Welcome
- Why did Agrium launch an exchange offer?
- What are the terms of the amended exchange offer?
- What are the conditions of the exchange offer?
- Why did you nominate candidates to serve on CF’s board of directors?
- What makes these nominees qualified to serve as CF directors?
- What is the status of your antitrust approval process?
- What happens if the exchange offer is amended after I’ve tendered my shares?
- When does the exchange offer expire?
- Who is eligible to participate in the exchange offer?
- Why does Agrium want to acquire CF?
- What synergies does Agrium expect to achieve from the acquisition of CF Industries?
- Will Agrium have the financial capability to expand retail and other areas of its business going forward?
- What would a combination mean for employees of Agrium and CF?
- What would a combination mean for customers of Agrium and CF?
1. Why did Agrium launch an exchange offer?
CF’s management and advisors have repeatedly rebuffed our efforts to meet, leaving us no choice but to take our offer directly to CF stockholders.
2. What are the terms of the amended exchange offer?
Under the current terms, CF stockholders will now receive $45.00 in cash as well as one common share of Agrium for each CF share.
3. What are the conditions of the exchange offer?
Agrium’s offer is subject to certain conditions described in the offer documents on file with the SEC including, having available to it proceeds of financing that are sufficient, together with cash on hand, to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock of CF and to pay the related expenses. In late December, Agrium replaced its financing commitments with ‘highly confident’ letters from Royal Bank of Canada and the Bank of Nova Scotia.
4. Why did you nominate candidates to serve on CF’s board of directors?
We believe CF stockholders are entitled to the opportunity to benefit from our offer, which they have consistently supported. Accordingly, we are nominating two highly qualified, independent directors with significant fertilizer industry experience to CF’s board in an effort to bring objectivity to CF’s board.
5. What makes these nominees qualified to serve as CF directors?
We are nominating two highly qualified, independent individuals. Mr. Cordell and Mr. Ducey have strong track records and the industry and financial experience to make sound and objective decisions as board members.
6. What is the status of your antitrust approval process?
Agrium has satisfied all related regulatory issues in Canada and the U.S. Agrium has a clear path to completion and is prepared immediately to execute a binding merger agreement with CF.
7. What happens if the exchange offer is amended after I’ve tendered my shares?
Regardless of when you tender your shares, you would receive any increase in price.
8. When does the exchange offer expire?
We have extended the expiration date of the exchange offer until 12:00 midnight, New York City time, February 22, 2010.
9. Who is eligible to participate in the exchange offer?
All CF stockholders who hold shares on or have tendered their shares prior to the expiration date are eligible to participate.
10. Why does Agrium want to acquire CF?
Agrium believes that a combination of these two complementary companies is strategically compelling and a superb opportunity to create value for both Agrium and CF stockholders. With approximately $150 million in annual operating synergies, we expect the combination to provide many benefits to the customers, suppliers, and employees of both Agrium and CF, as well as in the communities in which both companies operate.
11. What synergies does Agrium expect to achieve from the acquisition of CF?
Agrium expects the proposed transaction to achieve substantial operating synergies of approximately $150 million annually, creating long-term value for shareholders of both companies as part of the combined organization. We anticipate that the transaction will be accretive to both earnings per share and cash flow in 2010 and will continue to be accretive in subsequent years. These synergy targets are tangible and highly achievable. We’ve done a very thorough analysis, we know where we need to go and we are confident that we can get there.
12. Will Agrium have the financial capability to expand retail and other areas of its business going forward?
We currently have a strong balance sheet and will continue to have one following a transaction with CF. Together, the combined company would form the fourth largest publicly traded crop input provider with significant trading liquidity and a solid cash flow base. We would continue to have access to the capital and other markets and a transaction with CF would not limit our ability to acquire retail assets in the future.
13. What would a combination mean for employees of Agrium and CF?
This transaction presents growth opportunities for employees of both companies as part of a stronger, larger and more diverse global organization.
14. What would a combination mean for customers of Agrium and CF?
We believe customers will benefit from the combined companies' product offerings, capabilities and enhanced services. We expect that the combination of the two companies would benefit our customers through economies of scale that would improve efficiency of distribution and would ensure our customers receive the products they want, when they want them, at the locations they desire. The new combined company would also be able to offer a full line of nitrogen, phosphate and potash products and distribution services in more markets.