EX-1.01

EX-1.01 2 d855581dex101.htm EX-1.01 EX-1.01

Exhibit 1.01

XCEL ENERGY INC.

(a Minnesota corporation)

COMMON STOCK

(PAR VALUE $2.50 PER SHARE)

November 4, 2024

Barclays Bank PLC

1 Churchill Place

London E14 5HP

United Kingdom

Bank of America, N.A.

One Bryant Park, 8th Fl.

New York, NY 10036

Acting in their capacities as

Forward Purchasers, solely as

Recipients and/or beneficiaries

Of certain representations,

Warranties, covenants and indemnities

Set forth in this Agreement

Barclays Capital Inc.

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

BofA Securities, Inc.

One Bryant Park

New York, NY 10036

Acting in their capacities as

Forward Sellers

Barclays Capital Inc.

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

BofA Securities, Inc.

One Bryant Park

New York, NY 10036

As Representatives of the Underwriters named in Schedule I Hereto

To the Addressees:

Xcel Energy Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the “Company”), Barclays Capital Inc. (“Barclays”) and BofA Securities, Inc. (“BofA Securities”), each of Barclays and BofA Securities in its capacity as agent for the applicable Forward Purchaser (as defined below) (each of Barclays and BofA Securities in such capacity, a “Forward Seller” and, collectively, the “Forward Sellers”), at the request of the Company in connection with the Forward Sale Agreements (as defined below), confirm their respective agreements with the several underwriters named on Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you are acting as representatives (the “Representatives”), and the Forward Purchasers, with respect to (i) subject to Section 12 hereof, the sale by the Forward Sellers, and the purchase by the Underwriters, in each case acting severally and not jointly, of the respective number of shares of common stock, par value $2.50 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) set forth opposite its name under the headings “Number of Borrowed Firm Shares to be Purchased from Barclays” and “Number of Borrowed Firm Shares to be Purchased from BofA Securities” on Schedule I hereto (collectively, the “Borrowed Firm Shares”) and (ii) the grant by the Forward Sellers or the Company, as applicable, to the Underwriters, in each case acting severally and not jointly, of the option (the “Option”) described in Section 2 hereof to purchase from time to time all or any part of an additional 2,748,091 shares of Common Stock (the “Option Shares”) (in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, subject to certain conditions set forth herein). Any shares of Common Stock sold to the Underwriters by the Forward Sellers pursuant to Section 2(a)(iii) hereof upon exercise of the Option are referred to herein as the “Borrowed Option Shares” and any shares of Common Stock sold to the Underwriters by the Company pursuant to Section 2(a)(iv) hereof upon exercise of the Option are referred to as the “Company Option Shares.” The Borrowed Firm Shares and the Company Top-Up Firm Shares (as defined in Section 12 hereof) are referred to herein collectively as the “Firm Shares.” The Company Top-Up Firm Shares, the Company Option Shares and the Company Top-Up Option Shares are referred to herein collectively as the “Company Shares.” The Borrowed Firm Shares and the Borrowed Option Shares are referred to herein collectively as the “Borrowed Shares.” The Borrowed Shares and the Company Shares are referred to herein collectively as the “Shares.”

As used herein, the term “Forward Sale Agreements” refers to the letter agreements dated the date hereof between the Company and each of Barclays Bank PLC and Bank of America, N.A., each in its capacity as a forward purchaser (in such capacity as a forward purchaser, each a “Forward Purchaser” and, collectively, the “Forward Purchasers”), each relating to the forward sale by the Company to such Forward Purchaser, subject to the Company’s right to elect Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement (as such terms are defined in each Forward Sale Agreement), of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Borrowed Firm Shares sold by the applicable Forward Seller pursuant to this Underwriting Agreement (this “Agreement”).

1. A. Representations and Warranties by the Company. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers, that:

(a) The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), and has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) an “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined under Rule 405 under the Act, including a prospectus, for the registration under the Act of certain securities, including the Shares, which registration statement initially became effective not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof. Such registration statement (File No. 333-278797) and prospectus may have been amended or supplemented from time to time prior to the date of this underwriting agreement (this “Agreement”). Any such amendment or supplement was filed with the Commission and any such amendment has become effective. As used in this Agreement:

(i) “Applicable Time” means 8:52 a.m., New York City time, on the date of this Agreement;

(ii) “Effective Date” means any date as of which any part of such registration statement relating to the Shares became, or is deemed to have become, effective under the Act in accordance with the rules and regulations thereunder;

(iii) “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means each “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act) prepared by or on behalf of the Company or used or referred to by the Company in connection with the offering of the Shares;

(iv) “Preliminary Prospectus” means any preliminary form of prospectus supplement relating to the Shares (together with the base prospectus of the Company in the form in which it appears in the Registration Statement) which has heretofore been or is required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act and used prior to the filing of the Prospectus;

(v) “Pricing Disclosure Package” means, as of the Applicable Time, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, together with each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus filed or used by the Company on or before the Applicable Time and the pricing terms of the offering of the Shares set forth in Schedule II hereto;

(vi) “Prospectus” means the base prospectus of the Company in the form in which it appears in the Registration Statement together with the final prospectus supplement relating to the Shares, in the form in which it shall be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act (including the base prospectus as so supplemented); and

(vii) “Registration Statement” means, collectively, the various parts of such registration statement of the Company, each as amended as of the Effective Date for such part, including any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, any prospectus supplement relating to the Shares that is filed with the Commission and deemed by virtue of Rule 430B to be part of such registration statement and all exhibits to such registration statement.

Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 which were filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), on or before the date of this Agreement and, if the Company files any documents pursuant to the Exchange Act after the date of this Agreement and prior to the termination of the offering of the Shares by the Underwriters, which documents are deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus, such filing shall constitute an amendment or supplement to the Prospectus and the term “Prospectus” shall refer also to said Prospectus as supplemented by the documents so filed from and after the time said documents are filed with the Commission. Any reference to the “most recent Preliminary Prospectus” shall be deemed to refer to the latest Preliminary Prospectus included in the Registration Statement or filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act prior to or on the date hereof (including for purposes hereof, any documents incorporated by reference therein prior to or on the date hereof).

(b) As of the determination date applicable to the Registration Statement (and any amendment thereof) and the offering contemplated hereby, the Company is a “well-known seasoned issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act) eligible to use Form S-3 for the offering of the Shares, including not having been an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405) at any such time or date.

(c) No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Prospectus or the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act has been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act has been received by the Company.

(d) The Registration Statement, on the Effective Date, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the respective rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and did not and will not, as of the Effective Date, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and, as of the date of the Prospectus and as of the relevant Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), the Prospectus will comply in all material respects with the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information so furnished consists of the information described in Section 10(g) hereof. Each Preliminary Prospectus and the prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to

Rule 424 of the Act, complied when so filed in all material respects with the rules under the Act, and each Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this offering was identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T under the Act.

(e) The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, when they were filed with the Commission, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and any documents so filed and incorporated by reference subsequent to the date of this Agreement or any further amendment or supplement to the Prospectus will, when they are filed with the Commission, conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; and none of such documents include or will include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit or will omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(f) The Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time did not, and as of the relevant Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to the information contained in or omitted from the Pricing Disclosure Package in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use in the Pricing Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed that the only such information so furnished consists of the information described in Section 10(g) hereof.

(g) Prior to the execution of this Agreement, the Company has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the prior consent of the Representatives; any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the use of which has been consented to by the Company and the Representatives, is listed on Schedule III hereto; the Company has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Act with respect to any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus; any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus will not, as of its issue date and through the time the Shares are delivered pursuant to Section 3 hereof, include any information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, when taken together with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, did not, when issued or filed pursuant to Rule 433, and does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that this representation and warranty shall not apply to statements or omissions made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with the information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information so furnished consists of the information described in Section 10(g) hereof.

(h) The financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries filed as a part of or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and fairly present the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and changes in financial position for the periods specified, and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as disclosed in such financial statements.

(i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Minnesota; and the Company is qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification and the failure to so qualify might permanently impair the title to property material to its operations or its right to enforce a material contract against others or expose it to substantial liability, except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

(j) Each of Northern States Power Company, a Minnesota corporation, Northern States Power Company, a Wisconsin corporation, Public Service Company of Colorado, and Southwestern Public Service Company (each a “Significant Subsidiary” and collectively, “Significant Subsidiaries”) has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which it owns or leases substantial properties or in which the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be in good standing or qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. There are no other subsidiaries of the Company that would be deemed “significant subsidiaries” under Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act.

(k) Since the most recent dates as of which information is given in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there has been no material adverse change in the condition of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, financial or otherwise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(l) The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the issuance, sale and delivery of the Company Shares (if any), the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated and the fulfillment of the terms hereof, and compliance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement did not and will not (i) conflict with, or result in the breach of, any of the terms, provisions or conditions of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, as amended, or (ii) conflict with, or result in the breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other contract, agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is bound or to which its or their properties are subject or (iii) result in the violation of any law, statute, order, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries of any court or of any federal or state regulatory body or administrative agency or other governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or over their respective properties except, in the case of clauses (ii) or (iii), any such conflict, breach or violation which, if it did exist, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(m) The execution and delivery of each Forward Sale Agreement or any Additional Forward Sale Agreement (as defined below), as applicable, the issuance and delivery of any shares of Common Stock by the Company thereunder, the consummation of the transactions therein contemplated and the fulfillment of the terms thereof, and compliance with the terms and provisions of such agreements did not and will not (i) conflict with, or result in the breach of, any of the terms, provisions or conditions of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, as amended, or (ii) conflict with, or result in the breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other contract, agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is bound or to which its or their properties are subject or (iii) result in the violation of any law, statute, order, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries of any court or of any federal or state regulatory body or administrative agency or other governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or over their respective properties except, in the case of clauses (ii) or (iii), any such conflict, breach or violation which, if it did exist, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(n) The Company Shares (if any) have been duly authorized for issuance, sale and delivery pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued, sold and delivered and paid for as provided herein, will be duly authorized, validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable and will conform to the description of the Common Stock in the Pricing Disclosure Package and Prospectus. Shareholders of the Company will have no preemptive rights with respect to the issuance of the Shares. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock deliverable to the applicable Forward Purchaser in the aggregate pursuant to each Forward Sale Agreement and any Additional Forward Sale

Agreement, whether pursuant to Physical Settlement, Net Share Settlement, as a result of an Acceleration Event (as such terms are defined in each Forward Sale Agreement or any Additional Forward Sale Agreement, as the case may be) or otherwise (such maximum number of shares of Common Stock, the “Issuable Shares”), have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance and, when issued, sold and delivered by the Company to the Forward Purchasers pursuant to the applicable Forward Sale Agreement or any Additional Forward Sale Agreement, as the case may be, against payment of any consideration required to be paid by the Forward Purchasers pursuant to the terms of the Forward Sale Agreements or such Additional Forward Sale Agreement, as the case may be, such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance thereof will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

(o) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(p) Each Forward Sale Agreement has been, and any Additional Forward Sale Agreement will be at the time of its execution and delivery by the Company, duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or other laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights and general equitable principles.

(q) No approval of, or any consent, authorization or order of, or filing or registration with, any regulatory public body, state or federal, or any court having jurisdiction over the Company, is, or will be at the relevant Closing Date, necessary in connection with the issuance (in the case of any Company Shares) and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement or the issuance, sale and delivery of any shares of Common Stock under the Forward Sale Agreements or any Additional Forward Sale Agreement, as applicable, or the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Forward Sale Agreements or any Additional Forward Sale Agreement, as applicable, other than such approvals that have been obtained under the Act and approvals that may be required under state securities laws or regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).

(r) Other than as set forth or contemplated in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, there are no proceedings that are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others that are required to be described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus which are not described as required.

(s) (i)(x) Other than as set forth or contemplated in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, there has been no security breach or other compromise of or relating to any of the Company’s or the Significant Subsidiaries’ information technology and computer

systems, networks, hardware, software, data (including the data of their respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third party data maintained by or on behalf of them), equipment or technology (collectively, “IT Systems and Data”) and (y) the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries have not been notified of, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any security breach or other compromise to their IT Systems and Data, except as would not, in the case of this clause (i), individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) to the best of the Company’s knowledge, the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries are presently in compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the commercially reasonable protection of such IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification, except as would not, in the case of this clause (ii), individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (iii) the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries have implemented backup and disaster recovery technology reasonably consistent with industry standards and practices.

(t) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds, if any, upon settlement of the applicable Forward Sale Agreement or any Additional Forward Sale Agreement, as applicable, and in connection with (i) the issuance, sale and delivery of any Company Shares pursuant to Section 2(a)(iv) or Section 12 hereof and (ii) the issuance, sale and delivery of shares of Common Stock upon settlement of the applicable Forward Sale Agreement and any Additional Forward Sale Agreement, in each case, as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, will not be an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(u) The Company has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure, in its reasonable judgment, compliance by the Company, its Significant Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents (in their capacities as such) with anti-corruption laws and applicable economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State (“Sanctions”), and the Company, its Significant Subsidiaries and, to the Company’s knowledge, each of the foregoing’s respective officers, employees, directors and agents (in each case, in their respective capacities as such) are in compliance with anti-corruption laws and applicable Sanctions and are not knowingly engaged in any activity that would reasonably be expected to result in the Company being designated as a sanctioned person. None of the Company, any Significant Subsidiary or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of the foregoing’s respective directors, officers or employees (in their capacities as such) is a sanctioned person. The Company will not use the proceeds of the offering in violation of any anti-corruption law or applicable Sanctions.

B. Representations and Warranties of the Forward Sellers. Each Forward Seller, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Underwriters, as of the First Closing Date and any Option Closing Date (in the case of a sale of Shares pursuant to Section 2(a)(iii) hereof) that:

(a) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Forward Seller and, at the relevant Closing Date, such Forward Seller will have full right, power and authority to sell, transfer and deliver the Borrowed Firm Shares or the Borrowed Option Shares, as the case may be, that such Forward Seller is required to sell, transfer and deliver hereunder to the extent it is required to do so.

(b) The Forward Sale Agreement to which it (as Forward Purchaser) or its affiliated Forward Purchaser is a party has been, and any Additional Forward Sale Agreement to which it (as Forward Purchaser) or its affiliated Forward Purchaser is a party will be, duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Forward Purchaser, and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of either thereof, as the case may be, by the Company, will constitute a valid and binding agreement of such Forward Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or other laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights and general equitable principles.

(c) Each Forward Seller, at the relevant Closing Date, will have the free and unqualified right to transfer the Borrowed Firm Shares or Borrowed Option Shares, as the case may be, that it is required to deliver to the extent that it is required to transfer such Borrowed Firm Shares or Borrowed Option Shares hereunder, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, restriction on voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party; and upon delivery of such Borrowed Firm Shares or Borrowed Option Shares and payment of the purchase price therefor, as herein contemplated, assuming each of the Underwriters has no notice of any adverse claim, each of the Underwriters will have the free and unqualified right to transfer any such Borrowed Firm Shares or Borrowed Option Shares purchased by it from such Forward Seller, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, restriction on voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party.

2. Purchase and Sale.

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth:

(i) Each Forward Seller agrees to sell to the Representatives and each of the other Underwriters, and the Representatives and each of the other Underwriters shall purchase from such Forward Seller, severally and not jointly, at a purchase price of $64.4356 per share (the “Purchase Price”), that number of Borrowed Firm Shares set forth on Schedule I opposite the name of such Underwriter in the column pertaining to such Forward Seller;

(ii) the Company agrees to sell to the Representatives and each of the other Underwriters, and the Representatives and each of the other Underwriters shall purchase from the Company, severally and not jointly, at the Purchase Price, a number of Company Top-Up Firm Shares, if any, that bears the same proportion to the total number of Company Top-Up Firm Shares as the number of Borrowed Firm Shares set forth in the table on Schedule I opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Borrowed Firm Shares on such Schedule.

The Underwriters shall have the right to exercise the Option to purchase pursuant to clause (iii) or clause (iv) below, as applicable, severally and not jointly, all or any portion of the Option Shares at the Purchase Price less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Firm Shares but not payable on such Option Shares (such reduced price, the “Option Purchase Price”). The Underwriters may exercise the Option from time to time in whole or in part by the Representatives giving written notice (each an “Option Notice”) to the Company and the Forward Sellers not later than thirty (30) calendar days after the date of this Agreement. Any such Option Notice shall specify the aggregate number of Option Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters and the date and time when such Option Shares are to be delivered and paid for (each an “Option Closing Date”), which may be the same date and time as the First Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) but shall not be earlier than the First Closing Date nor later than five (5) full business days after the date of such notice. If the Option Notice is provided subsequent to the First Closing Date, such Option Closing Date must be at least one (1) business day after the written notice is given. Following delivery of an Option Notice:

(iii) The Company may, in its sole discretion, within one business day after such Option Notice is given, execute and deliver to each of the Forward Purchasers an additional forward sale agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D, between the Company and such Forward Purchasers (each an “Additional Forward Sale Agreement”), providing for the forward sale by the Company, subject to the Company’s right to elect Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement (as such terms are defined in any such Additional Forward Sale Agreement), of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the aggregate number of Option Shares being purchased by the Underwriters from the Forward Sellers pursuant to such exercise of the Option. Upon the Company’s execution and delivery to the Forward Purchasers of any Additional Forward Sale Agreement, each Forward Purchaser shall promptly execute and deliver such Additional Forward Sale Agreement to the Company, and upon such execution and delivery to the Company, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein, and subject to the conditions set forth herein, (x) each Forward Seller (with respect to any Borrowed Option Shares), and the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, shall purchase from each Forward Seller, the number of Option Shares as set forth in the relevant Option Notice at the Option Purchase Price (with each such Underwriter purchasing from each Forward Seller the number of Option Shares (subject to adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Underwriters may determine) that bears the same

proportion to the total number of Option Shares as the number of Borrowed Firm Shares set forth in the table on Schedule I opposite the name of such Underwriter in the applicable column bears to the total number of Borrowed Firm Shares on such Schedule) and (y) the Company hereby agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, shall purchase from the Company, a number of Company Top-Up Option Shares, if any (subject to adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Underwriters may determine), that bears the same proportion to the total number of Company Top-Up Option Shares as the number of Borrowed Firm Shares set forth in the table on Schedule I opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Borrowed Firm Shares on such Schedule.

