XML 21 R10.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.8.0.1
Discontinued Operations, Dispositions and Acquisitions
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]  
Discontinued Operations, Dispositions and Acquisitions
Discontinued Operations, Dispositions and Acquisitions
Discontinued Operations
As described in Note 1, Basis of Presentation, on the Petition Date, the GenOn Entities filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court. As a result of the bankruptcy filings, NRG concluded that it no longer controls GenOn as it is subject to the control of the Bankruptcy Court; and, accordingly, NRG no longer consolidates GenOn for financial reporting purposes.
By eliminating a large portion of its operations in the PJM market with the deconsolidation of GenOn, NRG concluded that GenOn meets the criteria for discontinued operations, as this represents a strategic shift in the markets in which NRG operates. As such, all prior period results for GenOn have been reclassified as discontinued operations while NRG will record all ongoing results of GenOn as a cost method investment, which was valued at zero at the date of deconsolidation.
Summarized results of discontinued operations were as follows:
 
Three months ended September 30, 2017 (a)
 
Three months ended September 30, 2016
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2017 (a)
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2016
(In millions)
 
 
 
Operating revenues
$

 
$
532

 
$
646

 
$
1,509

Operating costs and expenses

 
(468
)
 
(700
)
 
(1,409
)
Gain on sale of assets

 
262

 

 
294

Other expenses

 
(43
)
 
(98
)
 
(127
)
(Loss)/Income from operations of discontinued components, before tax

 
283

 
(152
)
 
267

Income tax expense

 
21

 
9

 
20

(Loss)/Incomes from operations of discontinued components

 
262

 
(161
)
 
247

Interest income - affiliate

 
3

 
6

 
9

(Loss)/Income from operations of discontinued components, net of tax

 
265

 
(155
)
 
256

Pre-tax loss on deconsolidation

 

 
(208
)
 

Settlement consideration and services credit

 

 
(289
)
 

Pension and post-retirement liability assumption(b)
(25
)
 

 
(144
)
 

Other
(2
)
 

 
(6
)
 

Loss on disposal of discontinued components, net of tax
(27
)
 

 
(647
)
 

(Loss)/Income from discontinued operations, net of tax
$
(27
)
 
$
265

 
$
(802
)
 
$
256


(a) As of June 14, 2017, NRG no longer consolidates GenOn for financial reporting purposes.
(b) See Note 1, Basis of Presentation, for further discussion regarding the October 30, 2017 proposed changes to the Restructuring Support Agreement. As part of this, NRG recorded the liability for GenOn’s post-employment and retiree health and welfare benefits, in an amount up to $25 million with a corresponding loss on discontinued operations during the third quarter of 2017.
The following table summarizes the major classes of assets and liabilities classified as discontinued operations as of December 31, 2016. As of June 14, 2017, NRG no longer consolidates GenOn for financial reporting purposes.
(In millions)
 
