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Brookfield Renewable Announces 2012 Third Quarter Results

HAMILTON, BERMUDA--(Marketwire - Nov 8, 2012) - Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners L.P. (TSX:BEP.UN) ("Brookfield Renewable") -

Investors, analysts and other interested parties can access Brookfield Renewable''s 2012 third quarter results as well as the Letter to Shareholders and Supplemental Results on the web site under the Investor Relations section at http://www.brookfieldrenewable.com/.

The 2012 third quarter results conference call can be accessed via webcast on November 8, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. ET at http://www.brookfieldrenewable.com/ or via teleconference at 1-800-319-4610 toll free in North America. For overseas calls please dial 1-604-638-5340, at approximately 8:50 a.m. ET. The teleconference taped rebroadcast can be accessed at 1-800-319-6413 (password: 1557#) until December 8, 2012.

All amounts in U.S. dollars unless stated otherwise

Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners L.P. today announced its results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012.

"Almost a year has passed since the launch of Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners and it has been tremendously successful. We have expanded our asset base by more than 600 MW while lowering our funding costs and increasing our distributions to unitholders," said Richard Legault, President and CEO of Brookfield Renewable.

"While our financial results in 2012 have been well below expectations due to unfavourable hydrological conditions, we can confidently say we have accomplished our first year objectives and with the support of our investors, created a company whose portfolio, operating platform and financial strength make it one of the leading renewable businesses worldwide. We remain very well positioned to build on these achievements in 2013."

Financial Results

Three Months Ended
September 30

Nine Months Ended
September 30

Unaudited
US$ millions
(except per unit amounts)

Pro forma Basis

Pro forma Basis

2012

2011(1)

2012

2011(1)

Generation (GWh)

2,971

3,614

11,889

12,029

Revenues

$

229

$

311

$

992

$

1,014

Adjusted EBITDA(2)

$

118

$

223

$

657

$

748

Funds from operations (FFO)(2)

$

11

$

101

$

273

$

381

FFO per unit

$

0.04

$

0.38

$

1.04

$

1.45

(1)

Pro forma results reflect new contracts and contract amendments, along with tax implications of the combination, as if each had occurred as of January 1, 2011.

(2)

Non-IFRS measure. Refer to "Cautionary Statement Regarding Use of Non-IFRS Accounting Measures".

Review of Operations

Generation for the third quarter of 2012 was 2,971 GWh as compared with 3,614 GWh in the same quarter of 2011 and a long-term average of 4,049 GWh. This was primarily due to lower inflows across our hydroelectric portfolio in eastern Canada, New York state and the mid-western United States. The variance in year-over-year results also reflects above average precipitation and record rainfall in 2011 which impacted the mid-western and eastern United States. Despite the shortfall, reservoir levels on a portfolio basis are in line with long-term average levels for this time of year.

Generation from wind facilities increased 208 GWh year-over-year due to the contributions from new wind facilities in California, New England and Ontario. Results were below long-term average for the current period primarily due to lower than expected wind conditions across the U.S. and Canada.

For the third quarter of 2012, funds from operations were $11 million ($0.04 per unit) as compared with $101 million ($0.39 per unit) on a 2011 pro forma basis, reflecting the lower generation levels discussed above. The decrease in generation affected assets in markets where power purchase agreement prices are higher than our average price, which had a disproportionate impact on adjusted EBITDA and funds from operations.

For the first nine months of 2012, generation was 11,889 GWh as compared to 12,029 GWh for the first nine months of 2011 and 13% below the long term average. Funds from operations were $273 million ($1.04 per unit) as compared with $381 million ($1.45 per unit) on a 2011 pro forma basis.

