Baker Hughes Commences Private Placement of Senior Notes

Baker Hughes Incorporated BHI announced the commencement of a private placement to eligible purchasers of senior unsecured notes. The company intends to use the net proceeds of the offering to redeem all of its outstanding 6.50% senior notes due 2013, of which an aggregate principal amount of $500 million is currently outstanding. The company will use any remaining net proceeds for general corporate purposes, which could include funding ongoing operations, business acquisitions and repurchases of the company's common stock. The net proceeds of the offering may be invested temporarily in short-term marketable securities pending such usages.