UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant ☒ Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐
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☐ | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
☒ | Definitive Proxy Statement |
☐ | Definitive Additional Materials |
☐ | Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
NextEra Energy, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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Notice of 2017
Annual Meeting and
Proxy Statement
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR PROXY PROMPTLY
NextEra Energy, Inc.
P.O. Box 14000
700 Universe Boulevard
Juno Beach, Florida 33408-0420
Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders
May 18, 2017
The 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of NextEra Energy, Inc. (NextEra Energy or the Company) will be held on Thursday, May 18, 2017, at 8:00 a.m., Central time, in the Ballroom at the Hotel at Kirkwood Center at 7725 Kirkwood Boulevard SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa to consider and act upon the following matters:
1. | Election as directors of the nominees specified in the accompanying proxy statement; |
2. | Ratification of appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as NextEra Energys independent registered public accounting firm for 2017; |
3. | Approval, by non-binding advisory vote, of NextEra Energys compensation of its named executive officers as disclosed in the accompanying proxy statement; |
4. | Non-binding advisory vote on whether NextEra Energy should hold a non-binding shareholder advisory vote to approve NextEra Energys compensation of its named executive officers every 1, 2 or 3 years; |
5. | Approval of the NextEra Energy, Inc. 2017 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan; |
6. | One shareholder proposal, as set forth on pages 25 to 26 of the accompanying proxy statement, if properly presented at the meeting; and |
7. | Such other business as may properly be brought before the annual meeting or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) of the annual meeting. |
The proxy statement more fully describes these matters. NextEra Energy has not received notice of other matters that may properly be presented at the annual meeting.
The record date for shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting and any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) of the annual meeting is March 23, 2017.
Admittance to the annual meeting will be limited to shareholders as of the record date, or their duly appointed proxies. For the safety of attendees, all boxes, handbags and briefcases are subject to inspection. Cameras (including cell phones with photographic capabilities), recording devices and other electronic devices are not permitted at the meeting.
NextEra Energy is pleased to be furnishing proxy materials by taking advantage of the Securities and Exchange Commission rule that allows issuers to furnish proxy materials to their shareholders on the Internet. NextEra Energy believes this rule allows it to provide you with the information you need while reducing the environmental impact and cost of the annual meeting.
Regardless of whether you expect to attend the annual meeting, please submit your proxy or voting instructions on the Internet or by telephone promptly by following the instructions about how to view the proxy materials on your Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials so that your shares can be voted. If you received your proxy materials by mail, you may submit your proxy or voting instructions on the Internet or by telephone, or you may submit your proxy by marking, dating, signing and returning the enclosed proxy/confidential voting instruction card. If you attend the annual meeting, you may withdraw your proxy and vote in person.
By order of the Board of Directors.
W. SCOTT SEELEY
Vice President, Compliance & Corporate Secretary
Juno Beach, Florida
March 27, 2017
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Proposal 1: Election as directors of the nominees specified in this proxy statement |
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Proposal 5: Approval of the NextEra Energy, Inc. 2017 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan |
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Common Stock Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management |
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APPENDIX A: NEXTERA ENERGY, INC. 2017 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK PLAN |
A-1 | |||
APPENDIX B: RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP TO GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES |
B-1 |
NextEra Energy, Inc.
Annual Meeting of Shareholders
May 18, 2017
PROXY STATEMENT
This proxy statement contains information related to the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of NextEra Energy, Inc. (the Board), a Florida corporation (NextEra Energy, the Company, we, us or our), in connection with the 2017 annual meeting of NextEra Energys shareholders to be held on Thursday, May 18, 2017, at 8:00 a.m., Central time, in the Ballroom at the Hotel at Kirkwood Center at 7725 Kirkwood Boulevard SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and at any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) of the annual meeting.
ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF PROXY MATERIALS
Under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), NextEra Energy is furnishing proxy materials to many of its shareholders on the Internet, rather than mailing paper copies of the materials to each shareholder.
On or about March 27, 2017, NextEra Energy mailed to many of its shareholders of record a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the Notice) containing instructions on how to access and review the proxy materials, including the proxy statement and annual report to shareholders, on the Internet. The Notice also instructs shareholders on how to access their proxy card to be able to submit their proxies on the Internet. Brokerage firms and other nominees who hold NextEra Energy shares on behalf of beneficial owners will be sending their own similar Notice. Other shareholders, in accordance with their prior requests, have received an e-mail notification of how to access the proxy materials and submit their proxies on the Internet. On or about March 27, 2017, NextEra Energy also began mailing a full set of proxy materials to certain shareholders, including shareholders who have previously requested a paper copy of the proxy materials.
Internet distribution of the proxy materials is designed to expedite receipt by shareholders, lower the cost of the annual meeting, and conserve natural resources. However, if you would prefer to receive printed proxy materials, please follow the instructions included in the Notice. If you have previously elected to receive NextEra Energys proxy materials electronically, you will continue to receive the materials via e-mail unless you elect otherwise.
How do I access the proxy materials if I received a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials?
The Notice you received from NextEra Energy or from your brokerage firm, bank or other nominee provides instructions regarding how to view NextEra Energys proxy materials for the 2017 annual meeting on the Internet. As explained in greater detail in the Notice, to view the proxy materials and submit your proxy, you will need to follow the instructions in your Notice and have available your 16-digit Control number(s) contained in your Notice.
How do I request paper copies of the proxy materials?
Whether you hold NextEra Energy shares through a brokerage firm, bank or other nominee (in street name), or hold NextEra Energy shares directly in your name through NextEra Energys transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (Computershare), as a shareholder of record, you may request paper copies of the 2017 annual meeting proxy materials by following the instructions listed at www.proxyvote.com, by telephoning 800-579-1639 or by sending an e-mail to sendmaterial@proxyvote.com.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR
THE ANNUAL MEETING TO BE HELD MAY 18, 2017
This proxy statement and the NextEra Energy 2016 annual report to shareholders are available at www.proxyvote.com.
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What is the purpose of the annual meeting?
At the annual meeting, shareholders will act upon the matters identified in the accompanying notice of annual meeting of shareholders. These matters include the election as directors of the nominees specified in this proxy statement, ratification of appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as NextEra Energys independent registered public accounting firm for 2017, approval, by non-binding advisory vote, of NextEra Energys compensation of its named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement, non-binding advisory vote on whether NextEra Energy should hold a non-binding shareholder advisory vote to approve NextEra Energys compensation of its named executive officers every 1, 2 or 3 years, approval of the NextEra Energy, Inc. 2017 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan, and, if properly presented at the meeting, consideration of one shareholder proposal.
Who may attend the annual meeting?
Subject to space availability, all shareholders as of the record date, or their duly appointed proxies, may attend the annual meeting. Since seating is limited, admission to the meeting will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration and seating will begin at 7:30 a.m., Central time. If you plan to attend, please note that you will be asked to present valid picture identification, such as a drivers license or passport. Invited representatives of the media and financial community may also attend the annual meeting.
You will need proof of ownership of NextEra Energy common stock on the record date to attend the annual meeting:
| If you hold shares directly in your name as a shareholder of record or if you are a participant in NextEra Energys Employee Retirement Savings Plan: |
| If you received the Notice and you plan to attend the annual meeting, you may request an admission ticket by calling NextEra Energy Shareholder Services at 800-222-4511. |
| If you received the proxy materials by mail, an admission ticket is attached to your proxy/confidential voting instruction card. If you plan to attend the annual meeting, please submit your proxy but keep the admission ticket and bring it with you to the annual meeting. |
| If your shares are held in street name, you will need to bring proof that you were the beneficial owner of those street name shares of NextEra Energy common stock as of the record date, such as a legal proxy or a copy of a bank or brokerage statement, and check in at the registration desk at the annual meeting. |
For the safety of attendees, all boxes, handbags and briefcases are subject to inspection. Cameras (including cell phones with photographic capabilities), recording devices and other electronic devices are not permitted at the annual meeting.
Will the annual meeting be webcast?
The annual meeting will be webcast (audio, listen only) on May 18, 2017. If you do not attend the annual meeting, you are invited to visit www.nexteraenergy.com at 8:00 a.m., Central time, on Thursday, May 18, 2017 to access the webcast of the annual meeting. You will not be able to vote your shares via the webcast. A replay of the webcast also will be available on NextEra Energys website for 90 days after the annual meeting.
Who is entitled to vote at the annual meeting?
Only NextEra Energy shareholders at the close of business on March 23, 2017, the record date for the annual meeting, are entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting. If you were a shareholder on that date, you will be entitled to vote all of the NextEra Energy shares that you held on that date at the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the annual meeting.
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What are the voting rights of the holders of the Companys common stock?
Each outstanding share of NextEra Energy common stock, par value $.01 per share (common stock), will be entitled to one vote on each matter properly brought before the annual meeting.
What constitutes a quorum?
The presence at the annual meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the shares of NextEra Energy common stock issued and outstanding on the record date will constitute a quorum, permitting the business of the meeting to be conducted.
As of the record date, 468,168,428 shares of NextEra Energy common stock, representing the same number of votes, were outstanding. Thus, the presence of the holders of NextEra Energy common stock representing at least 234,084,214 shares will be required to establish a quorum.
In determining the presence of a quorum at the annual meeting, abstentions in person, proxies received but marked as abstentions as to any or all matters to be voted on that permit abstentions, and proxies received with broker non-votes on some but not all matters to be voted on will be counted as present.
A broker non-vote occurs when a broker, bank or other holder of record that holds shares for a beneficial owner (broker) does not vote on a particular proposal because the broker has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner and does not have discretionary voting power for that particular proposal. Brokers may vote on ratification of the appointment of NextEra Energys independent registered public accounting firm even if they have not received voting instructions from the beneficial owners whose shares they hold. However, brokers may not vote on any of the other matters submitted to shareholders at the 2017 annual meeting unless they have received voting instructions from the beneficial owner. See the response to What vote is required to approve the matters proposed? below for a discussion of the effect of broker non-votes.
What is the difference between holding shares as a shareholder of record and as a beneficial owner?
If your shares are registered directly in your name with NextEra Energys transfer agent, Computershare, you are considered, with respect to those shares, the shareholder of record. The Notice or, for some shareholders of record, a full set of the proxy materials has been sent directly to you by or on behalf of NextEra Energy.
If your shares are held in street name, you are considered the beneficial owner of the shares. The Notice or, for some beneficial owners, a full set of the proxy materials has been forwarded to you by or on behalf of your broker, who is considered, with respect to those shares, the shareholder of record.
How do I submit my proxy or voting instructions?
On the Internet or by telephone or, if you received the proxy materials by mail, also by mail
| On the InternetYou may submit your proxy or voting instructions on the Internet 24 hours a day and up until 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, on Wednesday, May 17, 2017 by going to www.proxyvote.com and following the instructions on your screen. Please have your Notice or proxy/confidential voting instruction card available when you access the web page. If you hold your shares in street name, your broker, bank, trustee or other nominee may provide additional instructions to you regarding how to submit your proxy or voting instructions on the Internet. |
| By TelephoneYou may submit your proxy or voting instructions by telephone by calling the toll-free telephone number (800-690-6903) found on your proxy/confidential voting instruction card or in your Internet instructions, 24 hours a day and up until 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, and following the prerecorded instructions. Please have your proxy/confidential voting instruction |
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card or Notice and instructions provided on the Internet available when you call. If you hold your shares in street name, your broker, bank, trustee or other nominee may provide additional instructions to you regarding how to submit your proxy or voting instructions by telephone. |
| By MailIf you received the proxy materials by mail, you may submit your proxy by mail by marking the enclosed proxy/confidential voting instruction card, dating and signing it, and returning it in the postage-paid envelope provided to NextEra Energy, Inc. Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. Your proxy/confidential voting instruction card must be received no later than Wednesday, May 17, 2017. If you hold your shares in street name, your broker, bank, trustee or other nominee may provide additional instructions to you regarding voting your shares by mail. |
Please see the Notice, your proxy/confidential voting instruction card or the information your broker provided to you for more information on your options. NextEra Energys proxy tabulator, Broadridge Investor Communications Solutions, Inc. (Broadridge), must receive any proxy/confidential voting instruction card that will not be delivered in person at the annual meeting, or any vote on the Internet or by telephone, no later than 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, on Wednesday, May 17, 2017.
If you are a shareholder of record and you return your signed proxy/confidential voting instruction card or submit your proxy on the Internet or by telephone, but do not indicate your voting preferences, the persons named as proxies in the proxy/confidential voting instruction card will vote the shares represented by that proxy as recommended by the Board on all proposals.
In person at the annual meeting
All shareholders may vote in person at the annual meeting. However, if you are a beneficial owner of shares, you must obtain a legal proxy from your broker and present it to the inspector of election with your ballot to be able to vote in person at the annual meeting. See the response to Who may attend the annual meeting? above for additional information on how to attend the annual meeting.
Your vote is important. You can save us the expense of a second mailing and further solicitation of proxies by submitting your proxy or voting instructions promptly.
May I change my vote after I submit my proxy or voting instructions on the Internet or by telephone or after I return my proxy/confidential voting instruction card or voting instructions?
Yes. If you are a shareholder of record, you may revoke your proxy before it is exercised by:
| providing written notice of the revocation to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at the Companys offices at P.O. Box 14000, 700 Universe Blvd., Juno Beach, Florida 33408-0420; |
| making timely delivery of later-dated voting instructions on the Internet or by telephone or, if you received the proxy materials by mail, also by making timely delivery of a valid, later-dated proxy/confidential voting instruction card; or |
| voting by ballot at the annual meeting, although please note that attendance at the meeting will not by itself revoke a previously granted proxy. |
You may change your proxy by using any one of these methods regardless of the method you previously used to submit your proxy.
If you are a beneficial owner of shares, you may submit new voting instructions by contacting your broker. You may also vote in person at the annual meeting if you obtain a legal proxy as described in the answer to the previous question.
All shares for which proxies have been properly submitted and not revoked will be voted at the annual meeting.
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How do I vote my Employee Retirement Savings Plan (401(k)) shares?
If you participate in the NextEra Energy, Inc. Employee Retirement Savings Plan (the plan), you may give voting instructions to Fidelity Management Trust Company, as trustee of the plan (Trustee). If you are a non-bargaining NextEra Energy employee, or a bargaining unit employee outside the state of Florida, you may give your voting instructions to the Trustee by following the instructions you received in an e-mail from NEXTERA ENERGY, INC. [id@ProxyVote.com] sent to your work e-mail address (unless you opted to receive a paper copy of the proxy materials). If you are a Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) bargaining unit employee in Florida, or a participant in the plan who is not a current employee of NextEra Energy or its subsidiaries, or if you opted out of e-mail delivery, you may give your voting instructions to the Trustee on the Internet or by telephone by following the instructions on your proxy/confidential voting instruction card, or you may give your voting instructions to the Trustee by mail by completing and returning the proxy/confidential voting instruction card accompanying this proxy statement.
Your instructions will tell the Trustee how to vote the number of shares of NextEra Energy common stock in the plan reflecting your proportionate interest in the NextEra Energy Stock Fund and the NextEra Energy Leveraged ESOP Fund. You have this right because the plan deems you to be a named fiduciary of the shares of common stock allocated to your account for voting purposes. Your instructions will also determine the vote of a proportionate number of shares of common stock in the NextEra Energy Leveraged ESOP Fund which are not yet allocated to participants. If you do not give the Trustee voting instructions, the number of shares reflecting your proportionate interest in the NextEra Energy Stock Fund and the NextEra Energy Leveraged ESOP Fund will be voted by the Trustee in the same manner as it votes proportionate interests for which it receives voting instructions and your proportionate share of the unallocated NextEra Energy Leveraged ESOP Fund shares will be voted by the Trustee in the same manner as it votes unallocated shares for which instructions are received. The Trustee will vote your shares in accordance with your duly executed instructions received by 1:00 a.m., Eastern time, on Tuesday, May 16, 2017.
You may also revoke previously given voting instructions by 1:00 a.m., Eastern time, on Tuesday, May 16, 2017, by filing written notice of revocation with the Trustee or by giving new voting instructions in any of the ways described above. The Trustee will follow the last timely voting instructions which it receives from you. Your voting instructions will be kept confidential by the Trustee.
What is householding and how does it affect me?
NextEra Energy has adopted a procedure approved by the SEC called householding. Under this procedure, shareholders of record who have the same address and last name and do not participate in electronic delivery of proxy materials will receive only one package containing individual copies of the Notice or proxy materials in paper form for each shareholder of record at the address. This procedure will reduce the volume of duplicate materials shareholders receive, conserve natural resources and reduce NextEra Energys postage costs. Shareholders who participate in householding and to whom a full set of proxy materials has been mailed will continue to receive separate proxy cards.
If you are a shareholder of record and are eligible for householding, but you and other shareholders of record with whom you share an address currently receive multiple packages containing copies of the Notice or proxy materials in paper form, or if you hold shares in more than one account, and in either case you wish to receive only a single package for your household in the future, please contact Computershare in writing at Computershare Trust Company, N.A., P.O. Box 43078, Providence, RI 02940-3078 or by calling 888-218-4392. You may contact Computershare at the same mailing address or telephone number if you wish to revoke your consent to future householding mailings.
If your household receives only a single package containing a copy of the Notice or the proxy materials, and you wish to receive a separate copy for each shareholder of record, please contact Broadridge toll-free at 800-542-1061, or write to Broadridge, Householding Department, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717, and separate copies will be provided promptly.
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Beneficial owners may request information about householding from their banks, brokers or other holders of record.
What are the Boards recommendations?
Unless you give other instructions, the persons named as proxies will vote in accordance with the recommendations of the Board. The Boards recommendations are set forth together with the description of each proposal in this proxy statement. In summary, the Board recommends a vote:
| FOR election as directors of the nominees specified in this proxy statement. (See Proposal 1) |
| FOR ratification of appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as NextEra Energys independent registered public accounting firm for 2017. (See Proposal 2) |
| FOR approval, by non-binding advisory vote, of NextEra Energys compensation of its named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement. (See Proposal 3) |
| FOR 1 YEAR as the frequency with which NextEra Energy will hold a non-binding shareholder advisory vote to approve NextEra Energys compensation of its named executive officers. (See Proposal 4) |
| FOR approval of the NextEra Energy, Inc. 2017 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan. (See Proposal 5) |
| AGAINST the shareholder proposal. (See Proposal 6) |
| In accordance with the discretion of the persons acting under the proxy concerning such other business as may properly be brought before the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. |
What vote is required to approve the matters proposed?
| Election as directors of the nominees specified in this proxy statementA nominee for director will be elected to the Board if the votes cast for such nominees election by shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter exceed the votes cast by such shareholders against such nominees election. If you are a beneficial owner, your broker is not permitted under New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) rules to vote your shares on the election of directors if your broker does not receive voting instructions from you. Without your voting instructions, a broker non-vote will occur. Since broker non-votes are not considered votes cast, they will have no legal effect on the election of directors. Abstentions are also not considered votes cast and will have no legal effect on the election of directors. See Director Resignation Policy in the section entitled Corporate Governance and Board Matters for information about NextEra Energys policy if a nominee for director fails to receive the required vote. |
| Ratification of appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as NextEra Energys independent registered public accounting firm for 2017The ratification of appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as NextEra Energys independent registered public accounting firm for 2017 will be approved if the votes cast for the proposal by shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter exceed the votes cast by such shareholders against such proposal (a Majority Vote). Since brokers are permitted under NYSE rules to vote your shares on this proposal even if your broker does not receive voting instructions from you, there are not expected to be broker non-votes on this proposal. Abstentions are not considered votes cast and will have no legal effect on whether this proposal is approved. |
| Advisory approval of NextEra Energys compensation of its named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statementA Majority Vote is required to approve this non-binding advisory proposal. If your broker does not receive voting instructions from you, your broker is not permitted under NYSE rules to vote your shares on this proposal. Without your voting instructions, a broker non-vote will occur. Since broker non-votes are not considered votes cast, they will have no legal effect on whether this proposal is approved. Abstentions are also not considered votes cast and will have no legal effect on whether this proposal is approved. The vote on this proposal is advisory and the result of the vote on this |
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proposal will not be binding on the Company, the Compensation Committee or the Board. However, the Compensation Committee will be able to consider the result of the vote when making future decisions regarding named executive officer compensation. |
| Advisory vote on the frequency with which NextEra Energy will hold a non-binding shareholder advisory vote to approve NextEra Energys compensation of its named executive officersGenerally, approval of any matter presented to shareholders requires a Majority Vote. However, because this vote is intended to indicate the preference of the Companys shareholders for the frequency of a non-binding advisory vote on the compensation of NextEra Energys named executive officers (NEOs), the frequency option1, 2 or 3 yearsreceiving the greatest number of votes will be considered the frequency preferred by the Companys shareholders. If your broker does not receive voting instructions from you, your broker is not permitted under NYSE rules to vote your shares on this proposal. Without your voting instructions, a broker non-vote will occur. Since broker non-votes are not votes cast, they will have no legal effect on the voting results for this proposal. Abstentions are also not considered votes cast and will have no legal effect on the voting results for this proposal. Although this vote is not binding on the Company or the Board, the Board will take into consideration the outcome of the vote in making a determination on the frequency of future advisory votes to approve named executive officer compensation. |
| Approval of the NextEra Energy, Inc. 2017 Non-Employee Directors Stock PlanA Majority Vote is required to approve this proposal. If your broker does not receive voting instructions from you, your broker is not permitted under NYSE rules to vote your shares on this proposal. Without your voting instructions, a broker non-vote will occur. Since broker non-votes are not considered votes cast, they will have no legal effect on whether this proposal is approved. Abstentions are also not considered votes cast and will have no legal effect on whether this proposal is approved. |
| Shareholder proposalA Majority Vote is required to approve the shareholder proposal. If your broker does not receive voting instructions from you, your broker is not permitted under NYSE rules to vote your shares on the shareholder proposal. Without your voting instructions on the shareholder proposal, a broker non-vote will occur. Since broker non-votes are not considered votes cast, they will have no legal effect on whether the shareholder proposal is approved. Abstentions are also not considered votes cast and will have no legal effect on whether the shareholder proposal is approved. |
Who pays for the solicitation of proxies?
NextEra Energy is soliciting proxies, and it will bear the expense of solicitation. Proxies will be solicited principally by mail and by electronic media, although directors, officers and employees of NextEra Energy or its subsidiaries may solicit proxies personally, by telephone or by electronic means, but without compensation other than their regular compensation. NextEra Energy has retained D.F. King & Co., Inc. to assist it in the solicitation of proxies, for which D.F. King & Co., Inc. will be paid a fee of $12,500 plus reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses. NextEra Energy will reimburse custodians, nominees and other persons for their out-of-pocket expenses in sending the Notice and/or proxy materials to beneficial owners.
Could other matters be decided at the annual meeting?
At the date of printing of this proxy statement, the Board did not know of any matters to be submitted for action at the annual meeting other than those referred to in this proxy statement and does not intend to bring before the meeting any matter other than the proposals described in this proxy statement. If, however, other matters are properly brought before the annual meeting, or any adjourned or postponed meeting, your proxies include discretionary authority on the part of the individuals appointed to vote your shares or act on those matters according to their discretion, including voting to adjourn or postpone the annual meeting one or more times to solicit additional proxies with respect to any proposal or for any other reason.
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2016 BUSINESS AND GOVERNANCE HIGHLIGHTS
2016 Business Highlights
NextEra Energy achieved Company-record adjusted earnings* of $2.9 billion, adjusted earnings per share* of $6.19 and a 1-year total shareholder return (TSR) of 18.4%. The Companys 2016 TSR outperformed the 2016 TSRs of the S&P 500 Utilities Index of 16.3% and S&P 500 Index of 12.0%.
These accomplishments came as NextEra Energy continued to be a leader among the 10 largest U.S. utilities in substantially all financial metrics. Among the largest 10 U.S. utilities, NextEra Energy ranked #3 for 3-year TSR, #1 for 5-year TSR, #1 for 10-year TSR, #2 for 3-year adjusted earnings per share (EPS) growth and #1 for 5-year, 7-year and 10-year adjusted EPS growth. In 2016, NextEra Energy ranked #1 among U.S. and global utility companies, based on market capitalization.**
In 2017, NextEra Energy was named by Fortune Magazine as the Worlds Most Admired Electric & Gas Utility for the tenth time in the last eleven years. Also in 2017, NextEra Energy was named by the Ethisphere Institute as one of the Worlds Most Ethical Companies for the tenth time in the last eleven years.
The returns that NextEra Energy generated for its shareholders were attributable to outstanding 2016 performance by the Companys two principal operating businesses, FPL and NextEra Energy Resources, LLC which are described in more detail in the CD&A beginning on page 44.
Ultimately, the Companys financial and operational performance is reflected in the increased value of its common stock. As the table on page 45 illustrates, TSR over the three-year period from December 31, 2013 to December 31, 2016 was 53%, meaning that an investment of $100 in NextEra common stock on December 31, 2013 was worth $152.61 on December 31, 2016.
