More than 700 customers, suppliers, elected officials and other stakeholders have sent letters of support for CN since it made its proposal
MONTREAL, May 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CN (TSX: CNR, NYSE: CNI) today announced that it has continued to receive support from customers, suppliers, elected officials and other stakeholders for its proposed combination with Kansas City Southern (NYSE: KSU) (“KCS”).
100 additional letters have been sent to CN and filed with the Surface Transportation Board (“STB”) in favor of CN’s proposed combination with KCS, bringing the total number of support letters CN has received to more than 700. Of note, 66 of the letters filed with the STB explicitly support CN’s proposed combination with KCS, and 34 of the letters specifically ask the Board to approve CN’s use of a voting trust. CN will continue to communicate and engage with its customers and various stakeholders as it works towards an agreed transaction with KCS.
A full copy of the CN’s letter filed with the STB appears below:
| | In the two weeks since Canadian National Railway Company (“CN”) publicly announced its proposal for a combination with Kansas City Southern (“KCS”), over 700 stakeholders have submitted letters publicly expressing their support for the proposed transaction. In this filing, CN adds 100 letters to the 620 support statements that were filed last week in CN-4, CN-9, and CN-10.1
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| | 66 of these letters explicitly support the proposed combination of KCS and CN, for reasons that echo the 620 letters that CN has previously submitted. Customers are responding to the pro-competitive benefits of a transaction that would provide better service options, promote growth, and create a seamless, integrated North American railway that can compete head-to-head with trucks for north-south movements.
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| | 34 of the enclosed letters specifically focus on CN’s request that the Board approve its voting trust agreement, and ask the Board to approve that proposed voting trust. Many voting trust letters are from stakeholders who support the ultimate transaction. Others are from customers who are still evaluating the proposed combination, but who wholeheartedly support CN’s use of a voting trust. For example, the Chemours Company does not yet take a position on an ultimate CN-KCS combination, but it “unequivocally supports approval of CN’s voting trust” and urges the Board to grant CN’s request for simultaneous review of CP’s and CN’s voting trusts to “ensure a level playing field.”2
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| | CN looks forward to continued conversations with our customers and other interested parties about the proposed CN-KCS combination and why it presents the best solution for the continued growth, development and prosperity of the North American economy.
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| | | Respectfully submitted, |
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| | Sean Finn | /s/ Raymond A. Atkins |
| | Olivier Chouc | Raymond A. Atkins |
| | CN | Terence M. Hynes |
| | 935 de La Gauchetière Street West, | Matthew J. Warren |
| | 16th Floor | Sidley Austin LLP |
| | Montreal, QC H3B 2M9 | 1501 K Street, N.W. |
| | CANADA | Washington, DC 20005 |
| | | (202) 736-8000 |
| | Kathryn J. Gainey | ratkins@sidley.com |
| | CN | |
| | 601 Pennsylvania Ave, NW | |
| | Suite 500, North Building | |
| | Washington, DC 20004 | |
| | Kathryn.gainey@cn.ca | |
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| | Counsel for Canadian National Railway Company, Grand Trunk Corporation, and CN’s Rail Operating Subsidiaries
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| | Dated: May 3, 2021 | |
For more information about CN’s superior proposal to combine with KCS, please visit www.ConnectedContinent.com.
1 See Initial Submission of 409 Statements Supporting Proposed Transaction, CN-4, Canadian National Ry. Co.—Control—Kansas City So. et al., Fin. Docket No. 36514 (filed Apr. 26, 2021); Submission of Port and Terminal Operators’ Statements Supporting Proposed Transaction, CN-9, Canadian National Ry. Co.—Control—Kansas City So. et al., Fin. Docket No. 36514 (filed Apr. 29, 2021); Submission of 200 Statements Supporting Proposed Transaction, CN-10, Canadian National Ry. Co.—Control—Kansas City So. et al., Fin. Docket No. 36514 (filed Apr. 29, 2021).
2 See Letter of Kevin Acker on behalf of The Chemours Company, infra at pdf pages 160-161.
About CN
CN is a world-class transportation leader and trade-enabler. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. As the only railroad connecting Canada’s Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. South through a 19,500-mile rail network, CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements included in this news release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and under Canadian securities laws, including statements based on management’s assessment and assumptions and publicly available information with respect to KCS, regarding the proposed transaction between CN and KCS, the expected benefits of the proposed transaction and future opportunities for the combined company. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. CN cautions that its assumptions may not materialize and that current economic conditions render such assumptions, although reasonable at the time they were made, subject to greater uncertainty. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of terminology such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “assumes,” “outlook,” “plans,” “targets,” or other similar words.
