BHP Billiton Canada acquires Athabasca Potash in US$331 million deal

On March 23, 2010, BHP Billiton Canada Inc. acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Athabaska Potash Inc. at a price of $8.35 cash per common share. The total equity value of the transaction is approximately $331 million on a fully-diluted basis.Fasken Martineau was legal counsel to BHP Billiton in this transaction with a core team led by Keenan Hohol (corporate/mining), and including Georald Ingborg and Caroline Clapham (corporate/securities), Ian Cassie (real estate), Michelle Pockey (environmental/Aboriginal), Derek Knoechel (labour) and Stephanie Sanger (corporate).