Nicor Settles Fraud Charges

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Nicor, Inc., a major Chicago-area natural gas distributor, and Jeffrey Metz, its former Assistant Vice President and Controller, will pay more than $10 million to settle charges that they engaged in improper transactions, made material misrepresentations, and failed to disclose material information regarding Nicor's gas inventory in order to meet earnings targets and increase the company's revenues under a performance-based rate plan administered by the Illinois Commerce Commission.