December 31, 2016
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
1,034

Other current assets
 
885

Current assets - discontinued operations
 
1,919

Property, plant and equipment, net
 
2,543

Other non-current assets
 
418

Non-current assets - discontinued operations
 
2,961

Current portion of long term debt and capital leases
 
704

Other current liabilities
 
506

Current liabilities - discontinued operations
 
1,210

Long-term debt and capital leases
 
2,050

Out-of-market contracts
 
811

Other non-current liabilities
 
323

Non-current liabilities - discontinued operations
 
$
3,184


Restructuring Support Agreement
As described in Note 1, Basis of Presentation, NRG, GenOn and certain holders representing greater than 93% in aggregate principal amount of GenOn’s Senior Notes and certain holders representing greater than 93% in aggregate principal amount of GenOn Americas Generation’s Senior Notes entered into a Restructuring Support Agreement that provides for a restructuring and recapitalization of the GenOn Entities through a prearranged plan of reorganization. Completion of the agreed upon terms is contingent upon certain milestones in the Restructuring Support Agreement. Certain principal terms of the Restructuring Support Agreement are detailed below:
1)
Full releases from GenOn and GenOn Americas Generation in favor of NRG, including either a full release or indemnification in favor of NRG for any claims relating to GenOn Mid-Atlantic or REMA and the dismissal of all litigation against NRG.
2)
NRG will provide settlement cash consideration to GenOn of $261.3 million, which will be paid in cash less any amounts owed to NRG under the intercompany secured revolving credit facility. As of September 30, 2017, GenOn owed NRG approximately $125 million under the intercompany secured revolving credit facility. See Note 14, Related Party Transactions, for further discussion of the intercompany secured revolving credit facility.
3)
NRG will consent to the cancellation of its interests in the equity of GenOn. The equity interests in the reorganized GenOn will be issued to the holders of the GenOn Senior Notes.
4)
NRG will retain the pension liability, including payment of approximately $13 million of 2017 pension contributions, for GenOn employees for service provided prior to the completion of the reorganization, which was paid in September 2017. GenOn’s pension liability as of September 30, 2017 was approximately $106 million.
5)
The shared services agreement between NRG and GenOn will be amended such that (i) NRG will provide shared services to GenOn at an annualized rate of $84 million during the pendency of the Chapter 11 Cases, (ii) if the settlement is approved by the bankruptcy court, NRG will provide shared services to GenOn at no charge for two months, and (iii) NRG will then provide an option for up to two, one-month extensions for shared services at an annualized rate of $84 million. See Note 14, Related Party Transactions, for further discussion of the shared services agreement.
6)
NRG will provide a credit of $28 million to GenOn to apply against amounts owed under the shared services agreement upon emergence from bankruptcy. Any unused amount can be paid in cash at GenOn’s request. The credit was intended to reimburse GenOn for its payment of financing costs.
7)
NRG agreed to provide GenOn with a letter of credit facility during the pendency of the Chapter 11 Cases, which could be utilized for required letters of credit in lieu of the intercompany secured revolving credit facility. GenOn can no longer utilize the intercompany secured revolving credit facility and, on July 27, 2017, the letter of credit facility was terminated, as GenOn had obtained a separate letter of credit facility with a third party financial institution. See Note 14, Related Party Transactions, for further discussion of the intercompany secured revolver credit facility and the letter of credit facility obtained in July 2017.
8)
NRG and GenOn have agreed to cooperate in good faith to maximize the value of certain development projects.
In addition to the Restructuring Support Agreement, additional support and other agreements are being negotiated, including a transition services agreement. See Note 1, Basis of Presentation, for further discussion regarding the October 30, 2017 proposed changes to the Restructuring Support Agreement.
Settlement Consideration    
NRG has determined that the payment of the settlement consideration is probable and has recorded a liability for the amount due of $261.3 million in accrued expenses and other current liabilities - affiliate with a corresponding loss from discontinued operations. NRG expects to pay this amount net of amounts due from GenOn under the intercompany secured revolving credit facility, which is further described in Note 14, Related Party Transactions.
Pension Liability
