NI Nisource Inc

Exhibit 10.1

CEO

NiSource Inc.

2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan

202[ ] Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement

This Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (the “Agreement”), is made and entered into as of [DATE] (the “Grant Date”), by and between NiSource Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and [NAME], an Employee of the Company or an Affiliate (the “Grantee”), pursuant to the terms of the NiSource Inc. 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Plan”). Any term capitalized but not defined in this Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan. In the event of any conflict between the Plan and this Agreement, the Plan shall control.

Section 1. Restricted Stock Unit Award. The Company hereby grants to the Grantee, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, an Award of [insert number of units] Restricted Stock Units. The Restricted Stock Units shall be represented by a bookkeeping entry (the “RSU Account”) of the Company, and each Restricted Stock Unit shall be equivalent to one share of the Company’s common stock.

Section 2. Grantee Accounts. The number of Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be credited to the Grantee’s RSU Account. Each RSU Account shall be maintained on the books of the Company until full payment of the balance thereof has been made to the Grantee (or the Grantee’s beneficiaries or estate if the Grantee is deceased) in accordance with Section 1 above. No funds shall be set aside or earmarked for any RSU Account, which shall be purely a bookkeeping device.

Section 3. Vesting and Lapse of Restrictions.

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Section 4. Delivery of Shares. Once Restricted Stock Units have vested under this Agreement, the Company shall convert the Restricted Stock Units in the Grantee’s RSU Account into Shares and issue or deliver the total number of Shares due to the Grantee within 60 days following the Vesting Date or, if earlier, Grantee’s termination of Service in accordance with Section 3(b). Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent any portion of the Restricted Stock Units are subject to Code Section 409A, if any Restricted Stock Units vest prior to the Vesting Date in connection with a Grantee’s “separation from service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A and the Grantee is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code Section 409A at the time of such separation from service, the Shares represented by the vested Restricted Stock Units shall be issued and delivered on the first business day after the date that is six (6) months following the date of the Grantee’s separation from service (or if earlier, the Grantee’s date of death). The delivery of the Shares shall be subject to payment of the applicable withholding tax liability and the forfeiture provisions of this Agreement. If the Grantee dies before the Company has distributed any portion of the vested Restricted Stock Units, the Company shall transfer any Shares payable with respect to the vested Restricted Stock Units in accordance with the Grantee’s written beneficiary designation or to the Grantee’s estate if no written beneficiary designation is provided.

Section 5. Withholding of Taxes. As a condition precedent to the delivery to Grantee of any Shares upon vesting of the Restricted Stock Units or the payment of any cash pursuant to Section 9 hereof, Grantee shall, upon request by the Company, pay to the Company such amount of cash as the Company may be required, under all applicable federal, state, local or other laws or regulations, to withhold and pay over as income or other withholding taxes (the “Required Tax Payments”) with respect to the Restricted Stock Units and any such cash payments. If Grantee shall fail to advance the Required Tax Payments after request by the Company, the Company may, in its discretion, deduct any Required Tax Payments from any amount then or thereafter payable by the Company to Grantee or withhold Shares. Grantee may elect to satisfy his or her obligation to advance the Required Tax Payments with respect to any Restricted Stock Units by any of the following means: (a) a cash payment to the Company; (b) delivery to the Company (either actual delivery or by attestation procedures established by the Company) of previously owned whole Shares having a Fair Market Value, determined as of the date the obligation to withhold or pay taxes first arises in connection with the Restricted Stock Units (the “Tax Date”), equal to the Required Tax Payments; (c) authorizing the Company to withhold from the Shares otherwise to be delivered to Grantee upon the vesting of the Restricted Stock Units, a number of whole Shares having a Fair Market Value, determined as of the Tax Date, equal to the Required Tax Payments; or (d) any combination of (a), (b) and (c). Shares to be delivered or withheld may not have a Fair Market Value in excess of the minimum amount of the Required Tax Payments. Any fraction of a Share which would be required to satisfy such an obligation shall be disregarded and the remaining amount due shall be paid in cash by Grantee. No Shares shall be delivered until the Required Tax Payments have been satisfied in full. For any cash payments made pursuant to Section 9 hereof, the Company shall withhold from such cash payments the Required Tax Payments.

