons offer is clearly inadequate and should be rejected by NRG stockholders. Our Board of Directors and management team remain focused on delivering compelling value to NRG stockholders and this commitment is underscored by our standalone plan and growth prospects. Our third quarter earnings results are a testament to what NRG is capable of on a standalone basis.
The Companys 14D-9 filing is available on the SECs website, www.sec.gov.
About NRG
NRG Energy, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, owns and operates one of the countrys largest and most
diverse power generation portfolios. NRGs 48 plants provide approximately 24,000 megawatts of
generation capacityenough to power nearly 20 million homes. In November 2007, NRG won two of the
industrys highest honorsPlatts Industry Leadership and Energy Company of the Year awards.
Headquartered in Princeton, NJ, NRG is a member of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), a
group of business and environmental organizations calling for mandatory legislation to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. More information is available at www.nrgenergy.com.
Important Information
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of proxy of any stockholder of NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG). NRG plans to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) and furnish to its stockholders a proxy statement in connection with its 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the 2009 Annual Meeting). INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF NRG ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE 2009 ANNUAL MEETING IN ITS ENTIRETY WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
In response to the exchange offer proposed by Exelon Corporation referred to in this press release, NRG has filed with the SEC a Solicitation/ Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9. STOCKHOLDERS OF NRG ARE ADVISED TO READ NRGS SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT ON SCHEDULE 14D-9 IN ITS ENTIRETY BECAUSE IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
Investors and stockholders will be able to obtain free copies of NRGs proxy statement (when it becomes available), the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9, any other documents filed by NRG in connection with the exchange offer by Exelon Corporation, and other documents filed with the SEC by NRG at the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Free copies of any such documents can also be obtained by directing a request to Investor Relations Department, NRG Energy, Inc., 211 Carnegie Center, Princeton, New Jersey 08540.
NRG and its directors and executive officers and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with its 2009 Annual Meeting. Information regarding NRGs directors and executive officers is available in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, which was filed with the SEC on February 28, 2008, and its proxy statement for its 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 2, 2008. Detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of individuals who may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies of NRGs stockholders will also be available in NRGs proxy statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting.
Safe Harbor Disclosure
Certain statements contained herein may constitute 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 will, 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, risks and uncertainties related to the capital markets generally.
NRG undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The foregoing review of factors that could cause NRGs actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the forward-looking statements included herein should be considered in connection with information regarding risks and uncertainties that may affect NRGs future results included in NRGs filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.
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Contacts:
Investors:
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Media: | |
Nahla Azmy 609.524.4526 |
Meredith Moore 609.524.4522 |
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David Klein 609.524.4527 |
Lori Neuman 609.524.4525 |
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David Knox (Texas and Louisiana) 713.795.6106 |
Exhibit 99.2 [NRG Letterhead]
Date:
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November 24, 2008 | |
To:
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All Employees | |
From:
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David Crane President and CEO | |
Subject:
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Exelon Update |
Today we took an important step in responding to Exelons latest tactics. NRGs Board of Directors announced that it has unanimously decided to recommend that NRG stockholders not tender their shares into Exelons exchange offer.
The Boards recommendation is contained in a legal filing (called a Schedule 14D-9) that we made with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) this afternoon, which includes the Boards reasons for recommending that stockholders reject Exelons exchange offer. In addition, we have issued the attached news release. We have a link to that particular filing on a new section of the Insider created especially as a reference tool for employees. On this site, accessed from the front page of the Insider, we will include communications related to Exelon, including news releases, employee communications, and news articles, among other items.
