0000067716false12/3100000677162025-02-142025-02-14


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 14, 2025 (February 13, 2025)

MDU Resources Group, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware1-0348030-1133956
(State or other jurisdiction of(Commission File Number)(IRS Employer Identification No.)
incorporation)

1200 West Century Avenue
P.O. Box 5650
Bismarck, North Dakota
(Address of principal executive offices)
58506
(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (701) 530-1000

N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:
Title of each classTrading Symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $1.00 per shareMDUNew York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.





Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On February 13, 2025, Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. (the “Buyer”), a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of MDU Resources Group, Inc. (the “Company”), entered into a definitive Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Badger Wind, LLC (the “Seller,” and together with the Buyer, the “Parties”), a Delaware limited liability company, and a subsidiary of Orsted Onshore North America, LLC. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the Buyer will purchase a 49% undivided ownership interest in a wind project being constructed and located in North Dakota (the “Facility”) that is anticipated to have a net generating capacity of approximately 250 megawatts for a purchase price of $294.0 million in cash (the “Purchase Price”), which would represent 122.5 megawatts of wind generation to be owned by the Buyer (the “Transaction”). The Transaction will reduce the Buyer’s purchase requirements from the Facility under an existing power purchase agreement between the Parties, dated as of November 4, 2024.

The Parties have agreed to customary representations, warranties, and covenants in the Agreement. Subject to certain limitations, the Parties are required to indemnify each other for certain losses resulting from breaches of their respective representations and warranties made in the Agreement and for certain other matters, in each case, as set forth in the Agreement. Subject to the deductibles and terms and conditions set forth in the Agreement, the cumulative and aggregate liability of the Seller or the Buyer, as applicable, with respect to any breach of certain of its respective representations and warranties will not exceed 15% of the Purchase Price actually received by the Seller. The cumulative and aggregate liability of the Seller or the Buyer, as applicable, will not exceed 100% of the Purchase Price actually received by the Seller, subject to certain exceptions.

The closing of the Transaction (the “Closing”) is subject to customary conditions, including, among others, (i) the accuracy of the Parties’ representations and warranties and the compliance by the Parties with the covenants set forth in the Agreement, subject to certain materiality qualifications, (ii) the execution and delivery by the Parties of the ancillary agreements contemplated by the Agreement, and (iii) the receipt of certain regulatory and other consents and approvals, including any waiting periods (including any extensions thereof) applicable to the consummation of the Transaction under the United States Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, having expired or been terminated. The Closing shall take place following satisfaction or waiver of all conditions precedent, or on such other date as the Parties may mutually agree.

During the period between the date of the Agreement and the Closing (or, if earlier, the termination of the Agreement), the Seller has agreed to conduct its business in the usual and ordinary course, consistent with past practices, and has agreed to certain other customary operating covenants, as set forth more fully in the Agreement. The Seller has also agreed not to take certain actions prior to the Closing (or, if earlier, the termination of the Agreement) without the prior written consent of the Buyer.

The Agreement provides for customary termination rights for each of the Parties, including, among other reasons, for termination if (i) the Seller reasonably determines that the total actual or projected construction costs (i.e., certain direct and indirect costs, including administrative and overhead costs, paid or incurred in connection with the planning, engineering, design, development, licensing, permitting, acquisition, construction, reconstruction, completion, performance testing, start-up, and commissioning) for the Facility, as of the date of Closing, would exceed $496.4 million and the Buyer does not elect to fund its ownership share of the excess costs, (ii) the Seller reasonably determines that the total actual or projected construction costs for the Facility, as of the date of Closing, would exceed $509.4 million, or (iii) the Closing has not occurred on or before December 1, 2026.

2



The foregoing summary of the Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated by reference herein. The Agreement has been attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K to provide investors with information regarding its terms. The Agreement is not intended to provide any other factual information about the Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates. The representations, warranties, and covenants contained in the Agreement were made only for purposes of the Agreement as of the specific dates set forth therein, were solely for the benefit of the Parties, may be subject to important qualifications and limitations agreed upon by the Parties for the purposes of allocating contractual risk between such Parties instead of establishing these matters as facts, and may be subject to standards of materiality applicable to such Parties that differ from those applicable to investors. In addition, the assertions embodied in the representations and warranties contained in the Agreement are qualified by information in confidential disclosure schedules delivered by the Seller to the Buyer in connection with the signing of the Agreement. Investors should not rely on the representations, warranties, and covenants or any descriptions thereof as characterizations of the actual state of facts or condition of the Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates, and investors should consider the information in the Agreement in conjunction with the entirety of the factual disclosure about the Company, as applicable, in its public reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of representations and warranties may change after the date of the Agreement, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in the Company’s public disclosures.

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

On February 13, 2025, the Company’s board of directors approved amended and restated bylaws of the Company (as so amended and restated, the “Bylaws”), effective immediately.

Among other things, the Bylaws (i) revise procedures and disclosure requirements for the nomination of directors and the submission of proposals for consideration at annual stockholders’ meetings, including updates with respect to the procedural and informational requirements for the nomination of directors by stockholders relating to the “universal proxy card” rules set forth in Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and (ii) make certain administrative, modernizing, clarifying, and conforming changes.

The foregoing summary and description of the Bylaws does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Bylaws, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 herewith, and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

On February 14, 2025, the Company issued a news release announcing the transaction described in Item 1.01. A copy of the news release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, which, in its entirety, is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.


* Certain schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The Company hereby undertakes to supplementally furnish copies of any omitted schedules and exhibits to the SEC upon request; provided that the Company may request confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act.
3




SIGNATURE

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

Date: February 14, 2025
MDU Resources Group, Inc.
By:/s/ Anthony D. Foti
Name:Anthony D. Foti
Title:Chief Legal Officer
and Corporate Secretary

4
EXHIBIT 3.1 169745278.8 BYLAWS OF (a Delaware corporation) Amended and Restated as of February 13, 2025


 
i 169745278.8 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ARTICLE I OFFICES…………………………………………………… 1 ARTICLE II MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS……………………….. 1 ARTICLE III DIRECTORS……………………………………………… 20 ARTICLE IV NOTICES………………………………………………… 22 ARTICLE V OFFICERS………………………………………………… 22 ARTICLE VI CERTIFICATES OF STOCK……………………………… 25 ARTICLE VII GENERAL PROVISIONS……………………………… 26


 
1 169745278.8 BYLAWS OF MDU RESOURCES GROUP, INC. (a Delaware corporation) Amended and Restated as of February 13, 2025 ARTICLE I OFFICES 1.01 Registered Office. The registered office of MDU Resources Group, Inc. (the “Corporation”) shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware. 1.02 Other Offices. The Corporation may also have offices at such other places, both within and without the State of Delaware, as the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require. ARTICLE II MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS 2.01 Place of Meetings. All meetings of the stockholders for the election of directors of the Board (the “Directors”) shall be held in the City of Bismarck, State of North Dakota, at such place as may be fixed from time to time by the Board, or at such other place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be designated from time to time by the Board, or, in the sole discretion of the Board, by means of remote communication as authorized by the laws of Delaware, as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting. Meetings of stockholders for any other purpose may be held at such time and place, within or without the State of Delaware, or, in the sole discretion of the Board, by means of remote communication as authorized by the laws of Delaware as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof. 2.02 Annual Stockholders’ Meetings; Election of Directors. Annual stockholders’ meetings shall be held at such date, time and place, if any, as shall be designated from time to time by the Board and stated in the notice of the meeting, at which they shall elect a Board and transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting in accordance with these Bylaws (as defined below).


 
2 169745278.8 Unless otherwise required by the Certificate of Incorporation (as defined below), the election of directors shall be by written ballot including, if authorized by the Board, by ballot submitted by electronic transmission in compliance with the laws of Delaware. Except as otherwise provided in the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Corporation, as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time (as so amended and/or restated, the “Certificate of Incorporation”) or these bylaws, as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time (as so amended and/or restated, these “Bylaws”), each director shall be elected by the vote of the majority of the votes cast with respect to the director at any meeting for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, provided that if, as of the date next preceding the date the Corporation first gives its notice of meeting for such meeting of stockholders, the number of nominees (including any nominees stockholders have proposed to nominate by giving notice pursuant to Sections 2.08 or 2.10 hereof) exceeds the number of directors to be elected, the directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at any such meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. For purposes of this Section, a majority of the votes cast means that the number of votes cast “for” a director’s election must exceed the number of votes cast “against” that director’s election (with “abstentions” and “broker nonvotes” not counted as a vote cast either “for” or “against” that director’s election). If directors are to be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at any such meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors, stockholders shall not be permitted to vote “against” a nominee. 2.03 Notice of Annual Stockholders’ Meeting. Notice, in writing or by a form of electronic transmission in compliance with the laws of Delaware, of the annual stockholders’ meeting, stating the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting) and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the annual stockholders’ meeting. 2.04 Stockholders List. The Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, for a period of at least ten (10) days ending on the day before the meeting date: (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation.


 
3 169745278.8 2.05 Notice of Special Meeting. Notice of a special meeting, in writing or by a form of electronic transmission as determined solely by the Board in compliance with the laws of Delaware, stating the place, date and hour of the meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting) and the means of remote communications, if any, by which the stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the special meeting, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. Business transacted at a special meeting of stockholders shall be confined to the purpose or purposes of the meeting specified in the notice of meeting (or supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board. Stockholders may not make nominations for directors or bring any business before a special meeting of stockholders. 2.06 Quorum; Adjournment; and Organization. (a) Quorum. The holders of a majority of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business, except as provided herein and except as otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the meeting may be adjourned from time to time in accordance with paragraph (b) of this Section 2.06 until a quorum shall be so present or represented. A quorum, once established, shall not be broken by the subsequent withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum. For purposes of the foregoing, where a separate vote by a class or classes is required for any matter, the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of such class or classes entitled to vote, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum to take action with respect to that vote on that matter, except as provided herein and except as otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation. Two or more classes or series of stock shall be considered a single class if the holders thereof are entitled to vote together as a single class at the meeting. (b) Adjournment. Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, whether or not a quorum is present, may be adjourned for any reason from time to time by either (i) the chairperson of the meeting or (ii) the stockholders by the vote of the holders of a majority of the stock entitled to vote, present in person or represented by proxy, without notice of the adjourned meeting, if the time and place thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At such adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if, after the adjournment, a new record date is fixed by the Board for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. (c) Organization. Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairperson of the Board, or in the absence or inability to act of the Chairperson of the Board by the Chief Executive Officer, or in the absence or inability to act of the Chief Executive Officer by a person designated by the Board, or in the absence or inability to act of such designation by a chairperson chosen at


 
4 169745278.8 the meeting. The Corporate Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence or his or her inability to act the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting. The order of business at each such meeting shall be as determined by the chairperson of the meeting. The chairperson of the meeting shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts and things as, in the judgment of the chairperson of the meeting, are necessary or desirable for the proper conduct of the meeting and are not inconsistent with any rules or regulations adopted by the Board , including the establishment of procedures for the maintenance of order and safety, limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments on the affairs of the Corporation, restrictions on entry to such meeting after the time prescribed for the commencement thereof and the opening and closing of the voting polls for each item upon which a vote is to be taken. Rules, regulations or procedures established by the chairperson of the meeting need not be in writing. 2.07 Voting Rights. When a quorum is present at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority of the stock having voting power, present in person or represented by proxy, shall decide any question brought before such meeting, unless the question is one upon which, by express provision of the statutes, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder shall, at every meeting of the stockholders, be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of the capital stock having voting power held by such stockholder, but no proxy shall be voted on after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. 2.08 Nominations for Director. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of the Corporation may be made only (a) at any meeting of stockholders, by or at the direction of the Board, (b) at an annual stockholders’ meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 2.08 is given to the Corporate Secretary and continues to be a stockholder of record at the time of the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting upon the election of directors and who has complied with the procedures established by this Section 2.08 and with the requirements of Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act or (c) at an annual stockholders’ meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who satisfies the requirements of, and complies with the procedures established by, Section 2.10; clauses (b) and (c) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations at an annual stockholders’ meeting. For a nomination to be properly brought before an annual stockholders’ meeting by a stockholder under this Section 2.08, the stockholder intending to make the nomination (the “Section 2.08 Proponent”) must have given timely and proper notice thereof in writing to the Corporate Secretary, in accordance with, and containing all information required by, this Section 2.08. To be timely, a Section 2.08 Proponent’s notice must be delivered or mailed to the Corporate Secretary and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual stockholders’ meeting and not later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual stockholders’ meeting; provided, however, in the event the annual stockholders’ meeting is scheduled to be held more than 30 days prior to such anniversary date or more than 30 days after such anniversary date, then to be timely such notice must be received by the Corporation


 
5 169745278.8 no earlier than the 120th day prior to the scheduled date of the annual stockholders’ meeting and not later than the later of close of business on the 90th day before the scheduled date of the annual stockholders’ meeting or the 10th day following the date on which Public Disclosure (as defined below) of the scheduled date of the annual stockholders’ meeting is first made. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual stockholders’ meeting or announcement thereof commence a new time period or extend any time period for the giving of a Section 2.08 Proponent’s notice as required by this Section 2.08. Notwithstanding anything in the immediately preceding paragraph to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board is increased by the Board, and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board at least ten (10) days prior to the deadline for nominations that would otherwise be applicable under this Section 2.08, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2.08 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Corporate Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation. The number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election shall not exceed the number of directors to be elected at the annual meeting. A Section 2.08 Proponent’s notice (including all information required to be included by this Section 2.08, the “Section 2.08 Notice”) to the Corporate Secretary shall set forth: (a) as to each person the Section 2.08 Proponent proposes to nominate for election as a director at the annual stockholders’ meeting, (i) the name, age, business address, residence address and telephone number of such proposed nominee and the name, business address and residence address of any Nominee Associated Persons (as defined below), (ii) the principal occupation or employment of such proposed nominee, (iii) the class and number of shares of stock of the Corporation that are owned (beneficially and of record) by or on behalf of such proposed nominee and by or on behalf of any Nominee Associated Person, as of the date of the Section 2.08 Notice, (iv) a description of such proposed nominee’s qualifications to be a director, (v) a statement as to whether such proposed nominee would be an independent director, and the basis therefor, under the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange and the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and (vi) in an attachment, the proposed nominee’s completed and signed Questionnaire (as defined below); (b) as to the Section 2.08 Proponent and any Stockholder Associated Person (as defined below) on whose behalf the nomination is being made, (i) the name and address of the Section 2.08 Proponent, and, if applicable, any holder of record of any of the Section 2.08 Proponent’s shares of stock, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of any Stockholder Associated Person, (ii) the class and number of shares of stock of the Corporation that are owned (beneficially and of record) by or on behalf of the Section 2.08 Proponent and by or on behalf of any Stockholder Associated Person, as of the date of the Section 2.08 Notice, the date such shares were acquired and the investment intent with respect thereto and (iii) a description of all purchases and sales of, or other transactions involving in any way, shares of stock of the Corporation by or on behalf of the Section 2.08 Proponent and by or on behalf of any Stockholder Associated Person during the twenty-four month period prior to the date of the Section 2.08 Notice, including the dates of the transactions, the class and number of shares and the consideration (without regard to whether such shares were or were not owned by the Section 2.08 Proponent or


 
6 169745278.8 any such person); (c) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including, regardless of the form of settlement, any derivative instrument, option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, swap, long or short position, profit interest, hedging transaction, separated or separable dividend rights and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into or is in effect as of the date of the Section 2.08 Notice, by or on behalf of the Section 2.08 Proponent, any Stockholder Associated Person, any proposed nominee or any Nominee Associated Person, the effect or intent of which is, directly or indirectly, to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of stock price changes for, or maintain, increase or decrease the voting power of, the Section 2.08 Proponent, any Stockholder Associated Person, any proposed nominee or any Nominee Associated Person with respect to the Corporation’s securities; (d) a description of any other agreement, arrangement or understanding, including but not limited to those providing for any compensation, payment or other benefit, whether direct or indirect, that has been entered into within the twenty-four month period prior to the date of the Section 2.08 Notice or is in effect as of the date of the Section 2.08 Notice, between or among the Section 2.08 Proponent, any Stockholder Associated Person, any proposed nominee, any Nominee Associated Person or any other person, and that relates to such nomination or such proposed nominee’s service as a director of the Corporation; (e) any compensation, payment or other benefit received, directly or indirectly, by any proposed nominee or any Nominee Associated Person that relates to such nomination or such proposed nominee’s service as a director of the Corporation; (f) a representation that the Section 2.08 Proponent is the holder of record of shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote upon the election of directors at the annual stockholders’ meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy through a Qualified Representative (as defined below) at the meeting to nominate any such proposed nominee; (g) a representation as to whether or not the Section 2.08 Proponent or any Stockholder Associated Person intends or is part of a group that intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to stockholders and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such nomination; and (h) all other information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act. A Section 2.08 Proponent shall update and supplement such Section 2.08 Notice (i) so that all information provided or required to be provided therein shall be true and correct as of the record date for the annual stockholders’ meeting and as of the date that is ten business days prior to the date of the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and (ii) to provide evidence that the Section 2.08 Proponent has solicited proxies from holders representing at least 67% of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors, and any such update and supplement shall be delivered or mailed to the Corporate Secretary and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five business days after the later of the record date or the date of Public Disclosure of the record date for such meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date) and not later than eight business days prior to the date of the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten business days prior to the date of the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). The obligation to update and supplement as set forth in this paragraph or any other Section of these Bylaws shall not limit the Corporation’s rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder to amend or update any proposal or to submit any new proposal, including by


 
7 169745278.8 changing or adding nominees, matters, business and or resolutions proposed to be brought before a meeting of the stockholders. A proposed nominee’s questionnaire (including all information required to be included by this Section 2.08, the “Questionnaire”), in the form provided by the Corporate Secretary upon written request by the Section 2.08 Proponent, shall be completed (and updated and supplemented as necessary to comply with the preceding paragraph) and signed by the proposed nominee and shall set forth (a) information of the type required by the Corporation’s Questionnaires for Directors and Officers of the Corporation in connection with the annual stockholders’ meeting and various reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and (b) a written representation and agreement that such proposed nominee (i) would qualify, if elected, for service as a director, (ii) is not and will not become a party to (A) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such proposed nominee, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed in the Questionnaire (or any update or supplement thereto), or to the extent not required to be disclosed in the Questionnaire (or any update or supplement thereto), within three business days thereafter, in writing to the Corporation or (B) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with the proposed nominee’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such proposed nominee’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (iii) is not and will not become a party to or beneficiary of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether direct or indirect, with any person or entity other than the Corporation providing for, directly or indirectly, any compensation, payment or other benefit from any person or entity other than the Corporation, in each case that relates to such nomination or the proposed nominee’s service as a director of the Corporation, that has not been disclosed in the Questionnaire (or any update or supplement thereto), or to the extent not required to be disclosed in the Questionnaire (or any update or supplement thereto), within three business days thereafter in writing to the Corporation, (iv) has not received and will not receive, directly or indirectly, any compensation, payment or other benefit from any person or entity other than the Corporation, in each case that relates to such nomination or the proposed nominee’s service as a director of the Corporation, that has not been disclosed in the Questionnaire (or any update or supplement thereto), or to the extent not required to be disclosed in the Questionnaire (or any update or supplement thereto), within three business days thereafter in writing to the Corporation, (v) would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the Corporation, and will comply, with all applicable laws and regulatory requirements and the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Leading With Integrity Guide and the Director Compensation Policy and all other publicly-disclosed policies and guidelines to which the Corporation’s directors may be subject in connection with service as a director of the Corporation and (vi) intends to serve as a Director for the full term for which such person is standing for election. No person proposed to be nominated by a stockholder shall be eligible for election as a director of the Corporation unless such person is nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.08 or in Section 2.10, as applicable. If the Section 2.08 Proponent intending to nominate a person for election as a director of the Corporation at an annual stockholders’ meeting pursuant to this Section 2.08 does not give timely and proper notice thereof in writing to the Corporate Secretary, in accordance with, and containing all information (including any update and


