NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP - Quarter Report: 2016 June (Form 10-Q)
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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016
Commission File Number | Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter, address of principal executive office and registrant's telephone number | IRS Employer Identification Number | ||
001-36518 | NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP | 30-0818558 | ||
700 Universe Boulevard Juno Beach, Florida 33408 (561) 694-4000 |
State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization: Delaware
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months, and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months. Yes þ No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Large Accelerated Filer þ | Accelerated Filer ¨ | Non-Accelerated Filer ¨ | Smaller Reporting Company ¨ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Yes ¨ No þ
Number of NextEra Energy Partners, LP common units outstanding as of June 30, 2016: 42,274,695
DEFINITIONS
Acronyms and defined terms used in the text include the following:
Term | Meaning |
2015 Form 10-K | NEP's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 |
ASA | administrative services agreement(s) |
BLM | U.S. Bureau of Land Management |
CITC | Convertible Investment Tax Credit |
COD | commercial operation date |
CSCS agreement | cash sweep and credit support agreement |
FIT | Feed-in-Tariff |
GWh | gigawatt-hour(s) |
IDR fee | certain payments from NEP OpCo to NEE Management as a component of the MSA which are based on the achievement by NEP OpCo of certain target quarterly distribution levels to its unitholders |
IPP | independent power producer |
management sub-contract | management services sub-contract between NEE Management and NEER |
Management's Discussion | Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
MSA | Management Services Agreement among NEP, NEE Management, NEP OpCo and NEP GP |
MW | megawatt(s) |
NEE | NextEra Energy, Inc. |
NEECH | NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc. |
NEE Equity | NextEra Energy Equity Partners, LP |
NEE Management | NextEra Energy Management Partners, LP |
NEE Operating GP | NextEra Energy Operating Partners GP, LLC |
NEER | NextEra Energy Resources, LLC |
NEP | NextEra Energy Partners, LP |
NEP GP | NextEra Energy Partners GP, Inc. |
NEP OpCo | NextEra Energy Operating Partners, LP |
NOLs | net operating losses |
Note __ | Note __ to condensed consolidated financial statements |
O&M | operations and maintenance |
Pemex | Petróleos Mexicanos |
PPA | power purchase agreement, which could include contracts under a FIT or RESOP |
PTC | production tax credit |
RESOP | Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program |
SEC | U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission |
Texas pipelines | natural gas pipeline assets located in Texas |
Texas pipelines acquisition | Acquisition of NET Holdings Management, LLC (the Texas pipeline business) |
Texas pipeline entities | the subsidiaries of NEP that directly own the Texas pipelines |
U.S. | United States of America |
U.S. Project Entities | project entities located within the U.S. |
Each of NEP and NEP OpCo has subsidiaries and affiliates with names that may include NextEra Energy, NextEra Energy Partners and similar references. For convenience and simplicity, in this report, the terms NEP and NEP OpCo are sometimes used as abbreviated references to specific subsidiaries, affiliates or groups of subsidiaries or affiliates. The precise meaning depends on the context. Discussions of NEP's ownership of subsidiaries and projects refers to its controlling interest in the general partner of NEP OpCo and NEP's indirect interest in and control over the subsidiaries of NEP OpCo. See Note 5 for a description of the noncontrolling interest in NEP OpCo.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page No. | ||
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION | ||
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION | ||
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This report includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, strategies, future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as result, are expected to, will continue, is anticipated, aim, believe, will, could, should, would, estimated, may, plan, potential, future, projection, goals, target, outlook, predict and intend or words of similar meaning) are not statements of historical facts and may be forward looking. Forward-looking statements involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties. Accordingly, any such statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to, and are accompanied by, the following important factors (in addition to any assumptions and other factors referred to specifically in connection with such forward-looking statements) that could have a significant impact on NEP's operations and financial results, and could cause NEP's actual results to differ materially from those contained or implied in forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of NEP in this Form 10-Q, in presentations, on its website, in response to questions or otherwise.
Operational Risks
• | NEP has a limited operating history and its projects include renewable energy projects with a limited operating history. Such projects may not perform as expected. |
• | NEP's ability to make cash distributions to its unitholders is affected by wind and solar conditions at its renewable energy projects. |
• | NEP's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects can be materially adversely affected by weather conditions, including, without limitation, the impact of severe weather. |
• | As a result of the Texas pipelines acquisition, NEP's operations and business have substantially changed. NEP's expansion into the natural gas pipeline industry may not be successful. |
• | NEP may fail to realize expected profitability or growth, and may incur unanticipated liabilities, as a result of the Texas pipelines acquisition. |
• | NEP is pursuing the expansion of natural gas pipelines in its portfolio that will require up-front capital expenditures and expose NEP to project development risks. |
• | NEP's ability to maximize the productivity of the Texas pipeline business and to complete potential pipeline expansion projects is dependent on the continued availability of natural gas production in the Texas pipelines’ areas of operation. |
• | Operation and maintenance of renewable energy projects involve significant risks that could result in unplanned power outages, reduced output, personal injury or loss of life. |
• | The wind turbines at some of NEP's projects and some of NEER's right of first offer projects are not generating the amount of energy estimated by their manufacturers' original power curves, and the manufacturers may not be able to restore energy capacity at the affected turbines. |
• | NEP depends on the Texas pipelines and certain of the renewable energy projects in its portfolio for a substantial portion of its anticipated cash flows. |
• | Terrorist or similar attacks could impact NEP's projects or surrounding areas and adversely affect its business. |
• | NEP's energy production and pipeline transportation capability may be substantially below its expectations if severe weather or a natural disaster or meteorological conditions damage its turbines, solar panels, pipelines or other equipment or facilities. |
• | The ability of NEP to obtain insurance and the terms of any available insurance coverage could be materially adversely affected by international, national, state or local events and company-specific events, as well as the financial condition of insurers. NEP's insurance coverage does not insure against all potential risks and it may become subject to higher insurance premiums. |
• | Warranties provided by the suppliers of equipment for NEP's projects may be limited by the ability of a supplier to satisfy its warranty obligations, or by the terms of the warranty, so the warranties may be insufficient to compensate NEP for its losses. |
• | Supplier concentration at certain of NEP's projects may expose it to significant credit or performance risks. |
• | NEP relies on interconnection and transmission facilities of third parties to deliver energy from its renewable energy projects and, if these facilities become unavailable, NEP's wind and solar projects may not be able to operate or deliver energy. |
• | NEP's business is subject to liabilities and operating restrictions arising from environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. |
• | NEP's renewable energy projects may be adversely affected by legislative changes or a failure to comply with applicable energy regulations. |
• | A change in the jurisdictional characterization of some of the Texas pipeline entities' assets, or a change in law or regulatory policy, could result in increased regulation of these assets, which could have material adverse effect on NEP's business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to its unitholders. |
• | NEP may incur significant costs and liabilities as a result of pipeline integrity management program testing and any necessary pipeline repair or preventative or remedial measures. |
• | The Texas pipelines’ operations could incur significant costs if the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration or the Railroad Commission of Texas adopts more stringent regulations. |
• | Pemex may claim certain immunities under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and Mexican law, and the Texas pipeline entities' ability to sue or recover from Pemex for breach of contract may be limited. |
• | Portions of NEP’s pipeline systems have been in service for several decades. There could be unknown events or conditions or increased maintenance or repair expenses and downtime associated with NEP's pipelines that could have a material adverse effect on NEP's business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and ability to make distributions. |
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• | Natural gas operations are subject to numerous environmental laws and regulations, compliance with which may require significant capital expenditures, increase NEP's cost of operations and affect or limit its business plans, or expose NEP to liabilities. |
• | Natural gas gathering and transmission activities involve numerous risks that may result in accidents or otherwise affect the Texas pipelines’ operations. |
• | NEP's partnership agreement restricts the voting rights of unitholders owning 20% or more of its common units, and under certain circumstances this could be reduced to 10%. |
• | NEP does not own all of the land on which the projects in its portfolio are located and its use and enjoyment of the property may be adversely affected to the extent that there are any lienholders or leaseholders that have rights that are superior to NEP's rights or the BLM suspends its federal rights-of-way grants. |
• | NEP is subject to risks associated with litigation or administrative proceedings that could materially impact its operations, including, without limitation, proceedings related to projects it acquires in the future. |
• | NEP's wind projects located in Canada are subject to Canadian domestic content requirements under their FIT contracts. |
• | NEP's cross-border operations require NEP to comply with anti-corruption laws and regulations of the U.S. government and non-U.S. jurisdictions. |
• | NEP is subject to risks associated with its ownership or acquisition of projects that remain under construction, which could result in its inability to complete construction projects on time or at all, and make projects too expensive to complete or cause the return on an investment to be less than expected. |
Contract Risks
• | NEP relies on a limited number of customers and NEP is exposed to the risk that they are unwilling or unable to fulfill their contractual obligations to NEP or that they otherwise terminate their agreements with NEP. |
• | NEP may not be able to extend, renew or replace expiring or terminated PPAs at favorable rates or on a long-term basis. |
• | NEP may be unable to secure renewals of long-term natural gas transportation agreements, which could expose its revenues to increased volatility. |
• | If the energy production by or availability of NEP's U.S. renewable energy projects is less than expected, they may not be able to satisfy minimum production or availability obligations under NEP's U.S. Project Entities’ PPAs. |
• | If third-party pipelines and other facilities interconnected to the Texas pipelines become partially or fully unavailable to transport natural gas, NEP's revenues and cash available for distribution to unitholders could be adversely affected. |
Risks Related to NEP's Acquisition Strategy and Future Growth
• | NEP's growth strategy depends on locating and acquiring interests in additional projects consistent with its business strategy at favorable prices. |
• | NEP OpCo's partnership agreement requires that it distribute its available cash, which could limit its ability to grow and make acquisitions. |
• | NEP's ability to consummate future acquisitions will depend on NEP's ability to finance those acquisitions. |
• | Lower prices for other fuel sources may reduce the demand for wind and solar energy. |
• | Reductions in demand for natural gas in the United States or Mexico and low market prices of natural gas could materially adversely affect the Texas pipelines’ operations and cash flows. |
• | Government regulations providing incentives and subsidies for clean energy could change at any time and such changes may negatively impact NEP's growth strategy. |
• | NEP's growth strategy depends on the acquisition of projects developed by NEE and third parties, which face risks related to project siting, financing, construction, permitting, the environment, governmental approvals and the negotiation of project development agreements. |
• | Acquisitions of existing clean energy projects involve numerous risks. |
• | Renewable energy procurement is subject to U.S. state and Canadian provincial regulations, with relatively irregular, infrequent and often competitive procurement windows. |
• | NEP may continue to acquire other sources of clean energy, including, without limitation, natural gas and nuclear projects, and may expand to include other types of assets including, without limitation, transmission projects, and any further acquisition of non-renewable energy projects, including, without limitation, transmission projects, may present unforeseen challenges and result in a competitive disadvantage relative to NEP's more-established competitors. A failure to successfully integrate such acquisitions with NEP's then-existing projects as a result of unforeseen operational difficulties or otherwise, could have a material adverse effect on NEP's business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to grow its business and make cash distributions to its unitholders. |
• | NEP faces substantial competition primarily from regulated utilities, developers, IPPs, pension funds and private equity funds for opportunities in North America. |
• | The natural gas pipeline industry is highly competitive, and increased competitive pressure could adversely affect NEP's business. |
Risks Related to NEP's Financial Activities
• | NEP may not be able to access sources of capital on commercially reasonable terms, which would have a material adverse effect on its ability to consummate future acquisitions. |
• | Restrictions in NEP OpCo's subsidiaries' revolving credit facility and term loan agreements could adversely affect NEP's business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to its unitholders. |
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• | NEP's cash distributions to its unitholders may be reduced as a result of restrictions on NEP's subsidiaries’ cash distributions to NEP under the terms of their indebtedness. |
• | NEP's subsidiaries’ substantial amount of indebtedness may adversely affect NEP's ability to operate its business and its failure to comply with the terms of its subsidiaries' indebtedness could have a material adverse effect on NEP's financial condition. |
• | Currency exchange rate fluctuations may affect NEP's operations. |
• | NEP is exposed to risks inherent in its use of interest rate swaps. |
Risks Related to NEP's Relationship with NEE
• | NEE exercises substantial influence over NEP and NEP is highly dependent on NEE and its affiliates. |
• | NEER may lose key employees assigned to manage the Texas pipelines. |
• | NEP is highly dependent on credit support from NEE and its affiliates. NEP's subsidiaries may default under contracts or become subject to cash sweeps if credit support is terminated, if NEE or its affiliates fail to honor their obligations under credit support arrangements, or if NEE or another credit support provider ceases to satisfy creditworthiness requirements, and NEP will be required in certain circumstances to reimburse NEE for draws that are made on credit support. |
• | NEER or one of its affiliates is permitted to borrow funds received by NEP's subsidiaries, including, without limitation, NEP OpCo, as partial consideration for its obligation to provide credit support to NEP, and NEER will use these funds for its own account without paying additional consideration to NEP and is obligated to return these funds only as needed to cover project costs and distributions or as demanded by NEP OpCo. |
• | NEP's financial condition and ability to make distributions to its unitholders, as well as its ability to grow distributions in the future, is highly dependent on NEER’s performance of its obligations to return all or a portion of these funds. |
• | NEP may not be able to consummate future acquisitions from NEER or from third parties. |
• | NEP GP and its affiliates, including, without limitation, NEE, have conflicts of interest with NEP and limited duties to NEP and its unitholders and they may favor their own interests to the detriment of NEP and holders of NEP common units. |
• | Common units are subject to NEP GP's limited call right. |
• | NEE and other affiliates of NEP GP are not restricted in their ability to compete with NEP. |
• | NEP may be unable to terminate the MSA. |
• | If NEE Management terminates the MSA, NEER terminates the management sub-contract or either of them defaults in the performance of its obligations thereunder, NEP may be unable to contract with a substitute service provider on similar terms, or at all. |
• | NEP's arrangements with NEE limit NEE's liability, and NEP has agreed to indemnify NEE against claims that it may face in connection with such arrangements, which may lead NEE to assume greater risks when making decisions relating to NEP than it otherwise would if acting solely for its own account. |
• | The credit and business risk profiles of NEP GP and its owner, NEE, could adversely affect any NEP credit ratings and risk profile, which could increase NEP's borrowing costs or hinder NEP's ability to raise capital. |
Risks Related to Ownership of NEP's Common Units
• | NEP's ability to make distributions to its unitholders depends on the ability of NEP OpCo to make cash distributions to its limited partners. |
• | If NEP incurs material tax liabilities, NEP's distributions to its unitholders may be reduced, without any corresponding reduction in the amount of the IDR fee. |
• | Holders of NEP's common units have limited voting rights and are not entitled to elect NEP's general partner or NEP GP's directors. |
• | NEP's partnership agreement restricts the remedies available to holders of NEP's common units for actions taken by NEP GP that might otherwise constitute breaches of fiduciary duties. |
• | NEP's partnership agreement replaces NEP GP's fiduciary duties to holders of its common units with contractual standards governing its duties. |
• | Even if holders of NEP's common units are dissatisfied, they cannot initially remove NEP GP without NEE's consent. |
• | NEE's interest in NEP GP and the control of NEP GP may be transferred to a third party without unitholder consent. |
• | The IDR fee may be transferred to a third party without unitholder consent. |
• | NEP may issue additional units without unitholder approval, which would dilute unitholder interests. |
• | Reimbursements and fees owed to NEP GP and its affiliates for services provided to NEP or on NEP's behalf will reduce cash distributions to or from NEP OpCo and from NEP to NEP's unitholders, and the amount and timing of such reimbursements and fees will be determined by NEP GP and there are no limits on the amount that NEP OpCo may be required to pay. |
• | Discretion in establishing cash reserves by NEE Operating GP may reduce the amount of cash distributions to unitholders. |
• | While NEP's partnership agreement requires NEP to distribute its available cash, NEP's partnership agreement, including, without limitation, provisions requiring NEP to make cash distributions, may be amended. |
• | NEP OpCo can borrow money to pay distributions, which would reduce the amount of credit available to operate NEP's business. |
• | Increases in interest rates could adversely impact the price of NEP's common units, NEP's ability to issue equity or incur debt for acquisitions or other purposes and NEP's ability to make cash distributions to its unitholders. |
• | The price of NEP's common units may fluctuate significantly and unitholders could lose all or part of their investment and a market that will provide unitholders with adequate liquidity may not develop. |
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• | The liability of holders of NEP's common units, which represent limited partnership interests in NEP, may not be limited if a court finds that unitholder action constitutes control of NEP's business. |
• | Unitholders may have liability to repay distributions that were wrongfully distributed to them. |
• | Except in limited circumstances, NEP GP has the power and authority to conduct NEP's business without unitholder approval. |
• | Contracts between NEP, on the one hand, and NEP GP and its affiliates, on the other hand, will not be the result of arm's-length negotiations. |
• | Unitholders have no right to enforce the obligations of NEP GP and its affiliates under agreements with NEP. |
• | NEP GP decides whether to retain separate counsel, accountants or others to perform services for NEP. |
• | The New York Stock Exchange does not require a publicly traded limited partnership like NEP to comply with certain of its corporate governance requirements. |
Taxation Risks
• | NEP's future tax liability may be greater than expected if NEP does not generate NOLs sufficient to offset taxable income or if tax authorities challenge certain of NEP's tax positions. |
• | NEP's ability to use NOLs to offset future income may be limited. |
• | NEP will not have complete control over NEP's tax decisions. |
• | A valuation allowance may be required for NEP's deferred tax assets. |
• | Distributions to unitholders may be taxable as dividends. |
• | Unitholders who are not resident in Canada may be subject to Canadian tax on gains from the sale of common units if NEP’s common units derive more than 50% of their value from Canadian real property at any time. |
These factors should be read together with the risk factors included in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors in the 2015 Form 10-K and investors should refer to that section of the 2015 Form 10-K. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and NEP undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances, including, but not limited to, unanticipated events, after the date on which such statement is made, unless otherwise required by law. New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict all of such factors, nor can it assess the impact of each such factor on the business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained or implied in any forward-looking statement.
Website Access to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Filings. NEP makes its SEC filings, including the annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports, available free of charge on NEP's internet website, www.nexteraenergypartners.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after those documents are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. The information and materials available on NEP's website are not incorporated by reference into this Form 10-Q. The SEC maintains an internet website that contains reports and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC at www.sec.gov.
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PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(millions, except per unit amounts)
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015(a) | 2016 | 2015(a) | ||||||||||||
OPERATING REVENUES | $ | 171 | $ | 125 | $ | 336 | $ | 233 | |||||||
OPERATING EXPENSES | |||||||||||||||
Operations and maintenance | 31 | 22 | 63 | 42 | |||||||||||
Operations and maintenance - related party | 14 | 5 | 24 | 8 | |||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 46 | 37 | 92 | 74 | |||||||||||
Taxes other than income taxes and other | 5 | 3 | 9 | 7 | |||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 96 | 67 | 188 | 131 | |||||||||||
OPERATING INCOME | 75 | 58 | 148 | 102 | |||||||||||
OTHER INCOME (DEDUCTIONS) | |||||||||||||||
Interest expense | (77 | ) | (29 | ) | (162 | ) | (54 | ) | |||||||
Benefits associated with differential membership interests - net | 12 | 8 | 24 | 12 | |||||||||||
Equity in losses of equity method investees | (7 | ) | — | (19 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||||||
Other - net | 16 | (1 | ) | 13 | — | ||||||||||
Total other deductions - net | (56 | ) | (22 | ) | (144 | ) | (43 | ) | |||||||
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES | 19 | 36 | 4 | 59 | |||||||||||
INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT) | (9 | ) | 8 | (12 | ) | 7 | |||||||||
NET INCOME | 28 | 28 | 16 | 52 | |||||||||||
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest(b) | 20 | 24 | 3 | 48 | |||||||||||
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP | $ | 8 | $ | 4 | $ | 13 | $ | 4 | |||||||
Weighted average number of common units outstanding - basic and assuming dilution | 42.1 | 20.1 | 38.3 | 19.4 | |||||||||||
Earnings per common unit attributable to NextEra Energy Partners, LP - basic and assuming dilution | $ | 0.19 | $ | 0.16 | $ | 0.33 | $ | 0.24 | |||||||
Distributions per common unit | $ | 0.3188 | $ | 0.2050 | $ | 0.6263 | $ | 0.4000 |
____________________
(a) | Prior-period financial information has been retrospectively adjusted as discussed in Note 1. |
(b) | The calculation of net income attributable to noncontrolling interest includes the pre-acquisition net income of the common control acquisitions. See Note 1. |
This report should be read in conjunction with the Notes herein and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in the 2015 Form 10-K.
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NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(millions)
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015(a) | 2016 | 2015(a) | ||||||||||||
NET INCOME | $ | 28 | $ | 28 | $ | 16 | $ | 52 | |||||||
Net unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges: | |||||||||||||||
Effective portion of net unrealized gains (net of income tax (expense)/benefit of less than $(1), $(1), less than $(1) and $1, respectively) | — | 8 | — | — | |||||||||||
Reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net income (net of income tax (expense)/benefit of $(1), less than $(1), $(1) and $(1), respectively) | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | |||||||||||
Net unrealized gains (losses) on foreign currency translation (net of income tax (expense)/benefit of $(1), less than $1, $(1) and $1, respectively) | 1 | 16 | 7 | (26 | ) | ||||||||||
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | 3 | 26 | 10 | (23 | ) | ||||||||||
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME | 31 | 54 | 26 | 29 | |||||||||||
Less comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest(b) | 23 | 47 | 12 | 25 | |||||||||||
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP | $ | 8 | $ | 7 | $ | 14 | $ | 4 |
____________________
(a) | Prior-period financial information has been retrospectively adjusted as discussed in Note 1. |
(b) | The calculation of comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest includes the pre-acquisition comprehensive income of the common control acquisitions. See Note 1. |
This report should be read in conjunction with the Notes herein and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in the 2015 Form 10-K.
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NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(millions)
(unaudited)
June 30, 2016 | December 31, 2015(a) | ||||||
ASSETS | |||||||
Current assets: | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 244 | $ | 163 | |||
Accounts receivable | 92 | 78 | |||||
Due from related parties | 74 | 70 | |||||
Restricted cash | 31 | 16 | |||||
Other current assets | 19 | 24 | |||||
Total current assets | 460 | 351 | |||||
Non-current assets: | |||||||
Property, plant and equipment - net | 4,677 | 4,653 | |||||
Deferred income taxes | 220 | 176 | |||||
Intangible assets - customer relationships | 687 | 696 | |||||
Goodwill | 628 | 622 | |||||
Investments in equity method investees | 9 | 22 | |||||
Other non-current assets | 55 | 54 | |||||
Total non-current assets | 6,276 | 6,223 | |||||
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 6,736 | $ | 6,574 | |||
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | |||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | 17 | $ | 44 | |||
Short-term debt | — | 12 | |||||
Due to related parties | 32 | 16 | |||||
Current maturities of long-term debt | 82 | 101 | |||||
Acquisition holdbacks | 364 | — | |||||
Accrued interest | 29 | 28 | |||||
Derivatives | 24 | 22 | |||||
Other current liabilities | 24 | 28 | |||||
Total current liabilities | 572 | 251 | |||||
Non-current liabilities: | |||||||
Long-term debt | 3,497 | 3,334 | |||||
Deferral related to differential membership interests | 651 | 670 | |||||
Acquisition holdbacks | — | 375 | |||||
Deferred income taxes | 34 | 43 | |||||
Asset retirement obligation | 37 | 36 | |||||
Non-current due to related party | 19 | 19 | |||||
Other non-current liabilities | 156 | 82 | |||||
Total non-current liabilities | 4,394 | 4,559 | |||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES | 4,966 | 4,810 | |||||
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | |||||||
EQUITY | |||||||
Limited partners (common units issued and outstanding - 42.3 and 30.6, respectively) | 1,288 | 935 | |||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (5 | ) | (6 | ) | |||
Noncontrolling interest | 487 | 835 | |||||
TOTAL EQUITY | 1,770 | 1,764 | |||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | $ | 6,736 | $ | 6,574 |
____________________
(a) | Prior-period financial information has been retrospectively adjusted as discussed in Note 1. |
This report should be read in conjunction with the Notes herein and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in the 2015 Form 10-K.
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NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(millions)
(unaudited)
Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||
2016 | 2015(a) | ||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES | |||||||
Net income | $ | 16 | $ | 52 | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 92 | 74 | |||||
Amortization of deferred financing costs | 4 | 3 | |||||
Accretion of acquisition holdbacks | 6 | — | |||||
Change in value of derivative contracts | 77 | — | |||||
Deferred income taxes | (13 | ) | 4 | ||||
Benefits associated with differential membership interests - net | (24 | ) | (12 | ) | |||
Equity in losses of equity method investees | 19 | 1 | |||||
Change in fair value of contingent consideration for pipeline acquisition | (17 | ) | — | ||||
Other - net | — | 2 | |||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts receivable | (12 | ) | (8 | ) | |||
Other current assets | 2 | 23 | |||||
Other non-current assets | (4 | ) | (7 | ) | |||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | (5 | ) | (2 | ) | |||
Due to related parties | 2 | 1 | |||||
Other current liabilities | (3 | ) | 6 | ||||
Other non-current liabilities | 5 | (1 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 145 | 136 | |||||
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES | |||||||
Acquisition of membership interests in subsidiaries | (324 | ) | (716 | ) | |||
Capital expenditures | (27 | ) | (102 | ) | |||
Changes in restricted cash | (17 | ) | 59 | ||||
Payments from (to) related parties under CSCS agreement - net | (5 | ) | 174 | ||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (373 | ) | (585 | ) | |||
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES | |||||||
Proceeds from issuance of common units - net | 303 | 106 | |||||
Issuances of long-term debt | 471 | 477 | |||||
Retirements of long-term debt | (370 | ) | (91 | ) | |||
Deferred financing costs | (9 | ) | (8 | ) | |||
Partners/Members' contributions | 2 | 62 | |||||
Partners/Members' distributions | (99 | ) | (392 | ) | |||
Proceeds from differential membership investors | 10 | — | |||||
Payments to differential membership investors | (5 | ) | (3 | ) | |||
Proceeds from short-term debt | — | 325 | |||||
Repayments of short-term debt | (12 | ) | — | ||||
Change in amounts due to related parties | 15 | (22 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 306 | 454 | |||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash | 3 | 2 | |||||
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | 81 | 7 | |||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - BEGINNING OF PERIOD | 163 | 111 | |||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - END OF PERIOD | $ | 244 | $ | 118 | |||
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION: | |||||||
Partners/Members' noncash distributions | $ | 29 | $ | 21 | |||
Members’ noncash contributions for construction costs and other | $ | 59 | $ | 115 | |||
Change in accounts receivable for CITCs | $ | 2 | $ | 13 | |||
Change in investments in equity method investees - net | $ | 6 | $ | 26 | |||
Change in accrued but not paid for capital expenditures | $ | 4 | $ | 3 | |||
Noncash reclassification of distributions to due from related parties | $ | — | $ | 7 | |||
Noncash member distribution upon transition from predecessor method | $ | 3 | $ | 3 | |||
Change in goodwill related to change in purchase accounting valuation | $ | 6 | $ | — |
_________________________
(a) | Prior-period financial information has been retrospectively adjusted as discussed in Note 1. |
This report should be read in conjunction with the Notes herein and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in the 2015 Form 10-K.
11
NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(millions)
(unaudited)
Units | Limited Partners | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss(a) | Noncontrolling Interest(a) | Total Equity(a) | ||||||||||||||
Balances, December 31, 2015 | 30.6 | $ | 935 | $ | (6 | ) | $ | 835 | $ | 1,764 | ||||||||
Acquisition of membership interests in subsidiaries | — | — | — | (324 | ) | (324 | ) | |||||||||||
Limited partners/related party contribution and transition | — | 60 | (b) | — | (3 | ) | (c) | 57 | ||||||||||
Issuance of common units | 11.7 | 303 | — | — | 303 | |||||||||||||
Related party note receivable | — | — | — | (24 | ) | (24 | ) | |||||||||||
Net income(d) | — | 13 | — | 3 | 16 | |||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income | — | — | 1 | 9 | 10 | |||||||||||||
Related party contributions | — | — | — | 69 | 69 | |||||||||||||
Related party distributions | — | — | — | (78 | ) | (78 | ) | |||||||||||
Distributions to unitholders | — | (23 | ) | — | — | (23 | ) | |||||||||||
Balances, June 30, 2016 | 42.3 | $ | 1,288 | $ | (5 | ) | $ | 487 | $ | 1,770 |
Units | Limited Partners | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss(a) | Noncontrolling Interest(a) | Total Equity(a) | ||||||||||||||
Balances, December 31, 2014 | 18.7 | $ | 551 | $ | (3 | ) | $ | 1,233 | $ | 1,781 | ||||||||
Acquisition of membership interests in subsidiaries | — | — | — | (716 | ) | (716 | ) | |||||||||||
Limited partners/related party contribution and transition | — | 35 | (b) | — | 3 | (c) | 38 | |||||||||||
Issuance of common units | 2.6 | 106 | — | — | 106 | |||||||||||||
Net income(d) | — | 4 | — | 48 | 52 | |||||||||||||
Other comprehensive loss | — | — | — | (23 | ) | (23 | ) | |||||||||||
Related party contributions | — | — | — | 198 | 198 | |||||||||||||
Related party distributions | — | — | — | (405 | ) | (405 | ) | |||||||||||
Distributions to unitholders | — | (8 | ) | — | — | (8 | ) | |||||||||||
Balances, June 30, 2015 | 21.3 | $ | 688 | $ | (3 | ) | $ | 338 | $ | 1,023 |
____________________
(a) | Prior-period financial information has been retrospectively adjusted as discussed in Note 1. |
(b) | Deferred tax asset recognized by NEP related to NEP equity issuances and acquisition of subsidiary membership interests. |
(c) | Related party non-cash contribution (distribution), net, upon transition from predecessor accounting method. |
(d) | Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest includes the pre-acquisition net income of the common control acquisitions. See Note 1. |
This report should be read in conjunction with the Notes herein and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in the 2015 Form 10-K.
12
NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the 2015 Form 10-K. In the opinion of NEP management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for fair financial statement presentation have been made. Certain amounts included in the prior year's condensed consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation. The results of operations for an interim period generally will not give a true indication of results for the year.
1. ACQUISITIONS
On March 1, 2016, a subsidiary of NEP completed the acquisition from NEER of Seiling Wind Investments, LLC, which indirectly owns two wind generation facilities, Seiling I and Seiling II, with a combined generating capacity of approximately 299 MW, located in Dewey and Woodward counties, Oklahoma, for approximately $323 million, plus working capital of $3 million and the assumption of $257 million in existing liabilities related to differential membership interests. As part of this acquisition and included in the cash consideration, a subsidiary of NEP acquired an approximately $25 million receivable from a subsidiary of NEER (related party note receivable) relating to operational performance issues at this facility. The related party note receivable is intended to compensate NEP for the operational performance issues and is supported in full by corrective actions or compensation expected from an equipment vendor under an undertaking the vendor has with NEER. The related party note receivable can be settled, in part or in whole, to the extent the operational performance issues are improved or resolved by the vendor by the end of 2016. This receivable bears interest at 7.1% per annum, is payable by NEER in equal semi-annual installments and matures in December 2035. The related party note receivable, interest and related payments are reflected in noncontrolling interest on the condensed consolidated financial statements.
The 2016 acquisition discussed above and the acquisitions from NEER completed in 2015 (collectively, the common control acquisitions), were transfers of assets between entities under common control, which required them to be accounted for as if the transfers occurred since the inception of common control, with prior periods retrospectively adjusted to furnish comparative information. Accordingly, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been retrospectively adjusted to include the historical results and financial position of the common control acquisitions prior to their respective acquisition dates.
On July 5, 2016, a subsidiary of NEP completed the acquisition from NEER of Bayhawk Wind Holdings, LLC for approximately $312 million, plus working capital of $6 million (subject to post-closing adjustments) and the assumption of $253 million in existing liabilities related to differential membership interests. Bayhawk Wind Holdings, LLC indirectly owns two wind generation facilities, Cedar Bluff Wind and Golden Hills Wind, with a combined generating capacity of approximately 285 MW, located in Ellis, Ness, Rush and Trego counties, Kansas, and Alameda county, California, respectively.
On October 1, 2015, NEP acquired 100% of the membership interests in the Texas pipeline business, a developer, owner and operator of a portfolio of seven long-term contracted natural gas pipeline assets located in Texas. Under the acquisition method, the purchase price was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed on the acquisition date based on their estimated fair value. The valuation of the acquired net assets is subject to change as NEP obtains additional information for its estimates during the measurement period. During the six months ended June 30, 2016, NEP recorded adjustments to the purchase price allocation which increased goodwill by approximately $6 million, decreased property, plant and equipment - net by $4 million and increased noncontrolling interest by $2 million. The primary areas of the purchase price allocation not yet finalized relate to the final value of consideration transferred and residual goodwill.
Supplemental Pro forma Results of Operations
NEP’s pro forma results of operations had the acquisition of the Texas pipeline business been completed on January 1, 2014 are as follows:
Three Months Ended June 30, 2015 | Six Months Ended June 30, 2015 | ||||||
(millions) | |||||||
Pro forma results of operations: | |||||||
Pro forma revenues | $ | 159 | $ | 285 | |||
Pro forma operating income | $ | 78 | $ | 127 | |||
Pro forma net income | $ | 48 | $ | 57 | |||
Pro forma net income attributable to NEP | $ | 5 | $ | 5 |
13
NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)
The pro forma consolidated results of operations include adjustments to:
• | reflect the historical results of the Texas pipeline business beginning on January 1, 2014, excluding certain operations which were not acquired by NEP; |
• | reflect the estimated depreciation and amortization expense based on the estimated fair value of property, plant and equipment - net and the intangible assets - customer relationships; |
• | reflect additional interest expense related to financing transactions to fund the acquisition; and |
• | reflect related income tax effects. |
The pro forma information is not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that would have occurred had the transaction been completed on January 1, 2014 or the future results of the consolidated operations.
2. INCOME TAXES
For periods prior to the date a project is acquired by NEP (NEP acquisition date), income taxes are calculated on the predecessor method using the separate return method for each of the projects acquired from NEER which are structured as limited liability companies or corporations. Income taxes are not included for entities that are structured as flow through entities (partnerships) electing to be taxed as partnerships.
For periods after the NEP acquisition date, income taxes are calculated on the successor method where taxes are calculated for NEP as a single taxpaying entity for U.S. federal and state income tax purposes. Because NEP OpCo is a limited partnership electing to be taxed as a partnership for U.S. federal and state income tax purposes, NEP only recognizes in income its applicable ownership share of U.S. income taxes related to both U.S. and Canadian projects, allocated to NEP OpCo. The Canadian subsidiaries are all Canadian taxpayers subject to Canadian income tax, and therefore, NEP recognizes in income all of the Canadian taxes.
