UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14D-9
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement under Section 14(d)(4)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 10)
CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC.
(Name of Subject Company)
CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC.
(Name of Person Filing Statement)
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
(Title of Class of Securities)
125269 10 0
(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)
Douglas C. Barnard
Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary
4 Parkway North, Suite 400
Deerfield, IL 60015
(847) 405-2400
(Name, address and telephone number of person authorized to receive notices
and communications on behalf of the persons filing statement)
With copies to:
Brian W. Duwe
Richard C. Witzel, Jr.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 407-0700
o Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a tender offer.
This Amendment No. 10 to Schedule 14D-9 (Amendment No. 10) amends and supplements the Solicitation/ Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 originally filed by CF Industries Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (CF Holdings), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 23, 2009, as amended by Amendment No. 1 filed with the SEC on March 23, 2009, Amendment No. 2 filed with the SEC on March 30, 2009, Amendment No. 3 filed with the SEC on April 8, 2009, Amendment No. 4 filed with the SEC on April 10, 2009, Amendment No. 5 filed with the SEC on April 13, 2009, Amendment No. 6 filed with the SEC on April 15, 2009, Amendment No. 7 filed with the SEC on April 15, 2009, Amendment No. 8 filed with the SEC on April 16, 2009 and Amendment No. 9 filed with the SEC on May 11, 2009 (as amended, the Statement). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Statement. Except as specifically noted herein, the information set forth in the Statement remains unchanged.
Item 1. SUBJECT COMPANY INFORMATION.
Item 1 is hereby amended by restating the second paragraph in the section entitled Securities in its entirety as follows:
As of May 8, 2009, there were 48,417,751 CF Holdings Common Shares issued and outstanding, 3,889,090.64 CF Holdings Common Shares reserved for issuance under CF Holdings 2009 Equity and Incentive Plan, and 1,758,994 stock options outstanding to acquire CF Holdings Common Shares.
Item 2. IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND OF THE FILING PERSON
Item 2 is hereby amended and supplemented by adding the following at the end of the first paragraph in the section entitled Offer:
All references to the terms Prospectus and Registration Statement in the Statement means the Prospectus or Registration Statement, as applicable, as amended from time to time.
Item 2 is hereby amended by restating the first, fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth bullet points, respectively, in the fifth paragraph of the section entitled Offer in their entireties as follows:
· the Merger Agreement Condition CF Holdings shall have entered into a definitive merger agreement with Agrium with respect to the Proposed Merger, which terms and conditions will be reasonably satisfactory to Agrium and shall provide, among other things, that: (i) the board of directors of CF Holdings (the Board) has approved the Offer and the Proposed Merger and (ii) the Board has removed any other impediment to the consummation of the Offer and the Proposed Merger;
· the Rights Condition the Board shall have redeemed the Rights, or Agrium shall have concluded in its reasonable judgment that such Rights have been invalidated or are otherwise inapplicable to the Offer and the Proposed Merger;
· the Section 203 Condition Agrium shall have concluded in its reasonable judgment that the restrictions on Business Combinations with an Interested Stockholder set forth in Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the DGCL) are inapplicable to the Offer and the Proposed Merger or any other business combination involving Agrium or any of its subsidiaries and CF Holdings;
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· the Due Diligence Condition Agrium shall have completed to its reasonable satisfaction customary confirmatory due diligence regarding CF Holdings non-public information with respect to CF Holdings business, assets and liabilities and shall have concluded, in its reasonable judgment, that there are no material adverse facts or developments concerning or affecting CF Holdings business, assets and liabilities that have not been publicly disclosed prior to the commencement of the Offer;
· the Material Adverse Change Condition there shall not have been any material adverse change to CF Holdings at any time on or after the date of the Prospectus and prior to the expiration of the Offer (the Prospectus defines material adverse change as: the term material adverse change or material adverse effect with respect to CF Holdings means any change, effect, event, occurrence, state of facts or development which individually or in the aggregate (i) is or would be, in Agriums reasonable judgment, expected to be materially adverse to the business, assets, condition (financial or otherwise), liabilities, capitalization, prospects or results of operations of CF Holdings and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (ii) would, in Agriums reasonable judgment, impair in any material respect or materially delay the ability of CFI to consummate the Proposed Merger);
Item 2 is hereby further amended and supplemented by adding the following at the end of the section entitled Offer:
On May 11, 2009, Agrium publicly announced that it and Offeror had revised the Exchange Consideration to consist of the following options: 1.0 Agrium Common Share and $40.00 in cash, without interest (the Mixed Consideration); 1.8850 Agrium Common Shares (subject to proration) (the Stock Consideration); or $85.20 in cash, without interest (subject to proration) (the Cash Consideration) (collectively, the Revised Exchange Consideration). The offer to exchange each outstanding CF Holdings Common Share for the Revised Exchange Consideration, upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus and the related Letter of Transmittal, shall constitute the Offer.
Item 3. PAST CONTACTS, TRANSACTIONS, NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS
Item 3 is hereby amended by adding the following at the end of the second paragraph in the section entitled Relationship with Agrium:
In 2009 (through April 30, 2009), Agrium and its subsidiaries purchased approximately $29.5 million in fertilizer products from CF Holdings.
