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Form 424B5 DTE ENERGY CO

August 3, 2022 8:43 AM EDT
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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-264196

 

The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities and are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion, Dated August 3, 2022

Preliminary Prospectus Supplement

(To Prospectus Dated April 8, 2022)

$1,300,000,000

 

 

LOGO

DTE Energy Company

2019 Series F    % Senior Notes due 2024

 

 

This prospectus supplement relates to the remarketing of $1,300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of our 2019 Series F 2.25% Remarketable Senior Notes due 2024 (the “Original Notes”), which were originally issued as components of the Equity Units we issued in November 2019 (the “Equity Units”). The Equity Units were initially issued in the form of Corporate Units, each of which consisted of a purchase contract issued for shares of our common stock and a 1/20, or 5%, undivided beneficial ownership interest in $1,000 principal amount of Original Notes. The Original Notes are being remarketed pursuant to the terms of the Equity Units. The interest rate on the Original Notes will be reset on the Interest Reset Date as described below and certain terms of the Original Notes, including the stated maturity date, are being modified in connection with the remarketing. As used herein, the term “notes” refers to the Original Notes on and after the Interest Reset Date. We will not directly receive any proceeds from this remarketing. See “Use of Proceeds” herein.

The notes will be sold with accrued interest at an annual rate of 2.25% from, and including, August 1, 2022 to, but excluding, August    , 2022, which is expected to be the remarketing settlement date (the “Interest Reset Date”). The interest rate on the notes will be reset to        % per year, effective on and after the Interest Reset Date. We will pay interest on the notes on November 1 and May 1 of each year beginning November 1, 2022.

The notes will mature on November 1, 2024. The notes will be unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and will rank equally with our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness from time to time outstanding.

We do not intend to apply for a listing of the notes on any securities exchange or automated quotation system.

 

 

Investment in the notes involves risks. You should read carefully this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the section entitled “Risk Factors” that begins on page S-7 of this prospectus supplement, which describes some of these risks.

 

     Price to
Public(1)
    Remarketing
Fee
 

Per note

                  

Total for notes

   $                   $                

 

(1)

Plus accrued interest at an annual rate of 2.25% from and including August 1, 2022 to but excluding the Interest Reset Date

This prospectus supplement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Equity Units or any other of our securities other than the notes offered hereby.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the prospectus to which it relates is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Delivery of the notes, in book-entry form only, will be made on or about August    , 2022.

 

 

Remarketing Agents

 

Barclays               J.P. Morgan   Wells Fargo Securities
BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC               Fifth Third Securities   US Bancorp
Comerica Securities   Huntington Capital Markets

The date of this prospectus supplement is August    , 2022.


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This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and any free writing prospectus that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) contain and incorporate by reference information you should consider when making your investment decision. We have not, and the remarketing agents have not, authorized any person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the remarketing agents are not, making an offer to sell these notes in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or any document incorporated by reference is accurate only as of its date. DTE Energy’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since such date. To the extent that the information in the prospectus supplement differs from the information in the prospectus, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.

References in this prospectus supplement to “DTE Energy,” “we,” “us,” or “our” refer to DTE Energy Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus Supplement

 

     Page  

Where You Can Find More Information

     S-2  

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

     S-3  

Prospectus Supplement Summary

     S-4  

Risk Factors

     S-7  

Use of Proceeds

     S-8  

Description of Notes

     S-9  

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

     S-15  

Remarketing (Conflict of Interest)

     S-20  

Legal Matters

     S-25  

Experts

     S-25  
Prospectus       
     Page  

About This Prospectus

     2  

Risk Factors

     3  

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

     3  

DTE Energy Company

     4  

Use of Proceeds

     5  

The Securities That We May Offer

     5  

Description of Capital Stock

     6  

Description of Debt Securities

     8  

Description of Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase Units

     24  

Book-Entry Securities

     24  

Plan of Distribution

     26  

Legal Matters

     27  

Experts

     27  

Where You Can Find More Information

     28  

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

Available Information

We file annual, quarterly and special reports, and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. We maintain a website at http://www.dteenergy.com, that contains information about us. The information on such website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and you should not consider it part of this prospectus supplement.

Incorporation by Reference

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus supplement. The following information is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement:

 

   

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December 31, 2021;

 

   

Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q  for the quarters ended March  31, 2022 and June 30, 2022; and

 

   

Current Reports on Form 8-K  filed on February  8, 2022, February  22, 2022, March  10, 2022, May  11, 2022, June  27, 2022, and June 29, 2022.

Additionally, any reports filed by us pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the “Exchange Act,” on or after the date of this prospectus supplement and before the completion of this offering will be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and will automatically update, where applicable, and supersede any information contained in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

Each of these documents is available from the SEC’s website described above. We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, on the written or oral request of that person, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated in this prospectus or in any related prospectus supplement by reference, excluding the exhibits to those documents unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference therein. You may make such a request by writing or telephoning DTE Energy Investor Relations at:

DTE Energy Company

Attention: Investor Relations, 1150 WCB

One Energy Plaza

Detroit, Michigan 48226-1279

(313) 235-8030

 

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of DTE Energy. You can find many of these statements by looking for words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates” or similar expressions in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements, which speak only as of the date of this prospectus supplement, the date of the accompanying prospectus or the date of any document incorporated by reference.

These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ from those expected due to a number of variables as described in our public filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022 which are incorporated by reference herein.

All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. We undertake no obligation to release publicly any revisions to the forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this document or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

This summary highlights important information about DTE Energy Company and this offering. It does not contain all the information that is important to you in connection with your decision to invest in the notes. We encourage you to read this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in their entirety as well as the information we incorporate by reference before making an investment decision.

DTE Energy Company

DTE Energy Company is a Michigan corporation engaged in utility operations through its wholly owned subsidiaries, DTE Electric Company (“DTE Electric”) and DTE Gas Company (“DTE Gas”). DTE Energy also has two other segments that are engaged in a variety of energy-related business.

DTE Electric is a Michigan public utility engaged in the generation, purchase, distribution and sale of electricity to approximately 2.3 million customers in southeastern Michigan.

DTE Gas is a Michigan public utility engaged in the purchase, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of natural gas to approximately 1.3 million customers throughout Michigan and the sale of storage and transportation capacity.

DTE Energy’s other businesses include:

 

   

DTE Vantage, formerly DTE Energy’s Power and Industrial Projects segment, which is comprised primarily of renewable energy projects that sell electricity and pipeline-quality gas and projects that deliver energy and utility-type products and services to industrial, commercial, and institutional customers, and

 

   

Energy marketing and trading operations, which focuses on physical and financial power, natural gas and environmental marketing and trading, structured transactions, enhancement of returns from its asset portfolio, and optimization of contracted natural gas pipeline transportation and storage positions.

The mailing address of DTE Energy’s principal executive offices is One Energy Plaza, Detroit, Michigan, 48226-1279, and its telephone number is (313) 235-4000.

 

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The Offering

For a more complete description of the terms of the notes, see “Description of Notes.”

 

The Issuer

DTE Energy Company.

 

Offered Securities

$1,300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 2019 Series F    % Senior Notes due 2024 (the “notes”), which we are offering on behalf of the holders of Corporate Units.

 

Maturity

The notes will mature on November 1, 2024.

 

Interest

We will pay interest on the notes in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year. The first interest payment following this remarketing will be made on November 1, 2022 and will include interest accrued (i) at an annual rate of 2.25% from, and including, August 1, 2022 to, but excluding, the Interest Reset Date and (ii) at an annual rate of    % from, and including, the Interest Reset Date to, but excluding, November 1, 2022. On and after the Interest Reset Date, the notes will bear interest at    % per year.

 

Redemption

The notes may not be redeemed prior to the maturity date. The notes will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.

 

Ranking

The notes will be our unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and will rank on a parity in right of payment with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness from time to time outstanding. The notes are our obligations exclusively, and are not the obligations of any of our subsidiaries. Because we are a holding company, our obligations on the notes will be effectively subordinated to existing and future liabilities of our subsidiaries. See “Description of Notes — Ranking” herein, and “Description of Debt Securities — Ranking” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

Use of Proceeds

We are conducting the remarketing on behalf of holders of the Corporate Units and will not directly receive any proceeds from the remarketing. The proceeds will be used to purchase a portfolio of treasury securities maturing on or about November 1, 2022. We expect that a portion of the funds generated upon maturity of the portfolio will be used to settle with us the purchase contracts entered into as a part of the Equity Units (the “Purchase Contracts”) on November 1, 2022. See “Use of Proceeds” herein.

 

Conflict of Interest

Certain of the remarketing agents or their affiliates may hold Corporate Units of which the notes being remarketed in this offering are a part. As a result, it is possible that one or more of the remarketing agents or their affiliates could receive more than 5% of the net proceeds of the offering, and in that case such remarketing agent could be deemed to have a conflict of interest under FINRA Rule 5121 (Public Offerings of Securities with Conflicts of Interest).

 

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In the event of any such conflict of interest, such remarketing agent would be required to conduct the distribution of the notes in accordance with FINRA Rule 5121. If the distribution is conducted in accordance with FINRA Rule 5121, such remarketing agent would not be permitted to confirm a sale to an account over which it exercises discretionary authority without first receiving specific written approval from the account holder. See “Remarketing — Conflict of Interest” herein.

 

Risk Factors

Your investment in the notes will involve risks. You should carefully consider the discussion of risks in “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement and the other information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including “Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” on page S-3 of this prospectus supplement, before deciding whether an investment in the notes is suitable for you.

 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in the notes involves risks. In considering whether to invest in the notes, you should carefully consider all of the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. In particular, you should consider the risk factors, including those related to the COVID-19 pandemic, described in our periodic reports filed with the SEC, including those set forth under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2022 and, June 30, 2021, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, as well as the additional risk described below. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or those currently viewed by us to be immaterial may also materially and adversely affect us. See also “Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in this prospectus supplement.

Risks Related to Ownership of our Senior Notes

We cannot assure that a market for the notes will develop. We do not intend to apply for listing of the notes on any securities exchange, and we cannot assure that an active trading market for the notes will develop. There can be no assurances as to the liquidity of any market that may develop for the notes, the ability of noteholders to sell their notes or the price at which the noteholders may be able to sell their notes. Future trading prices of the notes will depend on many factors, including, among other things, prevailing interest rates, our operating results and the market for similar securities. Generally, the liquidity of, and trading market for, the notes may also be materially and adversely affected by declines in the market for similar debt securities. Such a decline may materially and adversely affect such liquidity and trading independent of our financial performance and prospects.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We are conducting the remarketing on behalf of holders of the Corporate Units and will not directly receive any proceeds from the remarketing. The proceeds will be used to purchase a portfolio of treasury securities maturing on or about November 1, 2022. We expect that a portion of the funds generated upon maturity of the portfolio will be used to settle with us the Purchase Contracts on November 1, 2022. We currently intend to use the proceeds from the settlement of the Purchase Contracts for the repayment of $500 million of the Company’s 2019 Series G 2.25% Senior Notes due November 1, 2022, for the repayment of $750 million of the Company’s 2020 Series H 0.55% Senior Notes due November 1, 2022, and for general corporate purposes.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF NOTES

The following summary sets forth the specific terms and provisions of the notes. The following description of the specific terms of the notes supplements, and, to the extent inconsistent, replaces, the description of the general terms and provisions of the debt securities and the indenture governing the notes set forth in the accompanying prospectus under “Description of Debt Securities.” The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms and provisions of the notes and the indenture, which are incorporated in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus by reference. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this section, or in the accompanying prospectus, have the meanings given to them in the notes and in the indenture.

General

We issued the Original Notes as a series of our senior unsecured debt securities under the indenture described in the accompanying prospectus.

The indenture does not limit the amount of senior notes or other debt securities we may issue under it. As of June 30, 2022, approximately $5.6 billion aggregate principal amount of senior debt securities were issued and outstanding under the indenture.

We will issue the notes in the form of one or more fully registered global notes registered in the name of Cede & Co., as The Depository Trust Company’s (“DTC”) nominee. Beneficial interests in the notes will be represented through book-entry accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct and indirect participants in DTC. Clearstream Banking S.A. (“Clearstream, Luxembourg”) and Euroclear Bank, SA/NV, as operator of the Euroclear System (“Euroclear”), will hold interests on behalf of their participants through their respective U.S. depositaries, which in turn will hold such interests in accounts as participants of DTC. Except in the limited circumstances described in this prospectus supplement, owners of beneficial interests in the notes will not be entitled to have notes registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive notes in definitive form and will not be considered holders of notes under the indenture. See “Book-Entry Securities” below and in accompanying prospectus.