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Section 6. Compliance with Applicable Law. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Company’s obligation to issue or deliver certificates evidencing the Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required. The delivery of all or any Shares that relate to the Restricted Stock Units shall be effective only at such time that the issuance of such Shares shall not violate any state or federal securities or other laws. The Company is under no obligation to effect any registration of Shares under the Securities Act of 1933 or to effect any state registration or qualification of the Shares that may be issued under this Agreement. Subject to Code Section 409A, the Company may, in its sole discretion, delay the delivery of Shares or place restrictive legends on Shares in order to ensure that the issuance of any Shares shall be in compliance with federal or state securities laws and the rules of any exchange upon which the Company’s Shares are traded. If the Company delays the delivery of Shares in order to ensure compliance with any state or federal securities or other laws, the Company shall deliver the Shares at the earliest date at which the Company reasonably believes that such delivery shall not cause such violation, or at such later date that may be permitted under Code Section 409A.

Section 7. Restriction on Transferability. Except as otherwise provided under the Plan, until the Restricted Stock Units have vested under this Agreement, the Restricted Stock Units granted herein and the rights and privileges conferred hereby may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated (by operation of law or otherwise), other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Any attempted transfer in violation of the provisions of this paragraph shall be void, and the purported transferee shall obtain no rights with respect to such Restricted Stock Units.

Section 8. Grantee’s Rights Unsecured. The right of the Grantee or his or her beneficiary to receive a distribution hereunder shall be an unsecured claim against the general assets of the Company, and neither the Grantee nor his or her beneficiary shall have any rights in or against any amounts credited to the Grantee’s RSU Account or any other specific assets of the Company. All amounts credited to the Grantee’s RSU Account shall constitute general assets of the Company and may be disposed of by the Company at such time and for such purposes, as it may deem appropriate.

Section 9. No Rights as Stockholder or Employee; Dividend Equivalent Cash Payments.

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CEO

Section 10. Adjustments. If at any time while the Award is outstanding, the number of outstanding Restricted Stock Units is changed by reason of a reorganization, recapitalization, stock split or any of the other events described in the Plan, the number and kind of Restricted Stock Units shall be adjusted in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. In the event of certain corporate events specified in the Change in Control provisions of the Plan, any Restricted Stock Units may be replaced by Alternative Awards or forfeited in exchange for payment of cash in accordance with the Change in Control procedures and provisions of the Plan.

Section 11. Notices. Any notice hereunder by the Grantee shall be given to the Company in writing and such notice shall be deemed duly given only upon receipt thereof at the following address: Corporate Secretary, NiSource Inc., 801 East 86^th Avenue, Merrillville, IN 46410-6271, or at such other address as the Company may designate by notice to the Grantee. Any notice hereunder by the Company shall be given to the Grantee in writing and such notice shall be deemed duly given only upon receipt thereof at such address as the Grantee may have on file with the Company.

Section 12. Administration. The administration of this Agreement, including the interpretation and amendment or termination of this Agreement, shall be performed in accordance with the Plan. All determinations and decisions made by the Committee, the Board, or any delegate of the Committee as to the provisions of this Agreement shall be conclusive, final, and binding on all persons. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if subsequent guidance is issued under Code Section 409A that would impose additional taxes, penalties, or interest to either the Company or the Grantee, the Company may administer this Agreement in accordance with such guidance and amend this Agreement without the consent of the Grantee to the extent such actions, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, are considered necessary to avoid the imposition of such additional taxes, penalties, or interest.

Section 13. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana, without giving effect to the choice of law principles thereof.

Section 14. Entire Agreement; Agreement Subject to Plan. This Agreement and the Plan contain all of the terms and conditions with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede any previous agreements, written or oral, relating to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement at all times shall be governed by the Plan, which is incorporated in this Agreement by reference, and in no way alter or modify the Plan. To the extent a conflict exists between this Agreement and the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall govern. This Agreement is pursuant to the terms of the Plan.