(iv) If the Company does not timely execute and deliver one or more Additional Forward Sale Agreement(s) pursuant to clause (iii) above, then on the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, and subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, the Company hereby agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and the Underwriters shall purchase from the Company, at the Option Purchase Price, the number of Option Shares as set forth in the relevant Option Notice less the number of Option Shares underlying the Additional Forward Sale Agreement(s) that were so executed and delivered (with each such Underwriter purchasing the number of Option Shares (subject to adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Underwriters may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total number of such Option Shares as the number of Borrowed Firm Shares set forth in the table on Schedule I opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Borrowed Firm Shares on such Schedule).

(b) If with respect to the Borrowed Firm Shares underlying any Forward Sale Agreement (i) any of the conditions to effectiveness of such Forward Sale Agreement set forth therein are not satisfied on or prior to the First Closing Date, (ii) the Company has not performed all of the obligations required to be performed by it under this Agreement on or prior to the First Closing Date or (iii) any of the conditions set forth in Section 7 hereof have not been satisfied on or prior to the First Closing Date (clauses (i) through (iii) of this Section 2(b), together, the “Conditions”), then the Forward Seller that is or is affiliated with the Forward Purchaser party to such Forward Sale Agreement, in its sole discretion, may elect not to borrow and deliver for sale to the Underwriters such Borrowed Firm Shares otherwise deliverable by such Forward Seller hereunder. In addition, in the event that in a Forward Purchaser’s good faith and commercially reasonable judgment (A) it (as Forward Seller) or its affiliated Forward Seller is unable to borrow and deliver for sale under this Agreement the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Borrowed Firm Shares deliverable by such Forward Seller hereunder or (B) such Forward Seller or its affiliate would incur a Stock Loan Fee (as defined under the applicable Forward Sale Agreement) of more than a rate equal to 200 basis points per annum to do so, then, in each case, such Forward Seller shall only be required to deliver for sale to the Underwriters on the First Closing Date the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that such Forward Seller or its affiliate is able to so borrow at or below such Stock Loan Fee.

(c) If the Company has entered into an Additional Forward Sale Agreement with a Forward Purchaser pursuant to Section 2(a)(iii) hereof, with respect to the related Borrowed Option Shares, if (i) any of the conditions to effectiveness of such Additional Forward Sale Agreement set forth therein are not satisfied on or prior to the relevant Option Closing Date, (ii) the Company has not performed all of the obligations required to be performed by it under this Agreement on or prior to such Option Closing Date or (iii) any of the conditions set forth in Section 7 hereof have not been satisfied on or prior to such Option Closing Date (clauses (i) through (iii) of this Section 2(c), together, the “Option Conditions”), then the Forward Seller that is or is affiliated with the Forward Purchaser party to such Forward Sale Agreement, in its sole discretion, may elect not to borrow and deliver for sale to the Underwriters the Borrowed Option Shares otherwise deliverable by such Forward Seller hereunder. In addition, in the event that in a Forward Purchaser’s good faith and commercially reasonable judgment (A) it (as Forward Seller) or its affiliated Forward Seller or its affiliate is unable to borrow and deliver for sale under this Agreement the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Borrowed Option Shares deliverable by such Forward Seller hereunder or (B) such Forward Seller or its affiliate would incur a Stock Loan Fee (as defined under such Additional Forward Sale Agreement) of more than a rate equal to 200 basis points per annum to do so, then, in each case, such Forward Seller shall only be required to deliver for sale to the Underwriters on such Option Closing Date the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that such Forward Seller or its affiliate is able to so borrow at or below such Stock Loan Fee.

(d) If (i) a Forward Seller elects pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof not to borrow and deliver for sale to the Underwriters on the First Closing Date the total number of Borrowed Firm Shares otherwise deliverable by such Forward Seller hereunder, or (ii)a Forward Purchaser has entered into an Additional Forward Sale Agreement with the Company pursuant to Section 2(a)(iii) hereof and it (as Forward Seller) or its affiliated Forward Seller elects pursuant to Section 2(c) hereof not to borrow and deliver for sale to the Underwriters on the relevant Option Closing Date the total number of Borrowed Option Shares otherwise deliverable by it hereunder in respect of such Option Closing Date, then such Forward Seller will use its commercially reasonable efforts to notify the Company no later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the first business day prior to the First Closing Date or such Option Closing Date, as the case may be.

(e) The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers are acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Company with respect to the offering of the Shares contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company or any other person. Additionally, none of the Representatives nor any other Underwriter, the Forward Sellers or the Forward Purchasers are advising the Company or any other person as to any legal, tax, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. The Company shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and none of the Underwriters, the Forward Purchasers or the Forward Sellers shall have any responsibility or liability to the Company with respect thereto. Any

review by the Underwriters, the Forward Purchasers or the Forward Sellers of the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters, the Forward Purchasers or the Forward Sellers, as the case may be, and shall not be on behalf of the Company.

3. Delivery and Payment. Delivery of and payment for the Firm Shares shall be made at 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on November 5, 2024, at the offices of Jones Day, 90 South Seventh Street, Suite 4950, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402, which date and time may be postponed by agreement among the Underwriters, the Forward Sellers and the Company. Delivery of and payment for any Option Shares shall be made at the place, date and time specified by the Representatives in the Option Notice given by the Representatives pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof, or such other time and date as the Representatives, the Forward Sellers and the Company may agree upon in writing. Such time and date for delivery of the Firm Shares is herein called the “First Closing Date”; each such time and date for delivery of Option Shares, whether or not the First Closing Date, is herein called an “Option Closing Date”; and each such time and date for delivery is herein called a “Closing Date.” Delivery of the Shares shall be made to the respective accounts of the several Underwriters against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the Purchase Price or Option Purchase Price, as the case may be, therefor to or upon the order of the Forward Sellers (or, in the case of delivery by the Company in accordance with Section 2(a)(iv) or Section 12 hereof, the Company) in federal (same day) funds to the account specified by the Forward Sellers (or, in the case of delivery by the Company in accordance with Section 2(a)(iv) or Section 12 hereof, the Company) to the Representatives, by causing The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) to credit the Shares to the account of the Representatives at DTC. The Shares will be registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC and will be made available to the Representatives for checking in New York, New York, not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the business day preceding the relevant Closing Date.

4. Agreements of the Company. The Company agrees with the several Underwriters, the Forward Purchasers and the Forward Sellers that:

(a) The Company will cause the Prospectus, in a form approved by the Representatives, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act and will notify the Representatives promptly of such filing. During the period for which a prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered under the Act (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule), the Company will promptly advise the Representatives, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers (i) when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or shall have become effective, (ii) when any subsequent supplement to the Prospectus (including documents deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus) has been filed and shall furnish the Representatives, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers with copies thereof, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment of or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for any additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary

Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, (v) of the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, (vi) of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding or examination for any such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act, and (vii) of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information. During the period for which a prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered under the Act (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule), the Company will not file (i) any amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus (excluding documents deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus) unless the Company has furnished to the Representatives, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers a copy for their review prior to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives, the Forward Sellers or the Forward Purchasers reasonably object or (ii) any document that would be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus without delivering to the Representatives, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers a copy of the document proposed to be so filed, such delivery to be made at least 24 hours prior to such filing, and the Company will consult with the Representatives, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers as to any comments which the Representatives, the Forward Sellers or the Forward Purchasers make in a timely manner with respect to such document. During the period for which a prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered under the Act (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule), the Company will promptly file all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares. Following the First Closing Date and, for as long as a prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered under the Act, in the event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Company will promptly use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order. In the event of the Company’s receipt of a notice objecting to the use of the form of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, the Company will promptly take such steps including, without limitation, amending the Registration Statement or filing a new registration statement, at its own expense, as may be necessary to permit offers and sales of the Shares by the Underwriters (and references herein to the “Registration Statement” shall include any such amendment or new registration statement).

(b) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered under the Act (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule), any event occurs as a result of which the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it shall be necessary at any time to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules and regulations of the

Commission thereunder, the Company promptly, subject to paragraph (a) of this Section 4, will prepare and file an amendment or supplement to the Prospectus with the Commission and furnish to the Underwriters, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers a reasonable number of copies thereof, or will make a filing with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 14 of the Exchange Act, which will correct such statement or omission or will effect such compliance.

(c) The Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Representatives, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers a consolidated earnings statement (which need not be audited) of the Company, for a twelve-month period beginning after the date of the Prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act, as soon as is reasonably practicable after the end of such period, but in any event no later than eighteen months after the “effective date of the Registration Statement” (as defined in Rule 158(c) under the Act), which will satisfy the provision of Section 11(a) of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including at the option of the Company, Rule 158).

(d) The Company will deliver to the Representatives, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers conformed copies of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and the Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference therein) and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by the Underwriters or a dealer may be required by the Act (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule), all amendments of and supplements to such documents, in each case as soon as available and in such quantities as the Representatives, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers may reasonably request.

(e) Without the prior written consent of the Representatives, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers, the Company has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act.

(f) The Company will promptly file all material required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act and will retain as and to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Act all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses not required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the rules and regulations under the Act. If at any time after the date hereof any events shall have occurred as a result of which any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary to amend or supplement any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Company will notify the Representatives, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers and, upon their request, file such document and prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter, Forward Seller and Forward Purchaser as many copies as the Representatives, the Forward Sellers or the Forward Purchasers may from time to time reasonably request of an amended or supplemented Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that will correct such conflict, statement or omission or effect such compliance.

(g) The Company will furnish such information, execute such instruments and take such action as may be required to qualify the Shares for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Representatives may designate and will maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Shares; provided that the Company shall not be required to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action which would subject it to general or unlimited service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

(h) For a period of two years after the First Closing Date, the Company will furnish (or cause to be furnished) to each of the Representatives, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers upon request, copies of all reports and financial statements filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange.

(i) During the 45-day period beginning on the date of this Agreement, the Company will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for any shares of Common Stock, or publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers, except for issuances pursuant to the exercise or conversion of stock options, restricted stock or restricted stock units, or performance shares or convertible notes outstanding on the date of this Agreement, grants of employee stock options, restricted stock or restricted stock units, or performance shares pursuant to the terms of a plan in effect on the date of this Agreement, issuances pursuant to the exercise or conversion of such stock options, restricted stock or restricted stock units, or performance shares, the filing of registration statements on Form S-8 and amendments thereto in connection with such stock options, restricted stock or restricted stock units, or performance shares or the Company’s employee stock purchase or other employee benefit plans in existence on the date of this Agreement, issuances pursuant to the dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan in place on the date of this Agreement, the issuances pursuant to any dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan that replaces the Company’s current dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan, the filing of registration statements on Form S-3 and amendments thereto in connection with such dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plans and issuances of any Company Shares in accordance herewith, the sale, delivery or issuance of any Company Shares pursuant to Section 2(a)(iv) or Section 12 hereof or the sale, delivery or issuance of any shares of Common Stock by the Company pursuant to the Forward Sale Agreements or any Additional Forward Sale Agreement.

(j) The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect and maintain the listing of the Company Shares and the Issuable Shares on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”).

(k) In connection with the offering of the Shares, until the Representatives shall have notified the Company and the other Underwriters of the completion of the sale of the Shares, the Company will not, and will use its best efforts to cause its controlled affiliates not to, either alone or with one or more other persons (i) bid for or purchase for any account in which it or any such affiliate has a beneficial interest in any Shares or attempt to induce any person to purchase any Shares or (ii) make bids or purchases for the purpose of creating actual, or apparent, active trading in, or of raising the price of, the Shares.

(l) The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action which is designed to stabilize or manipulate, or which constitutes or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company in connection with the offering of the Shares.

5. Agreements of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter hereby severally represents and agrees that:

(a) It has not and will not use, authorize use of, refer to, or participate in the planning for use of, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act (which term includes use of any written information furnished to the Commission by the Company and not incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and any press release issued by the Company) required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company pursuant to Rule 433 under the Act, other than (i) a free writing prospectus that contains no “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433(h)(2) under the Act) that was not included (including through incorporation by reference) in the Preliminary Prospectus or a previously filed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or (ii) any free writing prospectus prepared by such Underwriter and approved by the Company in advance in writing.

(b) It will, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, retain, as and to the extent required under Rule 433 under the Act, copies of each free writing prospectus used or referred to by it, in accordance with Rule 433.

(c) It will notify the Company, the Representatives, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers when the sale of the Shares has been completed.

6. Expenses. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay all costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company hereunder, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, all costs, taxes and expenses incident to the issue (in the case of any Company Shares) and delivery of any Shares to the Underwriters, all fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel and accountants, all costs and expenses incident to the preparation, printing, filing and distribution of the Registration Statement (including all exhibits thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference therein), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendments thereof or supplements thereto, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with “blue sky” qualifications (including all fees and

expenses of Counsel for the Underwriters (as defined herein) not to exceed $5,000), all costs and expenses of the printing and distribution of all documents in connection with the offering, the cost of listing any Company Shares and the Issuable Shares on Nasdaq, the fees and expenses of the transfer agent (including related fees and expenses of any counsel to such parties), all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with any filing with, and clearance of any offering by FINRA, and all fees and expenses incident to the transactions contemplated by the Forward Sale Agreements and any Additional Forward Sale Agreement. Except as provided in this Section 6 and Sections 9 and 10 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel, transfer fees on resale of the Shares by them and any advertising expenses in connection with any offer they may make.

7. Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters and the Forward Sellers. The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Shares at each Closing Date, and the obligations of each Forward Seller to deliver and sell its Borrowed Firm Shares on the First Closing Date or its Borrowed Option Shares on an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, to the Underwriters, as provided herein, shall be subject, in the discretion of the Representatives or each of the Forward Sellers, as the case may be, to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company contained herein as of the date hereof and as of such Closing Date, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company’s officers on and as of such Closing Date made in any certificates given pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

(a) The Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof; all filings required by Rule 433 under the Act shall have been made, and no such filings shall have been made without the consent of the Representatives and the Forward Sellers; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof or preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act has been received by the Company; and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to the Representatives’, the Forward Sellers’ and the Forward Purchasers’ reasonable satisfaction.

(b) The Representatives, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers shall be furnished with opinion letters, dated such Closing Date, of (i) Amy L. Schneider, Vice President, Corporate Secretary and Securities of the Company (or other reasonably acceptable internal counsel of the Company), that address substantially the matters set forth in Exhibit A, and (ii) Jones Day, counsel for the Company, that address substantially the matters set forth in Exhibit B.

(c) The Representatives, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers shall have received from Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, New York, New York, counsel for the Underwriters (“Counsel for the Underwriters”), such opinion or opinions and negative assurance letter dated such Closing Date with respect to such matters as the Representatives, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

(d) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers a certificate of the President, Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or any Vice President of the Company, dated such Closing Date, as to the matters set forth in paragraphs (a) and (i) of this Section 7 and to the further effect that the signers of such certificate have examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and this Agreement and that, to the best of his or her knowledge:

(i) the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct on and as of such Closing Date with the same effect as if made on such Closing Date, and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to such Closing Date; and

(ii) there has been no material adverse change in the condition of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, financial or otherwise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, from that set forth in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, or the Prospectus.

(e) The Representatives, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers shall have received letters from Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants for the Company (dated the date of this Agreement and such Closing Date, respectively, and in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers) advising that (i) they are an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company as required by the Act and published rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (ii) in their opinion, the consolidated financial statements and supplemental schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus and covered by their opinion filed with the Commission under Section 13 of the Exchange Act comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Exchange Act and the published rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (iii) that they have performed limited procedures, not constituting an audit, including a reading of the latest available interim financial statements of the Company, a reading of the minutes of meetings of the Board of Directors, committees thereof, and of the stockholders of the Company since the date of the most recent audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, inquiries of officials of the Company responsible for financial accounting matters and such other inquiries and procedures as may be specified in such letter, and on

the basis of such limited review and procedures nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe that: (A) (1) any material modifications should be made to any unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus for them to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles or (2) any unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission applicable to Form 10-Q; and (B) with respect to the period subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus and except as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, there were any adverse changes, at a specified date not more than three business days prior to the date of the letter, in the capital stock of the Company, incurrences of long-term debt of the Company on a consolidated basis as compared to the amounts shown on the most recent consolidated balance sheet included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or, as of a specified date, there were any decreases in stockholders’ equity or net current assets of the Company on a consolidated basis as compared with the amounts shown on the most recent consolidated balance sheet included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or for the period from the date of the most recent financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus to such specified date there were any decreases, as compared with the corresponding period in the preceding year, in operating revenues, operating income or net income of the Company and its subsidiaries, except in all instances for changes or decreases set forth in such letter, in which case the letter shall be accompanied by an explanation by the Company as to the significance thereof unless said explanation is not deemed necessary by the Representatives; and (iv) they have carried out specified procedures performed for the purpose of comparing certain specified financial information and percentages (which is limited to financial information derived from general accounting records of the Company or, to the extent not so derived, from schedules prepared by Company officers responsible for such accounting records) included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus with indicated amounts in the financial statements or accounting records of the Company and (excluding any questions of legal interpretation) have found such information and percentages to be in agreement with the relevant accounting and financial information of the Company referred to in such letter in the description of the procedures performed by them.

(f) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers certificates of the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated the date of this Agreement and such Closing Date, respectively, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives.

(g) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Pricing Disclosure Package, there shall not have been any change or decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph (e) of this Section 7 which makes it impractical or inadvisable in the judgment of the Representatives, the Forward Sellers or the Forward Purchasers to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Pricing Disclosure Package.

(h) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded any debt securities or preferred stock of or guaranteed by the Company by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined by the Commission for purposes of the Exchange Act (other than downgrades of debt securities issued by or on behalf of governmental entities for the benefit of the Company solely as a result of downgrades of ratings of any third parties insuring such debt securities) and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, or has changed its outlook with respect to, its rating of the debt securities or preferred stock of or guaranteed by the Company (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading and other than with respect to debt securities issued by or on behalf of governmental entities for the benefit of the Company solely as a result of any such announcement with respect to any third parties insuring such debt securities).

(i) Since the most recent dates as of which information is given in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus there has been no material adverse change in the condition of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, financial or otherwise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the effect of which is in the judgment of the Underwriters, the Forward Sellers or the Forward Purchasers so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or the delivery of the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement and the Prospectus.

(j) The Representatives shall not have advised the Company that the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of fact which in the opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters is material or omits to state a fact which in the opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

(k) No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of such Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Shares; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of such Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Shares.

(l) All corporate proceedings and other legal matters incident to the authorization, form and validity of this Agreement and the Forward Sale Agreements or any Additional Forward Sale Agreement, as applicable, and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall be reasonably satisfactory to Counsel for the Underwriters, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers and prior to such Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers such other customary information, certificates and documents as they may reasonably request.

