Thirty-first Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 5, 2024, 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

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Indenture Agreements
EX-4.1 2 tm2333823d5_ex4-1.htm EXHIBIT 4.1

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION

 

TO

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

 

Trustee

 

 

 

Thirty-first Supplemental Indenture
Dated as of January 5, 2024

 

 

 

$550,000,000 4.850% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2027

$550,000,000 4.850% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2029

  

 

 

 

  

TABLE OF CONTENTS1

 

ARTICLE I

 

4.850% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2027

 

Section 1.01.   Establishment    1
Section 1.02.   Definitions    2
Section 1.03.   Payment of Principal and Interest    3
Section 1.04.   Denominations    4
Section 1.05.   Global Securities    4
Section 1.06.   Redemption    4
Section 1.07.   Paying Agent and Security Registrar    5

 

ARTICLE II

 

4.850% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2029    

 

Section 2.01.   Establishment    5
Section 2.02.   Definitions    5
Section 2.03.   Payment of Principal and Interest    7
Section 2.04.   Denominations    8
Section 2.05.   Global Securities    8
Section 2.06.   Redemption    8
Section 2.07.   Paying Agent and Security Registrar    9

 

ARTICLE III

 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS    

 

Section 3.01.   Recitals by the Corporation    9
Section 3.02.   Ratification and Incorporation of Original Indenture    9
Section 3.03.   Instructions to Trustee    9
Section 3.04.   Executed in Counterparts; Electronic Signatures    10

 

Exhibit A – Form of 4.850% Senior Notes due 2027

Exhibit B – Certificate of Authentication

Exhibit C – Form of 4.850% Senior Notes due 2029

Exhibit D – Certificate of Authentication

  

 

1 This Table of Contents does not constitute part of the Indenture or have any bearing upon the interpretation of any of its terms and provisions.

 

 

 

THIS THIRTY-FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE is made as of the 5th day of January, 2024, by and among DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, having its principal office at 525 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina ###-###-#### (the “Corporation”), and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.), a national banking association, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, the Corporation has heretofore entered into an Indenture, dated as of June 3, 2008 (the “Original Indenture”), with The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee;

 

WHEREAS, the Original Indenture is incorporated herein by this reference and the Original Indenture, as it may be amended and supplemented to the date hereof, including by this Thirty-first Supplemental Indenture, is herein called the “Indenture”;

 

WHEREAS, under the Indenture, a new series of Securities may at any time be established in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and the terms of such series may be described by a supplemental indenture executed by the Corporation and the Trustee;

 

WHEREAS, the Corporation hereby proposes to create under the Indenture two additional series of Securities;

 

WHEREAS, additional Securities of other series hereafter established, except as may be limited in the Indenture as at the time supplemented and modified, may be issued from time to time pursuant to the Indenture as at the time supplemented and modified; and

 

WHEREAS, all conditions necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Thirty-first Supplemental Indenture and to make it a valid and binding obligation of the Corporation have been done or performed.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

4.850% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2027

 

Section 1.01.    Establishment. There is hereby established a new series of Securities to be issued under the Indenture, to be designated as the Corporation’s 4.850% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “2027 Notes”).

 

There are to be authenticated and delivered initially $550,000,000 principal amount of the 2027 Notes, and no further 2027 Notes shall be authenticated and delivered except as provided by Section 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1106 of the Original Indenture and the last paragraph of Section 301 thereof.  The 2027 Notes shall be issued in fully registered form without coupons.

 

The 2027 Notes shall be in substantially the form set out in Exhibit A hereto, and the form of the Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication for the 2027 Notes shall be in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto.

 

 

 

 

Each 2027 Note shall be dated the date of authentication thereof and shall bear interest from the date of original issuance thereof or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for.

 

Section 1.02.    Definitions. The following defined terms used in this Article I shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meanings specified below for purposes of the 2027 Notes.  Capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Original Indenture.

 

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday that is neither a Legal Holiday nor a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close, or a day on which the Corporate Trust Office is closed for business.

 

“Interest Payment Date” means each January 5 and July 5 of each year, commencing on July 5, 2024.

 

“Legal Holiday” means any day that is a legal holiday in New York, New York.

 

“Original Issue Date” means January 5, 2024.

 

“Regular Record Date” means, with respect to each Interest Payment Date, the close of business on (i) the Business Day immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date so long as all of the 2027 Notes remain in book-entry only form or (ii) the 15th calendar day next preceding such Interest Payment Date (whether or not a Business Day) if any of the 2027 Notes do not remain in book-entry only form.

 

“Stated Maturity” means January 5, 2027.

 

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the yield determined by the Corporation in accordance with the following two paragraphs.

