425
Filed by NRG Energy, Inc. pursuant to
Rule 425 of the Securities Act of 1933 and
deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Subject Company: NRG Energy, Inc.
Commission File No.: 001-15891
On May 21, 2009, David Crane, President and Chief Executive Officer of NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG)
sent the following letter to all NRG employees.
[NRG ENERGY, INC. LETTERHEAD]
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Date:
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May 21, 2009 |
To:
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All Staff |
From:
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David CranePresident and CEO |
Subject:
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Exelon Q&A |
Please see below our answers to the latest questions we have received from all of you.
1. |
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Exelon filed more preliminary proxy materials last month. What was different from the
preliminary proxy materials filed earlier? |
In its filing, Exelon said it wants to hold a Special Meeting of Exelon Shareholders. At the
Special Meeting, Exelon would ask its shareholders to approve the issuance of shares of Exelon
common stock in connection with its proposed exchange offer for shares of NRG.
Its important to note that Exelon has not announced a date for this Special Meeting of its
shareholders and, until it obtains proper financing and receives full approval from the
numerous regulatory agencies that must oversee such a transaction, we think its unlikely that
Exelon will hold such a meeting.
2. |
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Can you tell us more about NRGs new Board members? |
Weve appointed two new members of our Board of DirectorsKirbyjon Caldwell and Gerald
Luterman, both of whom have significant experience inside and outside our industry.
Kirbyjon, a former director of Reliant Energy, has deep ties to the Texas community and
currently serves on the Board of Directors of several corporate, educational, health care and
community development organizations including Continental Airlines, Inc. and Southern Methodist
University. He also is a Limited Partner in the Houston Texans football team and Pastor of the
15,000-member Windsor Village United Methodist Church.
Gerry is the former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of KeySpan Corp., one
of the largest gas distribution and integrated energy companies in the U.S. before its merger
with National Grid in 2007. He also served as Senior Vice President and CFO with Arrow
Electronics, and hes held senior financial positions with American Express, Emerson Electric
and Booz-Allen & Hamilton.
More important to me than the information which appears on their resumes are the qualities
which appear in their character. Both Kirbyjon and Gerry are obviously engaged, inquisitive,
decent men of the highest integrity. In short, they embody the values that our Company holds so
important.
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What is the status of the lawsuit we filed against Exelon in March? |
First, some background: we filed the lawsuit against Exelon seeking to correct what we believe
are false and misleading statements it has made in connection with its exchange offer. NRGs
lawsuit alleges that despite Exelons claims that the purpose of the exchange offer is to gain
control of NRG through an acquisition of all outstanding shares of NRG common stock, Exelon in
reality has no intention of acquiring any shares through the exchange offer. Rather, Exelon is
using the exchange offer to pressure our Board of Directors to accept Exelons inadequate and
previously rejected bid for NRG. The suit also alleges that Exelon has failed to make important
disclosures to its shareholders, NRGs shareholders, and to the public.
On April 22, the court denied Exelons motion to dismiss our complaint and set a trial
for early June. Were asking the court to order Exelon to correct its public disclosures so
shareholders can make informed decisions.
4. |
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Are hostile takeovers common in the power industry? |
No, theyre not. Hostile takeovers in the power industry are very rare, primarily because the
industry is highly regulated. Any potential acquirer, such as Exelon, must obtain a series of
approvals at both the state and federal level before a transaction can be completed. In fact,
as referenced in Question 6, the obstacles to complete a hostile acquisition of NRG by Exelon
are considerable. The process is certain to be quite lengthy.
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Has FERC announced a ruling yet on Exelons bid for NRG? |
Yes, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved Exelons application, but there
are many other regulatory and other hurdles that remain. The core issue in this hostile
takeover attempt is not the issue being addressed by any of the regulatory authorities. The key
issue is Exelons continued refusal to offer appropriate value to NRG stockholders. The NRG
Board and management team continue to believe that Exelons proposal significantly undervalues
NRG and remains highly conditional, including the need to obtain financing, and very risky
because of rating agency and other concerns.