Item 3 is hereby further amended by restating the section entitled Consideration Payable Pursuant to the Offer and Proposed Merger in its entirety as follows:
If CF Holdings directors and executive officers set forth on Annex A hereto were to tender any CF Holdings Common Shares they own pursuant to the Offer, they would receive Agrium Common Shares and cash for the same Exchange Consideration and on the same terms and conditions as CF Holdings other stockholders. As of May 8, 2009, CF Holdings directors and executive officers set forth on Annex A hereto beneficially owned an aggregate of 143,533 CF Holdings Common Shares (excluding notional shares held in CF Holdings Supplemental Benefit and Deferral Plan and any CF Holdings Common Shares issuable to CF Holdings executive officers pursuant to options to purchase CF Holdings Common Shares or CF Holdings Common Shares that are subject to unvested restricted stock awards). If such directors and executive officers were to tender all of such CF Holdings Common Shares pursuant to the Offer and each CF Holdings Common Share was
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exchanged for the Mixed Consideration, such directors and executive officers would receive an aggregate of 143,533 Agrium Common Shares and approximately $5.7 million. Conversion of 2,499 notional shares held by executive officers in CF Holdings Supplemental Benefit and Deferral Plan to reflect the Mixed Consideration would result in the accounts of those executives under the Supplemental Benefit and Deferral Plan being credited with an aggregate of 2,499 Agrium Common Shares and approximately $100,000.
As of May 8, 2009, CF Holdings directors and executive officers set forth on Annex A hereto held an aggregate of 114,456 shares of restricted stock and 184,177 options to purchase CF Holdings Common Shares, with 131,477 of such options having an exercise price of less than $85.20 (the in-the-money options), that have not yet vested. Immediately upon a change of control of CF Holdings, such as would occur if the Offer is consummated, all such shares of restricted stock and options to purchase CF Holdings Common Shares held by CF Holdings executive officers would immediately vest. In addition, as of May 8, 2009, CF Holdings executive officers held 1,089,933 vested options to purchase CF Holdings Common Shares, with all of such options being in-the-money options. If all CF Holdings Common Shares subject to outstanding in-the-money options (regardless of their current vesting status) and restricted stock awards held by CF Holdings directors and executive officers were exchanged for the Mixed Consideration, such directors and executive officers would receive an aggregate of 1,335,866 Agrium Common Shares and approximately $53.4 million. The aggregate amount of the exercise price which would have to be paid in order to exercise such options (which would be required in order to exchange the underlying CF Holdings Common Shares) would be $23.1 million.
Item 3 of the Statement is hereby further amended and supplemented by adding the following after the fifth paragraph of the section entitled Potential Severance and Change in Control Benefits:
In the event that the Offer were to be consummated and each of the executive officers were to be immediately terminated under circumstances entitling each such officer to the above-described payments and benefits under the change in control agreements, the executive officers would receive payments and benefits with the following approximate values (including applicable gross-up payments): Mr. Stephen R. Wilson, $17,170,232; Mr. Anthony J. Nocchiero, $2,950,871; Mr. Douglas C. Barnard, $2,822,666; Mr. Philipp P. Koch, $2,216,699; all other executive officers as a group (4 individuals), $6,704,668.
Item 4. THE SOLICITATION OR RECOMMENDATION.
Item 4 is hereby amended by adding the following after the first paragraph:
Following thorough deliberations and a careful review of all aspects of the second revised Agrium Offer with management and its legal and financial advisors, the Board, at a meeting held on May 14, 2009 and May 15, 2009, concluded that the second revised Offer continues to substantially undervalue CF Holdings and is not in the best interests of CF Holdings and its stockholders.
Item 4 is hereby further amended and supplemented by adding the following at the end of the section entitled Background of the Offer:
On April 21, 2009, CF Holdings held its 2009 annual meeting of stockholders. At the meeting, each of CF Holdings three nominees for director was elected with in excess of 77% of the votes cast at the meeting.
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Late in the week of May 4, 2009, a representative from Goldman, Sachs & Co., Agriums financial advisor, contacted a representative of Morgan Stanley and Mr. Michael M. Wilson contacted Mr. Stephen R. Wilson to request meetings to discuss Agriums Offer. CF Holdings declined such requests.
On the morning of May 11, 2009, Agrium publicly announced that it had revised the Offer by increasing the cash portion of the consideration from $35.00 to $40.00.
On May 14, 2009 and May 15, 2009 the Board held a meeting, together with management and representatives of its legal advisor Skadden Arps and its financial advisors Morgan Stanley and Rothschild, to review and analyze the second revised Agrium Offer, including the impact of the Offer on CF Holdings proposed strategic business combination with Terra. Each of Mr. Johnson and Mr. Davisson again recused himself from discussion and voting on the Offer and the recommendation to CF Holdings stockholders at the Board meeting. Following thorough deliberations and a careful review of all aspects of the Agrium Offer with management and its legal and financial advisors, the Board concluded that the second revised Offer continues to substantially undervalue CF Holdings and is not in the best interests of CF Holdings and its stockholders. Accordingly, the Board continues to recommend that CF Holdings stockholders reject the Offer and not tender their CF Holdings Common Shares in the Offer.
Item 4 is hereby further amended by adding the following after the first paragraph in the section entitled Reasons for Recommendation:
In reaching its determination to reject Agriums second revised Offer, and in making the recommendation set forth above, the Board consulted with the management of CF Holdings and its financial and legal advisors and took into account numerous factors, including the factors set forth in the original Statement filed with the SEC on March 23, 2009 (the Original Statement). In considering such factors with respect to the second revised Offer, the Board took into account the effect of the increased cash consideration provided in the second revised Offer as well as other developments since the date of the Original Statement on such factors, including as follows:
· Agriums second revised Offer increased the cash consideration from Agriums initial Offer by a total of $8.30 per share, or 11.5% of the nominal value of that initial Offer. As of May 15, 2009, the nominal value of Agriums second revised Offer is $88.18 per share, an increase of 22.5% over the $72.00 per share nominal value of Agriums initial Offer announced on February 25, 2009.