NRG will retain the pension liability, including payment of approximately $13 million of 2017 pension contributions, which was paid in September 2017, for the GenOn employees for service provided prior to emergence from bankruptcy. NRG determined that the retention of this liability is probable and has recorded the estimated accumulated pension benefit obligation as of September 30, 2017 of $106 million in other non-current liabilities with a corresponding loss from discontinued operations. NRG's obligation for this liability will be revalued through and at GenOn's emergence from bankruptcy.
Services Agreement
NRG will continue to provide shared services to GenOn under the Services Agreement at an annualized rate of $84 million during the pendency of the Chapter 11 Cases as well as for two months post-emergence at no charge. NRG then will provide an option for up to two, one-month extensions for shared services at an annualized rate of $84 million. Beginning on June 14, 2017, NRG records operating income for the amounts earned for shared services of approximately $5 million per month. NRG has also agreed to provide GenOn with a credit of $28 million against amounts owed under the Services Agreement. Any unused amount can be paid in cash at GenOn’s request. As a result, NRG has concluded that the liability for this credit is probable and has recorded a payable to GenOn for $28 million in accrued expenses and other current liabilities - affiliate with a corresponding loss from discontinued operations. See Note 1, Basis of Presentation, for further discussion regarding the October 30, 2017 proposed changes to the Restructuring Support Agreement and Services Agreement.
Commercial Operations
For pre-disposal periods, NRG provided GenOn with services as described in Note 14, Related Party Transactions. Under intercompany agreements, NRG Power Marketing LLC has entered into physical and financial intercompany commodity and hedging transactions with GenOn and certain of its subsidiaries. Subject to applicable collateral thresholds, these arrangements may provide for the bilateral exchange of credit support based upon market exposure and potential market movements. The terms and conditions of the agreements are generally consistent with industry practices and other third party arrangements. For current and pre-disposal periods, revenue and expense associated with these transactions is recorded in continuing operations.
GenOn Debt
As of June 14, 2017, the GenOn Senior Notes and GenOn Americas Generation Senior Notes, which totaled approximately $2.5 billion, were deconsolidated from NRG's consolidated financial statements. The filing of the Chapter 11 Cases constitutes an event of default under the following debt instruments of GenOn:
1)
The intercompany secured revolving credit facility with NRG;
2)
The indenture governing the GenOn 7.875% Senior Notes due 2017 (as amended or supplemented from time to time);
3)
The indenture governing the GenOn 9.500% Notes due 2018 (as amended or supplemented from time to time);
4)
The indenture governing the GenOn 9.875% Notes due 2020 (as amended or supplemented from time to time);
5)
The indenture governing the GenOn Americas Generation 8.50% Senior Notes due 2021 (as amended or supplemented from time to time); and
6)
The indenture governing the GenOn Americas Generation 9.125% Senior Notes due 2031 (as amended or supplemented from time to time).
Transfer of Assets Under Common Control
On November 1, 2017, NRG completed the sale of a 38 MW solar portfolio primarily comprised of assets from SPP funds, in addition to other projects developed by NRG, to NRG Yield, Inc. for cash consideration of $71 million, plus $3 million in working capital adjustments.
On August 1, 2017, NRG closed on the sale of its remaining 25% interest in NRG Wind TE Holdco, a portfolio of 12 wind projects, to NRG Yield, Inc. for total cash consideration of $44 million, including working capital adjustment of $3 million. The transaction also includes potential additional payments to NRG dependent upon actual energy prices for merchant periods beginning in 2027.
On March 27, 2017, the Company sold to NRG Yield, Inc.: (i) a 16% interest in the Agua Caliente solar project, representing ownership of approximately 46 net MW of capacity and (ii) NRG's interests in seven utility-scale solar projects located in Utah representing 265 net MW of capacity, which have reached commercial operations. NRG Yield, Inc. paid cash consideration of $130 million, plus $1 million in working capital adjustments, and assumed non-recourse debt of approximately $328 million.
On September 1, 2016, the Company completed the sale of its remaining 51.05% interest in the CVSR project to NRG Yield, Inc. for total cash consideration of $78.5 million, plus an immaterial working capital adjustment. In addition, NRG Yield, Inc. assumed non-recourse project level debt of $496 million.
Acquisitions
SunEdison Utility-Scale Solar and Wind Acquisition