Consequently for periods after the NEP acquisition date, income taxes include NEP's applicable ownership share of U.S. taxes and 100% of Canadian taxes. Net income or loss attributable to noncontrolling interest includes no U.S. taxes and NEER's applicable ownership share of Canadian taxes. Net income attributable to NEP includes NEP's applicable ownership share of U.S. and Canadian taxes.
The effective tax rates for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 were approximately (47)% and 22%, respectively, and for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 were approximately (300)% and 12%, respectively. The effective tax rate is affected by recurring items, such as the relative amount of income earned in jurisdictions, valuation allowances on deferred tax assets, taxes attributable to the noncontrolling interest and the taxation of Canadian income in both Canada and the U.S.
Additionally, the effective tax rate for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 was affected by an April 2016 court decision approving a reorganization of certain of NEP's Canadian assets that provided for tax bases in certain of these assets. NEP recorded approximately $12 million of the associated income tax benefits during the three months ended June 30, 2016.
3. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The fair value of assets and liabilities are determined using either unadjusted quoted prices in active markets (Level 1) or pricing inputs that are observable (Level 2) whenever that information is available and using unobservable inputs (Level 3) to estimate fair value only when relevant observable inputs are not available. NEP uses several different valuation techniques to measure the fair value of assets and liabilities relying primarily on the market approach of using prices and other market information for identical or comparable assets and liabilities for those assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Certain financial instruments may be valued using multiple inputs including discount rates, counterparty credit ratings and credit enhancements. NEP’s assessment of the significance of any particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the fair value measurement of its assets and liabilities and the placement of those assets and liabilities within the fair value hierarchy levels. Non-performance risk, including the consideration of a credit valuation adjustment, is also considered in the determination of fair value for all assets and liabilities measured at fair value. All transfers between fair value hierarchy levels occur at the beginning of the period in which the transfer occurred.
Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash Equivalents - Cash equivalents consist of short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and are included in cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and other non-current assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. NEP primarily holds these investments in money market funds and estimates the fair value of these funds using a market approach based on current observable market prices.
14
NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)
Interest Rate and Foreign Currency Contracts - NEP estimates the fair value of its derivatives using an income approach, or a discounted cash flows valuation technique, based on the net amount of estimated future cash inflows and outflows related to the agreements. The primary inputs used in the fair value measurements include the contractual terms of the derivative agreements, current interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and credit spreads. The significant inputs for the resulting fair value measurement are market-observable inputs and the measurements are reported as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
NEP’s financial assets and liabilities and other fair value measurements made on a recurring basis by fair value hierarchy level are as follows:
June 30, 2016 | December 31, 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
(millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash equivalents | $ | 46 | $ | — | $ | 46 | $ | 63 | $ | — | $ | 63 | |||||||||||
Restricted cash equivalents | 35 | — | 35 | 5 | — | 5 | |||||||||||||||||
Interest rate contracts | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency contracts | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 81 | $ | — | $ | 81 | $ | 68 | $ | 4 | $ | 72 | |||||||||||
Liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest rate contracts | $ | — | $ | 141 | $ | 141 | $ | — | $ | 68 | $ | 68 | |||||||||||
Foreign currency contracts | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
Total liabilities | $ | — | $ | 142 | $ | 142 | $ | — | $ | 68 | $ | 68 |
Financial Instruments Recorded at Other than Fair Value - The carrying amounts of accounts receivable, accounts payable, certain accrued expenses and short-term debt approximate their fair values. The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of other financial instruments, excluding those recorded at fair value and disclosed above, are as follows:
June 30, 2016 | December 31, 2015 | ||||||||||||||
Carrying Value | Fair Value | Carrying Value | Fair Value | ||||||||||||
(millions) | |||||||||||||||
Long-term debt, including current maturities(a) | $ | 3,579 | $ | 3,792 | $ | 3,435 | $ | 3,532 |
____________________
(a) | Fair value is estimated based on the borrowing rates as of each date for similar issues of debt with similar remaining maturities (Level 2). |
Contingent Consideration - NEP recorded a liability related to a contingent holdback as part of the Texas pipelines acquisition. See Note 10 - Acquisition Holdbacks. The contingent holdback will be payable if the Texas pipelines enter into one or more written contracts by December 31, 2016 related to certain financial performance and capital expenditure thresholds. Contingent consideration is required to be reported at fair value at each reporting date. NEP determined this fair value measurement based on management's probability assessment. The significant inputs and assumptions used in the fair value measurement included the estimated probability of executing contracts related to financial performance and capital expenditure thresholds as well as the appropriate discount rate. At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the estimated fair value of the contingent holdback was approximately $170 million and $186 million, respectively, and is recorded as acquisition holdbacks on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, NEP recorded an approximately $17 million fair value adjustment to decrease the contingent consideration based on updated estimates associated with management's probability assessment. The fair value adjustment is included in other - net in the condensed consolidated statements of income.
4. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITY
NEP recognizes all derivative instruments, when required to be marked to market, on the balance sheet as either assets or liabilities and measures them at fair value each reporting period. In connection with certain of its debt financings, NEP entered into interest rate contracts to manage interest rate cash flow risk. These agreements allow NEP to offset the variability of its floating-rate loan interest cash flows with the variable interest cash flows received from the interest rate contracts. In January 2016, NEP discontinued hedge accounting for its cash flow hedges related to interest rate swaps and, therefore, essentially all changes in the fair value of the interest rate swaps are recognized in interest expense in NEP's condensed consolidated statements of income. The commencement and termination dates of the interest rate swap agreements and the related hedging relationship coincide with the corresponding dates of the underlying variable-rate debt instruments, with maturity dates through 2033. As of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the combined notional amounts of the interest rate contracts were approximately $1,445 million and $1,277 million, respectively.
15
NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)
At June 30, 2016, NEP's accumulated other comprehensive loss (AOCI) included amounts related to discontinued cash flow hedges which have expiration dates through 2033. Approximately $11 million of net losses included in AOCI at June 30, 2016, is expected to be reclassified into interest expense within the next 12 months as principal and/or interest payments are made. Cash flows from these interest rate swap contracts are reported in cash flows from operating activities in NEP's condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.
During 2015 and 2016, NEP entered into certain foreign currency exchange contracts to economically hedge its cash flows from foreign currency rate fluctuations. As of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the notional amount of the foreign currency contracts was approximately $44 million and $54 million, respectively. During the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, NEP recorded less than $1 million and approximately $1 million of losses, respectively, related to the foreign currency contracts in other - net in the condensed consolidated statements of income. During the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, NEP recorded approximately $3 million and less than $1 million of losses, respectively, related to the foreign currency contracts in other - net in the condensed consolidated statements of income.
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments - The tables below present NEP's gross derivative positions at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, as required by disclosure rules, as well as the location of the net derivative position on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
June 30, 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Fair Values of Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments for Accounting Purposes - Gross Basis | Fair Values of Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments for Accounting Purposes - Gross Basis | Total Derivatives Combined - Net Basis | |||||||||||||||||||||
Assets | Liabilities | Assets | Liabilities | Assets | Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||
(millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest rate contracts | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 141 | $ | — | $ | 141 | |||||||||||
Foreign currency contracts | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
Total fair values | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 142 | $ | — | $ | 142 | |||||||||||
Net fair value by balance sheet line item: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Other current assets | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other non-current assets | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Current derivative liabilities | $ | 24 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other non-current liabilities | 118 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total derivatives | $ | — | $ | 142 |
December 31, 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Fair Values of Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments for Accounting Purposes - Gross Basis | Fair Values of Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments for Accounting Purposes - Gross Basis | Total Derivatives Combined - Net Basis | |||||||||||||||||||||
Assets | Liabilities | Assets | Liabilities | Assets | Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||
(millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest rate contracts | $ | 1 | $ | 22 | $ | 1 | $ | 46 | $ | 5 | $ | 71 | |||||||||||
Foreign currency contracts | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | |||||||||||||||||
Total fair values | $ | 1 | $ | 22 | $ | 3 | $ | 46 | $ | 7 | $ | 71 | |||||||||||
Net fair value by balance sheet line item: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Other current assets | $ | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other non-current assets | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Current derivative liabilities | $ | 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other non-current liabilities | 49 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total derivatives | $ | 7 | $ | 71 |
16
NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)
Financial Statement Impact of Derivative Instruments - Gains (losses) related to NEP's interest rate contracts are recorded in NEP's condensed consolidated financial statements as follows:
Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | |||||||||||||
(millions) | ||||||||||||||||
Interest rate contracts: | ||||||||||||||||
Gains recognized in other comprehensive income | $ | — | $ | 10 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||
Losses reclassified from AOCI to interest expense | $ | (3 | ) | $ | (2 | ) | $ | (4 | ) | $ | (4 | ) | ||||
Losses recognized in interest expense | $ | (37 | ) | $ | — | $ | (84 | ) | $ | — |
5. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES
In February 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued a new accounting standard that modified consolidation guidance. The standard made changes to both the variable interest entity model and the voting interest entity model, including modifying the evaluation of whether limited partnerships or similar legal entities are VIEs or voting interest entities and amending the guidance for assessing how relationships of related parties affect the consolidation analysis of VIEs. NEP adopted the standard retrospectively beginning January 1, 2016.
As a result of the new standard, NEP has identified NEP OpCo as a VIE. NEP OpCo is a limited partnership with a general partner and limited partners. NEP has consolidated the results of NEP OpCo and its subsidiaries because of its controlling interest in the general partner of NEP OpCo. At June 30, 2016, NEP owned an approximately 29.4% limited partner interest in NEP OpCo and NEE Equity owned a noncontrolling 70.6% limited partner interest in NEP OpCo. The assets and liabilities of NEP OpCo as well as the operations of NEP OpCo represent substantially all of NEP's assets and liabilities and its operations.
In addition, at June 30, 2016, NEP consolidated three VIEs related to certain subsidiaries which have sold their class B membership interests in entities which own and operate four wind electric generation facilities. Certain investors that hold no equity interest in these VIEs hold differential membership interests, which give them the right to receive a portion of the economic attributes of these wind electric generation facilities, including certain tax attributes. The assets and liabilities of the VIEs, consisting primarily of property, plant and equipment - net and deferral related to differential membership interests, totaled approximately $1,188 million and $688 million at June 30, 2016, respectively, and $1,221 million and $723 million at December 31, 2015, respectively.
In April 2015, a subsidiary of NEP made an equity method investment in three NEER solar projects that were under construction in California. Through a series of transactions, a subsidiary of NEP issued 1,000,000 NEP OpCo Class B Units, Series 1 and 1,000,000 NEP OpCo Class B Units, Series 2, to NEER for approximately 50% of the ownership interests in the three solar projects. NEER, as holder of the Class B Units, will retain 100% of the economic rights in the projects to which the respective Class B Units relate, including the right to all distributions paid by the project subsidiaries that own the projects to NEP OpCo. NEER has agreed to indemnify NEP against all risks relating to NEP’s ownership of the projects and construction of the projects until NEER offers to sell economic interests to NEP and NEP accepts such offer, if NEP chooses to do so. NEER has also agreed to continue to manage the construction and operation of the projects at its own cost, and to contribute to the projects any capital necessary for the construction and operation of the projects, until NEER offers to sell economic interests to NEP and NEP accepts such offer. At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, NEP's equity method investment totaled approximately $9 million and $22 million, respectively, and is reflected as investments in equity method investees on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. All equity in earnings of the equity method investees is allocated to net income attributable to noncontrolling interest. NEP is not the primary beneficiary and therefore does not consolidate these entities because it does not control any of the ongoing activities of these entities, was not involved in the initial design of these entities and does not have a controlling interest in these entities.
