Filed by General Electric Company
Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
And deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Subject Company: Baker Hughes Incorporated
Commission File No.: 001-09397
Date: December 22, 2016
The following transcript is for a video made available to employees of General Electric Company and Baker Hughes Incorporated:
Views from the Integration Planning Team
GE & Baker Hughes Interviews | Crotonville
December 2016
* Adriano Bastos, Latin America, GE Oil & Gas: We have a unique opportunity to bring unparalleled solutions to the market … The biggest challenge is how to create opportunities for both teams, and to make sure that they feel part of a greater company, the greater new company that we are creating.
* Chris McCarty, Sales and Regulatory Filing, Baker Hughes: I think that if you look across the portfolios of Baker Hughes and General Electric there’s a lot we have to offer to the customer community to help them reduce their lifting cost and their cost to bring in oil and gas to the markets.
* Laura Gui, APAC & China, GE Oil & Gas: I think the biggest opportunity is the new model. So we have to create a new model to make us simple, easy, you know, make the customer to easy to work with us, to make the employee feel the company is simple to operate.
* Daniel Post, Europe, Russia and CIS, GE Oil & Gas: It’s a massive exercise. We’re looking at things by function, by region, by business unit. It’s going to look great on paper but it’s going to be all about executing and making it happen.
* Greg Folks, Manufacturing and Supply Chain, Baker Hughes: I think the biggest challenge is the speed at which we’re going to, that we’re planning to integrate. We have big plans, which I think are certainly achievable.
* Iain McIntosh, Western Hemisphere Operations, Baker Hughes: For me it was very encouraging to see that from many dimensions of our operating cultures were very, very similar and I think that’s going to stand us in great stead as we move forward to work with all together.
* Samar El Mnhrawy, Human Resources, Baker Hughes: … I think we both have the same beliefs, same values. We have our focus on our internal employees, our customers, our stakeholders.
* Robert Perez, North America, GE Oil & Gas: I think the key take-away is to try to have a plan that focuses on simplicity, the customer, and one culture. And I think if we can achieve that we’ll have a formidable business to compete in the marketplace.
* Elspeth Inglis, Culture, GE Oil & Gas: The one big key take-away for me is to really make sure that people understand that they can create something here and not miss that opportunity and not go back to what we know. Just get together to create something new.
* Colleen Rozak, PMO, GE Oil & Gas: We have a fresh sheet of paper. We can design this new company to take the best of GE and the best of Baker. And I think with that sort of autonomy we can deliver the best outcome for both customers as well as employees.
* Malissa Boudreaux, Eastern Hemisphere Operations, Baker Hughes: This is going to be a success, we are going to deliver on the promises that are out there.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed transaction between GE and Baker Hughes, Bear Newco, Inc. (“Newco”) will prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a combined proxy statement/prospectus of Newco and Baker Hughes (the “Combined Proxy Statement/Prospectus”). Baker Hughes and Newco will prepare and file the Combined Proxy Statement/Prospectus with the SEC, and Baker Hughes will mail the Combined Proxy Statement/Prospectus to its stockholders and file other documents regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC. This communication is not a substitute for any proxy statement, registration statement, proxy statement/prospectus or other documents Baker Hughes and/or Newco may file with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY THE COMBINED PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE, ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THE COMBINED PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED BY BAKER HUGHES OR NEWCO WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION, BECAUSE THESE DOCUMENTS WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the Combined Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC by Baker Hughes and/or Newco through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Investors and security holders will also be able to obtain free copies of the documents filed by Newco and/or Baker Hughes with the SEC on Baker Hughes’ website at http://www.bakerhughes.com or by contacting Baker Hughes Investor Relations at alondra.oteyza@bakerhughes.com or by calling +1-713-439-8822.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication is for informational purposes only and not intended to and does not constitute an offer to subscribe for, buy or sell, the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for, buy or sell or an invitation to subscribe for, buy or sell any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to or in connection with the proposed transaction or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and otherwise in accordance with applicable law.
Participants in the Solicitation
GE, Baker Hughes, Newco, their respective directors, executive officers and other members of its management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the Combined Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other relevant materials when it is filed with the SEC. Information regarding the directors and executive officers of GE is contained in GE’s proxy statement for its 2016 annual meeting of stockholders, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2016, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, which was filed with the SEC on February 26, 2016, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A for the quarter ended September 30, 2016, which was filed with the SEC on November 9, 2016 and certain of its Current Reports filed on Form 8-K. Information regarding the directors and executive officers of Baker Hughes is contained in Baker Hughes’ proxy statement for its 2016 annual meeting of stockholders, filed with the SEC on April 11, 2016, its Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2015, which was filed with the SEC on February 19, 2016, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 which was filed with the SEC on October 25, 2016 and certain of its Current Reports filed on Form 8-K. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains “forward-looking” statements as that term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the proposed transaction between GE and Baker Hughes. All statements, other than historical facts, including statements regarding the expected timing and structure of the proposed transaction; the ability of the parties to complete the proposed transaction considering the various closing conditions; the expected benefits of the proposed transaction such as improved operations, enhanced revenues and cash flow, synergies, growth potential, market profile, customers’ business plans and financial strength; the competitive ability and position of the combined company following completion of the proposed transaction, including the projected impact on GE’s earnings per share; oil and natural gas market conditions; costs and availability of resources; legal, economic and regulatory conditions; and any assumptions underlying any of the foregoing, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements concern future circumstances and results and other statements that are not historical facts and are sometimes identified by the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “potential,” “intend,” “expect,” “endeavor,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “overestimate,” “underestimate,” “believe,” “could,” “project,” “predict,” “continue,” “target” or other similar words or expressions. Forward-looking statements are based upon current plans, estimates and expectations that are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. The inclusion of such statements should not be regarded as a representation that such plans, estimates or expectations will be achieved. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such plans, estimates or expectations include, among others, (1) that one or more closing conditions to the transaction, including certain regulatory approvals, may not be satisfied or waived, on a timely basis or otherwise, including that a governmental entity may prohibit, delay or refuse to grant approval for the consummation of the proposed transaction, may require conditions, limitations or restrictions in connection with such approvals or that the required approval by the stockholders of Baker Hughes may not be obtained; (2) the risk that the proposed transaction may not be completed in the time frame expected by GE or Baker Hughes, or at all; (3) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the proposed transaction; (4) uncertainty of the expected financial performance of the combined company following completion of the proposed transaction; (5) failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction, including as a result of delay in completing the proposed transaction or integrating the businesses of GE, Baker Hughes and Newco; (6) the ability of the combined company to implement its business strategy; (7) difficulties and delays in achieving revenue and cost synergies of the combined company; (8) inability to retain and hire key personnel; (9) the occurrence of any event that could give rise to termination of the proposed transaction; (10) the risk that stockholder litigation in connection with the proposed transaction or other settlements or investigations may affect the timing or occurrence of the contemplated merger or result in significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability; (11) evolving legal, regulatory and tax regimes; (12) changes in general economic and/or industry specific conditions, including oil price changes; (13) actions by third parties, including government agencies; and (14) other risk factors as detailed from time to time in GE’s and Baker Hughes’ reports filed with the SEC, including GE’s and Baker Hughes’ annual report on Form 10-K, periodic quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, periodic current reports on Form 8-K and other documents filed with the SEC. The foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive.
Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this communication. Neither GE nor Baker Hughes undertakes any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or developments, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements.