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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 24, 2021

 

Clearway Energy LLC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   333-203369   32-0407370

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation)

  (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

300 Carnegie Center, Suite 300, Princeton, New Jersey 08540

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

(609) 608-1525

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

  

Title of each class   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which registered
None   None   None

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company     ¨

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

 

 

 

 

 

  

Item 8.01Other Events.

 

On September 24, 2021, Clearway Energy Operating LLC (“Clearway Operating LLC”), a subsidiary of Clearway Energy LLC, issued a press release announcing its proposed offering (the “Offering”) of $350 million in aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2032 (the “Notes”). A copy of the press release announcing the Offering is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference herein.

 

Also on September 24, 2021, Clearway Operating LLC issued a press release announcing the commencement of its cash tender offer to purchase any and all of the $350 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of its 5.000% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “2026 Notes”), subject to certain conditions, including the consummation of the Offering (the “Tender Offer”). A copy of the press release announcing the Tender Offer is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and incorporated by reference herein.

 

Additionally, on September 24, 2021, Clearway Operating LLC issued a notice of conditional redemption (the “Conditional Redemption Notice”) to the holders of the 2026 Notes, pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of August 18, 2016, by and among Clearway Operating LLC, the guarantors party thereto and Delaware Trust Company (as successor in interest to Law Debenture Trust Company of New York), as trustee, as amended and supplemented (the “Indenture”). Pursuant to the Conditional Redemption Notice, Clearway Operating LLC has elected, subject to the condition described below, to redeem (the “Redemption”) any and all 2026 Notes that remain outstanding on October 24, 2021 (the “Redemption Date”). The redemption price for the 2026 Notes, as set forth in the Indenture, will be 102.500% of the principal amount of the 2026 Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date. The Redemption will be conditioned upon Clearway Operating LLC’s consummation of an offering of senior unsecured notes in an aggregate principal amount that results in gross proceeds to Clearway Operating LLC of at least $350 million, on or before the business day prior to the Redemption Date.

 

This Current Report on Form 8-K does not constitute a notice of redemption under the Indenture, nor an offer to tender for, or purchase, any 2026 Notes or any other security, nor does it constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes.

 

Item 9.01Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.
  Description
99.1   Press Release, dated September 24, 2021, announcing the Offering.
99.2   Press Release, dated September 24, 2021, announcing the Tender Offer.
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

 

 

2

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

Clearway Energy LLC

(Registrant)

     
  By: /s/ Kevin P. Malcarney
    Kevin P. Malcarney
    General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

  

Date:  September 24, 2021

3

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

Clearway Energy Operating LLC, a Subsidiary of Clearway Energy, Inc.,
Announces Proposed Offering of $350 Million “Green Bond”

 

PRINCETON, NJ; September 24, 2021 — Clearway Energy Operating LLC (“Clearway Operating”), a subsidiary of Clearway Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CWEN, CWEN.A) (“Clearway Energy”), intends to commence an offering of $350 million in aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2032 (the “New Notes”). The New Notes will be senior unsecured obligations of Clearway Operating and will be guaranteed by Clearway Energy LLC, Clearway Operating’s parent company, and by each of Clearway Operating’s wholly owned current and future subsidiaries that guarantees indebtedness under its credit agreement.

 

Clearway Operating intends to allocate an amount equal to the net proceeds from the offering of the New Notes to finance or refinance, in part or in full, new and existing projects and assets meeting certain renewable energy generation eligibility criteria. Specifically, Clearway Operating intends to use the net proceeds of the offering, together with existing corporate liquidity, (i) to repurchase any and all of the $350 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of its 5.000% senior notes due 2026 (the “2026 Notes”) and (ii) to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the repurchase of the 2026 Notes.

 

The New Notes and related guarantees are being offered only to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or outside the United States to persons other than “U.S. persons” in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. The New Notes and related guarantees have not been registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This notice is issued pursuant to Rule 135c of the Securities Act, and does not constitute an offer to sell any security, including the New Notes, nor a solicitation for an offer to purchase any security, including the New Notes or the 2026 Notes, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offering, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

 

About Clearway Energy, Inc.

 

Clearway Energy, Inc. is one of the largest renewable energy owners in the US with over 4,700 net MW of installed wind and solar generation projects. Clearway Energy’s over 8,000 net MW of assets also includes approximately 2,500 net MW of environmentally-sound, highly efficient natural gas generation facilities as well as a portfolio of district energy systems. Through this environmentally-sound diversified and primarily contracted portfolio, Clearway Energy endeavors to provide its investors with stable and growing dividend income. Clearway Energy’s Class C and Class A common stock are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols CWEN and CWEN.A, respectively. Clearway Energy, Inc. is sponsored by its controlling investor Global Infrastructure Partners III (GIP), an independent infrastructure fund manager that invests in infrastructure and businesses in both OECD and select emerging market countries, through GIP’s portfolio company, Clearway Energy Group.

 

 

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and typically can be identified by the use of words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “should,” “anticipate,” “forecast,” “plan,” “outlook,” “believe” and similar terms.

 

Although Clearway Energy believes that the expectations are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct, and actual results may vary materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated above include, among others, impacts related to COVID-19 or any other pandemic, impacts of recent weather events on the Company, its operations, its facilities and its financial results, any potential disposition of Clearway Energy’s Thermal platform, risks and uncertainties related to the capital markets generally, whether Clearway Energy will consummate the offering, the anticipated terms of the New Notes and the anticipated use of proceeds, including the results of the repurchase of the 2026 Notes.