Ranking

The notes will be our unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and will rank on a parity in right of payment with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness from time to time outstanding, including amounts, if any, outstanding under our $1.5 billion revolving credit agreement as well as our guarantees of non-regulated affiliate obligations. The notes are our obligations exclusively, and are not the obligations of any of our subsidiaries. Because we are a holding company that conducts substantially all of our operations through our subsidiaries, the notes will be effectively subordinated to claims of creditors and preferred stockholders of those subsidiaries, including their trade creditors, debtholders, secured creditors, taxing authorities and guarantee holders, if any.

At June 30, 2022, the total amount of DTE Energy’s outstanding unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness (excluding guarantees and short-term borrowings), on an unconsolidated basis, was approximately $5.6 billion. At June 30, 2022, our principal subsidiaries, DTE Electric and DTE Gas, had approximately $11.7 billion of outstanding indebtedness (excluding guarantees and short-term borrowings), consisting primarily of secured indebtedness, which would effectively rank senior to the notes. We and our subsidiaries may incur additional indebtedness and other liabilities in the future.

Interest, Maturity and Payment

The Original Notes are being remarketed pursuant to the terms of the Equity Units. In connection with the remarketing, the interest rate on the Original Notes will be reset effective on and after the Interest Reset Date.

 

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The notes will mature on November 1, 2024 and we will pay interest in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year. The first interest payment following this remarketing will be made on November 1, 2022 and will include interest accrued (i) at an annual rate of 2.25% from, and including, August 1, 2022 to, but excluding, Interest Reset Date and (ii) at an annual rate of    % from, and including, the Interest Reset Date to, but excluding, November 1, 2022. On and after the Interest Reset Date, the notes will bear interest at    % per year.

Subject to certain exceptions, interest on the notes will be paid to the persons in whose names the applicable notes are registered at the close of business on the record date, which will be the fifteenth day (whether or not such day is a business day) of the calendar month immediately preceding the calendar month in which the applicable interest payment date falls. The amount of interest payable will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months and with respect to any period less than a full calendar month, on the basis of actual number of days elapsed in a 30-day month. Interest payable at stated maturity will be payable to the person to whom the principal is payable.

“Business day” means any day other than a day on which banking institutions in the state of New York are authorized or obligated pursuant to law or executive order to close. In the event that any interest payment date, redemption date or maturity date is not a business day, then the required payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest will be made on the next succeeding day that is a business day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay).

The notes may not be redeemed prior to maturity. The notes will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.

Limitation on Secured Debt

The limitation on secured debt set forth in the indenture (see Section 1009) and described in the accompanying prospectus will be applicable to the notes. See “Description of Debt Securities — Covenants — Limitation on Secured Debt” in the accompanying prospectus.

Defeasance

On or after November 1, 2022, we may defease a series of the notes or certain covenants relating to a series of the notes as described under “Description of Debt Securities — Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance” in the accompanying prospectus.

Concerning the Trustee

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. is the successor trustee under the indenture. In addition to acting as trustee under the indenture and in certain other capacities as described in the accompanying prospectus, affiliates of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. also act as a lender and provide other banking services in the ordinary course of business to DTE Energy and its affiliates.

Book-Entry Securities

The notes will be issued in fully registered form and will be represented by one or more global certificates (“Global Security”) registered in the name of Cede & Co., as DTC’s nominee. The Global Security representing the notes will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC. Investors may elect to hold interests in the Global Security through DTC, Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear, if they are participants in such systems, or indirectly through organizations which are participants in such systems. Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear will hold interests on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts in Clearstream, Luxembourg’s and Euroclear’s names on the books of their respective depositaries, which in turn will hold such interests in customers’ securities accounts in the depositaries’ names on the books of DTC. Citibank, N.A. will

 

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act as depositary for Clearstream, Luxembourg and JPMorgan Chase Bank will act as depositary for Euroclear, which we refer to in such capacities as the “U.S. Depositaries.” The notes will not be exchangeable for certificates issued in definitive, registered form (“Certificated Notes”) at the option of the holder and, except as set forth below, will not otherwise be issuable in definitive form.

DTC has advised us and the remarketing agents as follows: DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. DTC holds securities that its participants (“Participants”) deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among Participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in Participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. “Direct Participants” include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as securities brokers and dealers, banks, and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly (“Indirect Participants”). The rules applicable to DTC and its Participants are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Clearstream, Luxembourg advises that it is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a bank. Clearstream, Luxembourg holds securities for its customers, which we refer to as “Clearstream, Luxembourg Customers,” and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream, Luxembourg Customers through electronic book-entry transfers between their accounts. Clearstream, Luxembourg provides to Clearstream, Luxembourg Customers, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream, Luxembourg interfaces with domestic securities markets in over 30 countries through established depository and custodial relationships. As a bank, Clearstream, Luxembourg is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector, also known as the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier. Clearstream, Luxembourg Customers are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Clearstream, Luxembourg Customers in the United States are limited to securities brokers and dealers and banks. Indirect access to Clearstream, Luxembourg is also available to other institutions such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream, Luxembourg Customer.

Distributions with respect to the notes held through Clearstream, Luxembourg will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream, Luxembourg Customers in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by the U.S. Depositary of Clearstream, Luxembourg.

Euroclear advises that it was created in 1968 to hold securities for its participants, which we refer to as “Euroclear Participants,” and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear Participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear provides various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. Euroclear is operated by Euroclear Bank SA/NV, which we refer to as the “Euroclear Operator,” under contract with Euroclear Clearance Systems, S.C., a Belgian cooperative corporation, which we refer to as the “Cooperative.” All operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator, not the Cooperative. The Cooperative establishes policy for Euroclear on behalf of Euroclear Participants. Euroclear Participants include banks, including central banks, securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries and may include the remarketing agents. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear Participant, either directly or indirectly.

 

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Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System, and applicable Belgian law, which we refer to collectively as the “Terms and Conditions.” The Terms and Conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash from Euroclear, and receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear Participants and has no record of or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear Participants.

Distributions with respect to the notes held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear Participants in accordance with the Terms and Conditions, to the extent received by the U.S. Depositary for Euroclear.

Euroclear further advises that investors that acquire, hold and transfer interests in the notes by book-entry through accounts with the Euroclear Operator or any other securities intermediary are subject to the laws and contractual provisions governing their relationship with their intermediary, as well as the laws and contractual provisions governing the relationship between such an intermediary and each other intermediary, if any, standing between themselves and the Global Security.

The Euroclear Operator advises that, under Belgian law, investors that are credited with securities on the records of the Euroclear Operator have a co-property right in the fungible pool of interests in securities on deposit with the Euroclear Operator in an amount equal to the amount of interests in securities credited to their accounts. In the event of the insolvency of the Euroclear Operator, Euroclear Participants would have a right under Belgian law to the return of the amount and type of interests in securities credited to their accounts with the Euroclear Operator. If the Euroclear Operator did not have a sufficient amount of interests in securities on deposit of a particular type to cover the claims of all Euroclear Participants credited with such interests in securities on the Euroclear Operator’s records, all Participants having an amount of interests in securities of such type credited to their accounts with the Euroclear Operator would have the right under Belgian law to the return of their pro rata share of the amount of interest in securities actually on deposit.

The Euroclear Operator advises that, under Belgian law, the Euroclear Operator is required to pass on the benefits of ownership in any interests in securities on deposit with it, such as dividends, voting rights and other entitlements, to any person credited with such interests in securities on its records.

Purchases of notes under the DTC system must be made by or through Direct Participants. Upon the issuance by us of the notes, DTC will credit, on its book-entry system, the respective principal amounts of the notes to the accounts of Participants. The accounts to be credited shall be designated by the remarketing agents. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each note (a “Beneficial Owner”) will be recorded on the Direct and Indirect Participants’ records. Beneficial Owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase, but Beneficial Owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the Direct or Indirect Participant through which the Beneficial Owners entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the notes are expected to be effected by entries made on the books of Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in notes, except as set forth below. To facilitate subsequent transfers, all notes deposited by Participants with DTC will be registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co. The deposit of notes with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. will not affect any change in beneficial ownership. The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in the Global Security.

Title to book-entry interests in the notes will pass by book-entry registration of the transfer within the records of Clearstream, Luxembourg, Euroclear or DTC, as the case may be, in accordance with their respective

 

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procedures. Book-entry interests in the notes may be transferred within Clearstream, Luxembourg and within Euroclear and between Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear in accordance with procedures established for these purposes by Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear. Book-entry interests in the notes may be transferred within DTC in accordance with procedures established for this purpose by DTC. Transfers of book-entry interests in the notes among Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear and DTC may be effected in accordance with procedures established for this purpose by Clearstream, Luxembourg, Euroclear and DTC.

So long as DTC, or its nominee, is the registered owner of the Global Security, DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the notes for all purposes under the indenture. Except as provided below, Beneficial Owners of the notes will not be entitled to have the notes registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of notes in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the indenture. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for individual certificates evidencing the notes represented thereby, the Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by DTC for the Global Security to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by DTC or any nominee to a successor Depositary or any nominee of such successor.

We expect that conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. In addition, neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will consent or vote with respect to notes. We have been advised that DTC’s usual procedure is to mail an omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date with respect to such consent or vote. The omnibus proxy would assign Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose accounts the notes are credited on such record date (identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy).

Payments of principal of and interest, if any, on the notes registered in the name of DTC or its nominee will be made by us through the paying agent to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the Global Security. Neither we, the trustee, any paying agent nor the registrar for the notes will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

We have been advised that DTC will credit the accounts of Direct Participants with payment in amounts proportionate to their respective holdings in principal amount of interest in the Global Security as shown on the records of DTC. We have been advised that DTC’s practice is to credit Direct Participants’ accounts on the applicable payment date unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive payment on such date. We expect that payments by Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers. Such payments will be the responsibility of such Participants.

DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depositary with respect to the notes at any time by giving reasonable notice to us. Under those circumstances, in the event that a successor securities depositary is not obtained, Certificated Notes will be printed and delivered to the holders of record. Additionally, we may decide to discontinue use of the system of book entry transfers through DTC (or a successor depositary) with respect to the notes. Upon receipt of a withdrawal request from us, DTC will notify its participants of the receipt of a withdrawal request from us reminding participants that they may utilize DTC’s withdrawal procedures if they wish to withdraw their securities from DTC, and DTC will process withdrawal requests submitted by participants in the ordinary course of business. To the extent that the book-entry system is discontinued, Certificated Notes will be printed and delivered to the holders of record. We have no responsibility for the performance by DTC or its Direct and Indirect Participants of their respective obligations as described in this prospectus supplement or under the rules and procedures governing their respective operations.

 

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Global Clearance and Settlement Procedures

Initial settlement for the notes will be made in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between DTC participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC’s rules and will be settled in immediately available funds using DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System. Secondary market trading between Clearstream, Luxembourg Customers and/or Euroclear Participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear and will be settled using the procedures applicable to conventional Eurobonds in immediately available funds.

Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through DTC on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream, Luxembourg Customers or Euroclear Participants, on the other, will be effected in DTC in accordance with DTC’s rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system by its U.S. Depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international clearing system by the counterparty in such system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines, in European time. The relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. Depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering interests in the notes to or receiving interests in the notes from DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Clearstream, Luxembourg Customers and Euroclear Participants may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. Depositaries.

Because of time-zone differences, credits of interests in the notes received in Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a DTC participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the business day following the DTC settlement date. Such credits or any transactions involving interests in such notes settled during such processing will be reported to the relevant Clearstream, Luxembourg Customers or Euroclear Participants on such business day. Cash received in Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear as a result of sales of interests in the notes by or through a Clearstream, Luxembourg Customer or a Euroclear Participant to a DTC participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the relevant Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear cash account only as of the business day following settlement in DTC.

Although DTC, Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of interests in the notes among participants of DTC, Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be changed or discontinued at any time.

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following discussion summarizes the material U.S. federal income tax considerations relevant to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the notes, and does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential U.S. federal income tax considerations. This discussion is based upon provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), applicable Treasury regulations, administrative rulings and judicial decisions currently in effect, any of which may subsequently be changed, possibly retroactively, or interpreted differently by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) or the courts so as to result in U.S. federal income tax consequences different from those discussed below. This discussion deals only with a note held as a capital asset by a beneficial owner who purchased the note for cash pursuant to this offering and does not address tax consequences relevant to subsequent purchasers of the notes.

