IN BRIEF (Page 16)

BG acquires Pure Energy

Britain's BG Group has acquired over 90 percent of Australian coal seam gas producer Pure Energy, boosting its gas assets so it can expand in the lucrative Asian liquefied natural gas market.

BG said in a statement yesterday it was proceeding with a squeeze out of remaining shareholders. On Monday, BG said it had 70 percent of Pure. The news ended a six-week bid battle with Australia's Arrow Energy, which also tried to buy Pure and which held a 20.3 percent stake in Pure.