FPL is subject to the terms of its Mortgage and Deed of Trust dated as of January 1,
1944, with Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as mortgage trustee, as amended and supplemented from time to time (the FPL Mortgage), that secures its obligations under outstanding first mortgage bonds issued by it from time to time.
In specified circumstances, the terms of the FPL Mortgage could restrict the amount of retained earnings that FPL can use to pay cash dividends on its common stock. As of December 31, 2023, no retained earnings were restricted by these
provisions of the FPL Mortgage.
Other contractual restrictions on the dividend-paying ability of
NEE and its subsidiaries are contained in outstanding financing arrangements, and similar or other restrictions may be included in future financing arrangements. As of the date of this prospectus, NEE has equity units outstanding. In accordance with
the terms of the equity units, NEE 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.
As of the date of this prospectus, NEE Capital has junior subordinated debentures outstanding. In accordance with the terms of the junior subordinated debentures NEE Capital has the right, from time to time, to defer the payment of interest on its
outstanding junior subordinated debentures on one or more occasions for up to ten consecutive years. NEE, NEE Capital and FPL 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 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 the common stock during the periods in which such payments were deferred or such payment defaults continued. In the event that FPL was to issue equity units, junior subordinated debentures or other securities having
similar provisions and was to exercise any such right to defer the payment of interest or other payments on such securities, or if there was to occur certain payment defaults on those securities, FPL would not be able, with limited exceptions, to
pay dividends to NEE or any other holder of its common stock or preferred stock during the periods in which such payments were deferred or such payment defaults continued. In addition, NEE, NEE Capital and FPL might issue other securities in the
future containing similar or other restrictions on, or that affect, NEEs ability to pay dividends on its common stock or preferred stock and on the ability of NEEs subsidiaries, including NEE Capital and FPL, to pay dividends to any
holder of their respective common stock or preferred stock, including NEE.
In addition, the right of the holders of NEEs 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 (including NEE)
of FPL or NEE Capital, as the case may be, common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, to receive dividends might become subject to the preferential dividend, redemption, sinking fund or other rights of the holders of any series of FPL or
NEE Capital, as the case may be, 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 common stock are entitled to share equally and ratably in any assets remaining after NEE has 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 common stock do not have any preemptive, subscription, conversion or sinking fund rights. The common stock is not subject to redemption.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions in NEEs Charter and NEEs Bylaws
NEEs Charter and NEEs Bylaws contain provisions that may make it difficult and expensive for a third party to pursue a takeover
attempt that NEEs board of directors and management oppose even if a change in control of NEE might be beneficial to the interests of holders of common stock.
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