 
8 169745278.8 supplement) required by, this Section 2.08, or if the Section 2.08 Proponent does not appear in person or by proxy through a Qualified Representative at the meeting to nominate such person for election as a director of the Corporation, then, in any such case, such proposed nomination shall not be made, notwithstanding the fact that proxies in respect of such nomination may have been solicited or obtained. To be considered a “Qualified Representative” of a stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by the stockholder to act for the stockholder as proxy at the annual stockholders’ meeting, and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the annual stockholders’ meeting. The chairperson of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine that the nomination was not properly made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.08 or that the solicitation in support of nominees other than the Corporation’s nominees was not conducted in compliance with Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act, and, if the chairperson should so determine, he or she shall declare to the meeting that such nomination was not properly made and shall be disregarded. The Section 2.08 Proponent, any Stockholder Associated Person, any proposed nominee, any Nominee Associated Person or any other person providing a Section 2.08 Notice in connection with the solicitation of proxies, must use a proxy card color other than white, which shall be reserved for the exclusive use for solicitation by or on behalf of the Corporation or the Board. The requirements of this Section 2.08 shall apply to the nomination by a stockholder of a person for election as a director without regard to whether such nomination is presented to stockholders by means of a proxy solicitation by any person other than by or on behalf of the Board, and stockholders who wish to nominate a person for election at the annual stockholders’ meeting or to solicit proxies in connection with such nomination must also comply with all applicable requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). For purposes of these Bylaws: “Nominee Associated Person” of any proposed nominee for election as a director means (i) any affiliate or associate (as such terms are defined for purposes of the Exchange Act) of the proposed nominee and any other person acting in concert with any of the foregoing, (ii) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such proposed nominee and (iii) any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Nominee Associated Person. “Public Disclosure” means disclosure made in a press release reported by Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or a comparable national news service or in a document filed by the Corporation pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. “Stockholder Associated Person” of any stockholder means (i) any affiliate or associate (as such terms are defined for purposes of the Exchange Act) of the stockholder and any other person acting in concert with any of the foregoing, (ii) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the


 
9 169745278.8 Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder and (iii) any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Stockholder Associated Person. 2.09 Business at Meetings of Stockholders. At any meeting of stockholders, only such business shall be transacted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. Business (other than nominations of persons for election to the Board, which is governed by Sections 2.08 and 2.10 of these Bylaws) may be properly brought before a meeting of stockholders only (a) at any meeting of stockholders by or at the direction of the Board or (b) at an annual stockholders’ meeting, by a stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 2.09 is given to the Corporate Secretary and continues to be a stockholder of record at the time of the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting upon the election of directors and upon the proposal and who has complied with the procedures established by this Section 2.09; clause (b) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to bring business before an annual stockholders’ meeting, other than the nomination of a person for election as a director, which is governed by Sections 2.08 and 2.10 of these Bylaws. For business to be properly brought before an annual stockholders’ meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder intending to bring the business before the meeting (the “Section 2.09 Proponent”) must have given timely and proper notice thereof in writing to the Corporate Secretary , in accordance with, and containing all information required by, this Section 2.09, and such business must be a proper matter for stockholder action under the General Corporation Law of Delaware (the “DGCL”). To be timely, a Section 2.09 Proponent’s notice must be delivered or mailed to the Corporate Secretary and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual stockholders’ meeting and not later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual stockholders’ meeting; provided, however, in the event the annual stockholders’ meeting is scheduled to be held more than 30 days prior to such anniversary date or more than 30 days after such anniversary date, then to be timely such notice must be received by the Corporation no earlier than the 120th day prior to the scheduled date of the annual stockholders’ meeting and not later than the later of close of business on the 90th day before the scheduled date of the annual stockholders’ meeting or the 10th day following the date on which Public Disclosure (as defined in Section 2.08) of the scheduled date of the annual stockholders’ meeting is first made. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual stockholders’ meeting or announcement thereof commence a new time period or extend any time period for the giving of a Section 2.09 Proponent’s notice as required by this Section 2.09. A Section 2.09 Proponent’s notice (including all information required to be included by this Section 2.09, the “Section 2.09 Notice”) to the Corporate Secretary shall set forth: (a) as to each matter the Section 2.09 Proponent proposes to bring before the annual stockholders’ meeting, a description of the business desired to be brought before the annual stockholders’ meeting, the reasons for transacting such business at the meeting and the text of any resolutions to be proposed, and whether the Section 2.09 Proponent has communicated with any other stockholder or beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation regarding such business and (b) as to the Section 2.09 Proponent and any Stockholder Associated Person (as defined in Section 2.08) on whose behalf the proposal is being made, (i) the name and address of the Section 2.09 Proponent, and, if applicable, any holder of record of any of the Section 2.09 Proponent’s shares of stock, as


 
10 169745278.8 they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of any Stockholder Associated Person, (ii) the class and number of shares of stock of the Corporation that are owned (beneficially and of record) by or on behalf of the Section 2.09 Proponent and by or on behalf of any Stockholder Associated Person, as of the date of the Section 2.09 Notice, the date such shares were acquired and the investment intent with respect thereto, (iii) a description of all purchases and sales of, or other transactions involving in any way, shares of stock of the Corporation by or on behalf of the Section 2.09 Proponent and by or on behalf of any Stockholder Associated Person during the twenty-four month period prior to the date of the Section 2.09 Notice, including the dates of the transactions, the class and number of shares and the consideration (without regard to whether such shares were or were not owned by the Section 2.09 Proponent or any such person), (iv) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including, regardless of the form of settlement, any derivative instrument, option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, swap, long or short position, profit interest, hedging transaction, separated or separable dividend rights and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into or is in effect as of the date of the Section 2.09 Notice, by or on behalf of the Section 2.09 Proponent or any Stockholder Associated Person, the effect or intent of which is, directly or indirectly, to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of stock price changes for, or maintain, increase or decrease the voting power of, the Section 2.09 Proponent or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to the Corporation’s securities, (v) any material interest of the Section 2.09 Proponent or any Stockholder Associated Person in such business, (vi) a description of any other agreement, arrangement or understanding that has been entered into or is in effect as of the date of the Section 2.09 Notice, between or among the Section 2.09 Proponent, any Stockholder Associated Person or any other person, and that relates to such business, (vii) a representation that the Section 2.09 Proponent is the holder of record of shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote upon the election of directors and upon the proposal at the annual stockholders’ meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy through a Qualified Representative (as defined in Section 2.08) at the meeting to propose such business and (viii) a representation as to whether or not the Section 2.09 Proponent or any Stockholder Associated Person intends or is part of a group that intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to stockholders and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal. A Section 2.09 Proponent shall update and supplement such Section 2.09 Notice so that all information provided or required to be provided therein shall be true and correct as of the record date for the annual stockholders’ meeting and as of the date that is ten business days prior to the date of the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and any such update and supplement shall be delivered or mailed to the Corporate Secretary and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five business days after the later of the record date or the date of Public Disclosure of the record date for such meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date) and not later than eight business days prior to the date of the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten business days prior to the date of the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). No business proposed by a stockholder shall be transacted at an annual stockholders’ meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.09. If the Section 2.09 Proponent intending to propose business at an annual stockholders’ meeting pursuant to this Section 2.09 does not give timely and proper notice thereof in writing to the Corporate Secretary,


 
11 169745278.8 in accordance with, and containing all information (including any update and supplement) required by, this Section 2.09, or if the Section 2.09 Proponent does not appear in person or by proxy through a Qualified Representative at the meeting to present the proposed business, then, in any such case, such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding the fact that proxies in respect of such business may have been solicited or obtained. The chairperson of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine that the business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.09, and, if the chairperson should so determine, he or she shall declare to the meeting that such business was not properly brought before the meeting and shall not be transacted. The requirements of this Section 2.09 shall apply to any business to be brought before an annual stockholders’ meeting by a stockholder (other than the nomination by a stockholder of a person for election as a director, which is governed by Sections 2.08 and 2.10 of these Bylaws) without regard to whether such business also is intended to be included in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or whether such business is presented to stockholders by means of a proxy solicitation by any person other than by or on behalf of the Board, and stockholders who wish for such business to be included in the Corporation’s proxy statement or to solicit proxies in connection with such business must also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act. 2.10 Proxy Access. (a) Subject to the provisions of this Section 2.10, if expressly requested in the relevant Nomination Notice (as defined below), the Corporation shall include in its proxy statement for any annual stockholders’ meeting: (i) the names of any person or persons nominated for election to the Board (each, an “Access Nominee”), which shall also be included on the Corporation’s form of proxy and ballot, by any Eligible Stockholder (as defined below) or group of no more than 20 Eligible Stockholders that has (individually and collectively, in the case of a group) satisfied, as determined by the Board, all applicable conditions and complied with all applicable procedures set forth in this Section 2.10 (such Eligible Stockholder or group of Eligible Stockholders being a “Nominating Stockholder”); (ii) disclosure about each Access Nominee and the Nominating Stockholder required under the rules of the SEC or other applicable law to be included in the proxy statement; (iii) any statement included by the Nominating Stockholder in the Nomination Notice for inclusion in the proxy statement in support of each Access Nominee’s election to the Board (subject, without limitation, to Section 2.10(e)(ii)), if such statement does not exceed 500 words and fully complies with Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Rule 14a-9 (or any successor rule) (the “Supporting Statement”); and (iv) any other information that the Board determines, in their discretion, to include in the proxy statement relating to the nomination of each Access Nominee, including, without limitation, any statement in opposition to the nomination, any information provided pursuant to this Section 2.10 and any solicitation materials or related information with respect to an Access Nominee.


 
12 169745278.8 For purposes of this Section 2.10, any determination to be made by the Board may be made by the Board, a committee of the Board or any officer of the Corporation designated by the Board or a committee of the Board, and any such determination shall be final and binding on the Corporation, any Eligible Stockholder, any Nominating Stockholder, any Access Nominee and any other person (without any further recourse). The presiding officer of any annual stockholders’ meeting, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall have the power and duty to determine whether an Access Nominee has been nominated in accordance with the requirements of this Section 2.10 and, if not so nominated, shall direct and declare at the meeting that such Access Nominee shall not be considered. (b) (i) The Corporation shall not be required to include in the proxy statement for an annual stockholders’ meeting more Access Nominees than that number of directors constituting the greater of (A) two and (B) 20% of the total number of directors of the Corporation on the last day on which a Nomination Notice may be submitted pursuant to this Section 2.10 (rounded down to the nearest whole number) (the “Maximum Number”). (ii) The Maximum Number for a particular annual stockholders’ meeting shall be reduced by (A) Access Nominees whom the Board itself decides to nominate for election at such annual stockholders’ meeting; (B) Access Nominees who cease to satisfy, or Access Nominees of Nominating Stockholders that cease to satisfy, the eligibility requirements in this Section 2.10, as determined by the Board; (C) Access Nominees whose nomination is withdrawn by the Nominating Stockholder or who become unwilling or unable to serve on the Board; and (D) the number of incumbent directors who had been Access Nominees with respect to any of the preceding two annual stockholders’ meetings and whose reelection at the upcoming annual stockholders’ meeting is being recommended by the Board. (iii) In the event that one or more vacancies for any reason occurs on the Board after the deadline for submitting a Nomination Notice as set forth in Section 2.10(d) but before the date of the annual stockholders’ meeting, and the Board resolves to reduce the size of the board, the Maximum Number shall be calculated based on the number of directors in office as so reduced. (iv) If the number of Access Nominees pursuant to this Section 2.10 for any annual stockholders’ meeting exceeds the Maximum Number because there is more than one Nominating Stockholder, then, promptly upon notice from the Corporation, each Nominating Stockholder will select one Access Nominee for inclusion in the proxy statement until the Maximum Number is reached, going in order of the amount (largest to smallest) of the ownership position as disclosed in each Nominating Stockholder’s Nomination Notice (as amended, as applicable), with the process repeated if the Maximum Number is not reached after each Nominating Stockholder has selected one Access Nominee. If, after the deadline for submitting a Nomination Notice as set forth in Section 2.10(d), a Nominating Stockholder or an Access Nominee ceases to satisfy the eligibility requirements in this Section 2.10, as determined by the Board, a Nominating Stockholder withdraws its nomination or an Access Nominee becomes unwilling or unable to serve on the Board, whether before or after the mailing or other distribution of the any proxy statement, then the nomination shall be disregarded, and the Corporation (A) shall


 
13 169745278.8 not be required to include in its proxy statement or on any ballot or form of proxy the disregarded Access Nominee or any successor or replacement nominee proposed by the Nominating Stockholder or by any other Nominating Stockholder and (B) may otherwise communicate to its stockholders, including without limitation by amending or supplementing its proxy statement or ballot or form of proxy, that an Access Nominee will not be included as a nominee in the proxy statement or on any ballot or form of proxy and will not be voted on at the annual stockholders’ meeting. (c) (i) An “Eligible Stockholder” is a person who has either (A) been a record holder of the shares of common stock used to satisfy the eligibility requirements in this Section 2.10(c) continuously for the three-year period specified in subsection (ii) below or (B) provides to the Corporate Secretary, within the time period referred to in Section 2.10(d), evidence of continuous ownership of such shares for such three-year period from one or more securities intermediaries in a form that the Board determines would be deemed acceptable for purposes of a stockholder proposal under Rule 14a-8(b)(2) under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule). (ii) An Eligible Stockholder or group of up to 20 Eligible Stockholders may submit a nomination in accordance with this Section 2.10 only if the person or group (in the aggregate) has continuously owned at least the Minimum Number (as defined below) of the Corporation’s shares of common stock throughout the three-year period preceding and including the date of submission of the Nomination Notice, and continues to own at least the Minimum Number through the date of the annual stockholders’ meeting. Two or more funds that are (A) under common management and investment control, (B) under common management and funded primarily by a single employer, or (C) a “group of investment companies,” as such term is defined in Section 12(d)(1)(G)(ii) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, shall be treated as one Eligible Stockholder if such Eligible Stockholder provides together with the Nomination Notice documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Board that demonstrates that the funds meet the criteria set forth in (A), (B) or (C) of this Section 2.10(c)(ii). In the event of a nomination by a group of Eligible Stockholders, any and all requirements and obligations for an individual Eligible Stockholder that are set forth in this Section 2.10, including the minimum holding period, shall apply to each member of such group; provided, however, that the Minimum Number shall apply to the ownership of the group in the aggregate. Should any member of a group of Eligible Stockholders cease to satisfy the eligibility requirements in this Section 2.10, as determined by the Board, or withdraw from a group of Eligible Stockholders at any time prior to the annual stockholders’ meeting, the group of Eligible Stockholders shall only be deemed to own the shares held by the remaining members of the group. (iii) The “Minimum Number” of the Corporation’s shares of common stock means 3% of the number of outstanding shares of common stock as of the most recent date for which such amount is given in any filing by the Corporation with the SEC prior to the submission of the Nomination Notice. (iv) For purposes of this Section 2.10, an Eligible Stockholder “owns” (as defined below) only those outstanding shares of the Corporation as to which the Eligible Stockholder possesses both:


 
14 169745278.8 (A) the full voting and investment rights pertaining to the shares; and (B) the full economic interest in (including the opportunity for profit and risk of loss on) such shares; provided that the number of shares calculated in accordance with clauses (A) and (B) shall not include any shares (1) purchased or sold by such Eligible Stockholder or any of its affiliates in any transaction that has not been settled or closed, (2) sold short by such Eligible Stockholder, (3) borrowed by such Eligible Stockholder or any of its affiliates for any purpose or purchased by such Eligible Stockholder or any of its affiliates pursuant to an agreement to resell or subject to any other obligation to resell to another person, or (4) subject to any option, warrant, forward contract, swap, contract of sale, other derivative or similar agreement entered into by such Eligible Stockholder or any of its affiliates, whether any such instrument or agreement is to be settled with shares or with cash based on the notional amount or value of outstanding shares of the Corporation, in any such case which instrument or agreement has, or is intended to have, the purpose or effect of (x) reducing in any manner, to any extent or at any time in the future, such Eligible Stockholder’s or any of its affiliates’ full right to vote or direct the voting of any such shares, or (y) hedging, offsetting, or altering to any degree, gain or loss arising from the full economic ownership of such shares by such Eligible Stockholder or any of its affiliates. An Eligible Stockholder “owns” shares held in the name of a nominee or other intermediary so long as the Eligible Stockholder retains the right to instruct how the shares are voted with respect to the election of directors and possesses the full economic interest in the shares. An Eligible Stockholder’s ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the Eligible Stockholder has delegated any voting power by means of a proxy, power of attorney, or other similar instrument or arrangement that is revocable at any time by the Eligible Stockholder. An Eligible Stockholder’s ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the Eligible Stockholder has loaned such shares, provided that the Eligible Stockholder has the power to recall such loaned shares on five business days’ notice and continues to own such shares through the date of the annual stockholders’ meeting. The terms “owned,” “owning” and other variations of the word “own” shall have correlative meanings. Whether outstanding shares of the Corporation are “owned” for these purposes shall be determined by the Board. (v) No Eligible Stockholder shall be permitted to be in more than one group constituting a Nominating Stockholder, and if any Eligible Stockholder appears as a member of more than one group, it shall be deemed to be a member only of the group that has the largest ownership position as reflected in the Nomination Notice. (d) To nominate an Access Nominee, the Nominating Stockholder must deliver to the Corporate Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 120 or more than 150 days before the first anniversary of the date that the Corporation first sent its proxy statement for the prior year’s annual stockholders’ meeting, all of the following information and documents (collectively, the “Nomination Notice”); provided, however, that if the date of the annual stockholders’ meeting is advanced more than 30 days before or delayed by more than 30 days after such anniversary date, the Nomination Notice shall be given in the manner provided


