As has been widely reported in several media outlets, including The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times, Paul, Weiss client Nexen Inc. (Nexen), a Canada-based global energy company with operations in the UK, Canada, Nigeria, the United States and elsewhere, was acquired for more than $15 billion by CNOOC Ltd., China's state-owned offshore oil and gas company. Under the terms of the transaction, which will see TSX- and NYSE-listed Nexen go private, CNOOC acquired all of Nexen's outstanding common shares for $27.50 per share in cash, a premium of 61 percent to the closing price on the NYSE immediately prior to the announcement of the acquisition.

Paul, Weiss client Resolute Forest Products Inc., a NYSE- and TSX-listed global forest products company, completed a Rule 144A/Regulation S offering of $600 million of its 5 7/8% senior notes due 2023.

Paul, Weiss client Aurizon Mines Ltd. announced that it had entered into an agreement with Hecla Mining Company pursuant to which Hecla will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Aurizon for aggregate consideration of approximately Cdn$796 million. Under the terms of the agreement, Aurizon shareholders may elect to receive Cdn$4.75 or 0.9953 of a Hecla share in exchange for each Aurizon common share, subject in each case to pro-ration. Aurizon entered into the agreement with Hecla following receipt of an unsolicited offer from Alamos Gold Inc. and the completion of a process in which the Aurizon board of directors reviewed and evaluated a range of alternatives focussed on maximizing value.

Paul, Weiss client Silver Standard Resources Inc. (SSRI), a Canadian silver mining company with operations in Argentina, Mexico and Peru, closed a Rule 144A/Regulation S offering of $250 million aggregate principal amount of 2.875% Convertible Senior Notes due 2033. SSRI intends to use the net proceeds of the offering to repurchase or redeem its existing Convertible Notes in March 2013 and for general corporate purposes, which may include developing or advancing its property portfolio. Citigroup and BMO Capital Markets acted as lead bookrunning managers.

TransCanada PipeLines Limited completed a public offering of its 0.750% Senior Notes Due 2016 in the United States for gross proceeds of approximately $745 million. TransCanada PipeLines Limited is a Canadian company that operates primarily in three business segments: natural gas pipelines, oil pipelines and energy. Paul, Weiss represented the underwriters, led by HSBC and Citigroup, in connection with the offering.

Paul, Weiss client The Hillman Companies Inc. announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire H. Paulin & Co., Limited, pursuant to a plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario), of all the issued and outstanding Class A common shares of Paulin for Cdn$27.60 per share. The purchase price, payable in cash, represents a total enterprise of approximately Cdn$103 million.

Canadian client Granite Real Estate Inc. completed its conversion from a corporate structure to a stapled unit REIT structure. The conversion and related internal reorganization were implemented pursuant to a plan of arrangement under Québec law. Under the plan of arrangement, all of the common shares of Granite were exchanged, on a one-for-one basis, for stapled units, each consisting of one unit of a new REIT, Granite Real Estate Investment Trust, and one common share of a new corporation, Granite REIT Inc. Granite Real Estate Investment Trust and Granite REIT Inc. will, through subsidiaries, continue to carry on the business previously conducted by Granite Real Estate Inc. and its subsidiaries.

Southern Pacific Resource Corp. (STP) closed its high yield offering of Cdn$260 million aggregate principal amount of 8.75% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2018, pursuant to Rule 144A in the United States and pursuant to Regulation S outside the United States. In connection with the offering, Paul, Weiss represented the underwriters, led by TD Securities Inc., RBC Capital Markets Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (Canada), Inc. and BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc.

Canadian client Methanex Corporation closed a public offering of US$350 million of 3.25% senior notes due 2019. J.P. Morgan and RBC Capital Markets acted as joint bookrunning managers. The offering was made in the United States under Methanex's previously filed base shelf prospectus.  Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Methanex is the world's largest supplier of methanol to major international markets. 

Atlantic Power Corporation completed a public offering of its 6.00% extendible convertible unsecured subordinated debentures due 2019 in the United States and Canada for gross proceeds of approximately Cdn$100 million. Atlantic Power Corporation owns and operates a diverse fleet of power generation and infrastructure assets in the United States and Canada.