Document:

Exhibit

Execution Copy

NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION
2017 Stock Award and Incentive Plan
Performance Share Units Agreement (NFE)

This Performance Share Units Agreement (the “Agreement”), which includes the attached “Terms and Conditions of Performance Share Units” (the “Terms and Conditions”) and the attached Exhibit A captioned “Performance Goal and Earning of Performance Share Units”, confirms the grant on November    , 2018, (the “Grant Date”) by NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION, a New Jersey corporation (the “Company”), to _____________________ (“Employee”), under Sections 6(e), 6(i) and 7 of the 2017 Stock Award and Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), of Performance Share Units (the “Performance Share Units”), including rights to Dividend Equivalents as specified herein, as follows: 

Target Number Granted:          ____ Performance Share Units (“Target Number”) 

How Performance Share Units are Earned and Vest: The Performance Share Units, if not previously forfeited, (i) will be earned, if and to the extent that the Performance Goal defined on Exhibit A to this Agreement is achieved, with the corresponding number of Performance Share Units earned (ranging from 0% to 150% of the Target Number) as specified on Exhibit A, on the date set forth on Exhibit A (the “Earning Date”) and (ii) will vest as to the number of Performance Share Units earned if Employee remains employed by the Company or a Subsidiary from the Grant Date through the Earning Date (the “Stated Vesting Date”).  To the extent vested, all earned Performance Share Units shall be settled within 60 days after the Stated Vesting Date.  In addition, if not previously forfeited or payable, upon a Change in Control prior to the Stated Vesting Date, the Performance Share Units (i) will be earned in an amount equal to the Target Number of the Performance Share Units and (ii) will (A) immediately vest on the Change in Control with respect to such earned Performance Share Units and will be settled within 60 days thereafter, if Employee remains employed by the Company or a Subsidiary from the Grant Date through the Change in Control and no provision is made for the continuance, assumption or substitution of the Performance Share Units by the Company or its successor in connection with the Change in Control, or (B) vest on the Stated Vesting Date with respect to such earned Performance Share Units and will be settled within 60 days thereafter, if Employee remains employed by the Company or a Subsidiary from the Grant Date through the Stated Vesting Date and provision is made for the continuance, assumption or substitution of the Performance Share Units by the Company or its successor in connection with the Change in Control.  In addition, if not previously forfeited or payable, the Performance Share Units will become vested upon the occurrence of certain events relating to Employee's Termination of Employment to the extent provided in Section 4 of the attached Terms and Conditions, and such vested Performance Share Units will continue to be subject to the Performance Goal and will be eligible to be earned if and to the extent that the Performance Goal is achieved or there is a Change in Control prior to the Stated Vesting Date and settled in accordance with Section 6(a) hereof. The terms “vest” and “vesting” mean that the Performance 

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Share Units have become non-forfeitable in relation to Employee’s employment but may continue to be subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture based on the Performance Goal to the extent provided in Section 4 of the attached Terms and Conditions.  If the Performance Goal is not met (or not fully met), and no Change in Control occurs prior to the Earning Date, the Performance Share Units (or the unearned portion of the Performance Share Units) will be immediately forfeited (whether vested or not).  If Employee has a Termination of Employment prior to the Stated Vesting Date and the Performance Share Units are not otherwise vested by that date, the Performance Share Units will be immediately forfeited except as otherwise provided in Section 4 of the attached Terms and Conditions. Forfeited Performance Share Units cease to be outstanding and in no event will thereafter result in any delivery of shares of Stock to Employee.

Performance Goal and Earning Date: The Performance Goal and Earning Date, and the number of Performance Share Units earned for specified levels of performance at the Earning Date, shall be as specified in Exhibit A hereto.

Settlement: Performance Share Units that are to be settled hereunder, including Performance Share Units credited as a result of Dividend Equivalents, will be settled by delivery of one share of Stock, for each Performance Share Unit being settled. Settlement shall occur at the time specified above and in Section 6(a) of the attached Terms and Conditions.

Further Conditions to Settlement: Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, except as otherwise set forth below, the Company’s obligation to settle the Performance Share Units and Employee’s right to distribution of the Performance Share Units will be forfeited immediately upon the occurrence of any one or more of the following events (defined terms are attached hereto as Exhibit B):

(a)    Competitive Employment.  In the event that Employee, prior to full settlement of the Performance Share Units and within the Restricted Territory, directly or indirectly, whether on Employee’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, performs services of the type which are the same as or similar to those conducted, authorized, offered or provided by Employee to the Company within the last 24 months, and which support business activities which compete with the Business of the Company.

(b)    Recruitment of Company Employees and Contractors.  In the event that Employee, prior to full settlement of the Performance Share Units, directly or indirectly, whether on Employee’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicits or induces any employee or independent contractor of the Company with whom Employee had Material Contact to terminate or lessen such employment or contract with the Company. 

(c)    Solicitation of Company Customers. In the event that Employee, prior to full settlement of the Performance Share Units, directly or indirectly, whether on Employee’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicits any actual or prospective customers of the Company with whom Employee had Material Contact for the purpose of selling any products or services which compete with the Business of the Company.

(d)    Solicitation of Company Vendors. In the event that Employee, prior to full settlement of the Performance Share Units, directly or indirectly, whether 

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on Employee’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicits any actual or prospective vendor of the Company with whom Employee had Material Contact for the purpose of purchasing products or services to support business activities which compete with the Business of the Company.

(e)    Breach of Confidentiality.  In the event that Employee, at any time prior to full settlement of the Performance Share Units, directly or indirectly, divulges or makes use of any Confidential Information of the Company other than in the performance of Employee’s duties for the Company.  This provision does not limit the remedies available to the Company under common or statutory law as to trade secrets or other forms of confidential information, which may impose longer duties of non-disclosure and provide for injunctive relief and damages.

(f)    Return of Property and Information.  In the event that prior to full settlement of the Performance Share Units Employee fails to return all of the Company’s property and information (whether confidential or not) within Employee’s possession or control within seven (7) calendar days following the termination or resignation of Employee from employment with the Company.  Such property and information includes, but is not limited to, the original and any copy (regardless of the manner in which it is recorded) of all information provided by the Company to Employee or which Employee has developed or collected in the scope of Employee’s employment with the Company, as well as all Company-issued equipment, supplies, accessories, vehicles, keys, instruments, tools, devices, computers, cell phones, pagers, materials, documents, plans, records, notebooks, drawings, or papers.  Upon request by the Company, Employee shall certify in writing that Employee has complied with this provision, and has permanently deleted all Company information from any computers or other electronic storage devices or media owned by Employee.  Employee may only retain information relating to the Employee’s benefit plans and compensation to the extent needed to prepare Employee’s tax returns.

(g)    Disparagement.  In the event that prior to full settlement of the Performance Share Units Employee makes any statements, either verbally or in writing, that are disparaging with regard to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their respective executives and Board members.

(h)    Failure to Provide Information.  In the event that prior to full settlement of the Performance Share Units Employee fails to promptly and fully respond to requests for information from the Company regarding Employee’s compliance with any of the foregoing conditions. 