 
15 169745278.8 herein not earlier than (x) the 150th day before the scheduled date of the annual stockholders’ meeting and not later than (y) the later of the close of business on the 120th day before the scheduled date of the annual stockholders’ meeting or the 10th day following the date on which Public Disclosure of the scheduled date of the annual stockholders’ meeting is first made: (i) A Schedule 14N (or any successor form) relating to each Access Nominee, completed and filed with the SEC by the Nominating Stockholder, in accordance with SEC rules; (ii) A written notice, in a form deemed satisfactory by the Board, of the nomination of each Access Nominee that includes the following additional information, agreements, representations and warranties by the Nominating Stockholder (including each group member): (A) the information required with respect to the nomination of directors by a stockholder pursuant to Section 2.08; (B) the details of any relationship that existed within the past three years and that would have been described pursuant to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14N (or any successor item) if it existed on the date of submission of the Schedule 14N; (C) a representation and warranty that the Nominating Stockholder acquired the securities of the Corporation in the ordinary course of business and did not acquire, and is not holding, any securities of the Corporation for the purpose or with the effect of influencing control or changing control of the Corporation; (D) a representation and warranty that each Access Nominee’s candidacy or, if elected, Board membership would not violate applicable state or federal law or the rules of any stock exchange on which the Corporation’s securities are traded; (E) a representation and warranty that such Access Nominee: (1) does not have any direct or indirect relationship with the Corporation that would cause the Access Nominee not to qualify as independent under the rules of the primary stock exchange on which the Corporation’s shares of common stock are traded or as a non-employee director under Rule 16b-3 (or any successor rule) under the Exchange Act; (2) is not and has not been subject to any event specified in Rule 506(d)(1) of Regulation D (or any successor rule) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K (or any successor rule) under the Exchange Act, without reference to whether the event is material to an evaluation of the ability or integrity of such Access Nominee; and (3) is not a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses) and has not been convicted in a criminal proceeding within the past 10 years;


 
16 169745278.8 (F) a representation and warranty that the Nominating Stockholder satisfies the eligibility requirements set forth in Section 2.10(c) and has provided evidence of ownership to the extent required by Section 2.10(c)(i); (G) a representation and warranty that the Nominating Stockholder intends to continue to satisfy the eligibility requirements described in Section 2.10(c) through the date of the annual stockholders’ meeting; (H) a representation and warranty that the Nominating Stockholder will not engage in or aid or abet a “solicitation” within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) under the Exchange Act (without reference to the exception in Section 14a-1(l)(2)(iv) of the Exchange Act) (or any successor rules) with respect to the annual stockholders’ meeting, other than with respect to an Access Nominee or any nominee of the Board; (I) a representation and warranty that the Nominating Stockholder will not use any proxy card other than the Corporation’s proxy card in soliciting stockholders in connection with the election of an Access Nominee at the annual stockholders’ meeting; (J) if desired, a Supporting Statement; and (K) in the case of a nomination by a group, the designation by all group members of one group member that is authorized to act on behalf of all group members with respect to matters relating to the nomination, including withdrawal of the nomination; (iii) An executed agreement, in a form deemed satisfactory by the Board, pursuant to which the Nominating Stockholder (including each group member) agrees: (A) to comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations in connection with the nomination, solicitation and election; (B) to file with the SEC any written solicitation or other communication with the Corporation’s stockholders relating to one or more of the Corporation’s directors or director nominees or any Access Nominee, regardless of whether any such filing is required under rule or regulation or whether any exemption from filing is available for such materials under any rule or regulation; (C) to assume all liability (which shall be joint and several with respect to other group members if any) stemming from an action, suit or proceeding concerning any actual or alleged legal or regulatory violation arising out of any communication by the Nominating Stockholder or any of its Access Nominees (or those in active concert or participation with either) with the Corporation, its stockholders or any other person in connection with the nomination or election of directors, including, without limitation, the Nomination Notice;


 
17 169745278.8 (D) to indemnify and hold harmless (which obligation shall be joint and several with respect to other group members if any) the Corporation and each of its current and former directors, officers, employees, agents and affiliates individually against any liability, loss, damages, expenses or other costs (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection with any threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding, whether legal, administrative or investigative, against the Corporation or any of its current and former directors, officers, employees, agents and affiliates arising out of or relating to a failure or alleged failure of the Nominating Stockholder or any of its Access Nominees to comply with, or any breach or alleged breach of, its or their obligations, agreements or representations under this Section 2.10; and (E) if any information included in the Nomination Notice or any other communication by the Nominating Stockholder (including with respect to any group member) with the Corporation, its stockholders or any other person in connection with the nomination or election ceases to be true and accurate in all material respects (or omits a material fact necessary to make the statements made not misleading), or that the Nominating Stockholder (including any group member) has failed to continue to satisfy the eligibility requirements described in Section 2.10(c), to promptly (and in any event within 48 hours of discovering such misstatement, omission or failure) notify the Corporate Secretary and any other recipient of such communication of (1) the misstatement or omission in such previously provided information and of the information that is required to correct the misstatement or omission or (2) such failure; and (iv) An executed agreement, in a form deemed satisfactory by the Board, by each Access Nominee: (A) to provide to the Corporation the information required with respect to the nomination of directors pursuant to Section 2.08 (which shall be provided within the period set forth in this Section 2.10(d) notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Section 2.08); (B) to provide to the Corporation such other information and certifications as the Corporation may reasonably request; and (C) at the reasonable request of the Nominating and Governance Committee (or any successor committee or other committee with similar responsibilities), to meet with such committee to discuss matters relating to the nomination of such Access Nominee to the Board, including the information provided by such Access Nominee to the Corporation in connection with his or her nomination and such Access Nominee’s eligibility to serve as a member of the Board. The information and documents required by this Section 2.10(d) to be provided by the Nominating Stockholder shall be (i) provided with respect to and executed by each group member, in the case of information applicable to group members; and (ii) provided with respect to the persons specified in Instruction 1 to Items 6(c) and (d) of Schedule 14N


 
18 169745278.8 (or any successor item) in the case of a Nominating Stockholder or group member that is an entity. The Nomination Notice shall be deemed submitted on the date on which all the information and documents referred to in this Section 2.10(d) (other than such information and documents contemplated to be provided after the date the Nomination Notice is provided) have been delivered to or, if sent by mail, received by the Corporate Secretary. (e) (i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.10, the Corporation may omit from its proxy statement any Access Nominee and any information concerning such Access Nominee (including a Nominating Stockholder’s Supporting Statement) if: (A) the Corporation receives a notice pursuant to Section 2.08 that a stockholder intends to nominate a candidate for director at the annual stockholders’ meeting, whether or not such notice is subsequently withdrawn or made the subject of a settlement with the Corporation; (B) the Nominating Stockholder or the designated lead group member, as applicable, or any Qualified Representative thereof, does not appear at the annual stockholders’ meeting to present the nomination submitted pursuant to this Section 2.10, the Nominating Stockholder withdraws its nomination or the presiding officer of the annual stockholders’ meeting declares that such nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by this Section 2.10 and shall therefore be disregarded; (C) the Board determines that such Access Nominee’s nomination or election to the Board would result in the Corporation violating or failing to be in compliance with the Certificate of Incorporation of this Corporation, these Bylaws (including, without limitation, the required qualifications to serve as a Director of the Corporation) or any applicable law, rule or regulation to which the Corporation is subject, including any rules or regulations of the primary stock exchange on which the Corporation’s shares of common stock are traded; (D) such Access Nominee was nominated for election to the Board pursuant to this Section 2.10 at one of the Corporation’s two preceding annual stockholders’ meetings and either withdrew, became ineligible or received a vote of less than 25% of the shares of common stock entitled to vote for such Access Nominee; or (E) the Corporation is notified, or the Board determines, that the Nominating Stockholder has failed to continue to satisfy the eligibility requirements described in Section 2.10(c), any of the representations and warranties made in the Nomination Notice ceases to be true and accurate in all material respects (or omits a material fact necessary to make the statements made not misleading), such Access Nominee becomes unwilling or unable to serve on the Board, or any material violation or breach occurs of the obligations, agreements, representations or warranties of the Nominating Stockholder or such Access Nominee under this Section 2.10.


 
19 169745278.8 (ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.10, the Corporation may omit from its proxy statement, or may supplement or correct, any information, including all or any portion of the Supporting Statement or any other statement in support of an Access Nominee included in the Nomination Notice, if the Board determines that: (A) such information is not true in all material respects or omits a material statement necessary to make the statements made not misleading; (B) such information directly or indirectly impugns the character, integrity or personal reputation of, or directly or indirectly makes charges concerning improper, illegal or immoral conduct or associations, without factual foundation, with respect to, any person; or (C) the inclusion of such information in the proxy statement would otherwise violate the SEC proxy rules or any other applicable law, rule, regulation, or listing standard. The Corporation may solicit against, and include in the proxy statement its own statement relating to, any Access Nominee. (f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Section 2.08, subject to the terms, conditions and limitations set forth in this Section 2.10, (i) this Section shall be an alternative means for a stockholder to nominate a person for election to the Board, and (ii) a person properly and validly nominated in accordance with this Section 2.10 shall be eligible for election to the Board. 2.11 Record Date. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix, in advance, a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which shall not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other action. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.


 
20 169745278.8 ARTICLE III DIRECTORS 3.01 Authority of Directors. The business of the Corporation shall be managed by its Board, which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders. 3.02 Annual Stockholders’ Meetings. The first meeting of each newly elected Board shall be held at such time and place as shall be specified in a notice given as herein provided for regular meetings of the Board, or as shall be specified in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof. 3.03 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board or any committee thereof may be held in such place or places within or without the State of North Dakota as the Board may, from time to time, determine. Regular meetings of the Board shall be held in accordance with the schedule adopted each year by the Board, or on such other day or at such other time or place as the Board may, from time to time, determine. No notice shall be required for any such regular meeting of the Board; provided, however, that the Corporate Secretary shall forthwith give notice of any change in the place, day or time for holding regular meetings of the Board by giving a notice thereof to each director. 3.04 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be held at such times and at such places ,if any, as may be determined and called by the Chairperson of the Board, Vice Chairperson of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or President. 3.05 Quorum. At all meetings of the Board, a majority of the total number of Directors on the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority of the Directors present at any such meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board, the Directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present. 3.06 Participation of Directors by Conference Telephone. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any member of the Board, or of any committee designated by the Board, may participate in any meeting of such Board or committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and be heard. Participation in any meeting by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment shall constitute presence in person at such meeting. 3.07 Written Action of Directors. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the


 
21 169745278.8 writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee. 3.08 Committees. The Board may by resolution passed by a majority of the whole Board designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of two or more Directors of the Corporation. The Board may designate one or more Directors as alternate members of any committee who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. At all meetings of any such committee, a majority of the total number of committee members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority of the committee members present at any such meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of any such committee, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws. Any such committee shall have, and may exercise, the power and authority specifically granted by the Board to the committee, but no such committee shall have the power or authority to amend the Certificate of Incorporation, adopt an agreement of merger or consolidation, recommend to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of the Corporation’s property and assets, recommend to the stockholders a dissolution of the Corporation or a revocation of a dissolution, or amend these Bylaws. Such committee or committees shall have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board. 3.09 Reports of Committees. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board when required. 3.10 Compensation of Directors. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation of Directors. The Directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board or a stated salary as Director. No such payment shall preclude any Director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed compensation for attending committee meetings. 3.11 Chairperson of the Board. The Chairperson of the Board shall be chosen by the Board at its first meeting after the annual stockholders’ meeting . No director shall serve as Chairperson of the Board who has not been determined to be independent by the Board in accordance with the director independence standards contained in the Corporate Governance Guidelines, as these provisions currently exist or may be amended. If the Board determines that a Chairperson who was independent at the time of election is no longer independent, the Board shall select a new Chairperson who satisfies these requirements within 60 days of such determination. The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Board and stockholders, and in the Chairperson’s absence or inability to act as Vice Chairperson of the Board, and shall, subject to the direction and control of the Board, be its representative and medium of communication, and shall perform such duties as may from time to time be assigned to the Chairperson of the Board. The Vice Chairperson of the Board shall perform all duties and hold all positions prescribed by these Bylaws and shall


 
22 169745278.8 have such other powers and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to them by the Board. In case of the absence or inability to act of the Chairperson of the Board and the Vice Chairperson of the Board, the duties of the office of Chairperson of the Board shall be performed by the President unless and until the Board shall direct otherwise. ARTICLE IV NOTICES 4.01 Notices. Regular meetings of the Board shall be held in accordance with the schedule adopted each year by the Board, or on such other day or at such other time or place as the Board may, from time to time, determine. No notice shall be required for any such regular meeting of the Board; provided, however, that the Corporate Secretary shall forthwith give notice of any change in the place, day or time for holding regular meetings of the Board by mailing an electronic notice thereof to each director. A notice, or waiver of notice, need not specify the purpose (other than to amend these Bylaws) of any regular or special meeting of the Board. Whenever, under the provisions of the statutes or of the Certificate of Incorporation or of these Bylaws, notice is required to be given to any Director or stockholder, it shall not be construed to mean personal notice, but such notice may be given in writing, by mail, addressed to such Director or stockholder, at his or her address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid, and such notice shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be deposited in the United States mail. Notice to Directors may also be given by telephone or another form of electronic transmission in compliance with the laws of Delaware. Notice to the stockholders may also be given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given, as provided by the laws of Delaware. 4.02 Waiver. Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the statutes or the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a written waiver, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance by a director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except when the director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting was not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special Board or committee meeting need be specified in any waiver of notice. ARTICLE V OFFICERS 5.01 Election and Qualifications. The officers shall be chosen by the Board at its first meeting after each annual stockholders’ meeting and shall include a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Chief Financial Officer, a Chief Legal Officer, a Corporate Secretary, and a Treasurer. The Board may also choose a Vice Chairperson, Assistant Secretaries, and Assistant Treasurers. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, unless the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws otherwise provide.


 
23 169745278.8 5.02 Additional Officers. The Board may appoint such other officers and agents as it shall deem necessary, who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board. 5.03 Salaries. The compensation of the officers of the Corporation for their services as such shall be fixed from time to time by or at the direction of the Board. 5.04 Term. The officers shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualify or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation, or removal. Any officer elected or appointed by the Board may be removed at any time with or without cause by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board. The removal of an officer shall be without prejudice to such officer’s contract rights, if any. The election or appointment of an officer shall not of itself create contract rights. Any vacancy occurring in any office shall be filled by the Board. 5.05 Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall, subject to the authority of the Board, determine the general policies of the Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall from time to time report to the Board all matters within his or her knowledge which the interests of the Corporation may require be brought to the Board’s notice. 5.06 President. The President shall have general and active management of the business of the Corporation and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. In the absence of the President, or in the event of his or her inability or refusal to act, a person designated by the Board shall perform the duties of the President, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the President. 5.07 Corporate Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The Corporate Secretary shall record all the proceedings of the meetings of the stockholders and Directors in a book to be kept for that purpose. He or she shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board or Chief Executive Officer, under whose supervision he or she shall be. He or she shall have custody of the corporate seal of the Corporation and he, or an assistant secretary, shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it. The Board may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation. The Assistant Secretary, or if there be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board (or if there be no such determination, then in the order of their election) shall, in the absence of the Corporate Secretary or in the event of his or her inability or refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Corporate Secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board may from time to time prescribe. 5.08 Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall be the principal financial officer of the Corporation and shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.


 
24 169745278.8 5.09 Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers. The Treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board. He or she shall disburse funds as may be ordered by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the President and the Board, at its regular meetings, or when the Board so requires, an account of all his or her transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation. If required by the Board, he or she shall give the Corporation a bond (which shall be renewed every six years) in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board for the faithful performance of the duties of his or her office and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of his or her death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in his or her possession or under his or her control belonging to the Corporation. The Assistant Treasurer, or if there shall be more than one, the Assistant Treasurers in the order determined by the Board (or if there be no such determination, then in the order of their election), shall, in the absence of the Treasurer or in the event of his or her inability or refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board may from time to time prescribe. 5.10 Chief Legal Officer. The Chief Legal Officer shall be the legal advisor to the Corporation, the Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Board and committees of the Board and provide legal counsel to all business segments. The Chief Legal Officer shall be responsible for the management of all legal matters involving the Corporation. The Chief Legal Officer shall be responsible for the review of the adequacy of the corporate governance procedures and for reporting to senior management, the Board and committees of the Board on recommended changes, except in those instances in which such duties have been delegated by the Board to another officer or agent of the Corporation. The Chief Legal Officer shall have responsibility for monitoring and assessing developments in corporate governance including, but not limited to, stock exchange listing standards, legislative enactments, administrative agency regulations and judicial decisions. The Chief Legal Officer shall report to senior management, the Board and committees of the Board regarding matters of significant importance and make recommendations regarding corporate governance guidelines, policies and procedures. 5.11 Other Officers. Such other officers as the Board may choose shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board. The Board may delegate to any other officer of the Corporation the power to choose such other officers and to prescribe their respective duties and powers.


 
25 169745278.8 5.12 Authority and Duties. In addition to the foregoing authority and duties, all officers shall respectively have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the business as may be designated from time to time by the Board. 5.13 Execution of Instruments. All deeds, bonds, mortgages, notes, contracts and other instruments shall be executed on behalf of the Corporation by the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Legal Officer, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Corporate Secretary, or Assistant Secretary, or such other officer or agent of the Corporation as shall be duly authorized in writing, or by electronic transmission, by the Chief Executive Officer or the President, with such limitations or restrictions on such authority as such authorizing person deems appropriate. Any officer or agent executing any such documents on behalf of the Corporation may do so (except as otherwise required by applicable law) either under or without the seal of the Corporation and either individually or with an attestation, according to the requirements of the form of the instrument. If an attestation is required, the document shall be attested by the Corporate Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or any other officer or agent authorized by the Board. When authorized by the Board, the signature of any officer or agent of the Corporation may be a facsimile. 5.14 Execution of Proxies. All capital stocks in other corporations owned by the Corporation shall be voted at the meetings, regular and/or special, of stockholders of said other corporations by the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Legal Officer, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Corporate Secretary, or Assistant Secretary, or such other officer or agent of the Corporation as shall be duly authorized in writing, or by electronic transmission, by the Chief Executive Officer or the President, with such limitations or restrictions on such authority as such authorizing person deems appropriate, and the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Legal Officer are hereby authorized to execute in the name and under the seal of the Corporation proxies in such form as may be required by the corporations whose stock may be owned by the Corporation, naming as the attorney authorized to act in said proxy such individual or individuals as said Chief Financial Officer and Chief Legal Officer shall deem advisable, and the attorney or attorneys so named in said proxy shall, until the revocation or expiration thereof, vote said stock at such stockholder meetings only in the event that none of the officers authorized to execute said proxy shall be present thereat. ARTICLE VI CERTIFICATES OF STOCK 6.01 Certificates. Shares of the Corporation’s stock may be certificated or uncertificated, as provided under Delaware law. All stock certificates shall be numbered and shall be entered in the books of the Corporation as they are issued. They shall exhibit the holder’s name and number of shares and shall be signed by the Chairperson of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Legal Officer, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Corporate Secretary, or Assistant Secretary. 6.02 Signatures. Any of or all the signatures on the certificates may be facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed


 
26 169745278.8 upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he or she were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue. 6.03 Special Designation on Certificates. If the Corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of the certificate which the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock, provided, that, except as otherwise provided in Section 202 of the DGCL in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face or back of the certificate which the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock, a statement that the Corporation will furnish, without charge to each stockholder who so requests, the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. 6.04 Lost Certificates. The Board may direct a new certificate or certificates or uncertificated shares to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates or uncertificated shares, the Board may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or the owner’s legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed. 6.05 Transfers of Stock. Transfers of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation only by the record holder of such stock, or by attorney lawfully constituted in writing, and, in the case of stock represented by a certificate, upon surrender of the certificate. 6.06 Registered Stockholders. The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware. ARTICLE VII GENERAL PROVISIONS 7.01 Dividends. Dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, if any, may be declared by the Board at any regular or special meeting, pursuant to law. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the capital stock, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.


