ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

Strategic Accomplishments

• Attained a second investment grade rating from S&P in November 2020
• Retiring 1.2 GW of coal in the US and Chile, bringing coal generation to 29% of total generation on a proforma basis
• Signed or awarded 556 MW of new renewables and energy storage, including 410 MW of Green Blend and Extend, for a total of 2.1 GW in year-to-date 2020
• Total backlog of renewables awarded, under signed PPAs or under construction of 6.8 GW
• Fluence maintained its global lead in the energy storage market by signing 690 MW in year-to-date 2020, bringing its total delivered or awarded to 2.4 GW
• Signed an agreement to sell a 35% interest in the Southland repowering for $424 million, bringing year-to-date asset sale proceeds to $650 million

Q3 2020 Financial Highlights

• Diluted EPS of ($0.50), compared to $0.32 in Q3 2019, primarily reflecting expenses associated with dispositions and impairments
• Adjusted EPS1 of $0.42, compared to $0.48 in Q3 2019

Financial Position and Outlook

• Reaffirming 2020 Adjusted EPS1 guidance range of $1.32 to $1.42 and now expecting to be at the top end of this range
• Reaffirming 7% to 9% average annual growth target through 2022
• Remain committed to growing dividend by 4% to 6% annually, subject to Board approval

The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES) today reported financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2020.

"I am pleased to announce that we have already achieved two of our top three priorities for 2020 by attaining a second investment grade rating and reducing our coal generation to 29%.  With our year-to-date performance, we are on track to accomplish our third priority of delivering our guidance," said Andrés Gluski, AES President and Chief Executive Officer.  "By leveraging our Green Blend and Extend strategy and our development pipeline, we added 556 MW of renewables, bringing our year-to-date total to 2.1 GW and our backlog to 6.8 GW.  At the same time, Fluence continues to maintain its global leadership position in the energy storage market, with 2.4 GW delivered or awarded and its recent acquisition of AMS, the leading provider of AI-enabled bidding software for utility-scale storage and generation assets."

"We are very excited by the recent upgrade to investment grade from S&P, which again highlights the material transformation of our portfolio and balance sheet over the last several years," said Gustavo Pimenta, AES Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. "Furthermore, the 35% sell-down of the Southland repowering demonstrates the significant intrinsic value of our assets.  This year, we have announced asset sale proceeds of $650 million, above our $550 million target.  We will recycle this capital by investing in renewables and innovative solutions to further transform our portfolio and deliver superior returns to our shareholders."

Key Q3 2020 Financial Results

Third quarter 2020 Diluted Earnings Per Share from Continuing Operations (Diluted EPS) was ($0.50), a decrease of $0.82 compared to third quarter 2019, primarily reflecting higher impairments and losses on sales in 2020 of $1.13, as well as lower contributions from the Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean (MCAC) Strategic Business Unit (SBU).  These impacts were partially offset by a lower income tax expense and higher margins from the South America SBU, largely due to net gains from early contract terminations at Angamos.

Third quarter 2020 Adjusted Earnings Per Share1 (Adjusted EPS, a non-GAAP financial measure) was $0.42, a decrease of $0.06 compared to third quarter 2019, primarily reflecting cumulative outage-related insurance recovery of $0.05 collected in the third quarter of 2019 at the MCAC SBU.

Detailed Strategic Overview

AES is leading the industry's transition to clean energy by investing in sustainable growth and innovative solutions. The Company is taking advantage of favorable trends in clean power generation, transmission and distribution, and LNG infrastructure to deliver superior results.

Sustainable Growth: Through its presence in key growth markets, AES is well-positioned to benefit from the global transition toward a more sustainable power generation mix.

