NRG Announces Cooperation Agreement with Elliott Management and Bluescape Energy Partners
NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG) (“NRG” or “the Company”) today announced that it has entered into cooperation agreements with affiliates of each of Elliott Management Corporation (such affiliates, “Elliott”) and Bluescape Energy Partners LLC (such affiliates, “Bluescape”). Funds affiliated with Elliott have economic exposure to an aggregate of approximately 6.9% of the Company’s common stock and funds affiliated with Bluescape beneficially own an aggregate of 2.5% of the Company’s common stock.
Pursuant to the terms of the cooperation agreements, Howard Cosgrove and Edward R. Mullerhave announced their retirement from the NRG Board of Directors (the “Board”) and have stepped down from the Board after years of exemplary and dedicated service. Lawrence Coben, a director of the Company, was named Chairman of the Board as Cosgrove’s successor. C. John Wilder, Bluescape Energy Partners’ Executive Chairman, and Barry Smitherman, former Chair of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, have been appointed to the Board.
In addition, NRG has formed a five-person ad hoc committee of the Board – the Business Review Committee (the “Committee”). The Committee will work closely with NRG’s Board, Chief Executive Officer Mauricio Gutierrez and NRG’s management team to comprehensively review and make specific recommendations to the Board in four key areas:
1. Operational and cost excellence initiatives
2. Potential portfolio and/or asset de-consolidations, dispositions and optimization
3. Capital structure and allocation
4. Broader strategic initiatives
The Committee will be chaired by Wilder and will have four other members: Smitherman, Gutierrez, Paul Hobby and Anne Schaumburg. Upon approval by the Board, the charter for the Committee shall authorize the retention of consultants and advisors. The Committee plans to expeditiously conduct its review and make any relevant recommendations to the Board. Subsequently, NRG expects to provide a comprehensive update to the market as promptly as practicable.
“Over the past year, NRG has made strides in streamlining our business, reducing costs, strengthening our balance sheet, selling non-core assets and exiting unprofitable business lines. We remain committed to building on that progress and I look forward to the contributions of our new directors and the new committee as we take further steps to improve performance and build shareholder value,” said Gutierrez. “I personally want to express my deep appreciation to Howard and Ed for their dedicated service to the Company and its stakeholders.”
“John and Barry bring broad experience across all areas of our business and we look forward to benefiting from their expertise and participation in the boardroom. We welcome them to the NRG Board,” said Coben. “I also want to thank Howard and Ed for their stewardship through their time on the Board.”
“We have tremendous confidence in Mauricio and his management team, and I look forward to working together with his team and the Board on a comprehensive high-performance plan for the benefit of all NRG stakeholders,” said Wilder. “I believe the Committee is the ideal way to take a fresh approach and conduct a comprehensive, fact-based performance assessment. I pledge to my fellow shareholders that the Business Review Committee will leave no stone unturned in our review. I believe a focus on a relentless execution of this plan will have the long-term benefit of furthering NRG as the preeminent integrated power company.”
“I want to thank Mauricio and his team for the collaborative, constructive approach they have taken in reaching today’s agreement,” said Jeff Rosenbaum, Portfolio Manager at Elliott. “We are confident that the new additions to NRG’s Board and the newly formed Business Review Committee, tasked with developing and overseeing the high-performance plan, will lead to tremendous value creation for all NRG stakeholders. As shareholders, we look forward to supporting the Board in its work to enable NRG to thrive in any market environment.”
Pursuant to the cooperation agreements, Elliott and Bluescape have each agreed to customary standstill, voting, and other provisions. The full cooperation agreement between NRG and Elliott and the full cooperation agreement between NRG and Bluescape will be filed on a Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Goldman, Sachs and Co. are serving as financial advisors to the Company and Latham & Watkins is serving as legal counsel.
Source:phx
