outstanding Debentures is investment grade (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 outstanding Debentures as described above, NEE Capital will provide to the Indenture Trustee and the holders of the outstanding Debentures annual and quarterly reports containing the information that NEE Capital would be required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 if it were subject to the reporting requirements of either of those Sections. If NEE Capital is, at that time, subject to the reporting requirements of either of those Sections, the filing of annual and quarterly reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to either of those Sections will satisfy this requirement.
Special Event Redemption. If a special event occurs and is continuing, NEE Capital may, at its option, redeem the 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 Debenture, the redemption amount described below plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of redemption. Installments of interest on Debentures which are due and payable on or prior to a redemption date will be payable to the holders of the 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 option to redeem the Debentures, the proceeds of the redemption will be payable in cash to the holders of the Debentures.
“Special event” means either an accounting event or a tax event, each as defined below.
“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. 50—Reports 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 became effective after September 18, 2020, 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 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 Patton Boggs (US) LLP) to the effect that there is more than an insubstantial risk that interest payable by NEE Capital on the 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 by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority that provides for a position with respect to any such laws or regulations that differs from the generally accepted position on September 16, 2020, which amendment, change or proposed change is effective or which interpretation or pronouncement is announced on or after September 16, 2020.
“Redemption amount” means for each Debenture outstanding on the special event redemption date, the principal amount of the Debenture.
Notice of any redemption will be sent at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each registered holder of Debentures to be redeemed. Unless NEE Capital defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest shall cease to accrue on the Debentures. In the event any Debentures are called for redemption, neither NEE Capital nor the Indenture Trustee will be required to register the transfer of or exchange of the Debentures to be redeemed.
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