Item 1.01
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Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
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Merger Agreement
On June 2, 2016, Talen Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Company) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger
(the Merger Agreement) with RPH Parent LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (RPH), SPH Parent LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (SPH), CRJ Parent LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
(CRJ) (each of RPH, SPH and CRJ, a Parent and collectively, Parent) and RJS Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (Merger Sub), pursuant to which Merger Sub
will merge with and into the Company (the Merger), with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation on the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement.
The disinterested members of the Companys Board of Directors (the Disinterested Directors) determined that the transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger, are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and its stockholders, and approved the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated therein, including the Merger, and resolved
to recommend that the Companys stockholders vote in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the approval of the Merger. The Disinterested Directors received a fairness opinion from the Companys financial advisor, Citigroup
Global Markets Inc.
Transaction Structure
Pursuant to the Merger, each share of Company common stock outstanding as of immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (the
Effective Time) (other than shares held in treasury by the Company, shares held by the Companys subsidiaries and shares held by Parent, Merger Sub or certain affiliates of Riverstone Holdings LLC (Riverstone), and
shares pursuant to which dissenting rights under Delaware law have been properly exercised and not withdrawn or lost) will, at the Effective Time, be automatically converted into the right to receive $14.00 in cash, without interest (the
Merger Consideration). In addition, affiliates of Riverstone will convert, at the Effective Time, their existing ownership of approximately 35% of the issued and outstanding shares of Company common stock into shares of the surviving
corporation.
The Merger Agreement provides that each Company stock option outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (whether or
not then vested or exercisable) will be canceled and terminated at the Effective Time in exchange for an amount in cash, without interest and less applicable withholding taxes, equal to the product of (i) the total number of shares of Company
common stock subject to the option immediately prior to the Effective Time and (ii) the excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration
over
the exercise price per share of Company common stock under such option, except that if the exercise
price per share of Company common stock under any such option is equal to or greater than the Merger Consideration, the option will be canceled for no consideration. All restricted stock units and performance units of the Company outstanding as of
June 2, 2016 and still outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (whether or not then vested), other than performance units held by Paul A. Farr, Jeremy R. McGuire, Clarence J. Hopf Jr. and Timothy S. Rausch (the Senior
Executives), will be canceled and terminated at the Effective Time in exchange for an amount in cash, based on the number of shares of Company common stock subject to the award and the Merger Consideration, and otherwise upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement. A pro-rata portion of performance units held by the Senior Executives (determined based on the relative portion of the applicable performance period that has elapsed as of the Effective
Time) will be canceled and terminated at the Effective Time in exchange for an amount in cash, based on the number of shares of Company common stock subject to the award and the Merger Consideration, and otherwise upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement. In addition, the remaining number of shares of Company common stock subject to the Senior Executives performance unit awards (assuming target achievement of the applicable performance goals) will
be converted into cash-based retention awards, which will generally vest in accordance with the terms of the Senior Executives performance unit award agreements. All director stock units of Talen outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time will be converted into the right to receive an amount in cash, based on the number of shares of Company common stock subject to the award and the Merger Consideration, and otherwise upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the
Merger Agreement.
The consideration payable in the Merger will be funded by the Companys cash on hand, and the proceeds of a $250
million new secured term loan. The new secured term loan is fully committed by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Royal Bank of Canada, Barclays Bank plc, Credit Suisse AG and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Deutsche Bank
AG New York Branch, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding Inc., and the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd., and will rank pari-passu with the existing first lien revolving credit facility of Talen Energy Supply, LLC (an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of
the Company), (Talen Energy Supply), which will be reduced from $1.85 billion to $1.4 billion upon closing of the transaction.
Solicitation
The Merger Agreement provides that, during the period beginning on the date of the Merger Agreement and continuing until 11:59 p.m. (New York
time) on July 12, 2016 (the Go-Shop Period), the Company, its subsidiaries, directors, officers, employees and other representatives may (i) actively solicit and encourage the making of alternative proposals from third parties
and provide nonpublic information to such third parties (subject to entry into acceptable confidentiality agreements), provided Parent is provided with such nonpublic information substantially concurrently to such party and (ii) enter into or
participate in any discussions or negotiations with such third parties regarding such alternative proposals. Beginning July 13, 2016, the Company will become subject to customary no shop restrictions prohibiting the Company, its
subsidiaries, directors, officers, employees and other representatives from soliciting alternative proposals from third parties or providing information to or participating in any discussions or negotiations with third parties regarding alternative
proposals. However, until the twentieth day following the Go-Shop Period, the Company may continue to engage in the foregoing activities with any third party that made a
bona fide
written alternative proposal prior to July 13, 2016 that
the Companys Board of Directors (the Board) has determined in good faith, after consultation with outside counsel and its financial advisors, is or would reasonably be expected to result in a Superior Proposal (as defined below)
(each, an Excluded Party).
