Transaction Creates Enhanced Competition and
Better Service for Customers, and Fosters North American Economic
Growth
Stock and Cash Transaction Representing an
Enterprise Value of Approximately $29
Billion
Companies to Host Investor Conference Call
Today at 2:00 PM Eastern Time
CALGARY and KANSAS CITY, Mo., March
21, 2021 /CNW/ - Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (TSX: CP)
(NYSE: CP) ("CP") and Kansas City Southern (NYSE: KSU) ("KCS")
today announced they have entered into a merger agreement, under
which CP has agreed to acquire KCS in a stock and cash transaction
representing an enterprise value of approximately USD$29 billion1, which includes the
assumption of $3.8 billion of
outstanding KCS debt. The transaction, which has the unanimous
support of both boards of directors, values KCS at $275 per share, representing a 23%
premium2, based on the CP and KCS closing prices on
March 19, 2021 (and $270 per share, representing a 26%
premium3, based on the respective CP and KCS 30-day
volume weighted average prices ("VWAP")).
Following the closing into a voting trust, common shareholders
of KCS will receive 0.489 of a CP share and $90 in cash
for each KCS common share held.
Following final approval from the Surface Transportation Board
("STB"), the transaction will combine the two railroads to
create the first rail network connecting the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Joining seamlessly in Kansas City, Mo., in America's heartland, CP
and KCS together will connect customers via single-network
transportation offerings between points on CP's system throughout
Canada, the U.S. Midwest, and the
U.S. Northeast and points on KCS' system throughout Mexico and the South Central U.S.
The combined network's new single-line offerings will deliver
dramatically expanded market reach for customers served by CP and
KCS, provide new competitive transportation service options, and
support North American economic growth. The transaction is also
expected to create jobs across the combined network.
Additionally, efficiency and service improvements are expected
to achieve meaningful environmental benefits.
While remaining the smallest of six U.S. Class 1
railroads by revenue, the combined company will be a much
larger and more competitive
network, operating approximately
20,000 miles of rail, employing close
to 20,000 people and generating total revenues
of approximately $8.7 billion based on 2020 actual
revenues.
"This transaction will be transformative for North America, providing significant positive
impacts for our respective employees, customers, communities, and
shareholders," said CP President and Chief Executive Officer
Keith Creel. "This will create the
first U.S.-Mexico-Canada railroad, bringing together two
railroads that have been keenly focused on providing quality
service to their customers to unlock the full potential of their
networks. CP and KCS have been the two best performing Class 1
railroads for the past three years on a revenue growth basis."
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1
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Except where noted,
all figures are in U.S. dollars.
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2
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Based on KCS and CP
closing share prices of $224.16 and CAD$474.27 (at 1.2506 FX rate),
respectively, as of March 19, 2021.
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3
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Based on KCS and CP
30-day volume weighted average prices ("VWAPs") of $213.87 and
US$368.22, respectively, as of March 19, 2021.
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"The new competition we will inject into the North American
transportation market cannot happen soon enough, as the new USMCA
Trade Agreement among these three countries makes the efficient
integration of the continent's supply chains more important than
ever before. Over the coming months, we look forward to speaking
with customers of all sizes, and communities across the combined
network, to outline the compelling case for this combination and
reinforce our steadfast commitment to service and safety as we
bring these two iconic companies together," said Mr. Creel.
"KCS has long prided itself in being the most customer-friendly
transportation provider in North
America," said KCS President and Chief Executive Officer
Patrick J. Ottensmeyer. "In
combining with CP, customers will have access to new, single-line
transportation services that will provide them with the best value
for their transportation dollar and a strong competitive
alternative to the larger Class 1s. Our companies' cultures are
aligned and rooted in the highest safety, service and performance
standards."
"Importantly, KCS employees will benefit from being part of a
truly North American continental enterprise, which creates a strong
platform for revenue growth, capital investment, and future job
creation. Customers, labor partners, and shareholders will all
benefit from the inherent strengths of this combination, including
attractive synergies and complementary routes," said Mr.
Ottensmeyer.
Mr. Creel and Mr. Ottensmeyer concluded, "We have been champions
for the environment recognizing the important role rail plays in
lowering overall transportation emissions. This combination
advances our shared science-based pledges in-line with the Paris
Agreement to improve fuel efficiency and lower emissions in support
of a more sustainable North American supply chain."