If it is determined by the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, that any of the foregoing events have occurred prior to full settlement of the Performance Share Units, any unpaid portion of the Performance Share Units will be forfeited without any compensation therefor, provided, however, that none of the foregoing conditions shall restrict any Employee who is a lawyer from practicing law.  To the extent any such condition would restrict any Employee who is a lawyer from practicing law or would penalize the Employee for practicing law, such condition shall not be effective and the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee may not forfeit any of the Performance Share Units on account therefor. 

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The Performance Share Units are subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement, including the Terms and Conditions of Performance Share Units attached hereto and deemed a part hereof. The number of Performance Share Units and the kind of shares deliverable in settlement and other terms and conditions of the Performance Share Units are subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5 of the attached Terms and Conditions and Section 11(c) of the Plan. 

Employee acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Performance Share Units are nontransferable, except as provided in Section 3 of the attached Terms and Conditions and Section 11(b) of the Plan, (ii) the Performance Share Units are subject to forfeiture in the event of Employee’s Termination of Employment in certain circumstances prior to vesting, as specified in Section 4 of the attached Terms and Conditions, (iii) the foregoing conditions shall apply to the Performance Share Units prior to settlement and (iv) sales of shares of Stock delivered upon settlement of the Performance Share Units will be subject to any Company policy regulating trading by employees. 

Capitalized terms used in this Agreement but not defined herein shall have the same meanings as in the Plan. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION has caused this Agreement to be executed by its officer thereunto duly authorized. 

NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION

By:_____________________ 
     [NAME] 
     [Title] 

Officer’s Name

____________________ 
[NAME] 
[Title]

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TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PERFORMANCE SHARE UNITS 

The following Terms and Conditions apply to the Performance Share Units granted to Employee by NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION (the “Company”) and Performance Share Units resulting from Dividend Equivalents (as defined below), if any, as specified in the Performance Share Units Agreement (of which these Terms and Conditions form a part). Certain terms of the Performance Share Units, including the number of Performance Share Units granted, vesting date(s) and settlement date, are set forth on the cover page hereto and Exhibit A, which are an integral part of this Agreement. 

1.    General.  The Performance Share Units are granted to Employee under the Company’s 2017 Stock Award and Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), which has been previously delivered to Employee and/or is available upon request to the Human Resources Department. All of the applicable terms, conditions and other provisions of the Plan are incorporated by reference herein. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement but not defined herein shall have the same meanings as in the Plan. If there is any conflict between the provisions of this document and mandatory provisions of the Plan, the provisions of the Plan govern. By accepting the grant of the Performance Share Units, Employee agrees to be bound by all of the terms and provisions of the Plan (as presently in effect or later amended), the rules and regulations under the Plan adopted from time to time, and the decisions and determinations relating to the Plan and grants thereunder of the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Committee”) made from time to time. 

2.    Account for Employee. The Company shall maintain a bookkeeping account for Employee (the “Account”) reflecting the number of Performance Share Units then credited to Employee hereunder as a result of such grant of Performance Share Units and any crediting of additional Performance Share Units to Employee pursuant to dividends paid on shares of Stock under Section 5 hereof (“Dividend Equivalents”). 

3.    Nontransferability. Until Performance Share Units are settled by delivery of shares of Stock in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, Employee may not transfer Performance Share Units or any rights hereunder to any third party other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, except for transfers to a Beneficiary or as otherwise permitted and subject to the conditions under Section 11(b) of the Plan.  This restriction on transfer precludes any sale, assignment, pledge or other encumbrance or disposition of the Performance Share Units (except for forfeitures to the Company).

4.    Termination of Employment. The following provisions will govern the earning, vesting and forfeiture of the Performance Share Units that are outstanding at the time of Employee’s Termination of Employment (as defined below) (i) by the Company without Cause (as defined below) or by the Employee for Good Reason (as defined below), in either case during the CIC Protection Period (as defined below), or (ii) due to death, Disability (as defined below) or Retirement (as defined below), unless otherwise determined by the Committee (subject to Section 8(e) hereof): 

(a)    Termination by the Company or by the Employee in Certain Events. In the event of Employee’s Termination of Employment, prior to the Stated Vesting Date, by the Company without Cause within the CIC Protection Period and other than for Disability or Retirement, or by Employee for Good Reason within the CIC Protection Period, the outstanding Performance Share Units will be vested with respect to no less than a Pro Rata Portion (as defined below) of the Performance Share Units, to the extent earned previously (upon a Change in Control where provision is made for the continuance, assumption or substitution of the Performance Share Units by the Company or its successor in connection with the Change in Control or otherwise), to the extent not vested previously, 

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and such earned and vested Performance Share Units will be settled in accordance with Section 6(a) hereof.  In the event of Employee’s Termination of Employment, prior to the Stated Vesting Date, (i) by the Company for Cause and other than for Disability or Retirement, (ii) by the Company for any reason other than Disability or Retirement prior to or after the CIC Protection Period, (iii) by Employee (other than for Good Reason within the CIC Protection Period or upon Retirement), or (iv) by Employee (other than upon Retirement) before or after the CIC Protection Period, the portion of the then-outstanding Performance Share Units not earned and vested at the date of Employee’s Termination of Employment will be forfeited.

(b)    Death, Disability or Retirement. In the event of Employee’s Termination of Employment, prior to the Stated Vesting Date and before a Change in Control, due to Employee’s death, Disability or Retirement, the outstanding Performance Share Units will be vested with respect to no less than a Pro Rata Portion (as defined below) of the Performance Share Units, to the extent not earned previously, that may become earned on the Earning Date, to the extent not previously vested, and such vested Performance Share Units will continue to be subject to the Performance Goal and will be eligible to be earned if and to the extent that the Performance Goal is achieved or there is a Change in Control prior to the Stated Vesting Date and settled in accordance with Section 6(a) hereof.  In the event of Employee’s Termination of Employment, prior to the Stated Vesting Date but on or after a Change in Control, due to Employee’s death, Disability or Retirement, the outstanding Performance Share Units will be vested with respect to no less than a Pro Rata Portion of the Performance Share Units, to the extent earned previously (upon a Change in Control where provision is made for the continuance, assumption or substitution of the Performance Share Units by the Company or its successor in connection with the Change in Control or otherwise), to the extent not vested previously, and such earned and vested Performance Share Units will be settled in accordance with Section 6(a) hereof.  Any portion of the then-outstanding Performance Share Units not vested at or before the date of Employee’s Termination of Employment will be forfeited. 

(c)    Certain Definitions. The following definitions apply for purposes of this Agreement: 

(i)    “Cause” has the same definition as under any employment or similar agreement between the Company and Employee or, if no such agreement exists or if such agreement does not contain any such definition, Cause means (i) Employee’s conviction of a felony or the entering by Employee of a plea of nolo contendere to a felony charge, (ii) Employee’s gross neglect, willful malfeasance or willful gross misconduct in connection with his or her employment which has had a significant adverse effect on the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, unless Employee reasonably believed in good faith that such act or non-act was in or not opposed to the best interest of the Company, or (iii) repeated material violations by Employee of the duties and obligations of Employee’s position with the Company which have continued after written notice thereof from the Company, which violations are demonstrably willful and deliberate on Employee’s part and which result in material damage to the Company’s business or reputation.