This discussion does not describe all of the U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to investors in light of their particular investment or other circumstances. This discussion also does not discuss the particular tax consequences that might be relevant to you if you are subject to special rules under the U.S. federal income tax laws. Special rules apply, for example, if you are a:

 

   

bank, thrift, insurance company, regulated investment company or other financial institution or financial service company;

 

   

broker or dealer in securities or foreign currency;

 

   

U.S. Holder (as defined below) that has a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar or that holds notes through a foreign broker or other foreign intermediary;

 

   

person required to include income with respect to a note no later than when such income is taken into account as revenue on an “applicable financial statement” under Section 451(b) of the Code;

 

   

partnership or other entity or arrangement classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and their beneficial owners);

 

   

Subchapter S corporation;

 

   

real estate investment trust;

 

   

person subject to alternative minimum tax;

 

   

person who owns the note as part of a straddle, hedging transaction, constructive sale transaction or other risk-reduction transaction;

 

   

tax-exempt entity;

 

   

controlled foreign corporation or a passive foreign investment company and their shareholders;

 

   

retirement plan;

 

   

person who has ceased to be a U.S. citizen or to be taxed as a resident alien; or

 

   

person who acquires notes in connection with employment or other performance of services.

In addition, the following discussion does not address all possible tax consequences related to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the notes. In particular, it does not discuss any estate, gift, generation-skipping, transfer, state, local or foreign tax consequences, or the consequences arising under any tax treaty. We have not sought, and do not intend to seek, any ruling or opinion from the IRS with respect to the statements made and the conclusions reached in the following discussion, and there can be no assurance that the IRS or the courts will agree with these statements and conclusions.

Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors with regard to the application of the U.S. federal income tax considerations discussed below to their particular situations as well as the application of any state, local, foreign or other tax laws, including gift and estate tax laws.

 

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U.S. Holders

For purposes of this summary, a “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of a note that for U.S. federal income tax purposes is:

 

   

an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

   

a corporation or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

   

an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

 

   

a trust if (a) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary control over its administration and one or more U.S. persons (as defined in the Code) have the authority to control all substantial decisions of such trust or (b) the trust has validly elected to be treated as a U.S. person.

If a partnership (including any entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds notes, the tax treatment of a partner in such partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and upon the activities of the partnership. If you are a partnership holding notes or a partner in such partnership, you should consult your tax advisor as to the particular U.S. federal income tax considerations relevant to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of notes.

Treatment of the Notes

We have treated the notes as “variable rate debt instruments” that are subject to applicable U.S. Treasury regulations that apply to “reset bonds”, and stated interest on the notes as taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary interest income at the time such interest is received or accrued, in accordance with such U.S. Holder’s regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We intend to continue treating the notes and payments of stated interest on the notes in this manner, and the remainder of this discussion assumes that this treatment will be respected. However, there are no legal authorities that address the U.S. federal income tax treatment of debt instruments that are substantially similar to the notes, and therefore the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the notes is unclear and alternative characterizations are possible. For example, it is possible that the notes could be treated as “contingent payment debt instruments” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If such treatment were to apply to the notes, it could affect the amount, timing and character of income, gain or loss recognized by a U.S. Holder with respect to the notes. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the notes.

Pre-Acquisition Accrued Interest

The purchase price of the notes sold in this remarketing will include an amount of interest attributable to interest accrued for the period prior to this remarketing. We believe that the portion of the first interest payment on the notes equal to the amount of such pre- acquisition accrued interest should be treated as a return of such pre-acquisition accrued interest, rather than as an amount payable on the notes. Assuming this treatment is respected, the portion of the first interest payment on the notes equal to the pre-acquisition accrued interest will not be treated as taxable interest income and a holder’s adjusted tax basis in the notes will be reduced by a corresponding amount. This discussion assumes that this treatment will be respected, and references in this discussion to stated interest do not include such portion of the first interest payment equal to the pre-acquisition accrued interest. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors concerning the tax treatment of any pre-acquisition accrued interest on the notes.

Stated Interest

Stated interest on a note will generally be taxable to you as ordinary income at the time it is received or accrued in accordance with your usual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

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Bond Premium

If the amount paid by a U.S. Holder for a note pursuant to this offering (excluding any amount attributable to pre-acquisition accrued interest) is greater than its principal amount, such U.S. Holder will generally be considered to have purchased the note with “bond premium” in the amount equal to such excess. A U.S. Holder generally may be able to elect to amortize this bond premium, using a constant-yield method, over the remaining term of the note by offsetting the interest income on such note allocable to an accrual period with the premium allocable to such accrual period. If a U.S. Holder makes such an election, such U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the note will be reduced by the amount of premium amortized. If a U.S. Holder does not elect to amortize the premium, the premium will decrease the gain or increase the loss such U.S. Holder would otherwise recognize on a disposition of such note. An election to amortize bond premium applies to all taxable debt obligations owned or acquired by the U.S. Holder on or after the first day of the first taxable year for which the election is made and may be revoked only with the consent of the IRS. U.S. Holders should consult with their own tax advisors regarding the election to amortize bond premium.

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of the Notes

A U.S. Holder generally will recognize gain or loss upon the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of notes equal to the difference between (a) the amount realized upon such disposition (other than amounts properly attributable to accrued but unpaid interest, which amounts will be treated as interest income as described above under “— Stated Interest”), and (b) the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in such notes. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in a note generally will equal its purchase price for the note, reduced by the amount of any bond premium previously amortized by such U.S. Holder with respect to the note and any payments on the note other than payments of qualified stated interest.

Gain or loss on the sale or other taxable disposition of notes will generally be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the notes have been held for more than one year at the time of disposition. Certain non-corporate U.S. Holders, including individuals, may be eligible for a reduced rate of tax on long-term capital gains. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations.

Medicare Tax

Certain U.S. Holders that are individuals, estates or trusts will be subject to a 3.8% tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income,” which may include all or a portion of their interest income and net gains from the disposition of notes. Each U.S. Holder that is an individual, estate or trust is urged to consult its tax advisors regarding the applicability of the Medicare tax to its income and gains in respect of its investment in the notes.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

In general, information reporting requirements will apply to payments to certain non-corporate U.S. Holders of principal and interest on a note and the proceeds from the sale or other taxable disposition of a note. If you are a U.S. Holder, you may be subject to backup withholding, currently at a rate of 24%, when you receive interest with respect to your notes, or when you receive proceeds upon the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other disposition of your notes. In general, you can avoid this backup withholding by properly executing, under penalties of perjury, an IRS Form W-9 or suitable substitute or successor form that provides your correct taxpayer identification number as well as certain other information or otherwise establish an exemption from backup withholding.

If you do not provide your correct taxpayer identification number on IRS Form W-9 or suitable substitute or successor form in a timely manner, you may be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS.

Backup withholding will not apply, however, with respect to payments made to certain holders, including corporations and tax-exempt organizations, provided their exemptions from backup withholding are properly

 

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established. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and amounts withheld may be refunded or credited against your U.S. federal income tax liability, provided you furnish the required information to the IRS in a timely manner.

Non-U.S. Holders

For purposes of this summary, a Non-U.S. Holder is any beneficial owner of a note that is neither a U.S. Holder nor a partnership (including any entity or arrangement that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes).

Payment of Interest

Subject to the discussions below concerning backup withholding and FATCA withholding, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on payments of interest on the notes that is not effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business within the United States, provided that such Non-U.S. Holder (A) does not directly or indirectly, actually or constructively, own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote, (B) is not a controlled foreign corporation that is related to us directly or constructively through stock ownership, (C) is not a bank receiving such interest on an extension of credit made pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business, and (D) satisfies certain certification requirements. Such certification requirements will be met if (x) the Non-U.S. Holder provides its name and address, and certifies on an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or a successor or substantially similar form), under penalties of perjury, that it is not a U.S. person or (y) a securities clearing organization or certain other financial institutions holding the notes on behalf of the Non-U.S. Holder certifies on IRS Form W-8IMY, under penalties of perjury, that such certification has been received by it and furnishes us or our paying agent with a copy thereof. In addition, we or our paying agent must not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the beneficial owner of the notes is a U.S. person.

If interest on the notes is not effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business within the United States, but such Non-U.S. Holder does not satisfy the other requirements outlined in the preceding paragraph, interest on the notes generally will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a 30% rate (or a lower applicable treaty rate).

If interest on the notes is effectively connected with the conduct by a Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business within the United States, and, if certain tax treaties apply, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base within the United States, the Non-U.S. Holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the rates applicable to U.S. persons generally (and, with respect to corporate holders, may also be subject to a 30% branch profits tax or a lower applicable treaty branch profits tax rate). If interest is subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis in accordance with these rules, such interest payments will not be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax so long as the Non-U.S. Holder provides us or our paying agent with the appropriate documentation (generally an IRS Form W-8ECI).

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of the Notes

Subject to the discussions below concerning backup withholding and FATCA withholding, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax with respect to gain, if any, recognized on the sale or other taxable disposition of the notes. A Non-U.S. Holder will also generally not be subject to U.S. federal income tax with respect to such gain, unless (i) the gain is effectively connected with the conduct by such Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business within the United States, and, if certain tax treaties apply, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base within the United States, or (ii) in the case of a Non-U.S. Holder that is a nonresident alien individual, such Non-U.S. Holder is present in the United States for 183 or more days in the taxable year of the disposition and certain other conditions are satisfied. In the case described in (i) above, gain

 

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or loss recognized on the disposition of such notes generally will be subject to U.S. federal income taxation in the same manner as if such gain or loss were recognized by a U.S. person, and, in the case of a Non-U.S. Holder that is a foreign corporation, may also be subject to the branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or a lower applicable treaty branch profits tax rate). In the case described in (ii) above, the Non-U.S. Holder will be subject to a 30% tax (or lower applicable rate) on any capital gain recognized on the disposition of the notes (after being offset by certain U.S. source capital losses).

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Information returns will be filed annually with the IRS in connection with payments we make on the notes. Copies of these information returns may also be made available under the provisions of a specific tax treaty or other agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides. Unless the Non-U.S. Holder complies with certification procedures to establish that it is not a U.S. person, information returns may be filed with the IRS in connection with the proceeds from a sale or other taxable disposition, and the Non-U.S. Holder may be subject to backup withholding tax (currently at a rate of 24%) on payments on the notes or on the proceeds from a sale or other taxable disposition of the notes. The certification procedures required to claim the exemption from withholding tax on interest described above will satisfy the certification requirements necessary to avoid the backup withholding tax as well. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a Non-U.S. Holder will be allowed as a credit against the Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle the Non-U.S. Holder to a refund, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS in a timely manner.

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act and related IRS guidance (“FATCA”) impose a 30% U.S. federal withholding tax on certain withholdable payments (which currently include interest payments on the notes and, subject to the proposed Treasury regulations discussed below, would include gross proceeds, including the return of principal at maturity, from the sale or other taxable disposition, including redemptions, of the notes) made to a non-U.S. entity unless various U.S. information reporting and due diligence requirements (generally relating to ownership by U.S. persons of interests in or accounts with those entities) have been satisfied or an exemption applies. Treasury regulations have been proposed (upon which taxpayers and withholding agents are entitled to rely until final Treasury regulations are issued) that would, when finalized, eliminate FATCA withholding on the gross proceeds from a sale or other taxable disposition of instruments, such as the notes, that produce withholdable payments. An intergovernmental agreement between the jurisdiction of a recipient and the United States may modify the rules described in this paragraph. We will not be obligated to make any “gross up” or additional payments in respect of amounts withheld on the notes if we determine that we must so withhold in order to comply with FATCA in respect of the amounts described above. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding FATCA and whether it may be relevant to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of notes.

 

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REMARKETING

Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the remarketing agreement with respect to the notes dated July 13, 2022, each of Barclays Capital Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC, Fifth Third Securities, Inc., U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., Comerica Securities, Inc. and Huntington Securities, Inc. has agreed to use their commercially reasonable efforts to remarket the Original Notes at a public offering price that will result in proceeds sufficient to purchase the treasury portfolio at the treasury portfolio purchase price, as required by the terms of the Corporate Units.

The remarketing agents have no obligation to purchase any of the notes. The remarketing agreement provides that the remarketing is subject to customary conditions precedent. The offering of the notes by the remarketing agents is subject to the remarketing agents’ right to reject any order in whole or in part.

We will pay a remarketing fee equal to    % of the principal amount of the notes. We estimate that our total expenses for this offering, excluding remarketing fees, will be $                .

We have agreed to indemnify the remarketing agents against liabilities under the Securities Act or to contribute to payments the remarketing agents may be required to make in that respect.

We do not intend to apply for listing of the notes on a national securities exchange or for quotation on any automated quotation system, but have been advised by the remarketing agents that they intend to make a market in the notes. The remarketing agents are not obligated, however, to do so and may discontinue their market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the development, maintenance or liquidity of the trading market for the notes.