Transaction to Expand Options and Efficiencies for
Customers
The combination will provide an enhanced competitive alternative
to existing rail service providers and is expected to result in
improved service to customers of all sizes. Grain, automotive,
auto-parts, energy, intermodal, and other shippers, will benefit
from the increased efficiency and simplicity of the combined
network, which is expected to spur greater rail-to-rail competition
and support customers in growing their rail volumes.
Following final regulatory approval, a single integrated rail
system will connect premier ports on the U.S. Gulf, Atlantic and
Pacific coasts with key overseas markets. The combination of CP and
KCS networks will offer unprecedented reach via new single-line
hauls across the combined company's continent-wide network.
Importantly, no customer will experience a reduction in
independent railroad choices as a result of the transaction.
Additionally, with both companies' focus on safety and track
records of operational excellence, customers will benefit from a
seamless integration of the two systems without service
disruption.
CP and KCS interchange and operate an existing shared facility
in Kansas City, Mo., which is the
one point where they connect. This transaction will alleviate the
need for a time consuming and expensive interchange, improving
efficiency and reducing transit times and costs. The combination
also will allow some traffic between KCS-served points and the
Upper Midwest and Western Canada
to bypass Chicago via the CP route
through Iowa. This will improve
service and has the potential to contribute to the reduction of
rail traffic, fuel burn, and emissions in Chicago, an important hub city.
Improving Highway Traffic, Environmental Sustainability, and
Safety
In addition to providing new competition against other
railroads, the new single-line routes made possible by the
transaction are expected to shift trucks off crowded U.S. highways,
yielding reduced highway traffic, lower emissions, and less need
for public investments in road and highway bridge repairs. In the
Dallas to Chicago corridor alone, the synergies created
by this combination are expected to result in meaningful reduction
in truck traffic on publicly funded highways.
Rail is four times more fuel efficient than trucking, and one
train can keep more than 300 trucks off public roads and produce 75
percent less greenhouse gas emissions. CP is committed to
sustainability and is currently developing North America's first line-haul
hydrogen-powered locomotive.
CP and KCS operational expertise and track
records as PSR railroads, coupled with the hand-in-glove fit of the
two networks, will help ensure a smooth, safe and efficient
combination of the two railroads. In combination with KCS,
CP will continue to build on its record as North America's safest Class 1 railroad for 15
consecutive years based on Federal Railroad
Administration-reportable train accident
frequency.
Creating Value for KCS and CP Shareholders
Following the closing into a voting trust, common shareholders
of KCS will receive 0.489 of a CP share and
$90 in cash for each KCS common
share held. Preferred shareholders will receive $37.50 in cash for each KCS preferred share held.
The fixed exchange ratio implies a price for KCS of $275 per share, representing a 23%
premium4, based on the CP and KCS closing prices on
March 19, 2021 (and $270 per share, representing a 26%
premium5, based on the respective CP and KCS 30-day
volume weighted average prices ("VWAP")).
Immediately following the closing into trust, KCS common
shareholders are expected to own 25 percent of CP's outstanding
common shares, providing the ability to participate in the upside
of both companies' growth opportunities. Following final STB
approval, KCS shareholders will additionally participate in the
realization of synergies resulting from the combination.
By accelerating the combined growth strategies of the two
fastest-growing Class 1s with new efficiencies for customers and
improved on-time performance under their respective PSR programs,
the combined company under CP's control is expected to create
annualized synergies of approximately $780
million over three years.
The combination is expected to be accretive to CP's adjusted
diluted EPS6 in the first full year following CP's
acquisition of control of KCS, and is expected to generate
double-digit accretion upon the full realization of synergies
thereafter.
To fund the stock consideration of the merger, CP will issue
44.5 million new shares. The cash portion will be funded
through a combination of cash-on-hand and raising approximately
$8.6 billion in debt, for which
financing has been committed. As part of the merger, CP will assume
approximately $3.8 billion of KCS'
outstanding debt. Following the closing into trust, CP expects that
its outstanding debt will be approximately $20.2 billion.
Pro forma for the transaction, CP estimates its leverage ratio
against 2021E street consensus EBITDA to be approximately 4.0x with
the assumption of KCS debt and issuance of new acquisition-related
debt. In order to manage this leverage effectively, CP will be
temporarily suspending its normal course issuer bid program, and
expects to produce approximately $7
billion of levered free cash flow (after interest and taxes)
over the next three years. CP estimates its long-term leverage
target of approximately 2.5x to be achieved within 36 months after
closing into trust. The combined company will remain committed to
maintaining strong investment grade credit ratings while continuing
to return capital for the benefit of shareholders.