 

The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Corporation after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third business day preceding the Redemption Date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily)—H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities—Treasury constant maturities — Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Corporation shall select, as applicable:

 

·the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to the maturity date of the 2027 Notes (the “Remaining Life”); or

 

·if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields—one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life—and shall interpolate to the maturity date of the 2027 Notes on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or

 

·if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this clause, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the Redemption Date.

 

 

 

If on the third business day preceding the Redemption Date H.15 TCM is no longer published, the Corporation shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second business day preceding such Redemption Date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the maturity date of the 2027 Notes. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the maturity date of the 2027 Notes, but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the maturity date of the 2027 Notes, one with a maturity date preceding the maturity date of the 2027 Notes and one with a maturity date following the maturity date of the 2027 Notes, the Corporation shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the maturity date of the 2027 Notes. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the maturity date of the 2027 Notes, or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Corporation shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.

 

The Corporation’s actions and determinations in determining the redemption price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty whatsoever to determine, or to verify our calculations of, the redemption price.

 

Section 1.03.    Payment of Principal and Interest. The principal of the 2027 Notes shall be due at Stated Maturity (unless earlier redeemed).  The unpaid principal amount of the 2027 Notes shall bear interest at the rate of 4.850% per annum until paid or duly provided for, such interest to accrue from January 5, 2024 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for.  Interest shall be paid semi-annually in arrears on each Interest Payment Date to the Person or Persons in whose name the 2027 Notes are registered on the applicable Regular Record Date for such Interest Payment Date; provided that interest payable at the Stated Maturity or on a Redemption Date as provided herein shall be paid to the Person to whom principal is payable.  Any such interest that is not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holders on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person or Persons in whose name the 2027 Notes are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such defaulted interest to be fixed by the Trustee (“Special Record Date”), notice whereof shall be given to Holders of the 2027 Notes not less than ten (10) days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange, if any, on which the 2027 Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by any such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Original Indenture.

 

Payments of interest on the 2027 Notes shall include interest accrued to but excluding the respective Interest Payment Dates.  Interest payments for the 2027 Notes shall be computed and paid on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.  In the event that any date on which interest is payable on the 2027 Notes is not a Business Day, then payment of the interest payable on such date shall be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or payment in respect of any such delay) with the same force and effect as if made on the date the payment was originally payable.

 

 

 

Payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the 2027 Notes shall be made in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.  Payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on 2027 Notes represented by a Global Security shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Holder of such Global Security. If any of the 2027 Notes are no longer represented by a Global Security, (i) payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest due at the Stated Maturity or earlier redemption of such 2027 Notes shall be made at the office of the Paying Agent upon surrender of such 2027 Notes to the Paying Agent and (ii) payments of interest shall be made, at the option of the Corporation, subject to such surrender where applicable, by (A) check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or (B) wire transfer at such place and to such account at a banking institution in the United States as may be designated in writing to the Trustee at least sixteen (16) days prior to the date for payment by the Person entitled thereto.

 

Section 1.04.    Denominations. The 2027 Notes shall be issued in denominations of $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

Section 1.05.   Global Securities. The 2027 Notes shall initially be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities registered in the name of the Depositary (which initially shall be The Depository Trust Company) or its nominee.  Except under the limited circumstances described below, 2027 Notes represented by such Global Security or Global Securities shall not be exchangeable for, and shall not otherwise be issuable as, 2027 Notes in definitive form.  The Global Securities described in this Article I may not be transferred except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor Depositary or its nominee.

 

A Global Security representing the 2027 Notes shall be exchangeable for 2027 Notes registered in the names of persons other than the Depositary or its nominee only if (i) the Depositary notifies the Corporation that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a Depositary for such Global Security and no successor Depositary shall have been appointed by the Corporation within 90 days of receipt by the Corporation of such notification, or if at any time the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act at a time when the Depositary is required to be so registered to act as such Depositary and no successor Depositary shall have been appointed by the Corporation within 90 days after it becomes aware of such cessation, (ii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the 2027 Notes and beneficial owners of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the 2027 Notes represented by Global Securities advise the Depositary to cease acting as Depositary, or (iii) the Corporation in its sole discretion, and subject to the procedures of the Depositary, determines that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable.  Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for 2027 Notes registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct.

 

Section 1.06.    Redemption. The Corporation may redeem the 2027 Notes, at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at the option of the Corporation, on any date (a “Redemption Date”), at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of: (i)(a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 15 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the Redemption Date; and (ii) 100% of the principal amount of the 2027 Notes to be redeemed, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

 

 

 

On or after the date of redemption, interest will cease to accrue on the 2027 Notes or portion of the 2027 Notes redeemed. However, interest will continue to accrue if the Corporation defaults in the payment of the amount due upon redemption.

 

Notice of redemption to each Holder of the 2027 Notes shall be mailed (or, as long as the Notes of this series are represented by one or more Book-Entry Debt Securities, transmitted in accordance with the Depository’s standard procedures therefor) by the Corporation, or, at the Corporation’s request, by the Trustee, in the manner provided in Section 1104 of the Original Indenture, at least ten (10) and not more than sixty (60) days prior to the date fixed for redemption.

