XML 62 R18.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.22.0.1

Investments In and Advances To Affiliates | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2021
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract] |
INVESTMENTS IN AND ADVANCES TO AFFILIATES | 8. INVESTMENTS IN AND ADVANCES TO AFFILIATES The following table summarizes the relevant effective equity ownership interest and carrying values for the Company's investments accounted for under the equity method as of the periods indicated:
December 31, |  |  | 2021 |  | 2020 |  | 2021 |  | 2020
Affiliate | Country |  | Carrying Value (in millions) |  | Ownership Interest %
sPower (1) | United States |  | $ | 492 |  |  | $ | 551 |  |  | 50 | % |  | 50 | %
Fluence (2) | United States |  | 304 |  |  | — |  |  | 34 | % |  | 50 | %
Uplight | United States |  | 103 |  |  | 85 |  |  | 29 | % |  | 32 | %
Energía Natural Dominicana Enadom (3) | Dominican Republic |  | 53 |  |  | 49 |  |  | 43 | % |  | 43 | %
Mesa La Paz | Mexico |  | 48 |  |  | 60 |  |  | 50 | % |  | 50 | %
Grupo Energía Gas Panamá | Panama |  | 41 |  |  | — |  |  | 49 | % |  | — | %
Barry (4) | United Kingdom |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 100 | % |  | 100 | %
Other affiliates (5) | Various |  | 39 |  |  | 90 |  |  |  |  |
Total |  |  | $ | 1,080 |  |  | $ | 835 |  |  |  |  |
_____________________________ (1)In January 2021, the sPower and AES Renewable Holdings development platforms were merged to form AES Clean Energy Development. See Note 25—Acquisitions for further information. (2)During 2020, Fluence incurred losses resulting in a negative Investments in and advances to affiliates balance for the Company. As we had guaranteed obligations of Fluence, equity method accounting was not suspended and the negative carrying value of $12 million was recorded to Other noncurrent liabilities. Subsequent to Fluence's IPO in November 2021, AES recognized a gain upon dilution of its interest in Fluence which is now included in our Investments in and advances to affiliates balance. (3)The Company's ownership in Energía Natural Dominicana Enadom is held through Andres, an 85%-owned consolidated subsidiary. Andres owns 50% of Energía Natural Dominicana Enadom, resulting in an AES effective ownership of 43%. (4)Represents a VIE in which the Company holds a variable interest, but is not the primary beneficiary. (5)Includes Bosforo and Tucano equity method investments, and others. During 2020, a $67 million loan facility was granted from Colon to Gas Natural Atlántico II that was eliminated due to consolidation in 2021. Gas Natural Atlántico II — In September 2021, the Company acquired the remaining equity interest in Gas Natural Atlántico II, S. de. R.L., a partnership whose purpose is to construct transmission lines for Colon. After additional assets were acquired, the Company remeasured the investment at the acquisition-date fair value, resulting in the recognition of a $6 million gain, recorded in Other income. The partnership, previously recorded as an equity method investment, is now consolidated by AES and is reported in the MCAC SBU reportable segment. Uplight — In July 2021, the Company closed on a transaction involving existing and new shareholders of Uplight. As part of the transaction, the Company contributed $37 million to Uplight; however, AES’s ownership interest in Uplight decreased from 32.3% to 29.6% primarily due to larger contributions from other investors. The transaction was accounted for as a partial disposition in which AES recognized a loss of $25 million in Gain (loss) on disposal and sale of business interests, mainly as a result of the settlement of share based awards at Uplight as well as the expenses associated with the transaction. In October 2021, the Company contributed an additional $23 million to Uplight. AES' ownership interest decreased to 29.4% as a result of equity granted to retained executives at a company acquired by Uplight. As the Company still does not control Uplight after the transaction, it continues to be accounted for as an equity method investment and is reported as part of Corporate and Other. Fluence — In June 2021, Fluence issued new shares to the Qatar Investment Authority (“QIA”) for $125 million, which following the completion of the transaction, represented a 13.6% ownership interest in Fluence. As a result of the transaction, which AES has accounted for as a partial disposition, AES’ ownership interest in Fluence decreased from 50% to 43.2% and the Company recognized a gain of $60 million in Gain (loss) on disposal and sale of business interests. On November 1, 2021, Fluence completed its IPO of 35,650,000 of its Class A common stock at a price of $28 per share, including the exercise of the underwriters’ option. Fluence received approximately $936 million in proceeds, after expenses, as a result of the transaction. AES’ ownership interest in Fluence decreased to 34.2%. The Company recognized a gain of $325 million in Gain (loss) on disposal and sale of business interests. As the Company still does not control Fluence after the transaction, it continues to be accounted for as an equity method investment and is reported as part of Corporate and Other. Grupo Energía Gas Panamá — In April 2021, Grupo Energía Gas Panamá, a joint venture between AES and InterEnergy Power & Gas Limited, completed the acquisition of a combined cycle natural gas development project. AES holds a 49% ownership interest in the affiliate and as of December 31, 2021, the Company contributed $44 million to the joint venture. As the Company does not control the joint venture, it is accounted for as an equity method investment and is reported in the MCAC SBU reportable segment. sPower — In February 2021, the Company substantially completed the merger of the sPower and AES Renewable Holdings development platforms to form AES Clean Energy Development, a consolidated entity, which will serve as the development vehicle for all future renewable projects in the U.S. Since the sPower development platform was carved-out of AES’ existing equity method investment, this