Earlier today Baker Hughes GE (ticker: BHGE) announced that its board authorized Baker Hughes, LLC to repurchase up to $3 billion of its common units from BHGE and GE. According to the company’s press release, BHGE will use the proceeds from the sale of its BHGE LLC common units to repurchase its Class A shares.
BHGE also announced its intention for BHGE LLC to issue new debt.
BHGE and BHGE LLC have also entered into an agreement with GE whereby BHGE LLC will repurchase its common units from GE on a pro rata basis and on the same terms as it repurchases common units from BHGE. The proceeds distributed to BHGE will be used to repurchase Class A shares on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions.
BHGE has the choice to enter one or more 10b5-1 plans to affect the repurchase of its Class A shares. The company said that the buyback serves as a critical step towards optimizing its capital structure.