 

The Corporation shall notify the Trustee of the redemption price with respect to any redemption of the 2027 Notes occurring before the maturity date of the 2027 Notes promptly after the calculation thereof. The Trustee shall not be responsible for calculating said redemption price.

 

If less than all of the 2027 Notes are to be redeemed, the 2027 Notes or portions of 2027 Notes to be redeemed in amounts of $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof shall be selected for redemption in accordance with the standard procedures of the Depositary.

 

The 2027 Notes shall not have a sinking fund.

 

Section 1.07.    Paying Agent and Security Registrar. The Trustee shall initially serve as Paying Agent with respect to the 2027 Notes, with the Place of Payment initially being the Corporate Trust Office.

 

ARTICLE II

 

4.850% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2029

 

Section 2.01.    Establishment. There is hereby established a new series of Securities to be issued under the Indenture, to be designated as the Corporation’s 4.850% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “2029 Notes”).

 

There are to be authenticated and delivered initially $550,000,000 principal amount of the 2029 Notes, and no further 2029 Notes shall be authenticated and delivered except as provided by Section 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1106 of the Original Indenture and the last paragraph of Section 301 thereof.  The 2029 Notes shall be issued in fully registered form without coupons.

 

The 2029 Notes shall be in substantially the form set out in Exhibit C hereto, and the form of the Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication for the 2029 Notes shall be in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit D hereto.

 

Each 2029 Note shall be dated the date of authentication thereof and shall bear interest from the date of original issuance thereof or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for.

 

Section 2.02.   Definitions. The following defined terms used in this Article II shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meanings specified below for purposes of the 2029 Notes.  Capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Original Indenture.

 

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday that is neither a Legal Holiday nor a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close, or a day on which the Corporate Trust Office is closed for business.

 

 

 

“Interest Payment Date” means each January 5 and July 5 of each year, commencing on July 5, 2024.

 

“Legal Holiday” means any day that is a legal holiday in New York, New York.

 

“Original Issue Date” means January 5, 2024.

 

“Regular Record Date” means, with respect to each Interest Payment Date, the close of business on (i) the Business Day immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date so long as all of the 2029 Notes remain in book-entry only form or (ii) the 15th calendar day next preceding such Interest Payment Date (whether or not a Business Day) if any of the 2029 Notes do not remain in book-entry only form.

 

“Stated Maturity” means January 5, 2029.

 

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the yield determined by the Corporation in accordance with the following two paragraphs.

 

The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Corporation after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third business day preceding the Redemption Date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily)—H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities—Treasury constant maturities — Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Corporation shall select, as applicable:

 

·the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to the Par Call Date (as defined below) (the “Remaining Life”); or

 

·if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields—one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life—and shall interpolate to the Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or

 

·if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this clause, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the Redemption Date.

 

If on the third business day preceding the Redemption Date H.15 TCM is no longer published, the Corporation shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second business day preceding such Redemption Date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date, but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, the Corporation shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date, or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Corporation shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.

 

 

 

The Corporation’s actions and determinations in determining the redemption price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty whatsoever to determine, or to verify our calculations of, the redemption price.

 

Section 2.03.    Payment of Principal and Interest. The principal of the 2029 Notes shall be due at Stated Maturity (unless earlier redeemed).  The unpaid principal amount of the 2029 Notes shall bear interest at the rate of 4.850% per annum until paid or duly provided for, such interest to accrue from January 5, 2024 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for.  Interest shall be paid semi-annually in arrears on each Interest Payment Date to the Person or Persons in whose name the 2029 Notes are registered on the applicable Regular Record Date for such Interest Payment Date; provided that interest payable at the Stated Maturity or on a Redemption Date as provided herein shall be paid to the Person to whom principal is payable.  Any such interest that is not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holders on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person or Persons in whose name the 2029 Notes are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such defaulted interest to be fixed by the Trustee (“Special Record Date”), notice whereof shall be given to Holders of the 2029 Notes not less than ten (10) days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange, if any, on which the 2029 Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by any such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Original Indenture.

 

Payments of interest on the 2029 Notes shall include interest accrued to but excluding the respective Interest Payment Dates.  Interest payments for the 2029 Notes shall be computed and paid on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.  In the event that any date on which interest is payable on the 2029 Notes is not a Business Day, then payment of the interest payable on such date shall be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or payment in respect of any such delay) with the same force and effect as if made on the date the payment was originally payable.

