On December 30, 2009, Niko Resources Ltd., a Calgary-based oil and gas corporation engaged in the exploration for, and development and production of, natural gas and oil principally in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, Madagascar, Trinidad and Tobago and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, completed a private placement of 5% senior secured convertible debentures due 2012 in the aggregate principal amount of $310 million.  Maju Investments (Mauritius) Pte. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited of Singapore, was the sole subscriber under the convertible debenture financing.

Also on December 30, 2009, Nikoresources (Cyprus) Limited, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Niko Resources Ltd., acquired all of the issued and outstanding units of Black Gold Energy LLC, a private oil and gas limited liability company operating in Indonesia, for US$300 million.  A portion of the consideration for this acquisition was derived from the aggregate gross proceeds of the convertible debenture financing described above.

Niko was represented by Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP in Calgary, with a team that included John Iredale, Q.C., Jason McCormick, Bennett Wong and Frank Sur (corporate/securities), Tom Cumming (banking) and Garth Parker (oil and gas).  Niko was also represented by Baker Botts LLP in Houston, with a team that included Stuart Schaffer (tax), Ryan Maierson (corporate/securities) and Andrew Thomison (banking).