Pre-Market News Not To Be Missed (EGAS, ESH, FNFG, SPLK, ETP)

Pre-Market News (EGAS, ESH, FNFG, SPLK, ETP)

Gas Natural Inc (NYSEAMEX:EGAS) stock gained 1.41% to $10.06 in the after hour trading after the company announced the pricing of an underwritten public offering of 700,000 shares of its common stock at a price of $10.10 per share. The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling shareholder. The offering is expected to close on July 2, 2012 subject to customary closing conditions.

First Niagara Financial Group Inc. (NASDAQ:FNFG) yesterday announced that it has taken steps to reposition its securities portfolio through the sale of $3.1 billion of mortgage-backed securities (MBS), the proceeds of which were used to repay a comparable amount of short-term debt. Based on the actions completed, the company will recognize a $16 million pre-tax gain from the sale of securities in the second quarter of 2012. There were no prepayment penalties on the debt pay-offs.

Splunk Inc (NASDAQ:SPLK) shares declined 3.57% to $27 in the after hour trading after the company announced that it has filed a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for a proposed public offering of shares of its common stock. All of the shares to be sold in the offering will be sold by existing stockholders of the company. The company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares. The primary purposes of the offering are to facilitate an orderly distribution of shares and to increase the company’s public float.

Energy Transfer Partners LP (NYSE:ETP) shares declined 3.68% to $44.29 in the after hour trading after the company announced it has commenced a public offering of 13,500,000 common units representing limited partner interests, with a 30-day option for the underwriters to purchase up to an additional 2,025,000 common units. Net proceeds from the offering will be used by ETP to repay amounts outstanding under its amended and restated revolving credit facility, to fund capital expenditures related to pipeline construction projects and for general partnership purposes.

News Corp (NASDAQ:NWSA) shares gained 0.27% to $22.37 in the after hour trading after Reuters reported that the Board of The News Corporation has approved in principle the split of its publishing and entertainment businesses into two separate publicly traded companies. The split would mean News Corp’s film and television businesses will be carved off from its newspapers, book publishing assets and education businesses