• In year-to-date 2020, the Company completed construction of 1,754 MW of new projects, including:
• 1,299 MW Southland Repowering project in Southern California;
• 100 MW Vientos Bonaerenses wind facility in Argentina;
• 100 MW Vientos Neuquinos wind facility in Argentina;
• 80 MW Andes 2a solar facility in Chile;
• 75 MW Pleinmont 1 solar facility in Virginia;
• 57 MW of solar and solar plus storage in the US at AES Distributed Energy;
• 28 MW Na Pua Makani wind facility in Hawaii;
• 10 MW Alfalfal Virtual Reservoir energy storage facility in Chile; and
• 5 MW Opico solar facility in El Salvador.
• In year-to-date 2020, the Company was awarded or signed 2,093 MW of renewables and energy storage under long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPA):
• 1,173 MW of wind and solar at AES Gener in Chile and Colombia;
• 542 MW of energy storage, solar and solar plus storage in the US;
• 187 MW of wind at AES Tiete in Brazil;
• 109 MW of wind in Mexico; and
• 82 MW of wind and solar in Panama and the Dominican Republic.
• The Company's backlog of 6,806 MW of renewables now includes:
• 2,168 MW under construction and expected on-line through 2022; and
• 4,638 MW signed under long-term PPAs or awarded.
• The Company has reduced its coal-fired generation to 29% of total generation volume (proforma for asset sales and retirements announced in 2020) and is on track to further reduce its coal-fired generation to less than 10% by year-end 2030.
• In November 2020, the Company announced the retirement of 1,158 MW of coal-fired generation, which will decrease the Company's generation from coal by 5 percentage points, to approximately 29% of its total generation.
• 630 MW Petersburg Units 1 and 2 in Indiana (expected to be retired in 2021 and 2023);
• 322 MW Ventanas Units 1 and 2 in Chile (expected to be retired in 2022 and 2024); and
• 206 MW AES Hawaii (expected to be retired in 2022).

Innovative Solutions: The Company is developing and deploying innovative solutions such as battery-based energy storage, digital customer interfaces and energy management.

• Fluence, the Company's joint venture with Siemens, is the global leader in the fast-growing energy storage market, which is expected to increase by 15 to 20 GW annually.
• In year-to-date 2020, Fluence signed 690 MW of new contracts, bringing its total delivered or awarded to 2.4 GW.

Superior Results: By investing in sustainable growth and offering innovative solutions to customers, the Company is transforming its business mix to deliver superior results.

• The Company has a resilient and diversified portfolio of electric generation and utilities with credit-worthy offtakers and an average contract life of 14 years.

Guidance and Expectations1

The Company is reaffirming its 2020 Adjusted EPS1 guidance of $1.32 to $1.42 and expects to be in the top end of this range.  The Company is also reaffirming its 7% to 9% average annual growth rate target through 2022, from a base year of 2018.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

See Non-GAAP Measures for definitions of Adjusted Earnings Per Share and Adjusted Pre-Tax Contribution, as well as reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP financial measures.

Attachments

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, Segment Information, Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Parent Financial Information.

Conference Call Information

AES will host a conference call on Friday, November 6, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).  Interested parties may listen to the teleconference by dialing 1-888-317-6003 at least ten minutes before the start of the call. International callers should dial +1-412-317-6061.  The Conference ID for this call is 2751417.  Internet access to the conference call and presentation materials will be available on the AES website at www.aes.com by selecting "Investors" and then "Upcoming events."

A webcast replay, as well as a replay in downloadable MP3 format, will be accessible at www.aes.com beginning shortly after the completion of the call.

About AES

The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES) is a Fortune 500 global power company accelerating the future of energy.  Together with our many stakeholders, we're improving lives by delivering the greener, smarter energy solutions the world needs.  Our diverse workforce is committed to continuous innovation and operational excellence, while partnering with our customers on their strategic energy transitions and continuing to meet their energy needs today.

Safe Harbor Disclosure

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those related to future earnings, growth and financial and operating performance. Forward-looking statements are not intended to be a guarantee of future results, but instead constitute AES' current expectations based on reasonable assumptions. Forecasted financial information is based on certain material assumptions. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, our expectations regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, accurate projections of future interest rates, commodity price and foreign currency pricing, continued normal levels of operating performance and electricity volume at our distribution companies and operational performance at our generation businesses consistent with historical levels, as well as the execution of PPAs, conversion of our backlog and growth investments at normalized investment levels and rates of return consistent with prior experience.

