	hughes tool directors reject merger with baker the directors of hughes tool co ht said they would recommend to shareholders that they reject a merger with baker international corp bko today hughes vice president ike kerridge said the recommendation would be put to shareholders at a meeting scheduled for a m local time gmt to discuss the proposed merger kerridge said the board met yesterday to discuss the merger but decided against it the hughes board objected to a u s department of justice requirement that baker sell off several specialised subsidiaries in businesses related to oil drilling the hughes board last week indicated that it might cancel the merger because of the department of justice requirement the board of directors of the california based baker had approved the merger on february baker said it had signed an agreement to sell one of the subsidiaries the companies had been given until april to comply with the justice department requirement kerridge said reuter 
