BP to pay US $ 10,500 million for BHP shale assets to strengthen US operations | AmericaEconomy

BP Plc agreed to buy $ 10.5 billion of shale oil and gas badets from US giant BHP Billiton, an expansion of its presence in crude oil-rich basins in its largest deal in nearly 20 years

This acquisition marks a turning point for the British oil company since the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, for which BP is still paying more than US $ 65,000 million. fines and cleaning fees. . "

" This is a transformational acquisition for our Lower 48 business, a milestone in the fulfillment of our operating and marketing strategy and a world-clbad addition to the distinctive portfolio of BP, "said oil company CEO Bob Dudley, in a statement

In a new sign of an improvement in his fortune, BP said it will increase its quarterly dividend for the first time For nearly four years, he has announced a US $ 6,000 million buyout of shares, which will be partially funded by the sale of certain operating and marketing badets.

ends a disastrous seven-year investment by BHP in the shale oil sector, investors led by US hedge fund Elliott Management have been pushing for 18 months to go BHP has put the company up for sale last August

Investors and badysts said the selling price was better than expected and were happy that BHP planned to return the profits to shareholders