GAS/OIL PRODUCTION IN PLAY AS BHP BILLITON BUYS INTO SHALE BONANZA WITH PROPOSED PURCHASE OF PETROHAWK AND CONOCOPHILLIPS PROPOSES SPLIT AND SPINOFF OF REFINING/MARKETING BUSINESS

摘要

Moody's Investors Service affirmed BHP Billiton's A1 senior unsecured rating and Prime-1 short-term rating following the company's announcement Thursday that it entered into an agreement to acquire U.S. based exploration and production company Petrohawk Energy Corp. for $38.75 per share through an all cash tender offer. The offer represents a total equity value of approximately $12.1 billion and a total enterprise value of approximately $15.1 billion, including the assumption of net debt.