In the week after our Board rejected of Exelons original proposal, Exelon tried to increase the pressure on our Company and our Board through a three-pronged strategy:
| Exchange Offer Exelon has gone straight to our stockholders with an exchange offer for all NRG shares. The terms of the offer are that Exelon would exchange 0.485 of its shares for each share of NRG stock. To accept this offer, our stockholders need to indicate their willingness to tender their shares by January 6, 2009, the current date that the Exelon exchange offer expires. |
| Proxy Contest Exelon has announced its intention to try to gain control of our Board by proposing to add several new directors, nominated by Exelon, while also seeking to replace four of our existing Directors, whose terms are up at the 2009 annual meeting. In the election, stockholders cast their votes, or proxies, for directors. Exelons aim through this tactic is to put in place a majority of the directors serving on our Board. |
| Litigation Exelon has also filed a lawsuit against NRG and our Board arguing that appropriate consideration was not given to their original proposal that the Board rejected on November 9. We have since filed a motion to dismiss the suit as we believe that it is baseless and fails to state any legal claim against NRG or our Board. |
It bears repeating that these are predictable tactics and we encourage you to remain focused on doing business as usual and maintaining our high performance levels.
Finally, we appreciate the questions many of you have submitted via email or to your managers. Weve put together a set of questions submitted from across NRG, along with answers and a helpful glossary of terms. Please continue to submit any questions you may have to your managers or to NRGCommunications.
Q&A
1. | What are the latest steps taken by Exelon and NRG in this process? |
Exelon is trying to increase the pressure on our Company and our Board through a three-pronged strategy: a formal exchange offer to our stockholders; a proposed proxy contest; and litigation.
Today NRGs Board of Directors recommended that NRG stockholders not tender their shares in Exelons exchange offer. We also announced that we think Exelons lawsuit is baseless and fails to state any legal claim against NRG or our Board, and we filed a motion to dismiss it. Finally, with regard to the proposed proxy contest by which Exelon says it will try to gain control of our Board, we have confirmed to Exelon that the Companys common stockholders have the right to propose and vote on expanding the size of our Board and to nominate their own slate of directors for election at our next annual meeting.
2. Why is Exelon so interested in NRG?
We believe that NRG is unique in that we are the best-positioned, highest-growth, most
well-diversified and best-hedged company in the sector. Exelon has recognized that NRG is the best
investment in our sector at this time.
Exelon Exchange Offer
3. How does the exchange offer work?
Exelon has indicated it will send all NRG stockholders a packet of materials containing an offering
document with information about the terms of the offer and other information about how to exchange
their NRG shares for Exelon shares. NRG stockholders who tender their shares into the offer have
the ability to withdraw their shares from the offer at any time until they are accepted for
exchange by Exelon.
4. What happens if the majority of NRGs stockholders do not tender their shares into this exchange
offer?
It is a condition to Exelons obligation to close its exchange offer that a majority of NRGs
shares are tendered in the offer. Exelons Chief Operating Officer has stated publicly if we hear
back from NRG shareholders that they are not interested, then we go away.
In addition to the exchange offer, Exelon announced its intention to submit a proposal to our stockholders, in connection with NRGs annual meeting, to expand the size of the NRG Board and nominate a majority of directors. (See question number 1 above and number 7 below for more on this issue.) Beyond that, its not appropriate to speculate on what will happen that far in the future.
5. What happens if a majority of NRGs outstanding shares are tendered in the exchange offer?
Even if NRG stockholders tender a majority of NRGs outstanding shares in Exelons exchange offer,
Exelon will not be able to exchange those shares for Exelon shares until a number of conditions are
satisfied. One of these conditions is receipt of all regulatory approvals, includg federal
approvals from the Department of Justice, FERC and NRC, as well as approvals from the states of
California, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas. It will likely take Exelon several months to obtain
all these regulatory approvals, if it is able to obtain them at all. Suffice it to say, there would
be many steps before Exelon could actually acquire any NRG shares in the exchange offer and it
would not be appropriate to speculate on what will happen that far in the future.
6. What will happen to our unvested Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) if Exelon succeeds in its hostile
bid?
If youve been granted RSUs, the terms of your grant agreement provide that the RSUs vest (become
owned by you as common shares) at a certain designated period. If Exelon were to succeed in
acquiring NRG, the vesting period would be accelerated and you would own the shares sooner than the
original vesting period. Please keep in mind that the plan document will always determine the
ultimate treatment of equity upon an acquisition.
Exelon Proxy Proposal
7. What would happen if Exelon is successful in replacing a majority of the Companys Board?
At this point, we have only received a letter indicating Exelons intention to submit a proposal to
our stockholders to expand the size of the NRG Board and nominate a majority of directors. So, it
is a bit too early to speculate.
