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FORM 8-K
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
CURRENT REPORT
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Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (date of earliest event Reported) June 24, 1999
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COLUMBIA ENERGY GROUP
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 1-1098 13--1594808
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(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
13880 Dulles Corner Lane, Herndon, VA 20171-4600
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(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (703) 561-6000
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Item 5. Other Events
Information contained in News Releases dated June 24, 1999 is
incorporated herein by reference.
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SIGNATURE
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Columbia Energy Group
(Registrant)
By /s/J. W. Grossman
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Vice President & Controller
Date: June 25, 1999
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For Immediate Release CONTACTS:
June 24, 1999 Columbia Energy Group
Thomas L. Hughes (Financial Community)
703/561-6001
R. A. Rankin, Jr. (News Media)
703/561-6044
Kekst and Company
Michael Freitag/Jessica Barist (News Media)
212/521-4800
COLUMBIA ENERGY GROUP TO REVIEW
UNSOLICITED TENDER OFFER FROM NISOURCE
HERNDON, Va., June 24 - In response to NiSource, Inc.'s publicly
disclosed plan to commence an unsolicited tender offer to acquire all of
Columbia's outstanding common stock for $68 per share, Columbia Energy Group
announced that, consistent with its fiduciary duties, Columbia's board of
directors will review the unsolicited offer and make a recommendation to
shareholders.
Columbia urged all of its shareholders to take no action with respect
to the unsolicited NiSource offer or related activities until Columbia's board
has reviewed the offer and made its recommendation. Columbia's board will make
its recommendation to shareholders within 10 business days of NiSource's filing
of tender offer documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Columbia's co-financial advisors are Morgan Stanley Dean Witter and
Salomon Smith Barney. Legal counsel is Sullivan & Cromwell.
Columbia Energy Group, based in Herndon, Va., is one of the nation's
leading energy services companies, with 1998 revenues of nearly $6.6 billion and
assets of about $7 billion. Since 1995, Columbia's total rate of return has
outperformed the Standard Poor's 500 and the S&P Natural Gas Index. Columbia's
operating companies engage in all phases of the natural gas business, including
exploration and production, transmission, storage and distribution, as well as
commodities marketing, energy management, propane sales and electric power
generation, sales and trading. Columbia companies serve customers in 34 states
and the District of Columbia. Information about Columbia Energy Group (NYSE:CG)
is available on the Internet at www.columbiaenergygroup.com.
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