UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 


 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 7, 2015

 

Commission file

number

 

Registrant, State of Incorporation or Organization,

Address of Principal Executive Offices, and Telephone Number

 

IRS Employer
Identification No.

1-32853

 

DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION

(a Delaware corporation)

550 South Tryon Street

Charlotte, North Carolina 28202-1803

704-382-6200

 

20-2777218

 

550 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip code)

 

(704) 382-3853

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o             Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o             Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o             Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o             Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240. 13e-4(c))

 

 

 



 

Item 5.02

Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

(b)                                  On May 12, 2015, Duke Energy Corporation (“Duke Energy”) announced that Mr. Marc E. Manly, Executive Vice President and President, Commercial Portfolio, and Mr. B. Keith Trent, Executive Vice President — Grid Solutions and President, Midwest and Florida Regions, will leave Duke Energy, by June 30, 2015.  In connection with a recent divestiture and changes in responsibilities, the executives will be eligible to receive severance benefits under the Duke Energy Executive Severance Plan.  Both are also eligible for compensation and benefits accrued under Duke Energy’s applicable retirement and benefit plans.  Organizational changes related to the departures will be announced soon to assist with a smooth transition before June 30.

 

(e)                                   On May 7, 2015, the shareholders of Duke Energy, upon recommendation of our Board of Directors, approved the Duke Energy Corporation 2015 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).  A brief description of the Plan follows, but is subject to the full text of the Plan which is attached as Appendix C to our proxy statement dated March 26, 2015 and incorporated by reference to this Form 8-K.

 

The Plan authorizes the grant of equity-based compensation to our key employees and non-employee directors in the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units, stock retainers and dividend equivalents.  Duke Energy has reserved 10,000,000 shares of common stock for delivery under the Plan.

 

The Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, which has authority to, among other things: construe and interpret the Plan, select participants and the types of awards to be granted, and establish the terms and conditions of awards.

 

The Compensation Committee may grant performance awards that are intended to qualify for the “performance-based compensation” exemption under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (“Section 162(m)”), as well as performance awards that are not intended to so qualify. The performance criteria for a Section 162(m) qualified award, which may relate to Duke Energy, any subsidiary, any business unit or any participant, and may be measured on an absolute or relative to peer group or other market measure basis, shall be limited to: total shareholder return; stock price increase; return on equity; return on capital; earnings per share; EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes); EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization); ongoing earnings; cash flow (including operating cash flow, free cash flow, discounted cash flow return on investment, and cash flow in excess of costs of capital); EVA (economic value added); economic profit (net operating profit after tax, less a cost of capital charge); SVA (shareholder value added); revenues; net income; operating income; pre-tax profit margin; performance against business plan; customer service; corporate governance quotient or rating; market share; employee satisfaction; safety; reliability; reportable environmental events, significant operational events, employee engagement; supplier diversity; workforce diversity; operating margins; credit rating; dividend payments; expenses; operations and maintenance expenses; fuel cost per million BTU; costs per kilowatt hour; retained earnings; completion of acquisitions, divestitures and corporate restructurings; and individual goals based on objective business criteria underlying the goals listed above and which pertain to individual effort as to achievement of those goals or to one or more business criteria in the areas of litigation, human resources, information

 

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services, production, inventory, support services, site development, plant development, building development, facility development, government relations, product market share or management.  In the case of a performance award that is not intended to qualify for exemption under Section 162(m), the Compensation Committee shall designate performance criteria from among the foregoing or such other business criteria as it shall determine in its sole discretion.

 

The Plan will remain in effect until February 25, 2025, unless sooner terminated by the Board of Directors. Termination will not affect grants and awards then outstanding. The Plan replaces the Duke Energy Corporation 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan and the Progress Energy, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Prior Plans”).  No further awards will be made under the Prior Plans; however, awards granted under the Prior Plans prior to shareholder approval of the Plan will remain outstanding in accordance with their terms.

 

Item 5.07  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 

(a)                                  The Corporation held its Annual Meeting on May 7, 2015.

 

(b)                                  At the Annual Meeting, shareholders voted on the following items:  (i) election of directors, (ii) ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Corporation’s independent public accountant for 2015, (iii) an advisory vote to approve the Corporation’s named executive officer compensation, (iv) the approval of the Duke Energy Corporation 2015 Long-Term Incentive Plan, (v) a shareholder proposal regarding limitation of accelerated executive pay, (vi) a shareholder proposal regarding political contribution disclosure, and (vii) a shareholder proposal regarding proxy access.  For more information on the proposals, see Duke Energy’s proxy statement dated March 26, 2015.  Set forth below are the final voting results for each of the proposals.

 

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·                   Election of Director Nominees

 

Director

 

Votes
For

 

Votes
Against

 

Withhold

 

Broker
Non-Votes

 

Percent
Voted
For

 

Michael G. Browning

 

424,745,581

 

0

 

11,714,727

 

159,021,889

 

97.31

 

Harris E. DeLoach, Jr.

 

427,576,422

 

0

 

8,883,886

 

159,021,889

 

97.96

 

Daniel R. DiMicco

 

427,804,126

 

0

 

8,656,182

 

159,021,889

 

98.01

 

John H. Forsgren

 

427,830,388

 

0

 

8,629,920

 

159,021,889

 

98.02

 

Lynn J. Good

 

427,265,511

 

0

 

9,194,797

 

159,021,889

 

97.89

 

Ann Maynard Gray

 

416,415,113

 

0

 

20,045,195

 

159,021,889

 

95.40

 

James H. Hance, Jr.

 

385,023,731

 

0

 

51,436,577

 

159,021,889

 

88.21

 

John T. Herron

 

428,147,417

 

0

 

8,312,891

 

159,021,889

 

98.09

 

James B. Hyler, Jr.