· In the judgment of Morgan Stanley and Rothschild, as of May 15, 2009, the estimated unaffected trading price of CF Holdings Common Shares was between approximately $75.00 and $80.00 per share. In calculating the estimated unaffected trading price of CF Holdings Common Shares as of May 15, 2009, Morgan Stanley and Rothschild considered the closing price of CF Holdings Common Shares on February 24, 2009, the last day before Agrium announced its proposal to acquire CF Holdings, of $55.58 and the impact of short interest on such closing price resulting from merger arbitrage related to CF Holdings potential strategic combination with Terra. Based on the judgment of Morgan Stanley and Rothschild, CF Holdings Common Shares would likely have been trading on average up to $3.00 per share higher absent such short interest. Since February 24, 2009, the average share price of CF Holdings unaffected global fertilizer peers1 increased 36.9%. This percentage compares to the 11.5% increase in cash consideration from Agriums initial Offer and the 22.5% increase in the nominal value of Agriums second revised Offer over Agriums initial Offer. In conclusion, the economic premium implied by the market value of Agriums second revised Offer is approximately 10.0% to 15.9% using the estimated unaffected trading price.
· Valuation multiples for publicly-traded global fertilizer companies declined significantly following the peak in global commodities during the summer of 2008 and the onset of the current economic and financial crisis. However, enterprise value to next twelve month (NTM) EBITDA multiples for the leading global nitrogen peers have begun to recover from lows established during January 2009 and are approaching historical averages. On an enterprise value2 to NTM EBITDA multiple basis, Agriums second revised Offer currently values CF Holdings at a multiple of 6.6x3. This is approximately a 10.0% premium to CF Holdings three-year historical enterprise value to NTM EBITDA multiple average of 6.0x.
1 Global fertilizer peers include Intrepid Potash, Inc.; Israel Chemicals Limited; K+S Aktiengesellschaft; The Mosaic Company; Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc.; and Yara International ASA.
2 Share price information and shares outstanding sourced from FactSet. Balance sheet amounts sourced from latest quarterly filing. Enterprise value includes adjustment for customer prepayments for CF Holdings.
3 EBITDA estimates for CF Holdings are mean Wall Street research analyst estimates released after CF Holdings first quarter 2009 earnings release on April 27, 2009.
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· At March 31, 2009, CF Holdings had cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of approximately $839 million (an increase of approximately $214 million from CF Holdings cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2008). Agriums second revised Offer added $5.00 in cash per CF Holdings Common Share, which is only $0.58 above the $4.42 per share increase in CF Holdings cash position during the first quarter of 2009.
In addition, in making its determination with respect to the second revised Offer, the Board took into account the opinions of each of Morgan Stanley and Rothschild, subsequently confirmed in writing, that, as of the date of such opinion and based upon and subject to the factors and assumptions set forth in such written opinion, the consideration proposed to be paid to the holders of CF Holdings Common Shares pursuant to the Offer was inadequate from a financial point of view to such holders. The full text of the written opinion of each of Morgan Stanley and Rothschild, dated May 14, 2009, which sets forth assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and limitations on the review undertaken in connection with such opinion, is attached hereto as Annex F and Annex G, respectively. Each of Morgan Stanley and Rothschild provided its opinion for the information and assistance of the Board in connection with its consideration of the second revised Offer and the Proposed Merger. Neither opinion is a recommendation as to whether or not any holder of CF Holdings Common Shares should tender such shares in connection with the Offer or how any holder of CF Holdings Common Shares should vote with respect to any Proposed Merger or any other matter.
Item 4 of the Statement is hereby further amended by replacing the third sentence in the section entitled Reasons for Recommendation The Offer is grossly inadequate and substantially undervalues CF Holdings The Offer does not properly value CF Holdings with the following:
In connection with this analysis, among other things, Morgan Stanley and Rothschild both advised the Board that Agrium could pay nearly $100 per CF Holdings Common Share in the transaction and the transaction would still be accretive to Agrium on a cash earnings per share basis, based on the $150 million of annual synergies that Agrium asserts are available to the combined company. For purposes of calculating the cash earnings per share accretion, Morgan Stanley and Rothschild compared the pro forma Agrium estimated cash earnings per share for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010 to Agriums current Wall Street median estimate for cash earnings per share for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010. For purposes of calculating Agriums estimated pro forma cash earnings per share for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010, Morgan Stanley and Rothschild added the incremental CF Holdings cash earnings that Agrium would acquire less the incremental interest expense that Agrium would incur, each based on current Wall Street median estimates, to fund the cash portion of Agriums Offer plus the tax-effected amount of pre-tax synergies of $100 million (amount assumed in the estimated fiscal year ending December 31, 2010 based on Agriums estimate of run-rate synergies of $150 million) to calculate a pro forma Agrium cash earnings. For purposes of estimating the pro forma Agrium share count, Morgan Stanley and Rothschild took Agriums existing share count and added to it the number of Agrium shares that would be issued to CF Holdings shareholders under Agriums proposed Offer (based on an exchange ratio of one Agrium Common Share per CF Holdings Common Share). Morgan Stanley and Rothschild then divided the pro forma cash earnings by the pro forma share count to calculate the pro forma cash earnings per share. Based on this analysis, Morgan Stanley and Rothschild determined that at a price of nearly $100 per share, the transaction would be accretive to Agrium on a cash earnings basis.
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Item 4 of the Statement is hereby further amended by replacing the first sentence of the section entitled Reasons for Recommendation The Offer is fundamentally at odds with CF Holdings long-term strategy, which has proven to be very successful CF Holdings is focused on its higher-margin manufacturing and distribution business; Agrium has a substantial lower-margin retail business with the following:
The Offer is counter to CF Holdings long-term strategy, which is 100% focused on the higher-margin businesses of manufacturing and wholesale distribution of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers. CF Holdings generated operating margins of 29.3% and 21.8% in 2008 and 2007, respectively.