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Section 15. Code Section 409A Compliance. This Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with Code Section 409A including the rules related to payment timing for “specified employees” within the meaning of Code Section 409A. This Agreement shall be deemed to be modified to the maximum extent necessary to be in compliance with Code Section 409A’s rules. If the Grantee is unexpectedly required to include in the Grantee’s current year’s income any amount of compensation relating to the Restricted Stock Units because of a failure to meet the requirements of Code Section 409A, then to the extent permitted by Code Section 409A, the Grantee may receive a distribution of cash or Shares in an amount not to exceed the amount required to be included in income as a result of the failure to comply with Code Section 409A.

Section 16. Restrictive Covenant.

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CEO

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Award to be granted, and the Grantee has accepted this Award, as of the date first above written.

NISOURCE INC.

_________________________________________________

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CEO

VESTING SCHEDULE

[Awards granted in 2024:

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Exhibit 10.2

CEO

NiSource Inc.

2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan

202[ ] Performance Share Unit Award Agreement

This Performance Share Unit Award Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of [DATE] (the “Grant Date”), by and between NiSource Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and [NAME], an Employee of the Company or an Affiliate (the “Grantee”), pursuant to the terms of the NiSource Inc. 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Plan”). Any term capitalized but not defined in this Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan. In the event of any conflict between the Plan and this Agreement, the Plan shall control.

Section 1. Performance Share Unit Award. The Company hereby grants to the Grantee, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, a target award of [insert number of units] Performance Share Units (the “Target Total Award” or “TTA”). The Performance Share Units shall be represented by a bookkeeping entry with respect to the Grantee (the “PSU Account”), and each Performance Share Unit shall be settled in one Share, to the extent provided under this Agreement and the Plan. This Agreement and the award shall be null and void unless the Grantee accepts this Agreement electronically within the Grantee’s stock plan account with the Company’s stock plan administrator according to the procedures then in effect.

Section 2. Performance-Based Vesting Conditions.

(a) General. Subject to the remainder of this Agreement, the TTA shall vest pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the Plan based on the achievement of the performance goals set forth in this Section 2 over the performance period [insert three year performance period] (the “Performance Period”), with a vesting date of _ through [insert date after three year performance period] (the “Vesting Date”), provided that the Grantee remains in continuous Service through the Vesting Date. Attainment of the performance goals shall be determined and certified by the Compensation and Human Capital Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Committee”) prior to the settlement of the TTA.

(b) [insert metric] Performance Goal. Subject to the terms of this Agreement and the Plan, [insert number of performance share units for this metric] Performance Share Units ([_______] % of the TTA) shall be eligible to vest based on the Company’s achievement of [_______________] during the Performance Period, as follows:

CEO

(1) Subject to the terms of this Agreement and the Plan, [ insert number of performance share units for this metric] of the Performance Share Units ([________] % of the TTA) shall be eligible to vest based on the Company’s achievement of [______________________________________________] goals during the Performance Period, as follows:

(2) The total of the weighted levels of achievement for the performance measures described in Section 2(c)(1) above shall be aggregated and the percentage of Performance Share Units eligible to vest under Section 2(c) shall vest in the respective percentages set forth below, as applicable.

(d) Definitions.

[insert metric definitions.]

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Section 3. Termination of Employment.

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Section 4. Delivery of Shares. Subject to the terms of this Agreement and except as otherwise provided for herein, the Company shall convert the Performance Share Units in the Grantee’s PSU Account into Shares and issue or deliver the total number of Shares due to the Grantee within 60 days following the Vesting Date (but in any event no later than the March 15th immediately following the year in which the substantial risk of forfeiture with respect to the Performance Share Units lapses) or, if earlier, within 30 days following (a) the Grantee’s death in accordance with Section 3(c)(2), (b) Grantee’s termination of Service without Cause or due to Good Reason in accordance with the Change in Control provisions of the Plan or (c) a Change in Control in the event the Performance Share Units do not become Alternative Awards under the Plan. The delivery of the Shares shall be subject to payment of the applicable withholding tax liability and the forfeiture provisions of this Agreement. If the Grantee dies before the Company has issued or distributed the vested Performance Share Units, the Company shall transfer any Shares with respect to the vested Performance Share Units in accordance with the Grantee’s written beneficiary designation or to the Grantee’s estate if no written beneficiary designation is provided. The issuance or delivery of the Shares hereunder shall be evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company. The Company shall pay all original issue or transfer taxes and all fees and expenses incident to such issuance or delivery, except as otherwise provided in Section 5.

