NEXTERA ENERGY INC filed this 424B2 on 06/17/2026
NEXTERA ENERGY INC - 424B2 - 20260617 - SECURITIES_DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION OF NEE CAPITAL SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES

General. NEE Capital may issue its senior debt securities, in one or more series, under an Indenture, dated as of June 1, 1999, between NEE 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.” The senior debt securities of NEE Capital offered pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement are referred to as the “Offered Senior Debt Securities.”

The Indenture provides for the issuance from time to time of debentures, notes or other senior debt by NEE Capital in an unlimited amount. The Offered Senior Debt Securities and all other debentures, notes or other debt of NEE Capital issued previously or hereafter 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 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 NEE Capital may from time to time, without notice to, or the consent of any existing holders of the previously-issued 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 issue date and, if applicable, the initial interest payment date. The additional Offered Senior Debt Securities will 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. NEE Capital will include some or all of the following information about a specific series of Offered Senior Debt Securities in a prospectus supplement relating to that specific series of Offered Senior Debt Securities:

 

  (1)

the title of those Offered Senior Debt Securities,

 

  (2)

any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of those Offered Senior Debt Securities,

 

  (3)

the date(s) on which the principal of those Offered Senior Debt Securities will be paid,

 

  (4)

the rate(s) of interest on those Offered Senior Debt Securities, or how the rate(s) of interest will be determined, the date(s) from which interest will accrue, the dates on which interest will be paid and the record date for any interest payable on any interest payment date,

 

  (5)

the person to whom interest will be paid on those Offered Senior Debt Securities on any interest payment date, if other than the person in whose name those Offered Senior Debt Securities are registered at the close of business on the record date for that interest payment,

 

  (6)

the place(s) at which or methods by which payments will be made on those Offered Senior Debt Securities and the place(s) at which or methods by which the registered owners of those Offered Senior Debt Securities may transfer or exchange those Offered Senior Debt Securities and serve notices and demands to or upon NEE Capital,

 

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  (7)

the security registrar and any paying agent or agents for those Offered Senior Debt Securities,

 

  (8)

any date(s) on which, the price(s) at which and the terms and conditions upon which those Offered Senior Debt Securities may be redeemed at the option of NEE Capital, in whole or in part, and any restrictions on those redemptions,

 

  (9)

any sinking fund or other provisions, including any options held by the registered owners of those Offered Senior Debt Securities, that would obligate NEE Capital to repurchase or redeem those Offered Senior Debt Securities,

 

  (10)

the denominations in which those Offered Senior Debt Securities may be issued, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000,

 

  (11)

the currency or currencies in which the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on those Offered Senior Debt Securities may be paid (if other than in U.S. dollars),

 

  (12)

if NEE Capital or a registered owner may elect to pay, or receive, principal of or premium, if any, or interest on those Offered Senior Debt Securities in a currency other than that in which those Offered Senior Debt Securities are stated to be payable, the terms and conditions upon which that election may be made,

 

  (13)

if the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on those Offered Senior Debt Securities are payable in securities or other property, the type and amount of those securities or other property and the terms and conditions upon which NEE Capital or a registered owner may elect to pay or receive those payments,

 

  (14)

if the amount payable in respect of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on those Offered Senior Debt Securities may be determined by reference to an index or other fact or event ascertainable outside of the Indenture, the manner in which those amounts will be determined,

 

  (15)

the portion of the principal amount of those Offered Senior Debt Securities that will be paid upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity of those Offered Senior Debt Securities, if other than the entire principal amount of those Offered Senior Debt Securities,

 

  (16)

events of default, if any, with respect to those Offered Senior Debt Securities and covenants of NEE Capital, if any, for the benefit of the registered owners of those Offered Senior Debt Securities, other than those specified in the Indenture,

 

  (17)

the terms, if any, pursuant to which those Offered Senior Debt Securities may be converted into or exchanged for shares of capital stock or other securities of any other entity,

 

  (18)

a definition of “Eligible Obligations” under the Indenture with respect to those Offered Senior Debt Securities denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars,

 

  (19)

any provisions for the reinstatement of NEE Capital’s indebtedness in respect of those Offered Senior Debt Securities after their satisfaction and discharge,

 

  (20)

if those Offered Senior Debt Securities will be issued in global form, necessary information relating to the issuance of those Offered Senior Debt Securities in global form,

 