 

427,432,207

 

0

 

9,027,101

 

159,021,889

 

97.93

 

William E. Kennard

 

424,104,296

 

0

 

12,356,012

 

159,021,889

 

97.16

 

E. Marie McKee

 

421,498,247

 

0

 

14,962,061

 

159,021,889

 

96.57

 

Richard A. Meserve

 

427,561,675

 

0

 

8,898,633

 

159,021,889

 

97.96

 

James T. Rhodes

 

426,664,961

 

0

 

9,795,347

 

159,021,889

 

97.75

 

Carlos A. Saladrigas

 

421,544,824

 

0

 

14,915,484

 

159,021,889

 

96.58

 

 

·                   Proposal to ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent public accountant for 2015

 

Votes
For

 

Votes
Against

 

Abstentions

 

Broker
Non-Votes

 

Percent
Voted For

 

581,157,816

 

11,258,372

 

3,066,009

 

0

 

97.59

 

 

·                   Advisory vote to approve Duke Energy Corporation’s named executive officer compensation

 

Votes
For

 

Votes
Against

 

Abstentions

 

Broker
Non-Votes

 

Percent
Voted For

 

353,567,865

 

77,385,510

 

5,506,933

 

159,021,889

 

81.00

 

 

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·                   Approval of the Duke Energy Corporation 2015 Long-Term Incentive Plan

 

Votes
For

 

Votes
Against

 

Abstentions

 

Broker
Non-Votes

 

Percent of
Outstanding
Shares
Voted For

 

406,004,445

 

25,513,233

 

4,942,630

 

159,021,889

 

93.02

 

 

·                   Shareholder proposal regarding limitation of accelerated executive pay

 

Votes
For

 

Votes
Against

 

Abstentions

 

Broker
Non-Votes

 

Percent
Voted For

 

127,045,335

 

303,653,931

 

5,761,042

 

159,021,889

 

29.10

 

 

·                   Shareholder proposal regarding political contribution disclosure

 

Votes
For

 

Votes
Against

 

Abstentions

 

Broker
Non-Votes

 

Percent
Voted For

 

101,557,180

 

272,410,978

 

62,492,150

 

159,021,889

 

23.26

 

 

·                   Shareholder proposal regarding proxy access

 

Votes
For

 

Votes
Against

 

Abstentions

 

Broker
Non-Votes

 

Percent
Voted For

 

269,370,537

 

160,063,056

 

7,026,715

 

159,021,889

 

61.71

 

 

(c)                                   Not applicable.

 

(d)                                  Not applicable.

 

Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)                                  Exhibits.

 

10.1                         Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement

 

10.2                         Form of Performance Award Agreement

 

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SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION

 

 

Date: May 12, 2015

 

By:

/s/ Julia S. Janson

 

 

Executive Vice President, Chief Legal

 

 

Officer and Corporate Secretary

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

 

Description

 

 

 

10.1

 

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement

 

 

 

10.2

 

Form of Performance Award Agreement

 

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Exhibit 10.1

 

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

 

This Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (the “ Agreement ”) has been made as of [                 ], (the “ Date of Grant ”) between Duke Energy Corporation , a Delaware corporation, with its principal offices in Charlotte, North Carolina (the “Corporation”), and [                      ]  ( the “Grantee”).

 

RECITALS

 

Under the Duke Energy Corporation 2015 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as it may, from time to time, be further amended (the “ Plan ”), the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Committee ”), or its delegate, has determined the form of this Agreement and selected the Grantee, as an Employee, to receive the award evidenced by this Agreement (the “ Award ”) and the “Restricted Stock Units” and tandem Dividend Equivalents that are subject hereto.  The applicable provisions of the Plan are incorporated in this Agreement by reference, including the definitions of terms contained in the Plan (unless such terms are otherwise defined herein).

 

AWARD

 

In accordance with the Plan, the Corporation has made this Award, effective as of the Date of Grant and upon the following terms and conditions:

 

Section 1.               Number and Nature of Restricted Stock Units and Tandem Dividend Equivalents .  The number of Restricted Stock Units and the number of tandem Dividend Equivalents subject to this Award are each [                                                                      ] .  Each Restricted Stock Unit, upon becoming vested, represents a right to receive payment in the form of one (1) share of Common Stock.  Each tandem Dividend Equivalent represents a right to receive cash payments equivalent to the amount of cash dividends declared and paid on one (1) share of Common Stock after the Date of Grant and before the Dividend Equivalent expires.  Restricted Stock Units and Dividend Equivalents are used solely as units of measurement and are not shares of Common Stock, and the Grantee is not, and has no rights as, a shareholder of the Corporation by virtue of this Award.

 

Section 2.               Vesting of Restricted Stock Units .  The specified percentage of the Restricted Stock Units subject to this Award, and not previously forfeited, shall vest, with such percentage considered satisfied to the extent such Restricted Stock Units have previously vested, as follows:

 



 

(a)           Upon Grantee remaining continuously employed by the Corporation, including Subsidiaries, through [                     ] (each a “ Vesting Date” ), the percentage of Restricted Stock Units set forth next to such date shall become vested:

 

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(b)           If such employment terminates (i) as the result of Grantee’s death or (ii) as the result of Grantee’s permanent and total disability within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, all Restricted Stock Units subject to this Award, which units have not previously been forfeited or vested, immediately shall become fully vested, unless the Committee or its delegate, in its sole discretion, determines that Grantee is in violation of any obligation identified in Section 3, in which case any Restricted Stock Units not previously vested shall be forfeited.