Item 4 of the Statement is hereby further amended and supplemented by adding the following at the end of the second paragraph in the section entitled Reasons for Recommendation The Offer is fundamentally at odds with CF Holdings long-term strategy, which has proven to be very successful CF Holdings is focused on its higher-margin manufacturing and distribution business; Agrium has a substantial lower-margin retail business:
According to Agriums 2008 Annual Report, Agrium as a whole generated operating margins of 19.8% and 13.5% in 2008 and 2007, respectively, while Agriums retail business generated operating margins of 8.7% and 7.2% in 2008 and 2007, respectively.
Item 4 of the Statement is hereby further amended by restating the fifth bullet point in the section entitled Reasons for Recommendation The combination of Agrium and CF Holdings may expose CF Holdings stockholders to significant risks and uncertainties The synergies assumed in the Offer are poorly delineated and uncertain in its entirety as follows:
· An Agrium combination with CF Holdings may also produce negative synergies as Agriums substantial retail unit competes directly with some of CF Holdings largest customers, including CHS Inc. and GROWMARK, Inc., which together accounted for 30%, 34% and 38% of CF Holdings sales in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Based on conversations between members of the Board and representatives of CF Holdings management, on the one hand, and representatives of CHS Inc. and GROWMARK, Inc., as well as other CF Holdings customers, on the other hand, the Board believes this direct competition could potentially drive such customers to other suppliers and reduce the revenue of the post-combination business.
Item 6. INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE SUBJECT COMPANY.
Item 6 of the Statement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
Securities transactions
No transactions with respect to CF Holdings Common Shares have been effected by CF Holdings or, to CF Holdings knowledge after making reasonable inquiry, by any of its executive officers, directors, affiliates or subsidiaries during the 60 days prior to March 23, 2009, the date the Original Statement was filed with the SEC, or during the 60 days prior to the date of this Amendment No. 10, except as set forth below:
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Name of Person |
|
Transaction Date |
|
Number of |
|
Price Per |
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Nature of Transaction |
Robert A. Arzbaecher |
|
April 21, 2009 |
|
968 |
|
(a) |
|
Restricted Stock Award |
Wallace W. Creek |
|
April 21, 2009 |
|
968 |
|
(a) |
|
Restricted Stock Award |
William Davisson |
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April 21, 2009 |
|
968 |
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(a) |
|
Restricted Stock Award |
Stephen A. Furbacher |
|
April 21, 2009 |
|
968 |
|
(a) |
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Restricted Stock Award |
David R. Harvey |
|
April 21, 2009 |
|
968 |
|
(a) |
|
Restricted Stock Award |
John D. Johnson |
|
April 21, 2009 |
|
968 |
|
(a) |
|
Restricted Stock Award |
Edward A. Schmitt |
|
April 21, 2009 |
|
968 |
|
(a) |
|
Restricted Stock Award |
Douglas C. Barnard |
|
March 2, 2009 |
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4.252 |
|
$58.69 |
|
Phantom share acquisition (b) |
Stephen R. Wilson |
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February 17, 2009 |
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2,000 |
|
$16.00 |
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Exercise of options pursuant to 10b5-1 plan |
Stephen R. Wilson |
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February 17, 2009 |
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2,000 |
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$51.76 |
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Sale of shares pursuant to 10b5-1 plan |
(a) Pursuant to CF Holdings 2009 Equity and Incentive Plan, each non-employee director received an annual restricted stock grant with a fair market value of $65,000 on the date of the annual meeting of stockholders.
(b) Represents CF Holdings Common Shares as a deemed investment under CF Holdings Supplemental Benefit and Deferral Plan (a non-qualified benefits restoration and deferred compensation plan) in connection with the payment of CF Holdings regular quarterly cash dividend. These phantom shares cannot be voted.
Item 8. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Item 8 is hereby amended by restating the seventh sentence of the first paragraph in the section entitled Regulatory Approvals Antitrust Matters United States in its entirety as follows:
According to the Prospectus, effective as of April 23, 2009, Agrium withdrew its HSR Form filed with the DOJ and the FTC on March 24, 2009 in order to provide the FTC with additional time to conclude its review of the Offer and the Proposed Merger without requiring the FTC to issue a second request. According to the Prospectus, on April 27, 2009, Agrium re-filed its HSR Form with the FTC. Under the HSR Act, the waiting period will expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on Wednesday, May 27, 2009, unless this period is earlier terminated or extended by the issuance of a second request.
Item 8 is hereby further amended by restating the third and fourth sentences of the fifth paragraph in the section entitled Regulatory Approvals Antitrust Matters Canada in their entirety as follows:
According to the Prospectus, it is a condition of the Offer that the Commissioner shall have (A) issued an advance ruling certificate or (B)(i) the required waiting period shall have expired, been earlier terminated or have been waived and (ii) a no-action letter on terms acceptable to Agrium shall have been obtained. The waiting period in Canada expired on March 23, 2009. According to the Prospectus, in a letter dated March 23, 2009, the Competition Bureau advised Agrium that its assessment of the Offer and the Proposed Merger had not been completed.
Item 9. EXHIBITS.
Item 9 of the Statement is hereby amended and supplemented by adding the following:
(a)(15) Press release issued by CF Industries Holdings, Inc., dated May 15, 2009 (incorporated by reference to CF Industries Holdings, Inc. Rule 425 Filing, dated May 18, 2009)
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SIGNATURES
After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
Dated: May 18, 2009
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CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC. |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
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By: |
/s/ Douglas C. Barnard |
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Name: |
Douglas C. Barnard |
|
Title: |
Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary |
Annex A is hereby amended and restated as follows:
ANNEX A
Directors and Executive Officers of CF Industries Holdings, Inc.