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of CN, or the combined company, to be materially different from the outlook or any future results, performance or achievements implied by such statements. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Important risk factors that could affect the forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to: the outcome of any possible transaction between CN and KCS, including the possibility that a transaction will not be agreed to or that the terms of any definitive agreement will be materially different from those described; uncertainties as to whether KCS will cooperate with CN regarding the proposed transaction; the parties’ ability to consummate the proposed transaction; the conditions to the completion of the proposed transaction; that the regulatory approvals required for the proposed transaction may not be obtained on the terms expected or on the anticipated schedule or at all; CN’s indebtedness, including the substantial indebtedness CN expects to incur and assume in connection with the proposed transaction and the need to generate sufficient cash flows to service and repay such debt; CN’s ability to meet expectations regarding the timing, completion and accounting and tax treatments of the proposed transaction; the possibility that CN may be unable to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies within the expected time-frames or at all and to successfully integrate KCS’ operations with those of CN; that such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; that operating costs, customer loss and business disruption (including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, customers or suppliers) may be greater than expected following the proposed transaction or the public announcement of the proposed transaction; the retention of certain key employees of KCS may be difficult; the duration and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, general economic and business conditions, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic; industry competition; inflation, currency and interest rate fluctuations; changes in fuel prices; legislative and/or regulatory developments; compliance with environmental laws and regulations; actions by regulators; the adverse impact of any termination or revocation by the Mexican government of KCS de México, S.A. de C.V.’s Concession; increases in maintenance and operating costs; security threats; reliance on technology and related cybersecurity risk; trade restrictions or other changes to international trade arrangements; transportation of hazardous materials; various events which could disrupt operations, including illegal blockades of rail networks, and natural events such as severe weather, droughts, fires, floods and earthquakes; climate change; labor negotiations and disruptions; environmental claims; uncertainties of investigations, proceedings or other types of claims and litigation; risks and liabilities arising from derailments; timing and completion of capital programs; and other risks detailed from time to time in reports filed by CN with securities regulators in Canada and the United States. Reference should also be made to Management’s Discussion and Analysis in CN’s annual and interim reports, Annual Information Form and Form 40-F, filed with Canadian and U.S. securities regulators and available on CN’s website, for a description of major risk factors relating to CN.
Forward-looking statements reflect information as of the date on which they are made. CN assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances, or changes in beliefs, unless required by applicable securities laws. In the event CN does update any forward-looking statement, no inference should be made that CN will make additional updates with respect to that statement, related matters, or any other forward-looking statement.
No Offer or Solicitation
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
This news release relates to a proposal which CN has made for an acquisition of KCS. In furtherance of this proposal and subject to future developments, CN (and, if a negotiated transaction is agreed, KCS) may file one or more registration statements, proxy statements, tender offer statements or other documents with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or applicable securities regulators in Canada. This news release is not a substitute for any proxy statement, registration statement, tender offer statement, prospectus or other document CN and/or KCS may file with the SEC or applicable securities regulators in Canada in connection with the proposed transactions.
INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT(S), REGISTRATION STATEMENT(S), TENDER OFFER STATEMENT, PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC OR APPLICABLE SECURITIES REGULATORS IN CANADA CAREFULLY IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT CN, KCS AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS. Any definitive proxy statement(s), registration statement or prospectus(es) and other documents filed by CN and KCS (if and when available) will be mailed to stockholders of CN and/or KCS, as applicable. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain copies of these documents (if and when available) and other documents filed with the SEC and applicable securities regulators in Canada by CN free of charge through at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com. Copies of the documents filed by CN (if and when available) will also be made available free of charge by accessing CN’s website at www.CN.ca.
Participants
This news release is neither a solicitation of a proxy nor a substitute for any proxy statement or other filings that may be made with the SEC and applicable securities regulators in Canada. Nonetheless, CN and its directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transactions. Information about CN’s executive officers and directors is available in its 2021 Management Information Circular, dated March 9, 2021, as well as its 2020 Annual Report on Form 40-F filed with the SEC on February 1, 2021, in each case available on its website at www.CN.ca/investors/ and at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com. Additional information regarding the interests of such potential participants will be included in one or more registration statements, proxy statements, tender offer statements or other documents filed with the SEC and applicable securities regulators in Canada if and when they become available. These documents (if and when available) may be obtained free of charge from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com, as applicable.
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