(ii)    “CIC Protection Period” means the two-year period beginning on the date of a Change in Control and ending on the day before the second annual anniversary of the date of the Change in Control.

(iii)    “Disability” means Employee has been incapable of substantially fulfilling the positions, duties, responsibilities and obligations of his employment because of physical, mental or emotional incapacity resulting from injury, sickness or disease for a period of at least six consecutive months. The Company and Employee shall agree on the identity of a physician to resolve any question as to Employee’s disability. If the Company and Employee cannot agree on the physician to make such determination, then the Company and Employee shall each select a physician and those physicians shall jointly select a third physician, who shall make the determination. The determination 

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of any such physician shall be final and conclusive for all purposes of this Agreement.  Only the Company can initiate a Termination of Employment due to Disability.   

(iv)    “Good Reason” has the same definition as under any employment or similar agreement between the Company and Employee; but, if no such agreement exists or if any such agreement does not contain or reference any such definition, Good Reason shall not apply to the Employee for purposes of this Agreement.

(v)    “Pro Rata Portion” means a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days from the first day of the 36-month earning period specified on Exhibit A to the date of Employee’s Termination of Employment due to Employee’s death, Disability or Retirement, or by the Company without Cause within the CIC Protection Period and other than for Disability or Retirement or by Employee for Good Reason within the CIC Protection Period, and the denominator of which is the number of days from the first day of such 36-month earning period to the Earning Date.

(vi)    “Retirement” means the Employee has attained age 65, or age 55 with 20 or more years of service. 

(vii)    “Subsidiary” means any subsidiary corporation of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code (“Section 424(f) Corporation”) and any partnership, limited liability company or joint venture in which either the Company or Section 424(f) Corporation is at least a fifty percent (50%) equity participant. 

(vii)    “Termination of Employment” and “Termination” means the earliest time at which Employee is not employed by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company. 

(d)    Termination by the Company for Cause.  In the event of Employee’s Termination of Employment by the Company for Cause, the portion of the then-outstanding Performance Share Units not earned and vested prior to such time will be forfeited immediately upon notice to Employee that the Company is terminating the Employee’s employment for Cause.

5.    Dividend Equivalents and Adjustments. 

(a)    Dividend Equivalents. Dividend Equivalents will be credited on Performance Share Units (other than Performance Share Units that, at the relevant record date, previously have been settled or forfeited) and deemed converted into additional Performance Share Units.  Dividend Equivalents will be credited as follows, except that the Company may vary the manner of crediting (for example, by crediting cash dividend equivalents rather than additional Performance Share Units) for administrative convenience: 

(i)    Cash Dividends. If the Company declares and pays a dividend or distribution on shares of Stock in the form of cash, then additional Performance Share Units shall be credited to Employee’s Account as of the payment date of such cash dividend or distribution (or settled as of the payment date of such cash dividend or distribution if the Performance Share Units are to be settled before the payment date) equal to the number of Performance Share Units credited to the Account as of the relevant record date multiplied by the amount of cash paid per share of Stock in such dividend or distribution divided by the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock at the payment date for such dividend or distribution. 

(ii) Non-Share Dividends. If the Company declares and pays a dividend or distribution on shares of Stock in the form of property other than shares of Stock, then a number of additional Performance Share Units shall be credited to Employee’s Account as of the payment date of such cash dividend or distribution (or settled as of the payment date of such cash dividend or distribution 

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if the Performance Share Units are to be settled before the payment date) equal to the number of Performance Share Units credited to the Account as of the record date for such dividend or distribution multiplied by the fair market value of such property actually paid as a dividend or distribution on each outstanding share of Stock at such payment date, divided by the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock at such payment date for such dividend or distribution.

(iii)    Share Dividends and Splits. If the Company declares and pays a dividend or distribution on shares of Stock in the form of additional shares of Stock, or there occurs a forward split of shares of Stock, then a number of additional Performance Share Units shall be credited to Employee’s Account as of the payment date for such dividend or distribution or forward split (or settled as of the payment date for such dividend or distribution or forward split if the Performance Share Units are to be settled before the payment date) equal to the number of Performance Share Units credited to the Account as of the record date for such dividend or distribution or split multiplied by the number of additional shares of Stock actually paid as a dividend or distribution or issued in such split in respect of each outstanding share of Stock. 

(b)    Adjustments. The number of Performance Share Units credited to Employee’s Account shall be appropriately adjusted in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of Employee’s rights with respect to Performance Share Units or to reflect any changes in the number of outstanding shares of Stock resulting from any event referred to in Section 11(c) of the Plan, taking into account any Performance Share Units credited to Employee in connection with such event under Section 5(a) hereof. In furtherance of the foregoing, in the event of an equity restructuring, as defined in ASC Topic 718, which affects the shares of Stock, Employee shall have a legal right to an adjustment to Employee’s Performance Share Units which shall preserve without enlarging the value of the Performance Share Units, with the manner of such adjustment to be determined by the Committee in its discretion.  All adjustments will be made in a manner as to maintain the Performance Share Unit’s exemption from Code Section 409A or, to the extent Code Section 409A applies, to comply with Code Section 409A.  Any adjustments shall be subject to the requirements and restrictions set forth in Section 11(c) of the Plan.

(c)    Risk of Forfeiture and Settlement of Performance Share Units Resulting from Dividend Equivalents and Adjustments. Performance Share Units which directly or indirectly result from Dividend Equivalents on or adjustments to Performance Share Units granted hereunder shall be subject to the same risk of forfeiture and other conditions as apply to the granted Performance Share Units with respect to which the Dividend Equivalents or adjustments related and will be settled at the same time as such related Performance Share Units (unless the Performance Share Units are to be settled prior to the payment date of the Dividend Equivalents or the date of such adjustments, in which case the Dividend Equivalents or adjustments will be settled at the payment date of the dividends or the date of such adjustments (and in no event later than 60 days after the Performance Share Units otherwise are to be settled)).

6.  Settlement and Deferral. 

(a)    Settlement Date. Except as otherwise set forth above under “Further Conditions to Settlement,” Performance Share Units granted hereunder that have become earned and vested, together with Performance Share Units credited as a result of Dividend Equivalents with respect thereto, to the extent earned and vested, shall be settled by delivery of one share of Stock for each Performance Share Unit being settled at the time specified herein. Settlement of earned and vested Performance Share Units granted hereunder shall occur at the Earning Date (with shares to be delivered within 60 days after the Earning Date); provided, however, that settlement of earned and vested Performance Share Units shall occur within 60 days after a Change in Control if no provision is made for the continuance, assumption or substitution of the Performance Share Units by the Company or its successor in connection with the Change in Control; and provided further, that 

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settlement shall be deferred if so elected by Employee in accordance with Section 6(b) hereof subject to Section 6(c) hereof.  Settlement of Performance Share Units which directly or indirectly result from Dividend Equivalents on Performance Share Units granted hereunder generally shall occur at the time of settlement of the related Performance Share Units except as otherwise described above. 