(m) Any Company Shares to be delivered at such Closing Date and the Issuable Shares shall have been approved for listing on Nasdaq.

(n) “Lock-up agreements” substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto shall be executed by the officers of the Company listed on Schedule IV hereto and shall be delivered to the Underwriters on or before the date hereof, shall be in full force and effect at each Closing Date.

(o) Each Forward Sale Agreement shall be in full force and effect at the First Closing Date and any Additional Forward Sale Agreement shall be in full force and effect at the related Option Closing Date.

If any of the conditions specified in this Section 7 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives, the Forward Sellers, the Forward Purchasers or their respective counsel, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers hereunder may be cancelled at, or at any time prior to, the First Closing Date, or with respect to any Option Shares the related Option Closing Date, by the Representatives, the Forward Sellers or the Forward Purchasers. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing, or by telephone, telegraph, or facsimile transmission confirmed in writing, as set forth in Section 15 hereof.

8. Conditions of Company’s and the Forward Sellers’ Obligations. The obligations of the Company or the Forward Sellers, as applicable, to sell and deliver the Shares at each Closing Date are subject to the condition that prior to each such Closing Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or, to the knowledge of the Company, the Representatives, the Forward Sellers or the Forward Purchasers threatened and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act has been received by the Company.

If this condition shall not have been fulfilled, this Agreement and all obligations of the Company or the Forward Sellers, as applicable, hereunder may be cancelled on or at any time prior to, with respect to the Firm Shares, the First Closing Date or, with respect to any Option Shares, the related Option Closing Date by the Company or the Forward Sellers, as applicable. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Underwriters, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers in writing or by telephone, or facsimile transmission confirmed in writing, as set forth in Section 15 hereof.

9. Reimbursement of Underwriters’, the Forward Sellers’ and the Forward Purchasers’ Expenses. If the sale of the Shares provided for herein is not consummated because (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 13 hereof, (ii) any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters or the Forward Sellers set forth in Section 7 hereof is not satisfied or (iii) of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof, other than by reason of a default by any of the Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers severally upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been reasonably incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Shares, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of Counsel for the Underwriters, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers.

10. Indemnification.

(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, each Forward Seller and each Forward Purchaser, their respective affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter, such Forward Seller or such Forward Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, legal fees and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein.

(b) The Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each Forward Seller, each Forward Purchaser, their respective directors and officers, the Company’s officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the foregoing within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (including, without limitation, legal fees and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted as such fees and expenses are incurred) that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the

Registration Statement, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information so furnished consists of the information identified in Section 10(g) hereof as being provided by the Underwriters.

(c) If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such person (the “Indemnified Person”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “Indemnifying Person”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under this Section 10 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under this Section 10. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person, which may be counsel to the Indemnifying Person, to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 10 that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for any Underwriter, any Forward Seller, any Forward Purchaser, their affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Underwriter, such Forward Seller or such Forward Purchaser, as the case may be, shall be designated in writing by the Representatives and any such separate firm for the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and any control persons of the Company shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the

Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.

(d) If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Indemnifying Person on the one hand and the Indemnified Person on the other from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Indemnifying Person on the one hand and the Indemnified Person on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, the Underwriters, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as (A) in the case of the Company, the net proceeds from the offering of the Shares (before deducting expenses) received by the Company (which proceeds shall include the proceeds to be received by the Company pursuant to the Forward Sale Agreements and any Additional Forward Sale Agreement, assuming, in each case, Physical Settlement (as defined therein) on the Effective Date (as defined therein)), (B) in the case of the Underwriters, the difference between (x) the aggregate price to the public received by the Underwriters from the sale of the Shares and (y) the aggregate price paid by the Underwriters for the Shares pursuant to this Agreement, and (C) in the case of the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers, the aggregate Spread (as defined in the Forward Sale Agreements or Additional Forward Sale Agreements, as applicable) received by the Forward Purchasers under the Forward Sale Agreements and any Additional Forward Sale Agreement, net of any costs associated therewith, as reasonably determined by the Forward Sellers, bear to the aggregate offering price of the Shares as set forth in the Prospectus, plus such Spread (net of such costs). The relative fault of the Indemnified Person on the one hand and the Indemnifying Person on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Indemnified Person or by the Indemnifying Person and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

(e) The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 10 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 10, in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Shares exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission, and in no event shall the Forward Sellers and/or the Forward Purchasers be required to contribute any amount in excess of the aggregate Spread under the Forward Sale Agreements or any Additional Forward Sale Agreement, as the case may be, net of any costs associated therewith, as reasonably determined by the Forward Sellers or Forward Purchasers, as the case may be. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’, Forward Sellers’ and Forward Purchasers’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 10 are several in proportion to their respective purchase and other obligations hereunder and not joint.

(f) The remedies provided for in this Section 10 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.

(g) The Underwriters severally confirm and the Company acknowledges that the statements with respect to the offering of the Shares by the Underwriters set forth in the third (for purposes of the Prospectus, only the first sentence thereof), twenty-fourth (only as to themselves in the second and third sentences thereof and the fourth sentence thereof), twenty-fifth (only the first sentence thereof) and twenty-sixth paragraphs in the section entitled “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)” in the prospectus supplement that is a part of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus are correct and constitute the only information concerning such Underwriters furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriters specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus.

11. Default by an Underwriter.

(a) If, on any Closing Date, any Underwriter defaults in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, the remaining non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated to purchase the Shares that the defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase on such Closing Date in the respective proportions that the number of shares of the Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of each remaining non-defaulting

Underwriter in Schedule I bears to the total number of shares of the Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of all the remaining non-defaulting Underwriters in Schedule I; provided, however, that the remaining non-defaulting Underwriters shall not be obligated to purchase any of the Shares on such Closing Date if the total number of the Shares that the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase on such date exceeds 10% of the total number of the Shares to be purchased on such Closing Date. If the foregoing maximum is exceeded, the remaining non-defaulting Underwriters, or those other underwriters satisfactory to such remaining non-defaulting Underwriter and the Forward Sellers who so agree, shall have the right, but shall not be obligated, to purchase, in such proportion as may be agreed upon among them, all the Shares to be purchased on such Closing Date. If the remaining Underwriters or other Underwriters satisfactory to such remaining Underwriter and the Forward Sellers do not elect to purchase the shares that the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase on such Closing Date, this Agreement (or, with respect to an Option Closing Date, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase, and the Forward Sellers or the Company, as applicable, to sell, the relevant Option Shares) shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter, the Forward Sellers or the Company, except that the Company will continue to be liable for its obligations set forth in Sections 6, 9 and 10 hereof. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context requires otherwise, any party not listed in Schedule I who, pursuant to this Section 11, purchases Firm Shares which a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.

(b) Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company, the Forward Sellers or the Forward Purchasers for damages caused by its default. If other Underwriters are obligated or agree to purchase the Shares of a defaulting or withdrawing Underwriter, any of the Forward Sellers, such non-defaulting Underwriter and the Company may postpone the relevant Closing Date for up to seven full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement.

12. Issuance and Sale by the Company.

(a) If in respect of any Forward Sale Agreement and/or any Additional Forward Sale Agreement, as applicable, (i) all the Conditions are not satisfied on or prior to the First Closing Date or, in respect of any Additional Forward Sale Agreement to be entered into pursuant to Section 2(a)(iii) hereof, all the Option Conditions are not satisfied on or prior to the related Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and the Forward Seller that is or is affiliated with the Forward Purchaser party to such Forward Sale Agreement and/or Additional Forward Sale Agreement, as applicable, elects, pursuant to Section 2(b) or 2(c) hereof, as the case may be, not to deliver and sell to the Underwriters its respective portion of the Borrowed Firm Shares or the Borrowed Option Shares, as applicable, otherwise deliverable by such Forward Seller, (ii) in such Forward Purchaser’s good faith and commercially reasonable judgment it (as Forward Seller) or its affiliated Forward Seller or its affiliate is unable to borrow and deliver for sale under this Agreement the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Borrowed

Firm Shares or Borrowed Option Shares, as applicable, deliverable by such Forward Seller hereunder or (iii) in such Forward Purchaser’s good faith and commercially reasonable judgment it (as Forward Seller) or its affiliated Forward Seller or its affiliate would incur a Stock Loan Fee (as defined under the applicable Forward Sale Agreement or relevant Additional Forward Sale Agreement, as applicable) of more than a rate equal to 200 basis points per annum to do so, then, in each case, the Company shall issue and sell to the several Underwriters, pursuant to Section 2(a)(iii) or 2(a)(iv), as the case may be, in whole but not in part, an aggregate number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Borrowed Firm Shares or Borrowed Option Shares, as the case may be, that such Forward Seller does not so deliver and sell to the Underwriters. In connection with any such issuance and sale by the Company, the Company or the Underwriters shall have the right to postpone the relevant Closing Date for a period not exceeding two (2) business days in order to effect any required changes in any documents or arrangements. The shares of Common Stock sold by the Company to the Underwriters pursuant to this Section 12(a) in lieu of Borrowed Firm Shares are referred to herein as the “Company Top-Up Firm Shares” and the shares of Common Stock sold by the Company to the Underwriter pursuant to this Section 12(a) in lieu of Borrowed Option Shares are referred to herein as the “Company Top-Up Option Shares.”

(b) No Forward Seller or Forward Purchaser shall have any liability whatsoever for any Borrowed Shares underlying its Forward Sale Agreement and/or any Additional Forward Sale Agreement, as applicable, that such Forward Seller does not deliver and sell to the Underwriters or any other party if (i) all of the Conditions are not satisfied on or prior to the First Closing Date, in the case of Borrowed Firm Shares, or all of the Option Conditions are not satisfied on or prior to the relevant Option Closing Date, in the case of Borrowed Option Shares, and such Forward Seller elects, pursuant to Section 2(b) or 2(c) hereof, as the case may be, not to deliver and sell to the Underwriters their respective portion of the Borrowed Firm Shares or the Borrowed Option Shares (or, in the case of the Borrowed Option Shares, a pro rata portion thereof if the Underwriters’ option is not exercised in full), as applicable, otherwise deliverable by such Forward Seller, (ii) in such Forward Purchaser’s good faith, commercially reasonable judgment, it (as Forward Seller) or its affiliated Forward Seller or its affiliate is unable to borrow and deliver for sale under this Agreement the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Borrowed Firm Shares or Borrowed Option Shares, as applicable, deliverable by such Forward Seller hereunder or (iii) in such Forward Purchaser’s good faith, commercially reasonable judgment, it (as Forward Seller) or its affiliated Forward Seller or its affiliate would incur a Stock Loan Fee (as defined under the applicable Forward Sale Agreement or relevant Additional Forward Sale Agreement, as applicable) of more than a rate equal to 200 basis points per annum to do so.

13. Termination. This Agreement (or, with respect to an Option Closing Date, the obligation of the Representatives to purchase, and the Forward Sellers or Company, as applicable, to sell, the related Option Shares) shall be subject to termination in the absolute discretion of the Underwriters, by notice given to the Company, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers prior to delivery of and payment for the relevant Shares on the relevant Closing Date, if prior to such time (i) trading shall have been suspended or materially limited on the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq or the over-

the-counter market, (ii) trading of any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities clearance or settlement services shall have occurred or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States, that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement and the Prospectus.

14. Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery. The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company or its officers, of the Underwriters and of the Forward Sellers set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the Company, the Forward Sellers or any of their respective officers, directors or controlling persons within the meaning of the Act, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Shares. The provisions of Sections 6, 9, 10 and 17 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement, the Forward Sale Agreements and any Additional Forward Sale Agreement.

15. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and, (i) if sent to the Forward Sellers or the Forward Purchasers, will be mailed, delivered or transmitted and confirmed to them at (a) Barclays Bank PLC, c/o Barclays Capital Inc., 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019; (b) Bank of America, N.A. Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park, 8th Fl., New York, New York 10036, Attention: Strategic Equity Solutions Group, Telephone: (646) 855-6770, Email: dg.issuer_derivatives_notices@bofa.com, (ii) if sent to the Representatives, will be mailed, delivered or transmitted and confirmed to them at (a) Barclays Capital Inc., 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, Attention: Syndicate Registration, Facsimile No. (646) 834-8133; (b) BofA Securities, Inc., One Bryant Park, New York, NY 10036, Email: dg.ecm_execution_services@bofa.com, Attention: Syndicate Department with a copy to: Email: dg.ecm_legal@bofa.com, Attention: ECM Legal or, (iii) if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or transmitted and confirmed to it at 414 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401, Attention: Todd Wehner, Vice President, Treasurer. All communications shall take effect at the time of receipt thereof.

16. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 10 hereof, the affiliates of each Underwriter referred to in Section 10 hereof, the Forward Sellers and the Forward Purchasers. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein. No purchaser of Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase.

17. Applicable Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

18. Waiver of Jury Trial. The Company and each of the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

19. Counterparts; Electronic Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which, taken together, shall constitute a single agreement among the parties to such counterparts. The words “execution,” “executed,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Agreement or in any other certificate, agreement or document related to this Agreement shall include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by facsimile, email or other electronic format (including, without limitation, “pdf,” “tif” or “jpg”) and other electronic signatures (including, without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign). The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or the Uniform Commercial Code.

20. Amendment and Waiver. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

21. Other. Time shall be of the essence for all purposes of this Agreement. As used herein, “business day” shall mean any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City.

22. USA PATRIOT Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

23. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes. (a) In the event that any Underwriter, Forward Purchaser or Forward Seller that is a Covered Entity (as defined below) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime (as defined below), the transfer from such Underwriter, Forward Purchaser or Forward Seller of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(b) In the event that any Underwriter, Forward Purchaser or Forward Seller that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate (as defined below) of such Underwriter, Forward Purchaser or Forward Seller becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights (as defined below) under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter, Forward Purchaser or Forward Seller are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).

“Covered Entity” means any of the following:

(a) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

(b) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

(remainder of page intentionally left blank)

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this Agreement and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Company, the Forward Sellers, the Forward Purchasers and the several Underwriters.


Very truly yours,

Xcel Energy Inc.

By:		/s/ Todd Wehner
		Name: Todd Wehner
		Title: Vice President, Treasurer

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]


The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written.

Barclays Capital Inc.

By:		/s/ Robert Stowe
Name:		Robert Stowe
Title:		Managing Director

BofA Securities, Inc.

By:		/s/ Fabrizio Wittenburg
Name:		Fabrizio Wittenburg
Title:		Managing Director

For themselves and as Representatives of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I to the foregoing Agreement.

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]


The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written.

Barclays Capital Inc.,
Acting in its capacity as Forward Seller

By:		/s/ Robert Stowe
		Name: Robert Stowe
		Title: Managing Director


Barclays Bank PLC,
Acting in its capacity as Forward Purchaser, solely as the recipient and/or beneficiary of certain representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities set forth in this Agreement

By:		/s/ Kevin Cheng
		Name: Kevin Cheng
		Title: Managing Director

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]


The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written.

BofA Securities, Inc.,
Acting in its capacity as Forward Seller

By:		/s/ Mark Halmrast
		Name: Mark Halmrast
		Title: Managing Director

Bank of America, N.A.,
Acting in its capacity as Forward Purchaser, solely as the recipient and/or beneficiary of certain representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities set forth in this Agreement

By:		/s/ Rohan Handa
		Name: Rohan Handa
		Title: Managing Director

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]

SCHEDULE I


Underwriter	Number of Borrowed Firm Shares to be Purchased from Barclays	Number of Borrowed Firm Shares to be Purchased from BofA Securities	Total Number of Borrowed Firm Shares to be Purchased
Barclays Capital Inc.	3,435,115	3,435,114	6,870,229
BofA Securities Inc.	3,435,114	3,435,114	6,870,228
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.	1,145,038	1,145,039	2,290,077
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC	1,145,038	1,145,038	2,290,076
TOTAL	9,160,305	9,160,305	18,320,610

I-1

SCHEDULE II

Pricing Information

Number of Shares Offered: 18,320,610 Shares (plus 2,748,091 Option Shares)

Public Offering Price: $65.50 per Share

II-1

SCHEDULE III

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus

(Not Part of Disclosure Package)

1. None.

III-1

SCHEDULE IV

Officers Subject to Lock-up

Robert C. Frenzel

Rob Berntsen

Timothy O’Connor

Amanda J. Rome

Brian J. Van Abel

Patricia Correa

Frank Prager

Melissa Ostrom

IV-1

Exhibit A

Matters to be addressed by opinion letter of Company counsel

[provided separately]

A-1

Exhibit B

Matters to be addressed by opinion letter of Jones Day

[provided separately]

B-1

Exhibit C

[LOGO OF XCEL ENERGY]

Lock-up Letter

November 4, 2024

Barclays Capital Inc.

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

BofA Securities, Inc.

One Bryant Park

New York, NY 10036

As Representatives of the Underwriters of

shares of common stock of

Xcel Energy Inc.

To the Addressees:

The undersigned understands that Barclays Capital Inc. and BofA Securities, Inc., as representatives (the “Representatives”) of the several underwriters named on Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement (as defined below) (the “Underwriters”) propose to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Xcel Energy Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the confirmations to be the entered into between the Company and each of Barclays Bank PLC and Bank of America, N.A., providing for the public offering (the “Public Offering”) by the Underwriters of shares (the “Shares”) of the common stock, par value $2.50 per share of the Company (the “Common Stock”).

To induce the Underwriters that may participate in the Public Offering to continue their efforts in connection with the Public Offering, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, the undersigned will not, during the period commencing on and including the date hereof and ending on the earlier to occur of (A) 45 days after the date of the final prospectus relating to the Public Offering (the “Prospectus”) and (B) in the event of termination or cancellation of the Underwriting Agreement prior to the First Closing Date (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement), such date of termination or cancellation (the “Lock-Up Period”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or make any public announcement of an intention thereof or (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another,

C-1

in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to transactions relating to:

(a) shares of Common Stock or other securities acquired in open market transactions after the completion of the Public Offering, provided that no filing under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with subsequent sales of Common Stock or other securities acquired in such open market transactions,

(b) sales to the Company or withholding of shares of Common Stock in connection with the payment of the exercise price or withholding taxes, as the case may be, with respect to equity awards, provided that, if required, any public report or filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act shall indicate in the footnotes thereto the nature of the transaction.