Directors
Stephen R. Wilson*
Robert C. Arzbaecher
Wallace W. Creek
William Davisson
Stephen A. Furbacher
David R. Harvey
John D. Johnson
Edward A. Schmitt
Executive Officers
Anthony J. Nocchiero
Douglas C. Barnard
Bert A. Frost
Richard A. Hoker
Wendy S. Jablow Spertus
Philipp P. Koch
W. Anthony Will
* Also an Executive Officer
ANNEX F
Opinion of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
|
1585 Broadway |
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33rd Floor |
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New York, NY 10036 |
May 14, 2009
Board of Directors
CF Industries Holdings, Inc.
4 Parkway North, Suite 400
Deerfield, Illinois 60015-2590
Members of the Board:
We understand that on May 11, 2009, North Acquisition Co., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Agrium Inc. (the Bidder), filed a news release on Form 6-K (the Form 6-K) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) announcing its intention to amend the offer (the Offer) it commenced on March 16, 2009 and amended on March 27, 2009 to exchange each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, (the Company Common Stock) of CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF Industries or the Company) for one of the following (the Offer Consideration): (i) U.S. $40.00 in cash, without interest, and 1.000 share of the common stock, no par value, of the Bidder (the Bidder Common Stock), (ii) subject to proration as described in the Offer Documents (as defined below), 1.8850 shares of Bidder Common Stock or (iii) subject to proration as described in the Offer Documents, U.S. $85.20 in cash, without interest, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Exchange (the Offer to Exchange), and the related Letter of Transmittal, each contained in the Tender Offer Statement filed with the SEC on Schedule TO (the Tender Offer Statement), and the registration statement on Form F-4 in respect of the Bidder Common Stock (together with the Form 6-K, the Offer to Exchange, the related Letter of Transmittal and the Tender Offer Statement, the Offer Documents). The Offer Documents provide that if the Offer is consummated, the Bidder intends to seek to effect the merger of North Acquisition Co. with and into the Company (the Merger). The Offer Documents further provide that the aggregate cash consideration to be paid by the Bidder in the Offer and the Merger will not exceed approximately U.S. $2.0 billion and the aggregate stock consideration to be paid by the Bidder in the Offer and the Merger will not exceed approximately 50.2 million shares of Bidder Common Stock. The potential transaction to be effected pursuant to the Offer and the Merger is referred to herein as the Proposed Transaction. The terms and conditions of the Offer are more fully set forth in the Offer Documents.
We also understand that on February 23, 2009, Composite Acquisition Corporation, a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of CF Industries, commenced an offer to exchange (the Terra Offer) each outstanding share of common stock, without par value (the Terra Common Stock), of Terra Industries Inc. (Terra) for 0.4235 shares of Company Common Stock, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Exchange (the Terra Offer to Exchange), and the related Letter of Transmittal, each contained in the Tender Offer Statement filed with the SEC on Schedule TO (the Terra Tender Offer Statement) and the registration statement on Form S-4 in
respect of the Company Common Stock (together with the Terra Offer to Exchange, the related Letter of Transmittal and the Terra Tender Offer Statement, the Terra Offer Documents). The terms and conditions of the Terra Offer are more fully set forth in the Terra Offer Documents.
You have asked for our opinion as to whether the Offer Consideration to be received by holders of shares of the Company Common Stock pursuant to the Offer is adequate from a financial point of view to such holders.
For purposes of the opinion set forth herein, we have:
1) Reviewed certain publicly available financial statements and other business and financial information, including certain research analyst reports and estimates, of the Company and the Bidder, respectively;
2) Reviewed certain internal financial statements and other financial and operating data concerning the Company;
3) Reviewed certain financial projections for the Company prepared by the management of the Company;
4) Discussed the past and current operations and financial condition and the prospects of the Company, including information relating to certain strategic, financial and operational benefits anticipated from the Proposed Transaction, with senior executives of the Company;
5) Reviewed the pro forma impact of the Proposed Transaction on the Bidders earnings per share, consolidated capitalization and other financial ratios;
6) Reviewed the reported prices and trading activity for the Company Common Stock and the Bidder Common Stock;
7) Compared the financial performance of the Company and the Bidder and the prices and trading activity of the Company Common Stock and the Bidder Common Stock with that of certain other publicly-traded companies and their securities;
8) Reviewed the financial terms, to the extent publicly available, of certain selected acquisition transactions;
9) Reviewed the Offer Documents and certain related documents; and
10) Performed such other analyses and considered such other factors as we have deemed appropriate.
In addition, we have: (a) reviewed certain publicly available financial statements and other business and financial information, including certain research analyst reports and estimates, of Terra; (b) discussed the past and current operations and financial condition and the prospects of Terra, including information relating to certain strategic, financial and operational benefits anticipated from the consummation of the Terra Offer, with senior executives of the Company; (c) reviewed the pro forma impact of the Terra Offer on the Companys earnings per share, consolidated capitalization and other financial ratios; (d) reviewed the reported prices and trading activity for the Terra Common Stock; (e) compared the financial performance of Terra and the prices and trading activity of the Terra Common Stock with that of certain other publicly-traded companies and their securities; and (f) reviewed the Terra Offer Documents and certain related documents.
