Holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by the Board out of funds legally available. The policy of the Board has been to declare cash dividends on a quarterly basis payable on or about the 20th day of February, May, August and November. We have certain debt covenants which could potentially limit the amount of dividends the Company could pay in order to maintain compliance with these covenants. Refer to Note 15, "Long-Term Debt," for more information. As of December 31, 2020, these covenants did not restrict the amount of dividends that were available to be paid.

Dividends paid to preferred shareholders vary based on the series of preferred stock owned. Additional information is provided below. Holders of our shares of common stock are subject to the prior dividend rights of holders of our preferred stock or the

depositary shares representing such preferred stock outstanding, and if full dividends have not been declared and paid on all outstanding shares of preferred stock in any dividend period, no dividend may be declared or paid or set aside for payment on our common stock.

ATM Program and Forward Sale Agreements. On May 3, 2017, we entered into four separate equity distribution agreements, pursuant to which we were able to sell up to an aggregate of $500.0 million of our common stock.

On November 13, 2017, under the ATM program, we executed a forward agreement, which allowed us to issue a fixed number of shares at a price to be settled in the future. On November 6, 2018, the forward agreement was settled for $26.43 per share, resulting in $167.7 million of net proceeds. The equity distribution agreements entered into on May 3, 2017 expired December 31, 2018.

On November 1, 2018, we entered into five separate equity distribution agreements pursuant to which we were able to sell up to an aggregate of $500.0 million of our common stock. Four of these agreements were then amended on August 1, 2019 and one was terminated, pursuant to which we may sell, from time to time, up to an aggregate of $434.4 million of our common stock.

On December 6, 2018, under the ATM program, we executed a forward agreement, which allowed us to issue a fixed number of shares at a price to be settled in the future. From December 6, 2018 to December 10, 2018, 4,708,098 shares were borrowed from third parties and sold by the dealer at a weighted average price of $26.55 per share. On November 21, 2019, the forward agreement was settled for $26.01 per share, resulting in $122.5 million of net proceeds.

On August 12, 2019, under the ATM program, we executed a forward agreement, which allowed us to issue a fixed number of shares at a price to be settled in the future. From August 12, 2019 to September 13, 2019, 3,714,400 shares were borrowed from third parties and sold by the dealer at a weighted average price of $29.26 per share. On December 11, 2019, the forward agreement was settled for $28.83 per share, resulting in $107.1 million of net proceeds.

On August 6, 2020, under the ATM program, we executed a forward agreement, which allowed us to issue a fixed number of shares at a price to be settled in the future. From August 7, 2020 to September 3, 2020, 2,809,029 shares were borrowed from third parties and sold by the dealer at a weighted average price of $23.25 per share. On December 15, 2020, the forward agreement was settled for $22.77 per share, resulting in $64.0 million of net proceeds.

On September 4, 2020, under the ATM program, we executed a separate forward agreement, which allowed us to issue a fixed number of shares at a price to be settled in the future. From September 4, 2020 to September 16, 2020, 1,452,102 shares were borrowed from third parties and sold by the dealer at a weighted average price of $22.28 per share. On December 15, 2020, the forward agreement was settled for $21.82 per share, resulting in $31.7 million of net proceeds.

Private Placement of Common Stock. On May 4, 2018, we completed the sale of 24,964,163 shares of $0.01 par value common stock at a price of $24.28 per share in a private placement to selected institutional and accredited investors. The private placement resulted in $606.0 million of gross proceeds or $599.6 million of net proceeds, after deducting commissions and sale expenses. The common stock issued in connection with the private placement was registered on Form S-1, filed with the SEC on May 11, 2018.

Preferred Stock. On June 11, 2018, we completed the sale of 400,000 shares of 5.650% Series A Fixed-Rate Reset Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock (the "Series A Preferred Stock") at a price of $1,000 per share. The transaction resulted in $400.0 million of gross proceeds or $393.9 million of net proceeds, after deducting commissions and sale expenses. The Series A Preferred Stock was issued in a private placement pursuant to SEC Rule 144A. On December 13, 2018, we filed a

Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock accrue and are cumulative from the date the shares of Series A Preferred Stock were originally issued to, but not including, June 15, 2023 at a rate of 5.650% per annum of the $1,000 liquidation preference per share. On and after June 15, 2023, dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock will accumulate for each five year period at a percentage of the $1,000 liquidation preference equal to the five-year U.S. Treasury Rate plus (i) in respect of each five year period commencing on or after June 15, 2023 but before June 15, 2043, a spread of 2.843% (the “Initial Margin”), and (ii) in respect of each five year period commencing on or after June 15, 2043, the Initial Margin plus 1.000%. The Series A Preferred Stock may be redeemed by us at our option on June 15, 2023, or on each date falling on the fifth anniversary thereafter, or in connection with a ratings event (as defined in the Certificate of Designation of the Series A Preferred Stock).