 

(c)           If such employment terminates: (i) upon Retirement (as defined below), (ii) as the result of termination of such employment by the Corporation, or employing Subsidiary, other than for cause, as determined by the Committee or its delegate, or (iii) as the direct and sole result, as determined by the Committee or its delegate, in its sole discretion, of the divestiture of assets, a business or a company by the Corporation or a Subsidiary, then, unless the Committee or its delegate, in its sole discretion, determines that Grantee is in violation of any obligation identified in Section 3, in which case any Restricted Stock Units not previously vested shall be forfeited, the Restricted Stock Units subject to this Award shall vest at such vesting percentage determined by the Committee or its delegate, in its sole discretion, by prorating from the above schedule to reflect only that portion of the period beginning on the Date of Grant and ending with the [        ] anniversary of the Date of Grant during which such employment continued while Grantee was entitled to payment of salary, and any such Restricted Stock Units not then or previously vested shall be forfeited.  For purposes of this Agreement, “ Retirement ” shall mean [     ].

 

(d)           100% of the Restricted Stock Units shall become vested, if, following the occurrence of a Change in Control and before the [               ] anniversary of such occurrence, such employment is terminated involuntarily, and not for cause, by the Corporation, or employing Subsidiary, as determined by the Committee or its delegate in its sole discretion.

 

(e)           Unless the Grantee’s right to receive payment of the Restricted Stock Units constitutes a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, in the event that at a time when vesting would otherwise occur under Section 2(a), 2(b) or 2(c) Grantee is on an employer-approved, personal leave of absence, then, unless prohibited by law, vesting shall be postponed and shall not occur unless and until Grantee returns to active service in accordance with the terms of the approved personal leave of absence and before January 14 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the leave commenced.  In the event Grantee does not return to active service from such leave of absence prior to January 14 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the leave commenced, any Restricted Stock Units covered by this Award that were not vested as of the commencement of such leave shall be immediately forfeited (as if Grantee terminated employment for purposes of Section 4 hereof).

 

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Section 3 .              Restrictive Covenants .

 

(a)  In consideration of the Award, Grantee agrees that during the period ending on the [     ] anniversary of the Date of Grant (“ Restricted Period ”), Grantee shall not for any reason, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Corporation or its delegate: (i) become employed, engaged or involved with a competitor (defined below) of the Corporation or any Subsidiary in a position that involves: providing services that relate to or are similar in nature or purpose to the services performed by the Grantee for the Corporation or any Subsidiary at any time during his or her previous [                   ] years of employment with the Corporation or any Subsidiary; or, supervision, management, direction or advice regarding such services; either as principal, agent, manager, employee, partner, shareholder, director, officer or consultant (other than as a less-than three percent (3%) equity owner of any corporation traded on any national, international or regional stock exchange or in the over-the-counter market); or, (ii) induce or attempt to induce any customer, client, supplier, employee, agent or independent contractor of the Corporation or any of the Subsidiaries to reduce, terminate, restrict or otherwise alter (to the Corporation’s detriment) its business relationship with the Corporation.

 

(b)       The noncompetition obligations of clause (i) of the preceding sentence shall be effective only with respect to a “competitor” of the Corporation or any Subsidiary which is understood to mean any person or entity in competition with the Corporation or any Subsidiary, and more particularly those persons and entities in the businesses of:  production, transmission, distribution, or retail or wholesale marketing or selling of electricity; resale or arranging for the purchase or for the resale, brokering, marketing, or trading of electricity or derivatives thereof; energy management and the provision of energy solutions; development and operation of power generation facilities, and sales and marketing of electric power, domestically and abroad; and any other business in which the Corporation, including Subsidiaries, is engaged at the termination of Grantee’s continuous employment by the Corporation, including Subsidiaries; and within the following geographical areas: (i) any country in the world (other than the United States) where the Corporation, including Subsidiaries, has at least $25 million in capital deployed as of termination of Grantee’s continuous employment by the Corporation, including through its Subsidiaries; (ii) the states of Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin and Wyoming; (iii) any other state in the United States where the Corporation including the Subsidiaries, has at least $25 million in capital deployed as of the termination of the Grantee’s employment with the Corporation or any Subsidiary.  The Corporation and Grantee intend the above restrictions on competition in geographical areas to be entirely severable and independent, and any invalidity or enforceability of this provision with respect to any one or more of such restrictions, including geographical areas, shall not render this provision unenforceable as applied to any one or more of the other restrictions, including geographical areas.

 

4



 

(c)        Grantee agrees not to: (i) disclose to any third party or otherwise misappropriate any confidential or proprietary information of the Corporation or of any Subsidiary (except as required by subpoena or other legal process, in which event the Grantee will give the Chief Legal Officer of the Corporation prompt notice of such subpoena or other legal process in order to permit the Corporation or any affected individual to seek appropriate protective orders); or, (ii) publish or provide any oral or written statements about the Corporation or any Subsidiary, any of the Corporation’s or any Subsidiary’s current or former officers, executives, directors, employees, agents or representatives that are false, disparaging or defamatory, or that disclose private or confidential information about their business or personal affairs.   The obligations of this paragraph are in addition to, and do not replace, eliminate, or reduce in any way, all other contractual, statutory, or common law obligations Grantee may have to protect the Corporation’s confidential information and trade secrets and to avoid defamation or business disparagement.

 

(d)       Notwithstanding any other provision of Section 3, the Grantee remains free to engage in “protected activity,” as defined in 10 CFR 50.7 and Section 211 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, including, but not limited to, reporting any suspected instance of illegal activity of any nature, any nuclear safety concern, any workplace safety concern, any public safety concern, or any other matter within the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (“NRC”) regulatory responsibilities to the NRC, the United States Department of Labor, or any other federal or state governmental agency without providing the notice described in Section 3(c), and the Grantee remains free to participate in any governmental proceeding or investigation without providing the notice described in Section 3(c).

 

(e)       If any part of this Section is held to be unenforceable because of the duration, scope or geographical area covered, the Corporation and Grantee agree to modify such part, or that the court making such holding shall have the power to modify such part, to reduce its duration, scope or geographical area.

 

(f)        Nothing in Section 3 shall be construed to prohibit Grantee from being retained during the Restricted Period in a capacity as an attorney licensed to practice law, or to restrict Grantee from providing advice and counsel in such capacity, in any jurisdiction where such prohibition or restriction is contrary to law.

