MERRILLVILLE, Ind., May 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- NiSource Inc. (NYSE: [ NI ]) shareholders today elected two new directors to the company's Board of Directors for 2012-13.

The new directors, Aristides S. Candris and Teresa A. Taylor, were among 12 NiSource Board Members elected at the company's 2012 annual shareholders meeting.

Candris is a Senior Advisor at Westinghouse Electric Company, where he served as President and Chief Executive Officer until his retirement on March 31, 2012. He also serves on the boards of Carnegie Mellon University and Transylvania University. Taylor served as Chief Operating Officer of Qwest Communications, Inc., until April 2011. She also is a director of First Interstate BankSystem, Inc.

Rolland announces plans to retire from NiSource Board

At today's annual meeting, NiSource Board of Directors Chairman Ian M. Rolland announced his intention to retire from the NiSource Board in May of 2013, following the one-year term to which he was elected today.

"It has been a privilege to serve on the NiSource Board over the past 34 years," Rolland said. "I can say without hesitation that the company is in the best position it's been in for years, as evidenced by the company's success in meeting the needs of customers while generating sustainable earnings growth and shareholder value."

Rolland joined the NiSource Board in 1978, and has served as its Chairman since November 2006. Prior to his retirement in 1998, he served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lincoln National Corporation of Ft. Wayne, Ind., a provider of financial products and services. In addition to his role as Chairman of the NiSource Board, Rolland sits on the boards of more than a dozen non-profits and charities. In April, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels honored him with the 2012 Sachem Award, which recognizes his outstanding contributions to the state.

"Those of us who have the privilege of working with Ian know that he personifies what it means to 'do the right thing,'" NiSource President and CEO Bob Skaggs said. "Ian serves as a towering example for all of us at NiSource as we aspire to excellence, integrity and generosity in our professional and personal lives. It goes without saying that he will leave big shoes to fill on the NiSource Board."

Rolland noted that the NiSource Board's succession planning process will guide selection of his successor.

2012-13 NiSource Board Members

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 shareholder meeting.

NiSource Board of Directors members elected today for the 2012-13 term include: Ian M. Rolland, Chairman; 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; Richard L. Thompson and Carolyn Y. Woo. *

In addition, NiSource stockholders ratified the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company's independent registered public accountants for the year 2012, approved an increase in the number of shares available for purchase via the company's Employee Stock Purchas Plan, approved a non-binding advisory vote on the compensation of the company's named executive officers, and rejected a shareholder proposal for cumulative voting.

Additional information about NiSource's Board of Directors and the company's corporate governance practices is available at [ www.nisource.com ].

* With the exception of Robert C. Skaggs, Jr., all board members are independent.

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, plans, 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 2011 Form 10-K and subsequent filings on Form 10-Q, 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.

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NiSource Shareholders Elect Two New Directors

NiSource Shareholders Elect Two New Directors

Rolland announces plans to retire from Board in 2013