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 9, 2024

Commission
File
Number
Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter, State or other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation, Address of Principal Executive Offices, Zip Code, and
Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code
IRS Employer
Identification
No.
 
graphic
 
1-32853
DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION
(a Delaware corporation)
525 S. Tryon Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202-1803
704-382-3853
20-2777218

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:

Registrant
 
Title of each class
 
Trading
Symbol(s)
 
Name of each
exchange on
which registered
Duke Energy
  Common Stock, $0.001 par value
 
DUK
 
New York Stock Exchange LLC
Duke Energy
 
5.625% Junior Subordinated Debentures due September 15, 2078
 
DUKB
 
New York Stock Exchange LLC
Duke Energy
 
Depositary Shares each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of 5.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share
 
DUK PR A
 
New York Stock Exchange LLC
Duke Energy
 
3.10% Senior Notes due 2028
 
DUK 28A
 
New York Stock Exchange LLC
Duke Energy
 
3.85% Senior Notes due 2034
 
DUK 34
 
New York Stock Exchange LLC
Duke Energy
 
3.75% Senior Notes due 2031
 
DUKE 31A
 
New York Stock Exchange LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐



Item 5.03.
Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

On May 9, 2024, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Duke Energy Corporation (the “Corporation”) adopted Amended and Restated By-Laws (the “By-Laws”), effective immediately.  The amendments were adopted to clarify the Corporation’s original intent regarding the provisions of the prior By-Laws relating to the conduct of stockholder meetings, proxy access for director nominations, and advance notice of shareholder proposals.  Specifically, the amendments: (i) eliminate the terms “acting in concert” and “performance-related fees” throughout the By-Laws; (ii) add standard securities law-based definitions for the terms “affiliates,” “associates,” and “principal competitor;” (iii) amend Section 2.07 to simplify the language with respect the identification of the presiding officer at a meeting of shareholders; (iv) amend Section 2.14(c)(iii) to clarify the Corporation’s intent that the Board (or a committee thereof) is the entity with power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was properly made; and (v) amend Sections 2.04 and 3.04 to remove a provision stating that the Board’s decisions are binding on others.

The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the By-Laws, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

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

(a)
The Corporation held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 9, 2024.

(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 registered public accounting firm for 2024; (iii) an advisory vote to approve the Corporation’s named executive officer compensation; (iv) an amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Duke Energy Corporation to eliminate supermajority voting requirements; (v)  a shareholder proposal regarding executives to retain significant stock; and (vi) a shareholder proposal regarding financial statement assumptions and climate change.  For more information on the proposals, see the Corporation’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Commission on March 22, 2024. Set forth are the final voting results for each of the proposals.


Proposal No. 1 – Election of Director Nominees

Director
 
For
   
Against
   
Abstain
   
Broker
Non-Votes
   
Votes Cast FOR
Votes Cast FOR
+ AGAINST
 
Derrick Burks
 
500,786,524
   
7,195,728
   
1,829,134
   
148,076,816
   
98.58%

Annette K. Clayton
 
500,736,709
   
7,359,193
   
1,715,484
   
148,076,816
   
98.55%

Theodore F. Craver, Jr.
 
459,921,930
   
48,157,828
   
1,731,628
   
148,076,816
   
90.52%

Robert M. Davis
 
496,275,037
   
11,714,411
   
1,821,938
   
148,076,816
   
97.69%

Caroline Dorsa
 
471,570,878
   
36,518,584
   
1,721,924
   
148,076,816
   
92.81%

W. Roy Dunbar
 
489,169,205
   
18,849,464
   
1,792,717
   
148,076,816
   
96.29%

Nicholas C. Fanandakis
 
499,373,888
   
8,623,866
   
1,813,632
   
148,076,816
   
98.30%

Lynn J. Good
 
485,535,589
   
22,689,432
   
1,586,365
   
148,076,816
   
95.54%

John T. Herron
 
501,567,203
   
6,548,272
   
1,695,911
   
148,076,816
   
98.71%

Idalene F. Kesner
 
495,829,084
   
12,193,930
   
1,788,372
   
148,076,816
   
97.60%

E. Marie McKee
 
476,089,626
   
31,969,174
   
1,752,586
   
148,076,816
   
93.71%

Michael J. Pacilio
 
501,712,203
   
6,386,009
   
1,713,174
   
148,076,816
   
98.74%

Thomas E. Skains
 
490,443,404
   
17,678,145
   
1,689,837
   
148,076,816
   
96.52%

William E. Webster, Jr.
 
496,224,297
   
11,926,029
   
1,661,060
   
148,076,816
   
97.65%


Each director nominee was elected to the Board of Directors with the support of a majority of the votes cast.

Proposal No. 2 – Ratification of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2024

For
   
Against
   
Abstain
   
Broker
Non-Votes
   
Votes Cast FOR
Votes Cast FOR
+ AGAINST
   
Votes Cast FOR
Votes Cast FOR
+ AGAINST
+ ABSTAIN
 
628,832,845
   
27,048,088
   
2,007,269
   
N/A
   
95.88%

 
95.58%


The ratification of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Corporation’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2024 received the support of a majority of the shares represented.

Proposal No. 3 – Advisory vote to approve the Company’s named executive officer compensation

For
   
Against
   
Abstain
   
Broker
Non-Votes
   
Votes Cast FOR
Votes Cast FOR
+ AGAINST
   
Votes Cast FOR
Votes Cast FOR
+ AGAINST
+ ABSTAIN
 
458,748,572
   
47,425,526
   
3,637,288
   
148,076,816
   
90.63%

 
89.98%


The advisory vote to approve the Corporation’s named executive officer compensation received the support of a majority of the votes cast.


Proposal No. 4 – Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Duke Energy Corporation to eliminate supermajority voting requirements

For
   
Against
   
Abstain
   
Broker
Non-Votes
   
Votes Cast FOR
Shares Outstanding
 
495,739,238
   
11,198,029
   
2,874,119
   
148,076,816
   
64.26%


The amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Duke Energy Corporation to eliminate supermajority voting requirements failed to receive the support of 80% of the shares outstanding.

Proposal No. 5 – Shareholder proposal regarding executives to retain significant stock

For
   
Against
   
Abstain
   
Broker
Non-Votes
   
Votes Cast FOR
Votes Cast FOR
+ AGAINST
   
Votes Cast FOR
Votes Cast FOR
+ AGAINST
+ ABSTAIN
 
182,522,425
   
323,064,706
   
4,224,255
   
148,076,816
   
36.10%

 
35.80%


 The shareholder proposal regarding executives to retain significant stock failed to receive the support of a majority of the votes cast.

Proposal No. 6 – Shareholder proposal regarding financial statement assumptions and climate change

For
   
Against
   
Abstain
   
Broker
Non-Votes
   
Votes Cast FOR
Votes Cast FOR
+ AGAINST
   
Votes Cast FOR
Votes Cast FOR
+ AGAINST
+ ABSTAIN
 
11,357,141
   
492,715,419
   
5,738,826
   
148,076,816
   
2.25%

 
2.23%


The shareholder proposal regarding financial statement assumptions and climate change failed to receive the support of a majority of the votes cast.

 
(c)
Not applicable.

 
(d)
Not applicable

Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 
d)
Exhibits.

Amended and Restated By-Laws of Duke Energy Corporation, effective as of May 9, 2024.
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page XBRL tags are embedded in the Inline XBRL document).


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 13, 2024
By:
/s/ David S. Maltz
 
Name:
David S. Maltz
 
Title:
Vice President, Legal, Chief Governance Officer and
Assistant Corporate Secretary