 
27 169745278.8 Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of the funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Directors from time to time, in their absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves for meeting contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or for such other purpose as the Directors shall think conducive to the interest of the Corporation, and the Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created. 7.02 Checks. All checks or demands for money and notes of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person or persons as the Board may from time to time designate or as designated by an officer of the company if so authorized by the Board. 7.03 Fiscal Year. The Corporation’s fiscal year shall be the calendar year. 7.04 Seal. The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware.” The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or imprinted, or otherwise. 7.05 Inspection of Books and Records. Any stockholder of record, in person or by attorney or other agent, shall, upon written demand under oath stating the purpose thereof, have the right, during the usual hours of business, to inspect for any proper purpose the Corporation’s stock ledger, a list of its stockholders, and its other books and records, and to make copies or extracts therefrom. A proper purpose shall mean a purpose reasonably related to such person’s interest as a stockholder. In every instance where an attorney or other agent shall be the person who seeks the right to inspection, the demand under oath shall be accompanied by a power of attorney or such other writing which authorizes the attorney or other agent to so act on behalf of the stockholder. The demand under oath shall be directed to the Corporation at its registered office in the State of Delaware or at its principal place of business in Bismarck, North Dakota. 7.06 Amendments. These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed or new Bylaws may be adopted by the stockholders or by the Board, when such power is conferred upon the Board by the Certificate of Incorporation, at any regular meeting of the stockholders or of the Board or at any special meeting of the stockholders or of the Board if notice of such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption of new Bylaws be contained in the notice of such special meeting. 7.07 Indemnification of Officers, Directors, Employees and Agents. (a) Indemnification Granted. The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any director or former director or officer or former officer of the Corporation (a “Director or Officer”) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, non-profit entity or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all expenses, liability and loss


 
28 169745278.8 (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes and penalties assessed with respect to employee benefit plans, and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by such Director or Officer. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify and hold harmless a Director or Officer in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Director or Officer only if the Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board. (b) Consent to Settlement or Nonadjudicated Disposition. No indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.07 shall be required with respect to any settlement or other nonadjudicated disposition of any threatened or pending Proceeding unless the Corporation has given its prior consent to such settlement or disposition. (c) Advancement of Expenses. The Corporation shall pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by a Director or Officer in defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that the payment of such expenses shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Director or Officer to repay all amounts advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that the Director or Officer is not entitled to be indemnified. (d) Claims. If a claim for indemnification (following a final full or partial disposition of a Proceeding with respect to which indemnification is sought) or advancement of expenses (including attorneys’ fees) under this Section 7.07 is not paid in full within sixty (60) days after a written claim therefor has been received by the Corporation, the Director or Officer may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. In any such action, the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the Director or Officer was not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Section 7.07 or applicable law. (e) Other Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. The Corporation may provide indemnification and advancement of expenses (including attorneys’ fees) to employees and agents to the extent permitted by applicable law. (f) Non-exclusivity of Rights. The rights conferred on any Director or Officer by this Section 7.07 shall not be exclusive of other rights to which such Director or Officer may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. Nothing in this Section 7.07 shall limit the power of the Corporation or the Board to grant indemnification and advancement of expenses, including attorneys’ fees, to directors, officers, employees and agents otherwise than pursuant to this Section 7.07. (g) Other Source Indemnification. The Corporation’s obligation to indemnify any Director or Officer who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, non-profit entity or other enterprise shall be reduced by any amount such Director or Officer may collect as


 
29 169745278.8 indemnification from such other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, non-profit entity or other enterprise. (h) Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of Corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise, or nonprofit entity against any liability asserted against them and incurred by them in any such capacity, or arising out of their status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of the DGCL. (i) Repeal or Modification; Legal Representatives. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.07 shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any Director or Officer in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification. The rights provided to any Director or Officer by this Section 7.07 shall inure to the benefit of such Director’s or Officer’s legal representative. 7.08 Severability. If any provision of these Bylaws (or any portion, including words or phrases, thereof) or the application of any provision (or any portion, including words or phrases, thereof) to any person or circumstance shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under applicable law by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof (or the remaining portion thereof) or the application of such provision to any other persons or circumstances, which unaffected provisions (or portions thereof) shall remain valid, legal and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. 7.09 Forum Selection and Personal Jurisdiction. (a) Forum Selection. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, all Internal Corporate Claims shall be brought solely and exclusively in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware does not have jurisdiction, another state court located within the State of Delaware or, if no state court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware). “Internal Corporate Claims” means claims, including claims in the right of the Corporation, (i) that are based upon a violation of a duty by a current or former director or officer or stockholder in such capacity, or (ii) as to which the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware confers jurisdiction upon the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware. (b) Personal Jurisdiction. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of Section 7.09(a) is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) by or in the name of any stockholder (including in the right of the Corporation), such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce Section 7.09(a), and (ii) having service of process made upon such


 
30 169745278.8 stockholder in any such action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.


 
Execution Version US-DOCS155424210.18 BADGER WIND PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT between BADGER WIND, LLC as the Seller and MONTANA-DAKOTA UTILITIES CO. as the Buyer February 13, 2025 Exhibit 10.1*


 
1 US-DOCS155424210.18 Badger Wind Purchase and Sale Agreement This Purchase and Sale Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of February 13, 2025 (the “Effective Date”), between Badger Wind, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Seller”), and Montana-Dakota Utilities Co., a Delaware corporation (the “Buyer”). 1.0 RECITALS. This Agreement is made with reference to the following facts, among others: 1.1 The Seller is constructing a wind-powered electric generating facility in Logan and McIntosh Counties, North Dakota to be known as “Badger Wind,” which upon completion is anticipated to have a net generating capacity of approximately 250 MW(ac) (the “Facility”). 1.2 The Buyer is a public utility company engaged in, among other things, the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electric energy in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. 1.3 The Buyer and the Seller have entered into that certain Power Purchase Agreement dated as of November 4, 2024 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “MDU PPA”), which provides, among other things, for a reduction in the Buyer’s Capacity (as defined therein) if, and only if, the Closing occurs. 1.4 Upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Seller and the Buyer wish to consummate a transaction whereby the Buyer purchases from the Seller a 49% undivided ownership interest in the Facility (and thereby acquires the right to receive a 49% proportionate share of the Facility’s electric generation capacity and associated energy output). 2.0 DEFINITIONS. The following terms, when used herein, have the meanings specified below: 2.1 “Acquired Assets” is defined in Section 3.1. 2.2 “Acquired Real Property” means the real property in which the Seller has a real property interest under any Acquired Real Property Agreement, other than the Facility Lease Excluded Real Property, as depicted within the project boundary on the parcel map attached hereto as Exhibit B. 2.3 “Acquired Real Property Agreements” means each Contract listed in Schedule 2.3, which includes the Facility Leases, the Other Project Leases, the Transmission Easements, the Good Neighbor Agreements, and the Required Crossing Agreements. 2.4 “Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the specified Person. The term “control” with respect to an Affiliate means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management


 
2 US-DOCS155424210.18 and the policies of the relevant entity, whether through an ownership interest, by contract, or otherwise. 2.5 “Affiliated Group” means any affiliated group within the meaning of § 1504(a) of the Code or any similar group defined under a similar provision of Law. 2.6 “Ancillary Documents” means: (i) the Co-Tenancy Agreement; (ii) the Landlord Consent, Amendment and Partial Assignments; and (iii) each other agreement, document or instrument to be entered into and delivered at the Closing pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement. 2.7 “Assumed Liabilities” is defined in Section 3.4. 2.8 “BOP Contract” means the Balance of Plant Agreement, dated December 10, 2024, by and between Seller and the BOP Contractor. 2.9 “BOP Contractor” means Blattner Energy, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company. 2.10 “Breach” means: (i) with respect to a representation or warranty, the breach or inaccuracy of such representation or warranty; (ii) with respect to a covenant, the breach of or failure to perform or comply with such covenant; and (iii) with respect to this Agreement generally, a breach of a representation, warranty, or covenant contained in this Agreement. 2.11 “Budgeted Cost Ceiling” means an amount equal to Four Hundred Ninety-Six Million, Four Hundred Five Thousand, Nine Hundred Eighty-Two Dollars ($496,405,982). 2.12 “Business Day” means any day of the calendar year except Saturday, Sunday or any day on which national banking institutions in Bismarck, North Dakota or New York City, New York are generally not open to the public for conducting business. 2.13 “Buyer Fundamental Representation” means a representation or warranty contained in Sections 7.1, 7.2, 7.3(i), 7.3(ii), or 7.7. 2.14 “Buyer General Representation” means a representation or warranty contained in Article 7.0 that is not a Buyer Fundamental Representation. 2.15 “Buyer’s Knowledge” means the actual knowledge of Darcy Neigum or Joseph Geiger (or any individual succeeding to the roles and responsibilities of those individuals), or the knowledge that such individuals would have after due inquiry. 2.16 “Claim Notice” is defined in Section 8.7(a). 2.17 “Claims” means any and all civil, criminal, administrative, regulatory, or judicial actions or causes of action, suits, petitions, proceedings (including arbitration proceedings), investigations, audits, hearings, demands, demand letters, claims, or notices of noncompliance or violation delivered by any Governmental Authority or other Person.


 
3 US-DOCS155424210.18 2.18 “Closing” is defined in Section 5.1. 2.19 “Closing Date” is defined in Section 5.1. 2.20 “Co-Tenancy Agreement” means the Badger Wind Co-Tenancy Agreement to be entered into and delivered at the Closing by the Seller and the Buyer in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C, subject to the Seller’s updates to the schedules attached thereto to take into account actions or events that occur on or after the Effective Date and such other changes as mutually agreed between the parties acting reasonably. 2.21 “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and the regulations thereunder. 2.22 “Consent” means any consent, approval, authorization, qualification, or waiver of a Governmental Authority or other Person. 2.23 “Construction Costs” means all direct and indirect costs (including administrative and overhead costs) paid or incurred by the Seller and its Affiliates in connection with the planning, engineering, design, development, licensing, permitting, acquisition, construction, reconstruction, completion, performance testing, start-up, and commissioning of the Facility that are properly recordable to the Facility in accordance with the Electric Plant Instructions and in appropriate accounts as set forth in the Uniform System of accounts prescribed for “major” electric utilities by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 2.24 “Contract” means any contract, agreement, lease, license, indenture, bond, promise, undertaking, or commitment, whether oral or written, but not including any Permit. 2.25 “Damages” means any loss, liability, penalty, fine, cost, expense, or damage, including judgments and settlement payments. 2.26 “Deductible” is defined in Section 8.6(a)(ii). 2.27 “Disclosure Schedules” means, collectively, all Schedules attached to this Agreement (which shall be arranged in sections corresponding to the sections contained in this Agreement) that contain a disclosure required by, or an exception to, any of the representations and warranties of the Seller in Article 6.0 or the Buyer in Article 7.0. 2.28 “DOJ” means the Department of Justice of the United States of America. 2.29 “Down Payment” means an amount equal to Twenty-Nine Million, Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($29,400,000). 2.30 “Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in the preamble. 2.31 “Effective Time” is defined in Section 5.1. 2.32 “Environment” means all or any of the following media: soil, land surface and subsurface strata, surface waters (including navigable waters, streams, ponds, drainage basins, and


 
4 US-DOCS155424210.18 wetlands), groundwater, drinking water supply, stream sediments, ambient air (including the air within buildings and the air within other natural or man-made structures above or below ground), plant and animal life, and any other natural resource. 2.33 “Environmental Claims” mean any and all Claims (including Claims involving toxic torts, public or private nuisance, or similar liabilities in tort, whether based on negligence or other fault, strict or absolute liability, or any other basis) relating to any Environmental Laws or Environmental Permits, or arising from the presence, Release, or threatened Release (or alleged presence, Release, or threatened Release) into the Environment of any Hazardous Materials, including any and all Claims for enforcement, cleanup, remediation, removal, response, remedial or other actions or Damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation, or injunctive relief pursuant to any Environmental Law. 2.34 “Environmental Laws” mean any and all Laws relating to pollution, the Environment, or damage to natural resources, including Laws relating to Releases and threatened Releases or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport, or handling of Hazardous Materials. 2.35 “Environmental Permits” mean any and all permits, certifications, licenses, franchises, approvals, consents, waivers, or other authorizations of any Governmental Authority issued under or with respect to applicable Environmental Laws. 2.36 “Excluded Assets” is defined in Section 3.3. 2.37 “Excluded Contract” means this Agreement, any Ancillary Document (other than the Landlord Consent, Amendment and Partial Assignments, with respect to Claims against the landlords arising therefrom), and the MDU PPA. 2.38 “Excluded Personal Property” means any equipment, supplies, materials, fixtures, spare parts, tools or other tangible assets of Seller that are not primarily used (or held primarily for use), and are otherwise immaterial to the construction, ownership, operation and/or maintenance of the Facility. 2.39 “Excluded Facility Real Property” means the real property interests held by the Seller under the Contracts set forth in Schedule 2.39. 2.40 “Facility” has the meaning set forth in the recitals. 2.41 “Facility Leases” means each Contract listed under the heading “Facility Leases” in Schedule 2.3. 2.42 “Facility Lease Excluded Real Property” means the parcels leased under the Facility Leases or Other Project Leases upon which no improvements related to the Facility are planned to be constructed, including the parcels set forth in Schedule 2.42. 2.43 “Facility Permits” means the Permits held by the Seller that are required in connection with the ownership of the Facility and do not constitute Excluded Assets pursuant to Section 3.3(e).


 
5 US-DOCS155424210.18 2.44 “FERC” means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 2.45 “FERC Approval” means prior authorization by FERC of the transaction contemplated by this Agreement under Section 203 of the FPA. 2.46 “Force Majeure Event” means any event or circumstance that (a) makes the achievement of Substantial Completion by December 1, 2026 impossible, (b) was not reasonably foreseeable by the Seller, (c) was not within the Seller’s reasonable control, and (d) was not the result of the Seller’s negligence or willful misconduct (including war, civil insurrection, natural disasters, acts of terrorism, acts of sabotage, changes in Law, and unforeseen site conditions affecting the Acquired Real Property). 2.47 “FPA” means the Federal Power Act, as amended, and FERC’s regulations thereunder. 2.48 “FTC” means the Federal Trade Commission of the United States of America. 2.49 “Fundamental Representation” means any Buyer Fundamental Representation or Seller Fundamental Representation. 2.50 “GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles as of the date hereof. 2.51 “Good Neighbor Agreements” means each Contract listed under the heading “Good Neighbor Agreements” in Schedule 2.3. 2.52 “Governmental Authority” means the United States, any state, local, or other political subdivision thereof, and any court, commission, authority, agency, department, or body exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory, or administrative functions of or pertaining to national, state, or local government. 2.53 “Hazardous Materials” means: (i) any chemicals, materials, substances, or wastes which are defined as or included in the definition of “hazardous substance,” “hazardous material,” “hazardous waste,” “toxic substance,” “extremely hazardous substance,” “pollutant,” “contaminant,” or words of similar import under any applicable Environmental Laws; (ii) any petroleum or petroleum byproducts (including crude oil or any fraction thereof), polychlorinated biphenyls, asbestos-containing materials, mercury, radiation or radioactive materials, and lead- based paints; and (iii) any other chemical, material, substances, waste, or mixture thereof which is prohibited, limited, or regulated by Environmental Laws due to hazardous characteristics. 2.54 “HSR Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended. 2.55 “Indemnification Claim” means a claim by an Indemnitee for indemnification under Section 8.2 or 8.3, as the case maybe. 2.56 “Indemnitee” means the party entitled to indemnification under Section 8.2 or 8.3, as the case maybe.


