x | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
o | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
Incorporated in South Dakota | 625 Ninth Street | IRS Identification Number |
Rapid City, South Dakota 57701 | 46-0458824 | |
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (605) 721-1700 | ||
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: | ||
Title of each class | Name of each exchange on which registered | |
Common stock of $1.00 par value | New York Stock Exchange |
Large accelerated filer x | Accelerated filer o | Non-accelerated filer o | Smaller reporting company o |
Class | Outstanding at January 31, 2012 | ||
Common stock, $1.00 par value | 43,929,272 | shares |
Exhibit Number | Description |
10.19† | Form of Non-Disclosure and Non-Solicitation Agreement for Certain Employees. |
31.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a - 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
31.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a - 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
BLACK HILLS CORPORATION | |||
By: | /S/ ANTHONY S. CLEBERG | ||
Anthony S. Cleberg, Executive Vice President | |||
and Chief Financial Officer | |||
Dated: | March 1, 2012 |
Exhibit Number | Description |
10.19† | Form of Non-Disclosure and Non-Solicitation Agreement for Certain Employees. |
31.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a - 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
31.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a - 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
1. | Access to Confidential Information. Employee is employed in a position that, in the course and scope of Employee's employment, provides Employee access to various trade secrets and confidential information belonging to the Company, including information created by Employee alone or jointly with others. Such information enables Employee to perform services of a unique or special nature. Employee acknowledges Employee's employment places Employee in a position of trust and confidence with the Company, its shareholders, officers, directors, employees, customers and agents. |
2. | Scope of Confidential Information. The Company is engaged in the diversified energy businesses, including regulated gas and electric utilities, oil and gas exploration, coal mining, and wholesale power generation. Employee acknowledges that the Company's business and services are highly specialized, and the identity and particular needs of the Company's customers, contract counter-parties, suppliers and contractors are not generally known. The term “Confidential Information”, for purposes of this Agreement, includes all information and material, whether in written, electronic, or oral form, or any other form whatsoever, that is proprietary and has not been publicly disclosed by the Company, including the Company's trade secrets. Specifically, Confidential Information also includes but is not limited to: |
3. | Disclosure and Use of Confidential Information. Employee will use the Confidential Information only for purposes of performing Employee's duties to the Company, within the course and scope of Employee's employment. Employee will not use or disclose any Confidential Information, in whole or in part, for any other purpose. Employee agrees to keep confidential all Confidential Information and to preserve the confidential and proprietary nature of the Confidential Information at all times, even following the termination of Employee's employment for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary. Employee will not, directly or indirectly, copy, take or remove from the Company's premises or from secure electronic information systems and hardware any Confidential Information. |
4. | Ownership and Return of Confidential Information. All right, title and interest in and to Confidential Information will remain the exclusive property of the Company even following termination of Employee's employment. Nothing in this Agreement will be construed to convey to Employee any right, title or interest or right to use any Confidential Information, except as permitted by this Agreement. Immediately upon the termination of Employee's employment with the Company, and at any time upon the request of the Company, Employee will return all Confidential Information and Company property in Employee's possession, including without limitation all originals, copies, notes or any other form of such material, without retaining any copy or duplicates thereof. Employee will return, or if so directed, will delete or destroy any and all written, printed, electronic or other material or information derived from Confidential Information. Employee will deliver to the Company all devices on which Confidential Information is stored, including all electronic or digital copies, without retaining any copy or duplicate thereof. If Employee fails to return the Company's property or Confidential Information, Employee agrees that Employee will reimburse the Company for its expenses, including attorney fees, incurred in seeking the return of these items. |
5. | Obligations to Others. The Company also honors the confidentiality of other companies' confidential and proprietary information. Employee affirms that Employee has not and will not disclose to the Company or use in Employee's employment with the Company, in knowing violation of an obligation of confidentiality, any information belonging to a former employer, or that was received under any other obligation of confidentiality. |
6. | Injunctive Relief. Employee acknowledges that the interests of the Company would be irreparably harmed, and the remedy at law available to Company for the breach of any obligation under this Agreement would be inadequate. Employee agrees that, in addition to any other remedy available at law or in equity, the Company may be granted temporary or permanent injunctive relief in any proceeding brought to enforce any provision of this Agreement or to prevent the actual or threatened disclosure of Confidential Information, without necessity of proof of actual damage, and without posting a bond. |
7. | Non-Competition During Employment. Employee agrees that from the Effective Date until the |
8. | Non-Solicitation of Employees and Others. During Employee's employment and for a period of one (1) year after the termination of Employee's employment for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary, Employee agrees that Employee will not directly or indirectly, on Employee's own behalf or on the behalf of any other individual or entity: |
(a) | Solicit the employment of any employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, on behalf of the Employee or any other individual or entity, or otherwise interfere with the employment relationship between any such employee and the Company, its subsidiaries or affiliates; |
(b) | Solicit, induce, or entice any of the Company's agents, representatives, consultants, contractors or customers with whom Employee had access during Employee's employment with the Company, to terminate or alter their relationship with the Company. |
9. | Reasonable Restrictions. Employee has carefully read and considered the provisions of this Agreement and, having done so, agrees that the restrictions set forth above, including the time periods of restriction set forth in paragraph 8, are reasonable and are reasonably required for the protection of the interests of the Company. Employee agrees that this Agreement is necessary and designed to protect the Company's trade secrets and other important business interests. |
1 | I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K/A of Black Hills Corporation; | ||
2 | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; and | ||
3 | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report. | ||
Date: | March 1, 2012 | ||
/S/ DAVID R. EMERY | |||
David R. Emery | |||
Chairman, President and | |||
Chief Executive Officer |
1 | I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K/A of Black Hills Corporation; | ||
2 | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; and | ||
3 | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report. | ||
Date: | March 1, 2012 | ||
/S/ ANTHONY S. CLEBERG | |||
Anthony S. Cleberg | |||
Executive Vice President and | |||
Chief Financial Officer |