(b)    Elective Deferral. The Committee may determine to permit Employee to elect to defer settlement (or redefer) if such election would be permissible under Section 11(k) of the Plan and Code Section 409A.  In addition to any applicable requirements under Code Section 409A, any such deferral election shall be made only while Employee remains employed and at a time permitted under Code Section 409A.  The form under which an election is made shall set forth the time and form of payment of such amount deferred.  Any amount deferred shall be subject to a six-month delay upon payment if required under Section 11(k)(i)(F) of the Plan.  Any elective deferral will be subject to such additional terms and conditions as the Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, or the officer designated by the Company as responsible for administration of the Agreement, may reasonably impose. 

(c)    Compliance with Code Section 409A. Other provisions of this Agreement notwithstanding, because the Performance Share Units will constitute a "deferral of compensation" under Section 409A of the Code (“Code Section 409A”) as presently in effect or hereafter amended (i.e., the Performance Share Units are not excluded or exempted under Code Section 409A or a regulation or other official governmental guidance thereunder; Note: an elective deferral under Section 6(b) would cause the Performance Share Units, if not already, to be a deferral of compensation subject to Code Section 409A after the deferral), such Performance Share Units will be considered a 409A Award under the Plan and shall be subject to the additional requirements set forth in Section 11(k) of the Plan including without limitation that (i) Termination of Employment shall be construed consistent with the meaning of a Separation from Service and (ii) a Change in Control under the Agreement shall be construed consistent with the meaning of a 409A Ownership/Control Change. 

7.    Employee Representations and Warranties Upon Settlement. As a condition to the settlement of the Performance Share Units, the Company may require Employee (i) to make any representation or warranty to the Company as may be required under any applicable law or regulation and (ii) to execute a release from claims against the Company arising at or before the date of the release, in such form as may be specified by the Company, and not revoke such release prior the expiration of any applicable revocation period, all within 60 days after Termination of Employment. 

8.    Miscellaneous.

(a)    Binding Agreement; Written Amendments. This Agreement shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators and successors of the parties. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the Performance Share Units, and supersedes any prior agreements or documents with respect to the Performance Share Units. No amendment or alteration of this Agreement which may impose any additional obligation upon the Company shall be valid unless expressed in a written instrument duly executed in the name of the Company, and no amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of this Agreement which may materially impair the rights of Employee with respect to the Performance Share Units shall be valid unless expressed in a written instrument executed by Employee.

(b)    No Promise of Employment. The Performance Share Units and the granting thereof shall not constitute or be evidence of any agreement or understanding, express or implied, that Employee has a right to continue as an officer or employee of the Company for any period of time, or at any particular rate of compensation. 

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(c)    Governing Law. The validity, construction, and effect of this Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws (including those governing contracts) of the state of New Jersey, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws, and applicable federal law. 

(d)    Fractional Performance Share Units and Shares. The number of Performance Share Units credited to Employee’s Account shall include fractional Performance Share Units calculated to at least three decimal places, unless otherwise determined by the Committee. Unless settlement is effected through a third-party broker or agent that can accommodate fractional shares (without requiring issuance of a fractional Share by the Company), upon settlement of the Performance Share Units, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may either (i) round the fractional share to be delivered up to a whole Share or (ii) provide that Employee shall be paid, in cash, an amount equal to the value of any fractional Share that would have otherwise been deliverable in settlement of such Performance Share Units. 

(e)    Mandatory Tax Withholding. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, or Employee has elected at least 90 days prior to payout to satisfy the tax obligations in cash by other means, at the time of vesting and/or settlement the Company will withhold first from any cash payable and then from any shares of Stock deliverable in settlement of the Performance Share Units, in accordance with Section 11(d)(i) of the Plan, the number of whole shares of Stock having a value nearest to, but not exceeding, the minimum amount of income and employment taxes required to be withheld under applicable laws and regulations (only with respect to the minimum amount of Shares necessary to satisfy statutory withholding requirements, unless withholding of any additional amount of Shares will not result in additional accounting expense to the Company and is permitted by the Committee), and pay the amount of such withholding taxes in cash to the appropriate taxing authorities. Employee will be responsible for any withholding taxes not satisfied by means of such mandatory withholding and for all taxes in excess of such minimum withholding taxes that may be due upon vesting or settlement of Performance Share Units. 

(f)    Statements. An individual statement of each Employee’s Account will be issued to Employee at such times as may be determined by the Company. Such a statement shall reflect the number of Performance Share Units credited to Employee’s Account, transactions therein during the period covered by the statement, and other information deemed relevant by the Company. Such a statement may be combined with or include information regarding other plans and compensatory arrangements. Employee’s statements shall be deemed a part of this Agreement, and shall evidence the Company’s obligations in respect of Performance Share Units, including the number of Performance Share Units credited as a result of Dividend Equivalents (if any). Any statement containing an error shall not, however, represent a binding obligation to the extent of such error, notwithstanding the inclusion of such statement as part of this Agreement.

(g)    Unfunded Obligations. The grant of the Performance Share Units and any provision for distribution in settlement of Employee’s Account hereunder shall be by means of bookkeeping entries on the books of the Company and shall not create in Employee any right to, or claim against any, specific assets of the Company, nor result in the creation of any trust or escrow account for Employee. With respect to Employee’s entitlement to any distribution hereunder, Employee shall be a general creditor of the Company. 

(h)    Notices. Any notice to be given the Company under this Agreement shall be addressed to the Company at its principal executive offices, in care of the Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, or the officer designated by the Company as responsible for administration of the Agreement, and any notice to Employee shall be addressed to Employee at Employee’s address as then appearing in the records of the Company. 

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(i)    Shareholder Rights. Employee and any Beneficiary shall not have any rights with respect to shares of Stock (including voting rights) covered by this Agreement prior to the settlement and distribution of the shares of Stock except as otherwise specified herein.  Specifically, Performance Share Units represent a contractual right to receive shares of Stock in the future, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Plan, and do not represent ownership of shares of Stock at any time before the settlement of this Award and actual issuance of the shares of Stock. 

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Exhibit A
NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION
2017 Stock Award and Incentive Plan 
Performance Goal and Earning of Performance Share Units 

The number of Performance Share Units earned by Participant shall be determined as of September 30, 2021 (the “Earning Date”), based on the Company’s “Cumulative NFEPS” (defined below) over the 36-month period ending at the Earning Date.  The number of Performance Share Units earned will be determined based on the following table:

	
		
	Cumulative NFEPS
	Performance Share Units Earned as a Percentage of Target
Performance Share Units

	 
	 

	Less than $5.10
	0%

	$5.10
	50%

	$6.37
	100%

	$7.64 or Greater
	150%

“Net Financial Earnings” or “NFE” is a financial measure not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles that the Company reports on a quarterly and annual basis to the public and in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual reports on Form 10-K that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  

“NFEPS” shall be the NFE per basic share of Common Stock that the Company reports on a quarterly and annual basis to the public and in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual report on Form 10-K that are filed with the SEC.  

“Cumulative NFEPS” shall be the sum of the annual NFEPS for the three fiscal years (“FY”) ended September 30, 2019, 2020 and 2021 calculated as follows:

Cumulative NFEPS = NFEPSFY2019 + NFEPSFY2020 + NFEPSFY2021 
    
Upon achievement of Cumulative NFEPS at a point between any two specified Cumulative NFEPS levels, the Performance Share Units earned will be mathematically interpolated on a straight-line basis.

Determinations of the Committee regarding the Cumulative NFEPS, the calculations related thereto, the resulting Performance Share Units and related matters will be final and binding on the Participant.

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Exhibit B 
NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION
2017 Stock Award and Incentive Plan 
Definitions Under Further Conditions to Settlement

		
	a. 
	“Business of the Company” means the following areas of its business which are selected below, which Employee acknowledges are areas of the Company’s business in which Employee has responsibilities:

(check as applicable)

		
	___
	Natural Gas Distribution: Consists of New Jersey Natural Gas Company, a natural gas utility company that provides regulated retail natural gas service to residential and commercial customers in central and northern New Jersey and participates in the off-system sales and capacity release markets.

		
	___
	Energy Services:  Maintains and transacts around a portfolio of physical assets consisting of natural gas storage and transportation contracts and also provides wholesale energy management services to other energy companies and natural gas producers in market areas including states from the Gulf Coast and Mid-continent regions to the Appalachian and Northeast regions, the West Coast and Canada.

		
	___
	Clean Energy Ventures: Investor, owner, and operator in the renewable energy sector, including investments in wind and residential and commercial rooftop and ground mount solar systems.  

		
	___
	Midstream Assets:  Includes investments in natural gas transportation and storage assets and is comprised of the following: an equity investment in Dominion Midstream Partners, LP, which holds ownership interests in the Iroquois Gas Transmission System, Cove Point and Dominion Carolina Gas Transmission; Steckman Ridge, which is a partnership that owns and operates a 17.7 Bcf natural gas storage facility, with up to 12 Bcf working capacity, in western Pennsylvania that is 50 percent owned by a Company Subsidiary; a 20 percent ownership interest in the proposed PennEast Pipeline, a 118-mile pipeline designed to bring natural gas produced in the Marcellus Shale region to homes and businesses in Pennsylvania and New Jersey; and Adelphia Gateway, which upon closing of the proposed acquisition of the membership interests of Interstate Energy Company, LLC,  will operate an 84-mile pipeline in southeastern Pennsylvania.

		
	___
	Home Services:  Consists of NJR Home Services Company, which provides Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) service, sales and installation of appliances, as well as installation of solar equipment.

		
	b. 
	“Confidential Information” means all valuable and/or proprietary information (in oral, written, electronic or other forms) belonging to or pertaining to the Company, its customers and vendors, that is not generally known or publicly available, and which would be useful to competitors of the Company or otherwise damaging to the Company if disclosed.  Confidential Information may include, but is not necessarily limited to:  (i) the identity of the Company’s customers or potential customers, their purchasing histories, and the terms or proposed terms upon which the Company offers or may offer its products and services to such customers, (ii) the identity of the Company’s vendors or potential vendors, and the terms or proposed terms upon which the Company may purchase products and services from 

13

such vendors, (iii) technology used by the Company to provide its services, (iv) the terms and conditions upon which the Company employs its employees and independent contractors, (v) marketing and/or business plans and strategies, (vi) financial reports and analyses regarding the revenues, expenses, profitability and operations of the Company, and (vii) information provided to the Company by customers and other third parties under a duty to maintain the confidentiality of such information.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Confidential Information does not include information that:  (i) has been voluntarily disclosed to the public by Company or any Employer, except where such public disclosure has been made by Employee without authorization from Company or Employer; (ii) has been independently developed and disclosed by others, or (iii) which has otherwise entered the public domain through lawful means.  

		
	c. 
	“Material Contact” means contact in person, by telephone, or by paper or electronic correspondence, or the supervision of those who have such conduct, and which is done in furtherance of the business interests of the company and within the last 36 months.

		
	d. 
	“Restricted Territory” consists of the following areas, to the extent such areas have been identified as applicable to the definition of the “Business of the company” above:

    
Natural Gas Distribution: The State of New Jersey and for those employees engaged in or supervising off system sales, the States of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

Energy Services: The Continental United States and within a 100 mile radius of the Dawn Storage Hub in Canada. 

Clean Energy Ventures: The State of New Jersey.
    
Midstream Assets: The States of New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

Home Services: The State of New Jersey.

14Exhibit

Execution Copy

  

NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION

Deferred Stock Retention Award Agreement

This Deferred Stock Retention Award Agreement (the "Agreement"), which includes the attached “Terms and Conditions of Deferred Stock,” confirms the grant on November      , 2018 (the “Grant Date”), by New Jersey Resources Corporation, a New Jersey corporation ("NJR"), to                      ("Employee"), under Section 6(e) of the 2017 Stock Award and Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), of Deferred Stock, including the rights to Dividend Equivalents thereon as specified herein, as follows:  

Based upon his or her contribution to the success of NJR in fiscal year 2018, Employee is hereby awarded a deferred stock award (the “Retention Award”) of ________ deferred stock units of NJR common stock issued under the Plan (“Deferred Stock”), including the rights to Dividend Equivalents thereon as specified herein.

The Retention Award will be paid to Employee on October 15, 2021 (“Award Date”), subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein.

Upon the Award Date, the payout of the Deferred Stock, including Deferred Stock credited as the result of Dividend Equivalents, will be in the form of fully transferable shares of NJR common stock, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein.  Prior to the Award Date, if not previously forfeited, the Retention Award (i) will be paid in full upon a consummation of a Change in Control if no provision is made for the continuance, assumption or substitution of the Retention Award by NJR or its successor in connection with the Change in Control (provided the Change in Control also constitutes a 409A Ownership/Control Change) and (ii) will be paid as set forth below upon the Employee’s Disability and death to the extent provided in Section 3 of the Terms and Conditions attached hereto as Exhibit “A,” and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein.

Conditions to Retention Award:  Employee is not required to continue his/her employment with NJR in order to receive distribution of the Retention Award. However, NJR’s obligation to pay the Retention Award and Employee’s right to distribution of the Retention Award will be forfeited immediately upon the occurrence of any one or more of the following events (defined terms are attached hereto as Exhibit “B”):
		
	(a)
	Competitive Employment.  In the event that Employee, during the Restricted Period and within the Restricted Territory, directly or indirectly, whether on Employee’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, performs services of the type which are the same as or similar to those conducted, authorized, offered or provided by Employee to NJR within the 24 months prior to Employee’s termination or resignation, and which support business activities which compete with the Business of NJR.

		
	(b)
	Recruitment of NJR Employees and Contractors.  In the event that Employee, during the Restricted Period, directly or indirectly, whether on Employee’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicits or induces any employee or independent contractor of 

1

NJR with whom Employee had Material Contact to terminate or lessen such employment or contract with NJR. 

		
	(c)
	Solicitation of NJR Customers. In the event that Employee, during the Restricted Period, directly or indirectly, whether on Employee’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicits any actual or prospective customers of NJR with whom Employee had Material Contact for the purpose of selling any products or services which compete with the Business of NJR.