 

(g)       Grantee’s agreement to the restrictions provided for in this Agreement and the Corporation’s agreement to provide the Award are mutually dependent consideration. Therefore, notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary in this Agreement, if Grantee materially breaches any provision of this Section 3 or if the enforceability of any material restriction on Grantee provided for in this Agreement is challenged and found unenforceable by a court of law then the Corporation shall, at its election, have the right to (i) cancel the Award, (ii) recover from Grantee any shares of Common Stock, Dividend Equivalents or other cash paid under Award, or (iii) with respect to any shares of Common Stock paid under the Award that have been disposed of, require the Grantee to repay to the Corporation the fair market

 

5



 

value of such shares of Common Stock on the date such shares were sold, transferred, or otherwise disposed of by Grantee.   This provision shall be construed as a return of consideration or ill-gotten gains due to the failure of Grantee’s promises under the Agreement, and not as a liquidated damages clause.  Nothing herein shall (i) reduce or eliminate the Corporation’s right to assert that the restrictions provided for in this agreement are fully enforceable as written, or as modified by a court pursuant to Section 3, or (ii) eliminate, reduce, or compromise the application of temporary or permanent injunctive relief as a fully appropriate and applicable remedy to enforce the restrictions provided for in Section 3 (inclusive of its subparts), in addition to recovery of damages or other remedies otherwise allowed by law.

 

Section 4.              Forfeiture .  Any unvested Restricted Stock Unit subject to this Award shall be forfeited upon the termination of Grantee’s continuous employment by the Corporation, including Subsidiaries, prior to a Vesting Date, except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 2.  Any Dividend Equivalent subject to this Award shall expire at the time the Restricted Stock Unit with respect to which the Dividend Equivalent is in tandem (a) is vested and paid, or deferred, or (b) is forfeited.

 

Section 5.               Dividend Equivalent Payments .  Payments with respect to any Dividend Equivalent subject to this Award shall be paid in cash to the Grantee within 60 days after the time cash dividends are declared and paid with respect to the Common Stock on or after the Date of Grant and before the Dividend Equivalent expires, but in no event later than the calendar year in which the dividends are declared and paid.  However, should the timing of a particular payment under Section 6 to the Grantee in shares of Common Stock in conjunction with the timing of a particular cash dividend declared and paid on Common Stock be such that the Grantee receives such shares without the right to receive such dividend and the Grantee would not otherwise be entitled to payment under the expiring Dividend Equivalent with respect to such dividend, the Grantee, nevertheless, shall be entitled to such payment.  Dividend Equivalent payments shall be subject to withholding for taxes. Any required income tax withholdings in respect of Dividend Equivalents attributable to Restricted Stock Units shall be satisfied by reducing the cash payment in respect of the required withholding amount, unless the Committee, or its delegate, in its discretion, requires Grantee to satisfy such tax obligation by other payment to the Corporation.

 

Section 6.              Payment of Restricted Stock Units .  Payment of Restricted Stock Units subject to this Award shall be made to the Grantee as soon as practicable following the time such units become vested in accordance with Section 2 but in no event later than 60 days following such vesting, except to the extent deferred by Grantee in accordance with such procedures as the Committee, or its delegate, may prescribe from time to time or except to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code.  To the extent the Grantee’s right to receive payment of the Restricted Stock Units constitutes a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, then notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 6, except in the event that the Grantee’s employment terminates as a result of death, payment of vested Restricted

 

6



 

Stock Units subject to this Award shall be made to the Grantee within 60 days following the applicable Vesting Date(s) as provided in Section 2(a).  Payment (or deferrals, as applicable) shall be subject to withholding for taxes.  Payment shall be in the form of one (1) share of Common Stock for each full Restricted Stock Unit and any fractional Restricted Stock Unit shall be made in a cash amount equal in value to the shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be paid, valued at Fair Market Value on the date the respective Restricted Stock Units became vested, or if later, payable.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the number of shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be paid or deferred (valued at Fair Market Value on the date the respective Restricted Stock Unit became vested, or if later, payable) shall be reduced by the Committee, or its delegate, in its sole discretion, to fully satisfy tax withholding requirements, unless the Committee, or its delegate, in its discretion requires Grantee to satisfy such tax obligation by other payment to the Corporation.  In the event that payment, after any such reduction in the number of shares of Common Stock to satisfy withholding for tax requirements, would be less than ten (10) shares of Common Stock, then, if so determined by the Committee, or its delegate, in its sole discretion, payment, instead of being made in shares of Common Stock, shall be made in a cash amount equal in value to the shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be paid, valued at Fair Market Value on the date the respective Restricted Stock Units became vested, or if later, payable.

 

Section 7.               No Employment Rights .  Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan shall confer upon the Grantee the right to continued employment with the Corporation or any Subsidiary, or affect the right of the Corporation or any Subsidiary to terminate the employment or service of the Grantee at any time for any reason.

 

Section 8.               Nonalienation .  The Restricted Stock Units and Dividend Equivalents subject to this Award are not assignable or transferable by the Grantee.  Upon any attempt to transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate, sell or otherwise dispose of any such Restricted Stock Unit or Dividend Equivalent, or of any right or privilege conferred hereby, or upon the levy of any attachment or similar process upon such Restricted Stock Unit or Dividend Equivalent, or upon such right or privilege, such Restricted Stock Unit or Dividend Equivalent or right or privilege, shall immediately become null and void.

 

Section 9.              Determinations .  Determinations by the Committee, or its delegate, shall be final and conclusive with respect to the interpretation of the Plan and this Agreement.

 

Section 10.            Governing Law .  The validity and construction of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the state of Delaware applicable to transactions taking place entirely within that state.

