SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934
(Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [_]
Check the appropriate box:
[_]Confidential, for Use of the
[_]Preliminary Proxy Statement Commission Only (as Permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[_]Definitive Proxy Statement
[_]Definitive Additional Materials
[X]Soliciting Material Pursuant to (S)240.14a-11(c) or (S)240.14a-12
Columbia Energy Group
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X]No fee required.
[_]$125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), 14a-6(i)(2) or Item
22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
[_]$500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 14a-
6(i)(3).
[_]Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant
to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
calculated and state how it was determined):
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5) Total fee paid:
[_]Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[_]Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or
the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
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Notes:
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CKY E-news copy
CKY FILES MERGER APPLICATION
On Monday, May 1, NiSource, Columbia Energy Group and CKY filed a joint
application with the Kentucky Public Service Commission requesting the necessary
approvals related to the planned merger. Under Kentucky's statutes, the
Commission has 60 days in which to review and rule on the proposed merger.
The filing noted that following the merger Columbia Gas of Kentucky will:
o Maintain its headquarters in Lexington.
o Retain key management
o Maintain local decision-making authority
o Retain the employee workforce in accordance with CKY's plans prior
to the merger.
o Honor CKY's collective bargaining agreement.
o Continue CKY's efforts of community and civic involvement.
The combined company will be the largest natural gas distributor east of the
Rocky Mountains and the 2nd largest gas company in the country. Similar
applications have been filed with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and
the State Corporation Commission of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
This story contains certain forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the federal securities laws; these forward-looking statements are
subject to various risks and uncertainties. The factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from the projections, forecasts, estimates and
expectations discussed herein may include factors that are beyond the companies'
ability to control or estimate precisely, such as estimates of future market
conditions, the behavior of other market participants and the actions of the
Federal and State regulators. Other factors include, but are not limited to,
actions in the financial markets, weather conditions, economic conditions in the
two companies' service territories, fluctuations in energy-related commodity
prices, conversion activity, other marketing efforts and other uncertainties.
Other risk factors are detailed from time to
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time in the two companies' SEC reports. Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of
this release. The companies do not undertake any obligation to publicly release
any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or
circumstances after the date of this release.
In addition to other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission by the two companies, NiSource and the new holding company have filed
a registration statement, which contains a joint proxy statement/prospectus for
NiSource and Columbia Energy. The final joint proxy statement/prospectus, dated
April 24, 2000, is available and has been distributed to the companies'
shareholders. Investors and security holders are urged to read the joint proxy
statement/prospectus and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC when
they become available because they will contain important information. Investors
and security holders can receive the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other
documents free of charge at the SEC's web site, www.sec.gov, from NiSource
Investor Relations at 801 East 86th Avenue, Merrillville, Indiana 46410 or at
its web site, www.nisource.com, or from Columbia Investor Relations at 13880
Dulles Corner Lane, Herndon, Virginia 20171 or at its web site,
www.columbiaenergygroup.com.
Information concerning the identity of the participants in the
solicitation of proxies by the NiSource Inc. and Columbia Energy Group boards of
directors and their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or
otherwise, may be obtained from the Secretary of NiSource Inc. or the Secretary
of Columbia Energy Group, as the case may be, at the addresses listed above.
