BHP Billiton Limited’s (ASX:BHP) $US15.1 billion offer to takeover Petrohawk Energy has been approved by US regulators.
BHP launched the all cash bid to buy the shale gas company two weeks ago, offering $US38.75 per Petrohawk share.
The US Federal Trade Commission’s approval comes as BHP formally submitted the offer to the US Securities and Exchange Commission at the beginning of this week.
The takeover could be BHP’s second in the US shale gas sector this year. In February BHP bought shale assets from Chesapeake Energy Corporation for $US4.75 billion.
BHP Billiton reported an interim net profit of $10.5 billion in the last half of 2010.