 

Section 11.             Conflicts with Plan, Correction of Errors, Section 409A and Grantee’s Consent .  In the event that any provision of this Agreement conflicts in any way with a provision of the Plan, such Plan provision shall be controlling and the applicable provision of this Agreement shall be without force and effect to the extent

 

7



 

necessary to cause such Plan provision to be controlling.  In the event that, due to administrative error, this Agreement does not accurately reflect a Restricted Stock Unit Award properly granted to Grantee pursuant to the Plan, the Corporation, acting through its Executive Compensation and Benefits Department, reserves the right to cancel any erroneous document and, if appropriate, to replace the cancelled document with a corrected document.  It is the intention of the Corporation and the Grantee that this Award not result in unfavorable tax consequences to Grantee under Section 409A of the Code.  Accordingly, Grantee consents to such amendment of this Agreement as the Corporation may reasonably make in furtherance of such intention, and the Corporation shall promptly provide, or make available to, Grantee a copy of any such amendment.

 

To the extent applicable, it is intended that this Agreement comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and that this Award not result in unfavorable tax consequences to Grantee under Section 409A of the Code.  This Agreement will be administered and interpreted in a manner consistent with this intent, and any provision that would cause this Agreement to fail to satisfy Section 409A of the Code will have no force and effect until amended to comply therewith (which amendment may be retroactive to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code).  The Corporation and the Grantee agree to work together in good faith in an effort to comply with Section 409A of the Code including, if necessary, amending this Agreement based on further guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service from time to time, provided that the Corporation shall not be required to assume any increased economic burden. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, to the extent required in order to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, the Grantee shall not be considered to have terminated employment with Corporation for purposes of this Agreement and no payments shall be due to him or her under this Agreement which are payable upon his or her termination of employment until he or she would be considered to have incurred a “separation from service” from the Corporation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.  To the extent required in order to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, amounts that would otherwise be payable and benefits that would otherwise be provided pursuant to this Agreement during the six-month period immediately following the Grantee’s termination of employment shall instead be paid within 60 days following the first business day after the date that is six months following his or her termination of employment (or upon his or her death or a regularly scheduled Vesting Date, if earlier).  In addition, for purposes of this Agreement, each amount to be paid or benefit to be provided to the Grantee pursuant to this Agreement shall be construed as a separate identified payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.

 

Section 12.            Compliance with Law .  The Corporation shall make reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws applicable to the Plan and this Award; provided, however, notwithstanding any other provision of this Award, the Corporation shall not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Award if the delivery thereof would result in a violation of any such law.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Award is subject to cancellation by the Corporation in its sole discretion unless the Grantee, by not later than [                      ], [                  ] , has signed a duplicate of this Agreement, in the space provided below, and returned the signed duplicate to [                                     ], which, if, and to the extent, permitted by the Executive Compensation and Benefits Department, may be accomplished by electronic means.

 

9



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Agreement to be executed and granted in Charlotte, North Carolina, to be effective as of the Date of Grant.

 

 

 

DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Its:

 

Acceptance of Restricted Stock Unit Award

 

IN WITNESS OF Grantee’s acceptance of this Award and Grantee’s agreement to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement and the Plan, Grantee has signed this Agreement this [          ] day of [                                          ], [             ].

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grantee’s Signature

 

 

 

 

 

(print name)

 

 

 

 

 

(address)

 

10


Exhibit 10.2

 

PERFORMANCE AWARD AGREEMENT

 

This Performance Award Agreement (the “ Agreement ”) has been made as of [                                 ] (the “Date of Grant”) between Duke Energy Corporation , a Delaware corporation, with its principal offices in Charlotte, North Carolina (the “ Corporation ”), and [                                 ] (the “ Grantee ”).

 

RECITALS

 

Under the Duke Energy Corporation 2015 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as it may, from time to time, be further amended (the “ Plan ”), the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Committee ”), or its delegate, has determined the form of this Agreement and selected the Grantee, as an Employee, to receive the award evidenced by this Agreement (the “ Award ”) and the Performance Shares and tandem Dividend Equivalents that are subject hereto.  The applicable provisions of the Plan are incorporated in this Agreement by reference, including the definitions of terms contained in the Plan (unless such terms are otherwise defined herein).

 

AWARD

 

In accordance with the Plan, the Corporation has made this Award, effective as of the Date of Grant and upon the following terms and conditions:

 

Section 1.                                           Number and Nature of Performance Shares and Tandem Dividend Equivalents .  At target performance, the number of Performance Shares and the number of tandem Dividend Equivalents subject to this Award are each [                                      ].  Each Performance Share, upon becoming vested, represents a right to receive payment in the form of one (1) share of Common Stock.  Each tandem Dividend Equivalent, after its tandem Performance Share vests, represents a right to receive a cash payment equivalent in amount to the aggregate cash dividends declared and paid on one (1) share of Common Stock for the period beginning on the Date of Grant and ending on the date the vested, tandem Performance Share is paid or deferred and before the Dividend Equivalent expires.  Performance Shares and Dividend Equivalents are used solely as units of measurement and are not shares of Common Stock, and the Grantee is not, and has no rights as, a shareholder of the Corporation by virtue of this Award.

 

Section 2.                                           Vesting of Performance Shares .

 

(a)  Performance Goal .  Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2, the Performance Shares shall vest only if and to the extent the Committee, or its delegate, determines that the [      ] Performance Goal (as defined below) has been met (provided that such determination shall be made not later than the first March 15 following the end of the Performance Period, as defined below).  To the extent the

 



 

[           ] Performance Goal is not met, the Performance Shares that do not so become vested shall be forfeited.  The Committee reserves the right to reduce any vesting to the

 

2



 

extent the Committee determines that such reduction is equitable and appropriate based on overall financial performance, including adjusted and reported earnings, capital deployment and credit position during the Performance Period.  Provided Grantee’s continuous employment by the Corporation, including Subsidiaries, has not terminated, or as otherwise provided in Sections 2(b) or 2(c), all of the Performance Shares subject to this Award shall become vested upon the written determination by the Committee, or its delegate, in its sole discretion, of the extent to which the Corporation achieves the “[        ] Performance Goal” for the period beginning [                               ] and ending [                              ] (“ Performance Period ”), in accordance with the applicable vesting percentage specified for such ranking in the following schedule:

 

 

 

Vesting Percentage
(Applicable to Target
# of Shares)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* When such determination is of a ranking between those specified, the Committee, or its delegate, in its sole discretion, shall interpolate to determine the applicable vesting percentage.

