DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

Centerpoint Energy Inc. (CNP) completed its common stock offering, raising $150 million four months after announcing the program.

The electricity and natural-gas distributor sold 14.3 million shares through an equity distribution agreement with Citigroup Inc. (C). The sales occurred from May 8 through Friday, the same time a host of companies sold tens of billions of dollars in stock as investors flocked to secondary offerings.

The company hasn't said what it would do with the proceeds.

CenterPoint is the holding company for all the regulated assets previously held by Reliant Energy Inc. (REI), from which it split in 2002.

Centerpoint shares were recently down 2.1% at $11 amid a broad market downgrade. The stock is roughly at the same level it was when the stock offering was announced; the company's market capitalization is about $3.8 billion.

-By Joan E. Solsman, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2291; joan.solsman@dowjones.com