8-KFinancial EventsOther EventsExhibits & Filings

NEXTERA ENERGY INC 8-K Report, Financial Obligation (Dec 20, 2012)

Filed December 20, 2012For Securities:NEENEE-PNNEE-PSNEE-PTNEE-PWNEE-PVNEE-PU

Summary

This 8-K filing from NextEra Energy Inc. (NEE) details significant financing activities for its renewable energy projects. On December 14, 2012, an indirect subsidiary, Centennial Wind Funding, LLC, secured a $140 million limited-recourse senior secured term loan to fund a 400 MW wind generating facility in Colorado. On December 19, 2012, another indirect subsidiary, Cimarron Wind Energy, LLC, obtained a $236 million loan of similar structure to finance a 165 MW wind project in Kansas. Both loans bear variable interest rates tied to LIBOR plus a margin and have interest rate swaps in place to hedge against rate fluctuations. Additionally, the filing reports on Florida Power & Light Company's (FPL), a subsidiary of NEE, sale of $400 million principal amount of its 3.80% Series First Mortgage Bonds due December 15, 2042. These bonds were registered under the Securities Act of 1933. The primary purpose of this filing is to provide disclosure regarding these debt financings and associated legal documentation.

Key Highlights

  • 1NextEra Energy's subsidiaries secured approximately $376 million in new debt financing for wind energy projects in Colorado (400 MW) and Kansas (165 MW).
  • 2The loans are structured as limited-recourse senior secured term loans, indicating the projects themselves serve as primary collateral.
  • 3Both new loans carry variable interest rates (LIBOR plus a margin) and have been hedged using interest rate swaps to mitigate interest rate risk.
  • 4Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), a NextEra Energy subsidiary, issued $400 million of 3.80% First Mortgage Bonds due in 2042.
  • 5The loan for the Colorado project matures in December 2019, while the loan for the Kansas project matures in November 2030, reflecting different project financing timelines.
  • 6The filings include various legal and financial exhibits related to these debt issuances and agreements.

Frequently Asked Questions

The subsidiaries of NextEra Energy raised approximately $140 million for the Colorado wind project and $236 million for the Kansas wind project, totaling approximately $376 million in new debt financing.

The debt incurred is in the form of limited-recourse senior secured variable rate term loan agreements. This means the loans are secured by the assets of the specific projects and have recourse primarily to those assets rather than the parent company.

Both loans are variable rate and subject to fluctuations in LIBOR. To manage this risk, the subsidiaries have entered into interest rate swaps to hedge against potential increases in interest payments.

Florida Power & Light Company, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, sold $400 million in 3.80% First Mortgage Bonds due 2042. The filing indicates this item is being reported to include certain documents in connection with the sale of these bonds.