		
	(d)
	Solicitation of NJR Vendors. In the event that Employee, during the Restricted Period, directly or indirectly, whether on Employee’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicits any actual or prospective vendor of NJR with whom Employee had Material Contact for the purpose of purchasing products or services to support business activities which compete with the Business of NJR.

		
	(e)
	Breach of Confidentiality.  In the event that Employee, at any time, directly or indirectly, divulges or makes use of any Confidential Information of NJR other than in the performance of Employee’s duties for NJR.  This provision does not limit the remedies available to NJR under common or statutory law as to trade secrets or other forms of confidential information, which may impose longer duties of non-disclosure and provide for injunctive relief and damages.

		
	(f)
	Return of Property and Information.  In the event that Employee fails to return all of NJR’s property and information (whether confidential or not) within Employee’s possession or control within seven (7) calendar days following the termination or resignation of Employee from employment with NJR.  Such property and information includes, but is not limited to, the original and any copy (regardless of the manner in which it is recorded) of all information provided by NJR to Employee or which Employee has developed or collected in the scope of Employee’s employment with NJR, as well as all NJR-issued equipment, supplies, accessories, vehicles, keys, instruments, tools, devices, computers, cell phones, pagers, materials, documents, plans, records, notebooks, drawings, or papers.  Upon request by NJR, Employee shall certify in writing that Employee has complied with this provision, and has permanently deleted all NJR information from any computers or other electronic storage devices or media owned by Employee.  Employee may only retain information relating to the Employee’s benefit plans and compensation to the extent needed to prepare Employee’s tax returns.

		
	(g)
	Disparagement.  In the event that Employee makes any statements, either verbally or in writing, that are disparaging with regard to NJR or any of its subsidiaries or their respective executives and Board members.

		
	(h)
	Termination for Cause.  In the event that Employee’s employment with NJR and its subsidiaries is terminated for Cause. 

(i)  Failure to Provide Information.  In the event that Employee fails to promptly and fully respond to requests for information from NJR regarding Employee’s compliance with any of the foregoing conditions. 

If it is determined by the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee of the NJR Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, that any of the foregoing events have occurred prior to full distribution of the Retention Award, any unpaid portion of the Retention Award will be forfeited without any compensation therefor.  

2

The value of the Retention Award will not be taxable to Employee for income tax purposes until it is distributed and will, at that time, be equal to the aggregate value of the then current fair market value of the shares of NJR common stock and cash distributed to Employee.  Required income tax withholdings will be deducted first from any cash paid and then in the form of shares from the share payout as described in Section 8(c) of the attached Terms and Conditions, unless Employee has elected at least 90 days prior to payout to satisfy the tax obligations in cash by other means as described herein.  The value of the Retention Award will be taxable to Employee for employment tax purposes at the date of grant.  Additionally, related Dividend Equivalents may be taxable for employment tax purposes when credited to Employee.  Employee will be responsible for satisfying any employment tax withholdings attributable to the Deferred Stock and any related Dividend Equivalents, which Employee may satisfy by (i) delivering to the Company cash equal to the required withholdings or (ii) directing the Company to withhold such amounts from any other cash compensation the Company will pay Employee contemporaneously with the time the withholdings are required hereunder.  

The Retention Award will not be considered as compensation for purposes of any pension or retirement plan, or other plan that provides for benefits based on Employee’s level of compensation.

The Retention Award and the granting thereof shall not constitute or be evidence of any agreement or understanding, express or implied, that Employee has a right to continue as an officer or employee of NJR or any of its subsidiaries for any period of time, or at any particular rate of compensation.

The validity, construction, and effect of this Agreement and the Retention Award shall be determined in accordance with the laws (including those governing contracts) of the state of New Jersey, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws, and applicable federal law.

If any provision in this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions will in no way be affected or impaired thereby. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is not enforceable in accordance with its terms, such provision shall be reformed to make it enforceable in a manner which provides NJR and its subsidiaries the maximum rights permitted by law.

The terms of this Retention Award are governed by the Plan and this Agreement, including the attached Terms and Conditions.  Capitalized terms used in this Agreement but not defined herein shall have the same meanings as in the Plan.

Employee acknowledges and agrees that (i) Employee has received a copy of the Plan and agrees to be bound by all the terms and provisions thereof, (ii) the Deferred Stock is nontransferable, except as provided in Section 2 of the attached Terms and Conditions and Section 11(b) of the Plan, (iii) the Deferred Stock is subject to forfeiture as described above in certain limited circum-stances prior to payout, and (iv) sales of the shares following payout of the Deferred Stock will be subject to the Company's policy governing the purchase and sale of NJR securities.

3

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION has caused this Agreement to be executed by its officer thereunto duly authorized, and Employee has duly executed this Agreement, by which each has agreed to the terms of this Agreement. 

_______________________________
[NAME]
[Title]
Acknowledged and Agreed:

_________________________    _________________
[NAME]                                         Date
[Title]

4

EXHIBIT A - TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF DEFERRED STOCK RETENTION AWARD

The following Terms and Conditions apply to the Deferred Stock Retention Award granted to Employee by NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION (either the "Company" or “NJR”), as specified in the Deferred Stock Retention Award Agreement (of which these Terms and Conditions form a part).  Certain terms and conditions of the Retention Award, including the number of shares granted and payment date(s), are set forth on the preceding pages, which are an integral part of this Agreement.  

1.    General.  The Retention Award is granted to Employee under the Company's 2017 Stock Award and Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), a copy of which has been previously delivered to Employee and/or is available upon request to the Human Resources Department.  All of the applicable terms, conditions and other provisions of the Plan are incorporated by reference herein.  Capitalized terms used in this Agreement but not defined herein shall have the same meanings as in the Plan.  If there is any conflict between the provisions of this document and mandatory provisions of the Plan, the provisions of the Plan govern.  Employee agrees to be bound by all of the terms and provisions of the Plan (as presently in effect or later amended), the rules and regula-tions under the Plan adopted from time to time, and the decisions and determinations of the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors (the "Committee") made from time to time.  

2.    Nontransferability.  Until such time as the Retention Award has been distributed in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, Employee may not transfer either the Deferred Stock or any rights hereunder (including those with respect to the accumulated dividend equivalents) to any third party other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution except for transfers to a Beneficiary or as otherwise permitted and subject to the conditions under Section 11(b) of the Plan.  This restriction on transfer precludes any sale, assignment, pledge, or other encumbrance or disposition of the shares of Deferred Stock (or any rights thereunder, including those with respect to the accumulated dividend equivalents, except for forfeitures to the Company).  

3.    Early Payment Provisions.  The following provisions will govern the payment of any Retention Award that is outstanding, and has not been forfeited previously, at the time of Employee's death or Disability:

(a)    Death.  In the event of Employee's death, the unpaid Retention Award will be paid to the Employee’s Beneficiary as soon as administratively practicable (and no later than ninety (90) days) following Employee’s death.

(b)    Disability.  In the event of Employee’s Disability (as defined below), the unpaid Retention Award will be paid to the Employee on the 31st day after Employee’s Disability.  

