ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

BJ Services Reveals Bid: The Houston oil services company offered $450 Million in cash and stock for Western Co. of North America, but Western’s board rebuffed the offer. BJ Services Co. said it decided to disclose its attempt to buy Western, an oil field service company also based in Houston, a month after it was spurned because it believes Western’s shareholders will support the bid once they are aware of it. On July 29, BJ Services proposed a price of $18.50 a share--50% cash and 50% BJ Services common stock--for each of Western’s 18.2 million outstanding shares. The offer was rejected Aug. 15. Western, which offers pressure pumping services, production chemicals and offshore drilling services, could not immediately be reached for comment. BJ Services provides pressure pumping and related services.