The tables below summarize generation by segment and region:

Generation (GWh)

Variance of Results


For the three months ended September 30

Actual 2012

Actual 2011

LTA 2012

Actual vs. LTA

Actual vs. Prior Year

Hydroelectric generation

United States

889

1,503

1,378

(489

)

(614

)

Canada

705

1,030

1,232

(527

)

(325

)

Brazil(1)

868

842

868

-

26

2,462

3,375

3,478

(1,016

)

(913

)

Wind Energy

Canada

151

93

238

(87

)

58

United States

150

-

236

(86

)

150

Other

208

146

97

111

62

Total generation(2)

2,971

3,614

4,049

(1,078

)

(643

)

(1)

In Brazil, assured generation levels are used as a proxy for long-term average.

(2)

Includes 100% of generation from equity-accounted investments.

Generation (GWh)

Variance of Results


For the nine months ended September 30

Actual 2012

Actual 2011

LTA 2012

Actual vs. LTA

Actual vs. Prior year

Hydroelectric generation

United States

4,466

5,394

5,336

(870

)

(928

)

Canada

2,999

3,300

3,797

(798

)

(301

)

Brazil(1)

2,546

2,428

2,554

(8

)

118

10,011

11,122

11,687

(1,676

)

(1,111

)

Wind Energy

Canada

765

407

854

(89

)

358

United States

461

-

646

(185

)

461

Other

652

500

417

235

152

Total generation(2)

11,889

12,029

13,604

(1,715

)

(140

)

(1)

In Brazil, assured generation levels are used as a proxy for long-term average.

(2)

Includes 100% of generation from equity-accounted investments.

Growth Initiatives

During the third quarter, we moved forward with a comprehensive plan to integrate a 378 MW hydroelectric generating portfolio consisting of four generating stations located in Tennessee and North Carolina. The acquisition, which was announced in June 2012, has obtained major regulatory approvals and is expected to close by the end of this year.

Construction activities at all three of our hydroelectric development projects are proceeding on scope, schedule and budget. At the 45 MW Kokish River site, clearing and excavation was completed at the intake and powerhouse sites, and the first kilometre of the project''s nine kilometre penstock has been installed. The two facilities in Brazil totalling 48 MW are nearing completion and are scheduled to enter commercial operation in the first quarter of 2013.

Financial Position and Liquidity

Total liquidity as at the date of this release is approximately $1.0 billion, consisting of cash and cash equivalents and undrawn amounts from our revolving credit facilities. Liquidity increased from September 30, 2012 due to our recently completed preferred share issuance.

Despite the recent low generation levels, with cash on hand and operating cash flows we have continued to invest in multiple growth initiatives while maintaining unitholder distributions and sustaining capital expenditures. The ability to do so without increasing the amounts drawn on our credit facilities demonstrates the financial resilience of Brookfield Renewable''s operations and its ability to mitigate the impact of short-term generation shortfalls on our funds from operations.

Subsequent to quarter-end, Brookfield Renewable completed the issuance of C$250 million of preferred shares, as well as C$175 million in project financing for the Kokish River hydroelectric project.

Distribution Declaration

The Board of Directors has declared a quarterly distribution in the amount of US$0.345 per unit, payable on January 31, 2013 to limited partnership unitholders of record as at the close of business on December 31, 2012. The regular quarterly dividends on the Brookfield Renewable Power Preferred Equity Inc. Series 1 and Series 3 preferred shares have also been declared.

Information on the limited partnership unit distributions and preferred share dividends can be found on Brookfield Renewable''s website at www.brookfieldrenewable.com under Investor Relations.

Distribution Reinvestment Plan

Brookfield Renewable maintains a Distribution Reinvestment Plan ("DRIP") which allows holders of its limited partnership units who are resident in Canada to acquire additional units by reinvesting all or a portion of their cash distributions without paying commissions. Information on the DRIP, including details on how to enroll, is available on Brookfield Renewable''s website at www.brookfieldrenewable.com/DRIP.

Additional Information

The Letter to Shareholders and the Supplemental Results for the period ended September 30, 2012 contain further information on Brookfield Renewable''s strategy, operations and financial results. Shareholders are encouraged to read these documents, which are available at www.brookfieldrenewable.com.

Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners (TSX:BEP.UN) operates one of the largest publicly-traded, pure-play renewable power platforms globally. Its portfolio is primarily hydroelectric and totals approximately 5,000 megawatts of installed capacity. Diversified across 68 river systems and 10 power markets in the United States, Canada and Brazil, the portfolio generates enough electricity from renewable resources to power two million homes on average each year. With a virtually fully-contracted portfolio of high-quality assets and strong growth prospects, the business is positioned to generate stable, long-term cash flows supporting regular and growing cash distributions to unitholders. For more information, please visit www.brookfieldrenewable.com.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT

This news release contains forward-looking statements and information, within the meaning of Canadian securities laws, concerning the business and operations of Brookfield Renewable. Forward-looking statements may include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance or other statements that are not statements of fact. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the quality of Brookfield Renewable''s assets and the resiliency of the cash flow they will generate, Brookfield Renewable''s anticipated financial performance, future commissioning of assets, the future growth prospects and distribution profile of Brookfield Renewable, the expected completion of acquisitions and Brookfield Renewable''s access to capital. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "scheduled", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "potentially", "tends", "continue", "attempts", "likely", "primarily", "approximately", "endeavours", "pursues", "strives", "seeks", "targets" or variations of such words and phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Although we believe that our anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and information in this news release are based upon reasonable assumptions and expectations, we cannot assure you that such expectations will prove to have been correct. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information as such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and information.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: our limited operating history; the risk that we may be deemed an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act; the fact that we are not subject to the same disclosure requirements as a U.S. domestic issuer; the risk that the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting could have a material effect on our business; changes to hydrology at our hydroelectric stations or in wind conditions at our wind energy facilities; the risk that counterparties to our contracts do not fulfill their obligations, and as our contracts expire, we may not be able to replace them with agreements on similar terms; increases in water rental costs (or similar fees) or changes to the regulation of water supply; volatility in supply and demand in the energy market; our operations being highly regulated and exposed to increased regulation which could result in additional costs; the risk that our concessions and licenses will not be renewed; increases in the cost of operating our plants; our failure to comply with conditions in, or our inability to maintain, governmental permits; equipment failure; dam failures and the costs of repairing such failures; exposure to force majeure events; exposure to uninsurable losses; adverse changes in currency exchange rates; availability and access to interconnection facilities and transmission systems; occupational, health, safety and environmental risks; disputes and litigation; losses resulting from fraud, other illegal acts, inadequate or failed internal processes or systems, or from external events;
general industry risks relating to the North American and Brazilian power market sectors; advances in technology that impair or eliminate the competitive advantage of our projects; newly developed technologies in which we invest not performing as anticipated; labour disruptions and economically unfavourable collective bargaining agreements; our inability to finance our operations due to the status of the capital markets; the operating and financial restrictions imposed on us by our loan, debt and security agreements; changes in our credit ratings; changes to government regulations that provide incentives for renewable energy; our inability to identify and complete sufficient investment opportunities; the growth of our portfolio; our inability to develop existing sites or find new sites suitable for the development of greenfield projects; risks associated with the development of our generating facilities and the various types of arrangements we enter into with communities and joint venture partners; Brookfield Asset Management''s election not to source acquisition opportunities for us and our lack of access to all renewable power acquisitions that Brookfield Asset Management identifies; our lack of control over all our operations conducted through joint ventures, partnerships and consortium arrangements; our ability to issue equity or debt for future acquisitions and developments being dependent on capital markets; foreign laws or regulation to which we become subject as a result of future acquisitions in new markets; the departure of some or all of Brookfield''s key professionals.

