Shareholders of Nexen will vote next month on whether to approve the Canadian oil firm’s £9.6billion takeover by China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC).
Nexen said at the weekend it would hold a meeting of investors on September 20 to vote on the richest foreign takeover ever by a Chinese firm, if completed.
It would secure Chinese control over UK North Sea assets, including the Buzzard oil field and £2billion Golden Eagle development as well as interests in Africa, the Gulf of Mexico and Canada.
Documents filed with regulators show CNOOC’s successful July 23 offer for Nexen followed two earlier bids that were rejected by the Canadian firm’s board.
CNOOC said it has no plans to divest any Nexen assets after the acquisition.