Ananym Capital Proposes Baker Hughes To Spin-Off Oilfield Services & Equipment Business

Core Viewpoint - Ananym Capital Management has disclosed a significant stake in Baker Hughes and is advocating for a tax-free spin-off of its Oilfield Services & Equipment (OFSE) business to unlock shareholder value, potentially increasing the stock price by over 60% [2][4] Deal Overview - The proposed spin-off would create two distinct publicly-traded entities: RemainCo, focused on the Industrial & Energy Technology (IET) segment, and SpinCo, which would consist of the OFSE business [3][12] - The IET segment is positioned to capitalize on the global energy transition, while the OFSE segment represents the legacy business of Baker Hughes [3][11] Performance and Market Position - Baker Hughes has been outperforming competitors SLB and Halliburton, but the conglomerate structure is seen as obscuring the growth potential of the IET segment [4] - The management has acknowledged the proposal and is engaging with Ananym Capital, indicating a willingness to consider strategic actions [4] Valuation and Growth Potential - Ananym argues that the current conglomerate structure leads to a valuation discount, with Baker Hughes trading at an EV/EBITDA of 9.0x, while a more appropriate multiple for the IET segment would be closer to 13.0x [7] - The IET segment is projected to grow over 20% in FY24, compared to just 2% growth in the OFSE segment, highlighting the divergent growth profiles [8] Strategic Rationale - The spin-off aligns with a trend in the industrial sector focused on value unlocking, with the successful separation of GE Vernova serving as a precedent [10] - A standalone IET would be able to reinvest aggressively and use its premium stock for acquisitions, while the OFSE segment could focus on cost optimization and free cash flow generation [8][9]