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4
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Based on KCS and CP
closing share prices of $224.16 and CAD$474.27 (at 1.2506 FX rate),
respectively, as of March 19, 2021.
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5
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Based on KCS and CP
30-day volume weighted average prices ("VWAPs") of $213.87 and
US$368.22, respectively, as of March 19, 2021.
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6
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Accretion based on
adjusted diluted EPS excluding one-time advisory, financing, and
integration costs as well as incremental transaction-related
amortization.
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Two-Step Process to Complete Transaction and Merger
CP's ultimate acquisition of control of KCS' U.S. railways is
subject to the approval of the U.S. Surface Transportation Board
("STB").
First, CP will establish a "plain vanilla", independent voting
trust to acquire the shares of KCS. Upon shareholder approval of
the transaction, and satisfaction of customary closing conditions,
CP will acquire KCS shares and place them into the voting trust.
This step is currently expected to be completed in the second half
of 2021, at which point KCS shareholders will receive their
consideration.
CP's placement of KCS shares into the voting trust will insulate
KCS from control by CP until the STB authorizes control. KCS'
management and Board of Directors will continue to steward the
company while it is in trust, pursuing KCS' independent business
plan and growth strategies.
The second step of the process is to obtain control approval
from the STB and other applicable regulatory authorities. The STB
review is expected to be completed by the middle of 2022. Upon
obtaining control approval, the two companies will be integrated,
unlocking the benefits of the combination.
Board, Management, and Headquarters
Following STB approval of the transaction, CP will acquire
control of KCS and Mr. Creel will serve as the Chief Executive
Officer of the combined company. The combined entity will be named
Canadian Pacific Kansas City ("CPKC").
Calgary will be the global
headquarters of CPKC, and Kansas City,
Mo. will be designated as the U.S. headquarters. The
Mexico headquarters will remain in
Mexico City and Monterrey. CP's current U.S. headquarters in
Minneapolis-St. Paul will remain
an important base of operations.
Four KCS Directors will join CP's expanded Board at the
appropriate time, bringing their experience and expertise in
overseeing KCS' multinational operations.
Advisors
BMO Capital Markets and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC are serving
as financial advisors to Canadian Pacific. Sullivan & Cromwell
LLP, Bennett Jones LLP and the Law Office of David L. Meyer are serving as legal counsel.
Creel-García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. are serving as Mexican
legal counsel to Canadian Pacific. Evercore is serving as the
Canadian Pacific Board's financial advisors and Blake, Cassels
& Graydon LLP is serving as the Board's legal counsel.
BofA Securities and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC are serving as
financial advisors to Kansas City Southern. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, Baker & Miller
PLLC, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, WilmerHale, and
White & Case, S.C. are serving as legal counsel to Kansas City
Southern.
Conference Call for Investment Community
CP and KCS will host a joint investor conference call today,
March 21, 2021, at 2:00PM Eastern Time to discuss the announcement.
A live webcast of the call and the replay will be available on the
CP website at https://investor.cpr.ca/events and the KCS website at
https://investors.kcsouthern.com/events-calendar. Supporting
materials will be posted on www.FutureForFreight.com. To listen to
the live conference call, dial (844) 450-0389 in the U.S. or (236)
714-3016 internationally.
A conference call replay will be available on March 21, 2021, at 5:00PM
Eastern Time. To access the replay, dial (800) 585-8367 or
(416) 621-4642 and reference the passcode 3377895.
CP and KCS Launch Website to Serve as Information Hub for All
Stakeholders
Additional information on the transaction and the benefits it is
expected to bring to the full range of stakeholders will be online
at www.FutureForFreight.com. This website will be updated over the
coming months with new information.
Forward Looking Statements and Information
This news release includes certain forward looking statements
and forward looking information (collectively, FLI) to provide CP
and KCS shareholders and potential investors with information about
CP, KCS and their respective subsidiaries and affiliates, including
each company's management's respective assessment of CP, KCS and
their respective subsidiaries' future plans and operations, which
FLI may not be appropriate for other purposes. FLI is typically
identified by words such as "anticipate", "expect", "project",
"estimate", "forecast", "plan", "intend", "target", "believe",
"likely" and similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements
regarding an outlook. All statements other than statements of
historical fact may be FLI. In particular, this news release
contains FLI pertaining to, but not limited to, information with
respect to the following: the transaction; the combined company's
scale; financial growth; future business prospects and performance;
future shareholder returns; cash flows and enhanced margins;
synergies; leadership and governance structure; and office and
headquarter locations.
