
                                                                  EXHIBIT (99.4)


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS that THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP,  INC. (the
"Company")  does hereby make,  constitute  and appoint each of Hans L. Reich and
Roger S. Begelman, acting individually, its true and lawful attorney, to execute
and  deliver  in its  name and on its  behalf  whether  the  Company  is  acting
individually or as representative of others,  any and all filings required to be
made by the Company under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended,  the
"Act"),  with respect to securities which may be deemed to be beneficially owned
by  the   Company   under  the  Act,   giving  and   granting   unto  each  said
attorney-in-fact  power and authority to act in the premises as fully and to all
intents and purposes as the Company might or could do if  personally  present by
one of its authorized signatories, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     THIS POWER OF ATTORNEY  shall  remain in full force and effect until either
revoked  in  writing  by the  undersigned  or until  such time as the  person or
persons to whom power of  attorney  has been  hereby  granted  cease(s) to be an
employee of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. or one of its affiliates.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has duly subscribed these presents as
of December 8th, 2000.




THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC.


By: s/ Gregory K. Palm
------------------------------------
Name:  Gregory K. Palm
Title: Executive Vice President and General Counsel



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