2016 Governance Highlights
The Company is proud to have in place strong corporate governance practices. These include:
| Eleven of twelve directors are independent. The CEO is the only management director. |
| The Board has an independent lead director. |
| The independent directors meet in executive sessions after each regularly scheduled Board meeting without management present. The Lead Director presides over these executive sessions. Board committees have executive sessions after regularly scheduled in-person committee meetings. |
| The Company has rigorous share ownership requirements for both non-employee directors and executives and prohibits short sales, hedging and margin accounts. |
| The Company does not have a shareholder rights (poison pill) plan. |
| The Company has no supermajority vote requirements in its Articles of Incorporation. |
| Shareholders holding 20% of the outstanding shares may call a special meeting. |
| All directors stand for election annually. |
| Non-employee directors may not serve on more than four public company boards. |
* | This measure is not a financial measure calculated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). See Appendix B to this proxy statement for a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. |
** | Market capitalization is as of December 31, 2016; rankings are sourced from Bloomberg and FactSet Research Systems Inc. |
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| In uncontested elections, directors must be elected by a majority of votes cast. |
| The Board committees engage in annual self-assessments and the Board annually reviews its effectiveness. |
| The Governance and Nominating Committee engages in a continuous process of assessing whether current Board members provide the mix of skills and experience needed by the Board. As a result of this process, five new members have joined the Board since July 2012. |
| As discussed below, the Companys Amended and Restated Bylaws (the Bylaws) allow for shareholder proxy access nominees. |
Recent changes to the Companys Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws demonstrate the active engagement of the Board and management in ensuring a responsive governance program.
The Board, through the Governance & Nominating Committee, engages in a comprehensive review of its governance practices. As a part of these reviews, the Company regularly initiates outreach discussions with shareholders owning a significant aggregate ownership interest in the Company to solicit input on the Companys governance. In 2016, as a result of these reviews and discussions, and taking into account a shareholder proposal approved at the 2016 annual meeting, the Board adopted an amendment to the Companys Bylaws to permit qualifying shareholders to include nominees for election to the Board in the Companys annual proxy statement (Proxy Access Bylaw). The Proxy Access Bylaw permits a shareholder, or group of up to 20 shareholders, owning continuously for three years 3% or more of NextEra Energys outstanding common stock to nominate and have NextEra Energy include in its proxy materials director nominees for the greater of two directorships or 20% of the total number of directors, so long as any such shareholder or group of shareholders and their nominee or nominees have satisfied the requirements set forth in the Bylaws.
BUSINESS OF THE ANNUAL MEETING
Proposal 1: Election as directors of the nominees specified in this proxy statement
The Board is currently composed of 12 members. Upon the recommendation of the Governance & Nominating Committee, the Board has nominated the 12 incumbent members listed below for election as directors at the 2017 annual meeting. Unless you specify otherwise in your proxy/confidential voting instruction card or in the voting instructions you submit on the Internet or by telephone, your proxy will be voted FOR the election of the listed nominees. If any nominee becomes unavailable for election, which is not currently anticipated, proxies instructing a vote for that nominee may be voted for a substitute nominee selected by the Board or, in lieu thereof, the Board may reduce the number of directors by the number of nominees unavailable for election.
The Board believes that the Board membership at its current size is appropriate because such a Board size facilitates substantive discussions among Board members, provides for sufficient staffing of Board committees and allows for contributions by directors having a broad range of skills, expertise, industry knowledge and diversity of opinion. Directors serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until their respective successors are elected and qualified.
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Director Qualifications. The Corporate Governance Principles & Guidelines and the Governance & Nominating Committee Charter, copies of which are available on the Companys website at www.nexteraenergy.com/investors/governance.shtml, identify Board membership qualifications, including experience, skills and attributes that are considered by the Governance & Nominating Committee in recommending non-employee nominees for Board membership. The Board views itself as a cohesive whole consisting of members who together serve the interests of the Company and its shareholders. Qualifications, attributes and other factors considered by the Governance & Nominating Committee in recommending director nominees include, but are not limited to, the following:
| experience at a strategy and/or policy setting level, or high-level managerial experience in a relatively complex business, government or other organization, or other similar and relevant experience in dealing with complex problems; |
| sufficient time to devote to the Companys affairs (including by limiting service on boards of public companies to no more than four public companies, including the Company); |
| character and integrity; |
| an inquiring mind and good judgment; |
| an ability to work effectively with others; |
| the individuals contribution to the achievement of a mix of directors who represent a diversity of background and experience, including age, gender, race, ethnicity and specialized experience; |
| an ability to represent the balanced interests of the Companys shareholders as a whole, rather than special constituencies; |
| the individuals independence as described in applicable listing standards, legislation, regulations and the Corporate Governance Principles & Guidelines; |
| the extent of the individuals business experience, technical expertise or specialized skills or experience, and whether the individual, by virtue of particular experience relevant to NextEra Energys current or future business, will add specific value as a Board member; and |
| whether the individual would be considered an audit committee financial expert or financially literate as described in applicable listing standards or regulations. |
As discussed more specifically below, the Governance & Nominating Committee considered in particular the contributions to a strong, diverse board of the individual backgrounds and experience of its current directors and nominees including, without limitation, experience in: leading and growing businesses; legislative, political and regulatory affairs; customer and client service; environmental compliance; cyber security and information management; investor relations; international business operations and management; industrial operations; capital raising strategies; executive compensation; renewable energy; nuclear power operations and management; finance; financial instruments, including derivatives; risk management; and strategic planning. The regulated and competitive operations of the Company require an understanding of, among other matters, the regulatory, legislative and political environment affecting public utility and competitive energy operations, the service demands of wholesale and retail power customers, the effect of new technologies on the Companys strategic direction, the challenges of maintaining growth without sacrificing profitability, the diverse options available for financing the Companys businesses and the Companys responsibilities to the customers and communities it serves. The particular experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led the Governance & Nominating Committee and the Board to conclude, in light of the Companys businesses and structure, that each current director and nominee should serve as a NextEra Energy director include, but are not limited to, the following:
| Mrs. Barrat has 38 years of leadership experience in financial services, including her service through July 1, 2012 as vice chairman, and her previous service as president of Personal Financial Services (one of four principal business units), of Northern Trust Corporation, a Fortune 500 company. She is |
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experienced in building and leading client service businesses that operate in a variety of regulatory jurisdictions and, as a Florida native with a significant part of her former employers business in Florida, has had extensive experience with Florida-based customers and business conditions. In addition, her 19 years of service on the Board have provided her with knowledge and experience regarding the Companys history and businesses. |
| Mr. Camaren has 19 years of leadership experience with a large, regulated investor-owned utility. During the years he served as chairman and chief executive officer, the utility had customer growth at a rate that exceeded the industry average and acquired and integrated over 40 utilities. In addition, Mr. Camaren has experience in managing capital expenditures, environmental compliance, regulatory relations and investor relations. |
| Mr. Dunn has extensive experience in investment, asset and risk management gained through his 16-year career at Miller, Anderson & Sherrerd and its successor by merger, Morgan Stanley Investment Management. In addition, he is an expert in financial economics, having taught that subject as a professor at, and Dean of, the David A. Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University. Mr. Dunn has a Ph.D. in industrial administration. |
| Mr. Gursahaney has extensive operations, strategic planning and leadership experience in global manufacturing and services businesses serving residential, commercial, industrial and governmental customers gained as the chief executive officer of a public company providing security systems and service. He also has extensive global operations, information technology and service experience gained as the president and chief executive officer of the Asia-Pacific division of a medical diagnostic and imaging manufacturer. He has a MBA from the University of Virginia and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University. |
| Mr. Hachigian has extensive leadership, operations and strategic planning experience gained through his prior service as the chairman, chief executive officer and president of a global, publicly held manufacturer of electrical equipment and tools. He also has international leadership and operations experience gained through his prior service as the president and chief executive officer of the Asia-Pacific operations of a lighting products manufacturer and in key management positions in Singapore and Mexico. In addition, Mr. Hachigian has financial and risk oversight experience developed through his prior service on the audit committee of another public company and as a prior member of the board of the Houston branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. He has a MBA in finance from the Wharton School of Business and a bachelors degree in engineering from the University of California (Berkeley). |
| Ms. Jennings has extensive legislative and political experience, gained through service for four years as Lieutenant Governor of the State of Florida and 24 years in the Florida legislature. She also served as a member of Florida Governor Rick Scotts transition team. In addition, through her 20 years as president and ten years as chairman of Jack Jennings & Sons, Inc., she has extensive experience in operating a Florida-based business and familiarity with the Florida business environment. |
| Ms. Lane has 26 years of leadership experience with financial services, capital markets, finance and accounting, capital structure, acquisitions and divestitures in the financial services industry as well as extensive experience in management, leadership and strategy. Ms. Lane served as a managing director and group leader of the global Retailing Investment Banking Group at Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., from 1997 until her retirement in 2002. In that role, she led and worked on mergers and acquisitions and equity and debt transactions for a wide range of major retailers. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch, she was a managing director at Salomon Brothers, Inc., which she joined in 1989 and where she founded and led the retail industry investment banking unit. Ms. Lane has a MBA from the Wharton School of Business. |
| Mr. Robo, NextEra Energys chairman, president and chief executive officer, previously served as the Companys vice president of corporate development and strategy, as president of NextEra Energys competitive energy subsidiary, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC (NextEra Energy Resources), and as the Companys chief operating officer. As a result of his service in his current and prior positions, |
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Mr. Robo has extensive experience in operations, strategic planning, risk management and mergers and acquisitions. He also has experience in financial and risk oversight, both through his position with the Company and his service as chairman of the audit committee of another public company, and in corporate governance, through his service on the nominating and corporate governance committee of that public company. Prior to joining NextEra Energy, Mr. Robo was president and chief executive officer of a major division of General Electric Capital Corporation, a subsidiary of General Electric Company (GE). He also served as chairman and CEO of GE Mexico and was a member of the GE corporate development team. Prior to joining GE, he was vice president of Strategic Planning Associates, a management consulting firm. Mr. Robo has a B.A. degree from Harvard College and a MBA from Harvard Business School. |
| Mr. Schupp has 33 years of leadership experience as a chief executive officer of both public and private banking organizations, and has experience in reviewing the financial statements of complex businesses, in mergers and acquisitions, in developing and implementing capital raising strategies, in strategic planning and expertise in Florida-based customers and business conditions. In addition, he has experience in such areas as macroeconomic policy, community and economic development and government regulation gained from his service as a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. |
| Mr. Skolds has extensive leadership experience in the operation and management of nuclear power generation facilities and utilities, and in financial and strategic planning. He retired as executive vice president of Exelon Corporation, a utility services holding company (Exelon), and president of Exelon Energy Delivery and Exelon Generation. Earlier in his career, Mr. Skolds worked at SCANA Corporation, an energy-based holding company, in a number of capacities, including president and chief operating officer of South Carolina Electric and Gas. Mr. Skolds also served on the boards of the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations and the Nuclear Energy Institute. Mr. Skolds is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and spent over five years in the Navy where, among other duties, he operated nuclear submarines. Mr. Skolds also holds a MBA from the University of South Carolina. |
| Mr. Swanson has 42 years of leadership experience at Raytheon Company (Raytheon), a complex public company with international operations. Mr. Swanson served 10 years through September 2014 as Raytheons chairman of the board and 10 years through March 2014 as its chief executive officer. He has extensive experience in strategic planning, operations and management, global business operations and complex technologies. He holds a bachelors degree in industrial engineering from California Polytechnic State University. |
| Mr. Tookes has many years of operational leadership in senior management positions at large international public companies, which provided him with leadership, financial and global experience, as well as substantial leadership experience in the management of complex technology businesses. His science, engineering and business education and training have provided him with knowledge relevant to the operation of the Companys businesses. His public company board experience includes service on the audit, finance, compensation, governance and nominating and business ethics committees of various public companies. |
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Listed below are the 12 nominees for election as directors, their ages and principal occupations and certain other information regarding them. Unless otherwise noted, each director has held his or her present position continuously for five years or more and his or her employment history is uninterrupted.
Sherry S. Barrat
|
Mrs. Barrat, 67, retired in 2012 as vice chairman of Northern Trust Corporation, a financial holding company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, where she was also a member of Northern Trusts Management Committee. Prior to being appointed as vice chairman in March 2011, Mrs. Barrat had served as president of Personal Financial Services for Northern Trust since January 2006. She served as chairman and chief executive officer of Northern Trust Bank of California, N.A., from 1999 through 2005, and as president of Northern Trust Bank of Floridas Palm Beach Region from 1992 through 1998. Mrs. Barrat joined Northern Trust in 1990 in Miami. Mrs. Barrat is a director of Arthur J. Gallagher & Company (since July 2013) and serves as an independent trustee or director of certain Prudential Insurance mutual funds (since January 2013). Mrs. Barrat has been a director of NextEra Energy since 1998. | |
James L. Camaren
|
Mr. Camaren, 62, is a private investor. Until May 2006, he was chairman and chief executive officer of Utilities, Inc. Utilities, Inc. was one of the largest investor-owned water utilities in the United States until March 2002, when it was acquired by Nuon, a Dutch company, which subsequently sold Utilities, Inc. in April 2006. He joined Utilities, Inc. in 1987 and served successively as vice president of business development, executive vice president, and vice chairman, becoming chairman and chief executive officer in 1996. Mr. Camaren has been a director of NextEra Energy since 2002. | |
Kenneth B. Dunn
|
Mr. Dunn, 65, is Emeritus Professor of Financial Economics at the David A. Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University. He also served as Dean of the Tepper School from July 2002 to January 2011. Before his service in that position, Mr. Dunn had a 16-year career managing fixed income portfolios at Miller Anderson & Sherrerd and its successor by merger, Morgan Stanley Investment Management, where he served as a managing director and as co-director of the U.S. Core Fixed Income and Mortgage teams. Since 2014, he has been a managing member of Tier Capital LLC and, since 2015, chief executive officer of its subsidiary, Traditional Mortgage Acceptance Corporation, which originates, acquires and services mortgage loans and issues Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) mortgage-backed securities. Mr. Dunn was a director of BlackRock, Inc. from 2005 until 2011. He has been a director of NextEra Energy since 2010. |
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Naren K. Gursahaney
|
Mr. Gursahaney, 55, is retired. He served as the president and chief executive officer, and a member of the Board of Directors, of The ADT Corporation (ADT), a provider of security systems and services, from September 2012 until its acquisition by affiliated funds of Apollo Global Management LLC in May 2016. Prior to ADTs separation from Tyco International Ltd. (Tyco) in September 2012, Mr. Gursahaney served as president of Tycos ADT North American Residential business segment and was the president of Tyco Security Solutions, then a provider of electronic security to residential, commercial, industrial and governmental customers and the largest operating segment of Tyco. Mr. Gursahaney joined Tyco in 2003 as senior vice president of Operational Excellence. He then served as president of Tyco Engineered Products and Services and president of Tyco Flow Control. Prior to joining Tyco, Mr. Gursahaney was president and chief executive officer of GE Medical Systems Asia, where he was responsible for the companys sales and services business in the Asia-Pacific region. During his 10-year career with GE, Mr. Gursahaney held senior leadership roles in services, marketing and information management. He has been a director of NextEra Energy since 2014. | |
Kirk S. Hachigian
|
Mr. Hachigian, 57, has been chairman of the board of JELD-WEN, inc., a manufacturer of windows and doors, since April 2014 and until November 2015 also served as chief executive officer of JELD-WEN, inc. He served as chairman, president and chief executive officer of Cooper Industries plc (Cooper), a publicly held electrical equipment and tool manufacturer, until Coopers acquisition by Eaton Corporation in November 2012. He was named chairman of Cooper in 2006, chief executive officer in 2005 and president in 2004. Mr. Hachigian was retired during the period between his departure from Cooper and when he joined JELD-WEN, inc. in April 2014. He is a director of PACCAR, Inc. (since 2008) and of Allegion plc (since November 2013). Mr. Hachigian has been a director of NextEra Energy since 2013. | |
Toni Jennings
|
Ms. Jennings, 67, has served since 2007 as the chairman of the board of Jack Jennings & Sons, Inc., a family-owned construction business that provides general contractor, construction manager and design builder services. She served as the Lieutenant Governor of the State of Florida from March 2003 through December 2006. Prior to serving in that role, she was a member of the Florida Senate from 1980 until 2000, serving two consecutive terms as Senate President, and a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1976 until 1980. From 1983 until she became Lieutenant Governor, she also served as president of Jack Jennings & Sons. Ms. Jennings is a director of Brown & Brown, Inc. (since 2007) and Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (Mid-America) (since December 2016). Ms. Jennings was a director of Post Properties, Inc. from May 2013 until its merger with Mid-America in December 2016. Ms. Jennings has been a director of NextEra Energy since 2007. |
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Amy B. Lane
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Ms. Lane, 64, retired in 2002 as managing director and group leader of the global Retailing Investment Banking Group of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., an investment banking firm. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch in 1997, she was a managing director at Salomon Brothers, Inc., an investment banking firm, where she founded and led the retail industry investment banking unit, having joined Salomon Brothers in 1989. Ms. Lane is a director of The TJX Companies, Inc. (since 2005) and GNC Holdings, Inc. (since 2011). She also is a trustee of Urban Edge Properties, an equity real estate investment trust (since January 2015). Ms. Lane has been a director of NextEra Energy since February 2015. | |
James L. Robo
|
Mr. Robo, 54, has been chairman of the board since December 2013, and president and chief executive officer, and a director, of NextEra Energy since July 2012. He is also chairman of NextEra Energys subsidiary, FPL (which has no publicly-traded stock). Prior to his succession to the role of chief executive officer, he served as president and chief operating officer of NextEra Energy since 2006. Mr. Robo joined NextEra Energy as vice president of corporate development and strategy in March 2002 and became president of NextEra Energy Resources later in 2002. Mr. Robo is chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the general partner of NextEra Energy Partners, LP (NEP), a publicly-traded limited partnership formed and controlled by the Company (and in which the Company owns an underlying approximate 65.2% economic interest as of March 17, 2017). He is a director of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (since 2002), and has served as J.B. Hunts lead independent director since 2012. | |
Rudy E. Schupp
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Mr. Schupp, 66, is president of Valley National Bancorp and chief banking officer of Valley National Bank. He previously served as presidentFlorida Division of Valley National Bank from November 2014 until January 2017 and as president and chief executive officer, and a director, of 1st United Bank, a banking corporation headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, and chief executive officer and a director of its publicly-held parent company, 1st United Bancorp, Inc., from mid-2003 until its sale to Valley National on November 1, 2014. He was the chairman, president and chief executive officer of Republic Security Bank headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida from 1984 until March 2001, and the chairman, president and chief executive officer of its parent company, Republic Security Financial Corporation (RSFC), from 1985 until March 2001, when RSFC was acquired by Wachovia Corporation. Following the acquisition, he served as Chairman of Florida Banking of Wachovia Bank, N.A. until December 2001. From March 2002 until March 2003, Mr. Schupp served as managing director of Ryan Beck & Co., an investment banking and brokerage company. He served as a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta from January 2007 to December 2014. Mr. Schupp has been a director of NextEra Energy since 2005. |
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John L. Skolds
|
Mr. Skolds, 66, is retired. He served as executive vice president of Exelon Corporation, an energy service provider, and president of Exelon Energy Delivery from December 2003 until his retirement in September 2007. He also served as president of Exelon Generation from March 2005 to September 2007. From March 2002 to December 2003, Mr. Skolds served as senior vice president of Exelon and president and chief nuclear officer of Exelon Nuclear. Mr. Skolds was a director of Constellation Energy Group from 2007 until its merger with Exelon in March 2012. Mr. Skolds has been a director of NextEra Energy since 2012. | |
William H. Swanson
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Mr. Swanson, 68, is the retired chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Raytheon, a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world. He was Raytheons chief executive officer from July 2003 to March 2014 and served as chairman of the board from January 2004 until his retirement in September 2014. Before assuming those positions, he served as president of Raytheon from July 2002 to May 2004, as executive vice president of Raytheon and president of its Electronic Systems division from January 2000 to July 2002, and as executive vice president of Raytheon and chairman and chief executive officer of Raytheon Systems Company from January 1998 to January 2000. Mr. Swanson joined Raytheon in 1972 and held a wide range of leadership positions with the company. He served as a director of The TJX Companies, Inc. from January 2015 to June 2016. Mr. Swanson has been a director of NextEra Energy since 2009. | |
Hansel E. Tookes, II
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Mr. Tookes, 69, is retired. Mr. Tookes served in senior executive positions with Raytheon, a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world, from 1999 until December 2002. He joined Raytheon in 1999 as president and chief operating officer of Raytheon Aircraft Company, was appointed chairman and chief executive officer of Raytheon Aircraft Company in 2000, and became president of Raytheon International in 2001. From 1980 until joining Raytheon, Mr. Tookes held a variety of leadership positions with United Technologies Corporation, including service as president of Pratt & Whitneys Large Military Engines Group. He is a director of Corning Incorporated (since 2001), Harris Corporation (since 2005) and Ryder System, Inc. (since 2002). Mr. Tookes has been a director of NextEra Energy since 2005. |
Unless you specify otherwise in your proxy/confidential voting instruction card or in the instructions you give on the Internet or by telephone, your proxy will be voted FOR election of each of the nominees.
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF ALL NOMINEES
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Proposal 2: Ratification of appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as NextEra Energys independent registered public accounting firm for 2017
In accordance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Sarbanes-Oxley), the Audit Committee of the Board appoints the Companys independent registered public accounting firm. It has appointed Deloitte & Touche LLP (Deloitte & Touche) as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit the accounts of NextEra Energy and its subsidiaries, as well as to provide its opinion on the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting, for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017. Although ratification is not required, the Board is submitting the selection of Deloitte & Touche to shareholders as a matter of good corporate practice. If the shareholders do not ratify the appointment, the appointment will be reconsidered by the Audit Committee, although the Audit Committee may nonetheless decide to retain Deloitte & Touche as NextEra Energys independent registered public accounting firm. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may terminate the service of Deloitte & Touche at any time during the year if it determines that the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm would be in the best interests of NextEra Energy and its shareholders. Additional information on audit-related matters may be found beginning on page 41 of this proxy statement.
Representatives of Deloitte & Touche are expected to be present at the annual meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement and respond to appropriate questions from shareholders at the meeting.
Unless you specify otherwise in your proxy/confidential voting instruction card or in the instructions you give on the Internet or by telephone, your proxy will be voted FOR ratification of appointment of Deloitte & Touche as NextEra Energys independent registered public accounting firm for 2017.
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP AS NEXTERA ENERGYS INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR 2017
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Proposal 3: Approval, by non-binding advisory vote, of NextEra Energys compensation of its named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement
The Company is asking shareholders to cast an advisory vote on the compensation of the Companys named executive officers, which is commonly called a say-on-pay vote. The advisory vote, which is required pursuant to section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), is to approve the compensation of the Companys named executive officers as described below (beginning on page 44) in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis section of this proxy statement and in the tabular and narrative disclosure following that section. While this vote is not binding, it will provide information to the Compensation Committee regarding investor sentiment about the Companys executive compensation philosophy, policies and practices, which the Compensation Committee will be able to consider when making future determinations regarding named executive officer compensation. The Company currently plans to give shareholders the opportunity to cast an advisory vote on this matter annually, so that, following the vote on this proposal, the next opportunity will occur in connection with the Companys 2018 annual meeting of shareholders.
The fundamental objective of NextEra Energys executive compensation program is to motivate and reward actions that the Compensation Committee believes will increase shareholder value, particularly over the longer term. The program is designed to attract, retain, motivate, reward and develop high-quality, high-performing executive leadership whose talent and expertise should enable the Company to create long-term shareholder value. The Compensation Committee believes the Companys executive compensation program reflects a strong pay-for-performance philosophy and is well-aligned with the short-term and long-term interests of shareholders and other important Company stakeholders, including customers and employees. A significant portion of each named executive officers total compensation opportunity is performance-based and carries both upside and downside potential. Named executive officers (and all of NextEra Energys other officers) must build and maintain a significant and continuing equity interest in NextEra Energy. This helps to ensure that their interests are aligned with those of shareholders and that changes in the price of NextEra Energy common stock have a meaningful economic effect on the officers.
The Executive Compensation section of this proxy statement, including the Compensation Discussion & Analysis, provides a more detailed discussion of the Companys compensation program for its named executive officers. The discussion reflects that NextEra Energys compensation program has been achieving its objective. For example, the chart below compares the Companys TSR for the 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods ended December 31, 2016 to the TSRs of the S&P 500 Electric Utilities Index, the S&P 500 Utilities Index, the Philadelphia Exchange Utility Sector Index (UTY), and the S&P 500. NextEra Energy outperformed all of these indices over all of the periods shown. NextEra Energys outperformance over all these periods in comparison to others in its industry, and over the 3-year, 5-year and 10-year periods in comparison to the S&P 500, was substantial.
NextEra Energy Total Shareholder Return Through 12-31-16 vs. Various Indices(1)
1-year TSR | 3-year TSR | 5-year TSR | 10-year TSR | |||||||||||||
NextEra Energy |
18.4 | % | 53 | % | 130 | % | 206 | % | ||||||||
S&P 500 Electric Utilities Index, total return |
15 | % | 43 | % | 54 | % | 82 | % | ||||||||
S&P 500 Utilities Index, total return |
16.3 | % | 43 | % | 64 | % | 97 | % | ||||||||
UTY, total return |
17 | % | 42 | % | 57 | % | 88 | % | ||||||||
S&P 500, total return |
12 | % | 29 | % | 98 | % | 96 | % |
(1) | Source: FactSet Research Systems Inc.; except UTY, source: Bloomberg |
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The Company asks shareholders to approve this proposal by approving the following non-binding resolution:
RESOLVED, that the shareholders of NextEra Energy, Inc. approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation paid to the Companys named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission in the NextEra Energy, Inc. proxy statement for the 2017 annual meeting of shareholders, including the Compensation Discussion & Analysis section, the compensation tables and the accompanying narrative discussion.
