Use these links to rapidly review the document
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
|
||||
Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered |
Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(1) |
Amount of Registration Fee(2)(3) |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
NextEra Energy, Inc. (formerly known as FPL Group, Inc.) Stock Purchase Contracts |
||||
NextEra Energy, Inc. Stock Purchase Units |
||||
NextEra Energy, Inc. Common Stock, $.01 par value |
$1,200,000,000 | (5) | ||
NextEra Energy, Inc. Guarantee of NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc. (formerly known as FPL Group Capital Inc) Debentures(4) |
||||
NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc. Series E Debentures due June 1, 2017 |
||||
Total |
$1,200,000,000 | $137,520 | ||
|
Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration Nos. 333-160987, 333-160987-01,
333-160987-02, 333-160987-03,
333-160987-04, 333-160987-05,
333-160987-06, 333-160987-07
and 333-160987-08
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To prospectus dated August 3, 2009)
NextEra Energy, Inc.
12,000,000 Equity Units
(Initially Consisting of 12,000,000 Corporate Units)
This is an offering of Equity Units by NextEra Energy, Inc., formerly known as FPL Group, Inc. ("NEE"). Each Equity Unit will have a stated amount of $50 and will consist of (1) a purchase contract issued by NEE and (2) initially a 1/20, or 5%, undivided beneficial ownership interest in a Series E Debenture due June 1, 2017 issued in the principal amount of $1,000 by NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc., formerly known as FPL Group Capital Inc ("NEE Capital"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of NEE, which is referred to as a Corporate Unit.
The applicable market value of NEE common stock will be determined by reference to average closing prices of NEE common stock over the 20 trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to June 1, 2015.
NEE does not intend to apply to list the Corporate Units on a securities exchange.
See "Risk Factors" beginning on page S-26 of this prospectus supplement to read about certain factors you should consider before making an investment in the Equity Units.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other securities commission in any jurisdiction has approved or disapproved of the Equity Units or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Each Corporate Unit will be issued in a stated amount of $50. An underwriting discount of $1.50 is applicable to each Corporate Unit (totaling $18,000,000). The Corporate Units were offered to the public at a price of $47.50 per Corporate Unit, for a total of $570,000,000. NEE Capital's proceeds from the offering (before expenses) will equal $48.50 per Corporate Unit, for a total of $582,000,000. Interest and contract adjustment payments on the Corporate Units will accrue from May 4, 2012. Purchasers of the Corporate Units must pay accrued interest and accumulated contract adjustment payments if settlement occurs after that date.
The underwriter has the option to purchase up to an additional 1,800,000 Corporate Units at a price of $48.50 per Corporate Unit in order to cover overallotments, if any. If that option is exercised, any such additional Corporate Units are expected to be delivered on or about the date set forth below.
The Corporate Units are expected to be delivered in book-entry only form through The Depository Trust Company for the accounts of its participants on or about May 4, 2012.
BofA Merrill Lynch
The date of this prospectus supplement is May 1, 2012.
You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus supplement and in the accompanying prospectus and in any written communication from NEE, NEE Capital or the underwriter specifying the final terms of the offering. None of NEE, NEE Capital or the underwriter has authorized anyone else to provide you with additional or different information. None of NEE, NEE Capital or the underwriter is making an offer of the Corporate Units in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus supplement or in the accompanying prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents or that the information incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document incorporated by reference.
S-i
You should read the following summary in conjunction with the more detailed information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus supplement or in the accompanying prospectus. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus contain forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Forward-looking statements should be read with the cautionary statements in the accompanying prospectus under the heading "Forward-Looking Statements" and the important factors discussed in this prospectus supplement and in the incorporated documents. To the extent the following information is inconsistent with the information in the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the following information. You should pay special attention to the "Risk Factors" section beginning on page S-26 of this prospectus supplement to determine whether an investment in the Equity Units is appropriate for you.
The information in this section replaces the information in the "FPL Group" section on page 8 of the accompanying prospectus.
NEE has two principal operating subsidiaries, Florida Power & Light Company ("FPL") and, indirectly through NEE Capital, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC ("NEER"). FPL is a rate-regulated electric utility engaged primarily in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electric energy in Florida. NEER is NEE's competitive energy subsidiary which produces the majority of its electricity from clean and renewable sources. NEE is a holding company incorporated in 1984 as a Florida corporation.
NEE's principal executive offices are located at 700 Universe Boulevard, Juno Beach, Florida 33408, telephone number (561) 694-4000, and its mailing address is P.O. Box 14000, Juno Beach, Florida 33408-0420.
The information in this section replaces the information in the "FPL Group Capital" section on page 8 of the accompanying prospectus.
NEE Capital owns and provides funding for, all of NEE's operating subsidiaries other than FPL and its subsidiaries. NEE Capital was incorporated in 1985 as a Florida corporation and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NEE.
NEE Capital's principal executive offices are located at 700 Universe Boulevard, Juno Beach, Florida 33408, telephone number (561) 694-4000, and its mailing address is P.O. Box 14000, Juno Beach, Florida 33408-0420.
S-1
The Equity Units consist of units referred to as either Corporate Units or Treasury Units. The Equity Units offered will initially consist of 12,000,000 Corporate Units (13,800,000 Corporate Units if the underwriter exercises its overallotment option in full), each with a stated amount of $50. From each Corporate Unit, the holder may create a Treasury Unit, as described below under "How can I create Treasury Units from Corporate Units?"
Each Corporate Unit consists of (1) a purchase contract and (2) initially a 1/20, or 5%, undivided beneficial ownership interest in a Series E Debenture due June 1, 2017 issued in the principal amount of $1,000 by NEE Capital, also referred to as the "applicable ownership interest in NEE Capital debentures." In this prospectus supplement, the Series E Debentures due June 1, 2017 are referred to as the "NEE Capital debentures." The NEE Capital debentures will rank equally and ratably with NEE Capital's other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations. The applicable ownership interest in NEE Capital debentures corresponds to $50 principal amount of NEE Capital debentures. NEE has agreed to absolutely, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee the payment of principal, interest and premium, if any, on the NEE Capital debentures. The guarantee is an unsecured obligation of NEE and will rank equally and ratably with all other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of NEE. The applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures that are components of the Corporate Units will be owned by the holders of the Corporate Units, but they will be pledged to NEE through the collateral agent to secure the holders' obligations to purchase NEE common stock under the related purchase contracts. The NEE Capital debentures will be issued in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof (except in certain limited circumstances). If the NEE Capital debentures are successfully remarketed on or prior to the ninth business day preceding June 1, 2015, or a special event redemption or a mandatory redemption occurs, in each case as described in this prospectus supplement, the applicable ownership interest in a Treasury portfolio (as defined under "What is the Treasury portfolio?") will replace the applicable ownership interest in NEE Capital debentures as a component of each Corporate Unit and will be pledged to NEE through the collateral agent to secure the holder's obligation to purchase NEE common stock under the related purchase contract. The NEE Capital debentures will not trade separately from the Corporate Units unless and until Treasury securities are substituted for NEE Capital debentures, the Corporate Units' purchase contracts are settled early or the NEE Capital debentures are remarketed.
Each purchase contract that is a component of an Equity Unit obligates the holder of the purchase contract to purchase, and obligates NEE to sell, on June 1, 2015, which is referred to as the "purchase contract settlement date," for $50 in cash, a number of newly issued shares of NEE common stock equal to the "settlement rate." The settlement rate will be calculated, subject to adjustment under the circumstances described in "Description of the Purchase ContractsAnti-dilution Adjustments" and in "Description of the Purchase ContractsEarly Settlement upon a Fundamental Change," as follows:
S-2
"Applicable market value" means the average of the closing price per share of NEE common stock on each of the 20 consecutive trading days ending on the third trading day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date, subject to adjustment under the circumstances set forth in "Description of the Purchase ContractsAnti-dilution Adjustments." "Applicable market value" will also be subject to adjustments under the circumstances set forth under "Description of the Purchase ContractsEarly Settlement upon a Fundamental Change." The "reference price," which is $64.35, equals the last reported sale price of NEE common stock on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, on April 30, 2012. The "threshold appreciation price" is $77.22, and represents an appreciation of 20% over the reference price.
A Treasury Unit is a unit that can be created from a Corporate Unit and consists of (1) a purchase contract and (2) a 1/20, or 5%, undivided beneficial ownership interest in a zero-coupon United States ("U.S.") Treasury security that will mature on May 31, 2015 with a principal amount at maturity of $1,000 (CUSIP No. 912828NF3), which is referred to as a "Treasury security." The ownership interest in the Treasury security that is a component of each Treasury Unit will be owned by the holder of the Treasury Unit, but it will be pledged to NEE through the collateral agent to secure the holder's obligation to purchase NEE common stock under the related purchase contract.
How can I create Treasury Units from Corporate Units?
Unless the Treasury portfolio has replaced the NEE Capital debentures as a component of the Corporate Units as a result of a successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures, a special event redemption or a mandatory redemption, each holder of Corporate Units will have the right, on or prior to the seventh business day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date, to substitute for the related NEE Capital debentures held by the collateral agent a Treasury security having a principal amount at maturity equal to the aggregate principal amount of the NEE Capital debentures for which substitution is being made. Because Treasury securities and NEE Capital debentures are issued in integral multiples of $1,000, holders of Corporate Units may make these substitutions only in integral multiples of 20 Corporate Units. The ability of holders of Corporate Units to create Treasury Units will be subject to the limitation that holders may not create Treasury Units during any period commencing on and including the business day preceding any three-day remarketing period as described under "What is remarketing?" below and ending on and including, in the case of a successful remarketing during that three-day remarketing period, the reset effective date (as defined under "What is remarketing?" below), or, if none of the remarketings during that three-day remarketing period is successful, the business day following the last remarketing date in the applicable three-day remarketing period.
If a Treasury portfolio has replaced the NEE Capital debentures as a component of the Corporate Units as a result of a successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures, a special event redemption or a mandatory redemption, holders of Corporate Units may create Treasury Units by making substitutions of Treasury securities for the applicable ownership interests in the Treasury portfolio held by the collateral agent, on or prior to the second business day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date and only in integral multiples of 80,000 Corporate Units (or such other number of Corporate Units as may be determined by the remarketing agent in connection with a successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures if the reset effective date is not a regular quarterly interest payment date).
S-3
Each of these substitutions will create Treasury Units, and the NEE Capital debentures underlying the applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures or the applicable ownership interests in the Treasury portfolio will be released to the holder and be tradable separately from the Treasury Units.
How can I recreate Corporate Units from Treasury Units?
Unless the Treasury portfolio has replaced the NEE Capital debentures as a component of the Corporate Units as a result of a successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures, a special event redemption or a mandatory redemption, each holder of Treasury Units will have the right, subject to the last sentence of this paragraph, on or prior to the second business day immediately preceding the first day of the final three-day remarketing period, to substitute NEE Capital debentures for any related Treasury securities held by the collateral agent, having a principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount at maturity of the Treasury securities for which substitution is being made. Because Treasury securities and NEE Capital debentures are issued in integral multiples of $1,000, holders of Treasury Units may make these substitutions only in integral multiples of 20 Treasury Units. The ability of holders of Treasury Units to recreate Corporate Units will be subject to the limitation that holders may not recreate Corporate Units during any period commencing on and including the business day preceding any three-day remarketing period and ending on and including, in the case of a successful remarketing during that three-day remarketing period, the reset effective date, or, if none of the remarketings during that three-day remarketing period is successful, the business day following the last remarketing date in the applicable three-day remarketing period.
If a Treasury portfolio has replaced the NEE Capital debentures as a component of the Corporate Units as a result of a successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures, a special event redemption or a mandatory redemption, holders of Treasury Units may recreate Corporate Units by making substitutions of the applicable ownership interests in the Treasury portfolio for Treasury securities held by the collateral agent, on or prior to the second business day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date and only in integral multiples of 80,000 Treasury Units (or such other number of Treasury Units as may be determined by the remarketing agent in connection with a successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures if the reset effective date is not a regular quarterly interest payment date).
Each of these substitutions will recreate Corporate Units, and the applicable Treasury securities or the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio will be released to the holder and be tradable separately from the Corporate Units.
What payments am I entitled to as a holder of Corporate Units?
Holders of Corporate Units will be entitled to receive aggregate quarterly cash distributions at the rate of 5.599% per year on the stated amount of $50 per Corporate Unit. These quarterly cash distributions will consist of:
If, following a successful remarketing, the interest rate on the NEE Capital debentures is reset on a reset effective date that is not a scheduled interest payment date, the collateral agent will receive on
S-4
behalf of holders of Corporate Units a payment from NEE Capital on such reset effective date of accrued and unpaid interest on the NEE Capital debentures from the most recent quarterly interest payment date to, but excluding, such reset effective date. On the quarterly payment date next following the reset effective date, Corporate Unit holders will receive a quarterly cash distribution comprised of their pro rata portion of the interest payment received by the collateral agent which is described in the preceding sentence, the portion of their applicable ownership interest in the remarketing Treasury portfolio, as described below under "What is the Treasury portfolio?", that matures prior to that quarterly payment date, and the contract adjustment payment payable on that date.
In addition, original issue discount, or OID, for U.S. federal income tax purposes will accrue on each NEE Capital debenture. NEE Capital is not entitled to defer interest payments on the NEE Capital debentures.
What payments am I entitled to if I convert my Corporate Units to Treasury Units?
Holders of Treasury Units will be entitled to receive quarterly contract adjustment payments payable by NEE at the rate of 3.899% per year on the stated amount of $50 per Treasury Unit, subject to NEE's right to defer the payment of such contract adjustment payments. In addition, OID will accrue on each related Treasury security. There will be no distributions in respect of the Treasury securities that are a component of the Treasury Units, but the holders of the Treasury Units will continue to receive the scheduled interest payments on the NEE Capital debentures that were released to them when they created the Treasury Units as long as they continue to hold such NEE Capital debentures.
What rights do NEE or NEE Capital have to defer current payments?
NEE has the right to defer the payment of contract adjustment payments until no later than the purchase contract settlement date; provided, however, that in the event of an early settlement upon a fundamental change or any other early settlement of the purchase contracts, NEE will pay deferred contract adjustment payments to but not including the fundamental change settlement date or the most recent quarterly payment date, as applicable (unless earlier paid in full). Any deferred contract adjustment payments will accrue additional contract adjustment payments at the rate of 5.599% per year (such additional payment being equal to the initial interest rate on the NEE Capital debentures plus the rate of contract adjustment payments on the purchase contracts) until paid, compounded quarterly. NEE Capital is not entitled to defer payments of interest on the NEE Capital debentures. In the event NEE exercises its right to defer the payment of contract adjustment payments, then until the deferred contract adjustment payments have been paid, NEE will not, with certain exceptions, declare or pay dividends on, make distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase or acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock. See "Description of the Purchase ContractsOption to Defer Contract Adjustment Payments."
What are the payment dates for the Corporate Units?
The payments described above in respect of the Corporate Units will be payable quarterly in arrears on March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 of each year, commencing September 1, 2012. If any date on which interest on the NEE Capital debentures is to be paid or contract adjustment payments are to be made on the purchase contracts is not a business day, then payment of the interest and the contract adjustment payments payable on that date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a business day, and no interest or payment will be paid in respect of the delay. However, if that business day is in the next succeeding calendar year, payment will be made on the immediately preceding business day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on that scheduled payment date. A "business day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on
S-5
which banking institutions and trust companies in New York City are permitted or required by any applicable law, regulation or executive order to close.
NEE Capital may, at its option and in its sole discretion, elect to remarket the NEE Capital debentures that are a component of Corporate Units on any remarketing date occurring during the period for early remarketing beginning on the fifth business day preceding December 1, 2014 and ending on the ninth business day preceding June 1, 2015, unless the NEE Capital debentures have been previously redeemed in connection with a special event redemption or a mandatory redemption or have been previously successfully remarketed. Each holder of NEE Capital debentures that are not a component of Corporate Units may elect to include those NEE Capital debentures in a remarketing. Any remarketing during the period for early remarketing will occur during one or more three-day remarketing periods that consist of three sequential possible remarketing dates selected by NEE Capital and will include the NEE Capital debentures that are a component of the Corporate Units and those separate NEE Capital debentures whose holders have elected to include those debentures in the remarketing.
On each remarketing date, if any, occurring during the period for early remarketing, the remarketing agent will use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a price for the NEE Capital debentures remarketed equal to or greater than 100% of the purchase price for the remarketing Treasury portfolio plus the separate NEE Capital debentures purchase price (as defined below) plus the applicable remarketing fee. In no event shall the price for the NEE Capital debentures on each remarketing date, if any, occurring during the period for early remarketing be less than a price equal to 100% of the purchase price for the remarketing Treasury portfolio plus the separate NEE Capital debentures purchase price. The "separate NEE Capital debenture purchase price," with respect to separate NEE Capital debentures that were not a component of Corporate Units and whose holders have elected to include those NEE Capital debentures in an early remarketing, means an amount equal to the purchase price for the remarketing Treasury portfolio divided by the principal amount of NEE Capital debentures which were a component of Corporate Units that participated in the remarketing multiplied by the aggregate principal amount of NEE Capital debentures that were not a component of Corporate Units whose holders elected to include those NEE Capital debentures in an early remarketing. A portion of the proceeds from the remarketing equal to the remarketing Treasury portfolio purchase price will be applied to purchase the remarketing Treasury portfolio. The remarketing Treasury portfolio will be substituted for the NEE Capital debentures that are a component of the Corporate Units and will be pledged to NEE through the collateral agent to secure the holders' obligations to purchase NEE common stock under the related purchase contracts. When paid at maturity, an amount of the remarketing Treasury portfolio equal to the principal amount of the NEE Capital debentures for which that Treasury portfolio was substituted will automatically be applied to satisfy the Corporate Unit holders' obligations to purchase NEE common stock under the related purchase contracts on June 1, 2015.
In addition, if a remarketing during the period for early remarketing is successful, the remarketing agent may deduct the remarketing fee from any portion of the proceeds from the remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures that is in excess of the sum of the remarketing Treasury portfolio purchase price and the aggregate separate NEE Capital debentures purchase price, which remarketing fee shall be 25 basis points (0.25%) of the sum of the remarketing Treasury portfolio purchase price and the aggregate separate NEE Capital debentures purchase price. The remarketing agent will then remit the separate NEE Capital debentures purchase price to the holders of NEE Capital debentures that were not a component of Corporate Units and whose holders elected to include those NEE Capital debentures in an early remarketing. The remarketing agent will then remit the remaining portion of the proceeds from the remarketing of those NEE Capital debentures, if any, for the benefit of the holders
S-6
of the Corporate Units and the holders, prior to remarketing, of NEE Capital debentures that were not a component of Corporate Units and whose holders elected to include those NEE Capital debentures in an early remarketing. The "reset effective date" will be, in the case of a successful remarketing during the period for early remarketing, the third business day immediately following the date of the successful remarketing, unless the remarketing is successful within five business days of the next succeeding interest payment date in which case the reset effective date will be such interest payment date, and, in the case of a successful remarketing during the final three-day remarketing period, the purchase contract settlement date.
If a remarketing attempt described above is unsuccessful on the first remarketing date of a three-day remarketing period, subsequent remarketings as described above will be attempted on each of the two following remarketing dates in that three-day remarketing period until a successful remarketing occurs. If none of the three remarketings occurring during a three-day remarketing period results in a successful remarketing because the remarketing agent cannot obtain a price for the NEE Capital debentures on any such date equal to at least 100% of the purchase price for the remarketing Treasury portfolio plus the separate NEE Capital debentures purchase price, or a condition precedent to the remarketing has not been fulfilled, the interest rate on the NEE Capital debentures will not be reset, the applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures will continue to be a component of the Corporate Units and subsequent remarketings may, subject to the next paragraph, be attempted during one or more subsequent three-day remarketing periods as described above.
Unless the NEE Capital debentures have been successfully remarketed on or prior to the ninth business day immediately preceding June 1, 2015, the NEE Capital debentures that are a component of the Corporate Units whose holders have failed to notify the purchase contract agent on or prior to the seventh business day immediately preceding June 1, 2015 of their intention to pay cash in order to satisfy their obligations under the related purchase contracts, will, unless a special event redemption or a mandatory redemption has occurred or will occur prior to June 1, 2015, be remarketed during a three-day remarketing period beginning on and including the fifth business day, and ending on and including the third business day, immediately preceding June 1, 2015. This three-day remarketing period is referred to as the "final three-day remarketing period," and the third business day immediately preceding June 1, 2015 is referred to as the "final remarketing date." In this remarketing, the remarketing agent will use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a price for the NEE Capital debentures equal to or greater than 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the NEE Capital debentures being remarketed plus the applicable remarketing fee. In no event shall the price for the NEE Capital debentures being remarketed in this remarketing be less than the aggregate principal amount of the NEE Capital debentures being remarketed. The proceeds from the remarketing of NEE Capital debentures that are a component of Corporate Units equal to the aggregate principal amount of such NEE Capital debentures will be automatically applied to satisfy in full the Corporate Unit holders' obligations to purchase NEE common stock under the related purchase contracts on the purchase contract settlement date.
If a remarketing during the final three-day remarketing period is successful, the remarketing agent may deduct the remarketing fee from any portion of the proceeds from the remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures that is in excess of the aggregate principal amount of the remarketed NEE Capital debentures, which remarketing fee shall be 25 basis points (0.25%) of the aggregate principal amount of the NEE Capital debentures remarketed. The remarketing agent will then remit an amount equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the NEE Capital debentures that were not components of the Corporate Units to the holders of such NEE Capital debentures who elected to participate in the remarketing. The remarketing agent will then remit the remaining portion of the proceeds from the remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures, if any, for the benefit of the holders of the Corporate Units and the holders, prior to remarketing, of such debentures.
S-7
In connection with a successful remarketing, interest on the NEE Capital debentures will be payable semi-annually at the reset rate. The reset rate on the NEE Capital debentures will be determined on the date that the remarketing agent is able to successfully remarket the NEE Capital debentures. The reset rate will become effective, if the remarketing is successful, on the reset effective date.
If a remarketing attempt described above is unsuccessful on the first remarketing date of the final three-day remarketing period, subsequent remarketings will be attempted as described above on each of the two following remarketing dates in the final three-day remarketing period until a successful remarketing occurs.
What happens if the NEE Capital debentures are not successfully remarketed?
If the NEE Capital debentures are not successfully remarketed prior to the final remarketing date, or if the remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures on the final remarketing date is not successful because the remarketing agent cannot obtain a price of at least 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the NEE Capital debentures being remarketed or a condition precedent to such remarketing has not been fulfilled, NEE will exercise its rights as a secured party in accordance with applicable law and may, among other things, retain the NEE Capital debentures that are a component of Corporate Units or sell the NEE Capital debentures that are a component of Corporate Units, in each case to satisfy in full the holders' obligations to purchase NEE common stock under the related purchase contracts on June 1, 2015.
In addition, holders of NEE Capital debentures that are not a component of a Corporate Unit may exercise their put right upon an unsuccessful final remarketing by providing written notice at least two business days prior to the purchase contract settlement date. The put price will be paid to such holder on the purchase contract settlement date. The put price will be equal to the principal amount of the NEE Capital debentures, plus accrued and unpaid interest.
Do I have to participate in the remarketing?
A holder of Corporate Units may elect not to participate in any remarketing and to retain its applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures that are a component of the holder's Corporate Units by (1) creating Treasury Units at any time prior to the business day preceding any three-day remarketing period or (2), if there has not been a successful remarketing prior to the final three-day remarketing period, notifying the purchase contract agent of the holder's intention to pay cash to satisfy its obligation under the related purchase contracts on or prior to the seventh business day before the purchase contract settlement date and delivering the cash payment required under the purchase contracts to the collateral agent on or prior to the sixth business day before the purchase contract settlement date. Whether or not a holder of Corporate Units participates in the remarketing, upon a successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures, the NEE Capital debentures will become subject to the modified provisions described under "Which provisions will govern the NEE Capital debentures following the remarketing?" Following a successful remarketing prior to the final three-day remarketing period, holders of Treasury Units can recreate Corporate Units, on or prior to the second business day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date, as described under "How can I recreate Corporate Units from Treasury Units?"
Which provisions will govern the NEE Capital debentures following the remarketing?
The NEE Capital debentures will continue to be governed by the indenture under which they were issued, but some of the provisions of the NEE Capital debentures may be modified by NEE Capital without the consent of the holders of NEE Capital debentures.
S-8
What is the Treasury portfolio?
If there is a successful remarketing on or prior to the ninth business day preceding the purchase contract settlement date or if a special event redemption described under "Certain Terms of the NEE Capital DebenturesSpecial Event Redemption" or a mandatory redemption described under "Certain Terms of the NEE Capital DebenturesMandatory Redemption" occurs prior to the purchase contract settlement date, the NEE Capital debentures will be replaced by the Treasury portfolio. The Treasury portfolio is a portfolio of U.S. Treasury securities consisting of:
If a Treasury portfolio is required to be purchased in connection with a mandatory redemption of NEE Capital debentures, it will consist of the same securities as the special event Treasury portfolio.
S-9
If I am holding a NEE Capital debenture as a security separate from the Corporate Units, can I still participate in a remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures?
Holders of NEE Capital debentures that are not components of Corporate Units may elect, in the manner described in this prospectus supplement, to have their separate NEE Capital debentures remarketed by the remarketing agent along with the NEE Capital debentures that are a component of the Corporate Units. See "Certain Terms of the NEE Capital DebenturesOptional Remarketing." Holders may also participate in any remarketing by recreating Corporate Units from Treasury Units on or prior to the second business day immediately prior to any three-day remarketing period.
Other than remarketing, how else may I satisfy my obligations under the purchase contracts?
Holders of Equity Units may satisfy their obligations under the purchase contracts as follows:
If the NEE Capital debentures are not successfully remarketed prior to the final three-day remarketing period and a special event redemption or a mandatory redemption has not occurred, and a holder of Corporate Units does not give notice to the purchase contract agent that the holder intends to settle the purchase contract with cash as described above, NEE will exercise its rights as a secured party, in accordance with applicable law, in respect of the pledged applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures to satisfy the holder's obligation to purchase NEE common stock and NEE expects that it or the collateral agent will offer and sell the corresponding pledged applicable ownership interests in the NEE Capital debentures in the immediately following remarketing or at a subsequent public sale at which NEE may bid its claim or in a subsequent private sale. In addition, NEE may, in accordance with applicable law, retain the pledged applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures that are included in Corporate Units to satisfy the holder's obligation to purchase NEE common stock. If a holder of Treasury Units (or Corporate Units if the NEE Capital debentures are successfully remarketed during the period for early remarketing or a special event redemption or a mandatory redemption has occurred) does not give notice to the purchase contract agent that the holder intends to settle the purchase contract with cash as described above, NEE will exercise its rights as a secured party in respect of the pledged Treasury securities (or pledged Treasury portfolio) to satisfy the holder's obligation to purchase NEE common stock and expects to apply the proceeds of the applicable ownership interest in the pledged Treasury securities or applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio to purchase the corresponding NEE common stock.
S-10
In addition, the purchase contract agreement that governs the Corporate Units and the Treasury Units provides that a holder's obligation to purchase NEE common stock under the related purchase contract will be terminated without any further action upon the termination of the purchase contracts as a result of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of NEE.
What interest payments will I receive on the NEE Capital debentures?
Interest on the NEE Capital debentures will be payable initially quarterly in arrears at the annual rate of 1.70% per year on the principal amount per debenture of $1,000 to, but excluding, the reset effective date. The reset effective date will be, in the case of a successful remarketing during the period for early remarketing, the third business day immediately following the date of the successful remarketing, unless the remarketing is successful within five business days of the next succeeding interest payment date in which case such interest payment date will be the reset effective date, and, in the case of a successful remarketing during the final three-day remarketing period, the purchase contract settlement date. Following a successful remarketing, the NEE Capital debentures will bear interest, payable semi-annually in arrears from the reset effective date at the reset rate to, but excluding, June 1, 2017.
If interest on the NEE Capital debentures is reset on a reset effective date that is not a scheduled interest payment date, the collateral agent will receive on behalf of holders of Corporate Units a payment from NEE Capital on such reset effective date of accrued and unpaid interest on the NEE Capital debentures from the most recent quarterly interest payment date to, but excluding, such reset effective date. On the quarterly payment date next following the reset effective date, Corporate Unit holders will receive a quarterly cash distribution comprised of their pro rata portion of that interest payment, the portion of their applicable ownership interest in the remarketing Treasury portfolio that matures prior to that quarterly payment date and the contract adjustment payment payable on that date. If interest on the NEE Capital debentures is reset on a reset effective date that is not a scheduled interest payment date, holders of separate NEE Capital debentures that were not a component of Corporate Units will receive on the reset effective date a payment of accrued and unpaid interest from the most recent interest payment date to, but excluding, such reset effective date. On the semi-annual interest payment date next following the reset effective date, holders of NEE Capital debentures will receive a payment of interest accrued from and including the reset effective date, to but excluding such interest payment date. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, OID will accrue on the NEE Capital debentures. If there is not a successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures, the interest rate will not be reset and the NEE Capital debentures will continue to bear interest at the initial interest rate, payable quarterly in arrears on the originally-scheduled quarterly interest payment dates.
What are the payment dates on the applicable ownership interests in the NEE Capital debentures?
On or prior to the reset effective date, interest payments will be payable quarterly in arrears on each March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1, commencing September 1, 2012, and on the reset effective date as described above in "What interest payments will I receive on the NEE Capital debentures?" if the reset effective date is not otherwise a quarterly interest payment date. If the interest rate on the NEE Capital debentures is reset on a reset effective date that is not otherwise a quarterly interest payment date, the collateral agent will receive the interest payment made on NEE Capital debentures that are a component of the Corporate Units on that reset effective date, which will be paid to holders of Corporate Units on the quarterly payment date next following that reset effective date.
From the reset effective date, interest payments on all NEE Capital debentures will be paid semi-annually in arrears on interest payment dates to be selected by NEE Capital. If there is no successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures, interest payments on all NEE Capital
S-11
debentures will remain payable quarterly in arrears on the originally-scheduled quarterly interest payment dates.
When will the interest rate on the NEE Capital debentures be reset and what is the reset rate?
Unless a special event redemption or a mandatory redemption has occurred, the interest rate on the NEE Capital debentures will be reset on the date of a successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures and the reset rate will become effective three business days thereafter, unless the remarketing is successful within five business days of the next succeeding interest payment date in which case such interest payment date will be the reset effective date, or in the case of a remarketing during the final three-day remarketing period, the purchase contract settlement date. The reset rate will be the interest rate determined by the remarketing agent as the rate the NEE Capital debentures should bear in order for the aggregate principal amount of NEE Capital debentures being remarketed to have an aggregate market value on the remarketing date of at least 100% of the Treasury portfolio purchase price plus the aggregate separate NEE Capital debenture purchase price plus the applicable remarketing fee, in the case of a remarketing prior to the final three-day remarketing period, or at least 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the NEE Capital debentures being remarketed plus the applicable remarketing fee, in the case of a remarketing during the final three-day remarketing period. The interest rate on the NEE Capital debentures will not be reset if there is not a successful remarketing. Any reset rate may not exceed the maximum rate, if any, permitted by applicable law.
When is the maturity of the NEE Capital debentures?
The maturity date of the NEE Capital debentures is June 1, 2017.
When may the NEE Capital debentures be redeemed?
The NEE Capital debentures are redeemable at NEE Capital's option, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence and continuation of a special event under the circumstances described in this prospectus supplement under "Certain Terms of the NEE Capital DebenturesSpecial Event Redemption." Following such redemption of the NEE Capital debentures (referred to as a "special event redemption") which occurs prior to a successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures or the purchase contract settlement date, holders of Corporate Units will own the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio as a component of their Corporate Units.
In addition, the NEE Capital debentures are mandatorily redeemable by NEE Capital if NEE's guarantee of the NEE Capital debentures ceases to be in full force or effect, or upon the bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of NEE under the circumstances described in this prospectus supplement, unless Standard & Poor's Ratings Service (a Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC business) and Moody's Investors Service, Inc. (if the NEE Capital debentures are then rated by those rating agencies, or, if the NEE Capital debentures are then rated by only one of those rating agencies, then such rating agency, or, if the NEE Capital debentures are not then rated by either one of those rating agencies but are then rated by one or more other nationally recognized rating agencies, then at least one of those other nationally recognized rating agencies) shall have reaffirmed in writing that, after giving effect to such event, the credit rating on the outstanding NEE Capital debentures is "investment grade." Following such mandatory redemption of the NEE Capital debentures which occurs prior to a successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures or the purchase contract settlement date, holders of Corporate Units will own the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio as a component of their Corporate Units.
S-12
Can I settle the purchase contract early?
At any time prior to the seventh business day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date, in the case of Corporate Units, or at any time prior to the second business day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date, in the case of Treasury Units, a holder of Equity Units may settle the related purchase contracts in their entirety by paying $50 in cash per Equity Unit, in which case 0.6475 shares, subject to adjustment under the circumstances described in "Description of the Purchase ContractsAnti-dilution Adjustments," of NEE common stock will be issued to the holder pursuant to each purchase contract. A holder may only elect early settlement in integral multiples of 20 Corporate Units or 20 Treasury Units. If the Treasury portfolio has replaced the NEE Capital debentures as a component of the Corporate Units, holders of Corporate Units may settle a purchase contract early on or prior to the second business day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date only in integral multiples of 80,000 Corporate Units. See "Description of the Purchase ContractsEarly Settlement by Delivering Cash." This right to settle a purchase contract early by paying cash is distinct from the right to an early settlement upon a fundamental change. See "What happens if there is an early settlement upon a fundamental change?"
The early settlement right is subject to the condition that, if required under the U.S. federal securities laws, NEE has a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 in effect and an available prospectus covering the shares of NEE common stock and/or other securities, if any, deliverable upon settlement of a purchase contract. NEE has agreed that, if required by U.S. federal securities laws, it will use its commercially reasonable efforts to have a registration statement in effect and to provide a prospectus covering those shares of common stock and/or other securities to be delivered in respect of the purchase contracts being settled.
What happens if there is an early settlement upon a fundamental change?
Prior to the purchase contract settlement date, if either of the following occurs:
which is referred to as a "fundamental change," then following the fundamental change, each holder of an Equity Unit will have the right to accelerate and settle the related purchase contract that is a component of the Equity Unit early at the settlement rate described under "Description of the Purchase ContractsEarly Settlement upon a Fundamental Change," plus an additional make-whole amount of shares (such additional make-whole amount of shares being hereafter referred to as the "make-whole shares") described under "Description of the Purchase ContractsEarly Settlement upon a Fundamental Change," provided that at such time, if so required under the U.S. federal securities laws, there is in effect a registration statement covering the common stock and/or other securities, if any, to be delivered in respect of the purchase contracts being settled. This right is referred to in this prospectus supplement as the "fundamental change early settlement right."
NEE will provide each of the holders of an Equity Unit with a notice of the completion of a fundamental change within five business days thereof. The notice will specify a date, which shall be at least ten days after the date of the notice but no later than the earlier of 20 days after the date of such
S-13
notice or five business days prior to the purchase contract settlement date, by which each holder's fundamental change early settlement right would need to be exercised (this date is referred to in this prospectus supplement as the "fundamental change early settlement date"). The notice will set forth, among other things, the applicable settlement rate and the kind and amount of securities, cash or other consideration receivable by the holder upon settlement. To exercise the fundamental change early settlement right, a holder would need to deliver to the purchase contract agent, no later than 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day before the fundamental change early settlement date, the certificate or certificates evidencing such holder's Corporate Units or Treasury Units, and payment of the applicable purchase price in immediately available funds.
If the fundamental change early settlement right is exercised by a holder, NEE will deliver to the holder on the fundamental change early settlement date the kind and amount of securities, cash or other consideration that the holder would have been entitled to receive if such holder had settled the purchase contract immediately before the fundamental change at the settlement rate described under "Description of the Purchase ContractsEarly Settlement upon a Fundamental Change," plus the additional make-whole shares. The holder will also receive the NEE Capital debentures, applicable ownership interests in the Treasury portfolio or Treasury securities that are a component of the Corporate Units or Treasury Units, as the case may be. If the holder does not elect to exercise its fundamental change early settlement right, the holder's Corporate Units or Treasury Units will remain outstanding and subject to normal settlement on the purchase contract settlement date. NEE has agreed that, if required under the U.S. federal securities laws, it will use commercially reasonable efforts to (1) have in effect a registration statement covering the securities, if any, to be delivered in respect of the purchase contracts being settled and (2) provide a prospectus in connection therewith, in each case in a form that may be used in connection with an early settlement upon a fundamental change. In the event that a holder seeks to exercise its fundamental change early settlement right and a registration statement is required to be effective in connection with the exercise of such right but no such registration statement is then effective, the holder's exercise of such right shall be void unless and until such a registration statement shall be effective and NEE will have no further obligation with respect to any such registration statement if, notwithstanding using its commercially reasonable efforts, no registration statement is then effective.
If the Treasury portfolio has replaced the NEE Capital debentures as a component of the Corporate Units, holders of the Corporate Units may exercise the fundamental change early settlement right only in integral multiples of 80,000 Corporate Units (or such other number of Corporate Units as may be determined by the remarketing agent upon a successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures if the reset effective date is not a regular quarterly interest payment date). Otherwise, a holder of Corporate Units or Treasury Units may exercise the fundamental change early settlement right only in integral multiples of 20 Corporate Units or 20 Treasury Units, respectively.
The number of make-whole shares applicable to a fundamental change early settlement will be determined by reference to the table set forth under "Description of the Purchase ContractsEarly Settlement upon a Fundamental Change."
What is the ranking of the NEE Capital debentures?
The NEE Capital debentures will rank equally and ratably with all of NEE Capital's other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations. NEE Capital is a holding company that derives substantially all of its income from its operating subsidiaries. NEE Capital's subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation to pay any amounts on the NEE Capital debentures or to make any funds available for such payment. Therefore, the NEE Capital debentures will be effectively subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities, including trade payables, debt and preferred stock issued, guaranteed or otherwise incurred by NEE Capital's subsidiaries. In addition to trade liabilities, many of NEE Capital's operating subsidiaries incur debt in order to finance their business activities. All
S-14
of this indebtedness will be effectively senior to the NEE Capital debentures. The indenture pursuant to which the NEE Capital debentures will be issued does not place any limit on the amount of indebtedness that NEE Capital may issue, guarantee or otherwise incur or the amount of liabilities, including debt or preferred stock, that NEE Capital's subsidiaries may issue, guarantee or otherwise incur. See "Description of FPL Group Capital Senior Debt Securities" in the accompanying prospectus.
NEE has agreed to absolutely, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee the payment of principal, interest and premium, if any, on the NEE Capital debentures. See "Description of FPL Group Guarantee of FPL Group Capital Senior Debt Securities" in the accompanying prospectus.
The guarantee is an unsecured obligation of NEE and will rank equally and ratably with all other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of NEE. There is no limit on the amount of other indebtedness, including guarantees, that NEE may incur or issue. NEE is a holding company that derives substantially all of its income from its operating subsidiaries. NEE's subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and, other than NEE Capital, have no obligation to pay any amounts on the NEE Capital debentures or to make any funds available for such payment. Therefore, the guarantee will be effectively subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities, including trade payables, debt and preferred stock issued, guaranteed or otherwise incurred by NEE's subsidiaries. In addition to trade liabilities, many of NEE's operating subsidiaries incur debt in order to finance their business activities. All of this indebtedness will be effectively senior to the guarantee. The indenture pursuant to which the NEE Capital debentures will be issued does not place any limit on the amount of indebtedness that NEE may issue, guarantee or otherwise incur or the amount of liabilities, including debt or preferred stock, that NEE's subsidiaries may issue, guarantee or otherwise incur.
Will there be a limitation on liens?
NEE Capital may not grant a lien on the capital stock of any of its majority-owned subsidiaries which shares of capital stock NEE Capital now or hereafter directly owns to secure indebtedness of NEE Capital without similarly securing the NEE Capital debentures, with certain exceptions. The granting of liens by NEE Capital's subsidiaries is not restricted in any way. See "Description of FPL Group Capital Senior Debt Securities" in the accompanying prospectus.
What are the principal U.S. federal income tax consequences related to the Corporate Units, Treasury Units and NEE Capital debentures?
NEE Capital intends to treat the NEE Capital debentures as contingent payment debt instruments that are subject to the contingent payment debt instrument rules for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, through the reset effective date, and possibly thereafter, a U.S. holder of Corporate Units or NEE Capital debentures will be required to include in gross income an amount in excess of the interest actually received in respect of such applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures, regardless of the holder's usual method of tax accounting, and will generally recognize ordinary income or loss, rather than capital gain or loss, on the sale, exchange or other disposition of applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures or of the Corporate Units, to the extent such income is allocable to applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures. A beneficial owner of Treasury Units will be required to include in gross income any OID with respect to the Treasury securities as it accrues on a constant yield to maturity basis. If the Treasury portfolio has replaced applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures as a component of Corporate Units as a result of a successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures or a special event redemption, a beneficial owner of Corporate Units will be required to include in gross income its allocable share of OID on the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio as it accrues on a constant yield to maturity basis. To the extent NEE is required to file information returns with respect to contract adjustment
S-15
payments or deferred contract adjustment payments, it intends to report such payments as taxable ordinary income to beneficial owners of Equity Units, but holders may want to consult their tax advisors concerning possible alternative characterizations. See "Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences."
Are there limitations on the purchase, holding or disposition of the Corporate Units with assets of, or on behalf of, a U.S. employee benefit plan?
Yes. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and similar federal, state and local laws that are substantively similar or are of similar effect impose restrictions on the purchase, holding and disposition of Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) by employee benefit plans that are subject to those laws. Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) may be purchased with assets of, or on behalf of, a U.S. employee benefit plan subject to the investing fiduciary's determination that the investment satisfies ERISA's fiduciary standards and other requirements under ERISA, the Code and/or similar federal, state and local laws applicable to investments by such employee benefit plan. An investing fiduciary that proposes to cause a U.S. employee benefit plan, or to act on behalf of a U.S. employee benefit plan, to purchase Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) should consult its own counsel regarding the potential applicability of ERISA, the Code and/or similar federal, state or local laws that are substantively similar or are of similar effect applicable to such investment, the potential consequences in its specific circumstances, and whether any exemption or exemptions would be applicable and should determine on its own whether all conditions of such exemption or exemptions have been satisfied. See "ERISA Considerations."
What are the rights and privileges of NEE common stock?
The shares of NEE common stock that holders of Equity Units will be obligated to purchase under the purchase contracts have one vote per share. For more information, please see the discussion of NEE common stock in this prospectus supplement under the heading "Description of NEE Common Stock."
S-16
The OfferingExplanatory Diagrams
The diagrams on the following pages demonstrate some of the key features of the purchase contracts, the applicable ownership interests in the NEE Capital debentures, the Corporate Units and the Treasury Units, and the transformation of Corporate Units into Treasury Units and separate NEE Capital debentures.
The following diagrams also assume that the NEE Capital debentures are successfully remarketed, there has not been a special event redemption or a mandatory redemption, the interest rate on the NEE Capital debentures is reset on the purchase contract settlement date, the payment of contract adjustment payments is not deferred and no anti-dilution adjustments were required to be made.
Both the Corporate Units and the Treasury Units include a purchase contract under which the holder agrees to purchase shares of NEE common stock on the purchase contract settlement date. In addition, these purchase contracts include contract adjustment payments as shown in the diagrams on the following pages.
S-17
Each Corporate Unit consists of two components as described below:
The foregoing analysis assumes the NEE Capital debentures are successfully remarketed during the final three-day remarketing period. If the remarketing was successful prior to such period, following the remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures the applicable ownership interests in the Treasury portfolio would have replaced the applicable ownership interest in NEE Capital debentures as a component of the Corporate Unit and the reset rate would be effective three business days following the successful remarketing, unless the remarketing was successful within five business days of the next succeeding interest payment date in which case such interest payment date will be the reset effective date.
S-18
Following the remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures, the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio will replace the applicable ownership interest in NEE Capital debentures as a component of the Corporate Unit.
Each Treasury Unit consists of two components as described below:
S-19
Each NEE Capital debenture has the terms described below(1)(2):
S-20
Transforming Corporate Units into Treasury Units and NEE Capital debentures
|
The applicable ownership interests in the Treasury portfolio will be released to the holder of such transformed Corporate Unit, and will be tradable separately, following the successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures prior to the final three-day remarketing period, a special event redemption or a mandatory redemption.
S-21
ILLUSTRATIVE REMARKETING TIMELINE
The following timeline is for illustrative purposes only. The dates in this timeline are based on the time periods set forth in the purchase contract agreement, pledge agreement and the remarketing agreement. These dates are subject to change based on changes in the number of business and/or trading days for the relevant periods.
Date | Event | |
---|---|---|
If NEE Capital elects to conduct an early remarketing during any three-day remarketing period beginning November 21, 2014: | ||
Between November 21, 2014 |
NEE Capital may elect, at its option and in its sole discretion, to remarket the NEE Capital debentures on any day during any three-day remarketing period during this period for early remarketing. |
|
No later than October 29, 2014 |
NEE Capital will notify The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") participants holding NEE Capital debentures, Corporate Units and Treasury Units of the remarketing period. |
|
November 13, 2014 |
This will be the remarketing announcement date and NEE Capital will make an announcement with respect to the remarketing period. |
|
November 14, 2014 |
Not later than this date, NEE Capital will issue a press release with respect to the remarketing period. |
|
On or prior to November 19, 2014 |
This will be the: Last day prior to the three-day remarketing period beginning November 21, 2014 to create Treasury Units from Corporate Units and recreate Corporate Units from Treasury Units (holders may once again be able to create and recreate units after November 25, 2014 if all three remarketings are unsuccessful during such remarketing period). Last day prior to the three-day remarketing period beginning November 21, 2014 for holders of Corporate Units to settle the related purchase contracts early (holders may once again be able to early settle after November 25, 2014 if all three remarketings are unsuccessful during such remarketing period). Last day prior to the three-day remarketing period beginning November 21, 2014 for holders of separate NEE Capital debentures to give notice of their election to participate in such remarketing. |
S-22
Date | Event | |
---|---|---|
November 21, 2014 to |
Period for early remarketing: |
|
If the remarketing is successful, NEE Capital will request that DTC notify its participants no later than the business day following the successful remarketing date. |
||
December 1, 2014 |
This is the date the reset rate will become effective if a remarketing on any business day during the three-day period for early remarketing is successful. |
|
If NEE Capital has elected to remarket the NEE Capital debentures during any three-day remarketing period during the period for early remarketing and the remarketing was unsuccessful on each of those three days: |
||
Between November 21, 2014 |
NEE Capital may elect to remarket the NEE Capital debentures during additional three-day remarketing periods. If NEE Capital elects to conduct such additional remarketings during the period for early remarketing, procedures similar to those described above with respect to a remarketing during the three-day remarketing period beginning November 21, 2014 will be followed. |
|
Unless there was a successful remarketing during the period for early remarketing: |
||
No later than May 5, 2015 |
NEE Capital will notify DTC participants holding NEE Capital debentures, Corporate Units and Treasury Units of the final three-day remarketing period. |
|
May 19, 2015 |
This will be the remarketing announcement date and NEE Capital will make an announcement with respect to the final three-day remarketing period. |
S-23
Date | Event | |
---|---|---|
On or prior to May 20, 2015 |
This will be the: |
|
May 20, 2015 |
NEE Capital will issue a press release not later than this date with respect to the remarketing period. |
|
May 20, 2015 |
Last day for holders of Corporate Units (of which the applicable ownership interest in a NEE Capital debenture remains a component) to notify the purchase contract agent of any intention to pay cash to satisfy their obligation under the purchase contracts on the purchase contract settlement date. |
|
May 21, 2015 |
Last day for holders of Corporate Units (of which the applicable ownership interest in a NEE Capital debenture remains a component) who have notified the purchase contract agent of their intention to pay cash to satisfy their obligations under the purchase contracts on the purchase contract settlement date to deliver the required cash payment to the collateral agent. |
|
May 22, 2015 to |
NEE Capital will attempt a remarketing during this final three-day remarketing period if NEE Capital has not elected to conduct a remarketing during the period for early remarketing or each remarketing conducted during the period for early remarketing has been unsuccessful for any reason. |
|
May 28, 2015 |
Last day for holders of Corporate Units (of which the applicable ownership interest in a NEE Capital debenture is no longer a component) or Treasury Units to notify the purchase contract agent of any intention to pay cash to satisfy their obligation under the purchase contracts on the purchase contract settlement date. |
S-24
Date | Event | |
---|---|---|
May 29, 2015 |
Last day for holders of Corporate Units (of which the applicable ownership interest in a NEE Capital debenture is no longer a component) or Treasury Units who have notified the purchase contract agent of their intention to pay cash to satisfy their obligations under the purchase contracts on the purchase contract settlement date to deliver the required cash payment to the collateral agent. |
|
Purchase contract settlement date: |
||
June 1, 2015 |
Purchase contract settlement date, remarketing settlement date and reset effective date in connection with a successful final remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures during the final three-day remarketing period. |
S-25
The information in this section replaces the information in the "Risk Factors" section beginning on page 2 of the accompanying prospectus.
Before purchasing the Equity Units, investors should carefully consider the following risk factors together with the risk factors and other information incorporated by reference or provided in the accompanying prospectus or in this prospectus supplement in order to evaluate an investment in the Equity Units.
