1. Nature of Business Atmos Energy Corporation ( Atmos Energy  or the  Company ) and our subsidiaries are engaged primarily in the regulated natural gas distribution and transmission and storage businesses as well as certain other nonregulated businesses. Our corporate headquarters and shared-services function are located in Dallas , Texas and our customer support centers are located in Amarillo and Waco , Texas . Through our natural gas distribution business, we deliver natural gas through sales and transportation arrangeme nts to over three million residential, commercial, public authority and industrial customers through our six regulated natural gas distribution divisions which cover service areas located in 12 states. In addition, we transport natural gas for others through our distribution system. In May 2011, we announced that we had entered into a definitive agreement to sell our natural gas distribution operations in Missouri , Illinois and Iowa , representing approximately 84,000 customers. After the closing of this transaction, which we currently anticipate will occur during fiscal 2012, we will operate in nine states. Our regulated activities also include our regulated pipeline and storage operations, which include the transportation of natural gas to our distribution system and the management of our underground storage facilities. Our regulated business es are subject to federal and state regulation and/or regulation by local authorities in each of the states in which our natural gas distribution divisions operate. Our nonregulated businesses operate primarily in the Midwest and Southeast through various wholly-owned subsidiaries of Atmos Energy Holdi ngs, Inc. (AEH). AEH is wholly owned by the Company and based in Houston , Texas . Through AEH, we provide natural gas management and transportation services to municipalities, natural gas distribution companies, including certain divisions of Atmos Energy and third parties. AEH also seeks to maximize, through asset optimization activities, the economic