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Document

Exhibit 10.6

SAVINGS RESTORATION PLAN
FOR NISOURCE INC. AND AFFILIATES
As Amended and Restated Effective November 1, 2020

82987014v.7 0026256/00034

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE    1
1.1.    Background    1
1.2.    Purpose    1
ARTICLE II. DEFINITIONS    1
2.1.    Account    1
2.2.    Affiliate    1
2.3.    Basic Plan    2
2.4.    Beneficiary    2
2.5.    Benefits Committee    2
2.6.    Board    2
2.7.    Code    2
2.8.    Company    2
2.9.    Compensation    2
2.10.    Compensation Committee    2
2.11.    DCP    2
2.12.    Disability    2
2.13.    Effective Date    2
2.14.    Eligible Employee    2
2.15.    Employer    2
2.16.    ERISA    3
2.17.    In-Service Withdrawal    3
2.18.    Limits    3
2.19.    Participant    3
2.20.    Plan    3
2.21.    Plan Administrator    3
2.22.    Plan Year    3
2.23.    Post-2004 Account    3
2.24.    Pre-2005 Account    3
2.25.    Separation from Service    3
2.26.    Specified Employee    3
2.27.    Unforeseeable Emergency    4
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2.28.    Valuation Date    4
ARTICLE III. ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION    4
3.1.    Eligibility    4
3.2.    Participation    4
3.3.    Continuation of Participation    4
3.4.    Amendment of Eligibility Criteria    4
ARTICLE IV. ACCOUNTS    4
4.1.    Account    4
4.2.    Employer Credits    5
4.3.    Timing of Credits; Withholding    7
4.4.    Determination of Account    7
4.5.    Statement of Account    7
ARTICLE V. INVESTMENTS    7
5.1.    Investment Options    7
5.2.    Election of Investment Options    8
5.3.    Allocation of Investment Options    8
5.4.    No Actual Investment    8
ARTICLE VI. PAYMENTS AND DISTRIBUTIONS    8
6.1.    Distributions/Events Generally    8
6.2.    In-Service Withdrawals    9
6.3.    Distributions After Separation from Service    9
6.4.    Unforeseeable Emergency Distributions    12
6.5.    Automatic Cash-Out    12
6.6.    Special Payment Election by December 31, 2006, for Code Section 409A Transition Relief    12
6.7.    Withholding for Taxes    13
ARTICLE VII. BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION    13
7.1.    Beneficiary Designation    13
7.2.    No Beneficiary Designation    13
ARTICLE VIII. PLAN ADMINISTRATION    13
8.1.    Allocation of Duties to Committees    13
8.2.    Agents    13
8.3.    Information Required by Plan Administrator    14
8.4.    Binding Effect of Decisions    14
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ARTICLE IX. CLAIMS PROCEDURE    14
9.1.    Claim    14
9.2.    Review of Claim    14
9.3.    Notice of Denial of Claim    14
9.4.    Reconsideration of Denied Claim    15
9.5.    Employer to Supply Information    15
ARTICLE X. PLAN AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION    15
10.1.    Plan Amendment    15
10.2.    Partial Plan Termination    16
ARTICLE XI. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS    16
11.1.    Unfunded Plan    16
11.2.    Company and Employer Obligations    16
11.3.    Unsecured General Creditor    16
11.4.    Trust Fund    17
11.5.    Nonalienation of Benefits    17
11.6.    Indemnification    17
11.7.    No Enlargement of Employee Rights    18
11.8.    Protective Provisions    18
11.9.    Governing Law    18
11.10.    Validity    18
11.11.    Notice    18
11.12.    Successors    19
11.13.    Incapacity of Recipient    19
11.14.    Unclaimed Benefit    19
11.15.    Tax Compliance and Payouts    19
11.16.    General Conditions    21
Exhibit A    History of the Plan    23
Exhibit B    Summary of Payment Terms    25

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SAVINGS RESTORATION PLAN 
FOR NISOURCE INC. AND AFFILIATES
ARTICLE I.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
i..Background.  The Savings Restoration Plan for NiSource, Inc. and Affiliates is maintained to provide deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees of NiSource, Inc. and participating affiliates. The history of the Plan’s amendments and restatements is attached as Exhibit A. 
ii..Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to provide for the payment of savings restoration benefits to employees of NiSource Inc. and Affiliates, whose benefits under the Basic Plan are subject to the Limits or affected by deferrals into the DCP, so that the total savings plan benefits of such employees shall be determined on the same basis as is applicable to all other employees of the Company. The Plan is adopted solely (1) for the purpose of providing benefits to Participants in the Plan and their Beneficiaries in excess of the Limits imposed on qualified plans by Code Section 401(a)(17) and any other Code Sections, by restoring benefits to such Plan Participants and Beneficiaries that are no longer available under the Basic Plan as a result of the Limits, and (2) for the purpose of restoring benefits to Plan Participants and Beneficiaries that are no longer available under the Basic Plan as a result of the Participant’s deferrals into the DCP.
ARTICLE II.

DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Except when otherwise required by the context, any masculine terminology in this document shall include the feminine, and any singular terminology shall include the plural. Defined terms used in the Plan that are not defined in this Article or elsewhere in the Plan but are defined in the Basic Plan shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Basic Plan. The headings of Articles and Sections are included solely for convenience, and if there is any conflict between such headings and the text of the Plan, the text shall control.
i..Account. The device used by an Employer to measure and determine the amount to be paid under the Plan. Each Account shall be divided into a Pre-2005 Account containing contributions to the Plan earned and vested prior to January 1, 2005, and a Post-2004 Account containing contributions to the Plan earned and/or vested on or after January 1, 2005.
ii..Affiliate. Any corporation that is a member of a controlled group of corporations (as defined in Code Section 414(b)) that includes the Company; any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that is under common control (as defined in Code Section 414(c)) with the Company; any organization (whether or not incorporated) that is a member of an affiliated 

service group (as defined in Code Section 414(m)) that includes the Company; any leasing organization, to the extent that its employees are required to be treated as if they were employed by the Company pursuant to Code Section 414(n) and the regulations thereunder; and any other entity required to be aggregated with the Company pursuant to regulations under Code Section 414(o). An entity shall be an Affiliate only with respect to the existing period as described in the preceding sentence.
iii..Basic Plan. The NiSource Inc. Retirement Savings Plan, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2018, and as further amended from time to time (or as amended and restated for any prior period to the extent the provisions of the Plan refer to such prior period for the Basic Plan).
iv..Beneficiary. The person, persons or entity entitled to receive any Plan benefits payable after a Participant’s death, as elected by a Participant under the Basic Plan.
v..Benefits Committee.  The NiSource Benefits Committee.
vi..Board. The Board of Directors of NiSource Inc.
vii..Code. The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
viii..Company. NiSource Inc.
ix..Compensation. Compensation as defined under the Basic Plan for purposes of determining Pre-Tax Contributions, Roth Contributions, and Matching Contributions under the Basic Plan. For purposes of calculating Employer credits to Participant Accounts under this Plan, Compensation may exceed the Compensation Limit under Code Section 401(a)(17)(B) and shall not be impacted by any other Limit.
x..Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company.
xi..DCP. The Columbia Energy Group Deferred Compensation Plan on or prior to December 31, 2003, and, thereafter, the NiSource Inc. Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, as further amended from time to time.
xii..Disability. A condition that (a) causes a Participant, 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, to receive income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company or an Affiliate or (b) causes a Participant to be eligible to receive Social Security disability payments.
xiii..Effective Date. November 1, 2020, the date on which the provisions of this amended and restated Plan become effective, except as otherwise provided herein.
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xiv..Eligible Employee. An employee who is one of a select group of management or highly compensated employees of the Employer who satisfy the criteria established by the Compensation Committee in accordance with this Plan.
xv..Employer. The Company or any Affiliate that maintains or adopts the Basic Plan for the benefit of its eligible Employees.
xvi..ERISA. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
xvii..In-Service Withdrawal. A distribution from a Participant’s Pre-2005 Account before that Participant’s Separation from Service made in accordance with the Participant’s written election under Article V of this Plan.
xviii..Limits. The limits imposed on tax qualified retirement plans by Code Sections 415 and 401(a)(17) and any other Code Sections.
xix..Participant. Any Eligible Employee who is participating in the Plan in accordance with its provisions.
xx..Plan. The Savings Restoration Plan for NiSource Inc. and Affiliates (formerly known as the Savings Restoration Plan for the Columbia Energy Group, and before that as the Thrift Restoration Plan for the Columbia Energy Group), as set forth herein and as amended from time to time.
xxi..Plan Administrator. The Benefits Committee or such delegate of the Benefits Committee delegated to carry out the administrative functions of the Plan.
xxii..Plan Year. The 12-month period commencing each January 1 and ending the following December 31.
xxiii..Post-2004 Account. The portion of a Participant’s Account equal to the excess of (1) the balance of the Participant’s Account determined as of a Participant’s date of Separation from Service after December 31, 2004, over (2) the Pre-2005 Account, to which the Participant would be entitled under the Plan if he voluntarily separated from service without cause as of such date and received a full payment of benefits from the Plan on the earliest possible date allowed under the Plan following his Separation from Service.
xxiv..Pre-2005 Account. The portion of a Participant’s Account determined as of December 31, 2004, adjusted to reflect earnings (or losses) credited to such balance from and after such date.
xxv..Separation from Service. A termination of services provided by a Participant to his or her Employer, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, consistent with Code Section 409A and the guidance promulgated thereunder.
xxvi..Specified Employee. A Participant who is in job scope level C2 or above with respect to any Employer that employs him or her; provided that if at any time the total number of 
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employees in job category C2 and above is less than 50, a Specified Employee shall include any employee who meets the definition of “key employee” set forth in Code Section 416(i) (without reference to paragraph 5 of Code Section 416(i)). A Participant shall be deemed to be a Specified Employee with respect to a Separation from Service that occurs during a calendar year if he or she is a Specified Employee on September 30 of the preceding calendar year. The Benefits Committee shall determine which Participants are Specified Employees in accordance with the guidance promulgated under Code Section 409A.
xxvii..Unforeseeable Emergency. A severe financial hardship to a Participant resulting from an illness or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s spouse or a dependent (as defined in Code Section 152(a)), of the Participant, loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant.
xxviii..Valuation Date. The close of business of each business day.
ARTICLE III.

ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION
i..Eligibility. On and after January 1, 2012, eligibility to participate in the Plan shall be limited to an employee in job scope level C2 or above. On and after October 22, 2012, eligibility to participate in this Plan additionally shall include any employee in job scope level D1 or D2 who completed an election form under the DCP in 2011 to make deferrals related to services performed in the Plan Year beginning January 1, 2012; provided however, that such an employee will be eligible to receive only the Profit Sharing Contribution Credits described in Section 4.2(b) and the Next-Gen Contribution Credits described in Section 4.2(c), to the extent described in such subsections, and will remain eligible to participate in this Plan and receive such contributions after the 2012 Plan Year only if he or she completes an election form under the DCP in each successive Plan Year after 2012 and otherwise remains eligible to continue to participate in the DCP in each successive Plan Year after 2012.
ii..Participation. The Plan Administrator shall inform each Employee of his or her eligibility to participate in the Plan as soon as practicable but before the earliest date such Employee’s participation could become effective. An Eligible Employee becomes a Participant when the Employer credits the Participant’s Account with the Employer credits described in Article IV of this Plan.
iii..Continuation of Participation. A Participant shall remain a Participant so long as his or her Account has not been fully distributed to him or her.
iv..Amendment of Eligibility Criteria. The Compensation Committee may, in its discretion, change the criteria for eligibility for any reason, provided, however, that no change in the criteria for eligibility shall be effective unless such changes are (a) within guidelines established by the Compensation Committee or (b) approved by the Compensation Committee. 
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Eligibility for participation in one year does not guarantee eligibility to participate in any future year.
ARTICLE IV.

ACCOUNTS
i..Account. The Employer credits, as described in Sections 4.2 and 4.3, and earnings thereon, shall be credited to the Participant’s Account. The Account shall be a bookkeeping device utilized for the sole purpose of determining the benefits payable under the Plan and shall not constitute a separate fund of assets.
ii..Employer Credits.
(1)Matching Contribution Credits. The amount of Employer credits related to Matching Contributions for a Participant eligible to receive such contributions under Section 3.1 shall equal (1) minus (2) below:
(a)The total amount of Matching Contributions that would otherwise have been contributed to the Basic Plan for the Participant during all years in which the Participant participated in the Basic Plan without regard to the Limits;
(b)The actual amount of Matching Contributions that have been contributed to the Basic Plan for the Participant.
In addition to making the credits related to Matching Contributions described above, the Employer also will make the following true-up credit. If (i) the allocation period under the Basic Plan is shorter than the Plan Year, and (ii) on the last day of the Plan Year, the amount of Matching Contributions under the Basic Plan is less than the amount of Matching Contributions that would have been made had the allocation period for Matching Contributions been the Plan Year, then the Employer will make an additional credit to a Participant’s Account. This credit will be in the amount necessary to make the Employer credit related to Matching Contributions equal to the amount of Employer credits related to Matching Contributions that would have been made had the allocation period been the Plan Year. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Employer shall make this true-up credit only for Participants who are employed with the Employer on the last day of the Plan Year and Participants who experienced a Separation from Service before the last day of the Plan Year due to death, Disability, or retirement.
(2)Profit Sharing Contribution Credits. Employer credits pursuant to this Section 4.2(b) shall be reflected in the Plan for all Participants in the Plan on or after such date, including the following: (1) those who received 
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Profit Sharing Contributions to the Basic Plan for 2010 or later that were subject to the Limits, or (2) those who otherwise had Profit Sharing Contributions limited or adjusted under the Basic Plan on or after January 1, 2011. The amount of Employer credits related to Profit Sharing Contributions for a Participant shall equal (1) minus (2) below:
(a)The total amount of Profit Sharing Contributions that otherwise would have been contributed to the Basic Plan for the Participant during all years in which the Participant participated in the Basic Plan, as determined by Compensation as defined under this Plan without regards to the Limits;
(b)The actual amount of Profit Sharing Contributions that have been contributed to the Basic Plan for the Participant.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant who is in job scope level D1 or D2 shall receive an amount of Employer credits related to Profit Sharing Contributions equal to the difference between (1) minus (2) below:
(c)The total amount of Profit Sharing Contributions that otherwise would have been contributed to the Basic Plan for the Participant during all years in which the Participant participated in the Basic Plan, had Profit Sharing Contributions been calculated using this Plan’s definition of Compensation;
(d)The actual amount of Profit Sharing Contributions that have been contributed to the Basic Plan for the Participant.
This amount shall be credited to any applicable Participant regardless of whether such Participant has signed a written agreement to participate in this Plan.
(3)Next-Gen Contribution Credits. With respect to a Participant who is classified by the Employer as an “exempt employee” and who is hired or rehired on or after January 1, 2010, the amount of Employer credits for a Participant shall equal (1) minus (2) below:
(a)The total amount of the Employer Contribution that otherwise would have been contributed to the Basic Plan in an amount equal to 3% of the Participant’s Compensation (as defined under this Plan) without regard to the Limits;
(b)The actual amount of the Employer Contribution under the Basic Plan that was contributed to the Participant in an amount equal to 
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3% of the Participant’s Compensation (as defined under the Basic Plan).
This amount shall be credited to any applicable Participant in addition to any amounts he or she may be entitled to under Sections 4.2(a) and 4.2 (b) of this Plan and regardless of whether such Participant has signed a written agreement to participate in this Plan.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant who is in job scope level D1 or D2 shall receive an amount of Employer credits equal to the difference between (1) minus (2) below:
1.The total amount of the Employer Contribution that otherwise would have been contributed to the Basic Plan in an amount equal to 3% of the Participant’s Compensation (as defined under this Plan);
2.The actual amount of the Employer Contribution under the Basic Plan that was contributed to the Participant in an amount equal to 3% of the Participant’s Compensation (as defined under the Basic Plan).
This amount shall be credited to any applicable Participant regardless of whether such Participant has signed a written agreement to participate in this Plan.
a.Timing of Credits; Withholding. The Employer credits shall be made to the Participant’s Account annually, at such time determined by the Plan Administrator. Any withholding of taxes or other amounts that is required by federal, state, or local law shall be withheld from the Participant’s nondeferred Compensation to the maximum extent possible and any remaining amount shall reduce the amount credited to the Participant’s Account.
b.Determination of Account. Each Participant’s Account as of each Valuation Date shall consist of the balance of the Account as of the immediately preceding Valuation Date, adjusted as follows:
1.New Employer Credits. The Account shall be increased by any Employer credits made in accordance with Sections 4.2 or 4.3, as applicable, since such preceding Valuation Date.
2.Distributions. The Account shall be reduced by any benefits distributed from the Account to the Participant since such preceding Valuation Date.
3.Valuation of Account. The Account shall be increased or decreased by the aggregate earnings, gains and losses on such Account since such preceding 
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Valuation Date, based on the manner in which the Participant’s Account has been hypothetically allocated among the investment options selected by the Participant.
c.Statement of Account. The Plan Administrator shall give to each Participant a statement showing the balance in the Participant’s Account periodically at such times as may be determined by the Plan Administrator, in written or electronic form.
ARTICLE V.

INVESTMENTS 
d.Investment Options. Amounts credited hereunder to the Account of a Participant shall be invested as such Participant elects among the investment choices provided to the Participant.
The investment options shall be determined by the Plan Administrator from time to time in its sole and absolute discretion. As necessary, the Plan Administrator may, in its sole discretion, discontinue, substitute or add an investment option. Each such action will take effect on such date established by the Plan Administrator.
e.Election of Investment Options. A Participant, in connection with his or her payment election under Article VI of this Plan, shall elect one or more of the previously described investment options, as applicable, to be used to determine the amounts to be credited or debited to his or her Account. If a Participant does not elect any investment options, the Participant’s Account shall automatically be allocated into the lowest-risk investment option, as determined by the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion. The Participant may (but is not required to) elect to add or delete one or more investment options to be used to determine the amounts to be credited or debited to his or her Account, or to change the portion of his or her Account allocated to each previously or newly elected investment option. If an election is made in accordance with the previous sentence, it shall apply as of the first business day deemed reasonably practicable by the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, and shall continue thereafter for each subsequent day in which the Participant participates in the Plan, unless changed in accordance with the previous sentence. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, may impose limitations on the frequency with which one or more of the investment options elected in accordance with this Section may be added or deleted by such Participant; furthermore, the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, may impose limitations on the frequency with which the Participant may change the portion of his or her Account allocated to each previously or newly elected investment option.
f.Allocation of Investment Options. In making any election related to investment options, the Participant shall specify, in increments specified by the Plan Administrator, the percentage of his or her Account or investment option, as applicable, to be allocated or reallocated.
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g.No Actual Investment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan that may be interpreted to the contrary, the investment options are to be used for measurement purposes only, and a Participant’s election of any such investment option, the allocation of his or her Account thereto, the calculation of additional amounts and the crediting or debiting of such amounts to a Participant’s Account shall not be considered or construed in any manner as an actual investment of his or her Account in any such investment option. In the event that the Company, in its own discretion, decides to invest funds in any or all of the investments on which the investment options are based, no Participant shall have any rights in or to such investments themselves. Without limiting the foregoing, a Participant’s Account shall at all times be a bookkeeping entry only and shall not represent any investment made on his or her behalf by the Company; the Participant shall at all times remain an unsecured creditor of the Company.
ARTICLE VI.

PAYMENTS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
h.Distributions/Events Generally. Participants generally will not be entitled to receive a distribution of their Account balance until they experience a Separation from Service with the Employer for any reason. A Participant may receive a distribution before Separation from Service, however, in accordance with this Article VI, upon (1) an Unforeseeable Emergency that occurs before Separation from Service, or (2) a year that has been designated by the Participant only with respect to his Pre-2005 Account balance that occurs before Separation from Service. The distribution events and payment terms provided in this Article VI are summarized in Exhibit B.
i.In-Service Withdrawals. This section applies only to a Participant’s Pre-2005 Account balance.
4.General Payments. Subject to the limitations of paragraph (b) below, a Participant, by filing a written request with the Plan Administrator, may, while employed by an Employer or an Affiliate, elect to withdraw 33%, 67% or 100% of his or her Pre-2005 Account.
5.Limitation on In-Service Withdrawals. Any In-Service Withdrawal under paragraph (a) of this Section 6.2 shall be subject to a 10% early distribution penalty. In addition, the following conditions shall apply to In-Service Withdrawals:
1.Only one In-Service Withdrawal shall be permitted in any 12-month period.
2.In-Service Withdrawals shall require suspension of Employer credits (but not credits of earnings or losses) under the Plan for a period of time varying with the percentage of the value of the Participant’s Pre-2005 Account that is withdrawn, according to the following schedule:
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	Percentage	Suspension
	Up to 33%	2 months
	34 - 67%	4 months
	68 - 100%	6 months 

This suspension shall not affect a Participant’s participation in the Basic Plan nor the basis for determining the Employer contributions or Participant Pre-tax Contributions under the Basic Plan.
j.Distributions After Separation from Service.
6.Generally. If a Participant experiences a Separation from Service, the provisions of this Section 6.3 shall apply to the distribution of the Participant’s Account.
7.Pre-2005 Account.
1.Form of Payment of Pre-2005 Account. The Pre-2005 Account payable under the Plan to a Participant or his or her spouse, Beneficiary, or legal representative shall be paid in the same form under which the Basic Plan benefit is payable to the Participant or his or her spouse, Beneficiary, or legal representative. The Participant’s election under the Basic Plan of any optional form of payment of his or her Basic Plan benefit (with the valid consent of his or her surviving spouse where required under the Basic Plan) shall also be applicable to the payment of his or her Pre-2005 Account under the Plan.
2.Timing of Payment of Pre-2005 Account. Payment of the Pre-2005 Account under the Plan to a Participant or his or her spouse, Beneficiary, or legal representative under the Plan shall commence on the same date as payment of the benefit to the Participant or his or her spouse, Beneficiary, or legal representative under the Basic Plan commences. Any election under the Basic Plan made by the Participant with respect to the commencement of payment of his or her benefit under the Basic Plan shall also be applicable with respect to the commencement of payment of his or her Pre-2005 Account under the Plan.
3.Approval by Plan Administrator. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (i) and (ii) above, an election made by the Participant under the Basic Plan with respect to the form of payment of his or her Pre-2005 Account thereunder (with the valid consent of his or her surviving spouse where required under the Basic Plan), or the date for commencement of payment thereof, 
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shall not be effective with respect to the form of payment or date for commencement of payment of his or her Pre-2005 Account under the Plan unless such election is expressly approved in writing by the Plan Administrator. If the Plan Administrator shall not approve such election in writing, then the form of payment or date for commencement of payment of the Participant’s Pre-2005 Account under the Plan shall be selected by the Plan Administrator at its sole discretion.
8.Post-2004 Account.
4.Form of Payment of Post-2004 Account. The Post-2004 Account shall be payable in a form elected by a Participant no later than December 31, 2005. In the case of an Eligible Employee who becomes a Participant on or after January 1, 2005, an election with respect to the form of payment of a Post-2004 Account shall be made at such time prescribed by the Plan Administrator, which shall end no later than December 31st of the year preceding the Plan Year in which the Participant is first eligible to participate in the Plan. 
Payment shall be made in the form elected, from among the following options:
i.If elected before January 1, 2014, the payment options are the following: lump sum, monthly installments, semi-annual installments, and annual installments. Installment payments shall be substantially equal and shall be made over the period of time elected, not greater than 15 years. 
ii.If elected on or after January 1, 2014, and before November 1, 2020, the payment options are the following: lump sum or annual installments. Installment payments shall be substantially equal and shall be made over the period of time elected, not greater than 15 years.
iii.If elected on and after November 1, 2020, the payment option shall be one lump sum.
iv.If a Participant has not made a timely and valid election as to the form of payment, payment shall be made in one lump sum.
5.Timing of Payment of Post-2004 Account. Payment of a Post-2004 Account in accordance with this Section 6.3 shall commence within 45 days after the Participant’s date of Separation from 
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Service, or, if later, within such timeframe permitted under Code Section 409A, and guidance and regulations thereunder.
6.Modifications to Time and Form of Payment. A Participant cannot change the time or form of payment of a Post-2004 Account under this Subsection 6.3(c) unless (A) such election does not take effect until at least 12 months after the date the election is made, (B) in the case of an election related to a payment not related to the Participant’s Disability or death, the first payment with respect to which such new election is effective is deferred for a period of not less than five years from the date such payment would otherwise have been made, and (C) any election related to a payment based upon a specific time or pursuant to a fixed schedule may not be made less than 12 months prior to the date of the first scheduled payment.
7.Time of Payment for Specified Employees. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, in no event can a payment of a Post-2004 Account to a Participant who is a Specified Employee, at a time during which the Company’s capital stock or capital stock of an Affiliate is publicly traded on an established securities market, in the calendar year of his or her Separation from Service be made before the date that is six months after the date of the Participant’s Separation from Service, unless such Separation from Service is due to death.
k.Unforeseeable Emergency Distributions.
9.Pre-2005 Account. Upon a finding that a Participant has suffered an Unforeseeable Emergency, the Plan Administrator may, in its sole discretion, make distributions from the Participant’s Pre-2005 Account. The amount of such a distribution shall be limited to the amount reasonably necessary to meet the Participant’s needs resulting from the Unforeseeable Emergency.
Any distribution pursuant to this Subsection shall be payable in a lump sum. The distribution shall be paid within 30 days after the determination of an Unforeseeable Emergency.
10.Post-2004 Account. Upon a finding that a Participant has suffered an Unforeseeable Emergency, the Plan Administrator may, in its sole discretion, make distributions from the Participant’s Post-2004 Account and/or suspend Employer credits entirely in accordance with the guidance under Code Section 409A. The amount of such distribution shall be limited to the amount necessary to satisfy such Unforeseeable Emergency plus amounts necessary to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of 
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the distribution, after taking into account the extent to which such hardship is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise or by liquidation of the Participant’s assets (to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship). Any distribution pursuant to this Subsection shall be payable in a lump sum. The distribution shall be paid within 30 days after the determination of an Unforeseeable Emergency.
l.Automatic Cash-Out. Subject to Section 6.3(c)(4) of the Plan and notwithstanding any other provision in the Plan, if (1) at the time a distribution begins, the sum of the Participant’s Pre-2005 Account and Post-2004 Account does not exceed the applicable dollar limit under code Section 402(g)(1)(B), and (2) this sum is the entirety of the Participant’s interest in the Plan and all other arrangements that are considered a single nonqualified deferred compensation plan under Code Section 409A and applicable guidance thereunder, the Employer shall distribute the Participant’s entire Pre-2005 Account and Post-2004 Account (and the Participant’s entire interest under any other arrangement that is required to be aggregated with this Plan under Code Section 409A). The form of payment of both the Pre-2005 Account and Post-2004 Account shall be a single lump sum.
m.Special Payment Election by December 31, 2006, for Code Section 409A Transition Relief. Notwithstanding Section 6.3(c), a Participant may change an election with respect to the time and form of payment of a Post-2004 Account, without regard to the restrictions imposed under paragraph (3) of Section 6.3(c), on or before December 31, 2006; provided that such election (A) applies only to amounts that would not otherwise be payable in calendar year 2006, and (B) shall not cause an amount to be paid in calendar year 2006 that would not otherwise be payable in such year.
n.Withholding for Taxes. To the extent required by the law in effect at the time payments are made, an Employer shall withhold from the payments made hereunder any taxes required to be withheld by the federal or any state or local government, including any amounts which the Employer determines is reasonably necessary to pay any generation-skipping transfer tax which is or may become due. A Beneficiary, however, may elect not to have withholding of federal income tax pursuant to Code Section 3405(a)(2).
ARTICLE VII.

BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION
o.Beneficiary Designation. Each Participant’s Beneficiary (both primary as well as secondary) to whom benefits under the Plan shall be paid in the event of the Participant’s death prior to complete distribution of the Participant’s Account, shall be the Beneficiary that the Participant has selected under the Basic Plan. A Participant may designate a Beneficiary or change a prior Beneficiary designation only by designating or changing a Beneficiary under the Basic Plan.
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p.No Beneficiary Designation. If any Participant fails to designate a Beneficiary in the manner provided above, if the designation is void or if the Beneficiary designated by a deceased Participant dies before the Participant or before complete distribution of the Participant’s benefits, the Participant’s Beneficiary shall be the person identified in accordance with the procedures under the Basic Plan.
ARTICLE VIII.

PLAN ADMINISTRATION
q.Allocation of Duties to Committees. The Plan shall be administered by the Benefits Committee, as delegated by the Compensation Committee. The Benefits Committee shall have the authority to make, amend, interpret, and enforce all appropriate rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan and decide or resolve any and all questions, including interpretations of the Plan, as may arise in such administration, except as otherwise reserved to the Compensation Committee herein, or by resolution or charter of the respective committees.
In its discretion, the Plan Administrator may delegate to any division or department of the Company the discretionary authority to make decisions regarding Plan administration, within limits and guidelines from time to time established by the Plan Administrator. The delegated discretionary authority shall be exercised by such division or department’s senior officer, or his/her delegate. Within the scope of the delegated discretionary authority, such officer or person shall act in the place of the Plan Administrator and his/her decisions shall be treated as decisions of the Plan Administrator.
r.Agents. The Plan Administrator may, from time to time, employ agents and delegate to them such administrative duties as it sees fit, and may from time to time consult with counsel who may be counsel to the Company.
s.Information Required by Plan Administrator. The Company shall furnish the Plan Administrator with such data and information as the Plan Administrator may deem necessary or desirable in order to administer the Plan. The records of the Company as to an employee’s or Participant’s period or periods of employment, separation from Service and the reason therefore, reemployment and Compensation will be conclusive on all persons unless determined to the Plan Administrator’s satisfaction to be incorrect. Participants and other persons entitled to benefits under the Plan also shall furnish the Plan Administrator with such evidence, data or information as the Plan Administrator considers necessary or desirable to administer the Plan.
t.Binding Effect of Decisions. Subject to applicable law, and the provisions of Article VIII, any interpretation of the provisions of the Plan and any decision on any matter within the discretion of the Benefits Committee and/or the Compensation Committee (or any duly authorized delegate of either such committee) and made in good faith shall be binding on all persons.
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ARTICLE IX.

CLAIMS PROCEDURE
u.Claim. Claims for benefits under the Plan shall be made in writing to the Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator shall establish rules and procedures to be followed by Participants and Beneficiaries in filing claims for benefits, and for furnishing and verifying proof necessary to establish the right to benefits in accordance with the Plan, consistent with the remainder of this Article.
v.Review of Claim. The Plan Administrator shall review all claims for benefits. Upon receipt by the Plan Administrator of such a claim, it shall determine all facts that are necessary to establish the right of the claimant to benefits under the provisions of the Plan and the amount thereof as herein provided within 90 days of receipt of such claim. If prior to the expiration of the initial 90 day period, the Plan Administrator determines additional time is needed to come to a determination on the claim, the Plan Administrator shall provide written notice to the Participant, Beneficiary or other claimant of the need for the extension, not to exceed a total of 180 days from the date the application was received. If the Plan Administrator fails to notify the claimant in writing of the denial of the claim within 90 days after the Plan Administrator receives it, the claim shall be deemed denied.
w.Notice of Denial of Claim. If the Plan Administrator wholly or partially denies a claim for benefits, the Plan Administrator shall, within a reasonable period of time, but no later than 90 days after receiving the claim (unless extended as noted above), notify the claimant in writing of the denial of the claim. Such notification shall be written in a manner reasonably expected to be understood by such claimant and shall in all respects comply with the requirements of ERISA, ‎including but not limited to inclusion of the following:
11.the specific reason or reasons for denial of the claim;
12.a specific reference to the pertinent Plan provisions upon which the denial is based;
13.a description of any additional material or information necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim, together with an explanation of why such material or information is necessary; and
14.an explanation of the Plan’s review procedure.
x.Reconsideration of Denied Claim. Within 60 days of the receipt by the claimant of the written notice of denial of the claim, or within 60 days after the claim is deemed denied as set forth above, if applicable, the claimant or duly authorized representative may file a written request with the Benefits Committee that it conduct a full and fair review of the denial of the claimant’s claim for benefits. If the claimant or duly authorized representative fails to request such a reconsideration within such 60 day period, it shall be conclusively determined for all purposes of the Plan that the denial of such claim by the Benefits Committee is correct. In 
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connection with the claimant’s appeal of the denial of his or her benefit, the claimant may review documents relevant to the benefit claim and may submit issues and comments in writing.
The Benefits Committee shall render a decision on the claim appeal promptly, but not later than 60 days after receiving the claimant’s request for review, unless, in the discretion of the Benefits Committee, special circumstances require an extension of time for processing, in which case the 60-day period may be extended to 120 days. The Benefits Committee shall notify the claimant in writing of any such extension. The notice of decision upon review shall be in writing and shall include specific reasons for the decision, written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant, as well as specific references to the pertinent Plan provisions upon which the decision is based. If the decision on review is not furnished within the time period set forth above, the claim shall be deemed denied on review.
If such determination is favorable to the claimant, it shall be binding and conclusive. If such determination is adverse to such claimant, it shall be binding and conclusive unless the claimant or his duly authorized representative notifies the Benefits Committee within 90 days after the mailing or delivery to the claimant by the Benefits Committee of its determination that claimant intends to institute legal proceedings challenging the determination of the Benefits Committee and actually institutes such legal proceedings within 180 days after such mailing or delivery.
y.Employer to Supply Information. To enable the Benefits Committee to perform its functions, each Employer shall supply fully and timely information to the Benefits Committee of all matters relating to the retirement, death, or other cause for Separation from Service of all Participants, and such other pertinent facts as the Benefits Committee may require.
ARTICLE X.