Actual results could differ materially from those projected in our forward-looking statements due to risks, uncertainties and other factors. Important factors that could affect actual results are discussed in AES' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including, but not limited to, the risks discussed under Item 1A: "Risk Factors" and Item 7: "Management's Discussion & Analysis" in AES' 2019  Annual Report on Form 10-K and in subsequent reports filed with the SEC. Readers are encouraged to read AES' filings to learn more about the risk factors associated with AES' business. AES undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Any Stockholder who desires a copy of the Company's 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed February 27, 2020 with the SEC may obtain a copy (excluding Exhibits) without charge by addressing a request to the Office of the Corporate Secretary, The AES Corporation, 4300 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22203. Exhibits also may be requested, but a charge equal to the reproduction cost thereof will be made. A copy of the Form 10-K may be obtained by visiting the Company's website at www.aes.com.

THE AES CORPORATIONNON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES(Unaudited)RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED PRE-TAX CONTRIBUTION (PTC) AND ADJUSTED EPS

Adjusted PTC is defined as pre-tax income from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation excluding gains or losses of the consolidated entity due to (a) unrealized gains or losses related to derivative transactions and equity securities; (b) unrealized foreign currency gains or losses; (c) gains, losses, benefits and costs associated with dispositions and acquisitions of business interests, including early plant closures, and gains and losses recognized at commencement of sales-type leases; (d) losses due to impairments; (e) gains, losses and costs due to the early retirement of debt; (f) costs directly associated with a major restructuring program, including, but not limited to, workforce reduction efforts, relocations, and office consolidation; and (g) net gains at Angamos, one of our businesses in the South America SBU, associated with the early contract terminations with Minera Escondida and Minera Spence.  Adjusted PTC also includes net equity in earnings of affiliates on an after-tax basis adjusted for the same gains or losses excluded from consolidated entities.

Adjusted EPS is defined as diluted earnings per share from continuing operations excluding gains or losses of both consolidated entities and entities accounted for under the equity method due to (a) unrealized gains or losses related to derivative transactions and equity securities; (b) unrealized foreign currency gains or losses; (c) gains, losses, benefits and costs associated with dispositions and acquisitions of business interests, including early plant closures, and the tax impact from the repatriation of sales proceeds, and gains and losses recognized at commencement of sales-type leases; (d) losses due to impairments; (e) gains, losses and costs due to the early retirement of debt; (f) costs directly associated with a major restructuring program, including, but not limited to, workforce reduction efforts, relocations, and office consolidation; (g) net gains at Angamos, one of our businesses in the South America SBU, associated with the early contract terminations with Minera Escondida and Minera Spence; and (h) tax benefit or expense related to the enactment effects of 2017 U.S. tax law reform and related regulations and any subsequent period adjustments related to enactment effects.

The GAAP measure most comparable to Adjusted PTC is income from continuing operations attributable to AES. The GAAP measure most comparable to Adjusted EPS is diluted earnings per share from continuing operations. We believe that Adjusted PTC and Adjusted EPS better reflect the underlying business performance of the Company and are considered in the Company's internal evaluation of financial performance. Factors in this determination include the variability due to unrealized gains or losses related to derivative transactions or equity securities remeasurement, unrealized foreign currency gains or losses, losses due to impairments and strategic decisions to dispose of or acquire business interests, retire debt or implement restructuring activities, which affect results in a given period or periods. In addition, for Adjusted PTC, earnings before tax represents the business performance of the Company before the application of statutory income tax rates and tax adjustments, including the effects of tax planning, corresponding to the various jurisdictions in which the Company operates. Adjusted PTC and Adjusted EPS should not be construed as alternatives to income from continuing operations attributable to AES and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, which are determined in accordance with GAAP.

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(1)  NCI is defined as Noncontrolling Interests.