 
6 US-DOCS155424210.18 2.57 “Indemnitor” means the party obligated to provide indemnification under Section 8.2 or 8.3, as the case maybe. 2.58 “Intellectual Property” means all patents, copyrights, trademarks, service marks, know-how, trade secrets, trade names, computer software programs and applications, databases, tangible and intangible proprietary information and related materials. 2.59 “Landlord Consent, Amendment and Partial Assignment” means a landlord consent, amendment and partial assignment in a form mutually agreed between the parties acting reasonably and based on the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, with such modifications as may be approved by Buyer in accordance with Section 10.6. 2.60 “Landlord Consent, Amendment and Partial Assignment Delivery Date” means September 1, 2025. 2.61 “Law” means any federal, state, or local statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, other law, and similar acts or promulgations of any Governmental Authority. 2.62 “Legal Proceeding” means any (i) judicial or administrative action, suit, hearing, or proceeding (public or private) by or before a Governmental Authority or (ii) hearing or proceeding before an arbitrator, mediator, or other Person (or group of Persons) engaged or appointed for the resolution of disputes. 2.63 “Lien” means any lien, pledge, mortgage, deed of trust, security interest, or other encumbrance. 2.64 “Material Adverse Effect” means any change, event, circumstance, development, occurrence or effect that, individually or in the aggregate with any other change, event, circumstance, development, occurrence or effect has had or would reasonably be expected to have a materially adverse effect on (a) the Facility (or the Seller’s prospects for constructing and operating the Facility) or (b) the Seller’s ability to timely perform its obligations hereunder or under any Ancillary Document, in the case of clauses (a) and (b), except for any such change or event resulting from or arising out of (i) any economic change in markets for commodities or supplies, including electric power, as applicable, used in connection with, generated by or associated with the Facility, (ii) changes in general regulatory or political conditions, including any acts of war, civil unrest or terrorist activities (or similar activities), (iii) effects of extreme weather or natural disasters, (iv) any change in Law, accounting standards or regulatory policy adopted or approved by any Governmental Authority,(v) any change in the financial, banking, or securities markets (including any suspension of trading in, or limitation on prices for, securities on the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ Stock Market) or any change in the general national or regional economic or financial conditions, (vi) any actions specifically required to be taken or consented to pursuant to or in accordance with this Agreement, (vii) the announcement or pendency of the Transaction, including by reason of the identity of Buyer, and (viii) any failure to meet any budgets, projections, estimates or forecasts for any period (provided, however, that any underlying cause of the failure to meet projections, estimates or forecasts may be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Material Adverse Effect except to the extent that such underlying cause is required not to be taken into account pursuant to clauses (i) through (vii)


 
7 US-DOCS155424210.18 of this definition); provided, that in the case of clauses (i) through (v) of this definition, such changes or events do not disproportionately impact the Facility relative to other wind power generating facilities. 2.65 “Material Cost Overrun” means that, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount of Construction Costs for the Facility has exceeded Five Hundred Nine Million, Four Hundred Five Thousand, Nine Hundred Eighty-Two Dollars ($509,405,982). 2.66 “MDU PPA” has the meaning set forth in the recitals. 2.67 “New Information” is defined in Section 8.1(c). 2.68 “Order” means any: (i) order, decree, judgment, injunction, writ, ruling, assessment, or award of or by a Governmental Authority; (ii) consent decree, memorandum of understanding, settlement agreement, or similar Contract with a Governmental Authority; or (iii) binding decision, ruling, or award of or by an arbitrator, mediator, or other Person (or group of Persons) engaged or appointed for the resolution of disputes. 2.69 “Other Project Leases” means each Contract listed under the heading “Other Project Leases” in Schedule 2.3. 2.70 “Outside Date” means December 1, 2026; provided that there shall be a day-for- day extension of the Outside Date (which, in any event, shall be no later than December 1, 2027) for any period of time during which a Force Majeure Event has occurred. 2.71 “Owner” means, following the Closing, either the Seller or the Buyer, and “Owners” means, following the Closing, both the Seller and the Buyer. 2.72 “Ownership Share” means, with respect to Seller, fifty-one percent (51%), and with respect to Buyer, forty-nine percent (49%). 2.73 “Permit” means any and all permits, certifications, licenses, franchises, approvals, consents, waivers, or other authorizations of any Governmental Authority issued under or with respect to applicable Laws or Orders. 2.74 “Permitted Liens” means: (i) statutory liens for current Taxes or assessments not yet due or delinquent, or the validity or amount of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, none of which contested matters is material; (ii) mechanics’, carriers’, workers’, repairers’, landlords’, and other similar liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business relating to obligations which are no more than 30 days past due, or as to which there is no default on the part of the Seller or the validity or amount of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, none of which contested matters is material; (iii) pledges, deposits, or other liens securing the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, or statutory obligations (including workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, or other social security legislation) as to which there is no default on the part of the Seller; (iv) zoning, entitlement, restriction, and other land use, water use, and environmental regulations by Governmental Authorities regulating the use or occupancy of the Acquired Real Property or the activities conducted thereon which are not violated by the present use or occupancy of the Acquired Real


 
8 US-DOCS155424210.18 Property or the contemplated use or occupancy of the Acquired Real Property; (v) any Liens set forth in any state, local, or municipal franchise or governing ordinance under which any portion of the Facility is subject as to which there is no default on the part of the Seller or the validity or amount of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, none of which contested matters is material; (vi) all rights of condemnation, eminent domain, or other similar rights of any Person to the extent that the same are threatened or exercised after the date of this Agreement; (vii) any Liens identified on Schedule 2.74; (viii) any Liens (including consent requirements) which do not, and would not reasonably be expected to, materially and adversely interfere with the construction or operation of the Facility; and (ix) solely with respect to any real property that is encumbered by a real property interest granted to Seller under a Good Neighbor Agreement, any Liens that would appear in the real estate or title records for, or that would otherwise affect, such real property. 2.75 “Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, firm, joint venture, association, joint enterprise, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, Governmental Authority, or other entity. 2.76 “Prudent Industry Practice” means, at any particular time, any of the practices, methods, and acts with respect to the construction of wind-powered electric generating facilities engaged in or approved by a significant portion of the electric industry which, in the exercise of reasonable judgment in light of the facts known at the time a decision was made, would have been reasonably expected to accomplish the desired result at a reasonable cost consistent with reliability and safety. Prudent Industry Practice is not intended to be limited to the optimum practice, method, or act to the exclusion of all others, but rather to be acceptable practices, methods, or acts by developers, owners or operators of similar wind-powered electric generating facilities in the same geographic region as the Facility. Prudent Industry Practice also includes those practices, methods, and acts that are required by applicable Laws, Orders, and Permits. 2.77 “Post-Closing Tax Period” means any Tax period beginning after the Closing Date and that portion of a Straddle Period beginning after the Closing Date. 2.78 “Pre-Closing Tax Period” means any Tax period ending on or before the Closing Date and that portion of any Straddle Period ending on the Closing Date. 2.79 “Property Taxes” means all real property Taxes, personal property Taxes and similar ad valorem Taxes. 2.80 “PSC” means the North Dakota Public Service Commission. 2.81 “PSC Approval” means a written order by the PSC approving the Buyer’s application for an “advance determination of prudence” with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement on terms that do not impose any limitation or condition that would reasonably be expected to have (i) an adverse effect on the Buyer’s ability to fully recover all costs incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Facility, or (ii) a material adverse effect on the reputation, business, financial condition, or prospects of the Buyer.


 
9 US-DOCS155424210.18 2.82 “Purchase Price” means an amount equal to Two Hundred Ninety-Four Million and 00/100 Dollars ($294,000,000). 2.83 “Release” means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing of Hazardous Materials into the Environment. 2.84 “Required Crossing Agreements” means each Contract listed under the heading “Required Crossing Agreements” in Schedule 2.3. 2.85 “Retained Liabilities” is defined in Section 3.5. 2.86 “Seller Fundamental Representation” means a representation or warranty contained in Sections 6.1, 6.2, 6.3(i), 6.3(ii), 6.3(iv), 6.7, 6.11, or 6.15. 2.87 “Seller General Representation” means a representation or warranty contained in Article 6.0 that is not a Seller Fundamental Representation. 2.88 “Seller’s Knowledge” means the actual knowledge of Alex Lowe, Udit Goyal or Nick Gebauer (or any individual succeeding to the roles and responsibilities of those individuals), or the knowledge that such individuals would have after due inquiry. 2.89 “Straddle Period” means any Tax period beginning before or on and ending after the Closing Date. 2.90 “Substantial Completion” means that all of the COD Conditions (as defined in the MDU PPA) have been fulfilled. 2.91 “Tax” or “Taxes” means any federal, state, local or foreign income, gross receipts, branch profits, license, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profits, escheat, environmental, customs duties, capital stock, franchise, profits, withholding, social security, unemployment, disability, real property, personal property, sales, use, transfer, registration, ad valorem, value added, alternative or add-on minimum or estimated tax or other tax of any kind whatsoever, including any interest, penalty or addition thereto, whether disputed or not and including any obligation to indemnify or otherwise assume or succeed to the Tax liability of any other Person by Law, by Contract or otherwise. 2.92 “Tax Affiliate” of a Person means a member of the Person’s Affiliated Group and any other subsidiary of that Person which is a partnership or is a disregarded entity under the Code for Tax purposes. 2.93 “Tax Credit” means the production tax credit under Section 45 of the Code and the clean electricity production credit under Section 45Y of the Code. 2.94 “Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, or information return or statement relating to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.


 
10 US-DOCS155424210.18 2.95 “Third Party Claim” means a Legal Proceeding threatened, instituted, or asserted by a party (including a Governmental Authority) other than the Buyer, the Seller, or any of their respective Affiliates against an Indemnitee. 2.96 “Time Limit” is defined in Section 8.6(a). 2.97 “Transaction” means the purchase and sale of the Buyer’s Ownership Share of the Acquired Assets. 2.98 “Transmission Easements” means each Contract listed under the heading “Transmission Easements” in Schedule 2.3. 2.99 “Turbine Servicer” means General Electric International, Inc., a Delaware corporation. 2.100 “Turbine Service Agreement” means the Full Services Agreement, dated November 5, 2024, by and between Turbine Servicer and Seller. 2.101 “Turbine Supplier” means GE Renewables North America, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. 2.102 “Turbine Supply Agreement” means the Contract for the Sale of Power Generation Equipment and Related Services, dated October 25, 2024, by and between the Turbine Supplier and Seller. 2.103 “Update” is defined in Section 8.1(c). 3.0 PURCHASE AND SALE OF THE ACQUIRED ASSETS. 3.1 Acquired Assets. On and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing, the Seller will sell to the Buyer, and the Buyer will purchase from the Seller, a 49% undivided ownership interest in all of the Seller’s right, title, and interest in and to the Acquired Assets, free and clear of all Liens, except for Permitted Liens. “Acquired Assets” means the following assets, properties and rights of the Seller: (a) the Facility (including its electric generation capacity and associated energy output); (b) all equipment, supplies, materials, fixtures, spare parts, tools and other tangible assets that are used, or held for use, in connection with the Facility (other than Excluded Personal Property), including all wind turbines, collection systems, and transformers installed at, purchased for, or under construction at the Facility; (c) any Claims against any third party arising out of a Contract (other than any Excluded Contract) or in connection with the performance of such third party thereunder, to the extent relating to the Facility or its construction (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Buyer’s Ownership Share of all performance-based liquidated damages that are paid to the Seller under any such Contract);


 
11 US-DOCS155424210.18 (d) all designs, drawings, plans, schematics, plant data, design specifications, equipment lists, operating and maintenance manuals, testing protocols, and other similar documents relating to the operation of the Facility or any component thereof; (e) all Facility Permits; (f) all third-party warranties, guaranties, and other similar rights under the Turbine Supply Agreement, the Turbine Service Agreement, and the BOP Contract; provided that the interest that the Buyer shall acquire in such warranties, guaranties, and other similar rights will be in the form of third-party beneficiary rights pursuant to the applicable tripartite agreement entered into with respect to each such agreement in accordance with Section 11.1(k); and (g) the Acquired Real Property. 3.2 Ownership Interest. From and after the Closing, the Owners will own the Acquired Assets pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Co-Tenancy Agreement. 3.3 Excluded Assets. The Seller will not sell, and the Buyer will not purchase, any interest in the Excluded Assets. “Excluded Assets” means all assets that are not Acquired Assets, including the following: (a) the Seller’s rights under or interest in any Contracts (other than rights and interests described in Section 3.1); (b) any Intellectual Property of the Seller; (c) any and all rights, demands, claims, credits, allowances, rebates, causes of action, or rights of set-off, in each case known or unknown, pending or threatened, of the Seller in respect of (i) assets that are not Acquired Assets or (ii) the Retained Liabilities (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, rights, demands, claims, credits, allowances, rebates, causes of action, and rights of set-off that are described in Section 3.1 above); (d) any right, title, or interest of any Person (other than the Seller and its Affiliates) in any property or asset; (e) any Permits required for the Seller to own its Ownership Share of the Facility, to the extent such Permits are by their nature appropriately held by the Seller separately; (f) any right, title, or interest in or to the Excluded Facility Real Property, the Facility Lease Excluded Real Property, and any other real property interests held by the Seller other than the Acquired Real Property; and (g) any right, title, or interest in or to any Excluded Personal Property. 3.4 Assumed Liabilities. On and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing, the Seller will assign to the Buyer, and the Buyer will assume, pay,


 
12 US-DOCS155424210.18 perform, and discharge from and after the Closing in accordance with their respective terms, the Assumed Liabilities. “Assumed Liabilities” means all obligations of Buyer under the Co-Tenancy Agreement in Buyer’s capacity as a Co-Tenant (as defined therein). 3.5 Retained Liabilities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Buyer will not assume or otherwise be obligated to pay, perform, or discharge the Retained Liabilities. “Retained Liabilities” means all liabilities and obligations that are not Assumed Liabilities, including the following (except, in each case, as otherwise provided in the Co-Tenancy Agreement): (a) all obligations of Seller under the Co-Tenancy Agreement in Seller’s capacity as a Co-Tenant (as defined therein); (b) any liabilities or obligations in respect of Taxes of the Seller or any Tax Affiliate of the Seller, or any liability of the Seller for unpaid Taxes of any Person under Treas. Reg. § 1.1502-6 (or similar Law) as a transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise, except for Taxes for which the Buyer is liable pursuant to Section 4.3 or Section 4.4; (c) any liabilities or obligations of the Seller in respect of indebtedness for borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of property; and (d) any other liability, obligation, duty, or responsibility of the Seller to the extent not related to the Acquired Assets. 4.0 CONSIDERATION. 4.1 Consideration. The consideration to be paid by the Buyer for its Ownership Share of the Acquired Assets will be the Purchase Price and the assumption of the Assumed Liabilities. 4.2 Payment of Purchase Price. (a) Buyer shall notify Seller within two (2) Business Days after the PSC has served to Buyer a written order approving the Buyer’s application for an “advance determination of prudence” with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. If such written order satisfies criteria set forth in the definition of “PSC Approval” (such that PSC Approval shall be deemed obtained for purposes of this Agreement), then within five (5) Business Days after such written order has been served to Buyer, the Buyer will pay the Down Payment (i.e., $29,400,000) to the Seller by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with wire transfer instructions to be provided by Seller no later than two (2) Business Days after receipt of the notice from Buyer that PSC Approval has been obtained. (b) At the Closing, the Buyer will pay to the Seller, by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with the wire transfer instructions set forth in Section 4.2(a) above, an amount equal to the Purchase Price, minus the Down Payment.


 
13 US-DOCS155424210.18 4.3 Transaction Taxes. All state and local sales, use, gross receipts, transfer, gains, excise, value-added, or other similar Taxes (but, for the avoidance of doubt, not any Taxes based on or measured by income) in connection with the transfer of the Buyer’s Ownership Share of the Acquired Assets and the assumption of the Assumed Liabilities, and all recording and filing fees that may be imposed by reason of the sale, transfer, assignment, and delivery of the Buyer’s Ownership Share of the Acquired Assets, shall be paid on or prior to their due date by the Buyer and Seller in equal share. 4.4 Property Taxes. To the extent not otherwise provided in this Agreement, Seller shall be responsible for and shall promptly pay when due all Property Taxes levied with respect to the Acquired Assets attributable to the Pre-Closing Tax Period. All Property Taxes levied with respect to the Acquired Assets for the Straddle Period shall be apportioned between Buyer and Seller based on the number of days of such Straddle Period included in the Pre-Closing Tax Period and the number of days of such Straddle Period included in the Post-Closing Tax Period. Seller shall be liable for the proportionate amount of such Property Taxes that is attributable to the Pre-Closing Tax Period, and Buyer shall be liable for its proportionate amount of such Property Taxes that is attributable to the Post-Closing Tax Period. With respect to Property Taxes, the Pre-Closing Tax Period and Post-Closing Tax Period each refer to the calendar year such Property Taxes are payable. Upon receipt of any bill for such Property Taxes, Buyer or Seller, as applicable, shall present a statement to the other setting forth the amount of reimbursement to which each is entitled under this Section 4.4 together with such supporting evidence as is reasonably necessary to calculate the proration amount. The proration amount shall be paid by the party owing it to the other within ten (10) days after delivery of such statement. In the event that Buyer or Seller makes any payment for which it is entitled to reimbursement under this Section 4.4, the applicable party shall make such reimbursement promptly but in no event later than ten (10) days after the presentation of a statement setting forth the amount of reimbursement to which the presenting party is entitled along with such supporting evidence as is reasonably necessary to calculate the amount of reimbursement. Any refunds (or credits in lieu of refunds) of Property Taxes levied or discounts on such Property Taxes earned as a result of making payment in full by a certain date, in each case, with respect to the Acquired Assets for any Straddle Period shall be equitably apportioned in accordance with the principles set forth in this Section 4.4. Any refunds (or credits in lieu of refunds) of Taxes with respect to the Acquired Assets for any period ending before the Closing Date shall be for the benefit of Seller. Each party shall pay, or cause its Affiliates to pay, to the party entitled to a refund (or credit in lieu of refund) of Taxes under this Section 4.4, the amount of such refund (or credit) (including any interest paid thereon and net of any Taxes and any other out-of-pocket expenses to the party receiving such refund or credit in respect of the receipt or accrual of such refund or credit) within fifteen (15) days of the actual receipt of the refund (or actual use of the credit to reduce Taxes otherwise payable). 5.0 CLOSING AND DELIVERIES. 5.1 Closing. The closing of the Transaction (the “Closing”) will take place on the third (3rd) Business Day following the date on which all conditions precedent set forth in Sections 11.1 and 11.2 have been satisfied or waived, or on such other date as the Buyer and the Seller may mutually agree (the date on which the Closing occurs, the “Closing Date”). Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the Closing will occur via the exchange of copies of signed documents via


 
14 US-DOCS155424210.18 electronic transmission. For all purposes, the Closing will be effective as of 11:59:59 p.m. (prevailing time in Bismarck, North Dakota) on the Closing Date (the “Effective Time”). 5.2 The Seller’s Separate Closing Deliveries. At the Closing, the Seller shall deliver to the Buyer the following items: (a) a bill of sale, in a form reasonably acceptable to the parties, duly executed by the Seller; and (b) a copy, certified by an officer of the Seller, of the organizational documents of Seller and the resolutions adopted by the Seller’s sole member authorizing the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement. 5.3 The Buyer’s Separate Closing Deliveries. At the Closing, the Buyer shall deliver to the Seller the following items: (a) in accordance with Section 4.2, that portion of the Purchase Price payable by the Buyer at the Closing; and (b) a copy, certified by an officer of the Buyer, of the organizational documents of the Buyer and the resolutions adopted by the Buyer’s board of directors authorizing the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement. 5.4 Mutual Closing Deliveries. At the Closing, each of the following agreements, dated as of the Closing Date, shall be duly executed and delivered by the entities indicated below. (a) an assignment and assumption agreement in respect of the Acquired Assets, in a form reasonably acceptable to the parties, by the Seller and the Buyer; (b) the Co-Tenancy Agreement, by the Seller and the Buyer; (c) a memorandum of the Co-Tenancy Agreement, substantially in the form attached to the Co-Tenancy Agreement, by the Seller and the Buyer; (d) a notice to the landlord under each Facility Lease and Other Project Lease in a form reasonably acceptable to the parties, by the Seller and the Buyer, notifying such landlord that the conditions precedent to the partial assignment of such Facility Lease or Other Project Lease under the respective Landlord Consent, Amendment and Partial Assignment have been satisfied and the partial assignment contemplated therein is effective; and (e) a notice executed by the Seller and the Buyer to each of the Turbine Supplier, the Turbine Servicer, and the BOP Contractor with respect to the applicable tripartite agreement entered into with such party in accordance with Section 11.1(k), providing notice that the Closing Date has occurred and otherwise in a form reasonably acceptable to the parties.


