1. | to consider, pursuant to an interim order of the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta dated[August 26], 2008, as the same may be amended (the“Interim Order”), and, if deemed advisable, to pass, with or without variation, a special resolution of Securityholders of Fording, the full text of which is attached to the accompanying management information circular (the“Circular”) as Appendix A, to approve an arrangement (the“Arrangement”) under Section 193 of theBusiness Corporations Act(Alberta) involving, among other things, the acquisition by Teck Cominco Limited(“Teck”) of all of the assets and assumption of all of the liabilities of Fording, all as more fully set forth in the Circular; and | |
2. | to transact such other business as may properly be brought before the Meeting and any postponement(s) or adjournment(s) thereof. |
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APPENDICES | ||||
Appendix A Arrangement Resolution | A-1 | |||
Appendix B Arrangement Agreement | B-1 | |||
Appendix C Fairness Opinion of Rbc Capital Markets | C-1 | |||
Appendix D Independent Valuation of National Bank Financial Inc. | D-1 | |||
Appendix E Plan of Arrangement | E-1 | |||
Appendix F Interim Order | F-1 | |||
Appendix G Petition for Final Order | G-1 | |||
Appendix H Section 191 of TheBusiness Corporations Act(Alberta) | H-1 | |||
Appendix I Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements of Teck Cominco Limited | I-1 | |||
Appendix J Comparison of Rights as a Unitholder of Fording and as a Class B Shareholder of Teck | J-1 |
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January 1, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||
through | Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||
Canadian Dollar per US Dollar | August 19, 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||||||
Noon rate at end of period | 1.0607 | 0.9881 | 1.1653 | 1.1659 | ||||||||||||
Average noon rate for period | 1.0116 | 1.0748 | 1.1341 | 1.2116 | ||||||||||||
High noon rate for period | 1.0678 | 1.1853 | 1.1726 | 1.2704 | ||||||||||||
Low noon rate for period | 0.9719 | 0.9170 | 1.0990 | 1.1507 |
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1
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• | at least 662/3% of the votes cast at the Meeting by Unitholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting, voting separately as a class; | |
• | at least 662/3% of the votes cast at the Meeting by Securityholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting, voting together as a single class; and | |
• | at least a simple majority of the votes cast by Unitholders (excluding the votes cast by Teck and certain other parties related to or affiliated with Teck that must be excluded, in accordance with applicable securities laws) present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting. |
• | attend the Meeting in person; | |
• | sign, date and return the enclosed form of proxy, or such other proper form of proxy prepared for use at the Meeting which is acceptable to the Transfer Agent; or | |
• | otherwise communicate their voting instructions in accordance with the instructions set out in the enclosed form of proxy or through the use of another acceptable and proper form of proxy. |
• | in the name of an Intermediary; or | |
• | in the name of a clearing agency (such as CDS or similar entities) of which the Intermediary is a participant. |
3
• | The Independent Committees were formed in June 2007 and were given a broad mandate to consider a wide range of alternatives, including an acquisition of all of Fording’s Units by a third party, a sale of Fording’s assets, including its interest in the Partnership, a combination, reorganization or similar form of transaction, an acquisition of Teck’s 40% interest in the Partnership or continuing with Fording’s current business model. The announcement of the Arrangement Agreement on July 29, 2008 represents the culmination of a 14-month process that has been conducted at the direction and under the supervision of the Independent Committees, and with the advice of experienced external advisors, pursuant to which 21 parties located around the world were contacted to determine their interest in pursuing a transaction with Fording. From this group, 15 parties entered into confidentiality agreements and undertook a due diligence investigation of Fording and its assets. This process resulted in two indicative expressions of interest, from parties other than Teck, being received in March |
4
2008 at values significantly lower than the consideration available under the Arrangement. In light of the thoroughness and independence of the process, the Independent Committees believe that the consideration available to Unitholders under the Arrangement represents superior value to Unitholders over any of the other alternatives that were considered. |
• | Due to a combination of a strong demand for steel and a tight supply of seaborne metallurgical coal, exacerbated by flooding in Queensland, Australia, metallurgical coal prices for the 2008 coal year have reached historic highs of approximately US$300 per tonne and are substantially higher than the average price for seaborne metallurgical coal over the preceding 20 years and the prior year coal price of approximately US$93 per tonne. This in turn has contributed to a significant increase in the trading price of the Units. If current pricing for metallurgical coal is not sustained in respect of subsequent coal years, then the increase in revenue and income from operations experienced by Fording in respect of the 2008 coal year, and the resulting level of distributions paid to Unitholders, will not be sustainable particularly in the context of the Partnership’s position as a high cost producer relative to its competitors. The Independent Committees considered forecasts of future coal prices from various sources as well as the advice of its financial advisors regarding such forecasts when evaluating whether maintaining Fording’s current business model would yield superior value to Unitholders compared to the Arrangement. The Independent Committees concluded that maintaining Fording’s current business model would only provide enhanced value to Unitholders in circumstances where either the long-term average price of metallurgical coal is materially higher than the average level the analysts that were surveyed are currently projecting or where current metallurgical coal prices were maintained for a period materially longer than the average period the analysts that were surveyed are currently projecting, even without factoring in Fording’s taxable status commencing in 2011 as a result of the SIFT Rules. | |
