Filed by Woodside Petroleum Ltd.

Pursuant to Rule 425 of the Securities Act of 1933

Subject Company: BHP Group Ltd (Commission File No.: 001-09526)


ASX Announcement

 

Friday, 8 April 2022

 

ASX: WPL

OTC: WOPEY

    

LOGO

 

Woodside Petroleum Ltd.

ACN 004 898 962

Mia Yellagonga

11 Mount Street

Perth WA 6000

Australia

T +61 8 9348 4000

www.woodside.com.au

SUPPORTING INFORMATION FOR SHAREHOLDER VOTE ON MERGER

Woodside has today released information in respect of the shareholder vote to approve the proposed merger with BHP’s petroleum business.

The Woodside Board unanimously recommends that shareholders vote in favour of the merger. This recommendation is made in the absence of a superior proposal and subject to the Independent Expert maintaining the conclusion that the merger is in the best interests of Woodside Shareholders.

The documents released today are:

 

  1.

Notice of Annual General Meeting 2022

The Notice of Annual General Meeting (NoM) provides information on the items of business to be considered at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Item 2 of the NoM is “Approval of the BHP Petroleum Merger”.

 

  2.

Merger Explanatory Memorandum

The Merger Explanatory Memorandum (Annexure A to the NoM) was prepared for shareholders and contains detailed disclosure relevant to the vote on the merger.

 

  3.

Independent Expert Report

The Independent Expert Report was prepared by KPMG and concludes that the proposed merger is in the best interests of Woodside shareholders.

These documents are available on the ASX and Woodside’s website and should be read in their entirety.

Woodside’s 2022 AGM is to be held at 10.00am (AWST) on 19 May 2022. Woodside is targeting completion of the merger on 1 June 2022.1

 

 

Contacts:

 

INVESTORS

 

Damien Gare

W: +61 8 9348 4421

M: +61 417 111 697

E: investor@woodside.com.au

  

MEDIA

 

Christine Forster

M: +61 484 112 469

E: christine.forster@woodside.com.au

  

This ASX announcement was approved and authorised for release by Woodside’s Disclosure Committee.

 

1 

As outlined in the Merger Explanatory Memorandum, the merger remains subject to conditions. There is no certainty that the merger will complete on the intended schedule or at all.


Forward-looking statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. The words ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘aim’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’, ‘intend’, ‘may’, ‘target’, ‘plan’, ‘forecast’, ‘project’, ‘schedule’, ‘will’, ‘should’, ‘seek’ and other similar words or expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and contingencies that are subject to change without notice and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Woodside, BHP and their respective related bodies corporate and affiliates (and each of their respective directors, officers, employees, partners, consultants, contractors, agents, advisers and representatives), and could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements or any projections or assumptions on which those statements are based.

The forward-looking statements are subject to risk factors, including those associated with the oil and gas industry as well as those in connection with the Transaction. It is believed that the expectations reflected in these statements are reasonable, but they may be affected by a range of variables which could cause actual results or trends to differ materially, including but not limited to: price fluctuations, actual demand, currency fluctuations, geotechnical factors, drilling and production results, gas commercialisation, development progress, operating results, engineering estimates, reserve estimates, loss of market, industry competition, environmental risks, physical risks, legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments, economic and financial markets, conditions in various countries, approvals and cost estimates.

Investors are strongly cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, particularly in light of the current economic climate and the significant uncertainty and disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Forward-looking statements are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied on as an indication or guarantee of future performance. These statements may assume the success of the Transaction, BHP’s oil and gas portfolio or Woodside’s business strategies, the success of which may not be realised within the period for which the forward-looking statements may have been prepared, or at all. No guarantee, representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy, likelihood of achievement or reasonableness of any forecasts, prospects, returns, statements or tax treatment in relation to future matters contained in this presentation.

No offer or solicitation

This communication relates to the proposed Transaction between Woodside and BHP. This communication is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval with respect to the Transaction or otherwise, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities in the United States shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933.

Important additional information and where to find it

In connection with the proposed Transaction, Woodside intends to file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a registration statement on Form F-4 (the “Registration Statement”) to register the Woodside securities to be issued in connection with the proposed Transaction (including a prospectus therefor). Woodside and BHP also plan to file other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed Transaction. This communication is not a substitute for the Registration Statement or the prospectus or for any other document that Woodside or BHP may file with the SEC in connection with the Transaction. US INVESTORS AND US HOLDERS OF WOODSIDE AND BHP SECURITIES ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION (INCLUDING ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS) THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT WOODSIDE, BHP AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Shareholders will be able to obtain free copies of the Registration Statement, prospectus and other documents containing important information about Woodside and BHP once such documents are filed with the SEC, through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of such documents may also be obtained from Woodside and BHP without charge.

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