Unless you specify otherwise in your proxy/confidential voting instruction card or in the instructions you give on the Internet or by telephone, your proxy will be voted FOR approval, by non-binding advisory vote, of NextEra Energys compensation of its named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement.
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR APPROVAL, BY NON-BINDING ADVISORY VOTE, OF NEXTERA ENERGYS COMPENSATION OF ITS NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AS DISCLOSED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT
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Proposal 4: Non-binding advisory vote on whether NextEra Energy should hold a non-binding shareholder advisory vote to approve NextEra Energys compensation of its named executive officers every 1, 2 or 3 years
In accordance with the requirements of Section 14A of the Exchange Act and related SEC rules, the Company is asking shareholders to cast an advisory vote on the frequency with which shareholders would have an opportunity to provide an advisory say-on-pay vote on named executive officer compensation. Shareholders have the option of selecting a frequency of 1, 2 or 3 years, or abstaining from a vote on this proposal.
Consistent with the shareholder vote in 2011, the Company has held a say-on-pay vote annually. To allow the Companys shareholders to provide input on NextEra Energys compensation philosophy, policies and practices as disclosed in the proxy statement every year, the Board recommends that the annual say-on-pay vote be continued.
Shareholders are not voting to approve or disapprove the Boards recommendation of annual say-on-pay votes. Rather, shareholders are being given an opportunity to express their preference for the frequency of say-on-pay votes. Shareholders may choose among the following four options when voting on this proposal:
(1) | a say-on-pay vote every 1 year; |
(2) | a say-on-pay vote every 2 years; |
(3) | a say-on-pay vote every 3 years; or |
(4) | abstain from voting. |
The frequency option1, 2 or 3 yearsreceiving the greatest number of votes will be considered the frequency preferred by the Companys shareholders. Although this vote is not binding on the Company or the Board, the Board will take into consideration the outcome of the vote in making a determination on the frequency with which proposals for non-binding advisory votes to approve named executive officer compensation will be included in the Companys proxy statement. The Board may decide that it is in the best interests of shareholders and the Company to hold an advisory vote on named executive officer compensation more or less frequently than the option preferred by shareholders.
Unless you specify otherwise in your proxy/voting instruction card or in the instructions you give by telephone or Internet, your proxy will be voted for a frequency of every 1 YEAR as the frequency with which NextEra Energy will hold non-binding advisory votes to approve NextEra Energys compensation of its named executive officers.
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR 1 YEAR AS THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH NEXTERA ENERGY WILL HOLD A NON-BINDING SHAREHOLDER ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE NEXTERA ENERGYS COMPENSATION OF ITS NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
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Proposal 5: Approval of the NextEra Energy, Inc. 2017 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan
The Company is asking shareholders to consider and vote upon a proposal to approve the NextEra Energy, Inc. 2017 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan (the 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan). Upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, the Board on February 17, 2017 unanimously approved the 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan, which will become effective upon receipt of shareholder approval of the plan at the 2017 annual meeting. The Board believes that approval of the 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
The Board has proposed approval of the 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan to amend and restate the Companys current FPL Group, Inc. 2007 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan (the Current Directors Plan). Although shares of the Companys common stock remain available for grant under the Current Directors Plan, the Companys authority to pay additional compensation under the Current Directors Plan expires on May 24, 2017. The Company is asking its shareholders to approve the amended and restated plan so that it will be able to continue to pay stock-based compensation to non-employee directors. When the 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan becomes effective, no additional awards will be made under the Current Directors Plan.
No awards under the 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan have been granted or will be granted unless and until the plan is approved by the Companys shareholders at the 2017 annual meeting. If shareholders do not approve the 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan, compensatory equity-based grants to directors will continue to be made under the Current Directors Plan until the plan expires and to the extent of the shares of the Companys common stock available for issuance under that plan, which for future grants totaled approximately 250,360 shares as of March 1, 2017 (without giving effect to additional shares that may become available upon the future forfeiture or cancellation of outstanding awards).
Description of the 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan
The following description of the 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan, which is attached as Appendix A to this proxy statement and incorporated by reference into this proposal. You are urged to read this proposal and the text of the 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan in their entirety.
Summary of Material Provisions of the 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan
Purpose and Eligibility. The purpose of the 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan is to further strengthen the alignment of interests between members of the Board of Directors of NextEra Energy who are not employees of the Company and the Companys shareholders through the ownership by non-employee directors of shares of the Companys common stock. Awards may be granted under the 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan only to individuals who are members of the Board and are not employees of the Company. As of March 1, 2017, all 11 non-employee directors would be eligible to participate in the 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan.
Effective Date. The 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan will be effective on the date on which it is approved by the Companys shareholders.
Term. The 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan will terminate automatically ten years after its effective date, unless it is earlier terminated by the Board.
Administration. The 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan generally will be administered by a committee (the Committee) consisting of two or more directors of the Company each of whom qualifies as a non-employee director within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Committee will be the Compensation Committee. The Committee has plenary discretion and authority over the operation of the 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan.
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Shares Available under the Plan. Assuming the 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan is approved by shareholders, the maximum aggregate number of shares which may be issued under the 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan will be 500,000 shares, including shares previously granted under the Current Directors Plan that remain subject to a forfeiture condition on the date of the 2017 annual meeting. The Current Directors Plan has approximately 250,360 shares available for grant as of March 1, 2017, none of which will be available for grant upon approval of the 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan. As of March 1, 2017, the closing price of the Companys common stock as reported in the consolidated transaction reporting system of the NYSE was $129.41.
Termination, Amendment and Adjustments in the Event of Business Reorganization. The Board will be authorized to amend, alter, suspend or terminate the 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan as to any shares of the Companys common stock as to which awards have not been made. Any amendment to the 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan, however, will be subject to receipt of the approval of the Companys shareholders if shareholder approval of the amendment is required by any law or regulation or NYSE rule or to the extent determined by the Board. In the event any recapitalization, forward or reverse split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase, exchange of shares for other securities, stock dividend or other special and nonrecurring dividend or distribution (whether in the form of cash, securities or other property), liquidation, dissolution or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the shares such that an adjustment is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights under the 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of (i) the number and kind of securities deemed to be available thereafter for issuances of shares in the aggregate to all non-employee directors and individually to any one non-employee director and (ii) the number and kind of securities that may be delivered or deliverable in respect of undistributed shares.
Awards. The following types of awards may be made under the 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan, subject to limitations set forth in the plan.
Discretionary Grants. The Committee, in its discretion, may make a grant of shares (or an interest in shares, however denominated, to be settled in the future by delivery of shares) to any one or more non-employee directors as consideration for services rendered or promised to be rendered as a member of the Board or its committees at such times, for such number of shares and on such other terms and conditions (including but not limited to restrictions on the voting and dividend rights associated with such shares, service-related vesting, forfeiture provisions, holding period, and transfer restrictions) as the Committee may determine. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, discretionary grants: (a) shall be in the form of issued and outstanding shares registered in the name of the non-employee director; (b) shall be fully vested and nonforfeitable when awarded; and (c) shall carry full voting and dividend rights in favor of the holder of record from the date of grant.
Voluntary Conversion of Cash Compensation. A non-employee director may elect, at such time and in such manner as the Committee may prescribe, that all or any portion of his or her compensation for service on the Board and its committees that is payable in cash be converted into and distributed to the non-employee director in shares of equivalent fair market value. Shares distributed in this way shall be fully vested and nonforfeitable.
Awards to New Directors. The Committee, in its discretion, may make a one-time grant of shares to a non-employee director after his or her initial election or appointment to the Board. Any such award shall be made within six (6) months after such non-employee director becomes a member of the Board. The Committee shall determine the number of shares included in such award. Shares distributed in this way shall be fully vested and nonforfeitable.
Dividend Equivalents. The Committee is authorized to grant dividend equivalents. The Committee may provide that dividend equivalents shall be paid or distributed when accrued or shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional shares or other property, or otherwise reinvested.
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Deferral. Compensation payable under the 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan shall be eligible for deferral for federal (and, to the extent applicable, state and local) income tax purposes if and to the extent provided under a separate written deferred compensation plan of the Company that complies with the requirements of section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code) and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Holding Period for Shares. Shares acquired by a non-employee director under the 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan may not be sold or transferred so long as he or she remains a member of the Board except that a non-employee director may sell or transfer shares in excess of the shares required to be held according to the Companys written stock ownership guidelines for non-employee directors as specified in the Corporate Governance Principles and Guidelines.
New Plan Benefits. The number of shares that will be awarded to the directors under the 2017 Non-Employee directors Plan is not determinable at this time as the Committee will make the awards in its sole discretion. The number of awards made under the Current Directors Plan in 2016 is described under Director Compensation beginning on page 90.
Summary of U.S. Federal Tax Consequences. A non-employee director who is awarded fully vested shares under the 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan will be required to recognize ordinary income for U.S. federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares on the date of the award. The Company will be entitled to deduct the amount of the ordinary income recognized by the non-employee director for the same year in which the non-employee director recognizes ordinary income.
A non-employee director who is awarded shares subject to a vesting schedule under the 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan generally will not recognize any taxable income for federal income tax purposes at the time the award is made. However, the non-employee director may elect under Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code to recognize ordinary income in the year of the award in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares on the date of the award, determined without regard to the vesting schedule. If a non-employee director does not make such a Section 83(b) election, the fair market value of the shares on the date such shares vest will be treated as ordinary income to the non-employee director and will be taxable in the year vesting occurs. Dividends paid while the shares are subject to vesting, once themselves vested, will be taxable as ordinary income. The Company will be entitled to a business expense deduction in the same amount and at the same time as the non-employee director recognizes ordinary income.
If a non-employee director elects to defer shares received under the 2017 Non-Employee Directors Plan, U.S. federal income taxation will be deferred to the date of delivery of the shares in accordance with the deferral election. In addition, the Companys business expense deduction will be in the same amount and at the same time as the non-employee director recognizes ordinary income.
Unless you specify otherwise in your proxy/voting instruction card or in the instructions you give on the Internet or by telephone, your proxy will be voted FOR approval of the NextEra Energy, Inc. 2017 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan.
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR APPROVAL OF THE NEXTERA ENERGY, INC. 2017 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK PLAN
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Securities Authorized For Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
NextEra Energys equity compensation plan information as of December 31, 2016 is as follows:
Plan Category | Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights(a) |
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights ($)(b) |
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))(c) |
|||||||||
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders |
4,479,039 | (1) | $ | 71.08 | (2) | 9,383,195 | ||||||
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders |
| | | |||||||||
Total |
4,479,039 | $ | 71.08 | 9,383,195 |
(1) | Includes an aggregate of 2,505,208 outstanding options, 1,747,538 unvested performance share awards (at maximum payout), 16,564 deferred fully vested performance shares and 183,989 deferred stock awards (including future reinvested dividends) under the NextEra Energy, Inc. Amended and Restated 2011 Long Term Incentive Plan (2011 LTIP) and the former long term incentive plan, the FPL Group, Inc. Amended and Restated Long Term Incentive Plan, and 25,740 fully vested shares deferred by directors under the NextEra Energy, Inc. 2007 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan and its predecessor, the FPL Group, Inc. Amended and Restated Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan. |
(2) | Relates to outstanding options only. |
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Proposal 6: Shareholder proposal
The Comptroller of the State of New York, Thomas P. DiNapoli, 59 Maiden Lane, 30th Floor, New York, NY 10038, is the trustee of the New York State Common Retirement Fund (the Fund) and has given the Company notice that he intends to present this proposal at the annual meeting on behalf of the Fund. The Fund represented that it held a total of 1,410,600 shares of common stock as of the date the proposal was submitted. In accordance with SEC regulations, the text of the shareholder proposal and supporting statement appear exactly as received by the Company (including the use of boldface and italics). The shareholder proposal may contain assertions about the Company or other matters that the Company believes are incorrect, but the Company has not attempted to refute all of those assertions. All statements contained in the shareholder proposal and supporting statement are the sole responsibility of the proponent. The Company disclaims responsibility for the content of the proposal and the supporting statement, including sources referenced in the supporting statement.
Proposal 6Political Contributions Disclosure
Resolved, that the shareholders of NextEra Energy Inc. (NextEra or Company) hereby request that the Company provide a report, updated semiannually, disclosing the Companys:
1. | Policies and procedures for making, with corporate funds or assets, contributions and expenditures (direct or indirect) to (a) participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office, or (b) influence the general public, or any segment thereof, with respect to an election or referendum. |
2. | Monetary and non-monetary contributions and expenditures (direct and indirect) used in the manner described in section 1 above, including: |
a. | The identity of the recipient as well as the amount paid to each; and |
b. | The title(s) of the person(s) in the Company responsible for decision-making. |
The report shall be presented to the board of directors or relevant board committee and posted on the Companys website within 12 months from the date of the annual meeting.
Supporting Statement
As long-term shareholders of NextEra, we support transparency and accountability in corporate spending on political activities. These include any activities considered intervention in any political campaign under the Internal Revenue Code, such as direct and indirect contributions to political candidates, parties, organizations, or ballot measures; direct independent expenditures; or electioneering communications on behalf of federal, state or local candidates.
Disclosure is in the best interest of the company and its shareholders. The Supreme Court affirmed this its Citizens United decision: [D]isclosure permits citizens and shareholders to react to the speech of corporate entities in a proper way. This transparency enables the electorate to make informed decisions and give proper weight to different speakers and messages. Gaps in transparency and accountability may expose the company to reputational and business risks that could threaten long-term shareholder value.
Publicly available records show that NextEra contributed over $11.6 million in corporate funds since the 2004 election cycle. (CQ: http://moneyline.cq.com and National institute on Money in State Politics: http://www.followthemoney.org)
However, publicly available data does not provide a complete picture of the Companys political spending. For example, the Companys payments to trade associations and social welfare organizationsorganized under section 501(c)(4) of the IRS Codeused for political activities are undisclosed and unknown. This proposal asks the Company to disclose all of its political expenditures, including payments to trade associations and other tax-exempt organizations.
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This would bring our Company in line with a growing number of leading companies, including PG&E, Sempra Energy and Edison International, that support political disclosure and accountability and present this information on their websites.
The Companys Board and its shareholders need comprehensive disclosure to be able to fully evaluate the political use of corporate assets. We urge your support for this critical governance reform.
Political Contributions DisclosureProposal 6
The Board Unanimously Recommends a Vote AGAINST the Foregoing Proposal for the Following Reasons:
The Board believes that adopting the shareholder proposal would not be in the best interests of the Company or its shareholders.
The very same proposal from the same proponent was defeated by the Companys shareholders at the 2015 and 2016 annual meetings of shareholders. The same proposal was presented on behalf of the Fund at the Companys 2015 and 2016 annual meetings of shareholders and the Companys shareholders rejected this proposal with 60.4% and 57.3%, respectively, of votes cast voting against the proposal.
NextEra Energy recently updated its website to provide additional information related to political contributions. The Company updated its website this year to place filed lobbying reports directly on the Companys website. As a result, much of the information requested in the shareholder proposal is now available directly on the Companys website. The Company also added additional navigation links to provide easier access to the political contributions policy and information.
NextEra Energy needs to be an effective participant in the legislative and regulatory process. The Company is closely regulated and subject to legislation that can impact the Companys operations and profitability. The Board believes that it is in the best interests of the Companys shareholders for NextEra Energy to be an effective participant in the political process. Laws and policies enacted and adopted by federal, state and local authorities can have a significant impact on the Company and its customers, employees and shareholders. NextEra Energy actively encourages public policy that furthers its ability to provide the cleanest, most reliable electricity to its customers and to operate efficiently, safely and profitably. NextEra Energys active participation in political processes and public policy discussions is appropriate to ensure that public officials are informed about key issues that affect the Companys interests and those of its customers, employees and shareholders and of the communities the Company serves.
NextEra Energy already has a Political Contributions Policy and its political contributions are regulated by the government. NextEra Energy maintains a rigorous compliance process to ensure that the Companys political activities are lawful, properly disclosed and aligned with its Code of Business Conduct & Ethics. Political contributions are also subject to comprehensive regulation by federal, state and local governments with detailed disclosure requirements, including requirements to file reports with appropriate state and federal agencies on lobbying-related activities and expenditures. NextEra Energy is committed to compliance with all such applicable laws.
The proposal is unnecessary and duplicative because NextEra Energys political contributions are already subject to extensive disclosure requirements. The Board believes that adoption of this resolution is unnecessary and duplicative. NextEra Energy already discloses its Political Contributions Policy and the process for and the titles of the individuals responsible for authorizing contributions pursuant to this policy. NextEra Energy already reports corporate lobbying-related activities and expenditures as required to appropriate federal, state and local agencies. Information about the Political Contributions Policy and NextEra Energys political action committee (PAC) contributions and current lobbying activities can be found on the Companys website at http://www.investor.nexteraenergy.com and in reports filed with various state and federal agencies, which are also available through links on the Companys website.
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Adopting the proposal would not be the best use of NextEra Energys resources because adequate disclosure already exists. Since disclosure of the Companys policies and procedures regarding lobbying activities, business associations and PAC contributions are already readily available to the public and Company shareholders, the Board believes that the additional reports requested in the proposal would result in an unnecessary and unproductive use of the Companys resources.
Additional disclosure requirements could hinder the Companys ability to pursue its business and strategic objectives. It is the Boards view that subjecting the Company to additional disclosure requirements could hinder the Companys ability to pursue its business and strategic objectives. Such disclosure would make it easier for competitors and others to discern the Companys public policy and political strategies and implement strategies opposed to the Companys public policy goals, which would prevent the achievement of such goals and could negatively affect the Company, its operations and results. NextEra Energys responsible participation in the political process and its prudent expenditures in connection with such participation are in the best interests of the Company, its shareholders and its customers.
Unless you specify otherwise in your proxy/confidential voting instruction card or in the instructions you give on the Internet or by telephone, your proxy will be voted AGAINST proposal 6.
FOR THE ABOVE REASONS, THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL
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INFORMATION ABOUT NEXTERA ENERGY AND MANAGEMENT
Common Stock Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The following table shows the beneficial ownership of NextEra Energy common stock as of December 31, 2016 by the only persons known by the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Companys common stock:
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership |
Percent of Class | ||||
BlackRock, Inc. 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10055(1) |
37,446,093(1) | 8.0 | % | |||
The Vanguard Group 100 Vanguard Blvd. Malvern, PA 19355(2) |
35,000,629(2) | 7.3 | % | |||
State Street Corporation State Street Financial Center One Lincoln Street Boston, MA 02111(3) |
24,886,717(3) | 5.33 | % |
(1) | This information has been derived from a statement on Schedule 13G/A of BlackRock, Inc., filed with the SEC on January 25, 2017. As of December 31, 2016, BlackRock, Inc., a parent holding company, reported that it had sole dispositive power with respect to all of the shares reported as beneficially owned and sole voting power as to 33,228,518 of such shares. |
(2) | This information has been derived from a statement on Schedule 13G/A of The Vanguard Group, filed with the SEC on February 10, 2017. As of December 31, 2016, The Vanguard Group, an investment adviser, reported that it had sole dispositive power with respect to 34,176,502 shares reported as beneficially owned; shared dispositive power with respect to 824,127 shares reported as beneficially owned; sole voting power as to 774,931 shares reported as beneficially owned; and shared voting power as to 96,865 shares reported as beneficially owned. |
(3) | This information has been derived from a statement on Schedule 13G of State Street Corporation, filed with the SEC on February 8, 2017. As of December 31, 2016, State Street Corporation, a parent holding company, reported that it had shared dispositive and shared voting power with respect to all of the shares reported as beneficially owned. |
The table below shows the number of shares of NextEra Energy common stock beneficially owned as of March 17, 2017 by each of NextEra Energys directors (all of whom are nominees for director) and each named executive officer listed in Table 1a: 2016 Summary Compensation Table in the Executive Compensation section of this proxy statement, as well as the number of shares beneficially owned by all of NextEra Energys directors and executive officers as a group. As of March 17, 2017, each individual beneficially owned less than 1%, and all directors and executive officers as a group beneficially owned less than 1%, of NextEra Energy common stock. No shares are pledged as security. The table also includes information about phantom or deferred shares credited to the accounts of NextEra Energys directors and executive officers under various compensation and benefit plans.
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Common Stock Beneficially Owned | Phantom/Deferred |
|||||||||||||||
Name | Shares Owned(1) | Shares Which May Be Acquired Within 60 Days(2) |
Total Shares Beneficially Owned(3) |
|||||||||||||
Sherry S. Barrat |
28,860 | 2,517 | 31,377 | 13,951 | ||||||||||||
James L. Camaren |
31,760 | 0 | 31,760 | 6,844 | ||||||||||||
Moray P. Dewhurst(5) |
3,855 | 263,348 | 267,203 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Kenneth B. Dunn |
15,420 | 0 | 15,420 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Naren K. Gursahaney |
2,740 | 2,570 | 5,310 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Kirk S. Hachigian |
5,520 | 0 | 5,520 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Toni Jennings |
19,060 | 0 | 19,060 | 0 | ||||||||||||
John W. Ketchum |
23,655 | 6,255 | 29,910 | 1,842 | ||||||||||||
Amy B. Lane |
4,400 | 1,303 | 5,703 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Manoochehr K. Nazar |
115,994 | 158,983 | 274,977 | 9,070 | ||||||||||||
Armando Pimentel, Jr. |
87,148 | 205,801 | 292,949 | 7,352 | ||||||||||||
James L. Robo |
474,895 | (6) | 664,983 | 1,139,878 | (6) | 138,463 | ||||||||||
Rudy E. Schupp |
22,060 | (7) | 0 | 22,060 | (7) | 0 | ||||||||||
Eric E. Silagy |
38,300 | 67,663 | 105,963 | 4,334 | ||||||||||||
John L. Skolds |
8,294 | 0 | 8,294 | 0 | ||||||||||||
William H. Swanson |
25,180 | 0 | 25,180 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Hansel E. Tookes, II |
1,791 | 21,060 | 22,851 | 0 | ||||||||||||
All directors and executive officers as a group (23 persons) |
1,147,220 | 1,319,080 | 2,466,300 | 197,823 |
(1) | Includes shares of restricted stock (performance-based for executive officers) for Messrs. Dewhurst (3,851), Ketchum (6,007), Nazar (8,809), Pimentel (9,903), Robo (29,196) and Silagy (7,642), as well as for Mrs. Barrat (7,800), Ms. Lane (1,310) and Messrs. Camaren (3,200), Gursahaney (590), Hachigian (400), and Skolds (400), and a total of 89,958 shares of restricted stock for all directors and executive officers as a group. The holders of such shares of restricted stock have voting power, but not dispositive power. |
(2) | Includes, for executive officers, shares which may be acquired as of or within 60 days after March 17, 2017, upon the exercise of stock options and, for directors, shares payable under the Companys Deferred Compensation Plan, amended and restated effective January 1, 2003 (the Frozen Deferred Compensation Plan) or the NextEra Energy, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan effective January 1, 2005, as amended and restated through February 11, 2016, as amended (the Successor Deferred Compensation Plan), the receipt of which has been deferred until the first day of the month after termination of service as a Board member. The Frozen Deferred Compensation Plan and the Successor Deferred Compensation Plan are collectively referred to as the Deferred Compensation Plan. |
(3) | Represents the total number of shares listed under the columns Shares Owned and Shares Which May Be Acquired Within 60 Days. Under SEC rules, beneficial ownership as of any date includes any shares as to which a person, directly or indirectly, has or shares voting power or dispositive power and also any shares as to which a person has the right to acquire such voting or dispositive power as of or within 60 days after such date through the exercise of any stock option or other right. |
(4) | Includes phantom shares under the FPL Group, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, amended and restated effective April 1, 1997 (the Frozen SERP), and the NextEra Energy, Inc. (f/k/a FPL Group, Inc.) Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, amended and restated effective January 1, 2005 (the Restated SERP). The Frozen SERP and the Restated SERP are collectively referred to as the SERP. Also includes, for Mr. Robo, 69,229 shares held by the trustee of a grantor trust pursuant to a deferred stock grant made under the LTIP, as to which he has neither voting nor dispositive power, and 44,711 shares, the receipt of which is deferred pursuant to the terms of a deferred stock grant under the 2011 LTIP. |
(5) | Mr. Dewhurst retired as vice chairman and chief financial officer in March 2016, and, therefore, is not included in the group total. |
(6) | Includes 73,550 shares held by Mr. Robos spouses Gifting Trust, the trustee of which is Mr. Robo, 76,431 shares held by the James L. Robo Gifting Trust, the trustee of which is Mr. Robos spouse, and 3,356 shares owned by Mr. Robos spouse. |
(7) | Includes 200 shares owned by Mr. Schupps spouse, as to which Mr. Schupp disclaims beneficial ownership. |
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Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
The Companys directors and executive officers are required to file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes of their beneficial ownership of NextEra Energy common stock with the SEC pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act. Based solely upon a review of these filings and written representations from the directors and executive officers that no other reports were required of them, the Company believes that all required filings were timely made in 2016.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND BOARD MATTERS
Corporate Governance Principles & Guidelines/Code of Ethics
NextEra Energy has had formal corporate governance standards in effect since 1994. The Governance & Nominating Committee is responsible for reviewing the Corporate Governance Principles & Guidelines and reporting and making recommendations to the Board concerning corporate governance matters. NextEra Energy has adopted a Code of Ethics for Senior Executive and Financial Officers which applies to NextEra Energys chairman, president and chief executive officer, executive vice president, finance and chief financial officer, treasurer, chief tax officer, executive vice president & general counsel, vice president, controller and chief accounting officer, and the president and chief executive officers of FPL and NextEra Energy Resources, as well as a Code of Business Conduct & Ethics applicable to all representatives of NextEra Energy and its subsidiaries, including directors, officers and employees. The Corporate Governance Principles & Guidelines, Code of Ethics for Senior Executive and Financial Officers and Code of Business Conduct & Ethics are available on the Companys website at www.nexteraenergy.com/investors/governance.shtml. Any amendments or waivers of the Code of Ethics for Senior Executive and Financial Officers which are required to be disclosed to shareholders under SEC rules will be disclosed on the NextEra Energy website at the address listed above.