Summarized combined information for these equity method investees is as follows:
Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||
(millions) | |||||||||||||||
Revenues | $ | 12 | $ | — | $ | 18 | $ | — | |||||||
Operating income | $ | 6 | $ | (1 | ) | $ | 7 | $ | (2 | ) | |||||
Net loss | $ | (12 | ) | (a) | $ | (1 | ) | $ | (38 | ) | (a) | $ | (2 | ) |
____________________
(a) For the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, includes approximately $14 million and $38 million, respectively, of unrealized losses related to interest rate derivative instruments as hedge accounting was discontinued in January 2016.
17
NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)
6. CAPITALIZATION
Debt - Significant long-term debt issuances and borrowings by subsidiaries of NEP during the six months ended June 30, 2016 were as follows:
Date Issued | Debt Issuances/Borrowings | Interest Rate | Principal Amount | Maturity Date | ||||||
(millions) | ||||||||||
January - March 2016 | Construction loan credit facility | Variable(a) | $ | 41 | (b) | 2022 | ||||
February 2016 | Senior secured revolving credit facility | Variable(a) | $ | 75 | (c) | 2019 | ||||
June 2016 | Limited-recourse term loan | Variable(a) | $ | 355 | (b) | 2022 |
————————————
(a) | Variable rate is based on an underlying index plus a margin. |
(b) | In March 2016, the construction loan credit facility converted to a term loan. In June 2016, this term loan was amended and approximately $72 million of additional net borrowings ($355 million of issuances net of $283 million of retirements) resulted in an outstanding term loan balance of $604 million at June 30, 2016. |
(c) | At June 30, 2016, $75 million is outstanding under the revolving credit facility. |
The long-term debt agreements listed above are secured by liens on certain assets and contain provisions which, under certain conditions, could restrict the payment of distributions or related party fee payments. At June 30, 2016, NEP's subsidiaries were in compliance with all financial debt covenants under their project financings.
On July 1, 2016, an indirect subsidiary of NEP entered into and borrowed $100 million under a variable rate senior secured term loan agreement (term loan) that matures in June 2019. The term loan is secured by liens on certain of the assets of NEP OpCo, and certain assets of, and the direct ownership interest in, one of NEP OpCo's direct subsidiaries. The term loan contains customary default and related acceleration provisions relating to the failure to make required payments or to observe other covenants in the term loan and related documents, including financial covenants relating to the maximum leverage ratio and a minimum interest coverage ratio, and certain bankruptcy-related events. Additionally, NEP OpCo and one of NEP OpCo's direct subsidiaries are required to comply with certain financial covenants on a quarterly basis and NEP OpCo's and its direct subsidiaries' ability to pay cash distributions to their equity holders is subject to certain other restrictions. All borrowings under the term loan are guaranteed by NEP and NEP OpCo.
Also on July 1, 2016, an indirect subsidiary of NEP borrowed $100 million under an existing revolving credit facility entered into in December 2015. The borrowings under the term loan and the existing credit facility were used to fund a portion of the acquisition of Bayhawk Wind Holdings, LLC described in Note 1.
Equity - During the six months ended June 30, 2016, NEP issued 552,210 common units under the at-the-market equity issuance program (ATM program) for gross proceeds of approximately $16 million. Fees related to the ATM program totaled less than $1 million in 2016.
In February and March 2016, NEP completed the sale of 11,155,000 common units representing limited partnership interests in NEP in a public offering for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $287 million, or $25.76 per common unit. NEP used the proceeds to fund, together with the borrowings under the senior secured revolving credit facility, the purchase price payable in the March 2016 acquisition discussed in Note 1. The issuance of additional common units during the six months ended June 30, 2016 resulted in the increase of NEP's limited partner interest in NEP OpCo to approximately 29.4% at June 30, 2016.
On July 26, 2016, the board of directors of NEP GP declared a distribution of $0.33 per common unit payable on August 12, 2016 to its unitholders of record on August 4, 2016.
18
NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)
7. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | |||||||||||
Net Unrealized Losses on Cash Flow Hedges | Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Foreign Currency Translation | Total | |||||||||
(millions) | |||||||||||
Three months ended June 30, 2016 | |||||||||||
Balances, March 31, 2016 | $ | (10 | ) | $ | (102 | ) | $ | (112 | ) | ||
Other comprehensive income before reclassification | — | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
Amounts reclassified from AOCI to interest expense | 2 | — | 2 | ||||||||
Net other comprehensive income | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||
Balances, June 30, 2016 | $ | (8 | ) | $ | (101 | ) | $ | (109 | ) | ||
AOCI attributable to noncontrolling interest | $ | (8 | ) | $ | (96 | ) | $ | (104 | ) | ||
AOCI attributable to NEP, June 30, 2016 | $ | — | $ | (5 | ) | $ | (5 | ) |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | |||||||||||
Net Unrealized Losses on Cash Flow Hedges | Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Foreign Currency Translation | Total | |||||||||
(millions) | |||||||||||
Six months ended June 30, 2016 | |||||||||||
Balances, December 31, 2015 | $ | (11 | ) | $ | (108 | ) | $ | (119 | ) | ||
Other comprehensive income before reclassification | — | 7 | 7 | ||||||||
Amounts reclassified from AOCI to interest expense | 3 | — | 3 | ||||||||
Net other comprehensive income | 3 | 7 | 10 | ||||||||
Balances, June 30, 2016 | $ | (8 | ) | $ | (101 | ) | $ | (109 | ) | ||
AOCI attributable to noncontrolling interest | $ | (8 | ) | $ | (96 | ) | $ | (104 | ) | ||
AOCI attributable to NEP, June 30, 2016 | $ | — | $ | (5 | ) | $ | (5 | ) |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | |||||||||||
Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Cash Flow Hedges | Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Foreign Currency Translation | Total | |||||||||
(millions) | |||||||||||
Three months ended June 30, 2015 | |||||||||||
Balances, March 31, 2015 | $ | (11 | ) | $ | (108 | ) | $ | (119 | ) | ||
Other comprehensive income before reclassification | 8 | 16 | 24 | ||||||||
Amounts reclassified from AOCI to interest expense | 2 | — | 2 | ||||||||
Net other comprehensive income | 10 | 16 | 26 | ||||||||
Balances, June 30, 2015 | $ | (1 | ) | $ | (92 | ) | $ | (93 | ) | ||
AOCI attributable to noncontrolling interest | $ | (3 | ) | $ | (87 | ) | $ | (90 | ) | ||
AOCI attributable to NEP, June 30, 2015 | $ | 2 | $ | (5 | ) | $ | (3 | ) |
19
NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | |||||||||||
Net Unrealized Losses on Cash Flow Hedges | Net Unrealized Losses on Foreign Currency Translation | Total | |||||||||
(millions) | |||||||||||
Six months ended June 30, 2015 | |||||||||||
Balances, December 31, 2014 | $ | (4 | ) | $ | (66 | ) | $ | (70 | ) | ||
Other comprehensive loss before reclassification | — | (26 | ) | (26 | ) | ||||||
Amounts reclassified from AOCI to interest expense | 3 | — | 3 | ||||||||
Net other comprehensive income (loss) | 3 | (26 | ) | (23 | ) | ||||||
Balances, June 30, 2015 | $ | (1 | ) | $ | (92 | ) | $ | (93 | ) | ||
AOCI attributable to noncontrolling interest | $ | (3 | ) | $ | (87 | ) | $ | (90 | ) | ||
AOCI attributable to NEP, June 30, 2015 | $ | 2 | $ | (5 | ) | $ | (3 | ) |
8. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Each project entered into O&M agreements and ASAs with subsidiaries of NEER whereby the projects pay a certain annual fee plus actual costs incurred in connection with certain O&M and administrative services performed under these agreements. These services are reflected as operations and maintenance - related party in NEP's condensed consolidated statements of income. Additionally, a NEP subsidiary pays an affiliate for transmission services which are reflected as operations and maintenance - related party in NEP's condensed consolidated statements of income. At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the net payables for these services, as well as for payroll and other payments made on behalf of these projects, were approximately $7 million and $8 million, respectively, and are included in due to related parties on NEP's condensed consolidated balance sheets. Certain projects have also entered into various types of agreements including those related to shared facilities and transmission lines, transmission line easements, technical support and construction coordination with subsidiaries of NEER whereby certain fees or cost reimbursements are paid to, or received by, certain subsidiaries of NEER.
Management Services Agreement - Effective July 1, 2014, subsidiaries of NEP entered into a MSA with indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of NEE, under which operational, management and administrative services are provided to NEP, including managing NEP’s day to day affairs and providing individuals to act as NEP GP’s executive officers and directors, in addition to those services that are provided under the existing O&M agreements and ASAs described above between NEER subsidiaries and NEP subsidiaries. NEP OpCo will pay NEE an annual management fee equal to the greater of 1% of the sum of NEP OpCo’s net income plus interest expense, income tax expense and depreciation and amortization expense less certain non-cash, non-recurring items for the most recently ended fiscal year and $4 million (as adjusted for inflation beginning in 2016), which will be paid in quarterly installments of $1 million with an additional payment each January to the extent 1% of the sum of NEP OpCo’s net income plus interest expense, income tax expense and depreciation and amortization expense less certain non-cash, non-recurring items for the preceding fiscal year exceeds $4 million (as adjusted for inflation beginning in 2016). NEP OpCo will also make certain payments to NEE based on the achievement by NEP OpCo of certain target quarterly distribution levels to its unitholders. NEP’s operations and maintenance - related party for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 include approximately $10 million and $17 million, respectively, and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 include $1 million and $2 million, respectively, related to the MSA.
Cash Sweep and Credit Support Agreement - Effective July 1, 2014, NEP OpCo entered into a CSCS agreement with NEER, under which NEER and certain of its subsidiaries may provide credit support in the form of letters of credit and guarantees to satisfy NEP’s subsidiaries’ contractual obligations. NEP OpCo will pay NEER an annual credit support fee based on the level and cost of the credit support provided, payable in quarterly installments. NEP’s operations and maintenance - related party for both the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 include $1 million, and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 include $1 million and $2 million, respectively, related to the CSCS agreement.
NEER and certain of its subsidiaries may withdraw funds (Project Sweeps) received by NEP OpCo under the CSCS agreement, or its subsidiaries in connection with certain of the long-term debt agreements, and hold those funds in accounts belonging to NEER or its subsidiaries to the extent the funds are not required to pay project costs or otherwise required to be maintained by NEP's subsidiaries. NEER and its subsidiaries may keep the funds until the financing agreements permit distributions to be made, or, in the case of NEP OpCo, until such funds are required to make distributions or to pay expenses or other operating costs or NEP OpCo otherwise demands the return of such funds. If NEER fails to return withdrawn funds when required by NEP's subsidiaries’ financing agreements, the lenders will be entitled to draw on credit support provided by NEER in the amount of such withdrawn funds. If NEER or one of its affiliates realizes any earnings on the withdrawn funds prior to the return of such funds, it will be permitted to retain those earnings. The cash sweep amounts held in accounts belonging to NEER or its subsidiaries as of June 30, 2016 and
20
NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)
December 31, 2015 were approximately $71 million and $66 million, respectively, and are included in due from related parties on NEP’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Guarantees and Letters of Credit Entered into by Related Parties - Certain PPAs include requirements of the project entities to meet certain performance obligations. NEECH has provided letters of credit or guarantees for certain of these performance obligations and payment of any obligations from the transactions contemplated by the PPAs. In addition, certain of the financing agreements require cash and cash equivalents to be reserved for various purposes. In accordance with the terms of these financing agreements, guarantees from NEECH have been substituted in place of these cash and cash equivalents reserve requirements. In addition, certain interconnection agreements and site certificates require letters of credit or a bond to secure certain payment or restoration obligations related to those agreements. NEECH also guarantees the Project Sweep amounts held in accounts belonging to NEER as described above. As of June 30, 2016, NEECH guaranteed or provided letters of credit or bonds totaling approximately $510 million related to these obligations. Agreements related to the sale of differential membership interests require NEER to guarantee payment of construction-related expenses that were not yet paid before the sale of the differential membership interests in VIEs as well as payments due by the VIEs and the indemnifications to the VIEs' respective investors. As of June 30, 2016, NEER guaranteed a total of approximately $59 million related to these obligations.