In order to facilitate the offering of the notes, the remarketing agents may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the notes. Specifically, the remarketing agents may overallot in connection with the remarketing, creating a short position in the notes for the remarketing agents. In addition, to cover overallotments or to stabilize the price of the notes, the remarketing agents may bid for, and purchase, the notes in the open market. Finally, the remarketing agents may reclaim selling concessions allowed to a dealer for distributing the notes in the remarketing, if they repurchase previously distributed notes in transactions to cover short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price for the notes above independent market levels. The remarketing agents are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time.

The remarketing agents and/or their affiliates may have acted as lenders, and performed certain investment banking and advisory and general financing, trustee and commercial banking services for us and our affiliates from time to time for which they have received customary fees and expenses. The remarketing agents and/or their affiliates may, from time to time, engage in transactions with or perform services for us and our affiliates in the ordinary course of their business. Additionally, an affiliate of one of the remarketing agents is acting as trustee under the indenture.

In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the remarketing agents and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. Certain of the remarketing agents or their affiliates that have a lending relationship with us routinely hedge, and certain other of these remarketing agents or their affiliates may hedge, their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, such remarketing agents and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the notes offered hereby. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the notes offered hereby.

 

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The remarketing agents and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

It is expected that delivery of the notes will be made on or about the date specified on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, which will be the third business day (T+3) following the date of this prospectus supplement. Under Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle within two business days (T+2), unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, the purchasers who wish to trade the notes on the date of this prospectus supplement will be required to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of the notes who wish to trade the notes on the date of this prospectus supplement should consult their own advisors.

Conflict of Interest

Certain of the remarketing agents or their affiliates may hold Corporate Units of which the notes being remarketed in this offering are a part. As a result, it is possible that one or more of the remarketing agents or their affiliates could receive more than 5% of the net proceeds of the offering, and in that case such remarketing agent could be deemed to have a conflict of interest under FINRA Rule 5121 (Public Offerings of Securities with Conflicts of Interest). In the event of any such conflict of interest, such remarketing agent would be required to conduct the distribution of the notes in accordance with FINRA Rule 5121. If the distribution is conducted in accordance with FINRA Rule 5121, such remarketing agent would not be permitted to confirm a sale to an account over which it exercises discretionary authority without first receiving specific written approval from the account holder.

Notice to Investors

This prospectus supplement does not constitute an offer to sell to, or a solicitation of an offer to buy from, anyone in any country or jurisdiction (i) in which such an offer or solicitation is not authorized, (ii) in which any person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or (iii) in which any such offer or solicitation would otherwise be unlawful. No action has been taken that would, or is intended to, permit a public offer of the notes or possession or distribution of this prospectus or any other offering or publicity material relating to the notes in any country or jurisdiction (other than the United States) where any such action for that purpose is required.

Canada

The notes may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the notes must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contain a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory.

The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

 

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Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (“NI 33-105”), the remarketing agents are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

European Economic Area

The notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the European Economic Area. For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, “MiFID II”); (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97 (as amended or superseded, the “Insurance Distribution Directive”),, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) anyone who is not a qualified investor as defined in Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended or superseded, the “Prospectus Regulation”). Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the “PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the European Economic Area has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the European Economic Area may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have been prepared on the basis that any offer of notes in any Member State of the European Economic Area will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of notes. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not a prospectus for the purposes of the Prospectus Regulation.

Hong Kong

Each remarketing agent (i) has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell in Hong Kong, by means of any document, any notes other than (a) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571 of the laws of Hong Kong) (the “SFO”) and any rules made thereunder or (b) in other circumstances that do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (the “Companies Ordinance”) or that do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance and (ii) has not issued or had in its possession for the purposes of issue, and will not issue or have in its possession for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, any advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes, which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public of Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to the notes that are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the SFO and any rules made thereunder.

Japan

The notes have not been and will not be registered pursuant to Article 4, Paragraph 1 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act. Accordingly, none of the notes nor any interest therein maybe offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for reoffering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan in effect at the relevant time.

Singapore

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus

 

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and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the notes may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the notes be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”), (ii) to a relevant person pursuant to Section 275(1), or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is: (a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of S-40 whom is an accredited investor; or (b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor, securities (as defined in Section 239(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferable for six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the notes pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA, (2) where no consideration is given for the transfer, (3) where the transfer is by operation of law, (4) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or (5) as specified in Regulation 37A of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Securities and Securities-based Derivatives Contracts) Regulations 2018 of Singapore.

Singapore Securities and Futures Act Product Classification — Solely for the purposes of its obligations pursuant to sections 309B(1)(a) and 309B(1)(c) of the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289 of Singapore) (the “SFA”), the issuer has determined, and hereby notifies all relevant persons (as defined in Section 309A of the SFA) that the notes are “prescribed capital markets products” (as defined in the Securities and Futures (Capital Markets Products) Regulations 2018) and Excluded Investment Products (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).

Switzerland

This prospectus supplement is not intended to constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in the notes. The notes may not be offered, directly or indirectly in Switzerland within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”) and no application has or will be made to admit the notes to trading on any trading venue (exchange or multilateral trading facility) in Switzerland. Neither this prospectus supplement nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes constitutes a prospectus pursuant to the FinSA, and neither this prospectus supplement nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

United Kingdom

The notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the United Kingdom (the “UK”). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as amended, the “EUWA”); (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (the “FSMA”), and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement the Insurance Distribution Directive), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of the Prospectus Regulation as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA and regulations made thereunder (the “UK Prospectus

 

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Regulation”). Consequently, no key information document required by the PRIIPs Regulation as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the “UK PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the UK has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the UK may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation. This prospectus supplement has been prepared on the basis that any offer of the notes in the UK will be made pursuant to an exemption under the FSMA and the UK Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of the notes. This prospectus supplement is not a prospectus for purposes of the FSMA or the UK Prospectus Regulation.

This prospectus supplement is for distribution only to persons who are qualified investors (as defined in the UK Prospectus Regulation) and (i) have professional experience in matters relating to investments and who qualify as investment professionals within the meaning of Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the “Financial Promotion Order”), (ii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (“high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.”) of the Financial Promotion Order, (iii) are outside the UK or (iv) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) in connection with the issue or sale of any securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). This prospectus supplement is directed only at relevant persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the notes and certain other legal matters relating to this offering will be passed upon for DTE Energy by JoAnn Chávez, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, and by Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, New York, New York. Ms. Chávez beneficially owns shares of DTE Energy common stock. Certain legal matters relating to this offering will be passed upon for the remarketing agents by Bracewell LLP, New York, New York.

Bracewell LLP has represented, and may in the future continue to represent, us and certain of our subsidiaries in certain matters unrelated to this offering.

EXPERTS

The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

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Prospectus

 

LOGO

DTE Energy Company

Common Stock

Debt Securities

Stock Purchase Contracts

Stock Purchase Units

 

 

By this prospectus, DTE Energy Company may offer from time to time:

 

   

common stock;

 

   

senior debt securities and/or subordinated debt securities, including debt securities convertible into common stock of DTE Energy or exchangeable for other securities;

 

   

Stock Purchase Contracts; and

 

   

Stock Purchase Units.

We will provide specific terms of the securities, including the offering prices, in supplements to this prospectus. The supplements may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any supplements carefully before you invest.

We may offer these securities directly or through underwriters, agents or dealers. This prospectus may also be used by a selling security holder of the securities described herein. The supplements to this prospectus will describe the terms of any particular plan of distribution, including any underwriting arrangements, and will identify any selling security holders. See the “Plan of Distribution” section beginning on page 26 of this prospectus for more information.

See “Risk Factors ” beginning on page 3 regarding risks associated with an investment in these securities.

The mailing address of DTE Energy Company’s principal executive office is One Energy Plaza, Detroit, Michigan 48226-1279, and its telephone number is (313) 235-4000.

DTE Energy Company’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “DTE.”

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

This prospectus is dated April 8, 2022


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

About This Prospectus

     2  

Risk Factors

     3  

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

     3  

DTE Energy Company

     4  

Use of Proceeds

     5  

The Securities That We May Offer

     5  

Description of Capital Stock

     6  

Description of Debt Securities

     8  

Description of Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase Units

     24  

Book-Entry Securities

     24  

Plan of Distribution

     26  

Legal Matters

     27  

Experts

     27  

Where You Can Find More Information

     28  

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement or supplements. We have not authorized any person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. You should not assume that the information contained or incorporated in this prospectus is accurate as of any time after the date of this prospectus, or, if later, the date of an incorporated document, because our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since such dates.

We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction that prohibits the offer or sale of these securities.

In this prospectus references to “DTE Energy,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to DTE Energy Company, unless the context indicates that the references are to DTE Energy Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that DTE Energy filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, DTE Energy may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities DTE Energy may offer. Each time DTE Energy sells securities, DTE Energy will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

For more detailed information about the securities, you can read the exhibits to the registration statement. Those exhibits have been either filed with the registration statement or incorporated by reference to earlier SEC filings listed in the registration statement.

 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in the securities involves risks. You should carefully consider the “Risk Factors” set forth in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, together with the other information in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, and the documents that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, about risks concerning the securities, before buying any securities. See also “Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” below.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of DTE Energy. You can find many of these statements by looking for words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “projected,” “aspiration,” and “goals” or similar expressions in this prospectus or in documents incorporated herein that signify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and conditions, but rather are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties that may cause actual future results to be materially different from those contemplated, projected, estimated, or budgeted. Many factors may impact forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, the following:

 

   

risks related to the separation of DT Midstream, including that providing DT Midstream with transition services could adversely affect our business and that the transaction may not achieve some or all of the anticipated benefits;

 

   

the duration and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on us, our consolidated subsidiaries and customers;

 

   

impact of regulation by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Michigan Public Service Commission, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the California Air Resources Board, as well as other applicable governmental proceedings and regulations, including any associated impact on rate structures;

 

   

the amount and timing of cost recovery allowed as a result of regulatory proceedings, related appeals, or new legislation, including legislative amendments and retail access programs;

 

   

economic conditions and population changes in our geographic area resulting in changes in demand, customer conservation, and thefts of electricity and natural gas;

 

   

the operational failure of electric or gas distribution systems or infrastructure;

 

   

impact of volatility in prices in international steel markets and in prices of environmental attributes generated from renewable natural gas investments on the operations of DTE Vantage;

 

   

the risk of a major safety incident;

 

   

environmental issues, laws, regulations, and the increasing costs of remediation and compliance, including actual and potential new federal and state requirements;

 

   

the cost of protecting assets and customer data against, or damage due to, cyber incidents and terrorism;

 

   

health, safety, financial, environmental, and regulatory risks associated with ownership and operation of nuclear facilities;

 

   

volatility in commodity markets, deviations in weather, and related risks impacting the results of our energy trading operations;

 

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changes in the cost and availability of coal and other raw materials, purchased power, and natural gas;

 

   

advances in technology that produce power, store power, or reduce power consumption;

 

   

changes in the financial condition of significant customers and strategic partners;

 

   

the potential for losses on investments, including nuclear decommissioning and benefit plan assets and the related increases in future expense and contributions;

 

   

access to capital markets and the results of other financing efforts which can be affected by credit agency ratings;

 

   

instability in capital markets which could impact availability of short and long-term financing;

 

   

impacts of inflation and the timing and extent of changes in interest rates;

 

   

the level of borrowings;

 

   

the potential for increased costs or delays in completion of significant capital projects;

 

   

changes in, and application of, federal, state, and local tax laws and their interpretations, including the Internal Revenue Code, regulations, rulings, court proceedings, and audits;

 

   

the effects of weather and other natural phenomena, including climate change, on operations and sales to customers, and purchases from suppliers;

 

   

unplanned outages;

 

   

employee relations and the impact of collective bargaining agreements;

 

   

the availability, cost, coverage, and terms of insurance and stability of insurance providers;

 

   

cost reduction efforts and the maximization of plant and distribution system performance;

 

   

the effects of competition;

 

   

changes in and application of accounting standards and financial reporting regulations;

 

   

changes in federal or state laws and their interpretation with respect to regulation, energy policy, and other business issues;

 

   

successful execution of new business development and future growth plans;

 

   

contract disputes, binding arbitration, litigation, and related appeals;

 

   

the ability of the electric and gas utilities to achieve net zero emissions goals; and

 

   

the risks discussed in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

New factors emerge from time to time. We cannot predict what factors may arise or how such factors may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made. We undertake no obligations to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

The factors discussed above and other factors are discussed more completely in our public filings with the SEC, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

DTE ENERGY COMPANY

DTE Energy Company is a Michigan corporation engaged in utility operations through its wholly owned subsidiaries, DTE Electric Company (“DTE Electric”) and DTE Gas Company (“DTE Gas”). DTE Energy also has two other segmemts that are engaged in a variety of energy-related business.

 

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DTE Electric is a Michigan corporation organized in 1903 and is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of DTE Energy. DTE Electric is a public utility enagegd in the generation, purchase, distribution, and sale of electricity to approximately 2.3 million customers in southeastern Michigan.

