MERRILLVILLE, Ind., Nov. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) today commented on the Moody's Investors Service decision to affirm the company's investment grade credit rating of Baa3 and raise its outlook to stable. "NiSource has made great strides over the past year to enhance the company's liquidity and financial position and we're pleased Moody's has recognized our progress by raising its outlook on the company to stable," said NiSource President & CEO Robert C. Skaggs Jr. "We are committed to continuing to strengthen our liquidity position, deliver solid performance from our core businesses and advance our long-term growth strategy." Moody's cited the successful resolution of a variety of rate proceedings by NiSource's gas utilities and the management of the company's liquidity position as major influencing factors for raising NiSource's outlook to stable. Skaggs continued, "Over the past year, our balanced business and liquidity strategies have helped us weather the financial crisis and the severe economic downturn, greatly strengthen our liquidity position and also advance our aggressive agenda of infrastructure improvements, regulatory initiatives and pipeline and storage growth opportunities. These efforts have allowed us to successfully implement a plan that fully addresses NiSource's debt refinancing requirements through 2010." About NiSource NiSource Inc. (NYSE:NI), based in Merrillville, Ind., is a Fortune 500 company engaged in natural gas transmission, storage and distribution, as well as electric generation, transmission and distribution. NiSource operating companies deliver energy to 3.7 million customers located within the high-demand energy corridor stretching from the Gulf Coast through the Midwest to New England. Information about NiSource and its subsidiaries is available via the Internet at http://www.nisource.com/. NI-F Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes 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. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of NiSource and its management. Although NiSource believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its goals will be achieved. Readers are cautioned that the forward-looking statements in this presentation are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and that actual results could differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: weather; fluctuations in supply and demand for energy commodities; growth opportunities for NiSource's businesses; increased competition in deregulated energy markets; the success of regulatory and commercial initiatives; dealings with third parties over whom NiSource has no control; the success of NiSource's restructuring of its outsourcing agreement; actual operating experience of NiSource assets; the regulatory process; regulatory and legislative changes; the impact of potential new environmental laws or regulations; the results of material litigation; changes in pension funding requirements; changes in general economic, capital and commodity market conditions; and counter-party credit risk, many of which are beyond the control of NiSource. In addition, the relative contributions to profitability by each segment, and the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements relating thereto, may change over time. NiSource expressly disclaims a duty to update any of the forward-looking statements contained in this release. DATASOURCE: NiSource Inc. CONTACT: Media, Mike Banas, Communications Manager, +1-219-647-5581, , or Investors, Randy Hulen, Director, Investor Relations, +1-219-647-5688, , both of NiSource Inc. Web Site: http://www.nisource.com/

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