Section 5. Withholding of Taxes. As a condition precedent to the delivery to Grantee of any Shares upon vesting of the Performance Share Units, Grantee shall, upon request by the Company, pay to the Company such amount of cash as the Company may be required, under all applicable federal, state, local or other laws or regulations, to withhold and pay over as income or other withholding taxes (the “Required Tax Payments”) with respect to the Performance Share Units. If Grantee shall fail to advance the Required Tax Payments after request by the Company, the Company may, in its discretion, deduct any Required Tax Payments from any amount then or thereafter payable by the Company to Grantee or withhold Shares. Grantee may elect to satisfy his or her obligation to advance the Required Tax Payments by any of the following means: (a) a cash payment to the Company; (b) delivery to the Company (either actual delivery or by attestation procedures established by the Company) of previously owned whole Shares having a Fair Market Value, determined as of the date the obligation to withhold or pay taxes first arises in connection with the Performance Share Units (the “Tax Date”), equal to the Required Tax Payments; (c) authorizing the Company to withhold from the Shares otherwise to be delivered to Grantee upon the vesting of the Performance Share Units, a number of whole Shares having a Fair Market Value, determined as of the Tax Date, equal to the Required Tax Payments; or (d) any combination of (a), (b) and (c). Shares to be delivered or withheld may not have a Fair Market Value in excess of the minimum amount of the Required Tax Payments. Any fraction of a Share which would be required to satisfy such an obligation shall be disregarded and the remaining amount due shall be paid in cash by Grantee. No Shares shall be delivered until the Required Tax Payments have been satisfied in full.

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Section 6. Compliance with Applicable Law. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Company’s obligation to issue or deliver certificates evidencing the Performance Share Units shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required. The delivery of all or any Shares that relate to the Performance Share Units shall be effective only at such time that the issuance of such Shares shall not violate any state or federal securities or other laws. The Company is under no obligation to effect any registration of Shares under the Securities Act of 1933 or to effect any state registration or qualification of the Shares that may be issued under this Agreement. Subject to Code Section 409A, the Company may, in its sole discretion, delay the delivery of Shares or place restrictive legends on Shares in order to ensure that the issuance of any Shares shall be in compliance with federal or state securities laws and the rules of any exchange upon which the Company’s Shares are traded. If the Company delays the delivery of Shares in order to ensure compliance with any state or federal securities or other laws, the Company shall deliver the Shares at the earliest date at which the Company reasonably believes that such delivery shall not cause such violation, or at such later date that may be permitted under Code Section 409A.

Section 7. Restriction on Transferability. Except as otherwise provided under the Plan, until the Performance Share Units have vested under this Agreement, the Performance Share Units granted herein and the rights and privileges conferred hereby may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated (by operation of law or otherwise), other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Any attempted transfer in violation of the provisions of this paragraph shall be void, and the purported transferee shall obtain no rights with respect to such Performance Share Units.

Section 8. Grantee’s Rights Unsecured. The right of the Grantee or his or her beneficiary to receive a distribution hereunder shall be an unsecured claim against the general assets of the Company, and neither the Grantee nor his or her beneficiary shall have any rights in or against any amounts credited to the Grantee’s PSU Account, any Shares or any other specific assets of the Company. All amounts credited to the Grantee’s PSU Account shall constitute general assets of the Company and may be disposed of by the Company at such time and for such purposes as it may deem appropriate.

Section 9. No Rights as Stockholder or Employee; Dividend Equivalent Rights.

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Section 10. Adjustments. If at any time while the Award is outstanding, the number of outstanding Performance Share Units is changed by reason of a reorganization, recapitalization, stock split or any of the other events described in the Plan (in each case as determined by the Committee), the number and kind of Performance Share Units and the performance goals, as applicable, shall be adjusted in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. In the event of certain corporate events specified in the Change in Control provisions of the Plan, any Performance Share Units may be replaced by Alternative Awards or forfeited in exchange for payment of cash in accordance with the Change in Control procedures and provisions of the Plan, as determined by the Committee.