• | The SIFT Rules and the elimination of the tax efficiencies on distributions commencing in 2011 would reduce the cash flow otherwise available for distribution to Unitholders. In turn, the reduction of the amount of income distributed to Unitholders as a result of Fording’s taxable status could be expected to result in a reduction in the trading price of the Units. | |
• | The opinion of RBC to the effect that, as of July 28, 2008, and based upon and subject to the analyses, assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth therein, the consideration of 0.245 of a Class B Share and cash in the amount of US$82.00 (which includes the Final Unitholder Distribution of US$3.00) per Unit to be received under the Arrangement was fair, from a financial point of view, to the Unitholders (other than Teck and its affiliates). | |
• | The determination of National Bank Financial that, as of July 28, 2008, and based upon and subject to the analyses, assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth in the Independent Valuation, the fair market value of the Units was in the range of $79.00 to $99.00 per Unit. | |
• | The consideration to be received by the Unitholders under the Arrangement represented as of July 28, 2008, a premium of approximately 17% based on the weighted average trading price of Units on the TSX for the 20 trading days ended July 28, 2008 (the trading day before the Arrangement was announced). | |
• | A significant portion of the consideration payable to Unitholders pursuant to the Arrangement will be paid in cash which provides some certainty of value. | |
• | The assets of Fording consist of a non-operating interest in the Partnership and Fording does not have the right to take in kind the coal produced by the Partnership. Through its ownership of Units, Teck owns an approximately 19.6% interest in Fording. In addition, Teck owns a 40% interest in the Partnership, and, through an affiliate, acts as the Managing Partner of the Partnership and is responsible for managing its business and affairs, subject to certain matters that require the approval of all partners. Teck has also been granted a right of first offer over the transfer of Fording’s interest in the Partnership. In light of the foregoing, Fording’s interest in the Partnership is essentially a right to receive income from the sale of coal produced by the Partnership, and the Independent Committees have been advised by RBC that this fact has limited the pool of parties that would be interested in acquiring Fording or its assets as a number of parties that were contacted expressed a desire to acquire operating rights or direct access to the Partnership’s coal resources. |
5
• | The Independent Committees believe that the 0.245 of a Class B Share forming part of the per Unit consideration available to Unitholders under the Arrangement provides Unitholders with continued participation in the metallurgical coal market as well as other resources. | |
• | The Class B Shares are listed on the TSX and the NYSE. Teck has a larger market capitalization than Fording and trading liquidity comparable to that of Fording. Further, upon completion of the Arrangement, Teck’s market capitalization will be larger and its liquidity enhanced. | |
• | There are no material competition or other regulatory issues which are expected to arise in connection with the Arrangement so as to prevent its completion, and all required regulatory clearances and approvals are expected to be obtained. |
• | The Arrangement Resolution must be approved by a simple majority of the votes cast by Unitholders (excluding the votes cast by Teck and certain other parties related to or affiliated with Teck that must be excluded in accordance with applicable securities laws) present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting, as well as by a special majority of Securityholders and also by a special majority of Unitholders, in each case, present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting. | |
• | Completion of the Arrangement will be subject to a judicial determination as to its fairness by the Court. | |
• | The Independent Committees retained independent financial and legal advisors who advised the Independent Committees throughout the 14-month process noted above. | |
• | The Independent Committees conducted arm’s-length negotiations with Teck over the key economic terms of the Arrangement Agreement and oversaw the negotiation of other material terms of the Arrangement Agreement and the Arrangement. After negotiations with Teck, in which the Independent Committees obtained improved financial terms, the Independent Committees concluded that the consideration offered in the Arrangement was the highest price that Fording could obtain from Teck and that, based on Teck’s unequivocal statements that the consideration offered under the Arrangement was Teck’s best and final offer, further negotiation could have caused Teck to withdraw its proposal, thereby leaving Unitholders without an opportunity to evaluate and vote on a transaction that provides a premium to the current trading price for the Units. | |
