Richard Thompson to be Elected NiSource Chairman

MERRILLVILLE, Ind., April 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the filing of its 2012 Annual Report and Proxy Statement, NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) today announced its director nominees for election to the company's Board of Directors for 2013-14. Subject to his reelection at the 2013 annual shareholders meeting, current Board member Richard Thompson will be elected Chairman, effective May 14, 2013.

"Rich's strong business and financial knowledge, his unparalleled leadership integrity, and his deep understanding of NiSource's growth opportunities and challenges make him an excellent choice to serve as Chairman," said current Board Chairman Ian Rolland. 

Rolland previously announced his plans to retire from the NiSource Board in May 2013, upon completion of his current term. He joined the NiSource Board in 1978, and was elected Chairman in 2006.

"I'm honored by the Board's confidence in me, and eager to continue working with Bob Skaggs and the rest of NiSource's management team as they execute on the company's strategy to meet the needs of customers and generate added shareholder value," Thompson said. "I'm also humbled to be succeeding someone as impressive and admired as Ian Rolland. Ian's unquestioned character, his personal generosity and his commitment to excellence set a standard to which we all aspire."

Thompson has been a member of the NiSource Board since 2004 and currently serves on the company's Corporate Governance, Finance, and Officer Nomination & Compensation committees. His career has included numerous leadership roles, including serving as Group President of Caterpillar Inc., a position from which he retired in 2004. He also is a director at Gardner Denver Inc. and Lennox International Inc., where he served as Chairman of the Board until becoming Lead Director in 2012.

2013-14 Director Candidates

Richard L. Thompson
Richard A. Abdoo
Aristides S. Candris 
Sigmund L. Cornelius
Michael E. Jesanis  
Marty R. Kittrell 
W. Lee Nutter
Deborah S. Parker
Robert C. Skaggs, Jr., President and CEO*
Teresa A. Taylor
Carolyn Y. Woo                 
* With the exception of Robert C. Skaggs, Jr., all nominees are independent.

As part of NiSource's commitment to contemporary governance practices, shareholders elect members of the NiSource Board of Directors for one year terms at the company's annual shareholders meeting.

NiSource's annual shareholders meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 14, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. CT in Rosemont, Ill. Additional details about the meeting can be found in the company's 2012 Annual Report and Proxy Statement. Additional information about NiSource's Board of Directors and the company's corporate governance practices is available at www.nisource.com.

About NiSource

NiSource Inc., 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 3.8 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 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 release 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 matters set forth in the "Risk Factors" Section and the Note regarding forward-looking statements in NiSource's 2012 Form 10-K, many of which are risks beyond the control of NiSource. NiSource expressly disclaims a duty to update any of the forward-looking statements contained in this release.

SOURCE NiSource Inc.