Risks Relating to NEE's and NEE Capital's Business
Regulatory, Legislative and Legal Risks
NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may be adversely affected by the extensive regulation of their business.
The operations of NEE and NEE Capital are subject to complex and comprehensive federal, state and other regulation. This extensive regulatory framework, portions of which are more specifically identified in the following risk factors, regulates, among other things and to varying degrees, NEE's and NEE Capital's industries, rates and cost structures, operation of nuclear power facilities, construction and operation of generation, transmission and distribution facilities and natural gas and oil production, transmission and fuel storage facilities, acquisition, disposal, depreciation and amortization of facilities and other assets, decommissioning costs and funding, service reliability, wholesale and retail competition, and commodities trading and derivatives transactions. In their business planning and in the management of their operations, NEE and NEE Capital must address the effects of regulation on their business and any inability or failure to do so adequately could have a material adverse effect on their business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially adversely affected if they are unable to recover in a timely manner any significant amount of costs, a return on certain assets or an appropriate return on capital through base rates, cost recovery clauses, other regulatory mechanisms or otherwise.
FPL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NEE, is a regulated entity subject to the jurisdiction of the Florida Public Service Commission ("FPSC") over a wide range of business activities, including, among other items, the retail rates charged to its customers through base rates and cost recovery clauses, the terms and conditions of its services, procurement of electricity for its customers, issuance of securities, and aspects of the siting and operation of its generating plants and transmission and distribution systems for the sale of electric energy. The FPSC has the authority to disallow recovery by FPL of costs that it considers excessive or imprudently incurred and to determine the level of return that FPL is permitted to earn on its investments. The regulatory process, which may be adversely affected by the political, regulatory and economic environment in Florida and elsewhere, limits FPL's ability to increase earnings and does not provide any assurance as to achievement of authorized or other earnings levels. NEE's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially adversely affected if any material amount of costs, a return on certain assets or an appropriate return on capital cannot be recovered through base rates, cost recovery clauses, other regulatory mechanisms or otherwise. Lone Star Transmission, LLC ("Lone Star"), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of NEE Capital that is a regulated electric transmission utility subject to the jurisdiction of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, is subject to similar risks.
S-26
Regulatory decisions that are important to NEE and NEE Capital may be materially adversely affected by political, regulatory and economic factors.
The local and national political, regulatory and economic environment has had, and may in the future have, an adverse effect on FPSC decisions with negative consequences for FPL. These decisions may require, for example, FPL to cancel or delay planned development activities, to reduce or delay other planned capital expenditures or to pay for investments or otherwise incur costs that it may not be able to recover through rates, each of which could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects of NEE. Lone Star is subject to similar risks.
FPL's use of derivative instruments could be subject to prudence challenges and, if found imprudent, could result in disallowances of cost recovery for such use by the FPSC.
In the event that the FPSC engages in a prudence review of FPL's use of derivative instruments and finds such use to be imprudent, the FPSC could deny cost recovery for such use by FPL. Such an outcome could have a material adverse effect on NEE's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Any reductions to, or the elimination of, governmental incentives that support renewable energy, including, but not limited to, tax incentives, renewable portfolio standards ("RPS") or feed-in tariffs, or the imposition of additional taxes or other assessments on renewable energy, could result in, among other items, the lack of a satisfactory market for the development of new renewable energy projects, NEER abandoning the development of renewable energy projects, a loss of NEER's investments in renewable energy projects and reduced project returns, any of which could have a material adverse effect on NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
NEER depends heavily on government policies that support renewable energy and enhance the economic feasibility of developing and operating wind and solar energy projects in regions in which NEER operates or plans to develop and operate renewable energy facilities. The federal government, a majority of the 50 U.S. states and portions of Canada and Spain provide incentives, such as tax incentives, RPS or feed-in tariffs, that support the sale of energy from renewable energy facilities, such as wind and solar energy facilities. As a result of budgetary constraints, political factors or otherwise, governments from time to time may review their policies that support renewable energy and consider actions to make the policies less conducive to the development and operation of renewable energy facilities. Any reductions to, or the elimination of, governmental incentives that support renewable energy, or the imposition of additional taxes or other assessments on renewable energy, could result in, among other items, the lack of a satisfactory market for the development of new renewable energy projects, NEER abandoning the development of renewable energy projects, a loss of NEER's investments in the projects and reduced project returns, any of which could have a material adverse effect on NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially adversely affected as a result of new or revised laws, regulations or interpretations or other regulatory initiatives.
NEE's and NEE Capital's business is influenced by various legislative and regulatory initiatives, including, but not limited to, initiatives regarding deregulation or restructuring of the energy industry, regulation of the commodities trading and derivatives markets, and environmental regulation, such as regulation of air emissions, regulation of water consumption and water discharges, and regulation of gas and oil infrastructure operations, as well as associated environmental permitting. Changes in the nature of the regulation of NEE's and NEE Capital's business could have a material adverse effect on NEE's and NEE Capital's results of operations. NEE and NEE Capital are unable to predict future legislative or regulatory changes, initiatives or interpretations, although any such changes, initiatives or
S-27
interpretations may increase costs and competitive pressures on NEE and NEE Capital, which could have a material adverse effect on NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
FPL has limited competition in the Florida market for retail electricity customers. Any changes in Florida law or regulation which introduce competition in the Florida retail electricity market could have a material adverse effect on NEE's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. There can be no assurance that FPL will be able to respond adequately to such regulatory changes, which could have a material adverse effect on NEE's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
NEER is subject to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") rules related to transmission that are designed to facilitate competition in the wholesale market on practically a nationwide basis by providing greater certainty, flexibility and more choices to wholesale power customers. NEE cannot predict the impact of changing FERC rules or the effect of changes in levels of wholesale supply and demand, which are typically driven by factors beyond NEE's control. There can be no assurance that NEER will be able to respond adequately or sufficiently quickly to such rules and developments, or to any other changes that reverse or restrict the competitive restructuring of the energy industry in those jurisdictions in which such restructuring has occurred. Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on NEE's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially adversely affected if the rules implementing the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act ("Dodd-Frank Act") broaden the scope of its provisions regarding the regulation of over-the-counter ("OTC") financial derivatives and make them applicable to NEE and NEE Capital.
The Dodd-Frank Act, enacted into law in July 2010, among other things, provides for the regulation of the OTC derivatives market. The Dodd-Frank Act includes provisions that will require certain OTC derivatives, or swaps, to be centrally cleared and executed through an exchange or other approved trading platform. While the legislation is broad and detailed, substantial portions of the legislation require implementing rules to be adopted by federal governmental agencies including, but not limited to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
NEE and NEE Capital cannot predict the final rules that will be adopted to implement the OTC derivatives market provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act. Those rules could negatively affect NEE's and NEE Capital's ability to hedge their commodity and interest rate risks, which could have a material adverse effect on NEE's and NEE Capital's results of operations. NEE or NEE Capital may have portions of their business that may be required to register as swap dealers or major swap participants and submit to extensive regulation if they wish to continue certain aspects of their derivative activities. The rules could also cause NEER to restructure part of its energy marketing and trading operations or to discontinue certain portions of its business. In addition, if the rules require NEE and NEE Capital to post significant amounts of cash collateral with respect to swap transactions, NEE's and NEE Capital's liquidity could be materially adversely affected, and their ability to enter into OTC derivatives to hedge commodity and interest rate risks could be significantly limited. Reporting and compliance requirements of the rules also could significantly increase operating costs and expose NEE and NEE Capital to penalties for non-compliance. The Dodd-Frank Act or other initiatives also could impede the efficient operation of the commodities trading and derivatives markets, which could also materially adversely affect NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
S-28
NEE and NEE Capital are subject to numerous environmental laws and regulations that require capital expenditures, increase their cost of operations and may expose them to liabilities.
NEE and NEE Capital are subject to domestic and foreign environmental laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, extensive federal, state and local environmental statutes, rules and regulations relating to air quality, water quality and usage, climate change, emissions of greenhouse gases, including, but not limited to, carbon dioxide ("CO2"), waste management, hazardous wastes, marine, avian and other wildlife mortality and habitat protection, historical artifact preservation, natural resources, health (including, but not limited to, electric and magnetic fields from power lines and substations), safety and RPS that could, among other things, prevent or delay the development of power generation, power or natural gas transmission, or other infrastructure projects, restrict the output of some existing facilities, limit the use of some fuels required for the production of electricity, require additional pollution control equipment, and otherwise increase costs, increase capital expenditures and limit or eliminate certain operations.
There are significant capital, operating and other costs associated with compliance with these environmental statutes, rules and regulations, and those costs could be even more significant in the future as a result of new legislation, the current trend toward more stringent standards, and stricter and more expansive application of existing environmental regulations. For example, among other potential or pending changes, the use of hydraulic fracturing or similar technologies to drill for natural gas and related compounds used by NEE's gas infrastructure business is currently being debated for potential regulation at the state and federal levels.
Violations of current or future laws, rules and regulations could expose NEE and NEE Capital to regulatory and legal proceedings, disputes with, and legal challenges by, third parties, and potentially significant civil fines, criminal penalties and other sanctions.
NEE's and NEE Capital's business could be negatively affected by federal or state laws or regulations mandating new or additional limits on the production of greenhouse gas emissions.
Federal or state laws or regulations may be adopted that would impose new or additional limits on the emissions of greenhouse gases, including, but not limited to, CO2 and methane, from electric generating units using fossil fuels like coal and natural gas. The potential effects of such greenhouse gas emission limits on NEE's and NEE Capital's electric generating units are subject to significant uncertainties based on, among other things, the timing of the implementation of any new requirements, the required levels of emission reductions, the nature of any market-based or tax-based mechanisms adopted to facilitate reductions, the relative availability of greenhouse gas emission reduction offsets, the development of cost-effective, commercial-scale carbon capture and storage technology and supporting regulations and liability mitigation measures, and the range of available compliance alternatives.
While NEE's and NEE Capital's electric generating units emit greenhouse gases at a lower rate of emissions than most of the U.S. electric generation sector, the results of operations of NEE and NEE Capital could be adversely affected to the extent that new federal or state legislation or regulators impose any new greenhouse gas emission limits. Any future limits on greenhouse gas emissions could:
S-29
There can be no assurance that NEE or NEE Capital would be able to completely recover any such costs or investments, which could have a material adverse effect on their business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Extensive federal regulation of the operations of NEE and NEE Capital exposes NEE and NEE Capital to significant and increasing compliance costs and may also expose them to substantial monetary penalties and other sanctions for compliance failures.
NEE and NEE Capital are subject to extensive federal regulation, which imposes significant and increasing compliance costs on their operations. Additionally, any actual or alleged compliance failures could result in significant costs and other potentially adverse effects of regulatory investigations, proceedings, settlements, decisions and claims, including, among other items, potentially significant monetary penalties. As an example, under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, NEE and NEE Capital, as owners and operators of bulk power transmission systems and/or electric generation facilities, are subject to mandatory reliability standards. Compliance with these mandatory reliability standards may subject NEE and NEE Capital to higher operating costs and may result in increased capital expenditures. If NEE Capital or NEE is found not to be in compliance with these standards, it may incur substantial monetary penalties and other sanctions. Both the costs of regulatory compliance and the costs that may be imposed as a result of any actual or alleged compliance failures could have a material adverse effect on NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Changes in tax laws, as well as judgments and estimates used in the determination of tax-related asset and liability amounts, could adversely affect NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
NEE's and NEE Capital's provision for income taxes and reporting of tax-related assets and liabilities require significant judgments and the use of estimates. Amounts of tax-related assets and liabilities involve judgments and estimates of the timing and probability of recognition of income, deductions and tax credits, including, but not limited to, estimates for potential adverse outcomes regarding tax positions that have been taken and the ability to utilize tax benefit carryforwards, such as net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Actual income taxes could vary significantly from estimated amounts due to the future impacts of, among other things, changes in tax laws, regulations and interpretations, the financial condition and results of operations of NEE and NEE Capital, and the resolution of audit issues raised by taxing authorities. Ultimate resolution of income tax matters may result in material adjustments to tax-related assets and liabilities, which could negatively affect NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may be materially adversely affected due to adverse results of litigation.
NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may be materially affected by adverse results of litigation. Unfavorable resolution of legal proceedings in which NEE is involved or other future legal proceedings, including, but not limited to, class action lawsuits, may have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects of NEE and NEE Capital.
S-30
NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could suffer if NEE and NEE Capital do not proceed with projects under development or are unable to complete the construction of, or capital improvements to, electric generation, transmission and distribution facilities, gas infrastructure facilities or other facilities on schedule or within budget.
NEE's and NEE Capital's ability to complete construction of, and capital improvement projects for, their electric generation, transmission and distribution facilities, gas infrastructure facilities and other facilities on schedule and within budget may be adversely affected by escalating costs for materials and labor and regulatory compliance, inability to obtain or renew necessary licenses, rights-of-way, permits or other approvals on acceptable terms or on schedule, disputes involving contractors, labor organizations, land owners, governmental entities, environmental groups, Native American and aboriginal groups, and other third parties, negative publicity, transmission interconnection issues and other factors. If any development project or construction or capital improvement project is not completed, is delayed or is subject to cost overruns, certain associated costs may not be approved for recovery or recoverable through regulatory mechanisms that may otherwise be available, and NEE and NEE Capital could become obligated to make delay or termination payments or become obligated for other damages under contracts, could experience the loss of tax credits or tax incentives and could be required to write-off all or a portion of their investments in the project. Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
NEE and NEE Capital may face risks related to project siting, financing, construction, permitting, governmental approvals and the negotiation of project development agreements that may impede their development and operating activities.
NEE and NEE Capital own, develop, construct, manage and operate electric-generating and transmission facilities. A key component of NEE's and NEE Capital's growth is their ability to construct and operate generation and transmission facilities to meet customer needs. As part of these operations, NEE and NEE Capital must periodically apply for licenses and permits from various local, state, federal and other regulatory authorities and abide by their respective conditions. Should NEE or NEE Capital be unsuccessful in obtaining necessary licenses or permits on acceptable terms, should there be a delay in obtaining or renewing necessary licenses or permits or should regulatory authorities initiate any associated investigations or enforcement actions or impose related penalties or disallowances on NEE or NEE Capital, NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially adversely affected. Any failure to negotiate successful project development agreements for new facilities with third parties could have similar results.
The operation and maintenance of NEE's and NEE Capital's electric generation, transmission and distribution facilities, gas infrastructure facilities and other facilities are subject to many operational risks, the consequences of which could have a material adverse effect on NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
NEE's and NEE Capital's electric generation, transmission and distribution facilities, gas infrastructure facilities and other facilities are subject to many operational risks. Operational risks could result in, among other things, lost revenues due to prolonged outages, increased expenses due to monetary penalties or fines for compliance failures, liability to third parties for property and personal injury damage, a failure to perform under applicable power sales agreements and associated loss of revenues from terminated agreements or liability for liquidated damages under continuing agreements, and replacement equipment costs or an obligation to purchase or generate replacement power at potentially higher prices.
S-31
Uncertainties and risks inherent in operating and maintaining NEE's and NEE Capital's facilities include, but are not limited to:
NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may be negatively affected by a lack of growth or slower growth in the number of customers or in customer usage.
Growth in customer accounts and growth of customer usage each directly influence the demand for electricity and the need for additional power generation and power delivery facilities. Customer growth and customer usage are affected by a number of factors outside the control of NEE and NEE Capital, such as mandated energy efficiency measures, demand side management goals, and economic and demographic conditions, such as population changes, job and income growth, housing starts, new business formation and the overall level of economic activity. A lack of growth, or a decline, in the number of customers or in customer demand for electricity may cause NEE and NEE Capital to fail to fully realize the anticipated benefits from significant investments and expenditures and could have a material adverse effect on NEE's and NEE Capital's own growth, business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects can be materially adversely affected by weather conditions, including, but not limited to, the impact of severe weather.
Weather conditions directly influence the demand for electricity and natural gas and other fuels and affect the price of energy and energy-related commodities. In addition, severe weather, such as hurricanes, floods and earthquakes, can be destructive and cause power outages and property damage,
S-32
reduce revenue, affect fuel supply, and require NEE and NEE Capital to incur additional costs, for example, to restore service and repair damaged facilities, obtain replacement power and access available financing sources. Furthermore, NEE's and NEE Capital's physical plant could be placed at greater risk of damage should changes in global climate produce unusual variations in temperature and weather patterns, resulting in more intense, frequent and extreme weather events, abnormal levels of precipitation and, particularly relevant to FPL, a change in sea level. FPL operates in the east and lower west coasts of Florida, an area that historically has been prone to severe weather events, such as hurricanes. A disruption or failure of electric generation, transmission or distribution systems or natural gas production, transmission, storage or distribution systems in the event of a hurricane, tornado or other severe weather event, or otherwise, could prevent NEE and NEE Capital from operating their business in the normal course and could result in any of the adverse consequences described above. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
At FPL and other businesses of NEE where cost recovery is available, recovery of costs to restore service and repair damaged facilities is or may be subject to regulatory approval, and any determination by the regulator not to permit timely and full recovery of the costs incurred could have a material adverse effect on NEE's and, with respect to the businesses other than FPL, NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Changes in weather can also affect the production of electricity at power generating facilities, including, but not limited to, NEER's wind, solar and hydro-powered facilities. For example, the level of wind resource affects the revenue produced by wind generating facilities. Because the levels of wind, solar and hydro resources are variable and difficult to predict, NEER's results of operations for individual wind, solar and hydro facilities specifically, and NEE's results of operations generally, may vary significantly from period to period, depending on the level of available resources. To the extent that resources are not available at planned levels, the financial results from these facilities may be less than expected.
Threats of terrorism and catastrophic events that could result from terrorism, cyber attacks, or individuals and/or groups attempting to disrupt NEE's and NEE Capital's business, or the businesses of third parties, may materially adversely affect NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
NEE and NEE Capital are subject to the potentially adverse operating and financial effects of terrorist acts and threats, as well as cyber attacks and other disruptive activities of individuals or groups. NEE's and NEE Capital's generation, transmission and distribution facilities, fuel storage facilities, information technology systems and other infrastructure facilities and systems could be direct targets of, or be indirectly affected by, such activities.
Terrorist acts or other similar events affecting NEE's and NEE Capital's systems and facilities, or those of third parties on which NEE and NEE Capital rely, could harm NEE's and NEE Capital's business, for example, by limiting their ability to generate, purchase or transmit power, by limiting their ability to bill customers and collect and process payments, and by delaying their development and construction of new generating facilities or capital improvements to existing facilities. These events, and governmental actions in response, could result in a material decrease in revenues, significant additional costs (for example, to repair assets, implement additional security requirements or maintain or acquire insurance), and reputational damage, could adversely affect NEE's and NEE Capital's operations (for example, by contributing to disruption of supplies and markets for natural gas, oil and other fuels), and could impair NEE's and NEE Capital's ability to raise capital (for example, by contributing to financial instability and lower economic activity).
S-33
The ability of NEE and NEE Capital to obtain insurance and the terms of any available insurance coverage could be adversely affected by international, national, state or local events and company-specific events, as well as the financial condition of insurers. NEE's and NEE Capital's insurance coverage does not provide protection against all significant losses.
Insurance coverage may not continue to be available or may not be available at rates or on terms similar to those presently available to NEE and NEE Capital. The ability of NEE and NEE Capital to obtain insurance and the terms of any available insurance coverage could be adversely affected by international, national, state or local events and company-specific events, as well as the financial condition of insurers. If insurance coverage is not available or obtainable on acceptable terms, NEE or NEE Capital may be required to pay costs associated with adverse future events. NEE and NEE Capital generally are not fully insured against all significant losses. For example, FPL is not fully insured against hurricane-related losses, but would instead seek recovery of such uninsured losses from customers subject to approval by the FPSC, to the extent losses exceed restricted funds set aside to cover the cost of storm damage. A loss for which NEE or NEE Capital is not fully insured could have a material adverse effect on NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
If supply costs necessary to provide NEER's full energy and capacity requirement services are not favorable, operating costs could increase and adversely affect NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
NEER provides full energy and capacity requirements services primarily to distribution utilities, which include load-following services and various ancillary services to satisfy all or a portion of such utilities' power supply obligations to their customers. The supply costs for these transactions may be affected by a number of factors, including, but not limited to, events that may occur after such utilities have committed to supply power, such as weather conditions, fluctuating prices for energy and ancillary services, and the ability of the distribution utilities' customers to elect to receive service from competing suppliers. NEER may not be able to recover all of its increased supply costs, which could have a material adverse effect on NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Due to the potential for significant volatility in market prices for fuel, electricity and renewable and other energy commodities, NEER's inability or failure to hedge effectively its assets or positions against changes in commodity prices, volumes, interest rates, counterparty credit risk or other risk measures could significantly impair NEE's and NEE Capital's results of operations.
There can be significant volatility in market prices for fuel, electricity and renewable and other energy commodities. NEE's and NEE Capital's inability to manage properly or hedge the commodity risks within its portfolios, based on factors both from within or wholly or partially outside of NEE's and NEE Capital's control, may materially adversely affect NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Sales of power on the spot market or on a short-term contractual basis may cause NEE's and NEE Capital's results of operations to be volatile.
A portion of NEER's power generation facilities operate wholly or partially without long-term power purchase agreements. Power from these facilities is sold on the spot market or on a short-term contractual basis. Spot market sales are subject to market volatility, and the revenue generated from these sales is subject to fluctuation that may cause NEE's and NEE Capital's results of operations to be volatile. NEER and NEE may not be able to manage volatility adequately, which could then have a material adverse effect on NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
S-34
Reductions in the liquidity of energy markets may restrict the ability of NEE and NEE Capital to manage their operational risks, which, in turn, could negatively affect NEE's and NEE Capital's results of operations.
NEE and NEE Capital are active participants in energy markets. The liquidity of regional energy markets is an important factor in NEE's and NEE Capital's ability to manage risks in these operations. Over the past several years, other market participants have ceased or significantly reduced their activities in energy markets as a result of several factors, including, but not limited to, government investigations, changes in market design and deteriorating credit quality. Liquidity in the energy markets can be adversely affected by price volatility, restrictions on the availability of credit and other factors, and any reduction in the liquidity of energy markets could have a material adverse effect on NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
If price movements significantly or persistently deviate from historical behavior, NEE's and NEE Capital's hedging and trading procedures and associated risk management tools may not protect against significant losses.
NEE and NEE Capital have hedging and trading procedures and associated risk management tools, such as separate but complementary financial, credit, operational, compliance and legal reporting systems, internal controls, management review processes and other mechanisms. NEE and NEE Capital are unable to assure that such procedures and tools will be effective against all potential risks. Additionally, risk management tools and metrics such as daily value at risk, earnings at risk, stop loss limits and liquidity guidelines are based on historical price movements. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in price movements and potential deviation from historical pricing behavior, NEE and NEE Capital are unable to assure that their risk management tools and metrics will be effective to protect against adverse effects on their business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Such adverse effects could be material.
If power transmission or natural gas, nuclear fuel or other commodity transportation facilities are unavailable or disrupted, FPL's and NEER's ability to sell and deliver power or natural gas may be limited.
FPL and NEER depend upon power transmission and natural gas, nuclear fuel and other commodity transportation facilities, many of which they do not own. Occurrences affecting the operation of these facilities that may or may not be beyond FPL's and NEER's control (such as severe weather or a generator or transmission facility outage, pipeline rupture, or sudden and significant increase or decrease in wind generation) may limit or halt the ability of FPL and NEER to sell and deliver power and natural gas, or to purchase necessary fuels and other commodities, which could materially adversely impact NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
NEE and NEE Capital are subject to credit and performance risk from customers, hedging counterparties and vendors.
NEE and NEE Capital are exposed to risks associated with the creditworthiness and performance of their customers, hedging counterparties and vendors under contracts for the supply of equipment, materials, fuel and other goods and services required for their business operations and for the construction and operation of, and for capital improvements to, their facilities. Adverse conditions in the energy industry or the general economy, as well as circumstances of individual customers, hedging counterparties and vendors, may affect the ability of some customers, hedging counterparties and vendors to perform as required under their contracts with NEE and NEE Capital.
If any hedging, vending or other counterparty fails to fulfill its contractual obligations, NEE and NEE Capital may need to make arrangements with other counterparties or vendors, which could result
S-35
in financial losses, higher costs, untimely completion of power generation facilities and other projects, and/or a disruption of their operations. If a defaulting counterparty is in poor financial condition, NEE and NEE Capital may not be able to recover damages for any contract breach.
NEE and NEE Capital could recognize financial losses or a reduction in operating cash flows if a counterparty fails to perform or make payments in accordance with the terms of derivative contracts or if NEE or NEE Capital is required to post margin cash collateral under derivative contracts.
NEE and NEE Capital use derivative instruments, such as swaps, options, futures and forwards, some of which are traded in the OTC markets or on exchanges, to manage their commodity and financial market risks, and for NEE to engage in trading and marketing activities. Any failures by their counterparties to perform or make payments in accordance with the terms of those transactions could have a material adverse effect on NEE's or NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Similarly, any requirement for NEE Capital or NEE to post margin cash collateral under its derivative contracts could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
NEE and NEE Capital are highly dependent on sensitive and complex information technology systems, and any failure or breach of those systems could have a material adverse effect on their business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
NEE and NEE Capital operate in a highly regulated industry that requires the continuous functioning of sophisticated information technology systems and network infrastructure. Despite NEE's and NEE Capital's implementation of security measures, all of their technology systems are vulnerable to disability, failures or unauthorized access due to such activities. If NEE's or NEE Capital's information technology systems were to fail or be breached, and NEE or NEE Capital was unable to recover in a timely way, NEE and NEE Capital would be unable to fulfill critical business functions, and sensitive confidential and other data could be compromised.
NEE's and NEE Capital's business is highly dependent on their ability to process and monitor, on a daily basis, a very large number of transactions, many of which are highly complex and cross numerous and diverse markets. Due to the size, scope and geographical reach of NEE's and NEE Capital's business, and due to the complexity of the process of power generation, transmission and distribution, the development and maintenance of information technology systems to keep track of and process this information is both critical and extremely challenging. NEE's and NEE Capital's operating systems and facilities may fail to operate properly or become disabled as a result of events that are either within, or wholly or partially outside, their control, such as operator error, severe weather or terrorist activities. Any such failure or disabling event could adversely affect NEE's and NEE Capital's ability to process transactions and provide services, and their financial results and liquidity.
NEE and NEE Capital add, modify and replace information systems on a regular basis. Modifying existing information systems or implementing new or replacement information systems is costly and involves risks, including, but not limited to, integrating the modified, new or replacement system with existing systems and processes, implementing associated changes in accounting procedures and controls, and ensuring that data conversion is accurate and consistent. Any disruptions or deficiencies in existing information systems, or disruptions, delays or deficiencies in the modification or implementation of new information systems, could result in increased costs, the inability to track or collect revenues, the diversion of management's and employees' attention and resources, and could negatively impact the effectiveness of the companies' control environment, and/or the companies' ability to timely file required regulatory reports.
NEE and NEE Capital also face the risks of operational failure or capacity constraints of third parties, including, but not limited to, those who provide power transmission and natural gas transportation services.
S-36
NEE's and NEE Capital's retail businesses are subject to the risk that sensitive customer data may be compromised, which could result in an adverse impact to their reputation and/or the results of operations of the retail business.
NEE's and NEE Capital's retail businesses require access to sensitive customer data in the ordinary course of business. NEE's and NEE Capital's retail businesses may also need to provide sensitive customer data to vendors and service providers who require access to this information in order to provide services, such as call center services, to the retail businesses. If a significant breach occurred, the reputation of NEE and NEE Capital could be adversely affected, customer confidence could be diminished, or customer information could be subject to identity theft. NEE and NEE Capital would be subject to costs associated with the breach and/or NEE and NEE Capital could be subject to fines and legal claims, any of which may have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects of NEE and NEE Capital.
NEE and NEE Capital could recognize financial losses as a result of volatility in the market values of derivative instruments and limited liquidity in OTC markets.
NEE and NEE Capital execute transactions in derivative instruments on either recognized exchanges or via the OTC markets, depending on management's assessment of the most favorable credit and market execution factors. Transactions executed in OTC markets have the potential for greater volatility and less liquidity than transactions on recognized exchanges. As a result, NEE and NEE Capital may not be able to execute desired OTC transactions due to such heightened volatility and limited liquidity.
In the absence of actively quoted market prices and pricing information from external sources, the valuation of derivative instruments involves management's judgment or use of estimates. As a result, changes in the underlying assumptions or use of alternative valuation methods could affect the reported fair value of these derivative instruments and have a material adverse effect on NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
NEE and NEE Capital may be adversely affected by negative publicity.
From time to time, political and public sentiment may result in a significant amount of adverse press coverage and other adverse public statements affecting NEE and NEE Capital. Adverse press coverage and other adverse statements, whether or not driven by political or public sentiment, may also result in investigations by regulators, legislators and law enforcement officials or in legal claims. Responding to these investigations and lawsuits, regardless of the ultimate outcome of the proceeding, can divert the time and effort of senior management from NEE's and NEE Capital's business.
Addressing any adverse publicity, governmental scrutiny or enforcement or other legal proceedings is time consuming and expensive and, regardless of the factual basis for the assertions being made, can have a negative impact on the reputation of NEE and NEE Capital, on the morale and performance of their employees and on their relationships with their respective regulators. It may also have a negative impact on their ability to take timely advantage of various business and market opportunities. The direct and indirect effects of negative publicity, and the demands of responding to and addressing it, may have a material adverse effect on NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
NEE's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may be materially adversely affected if FPL is unable to maintain, negotiate or renegotiate franchise agreements on acceptable terms with municipalities and counties in Florida.
FPL must negotiate franchise agreements with municipalities and counties in Florida to provide electric services within such municipalities and counties, and electricity sales generated pursuant to these agreements represent a very substantial portion of FPL's revenues. If FPL is unable to maintain,
S-37
negotiate or renegotiate such franchise agreements on acceptable terms, it could contribute to lower earnings and FPL may not fully realize the anticipated benefits from significant investments and expenditures, which could materially adversely affect NEE's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Increasing costs associated with health care plans may materially adversely affect NEE's and NEE Capital's results of operations.
The costs of providing health care benefits to employees and retirees have increased substantially in recent years. NEE and NEE Capital anticipate that their employee benefit costs, including, but not limited to, costs related to health care plans for employees and former employees, will continue to rise. The increasing costs and funding requirements associated with NEE's and NEE Capital's health care plans may materially adversely affect NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be negatively affected by the lack of a qualified workforce or the loss or retirement of key employees.
NEE and NEE Capital may not be able to service customers, grow their business or generally meet their other business plan goals effectively and profitably if they do not attract and retain a qualified workforce. Additionally, the loss or retirement of key executives and other employees may materially adversely affect service and productivity and contribute to higher training and safety costs.
Over the next several years, a significant portion of NEE's and NEE Capital's workforce, including, but not limited to, many workers with specialized skills maintaining and servicing the nuclear generation facilities and electrical infrastructure, will be eligible to retire. Such highly skilled individuals may not be able to be replaced quickly due to the technically complex work they perform. If a significant amount of such workers retire and are not replaced, the subsequent loss in productivity and increased recruiting and training costs could result in a material adverse effect on NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially adversely affected by work strikes or stoppages and increasing personnel costs.
Employee strikes or work stoppages could disrupt operations and lead to a loss of revenue and customers. Personnel costs may also increase due to inflationary or competitive pressures on payroll and benefits costs and revised terms of collective bargaining agreements with union employees. These consequences could have a material adverse effect on NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
NEE's and NEE Capital's ability to successfully identify, complete and integrate acquisitions is subject to significant risks, including, but not limited to, the effect of increased competition for acquisitions resulting from the consolidation of the power industry.
NEE and NEE Capital are likely to encounter significant competition for acquisition opportunities that may become available as a result of the consolidation of the power industry in general. In addition, NEE and NEE Capital may be unable to identify attractive acquisition opportunities at favorable prices and to complete and integrate them successfully and in a timely manner.
S-38
The construction, operation and maintenance of NEE's and NEE Capital's nuclear generation facilities involve environmental, health and financial risks that could result in fines or the closure of the facilities and in increased costs and capital expenditures.
NEE's and NEE Capital's nuclear generation facilities are subject to environmental, health and financial risks, including, but not limited to, those relating to site storage of spent nuclear fuel, the disposition of spent nuclear fuel, leakage and emissions of tritium and other radioactive elements in the event of a nuclear accident or otherwise, the threat of a terrorist attack and other potential liabilities arising out of the ownership or operation of the facilities. NEE and NEE Capital maintain decommissioning funds and external insurance coverage which are intended to reduce the financial exposure to some of these risks; however, the cost of decommissioning nuclear generation facilities could exceed the amount available in NEE's and NEE Capital's decommissioning funds, and the exposure to liability and property damages could exceed the amount of insurance coverage. If NEE or NEE Capital is unable to recover the additional costs incurred through insurance or, in the case of FPL, through regulatory mechanisms, NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially adversely affected.
In the event of an incident at any nuclear generation facility in the U.S. or at certain nuclear generation facilities in Europe, NEE and NEE Capital could be assessed significant retrospective assessments and/or retrospective insurance premiums as a result of their participation in a secondary financial protection system and nuclear insurance mutual companies.
Liability for accidents at nuclear power plants is governed by the Price-Anderson Act, which limits the liability of nuclear reactor owners to the amount of insurance available from both private sources and an industry retrospective payment plan. In accordance with this Act, NEE maintains $375 million of private liability insurance per site, which is the maximum obtainable, and participates in a secondary financial protection system, which provides up to $12.2 billion of liability insurance coverage per incident at any nuclear reactor in the U.S. Under the secondary financial protection system, NEE is subject to retrospective assessments and/or retrospective insurance premiums of up to $940 million, plus any applicable taxes, per incident at any nuclear reactor in the U.S. or at certain nuclear generation facilities in Europe, regardless of fault or proximity to the incident, payable at a rate not to exceed $140 million per incident per year. Such assessments, if levied, could materially adversely affect NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ("NRC") orders or new regulations related to increased security measures and any future safety requirements promulgated by the NRC could require NEE and NEE Capital to incur substantial operating and capital expenditures at their nuclear generation facilities.
The NRC has broad authority to impose licensing and safety-related requirements for the operation and maintenance of nuclear generation facilities, the addition of capacity at existing nuclear generation facilities and the construction of nuclear generation facilities, and these requirements are subject to change. In the event of non-compliance, the NRC has the authority to impose fines or shut down a nuclear generation facility, or to take both of these actions, depending upon its assessment of the severity of the situation, until compliance is achieved. Any of the foregoing events could require NEE and NEE Capital to incur increased costs and capital expenditures, and could reduce revenues.
Any serious nuclear incident occurring at a NEE or NEE Capital plant could result in substantial remediation costs and other expenses. A major incident at a nuclear facility anywhere in the world could cause the NRC to limit or prohibit the operation or licensing of any domestic nuclear generation facility. An incident at a nuclear facility anywhere in the world also could cause the NRC to impose additional conditions or other requirements on the industry, which could increase costs, reduce revenues and result in additional capital expenditures.
S-39
The inability to operate any of NEER's or FPL's nuclear generation units through the end of their respective operating licenses could have a material adverse effect on NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
The operating licenses for NEE's and NEE Capital's nuclear generation facilities extend through at least 2030. If the facilities cannot be operated for any reason through the life of those operating licenses, NEE or NEE Capital may be required to increase depreciation rates, incur impairment charges and accelerate future decommissioning expenditures, any of which could materially adversely affect their business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Various hazards posed to nuclear generation facilities, along with increased public attention to and awareness of such hazards, could result in increased nuclear licensing or compliance costs which are difficult or impossible to predict and could have a material adverse effect on NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
The threat of terrorist activity, as well as recent international events implicating the safety of nuclear facilities, could result in more stringent or complex measures to keep facilities safe from a variety of hazards, including, but not limited to, natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis, as well as terrorist or other criminal threats. This increased focus on safety could result in higher compliance costs which, at present, cannot be assessed with any measure of certainty and which could have a material adverse effect on NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
NEE's and NEE Capital's nuclear units are periodically removed from service to accommodate normal refueling and maintenance outages, and for other purposes. If planned outages last longer than anticipated or if there are unplanned outages, NEE's and NEE Capital's results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.
NEE's and NEE Capital's nuclear units are periodically removed from service to accommodate normal refueling and maintenance outages, including, but not limited to, inspections, repairs and certain other modifications. In addition, outages may be scheduled, often in connection with a refueling outage, to replace equipment, to increase the generation capacity at a particular nuclear unit, or for other purposes, and those planned activities increase the time the unit is not in operation. In the event that a scheduled outage lasts longer than anticipated or in the event of an unplanned outage due to, for example, equipment failure, such outages could materially adversely affect NEE's or NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Liquidity, Capital Requirements and Common Stock Risks
Disruptions, uncertainty or volatility in the credit and capital markets may negatively affect NEE's and NEE Capital's ability to fund their liquidity and capital needs and to meet their growth objectives, and can also adversely affect the results of operations and financial condition of NEE and NEE Capital.
NEE and NEE Capital rely on access to capital and credit markets as significant sources of liquidity for capital requirements and other operations requirements that are not satisfied by operating cash flows. Disruptions, uncertainty or volatility in those capital and credit markets, including, but not limited to, the conditions of the most recent financial crises in the U.S. and abroad, could increase NEE's and NEE Capital's cost of capital. If NEE or NEE Capital is unable to access regularly the capital and credit markets on terms that are reasonable, it may have to delay raising capital, issue shorter-term securities and incur an unfavorable cost of capital, which, in turn, could adversely affect its ability to grow its business, could contribute to lower earnings and reduced financial flexibility, and could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
S-40
Although NEE's and NEE Capital's competitive energy subsidiaries have used non-recourse or limited-recourse, project-specific financing in the past, market conditions and other factors could adversely affect the future availability of such financing. The inability of NEE's and NEE Capital's subsidiaries to access the capital and credit markets to provide project-specific financing for electric-generating and other energy facilities on favorable terms, whether because of disruptions or volatility in those markets or otherwise, could necessitate additional capital raising or borrowings by NEE and/or NEE Capital in the future.
The inability of subsidiaries that have existing project-specific financing arrangements to meet the requirements of various agreements relating to those financings could give rise to a project-specific financing default which, if not cured or waived, might result in the specific project, and potentially in some limited instances its parent companies, being required to repay the associated debt or other borrowings earlier than otherwise anticipated, and if such repayment were not made, the lenders or security holders would generally have rights to foreclose against the project assets and related collateral. Such an occurrence also could result in NEE and NEE Capital expending additional funds or incurring additional obligations over the shorter term to ensure continuing compliance with project-specific financing arrangements based upon the expectation of improvement in the project's performance or financial returns over the longer term. Any of these actions could materially adversely affect NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, as well as the availability or terms of future financings for NEE, NEE Capital or their respective subsidiaries.
NEE's, NEE Capital's and FPL's inability to maintain their current credit ratings may adversely affect NEE's and NEE Capital's liquidity and results of operations, limit the ability of NEE and NEE Capital to grow their business, and increase interest costs.
The inability of NEE, NEE Capital and FPL to maintain their current credit ratings could adversely affect their ability to raise capital or obtain credit on favorable terms, which, in turn, could impact NEE's, NEE Capital's and FPL's ability to grow their business and service indebtedness and repay borrowings, and would likely increase their interest costs. Some of the factors that can affect credit ratings are cash flows, liquidity, the amount of debt as a component of total capitalization, and political, legislative and regulatory actions. There can be no assurance that one or more of the ratings of NEE, NEE Capital and FPL will not be lowered or withdrawn entirely by a rating agency.
NEE's, NEE Capital's and FPL's liquidity may be impaired if their creditors are unable to fund their credit commitments to the companies or to maintain their current credit ratings.
The inability of NEE's, NEE Capital's and FPL's credit providers to fund their credit commitments or to maintain their current credit ratings could require NEE, NEE Capital or FPL, among other things, to renegotiate requirements in agreements, find an alternative credit provider with acceptable credit ratings to meet funding requirements, or post cash collateral and could have a material adverse effect on NEE's, NEE Capital's and FPL's liquidity.
Poor market performance and other economic factors could affect NEE's and NEE Capital's defined benefit pension plan's funded status, which may materially adversely affect NEE's and NEE Capital's liquidity and results of operations.
NEE sponsors a qualified noncontributory defined benefit pension plan for substantially all employees of NEE and its subsidiaries. A decline in the market value of the assets held in the defined benefit pension plan due to poor investment performance or other factors may increase the funding requirements for this obligation.
S-41
NEE's and NEE Capital's defined benefit pension plan is sensitive to changes in interest rates, since, as interest rates decrease the funding liabilities increase, potentially increasing benefits costs and funding requirements. Any increase in benefits costs or funding requirements may have a material adverse effect on NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Poor market performance and other economic factors could adversely affect the asset values of NEE's and NEE Capital's nuclear decommissioning funds, which may materially adversely affect NEE's and NEE Capital's liquidity and results of operations.
NEE and NEE Capital are required to maintain decommissioning funds to satisfy their future obligations to decommission their nuclear power plants. A decline in the market value of the assets held in the decommissioning funds due to poor investment performance or other factors may increase the funding requirements for these obligations. Any increase in funding requirements may have a material adverse effect on NEE's and NEE Capital's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Certain of NEE's and NEE Capital's investments are subject to changes in market value and other risks, which may adversely affect NEE's and NEE Capital's liquidity and financial results.
NEE and NEE Capital hold other investments where changes in the fair value affect NEE's and NEE Capital's financial results. In some cases there may be no observable market values for these investments, requiring fair value estimates to be based on other valuation techniques. This type of analysis requires significant judgment and the actual values realized in a sale of these investments could differ materially from those estimated. A sale of an investment below previously estimated value, or other decline in the fair value of an investment, could result in losses or the write-off of such investment, and may have a material adverse effect on NEE's and NEE Capital's financial condition and results of operations.
NEE and NEE Capital may be unable to meet their ongoing and future financial obligations and, in the case of NEE, to pay dividends on its common stock, if their subsidiaries are unable to pay upstream dividends or repay funds to NEE and NEE Capital.
NEE and NEE Capital are each a holding company and, as such, have no material operations of their own. Substantially all of NEE's and NEE Capital's consolidated assets are held by their subsidiaries. NEE's and NEE Capital's ability to meet their financial obligations, including, but not limited to, its guarantees and, in the case of NEE, to pay dividends on its common stock, are primarily dependent on their subsidiaries' net income and cash flows, which are subject to the risks of their respective businesses, and their ability to pay upstream dividends or to repay funds to NEE and NEE Capital.
NEE's and NEE Capital's subsidiaries are separate legal entities and have no independent obligation to provide NEE or NEE Capital with funds for their payment obligations. The subsidiaries have financial obligations, including, but not limited to, payment of debt service, which they must satisfy before they can fund NEE or NEE Capital. In addition, in the event of a subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization, NEE's and NEE Capital's right to participate in a distribution of assets is subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary's creditors.
The dividend-paying ability of some of the subsidiaries is limited by contractual restrictions which are contained in outstanding financing agreements and which may be included in future financing agreements. The future enactment of laws or regulations also may prohibit or restrict the ability of NEE's and NEE Capital's subsidiaries to pay upstream dividends or to repay funds.
S-42
NEE and NEE Capital may be unable to meet their ongoing and future financial obligations and, in the case of NEE, to pay dividends on its common stock, if NEE or NEE Capital is required to perform under guarantees of obligations of its subsidiaries.
NEE guarantees many of the obligations of its consolidated subsidiaries, other than FPL, through guarantee agreements with NEE Capital. NEE Capital, in turn, guarantees many of the obligations of its consolidated subsidiaries through additional guarantee agreements. These guarantees may require NEE or NEE Capital to provide substantial funds to their respective subsidiaries or their creditors or counterparties at a time when NEE or NEE Capital is in need of liquidity to meet its own financial obligations. Funding such guarantees may materially adversely affect NEE's ability to pay dividends.
Disruptions, uncertainty or volatility in the credit and capital markets may exert downward pressure on the market price of NEE's common stock.
The market price and trading volume of NEE's common stock are subject to fluctuations as a result of, among other factors, general credit and capital market conditions and changes in market sentiment regarding the operations, business and financing strategies of NEE and its subsidiaries. As a result, disruptions, uncertainty or volatility in the credit and capital markets may, for example, have a material adverse effect on the market price of NEE's common stock.
Risks Relating to the Equity Units
Investors assume the risk that the market value of NEE common stock may decline.
Holders of Equity Units will have an obligation to buy shares of NEE common stock pursuant to the purchase contract on the purchase contract settlement date at a fixed price. The number of shares of NEE common stock that a holder will purchase on the purchase contract settlement date is not fixed, but is based on a settlement rate that will depend on the closing price of NEE common stock on each day of a specified 20-trading day period preceding the purchase contract settlement date. The market value of NEE common stock a holder will purchase on the purchase contract settlement date may be materially lower than the price that the purchase contract requires a holder to pay. Accordingly, Equity Unit holders assume the risk that the market value of NEE common stock may be lower than the price that the purchase contract requires a holder to pay and that the difference could be substantial.
A holder of Equity Units will receive only a portion of any appreciation in the price of NEE common stock and only if the appreciation of NEE common stock exceeds a specified threshold.
The opportunity for equity appreciation afforded by investing in the Equity Units will generally be less than if a holder of Equity Units invested directly in NEE common stock.
In particular, on each of the 20 trading days used to calculate the number of shares of NEE common stock delivered on the purchase contract settlement date, a formula will be applied under which a holder of Equity Units will receive none of the appreciation in the value of NEE common stock between the reference price and the threshold appreciation price as of that date.
In addition, because the amount delivered will be based on the market price on each of the 20 trading days during that period, the shares of NEE common stock a holder receives may be worth less than the shares of NEE common stock that would have been received under the formula had the amounts been calculated based on the closing price on the purchase contract settlement date.
S-43
The trading price of NEE common stock, the general level of interest rates and NEE's and NEE Capital's credit quality will directly affect the trading prices for the Equity Units.
The trading prices of Corporate Units and the Treasury Units in the secondary market will be directly affected by the trading prices of NEE common stock, the general level of interest rates and NEE's and NEE Capital's credit quality. It is impossible to predict whether the price of NEE common stock or interest rates will rise or fall. Trading prices of NEE common stock and the Equity Units will be influenced by NEE's operating results and prospects and by economic, financial and other factors. In addition, general market conditions, including the level of, and fluctuations in, the trading prices of stocks generally, and sales or other issuances by NEE of substantial amounts of its common stock (or securities convertible into, or that may otherwise be settled in, shares of common stock) in the market after the offering of the Equity Units, or the perception that such sales or other issuances could occur, could affect the price of NEE common stock.
NEE's common stock price has fluctuated over a wide range, and could fluctuate significantly in the future, as a result of the operating performance of NEE and its subsidiaries, conditions in the electric utility and wholesale electric generation industries, and economic conditions generally.
The market price of NEE common stock has been, and may continue to be, subject to significant fluctuations due to factors relating to the operating performance of NEE and its subsidiaries and conditions in the electric utility and wholesale electric generation industries, including the factors incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus supplement or in the accompanying prospectus. In addition, the stock market in recent years has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations. This volatility has had a significant impact on the market price of securities issued by many companies, including NEE and other energy services companies. The changes in the market prices of securities frequently appear to occur without regard to the financial results of these companies. Accordingly, the market price of NEE common stock could fluctuate based upon factors that are not directly related to the operating performance of NEE and its subsidiaries, and these fluctuations could materially reduce NEE's stock price.
Fluctuations in interest rates may give rise to arbitrage opportunities, which would affect the trading prices of the Equity Units, NEE Capital debentures and NEE common stock.
Fluctuations in interest rates may give rise to arbitrage opportunities based upon changes in the relative value of NEE common stock underlying the purchase contracts and of the other components of the Equity Units. Any such arbitrage could, in turn, affect the trading prices of the Corporate Units, Treasury Units, NEE Capital debentures and NEE common stock.
Holders of Equity Units will not be entitled to any rights with respect to NEE common stock, but will be subject to all changes affecting NEE common stock.
Holders of Equity Units will not be entitled to any rights with respect to NEE common stock (including, without limitation, voting rights, rights to receive any dividends or other distributions on NEE common stock), but will be subject to all changes affecting NEE common stock. Holders of Equity Units will only be entitled to rights with respect to NEE common stock if NEE delivers shares of NEE common stock upon settlement of purchase contracts on June 1, 2015, or as a result of early settlement of a purchase contract, as the case may be (and then, only with respect to the shares actually delivered on or before June 1, 2015, as the case may be), and the applicable record date, if any, for the exercise of rights or the receipt of dividends or other distributions occurs after that date. For example, in the event that an amendment is proposed to NEE's restated articles of incorporation, or "Charter," or bylaws requiring shareholder approval and the record date for determining the shareholders of record entitled to vote on the amendment occurs prior to delivery of NEE common stock to holders of Equity Units, those holders will not be entitled to vote on the amendment, although
S-44
they will nevertheless be subject to any changes in the powers, preferences or special rights of NEE common stock.
The delivery of make-whole shares upon a fundamental change early settlement may not adequately compensate a holder.
If a fundamental change (as defined below under "Description of the Purchase ContractsEarly Settlement upon a Fundamental Change") occurs and a holder of Equity Units exercises its fundamental change early settlement right, such holder will be entitled to receive additional value in respect of make-whole shares unless the price paid per share of NEE common stock upon a fundamental change is in excess of $200 subject to adjustment. A description of how the make-whole shares will be determined is set forth under "Description of the Purchase ContractsEarly Settlement upon a Fundamental ChangeCalculation of the Number of Make-Whole Shares." Although the make-whole shares are designed to compensate a holder of Equity Units for the lost value of its Equity Units as a result of a fundamental change, this feature may not adequately compensate a holder for such loss.