  (21)

if those Offered Senior Debt Securities will be issued as bearer securities, necessary information relating to the issuance of those Offered Senior Debt Securities as bearer securities,

 

  (22)

any limits on the rights of the registered owners of those Offered Senior Debt Securities to transfer or exchange those Offered Senior Debt Securities or to register their transfer, and any related service charges,

 

  (23)

any exceptions to the provisions governing payments due on legal holidays or any variations in the definition of business day with respect to those Offered Senior Debt Securities,

 

  (24)

other than the Guarantee described under “Description of NEE Guarantee of NEE Capital Senior Debt Securities” below, any collateral security, assurance, or guarantee for those Offered Senior Debt Securities, and

 

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  (25)

any other terms of those Offered Senior Debt Securities that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Indenture. (Indenture, Section 301).

NEE 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 NEE Capital or NEE.

Security and Ranking. The Offered Senior Debt Securities will be unsecured obligations of NEE Capital. The Indenture does not limit NEE 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 NEE 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 NEE Capital’s Subordinated Debt Securities and NEE Capital’s Junior Subordinated Debentures. The Indenture does not limit NEE Capital’s ability to issue other unsecured debt.

While 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 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 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 of this indebtedness will effectively be senior to the Senior Debt Securities. The Indenture does not place any limit on the amount of liabilities, including debt or preferred stock, that NEE Capital’s subsidiaries may issue, guarantee or incur. See “Description of NEE Common Stock—Common Stock Terms—Dividend Rights” for a description of contractual restrictions on the dividend-paying ability of NEE Capital.

Payment and Paying Agents. Except as stated in the related prospectus supplement, on each interest payment date NEE 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 record date relating to that interest payment date. However, on the date that the Offered Senior Debt Securities mature, NEE Capital will pay the interest to the person to whom it pays the principal. Also, if NEE 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:

 

  (1)

as of the close of business on a date that the Indenture Trustee selects, which may not be more than 15 days or less than 10 days before the date that NEE Capital proposes to pay the defaulted interest, or

 

  (2)

in any other lawful manner that does not violate the requirements of any securities exchange on which that Offered Senior Debt Security is listed and that the Indenture Trustee believes is practicable. (Indenture, Section 307).

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 New York City. NEE Capital may change the place of payment on the Offered Senior Debt Securities, appoint one or more additional paying agents, including NEE Capital, and remove any paying agent. (Indenture, Section 602).

 

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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 New York City. NEE 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, NEE Capital may require payment of any tax or other governmental charge in connection with any transfer or exchange of the Offered Senior Debt Securities.

NEE Capital will not be required to transfer or exchange any Offered Senior Debt Security selected for redemption. Also, NEE Capital will not be required to transfer or exchange any Offered Senior Debt Security during a period of 15 days before notice is to be given identifying the Offered Senior Debt Securities selected to be redeemed. (Indenture, Section 305).

Defeasance. NEE 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, NEE Capital must irrevocably deposit with the Indenture Trustee or any paying agent, in trust:

 

  (1)

money in an amount that 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

 

  (2)

in the case of a deposit made prior to the maturity of that series of Senior Debt Securities,

 

  (a)

direct obligations of, or obligations unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States and entitled to the benefit of its full faith and credit that do not contain provisions permitting their redemption or other prepayment at the option of their issuer, and

 

  (b)

certificates, depositary receipts or other instruments that evidence a direct ownership interest in those obligations or in any specific interest or principal payments due in respect of those obligations that do not contain provisions permitting their redemption or other prepayment at the option of their issuer,

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

 

  (3)

a combination of (1) and (2) that 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. (Indenture, Section 701).

Limitation on Liens. So long as any Senior Debt Securities remain outstanding, NEE 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 NEE Capital now or hereafter directly owns, unless NEE Capital equally secures all Senior Debt Securities. However, this restriction does not apply to or prevent:

 

  (1)

any lien on capital stock created at the time NEE Capital acquires that capital stock, or within 270 days after that time, to secure all or a portion of the purchase price for that capital stock,

 

  (2)

any lien on capital stock existing at the time NEE Capital acquires that capital stock (whether or not NEE Capital assumes the obligations secured by the lien and whether or not the lien was created in contemplation of the acquisition),

 

  (3)

any extensions, renewals or replacements of the liens described in (1) and (2) above, or of any indebtedness secured by those liens; provided, that,

 

