Item 8.01 Other Events.
On September 1, 2009, three purported stockholder class action lawsuits styled
Laborers Local 235 Benefit Fund v. Stewart, et al., The Booth Family Trust v.
Huff, et al., and Dugdale v. Huff, et al., were filed in the Court of Chancery
of the State of Delaware (the "Delaware Chancery Court") on behalf of the public
stockholders of BJ Services Company, a Delaware corporation ("BJ Services"),
with respect to the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement"), dated
as of August 30, 2009, among Baker Hughes Incorporated, a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), its wholly owned subsidiary, BSA Acquisition LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company ("Merger Sub") and BJ Services, whereby BJ Services
will merge with and into Merger Sub (the "Merger"), with Merger Sub continuing
as the surviving entity after the Merger. Each action names BJ Services, the
current members of the BJ Services Board of Directors (the "BJ Services Board")
and the Company as defendants.
On September 4, 2009, an additional purported stockholder class action lawsuit
styled Myers v. BJ Services, et al., was filed in the Delaware Chancery Court on
behalf of the public stockholders of BJ Services naming BJ Services, the current
members of the BJ Services Board, the Company and Merger Sub as defendants.
In the actions the plaintiffs allege, among other things, that the members of
the BJ Services Board breached their fiduciary duties by failing to properly
value BJ Services, failing to take steps to maximize the value of BJ Services to
its public stockholders, and avoiding a competitive bidding process. The actions
each allege that the Company aided and abetted the purported breaches by the BJ
Services Board. The plaintiffs in each lawsuit seek, among other things,
injunctive relief with respect to the Merger.
The Company believes that each lawsuit is without merit and intends to
vigorously defend each action. Because the lawsuits are at an early stage, the
Company cannot predict the manner and timing of the resolution of the lawsuits
or their outcomes.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed merger, the Company will file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a Registration Statement on Form
S-4 that will include a joint proxy statement of the Company and BJ Services
that also will constitute a prospectus of the Company regarding the proposed
transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY AND BJ SERVICES ARE
URGED TO CAREFULLY READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS WHEN IT BECOMES
AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE COMPANY,
BJ SERVICES AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. A definitive joint proxy
statement/prospectus will be sent to security holders of the Company and BJ
Services seeking their approval of the proposed transaction. Investors and
security holders may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement/prospectus (when
available) and other documents filed by the Company and BJ Services with the SEC
at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov. The joint proxy statement/prospectus and
such other documents may also be obtained for free when they become available
from the Company's website at www.bakerhughes.com/investor or from the Company
by directing a request to: Baker Hughes Incorporated, 2929 Allen Parkway,
Suite 2100, Houston, TX 77019, Attention: Corporate Secretary, or by phone at
(713) 439-8600.
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The Company, its directors, executive officers and certain members of management
and employees may be considered "participants in the solicitation" of proxies
from the Company's shareholders in connection with the acquisition. Information
about the Company and its directors and executive officers and their ownership
of the Company securities will be contained in the joint proxy
statement/prospectus when it is filed with the SEC.
Forward Looking Statements
Information set forth in this Current Report on Form 8-K (including information
included or incorporated by reference herein) contains "forward-looking
statements" (as defined in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended), which reflect the Company's and BJ Services' expectations regarding
future events. The forward-looking statements involve a number of risks,
uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Such
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the
benefits of the business combination transaction involving the Company and BJ
Services, including future financial and operating results, accretion to the
Company's earnings per share arising from the transaction, the expected amount
and timing of cost savings and operating synergies, whether and when the
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement will be consummated, the new
combined company's plans, market and other expectations, objectives, intentions
and other statements that are not historical facts.
The following additional factors, among others, could cause actual results to
differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements: the outcome of
the above-mentioned legal proceedings or any other legal proceedings that may be
instituted against the Company and others relating to the proposed transaction;
the ability to obtain regulatory approvals for the transaction and the approval
of the merger agreement by the stockholders of both parties; the risk that the
cost savings and any other synergies from the transaction may not be realized or
may take longer to realize than expected; disruption from the transaction making
it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees or
suppliers; the ability to successfully integrate the businesses, unexpected
costs or unexpected liabilities that may arise from the transaction, whether or
not consummated; the inability to retain key personnel; continuation or
deterioration of current market conditions; future regulatory or legislative
actions that could adversely affect the companies; and the business plans of the
customers of the respective parties. Additional factors that may affect future
results are contained in the Company's and BJ Services' filings with the SEC,
which are available at the SEC's web site www.sec.gov. The Company and BJ
Services disclaim any obligation to update and revise statements contained in
these materials based on new information or otherwise.
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