NEE may issue additional shares of its common stock and thereby materially and adversely affect the price of its common stock. The Equity Units provide limited settlement rate adjustments.
The number of shares of NEE common stock that holders of Equity Units are entitled to receive on the purchase contract settlement date, or as a result of early settlement of a purchase contract, is subject to adjustment for certain events arising from stock splits and combinations, stock dividends, certain cash dividends and certain other actions by NEE that modify its capital structure. See "Description of the Purchase ContractsAnti-dilution Adjustments." NEE will not adjust the number of shares of NEE common stock that the holders are to receive on the purchase contract settlement date, or as a result of early settlement of a purchase contract, for other events, including offerings of common stock by NEE for cash, or of securities convertible or exchangeable for NEE common stock or issuances in connection with acquisitions or issuances pursuant to any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of employees, officers, directors, consultants or agents or a stock purchase or dividend reinvestment plan. There can be no assurance that an event that adversely affects the value of the Equity Units, but does not result in an adjustment to the settlement rate, will not occur. Further, NEE is not restricted from issuing additional common stock during the term of the purchase contracts and has no obligation to consider the interests of holders of Equity Units for any reason. If NEE issues additional shares of its common stock, that issuance may materially and adversely affect the price of NEE common stock and, because of the relationship of the number of shares to be received on the purchase contract settlement date to the price of NEE common stock, such other events may adversely affect the trading price of Corporate Units or Treasury Units.
The Corporate Units, Treasury Units and NEE Capital debentures have no prior public market, and there can be no assurance that an active trading market will develop.
Prior to this offering, there has not been a market for the Corporate Units, Treasury Units or NEE Capital debentures. Neither NEE nor NEE Capital has any obligation or current intention to apply for listing of the Corporate Units, the Treasury Units or the NEE Capital debentures on any securities exchange. There can be no assurance as to the liquidity of any secondary market that may develop for the Corporate Units, the Treasury Units or the NEE Capital debentures, a holder's ability to sell these securities or whether a trading market, if it develops, will continue. In addition, in the event a holder were to substitute Treasury securities for NEE Capital debentures or NEE Capital debentures for Treasury securities, thereby converting Corporate Units to Treasury Units or Treasury Units to Corporate Units, as the case may be, the liquidity of Corporate Units or Treasury Units could be adversely affected.
S-45
An Equity Unit holder's rights to the pledged securities will be subject to NEE's security interest and may be affected by a bankruptcy proceeding.
Although holders of Equity Units will be the beneficial owners of the applicable ownership interests in the related NEE Capital debentures, Treasury securities or Treasury portfolio, as the case may be, those underlying applicable ownership interests will be pledged to NEE through the collateral agent to secure the holders' obligations to purchase NEE common stock under the related purchase contracts. Thus, the holders' rights to the pledged securities will be subject to NEE's security interest. Additionally, notwithstanding the automatic termination of the purchase contracts in the event that NEE becomes the subject of a proceeding under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the delivery of the pledged securities to holders of Equity Units may be delayed by the imposition of the automatic stay of Section 362 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Moreover, claims arising out of the NEE Capital debentures will be subject to the equitable jurisdiction and powers of the bankruptcy court.
NEE Capital may redeem the NEE Capital debentures upon the occurrence of a special event.
NEE Capital has the option to redeem the NEE Capital debentures, upon at least 30 but not more than 60 days prior written notice, in whole but not in part, if a special event occurs and continues under the circumstances described in this prospectus supplement under "Certain Terms of the NEE Capital DebenturesSpecial Event Redemption." If NEE Capital exercises this option, it will redeem the NEE Capital debentures at the redemption amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. If NEE Capital redeems the NEE Capital debentures, it will pay the redemption amount in cash to the holders of the NEE Capital debentures that are not part of the Corporate Units. If the special event redemption occurs prior to a successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures, or if the NEE Capital debentures are not successfully remarketed prior to the purchase contract settlement date, the redemption price for the NEE Capital debentures that are a component of the Corporate Units at the time of the special event redemption will be distributed to the collateral agent, who in turn will purchase the Treasury portfolio described below on behalf of the holders of those Corporate Units and remit the remainder of the redemption price, if any, to the purchase contract agent for payment to the holders. The Treasury portfolio will be substituted for NEE Capital debentures and will be pledged to NEE through the collateral agent to secure the Corporate Unit holders' obligations to purchase NEE common stock under the related purchase contracts. Holders of NEE Capital debentures that are not components of Corporate Units will receive redemption payments directly. There can be no assurance as to the impact on the market prices for the Corporate Units if the Treasury portfolio is substituted as collateral in place of the NEE Capital debentures so redeemed. A special event redemption will be a taxable event to the holders of the NEE Capital debentures.
NEE Capital and NEE are each holding companies. The indenture does not limit the amount of debt or preferred stock that NEE Capital, NEE or their respective subsidiaries may issue, guarantee or otherwise incur. The claims of creditors and holders of preferred stock of NEE Capital's subsidiaries are effectively senior to claims of holders of NEE Capital debentures. The claims of creditors and holders of preferred stock of NEE's subsidiaries are effectively senior to claims of holders of NEE Capital debentures under NEE's guarantee thereof and to claims of the holders of the Equity Units. In addition, contract adjustment payments will be subordinated obligations of NEE.
The NEE Capital debentures will be issued as a new series of unsecured debt securities under an indenture between NEE Capital and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, and will rank equally and ratably in right of payment with all of NEE Capital's other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations. NEE has agreed to absolutely, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee the payment of principal, interest and premium, if any, on the NEE Capital debentures. The indenture does not limit the amount of debt or preferred stock that NEE Capital, NEE or their respective subsidiaries may
S-46
issue, guarantee or otherwise incur. The guarantee does not limit the amount of other indebtedness, including guarantees, that NEE may guarantee, issue or incur.
The indenture provides that NEE Capital may not grant a lien on the capital stock of any of its majority-owned subsidiaries, which shares of capital stock NEE Capital now or hereafter directly owns to secure debt obligations of NEE Capital without similarly securing the NEE Capital debentures, with certain exceptions. However, the indenture does not limit in any manner the ability of:
NEE and NEE Capital are each holding companies that derive substantially all of their income from their respective operating subsidiaries. Accordingly, the ability of NEE Capital to service its debt, including its obligations under the NEE Capital debentures, and the ability of NEE to service its debt, including its obligations under the guarantee of the NEE Capital debentures, and other obligations are primarily dependent on the earnings of their respective subsidiaries and the payment of those earnings to NEE Capital and NEE, respectively, in the form of dividends, loans or advances and through repayment of loans or advances from NEE Capital and NEE, respectively. In addition, any payment of dividends, loans or advances by those subsidiaries could be subject to statutory or contractual restrictions. The subsidiaries of NEE Capital are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation to pay any amounts due on the NEE Capital debentures, and the subsidiaries of NEE are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation to pay any amounts due under NEE's guarantee of the NEE Capital debentures.
Therefore, the NEE Capital debentures, NEE's obligations under the guarantee of NEE Capital debentures and NEE's obligations with respect to the Equity Units will be effectively subordinated to existing and future obligations, including debt and preferred stock at the subsidiary level. Upon liquidation or reorganization of a subsidiary of NEE Capital, the claims of that subsidiary's creditors and preferred shareholders generally will be paid before payments can be made to NEE Capital that could be applied to payments on the NEE Capital debentures, NEE's obligations under the guarantee of NEE Capital debentures or NEE's obligations with respect to the Equity Units or to other creditors of NEE Capital or NEE, respectively. In addition, NEE's obligations with respect to contract adjustment payments will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to its obligations under any of its existing or future senior indebtedness.
NEE's ability to continue to pay dividends on the common stock is subject to the risks affecting the businesses of its subsidiaries and to contractual restrictions that may limit NEE's dividend-paying ability in specified circumstances.
NEE is a holding company that conducts substantially all of its operations through its subsidiaries. The ability of NEE to pay dividends on its common stock is currently subject to, and in the future may be limited by:
S-47
FPL is subject to the terms of its Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated as of January 1, 1944, between FPL and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, as amended and supplemented (the "Mortgage"), that secures its obligations under bonds issued by it and outstanding from time to time. In specified circumstances, the terms of the Mortgage could restrict the amount of FPL's retained earnings that FPL can use to pay cash dividends on its common stock.
Other contractual restrictions on the dividend-paying ability of NEE or its subsidiaries are contained in outstanding financing arrangements, and may be included in future financial arrangements. In the event that NEE exercises its right to defer the payment of contract adjustment payments on the purchase contracts that are components of the Equity Units, or on purchase contracts that are components of previously-issued equity units, then, until the deferred contract adjustment payments have been paid, NEE would not be able, with limited exceptions, to pay dividends on NEE common stock. NEE Capital, a subsidiary of NEE, has issued junior subordinated debentures that are guaranteed by NEE. NEE Capital has the right, from time to time, to defer the payment of interest on its outstanding junior subordinated debentures for a deferral period of up to 20 consecutive quarters, in the case of one series of such securities, and on one or more occasions for up to ten consecutive years, in the case of other series of such securities. NEE, FPL or NEE Capital may issue, from time to time, additional equity units, junior subordinated debentures or other securities that (1) provide them with rights to defer the payment of interest or other payments and (2) contain dividend restrictions in the event of the exercise of such rights. If NEE or NEE Capital were to exercise any right to defer interest or other payments on currently outstanding or future series of equity units, junior subordinated debentures or other securities, or if there were to occur certain payment defaults on those securities, NEE would not be able, with limited exceptions, to pay dividends on NEE common stock during the periods in which such payments were deferred or such payment defaults continued. If FPL were to exercise any such right to defer the payment of interest or other payments, it would not be able, with limited exceptions, to pay dividends to any holder of its common stock or preferred stock, including NEE, during the periods in which such payments were deferred. In addition, NEE, NEE Capital and FPL might issue other securities in the future containing similar or other restrictions on NEE's ability to pay dividends on NEE common stock and on FPL's ability to pay dividends to any holder of its common stock or preferred stock, including NEE.
The right of the holders of NEE common stock to receive dividends might become subject to the preferential dividend, redemption, sinking fund or other rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock that may be issued in the future by NEE, and the right of the holders of common or preferred stock of NEE Capital or FPL to receive dividends might become subject to the preferential dividend, redemption, sinking fund or other rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock that may be issued in the future by NEE Capital or FPL, as the case may be.
NEE may defer contract adjustment payments, and this may have an adverse effect on the trading prices of the Equity Units.
NEE has the right to defer the payment of contract adjustment payments on the purchase contracts that are components of the Equity Units until no later than June 1, 2015. Deferred contract adjustment payments will accrue additional contract adjustment payments at the rate of 5.599% per year until paid, compounded quarterly. If NEE exercises its right to defer contract adjustment payments, the market price of the Equity Units is likely to be adversely affected. As a result of the existence of NEE's deferral rights, the market price of the Equity Units may be more volatile than the market prices of other securities that are not subject to optional deferrals.
S-48
Contract adjustment payments will terminate in bankruptcy.
If the purchase contracts are terminated due to NEE's bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the right to receive contract adjustment payments and deferred contract adjustment payments, if any, will also terminate.
Because the NEE Capital debentures will be issued with OID, holders of Corporate Units and separate NEE Capital debentures will have to include interest in their taxable income before they receive cash.
NEE Capital intends to treat the NEE Capital debentures as contingent payment debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, the NEE Capital debentures will be treated as issued with OID. OID will accrue from the issue date of the NEE Capital debentures and will be included in the gross income of holders of Corporate Units and separate NEE Capital debentures for U.S. federal income tax purposes before the holders receive the cash payments to which the income is attributable. See "Material United States Federal Income Tax ConsequencesU.S. HoldersNEE Capital DebenturesOriginal Issue Discount" in this prospectus supplement.
A holder of Equity Units may have to pay taxes with respect to constructive distributions on NEE common stock notwithstanding the fact that the holder does not actually receive the distribution.
The number of shares of NEE common stock that a holder of Equity Units is entitled to receive on the purchase contract settlement date or as a result of early settlement of a purchase contract, is subject to adjustment for certain events arising from stock splits and combinations, stock dividends, certain cash dividends and certain other actions by NEE that modify its capital structure. See "Description of the Purchase ContractsAnti-dilution Adjustments." The adjustment of the settlement rate (or a failure to adjust the settlement rate) may result in a constructive distribution that is taxable to holders of Equity Units for U.S. federal income tax purposes in the year of such constructive distribution notwithstanding the fact that the holders do not actually receive any distribution related thereto. In addition, non-U.S. holders of Equity Units may, in certain circumstances, be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax on the amount of such a constructive distribution. See "Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences."
A holder of Equity Units may not be able to exercise its right to settle a purchase contract prior to the purchase contract settlement date unless a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 is in effect and a prospectus is available covering the shares of common stock deliverable upon early settlement of a purchase contract.
The early settlement right under the purchase contracts is subject to the condition that, if required under the U.S. federal securities laws, NEE has a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 in effect and an available prospectus covering the shares of common stock and other securities, if any, deliverable upon settlement of a purchase contract. Although NEE has agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts to have such a registration statement in effect and to provide a prospectus if so required under the U.S. federal securities laws, any failure or inability to maintain an effective registration statement or to have available a prospectus covering the common stock, including as a result of pending corporate events or announcements that prevent the delivery of a current prospectus, may prevent or delay an early settlement.
The trading price of the NEE Capital debentures may not fully reflect the value of accrued but unpaid interest.
The NEE Capital debentures may trade at prices that do not fully reflect the value of accrued but unpaid interest. If holders dispose of their NEE Capital debentures between record dates for interest payments, those holders will be required to include in gross income the daily portions of OID through
S-49
the date of disposition as ordinary income, and to add this amount to their adjusted tax basis in the NEE Capital debentures disposed of. To the extent the selling price is less than a holder's adjusted tax basis (which will include accruals of OID through the date of sale), the holder will recognize a loss. Some or all of this loss may be capital in nature, and the deductibility of capital losses for U.S. federal income tax purposes is subject to certain limitations.
Provisions in NEE's organizational documents and the Florida Business Corporation Act could discourage takeover attempts that NEE's board of directors and management oppose even if holders of NEE common stock might benefit from a change in control of NEE.
Provisions in NEE's Charter and bylaws and the Florida Business Corporation Act, or "Florida Act," may make it difficult and expensive for a third party to pursue a takeover attempt that NEE's board of directors and management oppose even if a change in control of NEE might be beneficial to the interests of holders of NEE common stock. Among Charter provisions that could have an anti-takeover effect are those that:
The NEE bylaws contain some of the foregoing provisions contained in the Charter. In addition, the bylaws contain provisions that limit to 16 directors the maximum number of authorized directors of NEE and that establish advance notice requirements for shareholders to nominate candidates for election as directors at any annual or special meeting of shareholders or to present any other business for consideration at an annual meeting.
As a Florida corporation, NEE is subject to the Florida Act, which provides that an affiliated transaction with an interested shareholder generally must be approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of NEE's voting shares, other than the shares beneficially owned by the interested
S-50
shareholder. The Florida Act also contains a control-share acquisition statute which provides that a person who acquires shares in an "issuing public corporation," as defined in the statute, in excess of certain specified thresholds generally will not have any voting rights with respect to such shares unless such voting rights are approved by the holders of a majority of the votes of each class of securities entitled to vote separately, excluding shares held or controlled by the acquiring person.
The Charter authorizes NEE's board of directors from time to time and without shareholder action to provide for the issuance of up to 100,000,000 shares of serial preferred stock in one or more series, and to fix the powers, preferences and rights of each such series. The rights and privileges of holders of NEE common stock may be adversely affected by the powers, preferences and rights of holders of any series of preferred stock which the NEE board of directors may authorize for issuance from time to time. By authorizing the issuance of shares of preferred stock with particular voting, conversion or other rights and preferences, the board of directors could adversely affect the voting power of the holders of NEE common stock and could discourage unsolicited acquisition proposals or make it more difficult for a third party to gain control of NEE or otherwise could adversely affect the market price of NEE common stock.
S-51
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT DATA OF NEE AND SUBSIDIARIES
The following material, which is presented in this prospectus supplement solely to furnish limited introductory information, is qualified in its entirety by, and should be considered in conjunction with, the more detailed information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus supplement or in the accompanying prospectus. In the opinion of NEE, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair financial statement presentation of the results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 have been made. The results of operations for an interim period generally will not give a true indication of results for the year.
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2012 | 2011 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | |||||||||||
|
(In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts) |
|||||||||||||||
Operating revenues |
$ | 3,371 | $ | 3,134 | $ | 15,341 | $ | 15,317 | $ | 15,643 | ||||||
Net income |
$ | 461 | $ | 268 | $ | 1,923 | $ | 1,957 | $ | 1,615 | ||||||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (assuming dilution) |
414.7 | 418.4 | 419.0 | 413.0 | 407.2 | |||||||||||
Earnings per share of common stock (assuming dilution) |
$ | 1.11 | $ | 0.64 | $ | 4.59 | $ | 4.74 | $ | 3.97 |
CONSOLIDATED RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The information in this section supplements the information in the "Consolidated Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends" section on page 10 of the accompanying prospectus.
NEE's consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, and the three months ended March 31, 2012, was 3.00, 3.23, 2.91 and 2.96, respectively.
S-52
CONSOLIDATED CAPITALIZATION OF NEE AND SUBSIDIARIES
The following table shows NEE's consolidated capitalization as of March 31, 2012, and as adjusted to reflect the issuance of the Corporate Units and the other transactions described below. This table, which is presented in this prospectus supplement solely to provide limited introductory information, is qualified in its entirety by, and should be considered in conjunction with, the more detailed information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus supplement or in the accompanying prospectus.
|
|
Adjusted(a) | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
March 31, 2012 | |||||||||
|
Amount | Percent | ||||||||
|
(In Millions) |
|
||||||||
Common shareholders' equity |
$ | 15,223 | $ | 15,153 | (b) | 41.6 | % | |||
Long-term debt (excluding current maturities)(c) |
20,582 | 21,260 | 58.4 | % | ||||||
Total capitalization |
$ | 35,805 | $ | 36,413 | 100.0 | % | ||||
S-53
COMMON STOCK DIVIDENDS AND PRICE RANGE
NEE and its predecessor, FPL, have paid dividends on the common stock each year since 1944. Purchasers of the Equity Units offered hereby will not be entitled to receive any quarterly dividend with a record date prior to the settlement of the related purchase contract. It is generally the practice of NEE to pay dividends quarterly on the 15th day of March, June, September and December. The amount and timing of dividends payable on NEE common stock are within the sole discretion of NEE's board of directors. The ability of NEE to pay dividends on its common stock is dependent upon, among other things, dividends paid to it by its subsidiaries. See "Description of NEE Common Stock" in this prospectus supplement. The high and low prices of NEE common stock, as reported on the NYSE consolidated tape (NYSE ticker symbol: "NEE"), and dividends paid per share, for the periods indicated, are presented below:
|
Price Range | |
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Dividends Paid Per Share |
|||||||||
|
High | Low | ||||||||
2010 |
||||||||||
First Quarter |
$ | 53.75 | $ | 45.29 | $ | 0.50 | ||||
Second Quarter |
$ | 53.50 | $ | 47.96 | $ | 0.50 | ||||
Third Quarter |
$ | 55.98 | $ | 48.44 | $ | 0.50 | ||||
Fourth Quarter |
$ | 56.26 | $ | 50.00 | $ | 0.50 | ||||
2011 |
||||||||||
First Quarter |
$ | 55.86 | $ | 51.54 | $ | 0.55 | ||||
Second Quarter |
$ | 58.98 | $ | 54.16 | $ | 0.55 | ||||
Third Quarter |
$ | 58.25 | $ | 49.00 | $ | 0.55 | ||||
Fourth Quarter |
$ | 61.20 | $ | 51.33 | $ | 0.55 | ||||
2012 |
||||||||||
First Quarter |
$ | 61.21 | $ | 58.57 | $ | 0.60 | ||||
Second Quarter (through April 27, 2012) |
$ | 64.85 | $ | 61.20 | |
The information in this section supplements the information in the "Use of Proceeds" section on page 9 of the accompanying prospectus. Please read these two sections together.
NEE Capital will add the net proceeds from the sale of the NEE Capital debentures, which are expected to be approximately $580.8 million or approximately $668.1 million if the overallotment option is exercised in full (in each case, after deducting the underwriting discount and other offering expenses) to its general funds. NEE Capital expects to use its general funds to fund investments in energy and power projects, including renewable power projects, and for other general corporate purposes, including the repayment of commercial paper. As of April 27, 2012, NEE Capital had $926 million of outstanding commercial paper obligations which had maturities of up to 69 days and which had annual interest rates ranging from 0.44% to 0.56%. NEE Capital will temporarily invest in short term instruments any proceeds that are not immediately used.
The net proceeds from the sale of the Equity Units will be allocated between the purchase contracts and the NEE Capital debentures on NEE's financial statements. NEE expects that at the time of issuance, the fair market value of each NEE Capital debenture will be $1,000. The present value of the Equity Units' contract adjustment payments will be initially charged to common shareholders' equity, with an offsetting credit to liabilities. Subsequent contract adjustment payments are allocated
S-54
between this liability account and interest expense based on a constant rate calculation over the life of the transaction.
The Equity Unit purchase contracts are forward transactions in NEE common stock. Upon settlement of the purchase contract, NEE will receive $50 on that purchase contract and will issue the requisite number of shares of its common stock. The $50 that NEE receives will be credited to common shareholders' equity.
Before the issuance of NEE common stock upon settlement of the purchase contracts, NEE believes the purchase contracts will be reflected in NEE's diluted earnings per share calculations using the treasury stock method. Under this method, the number of shares of NEE common stock used in calculating diluted earnings per share is deemed to be increased by the excess, if any, of the number of shares that would be issued upon settlement of the purchase contracts less the number of shares that could be purchased by NEE in the market, at the average market price during the period, using the proceeds receivable upon settlement.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EQUITY UNITS
The information in this section supplements information in the "Description of Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase Units" on page 21 of the accompanying prospectus. Please read these two sections together.
This section briefly summarizes some of the terms of the Equity Units and some of the provisions of the purchase contract agreement and the pledge agreement. This summary does not contain a complete description of the Equity Units. You should read this summary together with the purchase contract agreement and the pledge agreement for a complete understanding of all the provisions and for the definitions of some terms used in this summary. The form of purchase contract agreement and pledge agreement have been previously filed with the SEC and are exhibits to the registration statement filed with the SEC of which this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus are a part. In addition, the purchase contract agreement is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. You should read the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 for a complete understanding of its provisions.
NEE will issue the Equity Units under the purchase contract agreement between the purchase contract agent and NEE. The Equity Units initially will consist of 12,000,000 Corporate Units (13,800,000 Corporate Units if the underwriter exercises its overallotment option in full), each with a stated amount of $50.
Each Corporate Unit will consist of a unit comprised of:
S-55
and either
"Applicable ownership interest" means, with respect to a Corporate Unit and the U.S. Treasury securities in the Treasury portfolio:
S-56
prior to that interest payment date in an amount equal to the interest payment that would be due on a 1/20, or 5%, beneficial ownership interest in the NEE Capital debentures in the principal amount of $1,000 that would have been components of the Corporate Units on that date (assuming the interest rate of the NEE Capital debentures was not reset) and accruing from and including the immediately preceding interest payment date.
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the purchase price of each Corporate Unit will be allocated between the related purchase contract and the applicable ownership interest in a NEE Capital debenture in proportion to their respective fair market values at the time of issuance. At the time of issuance, NEE will report the fair market value of the 1/20, or 5%, applicable ownership interest in a $1,000 principal amount of each NEE Capital debenture as $47.50, and NEE Capital will report the fair market value of each purchase contract as $0. This position generally will be binding on each beneficial owner of each Corporate Unit, but not on the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS. See "Material United States Federal Income Tax ConsequencesU.S. HoldersAllocation of Purchase Price."
As long as an Equity Unit is in the form of a Corporate Unit, the related applicable ownership interest in a NEE Capital debenture or the applicable ownership interest in a Treasury portfolio, as applicable, comprising a part of the Corporate Unit will be pledged to NEE through the collateral agent to secure the holder's obligation to purchase NEE common stock under the related purchase contract.
Creating Treasury Units by Substituting a Treasury Security for a NEE Capital Debenture
Unless the Treasury portfolio has replaced the NEE Capital debentures as a component of the Corporate Units as a result of a successful remarketing, a special event redemption or a mandatory redemption, each holder of Corporate Units will have the right, on or prior to the seventh business day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date, to substitute for the related NEE Capital debentures held by the collateral agent a zero-coupon U.S. Treasury security (CUSIP No. 912828NF3) maturing on May 31, 2015, which is referred to as a "Treasury security," having a principal amount at maturity equal to the aggregate principal amount of the NEE Capital debentures for which substitution is being made. These substitutions will create Treasury Units, and the NEE Capital debentures will be released to the holder. Because Treasury securities and NEE Capital debentures are issued in integral multiples of $1,000, holders of Corporate Units may make these substitutions only in integral multiples of 20 Corporate Units.
The ability of holders of Corporate Units to create Treasury Units will be subject to the limitation that holders may not create Treasury Units during any period commencing on and including the business day preceding any three-day remarketing period and ending on and including, in the case of a successful remarketing during that three-day remarketing period, the reset effective date, or, if none of the remarketings during that three-day remarketing period is successful, the business day following the last remarketing date in the applicable three-day remarketing period.
If a Treasury portfolio has replaced the NEE Capital debentures as a component of the Corporate Units as a result of a successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures, a special event redemption or a mandatory redemption, each holder of Corporate Units may create Treasury Units by making substitutions of Treasury securities for the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio, on or prior to the second business day immediately preceding June 1, 2015 and only in integral multiples of 80,000 Corporate Units (or such other number of Corporate Units as may be determined by the remarketing agent upon a successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures if the reset effective date is not a regular quarterly interest payment date). In such a case, the holder would also obtain the release of the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio rather than a release of the NEE Capital debentures.
S-57
Each Treasury Unit will consist of a unit with a stated amount of $50, comprised of:
Unless the Treasury portfolio has replaced the NEE Capital debentures as a component of the Corporate Units, to create 20 Treasury Units the Corporate Unit holder will:
Upon that deposit and the receipt of an instruction from the purchase contract agent, the collateral agent will release the related NEE Capital debenture from the pledge under the pledge agreement and deliver it to the purchase contract agent, on behalf of the holder, free and clear of NEE's security interest. The purchase contract agent then will:
The Treasury security will be substituted for the NEE Capital debenture and will be pledged to NEE through the collateral agent to secure the holder's obligation to purchase NEE common stock under the related purchase contract. The related NEE Capital debenture released to the holder thereafter will trade separately from the resulting Treasury Units.
If the Treasury portfolio has replaced the NEE Capital debentures as a component of the Corporate Units, then to create Treasury Units the Corporate Unit holder will have the right to substitute Treasury securities for the applicable ownership interests in the Treasury portfolio by following the same procedure specified above for creating a Treasury Unit, except the holder will have to deposit integral multiples of 80,000 Corporate Units (or such other number of Corporate Units as may be determined by the remarketing agent upon a successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures if the reset effective date is not a regular quarterly interest payment date).
Holders that elect to substitute pledged securities, thereby creating Treasury Units or recreating Corporate Units, will be responsible for any fees or expenses payable in connection with the
S-58
substitution. See "Certain Other Provisions of the Purchase Contract Agreement and the Pledge AgreementMiscellaneous."
Unless the Treasury portfolio has replaced the NEE Capital debentures as a component of the Corporate Units as a result of a successful remarketing, a special event redemption or a mandatory redemption, each holder of Treasury Units will have the right, subject to the last sentence of this paragraph, on or prior to the second business day immediately preceding the first day of the final three-day remarketing period, to substitute NEE Capital debentures for any related Treasury securities held by the collateral agent, having a principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Treasury securities at maturity for which substitution is being made. These substitutions will recreate Corporate Units, and the applicable Treasury securities will be released to the holder. Because Treasury securities and NEE Capital debentures are issued in integral multiples of $1,000, holders of Treasury Units may make these substitutions only in integral multiples of 20 Treasury Units.
The ability of holders of Treasury Units to recreate Corporate Units will be subject to the limitation that holders may not recreate Corporate Units during any period commencing on and including the business day preceding any three-day remarketing period and ending on and including, in the case of a successful remarketing during that three-day remarketing period, the reset effective date, or, if none of the remarketings during that three-day remarketing period is successful, the business day following the last remarketing date in the applicable three-day remarketing period.
If a Treasury portfolio has replaced the NEE Capital debentures as a component of the Corporate Units as a result of a successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures, a special event redemption or a mandatory redemption, each holder of Treasury Units may recreate Corporate Units by making substitutions of the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio for the applicable Treasury securities, on or prior to the second business day immediately preceding June 1, 2015 and only in integral multiples of 80,000 Treasury Units (or such other number of Treasury Units as may be determined by the remarketing agent in connection with a successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures if the reset effective date is not a regular quarterly interest payment date). In such a case, the holder would also obtain the release of the applicable Treasury securities for which substitution is being made.
Unless the Treasury portfolio has replaced the NEE Capital debentures as a component of the Corporate Units, to recreate 20 Corporate Units a Treasury Unit holder will:
Upon that deposit and the receipt of an instruction from the purchase contract agent, the collateral agent will release the related Treasury security from the pledge under the pledge agreement and deliver it to the purchase contract agent, on behalf of the holder, free and clear of NEE's security interest. The purchase contract agent will then:
S-59
The substituted NEE Capital debenture will be substituted for the Treasury security and will be pledged to NEE through the collateral agent to secure the holder's obligation to purchase NEE common stock under the related purchase contract.
If the Treasury portfolio has replaced the NEE Capital debentures as a component of the Corporate Units, the Treasury Unit holder will follow the same procedure specified above for recreating Corporate Units, except that the holder will have to deposit integral multiples of 80,000 Treasury Units and must deposit 80,000 applicable ownership interests in the Treasury portfolio with the collateral agent, which must be purchased in the open market at the expense of the Treasury Unit holder, unless otherwise owned by the holder.
Holders that elect to substitute pledged securities, thereby creating Treasury Units or recreating Corporate Units, will be responsible for any fees or expenses payable in connection with the substitution. See "Certain Other Provisions of the Purchase Contract Agreement and the Pledge AgreementMiscellaneous."
Payments on Corporate Units and Treasury Units
Holders of Corporate Units will be entitled to receive aggregate cash payments at the rate of 5.599% per year on the $50 stated amount per Corporate Unit, payable quarterly in arrears. The quarterly payments on the Corporate Units will consist of:
If interest on the NEE Capital debentures is reset on a reset effective date that is not a scheduled interest payment date, the collateral agent will receive on behalf of holders of Corporate Units a payment from NEE Capital on such reset effective date of accrued and unpaid interest on the NEE Capital debentures from the most recent quarterly interest payment date to, but excluding, such reset effective date. On the quarterly payment date next following the reset effective date, Corporate Unit holders will receive a quarterly cash distribution comprised of their pro rata portion of that interest payment, the portion of their applicable ownership interest in the remarketing Treasury portfolio that matures prior to that quarterly payment date and the contract adjustment payment payable on that date. If interest on the NEE Capital debentures is reset on a reset effective date that is not a scheduled interest payment date, holders of separate NEE Capital debentures that were not a component of Corporate Units will receive on the reset effective date a payment of accrued and unpaid interest from the most recent interest payment date to, but excluding, such reset effective date. On the semi-annual interest payment date next following the reset effective date, holders of NEE Capital debentures will receive a payment of interest accrued from and including the reset effective date, to but excluding such interest payment date.
Holders that create Treasury Units will be entitled to receive quarterly cash distributions of contract adjustment payments payable by NEE at the rate of 3.899% per year on the $50 stated amount per Treasury Unit, subject to NEE's right to defer the payment of such contract adjustment payments. Although holders of Treasury Units will not receive any interest payments on the Treasury securities pledged in connection with the creation of the Treasury Units, the holders of the Treasury Units will continue to receive the scheduled quarterly interest payments on the NEE Capital debentures that were released to them when the Treasury Units were created for so long as they hold
S-60
the NEE Capital debentures. Holders of Treasury Units will be required to accrue OID on these Treasury securities.
The NEE Capital debentures will be senior unsecured obligations of NEE Capital and will rank equally in right of payment with all of NEE Capital's other unsecured and unsubordinated debt obligations. See "Description of FPL Group Capital Senior Debt Securities" in the accompanying prospectus.
NEE's obligations under its guarantee of NEE Capital debentures will be senior unsecured obligations of NEE and will rank equally in right of payment with all of NEE's other unsecured and unsubordinated debt obligations. See "Description of FPL Group Guarantee of FPL Group Capital Senior Debt Securities" in the accompanying prospectus.
NEE's obligations with respect to the contract adjustment payments will be unsecured and subordinate and junior in right of payment to its obligations under any of its senior indebtedness. "Senior indebtedness" with respect to the contract adjustment payments means all of NEE's indebtedness of any kind, existing or incurred in the future, unless the instrument, if any, under which such indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is on a parity in right of payment with or subordinate in right of payment to the contract adjustment payments. Senior indebtedness will be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions in the purchase contract agreement.
Voting and Certain Other Rights
Holders of purchase contracts that are components of the Corporate Units or Treasury Units, in their capacities as such holders, will have no rights with respect to NEE common stock (including, without limitation, voting rights and rights to receive any dividends or other distributions on NEE common stock).
NEE does not intend to apply to list the Corporate Units on any securities exchange. In the event a secondary market should develop for the Corporate Units, unless and until substitution has been made as described in "Creating Treasury Units by Substituting a Treasury Security for a NEE Capital Debenture" or "Recreating Corporate Units," neither the NEE Capital debentures, nor the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio component of a Corporate Unit nor the Treasury security component of a Treasury Unit will trade separately from Corporate Units or Treasury Units. The applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures or applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio component will trade as a unit with the purchase contract component of the Corporate Units, and the Treasury security component will trade as a unit with the purchase contract component of the Treasury Units. NEE has no obligation or current intention to apply for listing of the Corporate Units, the Treasury Units or the NEE Capital debentures. There can be no assurance as to the liquidity of any secondary market that may develop for the Corporate Units, the Treasury Units or the NEE Capital debentures.
NEE common stock is listed on the NYSE and trades under the symbol "NEE."
Purchase of Equity Units and NEE Capital Debentures
NEE, its subsidiaries or its affiliates may from time to time, to the extent permitted by law, purchase any of the Corporate Units, Treasury Units or NEE Capital debentures which are then outstanding by tender, in the open market or by private agreement.
S-61
DESCRIPTION OF THE PURCHASE CONTRACTS
This section briefly summarizes some of the terms of the purchase contract agreement, purchase contracts, pledge agreement, remarketing agreement, and the indenture and officer's certificate which will supplement the indenture and create the specific terms of the NEE Capital debentures. This summary does not contain a complete description of the purchase contracts. You should read this summary together with the purchase contract agreement, the pledge agreement, the remarketing agreement, the indenture, the officer's certificate and other documents establishing the purchase contracts for a complete understanding of all the provisions and for the definitions of some terms used in this summary. The forms of purchase contract agreement, purchase contracts, pledge agreement, remarketing agreement and officer's certificate creating the specific terms of the NEE Capital debentures and the indenture have been previously filed with the SEC and are exhibits to the registration statement filed with the SEC of which the accompanying prospectus and this prospectus supplement are a part. In addition, the indenture is qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and is therefore subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. You should read the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 for a complete understanding of its provisions.
Each purchase contract that is part of a Corporate Unit or a Treasury Unit will obligate its holder to purchase, and NEE to sell, on June 1, 2015, the purchase contract settlement date (unless the purchase contract terminates prior to that date or is settled early at the holder's option), a number of newly issued shares of NEE common stock equal to the "settlement rate," for $50 in cash. The number of shares of NEE common stock issuable upon settlement of each purchase contract will be calculated, subject to adjustment under the circumstances described in "Anti-dilution Adjustments" and "Early Settlement upon a Fundamental Change," as follows:
Accordingly, if the applicable market value is greater than the threshold appreciation price, the aggregate market value of the shares of NEE common stock issued upon settlement of each purchase contract will be higher than $50, assuming that the market price of NEE common stock on the date of settlement is the same as the applicable market value of NEE common stock. If the market price is the same as the threshold appreciation price, the aggregate market value of those shares of NEE common stock will be equal to $50, assuming that the market price of NEE common stock on the date of settlement is the same as the applicable market value of NEE common stock.
Accordingly, if the applicable market value is greater than the reference price, but the market price does not exceed the threshold appreciation price, the aggregate market value of the shares of NEE common stock issued upon settlement of the purchase contract will be equal to $50, assuming that the market price of NEE common stock on the date of settlement is the same as the applicable market value of NEE common stock.
S-62
divided by the reference price (such settlement rate being referred to as the "maximum settlement rate").
Accordingly, if the applicable market value is less than the reference price, the aggregate market value of the shares of NEE common stock issued upon settlement of the purchase contract will be less than $50, assuming that the market price of NEE common stock on the date of settlement is the same as the applicable market value of NEE common stock. If the market price is the same as the reference price, the aggregate market value of those shares of NEE common stock will be equal to $50 assuming that the market price of NEE common stock on the date of settlement is the same as the applicable market value of NEE common stock.
If a holder elects to settle its purchase contract early in the manner described under "Early Settlement by Delivering Cash," the number of shares of NEE common stock issuable upon settlement of such purchase contract will be 0.6475, the minimum settlement rate, subject to adjustment as described under "Anti-dilution Adjustments." The maximum settlement rate and minimum settlement rate are collectively referred to as the "fixed settlement rates."
"Applicable market value" means the average of the closing price per share of NEE common stock on each of the 20 consecutive trading days ending on the third trading day immediately preceding June 1, 2015.
"Closing price" of NEE common stock on any date of determination means
A "trading day" means a day on which NEE common stock
If the NEE common stock is not traded on a securities exchange or quoted in the over-the-counter market, then "trading day" shall mean business day.
NEE will not issue any fractional shares of its common stock pursuant to the purchase contracts. In lieu of fractional shares otherwise issuable (calculated on an aggregate basis) in respect of the purchase contracts being settled by a holder of Corporate Units or Treasury Units, the holder will be entitled to receive an amount of cash equal to the fraction of a share multiplied by the applicable market value.
Unless:
S-63
"Early Settlement by Delivering Cash" or under "Early Settlement upon a Fundamental Change;"
then, on the purchase contract settlement date,
NEE common stock will then be issued and delivered to the holder or the holder's designee, upon presentation and surrender of the certificate evidencing the Equity Units, and payment by the holder of any transfer or similar taxes payable in connection with the issuance of NEE common stock to any person other than the holder.
Each holder of Corporate Units or Treasury Units, by acceptance of those securities, will be deemed to have:
In addition, each holder and beneficial owner of Corporate Units or Treasury Units, by acceptance of the beneficial interest in those securities, will be deemed to have covenanted and agreed to treat:
in each case, for all U.S. federal, state and local income, and franchise tax purposes.
So long as the Equity Units are held through DTC, the beneficial owners will have rights and obligations with respect to the Equity Units equivalent to those of a holder except exercisable only through DTC or its participants. See "Book-Entry Only System."
S-64
Holders' Obligations and Defaults
In addition to the purchase price paid for the Equity Units, each holder of Corporate Units or Treasury Units is obligated under the applicable purchase contract to purchase for $50 in cash NEE common stock not later than the purchase contract settlement date. In addition, each holder of a Corporate Unit (unless the NEE Capital debentures are successfully remarketed during the period for early remarketing or a special event redemption or a mandatory redemption has occurred) is obligated to notify the purchase contract agent of its intention to pay such amounts in cash not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the seventh business day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date, unless such holder has already paid such amount. Each holder of a Treasury Unit (or Corporate Unit, if the NEE Capital debentures are successfully remarketed during the period for early remarketing or a special event redemption or a mandatory redemption has occurred) is obligated to notify the purchase contract agent of its intention to pay such amounts in cash not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the second business day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date, unless such holder has already paid such amount. So long as the Equity Units are held by the depositary, such payments must be made and such notices must be given by the beneficial owners through the procedures of the depositary.
Failure to make such payments or give such notices will constitute a default under the related purchase contract and will entitle the collateral agent or NEE, without further recourse to the holder or beneficial owner in respect of its obligation to purchase NEE common stock under the related purchase contract, to foreclose on or exercise other remedies with respect to the corresponding pledged NEE Capital debentures, Treasury securities or applicable ownership interest in a Treasury portfolio. If the holder or beneficial owner of a Corporate Unit (unless the NEE Capital debentures are successfully remarketed during the period for early remarketing, or a special event redemption or a mandatory redemption has occurred) fails to give a required notice with respect to the purchase contract, NEE expects that it or the collateral agent will offer and sell the corresponding pledged applicable ownership interests in a NEE Capital debenture in the immediately following remarketing or at a subsequent public sale at which NEE may bid its claim or in a subsequent private sale and apply the proceeds to purchase the corresponding NEE common stock. In addition, NEE may, in accordance with applicable law, retain the pledged applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures that are included in Corporate Units to satisfy the holder's obligation to purchase NEE common stock under the related purchase contract. If the holder or beneficial owner of a Corporate Unit (unless the NEE Capital debentures are successfully remarketed during the period for early remarketing, or a special event redemption or a mandatory redemption has occurred) gives the appropriate notice but fails to make the corresponding payment on time, then NEE expects that it or the collateral agent will exercise its rights as a secured party in accordance with applicable law and may, among other things, retain the pledged applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures that are included in Corporate Units or sell the NEE Capital debentures included in Corporate Units, in each case to satisfy in full the holder's obligations to purchase NEE common stock under the related purchase contract on June 1, 2015. If the holder or beneficial owner of a Treasury Unit (or a Corporate Unit, if the NEE Capital debentures are successfully remarketed during the period for early remarketing or a special event redemption or a mandatory redemption has occurred) fails to give a required notice or make a required payment, NEE expects that it or the collateral agent will apply the proceeds of the applicable ownership interest in the pledged Treasury securities or applicable ownership interest in a Treasury portfolio to purchase the corresponding NEE common stock. So long as the Equity Units are held by the depositary, NEE expects that notice of such remarketing or public or private sale will be given to the beneficial owners through the procedures of the depositary.
S-65
Pursuant to the remarketing agreement, and subject to the terms of the supplemental remarketing agreement, NEE Capital may, at its option and in its sole discretion, elect to remarket the NEE Capital debentures on any remarketing date occurring during the period for early remarketing beginning on the fifth business day preceding December 1, 2014 and ending on the ninth business day preceding June 1, 2015, unless the NEE Capital debentures have been previously redeemed in connection with a special event redemption or a mandatory redemption or have been previously successfully remarketed. Any remarketing during the period for early remarketing will occur during one or more three-day remarketing periods that consist of three sequential possible remarketing dates selected by NEE Capital and will include the NEE Capital debentures that are a component of Corporate Units and other separate NEE Capital debentures of holders that have elected to include those NEE Capital debentures in the remarketing.
On each remarketing date occurring during the period for early remarketing, the remarketing agent will use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a price for the NEE Capital debentures remarketed equal to or greater than 100% of the remarketing Treasury portfolio purchase price plus the separate NEE Capital debentures purchase price plus the applicable remarketing fee. In no event shall the price for the NEE Capital debentures on each remarketing date, if any, occurring during the period for early remarketing be less than a price equal to 100% of the purchase price for the remarketing Treasury portfolio plus the separate NEE Capital debentures purchase price. The proceeds from the remarketing equal to the remarketing Treasury portfolio purchase price will be applied to purchase, on the reset effective date, a remarketing Treasury portfolio consisting of:
The remarketing Treasury portfolio will be substituted for the NEE Capital debentures that are a component of the Corporate Units and will be pledged to NEE through the collateral agent to secure
S-66
the Corporate Unit holders' obligations to purchase NEE common stock under the related purchase contracts.
In addition, if a remarketing during the period for early remarketing is successful, the remarketing agent may deduct the remarketing fee from any portion of the proceeds from the remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures that is in excess of the sum of the remarketing Treasury portfolio purchase price and the aggregate separate NEE Capital debentures purchase price, which remarketing fee shall be 25 basis points (0.25%) of the sum of the remarketing Treasury portfolio purchase price and the aggregate separate NEE Capital debentures purchase price. The remarketing agent will then remit the separate NEE Capital debentures purchase price to the holders of NEE Capital debentures that were not a component of Corporate Units and whose holders elected to include those NEE Capital debentures in an early remarketing. The remarketing agent will then remit the remaining portion of the proceeds from the remarketing of those NEE Capital debentures, if any, for the benefit of the holders of the Corporate Units and the holders, prior to remarketing, of NEE Capital debentures that were not a component of Corporate Units and whose holders elected to include those NEE Capital debentures in an early remarketing.
As used in this context, "remarketing Treasury portfolio purchase price" means the lowest aggregate price quoted by a primary U.S. government securities dealer in New York City to the quotation agent on the third business day immediately preceding the reset effective date for the purchase of the remarketing Treasury portfolio described above for settlement on the reset effective date. "Quotation agent" means any primary U.S. government securities dealer in New York City selected by NEE Capital.
In connection with a successful remarketing, interest on the NEE Capital debentures will be payable semi-annually at the reset rate. The reset rate on the NEE Capital debentures to the maturity date will be determined on the date that the remarketing agent is able to successfully remarket the NEE Capital debentures. The reset rate and modified interest payment dates will become effective, if the remarketing is successful, on the reset effective date, which, in the case of a remarketing during the period for early remarketing, will be the third business day immediately following the date of the successful remarketing, unless the remarketing is successful within five business days of the next succeeding interest payment date in which case the reset effective date will be such interest payment date. See "General," "Interest and Payment" and "Market Reset Rate" under "Certain Terms of the NEE Capital Debentures." The interest rate and scheduled interest payment dates of NEE Capital debentures that are held by holders that do not participate in a remarketing will still be reset on the reset effective date in accordance with any reset of the interest rate and modification of the scheduled interest payment dates of the NEE Capital debentures in connection with a successful remarketing.
If a remarketing attempt described above is unsuccessful on the first remarketing date of a three-day remarketing period, subsequent remarketings will be attempted as described above on each of the two following remarketing dates in that three-day remarketing period until a successful remarketing occurs. If (1) despite using its commercially reasonable efforts, the remarketing agent cannot remarket the NEE Capital debentures at a price equal to at least 100% of the remarketing Treasury portfolio purchase price plus the separate NEE Capital debentures purchase price or (2) the remarketing has not occurred because a condition precedent to the remarketing has not been fulfilled, in each case, resulting in an unsuccessful remarketing on each of the three remarketing dates comprising the three-day remarketing period, the NEE Capital debentures will continue to be a component of the Corporate Units and additional remarketings may, subject to the next paragraph, be attempted during one or more subsequent three-day remarketing periods as described above.
Unless the NEE Capital debentures have been successfully remarketed on or prior to the ninth business day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date, the NEE Capital debentures that are a component of the Corporate Units whose holders have failed to notify the purchase contract agent on or prior to the seventh business day preceding the purchase contract settlement date of their
S-67
intention to settle the related purchase contracts with separate cash will, unless a special event redemption or mandatory redemption has occurred or will occur prior to the purchase contract settlement date, be remarketed during a three-day remarketing period beginning on and including the fifth business day, and ending on and including the third business day, immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date. This three-day remarketing period is referred to as the "final three-day remarketing period," and the third business day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date is referred to as the "final remarketing date." The reset effective date relating to any remarketing during the final three-day remarketing period will be the purchase contract settlement date. In this remarketing, the remarketing agent will use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a price for the NEE Capital debentures equal to or greater than 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the NEE Capital debentures being remarketed plus the applicable remarketing fee. In no event shall the price for the NEE Capital debentures being remarketed in this remarketing be less than the aggregate principal amount of the NEE Capital debentures being remarketed. A portion of the proceeds from this remarketing equal to the aggregate principal amount of the NEE Capital debentures that are a component of the Corporate Units will be automatically applied to satisfy in full the Corporate Unit holders' obligations to purchase NEE common stock on the purchase contract settlement date.
If a remarketing during the final three-day remarketing period is successful, the remarketing agent may deduct the remarketing fee from any portion of the proceeds from the remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures that is in excess of the aggregate principal amount of the remarketed NEE Capital debentures, which remarketing fee shall be 25 basis points (0.25%) of the aggregate principal amount of the NEE Capital debentures remarketed. The remarketing agent will then remit any remaining portion of the proceeds for the benefit of the holders. Corporate Unit holders whose component NEE Capital debentures are remarketed as well as holders of separate NEE Capital debentures who elect to participate in the remarketing will not otherwise be responsible for the payment of any remarketing fee in connection with any remarketing.
If the remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures on or prior to the final remarketing date is not successful because the remarketing agent cannot obtain a price of at least 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the NEE Capital debentures being remarketed or a condition precedent to such remarketing has not been fulfilled, NEE will exercise its rights as a secured party with respect to the NEE Capital debentures that are a component of Corporate Units in accordance with applicable law to satisfy in full, from the proceeds of the disposition, the holders' obligations to purchase NEE common stock under the related purchase contracts on June 1, 2015. In addition, holders of NEE Capital debentures that are not part of a Corporate Unit may exercise their put right upon an unsuccessful final remarketing by providing written notice at least two business days prior to the purchase contract settlement date. The put price will be paid to such holder on the purchase contract settlement date. The put price per debenture will be equal to the principal amount of the NEE Capital debenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest.
