Duke Energy files counsel opinion and Exhibit 5.1 consent on 8-K
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Duke Energy Corporation filed an Item 1.01/8-K dated September 11, 2025 that includes written communications and soliciting/pre-commencement communications references under Rules 425, 14a-12, 14d-2(b) and 13e-4(c). The filing lists multiple Duke Energy securities (common stock; 5.625% Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2078; depositary shares representing 5.75% Series A preferred; and senior notes due 2028, 2031 and 2034) and indicates New York Stock Exchange listings. The filing expressly includes an opinion of Elizabeth H. Jones regarding the validity of the securities and her consent (included as part of Exhibit 5.1). The document is signed by an Assistant Corporate Secretary for Duke Energy Corporation on the stated date.
Positive
- Inclusion of counsel opinion from Elizabeth H. Jones regarding the validity of the securities, improving legal certainty
- Attorney consent included as Exhibit 5.1, fulfilling common SEC filing requirements for legal opinions
Negative
- None.
Insights
TL;DR: Routine corporate filing adding counsel opinion and consent—administrative rather than materially transformative.
The filing appears to be procedural: it identifies securities and references communications rules while attaching a legal opinion on securities validity and the attorney's consent as Exhibit 5.1. Such opinions and consents are common in connection with offerings, registrations, or solicitation materials and primarily address legal formality and compliance. There is no operating performance, financing amount, or transaction economic detail provided in the text, so material investor impact cannot be established from the supplied content alone.
TL;DR: Compliance-focused disclosure confirming counsel opinion and consent; no new financial terms or changes disclosed.
The document references rules governing written and pre-commencement communications and lists multiple classes of Duke Energy securities with exchange listings, implying regulatory housekeeping tied to securities validity. The presence of an attorney opinion and consent indicates legal review was obtained for issued or proposed securities, but the excerpt lacks specifics on any offering, solicitation details, or amounts. From a compliance perspective this supports procedural adequacy but provides no quantifiable impact information.
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):
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)
(
(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)) |
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 |
|
| ||||
| 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 |
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 8.01. Other Events.
On September 11, 2025, Duke Energy Corporation (the “Company”) consummated the issuance and sale of the securities described below pursuant to an underwriting agreement, dated September 8, 2025 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), with Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Mizuho Securities USA LLC, MUFG Securities Americas Inc., PNC Capital Markets LLC, Truist Securities, Inc., and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to the Underwriters $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 4.95% Senior Notes due 2035 and $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.70% Senior Notes due 2055 (collectively, the “Securities”). The Securities were sold to the Underwriters at discounts to their principal amounts. The Securities were issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of June 3, 2008 (the “Indenture”), by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), as amended and supplemented by various supplemental indentures thereto, including the Thirty-fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 11, 2025 (the “Supplemental Indenture”), between the Company and the Trustee. The disclosure in this Item 8.01 is qualified in its entirety by the provisions of the Indenture, the Supplemental Indenture, together with the forms of global notes evidencing the Securities included therein, which is filed as Exhibit 4.1 hereto, and the Underwriting Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 99.1 hereto. Such exhibits are incorporated herein by reference. Also, in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities, the Company is filing a legal opinion regarding the validity of the Securities as Exhibit 5.1 to this Form 8-K for the purpose of incorporating such opinion into the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3, No. 333-267583.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
| (d) | Exhibits. |
| 4.1 | Thirty-fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 11, 2025, to the Indenture, dated as of June 3, 2008, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, and forms of global notes included therein | |
| 5.1 | Opinion of Elizabeth H. Jones regarding validity of the Securities | |
| 23.1 | Consent of Elizabeth H. Jones (included as part of Exhibit 5.1) | |
| 99.1 | Underwriting Agreement, dated September 8, 2025, among the Company and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Mizuho Securities USA LLC, MUFG Securities Americas Inc., PNC Capital Markets LLC, Truist Securities, Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein | |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data file (the Cover Page Interactive Data file is embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and 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: September 11, 2025 | |||
| By: | /s/ Elizabeth H. Jones | ||
| Name: | Elizabeth H. Jones | ||
| Title: | Assistant Corporate Secretary | ||
FAQ
What does the 8-K for Duke Energy Corporation dated September 11, 2025 disclose?
Does the filing state any new securities issuance amounts or transaction terms for Duke Energy (DUK)?
Who provided the legal opinion and consent in the Duke Energy 8-K?
Does this 8-K indicate any change in company officers or management for Duke Energy?
Are the listed Duke Energy securities traded on an exchange?