We have assumed and relied upon without independent verification the accuracy and completeness of the information that was publicly available or supplied or otherwise made available to us by the Company, and formed a substantial basis for this opinion. With respect to the financial projections for the Company provided to us by or discussed with the management of the Company, including information relating to certain strategic, financial and operational benefits anticipated from the Proposed Transaction, we have assumed that they have been reasonably prepared on bases reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of the future financial performance of the Company. As you know, we have not been provided with access to management or internal financial information or projections of future performance of the Bidder and instead have relied on publicly available information, certain research analyst estimates for the Bidder, as well as the assessments of the management of the
Company and other information provided by the Company with respect to such matters. For purposes of rendering this opinion, we have assumed that there has not occurred any material change in the assets, financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects of the Company or the Bidder since the respective dates of the most recent financial statements and other information, financial or otherwise, relating to the Company and Bidder, respectively, made available to us. For purposes of our review of the Offer, we have assumed that the Proposed Transaction would be consummated as contemplated in the Offer Documents, including without limitation, that the Terra Offer would be terminated, and that in connection with the receipt of all the necessary governmental, regulatory or other approvals and consents required for the Proposed Transaction, no delays, limitations, conditions or restrictions will be imposed that would have a material adverse effect on the contemplated benefits expected to be derived in the Proposed Transaction. We are not legal, tax or regulatory advisors. We are financial advisors only and have relied upon, without independent verification, the assessment of the Company and its legal, tax or regulatory advisors with respect to legal, tax, or regulatory matters. In addition, you have not asked us to address, and this opinion does not address, (i) the adequacy to, or any other consideration of, the holders of any class of securities, creditors or other constituencies of the Company, other than the holders of the Company Common Stock or (ii) the fairness of the amount or nature of any compensation to be paid or payable to any of the Companys officers, directors or employees or the Company, or any class of such persons, relative to the Offer Consideration to be received by the holders of the Company Common Stock in the Proposed Transaction.
With respect to our review of information supplied or otherwise made available to us by the management of the Company relevant to our consideration of the Terra Offer, we have assumed and relied upon without independent verification the accuracy and completeness of the information that was publicly available or supplied or otherwise made available to us by the Company. With respect to information relating to certain strategic, financial and operational benefits anticipated from the consummation of the Terra Offer provided to us by the management of the Company, we have assumed that it has been reasonably prepared on bases reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of the future financial performance of Terra. As you know, we have not been provided with access to management or internal financial information or projections of future performance of Terra, and instead have relied on publicly available information, certain research analyst estimates for Terra, as well as the assessments of the management of the Company and other information provided by the Company with respect to such matters. We have assumed that there has not occurred any material change in the assets, financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects of Terra since the date of its most recent financial statements and other information, financial or otherwise, relating to Terra made available to us. For the purposes of our review of the Terra Offer, we have assumed that it will be consummated as contemplated in the Terra Offer Documents.
We have not made any independent valuation or appraisal of the assets or liabilities of the Company or the Bidder, nor have we been furnished with any such appraisals. Our opinion is necessarily based on financial, economic, market and other conditions as in effect on, and the information made available to us as of, the date hereof. Events occurring after the date hereof may affect this opinion and the assumptions used in preparing it, and we do not assume any obligation to update, revise or reaffirm this opinion.
Our opinion does not address the relative merits of the Proposed Transaction as compared to the Terra Offer or any other alternative business transaction, or other alternatives, or whether such alternatives could be achieved. Although we considered the Terra Offer as one of the many factors in our analysis, our opinion does not address the Terra Offer. In arriving at our opinion, we were not authorized to solicit, and did not solicit, interest from any party with respect to the acquisition, business combination or other extraordinary transaction, involving the Company, nor did we negotiate with any party, including the Bidder, with respect to the possible acquisition, business combination or other extraordinary transaction involving the Company.
We have acted as financial advisor to the Board of Directors of the Company in connection with the Offer and will receive a fee for our services. In addition, we are currently providing financial advisory services to CF Industries in connection with the Terra Offer, and will receive a fee for our services, a substantial portion of which is contingent
upon the closing of the acquisition of Terra. In the two years prior to the date hereof, we have provided financial advisory and financing services to the Company and have received fees in connection with such services. Morgan Stanley may also seek to provide such services to the Bidder and the Company in the future and expects to receive fees for the rendering of these services.
Please note that Morgan Stanley is a global financial services firm engaged in the securities, investment management and individual wealth management businesses. Our securities business is engaged in securities underwriting, trading and brokerage activities, foreign exchange, commodities and derivatives trading, prime brokerage, as well as providing investment banking, financing and financial advisory services. Morgan Stanley, its affiliates, directors and officers may at any time invest on a principal basis or manage funds that invest, hold long or short positions, finance positions, and may trade or otherwise structure and effect transactions, for their own account or the accounts of their customers, in debt or equity securities or loans of the Bidder, the Company, Terra or any other company, or any currency or commodity, that may be involved in the Proposed Transaction, or any related derivative instrument.
This opinion has been approved by a committee of Morgan Stanley investment banking and other professionals in accordance with our customary practice. This opinion is for the information of the Board of Directors and may not be used for any other purpose without our prior written consent, except that a copy of this opinion may be included in its entirety in any filing the Company is required to make with the SEC in connection with this transaction. This opinion is not intended to be and shall not constitute a recommendation to any holder of the Company Common Stock as to whether to tender such Company Common Stock pursuant to the Offer, whether to vote in favor of the Terra Offer at the shareholders meeting to be held in connection with the Terra Offer, or take any other action in connection with the Proposed Transaction or the Terra Offer. In addition, this opinion does not in any manner address the prices at which the Company Common Stock, Terra Common Stock or Bidder Common Stock will actually trade at any time.
Based on and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion on the date hereof that the Offer Consideration to be received by the holders of shares of the Company Common Stock pursuant to the Offer is inadequate from a financial point of view to such holders.
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Very truly yours, |
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MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED |
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By: |
/s/ Richard HM Robinson |
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Richard HM Robinson |
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Executive Director |
ANNEX G
Opinion of Rothschild Inc.
May 14, 2009
The Board of Directors
CF Industries Holdings, Inc.