"Disability" means Employee is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.  The foregoing definition of "Disability" shall be construed consistent with Code Section 409A.  The Company and Employee shall agree on the identity of a physician to resolve any question as to Employee's disability.  If the Company and Employee cannot agree on the physician to make such determination, then the Company and Employee shall each select a physician and those physicians shall jointly select a third physician, who shall make the determination.  The determination of any such physician shall be final and con-clusive for all purposes of this Agreement.  

4.    Dividend Equivalents and Adjustments.  

(a)    Dividend Equivalents.  Dividend Equivalents will be credited on the shares of Deferred Stock (other than shares of Deferred Stock that, at the relevant record date, previously have been settled or forfeited) and deemed converted into additional shares of Deferred Stock.  Dividend Equivalents will be credited as follows, except that the Company may vary the manner of crediting (for example, by crediting cash dividend equivalents rather than additional shares of Deferred Stock) for administrative convenience: 

5

(i)    Cash Dividends.  If the Company declares and pays a dividend or distribution on shares of Stock in the form of cash, then additional shares of Deferred Stock shall be credited to Employee’s Account as of the payment date of such cash dividend or distribution (or settled as of the payment date of such cash dividend or distribution if the Deferred Stock is to be settled before the payment date) equal to the number of shares of Deferred Stock credited to the Account as of the relevant record date multiplied by the amount of cash paid per share of Stock in such dividend or distribution divided by the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock at the payment date for such dividend or distribution. 

(ii)    Non-Share Dividends.  If the Company declares and pays a dividend or distribution on shares of Stock in the form of property other than shares of Stock, then a number of additional shares of Deferred Stock shall be credited to Employee’s Account as of the payment date (or settled as of the payment date of such cash dividend or distribution if the Deferred Stock is to be settled before the payment date) equal to the number of shares of Deferred Stock credited to the Account as of the record date for such dividend or distribution multiplied by the fair market value of such property actually paid as a dividend or distribution on each outstanding share of Stock at such payment date, divided by the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock at such payment date for such dividend or distribution.

(iii)    Share Dividends and Splits.  If the Company declares and pays a dividend or distribution on shares of Stock in the form of additional shares of Stock, or there occurs a forward split of shares of Stock, then a number of additional shares of Deferred Stock shall be credited to Employee’s Account as of the payment date for such dividend or distribution or forward split (or settled as of the payment date for such dividend or distribution or forward split if the Deferred Stock is to be settled before the payment date) equal to the number of shares of Deferred Stock credited to the Account as of the record date for such dividend or distribution or split multiplied by the number of additional shares of Stock actually paid as a dividend or distribution or issued in such split in respect of each outstanding share of Stock. 

(b)    Adjustments.  The number of shares of Deferred Stock credited to Employee’s Account shall be appropriately adjusted in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of Employee’s rights with respect to the Deferred Stock or to reflect any changes in the number of outstanding shares of Stock resulting from any event referred to in Section 11(c) of the Plan, taking into account any Deferred Stock credited to Employee in connection with such event under Section 5(a) hereof. In furtherance of the foregoing, in the event of an equity restructuring, as defined in ASC Topic 718, which affects the shares of Stock, Employee shall have a legal right to an adjustment to Employee’s Deferred Stock which shall preserve without enlarging the value of the Deferred Stock, with the manner of such adjustment to be determined by the Committee in its discretion.  All adjustments will be made in a manner as to maintain the Deferred Stock’s exemption from Code Section 409A or, to the extent Code Section 409A applies, to comply with Code Section 409A.  Any adjustments shall be subject to the requirements and restrictions set forth in Section 11(c) of the Plan.

(c)    Risk of Forfeiture and Settlement of Deferred Stock Resulting from Dividend Equivalents and Adjustments.  Deferred Stock which directly or indirectly result from Dividend Equivalents on or adjustments to Deferred Stock granted hereunder shall be subject to the same risk of forfeiture and other conditions as apply to the granted Deferred Stock with respect to which the Dividend Equivalents or adjustments related and will be settled at the same time as such related Deferred Stock (unless the Deferred Stock is to be settled prior to the payment date of the Dividend Equivalents or adjustments, in which case the Dividend Equivalents or adjustments will be settled at the payment date of the dividends or the date of such adjustments (and in no event later than 60 days after the Deferred Stock otherwise is to be settled)).

5.    409A Award.  The Retention Award payable under the Agreement is a 409A Award and is subject to all applicable terms and conditions set forth in Section 11(k) of the Plan.  All provisions of the Agreement shall be interpreted in a manner as to comply with Section 11(k) of the Plan and Code Section 409A.

6

6.    Other Terms of Deferred Stock. 

(a)    Voting and Other Shareholder Rights.  Employee shall not be entitled to vote Deferred Stock on any matter submitted to a vote of holders of Common Stock, and shall not have all other rights of a shareholder of the Company, except as otherwise specified herein, unless and until the Stock with respect to the Deferred Stock is distributed to Employee as described in the Agreement. 

(b)    Consideration for Grant of Deferred Stock.  Employee shall not be required to pay cash consideration for the grant of the Deferred Stock and Dividend Equivalents, but Employee's performance of services to the Company prior to the payout of the Deferred Stock shall be deemed to be consideration for this grant of Deferred Stock and Dividend Equivalents.  

(c)    Insider Trading Policy Applicable.  Employee acknowledges that sales of shares of stock resulting from Deferred Stock that have been distributed will be subject to the Company's policies governing the purchase and sale of Company securities.

(d)    Certificates Evidencing Deferred Stock.  On the date any Deferred Stock subject to the Retention Award becomes payable (the “Payment Date”), such Deferred Stock shall be paid by the Company delivering to the Employee, a number of shares of NJR common stock equal to the number of shares of Deferred Stock, including Deferred Stock as the result of Dividend Equivalents, that become payable upon that Payment Date, subject to any applicable withholding requirements described below. The Company shall issue the shares either (i) in certificate form or (ii) in book entry form, registered in the name of the Employee. Delivery of any certificates will be made to the Employee’s last address reflected on the books of the Company unless the Company is otherwise instructed in writing.  The Company shall pay in cash the value of any fractional share of Stock deliverable upon payment of the Deferred Stock, subject to any applicable withholding requirements described below.  Neither the Employee nor any of the Employee’s successors, heirs, assigns or personal representatives shall have any further rights or interests in any Deferred Stock and Dividend Equivalents that are so paid. 

7.    Employee Representations and Warranties and Release.  As a condition to distribution of the Retention Award to Employee upon Disability, the Company may require Employee (i) to make any representation or warranty to the Company as may be required under any applicable law or regulation, and (ii) to execute a release from claims against the Company arising at or before the date of such release, in such form as may be specified by the Company, and not revoke such release prior to the expiration of any applicable revocation period, all within thirty (30) days after Employee’s Disability.