Notwithstanding the limitations applicable after the Go-Shop Period, prior to obtaining the
Company Stockholder Approvals (as defined below), the Board may change its recommendation (a Change of Recommendation) in limited circumstances: (A) upon the occurrence of a material event, change, effect, development, condition or
occurrence that affects or would be reasonably likely to affect the business, financial condition or continuing results of operations of the Company that (i) was not known and is not reasonably foreseeable by the Board at the time of execution of
the Merger Agreement, (ii) does not not relate to a Superior Proposal or an alternative proposal and (iii) did not result from any breach of Merger Agreement by the Company or its subsidiaries or its or their directors, officers, employees or other
representatives (an Intervening Event) if, after consultation with outside counsel, it determines in good faith that a failure to do so would reasonably be expected to be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties to stockholders under
applicable law and (B) in order to approve, and authorize the Company to enter into, an alternative proposal if the Board has determined in good faith, after consultation with outside counsel and its financial advisors, that such alternative
proposal would be more favorable to the Companys stockholders from a financial perspective than the Merger, taking into account, to the extent applicable, the legal, financial, regulatory, timing and other aspects of such proposal and the
Merger Agreement that the Board considers relevant, and to be reasonably likely to be completed on the terms proposed (taking into account any adjustments to the Merger Agreement as described below) (a Superior Proposal). In addition,
prior to obtaining the Company Stockholder Approvals, the Board may also, subject to requirements specified in the Merger Agreement, terminate the Merger Agreement in response to a Superior Proposal. Prior to taking the actions described above, the
Company must provide Parent with at least four business days advance written notice (the Notice Period), the basis for such Change of Recommendation or termination, and, if applicable, details of such Intervening Event or the material
terms of any alternative proposal that constitutes a Superior Proposal. To the extent Parent requests, the Company shall, and shall make available and direct its representatives to, negotiate with Parent in good faith during the Notice Period to
make any proposed modifications to the terms of the Merger Agreement. Following the Notice Period, and taking into account any modifications to the terms of the Merger Agreement and the Merger to which Parent and Merger Sub would agree, the Board
may terminate the Merger Agreement if it determines in good faith, after consultation with outside counsel and financial advisors, that such alternative proposal continues to constitute a Superior Proposal.
Conditions to the Merger
The consummation of the Merger is subject to the affirmative vote of (i) a majority of the outstanding shares of Company common stock
entitled to vote and (ii) a majority of the shares of Company common stock not owned by Riverstone, its related entities and any of their respective affiliates present in person or by proxy at the stockholders meeting (the Company
Stockholder Approvals). Consummation of the Merger is not subject to a financing condition, but is subject to a condition that the Company have unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and undrawn revolver capacity equal to at least $350 million
at closing (the Minimum Liquidity Condition), subject to certain exceptions. Consummation of the Merger is also subject to the condition that immediately prior to the closing, certain specified defaults and events of default under the
Companys existing revolving credit agreement with Citibank, N.A. shall not have occurred.
In addition, consummation of the Merger
is also subject to various other closing conditions, including, among others:
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expiration of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended;
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approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and certain other required regulatory consents and approvals;
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the absence of injunctions preventing consummation of the Merger;
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the Company having satisfied or obtained an effective waiver of the applicable requirements of the separation agreement by and among PPL Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation and former parent company of the Company,
the Company, Parent and certain affiliates of both the Company and Parent;
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the accuracy of representations and warranties, subject to specified materiality thresholds; and
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compliance with covenants and agreements in the Merger Agreement in all material respects.
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In
addition, the obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger are subject to the required regulatory approvals not imposing or requiring any undertakings, terms, conditions, liabilities, obligations, commitments or sanctions or any
structural or remedial actions or other acts that (i) individually or in the aggregate, would have or reasonably be likely to have, a material adverse effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries, after giving effect to the Merger or
(ii) that would require or involve (A) the sale or other disposition of Susquehanna Steam Electric Station (Susquehanna), Susquehanna Nuclear, LLC or any assets or properties of any of the foregoing that are material to the
ownership, operation or maintenance of Susquehanna or (B) credit support that has the effect of reducing unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and undrawn revolver capacity in an amount that would exceed $250 million with respect to the
regulatory approvals in the aggregate; provided that no such actions imposed upon or otherwise affecting the Company as a direct result of any investment, acquisition or joint venture, in each case in power generation, made or entered into by any
affiliate (as defined in 18 C.F.R. Section 35.36(a)(9)) of Parent or Merger Sub (with certain exceptions) that owns or controls electric generation or transmission facilities within a certain geographic market.
