Robbins Arroyo LLP: Acquisition of Columbia Pipeline Partners LP (CPPL) by Columbia Pipeline Group, Inc. (Private) May Not Be...

Shareholder rights attorneys at Robbins Arroyo LLP are investigating the proposed acquisition of Columbia Pipeline Partners LP (the "Partnership") (NYSE: CPPL) by Columbia Pipeline Group, Inc. ("Columbia") (Private). On September 26, 2016, the Partnership announced the receipt of an offer pursuant to which Columbia will acquire the Partnership. Under the terms of the agreement, the Partnership unitholders will receive $15.75 in cash for each unit of the Partnership common units.

View this information on the law firm's Shareholder Rights Blog: www.robbinsarroyo.com/shareholders-rights-blog/columbia-pipeline-partners-lp

Is the Proposed Acquisition Best for the Partnership and Its Unitholders?

Robbins Arroyo LLP's investigation focuses on whether the board of directors at the Partnership is undertaking a fair process to obtain maximum value and adequately compensate its unitholders.

As an initial matter, the $15.75 merger consideration represents a premium of only 2.90% based on the Partnership's closing price on September 23, 2016. This premium is significantly below the average one day premium of nearly 65.55% for comparable transactions within the past three years. Further, the $15.75 merger consideration is significantly below the target price of $23.00 set by an analyst at Credit Suisse on March 18, 2016; $22.00 set by an analyst at Jefferies on January 14, 2016; $20.00 set by an analyst at Scotia Howard Weil Inc. on December 15, 2015; $17.00 set by analysts at Barclays and JP Morgan on July 27, 2016 and May 26, 2016, respectively; and $16.00 set by an analyst at Morgan Stanley on August 3, 2016. In the last three years, the Partnership traded as high as $29.00 on March 3, 2015, and most recently traded above the merger consideration – at $16.02 – on August 2, 2016.

On August 2, 2016, the Partnership reported strong earnings results for its second quarter 2016. The Partnership reported net cash flows from operating activities of $177.2 million, representing a 17.2% increase over the prior year of $151.2 million. Adjusted EBITDA attributable was $24.7 million for the second quarter compared with $21.3 million in the prior-year period, a 16.0% increase.

In light of these facts, Robbins Arroyo LLP is examining the Partnership's board of directors' decision to sell the company now rather than allow unitholders to continue to participate in the company's continued success and future growth prospects.

The Partnership unitholders have the option to file a class action lawsuit to ensure the board of directors obtains the best possible price for unitholders and the disclosure of material information. The Partnership unitholders interested in information about their rights and potential remedies can contact attorney Darnell R. Donahue at [phone], [e-mail], or via the shareholder information form on the firm's website.

Robbins Arroyo LLP is a nationally recognized leader in securities litigation and shareholder rights law. The law firm represents individual and institutional investors in shareholder derivative and securities class action lawsuits, and has helped its clients realize more than $1 billion of value for themselves and the companies in which they have invested.

Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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Robbins Arroyo LLPDarnell R. Donahue(619) 525-3990 or Toll Free (800) [e-mail]