Securities

Avista Corp. has warned preliminary estimates indicate secondquarter earnings per share will fall below securities analysts’current consensus second quarter estimate of $0.33 per share due tolosses in April and May within Avista Energy, its national energymarketing and trading. First quarter earnings in 1998 were $0.27per common share. The prospects for a disappointing second quarterfollow on first quarter earnings of $0.34 per diluted share, wellbelow the $0.56 per share in first quarter 1998.

Avista Corp. of Spokane, WA, its first-quarter earnings pershare could fall as much as 15 cents per share below securitiesanalysts’ current consensus first quarter estimate of 49 cents pershare. However, CEO T.M. Matthews said the company is stillcomfortable with analyst expectations of earnings for the year ofbetween $1.55-$1.65 per share

An April 2 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission suggests the rumored sale of Enron’s controlling interest in Enron Oil &Gas (EOG) could be in the offing. In the filing, Enron confirmed it is pondering a potential sale of its exploration and production arm among other possibilities.

An April 2 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commissionsuggests the rumored sale of Enron’s controlling interest in EnronOil & Gas (EOG) could be in the offing. In the filing, Enronsaid it is pondering EOG’s potential sale among other possibilitiesfor the exploration and production arm of the energy giant.

Conoco Inc. filed a registration statement with the Securitiesand Exchange Commission (SEC) outlining a split-off plan fromDuPont that will establish Conoco as a fully independent company.The proposed split-off would be achieved through an exchange offerin which DuPont stockholders would be given an opportunity toexchange DuPont common stock for shares of Conoco Class B commonstock currently held by DuPont. The split-off is expected to becompleted in the third quarter. Last autumn, DuPont sold 30% ofConoco last October in the largest initial public offering in U.S.history. The IPO raised $4.4 billion and left DuPont with a 70%controlling interest in Houston-based producer.

Southern Co. is seeking a Securities and Exchange Commissionwaiver of Public Utility Holding Company Act rules so it can doubleits already massive investment program in nonregulated powergeneration assets primarily in North America over the next fewyears.

Enron Corp. notified the Securities and Exchange Commission lastweek it is considering an unsolicited offer from an unidentifiedcompany for its 53.5% share of Enron Oil and Gas, one of thelargest independent gas producers in the U.S. According to thesolicitation, the third party would acquire Enron’s shares in EOGand make an offer for all the outstanding shares. It also wouldrequire that Enron dispose of certain other assets.

Enron Corp. made an SC13D filing with the Securities andExchange Commission on Tuesday to inform the commission it hasreceived an unsolicited offer for its 53.5% share of Enron Oil andGas, one of the largest independent gas producers in the U.S.According to the solicitation, the unnamed third party wouldacquire Enron’s shares in EOG and make an offer for all theoutstanding shares. The third party also would require that Enrondispose of certain other assets.

PacifiCorp said last week it expects its third-quarter earningswill be 50% below securities analysts’ expectations of $0.41/shareand its annual earnings will be significantly below analysts’forecast of $1.27 per share.