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Media & Investor Contact: Joel Abramson 703 682 6301
AES Announces the Acquisition of DPL Inc. and Issues 2012 Adjusted EPS Guidance of $1.27 to $1.37
ARLINGTON, Va, April 20, 2011 – The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES) today announced that it has executed a definitive agreement under which AES has agreed to acquire DPL Inc. (NYSE: DPL) in a transaction valued at $4.7 billion on an enterprise value basis. Upon closing of the transaction, DPL will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of AES. DPL is the parent company of the Dayton Power & Light Company (DP&L).
Under the terms of the agreement, AES has agreed to pay $30 per share in cash to DPL shareholders. AES will pay a total of $3.5 billion in cash for the equity and assume $1.2 billion in net debt for a total transaction value of $4.7 billion. AES has committed bridge financing in place from Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Permanent financing will include a combination of non-recourse debt, the re-issuance of corporate debt at AES that was temporarily paid down in 2010 and cash on hand.
“We are concentrating our growth efforts in a few key markets, including the U.S. utility sector, where we see opportunities to leverage our global platform of 40,500 MW and 11.5 million utility customers,” said Paul Hanrahan, President and Chief Executive Officer of AES. “The DPL acquisition is expected to be value and earnings accretive, benefiting from the regional scale provided by our nearby utility business at Indianapolis Power & Light Company.”
DPL serves over 500,000 customers in West Central Ohio through its subsidiaries, DP&L and DPL Energy Resources. Formed 100 years ago, DP&L is a regulated electric utility with a demonstrated commitment to its customers and community. DPL operates over 3,800 MW of power generation facilities and provides competitive retail energy services to industrial and commercial customers.
“Throughout our history, DPL has continually adapted to meet the changing needs of our communities and customers. DPL can now best serve our stakeholders by joining AES to create a larger U.S. utility platform to benefit customers and shareholders,” said Glenn Harder, Chairman of the Board of Directors of DPL.
DPL will remain a standalone business, with local management and corporate functions, but will be able to leverage the best practices and resources of AES’ global portfolio. DPL headquarters will remain in Dayton, customers will continue to be served by DP&L and the company will continue to use the DP&L name.
AES has a successful history in the U.S. utility sector with its investment in Indianapolis Power & Light Company (IPL). After AES acquired IPL, it invested over $500 million in environmental controls, while maintaining rates that are among the lowest in Indiana and earning attractive after-tax returns for AES. Additionally, IPL has excelled at customer service, recently ranking in the top quartile in a national study of 121 utilities by JD Power & Associates.
The consummation of the transaction is subject to approval of DPL shareholders, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and the antitrust review under Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. Approvals are expected to be completed within six to nine months.
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Bank of America Merrill Lynch acted as financial advisor, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP served as legal counsel to AES in connection with the transaction.
Guidance
Shown below is AES’ previously issued 2011 guidance adjusted solely for the DPL acquisition costs of approximately $0.11 per share.
AES also announced guidance for 2012. When compared to 2011, guidance for 2012 benefits from (i) $0.05 to $0.07 DPL acquisition; (ii) full-year contributions from projects AES has coming on-line in 2011; and (iii) year-over-year improvements in operations.
Table 1: Key Elements of 2011-2012 Guidance
| Post-DPL Acquisition 2011 Guidance | 2012 Guidance |
Adjusted EPS (a non-GAAP financial measure) | $0.97-$1.03 | $1.27-$1.37 |
Proportional Free Cash Flow (a non-GAAP financial measure) | $750-$950 million | $1,200-$1,400 million |
Parent Operating Cash Flow | $1,200-$1,300 million | $1,400-$1,600 million |
See Attachments for a complete list of 2011 guidance elements and reconciliations to GAAP.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
See 2011-2012 Financial Guidance for definitions of Adjusted Earnings Per Share, Free Cash Flow, Proportional Free Cash Flow as well as reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP financial measure.
Attachments
2011 Financial Guidance, 2012 Financial Guidance.
Conference Call Information
AES will host a conference call on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Interested parties may listen to the teleconference by dialing 1-800-857-6557 at least ten minutes before the start of the call. International callers should dial +1-415-228-4653. The participant passcode for this call is 42011. Internet access to the presentation materials will be available at 7:30 a.m. EDT on the AES website at www.aes.com by selecting “Investor Information” and then “Presentations and Webcasts.”
A telephonic replay of the call will be available from approximately 11:00 a.m. EST on Thursday, April 20, 2011 through Thursday, May 11, 2011. Callers in the U.S. please dial 1-800-879-6416. International callers should dial +1-203-369-3991. The system will ask for a passcode; please enter 42011. 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 with generation and distribution businesses. Through our diverse portfolio of thermal and renewable fuel sources, we provide affordable and sustainable energy to 28 countries. Our workforce of 29,000 people is committed to operational excellence and meeting the world's changing power needs. Our 2010 revenues were $17 billion and we own and manage $41 billion in total assets. To learn more, please visit www.aes.com.
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About DPL
DPL Inc. (NYSE: DPL) is a regional energy company. DPL was named one of Forbes' "100 Most Trustworthy Companies" for the second consecutive year in August 2010.
DPL's principal subsidiaries include The Dayton Power and Light Company (DP&L); DPL Energy, LLC (DPLE); and DPL Energy Resources, Inc. (DPLER). DP&L, a regulated electric utility, provides service to over 500,000 retail customers in West Central Ohio; DPLE engages in the operation of merchant peaking generation facilities; and DPLER is a competitive retail electric supplier in Ohio, selling to major industrial and commercial customers. DPL, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates approximately 3,800 megawatts of generation capacity, of which 2,800 megawatts are low cost coal-fired units and 1,000 megawatts are natural gas and diesel peaking units.
Additional Information and Where to Find it
This document does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. In connection with the proposed merger, DPL will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a preliminary proxy statement and a definitive proxy statement and other relevant materials. The definitive proxy statement will be sent or given to the stockholders of DPL. Before making any voting or investment decision with respect to the merger, investors and stockholders of DPL are urged to read the proxy statement and the other relevant materials when they become available because they will contain important information about the merger. The proxy statement and other relevant materials (when they become available), and any other documents filed by DPL with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. These materials can also be obtained, when available, without charge, by directing a request to DPL at communications@dplinc.com.
Participants in the Solicitation
DPL and AES and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from DPL stockholders in connection with the merger. Information about AES’ directors and executive officers is set forth in AES’ 2011 proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on March 3, 2011 and its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, filed with the SEC on February 28, 2011, respectively. Information about DPL’s directors and executive officers is set forth in its 2011 proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on March 18, 2011. Additional information regarding the interests of participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the merger will be included in the definitive proxy statement that DPL intends to file with the SEC.
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 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 achievements of planned productivity improvements and incremental growth investments at normalized investment levels and rates of return consistent with prior experience. Additional assumptions include those listed in this release and our general ability to finance and close the transaction with DPL at rates of return consistent with our projections.
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Actual results could differ materially from those projected in our forward-looking statements due to risks, uncertainties and other factors including without limitation, risks and uncertainties arising from the possibility that the closing of the transaction may be delayed or may not occur; difficulties with the integration process or the realization of the benefits of the transaction; general economic conditions in the regions and industries in which AES and DPL operate; and litigation or regulatory matters involving antitrust and other issues that could affect the closing of the transaction. Important factors that could affect actual results are discussed in AES’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the risks discussed under Item 1A “Risk Factors” in AES’ 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K. 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 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K dated on or about February 25, 2011 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.
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