 

Such Performance Shares that do not so become vested shall be forfeited.  For purposes of this Agreement, “[        ] Performance Goal” means: [                            ].

 

(b) In the event that, prior to the date that the determination of the achievement of the [        ] Performance Goal is made, the Grantee’s continuous employment by the Corporation, including Subsidiaries, terminates, the Performance Shares subject to this Award are thereupon forfeited, except that if such employment terminates (i) upon Retirement (as defined below), (ii) as the result of the Grantee’s death, (iii) as the result of the Grantee’s permanent and total disability within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, (iv) as the result of the termination of such employment by the Corporation, or employing Subsidiary, other than for cause, as determined by the Corporation or employing Subsidiary, in its sole discretion, or (v) as the direct and sole result, as determined by the Corporation, or employing Subsidiary, in its sole discretion, of the divestiture of assets, a business, or a company, by the Corporation or a Subsidiary, then, unless the Committee, or its delegate, in its sole discretion, determines that Grantee is in violation of any obligation identified in Section 3, the Performance Shares subject to this Award shall vest upon such determination of the achievement of the [        ] Performance Goal, at such vesting percentage determined by the Committee, or its delegate, in its sole discretion, by prorating on the basis of the portion of the

 

3



 

Performance Period that such employment continued while Grantee was entitled to payment of salary (unless such termination occurs after the end of the Performance Period, in which event the number of Performance Shares earned, if any, shall not be prorated).  For purposes of this Agreement, “Retirement” shall mean [                   ].

 

(c) In the event that a Change in Control occurs before the Performance Period has ended and (i) before the Grantee’s continuous employment by the Corporation, including Subsidiaries, terminates, or (ii) after such employment terminates during the Performance Period, (A) at a time when Grantee is considered “retired”, unless the Corporation, in its sole discretion, determines that Grantee is in violation of any obligation identified in Section 3, or (B) as the result of an event listed in items (ii) — (v) of the first sentence of Section 2(b), the Performance Shares subject to this Award shall vest upon such occurrence, at such vesting percentage determined by the Committee, or its delegate, in its sole discretion, by prorating down, assuming performance at the target level for the [        ] Performance Goal , on the basis of the portion of the Performance Period that has elapsed prior to the time of such occurrence (or such earlier termination of employment), and the remaining Performance Shares shall be forfeited, irrespective of any subsequent determination of the achievement of the [        ] Performance Goal.

 

(d)  In the event that Grantee is on an employer-approved, personal leave of absence on the date that the determination of the achievement of the [        ] Performance Goal is made under this Section 2, then, unless prohibited by law, vesting shall be postponed and shall not occur unless and until Grantee returns to active service in accordance with the terms of the approved personal leave of absence and before November 1 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the Performance Period ends.  In the event Grantee does not return to active service from such leave of absence prior to November 1 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the Performance Period ends, any Performance Shares covered by this Award that were not vested as of the commencement of such leave shall be immediately forfeited (as if Grantee terminated employment for purposes of Section 4 hereof).   Further, in the event that such determination is made and during any portion of the Performance Period the Grantee was on employer-approved, personal leave of absence, the applicable vesting percentage shall be determined by the Committee, or its delegate, in its sole discretion, to reflect only that portion of the Performance Period during which such employment continued while the Grantee was entitled to payment of salary.

 

Section 3 .                                           Restrictive Covenants .

 

(a)  In consideration of the Award, Grantee agrees that during the period ending on the [           ] anniversary of the Date of Grant (“Restricted Period”), Grantee shall not for any reason, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Corporation or its delegate: (i) become employed, engaged or involved with a competitor (defined below) of the Corporation or any Subsidiary in a position that involves: providing services that relate to or are similar in nature or purpose to the services performed by the Grantee for the Corporation or any Subsidiary at any time during his or her previous

 

4



 

 [                  ] years of employment with the Corporation or any Subsidiary; or, supervision, management, direction or advice regarding such services; either as principal, agent, manager, employee, partner, shareholder, director, officer or consultant (other than as a less-than three percent (3%) equity owner of any corporation traded on any national, international or regional stock exchange or in the over-the-counter market); or, (ii) induce or attempt to induce any customer, client, supplier, employee, agent or independent contractor of the Corporation or any of the Subsidiaries to reduce, terminate, restrict or otherwise alter (to the Corporation’s detriment) its business relationship with the Corporation.

 

(b)       The noncompetition obligations of clause (i) of the preceding sentence shall be effective only with respect to a “competitor” of the Corporation or any Subsidiary which is understood to mean any person or entity in competition with the Corporation or any Subsidiary, and more particularly those persons and entities in the businesses of:  production, transmission, distribution, or retail or wholesale marketing or selling of electricity; resale or arranging for the purchase or for the resale, brokering, marketing, or trading of electricity or derivatives thereof; energy management and the provision of energy solutions; development and operation of power generation facilities, and sales and marketing of electric power, domestically and abroad; and any other business in which the Corporation, including Subsidiaries, is engaged at the termination of Grantee’s continuous employment by the Corporation, including Subsidiaries; and within the following geographical areas: (i) any country in the world (other than the United States) where the Corporation, including Subsidiaries, has at least $25 million in capital deployed as of termination of Grantee’s continuous employment by the Corporation, including through its Subsidiaries; (ii) the states of Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin and Wyoming; (iii) any other state in the United States where the Corporation including the Subsidiaries, has at least $25 million in capital deployed as of the termination of the Grantee’s employment with the Corporation or any Subsidiary.  The Corporation and Grantee intend the above restrictions on competition in geographical areas to be entirely severable and independent, and any invalidity or enforceability of this provision with respect to any one or more of such restrictions, including geographical areas, shall not render this provision unenforceable as applied to any one or more of the other restrictions, including geographical areas.

