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10-K 1 vistra-12312017x10k.htm FORM 10-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017

— OR —

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File Number 001-38086

Vistra Energy Corp.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware36-4833255
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
6555 Sierra Drive, Irving, Texas 75039(214) 812-4600
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each ClassName of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common stock, par value $0.01 per shareNew York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None


Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o No x

Indicated by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the act. Yes o No x

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 (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer o Non-Accelerated filer x (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company o Emerging growth company o

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

As of June 30, 2017, the aggregate market value of the Vistra Energy Corp. common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $5,404,454,926 based on the closing sale price as reported on the New York Stock Exchange.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x

As of February 21, 2018, there were 428,447,631 shares of common stock, par value $0.01, outstanding of Vistra Energy Corp.


DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the proxy statement for the registrant's 2018 annual meeting of stockholders are incorporated in Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10‑K.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE
Glossaryii
PART I.
Item 1.BUSINESS1
Item 1A.RISK FACTORS12
Item 1B.UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS34
Item 2.PROPERTIES34
Item 3.LEGAL PROCEEDINGS35
Item 4.MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES35
PART II.
Item 5.MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES36
Item 6.SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA38
Item 7.MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS40
Item 7A.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK65
Item 8.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA70
Item 9.CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE145
Item 9A.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES145
Item 9B.OTHER INFORMATION145
PART III.
Item 10.DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE146
Item 11.EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION146
Item 12.SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS146
Item 13.CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE146
Item 14.PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES146
PART IV.
Item 15.EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES147
Item 16.FORM 10-K SUMMARY155
Signatures156

Vistra Energy Corp.'s (Vistra Energy) annual reports, quarterly reports, current reports and any amendments to those reports are made available to the public, free of charge, on the Vistra Energy website at http://www.vistraenergy.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after they have been filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The information on Vistra Energy's website shall not be deemed a part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The representations and warranties contained in any agreement that we have filed as an exhibit to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, or that we have or may publicly file in the future, may contain representations and warranties that may (i) be made by and to the parties thereto at specific dates, (ii) be subject to exceptions and qualifications contained in separate disclosure schedules, (iii) represent the parties' risk allocation in the particular transaction, or (iv) be qualified by materiality standards that differ from what may be viewed as material for securities law purposes.

This Annual Report on Form 10-K and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings of Vistra Energy and its subsidiaries occasionally make references to Vistra Energy (or "we," "our," "us" or "the Company"), TXU Energy or Luminant when describing actions, rights or obligations of their respective subsidiaries. These references reflect the fact that the subsidiaries are consolidated with, or otherwise reflected in, their respective parent company's financial statements for financial reporting purposes. However, these references should not be interpreted to imply that the parent company is actually undertaking the action or has the rights or obligations of the relevant subsidiary company or vice versa.

i

GLOSSARY

When the following terms and abbreviations appear in the text of this report, they have the meanings indicated below.

CCGTcombined cycle gas turbine
CFTCU.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Chapter 11 CasesCases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Bankruptcy Court) concerning voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (Bankruptcy Code) filed on April 29, 2014 by the Debtors. On the Effective Date, the TCEH Debtors (together with the Contributed EFH Debtors) emerged from the Chapter 11 Cases.
CMEChicago Mercantile Exchange
CO2carbon dioxide
Contributed EFH Debtorscertain EFH Debtors that became subsidiaries of Vistra Energy on the Effective Date
CSAPRCross-State Air Pollution Rule issued by the EPA in July 2011
DIP FacilityTCEH's $3.375 billion debtor-in-possession financing facility, which was repaid in August 2016 (see Note 12 to the Financial Statements)
DIP Roll FacilitiesTCEH's $4.250 billion debtor-in-possession and exit financing facilities, which was converted to the Vistra Operations Credit Facilities on the Effective Date (see Note 12 to the Financial Statements)
DebtorsEFH Corp. and the majority of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including EFIH, EFCH and TCEH but excluding the Oncor Ring-Fenced Entities. Prior to the Effective Date, also included the TCEH Debtors and the Contributed EFH Debtors.
DynegyDynegy Inc., and/or its subsidiaries, depending on context
EBITDAearnings (net income) before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization
EFCHEnergy Future Competitive Holdings Company LLC, a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of EFH Corp. and, prior to the Effective Date, the indirect parent of the TCEH Debtors, depending on context
Effective DateOctober 3, 2016, the date the TCEH Debtors and the Contributed EFH Debtors completed their reorganization under the Bankruptcy Code and emerged from the Chapter 11 Cases
EFH Corp.Energy Future Holdings Corp. and/or its subsidiaries, depending on context, whose major subsidiaries include Oncor and, prior to the Effective Date, included the TCEH Debtors and the Contributed EFH Debtors
EFH DebtorsEFH Corp. and its subsidiaries that are Debtors in the Chapter 11 Cases, including EFIH and EFIH Finance Inc., but excluding the TCEH Debtors and the Contributed EFH Debtors
EFIHEnergy Future Intermediate Holding Company LLC, a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of EFH Corp. and the direct parent of Oncor Holdings
Emergenceemergence of the TCEH Debtors and the Contributed EFH Debtors from the Chapter 11 Cases as subsidiaries of a newly formed company, Vistra Energy, on the Effective Date
EPAU.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Exchange ActExchange Act of 1934, as amended
ERCOTElectric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc., the independent system operator and the regional coordinator of various electricity systems within Texas
Federal and State Income Tax Allocation AgreementsAn agreement, executed in May 2012 but effective as of January 2010 to which prior to the Effective Date, EFH Corp. and certain of its subsidiaries (including EFCH, EFIH and TCEH, but not including Oncor Holdings and Oncor) were parties. The Agreement was rejected by the TCEH Debtors and the Contributed EFH Debtors on the Effective Date (see Note 8 to the Financial Statements).
FERCU.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

ii

GAAPgenerally accepted accounting principles
GHGgreenhouse gas
GWhgigawatt-hours
ICEIntercontinentalExchange
IRSU.S. Internal Revenue Service
ISOIndependent system operator
LIBORLondon Interbank Offered Rate, an interest rate at which banks can borrow funds, in marketable size, from other banks in the London interbank market
loaddemand for electricity
LSTCliabilities subject to compromise
Luminantsubsidiaries of Vistra Energy engaged in competitive market activities consisting of electricity generation and wholesale energy sales and purchases as well as commodity risk management, all largely in Texas
market heat rateHeat rate is a measure of the efficiency of converting a fuel source to electricity. Market heat rate is the implied relationship between wholesale electricity prices and natural gas prices and is calculated by dividing the wholesale market price of electricity, which is based on the price offer of the marginal supplier in ERCOT (generally natural gas plants), by the market price of natural gas.
Mergerthe proposed merger of Dynegy with and into Vistra Energy, with Vistra Energy as the surviving corporation
Merger Agreementthe Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 29, 2017, by and between Vistra Energy and Dynegy, as it may be amended or modified from time to time
Merger Proposalthe proposal by each of Vistra Energy and Dynegy to their stockholders to adopt the Merger Agreement
Merger Support Agreementsthe Merger Support Agreements, dated as of October 29, 2017, by and between Dynegy, the Apollo Entities, the Brookfield Entities and the Oaktree Entities, respectively, on the one hand, and by and between Vistra Energy and certain affiliates of Oaktree and Terawatt Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership affiliated with Energy Capital Partners III, LLC, respectively, on the other hand, as they may be amended or modified from time to time
MMBtumillion British thermal units
MSHAU.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration
MWmegawatts
MWhmegawatt-hours
NERCNorth American Electric Reliability Corporation
NOXnitrogen oxide
NRCU.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
NYMEXthe New York Mercantile Exchange, a commodity derivatives exchange
NYSENew York Stock Exchange
OncorOncor Electric Delivery Company LLC, a direct, majority-owned subsidiary of Oncor Holdings and an indirect subsidiary of EFH Corp., that is engaged in regulated electricity transmission and distribution activities
Oncor HoldingsOncor Electric Delivery Holdings Company LLC, a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of EFIH and the direct majority owner of Oncor, and/or its subsidiaries, depending on context
Oncor Ring-Fenced EntitiesOncor Holdings and its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including Oncor
OPEBpostretirement employee benefits other than pensions