Holders of Series A Preferred Stock generally have no voting rights, except for limited voting rights with respect to (i) potential amendments to our certificate of incorporation that would have a material adverse effect on the existing preferences, rights, powers or duties of the Series A Preferred Stock, (ii) the creation or issuance of any security ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock if the cumulative dividends payable on then outstanding Series A Preferred Stock are in arrears, or (iii) the creation or issuance of any security ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock. The Series A Preferred Stock does not have a stated maturity and is not subject to mandatory redemption or any sinking fund. The Series A Preferred Stock will remain outstanding indefinitely unless repurchased or redeemed by us. Any such redemption would be effected only out of funds legally available for such purposes and will be subject to compliance with the provisions of our outstanding indebtedness.

On December 5, 2018, we completed the sale of 20,000,000 depositary shares with an aggregate liquidation preference of $500,000,000 under the Company’s registration statement on Form S-3. Each depositary share represents 1/1,000th ownership interest in a share of our 6.500% Series B Fixed-Rate Reset Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, liquidation preference $25,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share) (the “Series B Preferred Stock"). The transaction resulted in $500.0 million of gross proceeds or $486.1 million of net proceeds, after deducting commissions and sale expenses.

Dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock accrue and are cumulative from the date the shares of Series B Preferred Stock were originally issued to, but not including, March 15, 2024 at a rate of 6.500% per annum of the $25,000 liquidation preference per share. On and after March 15, 2024, dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock will accumulate for each five year period at a percentage of the $25,000 liquidation preference equal to the five-year U.S. Treasury Rate plus (i) in respect of each five year period commencing on or after March 15, 2024 but before March 15, 2044, a spread of 3.632% (the “Initial Margin”), and (ii) in respect of each five year period commencing on or after March 15, 2044, the Initial Margin plus 1.000%. The Series B Preferred Stock may be redeemed by us at our option on March 15, 2024, or on each date falling on the fifth anniversary thereafter, or in connection with a ratings event (as defined in the Certificate of Designation of the Series B Preferred Stock).

In addition, we issued 20,000 shares of “Series B-1 Preferred Stock”, par value $0.01 per share, (“Series B-1 Preferred Stock”), as a distribution with respect to the Series B Preferred Stock. As a result, each of the depositary shares issued on December 5, 2018 now represents a 1/1,000th ownership interest in a share of Series B Preferred Stock and a 1/1,000th ownership interest in a share of Series B-1 Preferred Stock. We issued the Series B-1 Preferred Stock to enhance the voting rights of the Series B Preferred Stock to comply with the minimum voting rights policy of the New York Stock Exchange. The Series B-1 Preferred Stock is paired with the Series B Preferred Stock and may not be transferred, redeemed or repurchased except in connection with the simultaneous transfer, redemption or repurchase of a like number of shares of the underlying Series B Preferred Stock.

Holders of Series B Preferred Stock generally have no voting rights, except for limited voting rights with respect to (i) potential amendments to our certificate of incorporation that would have a material adverse effect on the existing preferences, rights, powers or duties of the Series B Preferred Stock, (ii) the creation or issuance of any security ranking on a parity with the Series B Preferred Stock if the cumulative dividends payable on then outstanding Series B Preferred Stock are in arrears, or (iii) the creation or issuance of any security ranking senior to the Series B Preferred Stock. In addition, if and whenever dividends on any shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall not have been declared and paid for at least six dividend periods, whether or not consecutive, the number of directors then constituting our Board of Directors shall automatically be increased by two until all

accumulated and unpaid dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock shall have been paid in full, and the holders of Series B-1 Preferred Stock, voting as a class together with the holders of any outstanding securities ranking on a parity with the Series B-1 Preferred Stock and having like voting rights that are exercisable at the time and entitled to vote thereon, shall be entitled to elect the two additional directors. The Series B Preferred Stock does not have a stated maturity and is not subject to mandatory redemption or any sinking fund. The Series B Preferred Stock will remain outstanding indefinitely unless repurchased or redeemed by us. Any such redemption would be effected only out of funds legally available for such purposes and will be subject to compliance with the provisions of our outstanding indebtedness.


				Year ended December 31,						December 31,		December 31,
				2020		2019		2018		2020		2019
(in millions except shares and per share amounts)	Liquidation Preference Per Share		Shares	Dividends Declared Per Share						Outstanding
5.650% Series A	$	1,000.00	400,000	$	56.50	$	56.50	$	28.88	$	393.9	$	393.9
6.500% Series B	$	25,000.00	20,000	$	1,625.00	$	1,674.65	$	—	$	486.1	$	486.1

Noncontrolling Interest in Consolidated Subsidiaries. In December 2020, NIPSCO and a tax equity partner completed their initial cash contributions into the Rosewater joint venture. Earnings, tax attributes and cash flows are allocated to both NIPSCO and the tax equity partner in varying percentages by category and over the life of the partnership. The tax equity partner's contributions, net of these allocations, is represented as a noncontrolling interest within total equity on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Refer to Note 4, "Variable Interest Entities," for more information.