DTE Gas is a Michigan corporation organized in 1898 and is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of DTE Energy. DTE Gas is a public utility engaged in the purchase, storage, transportation, distribution, and sale of natural gas to approximately 1.3 million customers throughout Michigan and the sale of storage and transportation capacity.

DTE Energy’s other businesses include:

 

   

DTE Vantage, formerly DTE Energy’s Power and Industrial Projects segment, which is comprised primarily of renewable energy projects that sell electricity and pipeline-quality gas and projects that deliver energy and utility-type products and services to industrial, commercial, and institutional customers, and

 

   

Energy marketing and trading operations.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Except as we may otherwise state in an accompanying prospectus supplement, DTE Energy expects to use the net proceeds from the sale of its securities for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things:

 

   

financing, development and construction of new facilities;

 

   

additions to working capital; and

 

   

repurchase or refinancing of securities.

The precise amount and timing of the application of such proceeds will depend upon our funding requirements, market conditions and the availability and cost of other funds. Pending the application of proceeds, we may also invest the funds temporarily in short-term investment grade securities.

THE SECURITIES THAT WE MAY OFFER

The descriptions of the securities contained in this prospectus, together with the applicable prospectus supplements, summarize certain terms and provisions of the various types of securities that DTE Energy may offer. The particular terms of the securities offered by any prospectus supplement will be described in that prospectus supplement. If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the terms of the securities may differ from the terms summarized below. The prospectus supplement will also contain information, where applicable, about material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the securities, and any securities exchange on which the securities may be listed.

We may sell from time to time, in one or more offerings:

 

   

common stock;

 

   

senior debt securities and/or subordinated debt securities, including debt securities convertible into common stock of DTE Energy or exchangeable for other securities;

 

   

stock purchase contracts; and

 

   

stock purchase units.

 

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In this prospectus, we refer to the common stock, senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, stock purchase contracts and stock purchase units together as “securities.” We refer to the senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities together as the “debt securities.”

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

Authorized Capital Stock

The authorized capital stock of DTE Energy currently consists of 400,000,000 shares of DTE Energy common stock, without par value, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, without par value. As of December 31, 2021, there were 193,747,509 shares of DTE Energy common stock issued and outstanding. All outstanding shares of common stock are, and the common stock offered hereby when issued and paid for will be, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. As of December 31, 2021, there were no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding.

Under the DTE Energy amended and restated articles of incorporation, which we refer to as the articles of incorporation, our board of directors may cause the issuance of one or more new series of the authorized shares of preferred stock, determine the number of shares constituting any such new series and fix the voting, distribution, dividend, liquidation and all other rights and limitations of the preferred stock. These rights may be superior to those of the DTE Energy common stock. To the extent any shares of DTE Energy’s preferred stock have voting rights, no share of preferred stock may be entitled to more than one vote per share.

Common Stock

The following description of our common stock, together with the additional information included in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of this type of security. If indicated in a prospectus supplement, the terms of any common stock offered under that prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. For the complete terms of our common stock, please refer to our articles of incorporation and bylaws that are incorporated by reference into the registration statement that includes this prospectus or may be incorporated by reference in this prospectus. The terms of our common stock may also be affected by the laws of the State of Michigan.

Dividends

Holders of common stock are entitled to participate equally in respect to dividends as, when and if dividends are declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for their payment. However, this dividend right is subject to any preferential dividend rights we may grant to future holders of preferred stock and to the prior rights of DTE Energy’s debt holders and other creditors. As a Michigan corporation, we are subject to statutory limitations on the declaration and payment of dividends. Dividends on DTE Energy common stock will depend primarily on the earnings and financial condition of DTE Energy. DTE Energy is a holding company and its assets consist primarily of its investment in its operating subsidiaries. Thus, as a practical matter, dividends on common stock of DTE Energy will depend in the foreseeable future primarily upon the earnings, financial condition and capital requirements of DTE Electric, DTE Gas and our other subsidiaries, and the distribution of such earnings to DTE Energy in the form of dividends. The subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation to make payments with respect to any of DTE Energy’s securities, or to pay dividends to or make funds available to DTE Energy so that DTE Energy can make payments on its securities, including its common stock. In addition, existing or future covenants limiting the right of DTE Electric, DTE Gas or our other subsidiaries to pay dividends on or make other distributions with respect to their common stock may affect DTE Energy’s ability to pay dividends on its common stock. See “Description of Debt Securities — Ranking.”

 

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Voting

Subject to any special voting rights that may vest in the holders of preferred stock, the holders of DTE Energy common stock are entitled to vote as a class and are entitled to one vote per share for each share held of record on all matters voted on by shareholders. All questions are decided by a majority of the votes cast by the holders of shares entitled to vote on that question, unless a greater or different vote is required by the articles of incorporation or Michigan law. However, if the number of director nominees for any director election exceeds the number of directors to be elected, the nominees receiving a plurality of the votes cast by holders of the shares entitled to vote at any meeting for the election of directors at which a quorum is present will be elected.

We are subject to Chapter 7A of the Michigan Business Corporation Act, which we refer to as the Corporation Act, which provides that business combinations subject to Chapter 7A between a Michigan corporation and a beneficial owner of shares entitled to 10% or more of the voting power of such corporation generally require the affirmative vote of 90% of the votes of each class of stock entitled to vote, and not less than 2/3 of each class of stock entitled to vote (excluding voting shares owned by such 10% owner), voting as a separate class. These requirements do not apply if (1) the corporation’s board of directors approves the transaction prior to the time the 10% owner becomes such or (2) the transaction satisfies certain fairness standards, certain other conditions are met and the 10% owner has been such for at least five years.

Board of Directors

The number of directors is fixed by the board of directors from time to time. DTE Energy currently has 12 directors. Directors are elected annually for terms which expire upon election of their successor at the next year’s annual shareholder meeting.

Amendments to DTE Energy’s Articles of Incorporation

Under Michigan law, our articles of incorporation may be amended by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on the proposed amendment (which would include the common stock and any series of preferred stock which, by its terms or applicable law, was so entitled to vote), and, if any class or series of shares is entitled to vote as a class, then the proposed amendment must be approved by the required vote of each class or series of shares entitled to vote as a class.

Liquidation Rights

In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of DTE Energy, holders of our common stock have the right to share in DTE Energy’s assets remaining after satisfaction in full of the prior rights of creditors, and all liabilities and the aggregate liquidation preferences of any outstanding shares of DTE Energy preferred stock.

Preemptive Rights

The holders of DTE Energy common stock have no conversion or redemption rights, or any rights to subscribe for or purchase other stock of DTE Energy.

Listing

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “DTE.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Equiniti Trust Company, P.O. Box 64874, St. Paul, MN 55164-0854.

 

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Advance Notice Requirements; Possible Anti-Takeover Effects

Certain provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws may have the effect of discouraging unilateral tender offers or other attempts to take over and acquire the business of DTE Energy. Our bylaws provide that shareholders seeking to nominate candidates for election as directors or to bring business before an annual meeting of shareholders or a shareholder-requested special meeting of shareholders must deliver timely notice of their proposal in writing to our principal executive offices. Our bylaws also specify requirements as to the form and content of a shareholder’s notice. These provisions may impede shareholders’ ability to bring matters before an annual meeting of shareholders, a shareholder requested special meeting of shareholders or make nominations for directors. These provisions may limit the ability of individuals to bring matters before shareholder meetings, change the composition of the board of directors and pursue a merger, takeover, business combination or tender offer involving DTE Energy, which, under certain circumstances, could encourage a potentially interested purchaser to negotiate with the board of directors rather than pursue a non-negotiated takeover attempt, including one that shareholders might favor, and could reduce the market value of our common stock.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The following description, together with any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes certain material terms and provisions of the debt securities we may offer under this prospectus and the related indenture. We will issue the debt securities under an amended and restated indenture, dated as of April 9, 2001, as supplemented or amended from time to time, which we refer to as the “indenture,” between DTE Energy and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor trustee. We refer to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., or any successor or additional trustee, in its capacity as trustee under the indenture, as the “trustee” for purposes of this section. The indenture may, but need not, have separate trustees for senior and subordinated debt securities.

This summary of the indenture and the debt securities relates to terms and conditions applicable to the debt securities generally. The particular terms of any series of debt securities will be summarized in the applicable prospectus supplement. If indicated in the prospectus supplement, the terms of any series may differ from the terms summarized below.

Because the descriptions of provisions of the indenture below are summaries, they do not describe every aspect of the indenture. The summaries below are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all provisions of the indenture, including the definitions therein of certain terms. We have filed a copy of the indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We encourage you to read the indenture for provisions that may be important to you. Wherever we refer to particular articles, sections or defined terms of the indenture, those articles, sections or defined terms are incorporated herein by reference, and the statement in connection with which such reference is made is qualified in its entirety by such reference. The indenture contains, and the debt securities, when issued, will contain, additional important terms and provisions. We will describe the particular terms of the debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may apply to the debt securities so offered in the prospectus supplement relating to those debt securities.

The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities we may issue under it, and it provides that additional debt securities of any series may be issued up to the aggregate principal amount that we may authorize from time to time. As of December 31, 2021, approximately $6.5 billion aggregate principal amount of debt securities were issued and outstanding under the indenture.

Principal and any premium and interest in respect to the debt securities will be payable, and the debt securities will be transferable, at the corporate trust office of the trustee, unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. At our option, however, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the registered holders of the debt securities at their registered addresses.

 

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We will describe material U.S. federal income tax and other considerations relating to debt securities denominated in foreign currencies or units of two or more foreign currencies in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Unless we otherwise specify in this prospectus or in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue debt securities in the form of global securities, deposited with and registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company, as depositary, which we refer to as “DTC,” or its nominee. Interests in the debt securities will be shown on, and transfers thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants. See “Book-Entry Securities.”

General

The prospectus supplement that accompanies this prospectus relating to the debt securities being offered will include specific terms relating to the offered debt securities. These terms may include some or all of the following:

 

   

the title or designation of the debt securities;

 

   

the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;

 

   

whether the debt securities are to represent senior or subordinated indebtedness and, if subordinated debt securities, the specific subordination provisions applicable thereto;

 

   

in the case of subordinated debt securities, the relative degree, if any, to which such subordinated debt securities of the series will be senior to or be subordinated to other series of subordinated debt securities or other indebtedness of DTE Energy in right of payment, whether such other series of subordinated debt securities or other indebtedness is outstanding or not;

 

   

whether the debt securities will be issued as registered securities, bearer securities or a combination of the two;

 

   

the person to whom any interest on any registered security shall be payable, if other than the person in whose name that security is registered at the close of business on the record date, the manner in which, or the person to whom, any interest on any bearer security shall be payable, if other than upon presentation and surrender of coupons, and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global security will be paid if other than in the manner provided in the indenture;

 

   

whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of one or more global securities;

 

   

the date or dates on which the principal of (and premium, if any, on) the debt securities will be payable or the method or methods, if any, by which such date or dates will be determined;

 

   

the rate or rates, at which the debt securities will bear any interest or the method or methods, if any, by which such rate or rates will be determined;

 

   

the date or dates from which any interest will accrue or the method or methods, if any, by which such date or dates will be determined and the date or dates on which such interest will be payable;

 

   

whether and under what circumstances we will pay “additional amounts,” as defined in the indenture, on the debt securities to any holder who is a “United States alien,” as defined in the indenture, in respect of certain taxes, assessments or governmental charges, and, if so, whether we will have the option to redeem the debt securities rather than pay the additional amounts; the term “interest,” as used in this prospectus, includes any additional amounts;

 

   

the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the debt securities will be payable, and where any registered securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange;

 

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a description of any provisions providing for redemption or repurchase of the debt securities, in whole or in part, at our option, a holder’s option or otherwise, and the terms and provisions of such a redemption or repurchase;

 

   

any sinking fund or other mandatory redemption or similar terms;

 

   

whether the debt securities will be convertible into shares of common stock of DTE Energy and/or exchangeable for other securities, whether or not issued by DTE Energy, property or cash, or a combination of any of the foregoing, and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange, either mandatory, at the option of the holder, or at the option of DTE Energy, and any deletions from or modifications or additions to the indenture to allow the issuance of such convertible or exchangeable debt securities;

 

   

the authorized denominations of the debt securities, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof (in the case of registered securities) or $5,000 (in the case of bearer securities);

 

   

if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities or any of them that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity in accordance with the indenture upon an event of default or the method by which such portion is to be determined;

 

   

if other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies or currency unit or units of two or more currencies in which debt securities are denominated, for which they may be purchased, and in which principal and any premium and interest is payable;

 

   

if the currency or currencies or currency unit or units for which debt securities may be purchased or in which principal and any premium and interest may be paid is at our election or at the election of a purchaser, the manner in which an election may be made and its terms;

 

   

any index or other method used to determine the amount of payments of principal of, and any premium and interest on, the debt securities;

 

   

if either or both of the sections of the indenture relating to defeasance and covenant defeasance are applicable to the debt securities, or if any covenants in addition to or other than those specified in the indenture shall be subject to covenant defeasance;

 

   

any deletions from, or modifications or additions to, the provisions of the indenture relating to satisfaction and discharge in respect of the debt securities;

 

   

if there is more than one trustee, the identity of the trustee and, if not the trustee, the identity of each security registrar, paying agent and/or authenticating agent with respect to the debt securities;

 

   

whether the debt securities shall be issued as original issue discount securities;

 

   

whether a credit facility or other form of credit support will apply to the debt securities;

 

   

any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the events of default or covenants with respect to the debt securities whether or not such events of default or covenants are consistent with the events of default or covenants in the indenture, and whether the limitations on secured debt under the indenture will be applicable; and

 

   

any other specific terms of the debt securities.