 
15 US-DOCS155424210.18 6.0 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLER. Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedules, the Seller hereby represents and warrants to the Buyer as follows: 6.1 Organization. The Seller is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware, and qualified to do business and in good standing under the Laws of the State of North Dakota, with full power and authority to (i) construct, own and operate the Facility, (ii) execute and deliver this Agreement and perform its obligations hereunder, and (iii) conduct its business as it is now being conducted and as it is contemplated to be conducted pursuant to this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents. 6.2 Authorization of Transaction. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transaction have been duly and validly authorized by the sole member of the Seller and no other limited liability company proceedings on the part of the Seller are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the Transaction. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Seller and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Seller, enforceable against the Seller in accordance with its terms (subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, and similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and general equity principles). 6.3 Non-contravention. The execution and delivery of this Agreement will not (i) contravene or violate the organizational documents of the Seller or any of its Affiliates, (ii) subject to obtaining the Consents and Permits set forth in Schedule 6.6, contravene or violate in any material respect any Order or Law to which the Seller, any of its Affiliates, or the Acquired Assets are subject, (iii) conflict in any material respect with, contravene, result in a material breach of, or constitute a material default (including with notice, lapse of time, or both) under, or result in the acceleration, termination, or cancellation of, any material Contract to which the Seller or any of its Affiliates is a party, by which the Seller or any of its Affiliates is bound, or to which any of the Acquired Assets are subject, or (iv) result in the imposition of any material Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) upon the Acquired Assets. 6.4 Construction of the Facility. All actions by the Seller and any of its Affiliates’ in connection with the construction of the Facility have been performed in accordance with Prudent Industry Practice. The Seller and its Affiliates have all rights necessary to construct and operate the Facility in accordance with Prudent Industry Practice, other than: (a) the Permits listed in Part II of Schedule 6.9(b); and (b) the real property interest described in Schedule 6.16(c). 6.5 Legal Proceedings and Claims. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.5, there are no pending or, to the Seller’s Knowledge, threatened Legal Proceedings or Claims against the Seller or any of its Affiliates relating to any of the Acquired Assets that would reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, interfere in any material way with the construction or anticipated use of the Facility. 6.6 Consents. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Seller’s ability to consummate the Transaction, the Seller requires no Consents or Permits to execute, deliver, and perform its obligations under this Agreement, or for the parties to


 
16 US-DOCS155424210.18 consummate the Transaction, other than such Consents or Permits that have already been obtained as of the Effective Date or are set forth in Schedule 6.6. 6.7 Title. With respect to the Acquired Assets (other than the Acquired Real Property), the Seller has good and marketable title to, and is (without giving effect to the Transaction) the sole and exclusive owner of, such Acquired Assets, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens. Seller has good and valid leasehold, easement, access, license, right of way, or other real property interests, as applicable, under each Acquired Real Property Agreement, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens. 6.8 Contracts and Rights. Schedule 6.8 sets forth a complete and correct list of each material Contract principally relating to the Acquired Assets (each such Contract, a “Material Contract”). The Seller has delivered to the Buyer complete and correct copies of all written Material Contracts (including all amendments, modifications and supplements thereto), and Schedule 6.8 sets forth a complete and correct summary of the terms and conditions of all oral Material Contracts. With respect to each Material Contract: (i) the Material Contract is, with respect to the Seller and each of its Affiliates that is a party thereto, legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect (subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, and similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and general equity principles); (ii) neither the Seller nor any of its Affiliates that is a party to such Material Contract is in breach or default in any material respect of, and no event has occurred that with notice or lapse of time could reasonably be expected to constitute any such breach or default of, or permit the early termination of or acceleration of rights under, the Material Contract; (iii) to the Seller’s Knowledge, no other party to such Material Contract (i.e., any Person other than the Seller or any of its Affiliates) is in breach or default in any material respect of, and no event has occurred that with notice or lapse of time could reasonably be expected to constitute any such breach or default of, or permit the early termination of or acceleration of rights under, the Material Contract; and (iv) no unresolved payment dispute or claim is pending between the Seller or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and any other party to such Material Contract, on the other hand, under such Material Contract. 6.9 Compliance with Laws. (a) With respect to the Facility, the Seller and its Affiliates have complied with, and are in compliance with, all applicable Laws or Orders, except for such failures to comply with applicable Laws or Orders that would not reasonably be expected to materially impair or delay the ability of Seller to perform its obligations under this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents, or to consummate the Transaction. (b) There are no material Permits required to be obtained by or on behalf of the Seller under existing Law to site, develop, construct, operate, or own the Facility, as the Facility is currently designed and contemplated to be sited, developed, constructed, owned and operated, other than (i) the Permits described in Schedule 6.9(b) and or (ii) any Permits that are ministerial in nature and reasonably expected to be obtained in the ordinary course of business. Each Permit listed in Part I of Schedule 6.9(b) has been issued to, applies to, or has been made by or on behalf of the Seller, was validly issued or made, and is in full force and effect (and the Seller is in compliance in all material respects with respect to each such Permit). As of the Effective Date, each Permit listed in Part II of Schedule 6.9(b) has


 
17 US-DOCS155424210.18 not yet been obtained, and to Seller’s Knowledge, no facts or circumstances exist that would prohibit or restrict the Seller’s ability to timely obtain any Permit listed in Part II of Schedule 6.9(b) in the ordinary course of business except, with respect to federal Permits, as set forth in Part III of Schedule 6.9(b). 6.10 Environmental Matters. The only representations and warranties given in respect to Environmental Laws, Environmental Permits, or other environmental matters are those contained in this Section 6.10, and none of the other representations and warranties contained in this Agreement will be deemed to constitute a representation or warranty related to Environmental Laws, Environmental Permits, or other environmental matters. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.10: (a) The Seller and its Affiliates (i) possess all material Environmental Permits necessary to commence the construction of the Facility, and each such Environmental Permit is valid and in full force and effect, (ii) have for the last three (3) years been and are, with respect to the Acquired Assets, in material compliance with the requirements of such Environmental Permits and Environmental Laws, and (iii) have not received any written Environmental Claims to suspend, revoke, or withdraw any such Environmental Permits. (b) As of the date hereof none of the following exists at the Acquired Real Property or the Acquired Assets: (i) underground storage tanks; (ii) asbestos containing material in any form or condition; (iii) materials or equipment containing polychlorinated biphenyls; (iv) groundwater monitoring wells, or production water wells; or (v) landfills, surface impoundments, or disposal areas. (c) There is and has been no material Release caused by the Seller or its Affiliates from, in, on, or beneath the Acquired Real Property that could reasonably be expected to form a basis for an Environmental Claim that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. To the Seller’s Knowledge, there is and has been no material Release caused by any other Person (i.e., any Person other than the Seller or any of its Affiliates) from, in, on, or beneath the Acquired Real Property that could reasonably be expected to form a basis for an Environmental Claim against the Seller, any of its Affiliates, or the Facility that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. (d) There are no Environmental Claims related to the Acquired Assets or Acquired Real Property that are pending or, to the Seller’s Knowledge, threatened against the Seller or any of its Affiliates. 6.11 Fees and Commissions. No broker, finder, or other Person is entitled to any brokerage fees, commissions, or finder’s fees for which the Buyer could become liable or obligated in connection with the Transaction by reason of any action taken by the Seller. 6.12 Insurance. Schedule 6.12 sets forth a complete and correct list of all the policies of insurance, including the scope and coverage amounts, periods of coverage, and description of any retroactive premium adjustments or other loss sharing arrangements, carried by or for the benefit


 
18 US-DOCS155424210.18 of the Seller which cover the Facility. The Seller has not received, and to the Seller’s Knowledge it has not been threatened with, any written notice of cancellation or termination with respect to any insurance policy providing coverage in respect of the Acquired Assets. None of the Seller, any of Affiliates, nor, to the Seller’s Knowledge, any other party is in material breach or default under any of such policies of insurance, and, to the Seller’s Knowledge, all such insurance policies are valid, binding, and in full force and effect. 6.13 Governmental Filings. (a) The Seller and its Affiliates have filed or caused to be filed with the applicable Governmental Authorities all material forms, statements, reports, and documents (including all exhibits, amendments, and supplements thereto) required by Law or Order to be filed with such Governmental Authorities with respect to the Facility except for such failures to file any form, statements, reports and documents (including all exhibits, amendments, and supplements thereto) that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. (b) As of the respective dates on which such forms, statements, reports, and documents were filed, each such form, statement, report or document complied in all material respects with all requirements of any Law or Order applicable to such form, statement, report, or document in effect on such date except for such failures to comply with any requirements that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 6.14 Labor and Employment Matters. There is not any pending or, to the Seller’s Knowledge, threatened strike, slowdown, or work stoppage involving the employees of the Seller or any of its Affiliates that would be expected to be material to the construction, operation, ownership or maintenance of the Facility. 6.15 Tax Matters. (a) Each Affiliated Group of which the Seller is or has been a member has timely filed all material Tax Returns relating to the Acquired Assets that it was required to file. All such Tax Returns were correct and complete in all material respects with all applicable Laws. All material Taxes owed by any Affiliated Group or Tax Affiliate of the Seller with respect to the Acquired Assets (whether or not shown or required to be shown on any Tax Return) have been paid except to the extent being contested in good faith by Legal Proceedings or Claims. (b) There are no pending or, to the Seller’s Knowledge, threatened Legal Proceedings or Claims against the Affiliated Group or Tax Affiliate of the Seller relating to Taxes that would, or could reasonably be expected to, adversely affect the Transaction or the Acquired Assets (including for reduced or unavailable Tax Credits or depreciation deductions). There are no Liens on any of the Acquired Assets that arose in connection with any failure (or alleged failure) to pay any Tax. (c) The Seller has withheld and paid all Taxes required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent


 
19 US-DOCS155424210.18 contractor, creditor, stockholder, or other third party and all Forms W-2 and 1099 required with respect thereto have been properly completed and timely filed. (d) The Seller does not have any liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than the Seller) under Treas. Reg. § 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of Law), as a transferee or successor, by Contract, or otherwise that would, or could reasonably be expected to, give rise to a Lien with respect to the Buyer’s Ownership Share of the Acquired Assets. (e) No energy credit under Section 48 of the Code, clean electricity investment credit under Section 48E of the Code, or grants from the U.S. Department of Treasury under Section 1603 of Division B of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, as amended, have been claimed with respect to the Facility. (f) All electricity to be produced by the Facility is produced through the use of wind energy. (g) None of the Acquired Assets are “tax-exempt use property” within the meaning of Section 168(h) of the Code, are “tax-exempt bond financed property” within the meaning of Section 168(g) of the Code, or secure any debt the interest of which is tax- exempt under Section 103(a) of the Code. (h) The Acquired Assets are not imported property of the kind described in Section 168(g)(6) of the Code. 6.16 Real Property. (a) There is no condemnation, expropriation or other proceeding in eminent domain, pending or, to the Seller’s Knowledge, threatened, affecting the Acquired Real Property or any portion thereof or interest therein. To the Seller’s Knowledge, there is no Order or Legal Proceeding pending or threatened relating to the ownership, lease, use or occupancy of the Acquired Real Property or any portion thereof. (b) The classification of the Acquired Real Property under applicable zoning Laws permits the use and occupancy of the Acquired Real Property and the construction and anticipated operation of the Facility, and permits the improvements located thereon as currently constructed and as expected to be constructed and operated. To Seller’s Knowledge, the Seller’s or its Affiliates’ use or occupancy of the Acquired Real Property or any portion thereof and the anticipated operation of the Facility is not dependent on a “permitted non-conforming use” or “permitted non-conforming structure” or similar variance, exemption or approval from any Governmental Authority. (c) Except as set forth in Schedule 6.16, the Acquired Real Property constitutes all of the real property interests that are necessary to construct and operate the Facility; provided, that the Excluded Facility Real Property is necessary to construct (but not operate) the Facility.


 
20 US-DOCS155424210.18 6.17 Intellectual Property Rights. (a) No act or omission by the Seller in connection with the construction of the Facility violates, infringes or misappropriates, or has violated, infringed or misappropriated, any Intellectual Property of any other Person. To the Seller’s Knowledge, the Seller has not received any Claims in writing or otherwise that the Seller or any of its Affiliates is infringing in any material respect the Intellectual Property of any other Person in connection with the construction of the Facility. (b) The consummation by the Seller of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not infringe upon any rights of any other Person to or in any Intellectual Property. 6.18 No Material Adverse Effect. From and after the Effective Date, no Material Adverse Effect has occurred and, to Seller’s Knowledge, no facts or circumstances exist that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. 7.0 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER. Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedules, the Buyer hereby represents and warrants to the Seller as follows: 7.1 Organization. The Buyer is a corporation duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware, and qualified to do business and in good standing under the Laws of the State of North Dakota, with full power and authority to (i) purchase the undivided ownership interest in the Acquired Assets to be purchased by it hereunder, (ii) execute and deliver this Agreement and perform its obligations hereunder, and (iii) conduct its business as it is now being conducted and as it is contemplated to be conducted pursuant to this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents. 7.2 Authorization. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transaction have been duly and validly authorized by the board of directors of the Buyer and no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Buyer are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the Transaction. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Buyer and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Buyer, enforceable against the Buyer in accordance with its terms (subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, and similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and general equity principles). 7.3 Non-contravention. The execution and delivery of this Agreement will not (i) contravene or violate the organizational documents of the Buyer, (ii) subject to obtaining the Consents and Permits set forth in Schedule 7.5, contravene or violate any Order or Law to which the Buyer or any of its Affiliates is subject, or (iii) conflict with, contravene, result in a breach of, or constitute a default (including with notice, lapse of time, or both) under, or result in the acceleration, termination, or cancellation of, any material Contract to which the Buyer or any of its Affiliates is a party, or by which the Buyer or any of its Affiliates is bound.


 
21 US-DOCS155424210.18 7.4 Legal Proceedings and Claims. There are no pending or, to the Buyer’s Knowledge, threatened Legal Proceedings or Claims against the Buyer or any of its Affiliates that could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Buyer’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement. 7.5 Consents. The Buyer requires no Consents or Permits (other than PSC Approval) to execute, deliver, and perform its obligations under this Agreement, or for the parties to consummate the Transaction, other than as set forth in Schedule 7.5. 7.6 The Buyer’s Due Diligence. The Buyer has conducted its own independent review and analysis of, among other things, the Acquired Assets, the Assumed Liabilities, the current and anticipated value of the Acquired Assets and the Assumed Liabilities, the construction of the Facility, and the anticipated operations of the Facility. The Buyer acknowledges that the Seller has provided the Buyer with access to the relevant personnel, properties, premises, and records of the Seller for this purpose. In entering into this Agreement, the Buyer has relied solely upon its own investigation and analysis, and the express representations and warranties made by the Seller in this Agreement to the Buyer’s Knowledge, no condition, event, or circumstance exists that constitutes a Breach of this Agreement by the Seller. 7.7 Fees and Commissions. No broker, finder, or other Person is entitled to any brokerage fees, commissions, or finder’s fees for which the Seller could become liable or obligated in connection with the Transaction by reason of any action taken by the Buyer. 8.0 INDEMNIFICATION 8.1 Additional Provisions Relating to Representations and Warranties. (a) THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES CONTAINED IN ARTICLE 6.0 ARE THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES GIVEN BY THE SELLER WITH RESPECT TO THE ACQUIRED ASSETS AND THE ASSUMED LIABILITIES. THE SELLER DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, WHETHER MADE BY THE SELLER, ITS AFFILIATES, OR ITS OR THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OR REPRESENTATIVES, AND WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR ARISING BY OPERATION OF LAW, INCLUDING WARRANTIES AS TO MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. (b) The information contained in the Disclosure Schedules constitute exceptions to the applicable representations and warranties contained in Article 6.0 and Article 7.0 . Any disclosure made by a party in the Disclosure Schedules, with reference to any section or schedule of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a disclosure with respect to all other sections or schedules to which the relevance of such disclosure is reasonably apparent from the face of such disclosure (without any independent knowledge on the part of the reader regarding the matter disclosed). The Disclosure Schedules may include certain information that is not required to be disclosed or that does not meet the minimum standards of materiality requiring disclosure, and the inclusion of such information does


 
22 US-DOCS155424210.18 not constitute an acknowledgment by the party making the disclosure that such information is required to be disclosed or that such information should be deemed to establish a standard of materiality. In no event shall the inclusion of any matter in Disclosure Schedules be deemed or interpreted to broaden Seller’s representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement. (c) Prior to the Closing, Seller shall have the right to supplement, modify or update any schedule included in Disclosure Schedules related to representations set forth in Article 6.0 (including with respect to representations and warranties set forth herein that are not qualified by reference to Disclosure Schedules as of the Effective Date) (each, an “Update”); provided that any such Update shall be delivered to Buyer at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date. Each Update may only describe facts, circumstances, events or conditions that did not exist on or have changed since the Effective Date (“New Information”). Any Updates shall be subject to the prior written approval by Buyer, acting in its reasonable discretion (and, if applicable, subject to an appropriate adjustment to the Purchase Price that may be agreed between Buyer and Seller), except that no approval by Buyer shall be required (nor shall there be any adjustment to the Purchase Price) for any Update in respect of an action or event permitted pursuant to Section 10.2. If Seller provides Buyer with any such Update, and Buyer elects to proceed with consummation of the Closing, Buyer shall have no claim against Seller for a breach of such representation or warranty based on any New Information contained in such Update and the provisions of Article 8.0 shall not apply with respect to any such matter; provided, that no Update or New Information shall be deemed to modify, or cure any breach of, any Seller Fundamental Representation. (d) All Indemnification Claims for the Breach of a representation or warranty will be based solely on the representations and warranties in Article 6.0 and Article 7.0 as modified by the Disclosure Schedules (as they exist on the Effective Date). (e) For the purposes of determining whether any inaccuracy in or breach of representation or warranty in Article 6.0 or Article 7.0 has occurred, and for the purposes of determining the amount of Damages incurred in connection with any inaccuracy in or breach of any representation or warranty in Article 6.0 or Article 7.0, such representation or warranty shall be read without regard for or giving effect to materiality, Material Adverse Effect or other similar qualification. 8.2 Indemnification by the Seller. Subject to the terms, conditions, and limitations contained in other sections of this Article 8.0, from and after the Closing the Seller will indemnify and hold the Buyer harmless from and against any and all Damages incurred by the Buyer and arising or resulting from: (a) any Breach by the Seller of this Agreement; and (b) Retained Liabilities. 8.3 Indemnification by the Buyer. Subject to the terms, conditions, and limitations contained in other sections of this Article 8.0, from and after the Closing the Buyer will indemnify and bold the Seller harmless from and against any and all Damages incurred by the Seller and arising or resulting from: (a) any Breach by the Buyer of this Agreement; and (b) Assumed Liabilities.


