NRG Yield, Inc. Reports Full-Year and Fourth Quarter 2014 Financial Results, Announces New Acquisitions, and Proposes New Share Classes

NRG Yield, Inc., (NYSE:NYLD) today reported fourth quarter 2014 Adjusted EBITDA of $114 million and CAFD of $10 million, which resulted in full year Adjusted EBITDA and CAFD for 2014 being $455 million and $147 million, respectively. Net income attributable to Class A shareholders for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014 was $16 million or $0.59 per diluted Class A common share.

“With our first full calendar year as a public company just completed, NRG Yield continues to fulfill its promise of a consistent, predictable, and steadily growing stream of cash flows paid out to our shareholders,” said NRG Yield’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David Crane. “Furthermore, NRG Yield’s announcement of our proposed Class C and Class D shares, once approved, will significantly enhance our ability to execute on growth transactions in close coordination with NRG Energy and third parties.”

Overview of Financial and Operating Results

Note 1: NRG Yield closed on its initial public offering (IPO) on July 22, 2013. Results for periods prior to the IPO are attributable to its predecessor.
Note 2: In accordance with GAAP, 2014 and 2013 results have been restated to include full impact of the assets in the ROFO drop down transaction which closed on June 30, 2014.

Segment Results

For the quarter ended December 31, 2014, NRG Yield reported Net Loss of $10 million, Adjusted EBITDA of $114 million, and CAFD of $10 million. Fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA was higher by $21 million than 2013 as a result of the addition of Alta Wind portfolio, which closed during the third quarter of 2014. Fourth quarter CAFD was $12 million lower than 2013 primarily due to additional interest payments on the debt associated with the Alta Wind assets.

Operational Performance

1 Also includes Thermal MWh sold

For the fourth quarter of 2014, NRG Yield maintained strong safety performance with a zero incident rate in 2014. Additionally, generation in the renewable segment was 345% higher in the fourth quarter versus the same period in 2013 as a result of the Alta Wind acquisition. In the conventional segment, key reliability and availability metrics improved quarter over quarter.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Total liquidity as of December 31, 2014 was $825 million, an increase of $639 million from December 31, 2013. This reflects an increase in revolver availability of $352 million, as well as changes in cash driven by:

• $1,915 million of cash inflows, consisting of the following items:
  • $897 million proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt and project financings, net of debt issuance costs
  • $630 million of proceeds from issuance of Class A common stock
  • $223 million of net cash provided by operating activities
  • $137 million of proceeds from renewable energy grants
  • $28 million of other cash inflows5
• Offset by $1,643 million of cash outflows, consisting of the following items:
  • $901 million payment for Alta Wind portfolio acquisition
  • $357 million payment to NRG for purchase of ROFO assets
  • $228 million for payments for long-term debt
  • $124 million of dividends and distributions to NRG Yield shareholders and NRG
  • $33 million in capital expenditures

Completed Purchase of Second Set of Assets from NRG

On January 2, 2015, NRG Yield completed the acquisition of the assets set forth below from NRG for $489 million. The cash consideration was funded with $279 million of cash on hand and $210 million from the revolver facility, plus assumed project debt of $737 million (as of December 31, 2014) including adjustments for working capital.

• Walnut Creek – 485 MW natural gas facility located in City of Industry, CA
• Tapestry – three wind facilities totaling 204 MW, including Buffalo Bear 19 MW in Oklahoma, Taloga 130 MW in Oklahoma, and Pinnacle 55 MW in West Virginia
• Laredo Ridge – 80 MW wind facility located in Petersburg, NE

This transaction is expected to contribute incremental annual Adjusted EBITDA of $120 million and CAFD of $35 million4.

Announcing acquisitions of University of Bridgeport Fuel Cell and Spring Canyon II and III

NRG Yield entered into a definitive agreement with Fuel Cell Energy to acquire the University of Bridgeport Fuel Cell project in an all-cash transaction. The project will add an additional 1.4 MW of thermal capacity with a 12 year contract and an option for an additional 7 year extension with the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, CT.