4 Parkway North, Suite 400
Deerfield, Illinois 60015-2590
To the Members of the Board of Directors:
We understand that on May 11, 2009, North Acquisition Co., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Agrium Inc. (Agrium), filed a new release on Form 6-K (the Form 6-K) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) announcing its intention to amend the offer (the Offer) it commenced on March 16, 2009 and amended on March 27, 2009 to exchange each outstanding share of the common stock (collectively, the Securities) of CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (the Company) for one of the following (the Consideration): (i) U.S. $40.00 in cash, without interest, and one share of Agrium common stock (the Agrium Common Stock); (ii) subject to proration as described in the Offer Documents (as defined below), 1.8850 shares of Agrium Common Stock; or (iii) subject to proration as described in the Offer Documents, U.S. $85.20 in cash, without interest, as more fully described in the Offer to Exchange (the Offer to Exchange) and the related Letter of Transmittal, each contained in the Tender Offer Statement filed with the SEC on Schedule TO (the Tender Offer Statement), and the registration statement on Form F-4 in respect of the Agrium Common Stock (together with the Form 6-K, the Offer to Exchange, the related Letter of Transmittal, and the Tender Offer Statement, the Offer Documents). The Offer Documents provide that if the Offer is consummated, Agrium intends to seek to effect the merger of North Acquisition Co. with and into the Company (the Merger). The Offer Documents further provide that the aggregate cash consideration to be paid by Agrium in the Offer and the Merger will not exceed approximately U.S. $2.0 billion and the aggregate stock consideration to be paid by Agrium in the Offer and the Merger will not exceed approximately 50.2 million shares of Agrium Common Stock. In light of the Offer, the board of directors of the Company (the Board or you) has requested our opinion as to whether the Consideration is adequate from a financial point of view to the holders of the Securities.
We also understand that on February 23, 2009, Composite Acquisition Corporation, a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, commenced an offer to exchange (the Terra Offer) each outstanding share of common stock, without par value (the Terra Common Stock), of Terra Industries Inc. (Terra) for 0.4235 shares of the Securities, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Exchange (the Terra Offer to Exchange) and the related Letter of Transmittal, each contained in the Tender Offer Statement filed with the SEC on Schedule TO (the Terra Tender Offer Statement) and the registration statement on Form S-4 in respect of the Securities (together with the Terra Offer to Exchange, the related Letter of Transmittal and the Terra Tender Offer Statement, the Terra Offer Documents). The terms and conditions of the Terra Offer are more fully set forth in the Terra Offer Documents.
In arriving at our opinion set forth below, we have, among other things: (i) reviewed the Offer Documents and certain related documents; (ii) reviewed certain publicly available business and
financial information, including certain research analyst reports and estimates, concerning the Company and Agrium, respectively, and the respective industries in which they operate; (iii) compared the proposed financial terms of the Offer with the publicly available financial terms of certain transactions involving companies we deemed relevant and the consideration received in such transactions; (iv) compared the financial and operating performance of the Company and Agrium, respectively, with publicly available information concerning certain other companies we deemed relevant, including data relating to public market trading levels and implied multiples for selected acquisition transactions; (v) reviewed the current and historical market prices of the Securities and the Agrium Common Stock, respectively, and compared them with those of certain publicly traded securities of such other companies that we deemed relevant; (vi) reviewed certain internal financial analyses and forecasts prepared by the management of the Company relating to its business and reviewed certain strategic, financial and operational benefits anticipated by Agrium from the consummation of the Offer; (vii) reviewed the pro forma impact of the Offer on Agriums earnings per share, consolidated capitalization and other financial ratios; and (viii) performed such other financial studies and analyses and considered such other information as we deemed appropriate for the purposes of this opinion. In addition, we have held discussions with certain members of management of the Company with respect to the Offer, and the past and current business operations of the Company, the financial condition and future prospects and operations of the Company, certain strategic, financial and operational benefits anticipated from the consummation of the Offer, and certain other matters we believed necessary or appropriate to our inquiry.
In addition, we have: (i) reviewed the Terra Offer Documents and certain related documents; (ii) reviewed certain publicly available business and financial information, including certain research analyst reports and estimates, concerning Terra and the industry in which it operates; (iii) compared the financial and operating performance of Terra with publicly available information concerning certain other companies we deemed relevant, including data relating to public market trading levels and implied multiples for selected acquisition transactions; (iv) reviewed the current and historical market prices of the Terra Common Stock and compared them with those of certain publicly traded securities of such other companies that we deemed relevant; (v) discussed with certain members of management of the Company the past and current operations and financial condition and the prospects of Terra, including information relating to certain strategic, financial and operational benefits anticipated from the consummation of the Terra Offer prepared by the management of the Company; and (vi) reviewed the pro forma impact of the Terra Offer on the Companys earnings per share, consolidated capitalization and other financial ratios.
In giving our opinion, we have relied upon and assumed, without independent verification, the accuracy and completeness of all information that was publicly available or was furnished to us by the Company, its associates, affiliates and advisors, or otherwise reviewed by or for us, and we have not assumed any responsibility or liability therefor. We have not conducted any valuation or appraisal of any assets or liabilities, nor have any such valuations or appraisals been provided to us, and we do not express any opinion as to the value of such assets or liabilities. In addition, we have not assumed any obligation to conduct any physical inspection of the properties or the facilities of the Company or Agrium. In relying on financial analyses and forecasts provided to us or discussed with us by the Company, including information relating to certain strategic, financial and operational benefits anticipated from the consummation of the Offer, we have assumed that they have been reasonably prepared based on assumptions reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments by the Companys management as to the expected future results of
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operations and financial condition of the Company. As you know, we have not been provided with access to management or internal financial information or projections of future performance of Agrium, and instead have relied on publicly available information, certain research analyst estimates for Agrium, as well as the assessment of the management of the Company and other information provided by the Company with respect to such matters. In relying on certain research analyst estimates for Agrium, we have assumed that such estimates have been reasonably prepared on bases that reasonably reflect the expected future results of operations and financial condition of Agrium. We express no view as to the reasonableness of such financial analyses and forecasts or any assumption on which they are based. We have assumed that the Offer would be consummated as contemplated in the Offer Documents, including, without limitation, that the Terra Offer would be terminated, and that in connection with the receipt of all the necessary governmental, regulatory or other approvals and consents required for the Offer, no delays, limitations, conditions or restrictions will be imposed that would have a material adverse effect on the contemplated benefits expected to be derived in the Offer. In rendering this opinion, we express no view as to the reasonableness of such financial analyses and forecasts or any assumption on which they are based. For purposes of rendering this opinion, we have assumed that there has not occurred any material change in the assets, financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects of the Company or Agrium since the respective dates of the most recent financial statements and other information, financial or otherwise, relating to the Company and Agrium, respectively, made available to us. We have relied as to all legal, tax and regulatory matters relevant to rendering our opinion upon the advice of counsel to the Company.
