Executive Announcement
To: All Baker Hughes employees
From: Martin Craighead, Chairman and CEO
Date: Nov. 17, 2014
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Please See Important Information at the End of This Announcement
An agreement to combine Baker Hughes and Halliburton has been reached
Fellow Employees,
Today, we are making history. Earlier this morning, we announced the merger of Baker Hughes and Halliburton – two best-in-class companies, each with a heritage dating back more than 100 years.
Baker Hughes has never been stronger. We’ve posted record financial results, our pace of technology introduction is accelerating, and our customer relationships have never been better. Baker Hughes is the go-to company for the world’s most challenging energy projects.
With such positive momentum, today’s announcement might seem unexpected. Yet, the combined strengths and opportunities resulting from this deal are part of what makes this combination compelling.
When completed, this will be the largest merger in the history of our industry.
The proposed transaction brings together highly complementary capabilities. It combines Baker Hughes’ strengths in technology and manufacturing with Halliburton’s scale and supply chain expertise. At the same time, there are a number of parallels between our two companies, including similar core values and a heritage of innovation. We expect the combined company to achieve opportunities that neither company could have reached as well or as quickly while standing alone.
The next step is to gain the approval by the stockholders of both companies and by regulatory authorities. This process is expected to take up to a year. Although we are excited to begin exploring the new pathways created by this opportunity, we ask that you do not contact Halliburton or discuss business with them unless you are instructed to do so. The companies will only be integrated once this process is complete.
So, what can you do to help? These are the three things each of us can do.
First, the single greatest priority of every employee must be – as always – to continue delivering safe, compliant, and reliable service. We cannot allow ourselves to be distracted from our commitments to safety and compliance.
Second, we must continue to move our business forward. This means providing the same outstanding customer service that has become the hallmark of Baker Hughes.
Third, embrace the opportunity. It is important to remember that the company we know as Baker Hughes is itself the product of countless acquisitions. Perhaps half our employees – me included – came here through an acquisition. Today’s announcement represents another step in that journey.
I know that it will also create uncertainty for many. It’s typical in a merger to see misinformation being spread, especially in the media. We will do our best to provide you with updates on our progress. If you are contacted by media or investors, please refrain from comment and immediately refer them to our Media Relations and Investor Relations departments.
We should all be proud of our success in building a strong brand that is based on innovation, customer service, and integrity. Today is not the end of that journey. Rather, it is the beginning of the next chapter of this great company. This merger opens a whole new range of opportunities for Baker Hughes and makes it more possible than ever before for us to have a positive impact in the world and to fulfill our Purpose: to enable safe, affordable energy, improving people’s lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
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This message is intended exclusively for the individual or entity to which it is addressed. This communication may contain information that is proprietary, privileged, confidential or otherwise legally exempt from disclosure. If you are not the named addressee, or have been inadvertently and erroneously referenced in the address line, you are not authorized to read, print, retain, copy or disseminate this message or any part of it. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by e-mail and delete all copies of the message.
Important Information For Investors And Stockholders
This communication does not constitute an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. This communication relates to a proposed business combination between Baker Hughes Incorporated (“Baker Hughes”) and Halliburton Company (“Halliburton”). In connection with this proposed business combination, Baker Hughes and/or Halliburton may file one or more proxy statements, registration statements, proxy statement/prospectus or other documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). This communication is not a substitute for any proxy statement, registration statement, proxy statement/prospectus or other document Baker Hughes and/or Halliburton may file with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF BAKER HUGHES AND HALLIBURTON ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT(S), REGISTRATION STATEMENT(S), PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Any definitive proxy statement(s) (if and when available) will be mailed to stockholders of Baker Hughes and/or Halliburton, as applicable. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of these documents (if and when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by Baker Hughes and/or Halliburton through the website maintained by the SEC at
http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Baker Hughes will be available free of charge on Baker Hughes’ internet website at
http://www.bakerhughes.com or by contacting Baker Hughes’ Investor Relations Department by email at
trey.clark@bakerhughes.com or
alondra.oteyza@bakerhughes.com or by phone at +1-713-439-8039 or +1-713-439-8822. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Halliburton will be available free of charge on Halliburton’s internet website at
http://www.halliburton.com or by contacting Halliburton’s Investor Relations Department by email at
investors@halliburton.com or by phone at +1-281-871-2688.
