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Enron Mail |
FYI
-----Original Message----- From: Stevens, Kirk Sent: Monday, October 01, 2001 2:45 PM To: Butts, Bob; Hayslett, Rod Cc: Piro, Jim Subject: PGG Q3 Forecast - Confidential Quick update on our Q3 earnings (still very prelim). 3rd Current Estimate: IBIT = (2.7) NI = (1.3) Latest Forecast: IBIT = (9.1) NI = 1.7 Major variance - TOLI loss for the month is expected to be $9.5m, or $6.5m worse than our 3rd Current Estimate. The recent sharp decline in the stock market is the driver (post Sept 11 market impact). Without the additional TOLI loss, we'd be right on our 3rd Current Estimate. Major Risks - AA&Co. Issues The following issues are currently being reviewed and challenged (to different degrees) by AA&Co Portland (note- Houston AA&Co - Duncan -has been updated on these items by Tim McCann - AA&Co Portland). Our forecast numbers above assume positive outcome on all these issues. We will continue to hold our ground, feeling our positions are appropriate. But since several of these have no direct impact on PGE stand-alone reporting, Houston (you) have better leverage getting these through the AA&Co staff in Houston that may question our treatment. TOLI Deferred Tax Reserve - $9m PGE proposes to reverse this reserve established Q4 1999 (at the date of the Sierra Sale announcement) since the deal with Sierra was terminated, and since we now feel recording this type of reserve is more appropriate at the time of an actual transfer of the TOLI assets to Enron under any future sale of PGE. AA&Co is fighting this one hard, Greek Rice has been made aware of this. Pension Credit Capitalization - $5m (YTD 9/30 true-up) PGE proposes that we no longer capitalize our FAS 87 pension credit since our rates assume zero pension costs for ratemaking purposes. AA&Co. is using a FAS 87 implementation issue to say we still need to capitalize the credit, and possibly set up a FAS 71 reg asset (although they're still somewhat pushing no change to our current accounting, ie just keep capitalizing the pension credit). Merger MOU Obligation - PVC - $5.7m Since our new ratecase allows recovery of the remaining costs for this committment made as part of the Enron purchase of PGE, we believe the remaining liability set up in purchase accounting on PVC's books can be reversed. AA&Co. feels we still have an obligation to perform the MOU committments (which we do), but we feel that our original estimate of this cost at the time of the PGE/Enron merger has now been reduced as a result of the ratemaking treatment, so it should be reduced to zero. AA&Co. prefers that we bring the liability down over time as we fullfill the committment, letting earnings effect come in over time. Severance Reserves - PGH1 ($2.7m) and PVC ($3.5m) At the time of the Enron purchase of PGE, severance reserves were set up for an anticipate number of involuntary terminations expected to occur within the first few years of the merger. Over time, actual severance payments made to PGH or PGE employees have been reversed out of these reserves. At this point, no future terminations are contemplated which relate to the initial merger conditions/environment. Accordingly we plan to reverse these balances to income Q3. At this point, AA&Co. thinks we should consider taking these back against goodwill (which we feel goes against Purchase Accounting guidance). Litigation Reserve - PGH1 ($2.1m) PGC and it's subsidiaries had numerous legal issues outstanding at the merger date (eg. Columbia Steel, Trojan Recovery, City of Burbank Contract, Bonneville Pacific). A reserve of $5 million was established in purchase accounting for any legal/litigation and settlement costs incurred by PGC and subsidiaries to defend itself in these types of claims/proceedings. The reserve also was to cover any litigation filed post merger directly related to the merger. Since the merger date, we have reversed actual costs incurred for these types of activities in the amount of $2.9 million, leaving a remaining reserve balance at 9/30/01 of $2.1 million. At this time, all legal claims outstanding at the merger date have been settled satisfactorily where no material contingency exists. Accordingly, we will reverse the remaining balance in Q3 2001. Again, AA&Co has indicated that we had over estimated the original cost of these activities in purchase accounting, and that we should now reverse the difference back through goodwill (again, we think this is a misapplication of purchase accounting since we are well outside the orginal 1-2 year window for adjusting goodwill). There are a few other items we're debating with AA&Co (in the range of $4m to 6m), and I'll let you know if any of these start to look at risk. Let me know if you have any questions on these items (503) 464-7121.
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