 

Payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the 2029 Notes shall be made in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.  Payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on 2029 Notes represented by a Global Security shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Holder of such Global Security. If any of the 2029 Notes are no longer represented by a Global Security, (i) payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest due at the Stated Maturity or earlier redemption of such 2029 Notes shall be made at the office of the Paying Agent upon surrender of such 2029 Notes to the Paying Agent and (ii) payments of interest shall be made, at the option of the Corporation, subject to such surrender where applicable, by (A) check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or (B) wire transfer at such place and to such account at a banking institution in the United States as may be designated in writing to the Trustee at least sixteen (16) days prior to the date for payment by the Person entitled thereto.

 

 

 

Section 2.04.    Denominations. The 2029 Notes shall be issued in denominations of $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

Section 2.05.   Global Securities. The 2029 Notes shall initially be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities registered in the name of the Depositary (which initially shall be The Depository Trust Company) or its nominee.  Except under the limited circumstances described below, 2029 Notes represented by such Global Security or Global Securities shall not be exchangeable for, and shall not otherwise be issuable as, 2029 Notes in definitive form.  The Global Securities described in this Article II may not be transferred except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor Depositary or its nominee.

 

A Global Security representing the 2029 Notes shall be exchangeable for 2029 Notes registered in the names of persons other than the Depositary or its nominee only if (i) the Depositary notifies the Corporation that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a Depositary for such Global Security and no successor Depositary shall have been appointed by the Corporation within 90 days of receipt by the Corporation of such notification, or if at any time the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act at a time when the Depositary is required to be so registered to act as such Depositary and no successor Depositary shall have been appointed by the Corporation within 90 days after it becomes aware of such cessation, (ii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the 2029 Notes and beneficial owners of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the 2029 Notes represented by Global Securities advise the Depositary to cease acting as Depositary, or (iii) the Corporation in its sole discretion, and subject to the procedures of the Depositary, determines that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable.  Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for 2029 Notes registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct.

 

Section 2.06.    Redemption. The Corporation may redeem the 2029 Notes prior to December 5, 2028 (the “Par Call Date”), at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at the option of the Corporation, on any date (a “Redemption Date”), at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of: (i)(a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the Redemption Date (assuming the 2029 Notes matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 15 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the Redemption Date; and (ii) 100% of the principal amount of the 2029 Notes to be redeemed, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

 

On or after the Par Call Date, the Corporation may redeem the 2029 Notes at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2029 Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on the 2029 Notes that are due and payable on an Interest Payment Date falling on or prior to a Redemption Date shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date to the Holders as of the close of business on the relevant Record Date.

 

On or after the date of redemption, interest will cease to accrue on the 2029 Notes or portion of the 2029 Notes redeemed. However, interest will continue to accrue if the Corporation defaults in the payment of the amount due upon redemption.

 

Notice of redemption to each Holder of the 2029 Notes shall be mailed (or, as long as the Notes of this series are represented by one or more Book-Entry Debt Securities, transmitted in accordance with the Depository’s standard procedures therefor) by the Corporation, or, at the Corporation’s request, by the Trustee, in the manner provided in Section 1104 of the Original Indenture, at least ten (10) and not more than sixty (60) days prior to the date fixed for redemption.

 

 

 

The Corporation shall notify the Trustee of the redemption price with respect to any redemption of the 2029 Notes occurring before the Par Call Date promptly after the calculation thereof. The Trustee shall not be responsible for calculating said redemption price.

 

If less than all of the 2029 Notes are to be redeemed, the 2029 Notes or portions of 2029 Notes to be redeemed in amounts of $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof shall be selected for redemption in accordance with the standard procedures of the Depositary.

 

The 2029 Notes shall not have a sinking fund.

 

Section 2.07.   Paying Agent and Security Registrar. The Trustee shall initially serve as Paying Agent with respect to the 2029 Notes, with the Place of Payment initially being the Corporate Trust Office.

 

ARTICLE III

 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

Section 3.01.    Recitals by the Corporation. The recitals in this Thirty-first Supplemental Indenture are made by the Corporation only and not by the Trustee, and all of the provisions contained in the Original Indenture in respect of the rights, privileges, immunities, powers and duties of the Trustee shall be applicable in respect of the 2027 Notes, the 2029 Notes and this Thirty-first Supplemental Indenture as fully and with like effect as if set forth herein in full.

 

Section 3.02.    Ratification and Incorporation of Original Indenture. As supplemented hereby, the Original Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and the Original Indenture and this Thirty-first Supplemental Indenture shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument.