On November 2, 2016, the Company acquired equity interests in a tax equity portfolio from SunEdison, located in Utah, comprised of 530 MW of mechanically-complete solar assets, of which NRG’s net interest based on cash to be distributed is 265 MW, for upfront cash consideration of $111 million. In connection with the acquisition, the Company assumed non-recourse debt of $222 million. The Company also borrowed additional amounts of $65 million during the fourth quarter of 2016, which effectively reduced the Company's use of liquidity related to the acquisition. The Company does not have a controlling interest in the tax equity portfolio and, accordingly, its interest is recorded as an equity method investment. The purchase price was preliminarily allocated to the equity method investment balance of approximately $328 million, current assets of $5 million and the assumed non-recourse debt of $222 million. The assets reached commercial operations during the fourth quarter of 2016 and have 20-year PPAs with PacificCorp.
The Company acquired a 110 MW portfolio of construction-ready and 71 MW of development solar assets in Hawaii from SunEdison for upfront cash consideration of $2 million on October 3, 2016 and a 154 MW construction-ready solar project in Texas for upfront cash consideration of $11 million on November 9, 2016.
In addition to the total $124 million in upfront cash consideration paid for the above acquisitions, the Company expects to make an estimated $59 million in additional payments contingent upon future development milestones, of which $15 million was paid as of September 30, 2017.
SunEdison Solar Distributed Generation Acquisition
On October 3, 2016, the Company acquired a 29 MW portfolio of mechanically-complete and construction-ready distributed generation solar assets from SunEdison for cash consideration of approximately $67 million excluding post-closing adjustments which reduced the purchase price by $5 million. Subsequent to the acquisition, the Company sold the majority of these assets into a tax-equity financed portfolio within the DGPV Holdco partnership between NRG and NRG Yield, Inc., and expects to sell the remaining assets into a similar portfolio in 2017. The purchase price was allocated to $47 million in construction in progress and $15 million in intangible assets.
Dispositions
Disposition of Majority Interest in EVgo
On June 17, 2016, the Company completed the sale of a majority interest in its EVgo business to Vision Ridge Partners for total consideration of approximately $39 million, including $17 million in cash received, which is net of $2.5 million in working capital adjustments, $15 million contributed as capital to the EVgo business and $7 million of future contributions by Vision Ridge Partners, all of which were determined based on forecasted cash requirements to operate the business in future periods. In addition, the Company has future earnout potential of up to $70 million based on future profitability targets. NRG will retain its original financial obligation of $102.5 million under its agreement with the CPUC whereby EVgo will build at least 200 public fast charging Freedom Station sites and perform the associated work to prepare 10,000 commercial and multi-family parking spaces for electric vehicle charging in California. As part of the sale, NRG has contracted with EVgo to continue to build the remaining required Freedom Stations and commercial and multi-family parking spaces for electric vehicle charging required under this obligation and will be directly reimbursed by NRG for the costs. As a result of the sale, the Company recorded a loss on sale of $83 million during the second quarter of 2016, which reflects the loss on the sale of the equity interest of $27 million and the accrual of NRG's remaining obligation under its agreement with the CPUC of $56 million. On February 22, 2017, the Company and CPUC entered into a second amendment to the agreement which extended the operating period commitment for the Freedom Stations to December 5, 2020. At September 30, 2017, the Company's remaining 35% interest in EVgo of $2 million was accounted for as an equity-method investment.
Rockford Disposition
On May 12, 2016, the Company entered into an agreement with RA Generation, LLC to sell 100% of its interests in the Rockford I and Rockford II generating stations, or Rockford, for cash consideration of $55 million, subject to adjustments for working capital and the results of the PJM 2019/2020 base residual auction. Rockford is a 450 MW natural gas facility located in Rockford, Illinois. The transaction triggered an indicator of impairment as the sales price was less than the carrying amount of the assets, and, as a result the assets were considered to be impaired. The Company measured the impairment loss as the difference between the carrying amount of the assets and the agreed-upon sales price. The Company recorded an impairment loss of $17 million during the quarter ended June 30, 2016 to reduce the carrying amount of the assets held for sale to the fair market value. At June 30, 2016, the Company had $2 million of current assets and $54 million of non-current assets classified as held for sale for Rockford on its balance sheet. On July 12, 2016, the Company completed the sale of Rockford for cash proceeds of $56 million, including $1 million in adjustments for the PJM base residual auction results. For further discussion on this impairment, refer to Note 7, Impairments, to this Form 10-Q.