Although we believe that the FLI is reasonable based on the
information available today and processes used to prepare it, such
statements are not guarantees of future performance and you are
cautioned against placing undue reliance on FLI. By its nature, FLI
involves a variety of assumptions, which are based upon factors
that may be difficult to predict and that may involve known and
unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors which may cause
actual results, levels of activity and achievements to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by these FLI, including,
but not limited to, the following: the timing and completion of the
transaction, including receipt of regulatory and shareholder
approvals and the satisfaction of other conditions precedent;
interloper risk; the realization of anticipated benefits and
synergies of the transaction and the timing thereof; the success of
integration plans; the focus of management time and attention on
the transaction and other disruptions arising from the transaction;
estimated future dividends; financial strength and flexibility;
debt and equity market conditions, including the ability to access
capital markets on favourable terms or at all; cost of debt and
equity capital; the previously announced proposed share split of
CP's issued and outstanding common shares and whether it will
receive the requisite shareholder and regulatory approvals;
potential changes in the CP share price which may negatively impact
the value of consideration offered to KCS shareholders; the ability
of management of CP, its subsidiaries and affiliates to execute key
priorities, including those in connection with the transaction;
general Canadian, U.S., Mexican and global social, economic,
political, credit and business conditions; risks associated with
agricultural production such as weather conditions and insect
populations; the availability and price of energy commodities; the
effects of competition and pricing pressures, including competition
from other rail carriers, trucking companies and maritime shippers
in Canada, the U.S. and México;
industry capacity; shifts in market demand; changes in commodity
prices; uncertainty surrounding timing and volumes of commodities
being shipped; inflation; geopolitical instability; changes in
laws, regulations and government policies, including regulation of
rates; changes in taxes and tax rates; potential increases in
maintenance and operating costs; changes in fuel prices; disruption
in fuel supplies; uncertainties of investigations, proceedings or
other types of claims and litigation; compliance with environmental
regulations; labour disputes; changes in labour costs and labour
difficulties; risks and liabilities arising from derailments;
transportation of dangerous goods; timing of completion of capital
and maintenance projects; currency and interest rate fluctuations;
exchange rates; effects of changes in market conditions and
discount rates on the financial position of pension plans and
investments; trade restrictions or other changes to international
trade arrangements; the effects of current and future multinational
trade agreements on the level of trade among Canada, the U.S. and México; climate change
and the market and regulatory responses to climate change;
anticipated in-service dates; success of hedging activities;
operational performance and reliability; customer, shareholder,
regulatory and other stakeholder approvals and support; regulatory
and legislative decisions and actions; the adverse impact of any
termination or revocation by the Méxican government of Kansas City
Southern de México, S.A. de C.V.'s Concession; public opinion;
various events that could disrupt operations, including severe
weather, such as droughts, floods, avalanches and earthquakes, and
cybersecurity attacks, as well as security threats and governmental
response to them, and technological changes; acts of terrorism, war
or other acts of violence or crime or risk of such activities;
insurance coverage limitations; material adverse changes in
economic and industry conditions, including the availability of
short and long-term financing; and the pandemic created by the
outbreak of COVID-19 and resulting effects on economic conditions,
the demand environment for logistics requirements and energy
prices, restrictions imposed by public health authorities or
governments, fiscal and monetary policy responses by governments
and financial institutions, and disruptions to global supply
chains.
We caution that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive
and is made as of the date hereof. Additional information about
these and other assumptions, risks and uncertainties can be found
in reports and filings by CP and KCS with Canadian and U.S.
securities regulators, including any proxy statement, prospectus,
material change report, management information circular or
registration statement to be filed in connection with the
transaction. Due to the interdependencies and correlation of these
factors, as well as other factors, the impact of any one
assumption, risk or uncertainty on FLI cannot be determined with
certainty.
Except to the extent required by law, we assume no obligation to
publicly update or revise any FLI, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise. All FLI in this news
release is expressly qualified in its entirety by these cautionary
statements.
