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Equity
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Equity [Abstract]  
Equity
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 that could potentially limit the amount of dividends we could pay in order to maintain compliance with these covenants. Refer to Note 8, "Long-Term Debt," for more information. As of December 31, 2023, 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. 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.
Common and preferred stock activity for 2023, 2022 and 2021 is described further below.
ATM Program. On February 22, 2021, we entered into six separate equity distribution agreements pursuant to which we were able to sell up to an aggregate of $750.0 million of our common stock. On December 31, 2023 the ATM program and the associated equity distribution agreements expired.
The following table summarizes our activity under the ATM program.
Year Ending December 31, 20232022
Number of shares issued— 5,941,598 
Average price per share$— $25.25 
Proceeds, net of fees (in millions)
$— $141.9 
Preferred Stock. The following table summarizes preferred stock by outstanding series of shares:
Year ended December 31,December 31,December 31,
20232022202120232022
(in millions except shares and per share amounts)Liquidation Preference Per ShareShares
Dividends Declared Per Share(2)
Outstanding
5.650% Series A$1,000.00 — $28.25 $56.50 $56.50 $— $393.9 
6.500% Series B25,000.00 20,000 1,625.00 1,625.00 1,625.00 486.1 486.1 
Series C(1)
$1,000.00 — — — — $— $666.5 
(1) The Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock did not bear any dividends. We recorded the initial present value of the purchase contract payments as a liability with a corresponding reduction to preferred stock.
(2) Dividends declared per share for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 reflects the dividend declared on the Series A Preferred Stock on March 14, 2023. The dividend was paid on June 15, 2023.

Series A 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. Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock accrued and were 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. As of December 31, 2022, Series A Preferred Stock had $1.0 million of cumulative preferred dividends in arrears, or $2.51 per share.
On June 15, 2023, we redeemed all 400,000 outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock for a redemption price of $1,000 per share or $400.0 million in total. Following the redemption, dividends ceased to accrue on such shares of Series A Preferred Stock, and the shares of Series A Preferred Stock are no longer deemed outstanding and all rights of the holders of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock were terminated. In conjunction with the redemption, we recorded a 9.8 million preferred stock redemption premium, calculated as the difference between the carrying value on the redemption date of the Series A Preferred Stock and the total amount of consideration paid to redeem, which was recorded as a reduction to retained earnings during 2023. The preferred stock redemption premium included the recognition of an excise tax liability under the IRA of $3.6 million. This liability is net of the fair value of common shares issued during 2023.
In June 2023, we filed a certificate of elimination to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of Delaware to eliminate from the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation all matters set forth in the Certificate of Designations with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock. As a result, the 400,000 shares that were previously designated as Series A Preferred Stock were returned to the status of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, without designation as to series. The certificate of elimination does not change the total number of authorized shares of capital stock of NiSource or the total number of authorized shares of preferred stock.
Series B Preferred Stock. 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).
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, Series B Preferred Stock had $1.4 million of cumulative preferred dividends in arrears, or $72.23 per share.
In addition, 20,000 shares of Series B–1 Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, were outstanding as of December 31, 2023. Holders of Series B–1 Preferred Stock are not entitled to receive dividend payments and have no conversion rights. 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 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.
On February 9, 2024, we announced that we will redeem all outstanding shares of our Series B Preferred Stock and Series B-1 Preferred Stock and the corresponding depositary shares representing interests in the outstanding shares of the Series B Preferred and Series B-1 Preferred Stock on March 15, 2024 for a redemption price of $25.00 per depositary share. On and after the redemption date, dividends on the redeemed Series B Preferred Stock and the corresponding depositary shares will cease to accumulate.
Equity Units. On April 19, 2021, we completed the sale of 8.625 million Equity Units, initially consisting of Corporate Units, each with a stated amount of $100. The offering generated net proceeds of $835.5 million, after underwriting and issuance expenses. Each Corporate Unit consisted of a forward contract to purchase shares of our common stock in the future and a 1/10th, or 10%, undivided beneficial ownership interest in one share of Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share. The Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock was pledged upon issuance as collateral to secure the purchase of common stock under the related purchase contracts. The Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock did not bear any dividends and the liquidation preference did not accrete.
Selected information about the Equity Units is presented below:
(in millions except contract rate)Issuance DateUnits Issued
Total Net Proceeds(1)
Purchase Contract Annual RatePurchase Contract Liability
Equity UnitsApril 19, 20218.625$835.5 7.75 %$168.8 
(1)Issuance costs of $27.0 million were recorded on a relative fair value basis as a reduction to preferred stock of $22.5 million and a reduction to the purchase contract liability of $4.5 million.
Pursuant to the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement, we were required to attempt a remarketing of the Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock prior to December 1, 2023. On November 17, 2023, we announced the unsuccessful final remarketing of our Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock. On December 1, 2023, we issued 33,898,837 shares of our common stock under the purchase contract component of the Corporate Units based upon the per-share daily volume weighted average of our common stock over a consecutive 40-day trading period ending on November 29, 2023. As of December 1, 2023, each holder of Corporate Units was deemed to have automatically delivered to us the related Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock that were components of the Corporate Units in full satisfaction of such holder’s obligations under the related purchase contract, and all shares of Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock were returned to the status of authorized but unissued preferred stock, par value of $0.01 per share, without designation as to series. We voluntarily delisted the Corporate Units from the New York Stock Exchange.
We paid quarterly contract adjustment payments at the rate of 7.75% per year on the stated amount of $100 per Equity Unit. As of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 the purchase contract liability was zero and $65.0 million, respectively. Purchase contract payments were recorded against this liability. Accretion of the purchase contract liability was recorded as interest expense. Cash payments of $66.8 million were made during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
We accounted for the Corporate Units as a single unit of account and recorded the initial present value of the purchase contract payments as a liability with a corresponding reduction to preferred stock. As of December 31, 2023, the balance of the Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock was $0.0 million and during the fourth quarter of 2023 we recorded the settlement of the forward purchase contract as an increase to common stock and additional paid-in capital.
Refer to Note 5, "Earnings Per Share," for additional information regarding our treatment of the Equity Units for diluted EPS.
Noncontrolling Interest in Consolidated Subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, NIPSCO and tax equity partners have completed their cash contributions into Indiana Crossroads Wind, Rosewater, Indiana Crossroads Solar and Dunns Bridge I JVs. Earnings, tax attributes and cash flows are allocated to both NIPSCO and the respective tax equity partners 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, "Noncontrolling Interest," for more information.
On December 31, 2023, we consummated the closing of the NIPSCO Minority Interest Transaction and issued a 19.9% equity interest in NIPSCO Holdings II LLC to BIP in exchange for a capital contribution of $2.16 billion in cash. Transaction costs and deferred tax impacts of $54.7 million and $63.5 million were recorded during the period ending December 31, 2023. Refer to Note 15, "Income Taxes," and Note 19, "Other Commitments and Contingencies - E. Other Matters," in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on this transaction.