We caution that the foregoing list of important factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. The forward-looking statements represent our views as of the date of this news release and should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to November 8, 2012, the date of this news release. While we anticipate that subsequent events and developments may cause our views to change, we disclaim any obligation to update the forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law. For further information on these known and unknown risks, please see "Risk Factors" included in our Annual Information Form.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING USE OF NON-IFRS ACCOUNTING MEASURES

This news release contains references to Adjusted EBITDA, funds from operations and net asset value which are not generally accepted accounting measures in accordance with IFRS and therefore may differ from definitions of Adjusted EBITDA, funds from operations and net asset value used by other entities. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA, funds from operations and net asset value are useful supplemental measures that may assist investors in assessing the financial performance and the cash anticipated to be generated by our operating portfolio. None of Adjusted EBITDA, funds from operations and net asset value should be considered as the sole measure of our performance and should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, analysis of our financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS. As a result of the Combination, we have presented these measurements on a pro forma basis.

A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and funds from operations to net income is presented in our Management''s Discussion and Analysis related to our interim consolidated financial statements.

References to Brookfield Renewable are to Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners L.P. together with its subsidiary and operating entities unless the context reflects otherwise.

1

The unaudited pro forma financial results have been prepared based on currently available information and assumptions deemed appropriate by management. They are provided for information purposes only and may not be indicative of the results that would have occurred had the combination been effected on the date indicated.

2

Adjusted EBITDA means 100% of revenues less direct costs (including energy marketing costs), plus our share of cash earnings from equity-accounted investments, before interest, current income taxes, depreciation, amortization and management service costs. Funds from operations is defined as Adjusted EBITDA less interest, current income taxes and management service costs, which is then adjusted for non-controlling interests. A reconciliation of net income to funds from operations is available in Brookfield Renewable''s Supplemental Results for the third quarter of 2012 at http://www.brookfieldrenewable.com/.

3

Average number of units outstanding on a fully diluted weighted average basis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 was approximately 262.5 million (2011 - 262.5 million).

EBITDA and Funds from Operations

Three Months Ended September 30

Nine Months Ended September 30

Pro
forma Basis
(1)

Pro
forma Basis
(1)

(MILLIONS, EXCEPT AS NOTED)

2012

2011

2012

2011

Generation (GWh)

2,971

3,614

11,889

12,029

Revenues

$

229

$

311

$

992

$

1,014

Other income

2

7

12

17

Share of cash earnings from equity-accounted investments

3

7

11

19

Direct operating costs

(116

)

(102

)

(358

)

(302

)

Adjusted EBITDA(2)

118

223

657

748

Interest expense - borrowings

(99

)

(104

)

(313

)

(304

)

Management service costs

(10

)

(4

)

(25

)

(15

)

Current income taxes

1

(1

)

(12

)

(7

)

Cash portion of non-controlling interests

1

(13

)

(34

)

(41

)

Funds from operations(2)

$

11

$

101

$

273

$

381

(1)

Pro forma results reflect new contracts and contract amendments, along with the tax implications of the Combination, as if each had occurred as of January 1, 2011.

(2)

Non-IFRS measure. Refer to "Cautionary Statement Regarding Use of Non-IFRS Accounting Measures".

Net Asset Value

Total

Per Share

Sept. 30

Dec. 31

Sept. 30

Dec. 31

(MILLIONS, EXCEPT AS NOTED)

2012

2011

2012

2011

Property, plant and equipment, at fair value

Hydroelectric(1)

$

12,392

$

12,463

$

47.20

$

47.47

Wind energy

2,303

1,480

8.77

5.64

Other

89

86

0.34

0.33

14,784

14,029

56.31

53.44

Development assets

445

378

1.69

1.44

Working capital and other, net

(13

)

380

(0.05

)

1.45

Long-term debt and credit facilities

(5,850

)

(5,519

)

(22.28

)

(21.02

)

Participating non-controlling interests

(728

)

(629

)

(2.77

)

(2.40

)

Preferred equity

(250

)

(241

)

(0.95

)

(0.92

)

Net asset value(2)

$

8,388

$

8,398

$

31.95

$

31.99

(1)

Includes $307 million of equity-accounted investments (2011: $405 million) and $49 million of intangible assets (2011: $57 million).

(2)

Non-IFRS measure. See "Cautionary Statement Regarding Use of Non-IFRS Accounting Measures".

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