Participants in Solicitation
Baker Hughes, Halliburton, their respective directors and certain of their respective executive officers may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of Baker Hughes is set forth in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, which was filed with the SEC on February 12, 2014, its proxy statement for its 2014 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 5, 2014, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2014 which was filed with the SEC on October 21, 2014 and its Current Reports on Form 8-K, which were filed with the SEC on June 10, 2014 and September 10, 2014. Information about the directors and executive officers of Halliburton is set forth in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, which was filed with the SEC on February 7, 2014, its proxy statement for its 2014 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 8, 2014, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2014 which was filed with the SEC on October 24, 2014 and its Current Report on Form 8-K, which was filed with the SEC on October 20, 2014.
These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitations and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this communication regarding the proposed acquisition of Baker Hughes by Halliburton, including any statements regarding the expected timetable for completing the proposed transaction, benefits and synergies of the proposed transaction, future opportunities for the combined company and products, future financial performance and any other statements regarding Halliburton’s and Baker Hughes’ future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, financial conditions, assumptions or future events or performance that are not historical facts are “forward-looking” statements made within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “ensure,” “expect,” “if,” “intend,” “estimate,” “probable,” “project,” “forecasts,” “predict,” “outlook,” “aim,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “potential,” “may,” “might,” “anticipate,” “likely” “plan,” “positioned,” “strategy,” and similar expressions, and the negative thereof, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
All forward-looking information are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Baker Hughes and Halliburton, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: failure to obtain the required votes of Baker Hughes’ or Halliburton’s stockholders; the timing to consummate the proposed transaction; the risk that a condition to closing of the proposed transaction may not be satisfied or that the closing of the proposed transaction might otherwise not occur; the risk that a regulatory approval that may be required for the proposed transaction is not obtained or is obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated; the diversion of management time on transaction-related issues; the ultimate timing, outcome and results of integrating the operations of Baker Hughes and Halliburton and the ultimate outcome of Halliburton’s operating efficiencies applied to Baker Hughes’ products and services; the effects of the business combination of Baker Hughes and Halliburton, including the combined company’s future financial condition, results of operations, strategy and plans; expected synergies and other benefits from the proposed transaction and the ability of Halliburton to realize such synergies and other benefits; expectations regarding regulatory approval of the transaction; results of litigation, settlements, and investigations; civil unrest, government expropriations and/or epidemic outbreaks; final court approval of, and the satisfaction of the conditions in, Halliburton’s September 2014 settlement relating to the Macondo well incident in the Gulf of Mexico; appeals of the multi-district litigation District Court's September 2014 ruling regarding Phase 1 of the trial, and future rulings of the District Court; results of litigation, settlements, and investigations not covered by the settlement or the District Court's rulings; actions by third parties, including governmental agencies, relating to the Macondo well incident; BP's April 2012 settlement relating to the Macondo well incident, indemnification, and insurance matters; with respect to repurchases of Halliburton common stock, the continuation or suspension of the repurchase program, the amount, the timing and the trading prices of Halliburton common stock, and the availability and alternative uses of cash; actions by third parties, including governmental agencies; changes in the demand for or price of oil and/or natural gas can be significantly impacted by weakness in the worldwide economy; consequences of audits and investigations by domestic and foreign government agencies and legislative bodies and related publicity and potential adverse proceedings by such agencies; protection of intellectual property rights and against cyber attacks; compliance with environmental laws; changes in government regulations and regulatory requirements, particularly those related to offshore oil and natural gas exploration, radioactive sources, explosives, chemicals, hydraulic fracturing services and climate-related initiatives; compliance with laws related to income taxes and assumptions regarding the generation of future taxable income; risks of international operations, including risks relating to unsettled political conditions, war, the effects of terrorism, and foreign exchange rates and controls, international trade and regulatory controls, and doing business with national oil companies; weather-related issues, including the effects of hurricanes and tropical storms; changes in capital spending by customers; delays or failures by customers to make payments owed to us; execution of long-term, fixed-price contracts; impairment of oil and natural gas properties; structural changes in the oil and natural gas industry; maintaining a highly skilled workforce; availability and cost of raw materials; and integration of acquired businesses and operations of joint ventures. Expectations regarding business outlook, including changes in revenue, pricing, capital spending, profitability, strategies for our operations, oil and natural gas market conditions, customers’ business plans, market share and contract terms, costs and availability of resources, legal, economic and regulatory conditions, and environmental matters are only forecasts regarding these matters. Additional information concerning these and other factors can be found in Baker Hughes’ and Halliburton’s respective filings with the SEC and available through the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering and Analysis Retrieval system at
http://www.sec.gov, including Baker Hughes’ and Halliburton’s most recent Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. The foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive. Baker Hughes’ forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that Baker Hughes believes to be reasonable but that may not prove to be accurate. Baker Hughes and Halliburton assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof.
