| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    | FOR MORE INFORMATION                          |
|-----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
| February 23, 2011        | Contact:  Kary Brunner, re: N-1039  |
|                                    |                                               | 630 388-2529  |
|                                    | Media Contact:  Richard Caragol     |
|                                    |                                               | 630 388-2686  |

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| ·   | Gas distribution operating income increased $45.0 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2010, compared to the prior year period, due primarily to higher gas distribution margin ($47.4 million), the aforementioned mercury reserve adjustment ($1.3 million), gains on property sales ($1.3 million) and lower operating and maintenance expense ($0.4 million), partially offset by higher depreciation expense ($6.2 million). |
|--------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | - | Gas distribution margin reflected the impact of the increase in base rates (approximately $20 million), partially offset by lower natural gas deliveries due to warmer weather in 2010 compared to 2009 (approximately $8 million), lower interest on customer balances ($5.5 million) and lower demand unrelated to weather (approximately $4.0 million).  Gas distribution margin also reflected higher revenue from the bad debt cost recovery rider that became effective in the first quarter of 2010 ($32.5 million) and the energy efficiency rider ($8.8 million).  Revenue recognized under the bad debt and energy efficiency riders had no impact on operating income as operating and maintenance expense included an increase in an amount equal to revenue under these riders. |
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|   |   |
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| ·   | Gas distribution operating income increased $1.9 million for the fourth quarter 2010 compared to the prior year period due primarily to higher margin ($7.4 million) and gains on property sales ($1.3 million), partially offset by higher operating and maintenance expense ($5.5 million) and higher depreciation expense ($1.8 million). |
|--------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | - | Gas distribution margin reflected lower demand unrelated to weather (approximately $4.0 million).  In addition, gas distribution margin increased due to higher revenue related to the bad debt cost recovery rider ($9.7 million). |
|--------|---|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | - | Operating and maintenance expense reflected lower costs on legal matters ($2.2 million), lower pension expense ($1.2 million) and lower company use and storage-related gas costs ($0.8 million), partially offset by higher bad debt expense incurred in the fourth quarter of 2010 (attributable to the $63 million annual benchmark for 2010) compared to 2009 ($3.0 million).  Operating and maintenance expense increased for amounts related to the bad debt cost recovery rider ($9.7 million) noted above. |
|--------|---|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

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| ·   | Shipping operating income decreased $14.8 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2010, compared to the same period in 2009, due to lower operating revenues and higher operating expenses.  Lower operating revenues were due to lower volumes shipped, partially offset by higher average rates (attributable to higher cost-recovery surcharges for fuel, partially offset by lower base rates).  Higher operating expenses were due primarily to higher transportation-related costs (largely attributable to higher fuel prices) and higher repairs and maintenance costs, partially offset by lower charter costs and lower payroll and benefit-related costs.  Shipping operating income decreased $6.4 million for the fourth quarter 2010 compared to the prior year period due to lower operating revenues and higher operating expenses.  Lower operating revenues were due to lower volumes shipped, partially offset by higher average rates (attributable to higher base rates and cost-recovery surcharges for fuel).  Higher operating expenses were due primarily to higher cargo claims expense and higher wages and benefits. |
|--------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| ·   | Other energy ventures operating income decreased $11.1 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2010, compared to the prior year period, due to lower operating income at the company’s wholesale natural gas marketing business, partially offset by higher operating income at the company’s retail energy-related products and services businesses.  Other energy ventures operating income decreased $15.0 million for the fourth quarter 2010 compared to the prior year period due to lower operating income at the company’s wholesale natural gas marketing business.  Fourth quarter 2010 results at the company’s retail energy-related products and services businesses were comparable to the prior year. |
|--------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

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| ·   | The twelve months ended December 31, 2010 financial results, compared to the prior year period, reflected a higher effective income tax rate and lower pre-tax equity investment income due to the absence of a $10.1 million pre-tax gain, recorded in the first quarter of 2009, related to the sale of the company’s equity investment interest in EN Engineering.  Full year and fourth quarter comparisons also reflected an increase in equity income of $2.5 million and $1.7 million, respectively, from the company’s investment in Triton, a cargo container leasing company. |
|--------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

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| o   | the possibility that the company’s business may suffer as a result of the uncertainty surrounding the merger; |
|---------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| o   | the possibility that AGL Resources and Nicor will not receive the regulatory approvals required to complete the merger or that the merger will not be consummated for other reasons; |
|---------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| o   | the possibility of adverse decisions in pending and potential state and federal class action lawsuits, including five shareholder suits, relating to the merger; |
|---------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