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  (a)

the principal amount of indebtedness secured by those liens immediately after the extension, renewal or replacement may not exceed the principal amount of indebtedness secured by those liens immediately before the extension, renewal or replacement, and

 

  (b)

the extension, renewal or replacement lien is limited to no more than the same proportion of all shares of capital stock as were covered by the lien that was extended, renewed or replaced, or

 

  (4)

any lien arising in connection with court proceedings; provided that, either

 

  (a)

the execution or enforcement of that lien is effectively stayed within 30 days after entry of the corresponding judgment (or the corresponding judgment has been discharged within that 30 day period) and the claims secured by that lien are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings,

 

  (b)

the payment of that lien is covered in full by insurance and the insurance company has not denied or contested coverage, or

 

  (c)

so long as that lien is adequately bonded, any appropriate legal proceedings that have been duly initiated for the review of the corresponding judgment, decree or order have not been fully terminated or the periods within which those proceedings may be initiated have not expired.

Liens on any shares of the capital stock of any of NEE Capital’s majority-owned subsidiaries, which shares of capital stock NEE 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 NEE Capital creates any Restricted Liens to secure indebtedness that, together with all other indebtedness of NEE Capital secured by Restricted Liens, does not at the time exceed 5% of NEE Capital’s Consolidated Capitalization. (Indenture, Section 608).

For this purpose, “Consolidated Capitalization” means the sum of:

 

  (1)

Consolidated Shareholders’ Equity,

 

  (2)

Consolidated Indebtedness for borrowed money (exclusive of any amounts which are due and payable within one year), and, without duplication,

 

  (3)

any preference or preferred stock of NEE Capital or any Consolidated Subsidiary which is subject to mandatory redemption or sinking fund provisions.

The term “Consolidated Shareholders’ Equity” as used above means the total assets of NEE Capital and its Consolidated Subsidiaries less all liabilities of NEE 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:

 

  (1)

indebtedness secured by property of NEE Capital or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries whether or not NEE Capital or such Consolidated Subsidiary is liable for the payment thereof unless, in the case that NEE Capital or such Consolidated Subsidiary is not so liable, such property has not been included among the assets of NEE Capital or such Consolidated Subsidiary on such balance sheet,

 

  (2)

deferred liabilities, and

 

  (3)

indebtedness of NEE Capital or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries that is expressly subordinated in right and priority of payment to other liabilities of NEE Capital or such Consolidated Subsidiary.

As used in this definition, “liabilities” includes preference or preferred stock of NEE 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 NEE Capital and its Consolidated Subsidiaries.

 

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The term “Consolidated Subsidiary,” means at any date any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary whose financial statements would be consolidated with those of NEE Capital in NEE 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:

 

  (1)

NEE Capital to place liens on any of its assets other than the capital stock of directly held, majority-owned subsidiaries,

 

  (2)

NEE Capital or NEE to cause the transfer of its assets or those of its subsidiaries, including the capital stock covered by the foregoing restrictions,

 

  (3)

NEE to place liens on any of its assets, or

 

  (4)

any of the direct or indirect subsidiaries of NEE Capital or NEE (other than NEE Capital) to place liens on any of their assets.

Redemption. The redemption terms of the Offered Senior Debt Securities, if any, will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise provided in the related prospectus supplement, and except with respect to Offered Senior Debt Securities redeemable at the option of the holder, Offered Senior Debt Securities will be redeemable upon notice between 30 and 60 days prior to the redemption date. NEE Capital has reserved the right to amend the Indenture without any consent, vote or other action of the holders of any Senior Debt Securities issued under the Indenture after December 1, 2021, including the Offered Senior Debt Securities, to provide that notice of any redemption shall be given in the manner provided in the Indenture to the holders of the Senior Debt Securities to be redeemed not less than 10 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date. If less than all of the Offered Senior Debt Securities of any series or any tranche thereof are to be redeemed, the Security Registrar will select the Offered Senior Debt Securities to be redeemed. In the absence of any provision for selection, the Security Registrar will choose such method of selection as it deems fair and appropriate. (Indenture, Sections 403 and 404).

Offered Senior Debt Securities 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 Offered Senior Debt Securities are surrendered for redemption. (Indenture, Section 405). Except as stated in the related prospectus supplement, on the redemption date NEE Capital will pay interest on the Offered Senior Debt Securities being redeemed to the person to whom it pays the redemption price. If only part of an Offered Senior Debt Security is redeemed, the Indenture Trustee will deliver a new Offered Senior Debt Security of the same series for the remaining portion without charge. (Indenture, Section 406).