Under the Bylaws, in an uncontested election, directors are elected by a majority of the votes cast. The Board has adopted a Policy on Failure of Nominee Director(s) to Receive a Majority Vote in an Uncontested Election (Director Resignation Policy), the effect of which is to require that, in any uncontested director election, any incumbent director who is not elected by the required vote shall offer to resign, and the Board shall determine whether or not to accept the resignation within ninety days of the certification of the shareholder vote. The Company will report the action taken by the Board under the Director Resignation Policy in a publicly-available forum or document.
The Bylaws provide that, in a contested election, director nominees are elected by a plurality of the votes cast.
The Board conducts an annual review regarding the independence from the Companys management of each of its members and, in addition, assesses the independence of any new member at the time that the new member is considered for appointment or nomination for election to the Board. The Board considers all relevant facts and circumstances and uses the criteria set forth in the NYSE corporate governance independence standards (the NYSE standards) to assess director independence. These standards are also set forth or referred to in the Corporate Governance Principles & Guidelines, a copy of which is available on the Companys website at www.nexteraenergy.com/investors/governance.shtml. The NYSE standards and the Corporate Governance Principles & Guidelines require that NextEra Energy has a majority of independent directors and provide that the Board must affirmatively determine with respect to each such director that the director has no material relationship with the Company (either directly or as a
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partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company) in order to determine that the director is independent. As set forth in the Corporate Governance Principles & Guidelines, the Board considers all relevant facts and circumstances in making independence determinations. In particular, when assessing the materiality of a directors relationship (if any) with the Company, the Board considers materiality both from the standpoint of the director and from the standpoint of persons or organizations with which the director has an affiliation. Material relationships for this purpose may include commercial, industrial, banking, consulting, legal, accounting, charitable and familial relationships, among others.
In addition to the subjective standard described above, the NYSE standards have objective tests for determining who is an independent director. Under the objective tests, a director cannot be considered independent if he or she:
| is an employee of the Company, or has an immediate family member who is an executive officer of the Company, until three years after the employment relationship ended; |
| receives, or has an immediate family member who has received (other than as a non-executive officer employee of the Company), during any 12-month period within the last three years, more than $120,000 in direct compensation from the Company (other than director and committee fees and pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service and not contingent on continued service), until three years after that amount is no longer received; |
| is a current partner or employee of Deloitte & Touche or has an immediate family member who is either (a) a current partner of Deloitte & Touche or (b) a current employee of Deloitte & Touche who personally works on the Companys audit, until three years after these relationships with Deloitte & Touche have ended; |
| is an executive officer, or whose immediate family member is an executive officer, of another company where any of the Companys present executive officers serve on that other companys compensation committee, until three years after the end of that service or employment relationship; or |
| is an employee, or whose immediate family member is an executive officer, of a company that makes payments to, or receives payments from, the Company for property or services in an amount which, in any single fiscal year, exceeds the greater of (a) $1,000,000 or (b) 2% of such other companys consolidated gross revenues, until three years after falling below that threshold. |
The NYSE standards and the Corporate Governance Principles & Guidelines also require that each of the Compensation Committee, the Governance & Nominating Committee and the Audit Committee consist entirely of independent directors. The NYSE standards and Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act include the additional requirement that members of the Audit Committee may not accept directly or indirectly any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from the Company other than their director compensation. The NYSE standards also require that, when determining the independence of members of the Compensation Committee, the Board is to consider all factors specifically relevant to determining whether a director has a relationship with NextEra Energy which is material to the directors ability to be independent from management in connection with the directors duties on the Compensation Committee, including, but not limited to, consideration of the sources of compensation of Compensation Committee members, including any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fees paid by NextEra Energy, and whether any Compensation Committee member is affiliated with NextEra Energy or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. Compliance by Audit Committee members and Compensation Committee members with these requirements is separately assessed by the Board.
Based on its review conducted in accordance with the Companys Corporate Governance Principles & Guidelines and the NYSE standards, the Board determined in February 2017 that Sherry S. Barrat, James L. Camaren, Kenneth B. Dunn, Naren K. Gursahaney, Kirk S. Hachigian, Toni Jennings, Amy B. Lane, Rudy E. Schupp, John L. Skolds, William H. Swanson, and Hansel E. Tookes, II, constituting all 11 non-employee directors of NextEra Energy, are independent under the NYSE standards (including, where applicable, the
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separate Audit Committee and Compensation Committee standards) and the Corporate Governance Principles & Guidelines. In determining that Mr. Schupp is independent, the Board considered that a NextEra Energy subsidiary has employed Mr. Schupps son since June 2011 in non-executive business roles, for total compensation in 2016 of approximately $141,000. In determining that Mr. Gursahaney is independent, the Board considered that, in 2016, a NextEra Energy subsidiary purchased electrical transformers, through transactions determined by competitive bids, from a manufacturer in which Mr. Gursahaneys sister-in-law is an owner and in which Mr. Gursahaney has no interest of any nature.
As set forth in the Corporate Governance Principles & Guidelines, the Board believes that the decision as to who should serve as chairman and as chief executive officer, and whether the offices should be combined or separate, is properly the responsibility of the Board, to be exercised from time to time in appropriate consideration of the Companys then-existing characteristics or circumstances. In view of the Companys operating record, including its role as a national leader in renewable energy generation, and the operational and financial opportunities and challenges faced by the Company, the Boards judgment is that the functioning of the Board is generally best served by maintaining a structure of having one individual serve as both chairman and chief executive officer. The Board believes that having a single person acting in the capacities of chairman and chief executive officer promotes unified leadership and direction for the Board and executive management and allows for a single, clear focus for the chain of command to execute the Companys strategic initiatives and business plans and to address its challenges. However, in certain circumstances, such as the transition from one chief executive officer to another, the Board believes that it may be appropriate for the roles of the chief executive officer and the chairman to be separated.
The Board has an independent Lead Director selected by and from the independent directors (with strong consideration given to present and past committee chairs). The Lead Director serves a two-year term, if continuing as a director, commencing on the date of the Companys annual meeting of shareholders. Unless the independent directors determine otherwise due to particular circumstances, no director will serve as the Lead Director for more than one two-year term on a consecutive basis. In 2016, the independent directors selected Sherry S. Barrat to serve as the Lead Director until the 2018 annual meeting of shareholders.
The Lead Director has the following duties and authorities:
| to act, on a non-exclusive basis, as liaison between the independent directors and the chairman; |
| to approve the Board agenda and information sent to the Board; |
| to preside at Board meetings in the absence of the chairman and to chair executive sessions of the non-management directors; |
| to approve meeting schedules to assure that there is sufficient time for discussion of all agenda items; |
| to call executive sessions of the independent directors; |
| if requested by major shareholders, to be available, when appropriate, for consultation and direct communication consistent with the Companys policies regarding communications with shareholders; |
| to communicate Board member feedback to the chief executive officer; and |
| to have such other duties as may from time to time be assigned by the Board. |
Executive sessions of the independent directors are provided for in the agenda for each regularly-scheduled Board meeting and each regularly-scheduled committee meeting (other than quarterly earnings review meetings of the Audit Committee). As noted above, the Lead Director chairs the Board executive sessions and thereafter provides feedback to the chief executive officer. Committee executive sessions are chaired by the committee chairs, all of whom are independent directors (with the exception of the Executive
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Committee, which is chaired by the chairman of the board and meets only on an as-needed basis). The Board believes that having an independent Lead Director, regular Board and committee executive sessions, a substantial majority of independent directors and the corporate governance structures and processes described in this proxy statement allows the Board to maintain effective oversight of management.
Board Refreshment and Diversity
Board Refreshment. Each year the Board engages in a self-evaluation process which is conducted by the Governance & Nominating Committee. Members of the Board are surveyed to assess the effectiveness of the Boards membership and oversight processes and to solicit input from members of the Board for improvements to the Boards functions. With the input of the Governance & Nominating Committee, recommendations from Board members are incorporated into Board processes and Board agenda topics. This annual self-evaluation process ensures that the Board periodically considers improvements to Board processes and procedures.
In addition to annually examining the Board and the Board committee processes and procedures, the Board and the Governance & Nominating Committee engage in a continuous process of considering the mix of skills and experience needed by the Board as a whole to discharge its responsibilities. During the period from July 2012 to February 2015, five new members joined the Board, adding significantly to the skills, expertise and experience of the Board.
Diversity. Diversity is among the factors the Governance & Nominating Committee considers when identifying and evaluating potential Board nominees. The Corporate Governance Principles & Guidelines provide that, in identifying nominees for director, the Company seeks to achieve a mix of directors representing a diversity of background and experience, including diversity with respect to age, gender, race, ethnicity and specialized experience. Diversity is weighted equally with the other factors considered when identifying and evaluating Board nominees. In the Boards annual self-evaluation, it reviews the criteria for skills, experience and diversity reflected in the Boards membership, and also reviews the Boards process for identification, consideration, recruitment and nomination of prospective Board members.
The Board discharges its risk oversight responsibilities primarily through its committees, each of which reports its activities to the Board at the next succeeding Board meeting. The risk oversight responsibilities of the committees include the following:
| Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the integrity of the Companys financial statements, the independent auditors qualifications and independence, the performance of the Companys internal audit function, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and the Companys accounting and financial reporting processes. As part of its duties, the Audit Committee discusses with management the Companys policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management, reviews and discusses the Companys major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control those exposures, and ensures that risks identified from time to time as major risks are reviewed by the Board or a Board committee. |
| Finance & Investment Committee. The Finance & Investment Committee is responsible for reviewing and monitoring the Companys financing plans, reviewing and making recommendations regarding the Companys dividend policy, reviewing risk management activities and exposures related to the Companys energy trading and marketing operations, reviewing the Companys major insurance lines, and overseeing the risks associated with financing strategy, financial policies and use of financial instruments, including derivatives. |
| Nuclear Committee. The Nuclear Committee is responsible for reviewing the safety, reliability and quality of nuclear operations, reviewing reports issued by external oversight groups, and reviewing the Companys long-term strategies and plans relating to its nuclear operations. |
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| Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee is responsible for oversight of compensation-related risks, including reviewing managements assessment of risks related to employee compensation programs. |
NextEra Energys chief executive officer serves as the Companys chief risk officer. In that capacity, the chief executive officer, together with other members of the Companys senior management team, oversees the execution and monitoring of the Companys risk management policies and procedures. NextEra Energys management maintains a number of risk oversight committees that assess operational and financial risks throughout the Company. NextEra Energy also has a Corporate Risk Management Committee, composed of senior executives, that assesses the Companys strategic risks and the strategies employed to mitigate those risks. The Board committees discussed above meet periodically with the Companys senior management team to review the Companys risk management practices and key findings.
Director Meetings and Attendance
The Board and its committees meet on a regular schedule and also hold special meetings from time to time. The Board met seven times in 2016. Each director attended at least 75% of the total number of Board meetings and meetings of the committees on which he or she served during the period of such directors committee service.
Absent circumstances that cause a director to be unable to attend the Board meeting held in conjunction with the annual shareholders meeting, Board members are required to attend the annual shareholders meeting. All 12 of the directors then in office attended the 2016 annual meeting of shareholders.
The standing committees of the Board are the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Governance & Nominating Committee, the Finance & Investment Committee, the Nuclear Committee and the Executive Committee. The committees regularly report their activities and actions to the full Board, generally at the Board meeting next following the committee meeting. Each of the committees operates under a charter approved by the Board and each committee (other than the Executive Committee) conducts an annual self-evaluation of its performance. The charter of each of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Governance & Nominating Committee is required to comply with the NYSE corporate governance requirements. There are no NYSE requirements for the charters of the Finance & Investment Committee, the Nuclear Committee or the Executive Committee. Each of the committees is permitted to take actions within its authority through subcommittees, and references in this proxy statement to any of those committees include any such subcommittees. Current copies of the charters of the committees are available on the Companys website at www.nexteraenergy.com/investors/governance.shtml. The current membership and functions of the committees are described below.
Audit Committee
NextEra Energy has an Audit Committee established in accordance with applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the NYSE standards. The Audit Committee is currently composed of Mrs. Barrat, Ms. Jennings and Messrs. Swanson (Chair), Gursahaney and Skolds. The Audit Committee met nine times in 2016, and at such meetings met regularly with Deloitte & Touche and the internal auditor, both privately and in the presence of management. The Audit Committee has the authority to appoint or replace the Companys independent registered public accounting firm and approves all permitted services to be performed by the firm. The Audit Committee also approves the engagement of any other registered public accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services. The Audit Committee assists the Board in overseeing the integrity of the financial statements, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the independent registered public accounting firms qualifications, performance and independence, the performance of the Companys
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internal audit function, the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Company and audits of the Companys financial statements. The Audit Committee is responsible for establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints and concerns received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Company of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. The Audit Committee conducts an annual self-evaluation. The Audit Committee Charter, a copy of which is available on NextEra Energys website at www.nexteraenergy.com/investors/governance.shtml, contains a more detailed description of the Audit Committees responsibilities.
The Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee satisfies the financial literacy standard of the NYSE and that Mr. Swanson and Mr. Gursahaney each is an audit committee financial expert as that term is defined by applicable SEC rules and, accordingly, has accounting or related financial management expertise under NYSE standards. In addition, the Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee, including each audit committee financial expert, is independent under the NYSE standards, Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act and the Corporate Governance Principles & Guidelines.
The Audit Committee Report for 2016 begins at page 41.
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee is currently composed of Ms. Lane and Messrs. Hachigian (Chair), Dunn, Schupp and Tookes. The Compensation Committee met four times in 2016. The Board has determined that each member of the Compensation Committee is independent under the NYSE standards and the Corporate Governance Principles & Guidelines.
The Compensation Committee has the authority to review and approve corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of the chief executive officer and the other executive officers, evaluate the performance of the chief executive officer in light of those goals and objectives, approve the compensation of the chief executive officer and the other executive officers, approve any compensation-related agreements for the chief executive officer and the other executive officers, and make recommendations to the Board with respect to the compensation of the directors. Additional responsibilities include overseeing the preparation of the Compensation Discussion & Analysis section of this proxy statement and approving the annual Compensation Committee Report, reviewing the results of the Companys shareholder advisory vote on the compensation of its named executive officers, making recommendations to the Board with respect to incentive compensation plans and other equity-based plans, administering the Companys annual and long-term incentive plans and non-employee directors stock plan, and retaining, approving the terms of retaining, and assessing the independence of any outside compensation consultants engaged to assist in the evaluation of director, chief executive officer and other executive officer compensation. The Compensation Committee is responsible for oversight of compensation-related risks, including reviewing managements assessment of risks related to employee compensation programs. The Compensation Committee conducts an annual self-evaluation. The Compensation Committee Charter, a copy of which is available on NextEra Energys website at www.nexteraenergy.com/investors/governance.shtml, contains a more detailed description of the Compensation Committees responsibilities.
As permitted under the terms of the 2011 LTIP, the Board has delegated to the chief executive officer the authority to make equity grants to employees who are not executive officers. The Compensation Committee has the authority to review these awards. In addition, the Compensation Committee delegated to the chief executive officer and the most senior human resources officer its authority to identify participants in the 2013 Executive Annual Incentive Plan (the Annual Incentive Plan) other than executive officers and to establish the terms and conditions pursuant to which incentive compensation for 2016 was payable to such other participants. The Compensation Committee has not delegated any other authority granted to it.
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Compensation Committee Agenda and Processes; Role of External Consultants
The Compensation Committee plans its agendas to ensure a thorough and thoughtful decision process. Typically, information regarding strategic decisions with respect to the NEOs is presented at one meeting to the Compensation Committee, which makes its decision at a subsequent meeting. This allows time for follow-up questions from Compensation Committee members in advance of the final decision.
During 2016, following an independence evaluation (taking into account all factors required by applicable law or NYSE listing standards, and such other factors as the Committee considered appropriate), the Compensation Committee engaged Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc. (Cook), an independent executive compensation consulting firm which performed no other services for NextEra Energy or its affiliates, to provide advice and counsel to the Compensation Committee from time to time. Cook is sometimes referred to as the Compensation Consultant. In 2016, the Compensation Consultant participated in all Compensation Committee meetings. In accordance with its engagement letter, during the 2016 executive compensation cycle, Cook provided the Compensation Committee and the Company with analysis and advice on topics such as pay competitiveness and executive compensation program plan design. Cook also benchmarked and discussed with the Compensation Committee its recommendation with respect to non-employee director compensation. The Compensation Consultant also monitored current and emerging market trends and reported to the Compensation Committee on such trends and their impact on Company compensation practices. Cook has reviewed the Compensation Discussion & Analysis and Compensation Committee sections of this proxy statement and Proposal 3: Approval, by non-binding advisory vote, of NextEra Energys compensation of its named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement.
The Compensation Committee had an executive session at the end of each of its 2016 meetings, during which no executive officers were present. During the appropriate executive sessions, the committee evaluated the performance of the chairman and chief executive officer, discussed and approved the compensation of the chairman and chief executive officer, met with the Compensation Consultant and discussed and considered such other matters as it deemed appropriate.
Compensation Risk Assessment
In February 2017, the Compensation Committee reviewed managements analysis of the Companys compensation program risks and mitigation of those risks, as well as the Companys ongoing compensation risk management process. During this review, the Committee discussed, among other matters, the Boards overall role in the oversight of the Companys risk, the Compensation Committees role in the oversight of compensation-related risk, the Companys most significant risks, the relationship of those risks to the Companys compensation programs and policies, and the compensation risk-related risk mitigation practices and controls which the Company has in place.
Compensation Consultant Conflicts Assessment
In February 2017, the Compensation Committee assessed the independence of Cook in accordance with SEC rules and concluded that the Compensation Consultants work for the Compensation Committee did not raise any conflicts of interest.
Governance & Nominating Committee
The Governance & Nominating Committee is currently composed of Mrs. Barrat (Chair), Ms. Jennings and Messrs. Camaren, Gursahaney and Schupp. The Governance & Nominating Committee met five times in 2016. The Board has determined that each member of the committee is independent under the NYSE standards and the Corporate Governance Principles & Guidelines. The committee is responsible for reviewing the size and composition of the Board, identifying and evaluating potential nominees for election to the Board consistent with criteria developed by the committee and approved by the Board, and
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recommending candidates for all directorships to be filled by the shareholders or the Board, subject to the Director Resignation Policy discussed above. The committee will consider potential nominees recommended by any shareholder entitled to vote in elections of directors, as discussed below under Consideration of Director Nominees. In addition, the committee is responsible for reviewing the Corporate Governance Principles & Guidelines, the Related Person Transactions Policy and the content of the Code of Business Conduct & Ethics and the Code of Ethics for Senior Executive and Financial Officers, and recommending any proposed changes to the Board, and overseeing the evaluation of the Board. The Governance & Nominating Committee conducts an annual self-evaluation.
The Governance & Nominating Committee Charter, a copy of which is available on NextEra Energys website at www.nexteraenergy.com/investors/governance.shtml, contains a more detailed description of the Governance & Nominating Committees responsibilities.
Finance & Investment Committee
The Finance & Investment Committee is currently composed of Ms. Lane and Messrs. Tookes (Chair), Camaren, Dunn, Hachigian and Swanson. The Finance & Investment Committee met six times in 2016. The committees functions include reviewing and monitoring the Companys financing plans, reviewing and making recommendations to the Board regarding the Companys dividend policy, reviewing the Companys risk management activities and exposures related to its energy trading and marketing operations, reviewing certain proposed capital expenditures and reviewing the performance of the Companys pension, nuclear decommissioning and other investment funds. The Finance & Investment Committee conducts an annual self-evaluation.
The Finance & Investment Committee Charter, a copy of which is available on NextEra Energys website at www.nexteraenergy.com/investors/governance.shtml, contains a more detailed description of the Finance & Investment Committees responsibilities.
Nuclear Committee
Mr. Skolds (Chair) is the sole member of the Nuclear Committee, which meets with senior members of the Companys nuclear division. The Nuclear Committee met four times in 2016. The committees purpose is to review the operation of the Companys nuclear division and make reports and recommendations to the Board with respect to such matters. The Committee is authorized to review, among other matters, the safety, reliability and quality of the Companys nuclear operations and the Companys long-term strategies and plans for its nuclear operations.
The Nuclear Committee Charter, a copy of which is available on NextEra Energys website at www.nexteraenergy.com/investors/governance.shtml, contains a more detailed description of the Nuclear Committees responsibilities.
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee is currently composed of Mrs. Barrat and Messrs. Robo (Chair), Hachigian, Swanson and Tookes. The Executive Committee did not meet in 2016. The committees function is to provide an efficient means of considering such matters and taking such actions as may require the attention of the Board or the exercise of the Boards powers or authorities when the Board is not in session.
The Executive Committee Charter, a copy of which is available on NextEra Energys website at www.nexteraenergy.com/investors/governance.shtml, contains a more detailed description of the Executive Committees responsibilities.
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Consideration of Director Nominees
Proxy Access Shareholder Nominees
The Company recently amended its Bylaws to permit a shareholder, or a group of up to 20 shareholders, owning continuously for at least three years shares of NextEra Energy representing an aggregate of at least 3% of the Companys outstanding shares, to nominate and include in the Companys proxy materials director nominees constituting up to 20% of the current membership of the Board or two directorships, whichever is greater, provided that the shareholder and nominee satisfy the requirements in the Bylaws. Notice of proxy access director nominees for the 2018 annual meeting of shareholders should be addressed to the Corporate Secretary, NextEra Energy, Inc., P.O. Box 14000, 700 Universe Boulevard, Juno Beach, Florida 33408-0420 and must be received no earlier than October 28, 2017 and no later than the close of business on November 27, 2017. A copy of the Bylaws containing the complete proxy access requirements is available on NextEra Energys website at www.nexteraenergy.com/investors/governance.shtml.
Other Shareholder Nominees
The policy of the Governance & Nominating Committee is to consider properly submitted shareholder nominations of candidates for membership on the Board. The methods used by the Governance & Nominating Committee to identify and evaluate director candidates are discussed below under Identifying and Evaluating Nominees for Directors. In evaluating nominations, the Governance & Nominating Committee seeks to achieve a balance of knowledge, experience and capability and to address the membership criteria set forth below and in Proposal 1 under Director Qualifications. Any shareholder nominations proposed for consideration by the Governance & Nominating Committee should include the nominees name and qualifications for Board membership, and include all information that the Companys Bylaws require for director nominations, and should be addressed to: Corporate Secretary, NextEra Energy, Inc., P.O. Box 14000, 700 Universe Boulevard, Juno Beach, Florida 33408-0420. A copy of the Bylaws is available on NextEra Energys website at www.nexteraenergy.com/investors/governance.shtml.
A shareholder who wishes to nominate a person for the Governance & Nominating Committee to consider for election as a director must also follow the advance notice requirements of the Bylaws. A shareholder who nominates a director candidate must be a shareholder of record on the date he or she gives the nomination notice to NextEra Energy. The advance notice procedure in the Bylaws requires that a shareholders notice must be given in a timely manner and in proper written form to the Corporate Secretary. For nominations at annual meetings to be timely, notice must be delivered in person or by facsimile, or sent by U.S. certified mail and received, at NextEra Energys principal executive offices not earlier than the opening of business 120 days and not later than the close of business 90 days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting. If the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days earlier, or 60 days later, than such anniversary date, similar timeliness requirements, based on the date of the meeting, apply. Similar requirements apply in order for shareholder nominations at special meetings at which the Board has determined directors are to be elected to be timely. The notice must comply with the terms of the Bylaws and be accompanied by the materials listed and described in the Bylaws. Forms of the written materials required to make a nomination are available upon written request to the Corporate Secretary.
See Shareholder Proposals for 2018 Annual Meeting for information about the requirements for submission of shareholder proposals for consideration at the 2018 annual meeting of shareholders.
Director Qualifications
In addition to the qualifications for directors set forth under Proposal 1 on page 9 of this proxy statement, no person will be considered for Board membership who is an employee or director of a business in significant competition with the Company or of a major or potentially-major customer, supplier, contractor, counselor or consultant of the Company, or an executive officer of a business where a Company employee-director serves on such other businesss board.
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Generally, no person who shall have attained the age of 72 years by the date of election shall be eligible for election as a director. However, the Board may, by unanimous action (excluding the affected director), extend a directors eligibility for one or two additional years, in which event such a director will not be eligible for election as a director if he or she has attained the age of 73 or 74 by the date of election.