 
23 US-DOCS155424210.18 8.4 Enforcement Costs. Damages for which an Indemnitor is liable under Section 8.2 shall include all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable and documented legal fees) incurred by the Indemnitee in enforcing its indemnification rights hereunder. 8.5 Duty to Mitigate. The Indemnitee will use commercially reasonable efforts to mitigate any Damages in respect of which it is entitled to indemnification hereunder. The amount of any indemnifiable Damages will be reduced to take into account any Tax benefit recognized by the Indemnitee arising from the indemnifiable Damages. 8.6 Limitations on Indemnification. The following limitations will apply to Indemnification Claims hereunder, except that no limitations will apply to any Indemnification Claim arising from the fraud of the Indemnitor. (a) Time Limits. Neither party will have any obligation in respect of an Indemnification Claim asserted by the other under Section 8.2 or Section 8.3, as the case may be, unless such party delivers a Claim Notice in respect of such Indemnification Claim within the applicable “Time Limit,” as defined herein. (i) Buyer Claims. For Indemnification Claims pursuant to Section 8.2(a) based upon the Breach by the Seller of a Seller Fundamental Representation or a representation in Section 6.15, the Time Limit will be one year after the expiration of the statute of limitations applicable to such Breach. For Indemnification Claims pursuant to Section 8.2(b), the Time Limit will be one year after the expiration of the statute of limitations applicable to such Breach. For all other Indemnification Claims by the Buyer, the Time Limit will be one year after the Closing Date. (ii) Seller Claims. For Indemnification Claims by the Seller pursuant to Section 8.3(a) based upon the Breach by the Buyer of a Buyer Fundamental Representation, the Time Limit will be one year after the expiration of the statute of limitations applicable to such Breach. For Indemnification Claims pursuant to Section 8.3(b), the Time Limit will be one year after the expiration of the statute of limitations applicable to such Breach. For all other Indemnification Claims by the Seller, the Time Limit will be one year after the Closing Date. (b) Deductible. Subject to the next sentence, neither party will have any indemnification obligation under Section 8.2 or Section 8.3, as the case may be, until the aggregate of all of such party’s Damages under Indemnification Claims exceeds 1.0% of the Purchase Price (the “Deductible”), and then only to the extent such party’s Damages exceed the Deductible. The Deductible will not apply to any Indemnification Claim under Section 8.2(b) or based upon the Breach of any Fundamental Representation. (c) Caps. The cumulative and aggregate liability of the Seller under Section 8.2(a) for Breaches of Seller General Representations and the Buyer under Section 8.3(a) for Breaches of Buyer General Representations will not exceed an amount equal to 15% of the Purchase Price actually received by Seller. The cumulative and


 
24 US-DOCS155424210.18 aggregate liability of the Seller under Section 8.2(a) and of Buyer under Section 8.3(a) will not exceed an amount equal to 100% of the Purchase Price actually received by Seller. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing caps will not apply to any Indemnification Claim under Section 8.2(b). (d) No Indirect Damages. In no event will either party be liable, either in contract or in tort, for any consequential, incidental, indirect, special, or punitive damages, including loss of future revenue, income, or profits, diminution of value, or loss of business reputation or opportunity, relating to the Breach or alleged Breach hereof or otherwise, irrespective of whether the possibility of such damages has been disclosed to such party in advance or could have been reasonably foreseen by such party. 8.7 Indemnification Procedures. (a) Claim Notice. If the Indemnitee desires to make an Indemnification Claim against the Indemnitor, then, reasonably promptly after the Indemnitee becomes aware of a situation that has resulted in or might result in Damages for which it would be entitled to indemnification hereunder, the Indemnitee will submit a written notice (the “Claim Notice”) to the Indemnitor, which notice will (i) state that the Indemnitee has incurred Damages or anticipates it will incur Damages for which it is entitled to indemnification hereunder, (ii) specify in reasonable detail, to the extent known by the Indemnitee at that time, the total amount of Damages claimed, each individual item of Damages included in such amount, the date such item was paid or incurred, the basis for any anticipated Damages, and the Breach or other basis upon which indemnification is claimed, and (iii) if the Damages are predicated upon a Third Party Claim, the name of the third party claimant(s) and a copy of all pleadings filed and written demands or threats made by the third party claimant(s). The Indemnitee will update the Claim Notice if and when additional information is known to it. (b) Third Party Claims. (i) If a Third Party Claim has been asserted against the Indemnitee and the Indemnitee has given a Claim Notice to the Indemnitor in accordance with Section 8.7(a), then the Indemnitor will be entitled to assume the defense of such claim, at its own expense, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee, provided that the Indemnitor notifies the Indemnitee in writing of its election to assume the defense within 20 days following delivery to it of the Claim Notice. If the Indemnitor assumes the defense of a Third Party Claim, then (A) it will be conclusively established for purposes of this Agreement that such Third Party Claim is within the scope of the Indemnitor’s indemnification obligations hereunder, (B) the Indemnitee will be entitled to monitor the defense, compromise, or settlement of such Third Party Claim, using counsel of its choice at its own expense (except as otherwise provided in Section 8.7(b)(iv)), but will not compromise or settle the Third Party Claim without the Indemnitor’s prior written consent, which may be withheld in the Indemnitor’s sole discretion, and (C) the Indemnitor will not compromise or settle the Third Party Claim without the Indemnitee’s consent, which will not be unreasonably withheld, unless the


 
25 US-DOCS155424210.18 judgment or proposed settlement involves only the payment of money damages the full amount of which will be paid by the Indemnitor pursuant to its indemnity obligations pursuant to this Article 8.0 or otherwise, and (1) does not impose an injunction or other equitable relief upon the Indemnitee and (2) includes as an unconditional term thereof the giving of a release from all liability with respect to such claim by each claimant or plaintiff to each of the Indemnitor and the Indemnitee that is the subject of such Third Party Claim. Without limiting the circumstances in which it would be reasonable for the Indemnitee to withhold its consent, it will be reasonable for the Indemnitee to withhold its consent in any of the following situations: (x) the compromise or settlement involves an acknowledgment or admission of liability, fault, or a violation of any Law or Order by the Indemnitee; (y) the compromise or settlement could reasonably be expected to have an adverse effect on any other claims that may be made by the third party claimant against the Indemnitee; or (z) the relief awarded to the third party claimant consists of more than monetary damages that are paid in full by the Indemnitor. (ii) If, in accordance with Section 8.7(a), the Indemnitee delivers a Claim Notice in respect of a Third Party Claim for which the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder, and the Indemnitor does not, within 20 days thereafter, give written notice to the Indemnitee of its election to assume the defense of the Third Party Claim, then the Indemnitee will be entitled to defend such Third Party Claim using counsel of its choice, at the Indemnitor’s expense, and the Indemnitor will be bound by any judicial determination made in respect of such Third Party Claim or any reasonable compromise or settlement effected by the Indemnitee. (iii) If an answer or other response is required by Law to be filed in respect of a Third Party Claim before the end of the 20-day period referenced in Sections 8.7(b)(i) and (ii) and the Indemnitor has not assumed the defense of the Third Party Claim during such 20-day period, then the Indemnitee will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain an extension of such due date. If the Indemnitee is unable to obtain an extension, then it will timely answer or respond to such Third Party Claim in such a manner, to the extent reasonably possible, as to not prejudice any claims, counterclaims, arguments, and defenses that may be available to the Indemnitor should it elect to assume the defense of such Third Party Claim; provided, however, that the Indemnitee will wait as long as possible before filing such answer or response and will use commercially reasonable efforts to coordinate such answer or response with the Indemnitor. (iv) If both the Indemnitee and the Indemnitor are named as defendants in a Third Party Claim and, in the reasonable opinion of the Indemnitee’s counsel, (A) there are or may be one or more defenses available to the Indemnitor that are not available to the Indemnitee, the assertion of which would be adverse to the interests of the Indemnitee, or (B) there otherwise exists a conflict or potential conflict of interest such that separate representation is advisable, then the Indemnitor will be liable for the expenses of the Indemnitee’s counsel to the extent


 
26 US-DOCS155424210.18 incurred defending a Third Party Claim for which the Indemnitor is liable under Section 8.2 or Section 8.3, as the case maybe. 8.8 Exclusive Remedies. Following the Closing, and other than for claims of fraud, the sole and exclusive remedies for any Breach of this Agreement, will be (i) indemnification under this Article 8.0 or (ii) equitable remedies available to enforce either party’s rights under Section 8.9. 8.9 Specific Performance. The parties agree that if any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached, irreparable damage would occur and money damages may not be a sufficient remedy. In addition to any other remedy at law or in equity, each of Buyer and Seller shall be entitled to seek specific performance by the other party of its obligations under this Agreement and immediate injunctive relief, without the necessity of proving the inadequacy of money damages as a remedy. The parties further agree that they shall not object to, or take any position inconsistent with respect to, whether in a court of law or otherwise, the appropriateness of specific performance as a remedy for a breach of this Agreement, and each party waives any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with any such remedy. 8.10 Treatment of Indemnification Payments. To the extent permitted by applicable Law, every payment made pursuant to Section 8.2 and Section 8.3 will constitute an adjustment to the Purchase Price for federal, state, and local income Tax purposes. 9.0 NOTICES. Any notice, demand, request, or consent under this Agreement will be effective upon receipt or refusal of delivery if given in writing and delivered by hand, by a national overnight delivery service, by registered or certified mail (with return receipt requested), or by email, addressed as follows: If to the Seller. Badger Wind, LLC c/o Orsted Onshore North America, LLC 401 N. Michigan Ave., Ste. 501 Chicago, IL 60611 Attn: Hope Whitfield Email: hopwh@orsted.com With a copy to: Latham & Watkins LLP 1271 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10020 Attn: David Owen Email: david.owen@lw.com If to the Buyer: Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. 400 North Fourth Street Bismarck, ND 58501-4092 Attn: Vice President - Electric Supply Email: darcy.neigum@mdu.com


 
27 US-DOCS155424210.18 With copies to: Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. P.O. Box 5650 1200 West Century Avenue Bismarck, ND 58506-5650 Attn: MDU General Counsel Email: Anthony.Foti@mduresources.com and Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP One Indiana Square, Suite 3500 Indianapolis, IN 46204 Attn: Henry D. Alderfer Email: halderfer@taftlaw.com Any party may, by written notice to the other patty as provided above, at any time and from time to time change its designation of the person to whom notice will be given on its behalf. 10.0 PRE-CLOSING COVENANTS 10.1 Satisfaction of Conditions. During the Interim Period, the Buyer and the Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to satisfy each of the conditions precedent set forth in Article 11.0 as promptly as practicable (and, in any event, on or before the Outside Date). 10.2 Conduct of the Business. (a) From the Effective Date until the earlier of the Closing or termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article 12.0 (the “Interim Period”), except as otherwise expressly permitted by this Agreement or consented to in writing by the Buyer, the Seller shall: (i) conduct its business in the usual and ordinary course (consistent with the Seller’s past practices); (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to (A) maintain and preserve intact its current business organization, operations, and franchise and to preserve its rights, franchises, goodwill, and relationships with its employees, customers, lenders, suppliers, regulators and others having relationships with the Seller and/or the Facility; (B) preserve, maintain, and comply with, in all material respects, all Permits required for the ownership or operation of the Facility; (C) construct, operate, and maintain all of the Acquired Assets and otherwise conduct its business and construction relating to the Acquired Assets in the ordinary course of business and consistent with Prudent Industry Practice; (D) maintain in full force and effect, and perform all of its obligations under, all Material Contracts and all insurance policies providing coverage in respect of the Acquired Assets except for those Material Contracts and insurance policies that expire in accordance with their terms or as a result of the Seller’s enforcement of its rights or remedies thereunder; and (E) comply in all material respects with all applicable Laws. (b) During the Interim Period, except as set forth on Schedule 10.2, otherwise expressly permitted by this Agreement or consented to in writing by the Buyer, the Seller shall not: (i) enter into, amend, or terminate any Contract that is material to the Facility or any Acquired Asset; provided, however, that this covenant shall not in any way limit the


 
28 US-DOCS155424210.18 right of Seller to agree to a change order pursuant to the terms of any construction-related Contract if such change order could not reasonably be expected to adversely impact the development and construction of the Facility; (ii) transfer, assign, sell or otherwise dispose of any of the Acquired Assets that are material to the development, construction, ownership or operation of the Facility; (iii) cause or allow any Liens (other than Permitted Liens) to be imposed upon any of the Acquired Assets; or (iv) make any material filings with any Governmental Authority in connection with the Facility or the Acquired Assets; provided, however, that with respect to any action described in subclauses (i) through (iv) of this Section 10.2(b), Buyer shall not unreasonably withhold, condition or delay its consent so long as such action would not be materially adverse to the Facility or the Acquired Assets. (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of Section 10.2(b), the Seller may amend, amend and restate, modify, or replace any Facility Lease or Other Project Lease to provide for separate lease agreements with respect to (i) any of all of the Facility Lease Excluded Real Property, and (ii) all other real property leased under such Facility Lease or Other Project Lease, and in such event, the lease with respect to the Facility Lease Excluded Real Property will not be a Facility Lease; provided, however, that no such amendment, restatement, modification or replacement of a Facility Lease or Other Project Lease shall be authorized unless the Buyer has consented in writing to the terms of the separate lease agreements resulting therefrom (which consent shall not be withheld, conditioned or delayed if the separate lease agreements would not adversely affect the Buyer in any material respect). 10.3 Access to Information. During the Interim Period, the Seller shall: (a) afford the Buyer and its representatives reasonable access to and the right to inspect the properties, assets, premises, books and records, contracts, agreements, and other documents and data related to the Facility and the Acquired Assets; (b) furnish the Buyer and its representatives with such financial, operating, and other data and information related to the Facility and the Acquired Assets as the Buyer or any of its representatives may reasonably request; and (c) instruct the Seller’s representatives to cooperate with the Buyer and its representatives in connection with the Buyer’s due diligence investigation of the Facility and the Acquired Assets. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, during the Interim Period, the Buyer and its representatives (including its external accounting and financial advisors) shall have the right to audit the Seller’s books and records in order to verify the Construction Costs incurred by the Seller in connection with the Facility. 10.4 Exclusivity. During the Interim Period, the Seller shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly, solicit, engage in, or otherwise enter into or knowingly facilitate any discussions, negotiations, agreements or other arrangements (including by providing any non-public information) with any Person (other than the Buyer and its representatives) concerning any transfer, assignment, sale or other disposition of all or any portion of the Facility and/or Acquired Assets (or any interest therein). During the Interim Period, the Seller shall notify the Buyer of any inquiry or proposal from any Person (other than the Buyer) in relation to any such transaction within two (2) Business Days of receipt or awareness of the same by the Seller or any of its Affiliates, including a summary of the terms of any such inquiry or proposal and the identity of the Person making any such inquiry or proposal.


 
29 US-DOCS155424210.18 10.5 Notice of Certain Events. During the Interim Period, the Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to notify the Buyer in writing of: (a) any fact, circumstance, event, or action, the existence, occurrence or taking of which (i) has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) has resulted in, or would reasonably be expected to result in, any representation or warranty contained in Article 6.0 made by the Seller hereunder as of the Effective Date not being true and correct, or (iii) has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, the failure of any of the conditions set forth in Section 11.1 to be satisfied; (b) any notice or other communication from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (c) any material notice or other communication from any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and (d) any Claims commenced or, to the Seller’s Knowledge, threatened against, relating to, or involving or otherwise affecting the Facility or the Acquired Assets, in each case, within five (5) Business Days of becoming aware of any such fact, circumstance, event, action, notice, communication, or Claim; provided that the Seller shall have no such obligation to notify Buyer to the extent such notice would violate any confidentiality restrictions to which the Seller is obligated. The Buyer’s receipt of information pursuant to this Section 10.5 shall not operate as a waiver or otherwise affect any representation, warranty or agreement given or made by the Seller in this Agreement, and shall not be deemed to amend or supplement the Disclosure Schedules. 10.6 Landlord Consent, Amendment and Partial Assignment. The Seller will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a Landlord Consent, Amendment and Partial Assignment from the landlord under each Facility Lease and Other Project Lease promptly following the Effective Date (and, in any event, no later than the Outside Date). Upon obtaining a Landlord Consent, Amendment and Partial Assignment executed by any such landlord party, the Seller shall execute such Landlord Consent, Amendment and Partial Assignment and promptly provide such Landlord Consent, Amendment and Partial Assignment to Buyer for Buyer’s countersignature. If Seller delivers a purported Landlord Consent, Amendment and Partial Assignment to Buyer for Buyer’s countersignature, then Buyer shall promptly execute such purported Landlord Consent, Amendment and Partial Assignment unless such purported Landlord Consent, Amendment and Partial Assignment does not satisfy the requirements to be a Landlord Consent, Amendment and Partial Assignment as set forth in the definition thereof. Buyer shall have ten (10) days after its receipt of any purported Landlord Consent, Amendment and Partial Assignment executed by a landlord party to either countersign such purported Landlord Consent, Amendment and Partial Assignment or deliver reasonably detailed written comments to Seller explaining the reason for Buyer’s rejection of such purported Landlord Consent, Amendment and Partial Assignment. The Buyer agrees to reasonably cooperate with the Seller with respect to the Seller’s pursuit of the Landlord Consent, Amendment and Partial Assignments and the Buyer shall not unreasonably withhold, condition or delay its consent to any changes to the form of, or requirements for, Landlord Consent, Amendment and Partial Assignment that are requested by a landlord party and which do not materially and adversely affect the Buyer. 10.7 FERC Approval. (a) Each at their own expense, the parties shall (and shall cause their respective Affiliates to) prepare and submit to FERC, as soon as reasonably practicable following the Effective Date, an application for FERC Approval. The parties shall (and shall cause their


 
30 US-DOCS155424210.18 respective Affiliates to) (i) request expedited treatment of any such filings, (ii) make any subsequent amended or supplemental filings or other submissions as promptly as practicable, and (iii) respond as promptly as practicable and completely to requests for information and documents and other inquiries from FERC or any other Governmental Authority, in each case, in such manner as is necessary and advisable to consummate, as soon as reasonably practicable following the Effective Date (but no later than the Outside Date), the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. (b) To the extent legally permissible, neither party shall participate in or attend any substantive meeting or discussion with FERC or FERC staff regarding the transactions hereunder without consulting with the other party in advance to consider in good faith the views of the other party and to provide the other party with the opportunity to attend and participate with reasonable advance notice. The parties shall consult and reasonably cooperate with each other in connection with any analyses, appearances, presentations, memoranda, briefs, arguments, proposals, or other communications made or submitted to FERC, including the application for FERC Approval. 10.8 Government Reviews. The Buyer and the Seller acknowledge that, on February 7, 2025, the Buyer and the Seller each prepared and filed with the DOJ and the FTC the notification and report form required by the HSR Act for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In a timely manner, the Buyer and the Seller shall (a) make all additional required filings, prepare all additional required applications and conduct negotiations with each Governmental Authority as to which any such filings, applications or negotiations are necessary or appropriate in the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and (b) provide such information as the Buyer or the Seller may reasonably request to make such additional filings, prepare such applications and conduct such negotiations. The Buyer and the Seller shall reasonably cooperate with and use all reasonable efforts to assist the other with respect to such additional filings, applications, and negotiations. The Buyer and the Seller agree to respond promptly to any inquiries from the DOJ or the FTC concerning such filings and to comply in all material respects with the filing requirements of the HSR Act. The Buyer and the Seller shall cooperate with each other and shall promptly furnish all information to the other that is necessary in connection with the Buyer’s and the Seller’s compliance with the HSR Act. The Buyer and the Seller shall keep each other fully advised with respect to any requests from or communications with the DOJ or FTC concerning such filings and shall consult with each other with respect to all responses thereto. The Buyer and the Seller shall use their reasonable efforts to take all actions reasonably necessary and appropriate in connection with any HSR Act filing to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. All filing fees incurred in connection with the HSR Act filings made pursuant to this Section 10.8 shall be borne 50% by the Seller and 50% by the Buyer. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, neither the Buyer nor the Seller, not any of their respective Affiliates, shall be required to offer, propose, negotiate, agree to, consent to, or effect any sale, divestiture, license, transfer, conduct restriction or limitation, agreement modification, termination, creation or amendment, or any other remedy, commitment or condition of any kind in order to obtain the expiration or termination of any waiting period under the HSR Act or to otherwise address, resolve, settle, eliminate or avoid any investigation, inquiry, challenge, litigation, Order, proceeding or other Claim by or before any Governmental Authority or any other Person with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby.