We are not obligated to issue all debt securities of any one series at the same time and all the debt securities of any one series need not bear interest at the same rate or mature on the same date.

Under the indenture, the terms of the debt securities of any series may differ and we, without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of any series, may reopen a previous series of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of such series or establish additional terms of such series.

 

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Other than as described below under “— Covenants” with respect to any applicable series of debt securities and as may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the indenture does not limit our ability to incur indebtedness or afford holders of debt securities protection in the event of a decline in our credit quality or if we are involved in a takeover, recapitalization or highly leveraged or similar transaction. Accordingly, we could in the future enter into transactions that could increase the amount of indebtedness outstanding at that time or otherwise affect our capital structure or credit rating. You should refer to the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of debt securities for information regarding the applicability of the covenant described below under “— Covenants — Limitation on Secured Debt” or any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the events of default described below or covenants contained in the indenture, including any addition of a covenant or other provisions providing event risk or similar protection.

Ranking

Because DTE Energy is a holding company that conducts substantially all of its operations through subsidiaries, holders of debt securities and guarantees of DTE Energy will generally have a junior position to claims of creditors of those subsidiaries, including trade creditors, debtholders, secured creditors, taxing authorities, guarantee holders and preferred shareholders, if any. Our subsidiaries, principally DTE Electric and DTE Gas, from time to time incur debt to finance their business activities. Substantially all of the physical properties of DTE Electric and DTE Gas are subject to the liens of their respective mortgage indentures as security for the payment of outstanding mortgage bonds.

Our assets consist primarily of investment in subsidiaries. Our ability to service indebtedness, including any debt securities and guarantees, depends on the earnings of our subsidiaries and the distribution or other payment from subsidiaries of earnings to us in the form of dividends, loans or advances, and repayment of loans and advances from us. The subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any amounts due under the debt securities or to make payments to us in order for us to pay our obligations under the debt securities. In addition, existing and future contractual and other legal requirements may limit the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends to us.

Senior Debt Securities

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, DTE Energy’s obligation to pay the principal of, and any premium and interest on, the senior debt securities will be unsecured and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured unsubordinated indebtedness.

Subordinated Debt Securities

DTE Energy’s obligation to pay the principal of, and any premium and interest on, any series of subordinated debt securities will be unsecured and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness (as defined below) to the extent provided in the supplemental indenture relating to the series and the terms of those subordinated debt securities, as described below and in any applicable prospectus supplement, which may make deletions from, or modifications or additions to, the subordination terms described below.

Upon any payment or distribution of assets or securities of DTE Energy to creditors upon any liquidation, dissolution, winding-up, reorganization, or any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar proceedings in connection with any insolvency or bankruptcy proceeding of DTE Energy, the holders of Senior Indebtedness will first be entitled to receive payment in full of the Senior Indebtedness before the holders of subordinated debt securities will be entitled to receive any payment or distribution in respect of the subordinated debt securities, and to that end the holders of Senior Indebtedness will be entitled to receive, for application to the payment thereof, any payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, including any such payment or distribution that may be payable or deliverable by reason of the payment of any other

 

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Indebtedness of DTE Energy being subordinated to the payment of subordinated debt securities of such series, which may be payable or deliverable in respect of the subordinated debt securities of such series upon any such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization or in any such bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceeding.

By reason of such subordination, in the event of liquidation or insolvency of DTE Energy, holders of Senior Indebtedness with respect to the subordinated debt securities of any series and holders of other obligations of DTE Energy that are not subordinated to such Senior Indebtedness may recover more, ratably, than the holders of the subordinated debt securities of such series.

Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness with respect to the subordinated debt securities of any series, the rights of the holders of the subordinated debt securities of such series will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of DTE Energy applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until the principal of, any premium and interest on, and any additional amounts with respect to, the subordinated debt securities of such series have been paid in full.

No payments on account of principal or any premium or interest in respect of the subordinated debt securities may be made if there has occurred and is continuing a default in any payment with respect to Senior Indebtedness or an event of default with respect to any Senior Indebtedness resulting in the acceleration of its maturity, or if any judicial proceeding is pending with respect to any default.

“Indebtedness” means:

 

   

indebtedness for borrowed money;

 

   

obligations for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables not overdue by more than 60 days incurred in the ordinary course of business);

 

   

obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments;

 

   

obligations created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to acquired property;

 

   

obligations as lessee under leases that have been or should be, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, recorded as capital leases;

 

   

obligations, contingent or otherwise, in respect of acceptances, letters of credit or similar extensions of credit;

 

   

obligations in respect of interest rate swap, cap or collar agreements, interest rate future or option contracts, currency swap agreements, currency future or option contracts and other similar agreements;

 

   

guarantees of Indebtedness of others, directly or indirectly, or Indebtedness in effect guaranteed directly or indirectly through an agreement (1) to pay or purchase such Indebtedness or to advance or supply funds for the payment or purchase of such Indebtedness, (2) to purchase, sell or lease property, or to purchase or sell services, primarily for the purpose of enabling the debtor to make payment of such Indebtedness or to assure the holder of such Indebtedness against loss, (3) to supply funds to or in any other manner invest in the debtor or (4) otherwise to assure a creditor against loss; and

 

   

Indebtedness described above secured by any Lien (as defined below) on property.

“Senior Indebtedness,” for purposes of subordinated debt securities of each series, means all Indebtedness, whether outstanding on the date of issuance of subordinated debt securities of the applicable series or thereafter created, assumed or incurred, except Indebtedness ranking equally with the subordinated debt securities or Indebtedness ranking junior to the subordinated debt securities. Senior Indebtedness does not include obligations to trade creditors or indebtedness of DTE Energy to its subsidiaries. Senior Indebtedness with respect to the

 

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subordinated debt securities of any particular series will continue to be Senior Indebtedness with respect to the subordinated debt securities of such series and be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such Senior Indebtedness.

“Indebtedness ranking equally with the subordinated debt securities,” for purposes of subordinated debt securities of the applicable series, means Indebtedness, whether outstanding on the date of issuance of the subordinated debt securities or thereafter created, assumed or incurred, to the extent the Indebtedness specifically by its terms ranks equally with and not prior to the subordinated debt securities in the right of payment upon the happening of the dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of DTE Energy. The securing of any Indebtedness otherwise constituting Indebtedness ranking equally with the subordinated debt securities will not prevent the Indebtedness from constituting Indebtedness ranking equally with the subordinated debt securities.

“Indebtedness ranking junior to the subordinated debt securities,” for purposes of subordinated debt securities of the applicable series, means any Indebtedness, whether outstanding on the date of issuance of the subordinated debt securities of the applicable series or thereafter created, assumed or incurred, to the extent the Indebtedness by its terms ranks junior to and not equally with or prior to:

 

   

the subordinated debt securities, and

 

   

any other Indebtedness ranking equally with the subordinated debt securities,

in right of payment upon the happening of the dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of DTE Energy. The securing of any Indebtedness otherwise constituting Indebtedness ranking junior to the subordinated debt securities will not prevent the Indebtedness from constituting Indebtedness ranking junior to the subordinated debt securities.

Covenants

The indenture contains covenants for the benefit of holders of debt securities of each series. The following covenant will apply to a series of debt securities only to the extent specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Limitation on Secured Debt

If this covenant is made applicable to the debt securities of any particular series, we have agreed that we will not create, issue, incur or assume any Secured Debt (as defined below) without the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series with respect to which this covenant is made, considered as one class; provided, however, that the foregoing covenant will not prohibit the creation, issuance, incurrence or assumption of any Secured Debt if we either:

 

   

secure all debt securities then outstanding with respect to which this covenant is made equally and ratably with the Secured Debt; or

 

   

deliver to the trustee bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness secured by the Lien (as defined below) which secures the Secured Debt in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities then outstanding with respect to which this covenant is made and meeting certain other requirements in the indenture.

“Debt” means:

 

   

indebtedness for borrowed money evidenced by a bond, debenture, note or other written instrument or agreement by which we are obligated to repay such borrowed money; and

 

   

any guaranty by DTE Energy of any such indebtedness of another person.

 

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“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien or charge of any kind (including, without limitation, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof or any agreement to give any security interest).

“Secured Debt” means Debt created, issued, incurred or assumed by DTE Energy that is secured by a Lien upon any shares of stock of any Significant Subsidiary, as defined in Regulation S-X of the rules and regulations under the Securities Act, whether owned at the date of the initial authentication and delivery of the debt securities of any series or thereafter acquired.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

DTE Energy may, without the consent of the holders of the debt securities, consolidate or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease our properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to, any person or permit any person to consolidate with or merge into us or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to us, as long as:

 

   

if DTE Energy merges into or consolidates with, or transfers its properties and assets as an entirety (or substantially as an entirety) to any person, such person is a corporation, partnership or trust, organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

   

any successor person (if not DTE Energy) assumes by supplemental indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, any premium and interest on and any additional amounts with respect to all the debt securities issued thereunder, and the performance of our obligations under the indenture and the debt securities issued thereunder, and provides for conversion or exchange rights in accordance with the provisions of the debt securities of any series that are convertible or exchangeable into common stock or other securities;

 

   

no event of default under the indenture has occurred and is continuing after giving effect to the transaction;

 

   

no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default under the indenture has occurred and is continuing after giving effect to the transaction; and

 

   

certain other conditions are met.

Upon any merger or consolidation described above or conveyance or transfer of the properties and assets of DTE Energy as or substantially as an entirety as described above, the successor person will succeed to DTE Energy’s obligations under the indenture and, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor person will be relieved of such obligations.

The indenture does not prevent or restrict any conveyance or other transfer, or lease, of any part of the properties of DTE Energy which does not constitute the entirety, or substantially the entirety, thereof.

Events of Default

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, an event of default with respect to any series of debt securities will be any of the following events:

(1) failure to pay interest on the debt securities of that series, or any additional amounts payable with respect thereto, for 30 days after payment is due;

(2) failure to pay principal or any premium on the debt securities of that series, or any additional amounts payable with respect thereto, when due;

(3) failure to pay any sinking fund installment or analogous payment when due;

 

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(4) failure to perform, or breach of, any other covenant or warranty or obligation of DTE Energy in the indenture for 60 days after we are given written notice by the trustee or we and the trustee are given written notice by the registered owners of at least 25% in principal amount of the debt securities of that series;

(5) default occurs under any bond, note, debenture or other instrument evidencing any indebtedness for money borrowed by DTE Energy (including a default with respect to any other series of debt securities issued under the indenture), or under any mortgage, indenture or other instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness for money borrowed by DTE Energy (or the payment of which is guaranteed by DTE Energy), whether such indebtedness or guarantee exists on the date of the indenture or is issued or entered into following the date of the indenture, if:

 

   

either:

 

   

such default results from failure to pay any such indebtedness when due and such defaulted payment has not been made, waived or extended within 30 days of such payment default; or

 

   

as a result of such default the maturity of such indebtedness has been accelerated prior to its expressed maturity and such indebtedness shall not have been discharged in full or such acceleration has not been rescinded or annulled within 30 days of such acceleration; and

 

   

the principal amount of such indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such indebtedness in default for failure to pay any such indebtedness when due or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates to at least $40 million;

(6) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership or liquidation relating to DTE Energy; or

(7) any other event of default provided with respect to debt securities of that series.

If an event of default with respect to the debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, either the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal amount of the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. At any time after a declaration of acceleration has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of money has been obtained by the trustee, and subject to applicable law and certain other provisions of the indenture, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul the acceleration. If an event of default occurs pertaining to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization specified in the indenture as described in paragraph (6) above, the principal amount and accrued and unpaid interest and any additional amounts payable in respect of the debt securities of that series, or a lesser amount as provided for in the debt securities of that series, will be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act by the trustee or any holder.