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| o   | the possibility that the company may not be able to maintain relationships with its employees, suppliers, or customers as a result of the uncertainty surrounding the merger; and |
|---------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| o   | the possibility that the merger agreement will be terminated under circumstances in which the company would incur termination payment obligations. |
|---------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

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| Nicor Inc.                                         |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |   |   |   |    |   |
|----------------------------------------------------|--------|--------------------|--------|--------|---------------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|---------|--------|
|                                               |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |   |   |   |    |   |
| PRELIMINARY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME      |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |   |   |   |
| Unaudited (millions, except per share data)        |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |   |   |   |    |   |
|                                               |   | Three months ended |   |   | Twelve months ended |   |
|                                               |   | December 31        |   |   | December 31         |   |
|                                               |   | 2010               |   |   | 2009                |   |   | 2010   |   |   | 2009    |   |
| Operating revenues                                 |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |   |   |   |    |   |
| Gas distribution                                   |   | $                  | 602.6  |   |                | $      | 615.5  |   |   | $      | 2,204.4 |   |   | $ | 2,140.8 |   |
| Shipping                                           |   |               | 91.6   |   |                |   | 96.1   |   |   |   | 345.0   |   |   |   | 352.6 |   |
| Other energy ventures                              |   |               | 61.2   |   |                |   | 76.0   |   |   |   | 218.4   |   |   |   | 239.0 |   |
| Corporate and eliminations                         |   |               | (16.6  | )      |                |   | (19.5  | )      |   |   | (58.0   | )      |   |   | (80.3 | ) |
| Total operating revenues                           |   |               | 738.8  |   |                |   | 768.1  |   |   |   | 2,709.8 |   |   |   | 2,652.1 |   |
|                                               |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |   |   |   |    |   |   |   |   |   |
| Operating expenses                                 |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |   |   |   |    |   |   |   |   |   |
| Gas distribution                                   |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |   |   |   |    |   |   |   |   |   |
| Cost of gas                                        |   |               | 381.8  |   |                |   | 402.5  |   |   |   | 1,364.1 |   |   |   | 1,345.7 |   |
| Operating and maintenance                          |   |               | 82.9   |   |                |   | 77.4   |   |   |   | 300.0   |   |   |   | 300.4 |   |
| Depreciation                                       |   |               | 45.8   |   |                |   | 44.0   |   |   |   | 183.6   |   |   |   | 177.4 |   |
| Taxes, other than income taxes                     |   |               | 40.2   |   |                |   | 40.3   |   |   |   | 164.6   |   |   |   | 167.6 |   |
| Other                                              |   |               | (1.3   | )      |                |   | -      |   |   |   | (2.6    | )      |   |   | - |   |
| Shipping                                           |   |               | 84.5   |   |                |   | 82.6   |   |   |   | 330.6   |   |   |   | 323.4 |   |
| Other energy ventures                              |   |               | 49.7   |   |                |   | 49.5   |   |   |   | 184.0   |   |   |   | 193.5 |   |
| Other corporate expenses and eliminations          |   |               | (10.7  | )      |                |   | (19.3  | )      |   |   | (50.2   | )      |   |   | (76.2 | ) |
| Total operating expenses                           |   |               | 672.9  |   |                |   | 677.0  |   |   |   | 2,474.1 |   |   |   | 2,431.8 |   |
|                                               |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |   |   |   |    |   |   |   |   |   |
| Operating income (1)                               |   |               | 65.9   |   |                |   | 91.1   |   |   |   | 235.7   |   |   |   | 220.3 |   |
| Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized       |   |               | 9.7    |   |                |   | 11.3   |   |   |   | 38.1    |   |   |   | 38.7 |   |
| Equity investment income, net                      |   |               | 3.1    |   |                |   | 1.5    |   |   |   | 8.2     |   |   |   | 15.8 |   |
| Interest income                                    |   |               | -      |   |                |   | 0.5    |   |   |   | 1.1     |   |   |   | 2.3 |   |
| Other income, net                                  |   |               | .4     |   |                |   | -      |   |   |   | 1.2     |   |   |   | .9 |   |
|                                               |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |   |   |   |    |   |   |   |   |   |
| Income before income taxes                         |   |               | 59.7   |   |                |   | 81.8   |   |   |   | 208.1   |   |   |   | 200.6 |   |
| Income tax expense, net of benefits                |   |               | 19.6   |   |                |   | 26.6   |   |   |   | 69.7    |   |   |   | 65.1 |   |
|                                               |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |   |   |   |    |   |   |   |   |   |
| Net income                                         |   | $                  | 40.1   |   |                | $      | 55.2   |   |   | $      | 138.4   |   |   | $ | 135.5 |   |
|                                               |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |   |   |   |    |   |   |   |   |   |
| Average shares of common stock outstanding         |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |   |   |   |    |   |   |   |   |   |
| Basic                                              |   |               | 45.8   |   |                |   | 45.4   |   |   |   | 45.7    |   |   |   | 45.4 |   |
| Diluted                                            |   |               | 45.8   |   |                |   | 45.6   |   |   |   | 45.7    |   |   |   | 45.5 |   |
|                                               |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |   |   |   |    |   |   |   |   |   |
| Earnings per average share of common stock         |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |   |   |   |    |   |   |   |   |   |
| Basic                                              |   | $                  | .87    |   |                | $      | 1.22   |   |   | $      | 3.02    |   |   | $ | 2.99 |   |
| Diluted                                            |   |               | .87    |   |                |   | 1.21   |   |   |   | 3.02    |   |   |   | 2.98 |   |
|                                               |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |   |   |   |    |   |   |   |   |   |
| (1)  Operating income (loss) by business |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |   |   |   |    |   |   |   |   |   |
|     Gas distribution           |   | $                  | 53.2   |   |                | $      | 51.3   |   |   | $      | 194.7   |   |   | $ | 149.7 |   |
|     Shipping                   |   |               | 7.1    |   |                |   | 13.5   |   |   |   | 14.4    |   |   |   | 29.2 |   |
|     Other energy ventures      |   |               | 11.5   |   |                |   | 26.5   |   |   |   | 34.4    |   |   |   | 45.5 |   |
|     Corporate and eliminations |   |               | (5.9   | )      |                |   | (.2    | )      |   |   | (7.8    | )      |   |   | (4.1 | ) |
|                                               |   | $                  | 65.9   |   |                | $      | 91.1   |   |   | $      | 235.7   |   |   | $ | 220.3 |   |