(d) a transfer pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order,

(e) transfers of shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into Common Stock as a transfer to donees who are bona fide charities or gifts, provided that if such transfers are required to be reported on Form 4 pursuant to under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act during the Lock-Up Period then the undersigned shall shall expressly state in such filing that such transfer made in accordance with this clause (e) is a transfer made to a bona fide charity or a gift,

(f) distributions of shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into Common Stock to limited partners or stockholders of the undersigned; provided that (i) each donee or distributee shall sign and deliver to the Underwriters a lock-up letter substantially in the form of this letter and (ii) no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock, shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the restricted period referred to in the foregoing sentence, or

(g) sales or other distributions of shares of Common Stock pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan in existence on the date hereof, provided that if such sales are required to be reported on Form 4 pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act during the Lock-Up Period, or the undersigned voluntarily effects any public filing or report regarding such sales during the Lock-Up Period, then the undersigned shall disclose in such filing or report that such sale was made pursuant to an existing Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.

In addition, the undersigned agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Underwriters, it will not, during the Lock-Up Period, make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock. The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.

C-2

The undersigned understands that the Company and the Underwriters are relying upon this agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the Public Offering. The undersigned further understands that this agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the restrictions contained in this agreement precludes the undersigned from engaging in any hedging or other transaction designed or intended, or which could reasonably be expected to lead to or result in, a sale or disposition of any shares of Common Stock, or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, even if any such sale or disposition transaction or transactions would be made or executed by or on behalf of someone other than the undersigned.

The undersigned further acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters have not made any recommendation or provided any investment or other advice to the undersigned with respect to this agreement or the subject matter hereof, and the undersigned has consulted its own legal, accounting, financial, regulatory, tax and other advisors with respect to this agreement and the subject matter hereof to the extent the undersigned has deemed appropriate.

Whether or not the Public Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market conditions. Any Public Offering will only be made pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the terms of which are subject to negotiation between the Company and the Underwriters.

Signatures to this agreement may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law) or other transmission method and any signature so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

[Signature page follows]

C-3


Very truly yours,

Signature:

Print Name:

C-4

Exhibit D

FORM OF ADDITIONAL FORWARD SALE AGREEMENT

D-1

Barclays Bank PLC

1 Churchill Place

London E14 5HP

United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7623 2323

[●], 2024

To:	Xcel Energy Inc.

414 Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis, MN 55401

From:

Barclays Bank PLC

c/o Barclays Capital Inc.

as Agent for Barclays Bank PLC

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, NY 10019

Telephone: +1 212 526 7000

Dear Sirs,

The purpose of this letter agreement (this “Confirmation”) is to confirm the terms and conditions of the transaction entered into between Xcel Energy Inc. and Barclays Bank PLC (“Dealer”), through its agent Barclays Capital Inc. (the “Agent”) on the Trade Date specified below (the “Transaction”). This Confirmation constitutes a “Confirmation” as referred to in the ISDA Master Agreement specified below. Dealer is not a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation. Dealer is authorized by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

The definitions and provisions contained in the 2021 ISDA Interest Rate Derivatives Definitions (the “2021 Definitions”) and the 2002 ISDA Equity Derivatives Definitions (the “2002 Definitions” and, together with the 2021 Definitions, the “Definitions”), each as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., are incorporated into this Confirmation. In the event of any inconsistency between the 2002 Definitions and the 2021 Definitions, the 2002 Definitions will govern. In the event of any inconsistency between the Definitions and this Confirmation, this Confirmation will govern.

Each party further agrees that this Confirmation together with the Agreement evidence a complete binding agreement between Party A and Party B as to the subject matter and terms of the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates, and shall supersede all prior or contemporaneous written or oral communications with respect thereto. This Confirmation shall supplement, form a part of, and be subject to an agreement in the form of the 2002 ISDA Master Agreement (the “Agreement”) as if Party A and Party B had executed an agreement in such form on the Trade Date (but without any Schedule except for the election of the laws of the State of New York as the governing law), provided that the word “first” shall be replaced with the word “third” each time it occurs in Section 5(a)(i) of the Agreement. In the event of any inconsistency between provisions of that Agreement and this Confirmation, this Confirmation will prevail for the purpose of the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates. The parties hereby agree that no Transaction other than the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates shall be governed by the Agreement. For purposes of the 2002 Definitions, the Transaction is a Share Forward Transaction.

Party A and Party B each represents to the other that it has entered into the Transaction in reliance upon such tax, accounting, regulatory, legal, and financial advice as it deems necessary and not upon any view expressed by the other.

2.	The terms of the particular Transaction to which this Confirmation relates are as follows:

General Terms:



Party A:		Dealer.

Party B:		Xcel Energy Inc.

Hedging Party:		For all applicable Additional Disruption Events, Dealer or, notwithstanding Section 12.9(a)(ix) of the 2002 Definitions insofar as it requires the Hedging Party to be a party, any affiliate of Dealer that is involved in hedging the Transaction, provided that Dealer shall perform any obligation of an affiliate that is a Hedging Party.

Trade Date:		[●], 2024

Effective Date:		[●], 2024

Base Amount:		Initially, [●] Shares. On each Settlement Date, the Base Amount shall be reduced by the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement Date.

Maturity Date:		The earlier of (a) June 30, 2026 (or, if such date is not a Scheduled Trading Day, the next following Scheduled Trading Day) and (b) the date the Base Amount is reduced to zero.

Forward Price:		On the Effective Date, the Initial Forward Price, and on any other day, the Forward Price as of the immediately preceding calendar day multiplied by the sum of (i) 1 and (ii) the Daily Rate for such day; provided that on each Forward Price Reduction Date, the Forward Price in effect on such date shall be the Forward Price otherwise in effect on such date, minus the Forward Price Reduction Amount for such Forward Price Reduction Date.

Initial Forward Price:		$64.4356 per Share.

Daily Rate:		For any day, (i)(A) the Overnight Bank Rate for such day, minus (B) the Spread, divided by (ii) 365.

Overnight Bank Rate:		For any day, the rate set forth for such day opposite the caption “Overnight bank funding rate”, as such rate is displayed on Bloomberg Screen “OBFR01 <Index> <GO>”, or any successor page; provided that, if no rate appears for a particular day on such page, the rate for the immediately preceding day for which a rate does so appear shall be used for such day.

Spread:		0.75%

Forward Price Reduction Date:		Each date (other than the Trade Date) set forth on Schedule I under the heading “Forward Price Reduction Date.”



Forward Price Reduction		For each Forward Price Reduction Date, the Forward Price Amount: Reduction Amount set forth opposite such date on Schedule I.

Shares:		Common stock, par value $2.50 per share, of Party B (also referred to herein as the “Issuer”) (Exchange identifier: “XEL”).

Exchange:		The Nasdaq Global Select Market.

Related Exchange(s):		All Exchanges.

Clearance System:		The Depository Trust Company

Calculation Agent:		Party A, provided that following the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default pursuant to Section 5(a)(vii) of the Agreement with respect to which Party A is the Defaulting Party, Party B shall have the right to designate an independent nationally recognized third-party dealer with experience in over-the-counter corporate equity derivatives (including forward transactions) to replace Party A as Calculation Agent, and the parties shall work in good faith to execute any appropriate documentation required by such replacement Calculation Agent. Any determination or calculation by the Calculation Agent in such capacity shall be made in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner. In the event that the Calculation Agent makes any determination or calculation pursuant to this Confirmation, the Agreement or the 2002 Definitions, promptly following receipt of a written request from either party hereto, the Calculation Agent shall provide an explanation in reasonable detail of the basis for such determination or calculation if requested by such party, it being understood that the Calculation Agent shall not be obligated to disclose any proprietary models or proprietary or confidential information used by it for such determination or calculation.

Settlement Terms:



Settlement Date:		Any Scheduled Trading Day following the Effective Date and up to and including the Maturity Date, as designated by (a) Party A pursuant to “Termination Settlement” below or (b) Party B in a written notice (a “Settlement Notice”) that satisfies the Settlement Notice Requirements and is delivered to Party A at least (i) three Scheduled Trading Days prior to such Settlement Date, which may be the Maturity Date, if Physical Settlement applies, and (ii) 30 Scheduled Trading Days prior to such Settlement Date, which may be the Maturity Date, if Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement applies; provided that (i) the Maturity Date shall be a Settlement Date if on such date the Base Amount is greater than zero, (ii) if Physical Settlement or Net Share Settlement applies and a Settlement Date specified above (including a Settlement Date occurring on the Maturity


		Date) is not a Clearance System Business Day, the Settlement Date shall be the next following Clearance System Business Day, (iii) if Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement applies and Party A shall have fully unwound its hedge during the related Unwind Period with respect to the relevant Settlement Shares by a date that is more than three Scheduled Trading Days prior to a Settlement Date specified above, Party A may, by written notice to Party B, specify any Scheduled Trading Day prior to such originally specified Settlement Date as the Settlement Date and (iv) Party B may not deliver a Settlement Notice to Party A for which Physical Settlement or Net Share Settlement applies if the Settlement Date specified in such Settlement Notice is scheduled to occur prior to the earlier of (x) the date on which the Underwriter (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) that is Party A or an Affiliate of Party A has sold all of its allocation of Borrowed Option Shares (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) pursuant to the Registration Statement (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) with delivery of the Prospectus (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) to the purchaser(s) thereof and (y) the date that is 30 days following the Effective Date.

Settlement Shares:		With respect to any Settlement Date, a number of Shares, not to exceed the Base Amount, designated as such by Party B in the related Settlement Notice or by Party A pursuant to “Termination Settlement” below; provided that on the Maturity Date the number of Settlement Shares shall be equal to the Base Amount on such date.

Settlement:		Physical Settlement, Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement, at the election of Party B as set forth in a Settlement Notice delivered on or after the Effective Date that satisfies the Settlement Notice Requirements; provided that Physical Settlement shall apply (i) if no Settlement Method is validly selected, (ii) with respect to any Settlement Shares in respect of which Party A is unable, in its good faith and commercially reasonable judgment, to unwind its hedge by the end of the Unwind Period in a manner that, in the good faith and commercially reasonable judgment of Party A based upon the advice of counsel, is consistent with the requirements for qualifying for the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act or due to the lack of sufficient liquidity in the Shares on any Exchange Business Day during the Unwind Period or (iii) to any Termination Settlement Date (as defined below under “Termination Settlement”). For the avoidance of doubt, during any Unwind Period, Party B may elect Physical Settlement (as described above) in respect of any Shares that are not Settlement Shares for the Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement, as the case may be, to which such Unwind Period relates. For greater clarity, with respect to any Settlement Date in respect of which Cash Settlement applies, Party A shall be


		deemed to have completed unwinding its hedge in respect of the portion of the Transaction to be settled on such Settlement Date when it purchases (or, to the extent applicable, unwinds derivative positions (including, but not limited to, swaps or options related to the Shares) resulting in Party A’s synthetic purchase of) an aggregate number of Shares equal to the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement Date.

Settlement Notice Requirements:		Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, a Settlement Notice delivered by Party B that specifies Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement will not be effective to establish a Settlement Date or require Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement unless Party B delivers to Party A with such Settlement Notice a representation signed by Party B substantially in the following form: “As of the date of this Settlement Notice, Party B is not aware of any material nonpublic information concerning itself or the Shares, and is designating the date contained herein as a Settlement Date and is electing Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement, as the case may be, in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade compliance with the federal securities laws.”

Unwind Period:		Each Exchange Business Day that is not a Suspension Day during the period from and including the first Exchange Business Day following the date Party B validly elects Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement in respect of a Settlement Date through and including the first Scheduled Trading Day preceding such Settlement Date (or the immediately preceding Exchange Business Day if such Scheduled Trading Day is not an Exchange Business Day); subject to “Termination Settlement” below. If any Exchange Business Day during an Unwind Period is a Disrupted Day, the Calculation Agent shall make commercially reasonable adjustments to the terms of the Transaction (including, without limitation, the Cash Settlement Amount, the number of Net Share Settlement Shares and the 10b-18 VWAP) to account for the occurrence of such Disrupted Day. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that they have entered into a substantially identical forward transaction with respect to 9,160,305 Shares pursuant to a confirmation dated as of November 4, 2024 (the “Base Confirmation”). Party A and Party B agree that if Party B designates a Settlement Date under the Base Confirmation and for which Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement is applicable, and the resulting Unwind Period under the Base Confirmation coincides for any period of time with an Unwind Period for the Transaction (the “Matching Unwind Period”), then the Unwind Period under this Confirmation shall not commence (or, if the Unwind Period under this Confirmation has already commenced, such Unwind Period shall be suspended) until the Exchange Business Day immediately


		following the later of (i) the date Party A actually completes the unwind of its hedge with respect to the Base Confirmation in connection with the designation of such Settlement Date under the Base Confirmation, and (ii) the date the Matching Unwind Period ends.

Suspension Day:		Any Exchange Business Day on which Party A reasonably determines based on the advice of counsel that Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement may violate applicable securities laws. Party A shall notify Party B if it receives such advice from its counsel.

Market Disruption Event:		Section 6.3(a)(ii) of the 2002 Definitions is hereby amended by replacing clause (ii) in its entirety with “(ii) an Exchange Disruption, or” and inserting immediately following clause (iii) the phrase “; in each case that the Calculation Agent determines is material.”

Exchange Act:		The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

Physical Settlement:		On any Settlement Date in respect of which Physical Settlement applies, Party B shall deliver to Party A through the Clearance System the Settlement Shares in respect of which Physical Settlement applies for such Settlement Date, and following such delivery Party A shall pay to Party B, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by Party B, an amount in cash equal to the Physical Settlement Amount for such Settlement Date. If, on any Settlement Date, the Shares to be delivered by Party B to Party A hereunder are not so delivered (the “Deferred Shares”), and a Forward Price Reduction Date occurs during the period from, and including, such Settlement Date to, but excluding, the date such Shares are actually delivered to Party A, then the portion of the Physical Settlement Amount payable by Party A to Party B in respect of the Deferred Shares shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Forward Price Reduction Amount for such Forward Price Reduction Date, multiplied by the number of Deferred Shares. For the avoidance of doubt, no Forward Price Reduction Amount for a Forward Price Reduction Date shall be applied to reduce the Forward Price more than once.

Physical Settlement Amount:		For any Settlement Date in respect of which Physical Settlement applies, an amount in cash equal to the product of (i) the Forward Price on such Settlement Date and (ii) the number of Settlement Shares in respect of which Physical Settlement applies for such Settlement Date.

Cash Settlement:		On any Settlement Date in respect of which Cash Settlement applies to any Settlement Shares, if the Cash Settlement Amount for such Settlement Date is a positive number, Party A will pay such Cash Settlement Amount to Party B. If the Cash Settlement Amount is a negative number, Party B will pay the absolute value of such Cash Settlement Amount to Party A. Such amounts shall be paid on the Settlement Date.


Cash Settlement Amount:		For any Settlement Date in respect of which Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement applies to any Settlement Shares, an amount determined by the Calculation Agent equal to the difference between (1) the product of (i) (A) the average Forward Price over the period beginning on, and including, the date that is one Settlement Cycle following the first day of the applicable Unwind Period and ending on, and including, such Settlement Date (calculated assuming no reduction to the Forward Price for any Forward Price Reduction Date that occurs during the applicable Unwind Period, except as set forth in clause (2) below), minus USD 0.01, minus (B) the average of the 10b-18 VWAP prices per Share on each Exchange Business Day during such Unwind Period (clause (B), the “Average Unwind 10b-18 VWAP”), multiplied by (ii) the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement Date, minus (2) the product of (i) the Forward Price Reduction Amount for any Forward Price Reduction Date that occurs during such Unwind Period, multiplied by (ii) the number of Settlement Shares with respect to which Party A has not unwound its hedge as of such Forward Price Reduction Date.

Net Share Settlement:		On any Settlement Date in respect of which Net Share Settlement applies to any Settlement Shares, if the Cash Settlement Amount is a (i) positive number, Party A shall deliver to Party B a number of Shares equal to the Net Share Settlement Shares, or (ii) negative number, Party B shall deliver to Party A a number of Shares equal to the Net Share Settlement Shares; provided that if Party A determines in its good faith and commercially reasonable judgment that it would be required to deliver Net Share Settlement Shares to Party B, Party A may elect to deliver a portion of such Net Share Settlement Shares on one or more dates prior to the applicable Settlement Date.

Net Share Settlement Shares:		For any Settlement Date in respect of which Net Share Settlement applies to any Settlement Shares, a number of Shares equal to the absolute value of the Cash Settlement Amount divided by the Average Unwind 10b-18 VWAP, with the number of Shares rounded up in the event such calculation results in a fractional number of Shares.

10b-18 VWAP:		For any Exchange Business Day during the Unwind Period that is not a Suspension Day, the volume-weighted average price at which the Shares trade as reported in the composite transactions for the Exchange on such Exchange Business Day, excluding (i) trades that do not settle regular way, (ii) opening (regular way) reported trades on the Exchange on such Exchange Business Day, (iii) trades that occur in the last ten minutes before the scheduled close of trading on the Exchange on such Exchange Business Day and ten minutes before the scheduled close of the primary trading session in the market where the trade is effected, and (iv) trades on such Exchange Business Day that do not satisfy the requirements of Rule 10b- 18(b)(3), as determined in good faith by the Calculation Agent. Party B acknowledges that


		Party A may refer to the Bloomberg Page “XEL <Equity> AQR SEC” (or any successor thereto), in its discretion, for such Exchange Business Day to determine the 10b-18 VWAP.

Settlement Currency:		USD.

Failure to Deliver:		Inapplicable.

Adjustments:

Potential Adjustment Event:

The definition of “Potential Adjustment Event” in Section 11.2(e) of the 2002 Definitions shall not include clause (iii) thereof for purposes of the Transaction.

Notwithstanding Section 11.2(e) of the 2002 Definitions, the following repurchases of Shares (if applicable) shall not be considered to be a Potential Adjustment Event:

(i) Shares withheld from employees of Party B or its Affiliates to pay certain withholding taxes upon the vesting of Share awards granted to such employees under compensation or benefit plans of Party B;

(ii) Shares purchased in connection with the reinvestment of dividends by recipients of Share awards under Party B’s compensation or benefit plans;

(iii) Shares purchased in connection with the operation of Party B’s 401(k) plans or dividend reinvestment and direct stock purchase plans;

(iv) Shares purchased by Party B to offset any shareholder dilution arising from the exercise of options to purchase Shares pursuant to Party B’s employee incentive plans; and

(v) Shares purchased by Party B in connection with the issuance and/or delivery of Shares to directors under director compensation programs.

Notwithstanding Section 11.2(e) of the 2002 Definitions, the following shall not be considered to be a Potential Adjustment Event:

(i) any issuance of Shares by Party B to employees, officers and directors of Party B, including pursuant to compensation programs;

(ii) any issuance of Shares pursuant to the Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan of Party B;

(iii) any issuance of any convertible securities by Party B (other than any issuance as described in Section 11.2(e)(i) or (ii) of the 2002 Definitions), even if such securities are convertible into Shares;


		(iv) the issuance of any Shares as a result of the conversion of any convertible securities issued by Party B as described in clause (iii) above; and (v) the issuance of any Shares upon the settlement of outstanding restricted stock unit or performance share awards.