Non-GAAP Measures
Although this press release includes
forward-looking non-GAAP measures (adjusted diluted EPS, Free cash
flow, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization
(EBITDA), and a leverage ratio being adjusted net debt to adjusted
earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization
(EBITDA)), it is not practicable to reconcile, without unreasonable
efforts, these forward-looking measures to the most comparable GAAP
measures (diluted EPS, Cash from operations, Net income, and
long-term debt to net income ratio, respectively), due to unknown
variables and uncertainty related to future results. These unknown
variables may include unpredictable transactions of significant
value. Please see Note on forward-looking Statements above for
further discussion.
About Canadian Pacific
Canadian Pacific is a transcontinental railway in Canada and the
United States with direct links to major ports on the west
and east coasts. CP provides North American customers a competitive
rail service with access to key markets in every corner of the
globe. CP is growing with its customers, offering a suite of
freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply
chain expertise. Visit cpr.ca to see the rail advantages of
CP. CP-IR
About KCS
Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., Kansas City Southern (KCS)
(NYSE: KSU) is a transportation holding company that has railroad
investments in the U.S., Mexico
and Panama. Its primary U.S.
holding is The Kansas City Southern Railway Company, serving the
central and south central U.S. Its international holdings include
Kansas City Southern de Mexico,
S.A. de C.V., serving northeastern and central Mexico and the port cities of Lázaro Cárdenas,
Tampico and Veracruz, and a 50 percent interest in
Panama Canal Railway Company,
providing ocean-to-ocean freight and passenger service along the
Panama Canal. KCS' North American rail holdings and strategic
alliances are primary components of a railway network, linking the
commercial and industrial centers of the U.S., Mexico and Canada. More information about KCS can be
found at www.kcsouthern.com.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRANSACTION AND WHERE TO
FIND IT
CP will file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC) a registration statement on Form F-4, which will include a
proxy statement of KCS that also constitutes a prospectus of CP,
and any other documents in connection with the transaction. The
definitive proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to the
shareholders of KCS. CP will also file a management proxy circular
in connection with the transaction with applicable securities
regulators in Canada and the
management proxy circular will be sent to CP shareholders.
INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS OF KCS AND CP ARE URGED TO READ THE
PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR, AS
APPLICABLE, AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE
SEC OR APPLICABLE SECURITIES REGULATORS IN CANADA IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION WHEN
THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION
ABOUT KCS, CP, THE TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. The
registration statement and proxy statement/prospectus and other
documents filed by CP and KCS with the SEC, when filed, will be
available free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. In
addition, investors and shareholders will be able to obtain free
copies of the registration statement, proxy statement/prospectus,
management proxy circular and other documents which will be filed
with the SEC and applicable securities regulators in Canada by CP online at investor.cpr.ca and
www.sedar.com, upon written request delivered to CP at 7550 Ogden
Dale Road S.E., Calgary, Alberta,
T2C 4X9, Attention: Office of the Corporate Secretary, or by
calling CP at 1-403-319-7000, and will be able to obtain free
copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed
with the SEC by KCS online at www.investors.kcsouthern.com, upon
written request delivered to KCS at 427 West 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64105,
Attention: Corporate Secretary, or by calling KCS's Corporate
Secretary's Office by telephone at 1-888-800-3690 or by email at
corpsec@kcsouthern.com.
You may also read and copy any reports, statements and other
information filed by KCS and CP with the SEC at the SEC public
reference room at 100 F Street N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at
1-800-732-0330 or visit the SEC's website for further information
on its public reference room. This communication shall not
constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy
any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any
jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be
unlawful prior to appropriate registration or qualification under
the securities laws of such jurisdiction. No offering of securities
shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the
requirements of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
This communication is not a solicitation of proxies in
connection with the transaction. However, under SEC rules, CP, KCS,
and certain of their respective directors and executive officers
may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in
connection with the transaction. Information about CP's directors
and executive officers may be found in its 2021 Management Proxy
Circular, dated March 10, 2021, as
well as its 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and
applicable securities regulators in Canada on February 18,
2021, available on its website at investor.cpr.ca and at
www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov. Information about KCS's
directors and executive officers may be found on its website at
www.kcsouthern.com and in its 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K
filed with the SEC on January 29,
2021, available at www.investors.kcsouthern.com and
www.sec.gov. These documents can be obtained free of charge from
the sources indicated above. Additional information regarding the
interests of such potential participants in the solicitation of
proxies in connection with the transaction will be included in the
proxy statement/prospectus and management proxy circular and other
relevant materials filed with the SEC and applicable securities
regulators in Canada when they
become available.
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SOURCE Canadian Pacific