PLAN AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
z.Plan Amendment. While the Company intends to maintain the Plan in conjunction with the Basic Plan, the Company or the Compensation Committee reserves the right to amend the Plan at any time and from time to time with respect to eligibility for the Plan, the level of benefits awarded under the Plan and the time and form of payment for benefits from the Plan. The Benefits Committee, the Compensation Committee, or the Board shall have the authority to amend the Plan as described herein. The Compensation Committee or the Board shall have the exclusive authority to amend the Plan regarding eligibility for the Plan, the amount or level of benefits awarded under the Plan, and the time and form of payments for benefits from the Plan. In addition, the Compensation Committee or the Board shall also have the exclusive authority to make amendments that constitute a material increase in Compensation, any change requiring action or consent by a committee of the Board pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the New York Stock Exchange or other applicable law, or such other material changes to the Plan such that approval of the Board is required. Unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee, the Benefits Committee shall have the authority to amend the Plan in all respects that are not exclusively reserved to the Compensation Committee or the Board.
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The respective committee may at any time amend the Plan by written instrument, notice of which is given to all Participants and to Beneficiaries. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, no amendment shall reduce the amount accrued in any Account prior to the date such notice of the amendment is given.
aa.Partial Plan Termination. The Compensation Committee or the Company at any time may partially terminate the Plan provided that such partial termination of the Plan shall not impair or alter any Participant’s or Beneficiary’s right to the applicable Participant’s Account balance as of the effective date of such partial termination. If such a partial termination occurs, no additional Employer credits shall be made after the date of such partial termination other than the crediting of earnings (or losses) until the date of distribution of Participant Account balances. Further, the Plan shall otherwise continue to be administered with respect to Account balances credited before the effective date of such partial termination, and distribution shall be made at such times as specified under this Plan.
ARTICLE XI.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
ab.Unfunded Plan. The Plan is an unfunded plan maintained primarily to provide deferred compensation benefits for a select group of “management or highly-compensated employees” within the meaning of Sections 201, 301 and 401 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and therefore is exempt from the provisions of Parts 2, 3 and 4 of Title I of ERISA. Nothing contained in the Plan shall constitute a guaranty by the Company or any other Employer or any other entity or person that the assets of the Company or any other Employer shall be sufficient to pay any benefit hereunder.
ac.Company and Employer Obligations. The obligation to make benefit payments to any Participant under the Plan shall be a joint and several liability of the Company and the Employer that employed the Participant.
ad.Unsecured General Creditor. Participants and Beneficiaries shall be unsecured general creditors, with no secured or preferential right to any assets of the Company, any other Employer, or any other party for payment of benefits under the Plan. Any life insurance policies, annuity contracts or other property purchased by the Employer in connection with the Plan shall remain its general, unpledged and unrestricted assets. Obligations of the Company and each other Employer under the Plan shall be an unfunded and unsecured promise to pay money in the future.
ae.Trust Fund. Subject to Section 12.3, the Company may establish separate subtrusts for deferrals by employees of each Employer, pursuant to a trust agreement entered into with such trustees as the Benefits Committee may approve, for the purpose of providing for the payment of benefits owed under the Plan. At its discretion, each Employer may contribute deferrals under the Plan for its employees to the subtrust established with respect to such Employer under such trust agreement. To the extent any benefits provided under the Plan are paid from any such subtrust, the Employer shall have no further obligation to pay them. If not 
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paid from a subtrust, such benefits shall remain the obligation of the Employer. Although such subtrusts may be irrevocable, their assets shall be held for payment of all the Company’s general creditors in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy.
af.Nonalienation of Benefits. Neither a Participant nor any other person shall have any right to commute, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, anticipate, mortgage, or otherwise encumber, transfer, hypothecate, or convey in advance of actual receipt the amounts, if any, payable hereunder, or any part thereof or rights to, which are expressly declared to be unassignable and nontransferable. No part of the amounts payable shall, prior to actual payment, be subject to seizure or sequestration for the payment of any debts, judgments, alimony, or separate maintenance owed by a Participant or any other person, nor be transferable by operation of law in the event of a Participant’s or any other person’s bankruptcy or insolvency.
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, the Account of any Participant shall be subject to and payable in the amount determined in accordance with any qualified domestic relations order, as that term is defined in Section 206(d)(3) of ERISA. The Plan Administrator shall provide for payment of such portion of an Account to an alternate payee (as defined in Section 206(d)(3) of ERISA) as soon as administratively possible following receipt of such order. Any federal, state or local income tax associated with such payment shall be the responsibility of the alternate payee. The balance of any Account that is subject to any qualified domestic relations order shall be reduced by the amount of any payment made pursuant to such order.
ag.Indemnification.
15.Limitation of Liability. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any trust established under the Plan, none of the Company, any other Employer, any member of the Benefits Committee or the Compensation Committee, nor any individual acting as an employee, or agent or delegate of any of them, shall be liable to any Participant, former Participant, Beneficiary, or any other person for any claim, loss, liability or expense incurred in connection with the Plan or any trust established under the Plan, except when the same shall have been judicially determined to be due to the willful misconduct of such person.
16.Indemnity. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each member of the Benefits Committee and the Compensation Committee, or any employee of the Company or any individual acting as an employee or agent of either of them (to the extent not indemnified or saved harmless under any liability insurance or any other indemnification arrangement with respect to the Plan or any trust established under the Plan) from any and all claims, losses, liabilities, costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) arising out of any actual or alleged act or failure to act made in good faith pursuant to the provisions of the Plan, including expenses reasonably incurred in the defense of any claim relating thereto with respect to the administration of the Plan or any trust established under the Plan, except that no indemnification or defense shall be provided to any person with 
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respect to any conduct that has been judicially determined, or agreed by the parties, to have constituted willful misconduct on the part of such person, or to have resulted in his or her receipt of personal profit or advantage to which he or she is not entitled. In connection with the indemnification provided by the preceding sentence, expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding, or incurred in connection with a civil or criminal investigation, may be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit, proceeding, or investigation, as authorized by the Benefits Committee or the Compensation Committee in the specific case, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the party to be indemnified to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately be determined that the person is entitled to be indemnified by the Company pursuant to this paragraph.
ah.No Enlargement of Employee Rights. No Participant or Beneficiary shall have any right to a benefit under the Plan except in accordance with the terms of the Plan. The Plan shall not constitute a contract of employment between an Employer and the Participant. Nothing in the Plan shall give any Participant or Beneficiary the right to be retained in the service of an Employer or to interfere with the right of an Employer to discipline or discharge a Participant at any time.
ai.Protective Provisions. A Participant shall cooperate with his Employer by furnishing any and all information requested by the Employer in order to facilitate the payment of benefits hereunder, and by taking such physical examinations as the Employer may deem necessary and taking such other action as may be requested by the Employer.
aj.Governing Law. The Plan shall be construed and administered under the laws of the State of Indiana, except to the extent preempted by applicable federal law.
ak.Validity. In case any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, said illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts hereof, but the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal and invalid provision had never been inserted herein.
al.Notice. Any notice required or permitted under the Plan shall be sufficient if in writing and hand delivered or sent by registered or certified mail. Such notice shall be deemed as given as of the date of delivery or, if delivery is made by mail, as of the date shown on the postmark on the receipt for registration or certification. Mailed notice to the Benefits Committee shall be directed to the Company’s address. Mailed notice to a Participant or Beneficiary shall be directed to the individual’s last known address in the applicable Employer’s records.
am.Successors. The provisions of the Plan shall bind and inure to the benefit of the Employers and their successors and assigns. The term successors as used herein shall include any corporate or other business entity that shall, whether by merger, consolidation, purchase, or otherwise, acquire all or substantially all of the business and assets of an Employer, and successors of any such corporation or other business entity.
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an.Incapacity of Recipient. If any person entitled to a benefit payment under the Plan is deemed by the Plan Administrator to be incapable of personally receiving and giving a valid receipt for such payment, then the Plan Administrator may direct payment to the duly appointed guardian, conservator or other similar legal representative of the Participant or Beneficiary to whom payment is due. In the absence of such a legal representative, the Plan Administrator may, in its sole and absolute discretion, make payment to a person having the care and custody of a minor, incompetent or person incapable of handling the disposition of property upon proof satisfactory to the Plan Administrator of incompetency, status as a minor, or incapacity. Such distribution shall completely discharge the Company, any other Employer, the Plan Administrator, and the Plan from all liability with respect to such benefit.
ao.Unclaimed Benefit. Each Participant shall keep the Plan Administrator informed of his or her current address and the current address of his or her Beneficiaries. The Plan Administrator shall not be obligated to search for the whereabouts of any person. If the location of a Participant is not made known to the Plan Administrator within three years after the date on which payment of the Participant’s benefit may first be made, payment may be made as though the Participant had died at the end of the three-year period. If, within one additional year after such three-year period has elapsed or within three years after the actual death of a Participant, the Plan Administrator is unable to locate any Beneficiary of the Participant, then the Plan Administrator shall have no further obligation to pay any benefit hereunder to such Participant, Beneficiary, or any other person and such benefit shall be irrevocably forfeited.
ap.Tax Compliance and Payouts.
17.It is intended that the Plan comply with the provisions of Code Section 409A of the Code, so as to prevent the inclusion in gross income of any amounts deferred hereunder in a taxable year that is prior to the taxable year or years in which such amounts would otherwise actually be paid or made available to Participants or Beneficiaries. This Plan shall be construed, administered, and governed in a manner that affects such intent, and neither any Participant, Beneficiary, nor Plan Administrator shall not take any action that would be inconsistent with such intent.
18.Although the Plan Administrator shall use its best efforts to avoid the imposition of taxation, interest and penalties under Code Section 409A, the tax treatment of deferrals under this Plan is not warranted or guaranteed. Neither the Company, the other Affiliates, the Plan Administrator, the Retirement Committee, nor any designee shall be held liable for any taxes, interest, penalties or other monetary amounts owed by any Participant, Beneficiary or other taxpayer as a result of the Plan.
19.Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (1) in the event that the Internal Revenue Service prevails in its claim that any amount of a Pre-2005 Account, payable pursuant to the Plan and held in the general assets of the Company or any other Employer, constitutes taxable income to a Participant or his or her Beneficiary for a taxable year prior to the 
20

taxable year in which such amount is distributed to him or her, or (2) in the event that legal counsel satisfactory to the Company, and the applicable Participant or his or her Beneficiary, renders an opinion that the Internal Revenue Service would likely prevail in such a claim, the amount of such Pre-2005 Account held in the general assets of the Company or any other Employer, to the extent constituting taxable income, shall be immediately distributed to the Participant or his or her Beneficiary. For purposes of this Section, the Internal Revenue Service shall be deemed to have prevailed in a claim if such claim is upheld by a court of final jurisdiction, or if the Participant or Beneficiary, based upon an opinion of legal counsel satisfactory to the Company and the Participant or his or her Beneficiary, fails to appeal a decision of the Internal Revenue Service, or a court of applicable jurisdiction, with respect to such claim, to an appropriate Internal Revenue Service appeals authority or to a court of higher jurisdiction within the appropriate time period.
20.Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (1) in the event that the Internal Revenue Service prevails in its claim that any amount of a Post-2004 Account, payable pursuant to the Plan and held in the general assets of the Company or any other Employer, constitutes taxable income under Code Section 409A, and guidance and regulations thereunder, to a Participant or his or her Beneficiary for a taxable year prior to the taxable year in which such amount is distributed to him or her, or (2) in the event that legal counsel satisfactory to the Company, and the applicable Participant or his or her Beneficiary, renders an opinion that the Internal Revenue Service would likely prevail in such a claim, the amount of such Post-2004 Account held in the general assets of the Company or any other Employer, to the extent constituting such taxable income, shall be immediately distributed to the Participant or his or her Beneficiary. For purposes of this Section, the Internal Revenue Service shall be deemed to have prevailed in a claim if such claim is upheld by a court of final jurisdiction, or if the Participant or Beneficiary, based upon an opinion of legal counsel satisfactory to the Company and the Participant or his or her Beneficiary, fails to appeal a decision of the Internal Revenue Service, or a court of applicable jurisdiction, with respect to such claim, to an appropriate Internal Revenue Service appeals authority or to a court of higher jurisdiction within the appropriate time period.
aq.General Conditions. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms and conditions of the Basic Plan applicable to a Basic Plan benefit shall also be applicable to a benefit payable hereunder. Any Basic Plan benefit shall be paid solely in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Basic Plan and nothing in the Plan shall operate or be construed in any way to modify, amend or affect the terms and provisions of the Basic Plan.
[signature block follows on next page]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, NiSource Inc. has caused this amended and restated Savings and Restoration Plan for NiSource Inc. and Affiliates to be executed in its name, by its duly authorized officer, effective as of November 1, 2020.
NISOURCE INC.

By:                    

Its:                    

Date:                    

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i.

History of the Plan 
    Prior to January 1, 2004, Columbia Energy Group sponsored the Savings Restoration Plan for Columbia Energy Group for eligible executives of Columbia Energy Group and certain Affiliates. Effective January 1, 2004, NiSource Inc., the parent company of Columbia Energy Group, assumed sponsorship of the Savings Restoration Plan for Columbia Energy Group, renamed the Plan the Savings Restoration Plan for NiSource Inc. and Affiliates, and broadened the Plan to include all employees of NiSource Inc. and Affiliates.
The Plan was amended and restated effective January 1, 2004, and amended effective January 1, 2005. The Plan was then amended and restated again effective January 1, 2005, to comply with Code Section 409A, and guidance and regulations thereunder, with respect to benefits earned under the Plan from and after January 1, 2005. Benefits under the Plan earned and vested prior to January 1, 2005 shall be administered without giving effect to Code Section 409A, and guidance and regulations thereunder. The provisions of the Plan as set forth herein apply only to Participants who actively participate in the Plan on or after January 1, 2005. Any Participant who retired or otherwise terminated employment with the Company and all Affiliates prior to January 1, 2005 shall have his or her rights determined under the provision of the Plan as it existed when his or her employment relationship terminated.
The Plan was further amended and restated, effective January 1, 2008, to provide for mandatory lump sum payments of small account balances in accordance with Code Section 409A. The Plan was amended and restated again, effective January 1, 2010, to contain provisions that eliminate mid-year enrollment into the Plan and to allow Participants who make Roth Contributions to a Basic Plan to participate in this Plan. The plan was further amended and restated, effective January 1, 2010, to restore certain Employer Contributions given to Participants who are classified as “exempt employees” by the Employer and who are hired or rehired on or after January 1, 2010.
The Plan was amended and restated again, effective May 13, 2011, to restore Profit Sharing Contributions that otherwise would have been contributed to Participants under the Basic Plan (if not subject to the Limits, defined below) and to transfer all administrative authority with respect to the Plan (including the authority to render decisions on claims and appeals and make administrative or ministerial amendments) from the Compensation Committee to the Benefits Committee. The Plan was again amended and restated, effective January 1, 2012, to (1) remove the ability of participants to make elective deferrals to the Plan; (2) change eligibility to receive Employer credits under the Plan to those employees who are in job scope level C2 and above; (3) provide for investment options in addition to the fixed interest credits currently available for the crediting of earnings on Accounts under the Plan; and (4) clarify other administrative matters related to the Plan. The Plan was amended and restated again, effective October 22, 2012, to allow certain grandfathered participants in the DCP to receive employer credits to be made under this Plan in 2013 and beyond related to any Profit Sharing Contributions and Next-Gen Contributions that otherwise would have been credited to their 
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accounts under the Basic Plan but were not credited because their DCP deferrals are excluded from Basic Plan compensation for purposes of such contributions. The Plan was amended and restated again, effective August 10, 2017, to revise the procedures for determining Disability under the Plan.
The Plan is amended and restated as of November 1, 2020, to revise the form of payment of Plan benefits on a prospective basis and to clarify matters relating to the Compensation Committee. 

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ii.