NRG Yield also entered into a definitive agreement with Invenergy to acquire a majority stake in the Spring Canyon Wind facilities located in Logan County, CO in an all-cash transaction. The acquisition totals 63 MW of operating wind capacity utilizing 35 GE turbines with commercial operations achieved within the past year. The facilities have approximately 25 year remaining contract life with Platte River Power Authority and Invenergy will maintain their responsibilities as the turbine O&M provider.

The combined purchase price for the acquisitions is $41 million, subject to customary working capital adjustments. Both transactions are expected to close in the coming months and contribute Adjusted EBITDA of $3 million and CAFD of $3 million on an annualized basis.

Quarterly Dividend Updates

On November 5, 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend on Class A common stock of $0.375 per share ($1.50 per share annualized) which was paid on December 15, 2014 to shareholders of record as of December 1, 2014. This equates to a 2.7% increase over the prior quarter.

On February 17, 2015, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend on Class A common stock of $0.39 per share ($1.56 per share annualized) payable on March 16, 2015 to shareholders of record as of March 2, 2015. This equates to a 4% increase over the prior quarter.

Class C & D Stock

On February 26, 2015, NRG Yield filed a preliminary Proxy Statement seeking stockholder approval (including the approval of a majority of the Class A stock) to amend its governing documents to authorize a Class C and Class D stock. Shares of Class C and Class D stock will be issued through a recapitalization of the Company’s equity. The proposed recapitalization will be effectuated through a stock split of each share of the Class A stock into one Class A and one Class C share. In addition, each share of Class B stock held by NRG will be split into one Class B and one Class D share. The Class C stock will have equal economic rights with Class A stock and a 1/100th voting right. The Class D stock will not have any economic rights (as NRG’s economic interest is held exclusively through its ownership of NRG Yield LLC) and a 1/100th voting right.

In connection with the recapitalization, the operating agreement of NRG Yield LLC will also be amended and restated to provide for the recapitalization of the outstanding units of NRG Yield LLC. The recapitalization will result in the creation of Class C units (to be owned by NRG Yield) and Class D units (to be owned by NRG) in each case in amounts equal to the number of Class C shares and Class D shares issued in connection with the recapitalization of NRG Yield.

The recapitalization is intended to provide NRG Yield the flexibility to raise capital for future acquisitions while also maintaining the strong strategic sponsorship of its parent, NRG Energy, Inc. NYLD intends to use the new Class C common stock for, among other things, issuance in public offerings to raise capital to finance future acquisitions, as well as in stock-based acquisitions and for equity-based compensation.

Solar Lease Opportunity

In the first quarter, NRG presented NRG Yield the opportunity to invest in a portfolio of approximately 2,300 existing residential solar leases with an average tenor of 17 years currently held by a partnership owned solely by NRG. Subject to approval of NRG Yield’s independent directors, NRG Yield would invest cash in exchange for an ownership stake in the partnership with the cash proceeds distributed to NRG. Under the proposed partnership agreement, NRG Yield will receive approximately 95% of the tax and cash distributions during the contracted lease term until it achieves its targeted return and 5% of the economics thereafter.

Financial Guidance

NRG Yield is reaffirming full year guidance for EBITDA and CAFD and, for the first quarter of 2015, the company expects Adjusted EBITDA of $125 million and CAFD of ($10) million, although actual results may vary depending on the operating performance of the assets.

Table 6: Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution Guidance6

NRG Yield Management

Gaetan Frotte, previously Vice President, Assistant Treasurer of NRG Energy, Inc., will assume a newly created role as Senior Vice President, Finance and Strategy, NRG Yield, and will become the first dedicated NYLD employee.

Announcing Transition in NRG Yield’s Investor Relations Department

NRG Yield is announcing that Matt Orendorff, previously in the Strategy and M&A Group at NRG Energy, has been named Managing Director of Investor Relations replacing Chad Plotkin who has assumed the role of Senior Vice President, Finance and Strategy, for NRG Home Solar at NRG Energy Inc.

About NRG Yield

NRG Yield owns a diversified portfolio of contracted renewable and conventional generation and thermal infrastructure assets in the U.S., including fossil fuel, solar and wind power generation facilities that provide the capacity to support more than 1.8 million American homes and businesses. Our thermal infrastructure assets provide steam, hot water and/or chilled water, and in some instances electricity, to commercial businesses, universities, hospitals and governmental units in multiple locations. NRG Yield is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYLD. Visit nrgyield.com for more information.