Due to Related Party - Non-current amounts due to related party on NEP's condensed consolidated balance sheets represent amounts owed by certain of NEP's wind projects to NEER to refund NEER for certain transmission costs paid on behalf of the wind projects. Amounts will be paid to NEER as the wind projects receive payments from third parties for related notes receivable recorded in other non-current assets on NEP’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Pursuant to a purchase and sale agreement, NEER paid approximately $16 million to a subsidiary of NEP in May 2016 for the right to receive CITC proceeds that otherwise would have been retained by the NEP subsidiary. Upon receipt of the CITC proceeds, a NEP subsidiary will pay those proceeds to NEER. At June 30, 2016, the $16 million was included in due to related parties on NEP’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Development, Engineering and Construction Commitments - During the six months ended June 30, 2015, NEER purchased and contributed approximately $24 million under several engineering, procurement and construction contracts related to the procurement of materials and services for certain NEP assets and for which costs were capitalized in construction work in progress. There were no such purchases or contributions during the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 or the three months ended June 30, 2015.
Transportation and Fuel Management Agreements - In connection with the acquisition of the Texas pipeline business described in Note 1, a subsidiary of NEP assigned to a subsidiary of NEER certain gas commodity agreements in exchange for entering into transportation agreements and a fuel management agreement whereby the benefits of the gas commodity agreements (net of transportation paid to the NEP subsidiary) are passed back to the NEP subsidiary. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, NEP recognized approximately $2 million and $6 million, respectively, in revenues related to the transportation and fuel management agreements. At June 30, 2016, approximately $2 million included in due from related parties and $1 million included in due to related parties reflect amounts due from and due to, respectively, the NEER subsidiary under the transportation and fuel management agreements.
9. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING POLICIES
Leases - In February 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard update which requires, among other things, that lessees recognize a lease liability, initially measured at the present value of the future lease payments; and a right-of-use asset, for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases). The standards update will be effective for NEP beginning January 1, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. Lessees and lessors must apply a modified retrospective approach for all leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. NEP is currently evaluating the effect the adoption of this standards update will have on its consolidated financial statements.
10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Land Use Commitments - The project owners are parties to various agreements that provide for payments to landowners for the right to use the land upon which the projects are located. These leases and easements can typically be renewed by the project owners for various periods. The annual fees range from minimum rent payments varying by lease to maximum rent payments of a certain percentage of gross revenues, varying by lease. Total lease expense was approximately $5 million and $4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and $10 million and $8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and is included in operations and maintenance expenses in NEP's condensed consolidated statements of income.
21
NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Concluded)
(unaudited)
The total minimum non-cancelable rental commitments at June 30, 2016 under these land use agreements are as follows:
Land Use Commitments | ||||
(millions) | ||||
Remainder of 2016 | $ | 3 | ||
2017 | 9 | |||
2018 | 9 | |||
2019 | 9 | |||
2020 | 9 | |||
Thereafter | 248 | |||
Total minimum land use payments | $ | 287 |
One of NEP’s solar project's land leases includes a right-of-way lease/grant that provides for payments to the BLM for the right to use the public lands upon which the project is located. The lease may be renewed at expiration at the solar project's option and will be subject to the regulations existing at the time of renewal. In connection with the terms of this lease, the solar project obtained a surety bond from a non-affiliated party in favor of the BLM for approximately $23 million. The surety bond remains in effect until the BLM is satisfied that there is no outstanding liability on the bond or satisfactory replacement bond coverage is furnished. Certain varying lease payments are considered contingent rent and, therefore, expense is recognized as incurred.
Letter of Credit Facilities - Two of NEP’s projects entered into letter of credit (LOC) facilities, under which the LOC lenders may issue standby letters of credit not to exceed approximately $119 million in the aggregate. These LOC facilities have maturity dates of August 2017 and March 2022. Approximately $104 million of LOCs are outstanding as of June 30, 2016 primarily related to debt service reserves and security for certain of the projects' agreements, including a PPA.
Canadian FIT Contracts -The FIT contracts relating to NEP's wind projects located in Canada (Canadian projects) require suppliers to source a minimum percentage of their equipment and services from Ontario resident suppliers to meet the minimum required domestic content level (MRDCL). The MRDCL for two projects is 25% and the MRDCL for the other two projects is 50%. Following their respective CODs, the Canadian projects submitted reports to the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) summarizing how they achieved the MRDCL for their respective projects (domestic content reports) and the IESO issued letters to the Canadian projects acknowledging the completeness of their domestic content reports. The IESO has the right to audit the Canadian projects for a period of up to 7 years post-COD to confirm that they complied with the domestic content requirements under their respective FIT contracts and achieved their respective MRDCLs. The failure by any of these projects to achieve its MRDCL could result in a default by such project under its FIT contract, which default may not be possible to cure and could result in a termination of its FIT contract, without compensation, by the IESO. A termination of the FIT contract for any of these Canadian projects could negatively affect revenues generated by such project and have a material adverse effect on NEP's business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to its unitholders.
Acquisition Holdbacks - At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, NEP's condensed consolidated balance sheets include acquisition holdbacks related to certain contingent payments for the acquisition of the Texas pipeline business. The acquisition purchase price is subject to (i) a $200 million holdback payable, in whole or in part, upon satisfaction of financial performance and capital expenditure thresholds relating to planned expansion projects (contingent holdback) and (ii) a $200 million holdback retained to satisfy any indemnification obligations of the sellers through April 2017 (indemnity holdback). See Note 3 - Contingent Consideration for further discussion of the contingent holdback.
22
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Overview
NEP is a growth-oriented limited partnership formed by NEE to acquire, manage and own contracted clean energy projects with stable long-term cash flows. At June 30, 2016, NEP owns a controlling, non-economic general partner interest and an approximately 29.4% limited partner interest in NEP OpCo. Through NEP OpCo, NEP owns a portfolio of contracted renewable generation assets consisting of wind and solar projects and, since October 1, 2015, a portfolio of seven long-term contracted natural gas pipeline assets.
This discussion should be read in conjunction with the Notes contained herein and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations appearing in the 2015 Form 10-K. The results of operations for an interim period generally will not give a true indication of results for the year. In the following discussions, all comparisons are with the corresponding items in the prior year period.
NEP acquired projects during the six months ended June 30, 2016 as further described in Note 1. The common control acquisitions were a transfer of assets between entities under common control, which required them to be accounted for as if the transfers occurred since the inception of common control, with prior periods retrospectively adjusted to furnish comparative information. Accordingly, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been retrospectively adjusted to include the historical results and financial position of the common control acquisitions prior to their respective acquisition dates.
On July 5, 2016, a subsidiary of NEP completed the acquisition from NEER of Bayhawk Wind Holdings, LLC, which indirectly owns two wind generation facilities, Cedar Bluff Wind and Golden Hills Wind, with a combined generating capacity of approximately 285 MW (see Note 1).
Results of Operations
Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015(a) | 2016 | 2015(a) | |||||||||||||
(millions) | ||||||||||||||||
Statement of Operations Data: | ||||||||||||||||
OPERATING REVENUES | $ | 171 | $ | 125 | $ | 336 | $ | 233 | ||||||||
OPERATING EXPENSES | ||||||||||||||||
Operations and maintenance | 31 | 22 | 63 | 42 | ||||||||||||
Operations and maintenance - related party | 14 | 5 | 24 | 8 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 46 | 37 | 92 | 74 | ||||||||||||
Taxes other than income taxes and other | 5 | 3 | 9 | 7 | ||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 96 | 67 | 188 | 131 | ||||||||||||
OPERATING INCOME | 75 | 58 | 148 | 102 | ||||||||||||
OTHER INCOME (DEDUCTIONS) | ||||||||||||||||
Interest expense | (77 | ) | (29 | ) | (162 | ) | (54 | ) | ||||||||
Benefits associated with differential membership interests - net | 12 | 8 | 24 | 12 | ||||||||||||
Equity in losses of equity method investees | (7 | ) | — | (19 | ) | (1 | ) | |||||||||
Other - net | 16 | (1 | ) | 13 | — | |||||||||||
Total other deductions - net | (56 | ) | (22 | ) | (144 | ) | (43 | ) | ||||||||
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES | 19 | 36 | 4 | 59 | ||||||||||||
INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT) | (9 | ) | 8 | (12 | ) | 7 | ||||||||||
NET INCOME | $ | 28 | $ | 28 | $ | 16 | $ | 52 |
_________________________
(a) | Prior-period financial information has been retrospectively adjusted as discussed in Note 1. |
23
Three Months Ended June 30, 2016 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2015
Operating Revenues
Operating revenues primarily consist of income from the sale of energy under PPAs and services provided under natural gas transportation agreements. Operating revenues increased approximately $46 million during the three months ended June 30, 2016 primarily due to revenues of approximately $44 million related to the acquisition of the Texas pipelines in October 2015.
Three Months Ended June 30, | |||||||
2016 | 2015 | ||||||
(dollars in millions) | |||||||
Operating revenues | $ | 171 | $ | 125 | |||
Generation | 1,835 GWh | 1,880 GWh |
Operating Expenses
Operations and Maintenance
O&M expense (including related party) includes interconnection costs, labor expenses, turbine servicing costs, lease royalty payments, property taxes, insurance, materials, supplies, shared services and administrative expenses attributable to NEP's projects, and costs and expenses under the MSA, ASAs and O&M agreements (see Note 8). O&M expenses also include the cost of maintaining and replacing certain parts for the projects in the portfolio to maintain, over the long-term, operating income or operating capacity. O&M expense (including related party) increased approximately $18 million during the three months ended June 30, 2016 primarily due to the acquisition of the Texas pipelines in October 2015 and an increase in IDR fees related to growth in NEP's distributions to its unitholders.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense reflects costs associated with depreciation and amortization of NEP's assets, based on consistent depreciable asset lives and depreciation methodologies. For certain of NEP's renewable energy projects in the U.S., CITCs have been elected and are recorded as a reduction in property, plant and equipment - net on the condensed consolidated balance sheets and amortized as a reduction to depreciation and amortization expense over the estimated life of the related property. Depreciation and amortization expense also includes a provision for wind and solar facility dismantlement, asset removal costs and accretion related to asset retirement obligations and the amortization of finite-lived intangible assets.
Depreciation and amortization expense increased approximately $9 million during the three months ended June 30, 2016 primarily due to the acquisition of the Texas pipelines in October 2015.
Other Income (Deductions)
Interest Expense
Interest expense primarily consists of interest on long-term debt and mark-to-market losses on interest rate swaps, partially offset by interest capitalization on qualified expenditures. Interest expense increased approximately $48 million during the three months ended June 30, 2016 primarily due to mark-to-market losses on interest rate swaps for which hedge accounting was discontinued in January 2016, borrowings under credit facilities and the debt assumed in the acquisition of the Texas pipelines in October 2015.
Benefits Associated with Differential Membership Interests - net
Benefits associated with differential membership interests - net reflect benefits recognized by NEP as third-party investors received their portion of the economic attributes of the underlying wind projects, including income tax attributes, net of associated costs. The increase of approximately $4 million during the three months ended June 30, 2016 primarily relates to lower interest costs associated with the ongoing paydown of the differential membership interest obligations.
