Subject to Receipt of Satisfactory Final Regulatory Approval and Completion of Proposed Merger, Black Hills Corp. to be Renamed Bright Horizon Energy Corporation with Ticker Symbol “HZN”
- The Montana Public Service Commission is expected to consider the merger prior to Nov. 12, 2026, and completion remains subject to satisfactory final regulatory approval by the Commission.
- Trading under new company name and ticker symbol is only expected upon completion of the merger.
RAPID CITY, S.D. and BUTTE, Mont. and SIOUX FALLS, S.D., Oct. 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) and NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. d/b/a NorthWestern Energy (Nasdaq: NWE) today announced plans for the name and ticker symbol of the combined company in the event their proposed merger receives final, satisfactory regulatory approval and is completed. If the proposed merger is approved and completed, Black Hills Corp. will be renamed Bright Horizon Energy Corporation (“Bright Horizon Energy”), its common stock will trade on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol “HZN,” and NorthWestern Energy will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Bright Horizon Energy.
There is no action required by shareholders in connection with the name and ticker symbol change. Shares of Black Hills Corp. will continue trading under the symbol “BKH” on the NYSE and shares of NorthWestern Energy will continue trading under the symbol “NWE” on the Nasdaq while the merger is pending.
The merger has previously received approvals from shareholders of both companies, the regulatory commissions of Nebraska and South Dakota, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.
About Black Hills Corp.
Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) is a customer-focused, growth-oriented utility company with a tradition of improving life with energy and a vision to be the energy partner of choice. Based in Rapid City, South Dakota, the company serves 1.37 million natural gas and electric utility customers in eight states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. More information is available at www.blackhillscorp.com.
About NorthWestern Energy
NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc., doing business as NorthWestern Energy, provides essential energy infrastructure and valuable services that enrich lives and empower communities while serving as long-term partners to our customers and communities. We work to deliver safe, reliable, and innovative energy solutions that create value for customers, communities, employees, and investors. We do this by providing low-cost and reliable service performed by highly adaptable and skilled employees. We provide electricity and / or natural gas to approximately 850,300 customers in Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Yellowstone National Park. Our operations in Montana and Yellowstone National Park are conducted through our subsidiary, NW Corp, and our operations in South Dakota and Nebraska are conducted through our subsidiary, NWE Public Service. We have provided service in South Dakota and Nebraska since 1923 and in Montana since 2002.
Forward Looking Statements
Information in this communication, other than statements of historical facts, may constitute forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the planned name and ticker symbol of the combined company, its exchange listing, expectations regarding regulatory approvals and the timing thereof and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements may be identified by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “targets,” “scheduled,” “plans,” “intends,” “goal,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “believes,” “forecasts,” “outlook,” “estimates,” “potential,” or “continue” or negatives of such terms or other comparable terminology. The forward-looking statements are based on Black Hills and NorthWestern Energy’s current expectations, plans and estimates. Black Hills and NorthWestern Energy believe these assumptions to be reasonable, but there is no assurance that they will prove to be accurate. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Black Hills or NorthWestern Energy to differ materially from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, (1) the risk of delays in consummating the potential transaction, including as a result of required regulatory approvals, which may not be obtained on the expected timeline, or at all, (2) the risk of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement, (3) the risk that required regulatory approvals are subject to conditions not anticipated by Black Hills and NorthWestern Energy, (4) the possibility that any of the anticipated benefits and projected synergies of the potential transaction will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period, (5) disruption to the parties’ businesses as a result of the announcement and pendency of the transaction, including potential distraction of management from current plans and operations of Black Hills or NorthWestern Energy and the ability of Black Hills or NorthWestern Energy to retain and hire key personnel, (6) reputational risk and the reaction of each company’s customers, suppliers, employees or other business partners to the transaction, (7) the possibility that the transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events, (8) the outcome of any legal or regulatory proceedings that may be instituted against Black Hills or NorthWestern Energy related to the merger agreement or the transaction, (9) the risks associated with third party contracts containing consent and/or other provisions that may be triggered by the proposed transaction, (10) legislative, regulatory, political, market, economic and other conditions, developments and uncertainties affecting Black Hills’ or NorthWestern Energy’s businesses; (11) the evolving legal, regulatory and tax regimes under which Black Hills and NorthWestern Energy operate; (12) restrictions during the pendency of the proposed transaction that may impact Black Hills’ or NorthWestern Energy’s ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; and (13) unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events, including, but not limited to, extreme weather, natural disasters, acts of terrorism or outbreak of war or hostilities, as well as Black Hills’ and NorthWestern Energy’s response to any of the aforementioned factors.
Additional factors which could affect future results of Black Hills and NorthWestern Energy can be found in Black Hills’ Registration Statement on Form S-4 as well as its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, and NorthWestern Energy’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, in each case filed with the SEC and available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Black Hills and NorthWestern Energy disclaim any obligation and do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this communication, which speak only as of the date hereof, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by federal securities laws.
No Offer or Solicitation
This document is for informational purposes only and is not intended to and shall not constitute an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made, except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
| Black Hills Corp. Contacts | NorthWestern Energy Contacts |
| Investors | Investors |
| Sal Diaz | Travis Meyer |
| investorrelations@blackhillscorp.com | travis.meyer@northwestern.com |
| Media | Media |
| 24-Hour Media Relations Line | Jo Dee Black |
| 888-242-3969 | 866-622-8081 |
| jodee.black@northwestern.com |
