2.2.0.25falsefalse006010 - Disclosure - PROPOSED MERGER WITH AGL RESOURCEStruefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $c00032http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000072020duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00u000Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170u001Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0u002Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2true0gas_NotesToFinancialStatementsAbstractgasfalsenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalseNotes to Financial Statements [Abstract]3false0us-gaap_BusinessCombinationDisclosureTextBlockus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalselabel1falsefalsefalse00<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5">&#160;</div><div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><table style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" align="center" border="0"><tr style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" valign="top"><td style="WIDTH: 18pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">1.</font></div></td><td style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">PROPOSED MERGER WITH AGL RESOURCES</font></div></td></tr></table></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">In December 2010, Nicor entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") with AGL Resources, a copy of which was filed with the SEC.&#160;&#160;In accordance with the Merger Agreement, each share of Nicor stock, other than shares to be cancelled and Dissenting Shares (as defined in the Merger Agreement), outstanding at the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement) will be converted into the right to receive consideration consisting of (i) $21.20 in cash and (ii) 0.8382 shares of AGL Resources common stock, subject to adjustments in certain circumstances.</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Completion of the proposed merger is conditioned upon, among other things, shareholder approval by both companies, the SEC's clearance of a registration statement registering AGL Resources common stock, expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvement Act and regulatory approval by the ICC.</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The Merger Agreement provides certain termination rights for both Nicor and AGL Resources, and provides for the payment of fees and expenses upon the termination of the Merger Agreement under certain circumstances. Nicor currently anticipates the merger will be completed in the second half of 2011.&#160;&#160;Although the company believes that Nicor and AGL Resources will receive the required authorizations, approvals and consents to complete the proposed merger, there can be no assurance as to the timing of these authorizations, approvals and consents or as to the ultimate ability to obtain such authorizations, consents or approvals (or any additional authorizations, approvals or consents which may otherwise become necessary) or that such authorizations, approvals or consents will be obtained on terms and subject to conditions satisfactory to Nicor and AGL Resources.</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">For additional information concerning the proposed merger, please see Nicor's Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 7, 2010 and the Form S-4 registration statement filed with the SEC by AGL Resources on February 4, 2011.</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">For the year ended December 31, 2010, the company has incurred and expensed $4.6 million of merger-related costs.&#160;&#160;No other adjustments have been made to the financial statements as a result of the proposed merger.</font></div>&#160;1.PROPOSED MERGER WITH AGL RESOURCESIn December 2010, Nicor entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") with AGL Resources, afalsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:textBlockItemTypestringDescription of a business combination (or series of individually immaterial business combinations) completed during the period, including background, timing, and recognized assets and liabilities. This element may be used as a single block of text to encapsulate the entire disclosure (including data and tables) regarding business combinations, including leverage buyout transactions (as applicable).Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 51, 52 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) -Number 88-16 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141R -Paragraph 67-73 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141R -Paragraph F4 -Subparagraph e -Appendix F falsefalsePROPOSED MERGER WITH AGL RESOURCES12PROPOSED MERGER WITH AGL RESOURCESUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue