<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000067716-16-000131.txt : 20160414
<SEC-HEADER>0000067716-16-000131.hdr.sgml : 20160414
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20160414164243
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000067716-16-000131
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	DEFA14A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20160414
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20160414
EFFECTIVENESS DATE:		20160414

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MDU RESOURCES GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000067716
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MINING, QUARRYING OF NONMETALLIC MINERALS (NO FUELS) [1400]
		IRS NUMBER:				410423660
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		DEFA14A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03480
		FILM NUMBER:		161572181

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1200 WEST CENTURY AVENUE
		CITY:			BISMARCK
		STATE:			ND
		ZIP:			58503
		BUSINESS PHONE:		701-530-1059

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1200 WEST CENTURY AVENUE
		CITY:			BISMARCK
		STATE:			ND
		ZIP:			58503

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MONTANA DAKOTA UTILITIES CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19850429
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>DEFA14A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>defa-2016annualmtg.htm
<DESCRIPTION>DEFA14A
<TEXT>
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd">
<html>
	<head>
		<!-- Document created using Wdesk 1 -->
		<!-- Copyright 2016 Workiva -->
		<title>Wdesk | DEFA14A</title>
	</head>
	<body style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">
<a name="sB2C0C79B889109CD558D0FE80BB0D11D"></a><div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="3"></td></tr><tr><td width="31%"></td><td width="30%"></td><td width="39%"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:3px double #000000;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:3px double #000000;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:3px double #000000;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div></div><br><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;padding-left:6px;text-indent:0px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">UNITED STATES</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:0px;text-align:center;padding-left:6px;text-indent:0px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:0px;text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">Washington, D.C. 20549</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:1px;text-align:center;font-size:8.5pt;"><font style="font-family:Trade Gothic,sans-serif;font-size:8.5pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:14pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;">SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:0px;text-align:left;font-size:8.5pt;"><font style="font-family:Trade Gothic,sans-serif;font-size:8.5pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:0px;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">(Amendment No.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Filed by the Registrant </font><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;">&#253;  </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Filed by a party other than the Registrant </font><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;">&#168;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:12px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Check the appropriate box:</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:8px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;">&#168;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Preliminary Proxy Statement</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;">&#168;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;">&#168;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Definitive Proxy Statement</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;">&#253;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Definitive Additional Materials</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;">&#168;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Soliciting Material under &#167;240.14a-12</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:8.5pt;"><font style="font-family:Trade Gothic,sans-serif;font-size:8.5pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:8px;text-align:center;font-size:14pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;">MDU Resources Group, Inc.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:12px;text-align:center;font-size:8.5pt;"><font style="font-family:Trade Gothic,sans-serif;font-size:8.5pt;">____________________________________________________________</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:8.5pt;"><font style="font-family:Trade Gothic,sans-serif;font-size:8.5pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;">&#253;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;No fee required</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;">&#168;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11</font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="padding-top:4px;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:30px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">1)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;width:92.52873563218391%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="5"></td></tr><tr><td width="20%"></td><td width="21%"></td><td width="21%"></td><td width="21%"></td><td width="17%"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="padding-top:4px;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:30px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">2)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;width:92.52873563218391%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="5"></td></tr><tr><td width="20%"></td><td width="21%"></td><td width="21%"></td><td width="21%"></td><td width="17%"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="padding-top:4px;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:30px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">3)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;width:92.52873563218391%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="5"></td></tr><tr><td width="20%"></td><td width="21%"></td><td width="21%"></td><td width="21%"></td><td width="17%"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="padding-top:4px;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:30px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">4)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;width:92.52873563218391%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="5"></td></tr><tr><td width="20%"></td><td width="21%"></td><td width="21%"></td><td width="21%"></td><td width="17%"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="padding-top:4px;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:30px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">5)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Total fee paid:</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:4px;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;width:92.52873563218391%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="5"></td></tr><tr><td width="20%"></td><td width="21%"></td><td width="21%"></td><td width="21%"></td><td width="17%"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:30px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:0px;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;">&#168;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Fee paid previously with preliminary materials</font></div></td></tr></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:30px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:0px;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;">&#168;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.</font></div></td></tr></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="padding-top:4px;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:30px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">1)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Amount Previously Paid:</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;width:92.52873563218391%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="5"></td></tr><tr><td width="20%"></td><td width="21%"></td><td width="21%"></td><td width="21%"></td><td width="17%"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="padding-top:4px;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:30px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">2)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;width:92.52873563218391%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="5"></td></tr><tr><td width="20%"></td><td width="21%"></td><td width="21%"></td><td width="21%"></td><td width="17%"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="padding-top:4px;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:30px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">3)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Filing Party:</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;width:92.52873563218391%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="5"></td></tr><tr><td width="20%"></td><td width="21%"></td><td width="21%"></td><td width="21%"></td><td width="17%"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="padding-top:4px;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:30px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">4)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Date Filed:</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;width:92.52873563218391%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="5"></td></tr><tr><td width="20%"></td><td width="21%"></td><td width="21%"></td><td width="21%"></td><td width="17%"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><br><div style="text-align:center;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="3"></td></tr><tr><td width="31%"></td><td width="31%"></td><td width="38%"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:3px double #000000;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:3px double #000000;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:3px double #000000;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><a name="s9EF103C2E238A423E3830FE80BDF8EC4"></a><div></div><br><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">MDU RESOURCES GROUP, INC. </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;">[The following are talking points for telephone calls officers of the Company may make to select stockholders relating to Proposal No. 4, approval, on a non-binding advisory basis, of  the compensation of the Company&#8217;s named executive officers.]