DRESSER INDUSTRIES INC /DE/
8-K, 1998-03-02
ENGINES & TURBINES
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<PAGE>
                                       
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


                            WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

                                       
                                   FORM 8-K


                                CURRENT REPORT


    Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


     Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported) - February 26, 1998





                            DRESSER INDUSTRIES, INC.
            ------------------------------------------------------
            (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)



           DELAWARE                       1-4003                  75-0813641
- ----------------------------       ---------------------     -------------------
(State or other jurisdiction       (Commission File No.)      (I.R.S. Employer
      of incorporation)                                      Identification No.)


                     2001 ROSS AVENUE, DALLAS, TEXAS  75201
                    ----------------------------------------
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code (214) 740-6000

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ITEM 1.  CHANGES IN CONTROL OF REGISTRANT

     On February 26, 1998, Dresser Industries, Inc. ("Dresser") and 
Halliburton Company ("Halliburton") announced that they had entered into a 
definitive merger agreement in which Halliburton N.C., Inc., a wholly-owned 
subsidiary of Halliburton, will be merged into Dresser with the shareholders 
of Dresser receiving one newly issued share of Halliburton common stock for 
each Dresser common share.  The transaction will be accounted for as a 
pooling of interests and is expected to be treated as tax-free to 
shareholders of Dresser's stock. The transaction is expected to be completed 
in the fall of 1998 and is subject to regulatory approvals in the United 
States, Europe and several other countries, shareholder approvals and 
customary closing conditions.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

         (c)  Exhibits.

     EXHIBITS

     20  News Release dated February 26, 1998.


                                       
                                  SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the 
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the 
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                                 DRESSER INDUSTRIES, INC.



                                                 By: /s/ George H. Juetten 
                                                     -------------------------
                                                     George H. Juetten
                                                     Senior Vice President and 
                                                     Chief Financial Officer

March 2, 1998

<PAGE>
                                       
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<S>                   <C>

Exhibit No.                       Description
- -----------                       -----------
    20                News Release dated February 26, 1998
</TABLE>


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Exhibit 20

                  Guy T. Marcus, Halliburton - (214) 978-2691
                  Don Galletly, Dresser - (214) 740-6757
                  George Sard/David Reno - Sard Verbinnen & Co. - (212) 687-8080

February 26, 1998                                          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                       
                   HALLIBURTON AND DRESSER INDUSTRIES ANNOUNCE 
                           $7.7 BILLION STOCK MERGER
                                       
STRATEGIC MERGER WILL CREATE OILFIELD SERVICES AND ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION
         COMPANY WITH BROADEST RANGE OF PETROLEUM SERVICES CAPABILITIES


DALLAS, TEXAS ... Halliburton Company (NYSE: HAL) and Dresser Industries, 
Inc. (NYSE: DI) today announced a strategic combination that will create an 
oilfield services and engineering and construction company with the broadest 
range of services to the petroleum industry worldwide.

     Under the terms of a definitive merger agreement unanimously approved by 
the board of directors of both companies, Dresser Industries' shareholders 
will receive one newly issued share of Halliburton common stock for each 
Dresser common share.  Based on Halliburton's closing price of  $44.00 per 
share yesterday, the transaction is currently valued at $44.00 per Dresser 
share, or a total of approximately $7.7 billion.  The transaction will be 
accounted for as a pooling of interests and is expected to be tax-free to 
Dresser's shareholders.

     The companies 1997 combined revenues exceeded $16 billion and the total 
backlog was approximately $13 billion.  The combined market capitalization is 
over $19 billion.  The company will continue to be called Halliburton Company 
and remain headquartered in Dallas, with a work force of approximately 
100,000 employees worldwide. 