Section 11. Notices. Any notice hereunder by the Grantee shall be given to the Company in writing, and such notice shall be deemed duly given only upon receipt thereof at the following address: Corporate Secretary, NiSource Inc., 801 East 86th Avenue, Merrillville, IN 46410-6271 (or at such other address as the Company may designate by notice to the Grantee). Any notice hereunder by the Company shall be given to the Grantee in writing, and such notice shall be deemed duly given only upon receipt thereof at such address as the Grantee may have on file with the Company.

Section 12. Administration. The administration of this Agreement, including the interpretation and amendment or termination of this Agreement, shall be performed in accordance with the Plan. All determinations and decisions made by the Committee, the Board, or any delegate of the Committee as to the provisions of this Agreement shall be conclusive, final, and binding on all persons. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if subsequent guidance is issued under Code Section 409A that would impose additional taxes, penalties, or interest to either the Company or the Grantee, the Company may administer this Agreement in accordance with such guidance and amend this Agreement without the consent of the Grantee to the extent such actions, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, are considered necessary to avoid the imposition of such additional taxes, penalties, or interest.

Section 13. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana, without giving effect to the choice of law principles thereof.

Section 14. Entire Agreement; Agreement Subject to Plan. This Agreement and the Plan contain all of the terms and conditions with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede any previous agreements, written or oral, relating to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement is subject to the provisions of the Plan and shall be interpreted in accordance therewith. In the event that the provisions of this Agreement and the Plan conflict, the Plan shall control. The Grantee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan.

Section 15. Code Section 409A Compliance. This Agreement and the Performance Share Units granted hereunder are intended to be exempt from Code Section 409A to the maximum extent possible, and shall be interpreted and construed accordingly.

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Section 16. Restrictive Covenant.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused the Performance Share Units subject to this Agreement to be granted, and the Grantee has accepted the Performance Share Units subject to the terms of the Agreement, as of the date first above written.

NISOURCE INC.

_________________________________________

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CEO

VESTING SCHEDULE

[Awards granted in 2024, for the 2024-2026 Performance Period:

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Exhibit 10.3

NiSource Inc.

2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan

202[ ] [Special] Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement

This [Special] Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (the “Agreement”), is made and entered into as of [DATE] (the “Grant Date”), by and between NiSource Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and [NAME], an Employee of the Company or an Affiliate (the “Grantee”), pursuant to the terms of the NiSource Inc. 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Plan”). Any term capitalized but not defined in this Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan. In the event of any conflict between the Plan and this Agreement, the Plan shall control.

Section 1. Restricted Stock Unit Award. The Company hereby grants to the Grantee, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, an Award of [insert number of units] Restricted Stock Units. The Restricted Stock Units shall be represented by a bookkeeping entry (the “RSU Account”) of the Company, and each Restricted Stock Unit shall be equivalent to one share of the Company’s common stock.

Section 2. Grantee Accounts. The number of Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be credited to the Grantee’s RSU Account. Each RSU Account shall be maintained on the books of the Company until full payment of the balance thereof has been made to the Grantee (or the Grantee’s beneficiaries or estate if the Grantee is deceased) in accordance with Section 1 above. No funds shall be set aside or earmarked for any RSU Account, which shall be purely a bookkeeping device.

Section 3. Vesting and Lapse of Restrictions.