NEE Capital will announce any remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures on the sixth business day immediately preceding the first remarketing date of a three-day remarketing period and, for the final three-day remarketing period, NEE Capital will announce the remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures on the third business day immediately preceding the first remarketing date of the final three-day remarketing period. Each such announcement (each a "remarketing announcement") on each such date (each, a "remarketing announcement date") shall specify
S-68
NEE Capital will cause each remarketing announcement to be published on the business day following the remarketing announcement date by making a timely release to any appropriate news agency, including Bloomberg Business News and the Dow Jones News Service. In addition, NEE Capital will request, not later than 10 business days prior to each remarketing announcement date, that the depositary notify its participants holding NEE Capital debentures, Corporate Units and Treasury Units of the remarketing. If required, NEE Capital will use its commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that a registration statement with respect to the full principal amount of the NEE Capital debentures to be remarketed is effective such that the remarketing agent may rely on it in connection with the remarketing process. If a successful remarketing occurs on a remarketing date, NEE Capital will request the depositary to notify its participants holding NEE Capital debentures of the reset rate and interest payment dates established for the NEE Capital debentures during the remarketing on the business day following the remarketing date on which the NEE Capital debentures were successfully remarketed. If a successful remarketing does not occur during a three-day remarketing period, NEE Capital will cause a notice of the unsuccessful remarketing attempt to be published on the business day following the last of the three remarketing dates comprising the three-day remarketing period (which notice, in the event of an unsuccessful remarketing on the final remarketing date, shall be published not later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, and shall include the procedures that must be followed if a holder of separate NEE Capital debentures wishes to exercise its right to put such NEE Capital debentures to NEE Capital), in each case, by making a timely release to any appropriate news agency, including Bloomberg Business News and the Dow Jones News Service.
S-69
In connection with a remarketing, holders of NEE Capital debentures that are not a component of the Corporate Units may elect to have their NEE Capital debentures remarketed as described under "Certain Terms of the NEE Capital DebenturesOptional Remarketing."
A holder of Corporate Units may elect not to participate in any remarketing and to retain the principal amount of NEE Capital debentures that are a component of the applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures comprising part of such holder's Corporate Units by (1) creating Treasury Units at any time prior to the business day preceding any three-day remarketing period or (2) if there has not been a successful remarketing prior to the final three-day remarketing period, notifying the purchase contract agent of such holder's intention to pay cash to satisfy such holder's obligation under the related purchase contract on or prior to the seventh business day before the purchase contract settlement date and delivering the cash payment required under the purchase contracts to the collateral agent on or prior to the sixth business day before the purchase contract settlement date.
Early Settlement by Delivering Cash
At any time prior to the seventh business day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date, in the case of Corporate Units (of which the applicable ownership interest in a NEE Capital debenture remains a component), or at any time prior to the second business day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date, in the case of Treasury Units (or Corporate Units of which the applicable ownership interest in a NEE Capital debenture no longer is a component), a holder of Equity Units may settle the related purchase contracts in their entirety provided that at such time, if so required under the U.S. federal securities laws, there is in effect a registration statement covering the shares of common stock to be delivered in respect of the purchase contracts being settled, by presenting and surrendering the related Equity Units certificate at the office of the purchase contract agent with the form of "Election to Settle Early/Fundamental Change Early Settlement" on the reverse side of such certificate completed and executed as indicated, accompanied by payment to NEE in immediately available funds of an amount equal to:
If the Treasury portfolio has not replaced the NEE Capital debentures as a component of Corporate Units, holders of Corporate Units will not be permitted to exercise their early settlement right during any period commencing on and including the business day preceding any three-day remarketing period and ending on and including, in the case of a successful remarketing during that three-day remarketing period, the reset effective date or, if none of the remarketings during that three-day remarketing period is successful, the business day following the last remarketing date in the applicable three-day remarketing period.
Holders of Corporate Units may settle early only in integral multiples of 20 Corporate Units. If a Treasury portfolio has replaced the NEE Capital debentures as a component of Corporate Units as a result of a successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures, a special event redemption or a mandatory redemption, holders of the Corporate Units may settle early only in integral multiples of 80,000 Corporate Units (or such other number of Corporate Units as may be determined by the remarketing agent upon a successful remarketing of NEE Capital debentures if the reset effective date
S-70
is not a regular quarterly interest payment date). Holders of Treasury Units may settle early only in integral multiples of 20 Treasury Units.
So long as the Equity Units are evidenced by one or more global security certificates deposited with the depositary, procedures for early settlement will also be governed by standing arrangements between the depositary and the purchase contract agent.
The early settlement right is also subject to the condition that, if required under the U.S. federal securities laws, NEE has a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 in effect covering the shares of NEE common stock and other securities, if any, deliverable upon settlement of a purchase contract. NEE has agreed that, if required under the U.S. federal securities laws, (1) NEE will use its commercially reasonable efforts to have a registration statement in effect covering those shares of common stock and other securities to be delivered in respect of the purchase contracts being settled, and (2) provide a prospectus in connection therewith, in each case in a form that may be used in connection with the early settlement.
Upon early settlement of the purchase contracts related to any Corporate Units or Treasury Units:
NEE will not issue any fractional shares of its common stock in connection with early settlement of any purchase contracts. In lieu of fractional shares otherwise issuable (calculated on an aggregate basis) in respect of the purchase contracts being early settled on any date by a holder of Corporate Units or Treasury Units, the holder will be entitled to receive an amount of cash equal to the fraction of a share multiplied by $77.22, the threshold appreciation price.
If the purchase contract agent receives an Equity Unit certificate, accompanied by the completed and executed "Election to Settle Early/Fundamental Change Early Settlement" and the required immediately available funds, from a holder of Equity Units by 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on a business day, that day will be considered the settlement date for those Equity Units. If the purchase contract agent receives the necessary documentation and funds after 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on a business day or at any time on a day that is not a business day, the next business day will be considered the settlement date for those Equity Units.
Upon early settlement of purchase contracts in the manner described above, presentation and surrender of the Equity Unit certificate evidencing the related Corporate Units or Treasury Units and payment of any transfer or similar taxes payable by the holder in connection with the issuance of the related NEE common stock to any person other than the holder of the Corporate Units or Treasury Units, NEE will cause the shares of its common stock being purchased to be issued, and the related NEE Capital debentures, the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio or the Treasury securities, as the case may be, securing the purchase contracts to be released from the pledge under the
S-71
pledge agreement described in "Pledged Securities and Pledge Agreement" and transferred, within three business days following the settlement date, to the purchasing holder or the holder's designee.
Early Settlement upon a Fundamental Change
Prior to the purchase contract settlement date, if NEE is involved in a transaction that constitutes a fundamental change (as defined below) then following the fundamental change, each holder of an Equity Unit will have the right to accelerate and settle the related purchase contract that is a component of the Equity Unit early at the settlement rate determined as if the applicable market value equaled the stock price (as defined below), plus an additional make-whole amount of shares (such additional make-whole amount of shares being hereafter referred to as the "make-whole shares"), provided that at such time, if so required under the U.S. federal securities laws, there is in effect a registration statement covering the common stock and other securities, if any, to be delivered in respect of the purchase contracts being settled. This right is referred to as the "fundamental change early settlement right."
NEE will provide each of the holders of an Equity Unit with a notice of the completion of a fundamental change within five business days thereof. The notice will specify a date, which shall be at least ten days after the date of the notice but no later than the earlier of 20 days after the date of such notice or five business days prior to the purchase contract settlement date, by which each holder's fundamental change early settlement right must be exercised. The notice will set forth, among other things, the applicable settlement rate and the kind and amount of securities, cash or other consideration receivable by the holder upon settlement. To exercise the fundamental change early settlement right, a holder of an Equity Unit must deliver to the purchase contract agent, no later than 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day before the fundamental change early settlement date, the certificate or certificates evidencing its Corporate Units or Treasury Units, and payment of the applicable purchase price in immediately available funds.
A "fundamental change" will be deemed to have occurred if either of the following occurs:
If a holder exercises the fundamental change early settlement right, NEE will deliver to the holder on the fundamental change early settlement date the kind and amount of securities, cash or other consideration that the holder would have been entitled to receive if it had settled the purchase contract immediately before the fundamental change at the settlement rate described above, plus the additional make-whole shares. The holder will also receive the NEE Capital debentures, applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio or the Treasury securities that are a component of the Corporate Units or Treasury Units, as the case may be. If a holder of an Equity Unit does not elect to exercise its fundamental change early settlement right, its Corporate Units or Treasury Units will remain outstanding and subject to normal settlement on the purchase contract settlement date. NEE has agreed that, if required under the U.S. federal securities laws, NEE will use its commercially reasonable efforts to (1) have in effect a registration statement covering the securities, if any, to be delivered in respect of the purchase contracts being settled and (2) provide a prospectus in connection therewith, in each case in a form that may be used in connection with an early settlement upon a fundamental
S-72
change. In the event that a holder seeks to exercise its fundamental change early settlement right and a registration statement is required to be effective in connection with the exercise of such right but no such registration statement is then effective, the holder's exercise of such right shall be void unless and until such a registration statement shall be effective and NEE will have no further obligation with respect to any such registration statement if, notwithstanding using its commercially reasonable efforts, no registration statement is then effective.
If the Treasury portfolio has replaced the NEE Capital debentures as a component of the Corporate Units, holders of the Corporate Units may exercise the fundamental change early settlement right only in integral multiples of 80,000 Corporate Units (or such other number of Corporate Units as may be determined by the remarketing agent upon a successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures if the reset effective date is not a regular quarterly interest payment date). Otherwise, a holder of Corporate Units or Treasury Units may exercise the fundamental change early settlement right only in integral multiples of 20 Corporate Units or 20 Treasury Units, respectively.
Calculation of the Number of Make-Whole Shares. The number of make-whole shares by which the applicable settlement rate will be increased with respect to a fundamental change early settlement will be determined by reference to the table below, based on the date the fundamental change becomes effective (the "effective date") and the "stock price" in the fundamental change, which will be
|
Effective Date | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stock Price
|
May 4, 2012 | June 1, 2013 | June 1, 2014 | June 1, 2015 | |||||||||
$20.00 |
0.1268 | 0.0861 | 0.0438 | 0.0000 | |||||||||
$30.00 |
0.0826 | 0.0561 | 0.0285 | 0.0000 | |||||||||
$40.00 |
0.0595 | 0.0406 | 0.0209 | 0.0000 | |||||||||
$50.00 |
0.0392 | 0.0261 | 0.0140 | 0.0000 | |||||||||
$60.00 |
0.0130 | 0.0020 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | |||||||||
$64.35 |
0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | |||||||||
$70.00 |
0.0455 | 0.0321 | 0.0175 | 0.0000 | |||||||||
$77.22 |
0.0916 | 0.0760 | 0.0555 | 0.0000 | |||||||||
$80.00 |
0.0843 | 0.0681 | 0.0462 | 0.0000 | |||||||||
$90.00 |
0.0624 | 0.0456 | 0.0238 | 0.0000 | |||||||||
$100.00 |
0.0469 | 0.0316 | 0.0141 | 0.0000 | |||||||||
$125.00 |
0.0273 | 0.0174 | 0.0083 | 0.0000 | |||||||||
$150.00 |
0.0197 | 0.0130 | 0.0066 | 0.0000 | |||||||||
$175.00 |
0.0157 | 0.0106 | 0.0054 | 0.0000 | |||||||||
$200.00 |
0.0131 | 0.0089 | 0.0045 | 0.0000 |
The stock prices set forth in the first column heading of the table above will be adjusted upon the occurrence of certain events requiring anti-dilution adjustments to the fixed settlement rates.
Each of the make-whole share amounts in the table will be subject to adjustment in the same manner as the fixed settlement rates as set forth under "Anti-dilution Adjustments."
S-73
The exact stock price and effective date applicable to a fundamental change may not be set forth on the table, in which case:
A holder of a Corporate Unit (of which the applicable ownership interest in a NEE Capital debenture remains a component) that wishes to settle the related purchase contract with separate cash must notify the purchase contract agent by presenting and surrendering the certificate evidencing the Corporate Unit at the office of the purchase contract agent with the form of "Notice to Settle by Separate Cash" on the reverse side of the certificate completed and executed as indicated on or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the seventh business day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date and delivering the required cash payment to the collateral agent on or prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the sixth business day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date.
A holder of a Treasury Unit or a Corporate Unit (of which the applicable ownership interest in a NEE Capital debenture is no longer a component) that wishes to settle the related purchase contract with separate cash must notify the purchase contract agent by presenting and surrendering the certificate representing the Treasury Unit or the certificate evidencing the Corporate Unit, as the case may be, at the office of the purchase contract agent with the form of "Notice to Settle by Separate Cash" on the reverse side of such certificate completed and executed as indicated on or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the second business day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date and delivering the required cash payment to the collateral agent on or prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date.
If a holder of a Corporate Unit or Treasury Unit that has given notice of its intention to settle the purchase contract with separate cash fails to timely deliver the cash to the collateral agent, NEE will exercise its rights as a secured party in accordance with applicable law and may, among other things, retain the related pledged applicable ownership interests in a NEE Capital debenture, the applicable ownership interest in a Treasury portfolio or the Treasury security or sell the related pledged applicable ownership interests in a NEE Capital debenture, the applicable ownership interest in a Treasury portfolio or the Treasury security, in each case to satisfy in full the holders' obligations to purchase NEE common stock under the related purchase contracts on June 1, 2015.
Contract adjustment payments in respect of Corporate Units and the Treasury Units will be fixed at the rate of 3.899% of $50 per purchase contract per year. Contract adjustment payments payable for any period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.
S-74
Contract adjustment payments will accrue from May 4, 2012 and will be payable quarterly in arrears on March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 of each year, commencing September 1, 2012.
Contract adjustment payments will be payable to the holders of purchase contracts as they appear on the books and records of the purchase contract agent on the relevant record dates, which, as long as all of the Equity Units remain in book-entry only form, will be the close of business on the business day immediately prior to the relevant payment date. These distributions will be paid through the purchase contract agent, who will hold amounts received in respect of the contract adjustment payments for the benefit of the holders of the purchase contracts relating to the Equity Units. Subject to any applicable laws and regulations, each such payment will be made as described under "Book-Entry Only System." In the event that all of the Equity Units do not remain in book-entry only form, NEE shall have the right to select relevant record dates, which shall be at least one business day but not more than 60 business days prior to the relevant payment dates, and to make payments by check mailed to the specified address of the holder as of the relevant record date or by wire transfer to an account appropriately designated by the holder entitled to payment.
If any date on which contract adjustment payments are to be made is not a business day, then payment of the contract adjustment payments payable on that date will be made on the next succeeding business day, and no interest or payment will be paid in respect of the delay. However, if such next succeeding business day is in the next succeeding calendar year, that payment will be made on the business day immediately preceding the scheduled payment date, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on that scheduled payment date. A "business day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which banking institutions and trust companies in New York City are permitted or required by any applicable law, regulation or executive order to close.
NEE's obligations with respect to contract adjustment payments will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to its obligations under any of its senior indebtedness. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of NEE to its creditors upon any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceedings, the holders of all senior indebtedness shall first be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due or to become due thereon, or payment of such amounts shall have been provided for, before the holders of the Equity Units shall be entitled to receive any contract adjustment payments with respect to any Equity Unit.
By reason of this subordination, in those events, holders of NEE's senior indebtedness may receive more, ratably, and holders of the Equity Units may receive less, ratably, than NEE's other creditors. Because NEE is a holding company, contract adjustment payments on the Equity Units are effectively subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities, including trade payables, debt and preferred stock issued, guaranteed or otherwise incurred by NEE's subsidiaries. NEE's subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation to pay any contract adjustment payments or to make any funds available for such payment.
In addition, no payment of contract adjustment payments with respect to any Equity Units may be made if:
S-75
Option to Defer Contract Adjustment Payments
NEE may, at its option and upon prior written notice to the holders of the Equity Units and the purchase contract agent, defer the payment of contract adjustment payments on the related purchase contracts that are a component of the Equity Units otherwise payable on a payment date to any subsequent payment date (a "deferral period") until no later than the purchase contract settlement date; provided, however, that in an early settlement upon a fundamental change or any other early settlement of the purchase contracts, NEE will pay deferred contract adjustment payments to but not including the fundamental change settlement date or the most recent quarterly payment date, as applicable. Prior to the expiration of any deferral period, NEE may further extend such deferral period to any subsequent payment date, but not beyond the purchase contract settlement date (or any applicable early settlement date or fundamental change early settlement date). Any deferred contract adjustment payments will accrue additional contract adjustment payments at the rate of 5.599% per year until paid, compounded quarterly, which is equal to the rate of total distributions on the Corporate Units. If a purchase contract is settled early other than on a fundamental change early settlement date, a holder will have no right to receive any accrued and unpaid contract adjustment payments. In addition, if the purchase contracts are terminated upon the occurrence of certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to NEE, the right to receive any accrued and unpaid contract adjustment payments and deferred contract adjustment payments will also terminate.
In the event that NEE exercises its right to defer the payment of contract adjustment payments, then, until the deferred contract adjustment payments have been paid, NEE will not declare or pay dividends on, make other distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase or acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock or make guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing other than:
S-76
NEE's subsidiaries will not be restricted from making any similar payments on their capital stock if NEE exercises its right to defer payment of any contract adjustment payments.
In order to maintain a holder's relative investment in NEE common stock upon the occurrence of certain events, each fixed settlement rate will be subject to the following adjustments:
(1) Stock Dividends. If NEE pays or makes a dividend or other distribution on NEE common stock in such common stock, each fixed settlement rate in effect at the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive such dividend or other distribution shall be increased by dividing:
(2) Stock Purchase Rights. If NEE issues to all holders of NEE common stock, rights, options, warrants or other securities (that are not available on an equivalent basis to holders of the Equity Units upon settlement of the purchase contracts), entitling them to subscribe for or purchase shares of NEE common stock for a period expiring within 45 days from the date of issuance of such rights, options, warrants or other securities at a price per share of NEE common stock less than the current market price (as defined below) on the date fixed for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive such rights, options, warrants or securities (other than pursuant to a dividend reinvestment, stock purchase or similar plan), each fixed settlement rate in effect at the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for such determination shall be increased by dividing:
(3) Stock Splits, Reverse Splits and Combinations. If outstanding shares of NEE common stock shall be subdivided, split or reclassified into a greater number of shares of NEE common stock, each fixed settlement rate in effect at the opening of business on the day following the day upon which such subdivision, split or reclassification becomes effective shall be proportionately increased, and, conversely, in case outstanding shares of NEE common stock shall each be combined or reclassified into a smaller number of shares of NEE common stock, each fixed settlement rate in effect at the opening of business on the day following the day upon which such combination or reclassification becomes effective shall be proportionately reduced.
(4) Debt or Asset Distributions. If NEE, by dividend or otherwise, distributes to all holders of NEE common stock evidences of its indebtedness or assets (including securities but excluding any rights, options, warrants or other securities referred to in paragraph (2) above, any dividend or other distribution paid exclusively in cash referred to in paragraph (5) below (including the reference dividend, as described therein) and any dividend, shares of capital stock of any class or series, or
S-77
similar equity interests, of or relating to a subsidiary or other business unit in the case of a spin-off referred to below, or dividend or other distribution referred to in paragraph (1) above), each fixed settlement rate in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the date fixed for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive such distribution shall be increased by dividing:
In the case of the payment of a dividend or other distribution on NEE common stock of shares of capital stock of any class or series, or similar equity interests, of or relating to a subsidiary or other business unit of NEE, which is referred to as a "spin-off," the fixed settlement rates in effect immediately before the close of business on the record date fixed for determination of shareholders entitled to receive that distribution will be increased by dividing:
The adjustment to the fixed settlement rates under the preceding paragraph will occur on the date that is the earlier of:
For purposes of this section, "initial public offering" means the first time securities of the same class or type as the securities being distributed in the spin-off are offered to the public for cash.
In the event of a spin-off that is not effected simultaneously with an initial public offering of the securities being distributed in the spin-off, the fair market value of the securities to be distributed to holders of NEE common stock means the average of the closing sale prices of those securities over the first 10 trading days following the effective date of the spin-off. Also, for purposes of such a spin-off, the current market price of NEE common stock means the average of the closing sale prices of NEE common stock over the first 10 trading days following the effective date of the spin-off.
If, however, an initial public offering of the securities being distributed in the spin-off is to be effected simultaneously with the spin-off, the fair market value of the securities being distributed in the spin-off means the initial public offering price, while the current market price of NEE common stock means the closing sale price of NEE common stock on the trading day on which the initial public offering price of the securities being distributed in the spin-off is determined.
(5) Cash Distributions. If NEE, by dividend or otherwise, makes distributions to all holders of NEE common stock exclusively in cash during any quarterly period (excluding any cash that is distributed in a reorganization event to which the provisions described below under "Reorganization Events" apply or as part of a distribution referred to in paragraph (4) above) in an amount that exceeds $0.60 per share per quarter of NEE common stock (such per share amount being referred to as the "reference dividend"), immediately after the close of business on the date fixed for determination of the
S-78
shareholders entitled to receive such distribution, each fixed settlement rate shall be increased by dividing:
The reference dividend is subject to adjustment (without duplication) from time to time whenever the fixed settlement rates are adjusted, in a manner inversely proportional to any such adjustment, provided that no adjustment will be made to the reference dividend for any adjustment made to the fixed settlement rates pursuant to this paragraph (5). In the event that such dividend or other distribution is not so paid or made, each fixed settlement rate shall again be adjusted to be the fixed settlement rates which would then be in effect if such dividend or other distribution had not been declared.
(6) Tender and Exchange Offers. In case a tender offer or exchange offer made by NEE or any subsidiary for all or any portion of NEE common stock shall expire and such tender offer or exchange offer (as amended through the expiration thereof) shall require the payment to shareholders (based on the acceptance (up to any maximum specified in the terms of the tender offer or exchange offer) of reacquired shares (as defined below)) of an aggregate consideration having a fair market value per share (as determined in good faith by NEE's board of directors, whose good faith determination will be conclusive) of NEE common stock that exceeds the closing price of NEE common stock on the trading day next succeeding the last date on which tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender offer or exchange offer, then, immediately prior to the opening of business on the trading day after the date of the last time (which is referred to as the "expiration time") tenders or exchanges could have been made pursuant to such tender offer or exchange offer (as amended through the expiration thereof), each fixed settlement rate shall be increased by dividing:
The "current market price" per share of NEE common stock or any other security on any day means the average of the daily closing prices for the 20 consecutive trading days preceding the earlier of the day preceding the day in question and the day before the "ex date" with respect to the issuance or distribution requiring such computation. For purposes of this paragraph, the term "ex date," when used with respect to any issuance or distribution, means the first date on which NEE common stock or such other security, as applicable, trades, regular way, on the principal U.S. securities exchange or quotation system on which NEE common stock or such other security, as applicable, is listed or quoted at that time, without the right to receive the issuance or distribution.
S-79
Reorganization Events. The following events are defined as "reorganization events":
Upon a reorganization event, each Equity Unit shall thereafter, in lieu of a variable number of shares of NEE common stock, be settled by delivery of exchange property units. An "exchange property unit" represents the right to receive the kind and amount of securities, cash and other property receivable in such reorganization event (without any interest thereon, and without any right to dividends or other distributions thereon which have a record date that is prior to the applicable settlement date) per share of NEE common stock by a holder of common stock that is not a person with which NEE is consolidated or into which NEE is merged or which merged into NEE or to which such sale or transfer was made, as the case may be (any such person is referred to as a "constituent person"), or an affiliate of a constituent person to the extent such reorganization event provides for different treatment of common stock held by NEE's affiliates and non-affiliates. In the event holders of NEE common stock have the opportunity to elect the form of consideration to be received in such transaction, the exchange property unit that holders of the Corporate Units or Treasury Units would have been entitled to receive will be deemed to be the weighted average of the types and amounts of consideration received by the holders of NEE common stock that affirmatively make an election.
In the event of such a reorganization event, the person formed by such consolidation or merger or the person which acquires NEE's assets shall execute and deliver to the purchase contract agent an agreement providing that the holder of each Equity Unit that remains outstanding after the reorganization event (if any) shall have the rights described in the preceding paragraph. Such supplemental agreement shall provide for adjustments to the amount of any securities constituting all or a portion of an exchange property unit which, for events subsequent to the effective date of such reorganization event, shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for in this "Anti-dilution Adjustments" section. The provisions described in the preceding two paragraphs shall similarly apply to successive reorganization events.
Holders have the right to settle their obligations under the Equity Units early in the event of certain fundamental changes as described above under "Early Settlement upon a Fundamental Change."
A holder of Equity Units may be treated as receiving a constructive distribution from NEE with respect to the purchase contract if (1) the fixed settlement rates are adjusted (or fail to be adjusted) and, as a result of the adjustment (or failure to adjust), the holder's proportionate interest in NEE's assets or earnings and profits is increased, and (2) the adjustment (or failure to adjust) is not made pursuant to a bona fide, reasonable anti-dilution formula. Thus, under certain circumstances, an increase in (or a failure to decrease) the fixed settlement rates might give rise to a taxable dividend to a holder of Equity Units even though such holder will not receive any cash in connection with the
S-80
increase in (or failure to decrease) such fixed settlement rate. In addition, non-U.S. holders of Equity Units may, in certain circumstances, be deemed to have received a distribution subject to U.S. federal withholding tax. See "Material United States Federal Income Tax ConsequencesU.S. HoldersPurchase ContractsAdjustment to Settlement Rate" and "Non-U.S. HoldersDividends."
In addition, NEE may, but shall not be required to, increase a fixed settlement rate if its board of directors considers it to be advisable to avoid or diminish any income tax to any holders of shares of its common stock resulting from any dividend or distribution of stock or issuance of rights or warrants to purchase or subscribe for stock or from any event treated as such for income tax purposes or for any other reason.
NEE currently does not have a shareholder rights plan with respect to NEE common stock. If NEE later adopts any shareholder rights plan involving the issuance of preferred share purchase rights or other similar rights (the "rights") to all holders of its common stock, a holder of Equity Units shall be entitled to receive upon settlement of any purchase contract, in addition to the shares of common stock issuable upon settlement of such purchase contract, the related rights for the common stock, unless such rights under the future shareholder rights plan have separated from the common stock prior to the time of settlement of such purchase contract, in which case each fixed settlement rate shall be adjusted as discussed under "(4) Debt or Asset Distributions" above on the date such rights separate from the common stock.
Adjustments to a fixed settlement rate will be calculated to the nearest 1/10,000th of a share. No adjustment to a fixed settlement rate will be required unless the adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least one percent in such fixed settlement rate. Any adjustment of less than one percent that has not been made shall be made upon the end of the issuer's fiscal year; provided, however, that if any adjustment is not required to be made because it would not change such fixed settlement rate by at least one percent, then the adjustment will be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment, and provided that effect shall be given to all anti-dilution adjustments not later than the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the first trading day in the consecutive 20 trading day period during which the fixed settlement rate or fundamental change early settlement rate is determined.
No adjustment to a fixed settlement rate need be made if holders may participate in the transaction that would otherwise give rise to an adjustment, so long as the distributed assets or securities the holders would receive upon settlement of the purchase contracts, if convertible, exchangeable, or exercisable, are convertible, exchangeable or exercisable, as applicable, without any loss of rights or privileges for a period of at least 45 days following settlement of the purchase contracts.
The fixed settlement rates will not be adjusted:
S-81
NEE will be required, within ten business days following the adjustment of any fixed settlement rate, to provide written notice to the purchase contract agent of the occurrence of the adjustment and a statement in reasonable detail setting forth the method by which the adjustment to such fixed settlement rate was determined and setting forth the revised fixed settlement rates.
If an adjustment is made to a fixed settlement rate, an adjustment will also be made to the applicable market value solely to determine which of the clauses of the definition of settlement rate will be applicable on the purchase contract settlement date or any fundamental change early settlement date.
Termination of Purchase Contracts
The purchase contracts, and NEE's rights and obligations and the rights and obligations of the holders of the Equity Units under the purchase contracts, including the right and obligation to purchase NEE common stock and the right to receive accumulated contract adjustment payments or deferred contract adjustment payments, will immediately and automatically terminate upon the occurrence of certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to NEE.
Upon any termination, the collateral agent will release the NEE Capital debentures underlying applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures, the Treasury portfolio or the Treasury securities, as the case may be, held by it from the pledge agreement to the purchase contract agent for distribution to the holders of the Corporate Units and the Treasury Units. If a holder would otherwise have been entitled to receive less than $1,000 principal amount at maturity of any Treasury security upon termination of the purchase contract, the purchase contract agent will dispose of the security for cash and pay the cash to the holder. Upon any termination, however, the release and distribution may be subject to a delay. In the event that NEE becomes the subject of a proceeding under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the delay may occur as a result of the imposition of the automatic stay under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and continue until the automatic stay has been lifted. NEE expects any such delay to be limited. Moreover, claims relating to the NEE Capital debentures will be subject to the equitable jurisdiction and powers of the bankruptcy court.
Pledged Securities and Pledge Agreement
The applicable ownership interests in the NEE Capital debentures, or, following a successful remarketing during the period for early remarketing, a special event redemption or a mandatory redemption, the applicable ownership interests in the Treasury portfolio, that are a component of the Corporate Units or, if substituted, the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury securities that are a component of the Treasury Units, collectively referred to as the "pledged securities," will be pledged to NEE through the collateral agent, for the benefit of NEE, pursuant to the pledge agreement to secure the obligations of holders of Equity Units to purchase NEE common stock under the related purchase contracts. The rights of holders of Equity Units to the related pledged securities will be subject to NEE's security interest created by the pledge agreement.
No holder of Corporate Units or Treasury Units will be permitted to withdraw the pledged securities related to such Corporate Units or Treasury Units from the pledge arrangement except:
S-82
provided for under "Description of the Equity UnitsCreating Treasury Units by Substituting a Treasury Security for a NEE Capital Debenture;"
Subject to the security interest and the terms of the purchase contract agreement and the pledge agreement, each holder of Corporate Units, unless the Treasury portfolio has replaced the NEE Capital debentures as a component of the Corporate Units, will be entitled through the purchase contract agent and the collateral agent to all of the proportional rights and preferences of the related NEE Capital debentures that are a component of Corporate Units, including distribution, voting, redemption, repayment and liquidation rights. Each holder of Treasury Units and each holder of the Corporate Units, if the Treasury portfolio has replaced the NEE Capital debentures as a component of the Corporate Units, will retain beneficial ownership of the related Treasury securities or the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio, as applicable, pledged in respect of the related purchase contracts. NEE will have no interest in the pledged securities other than its security interest.
Except as described in "Certain Other Provisions of the Purchase Contract Agreement and the Pledge AgreementGeneral," the collateral agent will, upon receipt of payments, if any, on the pledged securities, distribute the payments to the purchase contract agent, which will in turn distribute those payments to the persons in whose names the related Corporate Units or Treasury Units are registered at the close of business on the record date immediately preceding the date of payment.
The Depository Trust Company, which, along with its successors in this capacity, is referred to as the "depositary," will act as securities depositary for the Equity Units. The Equity Units will be issued only as fully-registered securities registered in the name of Cede & Co., the depositary's nominee. One or more fully-registered global security certificates, representing the total aggregate number of Equity Units, will be issued and will be deposited with the depositary and will bear a legend regarding the restrictions on exchanges and registration of transfer referred to below.
The laws of some jurisdictions may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in certificated form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in the Equity Units so long as the Equity Units are represented by global security certificates.
The depositary is a New York clearing corporation and a clearing agency registered under Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The depositary holds securities for its participants. The depositary also facilitates the post-trade settlement of securities transactions among its participants through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges in the participants' accounts. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. The participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. The depositary is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation ("DTCC"). DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Others who maintain a custodial relationship with a participant can use the DTC system. The rules that apply to the depositary and those using its systems are on file with the SEC.
Although the depositary has agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of interests in the global security certificates among participants, the depositary is under no obligation to perform or continue to perform these procedures and these procedures may be discontinued at any time. Neither NEE nor NEE Capital will have any responsibility for the performance by the depositary
S-83
or its direct participants or indirect participants under the rules and procedures governing the depositary.
In the event that the depositary notifies NEE that the depositary is unwilling or unable to continue as a depositary for the global security certificates and no successor depositary has been appointed within 90 days after this notice occurred and is continuing, certificates for the Equity Units will be printed and delivered in exchange for beneficial interests in the global security certificates. NEE may also decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers through the depositary (or successor depositary). In that event, Equity Units certificates will be printed and delivered.
As long as the depositary or its nominee is the registered owner of the global security certificates, the depositary or the nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner and holder of the global security certificates and all Equity Units represented by these certificates for all purposes under the Equity Units and the purchase contract agreement. Except in the limited circumstances referred to above, owners of beneficial interests in global security certificates will not be entitled to have such global security certificates or the Equity Units represented by the global security certificates registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of Equity Unit certificates in exchange for beneficial interests in global security certificates and will not be considered to be owners or holders of the global security certificates or any Equity Units represented by these certificates for any purpose under the Equity Units or the purchase contract agreement.
All payments on the Equity Units represented by the global security certificates and all transfers and deliveries of related NEE Capital debentures, Treasury portfolios, Treasury securities and NEE common stock will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the holder of the securities.
Ownership of beneficial interests in the global security certificates will be limited to participants or persons that may hold beneficial interests through institutions that have accounts with the depositary or its nominee. Ownership of beneficial interests in global security certificates will be shown only on, and the transfer of those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary or its nominee, with respect to participants' interests, or any participant, with respect to interests of persons held by the participant on their behalf. Procedures for settlement of purchase contracts on June 1, 2015 or upon early settlement will be governed by arrangements among the depositary, participants and persons that may hold beneficial interests through participants designed to permit settlement without the physical movement of certificates. Payments, transfers, deliveries, exchanges and other matters relating to beneficial interests in global security certificates may be subject to various policies and procedures adopted by the depositary from time to time. Neither NEE, NEE Capital nor any of their agents, nor the purchase contract agent nor any of its agents will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the depositary's or any participant's records relating to, or for payments made on account of, beneficial interests in global security certificates, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of the depositary's records or any participant's records relating to these beneficial ownership interests.
The information in this section concerning the depositary and its book-entry only system has been obtained from sources that NEE and NEE Capital believe to be reliable, but NEE, NEE Capital and the underwriter do not take any responsibility for the accuracy of this information.
CERTAIN OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE PURCHASE CONTRACT
AGREEMENT AND THE PLEDGE AGREEMENT
This section briefly summarizes some of the material provisions of the purchase contract agreement and the pledge agreement that are not described elsewhere in this prospectus supplement. This summary does not contain a complete description of the purchase contract agreement and the pledge agreement. You should read this summary together with the purchase contract agreement and
S-84
the pledge agreement for a complete understanding of all the provisions and for the definitions of some terms used in this summary. The form of purchase contract agreement and pledge agreement have been previously filed with the SEC and are exhibits to the registration statement filed with the SEC of which this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus are a part. In addition, the purchase contract agreement is qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and is therefore subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. You should read the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 for a complete understanding of its provisions.
Except as described in "Description of the Purchase ContractsBook-Entry Only System," distributions on the Equity Units will be payable, purchase contracts will be settled (and documents related to the Equity Units and purchase contracts will be delivered), and transfers of the Equity Units will be registrable, at the office of the purchase contract agent in New York City. In addition, if all of the Equity Units do not remain in book-entry only form, payment of distributions on the Equity Units may be made, at NEE's option, by check mailed to the address of the holder entitled to payment or by wire transfer to an account appropriately designated by the holder entitled to payment.
Shares of NEE common stock will be delivered on the purchase contract settlement date (or earlier upon early settlement), or, if the purchase contracts have terminated, the related pledged securities will be delivered (potentially after a delay as a result of the imposition of the automatic stay under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (see "Description of the Purchase ContractsTermination of Purchase Contracts")), at the office of the purchase contract agent upon presentation and surrender of the related Equity Unit certificate.
If a holder of outstanding Corporate Units or Treasury Units fails to present and surrender the certificate evidencing the Corporate Units or Treasury Units to the purchase contract agent on or before the purchase contract settlement date (or earlier upon early settlement), the shares of NEE common stock issuable in settlement of the related purchase contract will be registered in the name of the purchase contract agent. The shares, together with any distributions thereon, will be held by the purchase contract agent as agent for the benefit of the holder until the certificate is presented and surrendered or the holder provides satisfactory evidence that the certificate has been destroyed, mutilated, lost or stolen, together with any indemnity that may be required by the purchase contract agent and NEE.
If the purchase contracts have terminated prior to the purchase contract settlement date, the related pledged securities have been transferred to the purchase contract agent for distribution to the holders, and a holder fails to present and surrender the Equity Unit certificate evidencing the holder's Corporate Units or Treasury Units to the purchase contract agent, the related pledged securities delivered to the purchase contract agent and payments on the pledged securities will be held by the purchase contract agent as agent for the benefit of the holder until the applicable certificate is presented or the holder provides the evidence and indemnity described above.
The purchase contract agent will have no obligation to invest or to pay interest on any amounts held by the purchase contract agent pending distribution to any holder.
No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of the Equity Units, except for any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.
S-85
The purchase contract agreement and the pledge agreement will contain provisions permitting NEE and the purchase contract agent, and in the case of the pledge agreement, the collateral agent, to modify the purchase contract agreement or the pledge agreement without the consent of the holders for any of the following purposes:
The purchase contract agreement and the pledge agreement will contain provisions permitting NEE and the purchase contract agent, and in the case of the pledge agreement, the collateral agent, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority of the purchase contracts at the time outstanding, to modify the terms of the purchase contracts, the purchase contract agreement and the pledge agreement. However, no such modification may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding purchase contract affected by the modification:
S-86
If any amendment or proposal referred to above would adversely affect only the Corporate Units or the Treasury Units, then only the affected class of holders will be entitled to vote on the amendment or proposal and the amendment or proposal will not be effective except with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority of the affected class or, if referred to in the seven preceding bullet points, all of the holders of the affected class.
Each holder of Corporate Units or Treasury Units, by acceptance of these securities, will under the terms of the purchase contract agreement and the Corporate Units or Treasury Units, as applicable, be deemed expressly to have withheld any consent to the assumption (i.e., affirmance) of the related purchase contracts by NEE or its trustee if NEE becomes the subject of a case under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Conveyance
NEE will covenant in the purchase contract agreement that it will not merge or consolidate with or into any other entity or sell, assign, transfer, lease or convey all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any person or entity, unless:
NEE, NEE Capital, the purchase contract agent, the collateral agent and any agent of NEE, NEE Capital, the purchase contract agent or the collateral agent may treat the registered owner of an Equity Unit as the absolute owner of that Equity Unit for the purpose of making payments and settling the related purchase contracts and for all other purposes regardless of any notice to the contrary.
Replacement of Equity Unit Certificates
In the event that physical certificates have been issued, any mutilated Equity Unit certificate will be replaced by NEE at the expense of the holder upon surrender of the certificate to the purchase contract agent. Equity Units certificates that have been destroyed, lost or stolen will be replaced by NEE at the expense of the holder upon delivery to NEE and the purchase contract agent of evidence of the destruction, loss or theft satisfactory to NEE and the purchase contract agent. In the case of a destroyed, lost or stolen Equity Unit certificate, an indemnity satisfactory to NEE and the purchase contract agent may be required at the expense of the holder of the Equity Units evidenced by the certificate before a replacement will be issued.
S-87
Notwithstanding the foregoing, NEE will not be obligated to issue any certificates for Corporate Units or Treasury Units on or after
The purchase contract agreement will provide that, in lieu of the delivery of a replacement Equity Unit certificate following the purchase contract settlement date, the purchase contract agent, upon delivery of the evidence and indemnity described above, will deliver NEE common stock issuable pursuant to the purchase contracts included in the Corporate Units or Treasury Units evidenced by the certificate, or, if the purchase contracts have terminated prior to the purchase contract settlement date, transfer the pledged securities included in the Corporate Units or Treasury Units evidenced by the certificate.
Defaults under the Purchase Contract Agreement
Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default by NEE in any of its obligations under the purchase contract agreement of which a responsible officer of the purchase contract agent (as defined in the purchase contract agreement) has actual knowledge, the purchase contract agent will give notice of such default to the holders of the Equity Units unless such default has been cured or waived. Except for a default in any payment obligation under the purchase contract agreement, the purchase contract agent will be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a responsible officer of the purchase contract agent in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the holders of the Equity Units.
The purchase contract agent is not required to enforce any of the provisions of the purchase contract agreement against NEE. Each holder of Equity Units shall have the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment of contract adjustment payments then due and payable and the right to purchase NEE common stock as provided in such holder's purchase contracts and generally exercise any other rights and remedies provided by law.
The holders of a majority of the outstanding purchase contracts voting as one class may waive any past default by NEE and its consequences, except a default (1) in any payment on any Equity Unit or (2) in respect of a provision of the purchase contract agreement which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Equity Unit affected.
The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 requires NEE to provide annually to the purchase contract agent a certificate of one of its principal officers as to NEE's compliance with all conditions and covenants in the purchase contract agreement.
The purchase contract agreement, the pledge agreement and the purchase contracts will be governed by, and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without regard to New York's conflict of laws principles, except to the extent that the laws of any other jurisdiction are mandatorily applicable.
Information Concerning the Purchase Contract Agent
The Bank of New York Mellon will be the purchase contract agent. The purchase contract agent will act as the agent for the holders of Corporate Units and the Treasury Units from time to time. The
S-88
purchase contract agreement will not obligate the purchase contract agent to exercise any discretionary actions in connection with a default under the terms of the Corporate Units and the Treasury Units or the purchase contract agreement.
The purchase contract agreement will contain provisions limiting the liability of the purchase contract agent. The purchase contract agreement will contain provisions under which the purchase contract agent may resign or be replaced. This resignation or replacement would be effective upon the appointment of a successor.
The Bank of New York Mellon also acts, and may act, as trustee under various indentures, trusts and guarantees of NEE and its affiliates, including as indenture trustee, security registrar and paying agent under the indenture and as guarantee trustee under the guarantee agreement. NEE and its affiliates maintain various banking and trust relationships with The Bank of New York Mellon.
Information Concerning the Collateral Agent
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas will be the collateral agent. The collateral agent will act solely as NEE's agent and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any of the holders of the Corporate Units and the Treasury Units except for the obligations owed by a pledgee of property to the owner of the property under the pledge agreement and applicable law.
The pledge agreement will contain provisions limiting the liability of the collateral agent. The pledge agreement will contain provisions under which the collateral agent may resign or be replaced. This resignation or replacement would be effective upon the appointment of a successor.
NEE and its affiliates maintain various banking and trust relationships with Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and its affiliates.
The purchase contract agreement will provide that NEE will pay all fees and expenses related to the offering of the Equity Units, the retention of the collateral agent and the enforcement by the purchase contract agent of the rights of the holders of the Equity Units.
Holders that elect to substitute the related pledged securities, thereby creating Treasury Units or recreating Corporate Units, will be responsible for any fees or expenses payable in connection with the substitution, as well as any commissions, fees or other expenses incurred in acquiring the pledged securities to be substituted, and NEE will not be responsible for any of those fees or expenses.
CERTAIN TERMS OF THE NEE CAPITAL DEBENTURES
The information in this section supplements the information in the "Description of FPL Group Capital Senior Debt Securities" section beginning on page 25 of the accompanying prospectus. Please read these two sections together.
NEE Capital will issue the NEE Capital debentures under the Indenture, dated as of June 1, 1999, between NEE Capital and The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly known as The Bank of New York), as indenture trustee. An officer's certificate will supplement the indenture and create the specific terms of the NEE Capital debentures. In addition to acting as purchase contract agent with respect to the Equity Units, The Bank of New York Mellon acts as indenture trustee, security registrar and paying agent under the indenture and as guarantee trustee under the guarantee agreement with respect to the NEE Capital debentures. Under the indenture, NEE Capital may issue an unlimited amount of additional debt securities.
S-89
The indenture provides that NEE Capital may not grant a lien on the capital stock of any of its majority-owned subsidiaries which shares of capital stock NEE Capital now or hereafter directly owns to secure indebtedness of NEE Capital without similarly securing the NEE Capital debentures, with certain exceptions. However, the indenture does not limit the amount of debt or preferred stock that NEE Capital or its subsidiaries may issue, guarantee or otherwise incur nor does it limit the ability of NEE Capital's subsidiaries to grant a lien on any of their assets, including the capital stock of their respective subsidiaries. The guarantee agreement referred to below under "Mandatory Redemption" does not limit the aggregate amount of indebtedness NEE and its subsidiaries may guarantee, issue or incur.
NEE Capital's corporate parent, NEE, has agreed to absolutely, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee the payment of principal, interest and premium, if any, on the NEE Capital debentures. The NEE Capital debentures and the guarantee are unsecured and unsubordinated and rank equally with other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness from time to time outstanding of NEE Capital and NEE, respectively. See "Description of FPL Group Guarantee of FPL Group Capital Senior Debt Securities" in the accompanying prospectus.
The NEE Capital debentures will not be subject to a sinking fund provision. Unless an earlier redemption has occurred, the entire principal amount of the NEE Capital debentures will mature and become due and payable, together with any accrued and unpaid interest, on June 1, 2017. Except as described below under "Mandatory Redemption" and except for a special event redemption as described below under "Special Event Redemption," the NEE Capital debentures will not be redeemable by NEE Capital.
NEE Capital debentures which are a component of the Corporate Units will be issued in certificated form, will be in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000, without coupons; provided, however, that upon release by the collateral agent of NEE Capital debentures underlying the applicable ownership interests in the NEE Capital debentures pledged to secure the Corporate Units holders' obligations to purchase NEE common stock under the related purchase contracts (other than any release of the NEE Capital debentures in connection with the creation of Treasury Units, an early settlement with separate cash, an early settlement upon a fundamental change, or a remarketing, each as described under "Description of the Purchase Contracts"), the NEE Capital debentures will be issuable in denominations of $50 principal amount and integral multiples thereof. The NEE Capital debentures may be transferred or exchanged, without service charge but upon payment of any taxes or other governmental charges payable in connection with the transfer or exchange, at the office described below.
Payments on NEE Capital debentures issued as a global security will be made to the depositary, a successor depositary or, in the event that no depositary is used, to a paying agent for the NEE Capital debentures. Principal and interest with respect to certificated NEE Capital debentures will be payable, the transfer of the NEE Capital debentures will be registrable and NEE Capital debentures will be exchangeable for NEE Capital debentures of a like aggregate principal amount in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 (unless the NEE Capital debentures have previously been issued in denominations of $50 and integral multiples thereof, in which case debentures will be exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount in denominations of $50 and integral multiples of $50), at the office or agency maintained by NEE Capital for this purpose in New York City. However, at NEE Capital's option, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the holder entitled to payment or by wire transfer to an account appropriately designated by the holder entitled to payment.
Each Corporate Unit includes a 1/20, or 5%, undivided beneficial ownership interest in a NEE Capital debenture in the principal amount of $1,000 that corresponds to the stated amount of $50 per Corporate Unit.
S-90
The indenture trustee will initially be the security registrar and the paying agent for the NEE Capital debentures. All transactions with respect to the NEE Capital debentures, including registration, transfer and exchange of the NEE Capital debentures, will be handled by the security registrar at an office in New York City designated by NEE Capital. NEE Capital has initially designated the corporate trust office of the indenture trustee as that office. In addition, holders of the NEE Capital debentures should address any notices to NEE Capital regarding the NEE Capital debentures to that office. NEE Capital will notify holders of the NEE Capital debentures of any change in the location of that office.
Each NEE Capital debenture will bear interest initially at the rate of 1.70% per year from the original issuance date to, but excluding, the reset effective date or, if no successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures occurs, June 1, 2017. On or prior to the reset effective date, interest payments will be payable quarterly in arrears on each March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1, each a "quarterly interest payment date," commencing September 1, 2012. In addition, if the reset effective date falls on a day that is not also a quarterly interest payment date, holders of NEE Capital debentures will receive on such reset effective date a payment of accrued and unpaid interest from the most recent quarterly interest payment date to, but excluding, such reset effective date. In addition, OID for U.S. federal income tax purposes will accrue on the NEE Capital debentures.
The interest rate on the NEE Capital debentures will be reset to the reset rate upon a successful remarketing as described above under "Description of the Purchase ContractsRemarketing." The reset rate will become effective on the reset effective date, which is three business days immediately following a successful remarketing, unless the remarketing is successful within five business days of the next succeeding interest payment date, in which case such interest payment date will be the reset effective date; provided that in the event of a successful remarketing during the final three-day remarketing period, the reset effective date will be the purchase contract settlement date. Following a successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures, the NEE Capital debentures will bear interest from the reset effective date at the reset rate to, but excluding, June 1, 2017. From the reset effective date, interest payments on all NEE Capital debentures will be paid semi-annually in arrears on interest payment dates to be selected by NEE Capital. Semi-annual interest payments will include interest accrued from and including the immediately preceding semi-annual interest payment date or, in the case of the first semi-annual interest payment date following the reset effective date, from the reset effective date.
If no successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures occurs, the interest rate on the NEE Capital debentures will not be reset and interest payments on all NEE Capital debentures will remain payable quarterly in arrears on the originally-scheduled quarterly interest payment dates.
