Sells

Energy Transfer Co., a privately held Dallas-based company, is paying $265 million in cash for Aquila Inc.’s 50% ownership in the 600-mile Oasis natural gas pipeline system, as well as the company’s Southeast Texas and Mid-Continent pipeline systems, which include natural gas and gas liquids processing assets. In just a few months, Aquila has announced asset sales totaling $483 million.

Energy Transfer Co., a privately held Dallas-based company, has agreed to pay $265 million in cash for Aquila Inc.’s 50% ownership in the 600-mile Oasis natural gas pipeline system, as well as the company’s Southeast Texas and Mid-Continent pipeline systems, which include natural gas and gas liquids processing assets. In just a few months, Aquila has announced asset sales totaling $483 million.

Brazil’s Petrobras is buying 22 million bbl of oil reserves and 267 Bcf of gas reserves in Argentina from Devon Energy for $90 million. About 75% of the reserves are classified as proved undeveloped. The properties produced 6,100 b/d of oil and 17 MMcf/d of gas net to Devon’s interest during the first six months of 2002. The transaction, which is subject to Argentine regulatory approvals, is expected to close by the end of the year.

Desperate to improve its financial situation, Dynegy Inc. announced it is selling all of Northern Natural Gas Co. (NNG) to Berkshire Hathaway’s MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co. for $928 million in cash and the assumption of $950 million in outstanding NNG debt. The transaction results in nearly a $600 million loss on the asset, which Dynegy bought from Enron late last year for $1.5 billion, but provides much needed liquidity to Dynegy, which has been under intense selling pressure on the stock market, particularly last week when its shares reached a low of 51 cents. Dynegy shares were up 52 cents (76%) on Monday to $1.20.

In a letter to employees last Monday, which was later filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), El Paso Corp. Chairman William Wise attempted to dispel any fears that the energy giant was in danger of crumbling, assuring workers it had about $1.5 billion of readily available cash, a balance sheet and credit profile that were “strong and improving,” an investment grade credit rating, and “adequate financial resources” to meet all of the company’s obligations and to maintain “profitable operations” during the current crisis facing the industry. Although the company was tested with the rest of the merchant energy sector last week, El Paso weathered the storm better than many others.

CMS Energy Corp. said Monday that Thomas J. Webb, former CFO for Kellogg Co., will replace CFO Alan M Wright, who has been with the company since 1991. At the same time CMS announced a definitive agreement to sell almost all of its remaining oil and gas reserves in the Permian Basin of West Texas, as well as assets in Africa and South America, to privately held Perenco SA and its affiliated companies, which are based in France.

CMS Energy Corp. said Monday that Thomas J. Webb, former CFO for Kellogg Co., will replace CFO Alan M Wright, who has been with the company since 1991. At the same time CMS announced a definitive agreement to sell almost all of its remaining oil and gas reserves in the Permian Basin of West Texas, as well as assets in Africa and South America, to privately held Perenco SA and its affiliated companies, which are based in France.

CMS Energy Corp. said Monday that Thomas J. Webb, former CFO for Kellogg Co., will replace CFO Alan M Wright, who has been with the company since 1991. At the same time CMS announced a definitive agreement to sell almost all of its remaining oil and gas reserves in the Permian Basin of West Texas, as well as assets in Africa and South America, to privately held Perenco SA and its affiliated companies, which are based in France.

Williams Cos. CEO Steve Malcolm said Friday the company is “prepared to do whatever it takes” to improve the company’s balance sheet, including selling more assets if the opportunity arises. However, he said the sale of the Kern River Gas Transmission system to a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary — and an additional investment in Williams by the Warren Buffett-led company — affords it the opportunity to grow the business in the way it needs to grow.