** Electric and gas utility CenterPoint Energy's CNP.N shares fall 3.4% to $37.05 premarket

** CNP announces offering of $900 million of convertible bonds due 2028 in private placement

** Proceeds will be used for general purposes, including repaying debt

** CNP has 652.9 million outstanding shares for $25 billion market cap, according to LSEG

** 7 of 18 brokerages rate stock "buy" or higher and 11 "hold"; median PT $40 - data compiled by LSEG

** As of last close, CNP stock up 20.9% YTD

(Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru)

((ArasuKannagi.Basil@thomsonreuters.com))