The merger between oil service companies Halliburton & Baker Hughes will not proceed reports Reuters.

  • Quoting 'a person familiar with the matter'
  • Antitrust concerns in both Europe and US said to have scuttled the planned deal

Reuters qualify that:

The source asked not to be identified because no official announcement has yet been made. Halliburton and Baker Hughes did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The report is here

I particularly liked this bit .... "Baker Hughes stands to receive a $3.5 billion breakup fee"

Anyone got a business they'd like to merge with Halliburton? With any luck it'd fall apart and you'd get a 3.5bn break up fee cheque :-D