Summary of Payment Terms 
(Attached)

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Savings Restoration Plan for NiSource, Inc. and Affiliates  -- Summary of Payment Terms
									
		Pre-2005 Account	Post-2004 Account
	After Separation from Service	

Form: In the same form the Participant elects for payment of his or her 401(k) Plan account 

Time:  At the same time the Participant elects for payment of his or her 401(k) Plan account
	Form: 
A.     In the form elected by the Participant, if a timely, valid election was made
Elected before January 1, 2014: 
•lump sum or 
•installments over the period chosen, not greater than 15 years --- 
◦monthly installments, 
◦semi-annual installments, or 
◦annual installments 
Elected on or after January 1, 2014 and before November 1, 2020:
•lump sum or 
•annual installments over the period chosen, not greater than 15 years
For participants first becoming eligible for participation on or after November 1, 2020: lump sum
B.     If a timely and valid election was not made, lump sum 
Time: 
•Participant is not a Specified Employee – within 45 days after Separation from Service 
•Participant is a Specified Employee – after six months have elapsed from the date of Separation from Service (unless Separation from Service is due to death) 

		Pre-2005 Account	Post-2004 Account
	In-Service Withdrawal Not Due to Unforeseeable Emergency
	

Form: Lump sum (33%, 67%, or 100%, with 10% penalty)

Time: When requested 

	Not available
	In-Service Withdrawal Due to Unforeseeable Emergency	

Form: Lump sum (limited to the amount reasonably necessary to meet the need)

Time: Within 30 days of determination of unforeseeable emergency

	

Form: Lump sum (limited to the amount reasonably necessary to meet the need)

Time: Within 30 days of determination of unforeseeable emergency

	Automatic Cashout 

	Form: Lump sum

Time: If at the time a benefit becomes payable, the balance in the combined Pre-2005 and Post-2004 Accounts, and any other non-qualified account balance plan account, is not greater than the currently-effective 401(k) elective deferral limit, the Plan will pay out the aggregated benefit in one lump sum.Document

Exhibit 10.7

NiSource

POLICY SUBJECT:    Executive Severance Policy (for Employee Job Level D2 and above, including Executives) 

REVISED:    October 19, 2020

1.    Purpose.   NiSource Inc. (“NiSource”) originally established this policy (as amended and restated herein, the “Policy”) in June 2002 to provide severance benefits to certain terminated employees of NiSource and its subsidiaries or affiliate entities (the “Company”) that are Job Level D2 and above, which includes executive officers, (the “Policy”). Benefits under this Policy shall be in lieu of any benefits available under the NiSource Severance Policy (for Job Level E and below) or any other severance plan, program or policy maintained by the Company, (e.g.,  the NiSource Next - Voluntary Separation Program). For employees that have a Change in Control and Termination Agreement with NiSource (“CIC Agreement”), no benefit will be payable under the Policy if the relevant termination of employment results in eligibility for a payment under the CIC agreement. The Policy is amended and restated effective October 19, 2020.

2.    Administration.  The Policy is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of NiSource or its successor (“Committee”).  The Committee has the complete discretion and authority with respect to the Policy and its application. The Committee reserves the right to interpret, prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Policy, determine the terms and provisions of severance benefits and make all other determinations it deems necessary or advisable for the administration of the Policy.  The determination of the Committee in all matters regarding the Policy shall be conclusive and binding on all persons. The Committee hereby delegates to the Chief Human Resources Officer (the “CHRO”), or his or her delegate, the authority to develop and implement administrative guidelines regarding the operation of the Policy and render decisions on initial claims for benefits under the Policy. 

3.    Scope.  The Policy will apply to all full-time or part-time regular, non-union employees of the Company whose job level, as established by the Company, is level D2 (or its equivalent) or above (“Participants”), which includes employees of each of its subsidiaries or affiliated entities (collectively, “Affiliates” and each an “Affiliate”). For the purposes of this Policy, the determination of whether an individual is a full-time or part-time employee of an Affiliate shall be made pursuant to the normal practices and policies of such Affiliate.

4.    Eligibility for Severance Pay.  A Participant becomes eligible to receive severance pay (“Severance Pay”) only if he or she is terminated by the Company for any of the following reasons, provided that such termination event constitutes a “separation from 

    

service” as defined under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and applicable guidance thereunder (“Code Section 409A”), and further provided the conditions described in Section 5 below are met:
(a)    The Participant’s position is eliminated due to a reduction in force or other restructuring.
(b)    The Participant’s position is moved to a principal employment location outside of a 50 mile radius from the Participant’s principal employment location on the date of termination of employment and such move would result in the Participant having a commute more than 20 miles longer, and provided that the Participant chooses not to relocate to the new location for such position, and such events are considered a “good reason” termination under Code Section 409A.
(c)    The Participant’s employment is constructively terminated. Constructive termination shall be defined in a manner consistent with the guidance for a “good reason” termination under Code Section 409A, and means (1) the scope of the Participant’s position is changed materially (other than in the case of a rotational assignment or its equivalent) or (2) the Participant’s base pay is reduced by a material amount or (3) the Participant’s opportunity to earn a bonus under any Company short-term cash incentive compensation plan is materially reduced or is eliminated, and, in any such event, the Participant chooses not to remain employed in such position. If a Participant does not assert constructive termination within 14 days of being informed of a change described in (1), (2) or (3) above, in a written instrument delivered to the CHRO, such change will not be deemed a constructive termination.  Following any such notice from the Participant, the Company shall have 30 days to cure the change that gives rise to constructive termination and, if uncured during such 30 day period, the Participant must terminate his or her employment within 30 days following the expiration of the 30-day cure period.  The decision as to whether such a change constitutes constructive termination shall be made by the Committee or its delegate, not the Participant. If the Participant disagrees, the Participant must follow the claims procedure set forth in Section 15.

5.    Conditions to Receipt of Benefits.

(a)    Severance Pay is not available to a Participant otherwise eligible for Severance Pay who transfers to another position within the Company.

(b)    Severance Pay is not available to a Participant whose position is eliminated due to (1) the sale of the Affiliate or assets of the Affiliate which employs the Participant on the date of termination or (2) the outsourcing of work, where in either such event the purchaser of the Affiliate or assets of the Affiliate or the outsourcing service provider makes an offer of employment to the Participant that, if it were the Company, would not constitute “constructive termination” as described in Section 4(c).

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(c)    Severance Pay is not available to a Participant whose position is eliminated due to the spin-off of any Affiliate,  if the spun-off entity makes an offer of employment to the Participant that, if it were an Affiliate making such an offer, would not constitute “constructive termination” as described in Section 4(c).

(d)    A Participant must execute and not revoke the release described in Section 6 below.

(e)    During the statutory consideration period under any severance agreement or  release described in Section 6, or during such other period as is otherwise agreed to by the Company and the Participant, he or she may be required to complete unfinished business projects and be available for discussions regarding matters relative to the Participant’s duties.

(f)    A Participant must return all Company property and information.

(g)    A Participant must agree to pay all outstanding amounts owed to the Company and authorize the withholding of any outstanding amounts owed from his or her final paycheck and/or Severance Pay.

6.    Amount of Severance Pay.  The amount of Severance Pay to which a Participant is eligible to receive under the Policy is 52 weeks of base salary at the rate in effect on the date of termination, but excluding the impact of any reduction in base salary giving rise to a constructive termination event under clause (2) of Section 4(c).

Subject to Code Section 409A, a Participant who is receiving benefits under a short term disability plan will be eligible for Severance Pay at the end of the period of payment of short term disability if, and only if, (1) he or she is not then eligible for benefits under a long term disability plan, (2) he or she has been given medical release or approval to work again, and (3) he or she is not offered employment with the Company that, in the discretion of the Committee, is comparable to that held by the Participant at the time the applicable period of short term disability commenced. A Participant will not be eligible for Severance Pay at the end of the period of payment of long term disability.

Severance Pay will be paid to a Participant in one lump sum cash payment as soon as practicable after the date of the Participant’s termination of employment, but in no event later than the 15th day of the 3rd month after such date, provided that the Participant has executed a valid release of the Company and its respective officers, directors and employees, from any and all actions, suits, proceedings, claims and demands relating to the Participant’s employment and the termination thereof, and the applicable revocation period has expired within this period, with such release becoming effective during the time period specified in the release but not no later than 60 days following the Participant’s employment termination date. Severance Pay shall be reduced by applicable amounts necessary to comply with federal, state and local income tax withholding requirements.

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A Participant eligible for Severance Pay pursuant to this Policy may seek other employment with the Company. The time period to seek other employment will run concurrently with any statutory period of consideration to execute a severance agreement or a release and will not exceed 45 days. If a Participant accepts other employment with the Company, such Participant shall not receive Severance Pay as provided by Section 5(a). 

7.    Benefits.

(a)Welfare Benefits.  A Participant eligible for Severance Pay shall be eligible to receive, at the time of payment of Severance Pay, a lump sum payment equivalent to 130% of 52-weeks of COBRA (as defined in Section 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and Sections 601-609 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), or any successor sections) continuation coverage premiums for the medical, dental, and vision coverage in which the Participant was enrolled immediately before his or her employment end date. Receipt of this lump sum payment does not constitute election of, or enrollment in, COBRA continuation coverage. To elect COBRA continuation coverage, a Participant must follow the enrollment instructions included in the COBRA election notice that such Participant receives shortly after the date of the Participant’s termination of employment.