The amount of interest payable for any period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The amount of interest payable for any period shorter than a full quarterly or semi-annual period for which interest is computed will be computed on the basis of the number of days in the period using 30-day calendar months. Interest on the NEE Capital debentures will be payable to the holders of NEE Capital debentures as they appear on the books and records of the securities registrar on the relevant record dates which, as long as all of the NEE Capital debentures remain in certificated form and are held by the purchase contract agent or are held in book-entry only form, will be one business day prior to the relevant payment date. In the event that NEE Capital debentures remain in certificated form but all are not held by the purchase contract agent or are not held in book-entry only form, NEE Capital shall have the right to select relevant record dates, which shall be at least one business day but no more than 60 business days prior to the relevant payment dates, and to make payments by check mailed to the address of the holder as of the relevant record date or by wire transfer to an account appropriately designated by the holder entitled to payment. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on the NEE Capital debentures is not a business
S-91
day, then payment of the interest payable on that date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a business day, and no interest or payment will be paid in respect of the delay. However, if that business day is in the next succeeding calendar year, that payment will be made on the immediately preceding business day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on the scheduled payment date.
The reset rate will be equal to the rate that is sufficient to allow a successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures and will be determined by the remarketing agent. In the case of a reset prior to the final three-day remarketing period, which rate would be effective on the third day following the date of such successful remarketing, unless the remarketing is successful within five business days of the next succeeding interest payment date in which case such interest payment date will be the reset effective date, the reset rate will be the rate determined by the remarketing agent as the rate the NEE Capital debentures should bear in order for the NEE Capital debentures that are a component of the Corporate Units to have an aggregate market value on the reset effective date of at least 100% of the Treasury portfolio purchase price described under "Description of the Purchase ContractsRemarketing" plus the aggregate separate NEE Capital debenture purchase price plus the applicable remarketing fee. In the case of a reset during the final three-day remarketing period, the reset rate will be the rate determined by the remarketing agent as the rate the NEE Capital debentures should bear in order for each NEE Capital debenture to have an aggregate market value of at least 100% of the principal amount of the NEE Capital debenture plus the applicable remarketing fee. The reset rate will in no event exceed the maximum rate, if any, permitted by applicable law.
If the NEE Capital debentures are not successfully remarketed, the interest rate will not be reset and the NEE Capital debentures will continue to bear interest at the initial annual interest rate of 1.70%, payable quarterly in arrears.
On or prior to the second business day, but no earlier than the fifth business day immediately preceding the first of the three sequential remarketing dates of any three-day remarketing period, holders of NEE Capital debentures that are not components of Corporate Units may elect to have their NEE Capital debentures remarketed in the same manner as NEE Capital debentures that are a component of Corporate Units by delivering their NEE Capital debentures, along with a notice of this election to the custodial agent. By delivering such notice, holders will elect to have their NEE Capital debentures remarketed in each remarketing attempt during the applicable three-day remarketing period. The custodial agent will hold the NEE Capital debentures in an account separate from the collateral account in which the pledged securities will be held. Holders of NEE Capital debentures electing to have those NEE Capital debentures remarketed will also have the right to withdraw the election on or prior to the second business day immediately preceding the first of the three sequential remarketing dates of the applicable three-day remarketing period. If each remarketing attempt during the applicable three-day remarketing period is unsuccessful, the custodial agent will return the NEE Capital debentures that are not a component of the Corporate Units to their holders and these holders may elect to have their NEE Capital debentures included in the remarketings during each subsequent three-day remarketing period by redelivering their NEE Capital debentures and notice of election in the manner described in this paragraph. Holders of Treasury Units that are also holders of NEE Capital debentures that are not part of the Corporate Units may also participate in any remarketing by recreating Corporate Units from their Treasury Units on or prior to the second business day immediately prior to the first of the three sequential remarketing dates of any three-day remarketing period.
S-92
Put Option Following Unsuccessful Final Remarketing
If the NEE Capital debentures have not been successfully remarketed prior to the purchase contract settlement date, the holders of the NEE Capital debentures that are not a component of Corporate Units will have the right to put their NEE Capital debentures to NEE Capital on the purchase contract settlement date, upon at least two business days' prior notice, at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any.
In addition to the events of default relating to any series of debt securities issued under the indenture, as set forth under the "Description of FPL Group Capital Senior Debt SecuritiesEvents of Default" section on page 31 of the accompanying prospectus, each of the following events will be an event of default under the Indenture with respect to the NEE Capital debentures:
The following constitute "Guarantor Events" with respect to the NEE Capital debentures:
NEE Capital shall, if a Guarantor Event occurs and is continuing, redeem all of the outstanding NEE Capital debentures within 60 days after the occurrence of the Guarantor Event at a redemption price described below unless, within 30 days after the occurrence of the Guarantor Event, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services (a Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC business) and Moody's Investors Service, Inc. (if the NEE Capital debentures are then rated by those rating agencies, or, if the NEE Capital debentures are then rated by only one of those rating agencies, then such rating agency, or, if the NEE Capital debentures are not then rated by either one of those rating agencies but are then rated by one or more other nationally recognized rating agencies, then at least one of those other nationally recognized rating agencies) shall have reaffirmed in writing that, after giving effect to such Guarantor Event, the credit rating on the outstanding NEE Capital debentures is investment grade
S-93
(i.e., in one of the four highest categories, without regard to subcategories within such rating categories, of such rating agency).
If a Guarantor Event occurs and NEE Capital is not required to redeem the NEE Capital debentures as described above, NEE Capital will provide to the indenture trustee and the holders of the outstanding NEE Capital debentures annual and quarterly reports containing the information that NEE Capital would be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 if it were subject to the reporting requirements of those Sections. If NEE Capital is, at that time, subject to the reporting requirements of those Sections, the filing of annual and quarterly reports with the SEC pursuant to those Sections will satisfy this requirement.
If NEE Capital is required to redeem all of the outstanding NEE Capital debentures following a Guarantor Event:
If a special event occurs and is continuing, NEE Capital may, at its option, redeem the NEE Capital debentures in whole but not in part at any time at a price, which is referred to as the "redemption price," equal to, for each NEE Capital debenture, the redemption amount described below plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption. Installments of interest on NEE Capital debentures which are due and payable on or prior to a redemption date will be payable to the holders of the NEE Capital debentures registered as such at the close of business on the relevant record dates. If, following the occurrence of a special event, NEE Capital exercises its right to redeem the NEE Capital debentures, the proceeds of the redemption will be payable in cash to the holders of the NEE Capital debentures which are not part of Corporate Units. If the special event redemption occurs prior to a successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures, or if the NEE Capital debentures are not successfully remarketed, prior to the purchase contract settlement date, the redemption price for the NEE Capital debentures that are a component of the Corporate Units at the time of the special event redemption will be distributed to the collateral agent, who in turn will purchase the Treasury portfolio described below on behalf of the holders of Corporate Units and remit the remainder of the redemption price, if any, to the purchase contract agent for payment to the holders. Thereafter, the applicable ownership interests in the Treasury portfolio will be substituted for the applicable ownership interests in the NEE Capital debentures and will be pledged to NEE through the collateral agent to secure the Corporate Unit holders' obligations to purchase NEE common stock under the purchase contracts.
"Special event" means either an accounting event or a tax event, each as defined below.
S-94
"Accounting event" means the receipt by the audit committee of NEE's Board of Directors (or, if there is no such committee, by such Board of Directors) of a written report in accordance with Statement on Auditing Standards ("SAS") No. 97, "Amendment to SAS No. 50Reports on the Application of Accounting Principles," from NEE's independent auditors, provided at the request of NEE management, to the effect that, as a result of a change in accounting rules that becomes effective after the date of original issuance of the NEE Capital debentures, NEE must either (1) account for the purchase contracts as derivatives (or otherwise mark-to-market or measure the fair value of all or any portion of the purchase contracts with changes appearing in NEE's income statement) or (2) account for the Equity Units using the if-converted method, and that such accounting treatment will cease to apply upon redemption of the NEE Capital debentures.
"Tax event" means the receipt by NEE Capital of an opinion of nationally recognized independent tax counsel experienced in such matters (which may be Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP or Squire Sanders (US) LLP) to the effect that there is more than an insubstantial risk that interest payable by NEE Capital on the NEE Capital debentures would not be deductible, in whole or in part, by NEE Capital for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of any amendment to, change in, or announced proposed change in, the laws, or any regulations thereunder, of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein affecting taxation, any amendment to or change in an interpretation or application of any such laws or regulations by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority or any interpretation or pronouncement that provides for a position with respect to any such laws or regulations that differs from the generally accepted position on the date of this prospectus supplement, which amendment, change or proposed change is effective or which interpretation or pronouncement is announced on or after the date of this prospectus supplement.
"Redemption amount" means
Depending on the Treasury portfolio purchase price, the redemption amount could be less than or greater than the principal amount of the NEE Capital debentures.
As used in this context, "Treasury portfolio purchase price" means the lowest aggregate price quoted by a primary U.S. government securities dealer in New York City to the quotation agent on the third business day immediately preceding the special event redemption date for the purchase of the special event Treasury portfolio for settlement on the special event redemption date.
The Treasury portfolio to be purchased in connection with a special event redemption, or a special event Treasury portfolio, will consist of:
S-95
Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each registered holder of NEE Capital debentures to be redeemed at its registered address. Unless NEE Capital defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest shall cease to accrue on the NEE Capital debentures. In the event any NEE Capital debentures are called for redemption, neither NEE Capital nor the indenture trustee will be required to register the transfer of or exchange the NEE Capital debentures to be redeemed.
NEE Capital debentures which are released from the pledge following substitution of collateral or cash settlement of the purchase contracts will be issued in the form of one or more global certificates, which are referred to as global securities, registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee. Except under the limited circumstances described below or except upon recreation of Corporate Units, NEE Capital debentures represented by the global securities will not be exchangeable for, and will not otherwise be issuable as, NEE Capital debentures in certificated form. The global securities described above may not be transferred except by the depositary to a nominee of the depositary or by a nominee of the depositary to the depositary or another nominee of the depositary or to a successor depositary or its nominee.
The laws of some jurisdictions may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in certificated form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in such a global security.
Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in such a global security will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of NEE Capital debentures in certificated form and will not be considered the holders (as defined in the indenture) thereof for any purpose under the indenture, and no global security representing NEE Capital debentures shall be exchangeable, except for another global security of like denomination and tenor to be registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee or a successor depositary or its nominee. Accordingly, each beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of the depositary or if such person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which such person owns its interest to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture.
In the event that
S-96
certificates for the NEE Capital debentures will be printed and delivered in exchange for beneficial interests in the global security certificates. Any global debenture certificate that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for NEE Capital debenture certificates registered in the names directed by the depositary. NEE Capital expects that these instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from its participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the global security certificates.
DESCRIPTION OF NEE COMMON STOCK
The information in this section replaces the information in the "Description of FPL Group Common Stock" section on page 13 of the accompanying prospectus.
The following summary description of the terms of the NEE common stock is not intended to be complete. The description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of NEE's Charter and bylaws as currently in effect, the other documents described below, and applicable laws. Copies of the foregoing documents have been previously filed with the SEC and are exhibits to the registration statement filed with the SEC of which this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus are a part.
Authorized and Outstanding Capital Stock
NEE's Charter authorizes it to issue 900,000,000 shares of capital stock, each with a par value of $.01, consisting of:
As of March 31, 2012, there were 417,075,629 shares of common stock and no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding. As of the same date, NEE's board of directors had not authorized for issuance any series of preferred stock.
Voting Rights. In general, each holder of NEE common stock is entitled to one vote for each share held by such holder on all matters submitted to a vote of holders of NEE common stock, including the election of directors. Each holder of NEE common stock is entitled to attend all special and annual meetings of NEE's shareholders. The holders of NEE common stock do not have cumulative voting rights.
In general, if a quorum exists at a meeting of NEE's shareholders, unless a greater or different vote is required by the Florida Act, the Charter or the bylaws, or by action of the board of directors, (1) on all matters other than the election of directors, action on such matters will be approved if the votes cast favoring the action exceed the votes cast opposing the action, (2) in an uncontested director election, a nominee for director will be elected if the votes cast for the nominee's election exceed the votes cast against the nominee's election, and (3) in a contested director election, which is an election in which the number of persons considered for election to the board of directors exceeds the total number of directors to be elected, a nominee for director will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast. Other voting rights of shareholders are described below under "Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions in NEE's Charter and Bylaws."
Dividend Rights. The holders of NEE common stock are entitled to participate on an equal per-share basis in any dividends declared on NEE common stock by NEE's board of directors out of funds legally available for dividend payments.
S-97
The declaration and payment of dividends on NEE common stock is within the sole discretion of NEE's board of directors. NEE's Charter does not limit the dividends that may be paid on NEE common stock.
The ability of NEE to pay dividends on NEE common stock is currently subject to, and in the future may be limited by:
FPL is subject to the terms of its Mortgage. In specified circumstances, the terms of the Mortgage could restrict the amount of retained earnings that FPL can use to pay cash dividends on its common stock. As of the date of this prospectus supplement, no retained earnings were restricted by these provisions of the Mortgage.
Other contractual restrictions on the dividend-paying ability of NEE or its subsidiaries are contained in outstanding financing arrangements, and may be included in future financing arrangements. NEE has previously issued equity units and is issuing equity units pursuant to this offering. In accordance with the terms of these issuances of equity units, NEE has the right, from time to time, to defer the payment of contract adjustment payments on the purchase contracts that are a component of the equity units to a date no later than the purchase contract settlement date. In the event that NEE exercises its right to defer the payment of contract adjustment payments, then, until the deferred contract adjustment payments have been paid, NEE would not be able, with limited exceptions, to pay dividends on NEE common stock. NEE Capital has issued junior subordinated debentures that are guaranteed by NEE. NEE Capital has the right, from time to time, to defer the payment of interest on its outstanding junior subordinated debentures for a deferral period of up to 20 consecutive quarters, in the case of one series of such securities, and on one or more occasions for up to ten consecutive years, in the case of other series of such securities. NEE, FPL or NEE Capital may issue, from time to time, additional equity units, junior subordinated debentures or other securities that (1) provide them with rights to defer the payment of interest or other payments and (2) contain dividend restrictions in the event of the exercise of such rights. If NEE or NEE Capital were to exercise any right to defer interest or other payments on currently outstanding or future series of equity units, junior subordinated debentures or other securities, or if there were to occur certain payment defaults on those securities, NEE would not be able, with limited exceptions, to pay dividends on NEE common stock during the periods in which such payments were deferred or such payment defaults continued. If FPL were to exercise any such right to defer the payment of interest or other payments, it would not be able, with limited exceptions, to pay dividends to any holder of its common stock or preferred stock, including NEE, during the periods in which such payments were deferred. In addition, NEE, NEE Capital and FPL might issue other securities in the future containing similar or other restrictions on NEE's ability to pay dividends on NEE common stock and on FPL's ability to pay dividends to any holder of its common stock or preferred stock, including NEE.
In addition, the right of the holders of NEE common stock to receive dividends might become subject to the preferential dividend, redemption, sinking fund or other rights of the holders of any series of NEE preferred stock that may be issued in the future, and the right of the holders of NEE Capital or FPL common stock or preferred stock, including NEE, to receive dividends might become subject to the preferential dividend, redemption, sinking fund or other rights of the holders of any series of NEE Capital or FPL preferred stock that may be issued in the future.
Liquidation Rights. If there is a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of NEE, the holders of NEE common stock are entitled to share equally and ratably in any assets remaining after NEE has
S-98
paid, or provided for the payment of, all of its debts and other liabilities, and after NEE has paid, or provided for the payment of, any preferential amounts payable to the holders of any outstanding preferred stock.
Other Rights. The holders of NEE common stock do not have any preemptive, subscription, conversion or sinking fund rights. NEE common stock is not subject to redemption.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions in NEE's Charter and Bylaws
NEE's Charter and bylaws contain provisions that may make it difficult and expensive for a third party to pursue a takeover attempt that NEE's board of directors and management oppose even if a change in control of NEE might be beneficial to the interests of holders of NEE common stock.
NEE's Charter Provisions. Among NEE's Charter provisions that could have an anti-takeover effect are those that:
NEE's Charter defines the term "interested shareholder" to include a security holder who is the direct or indirect beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the outstanding shares of voting stock, and the term "continuing director" to include any director who is not an affiliate of an interested shareholder. The foregoing provisions may discriminate against a security holder who becomes an interested shareholder by reason of its beneficial ownership of the specified amount of common or other voting stock.
S-99
The term "business combination" is defined in NEE's Charter to include the following transactions:
For purposes of the foregoing "business combination" provisions, NEE's Charter defines the term "subsidiary" as any corporation of which NEE owns, directly or indirectly, a majority of any class of equity securities.
The foregoing shareholder approval requirements are in addition to those required by law, including the provisions of the Florida Act described below.
Bylaw Provisions. The NEE bylaws contain some of the foregoing provisions contained in NEE's Charter. The bylaws also contain a provision limiting to 16 directors the maximum number of authorized directors of NEE. In addition, the bylaws contain provisions that establish advance notice requirements for shareholders to nominate candidates for election as directors at any annual or special meeting of shareholders or to present any other business for consideration at any annual meeting of shareholders. These provisions generally require a shareholder to submit in writing to NEE's secretary any nomination of a candidate for election to the board of directors or any other proposal for consideration at any annual meeting not earlier than 120 days or later than 90 days before the first anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting. The bylaws also require a shareholder to submit in writing to NEE's secretary any nomination of a candidate for election to the board of directors for consideration at any special meeting not earlier than 120 days before such special meeting and not after the later of 90 days before such special meeting or the tenth day following the day of the first public announcement of the date of the special meeting and of the fact that directors are to be elected at the meeting. For the shareholder's notice to be in proper form, it must include all of the information specified in the bylaws.
S-100
Restrictions on Affiliated and Control Share Transactions Under Florida Act
Affiliated Transactions. As a Florida corporation, NEE is subject to the Florida Act, which provides that an "affiliated transaction" of a Florida corporation with an "interested shareholder," as those terms are defined in the statute, generally must be approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding voting shares, other than the shares beneficially owned by the interested shareholder. The Florida Act defines an "interested shareholder" as any person who is the beneficial owner of more than 10% of the outstanding voting shares of the corporation. The affiliated transactions covered by the Florida Act include, with specified exceptions:
The foregoing transactions generally also include transactions involving any affiliate of the interested shareholder and involving or affecting any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the corporation.
The two-thirds approval requirement does not apply if, among other things, subject to specified qualifications:
The foregoing restrictions do not apply if the corporation's original articles of incorporation or an amendment to its articles of incorporation or bylaws approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation (other than shares held by the interested shareholder) contain a provision expressly electing for the corporation not to be governed by the restrictions. NEE's Charter and bylaws do not contain such a provision.
Control-Share Acquisitions. The Florida Act also contains a control-share acquisition statute which provides that a person who acquires shares in an "issuing public corporation," as defined in the statute, in excess of certain specified thresholds generally will not have any voting rights with respect to such shares unless such voting rights are approved by the holders of a majority of the votes of each class of
S-101
securities entitled to vote separately, excluding shares held or controlled by the acquiring person. The thresholds specified in the Florida Act are the acquisition of a number of shares representing:
The statute does not apply if, among other things, the acquisition:
The statute also does not apply to an acquisition of shares of a corporation in excess of a specified threshold if, before the acquisition, the corporation's articles of incorporation or bylaws provide that the corporation will not be governed by the statute. The statute also permits a corporation to adopt a provision in its articles of incorporation or bylaws providing for the redemption of the acquired shares by the corporation in specified circumstances. NEE's Charter and bylaws do not contain any such provisions.
NEE's Charter authorizes NEE's board of directors from time to time and without shareholder action to provide for the issuance of up to 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series, and to determine the designations, preferences, limitations and relative or other rights of any such series, including voting rights, dividend rights, liquidation preferences, sinking fund provisions, conversion privileges and redemption rights. NEE's board of directors has broad discretion with respect to the creation and issuance of any series of preferred stock without shareholder approval, subject to any applicable rights of holders of any shares of preferred stock outstanding at any time. The rights and privileges of holders of NEE common stock may be adversely affected by the rights, privileges and preferences of holders of shares of any series of preferred stock which NEE's board of directors may authorize for issuance from time to time. Among other things, by authorizing the issuance of shares of preferred stock with particular voting, conversion or other rights, the board of directors could adversely affect the voting power of the holders of NEE common stock and could discourage any attempt to effect a change in control of NEE, even if such a transaction would be beneficial to the interests of holders of NEE common stock. See the description of NEE's preferred stock in "Description of FPL Group Preferred Stock" in the accompanying prospectus.
Florida law generally provides that a Florida corporation, such as NEE, may indemnify its directors, officers, employees and agents against liabilities and expenses they may incur. Florida law also limits the liability of directors to NEE and other persons. NEE's bylaws contain provisions requiring NEE to indemnify its directors, officers, employees and agents under specified conditions. In addition, NEE carries insurance permitted by the laws of Florida on behalf of its directors, officers, employees and agents.
The transfer agent and registrar for NEE common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
S-102
NEE common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trades under the symbol "NEE."
MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following discussion describes the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Equity Units, applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures (or the Treasury portfolio, or Treasury securities) and NEE common stock acquired under a purchase contract and, unless otherwise noted in the following discussion, is the opinion of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, counsel to NEE and NEE Capital, insofar as it relates to legal conclusions with respect to matters of U.S. federal income tax law. Unless otherwise stated, this discussion deals only with Equity Units, applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures (or the Treasury portfolio, or Treasury securities) and NEE common stock held as capital assets (generally, assets held for investment) by holders that are U.S. persons (defined below) that purchase Equity Units upon original issuance. The tax treatment of a holder may vary depending on the holder's particular situation. This discussion does not address all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to holders that may be subject to special tax treatment such as, for example, banks, insurance companies, broker dealers, tax exempt organizations, foreign taxpayers, regulated investment companies, persons holding Equity Units, applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures (or the Treasury portfolio, or Treasury securities), or shares of NEE common stock as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion transaction or other integrated investment and persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar. In addition, this discussion does not address any aspects of state, local, or foreign tax laws. This discussion is based on the U.S. federal income tax laws, regulations, rulings and decisions in effect as of the date hereof, which are subject to change or differing interpretations, possibly on a retroactive basis. Holders should consult their own tax advisors as to the particular tax consequences to them of purchasing, owning, and disposing of the Equity Units, applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures (or the Treasury portfolio, or Treasury securities) or NEE common stock acquired under a purchase contract, including the application and effect of U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax laws.
For purposes of this discussion, the term "U.S. person" means:
A "non-U.S. holder" is a holder that is an individual, corporation, estate or trust that is not a U.S. person.
If a partnership (or any other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds Equity Units, any component thereof including applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures (or the Treasury portfolio, or Treasury securities), or any NEE common stock acquired under a purchase contract, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend
S-103
upon the status of the partner and upon the activities of the partnership. Partners of partnerships holding any of the above instruments should consult their tax advisors.
The Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") has issued a ruling, Rev. Rul. 2003-97, 2003-2 C.B. 380, addressing certain aspects of instruments substantially similar to the Equity Units. In the ruling, the IRS concluded that the notes issued as part of a unit with a purchase contract were debt for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In the opinion of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, under current law and based on the facts contained in this prospectus supplement, the terms of the purchase contract agreement, the pledge agreement, the guarantee agreement, the remarketing agreement, the indenture, the NEE Capital debentures and the purchase contracts, and certain assumptions and representations relied upon in rendering the opinion, the NEE Capital debentures issued as part of an Equity Unit with a purchase contract will be indebtedness for U.S. federal income tax purposes. This opinion is not binding on the IRS or any court and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will agree with this opinion. The remainder of this discussion assumes that the NEE Capital debentures will be respected as indebtedness for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
For the reasons described below, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP has not rendered an opinion with respect to the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the contract adjustment payments or deferred contract adjustment payments (please read "Purchase ContractsContract Adjustment Payments and Deferred Contract Adjustment Payments").
Holders should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the tax consequences to them of purchasing, owning and disposing of the Equity Units, any component thereof including applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures (or the Treasury portfolio, or Treasury securities), and any NEE common stock acquired under a purchase contract, including the tax consequences under state, local, foreign and other tax laws and the possible effects of changes in the U.S. federal or other tax laws.
A holder's acquisition of an Equity Unit will be treated as an acquisition of a unit consisting of two components, an applicable ownership interest in a NEE Capital debenture (or the Treasury portfolio, or Treasury securities) and a related purchase contract. The purchase price of each Equity Unit will be allocated between the components in proportion to their respective fair market values at the time of purchase. The allocation will establish a holder's initial tax basis in the applicable ownership interest in the NEE Capital debenture (or the Treasury portfolio, or Treasury securities) and the purchase contract. NEE Capital will report the fair market value of the applicable ownership interest in the NEE Capital debenture as $47.50 and NEE will report the fair market value of each purchase contract as $0. This position will be binding upon holders (but not on the IRS) unless holders explicitly disclose a contrary position on a statement attached to their timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns for the taxable year in which an Equity Unit is acquired. Thus, absent such disclosure, holders should allocate the purchase price for an Equity Unit in accordance with the foregoing. The remainder of this discussion assumes that this allocation of purchase price will be respected for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Ownership of Applicable Interests in the NEE Capital Debentures or Treasury Securities
Holders will be treated as owning the applicable interests in NEE Capital debentures or Treasury securities constituting a part of the Corporate Units or Treasury Units, respectively, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. NEE, NEE Capital and, by virtue of their acquisition of Equity Units, holders agree to treat the applicable interests in the NEE Capital debentures or Treasury securities constituting a part of the Equity Units as owned by holders for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and the
S-104
remainder of this discussion assumes such treatment. The U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning the applicable interests in the NEE Capital debentures or Treasury securities are discussed below (see "NEE Capital Debentures," "Treasury Securities" and "Remarketing, Special Event Redemption and Mandatory Redemption of NEE Capital Debentures").
Sales, Exchanges or Other Taxable Dispositions of Equity Units
If holders sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of an Equity Unit in a taxable disposition (a "disposition"), they will be treated as having sold, exchanged or disposed of each of the purchase contract and the applicable ownership interest in the NEE Capital debenture, or the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio or the Treasury securities, as the case may be, that constitute such Equity Unit, and the proceeds realized on such disposition will be allocated among the components of the Equity Unit in proportion to the respective fair market values of the components. As a result, a holder generally will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the portion of the proceeds received that is allocable to the component and the holder's adjusted tax basis in the applicable component, except to the extent the holder is treated as receiving an amount with respect to accrued interest, accrued contract adjustment payments or deferred contract adjustment payments on the purchase contract, which amount may be treated as ordinary income to the extent not previously included in income. In the case of the purchase contract, or the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio and Treasury securities, such gain or loss will generally be capital gain or loss, and such gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if holders held the particular component for more than one year immediately prior to such disposition. Under U.S. federal income tax law, certain non-corporate holders, including individuals, are eligible for preferential tax rates with respect to long-term capital gains. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations. The rules governing the determination of the character of gain or loss on the disposition of applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures are summarized under "NEE Capital DebenturesSales, Exchanges or Other Taxable Dispositions of Applicable Ownership Interests in NEE Capital Debentures."
If the disposition of an Equity Unit occurs when the purchase contract has a negative value, holders are considered to have received additional consideration for the applicable ownership interest in the NEE Capital debenture, or the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio or Treasury securities, as the case may be, in an amount equal to such negative value and to have paid such amount to be released from their obligation under the purchase contract. Because, as discussed below, any gain on the disposition of applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures prior to the purchase contract settlement date generally will be treated as ordinary interest income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the ability to offset such interest income with a loss on the purchase contract may be limited. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding a disposition of an Equity Unit at a time when the purchase contract has a negative value.
In determining gain or loss, contract adjustment payments or deferred contract adjustment payments that have been received by holders, but have not previously been included in their income, should either reduce their adjusted tax basis in the purchase contract or result in an increase in the amount realized on the disposition of the purchase contract. Any contract adjustment payments or deferred contract adjustment payments previously included in holders' income but not received by the holders should increase their adjusted tax basis in the purchase contract (see "Purchase ContractsContract Adjustment Payments and Deferred Contract Adjustment Payments" below).
The discussion in this section will apply to holders if they hold applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures or Corporate Units that include applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures.
S-105
Original Issue Discount. Because of the manner in which the interest rate on the NEE Capital debentures is to be reset, the NEE Capital debentures will be classified as contingent payment debt instruments subject to the "noncontingent bond method" for accruing original issue discount, or OID, as set forth in the applicable Treasury Regulations. NEE Capital intends to treat the NEE Capital debentures in that manner, and the remainder of this discussion assumes that the NEE Capital debentures will be so treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As discussed more fully below, the effects of applying such method will be:
See "Sales, Exchanges or Other Taxable Dispositions of Applicable Ownership Interests in NEE Capital Debentures."
Holders will be required to accrue OID on a constant yield to maturity basis based on the "comparable yield" of the NEE Capital debentures. The comparable yield of the NEE Capital debentures will generally be the rate at which NEE Capital would issue a fixed rate debt instrument with terms and conditions similar to the NEE Capital debentures (which rate will exceed the current interest payments on the NEE Capital debentures). NEE Capital has determined that, for the NEE Capital debentures, the comparable yield is 2.40% and the projected payments, per $50 applicable ownership interest of NEE Capital debentures, are $0.28 on September 1, 2012, $0.21 for each subsequent quarter ending on or prior to June 1, 2015 and $0.19 for each semi-annual period ending after June 1, 2015. NEE Capital has also determined that the projected payment for the NEE Capital debentures, per $50 applicable ownership interest of NEE Capital debentures, at the maturity date is $50.19 (which includes the stated principal amount of the NEE Capital debentures as well as the final projected interest payment). The amount of OID on a NEE Capital debenture for each accrual period is determined by multiplying the comparable yield of the NEE Capital debenture (adjusted for the length of the accrual period) by the NEE Capital debenture's adjusted issue price at the beginning of the accrual period. Based on the allocation of the purchase price of each Corporate Unit described above, the adjusted issue price of each applicable ownership interest in a NEE Capital debenture, per $50 applicable ownership interest of NEE Capital debentures, at the beginning of the first accrual period will be $47.50, and the adjusted issue price of each applicable ownership interest in a NEE Capital debenture at the beginning of each subsequent accrual period will be equal to $47.50, increased by any OID previously accrued by holders on such applicable ownership interest in the NEE Capital debenture and decreased by the amount of projected payments on such applicable ownership interest in the NEE Capital debenture through such date. The amount of OID so determined will then be allocated on a ratable basis to each day in the accrual period that holders hold such applicable ownership interest in the NEE Capital debenture.
If, after the date on which the interest rate on the NEE Capital debentures is reset, the remaining amounts of principal and interest payable on an applicable ownership interest in NEE Capital debentures differ from the payments set forth on the applicable projected payment schedule, negative or positive adjustments reflecting such difference are generally taken into account by holders as adjustments to interest income in a reasonable manner over the period to which they relate.
S-106
A holder is generally bound by the comparable yield and projected payment schedules for applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures provided by NEE Capital unless either is unreasonable. If a holder decides to use its own comparable yield and projected payment schedules, the holder must explicitly disclose this fact and the reason for using different comparable yield and projected payment schedules. In general, this disclosure must be made on a statement attached to the holder's timely filed U.S. federal income tax return for the taxable year that includes the date of the holder's acquisition of the applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures.
The foregoing comparable yield and projected payment schedules are supplied by NEE Capital solely for computing income under the noncontingent bond method for U.S. federal income tax purposes and do not constitute projections or representations as to the amounts that holders will actually receive as a result of owning applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures or Corporate Units.
Adjustment to Tax Basis in Applicable Ownership Interests in NEE Capital Debentures. A holder's tax basis in an applicable ownership interest in NEE Capital debentures will be increased by the amount of OID included in income with respect to such applicable ownership interest in NEE Capital debentures and decreased by the amount of projected payments with respect to such applicable ownership interest in NEE Capital debentures through the computation date.
Sales, Exchanges or Other Taxable Dispositions of Applicable Ownership Interests in NEE Capital Debentures. Holders will recognize gain or loss on a disposition of an applicable ownership interest in NEE Capital debentures (including a redemption for cash or the remarketing thereof) in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized by holders on the disposition of the applicable ownership interest in NEE Capital debentures and their adjusted tax basis in the applicable ownership interest in NEE Capital debentures. Selling expenses incurred by holders, including the remarketing fee, will reduce the amount of gain or increase the amount of loss recognized by holders upon a disposition of applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures. Gain recognized on the disposition of applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures prior to the purchase contract settlement date will be treated as ordinary interest income. Loss recognized on the disposition of applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures prior to the purchase contract settlement date will be treated as ordinary loss to the extent of the holders' prior inclusions of OID on the applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures. Any loss in excess of such amount will be treated as a capital loss. In general, gain recognized on the disposition of applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures on or after the purchase contract settlement date will be ordinary interest income to the extent attributable to the excess, if any, of the present value of the total remaining principal and interest payments due on the applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures over the present value of the total remaining payments set forth on the projected payment schedule for such applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures. Any gain recognized in excess of such amount and any loss recognized on such a disposition will generally be treated as a capital gain or loss. Under U.S. federal income tax law, certain non-corporate holders, including individuals, are eligible for preferential tax rates in respect of long-term capital gains. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations.
The discussion in this section will apply to holders that hold Treasury Units or Treasury securities.
Original Issue Discount. If holders hold Treasury Units, they will be required to treat their ownership interest in the Treasury securities included in a Treasury Unit as an interest in a bond that was originally issued on the date they acquired the Treasury securities. Any such Treasury securities that are owned or treated as owned by holders will have OID equal to the excess of the amount payable at maturity of such Treasury securities over the purchase price thereof. Holders will be required to include
S-107
such OID in income on a constant yield to maturity basis over the period between the purchase date of the Treasury securities and the maturity date of the Treasury securities, regardless of their regular method of tax accounting and in advance of the receipt of cash attributable to such OID. A holder's adjusted tax basis in the Treasury securities will be increased by the amounts of such OID included in such holder's gross income.
Sales, Exchanges or Other Taxable Dispositions of Treasury Securities. As discussed below, in the event that holders obtain the release of Treasury securities by delivering applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures to the collateral agent, holders generally will not recognize gain or loss upon such substitution. Holders will recognize gain or loss on a subsequent disposition of the Treasury securities in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized by holders on such disposition and their adjusted tax basis in the Treasury securities. Such gain or loss generally will be capital gain or loss and generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if holders held such Treasury securities for more than one year immediately prior to such disposition. Under U.S. federal income tax law, certain non-corporate holders, including individuals, are eligible for preferential tax rates in respect of long-term capital gains. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations.
Contract Adjustment Payments and Deferred Contract Adjustment Payments. There is no direct authority addressing the treatment, under current law, of the contract adjustment payments or deferred contract adjustment payments, and such treatment is, therefore, unclear. Accordingly, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP has not rendered an opinion regarding the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the contract adjustment payments or deferred contract adjustment payments. Contract adjustment payments and deferred contract adjustment payments may constitute taxable ordinary income to holders when received or accrued, in accordance with their regular method of tax accounting. To the extent NEE is required to file information returns with respect to contract adjustment payments or deferred contract adjustment payments, it intends to report such payments as taxable ordinary income to holders. Holders should consult their tax advisors concerning the treatment of contract adjustment payments and deferred contract adjustment payments.
The treatment of contract adjustment payments and deferred contract adjustment payments could affect a holder's adjusted tax basis in a purchase contract or NEE common stock received under a purchase contract or the amount realized by a holder upon the sale or disposition of an Equity Unit or the termination of a purchase contract. In particular, any contract adjustment payments or deferred contract adjustment payments that have been:
See "Acquisition of NEE Common Stock Under a Purchase Contract," "Sales, Exchanges or Other Taxable Dispositions of Equity Units" and "Termination of Purchase Contract."
Acquisition of NEE Common Stock Under a Purchase Contract. Holders generally will not recognize gain or loss on the purchase of NEE common stock under a purchase contract, including upon early settlement upon a fundamental change or any other early settlement, except with respect to any cash paid in lieu of a fractional share of NEE common stock. Holders' aggregate initial tax basis in NEE common stock received under a purchase contract will generally equal the purchase price paid for such common stock, plus the properly allocable portion of their adjusted tax basis (if any) in the purchase contract, less the portion of such purchase price and adjusted tax basis allocable to the
S-108
fractional share. The holding period for NEE common stock received under a purchase contract will commence on the day following the acquisition of such common stock.
Ownership of NEE Common Stock Acquired Under the Purchase Contract. Any distribution on NEE common stock paid by NEE out of its current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) will constitute a dividend and will be includible in income by holders when received. Any such dividend will be eligible for the dividends received deduction if the holder is an otherwise qualifying corporate holder that meets the holding period and other requirements for the dividends received deduction. Under current law, for tax years beginning before 2013, individuals who receive dividends are eligible for a reduced rate of taxation if certain holding period and other requirements are satisfied. Thereafter, the availability of such reduced rate of taxation for individuals who receive dividends is scheduled to expire and the rate applicable to dividends is scheduled to equal the tax rate then applicable to ordinary income.
Upon a disposition of NEE common stock, holders generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and their adjusted tax basis in NEE common stock. Such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if they held such common stock for more than one year immediately prior to such disposition. Under U.S. federal income tax law, certain non-corporate holders, including individuals, are eligible for preferential tax rates in respect of long-term capital gains. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations.
Early Settlement of Purchase Contract. Holders will not recognize gain or loss on the receipt of their proportionate share of applicable interests in NEE Capital debentures or Treasury securities or the applicable ownership interest in a Treasury portfolio upon early settlement of a purchase contract, and holders will have the same adjusted tax basis in such applicable interests in NEE Capital debentures, Treasury securities or the applicable ownership interest in a Treasury portfolio as before such early settlement.
Termination of Purchase Contract. If a purchase contract terminates, holders will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized (if any) upon such termination and their adjusted tax basis (if any) in the purchase contract at the time of such termination. Such gain or loss generally will be capital gain or loss and generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if holders held such purchase contract for more than one year immediately prior to such termination. Under U.S. federal income tax law, certain non-corporate holders, including individuals, are eligible for preferential tax rates in respect of long-term capital gains. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations. A holder will not recognize gain or loss on the receipt of the holder's proportionate share of applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures or Treasury securities or the applicable ownership interest in a Treasury portfolio upon termination of the purchase contract and will have the same adjusted tax basis in the applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures, Treasury securities or the applicable ownership interest in a Treasury portfolio as before such distribution.
Adjustment to Settlement Rate. A holder might be treated as receiving a constructive distribution from NEE if (1) the settlement rate is adjusted (or fails to be adjusted) and as a result of that adjustment (or failure to adjust) such holder's proportionate interest in NEE's assets or earnings and profits is increased and (2) the adjustment (or failure to adjust) is not made pursuant to a bona fide, reasonable anti-dilution formula. An adjustment in the settlement rate would not be considered made pursuant to such a formula if the adjustment were made to compensate a holder for certain taxable distributions with respect to NEE common stock. Thus, under certain circumstances, an adjustment to (or a failure to adjust) the settlement rate might give rise to a taxable dividend to a holder even though such holder would not receive any distribution related thereto.
S-109
Substitution of Treasury Securities to Create or Recreate Treasury Units
Holders of Corporate Units that deliver Treasury securities to the collateral agent in substitution for applicable ownership interests in the NEE Capital debentures or the applicable ownership interest in a Treasury portfolio will not recognize gain or loss upon their delivery of such Treasury securities or their receipt of the applicable ownership interest in NEE Capital debentures or the applicable ownership interest in a Treasury portfolio. Holders will continue to take into account items of income or deduction otherwise includible or deductible, respectively, by holders with respect to such Treasury securities and such applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures or the applicable ownership interest in a Treasury portfolio, and their adjusted tax bases in the Treasury securities, the applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures or the applicable ownership interest in a Treasury portfolio and the purchase contract will not be affected by such delivery and release.
Substitution of Applicable Ownership Interests in NEE Capital Debentures or the Applicable Ownership Interest in a Treasury Portfolio to Recreate Corporate Units
Holders of Treasury Units that deliver applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures or the applicable ownership interest in a Treasury portfolio to the collateral agent in substitution for Treasury securities to recreate Corporate Units will not recognize gain or loss upon their delivery of such applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures or the applicable ownership interest in a Treasury portfolio or their receipt of the Treasury securities. Holders will continue to take into account items of income or deduction otherwise includible or deductible, respectively, by holders with respect to such Treasury securities and applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures or the applicable ownership interest in a Treasury portfolio, and their adjusted tax bases in the Treasury securities, applicable ownership interests in the NEE Capital debentures or the applicable ownership interest in a Treasury portfolio and the purchase contract will not be affected by such delivery and release.
Remarketing, Special Event Redemption and Mandatory Redemption of NEE Capital Debentures
A remarketing, a special event redemption or a mandatory redemption will be a taxable event for holders of applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures, which will be subject to tax in the manner described above under "NEE Capital DebenturesSales, Exchanges or Other Taxable Dispositions of Applicable Ownership Interests in NEE Capital Debentures."
Ownership of Treasury Portfolio. In the event of a successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures, a special event redemption prior to the purchase contract settlement date or a mandatory redemption prior to the purchase contract settlement date (if the purchase contracts have not been so previously or concurrently terminated), NEE Capital and, by virtue of their acquisition of Corporate Units, holders agree to treat the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio constituting a part of their Corporate Units as owned by holders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In such a case, holders will be required to include in income any amount earned on such pro rata portion of the Treasury portfolio for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The remainder of this discussion assumes that holders of Corporate Units will be treated as the owners of the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio constituting a part of such Corporate Units for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Interest Income and Original Issue Discount. The Treasury portfolio will consist of U.S. Treasury securities (or principal or interest strips thereof). Following a successful remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures or a special event redemption prior to purchase contract settlement date, holders will be required to treat their pro rata portion of each U.S. Treasury security in the Treasury portfolio as a bond that was originally issued on the date the collateral agent acquired the relevant U.S. Treasury securities and that has OID equal to their pro rata portion of the excess of the amounts payable on such U.S. Treasury securities over the value of the U.S. Treasury securities at the time the collateral
S-110
agent acquires them on behalf of holders of Corporate Units. Holders will be required to include such OID (other than OID on short-term U.S. Treasury securities as defined below) in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes as it accrues on a constant yield to maturity basis, regardless of their regular method of tax accounting. To the extent that a payment from the Treasury portfolio made in respect of a scheduled interest payment on remarketed or redeemed applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures exceeds the amount of such OID, such payment will be treated as a return of a holder's investment in the Treasury portfolio and will not be considered current income for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
In the case of any U.S. Treasury security with a maturity of one year or less from the date of its issue (a "short-term U.S. Treasury Security"), holders will generally be required to include OID in income as it accrues only if they are accrual basis taxpayers. If holders are accrual basis taxpayers, they will generally accrue such OID on a straight line basis, unless they make an election to accrue such OID on a constant yield to maturity basis.
Tax Basis of the Applicable Ownership Interest in a Treasury Portfolio. The initial tax basis of holders in their applicable ownership interest in a Treasury portfolio will equal their pro rata portion of the amount paid by the collateral agent for the Treasury portfolio. A holder's adjusted tax basis in the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio will be increased by the amount of OID included in income with respect thereto and decreased by the amount of cash received in respect of the Treasury portfolio.
Sales, Exchanges or Other Dispositions of the Applicable Ownership Interest in a Treasury Portfolio. Holders that obtain the release of their applicable ownership interest in a Treasury portfolio and subsequently dispose of such interest will recognize gain or loss on such disposition in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized upon such disposition and such holders' adjusted tax basis in the applicable ownership interest in that Treasury portfolio. Such gain or loss generally will be capital gain or loss and generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if holders held such applicable interest in the Treasury portfolio for more than one year immediately prior to such disposition. Under U.S. federal income tax law, certain non-corporate holders, including individuals, are eligible for preferential tax rates in respect of long-term capital gains. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations.
Backup Withholding Tax and Information Reporting
Unless holders are exempt recipients, such as corporations, interest, OID, contract adjustment payments or deferred contract adjustment payments, and dividends received on, and proceeds received from the sale of, Equity Units, applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures, purchase contracts, Treasury securities, the applicable ownership interest in a Treasury portfolio, or NEE common stock acquired under a purchase contract, as the case may be, may be subject to information reporting and may also be subject to U.S. federal backup withholding tax if holders fail to supply accurate taxpayer identification numbers or otherwise fail to comply with applicable U.S. information reporting or certification requirements. The current backup withholding rate is 28%.
The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a holder will be allowed as a credit against the holder's U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle the holder to a refund, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS.
Additional Disclosure Requirements
If a holder sells Equity Units, applicable ownership interests in the NEE Capital debentures, the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio, Treasury securities, or NEE common stock at a loss that meets certain thresholds, the holder (and/or the partners or shareholders of the holder, if the holder is a partnership or an S corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) may be required to
S-111
file a disclosure statement with the IRS. Holders and their partners or shareholders should consult their own tax advisors with respect to any disclosure requirements that may apply to them in their own particular circumstances.
The following discussion applies to "non-U.S. holders" as defined above. This discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income tax law that may be relevant to non-U.S. holders in light of their particular circumstances, such as non-U.S. holders that are subject to special tax treatment (for example, persons engaged in a trade or business in the United States, controlled foreign corporations, or passive foreign investment companies), nor does it address alternative minimum taxes, estate taxes or state, local, or foreign taxes. In addition, this discussion does not address the U.S. tax consequences to any non-U.S. holder that owns 10% or more of the Equity Units or that owns or is deemed to own, for purposes of Section 871(h) of the Code, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of NEE's stock entitled to vote. Prospective investors that are subject to special tax treatment, and investors that own 10% or more of the Equity Units, or own or are deemed to own, for purposes of Section 871(h)(3) of the Code, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of NEE's stock entitled to vote, are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the U.S. federal income tax consequences to them of an investment in the Equity Units, in light of their own particular circumstances.
Payments of Principal and Interest on Applicable Ownership Interests in NEE Capital Debentures, Treasury Securities, and the Applicable Ownership Interest in the Treasury Portfolio
Except as provided below under "Additional Withholding Requirements," no U.S. withholding tax will be imposed on any payment of principal or interest (including any OID) on applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures, Treasury securities or the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio, provided that (1) in the case of applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures, the non-U.S. holder does not own, either directly or through the application of certain constructive ownership rules, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of NEE's voting stock for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and (2) (a) the non-U.S. holder provides a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN (or suitable substitute form) and the payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the non-U.S. holder is a U.S. person, or (b) if the non-U.S. holder is a foreign partnership or holds the Equity Units, applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures, Treasury securities, or the applicable ownership in a Treasury portfolio through certain foreign intermediaries, certain alternative certification requirements are satisfied.
Dividends received by a non-U.S. holder on NEE common stock generally will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a 30% rate. In certain circumstances, a non-U.S. holder may be entitled to a reduced rate of withholding pursuant to an applicable income tax treaty. In order to claim the benefits of an applicable income tax treaty, a non-U.S. holder will be required to provide a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN (or suitable substitute form).
As discussed above, an adjustment to the settlement rate may result in a constructive distribution that is treated as a taxable constructive dividend to the holder of Equity Units. See "U.S. HoldersPurchase ContractsAdjustment to Settlement Rate"). If NEE determines that any such adjustment results in a constructive dividend to a non-U.S. Holder of Equity Units, NEE may withhold on interest (or some other amount) paid to a non-U.S. holder in order to pay the proper U.S. withholding tax on such constructive dividend.
S-112
NEE intends to treat any contract adjustment payments paid to a non-U.S. holder as amounts generally subject to U.S. withholding tax at a 30% rate. In certain circumstances, a non-U.S. holder may be entitled to a reduced rate of withholding (or a complete exemption from withholding) pursuant to an applicable income tax treaty. In order to claim any benefits of an applicable income tax treaty that may be available, a non-U.S. holder will be required to provide a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN (or suitable substitute form). Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors concerning the U.S. tax treatment of contract adjustment payments.
Sale, Exchange, or Other Disposition of Equity Units, Applicable Ownership Interests in NEE Capital Debentures, Purchase Contracts, Treasury Securities, the Applicable Ownership Interest in the Treasury Portfolio or NEE
Common Stock
Any gain recognized by a non-U.S. holder upon the sale, exchange, or other disposition of Equity Units, applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital Debentures, purchase contracts, Treasury securities, the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio, or NEE common stock generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax, unless (1) the non-U.S. holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year in which the disposition takes place and certain other conditions are met or (2) in the case of purchase contracts or shares of NEE's common stock, such purchase contracts or shares of NEE's common stock are considered "United States real property interests" for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Purchase contracts or NEE common stock generally will be treated as United States real property interests if NEE is (or, during a specified period, has been) a "United States real property holding corporation" for U.S. federal income tax purposes. NEE believes that it has not been and currently is not a United States real property holding corporation, and NEE does not expect to become one in the future based on anticipated business operations.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
In general, no information reporting or backup withholding will be required with respect to payments made by NEE on the Equity Units or applicable ownership interests in the NEE Capital debentures if the non-U.S. holder has provided NEE with a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN (or suitable substitute form) and NEE does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the non-U.S. holder is a U.S. person. In addition, no information reporting or backup withholding will be required with respect to proceeds from a disposition of Equity Units, applicable ownership interests in NEE Capital debentures, Treasury securities, the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio, or NEE common stock (even if the disposition is considered to effected within the United States or through a U.S. financial intermediary) if the payor receives a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN (or suitable substitute form) and does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the non-U.S. holder is a U.S. person, or an exemption is otherwise established. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding tax rules will be creditable against the non-U.S. holder's U.S. federal income tax liability, or allowed as a refund, provided that the required information is timely provided to the IRS.