8.    Miscellaneous.

(a)    Binding Agreement; Written Amendments.  This Agreement shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators and successors of the parties.  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the Retention Award, and supersedes any prior agreements (either verbal or written) or documents with respect to the Retention Award.  No amendment or alteration of this Agreement which may impose any additional obligation upon the Company shall be valid unless expressed in a written instrument duly executed in the name of the Company, and no amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of this Agreement which may materially impair the rights of Employee with respect to the Retention Award shall be valid unless expressed in a written instrument executed by Employee.  All amendments must comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A.

(b)    Governing Law.  The validity, construction, and effect of this Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws (including those governing contracts) of the state of New Jersey, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws, and applicable federal law. 

7

(c)    Fractional Deferred Stock and Stock.  The number of shares of Deferred Stock credited to Employee shall not include any fractional shares.  The Committee, in its sole discretion, may either (i) round the fractional shares to be credited up to the nearest whole share of Stock or (ii) provide that fractional shares shall be paid in cash to Employee at the time the shares of Stock otherwise would have been delivered.

(d)    Mandatory Tax Withholding.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, or unless Employee has elected at least 90 days prior to payout to satisfy the tax obligations in cash by other means, at the time of payment of the Retention Award to Employee, the Company will withhold first from any cash payable and then from any Stock deliverable, in accordance with Section 11(d)(i) of the Plan, the number of whole shares of Stock having a value nearest to, but not exceeding, the minimum amount of income and employment taxes required to be withheld under applicable local laws and regulations (after withholding of any cash payable hereunder) (unless withholding of any additional amount will not result in additional accounting expense to the Company and is permitted by the Committee), and pay the amount of such withholding taxes in cash to the appropriate taxing authorities.  Employee will be responsible for any withholding taxes not satisfied by means of such mandatory withholding and for all taxes in excess of such withholding taxes that may be due upon payment of the Retention Award. 

(e)    Notices.  Any notice to be given the Company under this Agreement shall be addressed to the Company at its principal executive offices, in care of the Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, or the officer designated by the Company as responsible for administration of the Agreement, and any notice to Employee shall be addressed to Employee at Employee’s address as then appearing in the records of the Company.

(f)    Shareholder Rights.  Employee and any Beneficiary shall not have any rights with respect to Deferred Shares (including voting rights and any Deferred Shares credited as the result of Dividend Equivalents covered by this Agreement) prior to the settlement and distribution of the Deferred Shares except as otherwise specified herein.

8

EXHIBIT B - DEFINITIONS

		
	a. 
	“Business of NJR” means the following areas of its business which are selected below, which Employee acknowledges are areas of NJR’s business in which Employee has responsibilities:

(check as applicable)

		
	___
	Natural Gas Distribution: Consists of New Jersey Natural Gas Company, a natural gas utility company that provides regulated retail natural gas service to residential and commercial customers in central and northern New Jersey and participates in the off-system sales and capacity release markets.

		
	___
	Energy Services:  Maintains and transacts around a portfolio of physical assets consisting of natural gas storage and transportation contracts and also provides wholesale energy management services to other energy companies and natural gas producers in market areas including states from the Gulf Coast and Mid-continent regions to the Appalachian and Northeast regions, the West Coast and Canada.

		
	___
	Clean Energy Ventures: Investor, owner, and operator in the renewable energy sector, including investments in wind and residential and commercial rooftop and ground mount solar systems.  

		
	___
	Midstream Assets:  Includes investments in natural gas transportation and storage assets and is comprised of the following: an equity investment in Dominion Midstream Partners, LP, which holds ownership interests in the Iroquois Gas Transmission System, Cove Point and Dominion Carolina Gas Transmission; Steckman Ridge, which is a partnership that owns and operates a 17.7 Bcf natural gas storage facility, with up to 12 Bcf working capacity, in western Pennsylvania that is 50 percent owned by a Company Subsidiary; a 20 percent ownership interest in the proposed PennEast Pipeline, a 118-mile pipeline designed to bring natural gas produced in the Marcellus Shale region to homes and businesses in Pennsylvania and New Jersey; and Adelphia Gateway, which upon closing of the proposed acquisition of the membership interests of Interstate Energy Company, LLC,  will operate an 84-mile pipeline in southeastern Pennsylvania.

		
	___
	Home Services:  Consists of NJR Home Services Company, which provides Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) service, sales and installation of appliances, as well as installation of solar equipment.

		
	b. 
	"Cause" has the same meaning as in any employment or similar agreement between NJR and the Employee or, if no such agreement or definition exists, then “Cause” means: (A) conviction of a felony or the entering by Employee of a plea of nolo contendere to a felony charge, (B) Employee’s gross neglect, willful malfeasance or willful gross misconduct in connection with Employee’s employment hereunder which has had a significant adverse effect on the business of NJR or any of its subsidiaries, unless Employee reasonably believed in good faith that such act or non-act was in or not opposed to the best interests of NJR or any of its subsidiaries, or (C) repeated material violations by Employee of his or her obligations under any applicable employment agreement or policy of NJR or any of its subsidiaries, which have continued after written notice thereof from NJR or any of its subsidiaries, which violations are demonstrably willful and deliberate on Employee’s part and which result in material damage to NJR or any of its subsidiaries’ business or reputation.

		
	c. 
	“Confidential Information” means all valuable and/or proprietary information (in oral, written, electronic or other forms) belonging to or pertaining to NJR, its customers and vendors, that is not generally known or publicly available, and which would be useful to competitors of NJR or otherwise damaging to NJR if disclosed.  Confidential Information may include, but is not necessarily limited to:  (i) the identity of NJR’s customers or potential customers, their purchasing 

9

histories, and the terms or proposed terms upon which NJR offers or may offer its products and services to such customers, (ii) the identity of NJR’s vendors or potential vendors, and the terms or proposed terms upon which NJR may purchase products and services from such vendors, (iii) technology used by NJR to provide its services, (iv) the terms and conditions upon which NJR employs its employees and independent contractors, (v) marketing and/or business plans and strategies, (vi) financial reports and analyses regarding the revenues, expenses, profitability and operations of NJR, and (vii) information provided to NJR by customers and other third parties under a duty to maintain the confidentiality of such information.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Confidential Information does not include information that:  (i) has been voluntarily disclosed to the public by Company or Employer, except where such public disclosure has been made by Employee without authorization from Company or Employer; (ii) has been independently developed and disclosed by others, or (iii) which has otherwise entered the public domain through lawful means.  

		
	d. 
	“Material Contact” means contact in person, by telephone, or by paper or electronic correspondence, or the supervision of those who have such conduct, and which is done in furtherance of the business interests of NJR and within the last 36 months of Employee’s employment with NJR.

		
	e. 
	“Restricted Period” means the period while Employee is employed by NJR and for 36 months following the termination or resignation of Employee from employment with NJR.

		
	f. 
	“Restricted Territory” consists of the following areas, to the extent such areas have been identified as applicable to the definition of the “Business of NJR” above:

Natural Gas Distribution: The State of New Jersey and for those employees engaged in or supervising off system sales, the States of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

Energy Services: The Continental United States and within a 100 mile radius of the Dawn Storage Hub in Canada. 

Clean Energy Ventures: The State of New Jersey.

Midstream Assets: The States of New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

Home Services: The State of New Jersey.

10

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