UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

           LITIGATION RELEASE NO. 16053 / February 4, 1999

           Securities and Exchange Commission v. Trinity Gas Corporation and
           Sidney W. Sers, 4:97CV1018-Y, USDC ND/TX (Fort Worth)

                On January 29, 1999,  Judge Terry R. Means,  federal district
           judge for the Northern District of Texas, entered a final judgment by
           consent against defendant Trinity Gas Corporation ("Trinity USA"),  and
           on February 2, a final judgment by default against relief defendant
           Trinity Gas Colombia ("Trinity Colombia").  The Commission’s complaint
           charged Trinity USA with fraud in connection with the sale by Trinity
           USA of approximately $11 million of its stock to at least 250 investors
           in 13 states. The Commission’s complaint also sought disgorgement from
           defendant Trinity USA and relief defendant Trinity Colombia, as well as
           a civil penalty from Trinity USA.

                Trinity USA, recently reorganized in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy
           proceeding, consented, without admitting or denying the allegations in
           the complaint, to the entry of the final judgment.    The final
           judgment permanently enjoins Trinity USA from future violations of the
           registration and antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws
           found in Sections 5(a), 5(c), and 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933,
           and Section 10(b) of the Securities Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5
           thereunder. The final judgment did not order disgorgement or assess a
           civil penalty based upon Trinity USA’s agreement to waive any claim to
           funds recovered from any other defendant or relief defendant in the
           Commission’s injunctive action.

                In the final judgment by default entered against Trinity Colombia,
           Trinity Colombia was ordered to pay disgorgement in the amount of
           $4,195,310.53, representing the amount paid or attributable to it from
           the proceeds of the unlawful securities transactions set out in the
           Commission’s complaint, plus prejudgment interest of $473,915.47.