iii

Petition DateApril 29, 2014, the date the Debtors filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code
Plan of ReorganizationThird Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization filed by the Debtors in August 2016 and confirmed by the Bankruptcy Court in August 2016 solely with respect to the TCEH Debtors and the Contributed EFH Debtors
PrefCoVistra Preferred Inc.
PrefCo Preferred Stock Saleas part of the Spin-Off, the contribution of certain of the assets of the Predecessor and its subsidiaries by a subsidiary of TEX Energy LLC to PrefCo in exchange for all of PrefCo's authorized preferred stock, consisting of 70,000 shares, par value $0.01 per share
PUCTPublic Utility Commission of Texas
PURATexas Public Utility Regulatory Act
REPretail electric provider
RCTRailroad Commission of Texas, which among other things, has oversight of lignite mining activity in Texas
S&PStandard & Poor's Ratings (a credit rating agency)
SECU.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Securities ActSecurities Act of 1933, as amended
SG&Aselling, general and administrative
Settlement AgreementAmended and Restated Settlement Agreement among the Debtors, the Sponsor Group, settling TCEH first lien creditors, settling TCEH second lien creditors, settling TCEH unsecured creditors and the official committee of unsecured creditors of TCEH (collectively, the Settling Parties), approved by the Bankruptcy Court in December 2015.
SO2sulfur dioxide
Spin-Offthe tax-free spin-off from EFH Corp. executed pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization on the Effective Date by the TCEH Debtors and the Contributed EFH Debtors
Sponsor GroupRefers, collectively, to certain investment funds affiliated with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P., TPG Global, LLC (together with its affiliates, TPG) and GS Capital Partners, an affiliate of Goldman, Sachs & Co., that have an ownership interest in Texas Energy Future Holdings Limited Partnership, a limited partnership controlled by the Sponsor Group, that owns substantially all of the common stock of EFH Corp.
Stock Issuance Proposalthe proposal by Vistra Energy to its stockholders to approve the issuance of Vistra Energy common stock to holders of Dynegy common stock, in connection with the Merger, as contemplated by the Merger Agreement
Tax Matters AgreementTax Matters Agreement, dated as of the Effective Date, by and among EFH Corp., EFIH, EFIH Finance Inc. and EFH Merger Co. LLC.
TCJAthe Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a comprehensive tax reform bill signed into law in December 2017
TRATax Receivables Agreement, containing certain rights (TRA Rights) to receive payments from Vistra Energy related to certain tax benefits, including those it realized as a result of certain transactions entered into at Emergence (see Note 9)
TRETexas Reliability Entity, Inc., an independent organization that develops reliability standards for the ERCOT region and monitors and enforces compliance with NERC standards and monitors compliance with ERCOT protocols
TCEH or PredecessorTexas Competitive Electric Holdings Company LLC, a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Future Competitive Holdings Company LLC, and, prior to the Effective Date, the parent company of the TCEH Debtors, depending on context, that were engaged in electricity generation and wholesale and retail energy market activities, and whose major subsidiaries included Luminant and TXU Energy
TCEH Debtorsthe subsidiaries of TCEH that were Debtors in the Chapter 11 Cases

iv

TCEH Senior Secured FacilitiesRefers, collectively, to the TCEH First Lien Term Loan Facilities, TCEH First Lien Revolving Credit Facility and TCEH First Lien Letter of Credit Facility with a total principal amount of $22.616 billion. The claims arising under these facilities were discharged in the Chapter 11 Cases on the Effective Date pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization.
TCEQTexas Commission on Environmental Quality
TXU EnergyTXU Energy Retail Company LLC, a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Vistra Energy that is a REP in competitive areas of ERCOT and is engaged in the retail sale of electricity to residential and business customers
U.S.United States of America
Vistra Energy or SuccessorVistra Energy Corp., formerly known as TCEH Corp., and/or its subsidiaries, depending on context. On the Effective Date, the TCEH Debtors and the Contributed EFH Debtors emerged from Chapter 11 and became subsidiaries of Vistra Energy Corp.
Vistra Operations Credit FacilitiesVistra Operations Company LLC's $5.210 billion senior secured financing facilities (see Note 12 to the Financial Statements)

v

PART I

Next: Item 1. BUSINESS