CNOOC takes over Nexen

 　　BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- China National Offshore¹ Oil Corporation (CNOOC) announced Tuesday that it has closed a deal to acquire Canada's Nexen Inc.

　　CNOOC, China's largest offshore oil and gas producer, said in a statement on its website that the company paid about 15.1 billion U.S. dollars for Nexen's common and preferred shares.

　　Wang Yilin, chairman of CNOOC, said the company is delighted to have acquired a leading international platform through the acquisition of Nexen.

　　"We strongly believe that this acquisition is a good strategic fit for us and will create long-term value for our shareholders," Wang said.

　　The statement said Kevin Reinhart will continue to serve as CEO of Nexen, which will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC.

　　Li Fanrong, CEO of CNOOC Limited, a listed subsidiary of the company, will chair the new Nexen board, the statement said.

　　Li said Nexen owns a large resource and reserve base and high-potential exploration prospects². "We will thoroughly³ utilize⁴ the platform it provides to further our overseas business."

　　The deal was first announced in July 2012. It is the largest overseas acquisition ever made by a Chinese company.

　　CNOOC Limited shares opened 0.78 percent lower at 15.2 HK dollars (about 1.96 U.S. dollars) in Hong Kong on Tuesday.

1 offshore   

adj.海面的，吹向海面的；adv.向海面

参考例句：

• A big program of oil exploration has begun offshore.一个大规模的石油勘探计划正在近海展开。
• A gentle current carried them slowly offshore.和缓的潮流慢慢地把他们带离了海岸。

2 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

3 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

4 utilize   

vt.使用，利用

参考例句：

• The cook will utilize the leftover ham bone to make soup.厨师要用吃剩的猪腿骨做汤。
• You must utilize all available resources.你必须利用一切可以得到的资源。