425
Filed by NRG Energy, Inc. pursuant to
Rule 425 of the Securities Act of 1933 and
deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Subject Company: NRG Energy, Inc.
Commission File No.: 001-15891
On March 12, 2009, NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG) issued the following open letter to all NRG
stockholders.
NRG Energy, Inc. Issues Open Letter to NRG Stockholders
PRINCETON, NJ; March 12, 2009NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG) today issued the following open letter
to NRG stockholders:
March 12, 2009
Dear Fellow NRG stockholders:
As there are two sides to every coin, there are two sides to every fixed exchange ratio offer. Over
the past two weeks, we have communicated with you about the economic value NRG has demonstrated,
for its part, through the pending Reliant Retail acquisition and MIBRAG sale, and eSolar
development deal. It is equally important, in light of Exelons announcements this week, that NRG
stockholders be aware of the significant erosion in Exelons financial outlook. Please keep in mind
that the Exelon offer, not only is a fixed exchange ratio offer, it contains no floor or collar. As
such, the Exelon offer, which Exelon has repeatedly claimed represents a 37% premium or $26.43 per
NRG share to you is, as of the close of business yesterday, now worth $20.07 per NRG share, or a 4%
premium per share to our price on October 17.
As you know, the primary objection of NRGs management and Board of Directors to the Exelon offer
has been and continues to be the price. The exchange ratio of 0.485x does not come close to
compensating you for the value of your interest in your Company. NRGs substantial liquidity, ample
cash balances, extensively hedged baseload position combined with our proven ability to be nimble
put us in a strong position to capitalize on the opportunities in the marketplace as we have so
recently demonstrated. In contrast, Exelon has made disclosures this week that heighten our
previously stated concerns about Exelons lack of a financing plan or a cogent management and
hedging strategy for the combined company.
Relative Value: Accretion/DilutionDuring its March 10th Analyst Conference, Exelon
acknowledged substantial projected weakness in its 2011 earnings and cash flow. This sudden and
severe change of viewpoint is notable given that Exelon has been touting its significant uplift in
2011 as one of the primary benefits of its offer for NRG stockholders. Given that Exelons hedging
levels are dramatically lower than was
previously understood, we are concerned about the uncertain impact on earnings and cash flow
stability. Our view is that the Exelon exchange offer not only needs to be improved, but also that
a dollar-based floor value needs to be added to protect NRGs stockholders against the recent and
potentially future deterioration in Exelons stock price.
Financing PlanNRG also has significant issues with the finance plan for their proposed offer. In
addition to the lack of committed financing, Exelon has now disclosed that additional equity
financing and/or asset sales will be required to maintain investment grade credit ratings. Given
the severely depressed state of the current market for asset sales, we are concerned that Exelon
will be required to issue a very substantial amount of new equity in this severely challenged
equity market. This is indeed troubling, as it will dilute your interest in addition to the decline
in their 2011 cash flow.
Management PlanGiven the events of Exelons Analyst Day, it is essential that Exelon demonstrate
how they intend to operate, manage, hedge and collateralize a 48GW, 200 million megawatt-hour/year
power generation portfolio. This is of the utmost importance to NRG and its stockholders, but it
should be equally important to Exelons Board of Directors and stockholders.
We want to assure you that we will continue to pursue our path of creating value within NRG and
through the opportunities open to us in the market, including the opportunity to sell NRG to Exelon
or another entity at the right price with reasonable terms to NRG stockholders. In that regard, we
will remain focused on how much is being offered by Exelon but alsoin light of Exelons recent
disclosureson what is being offered.
Sincerely,
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/s/ David Crane
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/s/ Howard Cosgrove
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David Crane
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Howard Cosgrove |
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President and Chief Executive Officer
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Chairman of the Board |
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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 and white proxy card 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 news 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 will 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,
2008, which was filed with the SEC on February 12, 2009, 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 will participate in the
solicitation of proxies of NRGs stockholders will also be available in NRGs proxy statement for
the 2009 Annual Meeting.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains forward-looking statements that may state NRGs or its managements
intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions for the future. 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.
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 SEC at www.sec.gov. Statements made in connection with the
exchange offer are not subject to the safe harbor protections provided to forward-looking
statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Contacts:
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Media: |
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Investors: |
Meredith Moore |
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Nahla Azmy |
609.524.4522 |
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609.524.4526 |
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Lori Neuman |
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Dave Klein |
609.524.4525 |
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609.524.4527 |
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Dave Knox |
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Erin Gilli |
713.795.6106 (Texas and Louisiana) |
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609.524.4528 |