Additional Withholding Requirements
Under recently enacted legislation, the relevant withholding agent may be required to withhold 30% of any "withholdable payments," which would include any interest (including OID), dividends and the gross proceeds of a sale of NEE stock, NEE Capital debentures, Treasury securities or an applicable ownership interest in a Treasury portfolio paid after December 31, 2012 to (i) a foreign financial institution unless such foreign financial institution agrees to verify, report and disclose its holders of U.S. accounts and meets certain other specified requirements or (ii) a non-financial foreign entity that is the beneficial owner of the payment unless such entity certifies that it does not have any
S-113
substantial U.S. owners or provides the name, address and taxpayer identification number of each substantial U.S. owner and such entity meets certain other specified requirements. The IRS has since released transitional guidance indicating that it will not apply this new withholding tax to (i) interest and dividends paid on or before December 31, 2013, or (ii) gross proceeds paid on or before December 31, 2014.
ERISA, the Code and similar federal, state and local laws that are substantively similar or are of similar effect ("Similar Law") impose certain restrictions on:
ERISA, the Code and Similar Law impose certain duties on persons who are fiduciaries of a Plan and prohibit certain transactions involving Plan assets and fiduciaries or other Parties in Interest or Disqualified Persons. Under ERISA and the Code, any person who exercises any discretionary authority or control over the administration of a Plan or the management or disposition of assets of such a Plan, or who renders investment advice to such a Plan for a fee or other compensation is generally considered a fiduciary of the Plan. A Plan may purchase Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) subject to the representations and warranties set forth below and the investing fiduciary's determination that the investment satisfies ERISA's fiduciary standards and other requirements under ERISA, the Code or Similar Law. Accordingly, among other factors, the investing fiduciary should consider whether:
S-114
The Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) held by a Plan will be deemed to constitute Plan assets. If NEE, NEE Capital or any of their respective affiliates is or becomes a Party in Interest or a Disqualified Person with respect to a Plan subject to ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, such Plan's acquisition, holding or disposition of the Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) may constitute or result in a prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code (e.g., the extension of credit between a Plan and a Party in Interest or Disqualified Person), unless Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) are acquired and are held pursuant to and in accordance with an applicable exemption. In this regard, the U.S. Department of Labor ("DOL") has issued prohibited transaction class exemptions ("PTCEs") that may apply to the acquisition and holding of Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units). These class exemptions are PTCE 84-14 (respecting transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTCE 90-1 (respecting transactions involving insurance company separate accounts), PTCE 91-38 (respecting transactions involving bank collective investment funds), PTCE 95-60 (respecting transactions involving insurance company general accounts) and PTCE 96-23 (respecting transactions determined by in-house asset managers). In addition, certain statutory prohibited transaction exemptions may be available to provide exemptive relief for a Plan, including, without limitation, the statutory exemption set forth in Section 408(b)(17) of ERISA and Section 4975(d)(20) of the Code regarding transactions with certain service providers in which the Plan must pay no more, and receive no less, than "adequate consideration."
Even if the conditions specified in one or more exemptions are met, the scope of the relief provided may or may not cover all acts that could be construed as prohibited transactions. For example, certain of the exemptions do not afford relief from the prohibition on self dealing contained in ERISA Section 406(b) and Code Sections 4975(c)(1)(E) and (F). As a result, there can be no assurance that any exemptions will be available with respect to any particular transaction involving the Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units).
Special considerations also apply to insurance company general accounts. Based on the reasoning of the U.S. Supreme Court in John Hancock Life Ins. Co. v. Harris Trust and Sav. Bank, 510 U.S. 86 (1993), an insurance company's general account may be deemed to include assets of the Plans investing in the general account (e.g., through the purchase of an annuity contract), and the insurance company might be treated as a Party in Interest with respect to a Plan by virtue of such investment. Any investor that is an insurance company using the assets of an insurance company general account should note that the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996 added Section 401(c) of ERISA relating to the status of the assets of insurance company general accounts under ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code. Pursuant to Section 401(c), the DOL issued final regulations effective January 5, 2000 (the "General Account Regulations") with respect to insurance policies issued on or before December 31, 1998, that are supported by an insurer's general account. As a result of the General Account Regulations, assets of an insurance company's general account will not be treated as "plan assets" for purposes of the fiduciary responsibility provisions of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code to the extent such assets relate to contracts issued to Plans on or before December 31, 1998 and the insurer satisfies certain conditions. The plan asset status of an insurance company's separate accounts is unaffected by Section 401(c) of ERISA, and the assets of a separate account (other than a separate account maintained solely in connection with fixed contractual obligations of the insurance company under which the amounts payable are not affected in any manner by the performance of the separate account) continue to be treated as the plan assets of any Plan subject to ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code invested in such a separate account.
S-115
The Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) should not be purchased or held by any person investing assets of a Plan unless such purchase and holding will either not constitute a prohibited transaction under ERISA and the Code or will be covered by an applicable exemption and should not be purchased or held by a person investing assets of a Non-ERISA Plan unless such purchase and holding will not violate applicable Similar Law. Additionally, each purchaser of Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) that is purchasing the Corporate Units with, or on behalf of, the assets of any Plan will be deemed to have directed NEE, NEE Capital, the purchase contract agent, the collateral agent and the remarketing agent to take the respective actions set forth in this prospectus supplement to be taken by such parties.
Any Plan fiduciary or person that proposes to cause a Plan (or to act on behalf of a Plan) to purchase the Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) should consult with its own counsel with respect to the potential applicability of ERISA, the Code or Similar Law, the potential consequences in its specific circumstances, and whether any exemption or exemptions would be applicable and determine on its own whether all conditions of such exemption or exemptions have been satisfied. In addition, the investing fiduciary should determine whether the investment in the Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) satisfies ERISA's fiduciary standards and other requirements under ERISA, the Code or Similar Law. The investing fiduciary should also determine on its own that neither NEE, NEE Capital nor any of their affiliates exercised any discretionary authority or discretionary control respecting the purchase, holding and disposition of the Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) and neither NEE, NEE Capital nor any of their affiliates provided advice that has formed the primary basis for the decision to purchase, hold or dispose of the Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units).
Accordingly, by its purchase or holding of the Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units), each purchaser or holder of the Corporate Units will be deemed to have represented and warranted that either:
(a) the purchaser or holder is not purchasing the Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) with, or on behalf of, the assets of any Plan; or
(b) (1) the Plan will receive no less and pay no more than "adequate consideration" (within the meaning of Section 408(b)(17) of ERISA and Section 4975(d)(20) of the Code) in connection with the purchase, holding and disposition of the Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units), (2) the purchase, holding and disposition of the Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) are eligible for exemptive relief or such purchase, holding and disposition will not result in a prohibited transaction under ERISA or the Code, or a violation of Similar Law, (3) neither NEE, NEE Capital nor any of their affiliates exercised any discretionary authority or discretionary control respecting the purchase, holding and disposition of the Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) and neither NEE, NEE Capital nor any of their affiliates provided advice that has formed the primary basis for the decision to purchase, hold or dispose of the Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) and (4) the purchaser or holder hereby directs NEE, NEE Capital, the purchase contract agent, the collateral agent and the remarketing agent to take the actions set forth in this prospectus supplement to be taken by such parties.
The sale or transfer of Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) to a Plan or person acting on behalf of a Plan is in no way a representation by NEE or NEE Capital that the purchase, holding or disposition of Corporate Units (and the securities underlying the Corporate Units) meets the legal requirements for investments by Plans or is appropriate for Plans.
S-116
The information in this section supplements the information in the "Plan of Distribution" section beginning on page 74 of the accompanying prospectus. Please read these two sections together.
NEE is selling the Corporate Units to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, the underwriter, pursuant to an underwriting agreement among NEE Capital, NEE and the underwriter.
Under the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, the underwriter must buy all of the Corporate Units if it buys any of them. The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriter pursuant thereto are subject to certain conditions. The underwriter will sell the Corporate Units to the public when and if the underwriter buys the Corporate Units from NEE.
The Corporate Units sold by the underwriter to the public will initially be offered at the price to public set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement. If all of the Corporate Units are not sold at the initial price to public, the underwriter may change the offering price and other selling terms of the Corporate Units.
Each Corporate Unit will be issued in a stated amount of $50. An underwriting discount of $1.50 is applicable to each Corporate Unit (totaling $18,000,000, or $20,700,000 if the overallotment option is exercised in full). The Corporate Units were offered to the public at a price of $47.50 per Corporate Unit (totaling $570,000,000, or $655,500,000 if the overallotment option is exercised in full). NEE Capital's proceeds from the offering (before expenses) will equal $48.50 per Corporate Unit, for a total of $582,000,000 (or $669,300,000 if the overallotment option is exercised in full).
NEE has granted an option to the underwriter to purchase up to an additional 1,800,000 Corporate Units at the price to public less the underwriting discount set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement in order to cover overallotments, if any. If the option is exercised, any such additional Corporate Units are expected to be delivered on or about the date set forth on the cover of page of this prospectus supplement for the delivery of the 12,000,000 Corporate Units. If the underwriter exercises this option, it will be obligated, subject to conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, to purchase the additional Corporate Units.
NEE has agreed, for a period of 90 days from the date of this prospectus supplement, to not, without the prior written consent of the underwriter, directly or indirectly, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of any NEE common stock, Corporate Units or purchase contracts, or any equity security substantially similar to NEE common stock, Corporate Units or purchase contracts, or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for or repayable with NEE common stock, Corporate Units or purchase contracts, or any equity security substantially similar to NEE common stock, Corporate Units or purchase contracts, subject to certain exceptions including (i) in connection with this offering and sale of NEE common stock, Corporate Units or purchase contracts to the underwriter; (ii) in connection with any employee or director benefit or compensation, dividend reinvestment or dividend reinvestment and direct stock purchase, stock option or other incentive or stock purchase plan or shareholder rights plan of NEE or its direct or indirect subsidiaries; (iii) in connection with any securities issued pursuant to, exchanged for or sold in connection with any securities of NEE or its direct or indirect subsidiaries: (A) outstanding as of the date hereof, that are convertible into or exchangeable for or payable or repayable with any securities of NEE or its direct or indirect subsidiaries, (B) under the Purchase Contract Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2009, between NEE and The Bank of New York Mellon, as
S-117
purchase contract agent, or the related stock purchase contracts or (C) under the Purchase Contract Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2010, between NEE and The Bank of New York Mellon, as purchase contract agent, or the related stock purchase contracts; (iv) in connection with any holder of Corporate Units or Treasury Units electing to settle such securities or create or recreate such securities upon substitution of pledged securities; (v) upon exercise of stock options; or (vi) in connection with issuances of NEE common stock or any equity security substantially similar to NEE common stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for or payable or repayable with NEE common stock or any equity security substantially similar to NEE common stock as consideration for acquisitions by NEE or its direct or indirect subsidiaries, provided that any person or entity who receives such consideration agrees in writing to take such consideration subject to the remaining duration of the 90-day period.
The Corporate Units are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. NEE has no obligation or current intention to apply for listing of the Corporate Units on a securities exchange. The underwriter has advised NEE that it intends to make a market in the Corporate Units, but is not obligated to do so and may discontinue such market-making activities at any time without notice. NEE cannot give any assurance as to the maintenance of any secondary market that may develop for, or the liquidity of, the Corporate Units.
This prospectus supplement, as amended or supplemented, may be used by the remarketing agent for remarketing of the NEE Capital debentures at such time as is necessary or upon early settlement of the purchase contracts.
Price Stabilization and Short Positions
Until the distribution of the Corporate Units offered hereby is completed, SEC rules may limit the underwriter and selling group members from bidding for or purchasing the Corporate Units or shares of NEE common stock. However, the underwriter may engage in transactions that stabilize the price of the Corporate Units or NEE common stock, such as bids or purchases that peg, fix or maintain the price of the Corporate Units or NEE common stock.
In connection with the offering, the underwriter may make short sales of the Corporate Units. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriter, at the time of the offering, of a greater number of Corporate Units than it is required to purchase in the offering. Covered short sales are sales made in an amount not greater than the overallotment option. The underwriter may close out any covered short position by either exercising the overallotment option or purchasing Corporate Units in the open market. In determining the source of Corporate Units to close out the covered short position, the underwriter will consider, among other things, the price of Corporate Units available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which it may purchase the Corporate Units through the overallotment option. Naked short sales are sales in excess of the overallotment option. The underwriter must close out any naked short position by purchasing Corporate Units in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriter is concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the Corporate Units or NEE common stock in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Similar to other purchase transactions, purchases by the underwriter to cover short positions may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of the Corporate Units and NEE common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the Corporate Units and NEE common stock. As a result, the prices of the Corporate Units and NEE common stock may be higher than they would otherwise be
S-118
in the absence of such transactions. These transactions may be effected in the over-the-counter market or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
Neither NEE nor the underwriter makes any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the Corporate Units or NEE common stock. In addition, neither NEE nor the underwriter makes any representation that the underwriter will engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.
The expenses in connection with the sale of the Corporate Units, other than underwriting discounts, are estimated at $1.25 million. This estimate includes expenses relating to printing, rating agency fees, trustees' fees and legal fees, among other expenses.
NEE and NEE Capital have agreed to indemnify the underwriter against, or to contribute to payments the underwriter may be required to make in respect of, certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.
The underwriter and its affiliates engage in transactions with, and perform services for, NEE, its subsidiaries (including NEE Capital) and its affiliates in the ordinary course of business and have engaged, and may engage in the future, in commercial banking and/or investment banking transactions with NEE, its subsidiaries and its affiliates.
The information in this section replaces the information in the "Experts" section on page 76 of the accompanying prospectus.
The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference from NextEra Energy, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, and the effectiveness of NextEra Energy, Inc. and subsidiaries' internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
The information in this section replaces the information in the "Legal Opinions" section on page 76 of the accompanying prospectus.
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, New York, New York and Squire Sanders (US) LLP, West Palm Beach, Florida, co-counsel to NEE and NEE Capital will pass upon the legality of the securities offered by this prospectus supplement for NEE and NEE Capital. Hunton & Williams LLP, New York, New York, will pass upon the legality of the securities offered by this prospectus supplement for the underwriter. Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP and Hunton & Williams LLP may rely as to all matters of Florida law upon the opinion of Squire Sanders (US) LLP. Squire Sanders (US) LLP may rely as to all matters of New York law upon the opinion of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.
S-119
PROSPECTUS
FPL GROUP, INC.
Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Stock Purchase Contracts, Stock Purchase Units, Warrants, Senior Debt Securities, Subordinated Debt Securities and
Junior Subordinated Debentures
FPL GROUP CAPITAL INC
Preferred Stock, Senior Debt Securities, Subordinated Debt Securities
and Junior Subordinated Debentures
Guaranteed as described in this prospectus by
FPL GROUP, INC.
FPL GROUP CAPITAL TRUST II
FPL GROUP CAPITAL TRUST III
FPL GROUP TRUST I
FPL GROUP TRUST II
Preferred Trust Securities
Guaranteed as described in this prospectus by
FPL GROUP, INC.
One or more of FPL Group, Inc., FPL Group Capital Inc, FPL Group Capital Trust II, FPL Group Capital Trust III, FPL Group Trust I and FPL Group Trust II may offer any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings from time to time in amounts authorized from time to time. This prospectus may also be used by a selling securityholder of the securities described herein.
One or more of FPL Group, FPL Group Capital, FPL Group Capital Trust II, FPL Group Capital Trust III, FPL Group Trust I and FPL Group Trust II will provide specific terms of the securities, including the offering prices, in supplements to this prospectus. The supplements may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any supplements carefully before you invest.
FPL Group's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trades under the symbol "FPL."
FPL Group, FPL Group Capital, FPL Group Capital Trust II, FPL Group Capital Trust III, FPL Group Trust I and FPL Group Trust II may offer these securities directly or through underwriters, agents or dealers. The supplements to this prospectus will describe the terms of any particular plan of distribution, including any underwriting arrangements. The "Plan of Distribution" section beginning on page 74 of this prospectus also provides more information on this topic.
See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 2 of this prospectus to read about certain factors you should consider before purchasing any of the securities being offered.
FPL Group's, FPL Group Capital's, FPL Group Capital Trust II's, FPL Group Capital Trust III's, FPL Group Trust I's and FPL Group Trust II's principal executive offices are located at 700 Universe Boulevard, Juno Beach, Florida 33408-0420, telephone number (561) 694-4000, and their mailing address is P.O. Box 14000, Juno Beach, Florida 33408-0420.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
August 3, 2009
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that FPL Group, FPL Group Capital, FPL Group Capital Trust II, FPL Group Capital Trust III, FPL Group Trust I and FPL Group Trust II, and certain of their affiliates, have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") using a "shelf" registration process. FPL Group Capital Trust II and FPL Group Capital Trust III each are referred to in this prospectus as "FPL Group Capital Trust" and FPL Group Trust I and FPL Group Trust II each are referred to in this prospectus as "FPL Group Trust." In addition, FPL Group Capital Trust and FPL Group Trust each are referred to in this prospectus as the "Trust."
Under this shelf registration process, FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and/or the Trust may issue and sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings from time to time in amounts authorized by the board of directors of FPL Group or FPL Group Capital, as the case may be. FPL Group may offer any of the following securities: common stock, preferred stock, stock purchase contracts, stock purchase units, warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities and junior subordinated debentures, each of which debt securities may be convertible or exchangeable into FPL Group common stock, and guarantees related to the preferred trust securities which the Trust may offer and guarantees related to the preferred stock, senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities and junior subordinated debentures FPL Group Capital may offer. FPL Group Capital may offer any of the following securities: preferred stock, senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities and junior subordinated debentures. Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement, the Trust may offer preferred trust securities.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and/or the Trust may offer. Each time FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and/or the Trust sells securities, FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and/or the Trust will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. Material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the offered securities will be discussed in the applicable prospectus supplement if necessary. The applicable prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the headings "Where You Can Find More Information" and "Incorporation by Reference."
For more detailed information about the securities, you can read the exhibits to the registration statement. Those exhibits have been either filed with the registration statement or incorporated by reference to earlier SEC filings listed in the registration statement.
1
Before purchasing the securities, investors should carefully consider the following risk factors together with the risk factors and other information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or in a prospectus supplement in order to evaluate an investment in the securities.
FPL Group and FPL Group Capital are subject to complex laws and regulations and to changes in laws and regulations as well as changing governmental policies and regulatory actions. Florida Power & Light Company holds franchise agreements with local municipalities and counties, and must renegotiate expiring agreements. These factors may have a negative impact on the business and results of operations of FPL Group and FPL Group Capital.
FPL Group and FPL Group Capital are subject to complex laws and regulations, and to changes in laws or regulations, with respect to, among other things, allowed rates of return, industry and rate structure, operation of nuclear power facilities, construction and operation of generation facilities, construction and operation of transmission and distribution facilities, acquisition, disposal, depreciation and amortization of assets and facilities, recovery of fuel and purchased power costs, decommissioning costs, return on common equity and equity ratio limits, transmission reliability and present or prospective wholesale and retail competition. This substantial and complex framework exposes FPL Group and FPL Group Capital to increased compliance costs and potentially significant monetary penalties for non-compliance. The Florida Public Service Commission has the authority to disallow recovery by Florida Power & Light Company of any and all costs that it considers excessive or imprudently incurred. The regulatory process generally restricts Florida Power & Light Company's ability to grow earnings and does not provide any assurance as to achievement of earnings levels.
FPL Group and FPL Group Capital also are subject to extensive federal, state and local environmental statutes, rules and regulations, as well as the effect of changes in or additions to applicable statutes, rules and regulations that relate to, or in the future may relate to, for example, air quality, water quality, climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, carbon dioxide emissions, waste management, marine and wildlife mortality, natural resources, health, safety and renewable portfolio standards that could, among other things, restrict or limit the output of certain facilities or the use of certain fuels required for the production of electricity and/or require additional pollution control equipment and otherwise increase costs. There are significant capital, operating and other costs associated with compliance with these environmental statutes, rules and regulations, and those costs could be even more significant in the future.
FPL Group and FPL Group Capital operate in a changing market environment influenced by various legislative and regulatory initiatives regarding regulation, deregulation or restructuring of the energy industry, including, for example, deregulation or restructuring of the production and sale of electricity, as well as increased focus on renewable and clean energy sources and reduction of carbon emissions. FPL Group and its subsidiaries will need to adapt to these changes and may face increasing costs and competitive pressure in doing so.
FPL Group's results of operations could be affected by Florida Power & Light Company's ability to negotiate or renegotiate franchise agreements with municipalities and counties in Florida.
The operation and maintenance of power generation, transmission and distribution facilities involve significant risks that could adversely affect the results of operations and financial condition of FPL Group and FPL Group Capital.
The operation and maintenance of power generation, transmission and distribution facilities involve many risks, including, for example, start up risks, breakdown or failure of equipment, transmission and distribution lines or pipelines, the inability to properly manage or mitigate known equipment defects throughout FPL Group's and FPL Group Capital's generation fleets and
2
transmission and distribution systems, use of new or unproven technology, the dependence on a specific fuel source, failures in the supply or transportation of fuel, the impact of unusual or adverse weather conditions (including natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods and droughts), and performance below expected or contracted levels of output or efficiency. This could result in lost revenues and/or increased expenses, including, for example, lost revenues due to prolonged outages and increased expenses due to monetary penalties or fines, replacement equipment costs or an obligation to purchase or generate replacement power at potentially higher prices to meet contractual obligations. Insurance, warranties or performance guarantees may not cover any or all of the lost revenues or increased expenses. Breakdown or failure of an operating facility of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC ("NextEra Energy Resources") may, for example, prevent the facility from performing under applicable power sales agreements which, in certain situations, could result in termination of the agreement or subject NextEra Energy Resources to incurring a liability for liquidated damages.
The operation and maintenance of nuclear facilities involves inherent risks, including environmental, health, regulatory, terrorism and financial risks, that could result in fines or the closure of nuclear units owned by Florida Power & Light Company or NextEra Energy Resources, and which may present potential exposures in excess of insurance coverage.
Florida Power & Light Company and NextEra Energy Resources own, or hold undivided interests in, nuclear generation facilities in four states. These nuclear facilities are subject to environmental, health and financial risks such as on-site storage of spent nuclear fuel, the ability to dispose of spent nuclear fuel, the ability to maintain adequate reserves for decommissioning, potential liabilities arising out of the operation of these facilities, and the threat of a possible terrorist attack. Although Florida Power & Light Company and NextEra Energy Resources maintain decommissioning trusts and external insurance coverage to minimize the financial exposure to these risks, it is possible that the cost of decommissioning the facilities could exceed the amount available in the decommissioning trusts, and that liability and property damages could exceed the amount of insurance coverage.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has broad authority to impose licensing and safety-related requirements for the construction and operation and maintenance of nuclear generation facilities. In the event of non-compliance, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has the authority to impose fines or shut down a unit, or both, depending upon its assessment of the severity of the situation, until compliance is achieved. Nuclear Regulatory Commission orders or new regulations related to increased security measures and any future safety requirements promulgated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission could require Florida Power & Light Company and NextEra Energy Resources to incur substantial operating and capital expenditures at their nuclear plants. In addition, if a serious nuclear incident were to occur at a Florida Power & Light Company or NextEra Energy Resources plant, it could result in substantial costs. A major incident at a nuclear facility anywhere in the world could cause the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to limit or prohibit the operation or licensing of any domestic nuclear unit.
In addition, potential terrorist threats and increased public scrutiny of utilities could result in increased nuclear licensing or compliance costs which are difficult or impossible to predict.
The construction of, and capital improvements to, power generation and transmission facilities involve substantial risks. Should construction or capital improvement efforts be unsuccessful or delayed, the results of operations and financial condition of FPL Group and FPL Group Capital could be adversely affected.
The ability of FPL Group and FPL Group Capital to complete construction of, and capital improvement projects for, their power generation and transmission facilities on schedule and within budget are contingent upon many variables that could delay completion, increase costs or otherwise adversely affect operational and financial results, including, for example, limitations related to
3
transmission interconnection issues, escalating costs for materials and labor and environmental compliance, delays with respect to permits and other approvals, and disputes involving third parties, and are subject to substantial risks. Should any such efforts be unsuccessful or delayed, FPL Group and FPL Group Capital could be subject to additional costs, termination payments under committed contracts, loss of tax credits and/or the write-off of their investment in the project or improvement.
The use of derivative contracts by FPL Group and FPL Group Capital in the normal course of business could result in financial losses or the payment of margin cash collateral that adversely impact the results of operations or cash flows of FPL Group and FPL Group Capital.
FPL Group and FPL Group Capital use derivative instruments, such as swaps, options, futures and forwards, some of which are traded in the over-the-counter markets or on exchanges, to manage their commodity and financial market risks, and for FPL Group and FPL Group Capital to engage in trading and marketing activities. FPL Group and FPL Group Capital could recognize financial losses as a result of volatility in the market values of these derivative instruments, or if a counterparty fails to perform or make payments under these derivative instruments, and could suffer a reduction in operating cash flows as a result of the requirement to post margin cash collateral. In the absence of actively quoted market prices and pricing information from external sources, the valuation of these derivative instruments involves management's judgment or use of estimates. As a result, changes in the underlying assumptions or use of alternative valuation methods could affect the reported fair value of these derivative instruments. In addition, Florida Power & Light Company's use of such instruments could be subject to prudence challenges and, if found imprudent, cost recovery could be disallowed by the Florida Public Service Commission.
FPL Group and FPL Group Capital provide full energy and capacity requirement services, which include load-following services and various ancillary services, primarily to distribution utilities to satisfy all or a portion of such utilities' power supply obligations to their customers. The supply costs for these transactions may be affected by a number of factors, such as weather conditions, fluctuating prices for energy and ancillary services, and the ability of the distribution utilities' customers to elect to receive service from competing suppliers, which could negatively affect FPL Group's and FPL Group Capital's results of operations from these transactions.
FPL Group's and FPL Group Capital's competitive energy business is subject to risks, many of which are beyond the control of FPL Group and FPL Group Capital, including, but not limited to, the efficient development and operation of generating assets, the successful and timely completion of project restructuring activities, the price and supply of fuel and equipment, transmission constraints, competition from other generators, including those using new sources of generation, excess generation capacity and demand for power, that may reduce the revenues and adversely impact the results of operations and financial condition of FPL Group and FPL Group Capital.
There are various risks associated with FPL Group's and FPL Group Capital's competitive energy business. In addition to risks discussed elsewhere, risk factors specifically affecting NextEra Energy Resources' success in competitive wholesale markets include, for example, the ability to efficiently develop and operate generating assets, the successful and timely completion of project restructuring activities, maintenance of the qualifying facility status of certain projects, the price and supply of fuel (including transportation) and equipment, transmission constraints, the ability to utilize production tax credits, competition from other and new sources of generation, excess generation capacity and shifting demand for power. There can be significant volatility in market prices for fuel, electricity and renewable and other energy commodities, and there are other financial, counterparty and market risks that are beyond the control of NextEra Energy Resources. NextEra Energy Resources' inability or failure to effectively hedge its assets or positions against changes in commodity prices, interest rates, counterparty credit risk or other risk measures could significantly impair FPL Group's and FPL Group
4
Capital's future financial results. In keeping with industry trends, a portion of NextEra Energy Resources' power generation facilities operate wholly or partially without long-term power purchase agreements. As a result, power from these facilities is sold on the spot market or on a short-term contractual basis, which may increase the volatility of FPL Group's and FPL Group Capital's financial results. In addition, NextEra Energy Resources' business depends upon power transmission and natural gas transportation facilities owned and operated by others; if transmission or transportation is disrupted or capacity is inadequate or unavailable, NextEra Energy Resources' ability to sell and deliver its wholesale power or natural gas may be limited.
FPL Group's and FPL Group Capital's ability to successfully identify, complete and integrate acquisitions is subject to significant risks, including, but not limited to, the effect of increased competition for acquisitions resulting from the consolidation of the power industry.
FPL Group and FPL Group Capital are likely to encounter significant competition for acquisition opportunities that may become available as a result of the consolidation of the power industry in general. In addition, FPL Group and FPL Group Capital may be unable to identify attractive acquisition opportunities at favorable prices and to complete and integrate them successfully and in a timely manner.
FPL Group and FPL Group Capital participate in markets that are often subject to uncertain economic conditions, which make it difficult to estimate growth, future income and expenditures.
FPL Group and FPL Group Capital participate in markets that are susceptible to uncertain economic conditions, which complicate estimates of revenue growth. Because components of budgeting and forecasting are dependent upon estimates of revenue growth in the markets FPL Group and FPL Group Capital serve, the uncertainty makes estimates of future income and expenditures more difficult. As a result, FPL Group and FPL Group Capital may make significant investments and expenditures but never realize the anticipated benefits, which could adversely affect results of operations. The future direction of the overall economy also may have a significant effect on the overall performance and financial condition of FPL Group and FPL Group Capital.
Customer growth and customer usage in Florida Power & Light Company's service area affect FPL Group's results of operations.
FPL Group's results of operations are affected by the growth in customer accounts in Florida Power & Light Company's service area and by customer usage. Customer growth can be affected by population growth. Customer growth and customer usage can be affected by economic factors in Florida and elsewhere, including, for example, job and income growth, housing starts and new home prices. Customer growth and customer usage directly influence the demand for electricity and the need for additional power generation and power delivery facilities at Florida Power & Light Company.
Weather affects FPL Group's and FPL Group Capital's results of operations, as can the impact of severe weather. Weather conditions directly influence the demand for electricity and natural gas, affect the price of energy commodities, and can affect the production of electricity at power generating facilities.
FPL Group's and FPL Group Capital's results of operations are affected by changes in the weather. Weather conditions directly influence the demand for electricity and natural gas, affect the price of energy commodities, and can affect the production of electricity at power generating facilities, including, but not limited to, wind, solar and hydro-powered facilities. FPL Group's and FPL Group Capital's results of operations can be affected by the impact of severe weather which can be destructive, causing outages and/or property damage, may affect fuel supply, and could require
5
additional costs to be incurred. At Florida Power & Light Company, recovery of these costs is subject to Florida Public Service Commission approval.
Adverse capital and credit market conditions may adversely affect FPL Group's and FPL Group Capital's ability to meet liquidity needs, access capital and operate and grow their businesses, and increase the cost of capital. Disruptions, uncertainty or volatility in the financial markets can also adversely impact the results of operations and financial condition of FPL Group and FPL Group Capital, as well as exert downward pressure on the market price of FPL Group's common stock.
Having access to the credit and capital markets, at a reasonable cost, is necessary for FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and Florida Power & Light Company to fund their operations, including their capital requirements. Those markets have provided FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and Florida Power & Light Company with the liquidity to operate and grow their businesses that is not otherwise provided from operating cash flows. Disruptions, uncertainty or volatility in those markets can increase FPL Group's, FPL Group Capital's and Florida Power & Light Company's cost of capital. If FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and Florida Power & Light Company are unable to access the credit and capital markets on terms that are reasonable, they may have to delay raising capital, issue shorter-term securities and/or bear an unfavorable cost of capital, which, in turn, could adversely impact their ability to grow their businesses, decrease earnings, significantly reduce financial flexibility and/or limit FPL Group's ability to sustain its current common stock dividend level.
The market price and trading volume of FPL Group's common stock could be subject to significant fluctuations due to, among other things, general stock market conditions and changes in market sentiment regarding FPL Group and its subsidiaries' operations, business, growth prospects and financing strategies.
FPL Group's, FPL Group Capital's and Florida Power & Light Company's inability to maintain their current credit ratings may adversely affect FPL Group's and FPL Group Capital's liquidity, limit the ability of FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and Florida Power & Light Company to grow their businesses, and would likely increase interest costs.
FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and Florida Power & Light Company rely on access to capital and credit markets as significant sources of liquidity for capital requirements not satisfied by operating cash flows. The inability of FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and Florida Power & Light Company to maintain their current credit ratings could affect their ability to raise capital or obtain credit on favorable terms, which, in turn, could impact FPL Group's, FPL Group Capital's and Florida Power & Light Company's ability to grow their businesses and would likely increase their interest costs.
FPL Group and FPL Group Capital are subject to credit and performance risk from third parties under supply and service contracts.
FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and Florida Power & Light Company rely on contracts with vendors for the supply of equipment, materials, fuel and other goods and services required for the construction and operation of, and for capital improvements to, their facilities, as well as for business operations. If vendors fail to fulfill their contractual obligations, FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and Florida Power & Light Company may need to make arrangements with other suppliers, which could result in higher costs, untimely completion of power generation facilities and other projects, and/or a disruption to their operations.
6
FPL Group and FPL Group Capital are subject to costs and other potentially adverse effects of legal and regulatory proceedings, as well as regulatory compliance and changes in or additions to applicable tax laws, rates or policies, rates of inflation, accounting standards, securities laws, corporate governance requirements and labor and employment laws.
FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and Florida Power & Light Company are subject to costs and other potentially adverse effects of legal and regulatory proceedings, settlements, investigations and claims, as well as regulatory compliance and the effect of new, or changes in, tax laws, rates or policies, rates of inflation, accounting standards, securities laws, corporate governance requirements and labor and employment laws.
Florida Power & Light Company and NextEra Energy Resources, as owners and operators of bulk power transmission systems and/or critical assets within various regions throughout the United States, are subject to mandatory reliability standards promulgated by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation and enforced by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. These standards, which previously were being applied on a voluntary basis, became mandatory in June 2007. Noncompliance with these mandatory reliability standards could result in sanctions, including substantial monetary penalties, which likely would not be recoverable from customers.
Threats of terrorism and catastrophic events that could result from terrorism, cyber attacks, or individuals and/or groups attempting to disrupt FPL Group's and FPL Group Capital's business may impact the operations of FPL Group and FPL Group Capital in unpredictable ways.
FPL Group and FPL Group Capital are subject to direct and indirect effects of terrorist threats and activities as well as cyber attacks and disruptive activities of individuals and/or groups. Infrastructure facilities and systems, including, for example, generation, transmission and distribution facilities, physical assets and information systems, in general, have been identified as potential targets. The effects of these threats and activities include, but are not limited to, the inability to generate, purchase or transmit power, the delay in development and construction of new generating facilities, the risk of a significant slowdown in growth or a decline in the U.S. economy, delay in economic recovery in the United States, and the increased cost and adequacy of security and insurance.
The ability of FPL Group and FPL Group Capital to obtain insurance and the terms of any available insurance coverage could be adversely affected by international, national, state or local events and company-specific events.
FPL Group's, FPL Group Capital's and Florida Power & Light Company's ability to obtain insurance, and the cost of and coverage provided by such insurance, could be adversely affected by international, national, state or local events as well as company-specific events.
FPL Group and FPL Group Capital are subject to employee workforce factors that could adversely affect the businesses and financial condition of FPL Group and FPL Group Capital.
FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and Florida Power & Light Company are subject to employee workforce factors, including, for example, loss or retirement of key executives, availability of qualified personnel, inflationary pressures on payroll and benefits costs and collective bargaining agreements with union employees and work stoppage that could adversely affect the businesses and financial condition of FPL Group and FPL Group Capital.
7
FPL Group is a holding company incorporated in 1984 as a Florida corporation. FPL Group has two principal operating subsidiaries, Florida Power & Light Company and, indirectly through FPL Group Capital, NextEra Energy Resources. Florida Power & Light Company is a rate-regulated utility engaged primarily in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electric energy. NextEra Energy Resources is FPL Group's competitive energy subsidiary which produces the majority of its electricity from clean and renewable fuels.
FPL Group Capital was incorporated in 1985 as a Florida corporation and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of FPL Group. Other than with respect to Florida Power & Light Company, FPL Group Capital holds the capital stock of or has equity interests in, and provides funding for, all of FPL Group's principal operating subsidiaries (including NextEra Energy Resources).
FPL GROUP CAPITAL TRUST II, FPL GROUP CAPITAL TRUST III,
FPL GROUP TRUST I AND FPL GROUP TRUST II
FPL Group Capital Trust II, FPL Group Capital Trust III, FPL Group Trust I and FPL Group Trust II are Delaware statutory trusts created pursuant to separate trust agreements among FPL Group as depositor of the Trust, The Bank of New York Mellon as the Property Trustee, BNY Mellon Trust of Delaware as the Delaware Trustee and one or more Administrative Trustees appointed by FPL Group. At the time of the issuance of securities by the Trust, the applicable trust agreement will be amended and restated substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. Each trust agreement, as so amended and restated, is referred to in this prospectus as the "Trust Agreement." Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement,
Payments on any distribution payment date or redemption date will be made on the common trust securities pro rata with the preferred trust securities, except that the common trust securities' right to payment will be subordinated to the rights of the preferred trust securities if there is a default under the Trust Agreement. The Trust will have a term as stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, but may dissolve earlier as provided in the Trust Agreement.
The Trust's business and affairs will be conducted by its Administrative Trustees.
8
Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement, FPL Group and FPL Group Capital will each add the net proceeds from the sale of its securities to its respective general funds. FPL Group uses its general funds for corporate purposes, including to provide funds for its subsidiaries, to repurchase common stock and to purchase securities issued by its subsidiaries. FPL Group Capital uses its general funds for corporate purposes, including to repay short-term borrowings and to repay, redeem or repurchase outstanding long-term debt obligations. FPL Group and FPL Group Capital will each temporarily invest any proceeds that it does not need to use immediately in short-term instruments.
Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement, FPL Group Capital Trust will use the proceeds from the sale of preferred trust securities and common trust securities to invest in junior subordinated debentures issued by FPL Group Capital. FPL Group Capital will add the net proceeds from the sale of such junior subordinated debentures to its general funds, which will be used as described above.
Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement, FPL Group Trust will use the proceeds from the sale of preferred trust securities and common trust securities to invest in junior subordinated debentures issued by FPL Group. FPL Group will add the net proceeds from the sale of such junior subordinated debentures to its general funds, which will be used as described above.
9
CONSOLIDATED RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND RATIO OF EARNINGS
TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
The following table shows FPL Group's consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges and consolidated ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for each of its last five fiscal years:
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | ||||
3.28 | 3.10 | 3.13 | 2.82 | 3.00 |
FPL Group's consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges and consolidated ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for the six months ended June 30, 2009 was 2.67.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
FPL Group files annual, quarterly and other reports and other information with the SEC. You can read and copy any information filed by FPL Group with the SEC at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can obtain additional information about the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.
In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet site (www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including FPL Group. FPL Group also maintains an Internet site (www.fplgroup.com). Information on FPL Group's Internet site or any of its subsidiaries' Internet sites is not a part of this prospectus.
FPL Group Capital does not file and does not intend to file reports or other information with the SEC under Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. FPL Group includes summarized financial information relating to FPL Group Capital in some of its reports filed with the SEC.
FPL Group and the Trust do not expect the Trust to file reports or other information with the SEC under Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
10
The SEC allows FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and the Trust to "incorporate by reference" the information that FPL Group files with the SEC, which means that FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and the Trust may, in this prospectus, disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Information that FPL Group files in the future with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and the Trust are incorporating by reference the documents listed below and any future filings FPL Group makes with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 after the date of this prospectus (other than any documents, or portions of documents, not deemed to be filed) until FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and/or the Trust sell all of the securities covered by the registration statement:
You may request a copy of these documents, at no cost to you, by writing or calling Robert J. Reger, Jr., Esq., Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, 101 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10178, (212) 309-6000. FPL Group will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in this prospectus but not delivered with this prospectus.
In connection with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and the Trust are herein filing cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause FPL Group's and FPL Group Capital's actual results to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) made by or on behalf of FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and the Trust in this prospectus or any supplement to this prospectus, in presentations, in response to questions or otherwise. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance, climate change strategy or growth strategies (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as "will," "will likely result," "are expected to," "will continue," "aim," "is anticipated," "believe," "could," "should," "would," "estimated," "may," "plan," "potential," "projection," "target," "outlook," "predict," and "intend" or words of similar meaning) are not statements of historical facts and may be forward-looking. Forward-looking statements involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties. Accordingly, any such statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to, and are accompanied by, the specific factors discussed in "Risk Factors" herein and in FPL Group's reports that are incorporated herein by reference (in addition to any assumptions and other factors referred to specifically in connection with such forward-looking statements) that could have a significant impact on FPL Group's and FPL Group Capital's operations and financial results, and could cause FPL Group's or FPL Group Capital's actual results to
11
differ materially from those contained or implied in forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of FPL Group, FPL Group Capital or the Trust.
Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which that statement is made, and neither FPL Group, FPL Group Capital nor the Trust undertakes any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances, including unanticipated events, after the date on which that statement is made, unless otherwise required by law. New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict all of those factors, nor can it assess the impact of each of those factors on the business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.
The issues and associated risks and uncertainties discussed in "Risk Factors" herein and in the reports that are incorporated herein by reference are not the only ones FPL Group or FPL Group Capital may face. Additional issues may arise or become material as the energy industry evolves. The risks and uncertainties associated with those additional issues could impair FPL Group's and FPL Group Capital's businesses in the future.
12
DESCRIPTION OF FPL GROUP COMMON STOCK
The following summary description of the terms of the common stock of FPL Group is not intended to be complete. The description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of FPL Group's Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended ("FPL Group's Charter"), and Amended and Restated Bylaws, as currently in effect, the other documents described below, and applicable laws. Each of FPL Group's Charter and bylaws, as currently in effect, and the other documents described below has previously been filed with the SEC and they are exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and may be obtained as described under "Incorporation by Reference" on page 11 of this prospectus.
Authorized and Outstanding Capital Stock
FPL Group's Charter authorizes it to issue 900,000,000 shares of capital stock, each with a par value of $.01, consisting of:
As of June 30, 2009, there were 411,461,266 shares of common stock and no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding. As of the same date, FPL Group's board of directors had not authorized for issuance any series of preferred stock.
Common Stock Terms
Voting Rights. In general, each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share held by such holder on all matters submitted to a vote of holders of the common stock, including the election of directors. Each holder of common stock is entitled to attend all special and annual meetings of FPL Group's shareholders. The holders of common stock do not have cumulative voting rights. Unless otherwise provided by FPL Group's Charter or bylaws or applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total number of shares represented at a meeting and entitled to vote on a matter (including the election of directors) is required for shareholder action on that matter.
Dividend Rights. The holders of common stock are entitled to participate on an equal per-share basis in any dividends declared on the common stock by FPL Group's board of directors out of funds legally available for dividend payments.
The declaration and payment of dividends on the common stock is within the sole discretion of FPL Group's board of directors. FPL Group's Charter does not limit the dividends that may be paid on the common stock.
The ability of FPL Group to pay dividends on the common stock is currently subject to, and in the future may be limited by:
Florida Power & Light Company is subject to the terms of its Mortgage and Deed of Trust dated as of January 1, 1944, with Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (formerly known as Bankers Trust Company), as Trustee, as amended and supplemented from time to time (the "Mortgage"), that secures its obligations under outstanding first mortgage bonds issued by it from time to time. In specified circumstances, the terms of the Mortgage could restrict the ability of Florida Power & Light Company
13
to pay dividends and make other distributions to FPL Group. As of the date of this prospectus, Florida Power & Light Company's ability to pay dividends to FPL Group was not restricted by the terms of the Mortgage.
Other contractual restrictions on the dividend-paying ability of FPL Group or its subsidiaries are contained in outstanding financing arrangements, and may be included in future financing arrangements. FPL Group has issued equity units. In accordance with the terms of the equity units, FPL Group has the right, from time to time, to defer the payment of contract adjustment payments on the purchase contracts that form a part of the equity units to a date no later than the purchase contract settlement date. In the event that FPL Group exercises its right to defer the payment of contract adjustment payments, then, until the deferred contract adjustment payments have been paid, FPL Group would not be able, with limited exceptions, to pay dividends on the common stock. FPL Group Capital has issued junior subordinated debentures that are guaranteed by FPL Group. FPL Group Capital has the right, from time to time, to defer the payment of interest on its outstanding junior subordinated debentures for a deferral period of up to 20 consecutive quarters, in the case of one series of such securities, and on one or more occasions for up to ten consecutive years, in the case of other series of such securities. FPL Group, Florida Power & Light Company or FPL Group Capital may issue, from time to time, additional equity units, junior subordinated debentures or other securities that (i) provide them with rights to defer the payment of interest or other payments and (ii) contain dividend restrictions in the event of the exercise of such rights. In the event that FPL Group or FPL Group Capital were to exercise any right to defer interest or other payments on currently outstanding or future series of equity units, junior subordinated debentures or other securities, or if there were to occur certain payment defaults on those securities, FPL Group would not be able, with limited exceptions, to pay dividends on the common stock during the periods in which such payments were deferred or such payment defaults continued. In the event that Florida Power & Light Company were to exercise any such right to defer the payment of interest or other payments, it would not be able, with limited exceptions, to pay dividends to FPL Group or any other holder of its common stock or preferred stock during the periods in which such payments were deferred. In addition, FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and Florida Power & Light Company might issue other securities in the future containing similar or other restrictions on FPL Group's ability to pay dividends on the common stock and on Florida Power & Light Company's ability to pay dividends to any holder of its common stock or preferred stock, including FPL Group.
In addition, the right of the holders of FPL Group's common stock to receive dividends might become subject to the preferential dividend, redemption, sinking fund or other rights of the holders of any series of FPL Group preferred stock that may be issued in the future, and the right of the holders of Florida Power & Light Company common stock or preferred stock, including FPL Group, to receive dividends might become subject to the preferential dividend, redemption, sinking fund or other rights of the holders of any series of Florida Power & Light Company preferred stock that may be issued in the future.
Liquidation Rights. If there is a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of FPL Group, the holders of common stock are entitled to share equally and ratably in any assets remaining after FPL Group has paid, or provided for the payment of, all of its debts and other liabilities, and after FPL Group has paid, or provided for the payment of, any preferential amounts payable to the holders of any outstanding preferred stock.
Other Rights. The holders of common stock do not have any preemptive, subscription, conversion or sinking fund rights. The common stock is not subject to redemption.
14
Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions in FPL Group's Charter and Bylaws
FPL Group's Charter and bylaws contain provisions that may make it difficult and expensive for a third party to pursue a takeover attempt that FPL Group's board of directors and management oppose even if a change in control of FPL Group might be beneficial to the interests of holders of common stock.
FPL Group's Charter Provisions. Among FPL Group's Charter provisions that could have an anti-takeover effect are those that:
FPL Group's Charter defines the term "interested shareholder" to include a security holder who is the direct or indirect beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the outstanding shares of voting stock, and the term "continuing director" to include any director who is not an affiliate of an interested shareholder. The foregoing provisions may discriminate against a security holder who becomes an interested shareholder by reason of its beneficial ownership of the specified amount of common or other voting stock.
The term "business combination" is defined in FPL Group's Charter to include the following transactions:
15
For purposes of the foregoing "business combination" provisions, FPL Group's Charter defines the term "subsidiary" as any corporation of which FPL Group owns, directly or indirectly, a majority of any class of equity securities.
The foregoing shareholder approval requirements are in addition to those required by law, including the provisions of the Florida Business Corporation Act described below.
Bylaw Provisions. The FPL Group bylaws contain some of the foregoing provisions contained in FPL Group's Charter. The bylaws also contain a provision limiting to 16 directors the maximum number of authorized directors of FPL Group. In addition, the bylaws contain provisions that establish advance notice requirements for shareholders to nominate candidates for election as directors at any annual or special meeting of shareholders or to present any other business for consideration at any annual meeting of shareholders. These provisions generally require a shareholder to submit in writing to FPL Group's secretary any nomination of a candidate for election to the board of directors or any other proposal for consideration at any annual meeting not earlier than 120 days or later than 90 days before the first anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting. The bylaws also require a shareholder to submit in writing to FPL Group's secretary any nomination of a candidate for election to the board of directors for consideration at any special meeting not earlier than 120 days before such special meeting and not after the later of 90 days before such special meeting or the tenth day following the day of the first public announcement of the date of the special meeting and of the fact that directors are to be elected at the meeting. For the shareholder's notice to be in proper form, it must include all of the information specified in the bylaws.
Restrictions on Affiliated and Control Share Transactions Under Florida Act
Affiliated Transactions. As a Florida corporation, FPL Group is subject to the Florida Business Corporation Act, or "Florida Act," which provides that an "affiliated transaction" of a Florida corporation with an "interested shareholder," as those terms are defined in the statute, generally must be approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding voting shares, other than the shares beneficially owned by the interested shareholder. The Florida Act defines an "interested shareholder" as any person who is the beneficial owner of more than 10% of the
16
outstanding voting shares of the corporation. The affiliated transactions covered by the Florida Act include, with specified exceptions:
The foregoing transactions generally also include transactions involving any affiliate of the interested shareholder and involving or affecting any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the corporation.
The two-thirds approval requirement does not apply if, among other things, subject to specified qualifications:
The foregoing restrictions do not apply if the corporation's original articles of incorporation or an amendment to its articles of incorporation or bylaws approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation (other than shares held by the interested shareholder) contain a provision expressly electing for the corporation not to be governed by the restrictions. FPL Group's Charter and bylaws do not contain such a provision.
