Blue Dot receives SEC subpoena.(Around The Industry)(Blue Dot Services Inc.)(Securities and Exchange Commission )(Brief Article)

Plumbing & Mechanical, February, 2004

Blue Dot Services Inc. has been issued a subpoena by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requesting production documents as part of a formal investigation the SEC is conducting of its parent company, NorthWestern Corp.

The documents relate to questions regarding restatements and other accounting and financial reporting matters by NorthWestern, which filed for bankruptcy Sept. 14, 2003.

The September filing did not include Blue Dot.

NorthWestern has been trying to sell off all of its nonutility businesses and assets. As of Dec. 30, 2003, Blue Dot has sold 45 of its 63 business locations.

Blue Dot was ranked No. 58 in PM's 2003 Pipe Trades Giants List.