Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) sells $1.5B 3.000% convertible notes due 2029
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Duke Energy Corporation created a new direct financial obligation by issuing
The notes are senior, unsecured obligations and are convertible into cash, or cash plus shares of common stock, at Duke Energy’s election. The initial conversion rate is 6.2277 shares per
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Insights
Duke Energy raises $1.5B via 3% convertible notes maturing 2029.
Duke Energy has issued
The initial conversion price of about
Events of default and a Fundamental Change give noteholders protections, including a 100% cash repurchase right and potential conversion-rate increases on a Make-Whole Fundamental Change. Overall impact on leverage, interest expense, and potential dilution will be clearer when future filings detail use of proceeds and balance sheet effects.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
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(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
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:
| 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)) |
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. |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Registrant | Title of each class: | Trading
Symbol(s): |
Name
of each exchange on which registered: | |||
| Duke Energy Corporation |
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| Duke Energy Corporation | ||||||
| Duke Energy Corporation | , each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of 5.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share | |||||
| Duke Energy Corporation | ||||||
| Duke Energy Corporation | ||||||
| Duke Energy Corporation |
Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
On March 12, 2026, Duke Energy Corporation (the “Corporation”) completed the sale of $1,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 3.000% Convertible Senior Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”), which included an additional $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes purchased pursuant to the full exercise of the option granted to the Initial Purchasers (as defined herein) pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined herein), in a private offering to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Notes were sold under a purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) dated March 9, 2026 among the Corporation and the initial purchasers (the “Initial Purchasers”) party thereto. The Notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 3.000% per year, payable semiannually in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning on September 15, 2026. The Notes will be convertible into cash or a combination of cash and shares of the Corporation’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share (“Common Stock”), as described below. The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Corporation, and will mature on March 15, 2029, unless earlier converted or repurchased in accordance with their terms.
The Corporation issued the Notes pursuant to an indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of March 12, 2026 by and between the Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”).
Prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding December 15, 2028, the Notes will be convertible at the option of the holders only under certain conditions. On or after December 15, 2028 until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date, holders may convert all or any portion of their Notes at their option at any time at the conversion rate then in effect, irrespective of these conditions.
The Corporation will settle conversions of the Notes by paying cash up to the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be converted and paying or delivering, as the case may be, cash, shares of its Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of its Common Stock, at its election, in respect of the remainder, if any, of its conversion obligation in excess of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes being converted. The conversion rate for the Notes will initially be 6.2277 shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $160.57 per share of Common Stock). The initial conversion price of the Notes represents a premium of approximately 22.50% over the last reported sale price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on March 9, 2026. The conversion rate and the corresponding conversion price will be subject to adjustment in some events but will not be adjusted for any accrued and unpaid interest. The Corporation may not redeem the Notes prior to the maturity date.
If the Corporation undergoes a Fundamental Change (as defined in the Indenture), subject to certain conditions, holders of the Notes may require the Corporation to repurchase for cash all or any portion of their Notes at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date (as defined in the Indenture). In addition, if a Make-Whole Fundamental Change (as defined in the Indenture) occurs, the Corporation may be required, in certain circumstances, to increase the conversion rate for any Notes converted in connection with such Make-Whole Fundamental Change by a specified number of shares of its Common Stock.
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The Indenture provides for customary events of default, which include (subject in certain cases to grace and cure periods), among others: nonpayment of principal or interest; breach of covenants or other agreements in the Indenture; and certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization. Generally, if an event of default occurs and is continuing under the Indenture, either the Trustee or the holders of at least 33% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may declare the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes to be immediately due and payable.
The Notes will be the Corporation’s direct, unsecured and unsubordinated obligations, ranking equally in priority with all of the Corporation’s existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness and senior in right of payment to all of the Corporation’s existing and future subordinated debt.
The disclosure in this Item 2.03 is qualified in its entirety by the provisions of the Indenture, together with the form of global note evidencing the Notes included therein, which is filed as Exhibit 4.1 hereto. Such exhibit is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.
The information included or incorporated by reference in Item 2.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K. The Notes were sold to the Initial Purchasers in reliance on the exemption from the registration requirements provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act for resale to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers as defined in, and in reliance on, Rule 144A of the Securities Act.
The Notes and the underlying shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes, if any, have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. Initially, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes, including pursuant to any increase in the conversion rate for any Notes converted in connection with a Make-Whole Fundamental Change, is 11,443,350, subject to anti-dilution adjustments.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
| (d) | Exhibits. |
| 4.1 | Indenture, dated as of March 12, 2026 by and between Duke Energy Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, and form of global note included therein | |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data file (the Cover Page Interactive Data file is embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
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SIGNATURE
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.
| DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION | |||
| Date: March 12, 2026 | |||
| By: | /s/ Elizabeth H. Jones | ||
| Name: | Elizabeth H. Jones | ||
| Title: | Assistant Corporate Secretary | ||
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FAQ
What did Duke Energy (DUK) announce in this Form 8-K?
What are the key terms of Duke Energy’s new 3.000% Convertible Senior Notes?
How does the conversion feature work on Duke Energy’s new notes?
When can holders convert Duke Energy’s 3.000% Convertible Senior Notes?
How many Duke Energy shares could be issued upon conversion of the notes?
Are Duke Energy’s new convertible notes and underlying shares registered with the SEC?
Filing Exhibits & Attachments
5 documents