 

Clearway Energy undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. The foregoing review of factors that could cause Clearway Energy’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 Clearway Energy’s future results included in Clearway Energy’s filings, or the filings of Clearway Energy LLC, with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. In addition, Clearway Energy makes available free of charge at www.clearwayenergy.com, copies of materials it files with, or furnishes to, the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Investors:
Akil Marsh, 609-608-1500

investor.relations@clearwayenergy.com

 

Media:
media@clearwayenergy.com 

 

2

 

 

Exhibit 99.2

 

 

Clearway Energy Operating LLC, a Subsidiary of Clearway Energy, Inc.,
Announces Cash Tender Offer and Concurrent Redemption Notice for Any and All of Its
Outstanding 5.000% Senior Notes Due 2026

 

PRINCETON, N.J. — September 24, 2021 — Clearway Energy Operating LLC (“Clearway Operating”), a subsidiary of Clearway Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CWEN, CWEN.A) (“Clearway Energy”), announced that it has commenced a cash tender offer to purchase any and all of the $350 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of its 5.000% senior notes due 2026 (the “2026 Notes”) with the net proceeds from Clearway Operating’s concurrent offering of $350 million in aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2032 (the “New Notes”), which was also announced today by Clearway Operating. The tender offer is being made pursuant to an offer to purchase, related letter of transmittal and notice of guaranteed delivery, each dated as of September 24, 2021. The tender offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on September 30, 2021 (as such time and date may be extended, the “expiration time”). Tendered 2026 Notes may be withdrawn at any time before the expiration time.

 

Under the terms of the tender offer, holders of the 2026 Notes that are validly tendered and accepted at or prior to the expiration time, or holders who deliver to the depositary and information agent a properly completed and duly executed notice of guaranteed delivery and subsequently deliver such 2026 Notes, each in accordance with the instructions described in the offer to purchase, will receive total cash consideration of $1,027.00 per $1,000 principal amount of 2026 Notes, plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid interest up to, but not including, the settlement date, which is expected to be October 1, 2021, subject to satisfaction of the Financing Condition described below.

 

The tender offer is contingent upon the satisfaction of certain conditions, including the condition that Clearway Operating shall have raised at least $350 million in gross proceeds from the offering of the New Notes on or prior to the settlement date (the “Financing Condition”). The tender offer is not conditioned on any minimum amount of 2026 Notes being tendered. Clearway Operating may amend, extend or terminate the tender offer in its sole discretion. Concurrently with the launch of the tender offer, Clearway Operating is exercising its right to optionally redeem, on October 24, 2021, any 2026 Notes not validly tendered and purchased in the tender offer at a price equal to 102.500% of the principal amount of the 2026 Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date, pursuant to the terms of the indenture governing the 2026 Notes (the “Indenture”), conditioned upon and subject to satisfaction of the Financing Condition.

 

The tender offer is being made pursuant to the terms and conditions contained in the offer to purchase and related letter of transmittal and notice of guaranteed delivery, each dated September 24, 2021, copies of which may be requested from the information agent for the tender offer, D.F. King & Co., Inc., at (866) 796-6867 (Toll-Free) or (212) 269-5550, by email at cwen@dfking.com, or via the following web address: www.dfking.com/cwen. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC will act as the Dealer Manager for the tender offer. Questions regarding the tender offer may be directed to the Dealer Manager at +1 (866) 834-4666 (Toll-Free) or +1 (212) 834-4087 (Collect).

 

 

 

This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a notice of redemption under the optional redemption provisions of the Indenture, nor does it constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security, including the New Notes, nor does it constitute a solicitation for an offer to purchase any security, including the New Notes or the 2026 Notes, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offering, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

 

About Clearway Energy, Inc.

 

Clearway Energy, Inc. is one of the largest renewable energy owners in the US with over 4,700 net MW of installed wind and solar generation projects. Clearway Energy’s over 8,000 net MW of assets also includes approximately 2,500 net MW of environmentally-sound, highly efficient natural gas generation facilities as well as a portfolio of district energy systems. Through this environmentally-sound diversified and primarily contracted portfolio, Clearway Energy endeavors to provide its investors with stable and growing dividend income. Clearway Energy’s Class C and Class A common stock are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols CWEN and CWEN.A, respectively. Clearway Energy, Inc. is sponsored by its controlling investor Global Infrastructure Partners III (GIP), an independent infrastructure fund manager that invests in infrastructure and businesses in both OECD and select emerging market countries, through GIP’s portfolio company, Clearway Energy Group.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

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. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions and typically can be identified by the use of words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “should,” “anticipate,” “forecast,” “plan,” “outlook,” “believe” and similar terms.

 

Although Clearway Energy believes that the expectations are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct, and actual results may vary materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated above include, among others, impacts related to COVID-19 or any other pandemic, impacts of recent weather events on the Company, its operations, its facilities and its financial results, any potential disposition of Clearway Energy’s Thermal platform, risks and uncertainties related to the capital markets generally, whether Clearway Energy will consummate the offering, the anticipated terms of the New Notes and the anticipated use of proceeds, including the results of the tender offer.

 

 

 

Clearway Energy undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. The foregoing review of factors that could cause Clearway Energy’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 Clearway Energy’s future results included in Clearway Energy’s filings, or the filings of Clearway Energy LLC, with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. In addition, Clearway Energy makes available free of charge at www.clearwayenergy.com, copies of materials it files with, or furnishes to, the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Investors:
Akil Marsh, 609-608-1500

investor.relations@clearwayenergy.com

 

Media:
media@clearwayenergy.com