UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) November 4, 2024
Xcel Energy Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Minnesota
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
| 001-3034 | 41-0448030 | |
(Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
| 414 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota | 55401 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (612) 330-5500
N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
| ☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
| Common Stock, $2.50 par value per share | XEL | Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
| Item 1.01. | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
On November 4, 2024, Xcel Energy Inc., a Minnesota corporation (“Xcel Energy”), entered into separate forward sale agreements with each of Barclays Bank PLC and Bank of America, N.A., each in its capacity as a forward purchaser (collectively, the “Forward Purchasers”), relating to an aggregate of 18,320,610 shares of Xcel Energy’s common stock, par value $2.50 per share (each a “Forward Sale Agreement” and, collectively, the “Forward Sale Agreements”).
In connection with the Forward Sale Agreements, Xcel Energy entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with the Forward Purchasers, Barclays Capital Inc. and BofA Securities, Inc., acting in their capacities as Forward Sellers (the “Forward Sellers”), and Barclays Capital Inc. and BofA Securities, Inc., as representatives of the underwriters named in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriters”), pursuant to which the Forward Sellers sold to the Underwriters an aggregate of 18,320,610 shares of Xcel Energy common stock. As contemplated by the Forward Sale Agreements, the Forward Sellers borrowed from third parties all such shares of common stock. In addition, the Underwriters were granted a 30-day option to purchase from time to time up to an additional 2,748,091 shares of Xcel Energy common stock upon the same terms.
The Forward Sale Agreements provide for settlement on a settlement date or dates to be specified at Xcel Energy’s discretion on or prior to June 30, 2026. On a settlement date or dates, if Xcel Energy decides to physically settle the Forward Sale Agreements, it will issue shares of common stock to the Forward Purchasers at the then-applicable forward sale price. The forward sale price will initially be $64.4356 per share. The Forward Sale Agreements provide that the initial forward sale price will be subject to adjustment on a daily basis based on a floating interest rate factor equal to the overnight bank funding rate less a spread, and will be decreased by an amount per share specified in the Forward Sale Agreements on each of certain dates specified in the Forward Sale Agreements. If the overnight bank funding rate is less than the spread on any day, the interest rate factor will result in a daily reduction of the forward sale price for such day.
Except under limited circumstances described below, Xcel Energy has the right to elect physical settlement, net share settlement or cash settlement under the Forward Sale Agreements for all or a portion of its obligations under the Forward Sale Agreements. If Xcel Energy decides to physically settle or net share settle a Forward Sale Agreement, delivery of shares of common stock by Xcel Energy to the relevant Forward Purchaser upon any physical settlement or net share settlement of such Forward Sale Agreement will result in dilution to Xcel Energy’s earnings per share. If Xcel Energy elects cash or net share settlement for all or a portion of the shares of common stock underlying a Forward Sale Agreement, Xcel Energy would expect the relevant Forward Purchaser or one of its affiliates to repurchase a number of shares of common stock equal to the portion for which Xcel Energy elects cash or net share settlement in order to satisfy its obligation to return the shares of common stock such Forward Purchaser or its affiliate had borrowed in connection with sales of common stock and, if applicable in connection with net share settlement, to deliver shares of common stock to Xcel Energy. If the market value of common stock at the time of such purchase is above the forward sale price at that time, Xcel Energy will pay or deliver, as the case may be, to the relevant Forward Purchaser under the relevant Forward Sale Agreement, an amount in cash, or a number of shares of common stock with a market value, equal to such difference. Conversely, if the market value of common stock at the time of such purchase is below the forward sale price at that time, the relevant Forward Purchaser will pay or deliver, as the case may be, to Xcel Energy under the relevant Forward Sale Agreement, an amount in cash, or a number of shares of common stock with a market value, equal to such difference.
In certain circumstances, each Forward Purchaser will have the right to accelerate its Forward Sale Agreement (or, in certain cases, the portion thereof that it determines is affected by the relevant event) and require Xcel Energy to physically settle such Forward Sale Agreement on a date specified by such Forward Purchaser. These circumstances include:
| • | in the good faith, commercially reasonable judgment of such Forward Purchaser, it or its affiliate is unable to hedge its exposure to the transactions contemplated by such Forward Sale Agreement because of the lack of sufficient shares of Xcel Energy’s common stock being made available for borrowing by stock lenders or it or its affiliate is unable to borrow such number of shares at a rate equal to or less than an agreed maximum stock loan rate; |
| • | Xcel Energy declares any dividend or distribution on shares of common stock payable in (i) cash in excess of a specified amount (other than an extraordinary dividend), (ii) securities of another company acquired or owned by us as a result of a spin-off or other similar transaction, or (iii) any other type of securities (other than Xcel Energy’s common stock), rights, warrants or other assets for payment (cash or other consideration) at less than the prevailing market price, as reasonably determined by such Forward Purchaser; |
| • | certain ownership thresholds applicable to such Forward Purchaser are exceeded; |
| • | an event is announced that, if consummated, would result in an extraordinary event (as defined in such Forward Sale Agreement) including, among other things, certain mergers and tender offers, as well as certain events such as a delisting of Xcel Energy’s common stock, or the occurrence of certain changes in law (each as more fully described in such Forward Sale Agreement); or |
| • | certain events of default or termination events occur, including, among other things, any material misrepresentation made by Xcel Energy in connection with its entry into such Forward Sale Agreement, its bankruptcy or the occurrence of an event or circumstance causing certain payments or deliveries under, or material compliance with, such forward sale agreement to be unlawful (each as more fully described in such Forward Sale Agreement). |
The foregoing description of the Forward Sale Agreements does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of each Forward Sale Agreement, which are filed as Exhibits 10.01 and 10.02 hereto.
| Item 8.01 | Other Events. |
On November 4, 2024, Xcel Energy entered into the Underwriting Agreement with the Underwriters, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers, relating to the registered public offering and sale by the Forward Sellers of 18,320,610 shares of common stock. In addition, the Underwriters were granted a 30-day option to purchase from time to time up to an additional 2,748,091 shares of Xcel Energy common stock upon the same terms.
On November 5, 2024, 18,320,610 shares of common stock were borrowed from third parties and sold to the Underwriters by the Forward Sellers.
The description of the Underwriting Agreement set forth above does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 1.01 hereto.
All of the shares of common stock offered and sold in this offering were registered pursuant to Xcel Energy’s registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form S-3 (File No. 333-278797).
This Current Report on Form 8-K is being filed to file certain documents in connection with the offering as exhibits to the Registration Statement.
| Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Xcel Energy Inc. | ||
| (a Minnesota corporation) | ||
| By: | /s/ Todd Wehner | |
| Name: | Todd Wehner | |
| Title: | Vice President, Treasurer | |
Date: November 5, 2024