The indenture provides that within 90 days after the occurrence of any default under the indenture with respect to the debt securities of any series, the trustee must transmit to the holders of the debt securities of such series, in the manner set forth in the indenture, notice of the default known to the trustee, unless the default has been cured or waived. However, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest or any additional amounts or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to, any debt security of such series, the trustee may withhold such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors or responsible officers of the trustee has in good faith determined that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the holders of debt securities of such series. In addition, in the case of any event of default described in paragraph (4) above, no such notice to holders will be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence of the event of default.

If an event of default occurs and is continuing with respect to the debt securities of any series, the trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the holders of debt securities of such series by all appropriate judicial proceedings.

 

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The indenture further provides that, subject to the duty of the trustee during any default to act with the required standard of care, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of debt securities, unless that requesting holder has offered to the trustee reasonable indemnity. Subject to such provisions for the indemnification of the trustee, and subject to applicable law and certain other provisions of the indenture, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee, with respect to the debt securities of such series.

The indenture provides that no holder of any debt security of a series will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the indenture for the appointment of a receiver or for any other remedy thereunder unless:

 

   

that holder has previously given the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default;

 

   

the holders of 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request to the trustee to institute proceedings in respect of that event of default and have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity against costs and liabilities incurred in complying with such request; and

 

   

for 60 days after receipt of such notice, the trustee has failed to institute any such proceeding and no direction inconsistent with such request has been given to the trustee during such 60-day period by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of that series.

Furthermore, no holder will be entitled to institute any such action if and to the extent that such action would disturb or prejudice the rights of other holders.

However, each holder has an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment when due and to bring a suit to enforce that right.

Under the indenture, we are required to furnish to the trustee annually a statement as to our performance of certain of our obligations under the indenture and as to any default in such performance. We are also required to deliver to the trustee, within five days after occurrence thereof, written notice of any event that after notice or lapse of time or both would constitute an event of default.

Interest Rates and Discounts

The debt securities will earn interest at a fixed or floating rate or rates for the period or periods of time specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will bear interest on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

We may sell debt securities at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate that at the time of issuance is below market rates. Material U.S. federal income tax consequences and special considerations that apply to any series will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Exchange, Registration and Transfer

Registered securities of any series that are not global securities will be exchangeable for other registered securities of the same series and of like aggregate principal amount and tenor in different authorized denominations. In addition, if debt securities of any series are issuable as both registered securities and bearer securities, the holder may choose, upon written request, and subject to the terms of the indenture, to exchange bearer securities and the appropriate related coupons of that series into registered securities of the same series of

 

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any authorized denominations and of like aggregate principal amount and tenor. Bearer securities with attached coupons surrendered in exchange for registered securities between a regular record date or a special record date and the relevant date for interest payment shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to the interest payment date. Interest will not be payable with respect to the registered security issued in exchange for that bearer security. That interest will be payable only to the holder of the coupon when due in accordance with the terms of the indenture. Bearer securities will not be issued in exchange for registered securities.

Holders may present registered securities for registration of transfer, together with a duly executed form of transfer, at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for that purpose with respect to any series of debt securities and referred to in the applicable prospectus supplement. This may be done without service charge but upon payment of any taxes and other governmental charges as described in the indenture. The security registrar or the transfer agent will effect the transfer or exchange upon being satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person making the request. We have appointed the trustee as security registrar for the indenture. If a prospectus supplement refers to any transfer agents initially designated by us with respect to any series of debt securities in addition to the security registrar, we may at any time rescind the designation of any of those transfer agents or approve a change in the location through which any of those transfer agents acts. However, if debt securities of a series are issuable solely as registered securities, we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for that series, and if debt securities of a series are issuable as bearer securities, we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in a place of payment for that series located outside the United States in addition to the security registrar. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents with respect to any series of debt securities.

In the event of any redemption, we will not be required to:

 

   

issue, register the transfer of or exchange debt securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of debt securities of that series to be redeemed and ending at the close of business on:

 

   

the day of the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption if the debt securities are issuable only as registered securities; or

 

   

the day of the first publication of the notice of redemption if the debt securities are issuable as bearer securities, or, if the debt securities are also issuable as registered securities and there is no publication, the mailing of the notice of redemption;

 

   

register the transfer of or exchange any registered security, or portion thereof, selected for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of any registered security being redeemed in part;

 

   

exchange any bearer security so selected for redemption, except to exchange such bearer security for a registered security of that series and like tenor that is simultaneously surrendered for redemption; or

 

   

issue, register the transfer of or exchange any debt security that has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the holder, except the portion, if any, of such debt security not to be so repaid.

Payment and Paying Agents

Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment of principal of, and any premium and interest on, bearer securities will be payable in accordance with any applicable laws and regulations, at the offices of those paying agents outside the United States that we may designate at various times. We will make interest payments on bearer securities and the attached coupons on any interest payment date only against surrender of the coupon relating to that interest payment date. No payment with respect to any bearer security will be made at any of our offices or agencies in the United States by check mailed to any U.S. address or by transfer to an account maintained with a bank located in the United States. If, however, but only if, payment in U.S. dollars of the full amount of principal of, and any premium and interest on, bearer securities denominated and payable in U.S. dollars at all offices or agencies outside the United States is illegal or

 

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effectively precluded by exchange controls or other similar restrictions, then those payments will be made at the office of our paying agent in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York.

Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment of principal of, and any premium and interest on, registered securities will be made at the office of the paying agent or paying agents that we designate at various times. However, at our option, we may make interest payments by check mailed to the address, as it appears in the security register, of the person entitled to the payments. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make payment of any installment of interest on registered securities to the person in whose name that registered security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest.

Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the corporate trust office of the trustee in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, will be designated:

 

   

as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities that are issuable solely as registered securities; and

 

   

as our paying agent in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, for payments with respect to debt securities, subject to the limitation described above in the case of bearer securities, that are issuable solely as bearer securities or as both registered securities and bearer securities.

We will name any paying agents outside the United States and any other paying agents in the United States initially designated by us for the debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may at any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts. However, if debt securities of a series are issuable solely as registered securities, we will be required to maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for that series. If debt securities of a series are issuable as bearer securities, we will be required to maintain:

 

   

a paying agent in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, for payments with respect to any registered securities of the series and for payments with respect to bearer securities of the series in the circumstance described above, but not otherwise; and

 

   

a paying agent in a place of payment located outside the United States where debt securities of that series and any attached coupons may be presented and surrendered for payment.

However, if the debt securities of that series are listed on a stock exchange located outside the United States, and if the stock exchange requires it, we will maintain a paying agent in any required city located outside the United States for those debt securities.

All monies we pay to a paying agent for the payment of principal of, and any premium or interest on, any debt security or coupon that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after becoming due and payable will be repaid to us. After that time, the holder of the debt security or coupon may look only to us for payments out of those repaid amounts.

Global Securities

The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global certificates that we will deposit with a depository identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Global securities may be issued in either registered or bearer form and in either temporary or permanent form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual debt securities it represents, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole:

 

   

by the applicable depository to a nominee of the depository;

 

   

by any nominee to the depository itself or another nominee; or

 

   

by the depository or any nominee to a successor depository or any nominee of the successor.

 

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To the extent not described below and under the heading “Book-Entry Securities,” we will describe the terms of the depository arrangement with respect to a series of debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement. We anticipate that the following provisions will generally apply to depository arrangements.

As long as the depository for a global security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of that global security, the depository or nominee will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the indenture. Except as provided under “Book-Entry Securities” or in any applicable prospectus supplement, owners of beneficial interests in a global security:

 

   

will not be entitled to have any of the underlying debt securities registered in their names;

 

   

will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of any of the underlying debt securities in definitive form;

 

   

will not be considered the owners or holders under the indenture relating to those debt securities; and

 

   

will not be able to transfer or exchange the global debt securities, except in the limited circumstances as described in this prospectus or any supplement.

The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the owner’s ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global security.

Payments of principal of, and any premium and interest on, individual debt securities represented by a global security registered in the name of a depository or its nominee will be made to the depository or its nominee as the registered owner of the global security representing such debt securities. Neither we, the trustee, any paying agent nor the registrar for the debt securities will be responsible for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made by the depository or any participants on account of beneficial interests of the global security.

For a description of the depository arrangements for global securities held by The Depository Trust Company, see “Book-Entry Securities.”

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

We may discharge certain obligations to holders of any series of debt securities that have not already been delivered to the trustee for cancellation and that:

 

   

have become due and payable;

 

   

will become due and payable within one year; or

 

   

are scheduled for redemption within one year.

To discharge the obligations with respect to a series of debt securities, we must deposit with the trustee, in trust, an amount of funds in U.S. dollars or in the foreign currency in which those debt securities are payable. The deposited amount must be sufficient to pay the entire amount of principal of, and any premium, interest and additional amounts on, those debt securities to the date of the deposit if those debt securities have become due and payable or to the maturity or redemption date of the debt securities, as the case may be; provided, however, we have paid all other sums payable under the indenture with respect to the debt securities, and certain other conditions are met.

Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may elect:

 

   

to defease and be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to those debt securities, which we refer to as “defeasance;” or

 

   

with respect to any debt securities, to be released from certain covenant obligations as described in the related prospectus supplement, as may be provided for under Section 301 of the indenture, which we refer to as “covenant defeasance.”

 

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In the case of defeasance we will still retain some obligations in respect of the debt securities, including our obligations:

 

   

to pay additional amounts, if any, upon the occurrence of certain events of taxation, assessment or governmental charge with respect to payments on the debt securities;

 

   

to register the transfer or exchange of the debt securities;

 

   

to replace temporary or mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities; and

 

   

to maintain an office or agency with respect to the debt securities and to hold monies for payment in trust.

After a covenant defeasance, any omission to comply with the obligations or covenants that have been defeased shall not constitute a default or an event of default with respect to the debt securities.

To elect either defeasance or covenant defeasance we must deposit with the trustee, in trust, an amount, in U.S. dollars or in the foreign currency in which the relevant debt securities are payable at stated maturity, or in government obligations, as defined below, or both, applicable to such debt securities. The deposit will provide through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms, money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on (and, to the extent that (1) the debt securities of such series provide for the payment of additional amounts and (2) we may reasonably determine the amount of any such additional amounts at the time of deposit (in the exercise of our sole discretion), any such additional amounts with respect to) such debt securities, and any mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments thereon, on their scheduled due dates.

In addition, we can only elect defeasance or covenant defeasance if, among other things:

 

   

the defeasance or covenant defeasance does not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which we are a party or by which we are bound;

 

   

no event of default or event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become an event of default with respect to the debt securities to be defeased will have occurred and be continuing on the date of the deposit of funds with the trustee and, with respect to defeasance only, at any time during the period ending on the 123rd day after the date of the deposit of funds with the trustee; and

 

   

we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the defeasance had not occurred, and the opinion of counsel, in the case of defeasance, must refer to and be based upon a letter ruling of the Internal Revenue Service received by us, a Revenue Ruling published by the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable U.S. federal income tax law occurring after the date of the indenture.

The indenture deems a foreign currency to be any currency, currency unit or composite currency including, without limitation, the euro, issued by the government of one or more countries other than the United States or by any recognized confederation or association of governments.

The indenture defines government obligations as securities that are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer or issuers and are:

 

   

direct obligations of the United States or the government or governments in the confederation that issued the foreign currency in which the debt securities of a particular series are payable, for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged; or

 

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obligations of a person or entity controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States or the government or governments that issued the foreign currency in which the debt securities of a particular series are payable, the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States or that other government or governments.

Government obligations also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any government obligation described above or a specific payment of interest on or principal of or any other amount with respect to any government obligation held by that custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt, as long as, except as required by law, that custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of the depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian with respect to the government obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of or any other amount with respect to the government obligation evidenced by the depositary receipt.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, if, after we have deposited funds and/or government obligations to effect defeasance or covenant defeasance with respect to debt securities of any series, either:

 

   

the holder of a debt security of that series is entitled to, and does, elect to receive payment in a currency other than that in which such deposit has been made in respect of that debt security; or

 

   

a conversion event, as defined below, occurs in respect of the foreign currency in which the deposit has been made,

the indebtedness represented by that debt security shall be deemed to have been, and will be, fully discharged and satisfied through the payment of the principal of, and any premium and interest on, and additional amounts, if any, with respect to, that debt security as that debt security becomes due out of the proceeds yielded by converting the amount or other properties so deposited in respect of that debt security into the currency in which that debt security becomes payable as a result of the election or conversion event based on:

 

   

in the case of payments made pursuant to the first of the two items in the list above, the applicable market exchange rate for the currency in effect on the second business day prior to the date of the payment; or

 

   

with respect to a conversion event, the applicable market exchange rate for such foreign currency in effect, as nearly as feasible, at the time of the conversion event.