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 our Adjusted EBITDA, cash available for distribution, 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 Yield 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, 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, changes in government regulation, the condition of capital markets generally, our ability to access capital markets, unanticipated outages at our generation facilities, adverse results in current and future litigation, failure to identify or successfully execute acquisitions, our ability to enter into new contracts as existing contracts expire, our ability to acquire assets from NRG Energy, Inc. or third parties, our ability to close the drop-down transactions, and our ability to maintain and grow our quarterly dividends. Furthermore, any dividends are subject to available capital, market conditions, and compliance with associated laws and regulations.

NRG Yield 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 and cash available for distribution are estimates as of today’s date, February 27, 2015, and are based on assumptions believed to be reasonable as of this date. NRG Yield expressly disclaims any current intention to update such guidance. The foregoing review of factors that could cause NRG Yield’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 Yield’s future results included in NRG Yield’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. In addition, NRG Yield makes available free of charge at www.nrgyield.com, copies of materials it files with, or furnish to, the SEC.

1 In accordance with GAAP, 2014 and 2013 results retrospectively adjusted for the ROFO drop-down transaction which closed on June 30, 2014

2 In accordance with GAAP, the 2014 and 2013 results do not include the impact of the assets in the drop-down transaction which closed on January 2, 2015

3 Nominal summer net megawatt capacity

4 Guidance excludes the impact of interest on revolver temporarily used to fund the recent transaction with NRG Energy which equates to $3 million on an annualized basis

5 Excludes $15 million of acquired restricted cash balances from Alta

6 Guidance excludes the impact of interest on revolver temporarily used to fund the recent transaction with NRG Energy which equates to $3 million on an annualized basis

# # #

(a) Retrospectively adjusted as discussed in Note 1, Nature of Business.

(b) The calculation of income attributable to NRG excludes pre-acquisition net income of the Acquired ROFO Assets.

(a) Retrospectively adjusted as discussed in Note 1, Nature of Business.

(a) Retrospectively adjusted as discussed in Note 1, Nature of Business.

(a) Retrospectively adjusted as discussed in Note 1, Nature of Business.

(a) Retrospectively adjusted as discussed in Note 1, Nature of Business.

Appendix Table A-1: Fourth Quarter 2014 Segment Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation
The following table summarizes the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA and provides a reconciliation to Net Income/(Loss):

Appendix Table A-2: Fourth Quarter 2013 Segment Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation
The following table summarizes the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA and provides a reconciliation to Net Income/(Loss):

Appendix Table A-3: YTD December 31, 2014 Segment Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation
The following table summarizes the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA and provides a reconciliation to Net Income/(Loss):

Appendix Table A-4: YTD December 31, 2013 Segment Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation

The following table summarizes the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA and provides a reconciliation to Net Income/(Loss):

Appendix Table A-5: Cash Available for Distribution Reconciliation
The following table summarizes the calculation of Cash Available for Distribution and provides a reconciliation to adjusted EBITDA:

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP 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 should not be construed as an inference that NRG Yield’s future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items.

EBITDA represents net income before interest (including loss on debt extinguishment), taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is presented because NRG Yield 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 debt or cash income tax payments;
• 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 Yield 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 Yield’s business. NRG Yield 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 news release.

Adjusted EBITDA is presented as a further supplemental measure of operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA adjusted for mark-to-market gains or losses, asset write offs and impairments; and factors which we do not consider indicative of future operating performance. The reader is encouraged to evaluate each adjustment and the reasons NRG Yield 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 Yield may incur expenses similar to the adjustments in this news release.

Cash Available for Distribution (CAFD) is adjusted EBITDA plus cash dividends from unconsolidated affiliates, less maintenance capital expenditures, pro-rata adjusted EBITDA from unconsolidated affiliates, cash interest paid, income taxes paid, principal amortization of indebtedness and changes in others assets. Management believes cash available for distribution is a relevant supplemental measure of the Company’s ability to earn and distribute cash returns to investors.