Other Terms of the Merger Agreement
The Company has made customary representations, warranties and covenants in the Merger Agreement, including, among others, covenants
(i) to conduct its business in the ordinary course during the period between the execution of the Merger Agreement and the Effective Time, (ii) not to engage in certain types of transactions during this period unless agreed to in writing
by Parent, (iii) to convene and hold a meeting of its stockholders for the purpose of obtaining the Company Stockholder Approvals and (iv) to use reasonable best efforts to obtain certain regulatory approvals.
The Merger Agreement contains certain termination rights, including the right of the Company to terminate the Merger Agreement to accept a
Superior Proposal, subject to specified limitations, and provides that, upon termination of the Merger Agreement by the Company or Parent upon specified conditions, the Company will be required to pay Parent a termination fee of $50 million (which
amount shall equal $25 million under specified conditions where the Company terminates the Merger Agreement in connection with its entry into a Superior Proposal with an Excluded Party). Upon termination of the Merger Agreement by the Company or
Parent under specified conditions, Parent will be required to pay the Company a termination fee of $85 million. In addition, subject to certain exceptions and limitations, either party may terminate the Merger Agreement if the Merger is not
consummated by March 2, 2017 (the End Date), which date will be extended to June 2, 2017 in the event that on March 2, 2017, all conditions to the closing of the Merger have been satisfied or waived, other than the
antitrust and regulatory approvals condition, burdensome condition and Minimum Liquidity Condition described above.
Guarantee
Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, an affiliate of Riverstone has entered into a limited guarantee (the
Limited Guarantee), pursuant to which it has agreed to guarantee Parents obligation to pay any termination fee and reimburse the Company with respect to certain expenses in connection with the Merger, in any event in an amount not
to exceed $90 million.
The foregoing description of the Merger and the Merger Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject
to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Merger Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1 and is incorporated into this report by reference in its entirety. The Merger Agreement has been attached to provide
investors with information regarding its terms. It is not intended to provide any other factual information about the Company. In particular, the assertions embodied in the representations and warranties contained in the Merger Agreement are
qualified by information in confidential Disclosure Schedules provided by each of the Company and Parent to the other in connection with the signing of the Merger Agreement. These confidential Disclosure Schedules contain information that modifies,
qualifies and creates exceptions to the
representations and warranties and certain covenants set forth in the Merger Agreement. Moreover, certain representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement were used for the purposes of
allocating risk between the Company and Parent rather than establishing matters as facts. In addition, investors are not third party beneficiaries under the Merger Agreement. Accordingly, the representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement
should not be relied on as characterizations of the actual state of facts about the Company.
Support Agreement
In connection with entering into the Merger Agreement, affiliates of Parent holding approximately 35% of the issued and outstanding shares of
the Company common stock entered into a support agreement (the Support Agreement) pursuant to which such parties have committed to vote their shares of Company common stock in favor of, and take certain other actions in furtherance of,
the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement including the Merger. As of June 2, 2016, Riverstone affiliated entities hold shares of the Companys common stock representing approximately 35% of the Companys total issued and
outstanding shares. The Support Agreement will terminate upon the earliest to occur of (i) the Effective Time, (ii) termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms, (iii) a Change of Recommendation by the Board and
(iv) the written agreement of the parties.
The foregoing description of the Support Agreement does not purport to be complete and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Support Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.
Credit Agreement Amendment
In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, Talen Energy Supply entered into a consent agreement to its existing revolving credit
agreement with Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral trustee and the lenders parties thereto, dated as of April 26, 2016 (the Credit Agreement Amendment). Pursuant to the Credit Agreement Amendment, Talen Energy Supply
has obtained the consent of the requisite lenders to waive the change of control provision in the credit agreement that otherwise would have been triggered as a result of the Merger. In addition, Talen Energy Supply agreed to certain other
amendments to the terms of the existing revolving credit agreement, including an increase in pricing and reduction in outstanding commitments. Such amendments become effective as of the closing date of the Merger. The foregoing summary of the Credit
Agreement Amendment does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Credit Agreement Amendment, which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.