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08/07/2004:

"Oil company's deals in Africa investigated"

WASHINGTON - The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating Marathon Oil Co. and Amerada Hess Corp.'s business dealings in the West African nation of Equatorial Guinea.

Regulators want to learn more about payments the firms made to that oil-rich country's government, as well as to government leaders and people affiliated with those officials, the companies said.

The probe by the SEC's Forth Worth office follows a Senate investigation, which uncovered some eyebrow-raising business arrangements involving Marathon, Amerada Hess and Exxon Mobil Corp.

Full Article : chron.com