 

Section 3.03.  Instructions to Trustee. The Trustee shall have the right to accept and act upon instructions, including funds transfer instructions (“Instructions”) given pursuant to this Thirty-first Supplemental Indenture and delivered using Electronic Means; provided, however, that the Corporation shall provide to the Trustee an incumbency certificate listing officers with the authority to provide such Instructions (“Authorized Officers”) and containing specimen signatures of such Authorized Officers, which incumbency certificate shall be amended by the Corporation whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Corporation elects to give the Trustee Instructions using Electronic Means and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such Instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such Instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Corporation understands and agrees that the Trustee cannot determine the identity of the actual sender of such Instructions and that the Trustee shall conclusively presume that directions that purport to have been sent by an Authorized Officer listed on the incumbency certificate provided to the Trustee have been sent by such Authorized Officer. The Corporation shall be responsible for ensuring that only Authorized Officers transmit such Instructions to the Corporate Trustee and that the Corporation and all Authorized Officers are solely responsible to safeguard the use and confidentiality of applicable user and authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys upon receipt by the Corporation. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s good faith reliance upon and compliance with such Instructions notwithstanding such directions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The Corporation agrees: (i) to assume all risks arising out of the use of Electronic Means to submit Instructions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized Instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties; (ii) that it is fully informed of the protections and risks associated with the various methods of transmitting Instructions to the Trustee and that there may be more secure methods of transmitting Instructions than the method(s) selected by the Corporation; (iii) that the security procedures (if any) to be followed in connection with its transmission of Instructions provide to it a commercially reasonable degree of protection in light of its particular needs and circumstances; and (iv) to notify the Trustee as soon as reasonably practicable upon learning of any compromise or unauthorized use of the security procedures. “Electronic Means” shall mean the following communications methods: e-mail, facsimile trans-mission, secure electronic transmission containing applicable authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys issued by the Trustee, or another method or system specified by the Trustee as available for use in connection with its services hereunder.

 

 

 

Section 3.04.   Executed in Counterparts; Electronic Signatures. This Thirty-first Supplemental Indenture may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The words “execution,” signed,” signature,” and words of like import in the Indenture shall include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by facsimile, email or other electronic format (including, without limitation, “pdf,” “tif” or “jpg”) and other electronic signatures (including without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign). The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or the Uniform Commercial Code. Without limitation to the foregoing, and anything in the Original Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, (a) any Officers’ Certificate, Company Order, Opinion of Counsel, Security, certificate of authentication appearing on or attached to any Security, supplemental indenture or other certificate, opinion of counsel, instrument, agreement or other document delivered pursuant to the Indenture may be executed, attested and transmitted by any of the foregoing electronic means and formats, (b) all references in Section 303 or elsewhere in the Original Indenture to the execution, attestation or authentication of any Security or any certificate of authentication appearing on or attached to any Security by means of a manual or facsimile signature shall be deemed to include signatures that are made or transmitted by any of the foregoing electronic means or formats, and (c) any requirement in Section 303 or elsewhere in the Original Indenture that any signature be made under a corporate seal (or facsimile thereof) shall not be applicable to the Securities of such series.

 

10

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each party hereto has caused this instrument to be signed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized officer, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

  Duke Energy Corporation
   
  By: /s/ Chris R. Bauer
     
  Name: Chris R. Bauer
  Title: Assistant Treasurer
   
   
  The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee
   
  By: /s/ Ann M. Dolezal
  Name: Ann M. Dolezal
  Title: Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Thirty-first Supplemental Indenture]

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF

4.850% SENIOR NOTE DUE 2027

 

No. CUSIP No.  26441C CB9 

 

DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION

4.850% SENIOR NOTE DUE 2027

 

Principal Amount:  $

 

Regular Record Date:  [Close of business on the business day immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date so long as all of the Securities (as defined herein) of this series remain in book-entry only form] [Close of business on the 15th calendar day next preceding such Interest Payment Date (whether or not a Business Day) if any of the Securities (as defined herein) of this series do not remain in book-entry only form]

 

Original Issue Date:  January 5, 2024

 

Stated Maturity: January 5, 2027

 

Interest Payment Dates:  Semi-annually on January 5 and July 5 of each year, commencing on July 5, 2024

 

Interest Rate: 4.850% per annum

 

Authorized Denomination:  $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof

 

Duke Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”, which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received, hereby promises   to   pay   to                , or registered assigns, the principal sum of                            DOLLARS ($            ) on the Stated Maturity shown above and to pay interest thereon from the Original Issue Date shown above, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on each Interest Payment Date as specified above, commencing on July 5, 2024 and on the Stated Maturity at the rate per annum shown above until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment and at such rate on any overdue principal and on any overdue installment of interest.  The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (other than an Interest Payment Date that is the Stated Maturity or a Redemption Date) will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this 4.850% Senior Note due 2027 (this “Security”) is registered on the applicable Regular Record Date as specified above next preceding such Interest Payment Date; provided that any interest payable at Stated Maturity or on a Redemption Date will be paid to the Person to whom principal is payable.  Except as otherwise provided in the Indenture, any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange, if any, on which the Securities shall be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by any such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture.