</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:24px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:0px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">I.</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">The Purpose Of This Communication</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#8226;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">We are contacting you to answer any questions you may have regarding our 2016 proxy proposals and specifically with respect to our Say on Pay proposal.</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;padding-left:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#8226;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">MDU Resources Group, Inc.&#8217;s Board of Directors has recommended that stockholders vote in favor of Proposal No. 4.</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;padding-left:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#8226;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">However, Glass, Lewis &amp; Co. (&#8220;Glass Lewis&#8221;) has recommended a vote &#8220;AGAINST&#8221; Proposal No. 4.</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#8226;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Another leading proxy advisory service, ISS Proxy Advisory Services, came to a contrary conclusion and recommended a vote &#8220;FOR&#8221; the proposal.</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;padding-left:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#8226;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">As the reason for its recommendation, Glass Lewis asserted a deficiency existed in linking our executive pay and Company performance and a misalignment of executive pay with performance as compared to its peers.</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#8226;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">We agree with Glass Lewis that linking executive pay to corporate performance is in the best long-term interest of shareholders, and we believe we have aligned executive pay and performance.</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;padding-left:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#8226;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">We are contacting you to help you understand that our executive compensation program is heavily weighted toward performance-based pay.</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;padding-left:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#8226;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">We ask that you vote in support of our Say on Pay proposal despite the Glass, Lewis &amp; Co. recommendation.</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:13px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="padding-bottom:13px;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:24px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:0px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">II</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">.</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">&#32;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">Our Executive Compensation is Heavily Weighted Toward Performance-Based Compensation and Aligns Pay with Performance</font></div></td></tr></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#8226;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">The  Company&#8217;s 2016 Proxy Statement indicates that 76.5% of the CEO&#8217;s 2015 target compensation was tied to short-term (23.5%) and long-term (53%) performance and therefore at risk. (Proxy Statement page 24)  The other NEOs had target incentive compensation ranging from 60% to 80% of their total target compensation for 2015.  (Proxy Statement page 24)</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><br><div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><a name="s9EF103C2E238A423E3830FE80BDF8EC4"></a><div></div><br><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#8226;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Long-term performance is measured exclusively by Total Shareholder Return compared to Company peers. TSR is a commonly used performance metric by publicly traded companies for long-term incentive compensation.</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#8226;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Short-term performance is largely measured by financial metrics of ROIC and EPS at the Company&#8217;s business segments, i.e. objective financial performance.</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#8226;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">The CEO earned only 50% of his target short-term incentive compensation in 2015.  Each of the other NEOs earned less than his target short-term incentive compensation for 2015, except for the head of the construction materials and contracting segment, which achieved 2015 earnings far in excess of its EPS and ROIC targets.  (Proxy Statement pages 31-32) </font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#8226;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">No performance shares vested for the CEO and the other NEOS in 2015 because the Company&#8217;s performance during the 2012 to 2014 performance cycle was below the vesting threshold relative to the Company&#8217;s peers. (Proxy Statement page 35)  </font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#8226;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">In 2015, the CEO&#8217;s total realized pay decreased $1.4 million, or 55%, and his total compensation from the Summary Compensation Table decreased $1.0 million or 28%. (Proxy Statement page 20)  </font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#8226;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">The head of the exploration and production segment was paid a sales incentive bonus in connection with the sale of Fidelity to help bring significant incremental value in the sale process. (Proxy Statement page 32) He also had received no long-term incentive award in 2015. (Proxy Statement page 28)</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:13px;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:24px;text-indent:-24px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">III. The Company has Aligned Pay to Performance as Compared to its Peers </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:24px;text-indent:-24px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#8226;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">The Glass Lewis report states that the Company&#8217;s NEOs were paid more than the median compensation of the NEOs from an Equilar peer group.</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#8226;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Although the Glass Lewis report recognizes that the Company is a diversified natural resources company, its analysis relied upon an Equilar peer group consisting of 15 of 16 (94%) utility companies and one construction materials company.   In 2015, approximately 40% of the company&#8217;s earnings were from utility operations as a percentage of earnings before discontinued operations (Form 10-K page 29).  The remaining earnings were derived from its construction materials, construction services, pipeline and midstream business segments.</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#8226;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">The Company&#8217;s 2015 NEOs included the presidents of its construction materials, construction services, exploration and production, and pipeline and midstream business segments in addition to the Company CEO and CFO.  The president of its utility segment was not a 2015 NEO.   Accordingly, the Glass Lewis report compares NEO compensation for non-utility executives with NEO compensation for a utility peer group; the Company believes this is an inappropriate comparison. </font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><br><div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><a name="s9EF103C2E238A423E3830FE80BDF8EC4"></a><div></div><br><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#8226;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">As shown in the Glass Lewis report, the annual cost of the Company&#8217;s Long-Term Performance-Based Incentive Plan is substantially below that of even the Equilar peer group whether measured as a percentage of revenue, percentage of OCP, percentage of enterprise value, or cost per employee.</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><br><div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div></div>	</body>
</html>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