With respect to our review of information supplied or otherwise made available to us by the management of the Company relevant to our consideration of the Terra Offer, we have relied upon and assumed, without independent verification, the accuracy and completeness of all information that was publicly available or was furnished to us by the Company, its associates, affiliates and advisors, or otherwise reviewed by or for us, and we have not assumed any responsibility or liability therefor. In addition, we have not conducted, nor have we assumed any obligation to conduct, any physical inspection of the properties or the facilities of Terra. In relying on information relating to certain strategic, financial and operational benefits anticipated from the consummation of the Terra Offer provided to us or discussed with us by the Company, we have assumed that they have been reasonably prepared based on assumptions reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments by the Companys management as to such anticipated benefits. As you know, we have not been provided with access to management or internal financial information or projections of future performance of Terra, and instead have relied on publicly available information, certain research analyst estimates for Terra, as well as the assessment of the management of the Company and other information provided by the Company with respect to such matters. In relying on certain research analyst estimates for Terra, we have assumed that such estimates have been reasonably prepared on bases that reasonably reflect the expected future results of operations and financial condition of Terra. We express no view as to the reasonableness of such financial analyses and forecasts or any assumption on which they are based. We have assumed that there has not occurred any material change in the assets, financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects of Terra since the date of its most recent financial statements and other information, financial or otherwise, relating to Terra made available to us. For purposes of our review of the Terra Offer, we have assumed that it will be consummated as contemplated in the Terra Offer Documents.
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Our opinion is necessarily based on securities markets, economic, monetary, financial and other general business and financial conditions as they exist and can be evaluated on, and the information made available to us as of, the date hereof and the conditions, prospects, financial and otherwise, of the Company, Terra and Agrium, and their respective subsidiaries and affiliates, as they were reflected in the information provided to us and as they were represented to us in discussions with management of the Company. We are expressing no opinion herein as to the price at which the Securities, the Terra Common Stock or the Agrium Common Stock will trade at any future time. Our opinion is limited to the adequacy, from a financial point of view, to the holders of the Securities, of the Consideration to be received by such holders in the Offer and we express no opinion as to any underlying decision which the Company may make to engage in the Offer, the Terra Offer or any alternative transaction. Although we considered the Terra Offer, our opinion does not address the Terra Offer. In arriving at our opinion, we were not authorized to solicit, and we did not solicit, interest from any party, including Agrium, with respect to the acquisition, business combination or other extraordinary transaction, involving the Company, nor did we negotiate with any such parties.
We are acting as financial advisor to the Company with respect to the Offer and will receive a fee from the Company for our services, whether or not the Offer is consummated. Please be advised that we are currently engaged to provide financial advisory services to the Company in connection with the Terra Offer, and will receive a fee for our services, a substantial portion of which is contingent upon the closing of the acquisition of Terra, and we or our affiliates may in the future provide financial services to the Company, Terra and/or Agrium in the ordinary course of our businesses from time to time and may receive fees for the rendering of such services. In addition, in the past two years, we have provided financial advisory services to the Company and/or its affiliates and have been paid customary fees for such services.
This opinion is provided for the benefit of the Board in connection with and for the purposes of its evaluation of the Offer. This opinion does not constitute a recommendation to the Board as to whether to approve the Offer or the Terra Offer or a recommendation to any holders of the Securities as to whether to tender in the Offer or how to vote or otherwise act with respect to the Offer, the Terra Offer or any other matter, should the Offer, the Terra Offer or any other matter come to a vote of the holders of the Securities. In addition, you have not asked us to address, and this opinion does not address, (i) the adequacy to, or any other consideration of, the holders of any class of securities, creditors or other constituencies of the Company, other than the holders of the Securities or (ii) the fairness of the amount or nature of any compensation to be paid or payable to any of the Companys officers, directors or employees or the Company, or any class of such persons, whether relative to the Consideration to be paid to the holders of the Securities in the Offer or otherwise. This opinion may not be disclosed, referred to, or communicated (in whole or in part) to any third party for any purpose whatsoever except with our prior written approval. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this opinion may be reproduced in full in any filing the Company is required to make with the SEC with respect to the Offer, provided that any description or reference to us or summary of this opinion and the related analyses in such filing is in a form acceptable to us and our legal counsel.
This opinion is given as of the date hereof and, although we reserve the right to change or withdraw this opinion if we learn that any of the information that we relied upon in preparing this opinion was inaccurate, incomplete or misleading in any material respect, we disclaim any obligation to change or withdraw this opinion, to advise any person of any change that may come to our attention or to update this opinion after the date hereof. This opinion has been approved by the
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Investment Banking Committee of Rothschild Inc., with the advice and counsel of the Opinion Subcommittee thereof.
On the basis of and subject to the foregoing and such other matters as we considered relevant, it is our opinion as investment bankers that as of the date hereof the Consideration in the Offer is inadequate, from a financial point of view, to the holders of the Securities.
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Very truly yours, |
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/s/ Rothschild Inc. |
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ROTHSCHILD INC. |
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