Enron Mail

From:ray.niles@ssmb.com
To:
Subject:ENE: The Balance Sheet Matters; Prospects For Further Writedowns
Cc:
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Date:Fri, 19 Oct 2001 10:01:36 -0700 (PDT)


ENE: The Balance Sheet Matters; Prospects For Further Writedowns

* ENE shares have declined due to concern over writedowns, actual and
prospective, in our view. While management announced $2.21 billion in
charges ($1.01 billion through the income statement and $1.2 billion as a
direct charge to shareholders equity) when they reported earnings (see our
10/16/01 note), the prospect of further charges has spooked the stock
* We think further write-offs are likely at non-core global assets
(Dabhol and South America) and possibly at their broadband unit (already
partially written off). Several other complex off-balance sheet vehicles
have raised concern.
* Offsetting these potential hits to shareholders equity are likely
reductions in debt from the proceeds of various asset sales over the balance
of the year
* Moody's has captured these concerns by putting Enron's senior debt
on review for possible downgrade.
* We are evaluating these issues and currently maintain our 1H rating.


<<ENE Write-Off 10-19-01.pdf<< <<ENE Write-Off 10-19-01.doc<<


Raymond C. Niles
Power/Natural Gas Research
Salomon Smith Barney
(212) 816-2807
ray.niles@ssmb.com

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