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| Nicor Inc.                                                                                                                                                                                  |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |    |   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|--------------------|--------|--------|---------------------|--------|--------|------------|--------|--------|------------|--------|--------|--------|---------|--------|
| Gas Distribution Statistics                                                                                                                                                                 |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |    |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                        |   | Three months ended |   |   | Twelve months ended |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                        |   | December 31        |   |   | December 31         |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                        |   |  2010         |   |   |  2009          |   |   |  2010 |   |   |  2009 |   |
| Operating revenues (millions)                                                                                                                                                               |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |    |   |
| Sales                                                                                                                                                                                       |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |    |   |
| Residential                                                                                                                                                                                 |   | $                  | 407.3  |   |                | $      | 408.1  |       |   | $      | 1,443.9    |   |   | $      | 1,377.9 |   |
| Commercial                                                                                                                                                                                  |   |               | 97.3   |   |                |   | 104.5  |       |   |   | 355.9      |   |   |   | 350.4   |   |
| Industrial                                                                                                                                                                                  |   |               | 10.5   |   |                |   | 10.4   |       |   |   | 39.9       |   |   |   | 38.2    |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                        |   |               | 515.1  |   |                |   | 523.0  |       |   |   | 1,839.7    |   |   |   | 1,766.5 |   |
| Transportation                                                                                                                                                                              |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |    |   |
| Residential                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |               | 12.5   |   |                |   | 13.0   |       |   |   | 46.3       |   |   |   | 47.1    |   |
| Commercial                                                                                                                                                                                  |   |               | 21.0   |   |                |   | 22.2   |       |   |   | 75.1       |   |   |   | 79.1    |   |
| Industrial                                                                                                                                                                                  |   |               | 9.5    |   |                |   | 9.4    |       |   |   | 40.3       |   |   |   | 39.4    |   |
| Other                                                                                                                                                                                       |   |               | .3     |   |                |   | .1     |       |   |   | 1.7        |   |   |   | 4.1     |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                        |   |               | 43.3   |   |                |   | 44.7   |       |   |   | 163.4      |   |   |   | 169.7   |   |
| Other revenues                                                                                                                                                                              |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |    |   |
| Revenue taxes                                                                                                                                                                               |   |               | 36.3   |   |                |   | 35.8   |       |   |   | 148.1      |   |   |   | 150.3   |   |
| Environmental cost recovery                                                                                                                                                                 |   |               | 1.7    |   |                |   | 3.3    |       |   |   | 10.7       |   |   |   | 12.5    |   |
| Chicago Hub                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |               | 1.1    |   |                |   | 2.1    |       |   |   | 4.1        |   |   |   | 7.7     |   |
| Other                                                                                                                                                                                       |   |               | 5.1    |   |                |   | 6.6    |       |   |   | 38.4       |   |   |   | 34.1    |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                        |   |               | 44.2   |   |                |   | 47.8   |       |   |   | 201.3      |   |   |   | 204.6   |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                        |   | $                  | 602.6  |   |                | $      | 615.5  |       |   | $      | 2,204.4    |   |   | $      | 2,140.8 |   |
| Deliveries (Bcf)                                                                                                                                                                            |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |    |   |
| Sales                                                                                                                                                                                       |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |    |   |
| Residential                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |               | 65.7   |   |                |   | 64.9   |       |   |   | 188.2      |   |   |   | 199.8   |   |
| Commercial                                                                                                                                                                                  |   |               | 16.3   |   |                |   | 17.2   |       |   |   | 49.0       |   |   |   | 52.7    |   |
| Industrial                                                                                                                                                                                  |   |               | 1.9    |   |                |   | 1.9    |       |   |   | 6.0        |   |   |   | 6.3     |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                        |   |               | 83.9   |   |                |   | 84.0   |       |   |   | 243.2      |   |   |   | 258.8   |   |
| Transportation                                                                                                                                                                              |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |    |   |
| Residential                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |               | 7.8    |   |                |   | 8.3    |       |   |   | 22.8       |   |   |   | 25.4    |   |
