HONOLULU and JUNO BEACH, Fla., Feb.
1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:
NEE) and Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (NYSE: HE) (HEI) today
announced that support for the companies' proposed merger continues
to increase, as evidenced by the more than 50 different groups that
have voiced support for the transaction, including most recently,
the Hawaii Business Roundtable.
"We're extremely pleased that so many broad and diverse
interests from throughout Hawaii,
from small businesses to organized labor and large organizations,
have expressed strong support for the combination of our two
companies and the significant benefits it will bring to
Hawaii," said Eric Gleason, president of NextEra Energy
Hawaii. "Hawaii is a special
place, particularly where it concerns clean energy, and we look
forward to continuing to engage with customers and communities as
we work to deliver a more affordable, renewable energy future."
"We are grateful for all the support we continue to receive for
the proposed merger," said Alan
Oshima, Hawaiian Electric's president and chief executive
officer. "This merger will deliver significant benefits to our
customers, employees, and communities. With its renewable energy
expertise, technological know-how, and financial strength, NextEra
Energy is the right partner to help us realize the clean energy
future we all want for Hawaii."
The following chambers of commerce, labor unions, local
companies and community organizations have voiced support for the
proposed merger:
Most recent:
- ACW Ventures
- Aloha Surf Academy
- Betsill Brothers LLC
- Blue Hawaiian Helicopters
- Elite Parking
- Energy Excelerator
- Hawaii Business Roundtable
- HIFG Hawaii Facilities Group
- Ho'okipa Transportation
- Island Flooring Company Inc.
- Kaiuli Energy
- Makaha Valley Country Club
- Makani Nui Associates LLC
- Maui Innovation Group LLC
- Mountain View Dairy
- Nā Hōkūwelo
- Native Hawaii Hospitality Association
- Olomana Golf Club
- Pacific Links Hawaii
- Royal Hawaiian Golf Club
- Smith Wong Projects
Already voiced support:
- Hawaii State AFL-CIO
- Hawaii Construction Alliance
- Building Industry Association (BIA) - Hawaii
- International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers
Local 1
- Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters
- Operative Plasterers' and Cement Masons' Local 630
- Chamber of Commerce Hawaii
- Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce
- Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii
- Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii
- Hawaii Korean Chamber of Commerce
- Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Hawaii
- Kaua'i Chamber of
Commerce
- Kapolei Chamber of
Commerce
- Moloka'i Chamber of Commerce
- Hunt Companies
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local
1186
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local
1260
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local
1357
- KTA Superstores
- L&L Hawaiian Barbecue
- Makai Ocean Engineering
- Nalo Farms
- Navy League Honolulu Council
- Pacific Resource Partnership
- Partners in Development Foundation
- Stanford Carr Development
- United Public Workers Local 646
- Wai'anae Coast Community Foundation
NextEra Energy, Inc.
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) is a leading clean energy
company with consolidated revenues of approximately $17.0
billion, approximately 44,900 megawatts of generating capacity,
which includes megawatts associated with non-controlling interests
related to NextEra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE: NEP), and
approximately 13,800 employees in 27 states and Canada as
of year-end 2014. Headquartered in Juno Beach, Fla., NextEra
Energy's principal subsidiaries are Florida Power & Light
Company, which serves approximately 4.8 million customer accounts
in Florida and is one of the largest rate-regulated
electric utilities in the United
States, and NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which,
together with its affiliated entities, is the world's largest
generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun. NextEra Energy
has been recognized often by third parties for its efforts in
sustainability, corporate responsibility, ethics and compliance,
and diversity, and has been ranked in the top 10 worldwide for
innovativeness and community responsibility as part of Fortune's
2015 list of "World's Most Admired Companies." For more information
about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites:
www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.
Hawaiian Electric Company
Hawaiian Electric and its subsidiaries, Maui Electric and Hawaii
Electric Light, serve the islands of O'ahu, Maui, Lāna'i, Moloka'i and Hawaii, home to 95 percent of the population
of Hawaii. Hawaiian Electric's
parent company is Hawaiian Electric Industries (NYSE: HE), which
has been named one of "America's 100 Most Trustworthy Companies
2015" by Forbes.
In a changing world, the Hawaiian Electric Companies are taking
the lead in adding renewable energy and developing energy solutions
for their customers to achieve a clean energy future for
Hawaii. For more information,
visit www.hawaiianelectric.com.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This document contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or
phrases such as "may," "will," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect,"
"project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "predict," and "target" and
other words and terms of similar meaning. Forward-looking
statements involve estimates, expectations, projections, goals,
forecasts, assumptions, risks and uncertainties. NEE and HEI
caution readers that any forward-looking statement is not a
guarantee of future performance and that actual results could
differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking
statement. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not
limited to, statements about the anticipated benefits of the
proposed merger involving NEE and HEI, including future financial
or operating results of NEE or HEI, NEE's or HEI's plans,
objectives, expectations or intentions, the expected timing of
completion of the transaction, the value, as of the completion of
the merger or spin-off of HEI's bank subsidiary or as of any other
date in the future, of any consideration to be received in the
merger or the spin-off in the form of stock or any other security,
and other statements that are not historical facts. Important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those indicated by any such forward-looking statements include
risks and uncertainties relating to: the risk that NEE or HEI may
be unable to obtain governmental and regulatory approvals required
for the merger or the spin-off, or required governmental and
regulatory approvals may delay the merger or the spin-off or result
in the imposition of conditions that could cause the parties to
abandon the transaction; the risk that a condition to closing of
the merger or the completion of the spin-off may not be satisfied;
the timing to consummate the proposed merger and the expected
timing of the completion of the spin-off; the risk that the
businesses will not be integrated successfully; the risk that the
cost savings and any other synergies from the transaction,
including the value of a potential tax basis step up, may not be
fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected;
disruption from the transaction making it more difficult to
maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers; the
diversion of management time and attention on merger and
spin-off-related issues; general worldwide economic conditions and
related uncertainties; the effect and timing of changes in laws or
in governmental regulations (including environmental); fluctuations
in trading prices of securities and in the financial results of
NEE, HEI or any of their subsidiaries; the timing and extent of
changes in interest rates, commodity prices and demand and market
prices for electricity; and other factors discussed or referred to
in the "Risk Factors" section of HEI's or NEE's most recent Annual
Reports on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC"). These risks, as well as other risks
associated with the merger, are more fully discussed in the
definitive proxy statement/prospectus that is included in the
Registration Statement on Form S-4 that NEE filed with the SEC in
connection with the merger. Additional risks and uncertainties are
identified and discussed in NEE's and HEI's reports filed with the
SEC and available at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Each
forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the
particular statement and neither NEE nor HEI undertakes any
obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
NextEra Energy Contacts
Robert
L. Gould
Vice President, Chief Communications Officer
561-694-4442
Debra Larsson
Manager, Financial and Sustainability Communication
561-694-4442
Hawaiian Electric Company Contact
Lynne Unemori
Vice President, Corporate Relations
808-543-7972
Hawaiian Electric Industries Contact
A.J. Halagao
Manager, Corporate & Community Advancement
808-543-5889
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visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/support-for-proposed-merger-of-nextera-energy-and-hawaiian-electric-industries-continues-to-grow-300212971.html
SOURCE NextEra Energy, Inc.; Hawaiian Electric Industries,
Inc.