     Dick Cheney, Halliburton's chairman and chief executive officer, who 
will be CEO of the combined company, said, "Halliburton and Dresser  are an 
outstanding business and cultural fit.  This is a win-win combination for 
both companies' shareholders, customers and employees. It represents a major 
step forward toward our goal of creating a fully integrated oilfield and 
engineering and construction services company with a global leadership 
position.  The ability to provide complete, seamless solutions for customers 
is becoming the critical factor in winning large international service 
contracts.  We will have the broadest range of capabilities in the industry 
and will remain focused on meeting the multiple and growing needs of 
customers worldwide."

     William E. Bradford, chairman and chief executive officer of Dresser, 
who will become chairman of Halliburton, said, "This transaction will create 
both immediate and  long-term value for our shareholders.  The union of these 
two great companies is ideal for our customers as well.  Together we will be 
able to do more for our customers than either of us could have done 
separately.  By joining together our highly complementary
                                       


                                     (more)

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operations we will be able to provide a broader and deeper array of services 
from upstream to downstream, from seismic interpretation to well 
construction, to the transportation and processing of oil and gas, the 
combined company will provide end-to-end integrated solutions that add value 
to our customers. Talented and motivated employees of both companies can look 
forward to exciting futures with numerous opportunities for growth and 
advancement."

     David J. Lesar,  president and chief operating officer of Halliburton 
who will continue in such role, said, " We know each other's business well 
and have agreed on the organizational structure, which will facilitate a 
quick, smooth integration.  With our combined financial strength and 
complementary capabilities, the combined company will also have the resources 
to significantly increase investments in state-of-the-art technology while 
making targeted acquisitions to further add to our capabilities.  In 
addition, with the revenue enhancements and cost reductions we will get from 
integrating these broad capabilities, we expect the transaction to be 
accretive to earnings per share in the first full year, after an expected 
one-time charge to consolidate the businesses."

     Five Dresser directors will join the Halliburton Board, increasing its 
size to 14.  Donald C. Vaughn, president and chief operating officer of 
Dresser, will become vice chairman of Halliburton.  Dale P. Jones, vice 
chairman of Halliburton Company, has elected to retire from the board of 
directors and as vice chairman of Halliburton when the merger is completed. 

     The transaction is expected to be completed in the fall of 1998 and is 
subject to regulatory approvals in the United States, Europe and several 
other countries, shareholder approvals, and customary closing conditions.

     Halliburton has approximately 262 million outstanding common shares, and 
will issue approximately 175 million new shares to Dresser shareholders.  As 
a result, Halliburton will have approximately 438 million shares outstanding 
after the merger, of which approximately 60% will be owned by Halliburton 
shareholders and 40% by current Dresser shareholders.

     SBC Warburg Dillon Read, Inc. and Goldman, Sachs & Co. are serving as 
financial advisors to Halliburton.  Salomon Smith Barney Inc. is serving as 
financial advisor to Dresser.

     Halliburton Company is one of the world's largest diversified energy 
services, engineering, maintenance, and construction companies.  Founded in 
1919, Halliburton provides a broad range of energy services and products, 
industrial and marine engineering and construction services.

     Dresser is a leading global supplier to the total hydrocarbon energy 
stream.  Dresser's product and service offerings encompass sophisticated 
drilling and well construction systems as well as technologies, engineered 
equipment and project management for the transportation and conversion of oil 
and natural gas.

     NOTE: IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFE HABOR PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE 
SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995, HALIBURTON COMPANY AND DRESSER 
INDUSTRIES, INC., CAUTION THAT STATEMENTS IN THIS PRESS RELEASE WHICH ARE 
FORWARD LOOKING AND WHICH PROVIDE OTHER THAN HISTORICAL INFORMATION, INVOLVE 
RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES THAT MAY IMPACT THE COMPANIES' ACTUAL RESULTS OF 
OPERATIONS.  PLEASE SEE HALLIBURTON'S 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 
31, 1997 AND DRESSER'S 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1997 FOR A 
MORE COMPLETE DISCUSSION OF SUCH RISK FACTORS.
                                       


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