Opposition to CN-KCS' Proposed Use of Voting Trust Builds as Stakeholders Voice Anticompetitive and Other Concerns
More than 130 stakeholders urged the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to reject Canadian National's (CN) proposed voting trust related to its merger with Kansas City Southern (KCS). This adds to over 960 submissions highlighting concerns over reduced competition and service quality. The Department of Justice has echoed these fears, stating that CN's merger poses greater risks than the CP-KCS combination. Canadian Pacific (CP) continues to assert its position as the only suitable Class 1 combination and plans to proceed with its acquisition application for KCS.
- Strong support for CP-KCS transaction with over 730 letters backing it.
- CP's use of a voting trust approved by the STB.
- CP believes its acquisition is in the best interest of KCS and the public.
- Concerns over reduced competition and service quality due to CN's proposed voting trust.
- The DOJ's objections to CN's merger indicate potential regulatory challenges.
More than 130 Letters Urge STB to Reject CN's Use of a Voting Trust
CP Remains Confident in Superior Status as Only Viable Class 1 Combination with KCS
CALGARY, AB, June 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (TSX: CP) (NYSE: CP) ("CP") today announced that more than 130 stakeholders have filed statements with the Surface Transportation Board ("STB") requesting the STB reject Canadian National's ("CN") proposed use of a voting trust. This brings the total letters submitted to more than 960, including 250-plus expressing concern about CN and Kansas City Southern's ("KCS") combination, its use of a voting trust, or both, and more than 730 in support of CP-KCS.
The opposition letters – from a range of stakeholders including shippers, ports, local governments, transportation associations and other stakeholders – highlight the extensive risks the proposed CN-KCS voting trust poses to competition by reducing shipper options. Stakeholders also expressed strong concerns over the likelihood of reduced service quality and infrastructure investments as a result of the proposed CN transaction.
These concerns echo those of the Department of Justice ("DOJ"), which on May 14 filed comments with the STB objecting to CN's proposed use of a voting trust on the grounds that a CN merger with KCS would pose greater risks to competition than the CP-KCS agreement.
CN's recent announcement that it intends to "divest" KCS' 70-mile line between New Orleans and Baton Rouge (but still retain full operating rights) fails to address these concerns. For example, this token divestment would not begin to address the competitive issues in the rail corridors running north from Louisiana and Mississippi through America's heartland, where KCS and CN have historically competed; nor would it address many shippers and stations that are today served by both KCS and CN in markets like Omaha/Council Bluffs, Jackson, MS, Springfield, IL, and St. Louis.
CP-KCS is the only viable Class 1 combination and has received overwhelming support across the transportation supply chain. As previously announced, CP intends to proceed with its STB application process to acquire KCS. CP believes that pursuing its application is in the best interests of both KCS and the public so that the pro-competitive CP-KCS transaction can proceed to be reviewed by the STB and – in the event KCS' agreement with CN is terminated or CN is otherwise unable to acquire control of KCS – a potential acquisition of KCS by CP could be implemented without undue delay.
Importantly, the STB has already approved CP's use of a voting trust and affirmed KCS' waiver from the new rail merger rules it adopted in 2001 because a CP-KCS combination is truly end-to-end and pro-competitive. CP stands ready to reengage with KCS.
For more information on the transaction and the benefits it is expected to bring to the full range of stakeholders, 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
View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/opposition-to-cn-kcs-proposed-use-of-voting-trust-builds-as-stakeholders-voice-anticompetitive-and-other-concerns-301302784.html
SOURCE Canadian Pacific
FAQ
What is the significance of the letters submitted to the STB regarding CP and CN?
What are the main concerns about CN's proposed voting trust?
How has the DOJ responded to CN's use of a voting trust?
What is CP's position on the CP-KCS transaction?
What was CN's announcement regarding KCS's rail line, and why is it considered insufficient?