Equity in losses of equity method investees
The increase of approximately $7 million in equity in losses of equity method investees primarily reflects an increase in interest expense recorded at the equity method investees primarily due to mark-to-market losses on interest rate swaps for which hedge accounting was discontinued in January 2016.
24
Other - net
The increase in other - net for the three months ended June 30, 2016 primarily reflects a fair value adjustment of approximately $17 million to decrease the contingent holdback associated with the acquisition of the Texas pipelines. See Note 3 - Contingent Consideration.
Income Taxes
For periods after the NEP acquisition date, income taxes include NEP's applicable ownership share of U.S. taxes and 100% of Canadian taxes. Net income or loss attributable to noncontrolling interest includes no U.S. taxes and NEER's applicable ownership share of Canadian taxes. Net income attributable to NEP includes NEP's applicable ownership share of U.S. and Canadian taxes.
For the three months ended June 30, 2016, NEP recorded an income tax benefit of approximately $9 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of approximately (47)%. The tax benefit is comprised primarily of income tax benefits of approximately $12 million related to the reorganization of Canadian assets (see Note 2) and $5 million of income tax benefits attributable to noncontrolling interest, partly offset by income tax expense of $7 million at the statutory rate of 35%.
For the three months ended June 30, 2015, NEP recorded income tax expense of approximately $8 million resulting in an effective tax rate of approximately 22%. The tax expense is comprised primarily of income tax expense of approximately $13 million at the statutory rate of 35%, partly offset by $7 million of income tax benefit attributable to noncontrolling interest.
Due to the transition from predecessor to successor method of accounting for income taxes, comparing current period results to the same period in the prior year does not provide meaningful information. See Note 2.
Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2015
Operating Revenues
Operating revenues increased approximately $103 million during the six months ended June 30, 2016 primarily due to revenues of approximately $92 million related to the acquisition of the Texas pipelines in October 2015 and stronger wind resource.
Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||
2016 | 2015 | ||||||
(dollars in millions) | |||||||
Operating revenues | $ | 336 | $ | 233 | |||
Generation | 3,732 GWh | 3,642 GWh |
Operating Expenses
Operations and Maintenance
O&M expense (including related party) increased approximately $37 million during the six months ended June 30, 2016 primarily due to the acquisition of the Texas pipelines in October 2015 and an increase in IDR fees related to growth in NEP's distributions to its unitholders.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense increased approximately $18 million during the six months ended June 30, 2016 primarily due to the acquisition of the Texas pipelines in October 2015.
Other Income (Deductions)
Interest Expense
Interest expense increased approximately $108 million during the six months ended June 30, 2016 primarily due to mark-to-market losses on interest rate swaps for which hedge accounting was discontinued in January 2016, borrowings under credit facilities and the debt assumed in the acquisition of the Texas pipelines in October 2015.
Benefits Associated with Differential Membership Interests - net
The increase in benefits associated with differential membership interests - net of approximately $12 million during the six months ended June 30, 2016 primarily relates to lower interest costs associated with the ongoing paydown of the differential membership interest obligations and increased wind resource at the underlying projects.
25
Equity in losses of equity method investees
The increase of approximately $18 million in equity in losses of equity method investees primarily reflects an increase in interest expense recorded at the equity method investees primarily due to mark-to-market losses on interest rate swaps for which hedge accounting was discontinued in January 2016.
Other - net
The increase in other - net for the six months ended June 30, 2016 primarily reflects a fair value adjustment of approximately $17 million to decrease the contingent holdback associated with the acquisition of the Texas pipelines. See Note 3 - Contingent Consideration.
Income Taxes
For the six months ended June 30, 2016, NEP recorded an income tax benefit of approximately $12 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of approximately (300)%. The tax benefit is comprised primarily of income tax benefits of approximately $12 million related to the reorganization of Canadian assets (see Note 2).
For the six months ended June 30, 2015, NEP recorded income tax expense of approximately $7 million resulting in an effective tax rate of approximately 12%. The tax expense is comprised primarily of income tax expense of approximately $21 million at the statutory rate of 35%, partly offset by income tax benefits of $4 million related to valuation allowance changes and $10 million of income tax benefit attributable to noncontrolling interest.
Due to the transition from predecessor to successor method of accounting for income taxes, comparing current period results to the same period in the prior year does not provide meaningful information. See Note 2.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
NEP’s ongoing operations use cash to fund O&M expenses, maintenance capital expenditures, debt service payments and distributions to common unit holders. NEP expects to satisfy these requirements primarily with internally generated cash flow. In addition, as a growth-oriented limited partnership, NEP expects from time to time to make acquisitions and other investments. These acquisitions and investments are expected to be funded with cash on hand, cash generated from operations, borrowings under NEP's credit facilities or term loans, issuances of indebtedness and issuances of additional NEP common units.
These sources of funds are expected to be adequate to provide for NEP's short-term and long-term liquidity and capital needs, although its ability to make future acquisitions, expand existing projects and increase its distributions to common unitholders will depend on its ability to access the capital markets on acceptable terms.
As a normal part of its business, depending on market conditions, NEP expects from time to time to consider opportunities to repay, redeem, repurchase or refinance its indebtedness. In addition, NEP expects from time to time to consider potential investments in new acquisitions. These events may cause NEP to seek additional debt or equity financing, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all. Debt financing, if available, could impose operating restrictions, additional cash payment obligations and additional covenants.
NEP OpCo has agreed to allow NEER or one of its affiliates to withdraw funds received by NEP OpCo or its subsidiaries and to hold those funds in accounts of NEER or one of its affiliates to the extent the funds are not required to pay project costs or otherwise required to be maintained by NEP's subsidiaries, until the financing agreements permit distributions to be made, or, in the case of NEP OpCo, until such funds are required to make distributions or to pay expenses or other operating costs. NEP OpCo will have a claim for any funds that NEER fails to return:
• | when required by its or its subsidiaries’ financings; |
• | when its subsidiaries’ financings otherwise permit distributions to be made to NEP OpCo; |
• | when funds are required to be returned to NEP OpCo; or |
• | when otherwise demanded by NEP OpCo. |
In addition, NEER and certain of its subsidiaries may withdraw funds in connection with certain long-term debt agreements and hold those funds in accounts belonging to NEER or its subsidiaries and provide credit support in the amount of such withdrawn funds. If NEER fails to return withdrawn funds when required by NEP's subsidiaries’ financings, the lenders will be entitled to draw on credit support provided by NEER in the amount of such withdrawn funds.
If NEER or one of its affiliates realizes any earnings on the withdrawn funds prior to the return of such funds, it will be permitted to retain those earnings.
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Liquidity Position
At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, NEP's liquidity position was approximately $655 million and $718 million, respectively. The table below provides the components of NEP’s liquidity position:
June 30, 2016 | December 31, 2015 | ||||||
(millions) | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 244 | $ | 163 | |||
Amounts due under the CSCS agreement | 71 | 66 | |||||
Revolving credit facilities | 400 | 400 | |||||
Less borrowings | (75 | ) | (29 | ) | |||
Construction loan credit facility | — | 604 | |||||
Less borrowings | — | (491 | ) | ||||
Letter of credit facilities | 119 | 83 | |||||
Less letters of credit | (104 | ) | (78 | ) | |||
Total(a) | $ | 655 | $ | 718 |
____________________
(a) | Excludes current restricted cash of approximately $31 million and $16 million at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. |
Management believes that NEP's liquidity position and cash flows from operations will be adequate to finance O&M, capital expenditures, distributions to its unitholders and liquidity commitments. Management continues to regularly monitor NEP's financing needs consistent with prudent balance sheet management.
Financing Arrangements
Revolving Credit Facilities
During the six months ended June 30, 2016, a subsidiary of NEP repaid $29 million of the outstanding borrowings and subsequently borrowed an additional $75 million under its revolving credit facility, bringing the outstanding balance to $75 million as of June 30, 2016.
During the six months ended June 30, 2016, a subsidiary of NEP borrowed approximately $41 million under a construction loan credit facility which, in March 2016, converted to a term loan. In June 2016, the limited-recourse term loan was amended and an additional $72 million was borrowed. Also on July 1, 2016, an indirect subsidiary of NEP borrowed $100 million under an existing revolving credit facility entered into in December 2015. See Note 6 - Debt.
Project Financings and Term Loans
Most of the projects in the portfolio are subject to project financings that contain certain financial covenants and distribution tests, including debt service coverage ratios. In general, these project financings contain covenants customary for these types of financings, including limitations on investments and restricted payments. Certain of NEP's project financings provide for interest payable at a fixed interest rate. However, certain of NEP's project financings accrue interest at variable rates based on the London InterBank Offered Rate and two projects accrue interest at a variable rate based upon the three-month Canadian Dealer Offered Rate. Interest rate swaps were entered into for certain of these financings to hedge against interest rate movements with respect to interest payments on the financing. Under the project financings, each project will be permitted to pay distributions out of available cash on a semi-annual basis so long as certain conditions are satisfied, including that reserves are funded with cash or credit support, no default or event of default under the applicable financings has occurred and is continuing at the time of such distribution or would result therefrom, and each project is otherwise in compliance with the project financing’s covenants and the applicable minimum debt service coverage ratio is satisfied. The minimum debt service coverage ratio that must be satisfied under all of NEP's project financings is 1.20:1.00. At June 30, 2016, NEP's subsidiaries were in compliance with all financial debt covenants under their project financings.
On July 1, 2016, an indirect subsidiary of NEP entered into and borrowed $100 million under a variable rate senior secured term loan agreement that matures in June 2019. See Note 6 - Debt.
Equity Arrangements
During the six months ended June 30, 2016, NEP issued 552,210 common units under the ATM program for gross proceeds of approximately $16 million. At June 30, 2016, NEP may issue up to approximately $109 million in additional common units under the ATM program.
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In February and March 2016, NEP completed the sale of 11,155,000 common units representing limited partner interests in NEP in a public offering for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $287 million, or $25.76 per common unit. See Note 6 - Equity. The issuance of additional common units during the six months ended June 30, 2016 resulted in an increase of NEP's limited partner interest in NEP OpCo to 29.4% at June 30, 2016.
If at any time, NEP GP and its affiliates own more than 80% of the sum of NEP's outstanding common units and special voting units, NEP GP will have the right, but not the obligation, to purchase all of the outstanding common units, other than those owned by NEP GP and its affiliates, at a price not less than the greater of the then-current market price of such common units and the highest price paid by NEP GP or its affiliates for such units during the preceding 90-day period. At June 30, 2016, NEP GP and its affiliates controlled approximately 70.6% of the voting power of NEP's outstanding common units.
Contractual Obligations
NEP's contractual obligations as of June 30, 2016 were as follows:
Remainder of 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Thereafter | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||
(millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Debt, including interest(a) | $ | 115 | $ | 242 | $ | 864 | $ | 325 | $ | 432 | $ | 2,978 | $ | 4,956 | |||||||||||||
Contractual obligations(b) | 4 | 208 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 30 | 273 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Revolving credit facility fees | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Asset retirement activities(c) | — | — | — | — | — | 213 | 213 | ||||||||||||||||||||
MSA and credit support(d) | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 100 | 132 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Land lease payments(e) | 3 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 248 | 287 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 127 | $ | 467 | $ | 892 | $ | 352 | $ | 457 | $ | 3,569 | $ | 5,864 |
____________________
(a) | Includes principal, interest and interest rate swaps. Variable rate interest was computed using June 30, 2016 rates. |
(b) | Includes obligations related to the indemnity holdback discussed in Note 10 and estimated cash payments related to the acquisition of certain development rights and differential membership interests. Excludes the contingent holdback discussed in Note 3. |
(c) | Represents expected cash payments adjusted for inflation for estimated costs to perform asset retirement activities. |
(d) | Represents minimum fees under the MSA and CSCS agreement. See Note 8. |
(e) | Represents various agreements that provide for payments to landowners for the right to use the land upon which the projects are located. |
Capital Expenditures
Annual capital spending plans are developed based on projected requirements by the projects. Capital expenditures primarily represent the estimated cost of capital improvements, including construction expenditures that are expected to increase NEP OpCo’s operating income or operating capacity over the long-term. Capital expenditures for projects that have already commenced commercial operations are generally not significant because most expenditures relate to repairs and maintenance and are expensed when incurred. For the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, NEP had capital expenditures of approximately $27 million and $205 million, respectively. At June 30, 2016, estimated capital expenditures for NEP's renewable energy projects for the remainder of 2016 and 2017 total approximately $5 million and $1 million, respectively. Planned capital expenditures associated with the Texas pipelines for the remainder of 2016 and 2017 total approximately $39 million and $91 million, respectively, and primarily relate to the planned expansion projects contemplated in the acquisition. There are no significant additional planned capital expenditures for the remainder of 2016 through 2020 other than costs that may be incurred as acquisition opportunities arise. These estimates are subject to continuing review and adjustment and actual capital expenditures may vary significantly from these estimates.