Control-Share Acquisitions. The Florida Act also contains a control-share acquisition statute which provides that a person who acquires shares in an "issuing public corporation," as defined in the statute, in excess of certain specified thresholds generally will not have any voting rights with respect to such shares unless such voting rights are approved by the holders of a majority of the votes of each class of securities entitled to vote separately, excluding shares held or controlled by the acquiring person. The thresholds specified in the Florida Act are the acquisition of a number of shares representing:
17
The statute does not apply if, among other things, the acquisition:
The statute also does not apply to an acquisition of shares of a corporation in excess of a specified threshold if, before the acquisition, the corporation's articles of incorporation or bylaws provide that the corporation will not be governed by the statute. The statute also permits a corporation to adopt a provision in its articles of incorporation or bylaws providing for the redemption of the acquired shares by the corporation in specified circumstances. FPL Group's Charter and bylaws do not contain such provisions.
Preferred Stock
FPL Group's Charter authorizes FPL Group's board of directors from time to time and without shareholder action to provide for the issuance of up to 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series, and to determine the designations, preferences, limitations and relative or other rights of any such series, including voting rights, dividend rights, liquidation preferences, sinking fund provisions, conversion privileges and redemption rights. FPL Group's board of directors has broad discretion with respect to the creation and issuance of any series of preferred stock without shareholder approval, subject to any applicable rights of holders of any shares of preferred stock outstanding at any time. The rights and privileges of holders of common stock may be adversely affected by the rights, privileges and preferences of holders of shares of any series of preferred stock which FPL Group's board of directors may authorize for issuance from time to time. Among other things, by authorizing the issuance of shares of preferred stock with particular voting, conversion or other rights, the board of directors could adversely affect the voting power of the holders of the common stock and could discourage any attempt to effect a change in control of FPL Group, even if such a transaction would be beneficial to the interests of holders of the common stock. See the description of FPL Group's Preferred Stock in "Description of FPL Group Preferred Stock" in this prospectus.
Indemnification
Florida law generally provides that a Florida corporation, such as FPL Group, may indemnify its directors, officers, employees and agents against liabilities and expenses they may incur. Florida law also limits the liability of directors to FPL Group and other persons. FPL Group's bylaws contain provisions requiring FPL Group to indemnify its directors, officers, employees and agents under specified conditions. In addition, FPL Group carries insurance permitted by the laws of Florida on behalf of its directors, officers, employees and agents.
Transfer Agent and Register
The transfer agent and registrar for the common stock is Computershare Investor Services, LLC.
Listing
The common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trades under the symbol "FPL."
18
DESCRIPTION OF FPL GROUP PREFERRED STOCK
General. The following statements describing FPL Group's preferred stock are not intended to be a complete description. For additional information, please see FPL Group's Charter and its bylaws. You should read this summary together with the articles of amendment to FPL Group's Charter, which will describe the terms of any preferred stock to be offered hereby, for a complete understanding of all the provisions. Please also see the Mortgage, which contains restrictions which may in certain instances limit the ability of Florida Power & Light Company to pay dividends to FPL Group. Each of these documents has previously been filed, or will be filed, with the SEC and each is an exhibit to the registration statement filed with the SEC of which this prospectus is a part. Reference is also made to the laws of the State of Florida.
FPL Group Preferred Stock. FPL Group may issue one or more series of its preferred stock, $.01 par value, without the approval of its shareholders. No shares of preferred stock are presently outstanding.
Some terms of a series of preferred stock may differ from those of another series. A prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any preferred stock being offered. These terms will also be described in articles of amendment to FPL Group's Charter, which will establish the terms of the preferred stock being offered. These terms will include any of the following that apply to that series:
In some cases, the issuance of preferred stock could make it difficult for another company to acquire FPL Group and make it harder to remove current management. See also "Description of FPL Group Common Stock."
There are contractual restrictions on the dividend-paying ability of FPL Group or its subsidiaries contained in outstanding financing arrangements, and may be included in future financing arrangements. FPL Group has issued equity units. In accordance with the terms of the equity units, FPL Group has the right, from time to time, to defer the payment of contract adjustment payments on the purchase contracts that form a part of the equity units to a date no later than the purchase contract settlement date. In the event that FPL Group exercises its right to defer the payment of contract adjustment payments, then, until the deferred contract adjustment payments have been paid, FPL
19
Group would not be able, with limited exceptions, to pay dividends on the preferred stock. FPL Group Capital has issued junior subordinated debentures that are guaranteed by FPL Group. FPL Group Capital has the right, from time to time, to defer the payment of interest on its outstanding junior subordinated debentures for a deferral period of up to 20 consecutive quarters, in the case of one series of such securities, and on one or more occasions for up to ten consecutive years, in the case of other series of such securities. FPL Group, Florida Power & Light Company or FPL Group Capital may issue, from time to time, additional equity units, junior subordinated debentures or other securities that (i) provide them with rights to defer the payment of interest or other payments and (ii) contain dividend restrictions in the event of the exercise of such rights. In the event that FPL Group or FPL Group Capital were to exercise any right to defer interest or other payments on currently outstanding or future series of equity units, junior subordinated debentures or other securities, or if there were to occur certain payment defaults on those securities, FPL Group would not be able, with limited exceptions, to pay dividends on the preferred stock during the periods in which such payments were deferred or such payment defaults continued. In the event that Florida Power & Light Company were to exercise any such right to defer the payment of interest or other payments, it would not be able, with limited exceptions, to pay dividends to FPL Group or any other holder of its common stock or preferred stock during the periods in which such payments were deferred. In addition, FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and Florida Power & Light Company might issue other securities in the future containing similar or other restrictions on FPL Group's ability to pay dividends on the preferred stock, on FPL Group Capital's ability to pay dividends to any holder of its common stock or preferred stock, including FPL Group, and on Florida Power & Light Company's ability to pay dividends to any holder of its common stock or preferred stock, including FPL Group.
Shares of preferred stock offered hereby by FPL Group will, when issued, be fully paid and non-assessable.
20
DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS
AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS
FPL Group may issue stock purchase contracts, including contracts that obligate holders to purchase from FPL Group, and FPL Group to sell to these holders, a specified number of shares of common stock or preferred stock at a future date or dates. The consideration per share of common stock or preferred stock may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may be issued separately or as a part of stock purchase units consisting of a stock purchase contract and either debt securities of FPL Group Capital, debt securities of FPL Group, preferred trust securities of one or more FPL Group subsidiary trusts or other subsidiary entities (including, but not limited to, Preferred Trust Securities (as defined herein)), or debt securities of third parties including, but not limited to, U.S. Treasury securities, that would secure the holders' obligations to purchase the common stock or preferred stock under the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may require FPL Group to make periodic payments to the holders of some or all of the stock purchase units or vice versa, and such payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The stock purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under these stock purchase contracts in a specified manner.
A prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units being offered. The description in the prospectus supplement will not necessarily be complete, and reference will be made to the stock purchase contracts.
21
DESCRIPTION OF FPL GROUP WARRANTS
FPL Group may issue warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock. A prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any such warrants being offered and any related warrant agreement between FPL Group and a warrant agent.
DESCRIPTION OF FPL GROUP SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
FPL Group may issue its senior debt securities, in one or more series, under one or more Indentures between FPL Group and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee. The terms of any offered senior debt securities will be described in a supplement to this prospectus.
DESCRIPTION OF FPL GROUP SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
FPL Group may issue its subordinated debt securities (other than the FPL Group Junior Subordinated Debentures (as defined below under "Description of FPL Group and FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures and FPL Group Subordinated Guarantee")), in one or more series, under one or more Indentures between FPL Group and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee. The terms of any offered subordinated debt securities will be described in a supplement to this prospectus.
DESCRIPTION OF FPL GROUP CAPITAL PREFERRED STOCK
The following statements describing FPL Group Capital's preferred stock are not intended to be a complete description. For additional information, please see FPL Group Capital's Articles of Incorporation, as amended ("FPL Group Capital's Charter"), and its bylaws. You should read this summary together with the articles of amendment to FPL Group Capital's Charter, which will describe the terms of any preferred stock to be offered hereby, for a complete understanding of all the provisions. Each of these documents has previously been filed, or will be filed, with the SEC and each is an exhibit to the registration statement filed with the SEC of which this prospectus is a part. Reference is also made to the laws of the State of Florida.
FPL Group Capital may issue one or more series of preferred stock, $.01 par value, without the approval of its shareholders. The FPL Group Capital Preferred Stock will be guaranteed by FPL Group as described under "Description of FPL Group Guarantee of FPL Group Capital Preferred Stock." No shares of preferred stock are presently outstanding.
Some terms of a series of preferred stock may differ from those of another series. A prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any preferred stock being offered. These terms will also be described in articles of amendment to FPL Group Capital's Charter, which will establish the terms of the preferred stock being offered. These terms will include any of the following that apply to that series:
22
There are contractual restrictions on the dividend-paying ability of FPL Group Capital contained in outstanding financing arrangements, and may be included in future financing arrangements. FPL Group Capital has issued junior subordinated debentures that are guaranteed by FPL Group. FPL Group Capital has the right, from time to time, to defer the payment of interest on its outstanding junior subordinated debentures for a deferral period of up to 20 consecutive quarters, in the case of one series of such securities, and on one or more occasions for up to ten consecutive years, in the case of other series of such securities. FPL Group Capital may issue, from time to time, additional junior subordinated debentures or other securities that (i) provide it with rights to defer the payment of interest or other payments and (ii) contain dividend restrictions in the event of the exercise of such rights. In the event that FPL Group Capital were to exercise any right to defer interest or other payments on currently outstanding or future series of junior subordinated debentures or other securities, or if there were to occur certain payment defaults on those securities, FPL Group Capital would not be able, with limited exceptions, to pay dividends on the preferred stock during the periods in which such payments were deferred or such payment defaults continued.
Any shares of preferred stock offered hereunder by FPL Group Capital will, when issued, be fully paid and non-assessable.
23
DESCRIPTION OF FPL GROUP GUARANTEE OF FPL GROUP CAPITAL PREFERRED STOCK
The following statements describing FPL Group's guarantee of FPL Group Capital's preferred stock are not intended to be a complete description. For additional information, please see FPL Group's guarantee agreement relating to FPL Group Capital's preferred stock. You should read this summary together with the guarantee agreement for a complete understanding of all the provisions. Please also see the Mortgage, which contains restrictions which may in certain instances limit the ability of Florida Power & Light Company to pay dividends to FPL Group. Each of these documents has previously been filed with the SEC and each is an exhibit to the registration statement filed with the SEC of which this prospectus is a part.
FPL Group will fully, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantee the payment of accumulated and unpaid dividends, and payments due on liquidation or redemption, as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that FPL Group Capital may have or assert. FPL Group's guarantee of FPL Group Capital's preferred stock will be an unsecured obligation of FPL Group and will rank (1) subordinate and junior in right of payment to all other liabilities of FPL Group (except those made pari passu or subordinate by their terms), (2) equal in right of payment with the most senior preferred or preference stock that may be issued by FPL Group and with any other guarantee that may be entered into by FPL Group in respect of any preferred or preference stock of any affiliate of FPL Group, and (3) senior to FPL Group's common stock. A prospectus supplement will describe the terms of FPL Group's guarantee of FPL Group Capital's preferred stock. The description will not necessarily be complete, and reference will be made to the preferred stock guarantee agreement.
While FPL Group is a holding company that derives substantially all of its income from its operating subsidiaries, FPL Group's subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation to make any payments under the FPL Group guarantee of FPL Group Capital preferred stock or to make any funds available for such payment. Therefore, the FPL Group guarantee of FPL Group Capital preferred stock will effectively be subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities, including trade payables, debt and preferred stock, incurred or issued by FPL Group's subsidiaries. In addition to trade liabilities, many of FPL Group's operating subsidiaries incur debt in order to finance their business activities. All of this indebtedness will effectively be senior to the FPL Group guarantee of FPL Group Capital preferred stock. FPL Group's guarantee of FPL Group Capital preferred stock does not place any limit on the amount of liabilities, including debt or preferred stock, that FPL Group's subsidiaries may issue, guarantee or otherwise incur. See "Description of FPL Group Common StockCommon Stock TermsDividend Rights" for a description of contractual restrictions on the dividend-paying ability of some of FPL Group's subsidiaries.
24
DESCRIPTION OF FPL GROUP CAPITAL SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
General. FPL Group Capital may issue its debt securities (other than the FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures (as defined below under "Description of FPL Group and FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures and FPL Group Subordinated Guarantee")), in one or more series, under an Indenture, dated as of June 1, 1999, between FPL Group Capital and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee. This Indenture, as it may be amended and supplemented from time to time, is referred to in this prospectus as the "Indenture." The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee under the Indenture, is referred to in this prospectus as the "Indenture Trustee." These debt securities are referred to in this prospectus as the "Offered Senior Debt Securities."
The Indenture provides for the issuance from time to time of debentures, notes or other senior debt by FPL Group Capital in an unlimited amount. The Offered Senior Debt Securities and all other debentures, notes or other debt of FPL Group Capital issued under the Indenture are collectively referred to in this prospectus as the "Senior Debt Securities."
This section briefly summarizes some of the terms of the Offered Senior Debt Securities and some of the provisions of the Indenture. This summary does not contain a complete description of the Offered Senior Debt Securities or the Indenture. You should read this summary together with the Indenture and the officer's certificates or other documents creating the Offered Senior Debt Securities for a complete understanding of all the provisions and for the definitions of some terms used in this summary. The Indenture, the form of officer's certificate that may be used to create a series of Offered Senior Debt Securities and a form of Offered Senior Debt Securities have previously been filed with the SEC, and are exhibits to the registration statement filed with the SEC of which this prospectus is a part. In addition, the Indenture is qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and is therefore subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. You should read the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 for a complete understanding of its provisions.
All Offered Senior Debt Securities of one series need not be issued at the same time, and a series may be re-opened for issuances of additional Offered Senior Debt Securities of such series. This means that FPL Group Capital may from time to time, without notice to, or the consent of the existing holders of the Offered Senior Debt Securities of a particular series, create and issue additional Offered Senior Debt Securities of such series. Such additional Offered Senior Debt Securities will have the same terms as the previously-issued Offered Senior Debt Securities of such series in all respects (except for the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date of the additional Offered Senior Debt Securities or except for the first payments of interest following the issue date of the additional Offered Senior Debt Securities) so that the additional Offered Senior Debt Securities may be consolidated and form a single series with the previously-issued Offered Senior Debt Securities of such series.
Each series of Offered Senior Debt Securities may have different terms. FPL Group Capital will include some or all of the following information about a specific series of Offered Senior Debt Securities in the particular prospectus supplement relating to that specific series of Offered Senior Debt Securities:
25
26
FPL Group Capital may sell Offered Senior Debt Securities at a discount below their principal amount. Some of the important United States federal income tax considerations applicable to Offered Senior Debt Securities sold at a discount below their principal amount may be discussed in the related prospectus supplement. In addition, some of the important United States federal income tax or other considerations applicable to any Offered Senior Debt Securities that are denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars may be discussed in the related prospectus supplement.
Except as otherwise stated in the related prospectus supplement, the covenants in the Indenture would not give registered owners of Offered Senior Debt Securities protection in the event of a highly-leveraged transaction involving FPL Group Capital or FPL Group.
Security and Ranking. The Offered Senior Debt Securities will be unsecured obligations of FPL Group Capital. The Indenture does not limit FPL Group Capital's ability to provide security with respect to other Senior Debt Securities. All Senior Debt Securities issued under the Indenture will rank equally and ratably with all other Senior Debt Securities issued under the Indenture, except to the extent that FPL Group Capital elects to provide security with respect to any Senior Debt Security (other than the Offered Senior Debt Securities) without providing that security to all outstanding Senior Debt Securities in accordance with the Indenture. The Offered Senior Debt Securities will rank senior to FPL Group Capital's Junior Subordinated Debentures. The Indenture does not limit FPL Group Capital's ability to issue other unsecured debt.
While FPL Group Capital is a holding company that derives substantially all of its income from its operating subsidiaries, FPL Group Capital's subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation to make any payments on the Senior Debt Securities or to make any funds available for such payment. Therefore, the Senior Debt Securities will effectively be subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities, including trade payables, debt and preferred stock, incurred or issued by FPL Group Capital's subsidiaries. In addition to trade liabilities, many of FPL Group Capital's operating subsidiaries incur debt in order to finance their business activities. All of this indebtedness will effectively be senior to the Senior Debt Securities. The Indenture does not place any limit on the amounts of liabilities, including debt or preferred stock, that FPL Group Capital's subsidiaries may issue, guarantee or otherwise incur.
Payment and Paying Agents. Except as stated in the related prospectus supplement, on each interest payment date FPL Group Capital will pay interest on each Offered Senior Debt Security to the person in whose name that Offered Senior Debt Security is registered as of the close of business on the
27
record date relating to that interest payment date. However, on the date that the Offered Senior Debt Securities mature, FPL Group Capital will pay the interest to the person to whom it pays the principal. Also, if FPL Group Capital has defaulted in the payment of interest on any Offered Senior Debt Security, it may pay that defaulted interest to the registered owner of that Offered Senior Debt Security:
Unless otherwise stated in the related prospectus supplement, the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Offered Senior Debt Securities at maturity will be payable when such Offered Senior Debt Securities are presented at the main corporate trust office of The Bank of New York Mellon, as paying agent, in The City of New York. FPL Group Capital may change the place of payment on the Offered Senior Debt Securities, appoint one or more additional paying agents, including itself, and remove any paying agent. (Indenture, Section 602).
Transfer and Exchange. Unless otherwise stated in the related prospectus supplement, Offered Senior Debt Securities may be transferred or exchanged at the main corporate trust office of The Bank of New York Mellon, as security registrar, in The City of New York. FPL Group Capital may change the place for transfer and exchange of the Offered Senior Debt Securities and may designate one or more additional places for that transfer and exchange.
Except as otherwise stated in the related prospectus supplement, there will be no service charge for any transfer or exchange of the Offered Senior Debt Securities. However, FPL Group Capital may require payment of any tax or other governmental charge in connection with any transfer or exchange of the Offered Senior Debt Securities.
FPL Group Capital will not be required to transfer or exchange any Offered Senior Debt Security selected for redemption. Also, FPL Group Capital will not be required to transfer or exchange any Offered Senior Debt Security during a period of 15 days before selection of Offered Senior Debt Securities to be redeemed. (Indenture, Section 305).
Defeasance. FPL Group Capital may, at any time, elect to have all of its obligations discharged with respect to all or a portion of any Senior Debt Securities. To do so, FPL Group Capital must irrevocably deposit with the Indenture Trustee or any paying agent, in trust:
28
the principal of and the interest on which, when due, without any regard to reinvestment of that principal or interest, will provide money that, together with any money deposited with or held by the Indenture Trustee, will be sufficient to pay all or that portion of the principal, premium, if any, and interest due and to become due on those Senior Debt Securities, on or prior to their maturity, or
Limitation on Liens. So long as any Senior Debt Securities remain outstanding, FPL Group Capital will not secure any indebtedness with a lien on any shares of the capital stock of any of its majority-owned subsidiaries, which shares of capital stock FPL Group Capital now or hereafter directly owns, unless FPL Group Capital equally secures all Senior Debt Securities. However, this restriction does not apply to or prevent:
29
Liens on any shares of the capital stock of any of FPL Group Capital's majority-owned subsidiaries, which shares of capital stock FPL Group Capital now or hereafter directly owns, other than liens described in (1) through (4) above, are referred to in this prospectus as "Restricted Liens." The foregoing limitation does not apply to the extent that FPL Group Capital creates any Restricted Liens to secure indebtedness that, together with all other indebtedness of FPL Group Capital secured by Restricted Liens, does not at the time exceed 5% of FPL Group Capital's Consolidated Capitalization. (Indenture, Section 608).
For this purpose, "Consolidated Capitalization" means the sum of:
The term "Consolidated Shareholders' Equity" as used above means the total assets of FPL Group Capital and its Consolidated Subsidiaries less all liabilities of FPL Group Capital and its Consolidated Subsidiaries. As used in this definition, the term "liabilities" means all obligations which would, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, be classified on a balance sheet as liabilities, including without limitation:
As used in this definition, "liabilities" includes preference or preferred stock of FPL Group Capital or any Consolidated Subsidiary only to the extent of any such preference or preferred stock that is subject to mandatory redemption or sinking fund provisions.
The term "Consolidated Indebtedness" means total indebtedness as shown on the consolidated balance sheet of FPL Group Capital and its Consolidated Subsidiaries.
The term "Consolidated Subsidiary," means at any date any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary whose financial statements would be consolidated with those of FPL Group Capital in FPL Group Capital's consolidated financial statements as of such date in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. (Indenture, Section 608).
The foregoing limitation does not limit in any manner the ability of:
30
Consolidation, Merger, and Sale of Assets. Under the Indenture, FPL Group Capital may not consolidate with or merge into any other entity or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any entity, unless:
The Indenture does not restrict FPL Group Capital in a merger in which FPL Group Capital is the surviving entity.
Events of Default. Each of the following is an event of default under the Indenture with respect to the Senior Debt Securities of any series:
In the case of the third event of default listed above, the Indenture Trustee may extend the grace period. In addition, if registered owners of a particular series have given a notice of default, then registered owners of at least the same percentage of Senior Debt Securities of that series, together with the Indenture Trustee, may also extend the grace period. The grace period will be automatically extended if FPL Group Capital has initiated and is diligently pursuing corrective action. (Indenture, Section 801). An event of default with respect to the Senior Debt Securities of a particular series will not necessarily constitute an event of default with respect to Senior Debt Securities of any other series issued under the Indenture.
Remedies. If an event of default applicable to the Senior Debt Securities of one or more series, but not applicable to all outstanding Senior Debt Securities, exists, then either (i) the Indenture Trustee or (ii) the registered owners of at least 33% in aggregate principal amount of the Senior Debt Securities of each of the affected series may declare the principal of and accrued but unpaid interest on
31
all the Senior Debt Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. However, under the Indenture, some Senior Debt Securities may provide for a specified amount less than their entire principal amount to be due and payable upon that declaration. These Senior Debt Securities are defined as "Discount Securities" in the Indenture.
If the event of default is applicable to all outstanding Senior Debt Securities, then only the Indenture Trustee or the registered owners of at least 33% in aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Senior Debt Securities of all series, voting as one class, and not the registered owners of any one series, may make a declaration of acceleration. However, the event of default giving rise to the declaration relating to any series of Senior Debt Securities will be automatically waived, and that declaration and its consequences will be automatically rescinded and annulled, if, at any time after that declaration and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained:
Other than its obligations and duties in case of an event of default under the Indenture, the Indenture Trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the registered owners, unless those registered owners offer reasonable indemnity to the Indenture Trustee. (Indenture, Section 903). If they provide this reasonable indemnity, the registered owners of a majority in principal amount of any series of Senior Debt Securities will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Indenture Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Indenture Trustee, with respect to the Senior Debt Securities of that series. However, if an event of default under the Indenture relates to more than one series of Senior Debt Securities, only the registered owners of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all affected series of Senior Debt Securities, considered as one class, will have the right to make that direction. Also, the direction must not violate any law or the Indenture, and may not expose the Indenture Trustee to personal liability in circumstances where its indemnity would not, in the Indenture Trustee's sole discretion, be adequate. (Indenture, Section 812).
A registered owner of a Senior Debt Security has the right to institute a suit for the enforcement of payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on that Senior Debt Security on or after the applicable due date specified in that Senior Debt Security. (Indenture, Section 808). No registered owner of Senior Debt Securities of any series will have any other right to institute any proceeding under the Indenture, or any other remedy under the Indenture, unless:
32
FPL Group Capital is required to deliver to the Indenture Trustee an annual statement as to its compliance with all conditions and covenants under the Indenture. (Indenture, Section 606).
Modification and Waiver. Without the consent of any registered owner of Senior Debt Securities, FPL Group Capital and the Indenture Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture for any of the following purposes:
33
The registered owners of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Senior Debt Securities of all series then outstanding may waive compliance by FPL Group Capital with certain restrictive provisions of the Indenture. (Indenture, Section 607). The registered owners of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Senior Debt Securities of any series may waive any past default under the Indenture with respect to that series, except a default in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest and a default with respect to certain restrictive covenants or provisions of the Indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the registered owner of each outstanding Senior Debt Security of that series affected. (Indenture, Section 813).
In addition to any amendments described above, if the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after the date of the Indenture in a way that requires changes to the Indenture or in a way that permits changes to, or the elimination of, provisions that were previously required by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Indenture will be deemed to be amended to conform to that amendment of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 or to make those changes, additions or eliminations. FPL Group Capital and the Indenture Trustee may, without the consent of any registered owners, enter into supplemental indentures to make that amendment. (Indenture, Section 1201).
Except for any amendments described above, the consent of the registered owners of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Senior Debt Securities of all series then outstanding, considered as one class, is required for all other modifications to the Indenture. However, if less than all of the series of Senior Debt Securities outstanding are directly affected by a proposed supplemental indenture, then the consent only of the registered owners of a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding Senior Debt Securities of all directly affected series, considered as one class, is required. But, if FPL Group Capital issues any series of Senior Debt Securities in more than one tranche and if the proposed supplemental indenture directly affects the rights of the registered owners of Senior Debt Securities of less than all of those tranches, then the consent only of the registered owners of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Senior Debt Securities of all directly affected tranches, considered as one class, will be required. However, none of those amendments or modifications may:
34
A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any provision of the Indenture that has expressly been included only for the benefit of one or more particular series or tranches of Senior Debt Securities, or that modifies the rights of the registered owners of Senior Debt Securities of that particular series or tranche with respect to that provision, will not affect the rights under the Indenture of the registered owners of the Senior Debt Securities of any other series or tranche. (Indenture, Section 1202).
The Indenture provides that, in order to determine whether the registered owners of the required principal amount of the outstanding Senior Debt Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver under the Indenture, or whether a quorum is present at the meeting of the registered owners of Senior Debt Securities, Senior Debt Securities owned by FPL Group Capital or any other obligor upon the Senior Debt Securities or any affiliate of FPL Group Capital or of that other obligor (unless FPL Group Capital, that affiliate or that obligor owns all Senior Debt Securities outstanding under the Indenture, determined without regard to this provision) will be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding. (Indenture, Section 101).
If FPL Group Capital solicits any action under the Indenture from registered owners of Senior Debt Securities, FPL Group Capital may, at its option, by signing a written request to the Indenture Trustee, fix in advance a record date for determining the registered owners of Senior Debt Securities entitled to take that action. However, FPL Group Capital will not be obligated to do this. If FPL Group Capital fixes such a record date, that action may be taken before or after that record date, but only the registered owners of record at the close of business on that record date will be deemed to be registered owners of Senior Debt Securities for the purposes of determining whether registered owners of the required proportion of the outstanding Senior Debt Securities have authorized that action. For these purposes, the outstanding Senior Debt Securities will be computed as of the record date. Any action of a registered owner of any Senior Debt Security under the Indenture will bind every future registered owner of that Senior Debt Security, or any Senior Debt Security replacing that Senior Debt Security, with respect to anything that the Indenture Trustee or FPL Group Capital do, fail to do, or allow to be done in reliance on that action, whether or not that action is noted upon that Senior Debt Security. (Indenture, Section 104).
Resignation and Removal of Indenture Trustee. The Indenture Trustee may resign at any time with respect to any series of Senior Debt Securities by giving written notice of its resignation to FPL Group Capital. Also, the registered owners of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Senior Debt Securities of one or more series of Senior Debt Securities may remove the Indenture Trustee at any time with respect to the Senior Debt Securities of that series, by delivering an instrument evidencing this action to the Indenture Trustee and FPL Group Capital. The resignation or removal of the Indenture Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee will not become effective until a successor trustee accepts its appointment.
35
Except with respect to an Indenture Trustee appointed by the registered owners of Senior Debt Securities, the Indenture Trustee will be deemed to have resigned and the successor will be deemed to have been appointed as trustee in accordance with the Indenture if:
Notices. Notices to registered owners of Senior Debt Securities will be sent by mail to the addresses of those registered owners as they appear in the security register for those Senior Debt Securities. (Indenture, Section 106).
Title. FPL Group Capital, the Indenture Trustee, and any agent of FPL Group Capital or the Indenture Trustee, may treat the person in whose name a Senior Debt Security is registered as the absolute owner of that Senior Debt Security, whether or not that Senior Debt Security is overdue, for the purpose of making payments and for all other purposes, regardless of any notice to the contrary. (Indenture, Section 308).
Governing Law. The Indenture and the Senior Debt Securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflict of laws principles thereunder, except to the extent that the law of any other jurisdiction is mandatorily applicable. (Indenture, Section 112).
36
DESCRIPTION OF FPL GROUP GUARANTEE OF
FPL GROUP CAPITAL SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
General. This section briefly summarizes some of the provisions of the Guarantee Agreement, dated as of June 1, 1999, between FPL Group and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Guarantee Trustee. The Guarantee Agreement was executed for the benefit of the Indenture Trustee, which holds the Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of registered owners of the Senior Debt Securities covered by the Guarantee Agreement. This summary does not contain a complete description of the Guarantee Agreement. You should read this summary together with the Guarantee Agreement for a complete understanding of all the provisions. The Guarantee Agreement has previously been filed with the SEC and is an exhibit to the registration statement filed with the SEC of which this prospectus is a part. In addition, the Guarantee Agreement is qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and is therefore subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. You should read the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 for a complete understanding of its provisions.
Under the Guarantee Agreement, FPL Group absolutely, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees the prompt and full payment, when due and payable (including upon acceleration or redemption), of the principal, interest and premium, if any, on the Senior Debt Securities that are covered by the Guarantee Agreement to the registered owners of those Senior Debt Securities, according to the terms of those Senior Debt Securities and the Indenture. Pursuant to the Guarantee Agreement, all of the Senior Debt Securities are covered by the Guarantee Agreement except Senior Debt Securities that by their terms are expressly not entitled to the benefit of the Guarantee Agreement. All of the Offered Senior Debt Securities will be covered by the Guarantee Agreement. This guarantee is referred to in this prospectus as the "Guarantee." FPL Group is only required to make these payments if FPL Group Capital fails to pay or provide for punctual payment of any of those amounts on or before the expiration of any applicable grace periods. (Guarantee Agreement, Section 5.01). In the Guarantee Agreement, FPL Group has waived its right to require the Guarantee Trustee, the Indenture Trustee or the registered owners of Senior Debt Securities covered by the Guarantee Agreement to exhaust their remedies against FPL Group Capital prior to bringing suit against FPL Group. (Guarantee Agreement, Section 5.06).
The Guarantee is a guarantee of payment when due (i.e., the guaranteed party may institute a legal proceeding directly against FPL Group to enforce its rights under the Guarantee Agreement without first instituting a legal proceeding against any other person or entity). The Guarantee is not a guarantee of collection. (Guarantee Agreement, Section 5.01).
Except as otherwise stated in the related prospectus supplement, the covenants in the Guarantee Agreement would not give registered owners of the Senior Debt Securities covered by the Guarantee Agreement protection in the event of a highly-leveraged transaction involving FPL Group.
Security and Ranking. The Guarantee is an unsecured obligation of FPL Group and will rank equally and ratably with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of FPL Group. The Guarantee will rank senior to the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee, the Subordinated Guarantee and the FPL Group Junior Subordinated Debentures (each as defined below) and FPL Group's guarantee of FPL Group Capital's preferred stock. There is no limit on the amount of other indebtedness, including guarantees, that FPL Group may incur or issue.
While FPL Group is a holding company that derives substantially all of its income from its operating subsidiaries, FPL Group's subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation to make any payments under the Guarantee Agreement or to make any funds available for such payment. Therefore, the Guarantee effectively is subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities, including trade payables, debt and preferred stock, incurred or issued by FPL Group's subsidiaries. In addition to trade liabilities, many of FPL Group's operating subsidiaries incur debt in order to finance their business activities. All of this indebtedness will effectively be senior to the
37
Guarantee. Neither the Indenture nor the Guarantee Agreement places any limit on the amount of liabilities, including debt or preferred stock, that FPL Group's subsidiaries may issue, guarantee or otherwise incur.
Events of Default. An event of default under the Guarantee Agreement will occur upon the failure of FPL Group to perform any of its payment obligations under the Guarantee Agreement. (Guarantee Agreement, Section 1.01). The registered owners of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Senior Debt Securities covered by the Guarantee Agreement have the right to:
The Guarantee Trustee must give notice of any event of default under the Guarantee Agreement known to the Guarantee Trustee to the registered owners of Senior Debt Securities covered by the Guarantee Agreement within 90 days after the occurrence of that event of default, in the manner and to the extent provided in subsection (c) of Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, unless such event of default has been cured or waived prior to the giving of such notice. (Guarantee Agreement, Section 2.07). The registered owners of all outstanding Senior Debt Securities may waive any past event of default and its consequences. (Guarantee Agreement, Section 2.06).
The Guarantee Trustee, the Indenture Trustee and the registered owners of Senior Debt Securities covered by the Guarantee Agreement have all of the rights and remedies available under applicable law and may sue to enforce the terms of the Guarantee Agreement and to recover damages for the breach of the Guarantee Agreement. The remedies of each of the Guarantee Trustee, the Indenture Trustee and the registered owners of Senior Debt Securities covered by the Guarantee Agreement, to the extent permitted by law, are cumulative and in addition to any other remedy now or hereafter existing at law or in equity. At the option of any of the Guarantee Trustee, the Indenture Trustee or the registered owners of Senior Debt Securities covered by the Guarantee Agreement, that person or entity may join FPL Group in any lawsuit commenced by that person or entity against FPL Group Capital with respect to any obligations under the Guarantee Agreement. Also, that person or entity may recover against FPL Group in that lawsuit, or in any independent lawsuit against FPL Group, without first asserting, prosecuting or exhausting any remedy or claim against FPL Group Capital. (Guarantee Agreement, Section 5.06).
FPL Group is required to deliver to the Guarantee Trustee an annual statement as to its compliance with all conditions under the Guarantee Agreement. (Guarantee Agreement, Section 2.04).
Modification. FPL Group and the Guarantee Trustee may, without the consent of any registered owner of Senior Debt Securities covered by the Guarantee Agreement, agree to any changes to the Guarantee Agreement that do not materially adversely affect the rights of registered owners. The Guarantee Agreement also may be amended with the prior approval of the registered owners of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Senior Debt Securities covered by the Guarantee Agreement. However, the right of any registered owner of Senior Debt Securities covered by the Guarantee Agreement to receive payment under the Guarantee Agreement on the due date of the Senior Debt Securities held by that registered owner, or to institute suit for the enforcement of that payment on or after that due date, may not be impaired or affected without the consent of that registered owner. (Guarantee Agreement, Section 6.01).
38
Termination of the Guarantee Agreement. The Guarantee Agreement will terminate and be of no further force and effect upon full payment of all Senior Debt Securities covered by the Guarantee Agreement. (Guarantee Agreement, Section 5.05).
Governing Law. The Guarantee Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflict of laws principles thereunder, except to the extent that the law of any other jurisdiction is mandatorily applicable. (Guarantee Agreement, Section 5.07).
DESCRIPTION OF FPL GROUP CAPITAL SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
AND FPL GROUP SUBORDINATED GUARANTEE
FPL Group Capital may issue its subordinated debt securities (other than the FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures (as defined below under "Description of FPL Group and FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures and FPL Group Subordinated Guarantee")), in one or more series, under one or more Indentures, between FPL Group Capital and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee. The terms of any offered subordinated debt securities, including FPL Group's guarantee of FPL Group Capital's payment obligations under such subordinated debt securities, will be described in a supplement to this prospectus.
39
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED TRUST SECURITIES
General. The Trust may issue preferred trust securities and common trust securities under the Trust Agreement. The Trust Agreement pursuant to which the preferred trust securities of FPL Group Capital Trust will be issued is herein referred to as the "FPL Group Capital Trust Agreement," and the Trust Agreement pursuant to which preferred trust securities of FPL Group Trust will be issued is herein referred to as the "FPL Group Trust Agreement;" each of these agreements is referred to in this prospectus as the "Trust Agreement." The terms of the FPL Group Capital Trust Agreement and the FPL Group Trust Agreement are substantially the same. The preferred trust securities and common trust securities issued by the Trust are referred to in this prospectus as "Preferred Trust Securities" and "Common Trust Securities," respectively, and collectively as "Trust Securities." These Trust Securities will represent undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust. Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by FPL Group Capital Trust, the related FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures (as defined below under "Description of FPL Group and FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures and FPL Group Subordinated Guarantee") will be held by FPL Group Capital Trust, and in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by FPL Group Trust, the related FPL Group Junior Subordinated Debentures (as defined below under "Description of FPL Group and FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures and FPL Group Subordinated Guarantee") will be held by FPL Group Trust. This section briefly summarizes some of the provisions of the Trust Agreement. This summary does not contain a complete description of the Trust Agreement. You should read this summary together with the Trust Agreement for a complete understanding of all the provisions. The form of the Trust Agreement has previously been filed with the SEC and is an exhibit to the registration statement filed with the SEC of which this prospectus is a part. In addition, each Trust Agreement will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and is therefore subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. You should read the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 for a complete understanding of its provisions.
In this section, any discussion of FPL Group Capital Trust, FPL Group Trust, Preferred Trust Securities and Common Trust Securities relate only to the applicable Trust. Holders of Preferred Trust Securities of FPL Group Capital Trust II, FPL Group Capital Trust III, FPL Group Trust I and FPL Group Trust II will be entitled to any of the benefits and protections contained in the Trust Agreement applicable to the particular Trust which issued the relevant Trust Securities and not with respect to any other Trust.
The Preferred Trust Securities and Common Trust Securities issued by the Trust will be substantially the same except that, if there is an event of default under the Trust Agreement, as described below, that results from an event of default under the Subordinated Indenture (as such term is defined below under "Description of FPL Group and FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures and FPL Group Subordinated GuaranteeGeneral"), the right of FPL Group, as holder of the Common Trust Securities, to payment of distributions and upon liquidation or redemption will be subordinated to the rights of the holders of the Preferred Trust Securities. (Trust Agreement, Section 4.03). All of the Common Trust Securities will be owned by FPL Group. (Trust Agreement, Section 5.10).
The following obligations and rights, in combination, have the effect of providing a full and unconditional guarantee of payments due on the Preferred Trust Securities issued by the Trust:
40
No single one of the rights and obligations listed above standing alone or operating in conjunction with fewer than all of the other applicable rights and obligations constitutes a full and unconditional guarantee by FPL Group of the Preferred Trust Securities. It is only the combined operation of these rights and obligations that has the effect of providing a full and unconditional, but subordinated, guarantee as to payment by FPL Group of the Preferred Trust Securities.
FPL Group Capital Trust will use the proceeds from its sale of the Trust Securities to purchase FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures, and FPL Group Trust will use the proceeds from its sale of the Trust Securities to purchase FPL Group Junior Subordinated Debentures. (Trust Agreement, Section 2.05). The FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures will be guaranteed by FPL Group pursuant to the Subordinated Guarantee described below and issued under an Indenture, dated as of March 1, 2004, among FPL Group Capital, FPL Group and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, or another subordinated indenture among FPL Group Capital, FPL Group and The Bank of New York Mellon as specified in the related prospectus supplement. The FPL Group Junior Subordinated Debentures will be issued under a subordinated indenture between FPL Group and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee. In connection with the issuance of Trust Securities, the Junior Subordinated Debentures (as defined below under "Description of FPL Group and FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures and FPL Group Subordinated Guarantee") will be held in trust for the benefit of holders of the applicable Preferred Trust Securities and Common Trust Securities. (Trust Agreement, Section 2.09).
A prospectus supplement relating to the Preferred Trust Securities will include specific terms of those securities and of the Junior Subordinated Debentures issued in connection therewith. For a description of some specific terms that will affect both the Preferred Trust Securities and the Junior Subordinated Debentures, and holders' rights under each, see "Description of FPL Group and FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures and FPL Group Subordinated Guarantee" below.
Distributions. The only income of the Trust available for distribution to the holders of Preferred Trust Securities will be payments on the applicable Junior Subordinated Debentures. (Trust Agreement, Section 8.01). If neither FPL Group Capital nor FPL Group makes interest payments on the FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures, or if FPL Group does not make interest payments on the FPL Group Junior Subordinated Debentures, as the case may be, the Trust will not have funds available to pay distributions on Preferred Trust Securities. The payment of distributions, if and to the extent the Trust has sufficient funds available for the payment of such distributions, is guaranteed on a limited basis by FPL Group as described under "Description of Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee."
If so specified in the related prospectus supplement, the issuer of the Junior Subordinated Debentures will have the option to defer the payment of interest from time to time on the Junior Subordinated Debentures for one or more periods, in which case, if the Junior Subordinated Debentures were issued in connection with Preferred Trust Securities, distributions on the Preferred Trust Securities would be deferred during any such period. Unless otherwise provided in the related prospectus supplement, distributions would, however, continue to accumulate. (Trust Agreement, Section 4.01). Unless otherwise provided in the related prospectus supplement, during any optional deferral period, or for so long as an "Event of Default" under the Subordinated Indenture resulting from a payment default or a payment default under the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee has occurred and is continuing, neither FPL Group nor FPL Group Capital, with respect to deferral of the
41
payment of interest on the FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures, nor FPL Group, with respect to the deferral of the payment of interest on the FPL Group Junior Subordinated Debentures, may:
other than
42
subordinated debentures then outstanding on a pro rata basis in proportion to the full payment to which each series of junior subordinated debentures is then entitled if paid in full;
The exceptions in clauses (h) and (i) above are not applicable to an optional deferral period on the FPL Group Junior Subordinated Debentures.
Unless otherwise provided in the related prospectus supplement, (i) before an optional deferral period ends, FPL Group Capital or FPL Group, as the case may be, may further defer the payment of interest and (ii) after any optional deferral period and the payment of all amounts then due, FPL Group Capital or FPL Group, as the case may be, may select a new optional deferral period. No interest period may be deferred beyond the maturity of the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
Redemption. Whenever Junior Subordinated Debentures are repaid, whether at maturity or earlier redemption, the Property Trustee will apply the proceeds to redeem a like amount of Preferred Trust Securities and Common Trust Securities. (Trust Agreement, Section 4.02(a)).
Preferred Trust Securities will be redeemed at the redemption price plus accrued and unpaid distributions with the proceeds from the contemporaneous redemption or repayment of Junior Subordinated Debentures. Redemptions of the Preferred Trust Securities will be made on a redemption date only if the Trust has funds available for the payment of the redemption price plus accrued and unpaid distributions. (Trust Agreement, Section 4.02(c)).
Holders of Preferred Trust Securities will be given not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice of any redemption. (Trust Agreement, Section 4.02(b)). On or before the redemption date, the Trust will irrevocably deposit with the paying agent for Preferred Trust Securities sufficient funds and will give the paying agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the redemption price plus accrued and unpaid distributions to the holders upon surrender of their Preferred Trust Securities. Distributions payable on or before a redemption date will be payable to the holders on the record date for the distribution payment. If notice is given and funds are deposited as required, then on the redemption date all rights of holders of the Preferred Trust Securities called for redemption will cease, except the right of the holders to receive the redemption price plus accrued and unpaid distributions, and the Preferred Trust Securities will cease to be outstanding. No interest will accrue on amounts payable on the redemption date. In the event that any date fixed for redemption of Preferred Trust Securities is not a business day, then payment will be made on the next business day, except that, if such business day falls in the next calendar year, then payment will be made on the immediately preceding business day. No interest will be payable because of any such delay. If payment of Preferred Trust Securities called for redemption is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by the Trust or by FPL Group pursuant to the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee, distributions on such Preferred Trust Securities will continue to accrue to the date of payment. In that event, the actual payment date will be considered the date fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the redemption price plus accrued and unpaid distributions. (Trust Agreement, Section 4.02(d)).
Subject to applicable law, including United States federal securities laws, FPL Group or its affiliates may at any time and from time to time purchase outstanding Preferred Trust Securities by tender, in the open market or by private agreement.
If Preferred Trust Securities are partially redeemed on a redemption date, a corresponding percentage of the Common Trust Securities will be redeemed. The particular Preferred Trust Securities
43
to be redeemed will be selected not more than 60 days prior to the redemption date by the Property Trustee by such method as the Property Trustee shall deem fair, taking into account the denominations in which they were issued. The Property Trustee will promptly notify the Preferred Trust Security registrar in writing of the Preferred Trust Securities selected for redemption and, where applicable, the partial amount to be redeemed. (Trust Agreement, Section 4.02(f)).
Subordination of Common Trust Securities. Payment of distributions on, and the redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid distributions, of, the Preferred Trust Securities and Common Trust Securities shall be made pro rata based on the liquidation preference amount of such securities. However, if on any distribution payment date or redemption date an event of default under the Trust Agreement resulting from an event of default under the related Subordinated Indenture has occurred and is continuing, no payment on any Common Trust Security shall be made until all payments due on the Preferred Trust Securities have been made. In that case, funds available to the Property Trustee shall first be applied to the payment in full of all distributions on, or the redemption price plus accrued and unpaid distributions of, Preferred Trust Securities then due and payable. (Trust Agreement, Section 4.03(a)).
If an event of default under the Trust Agreement results from an event of default under the related Subordinated Indenture, the holder of Common Trust Securities cannot take action with respect to the Trust Agreement default until the effect of all defaults with respect to the Preferred Trust Securities has been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. Until the event of default under the Trust Agreement with respect to Preferred Trust Securities has been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the Property Trustee shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, act solely on behalf of the holders of Preferred Trust Securities and not the holder of the Common Trust Securities, and only the holders of Preferred Trust Securities will have the right to direct the Property Trustee to act on their behalf. (Trust Agreement, Section 4.03(b)).
Liquidation Distribution upon Dissolution. The Trust will be dissolved and liquidated by the Property Trustee on the first to occur of:
If a dissolution of the Trust occurs, the Trust will be liquidated by the Property Trustee as expeditiously as the Property Trustee determines to be appropriate. If a dissolution of the Trust occurs other than by redemption of all the Preferred Trust Securities, the Property Trustee will provide for the satisfaction of liabilities of creditors, if any, and distribute to each holder of the Preferred Trust Securities and Common Trust Securities a proportionate amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures. If a distribution of Junior Subordinated Debentures is determined by the Property Trustee not to be practical, holders of Preferred Trust Securities will be entitled to receive, out of the assets of the Trust after adequate provision for the satisfaction of liabilities of creditors, if any, an amount equal to the aggregate liquidation preference of the Preferred Trust Securities plus accrued and unpaid distributions thereon to the date of payment. If this liquidation distribution can be paid only in part because the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate liquidation distribution, then the amounts payable by the Trust on the Preferred Trust Securities shall be paid on a pro rata basis. FPL Group, as holder of the Common Trust Securities, will be entitled to receive distributions upon any dissolution pro rata with the holders of the Preferred Trust Securities, except that if an event of default (or event that, with the lapse of time or giving of notice, would become such an event of default) has occurred and is continuing under the related Subordinated Indenture, the Preferred Trust Securities will have a preference over the Common Trust Securities. (Trust Agreement, Section 9.04).
44
Events of Default; Notice. Any one of the following events will be an event of default under the Trust Agreement whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body:
Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default known to the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee shall transmit to the holders of Preferred Trust Securities, FPL Group and the Administrative Trustees notice of any such default, unless that default shall have been cured or waived. (Trust Agreement, Section 8.02).
A holder of Preferred Trust Securities may directly institute a proceeding to enforce payment when due to the holder of the Preferred Trust Securities of the principal of or interest on Junior Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation preference amount of the holder's Preferred Trust Securities. The holders of Preferred Trust Securities have no other rights to exercise directly any other remedies available to the holder of the Junior Subordinated Debentures unless the trustees under the Trust Agreement fail to do so. (Trust Agreement, Section 6.01(a)).
Removal of Trustees. Unless an event of default under the related Subordinated Indenture has occurred and is continuing, the holder of the Common Trust Securities may remove any trustee under the Trust Agreement at any time. If an event of default under the Subordinated Indenture has occurred and is continuing, the holders of a majority of the total liquidation preference amount of the outstanding Preferred Trust Securities may remove the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, or both of them. The holder of the Common Trust Securities may remove any Administrative Trustee at any time. Any resignation or removal of a trustee under the Trust Agreement will take effect only on the acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee. (Trust Agreement, Section 8.10).
Holders of Preferred Trust Securities will have no right to appoint or remove the Administrative Trustees of the Trust, who may be appointed, removed or replaced solely by FPL Group as the holder of the Common Trust Securities. (Trust Agreement, Section 8.10).
Voting Rights. Except as provided below and under "Description of Preferred Trust Securities GuaranteeModification and Assignment, " and as otherwise required by law or the Trust Agreement, the holders of Preferred Trust Securities will have no voting rights.
45
While Junior Subordinated Debentures are held by the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee shall not:
without, in each case, obtaining the prior approval of the holders of Preferred Trust Securities having at least a majority of the aggregate liquidation preference amount of all outstanding Preferred Trust Securities of the Trust. Where a consent of each holder of Junior Subordinated Debentures affected is required, no consent shall be given by the Property Trustee without the prior consent of each holder of the Preferred Trust Securities affected. The Property Trustee shall not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the holders of Preferred Trust Securities, except pursuant to the subsequent vote of the holders of Preferred Trust Securities. (Trust Agreement, Section 6.01(b)). If the Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights, as holder, under the Junior Subordinated Debentures or the Trust Agreement, a holder of the Preferred Trust Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against FPL Group or FPL Group Capital, as the case may be, to enforce the Property Trustee's rights under the Junior Subordinated Debentures or the Trust Agreement without first instituting any legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or anyone else. (Trust Agreement, Section 6.01(a)). The Property Trustee shall notify all holders of Preferred Trust Securities of any notice of default received from the Subordinated Indenture Trustee. The Property Trustee shall not take any action approved by the consent of the holders of Preferred Trust Securities without an opinion of counsel experienced in those matters to the effect that the Trust will be classified as a grantor trust and not as an association taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes on account of that action. (Trust Agreement, Section 6.01(b)).
