39 added · 27 removed between the two most recent 10-Ks. The risks a company starts — or stops — disclosing are often the story.
Newly disclosed
For discussion of these risks, refer to the risk factor under the heading “ The planned acquisition of CenterPoint Ohio may limit our financial flexibility. ” The regulatory, legislative, consumer behaviors and capital access developments related to climate change may adversely affect operations and financial results.
RISKS RELATED TO OUR PLANNED ACQUISITION OF CENTERPOINT OHIO Our planned acquisition of CenterPoint Ohio may not occur at all or may not occur in the expected time frame, which may negatively affect the trading price of our stock and our future business and financial results.
The Securities Purchase Agreement includes customary termination rights for both the Company and the Seller, including the right of either party to terminate the agreement if the planned acquisition of CenterPoint Ohio has not been consummated within eighteen months following the execution date of the Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Outside Date”).
If the planned acquisition of CenterPoint Ohio is not completed, or if there are significant delays in completing the planned acquisition, it may negatively affect the trading price of our stock and our future business and financial results.
Although we have obtained committed financing for the entirety of the purchase price, we expect to obtain permanent financing for the planned acquisition by accessing the capital markets, which may include the issuance of long-term debt and equity.
If we are not able to obtain permanent financing on favorable terms, we may be required to finance a portion of the purchase price of the planned acquisition at interest rates higher than currently expected, which could limit our financial flexibility.
The degree to which we will be leveraged following the completion of the planned acquisition could require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to the payment of debt service, reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, and other general corporate purposes.
In addition, we may be subject to financial risks related to our planned acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio, LLC (“CenterPoint Ohio”) from CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.
In addition, our ability to make payments on our debt, fund our other liquidity needs, and make planned capital expenditures following the planned acquisition of CenterPoint Ohio will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future.
Accordingly, we may not realize the anticipated benefits from the planned acquisition, including growth opportunities, and these benefits may be offset by costs incurred to integrate, or delays in integrating, the businesses.
Pursuant to the CLCPA, in December 2022, New York’s Climate Action Council (“CAC”) approved a final scoping plan that includes -13- recommendations to strategically downsize and decarbonize the natural gas system and curtail use of natural gas and natural gas appliances, as well as recommendations to meet the CLCPA’s emissions reduction targets in the transportation, buildings, electricity, industry, agriculture & forestry and waste sectors.
In addition, in October 2025, a New York State court directed NYDEC to promulgate rules and regulations to ensure compliance with emissions reductions limits outlined in the CLCPA by February 6, 2026, which may include such a cap-and-invest program.
No longer disclosed
For example, in August 2022, the federal Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law, which includes a waste emissions charge that is expected to be applicable to the annual methane emissions of certain oil and gas facilities, above specified methane intensity thresholds, for emissions reported to the U.S.
Under the Company’s existing indenture covenants, an impairment will restrict the Company’s ability to issue incremental long-term unsecured indebtedness for a period of time, beginning with the fourth calendar month following the impairment and ending not later than June 13, 2025, the maturity date of the Company’s remaining indebtedness outstanding under its 1974 indenture.
Given the October and November prices, and the expected replacement of higher gas prices with lower gas prices in the historical 12-month average that will be used in the ceiling test calculation at December 31, 2024, the Company expects to record a ceiling test impairment for the quarter ending December 31, 2024, and could record additional ceiling test impairments in fiscal 2025.
The Company recorded a pre-tax impairment under the ceiling test during the quarter ended June 30, 2024 in the amount of $200.7 million, and during the quarter ended September 30, 2024 in the amount of $263.0 million.
For example, the Company is currently negotiating with two collective bargaining units in New York for agreements that expire in February 2025.
For example, to issue incremental long-term debt, subject to certain exceptions, the Company must meet an interest coverage test under its 1974 indenture.
In light of impairments recognized in fiscal 2024, the Company expects to be precluded from issuing incremental long-term debt from January 1, 2025 to June 13, 2025, the maturity date of the Company’s remaining indebtedness outstanding under the 1974 indenture.
The final scoping plan was approved on December 19, 2022 and includes detailed recommendations to meet the CLCPA’s emissions reduction targets in the transportation, buildings, electricity, industry, agriculture & forestry and waste sectors.
On April 22, 2021, the federal administration announced the U.S. nationally determined contribution to achieve a fifty to fifty-two percent reduction from 2005 levels in economy-wide net greenhouse gas pollution by 2030.
As a result, an impairment can impact the Company’s ability to maintain compliance with the debt to capitalization covenant set forth in its committed credit facility.
However, to the extent a need arises to issue such incremental long-term debt, the Company expects to be able to place future principal and interest payments in trust for the benefit of bondholders pursuant to the terms of the 1974 indenture.
In addition to the $1.4 billion, another $500 million of the Company’s outstanding long-term debt would be subject to an interest rate increase based solely on a downgrade of a credit rating assigned to the notes below investment grade, regardless of any additional fundamental changes.