 

(c)        Grantee agrees not to: (i) disclose to any third party or otherwise misappropriate any confidential or proprietary information of the Corporation or of any Subsidiary (except as required by subpoena or other legal process, in which event the Grantee will give the Chief Legal Officer of the Corporation prompt notice of such subpoena or other legal process in order to permit the Corporation or any affected individual to seek appropriate protective orders); or, (ii) publish or provide any oral or written statements about the Corporation or any Subsidiary, any of the Corporation’s or any Subsidiary’s current or former officers, executives, directors, employees, agents or representatives that are false, disparaging or defamatory, or that disclose private or confidential information about their business or personal affairs.   The obligations of this paragraph are in addition to, and do not replace, eliminate, or reduce in any way, all

 

5



 

other contractual, statutory, or common law obligations Grantee may have to protect the Corporation’s confidential information and trade secrets and to avoid defamation or business disparagement.

 

(d)       Notwithstanding any other provision of Section 3, the Grantee remains free to engage in “protected activity,” as defined in 10 CFR 50.7 and Section 211 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, including, but not limited to, reporting any suspected instance of illegal activity of any nature, any nuclear safety concern, any workplace safety concern, any public safety concern, or any other matter within the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (“NRC”) regulatory responsibilities to the NRC, the United States Department of Labor, and any other federal or state governmental agency without providing the notice described in Section 3(c), and the Grantee remains free to participate in any governmental proceeding or investigation without providing the notice described in Section 3(c).

 

(e)       If any part of this Section is held to be unenforceable because of the duration, scope or geographical area covered, the Corporation and Grantee agree to modify such part, or that the court making such holding shall have the power to modify such part, to reduce its duration, scope or geographical area.

 

(f)        Nothing in Section 3 shall be construed to prohibit Grantee from being retained during the Restricted Period in a capacity as an attorney licensed to practice law, or to restrict Grantee from providing advice and counsel in such capacity, in any jurisdiction where such prohibition or restriction is contrary to law.

 

(g)       Grantee’s agreement to the restrictions provided for in this Agreement and the Corporation’s agreement to provide the Award are mutually dependent consideration. Therefore, notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary in this Agreement, if Grantee materially breaches any provision of this Section 3 or if the enforceability of any material restriction on Grantee provided for in this Agreement is challenged and found unenforceable by a court of law then the Corporation shall, at its election, have the right to (i) cancel the Award, (ii) recover from Grantee any shares of Common Stock, Dividend Equivalents or other cash paid under Award, or (iii) with respect to any shares of Common Stock paid under the Award that have been disposed of, require the Grantee to repay to the Corporation the fair market value of such shares of Common Stock on the date such shares were sold, transferred, or otherwise disposed of by Grantee.   This provision shall be construed as a return of consideration or ill-gotten gains due to the failure of Grantee’s promises under the Agreement, and not as a liquidated damages clause.  Nothing herein shall (i) reduce or eliminate the Corporation’s right to assert that the restrictions provided for in this agreement are fully enforceable as written, or as modified by a court pursuant to Section 3, or (ii) eliminate, reduce, or compromise the application of temporary or permanent injunctive relief as a fully appropriate and applicable remedy to enforce the restrictions provided for in Section 3 (inclusive of its subparts), in addition to recovery of damages or other remedies otherwise allowed by law.

 

6



 

Section 4.                                           Forfeiture .  Any Performance Share subject to this Award shall be forfeited upon the termination of the Grantee’s continuous employment by the Corporation, including Subsidiaries, prior to the date that the Committee’s determination of the achievement of the [      ] Performance Goal is made, except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 2.  Any Dividend Equivalent subject to this Award shall expire at the time its tandem Performance Share (a) is vested and paid, or deferred, or (b) is forfeited.

 

Section 5.                                           Dividend Equivalent Payment .  Payment with respect to any Dividend Equivalent subject to this Award that is in tandem with a Performance Share that is vested and paid shall be paid in cash to the Grantee at the same time as the vested Performance Share as provided in Section 6, or, if the vested Performance Share is deferred by Grantee as provided in Section 6, payment with respect to the tandem Dividend Equivalent shall likewise be deferred.  The Dividend Equivalent payment amount shall equal the aggregate cash dividends declared and paid with respect to one (1) share of Common Stock for the period beginning on the Date of Grant and ending on the date the vested, tandem Performance Share is paid or deferred and before the Dividend Equivalent expires.  However, should the timing of a particular payment under Section 6 to the Grantee in shares of Common Stock in conjunction with the timing of a particular cash dividend declared and paid on Common Stock be such that the Grantee receives such shares without the right to receive such dividend and the Grantee would not otherwise be entitled to payment under the expiring Dividend Equivalent with respect to such dividend, the Grantee, nevertheless, shall be entitled to such payment.  Dividend Equivalent payments shall be subject to withholding for taxes. Any required income tax withholdings in respect of Dividend Equivalents attributable to Performance Shares shall be satisfied by reducing the cash payment in respect of the required withholding amount, unless the Committee, or its delegate, in its discretion, requires Grantee to satisfy such tax obligation by other payment to the Corporation.

