Halliburton and Baker Hughes have entered into a timing agreement with the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) pursuant to which both companies have agreed to extend the period for the DOJ's review of Halliburton's previously announced acquisition of Baker Hughes to the later of November 25, 2015 or 90 days after both companies have certified substantial compliance with the DOJ's second request.

Both Halliburton and Baker Hughes expect to certify substantial compliance with the DOJ's second requests, issued to each company, by mid-summer. Timing agreements are often entered into in connection with large, complex transactions, and provide the DOJ additional time to review responses to its second requests. In light of the timing agreement, Halliburton and Baker Hughes also have agreed to extend the time period for closing of the acquisition to no later than December 1, 2015.

Halliburton and Baker Hughes continue to be in discussions with the DOJ, the European Commission and other competition enforcement authorities with respect to the acquisition. As previously announced, Halliburton is currently marketing for sale its Fixed Cutter and Roller Cone Drill Bits, Directional Drilling and Logging-While-Drilling (LWD)/Measurement-While-Drilling (MWD) businesses.

In addition, Halliburton has shared with various competition enforcement authorities around the world a proposal to divest additional businesses of the companies which, together with the previously announced divestitures, are within the scope of those contemplated by Halliburton at the time of the transaction. There is no agreement to date with any competition enforcement authority as to the adequacy of Halliburton's proposal or any alternative proposal.

Halliburton and Baker Hughes said they will continue to work constructively with all competition enforcement authorities that have expressed an interest in the proposed transaction.

Source: www.worldoil.com

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