Sandell Sends a Letter to Southern Union Chairman and CEO George Lindemann Expressing Concern Over Poor Share Price Performance and Failure to Complete Goals of 2007 Strategic Plan

    NEW YORK, July 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Sandell Asset Management Corp.
 ("Sandell"), the largest individual shareholder of Southern Union Company
 ("SUG" or the "Company") with ownership of 9.9% of shares outstanding, sent
 a letter to George Lindemann, Chairman and CEO of SUG. This letter, which
 was also filed with the SEC today, expressed serious concern regarding
 management's and the Board of Directors' failure to achieve the goals of
 its 2007 strategic plan, which was the basis for Sandell agreeing to
 withdraw its nominees for the Company's Board of Directors at the 2006
 annual meeting of stockholders. Furthermore, the letter identifies this
 lack of action by the Company as the driver of its continued poor stock
 price performance on both an absolute and relative basis. That plan
 specifically stated goals of forming an MLP by the end of the third quarter
 of 2007 and an increased focus on return of capital to shareholders.
 Sandell believes there was ample time before the recent disruption in the
 capital markets to achieve both of these goals and credits the failure with
 a lack of conviction in management and at the board level. Sandell now
 believes that SUG's best alternative is an immediate sale of the Company
 given likely interest from several strategic buyers and robust fundamental
 environments in the Company's end markets. In the event that the Company
 continues to underperform and management and the Board do not take material
 action to deliver value to the shareholders, Sandell may seek to replace
 some or all of the existing board members with a new slate of highly
 qualified candidates. Sandell has recently begun the process of identifying
 these candidates.
 
     Tom Sandell, the CEO of Sandell stated "We have been holders of
 Southern Union for over three years now and took management at their word
 that they would take action to enhance shareholder value. Our patience has
 not been rewarded and we, along with other shareholders have witnessed a
 consistent record of underperformance and complacency toward shareholder
 value. Our research indicates that these shares should be worth at least
 $32 per share and likely greater than $40 per share in the hands of a
 qualified, appropriately motivated team dedicated to driving value. We
 believe that our fellow shareholders share our frustration and we will
 continue to seek whatever changes are necessary to realize full value for
 this impressive collection of assets."
 
 

      For further information, contact:
      Mr. Tom Sandell
      Chief Executive Officer
      Sandell Asset Management Corp.
      (212) 603-5700
     Sandell Asset Management Corp. is a multi-billion dollar global
 investment management firm, founded by Thomas E. Sandell, which focuses on
 global corporate events and restructurings throughout North America,
 Continental Europe, the United Kingdom, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific
 theatres. Sandell frequently will take an "active involvement" in
 facilitating financial or organization improvements accruing to the benefit
 of investors.
 
 
 

SOURCE Sandell Asset Management Corp.