Exelon has faced similar regulatory review in two previous failed transactionsPublic Service
Enterprise Group (PSEG) and Illinois Power. In the case of PSEG, Exelon received approval from
FERC, yet after two years and after spending approximately $130 million in the process, it
still was unable to consummate a transaction.
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What other regulatory approvals does Exelon need for its bid to succeed? |
The proposed transaction must receive approval from both NRG and Exelon stockholders as well as
approvals from the Department of Justice and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Exelon must
also obtain regulatory approval from the state public utility commissions of California, New
York, Pennsylvania and Texas, as well as file a notice in Illinois. A Massachusetts law may
give the state public utility commission jurisdiction to review the proposal and, if
applicable, would require a high level of shareholder approval.
7. |
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Im a stockholder and I havent received my proxy card in the mail yet. When can I expect
to get something from NRG or Exelon? |
Youll receive a proxy card in the mail once NRGs and Exelons respective preliminary proxy
statements become definitive. So far, both NRG and Exelon have only filed preliminary proxy
statementsnot definitive. NRGs proxy cards will be WHITE and Exelons will be blue. Well
continue providing more details about the proxy contest and mailings as they become available,
and you can refer to our proxy statement for more details.
If you have further questions, please send them to NRGCommunications. We will use them in
upcoming communications as much as possible. And be sure to visit the Exelon Information Center via
the link on the Insider front page for the latest information.
Important Information
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any
securities or a solicitation of proxy of any stockholder of NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG). NRG filed a
preliminary proxy statement on Schedule 14A with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC)
on April 2, 2009 in connection with its 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the 2009 Annual
Meeting). Prior to the 2009 Annual Meeting, NRG will furnish a definitive proxy statement to its
stockholders, together with a WHITE proxy card. INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF NRG ARE URGED TO READ
THE PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE 2009 ANNUAL MEETING IN ITS ENTIRETY BECAUSE IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT
INFORMATION.
In response to the exchange offer proposed by Exelon Corporation referred to in this news release,
NRG has filed with the SEC a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9. STOCKHOLDERS
OF NRG ARE ADVISED TO READ NRGS SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT ON SCHEDULE 14D-9 IN ITS
ENTIRETY BECAUSE IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
Investors and stockholders will be able to obtain free copies of NRGs preliminary proxy statement,
the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9, any amendments or supplements to the
proxy statement and/or the Schedule 14D-9, any other documents filed by NRG in connection with the
2009 Annual Meeting and/or the exchange offer by Exelon Corporation, and other documents filed with
the SEC by NRG at the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Free copies of the definitive proxy statement,
the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9, and any amendments and supplements to
these documents can also be obtained by directing a request to Investor Relations Department, NRG
Energy, Inc., 211 Carnegie Center, Princeton, New Jersey 08540.
NRG and its directors and executive officers will be deemed to be participants in the solicitation
of proxies in connection with its 2009 Annual Meeting. Detailed information regarding the names,
affiliations and interests of NRGs directors and executive officers is available in the
preliminary proxy statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting, which was filed with the SEC on April 2,
2008.
Forward-Looking
Statements
This communication contains forward-looking statements that may state NRGs or its managements
intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions for the future. Such forward-looking
statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and typically can be
identified by the use of words such as will, expect, estimate, anticipate, forecast,
plan, believe and similar terms. Although NRG believes that its expectations are reasonable, it
can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct, and actual results
may vary materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
contemplated above include, among others, risks and uncertainties related to the capital markets
generally.
The foregoing review of factors that could cause NRGs actual results to differ materially from
those contemplated in the forward-looking statements included herein should be considered in
connection with information regarding risks and uncertainties that may affect NRGs future results
included in NRGs filings with the SEC at www.sec.gov. Statements made in connection with
the exchange offer are not subject to the safe harbor protections provided to forward-looking
statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.