Any redemption at the option of NEE Capital 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 at the time notice of redemption is given, the redemption moneys are not on deposit with the paying agent, then, if such notice so provides, the redemption shall be subject to the receipt of the redemption moneys on or before the Redemption Date and such notice of redemption shall be of no force or effect unless such moneys are received. (Indenture, Section 404).

Purchase of the Offered Senior Debt Securities. NEE Capital or its affiliates, may at any time and from time to time, purchase all or some of the Offered Senior Debt Securities at any price or prices, whether by tender, in the open market or by private agreement or otherwise, subject to applicable law.

Consolidation, Merger, and Sale of Assets. Under the Indenture, NEE 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:

 

  (1)

the entity formed by that consolidation, or the entity into which NEE Capital is merged, or the entity that acquires or leases NEE Capital’s properties and assets, is an entity organized and existing under

 

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  the laws of the United States, any state or the District of Columbia and that entity expressly assumes NEE Capital’s obligations on all Senior Debt Securities and under the Indenture,

 

  (2)

immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default under the Indenture and no event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default under the Indenture exists, and

 

  (3)

NEE Capital delivers an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel to the Indenture Trustee, as provided in the Indenture. (Indenture, Section 1101).

The Indenture does not restrict NEE Capital in a merger in which NEE 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:

 

  (1)

failure to pay interest on the Senior Debt Securities of that series within 30 days after it is due,

 

  (2)

failure to pay principal or premium, if any, on the Senior Debt Securities of that series when it is due,

 

  (3)

failure to perform, or breach of, any other covenant or warranty in the Indenture, other than a covenant or warranty that does not relate to that series of Senior Debt Securities, that continues for 90 days after (i) NEE Capital receives written notice of such failure to comply from the Indenture Trustee or (ii) NEE Capital and the Indenture Trustee receive written notice of such failure to comply from the registered owners of at least 33% in principal amount of the Senior Debt Securities of that series,

 

  (4)

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of NEE Capital, or

 

  (5)

any other event of default specified with respect to the Senior Debt Securities of that series. (Indenture, Section 801).

In the case of an event of default listed in item (3) 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 NEE 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 all the Senior Debt Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. (Indenture, Section 802). 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. Such a Senior Debt Security is defined as a “Discount Security” in the Indenture.

If an event of default is applicable to all outstanding Senior Debt Securities, then either (i) the Indenture Trustee or (ii) 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:

 

  (1)

NEE Capital pays or deposits with the Indenture Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:

 

  (a)

all overdue interest on all Senior Debt Securities of that series,

 

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  (b)

the principal of and any premium on any Senior Debt Securities of that series that have become due for reasons other than that declaration, and interest that is then due,

 

  (c)

interest on overdue interest for that series, and

 

  (d)

all amounts then due to the Indenture Trustee under the Indenture, and

 

  (2)

any other event of default with respect to the Senior Debt Securities of that series has been cured or waived as provided in the Indenture. (Indenture, Section 802).

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 of the Senior Debt Securities, 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 the indemnity would not, in the Indenture Trustee’s sole discretion, be adequate, and the Indenture Trustee may take any other action that it deems proper and not inconsistent with such direction. (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:

 

  (1)

that registered owner has previously given to the Indenture Trustee written notice of a continuing event of default with respect to the Senior Debt Securities of that series,

 

  (2)

the registered owners of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Senior Debt Securities of all series in respect of which an event of default under the Indenture exists, considered as one class, have made written request to the Indenture Trustee to institute that proceeding in its own name as trustee, and have offered reasonable indemnity to the Indenture Trustee against related costs, expenses and liabilities,

 

  (3)

the Indenture Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of that notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding, and

 

  (4)

no direction inconsistent with that request was given to the Indenture Trustee during this 60 day period by the registered owners of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Senior Debt Securities of all series in respect of which an event of default under the Indenture exists, considered as one class. (Indenture, Section 807).

