COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 13, 2000 -- American Electric Power (NYSE:AEP) has announced the senior staff who will direct corporate development activities following completion of a merger with Central and South West Corp. (NYSE:CSR). The positions were announced by Donald M. Clements Jr., who will be executive vice president - corporate development in the new organization. Clements will continue to serve as president - AEP Resources Inc., AEP Communications Inc. and AEP Investments Inc. Clements named the following people to his senior staff: Don Boyd, senior vice president of Asia Pacific region. Boyd was previously senior vice president - Asia Pacific for AEP Resources Inc. Jim Sweeney, vice president of Latin America region. Sweeney was previously vice president - Latin America for AEP Resources Inc. Chris Wilson, vice president - European region. Wilson was previously vice president - European region for AEP Resources Inc. Fred Boyle, vice president of financial services for corporate development. Boyle previously was vice president of financial services for AEP Resources Inc. Dennis Lantzy, vice president of technical services. Lantzy was previously vice president of generation for AEP Resources Inc. "Each of these individuals has met the challenges of their present jobs and possess the skills and knowledge necessary to successfully execute AEP's corporate business plan," Clements said. AEP and CSW announced their intention to merge on Dec. 22, 1997. Approvals that remain include the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Upon completion of the merger, expected in the spring, the new company will be called American Electric Power. CSW is a global, diversified public utility holding company based in Dallas. CSW owns four electric operating subsidiaries serving 1.7 million customers in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas; a regional electricity company in the United Kingdom; other international energy operations and non-utility subsidiaries involved in energy-related investments, telecommunications, energy efficiency and financial transactions. AEP, a global energy company, is one of the United States' largest investor-owned utilities, providing energy to 3 million customers in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. AEP has holdings in the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Australia. Wholly owned subsidiaries provide power engineering, energy consulting and energy management services around the world. The company is based in Columbus.