Identifying and Evaluating Nominees for Directors
The Governance & Nominating Committee uses a variety of methods for identifying and evaluating nominees for director. The Governance & Nominating Committee periodically assesses the appropriate size of the Board, and whether any vacancies on the Board are expected due to retirement or otherwise. Candidates may come to the attention of the Governance & Nominating Committee through current Board members, professional search firms, shareholders or other persons. Candidates are evaluated at regular or special meetings of the Governance & Nominating Committee, and may be considered at any time during the year. As described above, the Governance & Nominating Committee considers properly submitted shareholder nominations for candidates for the Board. Following verification of the shareholder status of persons proposing candidates, recommendations are aggregated and considered by the Governance & Nominating Committee at a regularly scheduled meeting, which is generally but not exclusively the December or February meeting prior to the distribution of the proxy statement for the Companys annual meeting. The Governance & Nominating Committee considers all nominee recommendations, including those from shareholders, in the same manner when determining candidates for the Board. If any materials are provided by a shareholder in connection with the nomination of a director candidate, such materials are provided to the Governance & Nominating Committee. The Governance & Nominating Committee also reviews materials provided by professional search firms or other parties. In evaluating nominations, the Governance & Nominating Committee seeks to achieve a diverse balance of knowledge, experience and capability. For additional information about the process for nominating and electing directors, see Proxy Access Shareholder Nominees, Other Shareholder Nominees and Director Qualifications above and as set forth under Proposal 1, and Shareholder Proposals for 2018 Annual Meeting, below.
The Board has established procedures by which shareholders and other interested parties may communicate with the Board, any Board committee, the Lead Director or any one or more other directors. Such parties may write to one or more directors, care of the General Counsel, NextEra Energy, Inc., P.O. Box 14000, 700 Universe Boulevard, Juno Beach, Florida 33408-0420, or send an e-mail to: boardofdirectors@nexteraenergy.com. They may also contact any member of the Audit Committee with a concern under the Companys Code of Business Conduct & Ethics by calling 561-694-4644.
The Board has instructed the General Counsel to assist the Board in reviewing all written communications to the Board, any Board committee or any director as follows:
| Complaints or similar communications regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters will be handled in accordance with the NextEra Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries Procedures for Receipt, Retention and Treatment of Complaints and Concerns Regarding Accounting, Internal Accounting Controls or Auditing Matters. |
| All other legitimate communications related to the duties and responsibilities of the Board or any committee will be promptly forwarded by the General Counsel to the applicable directors, including, as appropriate under the circumstances, to the chairman of the board, the Lead Director and/or the appropriate committee Chair. |
| All other shareholder, customer, vendor, employee and other complaints, concerns and communications will be handled by management, with Board involvement as advisable with respect to those matters that management reasonably concludes to be significant. |
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Communications that are of a personal nature or not related to the duties and responsibilities of the Board, that are unduly hostile, threatening, illegal or similarly inappropriate or unsuitable, that are conclusory or vague in nature, or that are surveys, junk mail, resumes, service or product inquiries or complaints, or business solicitations or advertisements, generally will not be forwarded to any director unless the director otherwise requests or the General Counsel determines otherwise.
NextEra Energy will disclose the following matters, if such matters should occur, on its website at www.nexteraenergy.com/investors/governance.shtml:
| any contributions by NextEra Energy to tax exempt organizations of which a director of the Company serves as an executive officer if the contributions exceeded the greater of $1,000,000 or 2% of the organizations revenues in any single fiscal year during the past three fiscal years; and |
| any Board determination that service by a member of the Companys Audit Committee on the audit committees of more than three public companies does not impair the ability of that individual to serve effectively on the Companys Audit Committee. |
Transactions with Related Persons
Related Person Transactions Policy
NextEra Energy maintains a written Related Person Transactions Policy (the Policy) that was adopted by the Board in 2007 and amended in February 2012. All Related Person Transactions covered by the Policy are subject to review and approval by the Governance & Nominating Committee. For purposes of the Policy, Related Person Transactions generally are transactions, arrangements or relationships or a series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships in which the aggregate amount involved exceeds $120,000 in any fiscal year, in which NextEra Energy, including any of its subsidiaries, was, is or will be a participant and in which any Related Person had, has or will have a direct or indirect material interest. An indirect interest includes, among other types of interests, an interest held by or through any entity in which any Related Person is employed or is a partner or principal or serves in a similar position or in which such Related Person has a 10% or greater beneficial ownership interest. Related Persons under the Policy are executive officers, directors and nominees for director of NextEra Energy, any person who is known to NextEra Energy to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of NextEra Energys voting securities (a Related Shareholder), and any immediate family member of any of the foregoing persons. The Policy generally is applied in a manner consistent with the requirements of the SECs rule relating to the disclosure of transactions with related persons and encompasses review and approval of transactions required to be disclosed by NextEra Energy in accordance with that rule.
In considering whether to approve a Related Person Transaction, the Governance & Nominating Committee (or its Chair, to whom authority has been delegated under certain circumstances) considers such factors as it (or the Chair) deems appropriate, which may include: (1) the Related Persons relationship to NextEra Energy and interest in the transaction; (2) the material facts of the proposed Related Person Transaction, including the proposed value of such transaction or, in the case of indebtedness, the principal amount that would be involved; (3) the benefits to NextEra Energy and its shareholders of the Related Person Transaction; and (4) an assessment of whether the Related Person Transaction is on terms that are comparable to the terms available to an unrelated third party.
The Policy provides for standing approval for certain categories of Related Person Transactions without the need for specific approval by the Governance & Nominating Committee. These categories include (1) certain transactions with other companies where the Related Persons only relationship is as an employee (other than an executive officer), partner or principal, if the aggregate amount involved does not exceed the greater of $1,000,000 or 2% of the other companys gross annual revenues in its most recently
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completed fiscal year, and (2) charitable contributions, grants or endowments by NextEra Energy to charitable organizations, foundations or universities with which a Related Persons only relationship is as an employee (other than an executive officer) or a trustee, if the aggregate amount involved does not exceed the lesser of $500,000 or 2% of the charitable organizations total annual receipts in its most recently completed fiscal year.
Related Person Transactions in 2016
In filings with the SEC, BlackRock, Inc. (BlackRock), State Street Corporation (State Street) and The Vanguard Group (Vanguard) reported beneficial ownership of more than 5% of NextEra Energys outstanding common stock as of December 31, 2016, and therefore for 2016 each was a Related Shareholder under the Policy described above. The nature and value of services provided by these 5% shareholders and their affiliates are described below:
| BlackRock provided investment management services to the NextEra Energy, Inc. Employee Pension Plan and the Employee Retirement Savings Plan as well as money market fund management services to NextEra Energy subsidiaries and received fees of approximately $788,000 for such services in 2016; |
| State Street provided investment management and administrative services to the Companys Employee Pension Plan and investment services to the decommissioning trust funds for NextEra Energys Florida Power & Light, Duane Arnold, Point Beach and Seabrook nuclear plants and received fees of approximately $856,000 for such services in 2016; and |
| Vanguard provided investment management and administrative services to the Companys Employee Retirement Savings Plan and investment services to the decommissioning trust funds for NextEra Energys Duane Arnold, Point Beach and Seabrook nuclear plants and received fees of approximately $903,000 for such services in 2016. |
NextEra Energy believes that the terms of the services provided described above are comparable to the terms available to an unrelated third party under the same or similar circumstances.
Additionally, during 2016, the adult son of Mr. Rudy E. Schupp was employed by a subsidiary of NextEra Energy as a Project Manager. His total compensation for 2016 was approximately $141,000, and he was eligible for company benefits available to all other employees in a similar position.
Each of the transactions described above were reviewed and approved by the Governance & Nominating Committee in accordance with the Policy.
The Audit Committee submits the following report for 2016:
In accordance with the written Audit Committee Charter, the Committee assists the Board of Directors (Board) in fulfilling its responsibility for oversight of the quality and integrity of the accounting, auditing and financial reporting practices of the Company. During 2016, the Committee met nine times, including four meetings where, among other things, the Committee discussed the interim financial information contained in each quarterly earnings announcement with the chief financial officer, the chief accounting officer and the independent registered public accounting firm prior to public release.
In discharging its oversight responsibility as to the audit process, the Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) regarding the independent registered public accounting firms communications with the Audit Committee concerning
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independence and has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the independent registered public accounting firms independence. The Audit Committee has reviewed any relationships that may affect the objectivity and independence of the independent registered public accounting firm and has satisfied itself as to the firms independence. The Committee also discussed with management, the internal auditors and the independent registered public accounting firm the quality and adequacy of the Companys internal controls and the internal audit functions organization, responsibilities, resources and staffing. The Committee reviewed with both the independent registered public accounting firm and the internal auditors their audit plans, audit scope and identification of audit risks.
The Committee discussed and reviewed with the independent registered public accounting firm all communications required by generally accepted auditing standards, including those required to be discussed by PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 1301, Communications with Audit Committees, and discussed and reviewed the results of the firms audit of the financial statements. The Committee also discussed the results of the internal audit examinations.
The Committee reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2016 with management and the independent registered public accounting firm. Management has the responsibility for the preparation of the Companys financial statements, and the independent registered public accounting firm has the responsibility for the audit of those statements.
Based on the above-mentioned review and discussions with management and the independent registered public accounting firm, the Committee recommended to the Board that the Companys audited financial statements be included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
In addition, and in accordance with the Audit Committee Charter, the Committee reviewed and discussed with management and the independent registered public accounting firm managements internal control report, managements assessment of the internal control structure and procedures of the Company for financial reporting and the independent registered public accounting firms opinion on the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting, all as required to be included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.
As specified in the Audit Committee Charter, it is not the duty of the Audit Committee to plan or conduct audits or to determine that the Companys financial statements are complete and accurate and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. These are the responsibilities of the Companys independent registered public accounting firm and management. In discharging the duties of the Audit Committee, the Committee has relied on (1) managements representations to us that the financial statements prepared by management have been prepared with integrity and objectivity and in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and (2) the report of the independent registered public accounting firm with respect to such financial statements.
Respectfully submitted,
William H. Swanson, Chair
Sherry S. Barrat
Naren K. Gursahaney
Toni Jennings
John L. Skolds
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Fees Paid to Deloitte & Touche
The following table presents fees billed for professional services rendered by Deloitte & Touche, the member firms of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, and their respective affiliates, for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.
2016 | 2015 | |||||||
Audit Fees(1) |
$ | 6,556,000 | $ | 6,595,000 | ||||
Audit-Related Fees(2) |
7,715,000 | 7,399,000 | ||||||
Tax Fees(3) |
206,000 | 321,000 | ||||||
All Other Fees(4) |
31,000 | 38,000 | ||||||
Total Fees(5) |
$ | 14,508,000 | $ | 14,353,000 |
(1) | Audit Fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of NextEra Energys and FPLs annual consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year, the reviews of the financial statements included in NextEra Energys and FPLs Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed during the fiscal year and the audit of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, comfort letters, consents and other services related to SEC matters, services in connection with annual and semi-annual filings of NextEra Energys financial statements with the Japanese Ministry of Finance and reviews of supplemental schedules. |
(2) | Audit-Related Fees consist of fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of NextEra Energys and FPLs consolidated financial statements and are not reported under Audit Fees. These fees primarily related to audits of subsidiary financial statements, consultations on transactions, attestation services and examinations related to applications for government grants. |
(3) | Tax Fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for tax compliance and tax advice and planning. In 2016 and 2015, approximately $134,000 and $251,000, respectively, was paid related to tax advice and planning services. All other tax fees in 2016 and 2015 related to tax compliance services. |
(4) | All Other Fees consist of fees for products and services other than the services reported under the other named categories. In 2016 and 2015, these fees related to training. |
(5) | Total Fees also include amounts billed for professional services rendered to NextEra Energy Partners, LP., the Companys publicly traded subsidiary. |
Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
In accordance with the requirements of Sarbanes-Oxley, the Audit Committee Charter and the Audit Committees pre-approval policy for services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm, all services performed by Deloitte & Touche are approved in advance by the Audit Committee. Audit and audit-related services specifically identified in an appendix to the pre-approval policy for which the fee is expected to be $250,000 or less are pre-approved by the Audit Committee each year. This pre-approval allows management to obtain the specified audit and audit-related services on an as-needed basis during the year, provided any such services are reviewed with the Audit Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting. Any audit or audit-related service for which the fee is expected to exceed $250,000, or that involves a service not listed on the pre-approval list, must be specifically approved by the Audit Committee prior to commencement of such service. In addition, the Audit Committee approves all services other than audit and audit-related services performed by Deloitte & Touche in advance of the commencement of such work. The Audit Committee has delegated to the Chair of the Audit Committee the right to approve audit, audit-related, tax and other services, within certain limitations, between meetings of the Audit Committee, provided any such decision is presented to the Audit Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting. At each Audit Committee meeting (other than meetings held solely to review earnings materials), the Audit Committee reviews a schedule of services for which Deloitte & Touche has been engaged since the prior Audit Committee meeting under existing pre-approvals and the estimated fees for those services. In 2016 and 2015, no services provided to NextEra Energy or FPL by Deloitte & Touche were approved by the Audit Committee after services were rendered pursuant to Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of the SECs Regulation S-X (which provides a waiver of the otherwise applicable pre-approval requirement under certain conditions).
The Audit Committee has determined that the non-audit services provided by Deloitte & Touche during 2016 and 2015 were compatible with maintaining that firms independence.
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Compensation Discussion & Analysis
This compensation discussion and analysis explains our 2016 executive compensation program for the named executive officers. The executive compensation program for the Companys NEOs also generally applies to the Companys other executive officers. Please read this discussion and analysis together with the tables and related narrative about executive compensation which follow.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
2016 Company Performance and CEO Compensation
NextEra Energy has a strong pay for performance philosophy that contributed to very positive 2016 results. NextEra Energy achieved Company-record adjusted earnings* of $2.9 billion, adjusted earnings per share* of $6.19 and a 1-year TSR of 18.4%. NextEra Energys 2016 TSR outperformed the S&P 500 Utilities Index of 16.3% and the S&P 500 Index of 12.0% for 2016.
These accomplishments came as the Company continued to be a leader among the 10 largest U.S. utilities in substantially all financial metrics. Among the largest 10 U.S. utilities, NextEra Energy ranked #3 for 3-year TSR, #1 for 5-year TSR, #1 for 10-year TSR, #2 for 3-year adjusted earnings per share (EPS) growth and #1 for 5-year, 7-year and 10-year adjusted EPS growth. In 2016, NextEra Energy ranked #1 among U.S. and global utility companies, based on market capitalization.**
In 2017, NextEra Energy was named by Fortune Magazine as the Worlds Most Admired Electric & Gas Utility for the tenth time in the last eleven years. Also in 2017, NextEra Energy was named by the Ethisphere Institute as one of the Worlds Most Ethical Companies for the tenth time in eleven years.
The returns that NextEra Energy generated for its shareholders were attributable to outstanding 2016 performance by the Companys two principal operating businesses, FPL and NextEra Energy Resources. Some of the Companys many operational and financial achievements in 2016 include:
FPL:
| achieved best-ever and top-decile performance in minutes of service unavailability per customer and best-ever average number of momentary interruptions per customer; |
| continued to have the lowest typical residential customer bill in Florida and customer bills that are about 25% below the national average; |
| delivered best-in-class performance in per-customer operations & maintenance expense and top-decile overall fossil fleet generation availability of 93.4%; |
| won the JD Power award for highest residential customer satisfaction among large utilities in the South, and ranked 2nd in the nation among large utilities; and |
| achieved top-decile residential and business customer satisfaction scores. |
* | This measure is not a financial measure calculated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). See Appendix B to this proxy statement for a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. |
** | Market capitalization is as of December 31, 2016; rankings are sourced from FactSet Research Systems Inc. |
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NextEra Energy Resources:
| continued market leadership in North American wind generation, with 1,364 megawatts of wind generation capacity added, 1,287 megawatts of committed new wind origination and approved 1,597 megawatts, or $1.1 billion, of wind repowering projects; |
| delivered strong performance in solar development, adding 981 megawatts of solar capacity; |
| continued successful execution of the Companys gas pipeline project construction program; and |
| achieved top-decile overall equivalent forced outage rate (EFOR) of 1.69%. |
Ultimately, the Companys financial and operational performance is reflected in the increased value of its common stock. As the following table illustrates, TSR over the three-year period from December 31, 2013 to December 31, 2016 was 53%, meaning that an investment of $100 in NextEra Energy common stock on December 31, 2013 was worth $152.61 on December 31, 2016. The CEOs total direct compensation over the same period was well-aligned with TSR.
While our executive compensation program is designed to tie compensation to performance, some performance metrics on which our CEOs compensation is based are intentionally designed to result in value creation over an extended period of time as opposed to on an annual basis. As a result, CEO compensation may not precisely parallel TSR in any given period. CEO compensation may lag corporate performance in certain years and it may outpace corporate performance in other years. Although absolute alignment between pay and performance in each year may not be achieved and, in any event, may not be appropriate, the Compensation Committee believes that, over time, the Companys executive compensation program rewards superior performance, provides a disincentive for performance that falls short of expectations and closely aligns executive compensation with shareholder returns.
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FUNDAMENTAL OBJECTIVE OF OUR COMPENSATION PROGRAM |
The fundamental objective of our executive compensation program is to motivate and reward actions that the Compensation Committee believes will increase long-term shareholder value. The program is designed to attract, retain, motivate, reward and develop high-quality, high-performing executive leadership whose talent and expertise should enable the Company to create long-term shareholder value that over time is superior to the shareholder value created by our peers.
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The table below highlights the fundamental elements of our executive compensation program that the Compensation Committee believes fulfills the core objective of our compensation program.
FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS OF OUR COMPENSATION PROGRAM | ||
As discussed in more detail below, NEO direct compensation has three principal elements: base salary, annual incentive awards and equity compensation. | ||
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BASE SALARY is a fixed amount of compensation that reflects the responsibilities and day-to-day contributions of NEOs.
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ANNUAL INCENTIVE AWARDS are granted for achievement of a detailed set of key financial and operational performance measures, the majority of which are based on industry benchmarks and for which payouts depend on Company performance relative to those benchmarks. The financial measures are the Companys one-year adjusted earnings per share growth and adjusted return on equity compared to the ten-year average of the companies constituting the S&P 500 Utilities Index. The operational measures are focused on operational performance relative to industry performance.
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EQUITY COMPENSATION consists of performance share awards, performance-based restricted stock awards and non-qualified stock option awards:
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Performance share awards are granted for three-year performance periods to drive intermediate results. Payouts of performance share awards are based on three distinct measurements: (1) three-year TSR relative to companies in the S&P 500 Utilities Index; (2) three-year adjusted earnings per share growth and adjusted return on equity relative to the ten-year average of the companies comprising the S&P 500 Utilities Index; and (3) three-year average performance on core operational performance measures relative to industry peers.
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Performance-based restricted stock awards vest ratably over three years only if the Company achieves a specified annual adjusted earnings goal each year.
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Non-qualified stock option awards are granted subject to a three-year ratable vesting period, have a ten-year term and will deliver value to executives only if the Companys stock price at exercise exceeds the stock price on the grant date of the award.
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KEY PRACTICES OF OUR COMPENSATION PROGRAM | ||||
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WE SET TARGET TOTAL DIRECT COMPENSATION OPPORTUNITY AND PAY MIX TO SUPPORT THE GOALS OF SHAREHOLDER VALUE CREATION AND EXECUTIVE RETENTIONEach NEOs 2016 target total direct compensation opportunity was set with reference to two groups of benchmarked companies, drawn from energy services and general industry, representing the broad competitive labor market from which we recruit executive talent and with which we must compete for that talent. This target opportunity was then allocated over several forms of compensation, the mix of which was designed to support the goals of shareholder value creation and executive retention.
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WE LINK NEO FINANCIAL SUCCESS TO SHAREHOLDER VALUE CREATIONAll NEOs 2016 compensation included a significant element of equity compensation, supported by robust stock ownership guidelines, performance hurdles, vesting schedules and the potential for clawback.
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WE VALUE, AND REVIEW, PERFORMANCE RELATIVE TO THE PERFORMANCE OF OUR COMPETITORS AND PEERS WHENEVER POSSIBLE, RATHER THAN RELATIVE TO ARBITRARY GOALSOur basic principle underlying the linkage between performance (both financial and operational) and executive compensation is that performance superior to our competition and peers will result in above-target compensation, while performance that is not superior to our competition and peers will result in below-target compensation. Wherever comparable industry information was available, our 2016 financial and operational performance goals were set, and our 2016 performance against those goals was measured, relative to industry performance.
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OUR PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL METRICS IN 2016 WERE ADJUSTED RETURN ON EQUITY AND ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER SHARE GROWTHThe principal financial metrics on which our 2016 results were benchmarked against industry performance were adjusted return on equity and adjusted earnings per share growth, both measured in comparison to the actual results of the other members of the S&P 500 Utilities Index over the 10-year period January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2016.* The Compensation Committee believes that these financial metrics are enduring standards, because they are objective, require the Company to demonstrate superior performance, are aligned with how shareholder value is created and encourage management to include stretch goals as part of the annual budget setting process. The Committee believes that a 10-year period is appropriate for comparison due to the historically longer-term economic cycles inherent in the power industry and the sporadic volatility that the power industry experiences from time to time. The Committee accordingly believes that a 10-year period reduces the likelihood that, in any given year, inappropriate metrics will be established as a result of short-term industry anomalies.
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* | Estimated for 2016 using actual results for the first three quarters and analysts estimates for the fourth quarter. |
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WHAT WE DO | ||
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TIE PAY TO PERFORMANCEA substantial majority of NEO pay is not guaranteed; 92% of the CEOs actual direct 2016 compensation was performance-based.
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USE INDUSTRY BENCHMARKS WHEN SETTING OPERATIONAL GOALS AND WHEN REVIEWING ACTUAL PERFORMANCE TO DETERMINE PAYOUTSWe generally target top decile or top quartile performance as compared to our industry on operational measures where benchmark data is available. Actual award payouts are driven by performance relative to industry rather than performance against arbitrary goals. Delivered performance superior to our industry will generally result in above-target compensation, while performance that is not superior to our industry will generally result in below-target compensation.
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MITIGATE UNDUE RISKWe take steps to mitigate undue risks related to compensation, including using a clawback policy, stock ownership and retention requirements and multiple performance metrics. The Compensation Committee believes that none of the Companys compensation programs create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse impact on the Company, which the Committee validates through a review of a comprehensive risk assessment of incentive-based compensation plans each year.
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ROBUST STOCK OWNERSHIP GUIDELINESWe have robust stock ownership guidelines, which all NEOs exceed.
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HOLDING PERIOD ON PERFORMANCE-BASED RESTRICTED STOCKWe require executive officers to hold performance-based restricted stock for 2 years after vesting (net of shares withheld for, or used to pay, taxes).
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MINIMUM FULL VESTING PERIOD FOR STOCK OPTIONS AND PERFORMANCE-BASED RESTRICTED STOCKStock options and performance-based restricted stock generally are granted with a minimum full vesting period of 3 years.
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INDEPENDENT COMPENSATION CONSULTANTThe Compensation Committee benefits from its use of an independent compensation consultant that provides no other services to the Company.
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SHAREHOLDER OUTREACH AND ASSESSMENT FOR IMPROVEMENTWe engage in shareholder outreach and regularly assess the executive compensation program against shareholder input, emerging trends and other factors.
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NEOs REQUIRED TO ENTER INTO RULE 10b5-1 PLANS WITH MINIMUM WAITING PERIODS TO TRANSACT TRADES IN COMPANY SECURITIESCompany practice requires that NEOs must execute all trades pursuant to trading plans under SEC Rule 10b5-1 with specified minimum waiting periods approved by the General Counsel.
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WHAT WE DO NOT DO | ||||||
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NO CEO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
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NO TAX GROSS-UPS OF NEO PERQUISITES
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NO EXCISE TAX GROSS-UP PROVISIONS IN CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENTSSince 2009, new or materially amended change in control agreements have not included excise tax gross-up provisions.
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NO REPRICING OF UNDERWATER STOCK OPTIONS
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NO SHARE RECYCLING UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN
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NO HEDGING OF COMPANY SECURITIES BY NEOs OR DIRECTORS PERMITTED UNDER SECURITIES TRADING POLICY
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NO PLEDGING OF COMPANY SECURITIESPledging of NextEra Energy securities as collateral is prohibited.
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NO GUARANTEED ANNUAL OR MULTI-YEAR BONUSES
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2016 SAY-ON-PAY VOTE AND SHAREHOLDER OUTREACH
In 2016, we held our sixth annual advisory vote to approve NEO compensation, commonly known as say-on-pay. In 2016, we sought to engage with shareholders who in the aggregate represented a significant percentage of our outstanding shares, and held discussions with those who agreed to our request for engagement. Those shareholders were generally supportive of our executive compensation program, and of our overall corporate governance practices. Prior to making determinations about 2017 NEO total compensation opportunities, the Compensation Committee reviewed the results of the 2016 say-on-pay vote, noting that 95.0% of those voting had voted FOR the Companys compensation of its NEOs. The Committee considered this vote to be supportive of the Companys executive compensation program and determined not to make any additional structural changes to the program for 2017.
HOW WE MADE 2016 COMPENSATION DECISIONS
General
The Compensation Committee used its business judgment to set each NEOs target total direct compensation opportunity for 2016 and each compensation element. The Committee based its determination on its integrated assessment of a series of factors, including competitive alternatives, individual and team contribution and performance, corporate performance, complexity and importance of role and responsibilities, position tenure, leadership and growth potential and the relationship of the NEOs pay to the pay of NextEra Energys other executive officers. See page 36 of this proxy statement for a discussion of the Compensation Committees processes. There are no material differences among NEOs with respect to the application of NextEra Energys compensation policies or the way in which total compensation opportunity is determined.
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Resources
The Compensation Committee primarily used the following resources to aid in its determination of the 2016 target total direct compensation opportunity for each NEO.
Market Comparisons/Peer Group
When establishing each NEOs target total direct compensation opportunity for 2016, the Compensation Committee considered the competitive market for comparable executives and compensation opportunities provided by comparable companies. Competition for executive talent primarily affects the aggregate level of the target total direct compensation opportunity available to the NEOs. The Compensation Committee believes that it is critical to the Companys long-term performance to offer its executive officers compensation opportunities broadly commensurate with their competitive alternatives. The Company obtained market comparison information for all NEOs from publicly-available peer group information. The Companys peer group is composed of a set of companies from the energy services industry and a set of companies from general industry. These companies were selected by the Compensation Committee with input from executive officers (including the chief executive officer) and the Compensation Consultant. The Compensation Committee believes that the use of companies both from the energy services industry and from general industry was appropriate because the Companys executive officers come both from within and from outside the Companys industry. NEOs were recruited from within and outside the Companys industry and the Committee believes that their opportunities for alternative employment are not limited to other energy or utility companies.
For 2016, the Compensation Committee conducted a review of the then-existing 2015 peer group based on the following criteria:
Criteria for Energy Services Industry Companies
| publicly-traded companies with a strong United States domestic presence |
| classified with a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code similar to the Companys SIC code |
| annual revenue greater than $1 billion |
| a potential source of executive talent |
| included in an executive compensation survey database provided by a third party |
Criteria for General Industry Companies
| publicly-traded companies with a strong United States domestic presence |
| member of the Fortune 500 |
| considered highly reputable and highly regarded for operational excellence, product/service leadership or customer experience |
| sustained revenues between 50% and 200% of the Companys revenues |
| fewer than 150,000 employees |
| heavily industrialized, highly regulated or a producer of consumer staples |
| operate in industries which may be potential sources of executive talent |
| no unusual executive pay arrangements |
| included in an executive compensation survey database provided by a third party |
| contribute to diversity of industry representation in this segment of the peer group |
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All energy services industry companies and general industry companies included in the Companys 2015 peer group met these criteria and were retained by the Compensation Committee for the 2016 peer group and no additional companies were added to either group. Thus, the executive compensation programs of the following companies were reviewed as market comparators for 2016:
Energy Services Industry | General Industry | |
American Electric Power Company, Inc. |
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. | |
Consolidated Edison, Inc. |
Alcoa Inc. | |
Dominion Resources, Inc. |
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation | |
Duke Energy Corporation |
CIGNA Corporation | |
Edison International |
Colgate-Palmolive Company | |
Entergy Corporation |
Devon Energy Corporation | |
Exelon Corporation |
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company | |
FirstEnergy Corp. |
Eaton Corporation | |
PG&E Corporation |
Emerson Electric Co. | |
PPL Corporation |
Fluor Corporation | |
Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated |
General Dynamics Corporation | |
Sempra Energy |
Hess Corporation | |
The Southern Company |
Kellogg Company | |
Xcel Energy Inc. |
Murphy Oil Corporation | |
Principal Financial Group, Inc. | ||
Schlumberger Limited | ||
SunTrust Banks, Inc. | ||
Texas Instruments Incorporated | ||
Union Pacific Corporation | ||
Waste Management, Inc. | ||
Xerox Corporation |
Although the Compensation Committee did not target specific total compensation levels relative to industry peers (a so-called percentile approach), it generally reviewed peer company data at the 50th percentile for the general industry companies and the 75th percentile for the energy services industry companies. The Committee believes these levels were appropriate because:
| the Companys practice is to make a relatively high portion of each NEOs compensation performance-based as compared to its peers; |
| the Companys operations are more complex, more diverse and of a greater size than those of substantially all of its energy services industry peer companies; and |
| the Companys 2015 market capitalization and assets were above the 50th percentile of its general industry peer companies and above the 75th percentile of its energy services industry peer companies. |
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Other Resources
What We Use | How We Use It | |
Tally sheets and walk-away charts |
Provides a check to ensure that the Compensation Committee sees the full value of all elements of the NEOs annual compensation, both as opportunity and as actually realized, and sees the actual results of its compensation decisions in the various situations under which employment may terminate | |
Reviews by the CEO |
Prior to the beginning of the year, the Compensation Committee solicits performance reviews of the other NEOs and executive officers from the CEO for use as an additional input to the Committees determination of target total direct compensation opportunity and, after the end of the year, whether or not to use Committee discretion to adjust annual incentive compensation amounts determined using the formula discussed below |
2016 NEO PAY
Target Pay Mix
NextEra Energy has three fundamental elements of total direct compensation: base salary, annual incentive awards and equity compensation. The Compensation Committee believes that a significant portion of each NEOs total direct compensation opportunity should be performance-based, reflecting both upside and downside potential. When determining the proportion of total compensation that each compensation element constituted in 2016, the Compensation Committee reviewed current market practices and industry trends, taking into consideration the Companys preference for emphasizing performance-based compensation and de-emphasizing fixed compensation. In determining performance-based compensation, the Compensation Committee sought to focus the efforts of the NEOs on a balance of short-term, intermediate-term and long-term goals. In addition, the Compensation Committee considered the NEOs perception of the relative values of the various elements of compensation and sought input from the CEO and the Compensation Consultant.
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As illustrated in the following charts, 89% of the CEOs 2016 target total direct compensation opportunity, and 75% of the other NEOs 2016 target total direct compensation opportunities, were performance-based and not guaranteed.
2016 Base Salary
CEO: For 2016, Mr. Robos base salary was increased by 4%, to $1,300,000 primarily reflecting the Companys superior operating results in 2015, the nature and responsibilities of Mr. Robos position, his expertise and performance, the competitiveness of his current pay in relation to his corresponding peer group and the business judgment of the Compensation Committee.
Other NEOs: Mr. Ketchums base salary in 2016 of $575,000 represented a 15% increase, Mr. Nazars base salary in 2016 of $874,200 represented a 4% increase, Mr. Pimentels base salary in 2016 of $838,100 represented a 6% increase and Mr. Silagys base salary in 2016 of $796,100 represented a 10% increase, all of which were based on the nature and responsibilities of their respective positions, their expertise and performance, the competitiveness of each NEOs current pay in relation to his corresponding peer group and the recommendations of the CEO. Mr. Dewhurst did not receive a salary increase due to his retirement. The Compensation Committee also took into account the effect that base salary increases would have on other components of compensation, including annual incentive pay, long-term incentive plan grants and retirement benefits.
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2016 Annual Performance-Based Incentive Compensation
Description of the Annual Incentive Plan for 2016
Annual Incentive Plan goals are established to incentivize superior performance relative to industry peers, and a majority of these goals are based on industry benchmarks. Payouts under the Annual Incentive Plan are generally based on Company performance in the relevant period as compared to the benchmarks.
Prior to the beginning of 2016, the Compensation Committee established financial and operational performance goals under the Annual Incentive Plan in the following categories:
Type of 2016 Performance Goals | How We Established and Used the 2016 Performance Goals | |
Financial |
The financial metrics are based on enduring standards indicative of sustained performanceadjusted earnings per share growth and adjusted return on equityas compared to the financial performance over the ten-year period ended on December 31, 2016 of the companies included in the S&P 500 Utilities Index.
Higher ratings indicate corporate financial performance superior to industry median and lower ratings indicate corporate financial performance which lags industry median.
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Operational |
Operational goals and payout scales are established in advance of the year using available industry benchmarks insofar as possible.
If an industry benchmark is not available, the applicable goal generally is set at a level constituting an improvement or a stretch as compared to prior performance.
As a general principle, the Compensation Committee seeks to set operational performance goals at levels that represent excellent performance, superior to the results of typical companies in our industry, and that require significant effort on the part of the executive team to achieve.
Performance on certain compliance-related goals is scored as either met or not met, while performance against other goals is judged on a sliding scale in comparison to top decile, top quartile, median and sub-median performance as compared to the industry. |
2016 Financial Performance Matrix
The financial performance matrix approved by the Compensation Committee for 2016, which is illustrated below, compares the Companys 2016 adjusted earnings per share growth and adjusted return on equity to the average of the actual annual earnings per share growth and return on equity of the companies included
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in the S&P 500 Utilities Index during the 10-year period from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2016 (estimated for 2016 using actual results for the first three quarters and analysts estimates for the fourth quarter).*
The Compensation Committee believes that these financial metrics are enduring standards because they are objective, require the Company to demonstrate improvement, are aligned with how shareholder value is created and encourage management to include stretch goals as part of the annual budget setting process. The financial performance matrix is designed to provide relatively greater rewards if the Company outperforms others in its industry on the indexed measures and relatively lower rewards if it does not. The Compensation Committee based the matrix on adjusted earnings because it believes that adjusted earnings provide a more meaningful representation of the Companys fundamental earning power than net income calculated in accordance with GAAP. Therefore, the Committee believes that using adjusted earnings better aligns the NEOs motivations with the Companys strategy and with shareholders long-term interests. In addition, the Committee believes that the use of adjusted earnings for this purpose is consistent with the way in which the Company communicates its earnings to analysts and investors.
The numbers in the following matrix set forth the range of possible ratings for corporate financial performance. A rating of 1 indicates overall corporate financial performance at the industry median, while higher ratings indicate corporate financial performance superior to the industry median, and lower ratings indicate corporate financial performance which lags the industry median.
It is important to recognize that the adjusted return on equity and adjusted earnings per share growth amounts set forth in the illustration below are not generated arbitrarily by the Company, but reflect actual industry performance on these measures for the 10-year period ended December 31, 2016, and that the Companys executive compensation is based, with respect to adjusted return on equity and adjusted earnings per share growth, on the performance delivered by the Company relative to industry performance.
* | Adjusted earnings per share and adjusted return on equity are not financial measurements calculated in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted earnings, as defined by NextEra Energy for purposes of the Annual Incentive Plan, are the Companys consolidated net income, as reported in the audited annual financial statements as determined in accordance with GAAP, excluding the effects of: (1) changes in the mark-to-market value of non-qualifying hedges; (2) other than temporary impairments on investments; (3) extraordinary items; (4) non-recurring charges or gains (e.g., restructuring charges and material litigation losses); (5) discontinued operations; (6) regulatory and/or legislative changes and/or changes in accounting principles; (7) labor union disruptions; and (8) acts of God such as hurricanes, which is used, among other reasons, to provide industry comparability. Adjusted return on equity, as defined by NextEra Energy, is equal to the Companys adjusted earnings divided by average common shareholders equity, adjusted to provide industry comparability, expressed as a percentage. Adjusted earnings per share, as defined by NextEra Energy, are equal to the Companys adjusted earnings divided by weighted average diluted shares outstanding. |
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2016 Operational Goals
The Compensation Committees philosophy with respect to both setting and paying out incentives based on operational goals is that the goals set and the actual award payouts are driven by Company performance relative to industry benchmarks, rather than performance against arbitrary goals. Operational goals and payout scales are established based on industry benchmarks and Company performance when meaningful benchmarks are available. As noted previously, delivered performance superior to our industry will generally result in above-target compensation, while performance that is not superior to our industry will generally result in below-target compensation.
In that context, FPLs typical performance goals are generally equal to or better than the top quartile performers in its industry and NextEra Energy Resources targets earnings growth and profitability goals that are well above utility industry norms (in both cases based on internal reviews of publicly-available information and information provided by consultants and industry associations). The following tables set forth, for 2016, the operational performance goals and the actual performance achieved against those goals.
Florida Power & Light Company:
Indicator | Goal | Actual | Weight | |||||
Operations & maintenance costs (plan-adjusted)(1) |
$1,398 million(1) | $1,376 million(1) | 31 | % | ||||
Capital expenditures (plan-adjusted)(1) |
$4,412 million(1) | $4,050 million(1) | ||||||
Fossil generation availability(2) |
top decile performance | exceeded top decile performance | 21 | % | ||||
Nuclear industry composite performance index(3) |
aggressive goal of top quartile performance | missed goal of top quartile performance | ||||||
Service reliabilityservice unavailability (minutes) |
top decile (63.2 minutes) | Best ever and exceeded top decile performance (61.6 minutes) |
||||||
Service reliabilityaverage frequency of customer interruptions |
0.83 interruptions per customer per year (average) | 0.79best ever and exceeded top quartile performance | ||||||
Service reliabilityaverage number of momentary interruptions per customer |
10.8 momentary interruptions per customer per year | 8.3best-ever performance | ||||||
Employee safetyOSHA recordables(4)/200,000 hours |
top decile 0.60 | 0.84missed goal | 23 | % | ||||
Significant environmental violations |
0 | 0 | ||||||
Customer satisfactionresidential value surveys |
aggressive goal | beat goal | ||||||
Customer satisfactionbusiness value surveys |
aggressive goal | beat goal | ||||||
Performance under FERC and NERC reliability standards(5) |
no significant violations | no significant violations | ||||||
Successful completion of the rate case |
fair outcome for customers and shareholders | fair outcome for customers and shareholders | 25 | % |
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NextEra Energy Resources:
Indicator | Goal | Actual | Weight | |||||
Earnings (plan-adjusted)(1) |
$1,114 million(1) | $1,090 million(1) | 46 | % | ||||
Return on equity |
12.0% | 12.9% | ||||||
Meet budgeted cost goals |
$1,740 million | $1,712 million | ||||||
NEP EBITDA |
$670 | beat goal | ||||||
NEP Cash Available for Distribution |
$230 | beat goal | ||||||
Employee safetyOSHA recordables(4)/200,000 hours |
0.59 | 0.46exceeded top decile performance | 23 | % | ||||
Significant environmental violations |
0 | 0 | ||||||
Nuclear industry composite performance index(3) |
aggressive goal | beat goalexceeded top decile performance | ||||||
Equivalent forced outage rate(6) |
top decile performance | beat goalexceeded top decile | ||||||
Hedged budgeted gross margin for 2017 |
³85% | 98.9% | ||||||
Performance under FERC and NERC reliability standards(5) |
no significant violations | no significant violations | ||||||
Execute on schedule and on budget approved North American wind projects |
1,214 MW | beat goal | 31 | % | ||||
Execute on schedule and on budget approved North American solar projects |
1,023 MW | missed goal | ||||||
New development or acquisition opportunities in wind, solar, gas infrastructure, or transmission |
aggressive goal | beat goal | ||||||
Maintain construction of Sabal Trail, Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) and Florida Southeast Connection (FSEC) on schedule and on budget |
on schedule and on budget | goal largely met | ||||||
Pre-tax income contribution from all asset optimization, marketing and trading activities, full requirements and retail |
aggressive goal | beat goal |
(1) | Certain of the financial performance indicators used in the Annual Incentive Plan are calculated in a manner consistent with NextEra Energys planning and budgeting process and how management reviews its performance relative to that plan, and are not, or do not relate directly to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. For information about the Companys results of operations for 2016, as presented in accordance with GAAP, investors should review the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and should not rely on any adjusted amounts or non-GAAP financial measures set forth above. The following explains how the plan-adjusted amounts are calculated from NextEra Energys audited consolidated financial statements: (a) FPL operations & maintenance costs (plan-adjusted) is a measure that includes most but not all operations & maintenance expenses and includes certain expenses not classified as operations & maintenance expenses under GAAP, but reported for state regulatory purposes as operations & maintenance expenses; (b) FPL capital expenditures (plan-adjusted) are presented on an accrual basis, and exclude nuclear fuel payments and certain costs not classified as capital expenditures under GAAP in the consolidated statement of cash flows but reported for state regulatory purposes as capital expenditures; and (c) NextEra Energy Resources earnings (plan-adjusted) exclude (i) the mark-to-market effect of non-qualifying hedges, (ii) other than temporary impairments on investments, (iii) extraordinary items, (iv) non-recurring charges or gains (e.g., restructuring charges and material litigation losses), (v) discontinued operations, (vi) regulatory and/or legislative changes and/or changes in accounting principles, (vii) labor union disruptions and (viii) acts of God such as hurricanes. |
(2) | Fossil generation availability measures the amount of time during a given period that a power generating unit is available to produce power. |
(3) | The nuclear industry composite performance index referenced is the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations, or INPO, index. INPO promotes the highest levels of safety and reliability in the operation of commercial nuclear power plants by establishing performance objectives, criteria and guidelines for the nuclear power industry and conducting regular detailed evaluations of all nuclear power plants in North America. The INPO index is an 18-month rolling average of a nuclear plants, and a companys nuclear fleets, performance against operating performance measures. |
(4) | OSHA is the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration. An OSHA recordable injury is an occupational injury or illness that requires medical treatment more than simple first aid and must be reported under OSHA regulations. |
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(5) | FERC is the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and NERC is the North American Electric Reliability Corporation. |
(6) | The equivalent forced outage rate is computed as the hours of unit failure (unplanned outage hours and equivalent unplanned de-rated hours) given as a percentage of the total hours of the availability of an electricity generating unit. |
After the end of 2016, the Executive Compensation Review Board (review board), whose members were Messrs. Ketchum, Pimentel, Robo and Silagy and the most senior human resources officer, assessed: (1) whether the operational performance goals had been achieved, exceeded or missed and, to the extent exceeded or missed, by what margin such goals had been exceeded or missed (as set forth in the tables above); (2) the degree of difficulty of achieving each goal; and (3) the Companys performance with respect to each goal as compared to the pre-established payout scale based on top decile, top quartile, median and sub-median performance on the same measure (industry-based where benchmark data was available), and arrived at an aggregate determination for the Companys 2016 performance as compared to the goals. This assessment determined that the Company had achieved superior performance in 2016. The determination of the review board was then presented to the Compensation Committee, which had ultimate authority to accept or modify all or any part of the determination. For 2016, the Compensation Committee reviewed and discussed the review boards recommendations and the conclusions on which they were based, and determined to accept those recommendations.
2016 Annual Incentive Awards for the NEOs
Each NEOs 2016 annual incentive compensation was determined based on a rating (NextEra Energy performance rating) derived by combining the Companys financial performance as measured by the financial performance matrix (weighted 50%) and the Companys operational performance as compared to the operational performance goals (weighted 50%).
The NextEra Energy performance rating for 2016, determined in this manner, was 1.82.
The NextEra Energy performance rating may be adjusted for each NEO by the Compensation Committee based on individual performance under circumstances in which the Committee determines that the formulaic calculation of the performance rating without adjustment would otherwise result in the payment of an inappropriate incentive. The Compensation Committee generally uses this aspect of the executive compensation program on a conservative basis, as it believes that the formula for calculating the NextEra Energy performance rating ordinarily should result in appropriate incentive payments. The individual performance adjustment, when used, historically has most often ranged between +/- 10%.
The Compensation Committee determined the individual performance factors in 2016 based on recommendations from the CEO (for all of the NEOs other than himself). For each NEO other than the CEO, the 2016 individual performance factor was based primarily upon the Companys exceptional performance as described in the Executive Summary, above, as well as (for each NEO other than the CEO) the NEOs performance relative to a set of objectives agreed upon with the CEO at the beginning of the year. For the CEO, the Compensation Committee determined the individual performance factor. The Compensation Committee determined Mr. Robos 2016 individual performance factor based on the Committees assessment of his performance and the Companys overall 2016 performance as described in the Executive Summary above.
The following illustrates the determination of the 2016 annual incentive for each NEO:
annual incentive = (NextEra Energy performance rating x individual performance factor) x target annual incentive
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In years where the Companys performance is above or substantially above the performance of its peers as evidenced by industry benchmarks, as it was in 2016, the Company expects that annual incentive awards will be paid to the NEOs at a rate exceeding the target rate. For 2016, the NEOs annual incentive awards were as follows:
Named Executive Officer(1) |
2016 Target Annual Incentive |
2016 Annual Incentive Award |
||||||
James L. Robo |
$ | 1,885,000 | $ | 3,732,300 | ||||
John W. Ketchum |
$ | 402,500 | $ | 752,700 | ||||
Armando Pimentel, Jr. |
$ | 586,670 | $ | 1,120,500 | ||||
Manoochehr K. Nazar |
$ | 611,940 | $ | 1,168,800 | ||||
Eric E. Silagy |
$ | 557,270 | $ | 1,114,500 |
(1) | Moray Dewhurst retired and did not receive a 2016 annual incentive award. |
The amounts set forth above for the NEOs 2016 annual incentive awards are also set forth in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column (column (g)) in Table 1a: 2016 Summary Compensation Table.
2016 Long-Term Performance-Based Equity Compensation
Equity Compensation Mix
What We Granted | Why We Granted It | |
Performance shares |
Directly focus NEOs on the multi-year sustained achievement of challenging TSR, financial and operational goals, because the number of shares ultimately earned depends upon the Companys and the NEOs performance over a three-year performance period
| |
Performance-based restricted stock |
Includes a performance goal; affected by all stock price changes, so value to NEOs affected by both increases and decreases in the Companys stock price
| |
Stock options |
Reward the NEOs only if the Companys stock price increases and remains above the stock price on the date of grant
|
In determining the appropriate mix of equity compensation components, the Compensation Committee primarily considers the following factors:
| the mix of these components at competitor and peer companies, and emerging market trends; |
| the retention value of each element and other values important to the Company, including, for example, the tax and accounting consequences of each type of award; |
| the advice of the Compensation Consultant; and |
| the perceived value to the NEO of each element. |
As shown below, the Compensation Committee continued its practice of granting to the NEOs equity-based compensation which is composed of a substantially greater percentage of performance share awards, since our shareholders indicated, through shareholder outreach, that they most highly value the
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longer-term performance features of performance shares. After the Compensation Committee determined the appropriate mix of equity compensation components, the target award level for each equity-based element was expressed as a percentage of each NEOs target total direct compensation opportunity. The target dollar value for each component was converted to a number of shares of equivalent value (estimated present value for stock options and performance shares).
2016 Mix of Equity Compensation Awards for the NEOs
In 2016, the Compensation Committee granted the following mix of equity-based compensation to the NEOs:
Mix of Equity Compensation Awards(1) | ||||||||||||
Named Executive Officer | Performance Shares |
Options | Performance- Based Restricted Stock |
|||||||||
James L. Robo |
60 | % | 13 | % | 27 | % | ||||||
John W. Ketchum |
50 | % | 19 | % | 31 | % | ||||||
Manoochehr K. Nazar |
50 | % | 19 | % | 31 | % | ||||||
Armando Pimentel, Jr. |
50 | % | 19 | % | 31 | % | ||||||
Eric E. Silagy |
50 | % | 19 | % | 31 | % | ||||||
Moray P. Dewhurst |
50 | % | 19 | % | 31 | % |
(1) | Calculation of mix percentages based on the grant date present value of each grant as a percentage of each NEOs total equity-based compensation. |
Performance Share Awards Granted in 2016 for the Performance Period Ending December 31, 2018
For the performance share awards granted in 2016 for the performance period beginning January 1, 2016 and ending December 31, 2018, the Compensation Committee continued to use the performance measures adopted in 2013 to ensure that the link between executive pay and TSR is embedded explicitly in the design of our executive compensation program. Additionally, the Compensation Committee implemented an individual performance factor ranging from +/- 20%, which is applicable only to 65% of the performance share award determined based on financial and operational performance measures, to enable the Compensation Committee to adjust payouts based on their assessment of the NEOs individual performance. The goals used to measure long-term performance for purposes of the NEOs performance share awards are different both in terms of the objectives and time-frames than the goals used to measure short-term performance under the Companys Annual Incentive Plan. The measures, and their relative weights, are set forth below:
Performance Measure | Weight | |
3-year TSR relative to the companies in the S&P 500 Utilities Index |
35% | |
3-year adjusted return on equity and adjusted EPS growth (determined using a financial matrix similar to the one set forth on page 55) |
52% | |
Operational measures: 3-year average employee safetyOSHA recordables/200,000 hours Nuclear industry composite performance index (combined for FPL and NextEra Energy Resources nuclear facilities) 3-year average equivalent forced outage rate (fossil and renewable generation) FPL 3-year average service reliabilityservice unavailability (minutes) |
3.25% each |
During the performance period, performance shares are not issued, the NEO may not sell or transfer the NEOs contingent right to receive performance shares and dividends are not paid.
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Performance Share Awards for the Performance Period Ended December 31, 2016
Each NEO was granted a target number of performance shares in 2014 for a three-year performance period beginning January 1, 2014 and ended on December 31, 2016. The Compensation Committee views the payout of this grant after the end of the performance period as part of each NEOs 2014 compensation, while the performance shares granted in 2016 for the performance period ending on December 31, 2018 are considered to be part of each NEOs 2016 compensation, even though the shares will not be issued, if at all, until February 2019.
At the end of the performance period for the performance share awards granted in 2014, each NEOs performance share award payout, other than Mr. Ketchums payout, was determined in accordance with measures and weights described in the table above under Performance Share Awards Granted in 2016 for the Performance Period Ending December 31, 2018.
The 2014 performance share award overall rating, determined in this manner, was 1.76, as shown below.
Performance Measure | Weight | Result | Payout as a % of Target |
|||||||||
Adjusted EPS Growth and Adjusted ROE |
52 | % | 2.00 | 200 | % | |||||||
Operational Measures |
13 | % | 1.94 | 194 | % | |||||||
Relative TSR |
35 | % | 1.33 | 133 | % | |||||||
Overall Rating |
1.76 | 176 | % |
Applying the overall rating results to the target performance shares resulted in the following performance share award payouts for each of the NEOs:
Named Executive Officer | Target Performance Shares for Performance Period 1/1/14-12/31/16 |
Performance Shares Earned | ||||||
James L. Robo |
45,324 | 79,770 | ||||||
John W. Ketchum(1) |
1,837 | 3,288 | ||||||
Armando Pimentel, Jr. |
9,996 | 17,592 | ||||||
Manoochehr K. Nazar |
10,805 | 19,016 | ||||||
Eric E. Silagy |
5,103 | 8,981 | ||||||
Moray P. Dewhurst |
13,881 | 24,430 |
(1) | John Ketchums 2014 performance share award payout was determined by multiplying his target number of performance shares by his three-year average performance rating determined under the Annual Incentive Plan for each of 2014, 2015 and 2016. |
See Table 2: 2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards for information about the performance shares awarded to the NEOs in 2016, and Table 4: 2016 Option Exercises and Stock Vested for additional information about the performance shares issued for the three-year performance period which began on January 1, 2014 and ended on December 31, 2016.
Performance-Based Restricted Stock Granted in 2016
The performance objective for performance-based restricted stock was increased substantially in 2013, from adjusted earnings of $500 million to adjusted earnings of $1.2 billion. Therefore, the shares of performance-based restricted stock granted in 2016, which would otherwise vest ratably in 2017, 2018 and 2019, will not vest unless and until the Compensation Committee certifies that NextEra Energys adjusted earnings for 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively, equal or exceed $1.2 billion.
Because the Compensation Committee intends for the grant date present value of performance-based restricted stock awards to equal the fair market value of an equivalent number of shares of the Companys common stock absent the performance and vesting conditions, dividends are paid on performance-based restricted stock awards as and when dividends are paid on the common stock. However, any dividends
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paid on performance-based restricted stock awards that do not vest must be repaid within 30 days following forfeiture of the award.
See Table 2: 2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards for information about the performance-based restricted stock awarded to the NEOs in 2016 and the description following that table for information about the material terms and conditions applicable to those performance-based restricted stock awards.
Non-Qualified Stock Option Awards in 2016
The Compensation Committee grants non-qualified stock options, rather than incentive stock options, primarily because the tax treatment of non-qualified stock options is more favorable to the Company than the treatment of incentive stock options. The 2011 LTIP prohibits repricing of awarded options without shareholder approval. See Table 2: 2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards for information about the stock options granted to the NEOs in 2016 and the description following that table for further information about the material terms and conditions applicable to stock options.
Equity Grant Practices
Equity awards are granted by the Compensation Committee to the NEOs each year effective on the date of the Board meeting in mid-February, which is a date that is normally set two years in advance of the meeting. The Compensation Committee believes that granting equity in this way is appropriate because the Company typically releases year-end earnings in late January or early February, so all relevant information generally should be available to the market on the grant date. Equity awards may also be made to new executive officers upon hire or promotion, generally coincident with the date of hire or promotion or the Compensation Committee meeting next following the date of hire or promotion. The Compensation Committee does not seek to time equity grants to take advantage of information, either positive or negative, about the Company which has not been publicly disseminated. The exercise price of options granted is equal to the closing market price of NextEra Energys common stock on the effective date of grant.
Additional 2016 Compensation Elements
Benefits
General
NextEra Energy provides its executive officers with a comprehensive benefits program which includes health and welfare, life insurance and other personal benefits. For programs to which employees contribute premiums, executive officers pay the same premiums as other exempt employees. Retirement and other post-employment benefits are discussed below under Post-Employment Compensation. These benefits are an integral part of the total compensation package for NEOs, and the aggregate value is included in the information reviewed by the Compensation Committee annually to ensure reasonableness and appropriateness of total rewards. In addition, NextEra Energy believes that the intrinsic value placed on personal benefits by the NEOs is generally greater than the incremental cost of those benefits to the Company.
Personal Benefits
NextEra Energy provides its executive officers with personal benefits which, in many cases, improve efficiency by allowing the executive officers to focus on their critical job responsibilities and/or increasing the hours they can devote to work. Some of these benefits also serve to better secure the safety of the executive officers and their families. The Compensation Committee and its Compensation Consultant periodically review the personal benefits offered by the Company to ensure that the program is competitive and producing the desired results. The Compensation Committee believes that the benefits the Company derives from these personal benefits more than offset their incremental cost to the Company.
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See footnote 2 to Table 1b: 2016 Supplemental All Other Compensation for a description of the personal benefits provided to the NEOs for 2016.
Use of Company-Owned Aircraft
Company aircraft are available to the NEOs, as well as other employees and directors, for business travel, which includes, in the judgment of the Governance & Nominating Committee, travel by NEOs to Company-approved outside board meetings and travel in connection with physical examinations. Among other advantages, business use of the aircraft by executives maximizes time efficiencies, provides a confidential environment for business discussions and enhances security.
NextEra Energy permits limited non-business use of Company aircraft by NEOs when that use does not interfere with the use of Company aircraft for business purposes. Non-business use is generally discouraged, however, and must be approved in advance by the CEO. NEOs must pay the Company for their non-business use based on the rate prescribed by the IRS for valuing non-commercial flights. A NEO traveling on Company aircraft for business purposes may, with the approval of the CEO, be accompanied by the NEOs guests, spouse and/or other family members. In this circumstance, there is essentially no incremental cost to the Company associated with transporting the additional passengers. Unless travel is important to carrying out the business responsibilities of the NEO, however, the Company requires payment by the NEO for these passengers based on the rates described above. All non-business use of Company aircraft is reported to and reviewed by the Governance & Nominating Committee annually. In 2016, the NEOs use of Company aircraft for non-business purposes represented approximately 111 passenger flight hours and for travel to Company-approved outside board meetings and annual physical examinations represented an additional approximately 14 passenger flight hours. Company aircraft were used for a total of approximately 3,301 passenger flight hours in the aggregate in 2016.
Policy on Tax Reimbursements on Executive Perquisites
In accordance with the NextEra Energy, Inc. Policy on Tax Reimbursements on Executive Perquisites, the Company does not provide tax reimbursements on perquisites to the NEOs. In circumstances where the Compensation Committee deems such an action appropriate, the Company may provide tax reimbursements to executives as part of a plan, policy or arrangement applicable to a broad base of management employees of the Company, such as a relocation or expatriate tax equalization policy.
OUR OTHER IMPORTANT COMPENSATION PRACTICES AND POLICIES
Stock Ownership and Retention Policies
The Company believes it is important for executive officers to accumulate a significant amount of NextEra Energy common stock to align officers interests with those of the Companys shareholders. NextEra Energys NEOs (and all other executives) are subject to a stock ownership policy and a stock retention policy. The Company believes these policies strongly reinforce NextEra Energys executive compensation philosophy and objectives. At the same time, the Company recognizes that the accumulation of a large, undiversified position in NextEra Energy common stock can at some point create undesired incentives, and it permits its officers some degree of diversification once the target level of holdings is reached. Under the stock ownership policy, officers are expected, within three years after appointment to office, to own NextEra Energy common stock with a value equal to a multiple of their base salaries. Shares of NextEra Energy common stock and share units held in NextEra Energys employee benefit plans and deferred compensation plan are credited toward meeting this requirement. Unvested shares of performance-based restricted stock count, while shares subject to unpaid performance share awards and unexercised options do not count, toward the calculation of required holdings. The current multiples are as follows:
Chief Executive Officer |
seven times base salary rate | |
Senior Executive Officers |
three times base salary rate | |
Other Officers |
one times base salary rate |
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As of December 31, 2016, all NEOs owned common stock in excess of their requirements.
Under the stock retention policy, until such time as the requirements of the stock ownership policy are met, NextEra Energy expects executive officers to retain (and not sell) a number of shares equal to at least two-thirds of shares acquired through equity compensation awards (cumulatively, from the date of appointment as an executive officer). In addition, in accordance with an amendment to the stock retention policy effective in March 2012, all of the NEOs (among other executive officers) must retain all shares of performance-based restricted stock which vest after March 16, 2012 for a minimum of 24 months after vesting (net of shares withheld for, or used to pay, taxes).
Officers who fail to comply with the retention policy may not be eligible for future equity-based compensation awards for a two-year period. The CEO may approve the modification or reduction of the minimum retention requirements (other than for himself) to address the special needs of a particular officer, although to date there have been no such modifications or reductions.
Clawback Provisions
In 2012, the Board adopted an incentive compensation recoupment, or clawback, policy which provides for recoupment of incentive compensation granted after the date the policy was adopted from current and former executive officers in the event of the occurrence of either of the following triggering events:
(1) | a decision by the Audit Committee that recoupment is appropriate in connection with an accounting restatement of the Companys previously published financial statements caused by what the Audit Committee deems to be material non-compliance by the Company with any financial reporting requirement under the federal securities laws (Financial Statement Triggering Event); or |
(2) | a decision by the Compensation Committee that one or more performance metrics used for determining previously paid incentive compensation was incorrectly calculated and, if calculated correctly, would have resulted in a lower payment to one or more executive officers (Performance Triggering Event). |
If a triggering event occurs, the Company will (to the extent permitted by applicable law) recoup from any executive officer any incentive compensation paid or granted during the 3-year period preceding the triggering event that was in excess of the amount that would have been paid or granted after giving effect, as applicable, to the accounting restatement that resulted from the Financial Statement Triggering Event or to what would have been the correct calculation of the performance metric(s) used in determining that a Performance Triggering Event had occurred. The incentive compensation to be recouped will be in an amount and form determined in the judgment of the Board. In addition, the 2011 LTIP provides that any award granted under the 2011 LTIP will be subject to mandatory repayment by the grantee to the extent the events occur that require such mandatory repayment under (a) any Company clawback or recoupment policy that is adopted to comply with the requirements of any applicable law, rule or regulation, or otherwise (such as the policy described above) or (b) any law, rule or regulation which imposes mandatory recoupment upon the occurrence of such events.
As noted above under 2016 Long-Term Performance-Based Equity CompensationPerformance-Based Restricted Stock Granted in 2016, any dividends paid to the NEOs on performance-based restricted stock awards that do not vest must be repaid within 30 days following the forfeiture of the award.
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POST-EMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION
General
NextEra Energy expects continued and consistent high levels of individual performance from all executive officers as a condition of continued employment. The Company has in the past terminated the employment of executive officers who were unable to sustain the expected levels of performance, and it is prepared to do so in the future should that become necessary. All of the NEOs, including the CEO, are employees at will.
Set forth below is a description of the agreements and programs that may provide for compensation should the NEOs employment with the Company terminate under specified circumstances.
Severance Plan
The NextEra Energy, Inc. Executive Severance Benefit Plan (the Severance Plan) provides for the payment of severance benefits to the NEOs and to certain other senior executives if their employment with the Company is involuntarily terminated in specified circumstances. The purpose of the Severance Plan, which was adopted by the Compensation Committee in February 2013, is to retain the covered senior executives and encourage dedication to their duties by ensuring the equitable treatment of those who may experience an involuntary termination, as defined in the Severance Plan. The Severance Plan provides severance benefits following involuntary termination in exchange for entry by the executive into a release of claims against the Company and an agreement to adhere to certain non-competition and related covenants protective of the Company and its affiliates. Following a covered involuntary termination and the execution of the release and other agreement, the executive would receive a cash payment equal to two times the executives annual base salary plus two times the executives target annual incentive compensation for the year of termination, payable in two equal annual installments. In addition, the executives outstanding equity and equity-based awards would vest pro rata, and become payable at the end of any applicable performance periods, subject to the attainment by the Company of the specified performance objectives. The executive also would receive certain ancillary benefits, including outplacement assistance or payment in an amount equal to the value of the outplacement assistance. Amounts payable under the Severance Plan are subject to a cap specified in the Severance Plan.
The Company may amend or terminate the Severance Plan, in full or in part, at any time, but if an amendment or termination would affect the rights of an executive, the executive must agree in writing to the amendment or termination. The Severance Plan does not provide for the payment of severance benefits upon terminations governed by the terms of the Retention Agreements described below.
Change in Control
Each of the NEOs is a party to an executive retention employment agreement (Retention Agreement) with the Company. The Compensation Committee has concluded that the Retention Agreements are desirable in order to align NEO and shareholder interests under some unusual conditions, as well as useful and, in some cases, necessary to attract and retain senior executive talent.
In connection with a change in control of the Company, it can be important to secure the dedicated attention of executive officers whose personal positions are at risk and who have other opportunities readily available to them. By establishing compensation and benefits payable under various merger and acquisition scenarios, change in control agreements enable the NEOs to set aside personal financial and career objectives and focus on maximizing shareholder value. These agreements also help the officer to maintain an objective and neutral perspective in analyzing opportunities that may arise. Furthermore, they ensure continuity of the leadership team at a time when business continuity is of paramount concern. Without the Retention Agreements, the Company would have a greater risk of losing key executives in times of uncertainty.
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Retention Agreements entered into since 2009 do not include excise tax gross-ups. The material terms of the Retention Agreements are described under Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.
Retirement Programs
Employee Pension Plan and 401(k) Plan
NextEra Energy maintains two retirement plans which qualify for favorable tax treatment under the Code: a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan and a defined contribution 401(k) plan. These plans are available to substantially all NextEra Energy employees. Each of the NEOs participates in both plans. The pension plan is more fully described following Table 5: Pension Benefits.
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP)
Current tax laws place various limits on the benefits payable under tax-qualified retirement plans, such as NextEra Energys defined benefit pension plan and 401(k) plan, including a limit on the amount of annual compensation that can be taken into account when applying the plans benefit formulas. Therefore, the retirement incomes provided to the NEOs by the qualified plans generally constitute a smaller percentage of final pay than is typically the case for other Company employees. In order to make up for this and maintain the market-competitiveness of NextEra Energys executive retirement benefits, NextEra Energy maintains an unfunded, non-qualified SERP for its executive officers, including the NEOs. For the NEOs, compensation included under the SERP is annual base salary plus the actual annual cash incentive award, as opposed to the compensation included under the qualified plans, which is annual base salary only. NextEra Energy believes it is appropriate to include annual cash incentive awards for purposes of determining retirement plan benefits (both defined benefit pension and 401(k)) for the NEOs in order to ensure that the NEOs can replace in retirement a proportion of total compensation similar to that replaced by other employees participating in the Companys defined benefit pension and 401(k) plans, bearing in mind that base salary alone constitutes a relatively smaller percentage of a NEOs total compensation.
For additional information about the defined benefit plan benefit formulas under the SERP, see Table 5: Pension Benefits and accompanying descriptions.
Deferred Compensation Plan
NextEra Energy sponsors a non-qualified, unfunded Deferred Compensation Plan, which allows eligible highly compensated employees, including the NEOs, voluntarily and at their own risk to elect to defer certain forms of compensation prior to the compensation being earned and vested. NextEra Energy makes this opportunity available to its highly compensated employees as a financial planning tool and an additional method to save for retirement. Deferrals by executive officers generally result in the Company deferring its obligation to make cash payments or issue shares of its common stock to those executive officers.
The Compensation Committee does not view the Deferred Compensation Plan as providing executives with additional compensation. Participants in the Deferred Compensation Plan are general creditors of the Company and the deferral of the payment obligation provides a financial advantage to the Company. Mr. Nazar elected to defer 50% of his base salary in 2016.
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TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The Compensation Committee carefully considers the tax impact of the Companys compensation programs on NextEra Energy as well as on the NEOs. However, the Compensation Committee believes that decisions regarding executive compensation should be primarily based on whether they result in positive long-term value for the Companys shareholders and other important stakeholders. For example, the Compensation Committee has considered the impact of tax provisions such as section 162(m) of the Code in structuring NextEra Energys executive compensation program and, to the extent reasonably possible in light of its compensation goals and objectives, the compensation paid to the NEOs has been structured with the expectation that it will qualify as qualified performance-based compensation deductible by the Company for federal income tax purposes under section 162(m) of the Code to the extent such section is applicable. However, in light of the competitive nature of the market for executive talent, the Compensation Committee believes that it is more important to ensure that the NEOs remain focused on building shareholder value than to use a particular compensation practice or structure solely to ensure tax deductibility. Therefore, in some cases the compensation paid to NEOs is nondeductible, including in 2016, for example, a portion of Mr. Robos base salary, the value of certain of Mr. Robos personal benefits and the dividends accruing on his unvested performance-based restricted stock, which the Committee believes is appropriate, immaterial to the Company as a financial matter and consistent with the Companys overall executive compensation design and philosophy.
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion & Analysis required by applicable SEC rules which precedes this Report and, based on its review and that discussion, the Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion & Analysis set forth above be included in the Companys proxy statement for the 2017 annual meeting of shareholders.
Respectfully submitted,
Kirk S. Hachigian, Chair
Kenneth B. Dunn
Amy B. Lane
Rudy E. Schupp
Hansel E. Tookes, II
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When reviewing the narrative, tables and footnotes which follow, note that, in order to meet the goals and objectives of NextEra Energys executive compensation program as described in Compensation Discussion & Analysis, the Compensation Committee primarily focuses on, and values, each NEOs total compensation opportunity at the beginning of the relevant performance periods. Since many elements of total compensation are variable, based on performance and are not paid to the NEO for one, two or three years (and in some instances longer) after the compensation opportunity is first determined, the amounts reported in some of the tables in this proxy statement may reflect compensation decisions made prior to 2016 and in some cases reflect amounts different from the amounts that may ultimately be paid.
Table 1a: 2016 Summary Compensation Table
The following table provides certain information about the compensation paid to, or accrued on behalf of, the NEOs in 2016. It is important to keep in mind the following when reviewing the table:
| The amounts shown in the Stock Awards and the Option Awards columns are based on the aggregate grant date fair value (including, where applicable, remeasurement date fair value) of awards computed under applicable accounting rules for all equity compensation awards. |
| The Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings column reflects the actuarially-determined change in the present value of the pension benefit payable to each NEO in the applicable year. These changes in present value are not related to any compensation decision on the part of the Compensation Committee. |
Table 1a: 2016 Summary Compensation Table
Name and Principal Position(a) |
Year (b) |
Salary ($)(c) |
Bonus ($)(d) |
Stock Awards(3)(4)(5) ($)(e) |
Option Awards(3)(6) ($)(f) |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compen- sation(7) ($)(g) |
Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings (8)(9) ($)(h) |
All Other Compen- sation(8)(10) ($)(i) |
Total ($)(j) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
James L. Robo |
2016 | $ | 1,300,000 | $ | 0 | $ | 9,629,404 | $ | 1,156,993 | $ | 3,732,300 | $ | 672,321 | $ | 267,753 | $ | 16,758,771 | |||||||||||||||||||
Chairman, President and CEO |
2015 | 1,250,000 | 0 | 8,822,818 | 1,072,493 | 3,275,000 | 588,331 | 263,297 | 15,271,939 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 1,215,000 | 0 | 6,656,308 | 825,497 | 2,780,528 | 480,606 | 225,357 | 12,183,296 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
John W. Ketchum |
2016 | 575,000 | 0 | 1,107,531 | 213,193 | 752,700 | 153,193 | 94,812 | 2,896,429 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Executive Vice President, |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Armando Pimentel, Jr. |
2016 | 838,100 | 0 | 2,140,778 | 412,198 | 1,120,500 | 294,735 | 127,667 | 4,933,978 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
President and CEO |
2015 | 790,700 | 0 | 1,738,904 | 338,498 | 1,046,100 | 279,245 | 130,371 | 4,323,818 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 745,900 | 0 | 1,610,805 | 319,288 | 1,039,000 | 241,233 | 115,948 | 4,072,174 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Manoochehr K. Nazar |
2016 | 874,200 | 0 | 1,938,471 | 373,290 | 1,168,800 | 303,519 | 142,154 | 4,800,434 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
President, Nuclear Division and Chief Nuclear |
2015 | 840,600 | 0 | 1,844,175 | 358,887 | 1,059,200 | 297,961 | 137,279 | 4,538,102 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 808,300 | 0 | 1,741,188 | 345,094 | 1,126,000 | 263,977 | 155,395 | 4,439,954 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eric E. Silagy |
2016 | 796,100 | 0 | 1,575,382 | 303,289 | 1,114,500 | 234,353 | 122,547 | 4,146,171 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
President and CEO of FPL(1) |
2015 | 723,700 | 0 | 1,103,342 | 210,293 | 911,900 | 203,585 | 128,547 | 3,281,367 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Moray P. Dewhurst |
2016 | 164,698 | 0 | 7,820,607 | 796,499 | 0 | 280,181 | 56,854 | 9,118,839 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Former Vice Chairman and CFO, and Executive VP, Finance of NextEra Energy and Executive Vice President, Finance and CFO of FPL(1)(2) |
2015 | 738,300 | 0 | 2,391,945 | 465,600 | 1,023,300 | 212,461 | 113,249 | 4,944,855 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 703,100 | 0 | 4,236,896 | 443,388 | 979,400 | 265,532 | 104,644 | 6,732,960 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) | Effective March 4, 2016, Mr. Dewhurst retired and Mr. Ketchum was appointed executive vice president, finance and chief financial officer of NEE and FPL. Mr. Ketchum first became a NEO in 2016. Therefore, in accordance with SEC rules, only 2016 compensation is presented. Mr. Silagy first became a NEO in 2015. Therefore, in accordance with SEC rules, only 2016 and 2015 compensation is presented. |
(2) | Mr. Dewhurst retired from the Company in March 2016. The salary shown for 2016 includes the amount earned by Mr. Dewhurst in 2016, when his annual base salary rate was $738,300. |
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(3) | The amounts shown represent the aggregate grant date fair value and, in certain cases in 2016, remeasurement date fair value, of equity-based compensation awards granted (or, in 2016, remeasured) during the relevant year, valued in accordance with applicable accounting rules, without reduction for estimated forfeitures. See Note 11 Common Shareholders EquityStock-Based Compensation to the consolidated financial statements in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and Note 10 Common Shareholders EquityStock-Based Compensation to the consolidated financial statements in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2014, for the assumptions used in this valuation. |
(4) | Includes performance based restricted stock and performance share awards valued based on the probable outcome of the performance conditions as of the grant date. With respect to 65% of the target number of performance shares granted in 2016, 2015 and 2014 to all NEOs, a performance rating assumption of 1.40, 1.40 and 1.30, respectively (i.e. target shares multiplied by 1.30 or 1.40) was used (in accordance with applicable accounting guidance) to value such performance share awards. With respect to 35% of the target number of performance shares granted in 2016, 2015 and 2014 (payout of which is based on a comparison of the Companys 3-year TSR with the 3-year TSRs of the other companies in the S&P 500 Utilities Index), grant date value for all NEOs was determined on the date of grant using the Monte-Carlo simulation process with the following variables: |
Description | Market | Volatility | Yield | Interest Rate | Expected Life | Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||||
For the 2/12/2016 grant: |
$ | 111.67 | 17.15 | % | 3.16 | % | 0.87 | % | 2.88 yr. | $ | 126.65 | |||||||||||||
For the 2/13/2015 grant: |
$ | 103.62 | 14.81 | % | 3.11 | % | 0.99 | % | 2.88 yr. | $ | 113.34 | |||||||||||||
For the 2/14/2014 grant: |
$ | 93.27 | 15.30 | % | 3.11 | % | 0.66 | % | 2.88 yr. | $ | 108.58 |
For Mr. Dewhurst, actual grant date fair value of stock awards granted in 2016 was $750,407. The additional amount shown in this column, $7,070,200, represents the incremental fair value of 2014, 2015 and 2016 stock awards, as required under applicable accounting guidance, in connection with Mr. Dewhursts retirement meeting the conditions for continued full vesting under his equity award agreements.
(5) | The maximum payout of performance shares granted in 2016 is 2.00 times target. Therefore, the maximum aggregate grant date fair value of the awards granted in 2016 is: for Mr. Robo, 106,800 shares, or $9,309,089; for Mr. Ketchum, 11,226 shares, or $978,467; for Mr. Pimentel, 21,698 shares, or $1,891,290; for Mr. Nazar, 19,648 shares, or $1,712,623; for Mr. Silagy, 15,968 shares, or $1,391,860; and for Mr. Dewhurst, 7,606 shares, or $662,971. |
(6) | Represents non-qualified stock options. For Mr. Dewhurst, actual grant date fair value of option awards granted in 2016 was $144,499. The additional amount shown for Mr. Dewhurst in this column, $652,000, represents the incremental fair value of 2014, 2015 and 2016 option awards, as required under applicable accounting guidance, in connection with Mr. Dewhursts retirement meeting the conditions for accelerated vesting under his option award agreements. |
(7) | Includes the amount earned by each NEO, as applicable, with respect to 2016, 2015 and 2014 under the Annual Incentive Plan. Mr. Dewhurst, who retired in 2016, did not receive annual incentive compensation with respect to 2016. |
(8) | NextEra Energy maintains both defined benefit and defined contribution retirement plans (as described in Compensation Discussion & AnalysisPost-Employment CompensationRetirement Programs). Company contributions to defined benefit and defined contribution retirement plans (both qualified and nonqualified) are allocated between columns (h) and (i), respectively. |
(9) | All amounts in this column reflect the one-year change in the actuarial present value of each NEOs accumulated benefit under the tax-qualified defined benefit employee pension plan and the SERP. The Deferred Compensation Plan does not permit above-market interest to be credited and, therefore, no above-market interest was credited in 2016, 2015 or 2014. |
(10) | Additional information about the amounts for 2016 set forth in the All Other Compensation column may be found in Table 1b: 2016 Supplemental All Other Compensation, which immediately follows. |
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The following table (Table 1b) provides additional information for 2016 regarding column (i) of Table 1a: 2016 Summary Compensation Table.