(2)  Amounts primarily relate to unrealized derivative losses at Southland of $20 million, or $0.03 per share, for the three months ended September 30, 2020, and unrealized derivative losses in Argentina mainly associated with foreign currency derivatives on government receivables of $18 million, or $0.03 per share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. 

(3)  Amounts primarily relate to unrealized derivative losses in Argentina of $71 million, or $0.11 per share, and $77 million, or $0.12 per share, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, mainly associated with foreign currency derivatives on government receivables. 

(4)  Amounts primarily relate to unrealized FX losses in Argentina of $11 million, or $0.02 per share, and $23 million, or $0.03 per share, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, mainly associated with the devaluation of long-term receivables denominated in Argentine pesos; and unrealized FX losses at the Parent Company of $18 million, or $0.03 per share, and $22 million, or $0.03 per share, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, mainly associated with intercompany receivables denominated in Euro. 

(5)  Amount primarily relates to loss on sale of Uruguaiana of $85 million, or $0.13 per share, and advisor fees associated with the successful acquisition of additional ownership interest in Tietê of $9 million, or $0.01 per share. 

(6)  Amount primarily relates to gain on sale of ownership interest in Simple Energy as part of the Uplight merger of $13 million, or $0.02 per share, and realized derivative gains associated with the sale of Kilroot and Ballylumford of $7 million, or $0.01 per share.

(7)  Amount primarily relates to loss on sale of Uruguaiana of $85 million, or $0.13 per share, loss on sale of the Kazakhstan HPPs of $30 million, or $0.05 per share, as result of the final arbitration decision, and advisor fees associated with the successful acquisition of additional ownership interest in Tietê of $9 million, or $0.01 per share. 

(8)  Amount primarily relates to asset impairments at Gener of $523 million, or $0.78 per share, at our Guacolda equity affiliate impacting equity earnings by $81 million, or $0.12 per share, at Hawaii of $38 million, or $0.06 per share, and at Panama of $15 million, or $0.02 per share.  

(9)  Amount primarily relates to asset impairments at Gener of $527 million, or $0.79 per share, other-than-temporary impairment of OPGC of $201 million, or $0.30 per share, impairment at our Guacolda equity affiliate impacting equity earnings by $81 million, or $0.12 per share, impairment at Hawaii of $38 million, or $0.06 per share, impairment at Panama of $15 million, or $0.02 per share, and impairments at our sPower equity affiliate, impacting equity earnings by $16 million, or $0.02 per share. 

(10)  Amount primarily relates to asset impairments at Kilroot and Ballylumford of $115 million, or $0.17 per share. 

(11)  Amount primarily relates to losses on early retirement of debt at DPL of $32 million, or $0.05 per share, Panama of $11 million, or $0.02 per share, and Angamos of $10 million, or $0.01 per share. 

(12)  Amount primarily relates to losses on early retirement of debt at Mong Duong of $16 million, or $0.02 per share, and Colon of $14 million, or $0.02 per share.

(13)  Amount primarily relates to losses on early retirement of debt at the Parent Company of $37 million, or $0.06 per share, DPL of $32 million, or $0.05 per share, Panama of $11 million, or $0.02 per share, and Angamos of $10 million, or $0.02 per share.

(14)  Amount primarily relates to losses on early retirement of debt at DPL of $45 million, or $0.07 per share, Mong Duong of $16 million, or $0.02 per share, and Colon of $14 million, or $0.02 per share.

(15)  Amounts primarily relate to net gains at Angamos associated with the early contract terminations with Minera Escondida and Minera Spence of $72 million, or $0.11 per share.

(16)  Amount represents adjustment to tax law reform remeasurement due to incremental deferred taxes related to DPL of $16 million, or $0.02 per share.

(17)  Amounts primarily relate to income tax benefits associated with the impairments at Gener and Guacolda of $147 million, or $0.22 per share.

(18)  Amount primarily relates to income tax benefits associated with the impairments at Kilroot and Ballylumford of $17 million, or $0.03 per share, and income tax benefits associated with losses on early retirement of debt at DPL, Mong Duong and Colon of $24 million, or $0.04 per share

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SOURCE The AES Corporation