Cash Distributions to Unitholders
NEP's partnership agreement requires it to distribute available cash quarterly. Generally, available cash is all cash on hand at the date of determination relating to that quarter (including any expected distributions from NEP OpCo), less the amount of cash reserves established by NEP GP. NEP currently expects that cash reserves would be established solely to provide for the payment of income taxes by NEP, if any. Cash flow is generated from distributions NEP receives from NEP OpCo each quarter and, during the purchase price adjustment period, which is expected to extend into the fourth quarter of 2016, from NEE Equity, which payments will be funded solely by any distributions NEE Equity receives from NEP OpCo with respect to such quarter. Although, as described above, NEP currently expects that cash reserves would be established by NEP GP solely to provide for the payment of any NEP's income taxes, NEP expects NEP OpCo to establish cash reserves prior to making distributions to NEP to pay costs and expenses of NEP's subsidiaries, in addition to NEP's expenses, as well as any debt service requirements and future capital expenditures. During the purchase price adjustment period, should NEP OpCo not make a quarterly distribution in an amount at least equal to the minimum quarterly distribution of $0.1875 per common unit, the purchase price paid for NEP OpCo's common units under the purchase agreement will be reduced by the difference for such quarter and NEE Equity will pay NEP a purchase price adjustment equal to such shortfall, provided that NEE Equity will not be required to pay a purchase price adjustment in any quarter in excess of the distribution actually received by NEP OpCo.
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NEP OpCo's partnership agreement requires it to distribute all of its available cash to its common unitholders, including NEP, each quarter. Generally, NEP OpCo's available cash is all cash on hand at the date of determination relating to that quarter, plus any funds borrowed from NEER, less the amount of cash reserves established by NEE Operating GP. The majority of such available cash will be derived from the operations of the projects. The cash available for distribution is likely to fluctuate from quarter to quarter, and in some cases significantly, as a result of the performance of the projects, seasonality, fluctuating wind resource, maintenance and outage schedules, timing of debt service and other factors.
During the six months ended June 30, 2016, NEP distributed approximately $23 million to its unitholders. On July 26, 2016, the board of directors of NEP GP authorized a distribution of $0.33 per common unit payable on August 12, 2016 to its unitholders of record on August 4, 2016.
Cash Flows
Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2015
The following table reflects the changes in cash flows for the comparative periods:
2016 | 2015 | Change | |||||||||
(millions) | |||||||||||
Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 145 | $ | 136 | $ | 9 | |||||
Net cash used in investing activities | $ | (373 | ) | $ | (585 | ) | $ | 212 | |||
Net cash provided by financing activities | $ | 306 | $ | 454 | $ | (148 | ) |
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
Changes in net cash provided by operating activities were primarily driven by the operating results of the Texas pipelines acquired in October 2015.
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
Changes in net cash used in investing activities were driven by fewer project acquisitions, payments to related parties under the CSCS agreement in 2016 compared to payments from related parties in 2015, decreased capital expenditures related to construction activities and changes in restricted cash balances related to the timing of construction payments.
2016 | 2015 | ||||||
(millions) | |||||||
Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||
Acquisition of membership interests in subsidiaries | $ | (324 | ) | $ | (716 | ) | |
Capital expenditures | (27 | ) | (102 | ) | |||
Changes in restricted cash | (17 | ) | 59 | ||||
Payments from (to) related parties under CSCS agreement - net | (5 | ) | 174 | ||||
Net cash used in investing activities | $ | (373 | ) | $ | (585 | ) |
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities
Changes in net cash provided by financing activities were primarily driven by increased issuances of additional NEP common units and reduced issuances of debt to acquire additional projects, partially offset by member contributions/distributions.
2016 | 2015 | ||||||
(millions) | |||||||
Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||
Proceeds from issuance of common units - net | $ | 303 | $ | 106 | |||
Issuances of long-term debt - net | 101 | 386 | |||||
Member contributions (distributions) - net | (97 | ) | (330 | ) | |||
Proceeds from (repayments of) short-term debt - net | (12 | ) | 325 | ||||
Change in amounts due to related parties | 15 | (22 | ) | ||||
Other | (4 | ) | (11 | ) | |||
Net cash provided by financing activities | $ | 306 | $ | 454 |
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New Accounting Rules and Interpretations
Leases - In February 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standards update which requires, among other things, that lessees recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use asset for all leases. See Note 9.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
NEP is exposed to several market risks in its normal business activities. Market risk is the potential loss that may result from market changes associated with its business. The types of market risks include interest rate, counterparty credit and foreign currency risks.
Interest Rate Risk
NEP is exposed to risk resulting from changes in interest rates associated with current and future issuances of debt. The debt of some of its subsidiaries accrues interest at fixed rates and the debt of some of its other subsidiaries accrues interest at variable rates. NEP manages interest rate exposure by monitoring current interest rates, entering into interest rate swap contracts and using a combination of fixed rate and variable rate debt. Interest rate swaps are used to mitigate or adjust interest rate exposure when deemed appropriate based upon market conditions or when required by financing agreements.
NEP has long-term debt instruments that subject it to the risk of loss associated with movements in market interest rates. As of June 30, 2016, approximately 23% of the long-term debt, including current maturities, was exposed to such risk as the remaining balance was either financially hedged or comprised of fixed rate debt. As of June 30, 2016, the estimated fair value and the carrying value of NEP's long-term debt was approximately $3.8 billion and $3.6 billion, respectively. Based upon a hypothetical 10% decrease in interest rates, which is a reasonable near-term market change, the fair value of NEP's long-term debt would increase by approximately $64 million.
Counterparty Credit Risk
Risks surrounding counterparty performance and credit risk could ultimately impact the amount and timing of expected cash flows. Credit risk relates to the risk of loss resulting from non-performance or non-payment by counterparties under the terms of their contractual obligations. NEP monitors and manages credit risk through credit policies that include a credit approval process and the use of credit mitigation measures such as prepayment arrangements in certain circumstances. NEP also seeks to mitigate counterparty risk by having a diversified portfolio of counterparties. In addition, the projects in NEP's portfolio are contracted under long-term contracts that have an average remaining contract term of approximately 19 years as of June 30, 2016, weighted based on forecasted contributions to earnings.
Foreign Currency Risk
Because NEP has Canadian operations, it is exposed to foreign currency exchange gains and losses. Since the functional currency of NEP's Canadian operations is in their local currency, the currency effects of translating the financial statements of those Canadian subsidiaries, which operate in local currency environments, are included in the accumulated other comprehensive loss component of consolidated equity and do not impact earnings. However, gains and losses related to foreign currency transactions not in NEP's subsidiaries’ functional currency do impact earnings and resulted in less than $1 million of gains or losses in the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
See Management's Discussion - Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
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Item 4. Controls and Procedures
(a) | Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures |
As of June 30, 2016, NEP had performed an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of its management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of NEP GP, the general partner of NEP, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of NEP's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rules 13a-15 (e) and 15d-15(e)). Based upon that evaluation, the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of NEP GP concluded that NEP's disclosure controls and procedures were effective at a reasonable assurance level to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports that are filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are recorded, processed, summarized and reported within time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, as of June 30, 2016. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only a reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
(b) | Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting |
NEP is continuously seeking to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its operations and of its internal controls. This results in refinements to processes throughout NEP. There has been no change in NEP's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) that occurred during NEP's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, NEP's internal control over financial reporting other than the development of certain process level controls related to the acquisition of the Texas pipeline business.
In October 2015, a subsidiary of NEP acquired the Texas pipeline business. NEP’s management elected to exclude from its assessment of internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2016 the Texas pipeline business, whose financial statements reflect total assets and operating revenues representing approximately 32% and 24%, respectively, of NEP’s consolidated total assets and operating revenues as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2016. NEP is in the process of evaluating the impact of the Texas pipeline business on NEP’s internal control over financial reporting and will include the Texas pipeline business in its assessment as of December 31, 2016.
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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes from the risk factors disclosed in the 2015 Form 10-K. The factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors in the 2015 Form 10-K, as well as other information set forth in this report, which could materially adversely affect NEP's business, financial condition, results of operations, cash available for distribution and prospects should be carefully considered. The risks described in the 2015 Form 10-K are not the only risks facing NEP. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to NEP, or that are currently deemed to be immaterial, also may materially adversely affect NEP's business, financial condition, results of operations, cash available for distribution and prospects.
Item 5. Other Information
(a) None
(b) None
(c) Other events
(i) Reference is made to Item 1. Business - Industry Overview - Government Incentives in the 2015 Form 10-K.
In early May 2016, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued guidance on the IRS's December 2015 extension and phase-down of the PTC and ITC for wind facilities. In general, the guidance modifies and extends the safe harbor for the continuous efforts and continuous construction requirements to four years compared to two years under the previous guidance. The safe harbor will generally be satisfied if the facility is placed in service no more than four calendar years after the calendar year in which construction of the facility begins. The IRS also confirmed that retrofitted wind facilities may re-qualify for PTCs or ITCs pursuant to the five percent safe harbor for the begin construction requirement, as long as the cost of the new investment is at least 80% of the facility’s total value. The IRS is expected to issue separate guidance in the future related to the extension of the ITC for solar facilities.
(ii) Reference is made to Item 1. Business - Environmental Matters - Regulation of GHG Emissions in the 2015 Form 10-K.
In May 2016, the D.C. Circuit postponed oral argument on challenges to the Clean Power Plan until September 2016, at which time oral argument will be heard before the entire panel of the D.C. Circuit judges.
Item 6. Exhibits
Exhibit Number | Description | |
10 | Amendment No. 1 to Exchange Agreement by and among NextEra Energy Equity Partners, LP, NextEra Energy Operating Partners, LP, NextEra Energy Partners GP, Inc. and NextEra Energy Partners, LP dated as of July 5, 2016 | |
12 | Computation of Ratios | |
31(a) | Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer of NextEra Energy Partners GP, Inc. | |
31(b) | Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer of NextEra Energy Partners GP, Inc. | |
32 | Section 1350 Certification of NextEra Energy Partners, LP | |
101.INS | XBRL Instance Document | |
101.SCH | XBRL Schema Document | |
101.PRE | XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document | |
101.CAL | XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document | |
101.LAB | XBRL Label Linkbase Document | |
101.DEF | XBRL Definition Linkbase Document |
NEP agrees to furnish to the SEC upon request any instrument with respect to long-term debt that NEP has not filed as an exhibit pursuant to the exemption provided by Item 601(b)(4)(iii)(A) of Regulation S-K.
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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 thereunto duly authorized.
Date: July 28, 2016
NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP | |
(Registrant) | |
By: | NextEra Energy Partners GP, Inc., its general partner |
CHRIS N. FROGGATT | |
Chris N. Froggatt Controller and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) |
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