Halliburton Chief Distances Company From KBR

JOHN PORRETTO

HOUSTON (AP) — Halliburton chairman and CEO Dave Lesar reassured shareholders Wednesday the oilfield services company has no ties to former subsidiary KBR Inc., even though the two are still often linked in legal matters.

Lesar used the company's annual meeting as another avenue to distance Halliburton Co. from KBR, the military contractor whose massive contracts to support U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have come under federal scrutiny for possible fraud and other improprieties. KBR has defended its work.

The two companies separated in April 2007, with Halliburton saying the split allowed it to focus on its profitable operations assisting oil and natural-gas producers. ...