Method of Adjustment:		Calculation Agent Adjustment; notwithstanding anything in the 2002 Definitions to the contrary, the Calculation Agent may make an adjustment pursuant to Calculation Agent Adjustment to any one or more of the Base Amount, the Forward Price and any other variable relevant to the settlement or payment terms of the Transaction.

Additional Adjustment:		If at any time, in Party A’s good faith and commercially reasonable judgment, the stock loan fee to Party A (or an Affiliate thereof), excluding the federal funds rate (or other interest rate) component payable by the relevant stock lender to Party A or such Affiliate (the “Stock Loan Fee”), over any one month period (or, in respect of any day from, and including, the Trade Date to, but excluding, the date that is one month following the Trade Date, over the period of days as have elapsed from, and including, the Trade Date to, and including, such day) of borrowing a number of Shares equal to the Base Amount to hedge its exposure to the Transaction exceeds a weighted average rate equal to 25 basis points per annum, the Calculation Agent shall reduce the Forward Price in order to compensate Party A for the amount by which the Stock Loan Fee exceeded a weighted average rate equal to 25 basis points per annum during such period. The Calculation Agent shall notify Party B prior to making any such adjustment to the Forward Price and, upon the request of Party B, Party A shall provide an itemized list of the Stock Loan Fees for the applicable period specified above in this paragraph.

Extraordinary Events:



Extraordinary Events:		In lieu of the applicable provisions contained in Article 12 of the 2002 Definitions, the consequences of any applicable Extraordinary Event (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Nationalization, Insolvency, Delisting, or Change in Law), shall be as specified below under the headings “Acceleration Events” and “Termination Settlement”.

Account Details:



Payments to Party A:		To be advised under separate cover or telephone confirmed prior to each Settlement Date.

Payments to Party B:		To be advised under separate cover or telephone confirmed prior to each Settlement Date.

Delivery of Shares to Party A:		To be advised.

Delivery of Shares to Party B:		To be advised.

Offices:



Party A:		Inapplicable. Dealer is not a Multibranch Party.

Party B:		Inapplicable. Party B is not a Multibranch Party.

3.	Other Provisions:

Conditions to Effectiveness:

The effectiveness of this Confirmation on the Effective Date shall be subject to (i) the condition that the representations and warranties of Party B contained in the Underwriting Agreement dated November 4, 2024 between Party B, BofA Securities, Inc.. and Barclays Capital, Inc., for themselves and as representatives of the other underwriters named therein (as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time the “Underwriting Agreement”) and any certificate delivered pursuant thereto by Party B are true and correct or, as provided in the Underwriting Agreement or such certificate, true and correct in all material respects, on the Effective Date as if made as of the Effective Date, (ii) the condition that Party B has performed all of the obligations required to be performed by it under the Underwriting Agreement on or prior to the Effective Date, (iii) the condition that Party B has delivered to Party A an opinion of counsel dated as of the Effective Date with respect to matters set forth in Section 3(a)(i)-(iv) of the Agreement, (iv) the satisfaction of all of the conditions set forth in Section 7 of the Underwriting Agreement, (v) the condition that the Underwriting Agreement shall not have been terminated pursuant to Section 7, 8 or 13 thereof and (vi) the condition that neither of the following has occurred (A) in Party A’s good faith and commercially reasonable judgment, Party A (or its Affiliate) is unable to borrow and deliver for sale a number of Shares equal to the Base Amount, or (B) in Party A’s good faith and commercially reasonable judgment Party A (or its Affiliate) would incur a Stock Loan Fee of more than a rate equal to 200 basis points per annum to do so (in which event this Confirmation shall be effective but the Base Amount for the Transaction shall be the number of Shares Party A (or an Affiliate thereof) is required to deliver in accordance with Section 2(c) of the Underwriting Agreement). Party B’s obligations hereunder shall be subject to the condition precedent that Party A and the Underwriter that is Party A or an Affiliate of Party A shall have performed, on or prior to the Effective Date, all of the obligations required to be performed by it prior to the Effective Date under the Underwriting Agreement.

Representations and Agreements of the Parties:

Each of Party A and Party B represents, warrants and covenants that it:

(a)

(i) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business affairs as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of entering into the Transaction; (ii) has consulted with its own legal, financial, accounting and tax advisors in connection with the Transaction; and (iii) is entering into the Transaction for a bona fide business purpose;

(b)

is not and has not been the subject of any civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction that could reasonably be expected to impair materially its ability to perform its obligations hereunder; and

(c)

will by the next succeeding New York Business Day notify the other party upon obtaining knowledge of the occurrence of any event that would constitute an Event of Default or a Potential Event of Default in respect of which it is the Defaulting Party.

Additional Representations, Warranties and Agreements of Party B: Party B hereby represents and warrants to, and agrees with, Party A as of the date hereof that:

(a)

Any Shares, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Transaction, will be duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and the issuance thereof will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

(b)

Party B has reserved and will keep available at all times, free from preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued Shares, solely for the purpose of issuance upon settlement of the Transaction as herein provided, the full number of Shares as shall be issuable at such time upon settlement of the Transaction. All Shares so issuable shall, upon such issuance, be accepted for listing or quotation on the Exchange.

(c)

Party B agrees to provide Party A at least three days’ written notice (an “Issuer Repurchase Notice”) prior to executing any repurchase of Shares by Party B or any of its subsidiaries (or entering into any contract that would require, or give the option to, Party B or any of its subsidiaries, to purchase or repurchase Shares), whether out of profits or capital or whether the consideration for such repurchase is cash, securities or otherwise (an “Issuer Repurchase”), that alone or in the aggregate would result in the Base Amount Percentage (as defined below) being (i) equal to or greater than 7.5% of the outstanding Shares and (ii) greater by 0.5% or more than the Base Amount Percentage at the time of the immediately preceding Issuer Repurchase Notice (or in the case of the first such Issuer Repurchase Notice, greater than the Base Amount Percentage as of the later of the date hereof or the immediately preceding Settlement Date, if any). The “Base Amount Percentage” as of any day is the fraction (1) the numerator of which is the sum of (A) the Base Amount and (B) the “Base Amount” as such term is defined in the Base Confirmation and (2) the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day.

(d)

No filing with, or approval, authorization, consent, license, registration, qualification, order or decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency, domestic or foreign, is necessary or required for the execution, delivery and performance by Party B of this Confirmation and the consummation of the Transaction (including, without limitation, the issuance and delivery of Shares on any Settlement Date) except (i) such as have been obtained under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and (ii) as may be required to be obtained under state securities laws.

(e)

Party B agrees not to make any Issuer Repurchase if, immediately following such Issuer Repurchase, the Base Amount Percentage would be equal to or greater than 8.0%.

(f)

Party B is not insolvent, nor will Party B be rendered insolvent as a result of the Transaction.

(g)

Neither Party B nor any of its Affiliates shall take or refrain from taking any action (including, without limitation, any direct purchases by Party B or any of its Affiliates or any purchases by a party to a derivative transaction with Party B or any of its Affiliates), either under this Confirmation, under an agreement with another party or otherwise, that Party B reasonably believes would cause any purchases of Shares by Party A or any of its Affiliates in connection with any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement of the Transaction not to meet the requirements of the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act if such purchases were made by Party B.

(h)

Party B will not engage in any “distribution” (as defined in Regulation M under the Exchange Act (“Regulation M”)) that would cause a “restricted period” (as defined in Regulation M) to occur during any Unwind Period.

(i)

Party B is an “eligible contract participant” (as such term is defined in Section 1a(18) of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended) and has total assets of at least USD 50,000,000 as of the date hereof;.

(j)

In addition to any other requirements set forth herein, Party B agrees not to elect Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement if, in the good faith reasonable judgment of either Party A or Party B, such settlement or Party A’s related market activity would result in a violation of the U.S. federal securities laws or any other federal or state law or regulation applicable to Party B.

(k)

Party B (i) is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to all transactions and investment strategies involving a security or securities; and (ii) will exercise independent judgment in evaluating the recommendations of any broker-dealer or its associated persons, unless it has otherwise notified the broker-dealer in writing.

(l)

Party B acknowledges and agrees that:

(i)

during the term of the Transaction, Party A and its Affiliates may buy or sell Shares or other securities or buy or sell options or futures contracts or enter into swaps or other derivative securities in order to establish, adjust or unwind its hedge position with respect to the Transaction;

(ii)

Party A and its Affiliates may also be active in the market for the Shares and Share-linked transactions other than in connection with hedging activities in relation to the Transaction;

(iii)

Party A shall make its own determination as to whether, when or in what manner any hedging or market activities in Party B’s securities shall be conducted and shall do so in a manner that it deems appropriate to hedge its price and market risk with respect to the Forward Price and the 10b-18 VWAP;

(iv)

any market activities of Party A and its Affiliates with respect to the Shares may affect the market price and volatility of the Shares, as well as the Forward Price and 10b-18 VWAP, each in a manner that may be adverse to Party B; and

(v)

the Transaction is a derivatives transaction in which it has granted Party A the right, under certain circumstances, to receive cash or Shares, as the case may be; Party A may purchase Shares for its own account at an average price that may be greater than, or less than, the effective price paid by Party B under the terms of the Transaction.

(m)

Party B will notify Party A within five Exchange Business Days of obtaining knowledge of the occurrence of any event that would constitute a Potential Adjustment Event (or, if earlier, the date on which it publicly discloses such Potential Adjustment Event).

(n)

Party B agrees and acknowledges that the Transaction is being entered into in accordance with the October 9, 2003 interpretive letter from the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission to Goldman, Sachs & Co. (the “Interpretive Letter”).”

(o)

Party B is not aware of any material non-public information with respect to Party B or the Shares as of the date hereof.

(p)

The assets of Party B do not constitute “plan assets” under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, the Department of Labor Regulations promulgated thereunder or similar law.

Covenant of Party B:

Subject to the provisions of “Private Placement Procedures” below, the parties acknowledge and agree that any Shares delivered by Party B to Party A on any Settlement Date will be newly issued Shares and when delivered by Party A (or an Affiliate of Party A) to securities lenders from whom Party A (or an Affiliate of Party A) borrowed Shares in connection with hedging its exposure to the Transaction will be freely saleable without further registration or other restrictions under the Securities Act, in the hands of those securities lenders, irrespective of whether such stock loan is effected by Party A or an Affiliate of Party A (provided that such Shares may be subject to resale restrictions if the status of any such securities lender would cause any such resale restrictions to apply by virtue of its share ownership in Party B, status as an “Affiliate” of Party B or otherwise). Accordingly, subject to the provisions of “Private Placement Procedures” below, Party B agrees that the Shares that it delivers to Party A on each Settlement Date will not bear a restrictive legend and that such Shares will be deposited in, and the delivery thereof shall be effected through the facilities of, the Clearance System.

Covenants of Party A:

(a)

Unless the provisions set forth below under “Private Placement Procedures” shall be applicable, Party A shall use any Shares delivered by Party B to Party A on any Settlement Date to return to securities lenders to close out open Share loans created by Party A or an Affiliate of Party A in the course of Party A’s or such Affiliate’s hedging activities related to Party A’s exposure under this Confirmation.

(b)

In connection with bids and purchases of Shares in connection with any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement of the Transaction, Party A shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to conduct its activities, or cause its Affiliates to conduct their activities, in a manner consistent with the requirements of the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act, as if such provisions were applicable to such purchases.

Insolvency Filing:

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the Agreement or in the Definitions, upon any Insolvency Filing in respect of the Issuer, the Transaction shall automatically terminate on the date thereof without further liability of either party to this Confirmation to the other party (except for any liability in respect of any breach of representation or covenant by a party under this Confirmation prior to the date of such Insolvency Filing).

Extraordinary Dividends:

If an ex-dividend date for an Extraordinary Dividend occurs on or after the Trade Date and on or prior to the Maturity Date (or, if later, the last date on which Shares are delivered by Party B to Party A in settlement of the Transaction), Party B shall pay an amount, as determined by the Calculation Agent, in cash equal to the product of such Extraordinary Dividend and the Base Amount to Party A on the earlier of (i) the date on which such Extraordinary Dividend is paid by the Issuer to holders of record of the Shares or (ii) the Maturity Date. “Extraordinary Dividend” means the per Share amount of any cash dividend or distribution declared by the Issuer with respect to the Shares that is specified by the board of directors of the Issuer as an “extraordinary” dividend.

Acceleration Events:

The following events shall each constitute an “Acceleration Event”:

(a)

Stock Borrow Events. In Party A’s good faith commercially reasonable judgment Party A (or its Affiliate) is unable to hedge Party A’s exposure to the Transaction because (i) of the lack of sufficient Shares being made available for Share borrowing by lenders, or (ii) Party A (or an Affiliate of Party A) would incur a Stock Loan Fee to hedge its exposure to the Transaction that is greater than a rate equal to 200 basis points per annum (each, a “Stock Borrow Event”);

(b)

Dividends and Other Distributions. On any day occurring after the Trade Date Party B declares a distribution, issue or dividend to existing holders of the Shares of (i) any cash dividend (other than an Extraordinary Dividend) to the extent all cash dividends having an ex-dividend date during the period from and including any Forward Price Reduction Date (with the Trade Date being a Forward Price Reduction Date for purposes of this clause (b) only) to but excluding the next subsequent Forward Price Reduction Date exceeds, on a per Share basis, the Forward Price Reduction Amount set forth opposite the first date of any such period on Schedule I or (ii) share capital or securities of another issuer acquired or owned (directly or indirectly) by Party B as a result of a spin-off or other similar transaction or (iii) any other type of securities (other than Shares), rights or warrants or other assets, for payment (cash or other consideration) at less than the prevailing market price as reasonably determined by Party A; provided that, to the extent the declaration of a distribution, issue or dividend contemplated by this paragraph (b) would also be considered to be the type of event to which Calculation Agent Adjustment would apply as specified under “Adjustments—Method of Adjustment” above, the provisions of this paragraph (b) will apply and Calculation Agent Adjustment shall not apply;

(c)

ISDA Early Termination Date. Party A has the right to designate an Early Termination Date pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement;

(d)

Other ISDA Events. The announcement of any event that if consummated, would result in an Extraordinary Event or the occurrence of any Change in Law (other than as specified in clause (Y) of the definition thereof) or a Delisting; provided that in case of a Delisting, in addition to the provisions of Section 12.6(a)(iii) of the 2002 Definitions, it will also constitute a Delisting if the Exchange is located in the United States and the Shares are not immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any of the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Select Market or the NASDAQ Global Market (or their respective successors); and provided further that the definition of “Change in Law” provided in Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the 2002 Definitions is hereby amended by (i) replacing the phrase “the interpretation” in the third line thereof with the phrase “, or public announcement of, the formal or informal interpretation”, (ii) replacing the parenthetical beginning after the word “regulation” in the second line thereof the words “(including, for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, (x) any tax law or (y) adoption, effectiveness or promulgation of new regulations authorized or mandated by existing statute)” and (iii) immediately following the word “Transaction” in clause (X) thereof, adding the phrase “in the manner contemplated by Party A on the Trade Date”; or

(e)

Ownership Event. In the good faith reasonable judgment of Party A, on any day, the Share Amount for such day exceeds the Post-Effective Limit for such day (if any applies) (an “Ownership Event”).

Limit” means a number of Shares equal to (x) the minimum number of Shares that would give rise to reporting or registration obligations or other requirements (including obtaining prior approval from any person or entity) of a Party A Person, or would result in an adverse effect on a Party A Person, under any Applicable Restriction, as determined by Party A in its good faith reasonable discretion, minus (y) 1% of the number of Shares outstanding.

Materially Increased Costs:

Upon the occurrence of any Change in Law specified in clause (Y) of the definition thereof, Party A and Party B agree to negotiate in good faith for at least five Exchange Business Days (the “Amendment Period”) to amend this Confirmation to take account of the resulting “materially increased cost” as such phrase is used in clause (Y) of the definition of “Change in Law.” Such amendment may, if agreed by Party A and Party B, result in a Change in Law to which an Acceleration Event applies. If, after negotiating in good faith during the Amendment Period to so amend this Confirmation, Party A and Party B are unable to agree upon such an amendment, the relevant Change in Law specified in clause (Y) of the definition thereof shall constitute an Acceleration Event, notwithstanding any language in clause (d) under the heading “Acceleration Events” above to the contrary. The Calculation Agent may, in connection with a Termination Settlement following such Acceleration Event, reduce the Forward Price to compensate Party A for any “materially increased costs” incurred during the Amendment Period. Any Change in Law that results in Party A (or an Affiliate of Party A) incurring a Stock Loan Fee to hedge its exposure to the Transaction that is equal to or less than a rate equal to 200 basis points per annum shall not constitute a “materially increased cost” for purposes of clause (Y) of the definition of “Change in Law” (but may, for the avoidance of doubt, result in a reduction to the Forward Price pursuant to the provisions opposite the caption “Additional Adjustment” above).

Termination Settlement:

Upon the occurrence of any Acceleration Event, Party A shall have the right to designate, upon at least one Scheduled Trading Day’s notice, any Scheduled Trading Day following such occurrence to be a Settlement Date hereunder (a “Termination Settlement Date”) to which Physical Settlement shall apply, and to select the number of Settlement Shares relating to such Termination Settlement Date; provided that (i) in the case of an Acceleration Event arising out of an Ownership Event, the number of Settlement Shares so designated by Party A shall not exceed the number of Shares necessary to reduce the Share Amount to the Post-Effective Limit and (ii) in the case of an Acceleration Event arising out of a Stock Borrow Event, the number of Settlement Shares so designated by Party A shall not exceed the number of Shares as to which such Stock Borrow Event exists. If, upon designation of a Termination Settlement Date by Party A pursuant to the preceding sentence, Party B fails to deliver the Settlement Shares relating to such Termination Settlement Date when due or otherwise fails to perform obligations within its control in respect of the Transaction, it shall be an Event of Default with respect to Party B and Section 6 of the Agreement shall apply. If an Acceleration Event occurs during an Unwind Period relating to a number of Settlement Shares to which Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement applies, then on the Termination Settlement Date relating to such Acceleration Event, notwithstanding any election to the contrary by Party B, Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement shall apply to the portion of the Settlement Shares relating to such Unwind Period as to which Party A has unwound its hedge and Physical Settlement shall apply in respect of (x) the remainder (if any) of such Settlement Shares and (y) the Settlement Shares designated by Party A in respect of such Termination Settlement Date.