Table 1b: 2016 Supplemental All Other Compensation
Name | Total From Summary Compensation Table ($) |
Contributions to Defined Contribution Plans(1) ($) |
Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits(2) ($) |
|||||||||
James L. Robo |
$ | 267,753 | $ | 217,276 | $ | 50,477 | ||||||
John W. Ketchum |
94,812 | 54,858 | 39,954 | |||||||||
Armando Pimentel, Jr. |
127,667 | 89,465 | 38,202 | |||||||||
Manoochehr K. Nazar |
142,154 | 91,812 | 50,342 | |||||||||
Eric E. Silagy |
122,547 | 81,077 | 41,470 | |||||||||
Moray P. Dewhurst |
56,854 | 56,430 | 424 |
(1) | NextEra Energy maintains both defined benefit and defined contribution retirement plans. Amounts attributable to the defined benefit plans are reported in Table 1a: 2016 Summary Compensation Table under column (h), Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings. Amounts attributable to the defined contribution plans are reported under column (i), All Other Compensation, and are further described below under Additional Disclosure Related to Pension Benefits Table. This column includes employer matching contributions to the Companys qualified 401(k) plan of $12,587 for each NEO, except for Messrs. Ketchum and Dewhurst, for whom employer matching contributions of $11,925 and $2,905 were made, respectively, plus the Companys contributions to the nonqualified defined contribution portion of the SERP. |
(2) | This column includes the aggregate incremental cost to NextEra Energy of providing personal benefits to the NEOs. For each NEO, the personal benefits reported for 2016 in this column include: annual premiums for $5 million in umbrella coverage under a group personal excess liability insurance policy; reimbursement for professional financial planning and legal services; for all NEOs other than Mr. Robo, the cost of the officers participation in an executive vehicle program, which includes use of a Company-leased passenger vehicle, fuel and other ancillary costs (the incremental cost incurred for which was $29,171 for Mr. Ketchum, $28,354 for Mr. Pimentel, $29,357 for Mr. Nazar and $26,726 for Mr. Silagy); for Mr. Robo, a vehicle allowance; for all NEOs other than Messrs. Silagy and Dewhurst, fees paid for travel programs such as airline memberships and hospitality room memberships; costs for maintenance of a residential home security system and central station monitoring (except for Messrs. Ketchum, Pimentel, Nazar and Silagy); and, for Mr. Silagy, costs for club memberships used primarily for business but also available for personal and family use. For Mr. Nazar, the personal benefits reported in this column also include the costs of participation in a voluntary annual executive physical examination, including lodging costs and related expenses. For all NEOs except Mr. Dewhurst, the personal benefits reported in this column also include premiums for a life insurance benefit in an amount equal to 2.5 times salary. For Messrs. Robo, Ketchum and Nazar, the personal benefits reported in this column also include the incremental cost to the Company for personal use of Company-owned aircraft, which is the variable operating costs of such use, net of payments to the Company by or on behalf of the NEOs, as is generally required by Company policy for such personal use. Variable operating costs include fuel, trip-related maintenance, crew travel expenses, on-board catering, landing fees, trip-related hangar/parking costs, excise taxes and other miscellaneous variable costs. The total annual variable costs are divided by the annual number of statute miles the Company aircraft flew to derive an average variable cost per mile. |
Table 2: 2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards
The following table provides information about the cash and equity incentive compensation awarded to the NEOs in 2016. It is important to keep in mind the following when reviewing the table:
| Columns (c), (d) and (e) below set forth the range of possible payouts established under the Annual Incentive Plan for 2016, and are not amounts actually paid to the NEOs. The actual amounts paid with respect to 2016 under the Annual Incentive Plan, which is a Non-Equity Incentive Plan, as that term is used in the heading for columns (c), (d) and (e) of this table, are set forth in Table 1a: 2016 Summary Compensation Table in column (g), entitled Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation. |
| The number of shares listed under Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards (columns (g) and (h)) represent 2016 grants (and, for Mr. Dewhurst, remeasurements under applicable accounting rules of grants made in and prior to 2016) of performance shares and performance-based restricted stock, the material terms of which are described below this table. |
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| The number of shares listed under All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options (column (j)) and the exercise price set forth under Exercise or Base Price of Option Awards (column (k)) represent the number and exercise price of 2016 grants of non-qualified stock options (and, for Mr. Dewhurst, remeasurements under applicable accounting rules of grants made in and prior to 2016), the material terms of which are described below this table. |
| In the column headed Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards (column (l)), the top number is the grant date fair value of the performance share award, the next number is the grant date fair value of the performance-based restricted stock award and the third number is the grant date fair value of the stock options granted. For Mr. Dewhurst, the awards marked with footnote (6) in column (l) of the table represent the remeasured fair value of certain awards under applicable accounting rules, where the first three numbers represent the remeasured value of performance share awards, the next three numbers represent the remeasured value of performance-based restricted stock awards and the last three numbers represent the remeasured value of stock options. |
Table 2: 2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards
Grant Date (b) |
Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards(1) |
Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards(2) |
All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units (#) (i) |
All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options(3) (#) (j) |
Exercise or Base Price of Option Awards ($/Sh) (k) |
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards($)(4) (l) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name(a) | Thre- shold ($) (c) |
Target ($) (d) |
Maximum ($) (e) |
Thre- shold |
Target (#) (g) |
Maximum (#) (h) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
James L. Robo |
| $ | 0 | $ | 1,885,000 | $ | 3,770,000 | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/12/2016 | 0 | 53,400 | 106,800 | $ | 7,226,489 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/12/2016 | 0 | 21,518 | 21,518 | $ | 2,402,915 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/12/2016 | 101,848 | $ | 111.67 | $ | 1,156,993 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
John W. Ketchum |
| 0 | 402,500 | 805,000 | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/12/2016 | 0 | 5,613 | 11,226 | 759,567 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/12/2016 | 0 | 3,116 | 3,116 | 347,964 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/12/2016 | 18,767 | 111.67 | 213,193 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Armando Pimentel, Jr. |
| 0 | 586,670 | 1,173,340 | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/12/2016 | 0 | 10,849 | 21,698 | 1,468,190 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/12/2016 | 0 | 6,023 | 6,023 | 672,588 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/12/2016 | 36,285 | 111.67 | 412,198 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Manoochehr K. Nazar |
| 0 | 611,940 | 1,223,880 | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/12/2016 | 0 | 9,824 | 19,648 | 1,329,423 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/12/2016 | 0 | 5,454 | 5,454 | 609,048 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/12/2016 | 32,860 | 111.67 | 373,290 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eric E. Silagy |
| 0 | 557,270 | 1,114,540 | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/12/2016 | 0 | 7,984 | 15,968 | 1,080,461 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/12/2016 | 0 | 4,432 | 4,432 | 494,921 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/12/2016 | 26,698 | 111.67 | 303,289 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Moray P. Dewhurst |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/12/2016 | 0 | 3,803 | 7,606 | 514,671 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/12/2016 | 0 | 2,111 | 2,111 | 235,735 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/12/2016 | 12,720 | 111.67 | 144,499 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 13,881 | 27,762 | 2,471,388 | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 13,046 | 26,092 | 2,136,091 | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 3,803 | 7,606 | 528,733 | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 9,733 | 9,733 | 1,125,135 | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 4,886 | 4,886 | 564,822 | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 2,111 | 2,111 | 244,032 | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10,549 | 93.27 | 200,747 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22,790 | 103.62 | 312,223 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12,720 | 111.67 | 139,030 | (6) |
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(1) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan awards are paid under the Annual Incentive Plan, the material terms of which are described in Compensation Discussion & Analysis. For 2016, amounts payable were paid in cash in February 2017. See column (g) of Table 1a: 2016 Summary Compensation Table for actual amounts paid with respect to 2016 under the Annual Incentive Plan. Mr. Dewhurst retired in March 2016 and did not receive an annual incentive under the Annual Incentive Plan for 2016. |
(2) | Each NEO was granted awards of performance shares and performance-based restricted stock under the 2011 LTIP in 2016. Performance shares were granted in 2016 for a three-year performance period ending December 31, 2018. The number of shares which will ultimately be paid to each NEO at the end of the performance period will be determined by multiplying the NEOs target number of performance shares by a percentage determined by the Compensation Committee based on the Companys performance over the three-year performance period (as more fully described in Compensation Discussion & Analysis), which may not exceed 200% of the target award. See footnotes (5) through (10) to Table 3: 2016 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End for further information about the vesting of performance-based restricted stock. |
(3) | Non-qualified stock options were granted under the 2011 LTIP in 2016. The stock options generally vest and become exercisable at the rate of one-third per year beginning approximately one year from date of grant and are fully exercisable after three years. See footnote (1) to Table 3: 2016 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End for further information about the vesting of stock options. All stock options were granted at an exercise price of 100% of the closing price of NextEra Energy common stock on the date of grant. |
(4) | The amounts shown are the value of the equity-based compensation grants as of the 2016 grant (or remeasurement) date under applicable accounting rules. |
(5) | This valuation reflects a discount of $11.67 per share for the 2016 grants because dividends are not paid on performance shares during the three-year performance period. |
(6) | For Mr. Dewhurst, reflects the remeasurement of existing awards as required under applicable accounting rules. Represents performance share awards, performance-based restricted stock awards and stock option awards remeasured on March 4, 2016 as required under applicable accounting guidance in connection with Mr. Dewhursts retirement meeting the conditions for continued full vesting under his performance share and performance-based restricted stock award agreements and accelerated vesting under his stock option award agreements. The remeasurements do not reflect the award of additional equity. |
Additional Disclosure Related to 2016 Summary Compensation Table and 2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table
Material Terms of Performance Shares Granted to NEOs in 2016
| three year performance period; |
| paid in shares of NextEra Energy common stock, based primarily on Company performance for the three-year performance period as compared to specified financial and operational objectives and TSR relative to companies in the S&P 500 Utilities Index, capped at 200% of target; |
| dividends are not paid or accrued during the performance period; |
| may vest in full or in part upon the occurrence of certain events, such as a change in control, death, disability or some retirements; |
| forfeited if employment terminates prior to the end of the performance period in all other instances (subject to the terms of Retention Agreements and the Severance Plan); and |
| award agreement includes non-solicitation and non-competition provisions. |
Material Terms of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Granted to NEOs in 2016
| if corporate performance objective of adjusted earnings of $1.2 billion is met as of the end of the preceding year, performance-based restricted stock vests one-third per year for three years, beginning approximately one year from date of grant; |
| if corporate performance objective of adjusted earnings of $1.2 billion is not met in any year, performance-based restricted stock scheduled to vest in that year is forfeited; |
| dividends are paid on performance-based restricted stock as and when declared by the Company, but are subject to repayment by NEO if awards are forfeited prior to vesting; |
| NEOs have the right to vote their shares of performance-based restricted stock; |
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| may vest in full or in part prior to or on normal vesting date and, in some circumstances, without regard to satisfaction of performance objective, upon the occurrence of certain events, such as a change in control, death, disability or some retirements; |
| forfeited if employment terminates prior to vesting in all other instances (subject to terms of Retention Agreements and the Severance Plan); and |
| award agreement includes non-solicitation and non-competition provisions. |
Material Terms of Stock Options Granted to NEOs in 2016
| vest and become exercisable one-third per year for three years, beginning approximately one year from date of grant; |
| exercise price equal to closing price of NextEra Energy common stock on date of grant (February 12, 2016); |
| generally expire ten years from date of grant; |
| may vest in full or in part prior to normal vesting date upon the occurrence of some events, such as a change in control, death, disability or some retirements; |
| forfeited if employment terminated prior to vesting in all other instances (subject to terms of Retention Agreements and the Severance Plan); and |
| award agreement includes non-solicitation and non-competition provisions. |
Determination of Amount Payable Under Annual Incentive Plan to NEOs
See Compensation Discussion & Analysis for a description of the criteria used to determine the amount payable to each NEO under the Annual Incentive Plan (Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation).
Salary and Bonus as a Proportion of 2016 Total Compensation
No discretionary bonuses were paid to NEOs in 2016. The salaries, as set forth in column (c) of Table 1a: 2016 Summary Compensation Table, of each of the NEOs as a proportion of 2016 total compensation were as follows:
Mr. Robo8%
Mr. Ketchum22%
Mr. Pimentel19%
Mr. Nazar20%
Mr. Silagy21%
Mr. Dewhurst16%
These proportions are consistent with the Companys philosophy of paying NEOs a higher percentage of performance-based compensation and a lower percentage of fixed compensation.
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Table 3: 2016 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
The following table provides information about equity incentive awards granted to the NEOs in 2016 and in prior years. It is important to keep in mind the following when reviewing the table:
| With respect to Option Awards, the options listed in column (b), Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable, are fully vested and exercisable as of December 31, 2016 by the NEO. If the NEO had exercised all or a part of these options in 2016, the value realized upon exercise would be listed in Table 4: 2016 Option Exercises and Stock Vested. The Compensation Committee deems the value of unexercised fully-vested options to be a current asset of the NEO and attributable to compensation earned in prior years, and does not consider this amount, or the current value of unvested options (which are listed in column (c)), when making compensation determinations. |
| The number of shares listed in column (i), Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested, includes both performance shares, at maximum payout level (in accordance with applicable SEC rules), prior to the expiration of the performance period, and performance-based restricted stock prior to the satisfaction of the performance and time criteria required for vesting. The number of shares listed in column (g), Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested, includes a deferred retirement award for Mr. Robo. |
| As required by SEC rules, the amounts listed in column (j), Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested, represent the value of performance-based restricted stock and performance share awards at maximum payout levels. These amounts were not realized by the NEOs during 2016, and the value of awards which vest at a later date is likely to be different from the amount listed, based on, among other factors, the performance of the Company and the price of the Companys common stock. |
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Table 3: 2016 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name (a) |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options(#) Exercisable(1) (b) |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options(#) Unexer- cisable(1) (c) |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options(#) (d) |
Option Exercise Price($) (e) |
Option Expiration Date (f) |
Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested(2) (#) (g) |
Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested($)(3) (h) |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested(#)(4) (i) |
Equity Plan Awards: Market
or |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
James L. Robo |
52,320 | 0 | 0 | 64.69 | 2/15/2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
81,489 | 0 | 0 | 50.91 | 2/13/2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
111,864 | 0 | 0 | 45.57 | 2/12/2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
89,074 | 0 | 0 | 54.59 | 2/18/2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
101,937 | 0 | 0 | 60.22 | 2/17/2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
82,931 | 0 | 0 | 72.50 | 2/15/2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
39,281 | 19,641 | 0 | 93.27 | 2/14/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
26,248 | 52,496 | 0 | 103.62 | 2/13/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 101,848 | 0 | 111.67 | 2/12/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
44,380 | $ | 5,301,635 | 254,195 | (5) | $ | 30,366,135 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
John W. Ketchum |
0 | 18,767 | 0 | 111.67 | 2/12/2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | 26,678 | (6) | $ | 3,186,954 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Armando Pimentel, Jr. |
42,372 | 0 | 0 | 45.57 | 2/12/2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
35,347 | 0 | 0 | 54.59 | 2/18/2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
42,008 | 0 | 0 | 60.22 | 2/17/2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
34,620 | 0 | 0 | 72.50 | 2/15/2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
15,193 | 7,597 | 0 | 93.27 | 2/14/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8,285 | 16,568 | 0 | 103.62 | 2/13/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 36,285 | 0 | 111.67 | 2/12/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | 52,103 | (7) | $ | 6,224,224 | (7) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Manoochehr K. Nazar |
13,890 | 0 | 0 | 50.91 | 2/13/2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
19,925 | 0 | 0 | 45.57 | 2/12/2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
15,790 | 0 | 0 | 54.59 | 2/18/2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
18,076 | 0 | 0 | 60.22 | 2/17/2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
38,149 | 0 | 0 | 72.50 | 2/15/2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
16,421 | 8,211 | 0 | 93.27 | 2/14/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8,784 | 17,566 | 0 | 103.62 | 2/13/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 32,860 | 0 | 111.67 | 2/12/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | 50,998 | (8) | $ | 6,092,221 | (8) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eric E. Silagy |
21,216 | 0 | 0 | 60.22 | 2/17/2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
15,620 | 0 | 0 | 72.50 | 2/15/2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7,756 | 3,878 | 0 | 93.27 | 2/14/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5,146 | 10,294 | 0 | 103.62 | 2/13/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 26,698 | 0 | 111.67 | 2/12/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | 35,490 | (9) | $ | 4,239,635 | (9) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Moray P. Dewhurst |
6,898 | 0 | 0 | 64.69 | 2/15/2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
59,575 | 0 | 0 | 54.59 | 2/18/2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
68,840 | 0 | 0 | 60.22 | 2/17/2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
49,482 | 0 | 0 | 72.50 | 2/15/2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
31,648 | 0 | 0 | 93.27 | 2/14/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
34,185 | 0 | 0 | 103.62 | 2/13/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12,720 | 0 | 0 | 111.67 | 2/12/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | 50,428 | (10) | $ | 6,024,129 | (10) |
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(1) | All stock options are non-qualified. All options listed as exercisable at December 31, 2016 were fully vested at that date. Options listed as unexercisable at December 31, 2016 vest as follows: |
Name | Grant Date | Vest Date | No. Options | |||||||||
James L. Robo |
2/12/2016 | 2/15/2017 | 33,950 | |||||||||
2/15/2018 | 33,949 | |||||||||||
2/15/2019 | 33,949 | |||||||||||
2/13/2015 | 2/15/2017 | 26,248 | ||||||||||
2/15/2018 | 26,248 | |||||||||||
2/14/2014 | 2/15/2017 | 19,641 | ||||||||||
John W. Ketchum |
2/12/2016 | 2/15/2017 | 6,255 | |||||||||
2/15/2018 | 6,256 | |||||||||||
2/15/2019 | 6,256 | |||||||||||
Armando Pimentel, Jr. |
2/12/2016 | 2/15/2017 | 12,095 | |||||||||
2/15/2018 | 12,095 | |||||||||||
2/15/2019 | 12,095 | |||||||||||
2/13/2015 | 2/15/2017 | 8,284 | ||||||||||
2/15/2018 | 8,284 | |||||||||||
2/14/2014 | 2/15/2017 | 7,597 | ||||||||||
Manoochehr K. Nazar |
2/12/2016 | 2/15/2017 | 10,954 | |||||||||
2/15/2018 | 10,953 | |||||||||||
2/15/2019 | 10,953 | |||||||||||
2/13/2015 | 2/15/2017 | 8,783 | ||||||||||
2/15/2018 | 8,783 | |||||||||||
2/14/2014 | 2/15/2017 | 8,211 | ||||||||||
Eric E. Silagy |
2/12/2016 | 2/15/2017 | 8,900 | |||||||||
2/15/2018 | 8,899 | |||||||||||
2/15/2019 | 8,899 | |||||||||||
2/13/2015 | 2/15/2017 | 5,147 | ||||||||||
2/15/2018 | 5,147 | |||||||||||
2/14/2014 | 2/15/2017 | 3,878 |
(2) | Mr. Robo was granted 47,893 shares in 2006 and Mr. Dewhurst was granted 25,219 shares in 2009 as deferred retirement awards. Of such grants, 50% of Mr. Robos shares (28,181 shares, including reinvested dividends) vested on 3/15/2011, and the remainder vested on 3/15/2016. Of Mr. Dewhursts shares, 50% (14,170 shares, including reinvested dividends) vested on 6/15/2012, and the remainder vested on 3/4/2016. Mr. Robo was also granted 38,231 shares in 2012 as a deferred retirement award. Of those shares, 50% will vest on 7/1/2017 and the remainder will vest on 7/1/2022. Receipt of the shares will continue to be deferred following vesting in most circumstances. Shares representing the Companys obligation to Mr. Robo related to the award granted in 2006 are held in a grantor (rabbi) trust. Dividends are reinvested. In 2016, the trustee of the grantor trust acquired 1,964 shares (100% of which are vested) in respect of Mr. Robos 2006 award. In addition, in 2016, 1,266 deferred shares were added with respect to Mr. Robos 2012 award and 931 deferred shares (100% of which were vested as of 12/31/2016) were added with respect to Mr. Dewhursts award upon the reinvestment of dividend equivalents. |
(3) | Market value of the unvested deferred retirement awards is based on the closing price of NextEra Energy common stock on December 30, 2016 of $119.46. |
(4) | Performance shares generally vest on the last day of the applicable performance period, with payouts determined by the Compensation Committee at its first regular meeting after the end of the year. Because the end of the performance period for the performance shares granted to each of the NEOs in 2014 was December 31, 2016, these performance shares are not included in Table 3: 2016 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End and are included in Table 4: 2016 Option Exercises and Stock Vested under columns (d) and (e), Stock AwardsNumber of Shares Acquired on Vesting and Stock AwardsValue Realized on Vesting, and discussed in footnote (2) to that table. |
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(5) | Mr. Robos outstanding performance shares at maximum payout level totaled 212,220 shares with a market value on December 31, 2016 of $25,351,801. Of such shares, 52,710 performance shares at target were granted on February 13, 2015 (performance period beginning 1/1/2015 and ending 12/31/2017) and 53,400 performance shares at target were granted on February 12, 2016 (performance period beginning 1/1/2016 and ending 12/31/2018). The amount shown also includes 41,975 shares of performance-based restricted stock with a market value of $5,014,334 which vest, subject to the satisfaction of applicable performance criteria, as follows: |
Award Type | Grant Date | Vest Date | No. Shares | |||||||||
performance-based restricted stock |
2/12/2016 | 2/15/2017 | 7,172 | |||||||||
2/15/2018 | 7,173 | |||||||||||
2/15/2019 | 7,173 | |||||||||||
performance-based restricted stock |
2/13/2015 | 2/15/2017 | 7,165 | |||||||||
2/15/2018 | 7,165 | |||||||||||
performance-based restricted stock |
2/14/2014 | 2/15/2017 | 6,127 |
(6) | Mr. Ketchums outstanding performance shares at maximum payout level totaled 20,276 shares with a market value on December 31, 2016 of $2,422,171. Of such shares, 4,525 performance shares at target were granted on February 13, 2015 (performance period beginning 1/1/2015 and ending 12/31/2017) and 5,613 performance shares at target were granted on February 12, 2016 (performance period beginning 1/1/2016 and ending 12/31/2018). The amount shown also includes 6,402 shares of performance-based restricted stock with a market value of $764,783 which vest, subject to the satisfaction of applicable performance criteria, as follows: |
Award Type | Grant Date | Vest Date | No. Shares | |||||||||
performance-based restricted stock |
2/12/2016 | 2/15/2017 | 1,038 | |||||||||
2/15/2018 | 1,039 | |||||||||||
2/15/2019 | 1,039 | |||||||||||
performance-based restricted stock |
2/13/2015 | 2/15/2017 | 1,367 | |||||||||
2/15/2018 | 1,367 | |||||||||||
performance-based restricted stock |
2/14/2014 | 2/15/2017 | 552 |
(7) | Mr. Pimentels outstanding performance shares at maximum payout level totaled 40,666 shares with a market value on December 31, 2016 of $4,857,960. Of such shares, 9,484 performance shares at target were granted on February 13, 2015 (performance period beginning 1/1/2015 and ending 12/31/2017) and 10,849 performance shares at target were granted on February 12, 2016 (performance period beginning 1/1/2016 and ending 12/31/2018). The amount shown also includes 11,437 shares of performance-based restricted stock with a market value of $1,366,264 which vest, subject to the satisfaction of applicable performance criteria, as follows: |
Award Type | Grant Date | Vest Date | No. Shares | |||||||||
performance-based restricted stock |
2/12/2016 | 2/15/2017 | 2,007 | |||||||||
2/15/2018 | 2,008 | |||||||||||
2/15/2019 | 2,008 | |||||||||||
performance-based restricted stock |
2/13/2015 | 2/15/2017 | 1,776 | |||||||||
2/15/2018 | 1,776 | |||||||||||
performance-based restricted stock |
2/14/2014 | 2/15/2017 | 1,862 |
(8) | Mr. Nazars outstanding performance shares at maximum payout level totaled 39,764 shares with a market value on December 31, 2016 of $4,750,207. Of such shares, 10,058 performance shares at target were granted on February 13, 2015 (performance period beginning 1/1/2015 and ending 12/31/2017) and 9,824 performance shares at target were granted on February 12, 2016 (performance period beginning 1/1/2016 and ending 12/31/2018). The amount shown also includes 11,234 shares of performance-based restricted stock with a market value of $1,342,014 which vest, subject to the satisfaction of applicable performance criteria, as follows: |
Award Type | Grant Date | Vest Date | No. Shares | |||||||||
performance-based restricted stock |
2/12/2016 | 2/15/2017 | 1,818 | |||||||||
2/15/2018 | 1,818 | |||||||||||
2/15/2019 | 1,818 | |||||||||||
performance-based restricted stock |
2/13/2015 | 2/15/2017 | 1,884 | |||||||||
2/15/2018 | 1,884 | |||||||||||
performance-based restricted stock |
2/14/2014 |