| Commercial                                                                                                                                                                                  |   |               | 26.3   |   |                |   | 29.0   |       |   |   | 83.3       |   |   |   | 89.6    |   |
| Industrial                                                                                                                                                                                  |   |               | 27.2   |   |                |   | 25.5   |       |   |   | 104.7      |   |   |   | 102.1   |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                        |   |               | 61.3   |   |                |   | 62.8   |       |   |   | 210.8      |   |   |   | 217.1   |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                        |   |               | 145.2  |   |                |   | 146.8  |       |   |   | 454.0      |   |   |   | 475.9   |   |
| Customers at end of period (thousands)                                                                                                                                                      |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |    |   |
| Sales                                                                                                                                                                                       |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |    |   |
| Residential                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |               | 1,788  |   |                |   | 1,763  |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |    |   |
| Commercial                                                                                                                                                                                  |   |               | 134    |   |                |   | 132    |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |    |   |
| Industrial                                                                                                                                                                                  |   |               | 8      |   |                |   | 8      |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |    |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                        |   |               | 1,930  |   |                |   | 1,903  |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |    |   |
| Transportation                                                                                                                                                                              |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |    |   |
| Residential                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |               | 206    |   |                |   | 218    |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |    |   |
| Commercial                                                                                                                                                                                  |   |               | 48     |   |                |   | 50     |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |    |   |
| Industrial                                                                                                                                                                                  |   |               | 4      |   |                |   | 5      |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |    |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                        |   |               | 258    |   |                |   | 273    |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |    |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                        |   |               | 2,188  |   |                |   | 2,176  |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |    |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                        |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |    |   |
| Other statistics                                                                                                                                                                            |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |    |   |
| Degree days                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |               | 2,173  |   |                |   | 2,169  |       |   |   | 5,720      |   |   |   | 6,106   |   |
| Colder than normal (1)                                                                                                                                                                      |   |               | 8%     |   |                |   | 7%     |       |   |   | 2%         |   |   |   | 9%      |   |
| Average gas cost per Mcf sold                                                                                                                                                               |   | $                  | 4.47   |   |                | $      | 4.68   |       |   | $      | 5.49       |   |   | $      | 5.06    |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                        |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |    |   |
| (1) Normal weather for Nicor Gas' service territory, for purposes of this report, is considered to be 5,600 degree days per year for 2010 and 2009 and 5,830 degree days per year for 2008. |   |

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| Nicor Inc.                                              |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |   |   |
|---------------------------------------------------------|--------|--------------------|--------|--------|---------------------|--------|--------|------------|--------|--------|------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
| Shipping Statistics                                     |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |   |   |
|                                                    |   | Three months ended |   |   | Twelve months ended |   |
|                                                    |   | December 31        |   |   | December 31         |   |
|                                                    |   |  2010         |   |   |  2009          |   |   |  2010 |   |   |  2009 |   |
|                                                    |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |   |   |
| Twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) shipped (thousands) |   |               | 43.1   |   |                |   | 48.3   |       |   |   | 170.7      |   |   |   | 176.6  |   |
|                                                    |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |   |   |
| Revenue per TEU                                         |   | $                  | 2,131  |   |                | $      | 1,988  |       |   | $      | 2,022      |   |   | $      | 1,997  |   |
|                                                    |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |   |   |
| At end of period                                        |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |   |   |
|                                                    |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |   |   |
| Ports served                                            |   |               | 25     |   |                |   | 25     |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |   |   |
|                                                    |   |               |   |   |                |   |   |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |   |   |
| Vessels operated                                        |   |               | 14     |   |                |   | 15     |       |   |   |       |   |   |   |   |   |

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