CP Statement on STB Decision Relating to Access to KCS Information Needed to Prepare Merger Application

Rhea-AI Summary

On August 2, 2021, Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (CP) expressed approval of the Surface Transportation Board's (STB) decision regarding its application to control Kansas City Southern (KCS). The STB affirmed CP's right to access necessary materials from KCS for its acquisition application. CP emphasized the pro-competitive nature of the proposed CP-KCS merger, which it considers the only viable Class I combination benefiting the public interest. This approval moves CP closer to finalizing its acquisition process, contingent on KCS's ongoing negotiations with CN.

Positive

• STB's decision allows CP immediate access to KCS materials for merger application.
• Affirmation of CP-KCS as the only viable Class I merger supports competitive railway landscape.

Negative

• None.

CALGARY, AB, Aug. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (TSX: CP) (NYSE: CP) ("CP") issued the following statement in response to the Surface Transportation Board ("STB") decision today relating to materials sought by CP in preparing its application for authorization to control Kansas City Southern ("KCS"): 

CP is gratified by the STB's decision released today, in which the STB confirms that CP may use the STB's discovery processes in the CP-KCS docket, Finance Docket No. 36500, to immediately seek from KCS the materials that are "relevant to its preparation of an application of authority to acquire control of KCS" to be filed in that docket. 

The Board also noted that CP may seek a waiver from otherwise applicable informational requirements to the extent it cannot obtain information from KCS, such as due to KCS's "'reluctance to cooperate.'"

This decision validates CP's plan to submit its Application for authority to control KCS in the CP-KCS docket, which will present the STB with the only viable Class I combination that is in the public interest. CP looks forward to obtaining the needed information from KCS and completing and filing its Application.

CP-KCS remains the only viable Class 1 combination
The STB has already approved CP's use of a voting trust and affirmed KCS's waiver from the new rail merger rules it adopted in 2001 because a CP-KCS combination is truly end-to-end, pro-competitive, and the only viable Class 1 combination.

CP continues to pursue its application process to acquire KCS so that the pro-competitive CP-KCS combination can be reviewed by the STB and implemented without undue delay, in the event that KCS's agreement with CN is terminated or CN is otherwise unable to acquire control of KCS.

For more information on the benefits of a CP-KCS combination and the risks that a CN-KCS transaction would pose to the railway industry and North America, visit FutureForFreight.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION

This news release includes certain forward-looking statements and forward looking information (collectively, FLI). 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.

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: changes in business strategies and strategic opportunities; 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; potential changes in the CP share price; the ability of management of CP, its subsidiaries and affiliates to execute key priorities; general North American 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 and the U.S.; North American and global economic growth; industry capacity; shifts in market demand; changes in commodity prices and commodity demand; uncertainty surrounding timing and volumes of commodities being shipped via CP; 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; sufficiency of CP's budgeted capital expenditures in carrying out CP's business plan; services and infrastructure; the satisfaction by third parties of their obligations to CP; 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 and the U.S.; climate change and the market and regulatory responses to climate change; anticipated in-service dates; success of hedging activities; operational performance and reliability; regulatory and legislative decisions and actions; 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; and the pandemic created by the outbreak of COVID-19 and resulting effects on CP's business, operating results, cash flows and/or financial condition, as well as 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 with Canadian and U.S. securities regulators. Reference should be made to "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Forward-Looking Statements" in CP's annual and interim reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q. 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.

ABOUT CANADIAN PACIFIC

Canadian Pacific (TSX: CP) (NYSE: CP) 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 www.cpr.ca to see the rail advantages of CP. CP-IR 

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SOURCE Canadian Pacific

FAQ

What did the STB decide regarding CP's access to KCS information?

The STB approved CP's request to access materials from KCS for its merger application preparation.

What is the significance of the CP-KCS merger?

The merger is viewed as the only viable Class I combination that promotes competition and serves the public interest.

When is CP planning to file its application to acquire KCS?

CP plans to file its application following the acquisition of the necessary information from KCS.

How does the CP-KCS merger impact competition in the railway industry?

The merger is expected to enhance competitive options within the railway industry, benefiting North American customers.

What conditions could affect the CP-KCS merger process?

The merger process could be influenced by KCS's agreement with CN and potential delays in information exchange.