8. Have there been recent discussions with our major stockholders regarding their position on the
exchange offer? What are they saying?
Our Company policy is not to comment on specific communications with individual stockholders.
Exelon Lawsuit
9. What are Exelons grounds for the lawsuit? Can we counter sue?
Exelon filed a lawsuit against NRG and our Board arguing that our Board did not give appropriate
consideration to their original proposal. We filed a motion to dismiss the suit as we believe that
it fails to state any claim against NRG or our Board.
10. What if I still have questions?
Please send any questions you may have to NRGcommunications. We will use them in upcoming communications as much as possible.
Glossary of Terms
14D-9 Filing
A 14D-9 filing is a Securities and Exchange Commission filing in which a companys board of
directors makes a recommendation to its stockholders in response to a tender (or exchange) offer
from another company. It is often accompanied by a letter to stockholders letting them know of the
boards decision and provides the background of the offer and rationale for the decision.
Exchange Ratio
The exchange ratio is the amount of Exelon stock (0.485 Exelon shares per each share of NRG stock)
that Exelon intends to exchange for each share of NRG common stock.
Motion to Dismiss
A Motion to Dismiss, in civil litigation, is a written submission to the court at a preliminary
stage of the case, generally before the defendant answers, seeking dismissal of the case (in this
case, the suit filed by Exelon against our Board) on one of several grounds. Grounds could include
a lack of jurisdiction over the person or subject matter, and failure of the plaintiff to allege
the required elements of the cause of action asserted in the complaint.
Exhibit 99.3 [NRG Letterhead]
November 24, 2008
Dear Fellow Stockholders:
As most of you are aware, on November 12, 2008, Exelon Corporation, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Exelon Xchange Corporation (together, Exelon), launched an unsolicited exchange offer for all issued and outstanding shares of common stock of NRG Energy, Inc. at an exchange ratio of 0.485 of a share of Exelon common stock for each share of NRG common stock, subject to the terms and conditions contained in Exelons exchange offer documents. After careful consideration with NRGs independent financial and legal advisors, the Board of Directors of NRG (the Board) has voted unanimously to reject Exelons exchange offer and recommended that NRG stockholders not tender their shares into Exelons exchange offer. In doing so, the NRG Board noted that the exchange ratio being offered by Exelon was unchanged from the unsolicited proposal Exelon originally made on October 19, 2008, which the Board thoroughly considered and subsequently rejected on November 9, 2008, as not in the best interests of NRGs stockholders.
Additional reasons for the Boards recommendation to reject Exelons exchange offer include the following:
| Under Exelons own analysis, the exchange offer does not compensate NRGs stockholders adequately for the value of Exelons own estimates of achievable net synergies, or the very substantial cost to achieve these synergies or the risks to achieve these synergies; |
| The value of the consideration being offered following the exchange offer is uncertain and highly dependent on the value of Exelon common stock; |
| A combination with Exelon will dilute, and might derail, NRGs continued growth; |
| The exchange offer by Exelon is subject to numerous conditions, is likely to require NRGs support, and creates significant uncertainty. Specifically, consummation of the exchange offer requires the receipt of numerous governmental and regulatory approvals and there is no assurance that the necessary approvals will be received, when they will be received or what conditions might attach to their receipt; |
| The exchange offer may require refinancing of all or a significant amount of NRGs existing indebtedness and Exelon has not publicly announced that it has any committed financing for the offer, which presents real risks of non-consummation to NRGs stockholders; and |
| Exelons exchange offer does not compensate NRGs stockholders adequately for the risks in the proposed transaction structure. |
The enclosed Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 contains a detailed description of the basis for the Boards recommendation and the factors considered by the Board. We urge you to read the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement carefully so that you will be fully informed before you make your decision. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact our information agent, MacKenzie Partners, Inc., by telephone at 800.322.2885 (Toll-Free) or 212.929.5500 (Collect), or by email at Nrg@Mackenzie partners.com.
We greatly appreciate your continued support. Thank you.
Sincerely,
/s/ David Crane
David Crane
President and Chief Executive Officer