ENERGY

Ampolex Ends Fight After Mobil Raises Bid: Mobil Corp. finally succeeded in persuading oil and gas producer Ampolex Ltd. to give up its fight to remain independent after it sweetened its takeover offer. Directors of Melbourne, Australia-based Ampolex recommended shareholders accept the revised offer, which values Ampolex at $1.43 billion. Mobil secured the acquiescence of its target after three months of hostilities by raising its offer from its original bid of $1.29 billion. Mobil, based in Fairfax, Va., owns 14.87% of Ampolex. Separately, Mobil and Saudi Basic Industries Corp. said they plan to spend $2 billion to expand their joint venture’s petrochemical plant in Saudi Arabia.