The indenture defines a “conversion event” as the cessation of use of:

 

   

a foreign currency both by the government of the country or the confederation that issued such foreign currency and for the settlement of transactions by a central bank or other public institutions of or within the international banking community; or

 

   

any currency unit or composite currency for the purposes for which it was established.

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, all payments of principal of, and any premium and interest on, any debt security that are payable in a foreign currency that ceases to be used by the government or confederation of issuance shall be made in U.S. dollars.

If we effect a covenant defeasance with respect to any debt securities and the debt securities are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any event of default other than an event of default with respect to which there has been covenant defeasance, the amount in the foreign currency in which the debt securities are payable, and government obligations on deposit with the trustee, will be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities at the time of the stated maturity but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities at the time of the acceleration resulting from the event of default. However, we would remain liable for payment of the amounts due at the time of acceleration.

 

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The applicable prospectus supplement may further describe the provisions, if any, permitting defeasance or covenant defeasance, including any modifications to the provisions described above, with respect to the debt securities of or within a particular series.

Modification and Waiver

DTE Energy and the trustee may generally modify certain provisions of the indenture with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of each series affected by the modification, except that no such modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holder of each debt security affected thereby:

 

   

change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of, or any premium or interest on, or any additional amounts with respect to, any debt security issued under the indenture;

 

   

reduce the principal amount of, or premium or interest on, or any additional amounts with respect to, any debt security issued under the indenture;

 

   

change the place of payment or the coin or currency in which any debt security issued under that indenture or any premium or any interest on that debt security or any additional amounts with respect to that debt security is payable;

 

   

reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities, the consent of whose holders is required under the indenture in order to take certain actions;

 

   

change any of our obligations to maintain an office or agency in the places and for the purposes required by the indenture;

 

   

if the debt securities are convertible or exchangeable, modify the conversion or exchange provision in a manner adverse to holders of that debt security;

 

   

in the case of a subordinated debt security, modify any of the subordination provisions in a manner adverse to holders of that debt security;

 

   

impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the stated maturity of any debt securities issued under that indenture or, in the case of redemption, exchange or conversion, if applicable, on or after the redemption, exchange or conversion date or, in the case of repayment at the option of any holder, if applicable, on or after the date for repayment; or

 

   

modify any of the above provisions or certain provisions regarding the waiver of past defaults or the waiver of certain covenants, with limited exceptions.

In addition, we and the trustee may, without the consent of any holders, modify provisions of the indenture for certain purposes, including, among other things:

 

   

evidencing the succession of another person to DTE Energy and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of DTE Energy in the indenture and in the debt securities;

 

   

adding to the covenants of DTE Energy for the benefit of the holders of debt securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of debt securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or surrendering any right or power herein conferred upon DTE Energy with respect to the debt securities;

 

   

adding any additional events of default with respect to the debt securities (and, if such event of default is applicable to less than all series of debt securities, specifying the series to which such event of default is applicable);

 

   

adding to or changing any provisions of the indenture to provide that bearer debt securities may be registrable, changing or eliminating any restrictions on the payment of principal of (or premium, if any)

 

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or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to bearer debt securities, permitting bearer debt securities to be issued in exchange for registered debt securities, permitting bearer debt securities to be issued in exchange for bearer debt securities of other authorized denominations or facilitating the issuance of debt securities in uncertificated form provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the debt securities in any material respect;

 

   

establishing the form or terms of debt securities of any series;

 

   

evidencing and providing for the acceptance of appointment of a successor trustee and adding to or changing any of the provisions of the indenture to facilitate the administration of the trusts;

 

   

curing any ambiguity, correcting or supplementing any provision in the indenture that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision therein, or making or amending any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the indenture which shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of debt securities of any series in any material respect;

 

   

modifying, eliminating or adding to the provisions of the indenture to maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act as the same may be amended from time to time;

 

   

adding to, deleting from or revising the conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of debt securities, as therein set forth;

 

   

modifying, eliminating or adding to the provisions of any security to allow for such security to be held in certificated form;

 

   

securing the debt securities;

 

   

making provisions with respect to conversion or exchange rights of holders of securities of any series;

 

   

amending or supplementing any provision contained therein or in any supplemental indenture, provided that no such amendment or supplement will adversely affect the interests of the holders of any debt securities then outstanding in any material respect; or

 

   

modifying, deleting or adding to any of the provisions of the indenture other than as contemplated above.

The holders of at least 662/3% in aggregate principal amount of debt securities of any series issued under the indenture may, on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series, waive our compliance with certain restrictive provisions of the indenture. The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of debt securities of any series issued under the indenture may, on behalf of all holders of debt securities of that series, waive any past default and its consequences under the indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series, except:

 

   

payment default with respect to debt securities of that series; or

 

   

a default of a covenant or provision of the indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each debt security of that series.

Resignation and Removal of the Trustee; Deemed Resignation

The trustee may resign at any time with respect to the debt securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to us.

The trustee may also be removed with respect to the debt securities of any series by act of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of such series.

No resignation or removal of such trustee and no appointment of a successor trustee will become effective until the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee in accordance with the requirements of the indenture.

 

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Under certain circumstances, we may appoint a successor trustee and if the successor accepts, the retiring trustee will be deemed to have resigned.

Governing Law

The indenture is governed by, and will be construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

Concerning the Trustee

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., is the successor trustee under the indenture. In addition to acting as trustee under the indenture and in certain other capacities as described in this prospectus, the trustee and its affiliates may act as trustee under various other indentures, trusts and guarantees of DTE Energy and its affiliates and may act as a lender and provide other banking, trust and investment services for DTE Energy and its affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

The Trust Indenture Act contains limitations on the rights of the trustee, should it become a creditor of DTE Energy, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases or to realize on certain property received by it in respect of any such claims, as security or otherwise. The trustee is permitted to engage in other transactions with DTE Energy and its subsidiaries from time to time, provided that if the trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict upon the occurrence of an event of default under the indenture, or else resign.

DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS

We may issue stock purchase contracts, including contracts that obligate holders to purchase from us, and obligate us to sell to these holders, a specified number of shares of common stock or preferred stock at a future date or dates. The consideration per share of common stock or preferred stock may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may be issued separately or as a part of stock purchase units consisting of a stock purchase contract and either our debt securities or debt securities of third parties including, but not limited to, U.S. Treasury securities, that would secure the holders’ obligations to purchase the common stock or preferred stock under the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of some or all of the stock purchase units or vice versa, and such payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The stock purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under these stock purchase contracts in a specified manner.

The applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials will describe the terms of the stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units and will contain a discussion of the material federal income tax considerations applicable to the stock purchase contracts and stock purchase units. The description in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials will not necessarily be complete, and reference will be made for additional information to the purchase contract agreement or unit purchase agreement, as applicable, that we will enter into at the time of issue, and, if applicable, collateral or depositary arrangements, relating to the stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units.

BOOK-ENTRY SECURITIES

Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, the securities, other than our common stock, will be represented by one or more global securities. Each global security will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC and registered in the name of a nominee of DTC.

 

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Portions of the following information concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry only system have been obtained from sources, including DTC, that we believe to be reliable. We make no representation as to the accuracy of such information.

DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds and provides asset servicing for U.S. and non-U.S. equity issues, corporate and municipal debt issues and money market instruments that DTC’s participants (“Direct Participants”) deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among Direct Participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities, through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between Direct Participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct Participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”). DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly (“Indirect Participants”). The DTC Rules applicable to its Participants are on file with the SEC.

Purchases of global securities under the DTC system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the global securities on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each security (“Beneficial Owner”) is in turn to be recorded on the Direct and Indirect Participants’ records. Beneficial Owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase, but Beneficial Owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the Direct or Indirect Participant through which the Beneficial Owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of Direct and Indirect Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the global securities except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the global securities is discontinued.

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all global securities deposited by Direct Participants with DTC will be registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co. or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of global securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other nominee will effect no change in beneficial ownership. DTC will have no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the global securities; DTC’s records will reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts such securities are credited, which may or may not be the Beneficial Owners. The Direct and Indirect Participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Beneficial Owners may wish to take certain steps to augment transmission to them of notices of significant events with respect to the global securities, such as redemptions, tenders, defaults and proposed amendments to the Indenture. Beneficial Owners may wish to ascertain that the nominee holding the global securities for their benefit has agreed to obtain and transmit notices to the Beneficial Owners. In the alternative, Beneficial Owners may wish to provide their names and addresses to the registrar and request that copies of notices be provided directly to them.

 

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Any redemption notices will be sent to DTC. If less than all of a series of global securities are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each Direct Participant to be redeemed.

Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor any other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to securities unless authorized by a Direct Participant in accordance with DTC’s procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an Omnibus Proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The Omnibus Proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose accounts the securities are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the Omnibus Proxy).

Principal and interest payments, distributions and dividend payments and redemption proceeds, if any, on the global securities will be made to Cede & Co. or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit Direct Participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from the trustee or agent on the payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. Payments by Direct and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street-name,” and will be the responsibility of such Participants and not of DTC, the trustee or agent for such securities or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of principal, premium, if any, interest, distributions and dividend payments and redemption proceeds, if any, to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC) is the responsibility of the appropriate trustee or agent and us, disbursement of such payments to Direct Participants is the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the Beneficial Owners is the responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.

DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depository with respect to the securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to us or the trustee. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor securities depository is not obtained, certificates representing the securities are required to be printed and delivered.

We may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry-only transfers through DTC (or a successor securities depository), subject to the procedures of DTC. In that event, certificates representing the securities will be printed and delivered to DTC.

The underwriters, dealers or agents of any of the securities may be direct participants of DTC.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

DTE Energy may sell the securities through agents, underwriters or dealers, or directly to one or more purchasers without using underwriters or agents.

DTE Energy may designate one or more agents to sell the securities. Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement, the agents will agree to use their reasonable efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment or to sell securities on a continuing basis.

If DTE Energy uses underwriters for a sale of securities, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The underwriters may sell the securities directly or through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters. Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the securities offered if any of those securities are purchased. If DTE Energy uses a dealer in the

 

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sale, it will sell the securities to the dealer as principal. The dealer may then resell those securities at varying prices determined at the time of resale. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement and may be changed from time to time.

Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities may be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act and any discounts or commissions they receive from DTE Energy and any profit on their resale of the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. The applicable prospectus supplement will identify any underwriters, dealers or agents and will describe their compensation. DTE Energy may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with or perform services for us or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of their businesses.

Trading Markets and Listing of Securities

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each class or series of securities will be a new issue with no established trading market, other than the common stock, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. DTE Energy may elect to list any other class or series of securities on any exchange but is not obligated to do so. It is possible that one or more underwriters may make a market in a class or series of securities, but the underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice DTE Energy cannot give any assurance as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of the securities.

Stabilization Activities

Any underwriter may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, syndicate-covering transactions and penalty bids under the Exchange Act. Over-allotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a syndicate short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Syndicate-covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover syndicate short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions. These stabilizing activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities and certain other legal matters will be passed upon for DTE Energy by JoAnn Chávez, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer. Ms. Chávez beneficially owns shares of DTE Energy common stock. Except as otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement, certain legal matters relating to the securities will be passed upon for any underwriters, dealers or agents by Bracewell LLP, New York, New York.

Bracewell LLP has represented, and may in the future continue to represent, us and certain of our affiliates in connection with matters unrelated to the offering of securities described in this prospectus.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s report on internal control over financial reporting)

 

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incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

Available Information

We file annual, quarterly and special reports, and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov.

We maintain a web site at http://www.dteenergy.com, that contains information about us. The information on our web site is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and you should not consider it part of this prospectus.

Incorporation by Reference

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than information in such documents that is deemed not to be filed):

 

   

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 (including information specifically incorporated by reference into DTE Energy’s Form 10-K from DTE Energy’s definitive Proxy Statement for its 2022 annual meeting of shareholders filed on March 17, 2022;

 

   

Current Reports on Form  8-K filed February  8, February  22, and March 10, 2022; and

 

   

Description of DTE Energy common stock on Form 8-B, filed on January 2, 1996.

Each of these documents is available from the SEC’s web site described above. We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, on the written or oral request of that person, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated in this prospectus or in any related prospectus supplement by reference, excluding the exhibits to those documents unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference therein. You may make such a request by writing or telephoning DTE Energy Investor Relations at:

DTE Energy Company

Attention: Investor Relations, 1150 WCB

One Energy Plaza

Detroit, Michigan 48226-1279

(313) 235-8030

 

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