transaction resulted in a $102 million decrease in the carrying value of the sPower investment and the Company recognized a gain of $214 million in Other income. In December 2021, AES acquired an additional 25% ownership in specifically identified projects of the sPower development platform. As a result, the Company recognized a gain of $35 million in Other income. Subsequent to the transaction, AES has a 75% ownership interest in specifically identified projects of sPower through its ownership of AES Clean Energy Development, and 50% ownership interest in the sPower equity method investment. See Note 25—Acquisitions for further information. As the Company still does not control sPower after the transaction, it continues to be accounted for as an equity method investment and is reported in the US and Utilities SBU reportable segment. Guacolda — In September 2020, Guacolda management reviewed the recoverability of the Guacolda asset group and determined the undiscounted cash flows did not exceed the carrying amount. Impairment indicators were identified primarily as a result of inability to re-contract Guacolda’s generation after expiration of its existing PPAs driven by lower energy prices in Chile and reduced forecasted cash flows resulting from decarbonization initiatives of the Chilean Government. Guacolda recognized a long-lived asset impairment at the investee level, which negatively impacted the Company's Net equity in losses of affiliates by $127 million. As a result, the Company’s basis in its investment in Guacolda was reduced to zero and the equity method of accounting was suspended. In February 2021, AES Andes entered into an agreement to sell its 50% ownership interest in Guacolda for $34 million. On July 20, 2021, the Company completed the sale, resulting in a pre-tax gain on sale of $34 million, recorded in Gain (loss) on disposal and sale of business interests. Prior to its sale, the Guacolda equity method investment was reported in the South America SBU reportable segment. OPGC — In March 2020, an other-than-temporary impairment was identified at OPGC primarily due to the estimated market value of the Company's investment and the economic slowdown. A calculation of the fair value of the Company’s investment in OPGC was required to evaluate whether there was a loss in the carrying value of the investment. Based on management’s estimate of fair value of $152 million, the Company recognized an other-than-temporary impairment of $43 million. In June 2020, the Company agreed to sell its entire 49% stake in OPGC resulting in an additional other-than-temporary impairment of $158 million. Total other-than-temporary impairment for the six months ended June 30, 2020 was $201 million recognized in Other non-operating expense. In December 2020, the Company completed the sale of its interest in OPGC. Prior to its sale, the OPGC equity method investment was reported in the Eurasia SBU reportable segment. Barry — The Company holds a 100% ownership interest in AES Barry Ltd. ("Barry"), a dormant entity in the U.K. that disposed of its generation and other operating assets. Due to a debt agreement, no material financial or operating decisions can be made without the banks' consent, and the Company does not control Barry. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, other long-term liabilities included $44 million and $46 million related to this debt agreement. Summarized Financial Information — The following tables summarize financial information of the Company's 50%-or-less-owned affiliates and majority-owned unconsolidated subsidiaries that are accounted for using the equity method (in millions):
| 50%-or-less Owned Affiliates (1) |  | Majority-Owned Unconsolidated Subsidiaries
Years ended December 31, | 2021 |  | 2020 |  | 2019 |  | 2021 |  | 2020 |  | 2019
Revenue | $ | 1,316 |  |  | $ | 1,880 |  |  | $ | 1,122 |  |  | $ | 1 |  |  | $ | 1 |  |  | $ | 49 |
Operating margin (loss) | (53) |  |  | 213 |  |  | 124 |  |  | (1) |  |  | (3) |  |  | (5) |
Net income (loss) | (242) |  |  | (538) |  |  | (724) |  |  | (3) |  |  | (4) |  |  | (7) |
December 31, | 2021 |  | 2020 |  |  |  | 2021 |  | 2020 |  |
Current assets | $ | 1,180 |  |  | $ | 1,017 |  |  |  |  | $ | 868 |  |  | $ | 159 |  |  |
Noncurrent assets | 6,497 |  |  | 6,230 |  |  |  |  | 25 |  |  | 886 |  |  |
Current liabilities | 1,414 |  |  | 1,294 |  |  |  |  | 859 |  |  | 121 |  |  |
Noncurrent liabilities | 3,602 |  |  | 3,671 |  |  |  |  | 60 |  |  | 981 |  |  |
Noncontrolling interests | 1 |  |  | — |  |  |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  |
Stockholders' equity | 2,660 |  |  | 2,282 |  |  |  |  | (26) |  |  | (57) |  |  |
_____________________________ (1)As of July 1, 2021, AES began to account for its investment in Fluence quarterly, on a three-month lag. This shift in timing is necessary due to the nature of the entity subsequent to its IPO. At December 31, 2021, retained earnings included $169 million related to the undistributed losses of the Company's 50%-or-less owned affiliates. Distributions received from these affiliates were $25 million, $14 million, and $23 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. As of December 31, 2021, the underlying equity in the net assets of our equity affiliates exceeded the aggregate carrying amount of our investments in equity affiliates by $37 million.

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsAndJointVenturesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The entire disclosure for the information summarizing investments in and advances to majority-owned subsidiaries, other controlled companies, and other affiliates. It reflects specified information about ownership, financial results from, and financial position in such entities. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 320 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2324412 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToAffiliatesScheduleOfInvestmentsTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | dtr-types:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration