SAN JOSE, Calif., May 6, 2003 — Calpine Corp. said it expects to record a loss of approximately $0.12 per share for the first quarter 2003. The company stated that it remains comfortable with the current 2003 full-year earnings consensus of $0.41 per share.
The North American power company released a pre-earnings update on several items, including liquidity, refinancing and first quarter and full-year 2003 earnings.
The company also has scheduled its first quarter earnings conference call for Tuesday, May 13, 2003, at 8:30 a.m. PDT, to discuss these items in further detail.
Liquidity and Refinancing
As previously announced, Calpine has identified three major components of its 2003 liquidity enhancing program: the monetization of certain of its power sales contracts, the potential sale of certain power generating facilities and the financing for its California peaking facilities. These transactions are expected to generate net proceeds of approximately $1.7 billion that will be used to fund capital requirements for its existing construction program, refinancing and general corporate purposes.
Progress towards the completion of these transactions continues as planned. Last week, the company announced the sale of an interest in the 115-megawatt King City Power Plant for approximately $82 million and is nearing the completion of monetizing several power sales contracts. At the end of the first quarter, liquidity totaled approximately $615 million. This was comprised of approximately $524 million of cash (cash and equivalents and current portion of restricted cash) and $91 million of borrowing capacity under the company’s various credit facilities.
Calpine continues to work closely with its lenders on a two-year refinancing of its $400 million and $600 million working capital facilities. The company expects to complete this refinancing in the near term.
First Quarter Earnings Update and 2003 Guidance
Operating income for the quarter was in-line with the company’s expectations before certain non-cash charges. On-peak spark spreads were slightly ahead of plan in certain markets, but were offset by unscheduled outages and non-cash charges. These non-cash charges include reserves for equipment repairs totaling approximately $25 million, for which the company is pursuing warranty claims, and approximately $22 million of foreign exchange translation losses-representing a loss per share of $0.05 and $0.04, respectively.
The foreign exchange translation losses recognized into income were transaction-related and were due mainly to a strong Canadian dollar in the quarter. As a result of this strong foreign currency, the recorded book value of the company’s net foreign assets increased by approximately $78 million, generating unrealized gains that were recorded in equity on the balance sheet. For the quarter, the company expects to record a loss of approximately $0.12 per share. Calpine stated that it remains comfortable with the current 2003 full-year earnings consensus of $0.41 per share.
On April 17, 2003, the company reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC (PwC) would serve as the company’s independent public accountants for 2003. As a result of this change in auditors, the company has asked PwC to undertake the review of its first quarter for 2003. Consequently, the company will not be able to file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the First Quarter 2003 by the May 15, 2003 filing deadline, but will file the report following the completion of PwC’s review.
Conference Call Information
Calpine will host a conference call at 8:30 a.m. PDT on Tuesday, May 13, to discuss in further detail the financial and operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2003. To participate in the teleconference, in a listen-only mode, dial 1-888-603-6685 at least five minutes before the start of the conference call. In addition, Calpine will simulcast the conference call live via the Internet. The web cast can be accessed and will be available for 30 days on the Investor Relations page of Calpine’s website at www.calpine.com.
About Calpine
Based in San Jose, Calif., Calpine Corp. is a North American power company that is dedicated to providing wholesale and industrial customers with clean, efficient, natural gas-fired power generation. It generates and markets power from plants it develops, owns, leases and operates in 23 states in the United States, three provinces in Canada and in the United Kingdom.
Calpine is also the world’s largest producer of renewable geothermal energy, and it owns approximately one trillion cubic feet equivalent of proved natural gas reserves in Canada and the United States. The company was founded in 1984 and is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CPN. For more information about Calpine, visit its website at www.calpine.com.