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Section 4. Delivery of Shares. Once Restricted Stock Units have vested under this Agreement, the Company shall convert the Restricted Stock Units in the Grantee’s RSU Account into Shares and issue or deliver the total number of Shares due to the Grantee within 60 days following the Vesting Date or, if earlier, Grantee’s termination of Service in accordance with Section 3(b). Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent any portion of the Restricted Stock Units are subject to Code Section 409A, if any Restricted Stock Units vest prior to the Vesting Date in connection with a Grantee’s “separation from service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A and the Grantee is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code Section 409A at the time of such separation from service, the Shares represented by the vested Restricted Stock Units shall be issued and delivered on the first business day after the date that is six (6) months following the date of the Grantee’s separation from service (or if earlier, the Grantee’s date of death). The delivery of the Shares shall be subject to payment of the applicable withholding tax liability and the forfeiture provisions of this Agreement. If the Grantee dies before the Company has distributed any portion of the vested Restricted Stock Units, the Company shall transfer any Shares payable with respect to the vested Restricted Stock Units in accordance with the Grantee’s written beneficiary designation or to the Grantee’s estate if no written beneficiary designation is provided.

Section 5. Withholding of Taxes. As a condition precedent to the delivery to Grantee of any Shares upon vesting of the Restricted Stock Units or the payment of any cash pursuant to Section 9 hereof, Grantee shall, upon request by the Company, pay to the Company such amount of cash as the Company may be required, under all applicable federal, state, local or other laws or regulations, to withhold and pay over as income or other withholding taxes (the “Required Tax Payments”) with respect to the Restricted Stock Units and any such cash payments. If Grantee shall fail to advance the Required Tax Payments after request by the Company, the Company may, in its discretion, deduct any Required Tax Payments from any amount then or thereafter payable by the Company to Grantee or withhold Shares. Grantee may elect to satisfy his or her obligation to advance the Required Tax Payments with respect to Restricted Stock Units by any of the following means: (a) a cash payment to the Company; (b) delivery to the Company (either actual delivery or by attestation procedures established by the Company) of previously owned whole Shares having a Fair Market Value, determined as of the date the obligation to withhold or pay taxes first arises in connection with

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the Restricted Stock Units (the “Tax Date”), equal to the Required Tax Payments; (c) authorizing the Company to withhold from the Shares otherwise to be delivered to Grantee upon the vesting of the Restricted Stock Units, a number of whole Shares having a Fair Market Value, determined as of the Tax Date, equal to the Required Tax Payments; or (d) any combination of (a), (b) and (c). Shares to be delivered or withheld may not have a Fair Market Value in excess of the minimum amount of the Required Tax Payments. Any fraction of a Share which would be required to satisfy such an obligation shall be disregarded and the remaining amount due shall be paid in cash by Grantee. No Shares shall be delivered until the Required Tax Payments have been satisfied in full. For any cash payments made pursuant to Section 9 hereof, the Company shall withhold from such cash payments the Required Tax Payments.

Section 6. Compliance with Applicable Law. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Company’s obligation to issue or deliver certificates evidencing the Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required. The delivery of all or any Shares that relate to the Restricted Stock Units shall be effective only at such time that the issuance of such Shares shall not violate any state or federal securities or other laws. The Company is under no obligation to effect any registration of Shares under the Securities Act of 1933 or to effect any state registration or qualification of the Shares that may be issued under this Agreement. Subject to Code Section 409A, the Company may, in its sole discretion, delay the delivery of Shares or place restrictive legends on Shares in order to ensure that the issuance of any Shares shall be in compliance with federal or state securities laws and the rules of any exchange upon which the Company’s Shares are traded. If the Company delays the delivery of Shares in order to ensure compliance with any state or federal securities or other laws, the Company shall deliver the Shares at the earliest date at which the Company reasonably believes that such delivery shall not cause such violation, or at such later date that may be permitted under Code Section 409A.

Section 7. Restriction on Transferability. Except as otherwise provided under the Plan, until the Restricted Stock Units have vested under this Agreement, the Restricted Stock Units granted herein and the rights and privileges conferred hereby may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated (by operation of law or otherwise), other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Any attempted transfer in violation of the provisions of this paragraph shall be void, and the purported transferee shall obtain no rights with respect to such Restricted Stock Units.

Section 8. Grantee’s Rights Unsecured. The right of the Grantee or his or her beneficiary to receive a distribution hereunder shall be an unsecured claim against the general assets of the Company, and neither the Grantee nor his or her beneficiary shall have any rights in or against any amounts credited to the Grantee’s RSU Account or any other specific assets of the Company. All amounts credited to the Grantee’s RSU Account shall constitute general assets of the Company and may be disposed of by the Company at such time and for such purposes, as it may deem appropriate.