(b)    Outplacement Services.  A Participant eligible for Severance Pay shall be eligible to receive outplacement services as selected by the Company at its expense, for a period commencing on the date of termination of employment and continuing until the earlier to occur of the Participant accepting other employment or 12 months thereafter.

8.    No Re-employment. A Participant who receives benefits pursuant to the Policy shall not be eligible for re-employment, unless the Committee or its delegate provides the Participant with a written waiver of this Section.

9.    Independent Contractor Status.  A Participant who receives benefits pursuant to the Policy shall not be eligible at any time after termination of employment to enter into a consulting or independent contractor relationship with the Company pursuant to which relationship he or she shall perform the same or similar services, upon the same or similar terms and conditions, as were applicable to such Participant on the date of termination of employment, unless the Committee or its delegate provides the Participant with a written waiver of this Section.

10.    Death of Participant.  If a Participant dies prior to receiving Severance Pay and the benefits set forth in Section 7(a) to which he or she is eligible under the Policy, payment will be made to the representative of his or her estate.

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11.    Amendment or Termination.

(a)The Policy may be amended or terminated by the Committee at any time during its term when, in its judgment, such amendment or termination is necessary or desirable.  No such termination or amendment will affect the rights of any Participant who has terminated employment prior to such termination or amendment and who, based on such termination, is then eligible for Severance Pay or other benefits under the Policy at the time of such amendment or termination.  No agent or other employee, other than an officer of the Company acting on behalf of the Committee, has the authority to change or waive any provision of the Policy. 

(b)Any duties delegated by the Committee to a particular officer are hereby delegated to any successor officer who assumes the duties of that officer as part of a corporate function or business realignment.

(c)    Severance benefits under the Policy are not intended to be a vested right.

12.    Governing Law and Venue.  The terms of the Policy shall, to the extent not preempted by applicable federal law, be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Indiana, including all matters of construction, validity and performance. In order to benefit Participants under this Policy by establishing a uniform application of law with respect to the administration of the Plan, the provisions of this Section 12 shall apply. Any suit, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Policy shall be brought in any court of the State of Indiana and of the United States for the Northern District of Indiana.  The Company, each Participant, and any related parties irrevocably and unconditionally consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such litigation related to this Policy and any transactions contemplated hereby.  Such parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection that venue is improper or that such litigation has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

13.    Miscellaneous Provisions.

(a)    Severance Pay and other benefits pursuant to the Policy shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge prior to actual receipt by a Participant, and any attempt to so anticipate, alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber or charge prior to such receipt shall be void and the Company shall not be liable in any manner for, or subject to, the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements or torts, of any person eligible for any Severance Pay or other benefits under the Policy.

(b)    Nothing contained in the Policy shall confer upon any individual the right to be retained in the service of the Company, nor limit the Company’s right to discharge or otherwise deal with any individual without regard to the existence of the Policy.

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(c)    The Policy shall at all times be entirely unfunded.  No provision shall at any time be made with respect to segregating assets of the Company for payment of any Severance Pay or other benefits hereunder. No employee or any other person shall have any interest in any particular assets of the Company by reason of the right to receive Severance Pay or other benefits under the Policy, and any such employee or any other person shall have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor with respect to any rights under the Policy.

14.    Claims Procedure.  A claim for benefits under the Policy shall be submitted in writing to the CHRO, or his or her delegate at the address provided in Section 16. If a claim for benefits under the Policy by a Participant or his or her beneficiary is denied, either in whole or in part, the CHRO or his or her delegate, will let the claimant know in writing within 90 days.  If the claimant does not hear within 90 days, the claimant may treat the claim as if it had been denied.  A notice of a denial of a claim will refer to a specific reason or reasons for the denial of the claim; will have specific references to the Policy provisions upon which the denial is based; will describe any additional material or information necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim and explain why such material information is necessary; and will have an explanation of the Policy’s review procedure.

The claimant will have 60 days after the date of the denial to ask for a review and a hearing.  The claimant must file a written request with the Committee for a review. During this time the claimant may review pertinent documents and may submit issues and comments in writing.  The Participant will be provided, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other information relevant to his or her claim for benefits. The Committee will have another 60 days in which to consider the claimant’s request for review.  If special circumstances require an extension of time for processing, the Committee may have an additional 60 days to answer the claimant.  The claimant will receive a written notice if the extra days are needed.  The claimant may submit in writing any document, issues and comments he or she may wish.  The decision of the Committee will tell the claimant the specific reasons for its actions, and refer the claimant to the specific Policy provisions upon which its decision is based.   If the decision on review is not furnished within the time period set forth above, the claim shall be deemed denied on review.
If such determination is favorable to the claimant, it shall be binding and conclusive.  If such determination is adverse to such claimant, it shall be binding and conclusive unless the claimant or his or her duly authorized representative notifies the Committee within 90 days after the mailing or delivery to the claimant by the Committee of its determination that claimant intends to institute legal proceedings challenging the determination of the Committee and actually institutes such legal proceedings within 180 days after such mailing or delivery
15.    Rights Under ERISA.  Each Participant in the Policy is entitled to certain rights and protection under the ERISA.  ERISA provides that all Participants shall be entitled to:

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(a)    Examine, without charge, at the Company’s office all documents governing the Policy, and a copy of the latest annual report (Form 5500 Series) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor and available at the Public Disclosure Room of the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

(b)    Obtain copies of all documents governing the operation of the Policy and copies of the latest annual report (Form 5500 Series) upon written request to the Committee.  The Companymay make a reasonable charge for the copies.

(c)    Receive a summary of the Policy’s annual financial report.  The Committee is required by law to furnish each Participant with a copy of the summary annual report.

In addition to creating rights for Participants, ERISA imposes duties upon the people who are responsible for the operation of an employee benefit plan.  The people who operate the Policy, called “fiduciaries” of the Policy, have a duty to do so prudently and in the interest of the Participants and beneficiaries. No one, including the Company, may fire a Participant or otherwise discriminate against a Participant in any way to prevent him or her from obtaining a benefit or exercising his or her rights under ERISA, If a Participant’s claim for a benefit is denied in whole or in part, he or she must receive a written explanation of the reason for the denial. A Participant has the right to have the Committee review and reconsider his or her claim.  Under ERISA, there are steps a Participant can take to enforce the above rights.  For instance, if a Participant requests from the Committee a copy of the Policy or the latest annual report and does not receive either within thirty (30) days, he or she may file suit in a federal court.  In such a case the court may require the Committee to provide the materials and pay the Participant up to $110 a day until the Participant receives the materials, unless the materials were not sent because of reasons beyond the control of the Committee.  If a Participant has a claim for benefits, which is denied or ignored, in whole or in part, and if the claims procedures under the Policy have been exhausted, he or she may file suit in a state or federal court. If a Participant is discriminated against for asserting his or her rights, he or she may ask assistance from the United States Department of Labor, or he or she may file suit in a federal court. The court will decide who should pay the court costs and legal fees. If the Participant is successful, the court may order the person he or she has sued to pay these costs and fees. If the Participant loses, the court may order him or her to pay these costs and fees, for example, if it finds his or her claim to be frivolous.  If a Participant has questions about the Policy, he or she should contact the Committee. If a Participant has any questions about this statement or about his or her rights under ERISA, he or she should contact the nearest office of the Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor (listed in your telephone directory), or the Division of Technical Assistance and Inquiries, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210. A Participant may also obtain certain publications about his or her rights and responsibilities under ERISA by calling the publications hotline of the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

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17.    Policy Facts.
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	Plan Sponsor:
Address:

	NiSource Inc.
801 E, 86th Avenue
Merrillville, Indiana 46410

	Plan Name:	NiSource Executive Severance Policy (for  Employee Job Level D2 and above, including Executives)
	Plan Number537	537537
	Type of Plan:	Severance PolicyWelfare Benefits Plan
	Type of Administration	Self-Administered
	Policy Year:	Calendar year
	Employer Identification Number (EIN):	35-2108964
	Policy Administrator:

	Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of NiSource Inc.
	Business Address and Phone Number:

	801 E. 86th Avenue
Merrillville, Indiana  46410
877-647-5990

	Agent for Service of Legal Process:

	CHRO
	(Address)

	801 E. 86th Avenue
Merrillville, Indiana  46410

	Service of legal process may also be made upon the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of NiSource Inc.

18.    Code Section 409A.

The payments to the Participants pursuant to this Policy are intended to be exempt from Code Section 409A to the maximum extent possible, under either the separation pay exemption pursuant to Treasury regulation §1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii) or as short-term deferrals pursuant to Treasury regulation §1.409A-1(b)(4), and each payment hereunder shall be considered a separate payment.  

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