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)
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
ASX: WPL
OTC: WOPEY
Announcement
Monday, 16 May 2022
WOODSIDE MERGER UPDATE
The National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator has provided the approval under Chapter 5A of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (Cth) necessary for Woodside to implement the proposed merger with BHP Group’s petroleum business.
Woodside shareholder approval, which will be sought at Woodside’s 2022 Annual General Meeting on 19 May 2022, is the only outstanding condition precedent requiring a positive action or an event in order to be satisfied.
Following shareholder approval, Woodside expects completion of the merger to occur 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 announcement was approved and authorised for release by Woodside’s Disclosure Committee.
| 1 | The merger remains subject to certain conditions precedent that, in the absence of an unforeseen event, will be deemed to be satisfied on or before 31 May 2022. |
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.
Important additional information in respect of US securities law
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.
In connection with the proposed Merger, Woodside has filed the Registration Statement (File No. 333-264268) with the SEC to register the Woodside securities to be issued in connection with the proposed Merger (including a prospectus), which the SEC has declared effective. Woodside and BHP also plan to file other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed Merger. 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 MERGER (INCLUDING ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS) THAT HAVE BEEN OR 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 MERGER. Shareholders will be able to obtain free copies of the Registration Statement, prospectus and other documents containing important information about Woodside and BHP once those documents are filed with the SEC, through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents may also be obtained from Woodside and BHP without charge.