Private Placement Procedures:

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 9.11 of the 2002 Definitions, if Party B is unable to comply with the provisions of “Covenant of Party B” above because of a change in law or a change in the policy of the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff, or Party A otherwise determines that in its reasonable opinion based on the advice of counsel any Settlement Shares to be delivered to Party A by Party B may not be freely returned by Party A or its Affiliates to securities lenders as described under “Covenant of Party B” above, then delivery of any such Settlement Shares (the “Restricted Shares”) shall be effected pursuant to Annex A hereto, unless waived by Party A; provided that Party A may not otherwise determine that the Settlement Shares are Restricted Shares based solely upon Party A not having borrowed

and sold a number of Shares equal to the Base Amount on or before the Effective Date pursuant to the Registration Statement (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) with delivery of the Prospectus (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) if there has been no change in law or a change in the policy of the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff.

Rule 10b5-1:

It is the intent of Party A and Party B that following any election of Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement by Party B, the purchase of Shares by Party A during any Unwind Period comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(B) of the Exchange Act and that this Confirmation shall be interpreted to comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c).

Party B acknowledges that (i) during any Unwind Period Party B does not have, and shall not attempt to exercise, any influence over how, when or whether to effect purchases of Shares by Party A (or its agent or Affiliate) in connection with this Confirmation and (ii) Party B is entering into the Agreement and this Confirmation in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade compliance with federal securities laws including, without limitation, Rule 10b-5 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

Party B hereby agrees with Party A that during any Unwind Period Party B shall not communicate, directly or indirectly, any Material Non-Public Information (as defined herein) to any EDG Personnel (as defined below). For purposes of the Transaction, “Material Non-Public Information” means information relating to Party B or the Shares that (a) has not been widely disseminated by wire service, in one or more newspapers of general circulation, by communication from Party B to its shareholders or in a press release, contained in a public filing made by Party B with the Securities and Exchange Commission or otherwise disseminated in a manner permitted by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and (b) a reasonable investor might consider to be of importance in making an investment decision to buy, sell or hold Shares. For the avoidance of doubt and solely by way of illustration, information should be presumed “material” if it relates to such matters as dividend increases or decreases, earnings estimates, changes in previously released earnings estimates, significant expansion or curtailment of operations, a significant increase or decline of orders, significant merger or acquisition proposals or agreements, significant new products or discoveries, extraordinary borrowing, major litigation, liquidity problems, extraordinary management developments, purchase or sale of substantial assets, or other similar information. “EDG Personnel” means any employee on the trading side of the Equity Derivatives Group of Party A and does not include Mr. Matthew Danton, Ms. Sayira Santana, Mr. Kevin Cheng, Mr. Nick Greenberg or any other of Dealer’s “private side” equity or equity-linked personnel (including, without limitation, any Party A equity or equity-linked legal personnel) or any other person or persons designated from time to time in writing to Party B by Party A.

Maximum Share Delivery:

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Confirmation, in no event will Party B be required to deliver on any Settlement Date, whether pursuant to Physical Settlement, Net Share Settlement, Termination Settlement or any Private Placement Settlement, more than a number of Shares equal to 150% of the initial Base Amount to Party A, subject to reduction by the amount of any Shares delivered by Party B on any prior Settlement Date.

Transfer and Assignment:

of the Agreement in excess of that which Party A would have been required to so withhold or deduct in the absence of such assignment or transfer, unless Party A would be required to pay to Party B amounts under Section 2(d)(i)(4) of the Agreement in respect of such Tax; and (d) no Event of Default, Potential Event of Default, Termination Event, Potential Adjustment Event or Acceleration Event will occur as a result of such assignment or transfer. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Confirmation to the contrary requiring or allowing Party A to purchase, sell, receive or deliver any Shares or other securities to or from Party B, Party A may designate any of its Affiliates to purchase, sell, receive or deliver such Shares or other securities and otherwise to perform Party A’s obligations in respect of the Transaction and any such designee may assume such obligations. Party A shall be discharged of its obligations to Party B to the extent of any such performance.

Indemnity:

Party B agrees to indemnify Party A and its Affiliates and their respective directors, officers, agents and controlling parties (Party A and each such Affiliate or person being an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities, joint and several, incurred by or asserted against such Indemnified Party arising out of, in connection with, or relating to, any breach of any covenant or representation made by Party B in this Confirmation or the Agreement and will reimburse any Indemnified Party for all reasonable documented expenses (including reasonable documented legal fees and expenses) in connection with the investigation of, preparation for, or defense of any pending or threatened claim or any action or proceeding arising therefrom, whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto, but only to the extent that the relevant loss, claim, damage, liability or expense is found in a final and nonappealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such breach. Party B will not be liable under this Indemnity paragraph to the extent that any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense is found in a final and nonappealable judgment by a court to have resulted from Party A’s gross negligence, fraud, willful misconduct or breach of this Confirmation or the Agreement.

Notice:


Non-Reliance:			Applicable
Additional Acknowledgments:			Applicable
Agreements and Acknowledgments Regarding Hedging Activities:			Applicable

4.	The Agreement is further supplemented by the following provisions:

No Collateral or Setoff:

Notwithstanding Section 6(f) or any other provision of the Agreement or any other agreement between the parties to the contrary, the obligations of Party B hereunder are not secured by any collateral. Obligations under the Transaction shall not be set off against any other obligations of the parties, whether arising under the Agreement, this Confirmation, under any other agreement between the parties hereto, by operation of law or otherwise, and no other obligations of the parties shall be set off against obligations under the Transaction, whether arising under the Agreement, this Confirmation, under any other agreement between the parties hereto, by operation of law or otherwise, and each party hereby waives any such right of setoff. In calculating any amounts under Section 6(e) of the Agreement, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, (a) separate amounts shall be calculated as set forth in such Section 6(e) with respect to (i) the Transaction and (ii) all other Transactions, and (b) such separate amounts shall be payable pursuant to Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement.

Status of Claims in Bankruptcy:

to limit Party A’s right to pursue remedies in the event of a breach by Party B of its obligations and agreements with respect to this Confirmation and the Agreement; and provided further, that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit Party A’s rights in respect of any transaction other than the Transaction.

Limit on Beneficial Ownership:

Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, Party A shall not be entitled to take delivery of any Shares deliverable hereunder (whether in connection with the purchase of Shares on any Settlement Date or any Termination Settlement Date, any Private Placement Settlement or otherwise) to the extent (but only to the extent) that, after such receipt of any Shares hereunder, and after taking into account any Shares or any other class of voting securities of Party B concurrently deliverable to Party A pursuant to the Base Confirmation, (i) the Share Amount would exceed the Post-Effective Limit or (ii) the Section 16 Percentage would exceed 7.5%. Any purported delivery hereunder shall be void and have no effect to the extent (but only to the extent) that, after such delivery, and after taking into account any Shares or any other class of voting securities of Party B concurrently deliverable to Party A pursuant to the Base Confirmation, (i) the Share Amount would exceed the Post-Effective Limit or (ii) the Section 16 Percentage would exceed 7.5%. If any delivery owed to Party A hereunder is not made, in whole or in part, as a result of this provision, Party B’s obligation to make such delivery shall not be extinguished and Party B shall make such delivery as promptly as practicable after, but in no event later than one Exchange Business Day after, Party A gives notice to Party B that, after such delivery, and after taking into account any Shares or any other class of voting securities of Party B concurrently deliverable to Party A pursuant to the Base Confirmation, (i) the Share Amount would not exceed the Post-Effective Limit and (ii) the Section 16 Percentage would not exceed 7.5%. The “Section 16 Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, (A) the numerator of which is the number of Shares that Party A and any of its Affiliates or any other person subject to aggregation with Party A for purposes of the “beneficial ownership” test under Section 13 of the Exchange Act, or any “group” (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act) of which Party A is or may be deemed to be a part beneficially owns (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act), without duplication, on such day (or, to the extent that for any reason the equivalent calculation under Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder results in a higher number, such higher number) and (B) the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day.

In addition, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if any delivery owed to Party A hereunder is not made, in whole or in part, as a result of the immediately preceding paragraph, Party A shall be permitted to make any payment due in respect of such Shares to Party B in two or more tranches that correspond in amount to the number of Shares delivered by Party B to Party A pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph.

Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act:

In connection with Section 739 of the Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act of 2010 (the “WSTAA”), the parties hereby agree that neither the enactment of the WSTAA or any regulation under the WSTAA, nor any requirement under the WSTAA or an amendment made by the WSTAA, shall limit or otherwise impair either party’s otherwise applicable rights to terminate, renegotiate, modify, amend or supplement this Confirmation or the Agreement, as applicable, arising from a termination event, force majeure, illegality, increased costs, regulatory change or similar event under this Confirmation, the 2002 Definitions incorporated herein, or the Agreement (including, but not limited to, rights arising from any Acceleration Event or Illegality (as defined in the Agreement)).

Miscellaneous:

(a)

Addresses for Notices. For the purpose of Section 12(a) of the Agreement:

Address for notices or communications to Party A:


To:		Barclays Bank PLC c/o Barclays Capital Inc. 745 Seventh Avenue New York, NY 10019 Attention: Kevin Cheng
Telephone:		(+1) 212-526-8627
Facsimile:		(+1) 917-522-0458
Email:		kevin.cheng@barclays.com

Address for notices or communications to Party B:

Address:		Xcel Energy Inc. 414 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401
Attention:		Todd Wehner, Vice President, Treasurer
Telephone:		(612) 216-7989
Email:		todd.wehner@xcelenergy.com

With a copy to:

Address:		Xcel Energy Inc. 414 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401
Attention:		Legal Department
Telephone:		(612) 216-7989
Email:		amy.l.schneider@xcelenergy.com

(b)

Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury. Each party waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Confirmation. Each party (i) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of the other party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such other party would not, in the event of such a suit action or proceeding, seek to enforce the foregoing waiver and (ii) acknowledges that it and the other party have been induced to enter into this Confirmation by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications herein.

Acknowledgements:

The parties hereto intend for:

(a)

the Transaction to be a “securities contract” as defined in Section 741(7) of Title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”), qualifying for the protections under Section 555 of the Bankruptcy Code;

(b)

a party’s right to liquidate the Transaction and to exercise any other remedies upon the occurrence of any Event of Default under the Agreement with respect to the other party to constitute a “contractual right” as defined in the Bankruptcy Code;

(c)

Party A to be a “financial institution” within the meaning of Section 101(22) of the Bankruptcy Code; and

(d)

all payments for, under or in connection with the Transaction, all payments for the Shares and the transfer of such Shares to constitute “settlement payments” as defined in the Bankruptcy Code.

Other Forward

Party B agrees that it shall not cause to occur, or permit to exist, an Unwind Period at any time there is an “unwind period” or equivalent term under any other Party B forward sale or similar transaction with any financial institution other than Party A (including any “transaction” under any forward confirmation with any financial institution other than Party A) or any other period in which Party B directly or indirectly issues and sells Shares pursuant to an underwriting, equity distribution or similar agreement or under any “transaction” under a forward confirmation with Party A or any other financial institution.

Severability:

If any term, provision, covenant or condition of this Confirmation, or the application thereof to any party or circumstance, shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part for any reason, the remaining terms, provisions, covenants, and conditions hereof shall continue in full force and effect as if this Confirmation had been executed with the invalid or unenforceable provision eliminated, so long as this Confirmation as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the parties as to the subject matter of this Confirmation and the deletion of such portion of this Confirmation will not substantially impair the respective benefits or expectations of parties to this Agreement; provided, however, that this severability provision shall not be applicable if any provision of Section 2, 5, 6 or 13 of the Agreement (or any definition or provision in Section 14 to the extent that it relates to, or is used in or in connection with any such Section) shall be so held to be invalid or unenforceable.

Role of Agent:

Each of Dealer and Party B acknowledges to and agrees with the other party hereto and to and with the Agent that (i) the Agent is acting as agent for Dealer under the Transaction pursuant to instructions from such party, (ii) the Agent is not a principal or party to the Transaction, and may transfer its rights and obligations with respect to the Transaction, (iii) the Agent shall have no responsibility, obligation or liability, by way of issuance, guaranty, endorsement or otherwise in any manner with respect to the performance of either party under the Transaction, (iv) Dealer and the Agent have not given, and Party B is not relying (for purposes of making any investment decision or otherwise) upon, any statements, opinions or representations (whether written or oral) of Dealer or the Agent, other than the representations expressly set forth in this Confirmation or the Agreement, and (v) each party agrees to proceed solely against the other party, and not the Agent, to collect or recover any money or securities owed to it in connection with the Transaction. Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees that the Agent is an intended third party beneficiary hereunder. Party B acknowledges that the Agent is an affiliate of Dealer. Dealer will be acting for its own account in respect of this Confirmation and the Transaction contemplated hereunder.

Regulatory Provisions:

The time of dealing for the Transaction will be confirmed by Dealer upon written request by Party B. The Agent will furnish to Party B upon written request a statement as to the source and amount of any remuneration received or to be received by the Agent in connection with the Transaction.

Method of Delivery:

Whenever delivery of funds or other assets is required hereunder by or to Party B, such delivery shall be effected through the Agent. In addition, all notices, demands and communications of any kind relating to the Transaction between Dealer and Party B shall be transmitted exclusively through the Agent.

EMIR Portfolio Reconciliation, Dispute Resolution and Disclosure Protocol:

The parties agree that the terms of the 2020 UK EMIR Portfolio Reconciliation, Dispute Resolution and Disclosure Protocol published by ISDA on 17 December 2020 (“Protocol”) apply to the Agreement as if the parties had adhered to the Protocol without amendment. In respect of the Attachment to the Protocol, (i) the definition of “Adherence Letter” shall be deemed to be deleted and references to “Adherence Letter” shall be deemed to be to this section (and references to “such party’s Adherence Letter” and “its Adherence

Letter” shall be read accordingly), (ii) references to “adheres to the Protocol” shall be deemed to be “enters into the Agreement”, (iii) references to “Protocol Covered Agreement” shall be deemed to be references to the Agreement (and each “Protocol Covered Agreement” shall be read accordingly), and (iv) references to “Implementation Date” shall be deemed to be references to the date of this Confirmation. For the purposes of this section:

Dealer is a Portfolio Data Sending Entity and Party B is a Portfolio Data Receiving Entity.

Dealer and Party B may use a Third Party Service Provider, and each of Dealer and Party B consents to such use including the communication of the relevant data in relation to Dealer and Party B to such Third Party Service Provider for the purposes of the reconciliation services provided by such entity.

The Local Business Days for such purposes in relation to Dealer and Party B is New York, New York, USA.

The following are the applicable email addresses.


Portfolio Data:		Dealer: MarginServicesPortRec@barclays.com Party B: todd.wehner@xcelenergy.com

Notice of discrepancy:		Dealer: PortRecDiscrepancy@barclays.com Party B: todd.wehner@xcelenergy.com

Dispute Notice:		Dealer: EMIRdisputenotices@barclays.com Party B: todd.wehner@xcelenergy.com

NFC Representation:

Party B represents and warrants to Dealer (which representation and warranty will be deemed to be made under the Agreement and repeated at all times while any “Transaction” under any Confirmation under the Agreement remains outstanding, unless Party B notifies the Dealer promptly otherwise of any change in its status from that represented) that:

(a) it is an entity established outside the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the “UK”) that would constitute (i) a non-financial counterparty (as such term is defined in Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on OTC derivatives, central counterparties and trade repositories dated 4 July 2012 (“EMIR”)) if it were established in the European Union, and (ii) a non-financial counterparty (as defined in EMIR as it forms part of ‘retained EU law’ (as defined in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as amended from time to time)) (“UK EMIR”)) if it were established in the United Kingdom; and

(b) as at the date of the trade, the entity would not have executed a sufficient amount of derivative activity such that the month-end average notional during the previous 12 months would classify the entity as exceeding the “clearing” threshold, as established by EMIR or UK EMIR, as relevant, if the entity were established in the European Union or the United Kingdom.

Bail-in Protocol:

The parties agree that the provisions set out in the attachment (the “Attachment”) to the ISDA 2016 Bail-in Article 55 BRRD Protocol (Dutch/French/German/Irish/Italian/Luxembourg/Spanish/UK entity-in-resolution version) are incorporated into and form part of the Agreement, provided that the definition of “UK Bail-in Power” in the Attachment shall be deleted and replaced with the following definition:

“UK Bail-in Power” means any write-down or conversion power existing from time to time (including, without limitation, any power to amend or alter the maturity of eligible liabilities of an institution under resolution or amend the amount of interest payable under such eligible liabilities or the date on which interest becomes payable, including by suspending payment for a temporary period) under, and exercised in compliance with, any laws, regulations, rules or requirements (together, the “UK Regulations”) in effect in the United Kingdom, including but not limited to, the Banking Act 2009 as amended from time to time, and the instruments, rules and standards created thereunder, pursuant to which the obligations of a regulated entity (or other affiliate of a regulated entity) can be reduced (including to zero), cancelled or converted into shares, other securities, or other obligations of such regulated entity or any other person.

A reference to a “regulated entity” is to any BRRD Undertaking as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority or to any person falling within IFPRU 11.6, of the FCA Handbook promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, both as amended from time to time, which includes, certain credit institutions, investment firms, and certain of their parent or holding companies.

The Agreement shall be deemed a “Protocol Covered Agreement” for the purposes of the Attachment and the Implementation Date for the purposes of the Attachment shall be deemed to be the date of this Confirmation. In the event of any inconsistencies between the Attachment and the other provisions of the Agreement, the Attachment will prevail.

Contractual Recognition of UK Stay Resolution:

Notwithstanding anything contained in the Agreement, the parties agree that the provisions of the 2020 UK (PRA Rule) Jurisdictional Module (the “UK Module”) published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. on 22 December 2020, as amended from time to time, shall be deemed to be incorporated into the Agreement as if references in those provisions to “Covered Agreement” were references to the Agreement, and on the basis that: (i) Dealer shall be treated as a “Regulated Entity” and as a “Regulated Entity Counterparty” with respect to Party B, (ii) Party B shall be treated as a “Module Adhering Party”, and (iii) references to the “Implementation Date” in the UK Module shall be deemed to be the date of this Confirmation.

