Knox & Co. Announces Natural Gas Pipeline Transaction

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Knox & Co. completes sale for the City of Gallatin Missouri.

Westport, CT, December 30, 2004 – Knox & Co., and its affiliates, including Knox Securities Corp. (jointly herein after “Knox & Co.”), a leading investment banking firm on middle-market and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, today announced that it acted as exclusive financial advisor to the City of Gallatin, Missouri for the sale of its National Gas Distribution and Transmission System (the “System”). The System provides 100% of the Natural Gas Supply to the cities of Gallatin and Hamilton Missouri and other surrounding communities located in the Northwest portion of the State. The Purchaser was Missouri Gas Utility Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Colorado Natural Gas, Inc. Mr. Frederick A. Rossetti with Knox & Co. stated that “with this deal we have ensured that the local residents will continue to get an uninterrupted supply of Natural Gas.” The investment bankers on the transaction included Frederick A. Rossetti, Managing Director and Mark S. Campbell, Vice President. Transaction value was not disclosed.

Knox & Co. is an investment banking, consultancy and advisory firm specializing in two complementary advisory disciplines: Investment Banking and Corporate Reorganization. With its office in Westport, Connecticut, the firm undertakes assignments throughout North America and, when necessary, abroad. In addition, the firm enjoys a strategic alliance with Mitsubishi Securities Co., Ltd. (“MSC”), the core securities company in Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group (“MTFG”). Together, Knox and MSC have more than 80 M&A professionals capable of handling transactions around the globe and, together are the leading investment bank for middle-market, cross-border assignments involving a Japanese principal.

Knox & Co. (www.knoxandco.com) has advised on more than 100 middle-market merger and acquisition and advisory assignments since its inception, with in excess of $2 billion in transaction value. The firm’s principals have worked on cumulative transactions in excess of $15 billion.