DEERFIELD, Ill. and ST. PAUL, Minn., Aug. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CF) and CHS Inc. (NASDAQ: CHSCP) announced today that they have agreed to enter into a strategic venture. CHS, the nation's leading farmer-owned cooperative, will make an equity investment in a wholly owned CF subsidiary and also enter into a supply agreement. Under the supply agreement, CHS will be entitled to purchase annually up to a total of 1.7 million tons of UAN and urea at market prices. CHS will purchase a minority equity interest in CF Industries Nitrogen, LLC ("CF Nitrogen") for $2.8 billion and be entitled to semi-annual profit distributions from CF Nitrogen.
CF Nitrogen currently owns three production facilities in the United States: Donaldsonville, Louisiana; Port Neal, Iowa; and Yazoo City, Mississippi. CF also expects to contribute its Woodward, Oklahoma, plant to the LLC prior to the transaction closing. CF will continue to manage and operate all production facilities.
"This venture represents tremendous strategic value to both CF Industries and CHS," said Tony Will, president and chief executive officer, CF Industries Holdings, Inc. "In the past, we have entered into long-term relationships with industry leaders Mosaic and Orica, and this venture with CHS, an industry leader in agriculture, is the logical next step. This transaction matches us with a reliable partner that will take ratable delivery of product across the year, supported by an attractive valuation."
"Entering nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing through the purchase of a minority ownership in CF Nitrogen is the single largest investment in CHS history," said Carl Casale, president and chief executive officer, CHS Inc. "This positions CHS and our owners for long-term dependable fertilizer supply, supply chain efficiency and economic value. In addition, the ability to source product from CF Nitrogen production facilities under our supply agreement benefits our owners and customers through strategically positioned access to essential fertilizer products."
Once the capacity expansion projects are completed at Donaldsonville and Port Neal, CF will have total production of 18.9 million product tons, not including the new capacity from the business combination with OCI N.V. Of that total 18.9 million tons, CHS will have the right to purchase up to 1.7 million tons, or about 8.9 percent of CF Industries' total production capacity. CHS, a major CF customer and knowledgeable industry leader, is making a $2.8 billion investment for approximately 8.9 percent of CF's total system capacity.
CF Nitrogen will sell annually to CHS up to 1.1 million tons of granular urea and 580,000 tons of UAN, at market prices. The 1.7 million tons available under the supply agreement have an average gross margin that reflects the average gross margin across the entire CF system.
CHS's semi-annual profit distributions from CF Nitrogen will be based generally on the volume of granular urea and UAN purchased by CHS pursuant to the supply agreement.
The transaction is expected to close February 1, 2016, or earlier by mutual consent, subject to satisfaction of certain conditions.
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co. are serving as financial advisors to CF Industries on the transaction. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is acting as its legal advisor. Kirkland & Ellis LLP is acting as its tax advisor. Baker & McKenzie LLP is acting as legal advisor to CHS on the transaction.
CF Industries Conference Call
CF Industries Holdings, Inc. will be posting a presentation with the transaction highlights to the investor portion of the company's website at www.cfindustries.com and hosting a conference call at 9:00 am ET on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 to provide an overview of the transaction and answer analysts' questions.
Investors can access the call by dialing 866-748-8653 or 678-825-8234. The passcode is 9517956. The conference call also will be available live on the company's website at www.cfindustries.com. Participants also may pre-register for the webcast on the company's website. Please log-in or dial-in at least 10 minutes prior to the start time to ensure a connection. A replay of the call will be available for seven days by calling 855-859-2056 and citing code 9517956.
About CF Industries Holdings, Inc.
CF Industries Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, through its subsidiaries is a global leader in the manufacturing and distribution of nitrogen products, serving both agricultural and industrial customers. CF Industries operates world-class nitrogen manufacturing complexes in the central United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, and distributes plant nutrients through a system of terminals, warehouses, and associated transportation equipment located primarily in the Midwestern United States. The company also owns a 50 percent interest in an ammonia facility in The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. CF Industries routinely posts investor announcements and additional information on the company's website at www.cfindustries.com and encourages those interested in the company to check there frequently.
About CHS Inc.
CHS Inc. (www.chsinc.com) is a leading global agribusiness owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives across the United States. Diversified in energy, grains and foods, CHS is committed to helping its customers, farmer-owners and other stakeholders grow their businesses through its domestic and global operations. CHS, a Fortune 100 company, supplies energy, crop nutrients, grain marketing services, animal feed, food and food ingredients, along with business solutions including insurance, financial and risk management services. The company operates petroleum refineries/pipelines and manufactures, markets and distributes Cenex® brand refined fuels, lubricants, propane and renewable energy products.
CHS Inc. Forward-Looking Statements
This document and other CHS Inc. publicly available documents contain, and CHS officers and representatives may from time to time make, "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Report Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "goal," "seek," "believe," "project," "estimate," "expect," "strategy," "future," "likely," "may," "should," "will" and similar references to future periods. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on CHS current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of its businesses, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of CHS control. CHS actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause CHS actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements are discussed or identified in CHS public filings made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the "Risk Factors" discussion in Item 1A of CHS Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014. Any forward-looking statements made by CHS in this document are based only on information currently available to CHS and speak only as of the date on which the statement is made. CHS undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
CF Industries Holdings, Inc. Forward-Looking Statements
All statements in this communication by CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the "Company"), other than those relating to historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by their use of terms such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "predict" or "project" and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements.
Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed strategic venture between the Company and CHS Inc. ("CHS") pursuant to which CHS will make an equity investment in, and enter into a supply agreement with, CF Industries Nitrogen, LLC (the "Strategic Venture"), including, without limitation, statements about the benefits of the Strategic Venture, the expected timing of closing and other aspects of the Strategic Venture. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements relating to the Strategic Venture include, among others: risks and uncertainties arising from the possibility that the consummation of the Strategic Venture as contemplated may be delayed or may not occur; difficulties associated with the operation or management of the Strategic Venture; risks and uncertainties relating to the market prices of the fertilizer products that are the subject of the supply agreement over the life of the supply agreement and risks that disruptions from the Strategic Venture as contemplated will harm the Company's other business relationships.
Further, forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed acquisition by the Company from OCI N.V. ("OCI") of OCI's European, North American and global distribution businesses and certain other assets (the "Business"), including, without limitation, statements about the benefits of the acquisition transaction (the "Transaction"); the expected timing of completion of the Transaction; future financial and operating results of the new holding company ("New CF"), the Company and the Business; New CF's and the Company's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions; and other statements relating to the Transaction that are not historical facts. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others: risks and uncertainties relating to the ability to obtain the requisite approvals of stockholders of CF Industries Holdings, Inc. and OCI with respect to the Transaction; the risk that New CF, the Company and OCI are unable to obtain governmental and regulatory approvals required for the Transaction, or that required governmental and regulatory approvals delay the Transaction or result in the imposition of conditions that could reduce the anticipated benefits from the Transaction or cause the parties to abandon the Transaction; the risk that a condition to closing of the Transaction may not be satisfied; the length of time necessary to consummate the Transaction; the risk that the businesses of the Company and the Business will not be integrated successfully; the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the Transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the risk that access to financing, including for refinancing of indebtedness of the Business or the Company, may not be available on a timely basis and on reasonable terms; the risk that the Business is unable to complete its current production capacity development and improvement projects on schedule as planned and on budget or at all; the risk that the Transaction or the prospect of the Transaction disrupts or makes it more difficult to maintain existing relationships or impedes establishment of new relationships with customers, employees or suppliers; diversion of management time on transaction-related issues; the risk that New CF, the Company and the Business are unable to retain and hire key personnel; the effect of future regulatory or legislative actions on New CF, the Company and the Business; the risk that the Transaction is not accorded the tax and accounting treatment anticipated by the Company; unanticipated costs or liabilities associated with the Transaction-related financing; and the risk that the credit ratings of New CF and the Company, including such ratings taking into account the Transaction and related financing, may differ from the Company's expectations.
Additional important factors, which currently relate to the Company and would relate to the Strategic Venture and the combination of the Company and the Business, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the volatility of natural gas prices in North America and Europe; the cyclical nature of the Company's business and the agricultural sector; the global commodity nature of the Company's fertilizer products, the impact of global supply and demand on the Company's selling prices, and the intense global competition from other fertilizer producers; conditions in the U.S. and European agricultural industry; difficulties in securing the supply and delivery of raw materials, increases in their costs or delays or interruptions in their delivery; reliance on third party providers of transportation services and equipment; the significant risks and hazards involved in producing and handling the Company's products against which the Company not be fully insured; risks associated with cyber security; weather conditions; the Company's ability to complete its production capacity expansion projects on schedule as planned and on budget or at all; risks associated with other expansions of the Company's business, including unanticipated adverse consequences and the significant resources that could be required; an inability to achieve, or a delay in achieving, the expected benefits of the GrowHow transaction as contemplated; difficulties associated with the integration of GrowHow; unanticipated costs or liabilities associated with the GrowHow transaction; and the risk that disruptions from the GrowHow transaction as contemplated will harm relationships with customers, employees and suppliers. potential liabilities and expenditures related to environmental and health and safety laws and regulations; the Company's potential inability to obtain or maintain required permits and governmental approvals or to meet financial assurance requirements from governmental authorities; future regulatory restrictions and requirements related to greenhouse gas emissions; the seasonality of the fertilizer business; the impact of changing market conditions on the Company's forward sales programs; risks involving derivatives and the effectiveness of the Company's risk measurement and hedging activities; the Company's reliance on a limited number of key facilities; risks associated with joint ventures; acts of terrorism and regulations to combat terrorism; risks associated with international operations; losses on the Company's investments in securities; deterioration of global market and economic conditions; and the Company's ability to manage its indebtedness. More detailed information about factors that may affect the Company's performance and could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations may be found in CF Industries Holdings, Inc.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including CF Industries Holdings, Inc.'s most recent periodic reports filed on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, which are available in the Investor Relations section of the Company's web site. Forward-looking statements are given only as of the date of this presentation and the Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
No Offer or Solicitation
This presentation is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to or in connection with the proposed transaction or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. 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, and otherwise in accordance with applicable law.
Additional Information
New CF will file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 that will include the proxy statement of CF Industries and the shareholders circular of OCI that also constitute prospectuses of New CF. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, THE SHAREHOLDERS CIRCULAR/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus, the shareholders circular and other documents filed with the SEC by New CF and CF Industries through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus, the shareholders circular and other documents filed by CF Industries and New CF with the SEC by contacting CF Industries Investor Relations at: CF Industries Holdings, Inc., c/o Corporate Communications, 4 Parkway North, Suite 400, Deerfield, Illinois, 60015 or by calling (847) 405-2542.
Participants in the Solicitation
CF Industries and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of CF Industries in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the stockholders of CF Industries in connection with the proposed transaction, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus when it is filed with the SEC. Information regarding the directors and executive officers of CF Industries is contained in CF Industries' proxy statement for its 2015 annual meeting of stockholders, filed with the SEC on April 2, 2015, and CF Industries' Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 25, 2015.
To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cf-industries-and-chs-announce-agreement-to-form-strategic-venture-300127441.html
SOURCE CHS Inc.