NEE 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, NEE Capital and the Indenture Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture for any of the following purposes:

 

  (1)

to provide for the assumption by any permitted successor to NEE Capital of NEE Capital’s obligations under the Indenture and the Senior Debt Securities in the case of a merger or consolidation or a conveyance, transfer or lease of NEE Capital’s properties and assets substantially as an entirety,

 

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  (2)

to add covenants of NEE Capital or to surrender any right or power conferred upon NEE Capital by the Indenture,

 

  (3)

to add any additional events of default,

 

  (4)

to change, eliminate or add any provision of the Indenture, provided that if that change, elimination or addition will materially adversely affect the interests of the registered owners of Senior Debt Securities of any series or tranche, that change, elimination or addition will become effective with respect to that particular series or tranche only

 

  (a)

when the required consent of the registered owners of Senior Debt Securities of that particular series or tranche has been obtained, or

 

  (b)

when no Senior Debt Securities of that particular series or tranche remain outstanding under the Indenture,

 

  (5)

to provide collateral security for all but not a part of the Senior Debt Securities,

 

  (6)

to create the form or terms of Senior Debt Securities of any other series or tranche,

 

  (7)

to provide for the authentication and delivery of bearer securities and the related coupons and for other matters relating to those bearer securities,

 

  (8)

to accept the appointment of a successor Indenture Trustee with respect to the Senior Debt Securities of one or more series and to change any of the provisions of the Indenture as necessary to provide for the administration of the trusts under the Indenture by more than one trustee,

 

  (9)

to add procedures to permit the use of a non-certificated system of registration for all, or any series or tranche of, the Senior Debt Securities,

 

  (10)

to change any place where

 

  (a)

the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all, or any series or tranche of, Senior Debt Securities are payable,

 

  (b)

all, or any series or tranche of, Senior Debt Securities may be surrendered for registration, transfer, or exchange, and

 

  (c)

notices and demands to or upon NEE Capital in respect of Senior Debt Securities and the Indenture may be served, or

 

  (11)

to cure any ambiguity or inconsistency or to add or change any other provisions with respect to matters and questions arising under the Indenture, provided those changes or additions may not materially adversely affect the interests of the registered owners of Senior Debt Securities of any series or tranche. (Indenture, Section 1201).

The registered owners of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Senior Debt Securities of all series then outstanding may waive compliance by NEE 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. NEE Capital and the Indenture Trustee may, without the consent of any registered owners, enter into supplemental indentures to make that amendment. (Indenture, Section 1201).

 

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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 NEE 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:

 

  (1)

change the dates on which the principal of or interest on a Senior Debt Security is due without the consent of the registered owner of that Senior Debt Security,

 

  (2)

reduce any Senior Debt Security’s principal amount or rate of interest (or the amount of any installment of that interest) or change the method of calculating that rate without the consent of the registered owner of that Senior Debt Security,

 

  (3)

reduce any premium payable upon the redemption of a Senior Debt Security without the consent of the registered owner of that Senior Debt Security,

 

  (4)

change the currency (or other property) in which a Senior Debt Security is payable without the consent of the registered owner of that Senior Debt Security,

 

  (5)

impair the right to sue to enforce payments on any Senior Debt Security on or after the date that it states that the payment is due (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date) without the consent of the registered owner of that Senior Debt Security,

 

  (6)

reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding Senior Debt Securities of any series or tranche whose owners must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver without the consent of the registered owner of each outstanding Senior Debt Security of that particular series or tranche,

 

  (7)

reduce the requirements for quorum or voting of any series or tranche without the consent of the registered owner of each outstanding Senior Debt Security of that particular series or tranche, or

 

  (8)

modify certain of the provisions of the Indenture relating to supplemental indentures, waivers of certain covenants and waivers of past defaults with respect to the Senior Debt Securities of any series or tranche, without the consent of the registered owner of each outstanding Senior Debt Security affected by the modification.

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 NEE Capital or any other obligor upon the Senior Debt Securities or any affiliate of NEE Capital or of that other obligor (unless NEE 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 NEE Capital solicits any action under the Indenture from registered owners of Senior Debt Securities, NEE Capital may, at its option, fix in advance a record date for determining the registered owners of Senior Debt

 

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Securities entitled to take that action, but NEE Capital will not be obligated to do so. If NEE 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 NEE 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 NEE 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 NEE 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.

Except with respect to a trustee under the Indenture 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:

 

  (1)

no event of default under the Indenture or event that, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an event of default under the Indenture exists, and

 

  (2)

NEE Capital has delivered to the Indenture Trustee a resolution of its Board of Directors appointing a successor trustee and that successor trustee has accepted that appointment in accordance with the terms of the Indenture. (Indenture, Section 910).

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. NEE Capital, the Indenture Trustee, and any agent of NEE 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).

 

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