Vistra Corp (VST)

[Enterprising Investor]

Vistra Energy Updates 2016 Expectations and Initiates 2017 Guidance (12/06/16)

DALLAS, Dec. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --Vistra Energy (OTCQX: VSTE), the parent company for TXU Energy and Luminant, today announced updated expectations for 2016 adjusted EBITDA and adjusted free cash flow and also initiated 2017 guidance for the same metrics.

Curt Morgan, Vistra Energy's chief executive officer, commented, "We are moving into 2017 as a newly reorganized entity with our support cost structure competitively aligned, a strong balance sheet, and diversified assets. We believe our unique integrated business model, pairing TXU Energy's leading retail platform with Luminant's reliable and efficient generating capabilities, will provide investors with an attractive, stable earnings profile, as is evidenced by our 2017 guidance. We will continue to focus on increasing shareholder value in 2017 as we leverage and expand on our core competencies."

2016 Expectations

Vistra Energy anticipates 2016 adjusted EBITDA in the range of $1,550 million to $1,615 million, representing an increase of nearly 4 percent based on the midpoint as compared to 2016 adjusted EBITDA projected by its predecessor, Texas Competitive Electric Holdings Company LLC, in connection with its bankruptcy plan of reorganization and its related exit financing. Vistra Energy expects 2016 adjusted free cash flow in the range of $615 million to $680 million.

2017 Guidance

Vistra Energy is initiating guidance for 2017 with an adjusted EBITDA range of $1,350 million to $1,500 million and an adjusted free cash flow range of $745 million to $925 million. The 2017 adjusted EBITDA guidance reflects a more than 8 percent increase based on the midpoint as compared to 2017 adjusted EBITDA projected by its predecessor in connection with its bankruptcy plan of reorganization and its related exit financing. The primary drivers of the projected increase are continued outperformance by TXU Energy versus previous projections, as well as enhanced support cost savings realization.

The 2017 guidance ranges reflect the impact of two planned nuclear refueling outages in 2017 versus one refueling outage in each of 2015 and 2016. Excluding the approximately $65 million impact of incremental operating and maintenance expenses related to the additional outage, the 2017 adjusted EBITDA guidance would have reflected a range of $1,415 million to $1,565 million. The 2017 guidance ranges further reflect forward price curves as of September 30, 2016 and assume certain of our coal units will operate flexibly, depending on market conditions and needs, while anticipating no coal plant retirements.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Items Affecting Comparability

"Adjusted EBITDA" (EBITDA as adjusted for unrealized gains or losses from hedging activities, tax receivable agreement accretion, reorganization items, and certain other items described from time to time in Vistra Energy's earnings releases); and "adjusted free cash flow" (cash from operating activities adjusted for capital expenditures, other net investment activities, preferred stock dividends, and other items described from time to time in Vistra Energy's earnings releases), are "non-GAAP financial measures." A non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of financial performance that excludes or includes amounts so as to be different than the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in Vistra Energy's consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders' equity and cash flows. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the most directly comparable GAAP measures. Vistra Energy's non-GAAP financial measures may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.

Vistra Energy uses adjusted EBITDA as a measure of performance and believes that analysis of its business by external users is enhanced by visibility to both net income prepared in accordance with GAAP and adjusted EBITDA. Vistra Energy uses adjusted free cash flow as a measure of liquidity and believes that analysis of its ability to service its cash obligations is supported by disclosure of both cash provided by (used in) operating activities prepared in accordance with GAAP as well as adjusted free cash flow.

Additional Information

Vistra Energy's guidance materials will be available on the "Investor Relations" section of www.vistraenergy.com later today. Further, Vistra Energy plans to begin hosting quarterly earnings conference calls in connection with the release of its fourth quarter 2016 financial results in March 2017.

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