 

A-1 

 

 

Payments of interest on this Security will include interest accrued to but excluding the respective Interest Payment Dates.  Interest payments for this Security shall be computed and paid on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months and will accrue from January 5, 2024 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for.  In the event that any date on which interest is payable on this Security is not a Business Day, then payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or payment in respect of any such delay) with the same force and effect as if made on the date the payment was originally payable.  “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday that is neither a Legal Holiday nor a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close, or a day on which the Corporate Trust Office is closed for business.  “Legal Holiday” means any day that is a legal holiday in New York, New York.

 

Payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of this series shall be made in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.  Payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of this series represented by a Global Security shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Holder of such Global Security.  If any of the Securities of this series are no longer represented by a Global Security, (i) payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest due at the Stated Maturity or earlier redemption of such Securities shall be made at the office of the Paying Agent upon surrender of such Securities to the Paying Agent, and (ii) payments of interest shall be made, at the option of the Corporation, subject to such surrender where applicable, by (A) check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or (B) wire transfer at such place and to such account at a banking institution in the United States as may be designated in writing to the Trustee at least sixteen (16) days prior to the date for payment by the Person entitled thereto.

 

The Corporation may redeem this Security, in whole or in part and from time to time, at the option of the Corporation, on any date (a “Redemption Date”), at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of (i) (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 15 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the Redemption Date; and (ii) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

 

For purposes of the preceding paragraph, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date for the Securities, the yield determined by the Corporation in accordance with the following two paragraphs.

 

The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Corporation after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third business day preceding the Redemption Date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily)—H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities—Treasury constant maturities — Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Corporation shall select, as applicable:

 

·the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to the maturity date of the 2027 Notes (the “Remaining Life”); or

 

A-2 

 

 

·if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields—one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life—and shall interpolate to the maturity date of the 2027 Notes, on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or

 

·if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this clause, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the Redemption Date.

 

If on the third business day preceding the Redemption Date H.15 TCM is no longer published, the Corporation shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second business day preceding such Redemption Date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the maturity date of the 2027 Notes. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the maturity date of the 2027 Notes but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the maturity date of the 2027 Notes, one with a maturity date preceding the maturity date of the 2027 Notes and one with a maturity date following the maturity date of the 2027 Notes, the Corporation shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the maturity date of the 2027 Notes. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the maturity date of the 2027 Notes, or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Corporation shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.

 

The Corporation’s actions and determinations in determining the redemption price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty whatsoever to determine, or to verify our calculations of, the redemption price.

 

The Corporation shall notify the Trustee of the redemption price with respect to any redemption of the Securities of this series occurring before the maturity date of the 2027 Notes promptly after the calculation thereof. The Trustee shall not be responsible for calculating said redemption price.

 

Notice of any redemption by the Corporation will be mailed (or, as long as the Securities of this series are represented by one or more Global Securities, transmitted in accordance with the Depositary’s standard procedures therefor) at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before any Redemption Date to each Holder of Securities of this series to be redeemed.  If Notice of a redemption is provided and funds are deposited as required, interest will cease to accrue on and after the Redemption Date on the Securities of this series or portions of Securities of this series called for redemption.  In the event that any Redemption Date is not a Business Day, the Corporation will pay the redemption price on the next Business Day without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay.  If less than all the Securities of this series are to be redeemed at the option of the Corporation, the Securities of this series and portions of the Securities of this series in amounts of $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof shall be selected for redemption in accordance with the standard procedures of the Depositary.

 

A-3 

 

 

In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the surrender hereof.

 

The Securities of this series shall not have a sinking fund.

 

The Securities of this series shall constitute the direct unsecured and unsubordinated debt obligations of the Corporation and shall rank equally in priority with the Corporation’s existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.

 

REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE TO THE FURTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS SECURITY SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF, WHICH FURTHER PROVISIONS SHALL FOR ALL PURPOSES HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS IF SET FORTH AT THIS PLACE.

 

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee by manual, facsimile or electronic signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

A-4 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this instrument to be duly executed as of January 5, 2024.

 

  Duke Energy Corporation
   
  By:  
  Name:
  Title:

 

A-5 

 

 

 

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

  

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

Dated: January 5, 2024 The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company,
N.A., as Trustee
   
  By:  
    Authorized Signatory

 

A-6

 

  

(Reverse Side of Security)

  

This 4.850% Senior Note due 2027 is one of a duly authorized issue of Securities of the Corporation (the “Securities”), issued and issuable in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of June 3, 2008, as supplemented (the “Indenture”), between the Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.), as Trustee (the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitation of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Corporation, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities issued thereunder and of the terms upon which said Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.  This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof as 4.850% Senior Notes due 2027 initially in the aggregate principal amount of $550,000,000.  Capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Indenture.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.