Holders of Preferred Trust Securities may give any required approval at a meeting convened for such purpose or by written consent without prior notice. (Trust Agreement, Section 6.06). The Administrative Trustees will give notice of any meeting at which holders of Preferred Trust Securities are entitled to vote. (Trust Agreement, Section 6.02).
No vote or consent of the holders of Preferred Trust Securities will be required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Preferred Trust Securities in accordance with the Trust Agreement.
Notwithstanding that holders of Preferred Trust Securities are entitled to vote or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any Preferred Trust Securities that are owned by FPL Group Capital, FPL Group, any Administrative Trustee or any affiliate of any of them, shall be treated as if they were not outstanding for purposes of such vote or consent. (Trust Agreement, Section 1.01).
Amendments. The Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time by a majority of its Administrative Trustees and FPL Group, without the consent of any holders of Preferred Trust Securities or the other trustees under the Trust Agreement in order to:
46
No amendment described above may materially adversely affect the interests of any holder of Preferred Trust Securities or Common Trust Securities without the applicable consents required pursuant to the following two paragraphs. Any of the amendments of the Trust Agreement described in paragraph (1) above shall become effective when notice of the amendment is given to the holders of Preferred Trust Securities and Common Trust Securities in accordance with the provisions of the Trust Agreement. (Trust Agreement, Section 10.03(a)).
Except as provided below, any provision of the Trust Agreement may be amended by the Administrative Trustees and FPL Group with:
Each affected holder of Preferred Trust Securities must consent to any amendment to the Trust Agreement that:
Form, Exchange and Transfer. Preferred Trust Securities may be exchanged for other Preferred Trust Securities in any authorized denomination and of like tenor and aggregate liquidation preference. (Trust Agreement, Section 5.04).
Subject to the terms of the Trust Agreement, Preferred Trust Securities may be presented for exchange as provided above or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or accompanied by a duly executed instrument of transfer, at the office of the Preferred Trust Security registrar. The Administrative Trustees may designate FPL Group or FPL Group Capital or any affiliate of either of them, as the Preferred Trust Security registrar. The Property Trustee will initially act as the Preferred Trust Security registrar and transfer agent. (Trust Agreement, Section 5.08). No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Preferred Trust Securities, but the Preferred Trust Security registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with the transfer or exchange. A transfer or exchange will be made when
47
the Preferred Trust Security registrar and Administrative Trustees are satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person making the request. (Trust Agreement, Section 5.04). The Administrative Trustees may at any time designate another transfer agent and registrar or rescind the designation of any transfer agent and registrar or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent and registrar acts, except that FPL Group will, or will cause the Preferred Trust Security registrar to, maintain an office or agency in The City of New York where Preferred Trust Securities may be transferred or exchanged. (Trust Agreement, Sections 2.07(a) and 5.08).
The Trust will not be required to:
Payment on Preferred Trust Securities and Paying Agent. Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement, payments in respect of the Preferred Trust Securities will be made on the applicable distribution dates by check mailed to the address of the holder entitled thereto as such address appears on the Preferred Trust Security register. (Trust Agreement, Section 4.04). The paying agent shall initially be the Property Trustee and any co-paying agent chosen by the Property Trustee that is acceptable to the Administrative Trustees, FPL Group and, in the case of Preferred Trust Securities issued by FPL Group Capital Trust, FPL Group Capital. The paying agent may resign upon 30 days' written notice to the Administrative Trustees, the Property Trustee, FPL Group and, in the case of Preferred Trust Securities issued by FPL Group Capital Trust, FPL Group Capital. In the event that the Property Trustee shall no longer be the paying agent, the Administrative Trustees shall appoint a successor, which shall be a bank, trust company or affiliate of FPL Group reasonably acceptable to the Property Trustee, FPL Group, and, in the case of Preferred Trust Securities issued by FPL Group Capital Trust, FPL Group Capital, to act as paying agent. (Trust Agreement, Section 5.09).
Duties of the Trustees. The Delaware Trustee will act as the resident trustee in the State of Delaware and will have no other significant duties. The Property Trustee will hold the Junior Subordinated Debentures on behalf of the Trust and will maintain a payment account with respect to the Preferred Trust Securities and Common Trust Securities, and will also act as trustee under the Trust Agreement for the purposes of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. (Trust Agreement, Sections 2.06 and 2.07(b)).
The Administrative Trustees of the Trust are authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of the Trust and to operate the Trust so that
In this regard, FPL Group and the Administrative Trustees are authorized to take any action, not inconsistent with applicable law, the certificate of trust or the Trust Agreement, that FPL Group and
48
the Administrative Trustees determine in their discretion to be necessary or desirable for those purposes, as long as the action does not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Preferred Trust Securities. (Trust Agreement, Section 2.07(d)).
Miscellaneous. Holders of the Preferred Trust Securities have no preemptive or similar rights. (Trust Agreement, Section 5.13).
Notices. Notices to holders of Preferred Trust Securities will be sent by mail to the addresses of those holders as they appear in the security register for those Preferred Trust Securities. (Trust Agreement, Section 6.02).
Title. The Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee, the Administrative Trustees, and the Preferred Trust Security registrar and transfer agent, and any agent of the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee, the Administrative Trustees, or the Preferred Trust Security registrar and transfer agent, may treat the person in whose name a Preferred Trust Security is registered as the absolute owner of that Preferred Trust Security for the purpose of receiving distributions and all other purposes, regardless of any notice to the contrary. (Trust Agreement, Section 5.06).
Governing Law. The Trust Agreement, the Preferred Trust Securities and the Common Trust Securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of laws principles thereunder, except to the extent that the law of any other jurisdiction is mandatorily applicable. (Trust Agreement, Section 10.05).
49
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED TRUST SECURITIES GUARANTEE
General. This section briefly summarizes some of the provisions of the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement that FPL Group will execute and deliver for the benefit of the holders of the Preferred Trust Securities issued by FPL Group Capital Trust and FPL Group Trust. The terms of these agreements are substantially the same, and they are referred to in this prospectus as the "Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement." This summary does not contain a complete description of the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement. You should read this summary together with the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement for a complete understanding of all the provisions. The form of the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement has previously been filed with the SEC and is an exhibit to the registration statement filed with the SEC of which this prospectus is a part. In addition, the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and is therefore subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. You should read the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 for a complete understanding of its provisions.
The Bank of New York Mellon will act as Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Trustee under the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement and will hold the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the Preferred Trust Securities.
General Terms of the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee. FPL Group will absolutely, irrevocably and unconditionally agree to make the guarantee payments listed below in full to the holders of the Preferred Trust Securities if they are not made by the Trust, as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that the Trust may have or assert. (Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement, Section 5.01). The following payments will be subject to the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee (without duplication):
(Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement, Section 1.01). FPL Group's obligation to make a guarantee payment may be satisfied by either making a direct payment of the required amounts by FPL Group to the holders of Preferred Trust Securities or causing the Trust to pay such amounts to those holders. (Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement, Section 5.01).
50
The Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee will be a guarantee, subject to certain subordination provisions, as to payment with respect to the Preferred Trust Securities, but will not apply to any payment of distributions if and to the extent that the Trust does not have funds legally available to make those payments. (Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement, Sections 1.01 and 5.05). If neither FPL Group Capital nor FPL Group makes interest payments on the FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures held by a Trust and if FPL Group does not make interest payments on the FPL Group Junior Subordinated Debentures held by a Trust, in each case the applicable Trust will not have funds available to pay distributions on the Preferred Trust Securities.
The following obligations and rights, in combination, have the effect of providing a full and unconditional guarantee of payments due on the Preferred Trust Securities issued by the Trust:
No single one of the rights and obligations listed above standing alone or operating in conjunction with fewer than all of the other applicable rights and obligations constitutes a full and unconditional guarantee by FPL Group of the Preferred Trust Securities. It is only the combined operation of these rights and obligations that has the effect of providing a full and unconditional, but subordinated, guarantee as to payment by FPL Group of the Preferred Trust Securities.
Except as otherwise stated in the related prospectus supplement, the covenants in the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement would not give holders of the Preferred Trust Securities protection in the event of a highly-leveraged transaction involving FPL Group.
Security and Ranking. The Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee will be an unsecured obligation of FPL Group and will rank:
The Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement does not limit the amount of other indebtedness, including guarantees, that FPL Group may issue or incur or the amount of preferred or preference stock it may issue.
The Trust Agreement provides that by accepting Preferred Trust Securities, a holder agrees to the subordination provisions and other terms of the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee. (Trust Agreement, Section 5.02).
51
The Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee will be a guarantee of payment and not of collection, that is, the guaranteed party may institute a legal proceeding directly against FPL Group to enforce its rights under the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against anyone else. (Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement, Sections 5.04 and 5.05).
While FPL Group is a holding company that derives substantially all of its income from its operating subsidiaries, FPL Group's subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation to make any payments under the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee or to make any funds available for such payment. Therefore, the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee will effectively be subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities, including trade payables, debt and preferred stock, incurred or issued by FPL Group's subsidiaries. In addition to trade liabilities, many of FPL Group's operating subsidiaries incur debt in order to finance their business activities. All of this indebtedness will effectively be senior to the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee. Neither the Subordinated Indenture nor the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement places any limit on the amount of liabilities, including debt or preferred stock, that FPL Group's subsidiaries may issue, guarantee or otherwise incur. See "Description of FPL Group Common StockCommon Stock TermsDividend Rights" for a description of contractual restrictions on the dividend-paying ability of some of FPL Group's subsidiaries.
Events of Default. An event of default under the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement will occur upon failure of FPL Group to perform any of its payment obligations under the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement, which failure has not been cured within 90 days of receipt of notice thereof. (Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement, Section 1.01). Upon an event of default, the holders of the Preferred Trust Securities having a majority of the aggregate liquidation preference of the Preferred Trust Securities have the right to:
Any holder of the Preferred Trust Securities may enforce the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee, or institute a legal proceeding directly against FPL Group to enforce the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Trustee's rights under the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Trust, the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Trustee or anyone else. (Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement, Section 5.04). The holders of the Preferred Trust Securities having a majority of the aggregate liquidation preference of the Preferred Trust Securities may waive any past event of default and its consequences. (Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement, Section 2.06).
FPL Group will be required to deliver to the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Trustee an annual statement as to its compliance with all conditions under the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement. (Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement, Section 2.04).
Modification and Assignment. No consent of holders of Preferred Trust Securities is required for changes to the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement that do not materially adversely affect their rights. Except as provided below, changes to the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement that materially adversely affect the rights of Preferred Trust Securities require the prior approval of the holders of Preferred Trust Securities having at least a majority of the aggregate liquidation preference amount of the outstanding Preferred Trust Securities. Each affected holder of Preferred Trust Securities must consent to any amendment to the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement that impairs
52
the right of such holder to receive guarantee payments under the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement or to institute suit for enforcement of any such payment. (Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement, Section 8.01).
All guarantees and agreements contained in the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement will bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of FPL Group and will inure to the benefit of the holders of the Preferred Trust Securities then outstanding. (Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement, Section 8.02).
Termination of the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee. The Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement will terminate and be of no further force and effect upon:
However, the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time, as result of the subordination provisions or any mistake or any judicial proceeding or otherwise, any holder of Preferred Trust Securities must return any sums paid under the Preferred Trust Securities or the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee. (Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement, Section 7.01).
Governing Law. The Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement provides that it is to be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflict of laws principles thereunder, except to the extent that the law of any other jurisdiction is mandatorily applicable. (Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement, Section 8.06).
53
DESCRIPTION OF FPL GROUP AND FPL GROUP CAPITAL
JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES AND
FPL GROUP SUBORDINATED GUARANTEE
General. The junior subordinated debentures issued by FPL Group Capital are referred to in this prospectus as the "FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures." The junior subordinated debentures issued by FPL Group are referred to in this prospectus as the "FPL Group Junior Subordinated Debentures," and, together with the FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures, are referred to as the "Junior Subordinated Debentures." The FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures will be issued by FPL Group Capital in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of March 1, 2004, among FPL Group Capital, FPL Group and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, an Indenture, dated as of September 1, 2006, among FPL Group Capital, FPL Group and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, or another subordinated indenture among FPL Group Capital, FPL Group and The Bank of New York Mellon as specified in the related prospectus supplement. The indenture or indentures pursuant to which FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures may be issued, as they may be amended from time to time, are referred to in this prospectus as the "FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture." The indenture or indentures pursuant to which FPL Group Junior Subordinated Debentures may be issued, as they may be amended from time to time, are referred to in this prospectus as the "FPL Group Subordinated Indenture." The FPL Group Junior Subordinated Debentures will be issued by FPL Group in one or more series under an indenture or indentures between FPL Group and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee. Each of the FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture and the FPL Group Subordinated Indenture, as each may be amended and supplemented from time to time, is referred to in this prospectus as the "Subordinated Indenture." The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee under each Subordinated Indenture, is referred to in this prospectus as the "Subordinated Indenture Trustee." The Subordinated Indenture provides for the issuance from time to time of subordinated debt in an unlimited amount. The Junior Subordinated Debentures and all other subordinated debt issued previously or hereafter under the Subordinated Indenture are collectively referred to in this prospectus as the "Subordinated Indenture Securities."
This section briefly summarizes some of the terms of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Subordinated Guarantee applicable to the FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures, and some of the provisions of the Subordinated Indenture. This summary does not contain a complete description of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Subordinated Guarantee or the Subordinated Indenture. You should read this summary together with the Subordinated Indenture and the officer's certificates or other documents creating the Junior Subordinated Debentures and the Subordinated Guarantee for a complete understanding of all the provisions and for the definitions of some terms used in this summary. The Subordinated Indenture (which, in the case of the FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture, contains the Subordinated Guarantee), the forms of officer's certificate that may be used to create a series of Junior Subordinated Debentures and the forms of the Junior Subordinated Debentures have previously been filed with the SEC, and are exhibits to the registration statement. In addition, each Subordinated Indenture will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and is therefore subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. You should read the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 for a complete understanding of its provisions.
Each issue of the FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures and the FPL Group Junior Subordinated Debentures will constitute a separate series under the respective Subordinated Indenture.
In connection with the issuance of Trust Securities, the aggregate principal amount of each series will be limited to the sum of the aggregate liquidation preference amount of the related Preferred Trust Securities and the consideration paid by FPL Group for the related Common Trust Securities. The Property Trustee will hold the FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures on behalf of FPL
54
Group Capital Trust, or will hold the FPL Group Junior Subordinated Debentures on behalf of FPL Group Trust, as the case may be, as trust assets.
All FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures of one series need not be issued at the same time, and a series may be re-opened for issuances of additional FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series. This means that FPL Group Capital may from time to time, without notice to, or the consent of the existing holders of the FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures of a particular series, create and issue additional FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series. Such additional FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures will have the same terms as the previously-issued FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series in all respects (except for the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date of the additional FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures or except for the first payments of interest following the issue date of the additional FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures) so that the additional FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures may be consolidated and form a single series with the previously-issued FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series.
Similarly, all FPL Group Junior Subordinated Debentures of one series need not be issued at the same time, and a series may be re-opened for issuances of additional FPL Group Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series, in the manner described in the paragraph above with respect to FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures.
The FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures will be unsecured, subordinated obligations of FPL Group Capital which rank junior to all of FPL Group Capital's Senior Indebtedness. The FPL Group Junior Subordinated Debentures will be unsecured, subordinated obligations of FPL Group which rank junior to all of FPL Group's Senior Indebtedness. The term "Senior Indebtedness" with respect to FPL Group Capital or FPL Group, as the case may be, will be defined in the related prospectus supplement. All Junior Subordinated Debentures issued under a particular Subordinated Indenture will rank equally and ratably with all other Junior Subordinated Debentures issued under that Subordinated Indenture, except to the extent that FPL Group Capital or FPL Group, as the case may be, elects to provide security with respect to any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures without providing that security to all outstanding Junior Subordinated Debentures in accordance with the respective Subordinated Indenture. Junior Subordinated Debentures issued under a particular Subordinated Indenture may rank senior to, pari passu with, or junior to, Junior Subordinated Debentures issued by the same issuer under another Subordinated Indenture. The FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures will be unconditionally guaranteed by FPL Group as to payment of principal, and any interest and premium, pursuant to a Subordinated Guarantee of FPL Group, included in the Subordinated Indenture for such FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures, which Subordinated Guarantee ranks junior to all of FPL Group's Senior Indebtedness, and may rank senior to, pari passu with, or junior to, FPL Group's obligations under a separate Subordinated Guarantee. See "Subordinated Guarantee of FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures" below.
Although the FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures and the FPL Group Junior Subordinated Debentures are discussed together in this section of the prospectus, FPL Group will have no obligation with respect to the FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures except in connection with the Subordinated Guarantee, and FPL Group Capital will have no obligation with respect to the FPL Group Junior Subordinated Debentures.
Each series of Junior Subordinated Debentures that may be issued under each Subordinated Indenture may have different terms. FPL Group Capital or FPL Group, as the case may be, will include some or all of the following information about a specific series of Junior Subordinated
55
Debentures in the particular prospectus supplement relating to that specific series of Junior Subordinated Debentures:
56
Debentures, if other than the entire principal amount of those Junior Subordinated Debentures,
Except as otherwise stated in the related prospectus supplement, the covenants in the Subordinated Indenture would not give registered owners of Junior Subordinated Debentures protection in the event of a highly-leveraged transaction involving FPL Group Capital, in the case of the FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures, or FPL Group.
Subordination.
57
Indenture, Article Fifteen). No payment of the principal (including redemption and sinking fund payments) of, or interest, or premium, if any, on the FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures may be made by FPL Group Capital, until all holders of Senior Indebtedness of FPL Group Capital have been paid in full (or provision has been made for such payment), and
if, in either case, any of the following occurs:
Upon any distribution of assets of FPL Group Capital, or of FPL Group, as the case may be, to creditors in connection with any insolvency, bankruptcy or similar proceeding, all principal of, and premium, if any, and interest due or to become due on all Senior Indebtedness of FPL Group Capital, or of FPL Group, as the case may be, must be paid in full before the holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures are entitled to receive or retain any payment from such distribution. (FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture, Section 1502; FPL Group Subordinated Indenture, Section 1402).
While FPL Group Capital is a holding company that derives substantially all of its income from its operating subsidiaries, FPL Group Capital's subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation to make any payments on the FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture Securities or to make any funds available for such payment. Therefore, FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture Securities will effectively be subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities, including trade payables, debt and preferred stock, incurred or issued by FPL Group Capital's subsidiaries. In addition to trade liabilities, many of FPL Group Capital's operating subsidiaries incur debt in order to finance their business activities. All of this indebtedness will effectively be senior to the FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture Securities. The FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture does not place any limit on the amount of liabilities, including debt or preferred stock, that FPL Group Capital's subsidiaries may issue, guarantee or otherwise incur. See "Description of FPL Group Common StockCommon Stock TermsDividend Rights" for a description of contractual restrictions on the dividend-paying ability of FPL Group Capital.
While FPL Group is a holding company that derives substantially all of its income from its operating subsidiaries, FPL Group's subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and, other than FPL Group Capital, have no obligation to make any payments on the FPL Group Subordinated Indenture Securities or to make any funds available for such payment. Therefore, FPL Group Subordinated Indenture Securities will effectively be subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities, including trade payables, debt and preferred stock, incurred or issued by FPL Group's
58
subsidiaries. In addition to trade liabilities, many of FPL Group's operating subsidiaries incur debt in order to finance their business activities. All of this indebtedness will effectively be senior to the FPL Group Subordinated Indenture Securities. The FPL Group Subordinated Indenture does not place any limit on the amount of liabilities, including debt or preferred stock, that FPL Group's subsidiaries may issue, guarantee or otherwise incur. See "Description of FPL Group Common StockCommon Stock TermsDividend Rights" for a description of contractual restrictions on the dividend-paying ability of some of FPL Group's subsidiaries.
Subordinated Guarantee of FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures. Pursuant to the Subordinated Guarantee, FPL Group will unconditionally and irrevocably guarantee the payment of principal of and any interest and premium, if any, on the FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures, when due and payable, whether at the stated maturity date, by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, in accordance with the terms of such FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures and the FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture. The Subordinated Guarantee will remain in effect until the entire principal of and any premium, if any, and interest on the FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures has been paid in full or otherwise discharged in accordance with the provisions of the FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture. (FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture, Article Fourteen).
The Subordinated Guarantee will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness of FPL Group. (FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture, Section 1402). No payment of the principal (including redemption and sinking fund payments) of, or interest, or premium, if any, on, the FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures may be made by FPL Group under the Subordinated Guarantee until all holders of Senior Indebtedness of FPL Group have been paid in full (or provision has been made for such payment), if any of the following occurs:
Upon any distribution of assets of FPL Group to creditors in connection with any insolvency, bankruptcy or similar proceeding, all principal of, and premium, if any, and interest due or to become due on all Senior Indebtedness of FPL Group must be paid in full before the holders of the FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures are entitled to receive or retain any payment from such distribution. (FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture, Section 1403).
While FPL Group is a holding company that derives substantially all of its income from its operating subsidiaries, FPL Group's subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation to make any payments under the Subordinated Guarantee or to make any funds available for such payment. Therefore, the Subordinated Guarantee will effectively be subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities, including trade payables, debt and preferred stock, incurred or issued by FPL Group's subsidiaries. In addition to trade liabilities, many of FPL Group's operating subsidiaries incur debt in order to finance their business activities. All of this indebtedness will effectively be senior to the Subordinated Guarantee. The FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture does not place any limit on the amount of liabilities, including debt or preferred stock, that FPL Group's subsidiaries may issue, guarantee or otherwise incur. See "Description of FPL Group Common StockCommon Stock TermsDividend Rights" for a description of contractual restrictions on the dividend-paying ability of some of FPL Group's subsidiaries.
59
Payment and Paying Agents. Except as stated in the related prospectus supplement, on each interest payment date FPL Group Capital, or FPL Group, as the case may be, will pay interest on each Junior Subordinated Debenture to the person in whose name that Junior Subordinated Debenture is registered as of the close of business on the record date relating to that interest payment date. However, on the date that the Junior Subordinated Debentures mature, FPL Group Capital, or FPL Group, as the case may be, will pay the interest to the person to whom it pays the principal. Also, if FPL Group Capital, or FPL Group, as the case may be, has defaulted in the payment of interest on any Junior Subordinated Debenture, it may pay that defaulted interest to the registered owner of that Junior Subordinated Debenture:
Unless otherwise stated in the related prospectus supplement, the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures at maturity will be payable when such Junior Subordinated Debentures are presented at the main corporate trust office of The Bank of New York Mellon, as paying agent, in The City of New York. FPL Group Capital and FPL Group with respect to the FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures and FPL Group with respect to the FPL Group Junior Subordinated Debentures may change the place of payment on the Junior Subordinated Debentures, appoint one or more additional paying agents, including itself, and remove any paying agent. (Subordinated Indenture, Section 602).
Transfer and Exchange. Unless otherwise stated in the related prospectus supplement, Junior Subordinated Debentures may be transferred or exchanged at the main corporate trust office of The Bank of New York Mellon, as security registrar, in The City of New York. FPL Group Capital, or FPL Group, as the case may be, may change the place for transfer and exchange of the Junior Subordinated Debentures and may designate one or more additional places for that transfer and exchange.
Except as otherwise stated in the related prospectus supplement, there will be no service charge for any transfer or exchange of the Junior Subordinated Debentures. However, FPL Group Capital, or FPL Group, as the case may be, may require payment of any tax or other governmental charge in connection with any transfer or exchange of the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
FPL Group Capital, or FPL Group, as the case may be, will not be required to transfer or exchange any Junior Subordinated Debenture selected for redemption. Also, FPL Group Capital, or FPL Group, as the case may be, will not be required to transfer or exchange any Junior Subordinated Debenture during a period of 15 days before selection of Junior Subordinated Debentures to be redeemed. (Subordinated Indenture, Section 305).
Unless otherwise stated in the related prospectus supplement, if Junior Subordinated Debentures are issued in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities and are subsequently distributed to holders of Preferred Trust Securities in a dissolution of the Trust, the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be issued in fully registered certificated form in the denominations and integral multiples thereof in which the Preferred Trust Securities have been issued, and they may be transferred or exchanged as described above. (Trust Agreement, Section 9.04).
Defeasance. FPL Group Capital and FPL Group may, at any time, elect to have all of their obligations discharged with respect to all or a portion of any Subordinated Indenture Securities of FPL Group Capital. FPL Group may, at any time, elect to have all of its obligations discharged with respect to all or a portion of any Subordinated Indenture Securities of FPL Group. To do so, FPL Group
60
Capital or FPL Group, with respect to FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures, or FPL Group with respect to the FPL Group Junior Subordinated Debentures, must irrevocably deposit with the Subordinated Indenture Trustee or any paying agent, in trust:
the principal of and the interest on which, when due, without any regard to reinvestment of that principal or interest, will provide money that, together with any money deposited with or held by the Subordinated Indenture Trustee, will be sufficient to pay all or that portion of the principal, premium, if any, and interest due and to become due on those Subordinated Indenture Securities, on or prior to their maturity, or
Option to Defer Interest Payments. If so specified in the related prospectus supplement, FPL Group Capital, or FPL Group, as the case may be, will have the option to defer the payment of interest from time to time on the Junior Subordinated Debentures for one or more periods. In the event the Junior Subordinated Debentures are issued in connection with Preferred Trust Securities and FPL Group Capital, or FPL Group, as the case may be, decides to exercise the option to defer the payment of interest as provided in the related prospectus supplement, distributions on the Preferred Trust Securities would be deferred during any optional deferral period. Interest would, however, continue to accrue on the Junior Subordinated Debentures. Unless otherwise provided in the related prospectus supplement, during any optional deferral period, or for so long as an "Event of Default" under the Subordinated Indenture resulting from a payment default (or a payment default under the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee if the Junior Subordinated Debentures are issued in connection with Preferred Trust Securities) has occurred and is continuing, neither FPL Group nor FPL Group Capital, with respect to FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures, or FPL Group, with respect to FPL Group Junior Subordinated Debentures may:
61
other than
62
The exceptions in clauses (h) and (i) above are not applicable to an optional deferral period on the FPL Group Junior Subordinated Debentures.
FPL Group and FPL Group Capital have reserved the right to amend the FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture, dated as of September 1, 2006, without the consent or action of the holders of any Subordinated Indenture Securities issued after October 1, 2006, including the Junior Subordinated Debentures, to modify the exceptions to the restrictions described in clause (f) above to allow payments with respect to any preferred trust securities or debt securities, or any guarantee thereof (including the Subordinated Guarantee), executed and delivered by FPL Group, FPL Group Capital or any of their subsidiaries, in each case that rank equal in right of payment to such junior subordinated debentures or the related guarantee, as the case may be, so long as the amount of payments made on account of such securities or guarantees is paid on all such securities or guarantees then outstanding on a pro rata basis in proportion to the full payment to which each series of such securities or guarantees is then entitled if paid in full.
Unless otherwise provided in the related prospectus supplement, (i) before an optional deferral period ends, FPL Group Capital, or FPL Group, as the case may be, may further defer the payment of interest and (ii) after any optional deferral period and the payment of all amounts then due, FPL Group Capital, or FPL Group, as the case may be, may select a new optional deferral period. Unless otherwise provided in the related prospectus supplement, no optional deferral period may exceed the period of time specified in that prospectus supplement. No interest period may be deferred beyond the maturity of the Junior Subordinated Debentures. If the Junior Subordinated Debentures are issued in connection with Preferred Trust Securities, FPL Group Capital, or FPL Group, as the case may be, will give the Trust and the Subordinated Indenture Trustee notice of its election of an optional deferral period prior to the earlier of (i) one business day before the record date for the distribution on the Preferred Trust Securities which would occur if FPL Group Capital, or FPL Group, as the case may be, did not make the election to defer or (ii) the date the Administrative Trustees are required to give notice to any securities exchange or any other applicable self-regulatory organization of the record date for such a distribution. The Property Trustee shall send notice of that election to the holders of Preferred Trust Securities.
Additional Interest. If the Junior Subordinated Debentures are issued in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities and if the Trust is required to pay any taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges imposed by the United States or any other taxing authority on income derived from the interest payments on the Junior Subordinated Debentures, then, so long as any Preferred Trust Securities remain outstanding, FPL Group Capital, or FPL Group, as the case may be, will pay as interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures any additional interest that may be necessary in order that the net amounts received and retained by the Trust after the payment of those taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges will be the same as the Trust would have had if such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges had not been imposed. (Subordinated Indenture, Section 313).
Redemption. The redemption terms of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, if any, will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. Unless set forth differently in a prospectus supplement, and except with respect to Junior Subordinated Debentures redeemable at the option of the holder, Junior Subordinated Debentures will be redeemable upon notice between 30 and 60 days prior to the redemption date. If less than all of the Junior Subordinated Debentures of any series or any tranche thereof are to be redeemed, the Subordinated Indenture Trustee will select the Junior Subordinated Debentures to be redeemed. In the absence of any provision for selection, the Subordinated Indenture Trustee will choose a method of random selection as it deems fair and appropriate. (Subordinated Indenture, Sections 403 and 404).
63
Junior Subordinated Debentures selected for redemption will cease to bear interest on the redemption date. The paying agent will pay the redemption price and any accrued interest once the Junior Subordinated Debentures are surrendered for redemption. (Subordinated Indenture, Section 405). If only part of a Junior Subordinated Debenture is redeemed, the Subordinated Indenture Trustee will deliver a new Junior Subordinated Debenture of the same series for the remaining portion without charge. (Subordinated Indenture, Section 406).
Any redemption at the option of FPL Group Capital, or FPL Group, as the case may be, may be conditional upon the receipt by the paying agent, on or prior to the date fixed for redemption, of money sufficient to pay the redemption price. If the paying agent has not received such money by the date fixed for redemption, neither FPL Group Capital nor FPL Group, in the case of FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures, nor FPL Group, in the case of FPL Group Junior Subordinated Debentures, will be required to redeem such Junior Subordinated Debentures. (Subordinated Indenture, Section 404).
If the Junior Subordinated Debentures are issued in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities, for so long as the Trust is the holder of all of the related Junior Subordinated Debentures the proceeds of any redemption of Junior Subordinated Debentures will be used by the Trust to redeem Preferred Trust Securities and Common Trust Securities in accordance with their terms. (Trust Agreement, Section 4.02(a)).
Subject to applicable law, including United States federal securities laws, FPL Group or its affiliates, including FPL Group Capital, may at any time and from time to time purchase outstanding Junior Subordinated Debentures by tender, in the open market or by private agreement.
Consolidation, Merger, and Sale of Assets. Under the FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture, neither FPL Group Capital nor FPL Group may, and under the FPL Group Subordinated Indenture, FPL Group may not, consolidate with or merge into any other entity or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any entity, unless:
64
The Subordinated Indenture does not prevent or restrict:
Events of Default. Each of the following is an event of default under the Subordinated Indenture with respect to the Subordinated Indenture Securities of any series:
65
In the case of the third event of default listed above, the Subordinated Indenture Trustee may extend the grace period. In addition, if holders of a particular series have given a notice of default, then holders of at least the same percentage of Junior Subordinated Debentures of that series, together with the Subordinated Indenture Trustee, may also extend the grace period. The grace period will be automatically extended if FPL Group Capital or FPL Group, in the case of the FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture, or FPL Group, in the case of the FPL Group Subordinated Indenture, has initiated and is diligently pursuing corrective action in good faith. (Subordinated Indenture, Section 801). An event of default with respect to the Subordinated Indenture Securities of a particular series will not necessarily constitute an event of default with respect to Subordinated Indenture Securities of any other series issued under the Subordinated Indenture.
Remedies. If an event of default applicable to the Subordinated Indenture Securities of one or more series, but not applicable to all outstanding Subordinated Indenture Securities, exists, then either (i) the Subordinated Indenture Trustee or (ii) the registered owners of at least 33% in aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Indenture Securities of each of the affected series may declare the principal of and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Subordinated Indenture Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. (Subordinated Indenture, Section 802).
If the event of default is applicable to all outstanding Subordinated Indenture Securities, then either (i) the Subordinated Indenture Trustee or (ii) the registered owners of at least 33% in aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Subordinated Indenture Securities of all series, voting as one class, and not the registered owners of any one series, may make a declaration of acceleration. (Subordinated Indenture, Section 802). However, the event of default giving rise to the declaration relating to any series of Subordinated Indenture Securities will be automatically waived, and that declaration and its consequences will be automatically rescinded and annulled, if, at any time after that declaration and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained:
Other than its obligations and duties in case of an event of default under the Subordinated Indenture, the Subordinated Indenture Trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Subordinated Indenture at the request or direction of any of the registered owners of the Subordinated Indenture Securities, unless those registered owners offer reasonable indemnity to the Subordinated Indenture Trustee. (Subordinated Indenture, Section 903). If they provide this reasonable
66
indemnity, the registered owners of a majority in principal amount of any series of Subordinated Indenture Securities will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Subordinated Indenture Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Subordinated Indenture Trustee, with respect to the Subordinated Indenture Securities of that series. However, if an event of default under the Subordinated Indenture relates to more than one series of Subordinated Indenture Securities, only the registered owners of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all affected series of Subordinated Indenture Securities, considered as one class, will have the right to make that direction. Also, the direction must not violate any law or the Subordinated Indenture, and may not expose the Subordinated Indenture Trustee to personal liability in circumstances where its indemnity would not, in the Subordinated Indenture Trustee's sole discretion, be adequate. (Subordinated Indenture, Section 812).
A registered owner of a Subordinated Indenture Security has the right to institute a suit for the enforcement of payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on that Subordinated Indenture Security on or after the applicable due date specified in that Subordinated Indenture Security. (Subordinated Indenture, Section 808). No registered owner of Subordinated Indenture Securities of any series will have any other right to institute any proceeding under the Subordinated Indenture, or exercise any other remedy under the Subordinated Indenture, unless:
Each of FPL Group Capital and FPL Group in the case of the FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture, and FPL Group in the case of the FPL Group Subordinated Indenture, is required to deliver to the Subordinated Indenture Trustee an annual statement as to its compliance with all conditions and covenants applicable to it under the Subordinated Indenture. (Subordinated Indenture, Section 606).
Enforcement of Certain Rights by Holders of Preferred Trust Securities. If the Junior Subordinated Debentures were issued in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities and if there is an event of default with respect to Junior Subordinated Debentures held by the Trust, a holder of Preferred Trust Securities may enforce the Subordinated Indenture directly against FPL Group Capital in the case of the FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture, or FPL Group, in the case of the FPL Group Subordinated Indenture, to the same extent, and upon the same conditions, as if the holder of Preferred Trust Securities held a principal amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of its Preferred Trust Securities. (Subordinated Indenture, Section 610).
67
Subject to their right to bring suit to enforce their right to payment, the holders of Preferred Trust Securities would not be able to institute any proceeding with respect to the Subordinated Indenture unless the Subordinated Indenture Trustee has failed to do so for 60 days after a request of the holders of at least a majority of the aggregate liquidation amount of outstanding Preferred Trust Securities. Upon such failure, the holders of a majority of the aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding Preferred Trust Securities would have the right to directly institute proceedings for enforcement of all other rights of the Subordinated Indenture Trustee against FPL Group Capital in the case of the FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture, or FPL Group in the case of the FPL Group Subordinated Indenture, to the fullest extent permitted by law. (Subordinated Indenture, Sections 807, 808 and 812).
Modification and Waiver. Without the consent of any registered owner of Subordinated Indenture Securities, FPL Group, the Subordinated Indenture Trustee and, in the case of the FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture, FPL Group Capital, may amend or supplement the Subordinated Indenture for any of the following purposes:
68
The registered owners of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Indenture Securities of all series then outstanding may waive compliance by FPL Group Capital or FPL Group in the case of the FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture, or by FPL Group in the case of the FPL Group Subordinated Indenture, with certain restrictive provisions of the Subordinated Indenture. (Subordinated Indenture, Section 607). The registered owners of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Subordinated Indenture Securities of any series may waive any past default under the Subordinated Indenture with respect to that series, except a default in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest and a default with respect to certain restrictive covenants or provisions of the Subordinated Indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the registered owner of each outstanding Subordinated Indenture Security of that series affected. (Subordinated Indenture, Section 813). If the Trust holds Subordinated Indenture Securities of any series, the Trust may not waive compliance, or any default in compliance, by FPL Group Capital or FPL Group with any covenant or term contained in, or any past default under, the Subordinated Indenture or the Subordinated Indenture Securities of such series, without the approval of at least a majority (or such greater percentage required by the Trust Agreement) in aggregate liquidation preference amount of the outstanding Preferred Trust Securities. (Subordinated Indenture, Sections 607 and 813).
In addition to any amendments described above, if the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after the date of the Subordinated Indenture in a way that requires changes to the Subordinated Indenture or in a way that permits changes to, or the elimination of, provisions that were previously required by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Subordinated Indenture will be deemed to be amended to conform to that amendment of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 or to make those changes, additions or eliminations. FPL Group Capital and FPL Group in the case of the FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture, or FPL Group in the case of the FPL Group Subordinated Indenture, and the Subordinated Indenture Trustee may, without the consent of any registered owners, enter into supplemental indentures to make that amendment. (Subordinated Indenture, Section 1201).
Except for any amendments described above, the consent of the registered owners of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Indenture Securities of all series then outstanding, considered as one class, is required for all other modifications to the Subordinated Indenture. However, if less than all of the series of Subordinated Indenture Securities outstanding are directly affected by a proposed supplemental indenture, then the consent only of the registered owners of a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding Subordinated Indenture Securities of all directly affected series, considered as one class, is required. But, if FPL Group Capital or FPL Group, as the case may be, issues any series of Subordinated Indenture Securities in more than one tranche and if the
69
proposed supplemental indenture directly affects the rights of the registered owners of Subordinated Indenture Securities of less than all of those tranches, then the consent only of the registered owners of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Subordinated Indenture Securities of all directly affected tranches, considered as one class, will be required. However, none of those amendments or modifications may:
A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any provision of the Subordinated Indenture that has expressly been included only for the benefit of one or more particular series or tranches of Subordinated Indenture Securities, or that modifies the rights of the registered owners of Subordinated Indenture Securities of that particular series or tranche with respect to that provision, will not affect the rights under the Subordinated Indenture of the registered owners of the Subordinated Indenture Securities of any other series or tranche. If Junior Subordinated Debentures were issued in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities, so long as any Preferred Trust Securities are outstanding, the Subordinated Indenture Trustee may not consent to any supplemental indenture without the prior consent of (i) the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation preference of all outstanding Preferred Trust Securities affected or (ii), in the case of changes described in clauses (1) through (9) immediately above, 100% in aggregate liquidation preference of all such outstanding Preferred Trust Securities affected. (Subordinated Indenture, Section 1202).
70
The Subordinated Indenture provides that, in order to determine whether the registered owners of the required principal amount of the outstanding Subordinated Indenture Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver under the Subordinated Indenture, or whether a quorum is present at the meeting of the registered owners of Subordinated Indenture Securities, (a) in the case of the FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture, Subordinated Indenture Securities owned by FPL Group Capital, FPL Group or any other obligor upon the Subordinated Indenture Securities or any affiliate of FPL Group Capital, FPL Group or of that other obligor (unless FPL Group Capital, FPL Group, that affiliate or that obligor owns all Subordinated Indenture Securities outstanding under the Subordinated Indenture, determined without regard to this provision) and (b) in the case of the FPL Group Subordinated Indenture, Subordinated Indenture Securities owned by FPL Group or any other obligor upon the Subordinated Indenture Securities or any affiliate of FPL Group or of that other obligor (unless FPL Group, that affiliate or that obligor owns all Subordinated Indenture Securities outstanding under the Subordinated Indenture, determined without regard to this provision), will be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding. (Subordinated Indenture, Section 101).
If FPL Group Capital or FPL Group, in the case of the FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture, or FPL Group, in the case of the FPL Group Subordinated Indenture, solicits any action under the Subordinated Indenture from registered owners of Subordinated Indenture Securities, each of FPL Group Capital or FPL Group in the case of the FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture, or FPL Group in the case of the FPL Group Subordinated Indenture, may, at its option, by signing a written request to the Subordinated Indenture Trustee, fix in advance a record date for determining the registered owners of Subordinated Indenture Securities entitled to take that action. However, neither FPL Group Capital nor FPL Group will be obligated to do this. If FPL Group Capital or FPL Group in the case of the FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture, or FPL Group in the case of the FPL Group Subordinated Indenture, as the case may be, fixes such a record date, that action may be taken before or after that record date, but only the registered owners of record at the close of business on that record date will be deemed to be registered owners of Subordinated Indenture Securities for the purposes of determining whether registered owners of the required proportion of the outstanding Subordinated Indenture Securities have authorized that action. For these purposes, the outstanding Subordinated Indenture Securities will be computed as of the record date. Any action of a registered owner of any Subordinated Indenture Security under the Subordinated Indenture will bind every future registered owner of that Subordinated Indenture Security, or any Subordinated Indenture Security replacing that Subordinated Indenture Security, with respect to anything that the Subordinated Indenture Trustee, FPL Group Capital or FPL Group in the case of the FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture, or the Subordinated Indenture Trustee or FPL Group in the case of the FPL Group Subordinated Indenture, do, fail to do, or allow to be done in reliance on that action, whether or not that action is noted upon that Subordinated Indenture Security. (Subordinated Indenture, Section 104).
Resignation and Removal of Subordinated Indenture Trustee. The Subordinated Indenture Trustee may resign at any time with respect to any series of Subordinated Indenture Securities by giving written notice of its resignation to FPL Group Capital and FPL Group in the case of the FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture, or FPL Group in the case of the FPL Group Subordinated Indenture. Also, the registered owners of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Subordinated Indenture Securities of one or more series of Subordinated Indenture Securities may remove the Subordinated Indenture Trustee at any time with respect to the Subordinated Indenture Securities of that series, by delivering an instrument evidencing this action to the Subordinated Indenture Trustee, FPL Group Capital and FPL Group in the case of the FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture, and to the Subordinated Indenture Trustee and FPL Group in the case of the FPL Group Subordinated Indenture. However, if Junior Subordinated Debentures were issued in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities, so long as any Preferred Trust Securities remain outstanding, the Trust
71
cannot deliver an instrument evidencing this action without the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation preference of Preferred Trust Securities outstanding. (Subordinated Indenture, Section 910). The resignation or removal of the Subordinated Indenture Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee will not become effective until a successor trustee accepts its appointment.
Except with respect to a Subordinated Indenture Trustee appointed by the registered owners of Subordinated Indenture Securities, the Subordinated Indenture Trustee will be deemed to have resigned and the successor will be deemed to have been appointed as trustee in accordance with the Subordinated Indenture if:
Notices. Notices to registered owners of Subordinated Indenture Securities will be sent by mail to the addresses of those registered owners as they appear in the security register for those Subordinated Indenture Securities. (Subordinated Indenture, Section 106).
Title. The person in whose name a Subordinated Indenture Security is registered may be treated as the absolute owner of that Subordinated Indenture Security, whether or not that Subordinated Indenture Security is overdue, for the purpose of making payments and for all other purposes, regardless of any notice to the contrary. (Subordinated Indenture, Section 308).
Governing Law. The Subordinated Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture Securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflict of laws principles thereunder, except to the extent that the law of any other jurisdiction is mandatorily applicable. (Subordinated Indenture, Section 112).
72
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE TRUSTEES
FPL Group and its subsidiaries, including FPL Group Capital, also maintain various banking and trust relationships with The Bank of New York Mellon. The Bank of New York Mellon acts, or would act, as (i) Indenture Trustee, security registrar and paying agent under the Indenture described under "Description of FPL Group Capital Senior Debt Securities" above, (ii) Guarantee Trustee under the Guarantee Agreement described under "Description of FPL Group Guarantee of FPL Group Capital Senior Debt Securities" above, (iii) purchase contract agent under a purchase contract agreement described under "Description of Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase Units" above, (iv) Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Trustee under the Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee Agreement described under "Description of Preferred Trust Securities Guarantee" above, (v) Property Trustee under the Trust Agreement, (vi) Subordinated Indenture Trustee, security registrar and paying agent under the FPL Group Capital Subordinated Indenture described under "Description of FPL Group and FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures and FPL Group Subordinated Guarantee" above, and (vii) Subordinated Indenture Trustee, security registrar and paying agent under the FPL Group Subordinated Indenture described under "Description of FPL Group and FPL Group Capital Junior Subordinated Debentures and FPL Group Subordinated Guarantee" above. In addition, The Bank of New York Mellon acts as preferred trust securities trustee and property trustee with respect to FPL Group Capital Trust I's preferred trust securities. BNY Mellon Trust of Delaware acts as the Delaware Trustee under the Trust Agreement and as Delaware trustee under the Trust Agreement entered into in connection with FPL Group Capital Trust I's preferred trust securities.
73
FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and the Trust may sell the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus ("Offered Securities"):
This prospectus may be used in connection with any offering of securities through any of these methods or other methods described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Through Underwriters or Dealers. If FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and/or the Trust uses underwriters in the sale of the Offered Securities, the underwriters will acquire the Offered Securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the Offered Securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The underwriters may sell the Offered Securities directly or through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters. Unless otherwise stated in the prospectus supplement relating to the Offered Securities, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase those Offered Securities will be subject to certain conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of those Offered Securities if they purchase any of them. If FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and/or the Trust uses a dealer in the sale, FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and/or the Trust will sell the Offered Securities to the dealer as principal. The dealer may then resell those Offered Securities at varying prices determined at the time of resale.
Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
Through Agents. FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and/or the Trust may designate one or more agents to sell the Offered Securities. Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement, the agents will agree to use their best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment.
Directly. FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and/or the Trust may sell the Offered Securities directly to one or more purchasers. In this case, no underwriters, dealers or agents would be involved.
General Information. A prospectus supplement will state the name of any underwriter, dealer or agent and the amount of any compensation, underwriting discounts or concessions paid, allowed or reallowed to them. A prospectus supplement will also state the proceeds to FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and/or the Trust from the sale of the Offered Securities, any initial public offering price and other terms of the offering of those Offered Securities.
FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and/or the Trust may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase the Offered Securities from FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and/or the Trust at the public offering price and on the terms described in the related prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future.
The Offered Securities may also be offered and sold, if so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more firms, which are referred to herein as the "remarketing firms," acting as principals for their own accounts or as agent for FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and/or the applicable Trust, as applicable. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreement, if any, with FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and/or the Trust, and its compensation will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Remarketing firms may be
74
deemed to be underwriters, as that term is defined in the Securities Act of 1933, in connection with the securities remarketed thereby.
In compliance with guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA"), the maximum consideration or discount to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker may not exceed 8% of the aggregate amount of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.
FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and/or the Trust may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and/or the Trust or borrowed from any of them or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of securities, and may use securities received from FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and/or the Trust in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of securities. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
FPL Group, FPL Group Capital and/or the Trust may have agreements to indemnify underwriters, dealers and agents against, or to contribute to payments which the underwriters, dealers and agents may be required to make in respect of, certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.
75
The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference from FPL Group's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, and the effectiveness of FPL Group's internal control over financial reporting, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, New York, New York and Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P., West Palm Beach, Florida, co-counsel to FPL Group, FPL Group Capital, FPL Group Capital Trust II, FPL Group Capital Trust III, FPL Group Trust I and FPL Group Trust II, will pass upon the legality of the Offered Securities for FPL Group, FPL Group Capital, FPL Group Capital Trust II, FPL Group Capital Trust III, FPL Group Trust I and FPL Group Trust II. Hunton & Williams LLP, New York, New York, will pass upon the legality of the Offered Securities for any underwriter, dealer or agent. Certain matters of Delaware law relating to the validity of the Preferred Trust Securities, the enforceability of the Trust Agreement and the creation of the Trust will be passed upon by Morris James LLP, special Delaware counsel to FPL Group, FPL Group Capital, FPL Group Capital Trust II, FPL Group Capital Trust III, FPL Group Trust I and FPL Group Trust II. Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP and Hunton & Williams LLP may rely as to all matters of Florida law upon the opinion of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P., and on the opinion of Morris James LLP, as to matters involving the law of the State of Delaware in connection with the Preferred Trust Securities. Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P. may rely as to all matters of New York law upon the opinion of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, and on the opinion of Morris James LLP, as to matters involving the law of the State of Delaware in connection with the Preferred Trust Securities.
You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or in any written communication from FPL Group, FPL Group Capital or the Trust specifying the final terms of a particular offering of securities. Neither FPL Group, FPL Group Capital nor the Trust has authorized anyone else to provide you with additional or different information. Neither FPL Group, FPL Group Capital nor the Trust is making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents or that the information incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document incorporated by reference.
76
NextEra Energy, Inc.
12,000,000 Equity Units
(Initially Consisting of 12,000,000 Corporate Units)
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
May 1, 2012
BofA Merrill Lynch