Tax Matters:

(a)

For the purpose of Section 3(e) of the Agreement, each of Party A and Party B makes the following representation: It is not required by any applicable law, as modified by the practice of any relevant governmental revenue authority, of any Relevant Jurisdiction to make any deduction or withholding for or on account of any Tax from any payment (other than interest under Section 9(h) of this Agreement and any other payments of interest and penalty charges for late payment) to be made by it to the other party under this Agreement. In making this representation, it may rely on (i) the accuracy of any representations made by the other party pursuant to Section 3(f) of this Agreement; (ii) the satisfaction of the agreement contained in Section 4(a)(i) or 4(a)(iii) of this Agreement and the accuracy and effectiveness of any document provided by the other party pursuant to Section 4(a)(i) or 4(a)(iii) of this Agreement; and (iii) the satisfaction of the agreement of the other party contained in Section 4(d) of this Agreement; provided that it shall not be a breach of this representation where reliance is placed on clause (ii) and the other party does not deliver a form or document under Section 4(a)(iii) by reason of material prejudice to its legal or commercial position.

(b)

For the purpose of Section 3(f) of the Agreement:

(i)

Party A makes the following representation(s):

Each payment received or to be received by it in connection with the Agreement is effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business within the United States, and it is a “foreign person” (as that term is used in Section 1.6041-4(a)(4) of the United States Treasury Regulations) for United States federal income tax purposes.

(ii)

Party B makes the following representation(s):

(A)

It is a “U.S. person” (as that term is used in section 1.1441-4(a)(3)(ii) of United States Treasury Regulations) for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

(B)

It is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and is organized under the laws of the State of Minnesota, and is an exempt recipient under Treasury Regulation Section 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii)(A).

(c)

For the purpose of Sections 4(a)(i) and (ii) of the Agreement, (x) Party B agrees to deliver to Party A one duly executed and completed United States Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or successor thereto) and (y) Party A agrees to deliver to Party B one duly executed and completed United States Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI (or successor thereto).

(d)

Withholding Tax imposed on payments to non-US counterparties under the United States Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. “Tax” as used in subsection (a) of “Tax Matters.” in this confirmation and “Indemnifiable Tax”, as defined in Section 14 of the Agreement, shall not include any U.S. federal withholding tax imposed or collected pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b) of the Code, or any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such Sections of the Code (a “FATCA Withholding Tax”). For the avoidance of doubt, a FATCA Withholding Tax is a Tax the deduction or withholding of which is required by applicable law for the purposes of Section 2(d) of the Agreement.

(e)

HIRE Act. To the extent that either party to the Agreement with respect to this Transaction is not an adhering party to the ISDA 2015 Section 871(m) Protocol published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. on November 2, 2015 and available at www.isda.org, as may be amended, supplemented, replaced or superseded from time to time (the “871(m) Protocol”), the parties agree that the provisions and amendments contained in the Attachment to the 871(m) Protocol are incorporated into and apply to the Agreement with respect to this Transaction as if set forth in full herein. The parties further agree that, solely for purposes of applying such provisions and amendments to the Agreement with respect to this Transaction, references to “each Covered Master Agreement” in the 871(m) Protocol will be deemed to be references to the Agreement with respect to this Transaction, and references to the “Implementation Date” in the 871(m) Protocol will be deemed to be references to the Trade Date of this Transaction.

Delivery of Cash:

For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Confirmation shall be interpreted as requiring Party B to deliver cash in respect of the settlement of the Transaction, except in circumstances where the required cash settlement thereof is permitted for classification of the contract as equity by ASC 815-40 (formerly EITF 00-19) as in effect on the Trade Date (including, without limitation, where Party B so elects to deliver cash or fails timely to elect to deliver Shares in respect of such settlement). For the avoidance of doubt, the preceding sentence shall not be construed as limiting (i) the Private Placement Procedures set forth in Annex A hereto or (ii) any damages that may be payable by Party B as a result of breach of this Confirmation.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the terms of our agreement by signing and returning this Confirmation.


Yours faithfully, BARCLAYS BANK PLC

By:
Name: Title:		Authorised Signatory

[Signature Page to Additional Forward Confirmation (Barclays)]

Confirmed as of the date first written above:


XCEL ENERGY INC.

By:
Name: Title:

[Signature Page to Additional Forward Confirmation (Barclays)]

SCHEDULE I

FORWARD PRICE REDUCTION DATES AND AMOUNTS


Forward Price Reduction Date	Forward Price Reduction Amount
Trade Date		USD 0.0000
[●]		USD [●]
[●]		USD [●]
[●]		USD [●]
[●]		USD [●]
[●]		USD [●]
[●]		USD [●]

I-1

ANNEX A

PRIVATE PLACEMENT PROCEDURES

(i)

If Party B delivers the Restricted Shares pursuant to this clause (i) (a “Private Placement Settlement”), then delivery of Restricted Shares by Party B shall be effected in customary private placement procedures with respect to such Restricted Shares reasonably acceptable to Party A; provided that if, on or before the date that a Private Placement Settlement would occur, Party B has taken, or caused to be taken, any action that would make unavailable either the exemption pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act for the sale by Party B to Party A (or any Affiliate designated by Party A) of the Restricted Shares or the exemption pursuant to Section 4(a)(1) or Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act for resales of the Restricted Shares by Party A (or any such Affiliate of Party A) or Party B fails to deliver the Restricted Shares when due or otherwise fails to perform obligations within its control in respect of a Private Placement Settlement, it shall be an Event of Default with respect to Party B and Section 6 of the Agreement shall apply. The Private Placement Settlement of such Restricted Shares shall include customary representations, covenants, blue sky and other governmental filings and/or registrations, indemnities to Party A, due diligence rights (for Party A or any designated buyer of the Restricted Shares by Party A), opinions and certificates, and such other documentation as is customary for private placement agreements, all reasonably acceptable to Party A. In the case of a Private Placement Settlement, Party A shall, in its good faith commercially reasonable discretion, adjust the number of Restricted Shares to be delivered to Party A hereunder and/or the Forward Price in a commercially reasonable manner to reflect the fact that such Restricted Shares may not be freely returned to securities lenders by Party A and may only be saleable by Party A at a discount to reflect the lack of liquidity in Restricted Shares based on actual charges or discounts given. Notwithstanding the Agreement or this Confirmation, the date of delivery of such Restricted Shares shall be the Clearance System Business Day following notice by Party A to Party B of the number of Restricted Shares to be delivered pursuant to this clause (i). For the avoidance of doubt, delivery of Restricted Shares shall be due as set forth in the previous sentence and not be due on the Settlement Date or Termination Settlement Date that would otherwise be applicable.

(ii)

If Party B delivers any Restricted Shares in respect of the Transaction, Party B agrees that (i) such Shares may be transferred by and among Party A and its Affiliates and (ii) after the minimum “holding period” within the meaning of Rule 144(d) under the Securities Act has elapsed after the applicable Settlement Date, Party B shall promptly remove, or cause the transfer agent for the Shares to remove, any legends referring to any transfer restrictions from such Shares upon delivery by Party A (or such Affiliate of Party A) to Party B or such transfer agent of seller’s and broker’s representation letters customarily delivered by Party A or its Affiliates in connection with resales of restricted securities pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, each without any further requirement for the delivery of any certificate, consent, agreement, opinion of counsel, notice or any other document, any transfer tax stamps or payment of any other amount or any other action by Party A (or such Affiliate of Party A).

A-1

[●], 2024

To:	Xcel Energy Inc.

414 Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis, MN 55401

From:

Bank of America, N.A.

One Bryant Park, 8th Fl.

New York, NY 10036

Telephone: 646-855-6770

Dear Sirs,

The purpose of this letter agreement (this “Confirmation”) is to confirm the terms and conditions of the transaction entered into between Xcel Energy Inc. and Bank of America, N.A. (“Dealer”) on the Trade Date specified below (the “Transaction”). This Confirmation constitutes a “Confirmation” as referred to in the ISDA Master Agreement specified below. Dealer is not a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation.

2.	The terms of the particular Transaction to which this Confirmation relates are as follows:

General Terms:



Party A:		Dealer.

Party B:		Xcel Energy Inc.

Hedging Party:		For all applicable Additional Disruption Events, Dealer or, notwithstanding Section 12.9(a)(ix) of the 2002 Definitions insofar as it requires the Hedging Party to be a party, any affiliate of Dealer that is involved in hedging the Transaction, provided that Dealer shall perform any obligation of an affiliate that is a Hedging Party.



Trade Date:		[●], 2024

Effective Date:		[●], 2024

Base Amount:		Initially, [●] Shares. On each Settlement Date, the Base Amount shall be reduced by the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement Date.

Maturity Date:		The earlier of (a) June 30, 2026 (or, if such date is not a Scheduled Trading Day, the next following Scheduled Trading Day) and (b) the date the Base Amount is reduced to zero.

Forward Price:		On the Effective Date, the Initial Forward Price, and on any other day, the Forward Price as of the immediately preceding calendar day multiplied by the sum of (i) 1 and (ii) the Daily Rate for such day; provided that on each Forward Price Reduction Date, the Forward Price in effect on such date shall be the Forward Price otherwise in effect on such date, minus the Forward Price Reduction Amount for such Forward Price Reduction Date.

Initial Forward Price:		$64.4356 per Share.

Daily Rate:		For any day, (i)(A) the Overnight Bank Rate for such day, minus (B) the Spread, divided by (ii) 365.

Overnight Bank Rate:		For any day, the rate set forth for such day opposite the caption “Overnight bank funding rate”, as such rate is displayed on Bloomberg Screen “OBFR01 <Index> <GO>”, or any successor page; provided that, if no rate appears for a particular day on such page, the rate for the immediately preceding day for which a rate does so appear shall be used for such day.

Spread:		0.75%

Forward Price Reduction Date:		Each date (other than the Trade Date) set forth on Schedule I under the heading “Forward Price Reduction Date.”

Forward Price Reduction Amount:		For each Forward Price Reduction Date, the Forward Price Reduction Amount set forth opposite such date on Schedule I.

Shares:		Common stock, par value $2.50 per share, of Party B (also referred to herein as the “Issuer”) (Exchange identifier: “XEL”).

Exchange:		The Nasdaq Global Select Market.

Related Exchange(s):		All Exchanges.



Clearance System:		The Depository Trust Company

Calculation Agent:		Party A, provided that following the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default pursuant to Section 5(a)(vii) of the Agreement with respect to which Party A is the Defaulting Party, Party B shall have the right to designate an independent nationally recognized third-party dealer with experience in over-the-counter corporate equity derivatives (including forward transactions) to replace Party A as Calculation Agent, and the parties shall work in good faith to execute any appropriate documentation required by such replacement Calculation Agent. Any determination or calculation by the Calculation Agent in such capacity shall be made in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner.

		In the event that the Calculation Agent makes any determination or calculation pursuant to this Confirmation, the Agreement or the 2002 Definitions, promptly following receipt of a written request from either party hereto, the Calculation Agent shall provide an explanation in reasonable detail of the basis for such determination or calculation if requested by such party, it being understood that the Calculation Agent shall not be obligated to disclose any proprietary models or proprietary or confidential information used by it for such determination or calculation.

Settlement Terms:



Settlement Date:		Any Scheduled Trading Day following the Effective Date and up to and including the Maturity Date, as designated by (a) Party A pursuant to “Termination Settlement” below or (b) Party B in a written notice (a “Settlement Notice”) that satisfies the Settlement Notice Requirements and is delivered to Party A at least (i) three Scheduled Trading Days prior to such Settlement Date, which may be the Maturity Date, if Physical Settlement applies, and (ii) 30 Scheduled Trading Days prior to such Settlement Date, which may be the Maturity Date, if Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement applies; provided that (i) the Maturity Date shall be a Settlement Date if on such date the Base Amount is greater than zero, (ii) if Physical Settlement or Net Share Settlement applies and a Settlement Date specified above (including a Settlement Date occurring on the Maturity Date) is not a Clearance System Business Day, the Settlement Date shall be the next following Clearance System Business Day, (iii) if Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement applies and Party A shall have fully unwound its hedge during the related Unwind Period with respect to the relevant Settlement Shares by a date that is more than three Scheduled Trading Days prior to a Settlement Date specified above, Party A may, by written notice to Party B, specify any Scheduled Trading Day prior to such originally specified Settlement Date as the Settlement Date and (iv) Party B may not deliver a Settlement Notice to Party A for which Physical Settlement or Net Share Settlement



		applies if the Settlement Date specified in such Settlement Notice is scheduled to occur prior to the earlier of (x) the date on which the Underwriter (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) that is Party A or an Affiliate of Party A has sold all of its allocation of Borrowed Firm Shares (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) pursuant to the Registration Statement (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) with delivery of the Prospectus (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) to the purchaser(s) thereof and (y) the date that is 30 days following the Effective Date.

Settlement Shares:		With respect to any Settlement Date, a number of Shares, not to exceed the Base Amount, designated as such by Party B in the related Settlement Notice or by Party A pursuant to “Termination Settlement” below; provided that on the Maturity Date the number of Settlement Shares shall be equal to the Base Amount on such date.

Settlement:		Physical Settlement, Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement, at the election of Party B as set forth in a Settlement Notice delivered on or after the Effective Date that satisfies the Settlement Notice Requirements; provided that Physical Settlement shall apply (i) if no Settlement Method is validly selected, (ii) with respect to any Settlement Shares in respect of which Party A is unable, in its good faith and commercially reasonable judgment, to unwind its hedge by the end of the Unwind Period in a manner that, in the good faith and commercially reasonable judgment of Party A based upon the advice of counsel, is consistent with the requirements for qualifying for the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act or due to the lack of sufficient liquidity in the Shares on any Exchange Business Day during the Unwind Period or (iii) to any Termination Settlement Date (as defined below under “Termination Settlement”). For the avoidance of doubt, during any Unwind Period, Party B may elect Physical Settlement (as described above) in respect of any Shares that are not Settlement Shares for the Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement, as the case may be, to which such Unwind Period relates.

		For greater clarity, with respect to any Settlement Date in respect of which Cash Settlement applies, Party A shall be deemed to have completed unwinding its hedge in respect of the portion of the Transaction to be settled on such Settlement Date when it purchases (or, to the extent applicable, unwinds derivative positions (including, but not limited to, swaps or options related to the Shares) resulting in Party A’s synthetic purchase of) an aggregate number of Shares equal to the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement Date.

Settlement Notice Requirements:		Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, a Settlement Notice delivered by Party B that specifies Cash Settlement



		or Net Share Settlement will not be effective to establish a Settlement Date or require Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement unless Party B delivers to Party A with such Settlement Notice a representation signed by Party B substantially in the following form: “As of the date of this Settlement Notice, Party B is not aware of any material nonpublic information concerning itself or the Shares, and is designating the date contained herein as a Settlement Date and is electing Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement, as the case may be, in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade compliance with the federal securities laws.”

Unwind Period:		Each Exchange Business Day that is not a Suspension Day during the period from and including the first Exchange Business Day following the date Party B validly elects Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement in respect of a Settlement Date through and including the first Scheduled Trading Day preceding such Settlement Date (or the immediately preceding Exchange Business Day if such Scheduled Trading Day is not an Exchange Business Day); subject to “Termination Settlement” below. If any Exchange Business Day during an Unwind Period is a Disrupted Day, the Calculation Agent shall make commercially reasonable adjustments to the terms of the Transaction (including, without limitation, the Cash Settlement Amount, the number of Net Share Settlement Shares and the 10b-18 VWAP) to account for the occurrence of such Disrupted Day.

		The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that they have entered into a substantially identical forward transaction with respect to 9,160,305 Shares pursuant to a confirmation dated as of November 4, 2024 (the “Base Confirmation”). Party A and Party B agree that if Party B designates a Settlement Date under the Base Confirmation and for which Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement is applicable, and the resulting Unwind Period under the Base Confirmation coincides for any period of time with an Unwind Period for the Transaction (the “Matching Unwind Period”), then the Unwind Period under this Confirmation shall not commence (or, if the Unwind Period under this Confirmation has already commenced, such Unwind Period shall be suspended) until the Exchange Business Day immediately following the later of (i) the date Party A actually completes the unwind of its hedge with respect to the Base Confirmation in connection with the designation of such Settlement Date under the Base Confirmation, and (ii) the date the Matching Unwind Period ends.

Suspension Day:		Any Exchange Business Day on which Party A reasonably determines based on the advice of counsel that Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement may violate applicable securities laws. Party A shall notify Party B if it receives such advice from its counsel.



Market Disruption Event:		Section 6.3(a)(ii) of the 2002 Definitions is hereby amended by replacing clause (ii) in its entirety with “(ii) an Exchange Disruption, or” and inserting immediately following clause (iii) the phrase “; in each case that the Calculation Agent determines is material.”

Exchange Act:		The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

Physical Settlement:		On any Settlement Date in respect of which Physical Settlement applies, Party B shall deliver to Party A through the Clearance System the Settlement Shares in respect of which Physical Settlement applies for such Settlement Date, and following such delivery Party A shall pay to Party B, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by Party B, an amount in cash equal to the Physical Settlement Amount for such Settlement Date. If, on any Settlement Date, the Shares to be delivered by Party B to Party A hereunder are not so delivered (the “Deferred Shares”), and a Forward Price Reduction Date occurs during the period from, and including, such Settlement Date to, but excluding, the date such Shares are actually delivered to Party A, then the portion of the Physical Settlement Amount payable by Party A to Party B in respect of the Deferred Shares shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Forward Price Reduction Amount for such Forward Price Reduction Date, multiplied by the number of Deferred Shares. For the avoidance of doubt, no Forward Price Reduction Amount for a Forward Price Reduction Date shall be applied to reduce the Forward Price more than once.

Physical Settlement Amount:		For any Settlement Date in respect of which Physical Settlement applies, an amount in cash equal to the product of (i) the Forward Price on such Settlement Date and (ii) the number of Settlement Shares in respect of which Physical Settlement applies for such Settlement Date.

Cash Settlement:		On any Settlement Date in respect of which Cash Settlement applies to any Settlement Shares, if the Cash Settlement Amount for such Settlement Date is a positive number, Party A will pay such Cash Settlement Amount to Party B. If the Cash Settlement Amount is a negative number, Party B will pay the absolute value of such Cash Settlement Amount to Party A. Such amounts shall be paid on the Settlement Date.

Cash Settlement Amount:		For any Settlement Date in respect of which Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement applies to any Settlement Shares, an amount determined by the Calculation Agent equal to the difference between (1) the product of (i) (A) the average Forward Price over the period beginning on, and including, the date that is one Settlement Cycle following the first day of the applicable Unwind Period and ending on, and including, such Settlement Date (calculated assuming no reduction to the Forward Price for any Forward Price Reduction Date that occurs during the applicable Unwind Period, except as set forth in clause (2) below), minus


		USD 0.01, minus (B) the average of the 10b-18 VWAP prices per Share on each Exchange Business Day during such Unwind Period (clause (B), the “Average Unwind 10b-18 VWAP”), multiplied by (ii) the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement Date, minus (2) the product of (i) the Forward Price Reduction Amount for any Forward Price Reduction Date that occurs during such Unwind Period, multiplied by (ii) the number of Settlement Shares with respect to which Party A has not unwound its hedge as of such Forward Price Reduction Date.

Net Share Settlement:		On any Settlement Date in respect of which Net Share Settlement applies to any Settlement Shares, if the Cash Settlement Amount is a (i) positive number, Party A shall deliver to Party B a number of Shares equal to the Net Share Settlement Shares, or (ii) negative number, Party B shall deliver to Party A a number of Shares equal to the Net Share Settlement Shares; provided that if Party A determines in its good faith and commercially reasonable judgment that it would be required to deliver Net Share Settlement Shares to Party B, Party A may elect to deliver a portion of such Net Share Settlement Shares on one or more dates prior to the applicable Settlement Date.

Net Share Settlement Shares:		For any Settlement Date in respect of which Net Share Settlement applies to any Settlement Shares, a number of Shares equal to the absolute value of the Cash Settlement Amount divided by the Average Unwind 10b-18 VWAP, with the number of Shares rounded up in the event such calculation results in a fractional number of Shares.

10b-18 VWAP:		For any Exchange Business Day during the Unwind Period that is not a Suspension Day, the volume-weighted average price at which the Shares trade as reported in the composite transactions for the Exchange on such Exchange Business Day, excluding (i) trades that do not settle regular way, (ii) opening (regular way) reported trades on the Exchange on such Exchange Business Day, (iii) trades that occur in the last ten minutes before the scheduled close of trading on the Exchange on such Exchange Business Day and ten minutes before the scheduled close of the primary trading session in the market where the trade is effected, and (iv) trades on such Exchange Business Day that do not satisfy the requirements of Rule 10b- 18(b)(3), as determined in good faith by the Calculation Agent. Party B acknowledges that Party A may refer to the Bloomberg Page “XEL <Equity> AQR SEC” (or any successor thereto), in its discretion, for such Exchange Business Day to determine the 10b-18 VWAP.

Settlement Currency:		USD.

Failure to Deliver:		Inapplicable.

Adjustments:



Potential Adjustment Event:
		The definition of “Potential Adjustment Event” in Section 11.2(e) of the 2002 Definitions shall not include clause (iii) thereof for purposes of the Transaction.

		Notwithstanding Section 11.2(e) of the 2002 Definitions, the following repurchases of Shares (if applicable) shall not be considered to be a Potential Adjustment Event:

		(i) Shares withheld from employees of Party B or its Affiliates to pay certain withholding taxes upon the vesting of Share awards granted to such employees under compensation or benefit plans of Party B;

		(ii) Shares purchased in connection with the reinvestment of dividends by recipients of Share awards under Party B’s compensation or benefit plans;

		(iii) Shares purchased in connection with the operation of Party B’s 401(k) plans or dividend reinvestment and direct stock purchase plans;

		(iv) Shares purchased by Party B to offset any shareholder dilution arising from the exercise of options to purchase Shares pursuant to Party B’s employee incentive plans; and

		(v) Shares purchased by Party B in connection with the issuance and/or delivery of Shares to directors under director compensation programs.

		Notwithstanding Section 11.2(e) of the 2002 Definitions, the following shall not be considered to be a Potential Adjustment Event:

		(i) any issuance of Shares by Party B to employees, officers and directors of Party B, including pursuant to compensation programs;

		(ii) any issuance of Shares pursuant to the Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan of Party B;

		(iii) any issuance of any convertible securities by Party B (other than any issuance as described in Section 11.2(e)(i) or (ii) of the 2002 Definitions), even if such securities are convertible into Shares;

		(iv) the issuance of any Shares as a result of the conversion of any convertible securities issued by Party B as described in clause (iii) above; and


		(v) the issuance of any Shares upon the settlement of outstanding restricted stock unit or performance share awards.

Method of Adjustment:		Calculation Agent Adjustment; notwithstanding anything in the 2002 Definitions to the contrary, the Calculation Agent may make an adjustment pursuant to Calculation Agent Adjustment to any one or more of the Base Amount, the Forward Price and any other variable relevant to the settlement or payment terms of the Transaction.

Additional Adjustment:		If at any time, in Party A’s good faith and commercially reasonable judgment, the stock loan fee to Party A (or an Affiliate thereof), excluding the federal funds rate (or other interest rate) component payable by the relevant stock lender to Party A or such Affiliate (the “Stock Loan Fee”), over any one month period (or, in respect of any day from, and including, the Trade Date to, but excluding, the date that is one month following the Trade Date, over the period of days as have elapsed from, and including, the Trade Date to, and including, such day) of borrowing a number of Shares equal to the Base Amount to hedge its exposure to the Transaction exceeds a weighted average rate equal to 25 basis points per annum, the Calculation Agent shall reduce the Forward Price in order to compensate Party A for the amount by which the Stock Loan Fee exceeded a weighted average rate equal to 25 basis points per annum during such period. The Calculation Agent shall notify Party B prior to making any such adjustment to the Forward Price and, upon the request of Party B, Party A shall provide an itemized list of the Stock Loan Fees for the applicable period specified above in this paragraph.

Extraordinary

Events:



Extraordinary Events:		In lieu of the applicable provisions contained in Article 12 of the 2002 Definitions, the consequences of any applicable Extraordinary Event (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Nationalization, Insolvency, Delisting, or Change in Law), shall be as specified below under the headings “Acceleration Events” and “Termination Settlement”.

Account Details:



Payments to Party A:		To be advised under separate cover or telephone confirmed prior to each Settlement Date.

Payments to Party B:		To be advised under separate cover or telephone confirmed prior to each Settlement Date.

Delivery of Shares to Party A:		To be advised.

Delivery of Shares to Party B:		To be advised.

Offices:


Party A:		New York

Party B:		Inapplicable. Party B is not a Multibranch Party.

3.	Other Provisions:

Conditions to Effectiveness:

Representations and Agreements of the Parties:

Each of Party A and Party B represents, warrants and covenants that it:

(a)

(b)

(c)

Additional Representations, Warranties and Agreements of Party B: Party B hereby represents and warrants to, and agrees with, Party A as of the date hereof that:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

Party B agrees not to make any Issuer Repurchase if, immediately following such Issuer Repurchase, the Base Amount Percentage would be equal to or greater than 8.0%.

(f)

Party B is not insolvent, nor will Party B be rendered insolvent as a result of the Transaction.

(g)

(h)

(i)

(j)

(k)

(l)

Party B acknowledges and agrees that:

(i)

(ii)

Party A and its Affiliates may also be active in the market for the Shares and Share-linked transactions other than in connection with hedging activities in relation to the Transaction;

(iii)

(iv)

(v)

(m)

(n)

(o)

Party B is not aware of any material non-public information with respect to Party B or the Shares as of the date hereof.

(p)

Covenant of Party B:

Party B agrees that the Shares that it delivers to Party A on each Settlement Date will not bear a restrictive legend and that such Shares will be deposited in, and the delivery thereof shall be effected through the facilities of, the Clearance System.

Covenants of Party A:

(a)

(b)

Insolvency Filing:

Extraordinary Dividends:

Acceleration Events:

The following events shall each constitute an “Acceleration Event”:

(a)

(b)

similar transaction or (iii) any other type of securities (other than Shares), rights or warrants or other assets, for payment (cash or other consideration) at less than the prevailing market price as reasonably determined by Party A; provided that, to the extent the declaration of a distribution, issue or dividend contemplated by this paragraph (b) would also be considered to be the type of event to which Calculation Agent Adjustment would apply as specified under “Adjustments—Method of Adjustment” above, the provisions of this paragraph (b) will apply and Calculation Agent Adjustment shall not apply;

(c)

ISDA Early Termination Date. Party A has the right to designate an Early Termination Date pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement;

(d)

(e)

For purposes of clause (e) above, the “Share Amount” as of any day is the number of Shares that Party A and any of its Affiliates and any person whose ownership position would be aggregated with that of Party A, including any “group” (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act) of which Party A is or may be deemed to be a part (Party A or any such person or group, a “Party A Person”) under any law, rule, regulation, regulatory order or organizational documents or contracts of Party B that are, in each case, applicable to ownership of Shares (“Applicable Restrictions”), owns, beneficially owns, constructively owns, controls, holds the power to vote or otherwise meets a relevant definition of ownership of under any Applicable Restriction, as determined by Party A in its good faith reasonable discretion. The “Post-Effective Limit” means a number of Shares equal to (x) the minimum number of Shares that would give rise to reporting or registration obligations or other requirements (including obtaining prior approval from any person or entity) of a Party A Person, or would result in an adverse effect on a Party A Person, under any Applicable Restriction, as determined by Party A in its good faith reasonable discretion, minus (y) 1% of the number of Shares outstanding.

Materially Increased Costs:

costs” incurred during the Amendment Period. Any Change in Law that results in Party A (or an Affiliate of Party A) incurring a Stock Loan Fee to hedge its exposure to the Transaction that is equal to or less than a rate equal to 200 basis points per annum shall not constitute a “materially increased cost” for purposes of clause (Y) of the definition of “Change in Law” (but may, for the avoidance of doubt, result in a reduction to the Forward Price pursuant to the provisions opposite the caption “Additional Adjustment” above).

Termination Settlement:

Private Placement Procedures:

Rule 10b5-1:

Party B hereby agrees with Party A that during any Unwind Period Party B shall not communicate, directly or indirectly, any Material Non-Public Information (as defined herein) to any employee of Party A, other than any designees confirmed in writing by Party A. For purposes of the Transaction, “Material Non-Public Information” means information relating to Party B or the Shares that (a) has not been widely disseminated by wire service, in one or more newspapers of general circulation, by communication from Party B to its shareholders or in a press release, contained in a public filing made by Party B with the Securities and Exchange Commission or otherwise disseminated in a manner permitted by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and (b) a reasonable investor might consider to be of importance in making an investment decision to buy, sell or hold Shares. For the avoidance of doubt and solely by way of illustration, information should be presumed “material” if it relates to such matters as dividend increases or decreases, earnings estimates, changes in previously released earnings estimates, significant expansion or curtailment of operations, a significant increase or decline of orders, significant merger or acquisition proposals or agreements, significant new products or discoveries, extraordinary borrowing, major litigation, liquidity problems, extraordinary management developments, purchase or sale of substantial assets, or other similar information.

Maximum Share Delivery:

Transfer and Assignment:

Party A may assign or transfer any of its rights or delegate any of its duties hereunder to any Affiliate of Party A that has a long-term issuer rating or a rating for its long term, unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness that is equal to or better than Party A’s credit rating at the time of such assignment or transfer so long as (a) such assignee or transferee is organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof; (b) Party B will not be required to pay to such assignee or transferee an amount in respect of an Indemnifiable Tax under Section 2(d)(i)(4) of the Agreement greater than the amount in respect of which Party B would have been required to pay Party A in the absence of such assignment or transfer; (c) Party B will not receive a payment from which an amount has been withheld or deducted on account of a Tax under Section 2(d)(i) of the Agreement in excess of that which Party A would have been required to so withhold or deduct in the absence of such assignment or transfer, unless Party A would be required to pay to Party B amounts under Section 2(d)(i)(4) of the Agreement in respect of such Tax; and (d) no Event of Default, Potential Event of Default, Termination Event, Potential Adjustment Event or Acceleration Event will occur as a result of such assignment or transfer. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Confirmation to the contrary requiring or allowing Party A to purchase, sell, receive or deliver any Shares or other securities to or from Party B, Party A may designate any of its Affiliates to purchase, sell, receive or deliver such Shares or other securities and otherwise to perform Party A’s obligations in respect of the Transaction and any such designee may assume such obligations. Party A shall be discharged of its obligations to Party B to the extent of any such performance.

Indemnity:

judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such breach. Party B will not be liable under this Indemnity paragraph to the extent that any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense is found in a final and nonappealable judgment by a court to have resulted from Party A’s gross negligence, fraud, willful misconduct or breach of this Confirmation or the Agreement.

Notice:


Non-Reliance:			Applicable
Additional Acknowledgments:			Applicable
Agreements and Acknowledgments Regarding Hedging Activities:			Applicable

4.	The Agreement is further supplemented by the following provisions:

No Collateral or Setoff:

Status of Claims in Bankruptcy:

Party A acknowledges and agrees that this confirmation is not intended to convey to Party A rights with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby that are senior to the claims of common stockholders in any U.S. bankruptcy proceedings of Party B; provided, however, that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit Party A’s right to pursue remedies in the event of a breach by Party B of its obligations and agreements with respect to this Confirmation and the Agreement; and provided further, that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit Party A’s rights in respect of any transaction other than the Transaction.

Limit on Beneficial Ownership:

Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, (A) the numerator of which is the number of Shares that Party A and any of its Affiliates or any other person subject to aggregation with Party A for purposes of the “beneficial ownership” test under Section 13 of the Exchange Act, or any “group” (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act) of which Party A is or may be deemed to be a part beneficially owns (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act), without duplication, on such day (or, to the extent that for any reason the equivalent calculation under Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder results in a higher number, such higher number) and (B) the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day.

Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act:

Miscellaneous:

(a)

Addresses for Notices. For the purpose of Section 12(a) of the Agreement:

Address for notices or communications to Party A:



To:		Bank of America, N.A. One Bryant Park, 8th Fl. New York, NY 10036
Attention:		Strategic Equity Solutions Group
Telephone:		646-855-6770
Email:		dg.issuer_derivatives_notices@bofa.com

Address for notices or communications to Party B:

Address:		Xcel Energy Inc. 414 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401
Attention:		Todd Wehner, Vice President, Treasurer
Telephone:		(612) 216-7989
Email:		todd.wehner@xcelenergy.com

With a copy to:

Address:		Xcel Energy Inc. 414 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401
Attention:		Legal Department
Telephone:		(612) 216-7989
Email:		amy.l.schneider@xcelenergy.com

(b)

Acknowledgements:

The parties hereto intend for:

(a)

(b)

(c)

Party A to be a “financial institution” within the meaning of Section 101(22) of the Bankruptcy Code; and

(d)

all payments for, under or in connection with the Transaction, all payments for the Shares and the transfer of such Shares to constitute “settlement payments” as defined in the Bankruptcy Code.

Other Forward

Severability:

U.S. Resolution Stay Protocol:

The parties agree that (i) to the extent that prior to the date hereof both parties have adhered to the 2018 ISDA U.S. Resolution Stay Protocol (the “Protocol”), the terms of the Protocol are incorporated into and form a part of this Confirmation, and for such purposes this Confirmation shall be deemed a Protocol Covered Agreement and each party shall be deemed to have the same status as “Regulated Entity” and/or “Adhering Party” as applicable to it under the Protocol; (ii) to the extent that prior to the date hereof the parties have

executed a separate agreement the effect of which is to amend the qualified financial contracts between them to conform with the requirements of the QFC Stay Rules (the “Bilateral Agreement”), the terms of the Bilateral Agreement are incorporated into and form a part of this Confirmation and each party shall be deemed to have the status of “Covered Entity” or “Counterparty Entity” (or other similar term) as applicable to it under the Bilateral Agreement; or (iii) if clause (i) and clause (ii) do not apply, the terms of Section 1 and Section 2 and the related defined terms (together, the “Bilateral Terms”) of the form of bilateral template entitled “Full-Length Omnibus (for use between U.S. G-SIBs and Corporate Groups)” published by ISDA on November 2, 2018 (currently available on the 2018 ISDA U.S. Resolution Stay Protocol page at www.isda.org and, a copy of which is available upon request), the effect of which is to amend the qualified financial contracts between the parties thereto to conform with the requirements of the QFC Stay Rules, are hereby incorporated into and form a part of this Confirmation, and for such purposes this Confirmation shall be deemed a “Covered Agreement,” Dealer shall be deemed a “Covered Entity” and Counterparty shall be deemed a “Counterparty Entity.” In the event that, after the date of this Confirmation, both parties hereto become adhering parties to the Protocol, the terms of the Protocol will replace the terms of this paragraph. In the event of any inconsistencies between this Confirmation and the terms of the Protocol, the Bilateral Agreement or the Bilateral Terms (each, the “QFC Stay Terms”), as applicable, the QFC Stay Terms will govern. Terms used in this paragraph without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them under the QFC Stay Rules. For purposes of this paragraph, references to “this Confirmation” include any related credit enhancements entered into between the parties or provided by one to the other. In addition, the parties agree that the terms of this paragraph shall be incorporated into any related covered affiliate credit enhancements, with all references to Dealer replaced by references to the covered affiliate support provider. “QFC Stay Rules” means the regulations codified at 12 C.F.R. 252.2, 252.81–8, 12 C.F.R. 382.1-7 and 12 C.F.R. 47.1-8, which, subject to limited exceptions, require an express recognition of the stay-and-transfer powers of the FDIC under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the Orderly Liquidation Authority under Title II of the Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the override of default rights related directly or indirectly to the entry of an affiliate into certain insolvency proceedings and any restrictions on the transfer of any covered affiliate credit enhancements.

Tax Matters:

(a)

(b)

For the purpose of Section 3(f) of the Agreement:

(i)

Party A makes the following representation(s):

It is a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, it is an exempt recipient under Treasury Regulation Section 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii)(M), its federal taxpayer identification number is 94-1687665 and it is a “U.S. person” (as that term is used in section 1.1441-4(a)(3)(ii) of United States Treasury Regulations) for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

(ii)

Party B makes the following representation(s):

(A)

It is a “U.S. person” (as that term is used in section 1.1441-4(a)(3)(ii) of United States Treasury Regulations) for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

(B)

It is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and is organized under the laws of the State of Minnesota, and is an exempt recipient under Treasury Regulation Section 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii)(A).

(c)

(d)

(e)

Delivery of Cash:

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the terms of our agreement by signing and returning this Confirmation.


Yours faithfully,

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

By:
Name:
Title:		Authorised Signatory

[Signature Page to Additional Forward Confirmation (BofA)]

Confirmed as of the date first written above:


XCEL ENERGY INC.

By:
Name:
Title:

[Signature Page to Additional Forward Confirmation (BofA)]

SCHEDULE I

FORWARD PRICE REDUCTION DATES AND AMOUNTS


Forward Price Reduction Date		Forward Price Reduction Amount

Trade Date		USD 0.0000
[●]		USD [●]
[●]		USD [●]
[●]		USD [●]
[●]		USD [●]
[●]		USD [●]
[●]		USD [●]

I-1

ANNEX A

PRIVATE PLACEMENT PROCEDURES

(i)

(ii)

A-1