 

Section 6.                                           Payment of Performance Shares .   Payment of Performance Shares subject to this Award that become vested shall be made to the Grantee on the earlier of: (a) the calendar year immediately following the Performance Period, or (b) within 30 days after the occurrence of a “change in the ownership,” a “change in the effective control” or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of the Corporation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, except to the extent deferred by the Grantee in accordance with such procedures as the Committee, or its delegate, may prescribe from time to time or except to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code.  Payment (or deferrals, as applicable) shall be subject to withholding for taxes.  Payment shall be in the form of one (1) share of Common Stock for each fully vested Performance Share, and any fractional vested Performance Share shall be rounded up to the next whole share for purposes of both vesting under Section 2 and payment under Section 6.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the number of shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be paid or deferred (valued at Fair Market Value on the date the respective Performance Share became vested, or if later, payable) shall be reduced by the Committee, or its delegate, in its sole discretion, to fully satisfy tax withholding requirements, unless the Committee, or its delegate, in its discretion requires Grantee to

 

7



 

satisfy such tax obligation by other payment to the Corporation.  In the event that payment, after any reduction in the number of shares of Common Stock to satisfy withholding for tax requirements, would be for less than ten (10) shares of Common Stock, then, if so determined by the Committee, or its delegate, in its sole discretion, payment, instead of being made in shares of Common Stock, shall be made in a cash amount equal in value to the shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be paid, valued at Fair Market Value on the date the respective Performance Shares became vested.

 

Section 7.                                           No Employment Right .  Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan shall confer upon the Grantee the right to continued employment with the Corporation or any Subsidiary, or affect the right of the Corporation or any Subsidiary to terminate the employment or service of the Grantee at any time for any reason.

 

Section 8.                                           Nonalienation .  The Performance Shares and Dividend Equivalents subject to this Award are not assignable or transferable by Grantee.  Upon any attempt to transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate, sell or otherwise dispose of any such Performance Share or Dividend Equivalent, or of any right or privilege conferred hereby, or upon the levy of any attachment or similar process upon such Performance Share or Dividend Equivalent, or upon such right or privilege, such Performance Share or Dividend Equivalent, or such right or privilege, shall immediately become null and void.

 

Section 9.                                           Determinations .  Determinations by the Committee, or its delegate, shall be final and conclusive with respect to the interpretation of the Plan and this Agreement.

 

Section 10.                                    Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed, construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware applicable to transactions that take place entirely within that state.

 

Section 11 .                                    Conflicts with Plan, Correction of Errors, Section 409A and Grantee’s Consent In the event that any provision of this Agreement conflicts in any way with a provision of the Plan, such Plan provision shall be controlling and the applicable provision of this Agreement shall be without force and effect to the extent necessary to cause such Plan provision to be controlling.  In the event that, due to administrative error, this Agreement does not accurately reflect an Award properly granted to the Grantee pursuant to the Plan, the Corporation, acting through its Executive Compensation and Benefits Department, reserves the right to cancel any erroneous document and, if appropriate, to replace the cancelled document with a corrected document.  It is the intention of the Corporation and the Grantee that this Award not result in unfavorable tax consequences to Grantee under Section 409A of the Code.  Accordingly, Grantee consents to such amendment of this Agreement as the Corporation may reasonably make in furtherance of such intention, and the Corporation shall promptly provide, or make available to, Grantee a copy of any such amendment.

 

To the extent applicable, it is intended that this Agreement comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and that this Award not result in unfavorable tax

 

8



 

consequences to Grantee under Section 409A of the Code.  This Agreement will be administered and interpreted in a manner consistent with this intent, and any provision that would cause this Agreement to fail to satisfy Section 409A of the Code will have no force and effect until amended to comply therewith (which amendment may be retroactive to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code).  The Corporation and the Grantee agree to work together in good faith in an effort to comply with Section 409A of the Code including, if necessary, amending this Agreement based on further guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service from time to time, provided that the Corporation shall not be required to assume any increased economic burden.  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, to the extent required in order to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, the Grantee shall not be considered to have terminated employment with Corporation for purposes of this Agreement and no payments shall be due to him or her under this Agreement which are payable upon his or her termination of employment until he or she would be considered to have incurred a “separation from service” from the Corporation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.  To the extent required in order to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, amounts that would otherwise be payable and benefits that would otherwise be provided pursuant to this Agreement during the six-month period immediately following the Grantee’s termination of employment shall instead be paid within 30 days following the first business day after the date that is six months following his or her termination of employment (or upon his or her death or a regularly scheduled payment date, if earlier).  In addition, for purposes of this Agreement, each amount to be paid or benefit to be provided to the Grantee pursuant to this Agreement shall be construed as a separate identified payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.

 

Grantee acknowledges and agrees that payments made under this Agreement are subject to the Corporation’s requirement that the Grantee reimburse the portion of any payment where such portion of the payment was (i) inadvertently paid based on an incorrect calculation, or (ii) predicated upon the achievement of financial results that are subsequently the subject of a restatement caused or partially caused by Grantee’s fraud or misconduct.

 

Section 12.                                    Compliance with Law .  The Corporation shall make reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws applicable to the Plan and this Award; provided, however, notwithstanding any other provision of this Award, the Corporation shall not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Award if the delivery thereof would result in a violation of any such law.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Award is subject to cancellation by the Corporation in its sole discretion unless the Grantee, by not later than [                  ] [     ], [                     ] , has signed a duplicate of this Agreement, in the space provided below, and returned the signed duplicate to [                              ], Duke Energy Corporation, P. O. Box 1321, Charlotte, NC 28201-1321, which, if, and to the extent, permitted by the Executive Compensation and Benefits Department, may be accomplished by electronic means.

 

9



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Agreement to be executed and granted in Charlotte, North Carolina, to be effective as of the Date of Grant.

 

 

 

DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Its:

 

 

Acceptance of Performance Award

 

IN WITNESS OF Grantee’s acceptance of this Performance Award and Grantee’s agreement to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement and the Plan, Grantee has signed this Agreement this [          ] day of [                                          ], [          ].

 

 

 

 

 

Grantee’s Signature

 

 

 

 

 

 

 (print name)

 

 

 

 

 

(address)

 

10