 
31 US-DOCS155424210.18 11.0 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT 11.1 Conditions to Obligations of the Buyer. The obligations of the Buyer to consummate the Transaction are subject to the satisfaction, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions (except to the extent any such condition (or portion thereof) is waived in writing by the Buyer): (a) The representations and warranties contained in Article 6.0 shall be true and correct in all respects (without giving effect to any materiality qualifications or limitations contained therein) as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made as of the Closing Date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such earlier date), except for, in each case, such failures to be true and correct as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. (b) The Seller shall have performed in all material respects all of the covenants in this Agreement required to be performed by the Seller prior to or at the Closing. (c) The Seller shall have delivered all agreements, instruments and documents required to be delivered by it pursuant to Section 5.2 and Section 5.4. (d) The Seller shall have delivered to the Buyer a certificate signed by an officer of the Seller, dated as of the Closing Date, confirming that each of the conditions set forth in Section (a) and Section (b) have been satisfied. (e) PSC Approval shall have been obtained. (f) All Consents and Permits listed on Schedule 6.6 have been obtained. (g) No Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Order which is in effect and has the effect of making illegal, or otherwise restraining or prohibiting the consummation of, any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Co-Tenancy Agreement. (h) The Seller shall have delivered to the Buyer, in accordance with Section 10.6, a Landlord Consent, Amendment and Partial Assignment from the landlord party under each Facility Lease, in each case, duly executed by the Seller and such landlord party. (i) Substantial Completion shall have occurred. (j) FERC Approval shall have been obtained and be in full force and effect. (k) The parties shall have entered into (i) a tripartite agreement with the Turbine Supplier with respect to the Turbine Supply Agreement, (ii) a tripartite agreement with the Turbine Servicer with respect to the Turbine Service Agreement, and (iii) a tripartite agreement with the BOP Contractor with respect to the BOP Contract, in each case, providing for third party beneficiary rights of Buyer under the applicable Contract.


 
32 US-DOCS155424210.18 (l) The PSC has issued to the Buyer, with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, a certificate of public convenience and necessity in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Buyer. 11.2 Conditions to Obligations of the Seller. The obligations of the Seller to consummate the Transaction are subject to the satisfaction, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions (except to the extent any such condition (or portion thereof) is waived in writing by the Seller): (a) The representations and warranties contained in Article 7.0 shall be true and correct in all respects (without giving effect to any materiality qualifications or limitations contained therein) as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made as of the Closing Date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such earlier date), except for, in each case, such failures to be true and correct as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. (b) The Buyer shall have performed in all material respects all of the covenants in this Agreement required to be performed by the Buyer prior to or at the Closing. (c) The Buyer shall have delivered all agreements, instruments and documents required to be delivered by it pursuant to Section 5.3 and Section 5.4. (d) The Buyer shall have delivered to the Seller a certificate signed by an officer of the Buyer, dated as of the Closing Date, confirming that each of the conditions set forth in Section 11.2(a) and Section 11.2(b) have been satisfied. (e) The Seller shall have received written evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Seller demonstrating that all Consents and Permits listed on Schedule 7.5 have been obtained. (f) No Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Order which is in effect and has the effect of making illegal, or otherwise restraining or prohibiting the consummation of, any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Co-Tenancy Agreement. (g) The Buyer shall have duly executed each Landlord Consent, Amendment and Partial Assignment delivered to the Buyer for countersignature in accordance with Section 10.6. (h) Substantial Completion shall have occurred. (i) FERC Approval shall have been obtained and be in full force and effect. 11.3 Frustration of Conditions Precedent. Neither the Buyer nor the Seller may rely, either as a basis for not consummating the Transaction or for terminating this Agreement and abandoning the Transaction, on the failure of any condition set forth in Section 11.1 or Section 11.2, as the case may be, to be satisfied if such failure was caused by such party’s Breach of this Agreement.


 
33 US-DOCS155424210.18 12.0 TERMINATION 12.1 Termination Events. (a) This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing by the mutual written consent of the Seller and the Buyer. (b) Subject to Section 11.3, this Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing by the Seller, upon written notice to the Buyer, if: (i) the Seller reasonably determines that the actual or projected Construction Costs for the Facility as of the Closing Date would exceed the Budgeted Cost Ceiling; provided, that the Seller shall not be entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 12.1(b)(i) if (A) within fifteen (15) Business Days after the Seller notifies the Buyer that the actual or projected Construction Costs for the Facility exceed the Budgeted Cost Ceiling (which notice shall include reasonably detailed supporting documentation and data), the Buyer responds to the Seller in writing of its intention to fund its Ownership Share of all Construction Costs in excess of the Budgeted Cost Ceiling (subject to the Buyer’s receipt of such further supporting documentation as the Buyer may reasonably request), and (B) the parties’ mutually agree on the terms and conditions for funding such excess Construction Costs (e.g., timing, pacing, etc.) within thirty (30) days after the date the Seller delivers the notice under clause (A) (it being understood that the Seller shall not be entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this subparagraph (i) if the Seller does not use commercially reasonable efforts to negotiate such terms and conditions in good faith and in a reasonably prompt manner during such 30-day period); (ii) the Seller reasonably determines that a Material Adverse Effect has occurred with respect to the Facility; (iii) the Buyer has Breached this Agreement in any material respect, and such Breach is not the result of a Seller Breach and is either incapable of being cured, or is not cured by the Buyer by the earlier of (A) the Outside Date and (B) thirty (30) days following the date on which the Seller notifies the Buyer in writing of such Breach; (iv) the Closing does not occur on or before the Outside Date or if satisfaction of any conditions precedent set forth in Section 11.2 by the Outside Date becomes impossible, unless such failure resulted from the Seller’s Breach of this Agreement (in which case the Seller shall not be entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this subparagraph (iv)); or (v) the Seller elects to not commence or continue construction of the Facility due to a Material Cost Overrun. (c) Subject to Section 11.3, this Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing by the Buyer, upon written notice to the Seller, if:


 
34 US-DOCS155424210.18 (i) the Seller has Breached this Agreement in any material respect, and such Breach is not the result of a Buyer Breach and is either incapable of being cured, or is not cured by the Seller by the earlier of (A) the Outside Date and (B) thirty (30) days following the date on which the Buyer notifies the Seller in writing of such Breach; (ii) the Closing does not occur on or before the Outside Date or if satisfaction of any conditions precedent set forth in Section 11.1 by the Outside Date becomes impossible, unless such failure resulted from the Buyer’s Breach of this Agreement (in which case the Buyer shall not be entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this subparagraph (iv)); or (iii) the Seller fails to obtain a Landlord Consent, Amendment and Partial Assignment, in the form required by Section 10.6, duly executed by each landlord party under each Facility Lease or Other Project Lease on or before the Landlord Consent, Amendment and Partial Assignment Delivery Date. 12.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of any termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 12.1, all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall terminate without any liability on the part of either party (or its Affiliates) in respect thereof, except that: (a) the provisions of, and the obligations of the Buyer and the Seller under, this Article 12.0 and Article 13.0 shall remain in full force and effect; and (b) subject to Section 12.3, such termination shall not relieve any party of any liability for any willful and intentional Breach of this Agreement prior to such termination. 12.3 Termination Payments. (a) In the event that this Agreement is terminated by the Seller pursuant to Section 12.1(b)(i) or Section 12.1(b)(v), the Seller shall, promptly and in any event within five (5) Business Days of such termination, refund the Down Payment to the Buyer (by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Buyer). (b) In the event that this Agreement is terminated by the Seller pursuant to Section 12.1(b)(iv), the Seller shall, promptly and in any event within five (5) Business Days of such termination, refund the Down Payment to the Buyer (by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Buyer). (c) In the event that this Agreement is terminated by the Seller pursuant to Section 12.1(b)(ii), then the Seller shall, promptly and in any event within five (5) Business Days of such termination, pay to the Buyer (by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Buyer) an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Down Payment plus (ii) the lesser of (A) the aggregate amount of all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred by the Buyer in connection with its evaluation of the Facility and the negotiation, documentation and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and (B) $2,000,000. (d) In the event that this Agreement is terminated by the Buyer pursuant to Section 12.1(c)(i), then the Seller shall, promptly and in any event within five (5) Business


 
35 US-DOCS155424210.18 Days of such termination, pay to the Buyer (by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Buyer) an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Down Payment plus (ii) the lesser of (A) the aggregate amount of all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred by the Buyer in connection with the its evaluation of the Facility and the negotiation, documentation and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and (B) $2,000,000. (e) In the event that this Agreement is terminated by the Buyer pursuant to Section 12.1(c)(ii), the Seller shall, promptly and in any event within five (5) Business Days of such termination, refund the Down Payment to the Buyer (by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Buyer). 13.0 MISCELLANEOUS. 13.1 Assignment. Neither party may assign any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement except to an assignee of, and in connection with an assignment of, its Ownership Share in the Facility in accordance with the provisions of the Co-Tenancy Agreement. Any purported assignment not permitted by this Agreement will, to the greatest extent permitted by law, be null and void and of no force or effect whatever, and the party engaging or attempting to engage in any such prohibited assignment will indemnify and hold harmless the other party from all costs, liabilities, and damages (including incremental tax liabilities and attorneys’ fees) that it may incur as a result of any such assignment or purported assignment. 13.2 Severability. The provisions of this Agreement will be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision in any jurisdiction will, as to that jurisdiction, be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability, and will not affect the validity or enforceability of that or any other provision in any other jurisdiction. If any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof to any person or any circumstance, is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, (i) a suitable and equitable provision will be substituted for the invalid or unenforceable provision in order to carry out in that jurisdiction, so far as may be valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of the invalid or unenforceable provision, and (ii) the remainder of this Agreement, and the application of that provision to other persons or circumstances or in other jurisdictions, will not be affected. 13.3 Execution in Counterparts; Electronic Delivery. This Agreement may be executed by the parties on separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered will be an original, but all of which together will constitute but one and the same instrument. This Agreement may be delivered by the facsimile or other electric transmission of signed signature pages. 13.4 Section Headings. The Article and Section headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and may not be utilized in construing or interpreting this Agreement. 13.5 Construction. This Agreement will be construed as the joint and equal work product of each party and will not be construed more or less favorably on account of its preparation or drafting. In this Agreement, (a) the word “including” means “including without limitation”; (b) words such as “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,”. and “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section or subsection; (c) references to Articles and Sections refer to


 
36 US-DOCS155424210.18 Articles and Sections of this Agreement, unless otherwise specified; (d) references to Exhibits and Schedules refer to the Exhibits and Schedules attached to this Agreement, each of which is made a part hereof for all purposes; (e) references to Laws refer to such Laws as they may be amended from time to time, and references to particular provisions of any Law include any corresponding provision of any succeeding Law; (f) terms defined in this Agreement are used throughout this Agreement and in any Exhibits or Schedules hereto as so defined; (g) references to any agreement, contract or document (including any referred to herein in any exhibit, schedule or annex hereto) shall mean such agreement, contract or document as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time; (h) references to money refer to legal currency of the United States of America; (i) references to “days” shall mean calendar days, unless otherwise indicated; (j) any date specified for action that is not a Business Day shall mean the first Business Day after such date; (k) references to Persons include their successors and permitted assigns; (l) if a term is defined as one part of speech (such as a noun), then it shall have a corresponding meaning when used as another part of speech (such as a verb) as the context requires; and (m) the term “construction” includes planning, engineering, design, development, licensing, permitting, procurement, construction, reconstruction, completion, performance testing, start-up, commissioning, and all other activities related to the effort to construct the Facility and place it into service (including the hiring and training of construction and operating personnel). 13.6 Expenses. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or the Co-Tenancy Agreement, each party shall bear its own costs and expenses in connection with this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and the Transaction, including all legal, accounting, financial advisory, consulting and all other fees and expenses of third parties, whether or not the Transaction is consummated. 13.7 Waivers. Any waiver by either party of any violation of, breach of, or default by the other party under any provision of this Agreement or any exhibit, schedule, or other document referred to in this Agreement, will not be construed as or constitute a waiver of any subsequent violation, breach of, or default under that provision or any violation, breach of, or default under any other provision of this Agreement or any other document referred to in this Agreement. 13.8 Publicity. Any publicity, including the timing and method of its release, at or following the Closing relating to this Agreement or the Transaction must be approved in writing by both parties (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that if either party hereto is required by Law, by governmental regulation or by the terms of any listing agreement with a securities exchange to make a public announcement or statement, then such announcement or statement may be made without the prior approval of the other party. Each party agrees to consider in good faith the input of the other party with respect to post-Closing publicity relating specifically to this Agreement or the Transaction (and not in connection with either party’s ongoing ownership or operation of the Facility following the Closing). 13.9 Entire Agreement; Amendments. Except as expressly set forth in the Ancillary Documents, this Agreement (including all schedules and exhibits attached hereto, which are incorporated herein by reference), constitutes the entire agreement between the parties relating to the Transaction, may not be modified except by a written instrument signed by both parties, and supersedes and replaces all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, with regard to the Transaction.


 
37 US-DOCS155424210.18 13.10 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed, construed, enforced and performed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of law. The parties hereby (a) submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court sitting in Bismarck, North Dakota for the purpose of any action arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought by any party hereto and (b) irrevocably waive, and agree not to assert by way of motion, defense, or otherwise, in any such action, any claim that it is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of the foregoing courts. EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVES THE RIGHT EITHER OF THEM MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY SUIT, ACTION, CLAIM OR PROCEEDING BASED UPON, OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THIS AGREEMENT. THIS PROVISION IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR THE PARTIES ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT. [Signature Page Follows]


 
[Signature Page to Purchase and Sale Agreement] IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the date first above written. Badger Wind, LLC By: Orsted Onshore DevCo, LLC, its sole member By: Orsted Onshore North America, LLC, its sole member By: _____________________________ Name: Amanda Dasch Title: Chief Executive Officer


 
[Signature Page to Purchase and Sale Agreement] Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. By: ________________________________ Name: Garret Senger Title: Chief Utilities Officer


 
Exhibit 99.1
image.jpg


MDU Resources Announces Plans to Invest in Badger Wind Farm

Bismarck, ND – February 14, 2025 MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE: MDU) is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. (MDU), has signed a purchase agreement to acquire a 49% ownership interest in the Badger Wind Farm. This acquisition represents 122.5 MW of the project's total 250 MW generation capacity. The purchase agreement is contingent on regulatory approval from the North Dakota Public Service Commission (NDPSC).

MDU's 2024 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) identified the need for additional generation capacity to meet future energy demands. The investment in the Badger Wind Farm was selected as the least-cost option for MDU’s customers, aligning with the company’s commitment to providing reliable and affordable energy. Construction is currently underway near Wishek, ND.

This strategic investment is part of MDU Resources' five-year capital expenditure plan. The estimated cost for MDU to purchase this stake is $294 million.

MDU previously executed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for 150 MW of the Badger Wind Farm's output last November, which included the 49% purchase option MDU has now exercised under the purchase agreement. With this ownership purchase, the capacity under the PPA will be reduced to 27.5 MW upon closing.

"This investment enhances our diversified portfolio of assets, allowing MDU to meet customer demand with a mix of generation assets that includes coal as well as wind backed by natural gas peakers to effectively serve our customers' needs," said Nicole Kivisto, president and CEO of MDU Resources.

The addition of the Badger Wind Farm is estimated to have the following impact to MDU’s nameplate generation mix:
Current
With Badger Wind
Renewables
29%
39%
Coal
31%
26%
Gas
40%
35%

To ensure the prudence of this investment, MDU has filed an Advance Determination of Prudence (ADP) with the NDPSC. An ADP request asks the NDPSC to determine whether a generation project is reasonable and prudent for providing electric service to the public.


About MDU Resources Group, Inc.
MDU Resources Group, Inc., a member of the S&P SmallCap 600 index, provides essential products and services through its regulated electric and natural gas distribution and pipeline segments. Founded in 1924 as a small electric utility, MDU Resources has grown to serve more than 1.2 million customers across eight states and is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Learn more at www.mdu.com/100th-anniversary. The Company operates in the Pacific Northwest and Midwest, constructing and operating infrastructure that delivers natural gas and electricity that energizes homes and businesses. For more



information about MDU Resources, visit www.mdu.com or contact the Investor Relations Department at investor@mduresources.com.


Investor Contact: Brent Miller, treasurer, 701-530-1730
Media Contact: Byron Pfordte, director of integrated communications, 208-377-6050

v3.25.0.1
Cover
Feb. 14, 2025
Entity Information [Line Items]  
Document Type 8-K
Document Period End Date Feb. 14, 2025
Entity Registrant Name MDU Resources Group, Inc.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code DE
Entity File Number 1-03480
Entity Tax Identification Number 30-1133956
Entity Address, Address Line One 1200 West Century Avenue
Entity Address, Address Line Two P.O. Box 5650
Entity Address, City or Town Bismarck
Entity Address, State or Province ND
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 58506
City Area Code 701
Local Phone Number 530-1000
Written Communications false
Soliciting Material false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer false
Title of 12(b) Security Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share
Trading Symbol MDU
Security Exchange Name NYSE
Entity Emerging Growth Company false
Entity Central Index Key 0000067716
Amendment Flag false
Current Fiscal Year End Date --12-31

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