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Section 9. No Rights as Stockholder or Employee; Dividend Equivalent Cash Payments.

Section 10. Adjustments. If at any time while the Award is outstanding, the number of outstanding Restricted Stock Units is changed by reason of a reorganization, recapitalization, stock split or any of the other events described in the Plan, the number and kind of Restricted Stock Units shall be adjusted in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. In the event of certain corporate events specified in the Change in Control provisions of the Plan, any Restricted Stock Units may be replaced by Alternative Awards or forfeited in exchange for payment of cash in accordance with the Change in Control procedures and provisions of the Plan.

Section 11. Notices. Any notice hereunder by the Grantee shall be given to the Company in writing and such notice shall be deemed duly given only upon receipt thereof at the following address: Corporate Secretary, NiSource Inc., 801 East 86^th Avenue, Merrillville, IN 46410-6271, or at such other address as the Company may designate by notice to the Grantee. Any notice hereunder by the Company shall be given to the Grantee in writing and such notice shall be deemed duly given only upon receipt thereof at such address as the Grantee may have on file with the Company.

Section 12. Administration. The administration of this Agreement, including the interpretation and amendment or termination of this Agreement, shall be performed in accordance with the Plan. All determinations and decisions made by the Committee, the Board, or any delegate of the Committee as to the provisions of this Agreement shall be conclusive, final, and binding on all persons. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if subsequent guidance is issued under Code Section 409A that would impose additional taxes, penalties, or interest to either the Company or the Grantee, the Company may administer this Agreement in accordance with such guidance and amend this Agreement without the consent of the Grantee to the extent such actions, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, are considered necessary to avoid the imposition of such additional taxes, penalties, or interest.

Section 13. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana, without giving effect to the choice of law principles thereof.

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Section 14. Entire Agreement; Agreement Subject to Plan. This Agreement and the Plan contain all of the terms and conditions with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede any previous agreements, written or oral, relating to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement at all times shall be governed by the Plan, which is incorporated in this Agreement by reference, and in no way alter or modify the Plan. To the extent a conflict exists between this Agreement and the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall govern. This Agreement is pursuant to the terms of the Plan.

Section 15. Code Section 409A Compliance. This Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with Code Section 409A including the rules related to payment timing for “specified employees” within the meaning of Code Section 409A. This Agreement shall be deemed to be modified to the maximum extent necessary to be in compliance with Code Section 409A’s rules. If the Grantee is unexpectedly required to include in the Grantee’s current year’s income any amount of compensation relating to the Restricted Stock Units because of a failure to meet the requirements of Code Section 409A, then to the extent permitted by Code Section 409A, the Grantee may receive a distribution of cash or Shares in an amount not to exceed the amount required to be included in income as a result of the failure to comply with Code Section 409A.

Section 16. Restrictive Covenant.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Award to be granted, and the Grantee has accepted this Award, as of the date first above written.

NISOURCE INC.

By: Melanie Berman

Its: Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer

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VESTING SCHEDULE

[ANNUAL AWARD

One hundred percent of the Restricted Stock Units shall vest on [insert three-year cliff vesting date] (the “Vesting Date”)]

[SPECIAL AWARD]

[Alternative 1: [insert number of shares] ([ ]%) of the Restricted Stock Units shall vest on the first anniversary of the Grant Date and [insert number of shares] ([ ]%) of the Restricted Stock Units hereunder shall vest on the second anniversary of the Grant Date (each a “Vesting Date”)]

[Alternative 2: [insert number of shares] ([ ]%) of the Restricted Stock Units shall vest on the first anniversary of the Grant Date, [insert number of shares] ([ ]%) of the Restricted Stock Units awarded hereunder shall vest on the second anniversary of the Grant Date and [insert number of shares] ([ ]%) of the Restricted Stock Units shall vest on the third anniversary of the Grant Date (each a “Vesting Date”)]

[Alternative 3: one hundred percent of the Restricted Stock Units shall vest on the [first/second/third/fourth] anniversary of the Grant Date (the “Vesting Date”)]

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