 

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Corporation and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of all series affected under the Indenture at any time by the Corporation and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series affected thereby (voting as one class).  The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series with respect to which a default under the Indenture shall have occurred and be continuing (voting as one class), on behalf of the Holders of the Securities of all such series, to waive, with certain exceptions, such default under the Indenture and its consequences.  The Indenture also permits the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Corporation with certain provisions of the Indenture affecting such series.  Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Corporation, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

 

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Corporation for such purpose, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Corporation and the Security Registrar and duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series, of authorized denominations and of like tenor and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.  No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Corporation may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

 

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of the Securities of this series and for covenant defeasance at any time of certain covenants in the Indenture upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

 

A-7

 

 

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Corporation, the Trustee and any agent of the Corporation or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Corporation, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

  

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.  As provided in the Indenture and subject to the limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same upon surrender of the Security or Securities to be exchanged at the office or agency of the Corporation.

 

This Security shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

A-8

 

 

ABBREVIATIONS

 

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM — as tenants in common   UNIF GIFT MIN ACT -   ______Custodian ______

 (Cust)                      (Minor)

       
TEN ENT — as tenants by the entireties      
       
JT TEN — as joint tenants with rights of
survivorship and not as tenants in common
   

under Uniform Gifts to

Minors Act

       
      (State)

 

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not on the above list.

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s) and transfer(s) unto (please insert Social Security or other identifying number of assignee)

 

PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE

 

the within Security and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing                      agent to transfer said Security on the books of the Corporation, with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated:                                                                                                                                   
    NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular without alteration or enlargement, or any change whatever.
     
    Signature Guarantee:                                                                                                              

 

A-9

 

 

SIGNATURE GUARANTEE

  

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Security Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Security Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

A-10

 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

Dated: The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company,
N.A., as Trustee
   
  By:                                                                                                                                        
  Authorized Signatory

 

B-1

 

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF 

4.850% SENIOR NOTE DUE 2029

 

No. CUSIP No.  26441C CC7  

 

DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION

4.850% SENIOR NOTE DUE 2029

 

Principal Amount:  $

 

Regular Record Date:  [Close of business on the business day immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date so long as all of the Securities (as defined herein) of this series remain in book-entry only form] [Close of business on the 15th calendar day next preceding such Interest Payment Date (whether or not a Business Day) if any of the Securities (as defined herein) of this series do not remain in book-entry only form]

 

Original Issue Date:  January 5, 2024

 

Stated Maturity: January 5, 2029

 

Interest Payment Dates:  Semi-annually on January 5 and July 5 of each year, commencing on July 5, 2024

 

Interest Rate: 4.850% per annum

 

Authorized Denomination:  $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof

 

Duke Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”, which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received, hereby promises     to     pay     to                               ,       or      registered assigns, the principal sum of                                                      DOLLARS ($                        ) on the Stated Maturity shown above and to pay interest thereon from the Original Issue Date shown above, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on each Interest Payment Date as specified above, commencing on July 5, 2024 and on the Stated Maturity at the rate per annum shown above until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment and at such rate on any overdue principal and on any overdue installment of interest.  The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (other than an Interest Payment Date that is the Stated Maturity or a Redemption Date) will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this 4.850% Senior Note due 2029 (this “Security”) is registered on the applicable Regular Record Date as specified above next preceding such Interest Payment Date; provided that any interest payable at Stated Maturity or on a Redemption Date will be paid to the Person to whom principal is payable.  Except as otherwise provided in the Indenture, any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange, if any, on which the Securities shall be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by any such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture.

 

C-1

 

 

Payments of interest on this Security will include interest accrued to but excluding the respective Interest Payment Dates.  Interest payments for this Security shall be computed and paid on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months and will accrue from January 5, 2024 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for.  In the event that any date on which interest is payable on this Security is not a Business Day, then payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or payment in respect of any such delay) with the same force and effect as if made on the date the payment was originally payable.  “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday that is neither a Legal Holiday nor a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close, or a day on which the Corporate Trust Office is closed for business.  “Legal Holiday” means any day that is a legal holiday in New York, New York.

 

Payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of this series shall be made in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.  Payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of this series represented by a Global Security shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Holder of such Global Security.  If any of the Securities of this series are no longer represented by a Global Security, (i) payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest due at the Stated Maturity or earlier redemption of such Securities shall be made at the office of the Paying Agent upon surrender of such Securities to the Paying Agent, and (ii) payments of interest shall be made, at the option of the Corporation, subject to such surrender where applicable, by (A) check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or (B) wire transfer at such place and to such account at a banking institution in the United States as may be designated in writing to the Trustee at least sixteen (16) days prior to the date for payment by the Person entitled thereto.

 

The Corporation may redeem this Security prior to December 5, 2028 (the “Par Call Date”), in whole or in part and from time to time, at the option of the Corporation, on any date (a “Redemption Date”), at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of (i) (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the Redemption Date (assuming the Securities matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 15 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the Redemption Date; and (ii) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

 

On or after the Par Call Date, the Corporation may redeem the Securities of this series, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at the option of the Corporation, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

 

For purposes of the preceding paragraph, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date for the Securities, the yield determined by the Corporation in accordance with the following two paragraphs.

