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CNOOC-Nexen deali

China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) is the third-largest national oil company in China, after CNPC (parent of PetroChina), and China Petrochemical Corporation (parent of Sinopec). It focuses on exploration and development of crude oil and natural gas offshore of China. CNOOC Group is owned by the government, and its subsidiary, CNOOC Ltd is listed in Hong Kong. Another subsidiary, China Oilfield Services, is listed in Hong Kong and New York. In July 2012, CNOOC announced an agreement to acquire Nexen, a Canadian oil and gas company, for approximately US$15.1 billion.

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Two Hong Kong asset management firms have agreed to pay US$10.9 million to settle charges by the US Securities and Exchange Commission of insider trading before a bid by CNOOC for Canadian oil firm Nexen.

The fact that China National Offshore Oil Corporation's US$15.1 billion acquisition of Calgary-based Nexen went through successfully, with the required US approval, shows that direct investment capital flows from China are not always subject to political hijacking, as many on the mainland claim.

CNOOC's purchase of Nexen includes about 200 deep-water leases in the Gulf. The company surrendered operating control of them to quell US national security concerns.

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CNOOC's acquisition of Nexen is being watched closely, given that it is China's largest overseas investment acquisition to date. How the China National Offshore Oil Corporation integrates and manages Nexen will provide a noteworthy example for major state-owned enterprises to follow in the future.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper approved the HK$117 billion takeover of Canadian oil-sands firm Nexen by China's CNOOC on Friday. The deal is the largest ever takeover by a Chinese company.