Canada nixes oil company takeover

Progress Energy Resources' top executive Saturday defended the proposed takeover of the Canadian company by Malaysia's state-run oil company. The Canadian government on Friday blocked Petronas' proposed multibillion-dollar takeover of the Calgary company, saying it wasn't in the country's best interests. But Progress Energy's chief executive officer, Michael Culbert, said in a statement the firm will spend the next month determining "the nature of the issues and the potential remedies," the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported. "The long-term health of the natural gas industry in Canada and the development of a new [liquified natural gas] export industry are dependent on international investments," Culbert said. Canadian Industry Minister Christian Paradis said purchase, valued at between $5 billion and $6 billion, failed Canada's "net benefit test." "I can confirm that I have sent a notice letter to Petronas indicating that I am not satisfied that the proposed investment is likely to be of net benefit to Canada," Paradis said a statement. The Canadian government also is taking a look at the buyout of Nexen Inc. of Calgary by China National Offshore Oil Corp., which would be a $15.1-billion deal.