 

The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Corporation after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third business day preceding the Redemption Date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily)—H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities—Treasury constant maturities — Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Corporation shall select, as applicable:

 

C-2

 

 

the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to the Par Call Date (the “Remaining Life”); or

 

if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields—one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life—and shall interpolate to the Par Call Date, on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or

 

if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this clause, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the Redemption Date.

 

If on the third business day preceding the Redemption Date H.15 TCM is no longer published, the Corporation shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second business day preceding such Redemption Date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, the Corporation shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date, or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Corporation shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.

 

The Corporation’s actions and determinations in determining the redemption price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty whatsoever to determine, or to verify our calculations of, the redemption price.

 

The Corporation shall notify the Trustee of the redemption price with respect to any redemption of the Securities of this series occurring before the Par Call Date promptly after the calculation thereof. The Trustee shall not be responsible for calculating said redemption price.

 

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Notice of any redemption by the Corporation will be mailed (or, as long as the Securities of this series are represented by one or more Global Securities, transmitted in accordance with the Depositary’s standard procedures therefor) at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before any Redemption Date to each Holder of Securities of this series to be redeemed.  If Notice of a redemption is provided and funds are deposited as required, interest will cease to accrue on and after the Redemption Date on the Securities of this series or portions of Securities of this series called for redemption.  In the event that any Redemption Date is not a Business Day, the Corporation will pay the redemption price on the next Business Day without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay.  If less than all the Securities of this series are to be redeemed at the option of the Corporation, the Securities of this series and portions of the Securities of this series in amounts of $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof shall be selected for redemption in accordance with the standard procedures of the Depositary.

 

In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the surrender hereof.

 

The Securities of this series shall not have a sinking fund.

 

The Securities of this series shall constitute the direct unsecured and unsubordinated debt obligations of the Corporation and shall rank equally in priority with the Corporation’s existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.

 

REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE TO THE FURTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS SECURITY SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF, WHICH FURTHER PROVISIONS SHALL FOR ALL PURPOSES HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS IF SET FORTH AT THIS PLACE.

 

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee by manual, facsimile or electronic signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this instrument to be duly executed as of January 5, 2024.

  

  Duke Energy Corporation
   
  By:  
  Name:
  Title:

 

C-5

 

 

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

Dated: January 5, 2024 The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company,
N.A., as Trustee
   
  By:   
    Authorized Signatory

 

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(Reverse Side of Security)

 

This 4.850% Senior Note due 2029 is one of a duly authorized issue of Securities of the Corporation (the “Securities”), issued and issuable in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of June 3, 2008, as supplemented (the “Indenture”), between the Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.), as Trustee (the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitation of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Corporation, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities issued thereunder and of the terms upon which said Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.  This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof as 4.850% Senior Notes due 2029 initially in the aggregate principal amount of $550,000,000.  Capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Indenture.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.

 

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Corporation and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of all series affected under the Indenture at any time by the Corporation and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series affected thereby (voting as one class).  The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series with respect to which a default under the Indenture shall have occurred and be continuing (voting as one class), on behalf of the Holders of the Securities of all such series, to waive, with certain exceptions, such default under the Indenture and its consequences.  The Indenture also permits the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Corporation with certain provisions of the Indenture affecting such series.  Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Corporation, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

 

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Corporation for such purpose, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Corporation and the Security Registrar and duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series, of authorized denominations and of like tenor and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.  No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Corporation may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

 

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of the Securities of this series and for covenant defeasance at any time of certain covenants in the Indenture upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

 

C-7

 

 

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Corporation, the Trustee and any agent of the Corporation or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Corporation, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.  As provided in the Indenture and subject to the limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same upon surrender of the Security or Securities to be exchanged at the office or agency of the Corporation.

 

This Security shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

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ABBREVIATIONS

 

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM — as tenants in common   UNIF GIFT MIN ACT -   ______Custodian ______

 (Cust)                     (Minor)

       
TEN ENT — as tenants by the entireties      
       
       
JT TEN — as joint tenants with rights of
survivorship and not as tenants in common
   

under Uniform Gifts to

Minors Act

____________________

                        (State)

 

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not on the above list.

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s) and transfer(s) unto (please insert Social Security or other identifying number of assignee)

 

PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE

 

the within Security and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing                      agent to transfer said Security on the books of the Corporation, with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated:           
    NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular without alteration or enlargement, or any change whatever.
     
    Signature Guarantee:  

 

C-9

 

SIGNATURE GUARANTEE

 

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Security Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Security Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

C-10

 

 

EXHIBIT D

 

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

Dated: The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company,
N.A., as Trustee
   
  By:   
    Authorized Signatory

 

D-1