• | If the Arrangement does not receive the Requisite Level of Approval or the financing condition in favour of Teck or the condition relating to Teck demonstrating to Fording that Teck has or will be able to draw sufficient funds (other than the funds resulting from the sale of its Units) to complete the Arrangement is not satisfied or waived, Teck has agreed to reimburse Fording for the expenditures incurred by Fording in connection with the Arrangement to a maximum of $10 million. Further, in the event that the Arrangement Agreement is terminated as a result of the failure of the financing condition to be satisfied or waived, Fording is not required to pay the US$400 million Break Fee to Teck. | |
• | Registered Unitholders who do not vote in favour of the Arrangement will have the right to require a judicial appraisal of their Units and obtain “fair value” pursuant to the exercise of the Dissent Rights under the Arrangement. | |
• | Under the Arrangement Agreement, the Trustees are able to respond, in accordance with their fiduciary duties, to unsolicited Acquisition Proposals that are or could reasonably be expected to lead to a Superior Proposal. The terms of the Arrangement Agreement, including the US$400 million Break Fee payable to Teck in certain circumstances, are reasonable and not, in the opinion of the Independent Committees, preclusive of other proposals. | |
• | Teck has agreed that, if there is a Superior Proposal that would otherwise be subject to Teck’s right of first offer and Teck does not exercise its matching rights under the Arrangement Agreement, it shall, upon payment of the US$400 million Break Fee, waive the 60 day right of first offer that it currently has over the transfer of Fording’s indirect interest in the Partnership and which could otherwise significantly impede certain types of alternative transactions. |
6
• | The Arrangement is conditional on the Debt Financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter being available to Teck as of the Transaction Confirmation Date. Such availability is subject to a number of conditions. There can be no assurance that Teck will be able to obtain the Debt Financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter or, in the event that Teck is unable to obtain the Debt Financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter, that it will be able to obtain alternative debt financing commitments. The Independent Committees considered the advice of RBC as to the current state of the financial markets and the advice of Osler as to the terms of the Debt Commitment Letter. The Independent Committees also considered the magnitude of Teck’s obligations in obtaining the financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter, the adverse affect that the failure to satisfy the conditions and obtain the financing would have on Teck, and that Teck must reimburse Fording for its Transaction Expenses, to a maximum of $10 million, if the conditions to the Arrangement are not met due to Teck’s failure to obtain the financing. | |
• | If the Arrangement is successfully completed, Fording will no longer exist as an independent public income trust and, although Unitholders, through the Class B Shares to be issued under the Arrangement, will have the opportunity to continue to participate in the metallurgical coal markets, the consummation of the Arrangement will diminish the opportunity for Unitholders (other than Teck and its affiliates) to participate in the longer term potential benefits of the business of Fording to the extent that those benefits exceed those potential benefits reflected in the consideration to be received under the Arrangement. | |
• | Teck was prepared to offer the consideration available under the Arrangement only if the Arrangement was structured as an asset sale by Fording to Teck. The Independent Committees believe that the net tax efficiency of the structure to Teck has enabled Teck to make an enhanced offer to Unitholders under the Arrangement. This structure results in the distribution of taxable income to Unitholders generally equal to the payments to be made to Unitholders under the Arrangement. This distribution of income may result in a higher level of taxation than would have been the case had Teck offered to purchase the Units from Unitholders who are Canadian residents (for tax purposes) and who hold Units as capital property and from Non-Resident Unitholders. However, no such offer was available. The Independent Committees considered available information as to the composition of the Unitholders and the advice of RBC as to the likely liquidity and operation of the public markets prior to and during the Pre-Closing Period. | |
• | If Fording is required to pay the US$400 million Break Fee to Teck and an alternative transaction is not concluded, Fording’s financial condition will be materially and adversely affected. | |
• | If the Arrangement Agreement is terminated and the Trustees decide to seek another merger or business combination, there is no assurance that Fording will be able to find a party willing to pay greater or equivalent value compared to the consideration available to Unitholders under the Arrangement, or that the continued operation of Fording under its current business model will yield equivalent or greater value to Unitholders compared to that available under the Arrangement. | |
• | The trading price of the Class B Shares may fluctuate. The Independent Committees received advice from RBC as to the likely impact of the issuance of the Class B Shares in connection with the Arrangement on the market price for such shares, and the possible effect on earnings per share, cash flow and credit characteristics of Teck as a result of its acquisition of Fording. The Independent Committees also received advice from RBC and Osler as to the scope and results of the focused confirmatory diligence investigation of Teck that was undertaken by the advisors. The Independent Committees considered the advice that was received from the advisors in that regard and further considered the characteristics of the Class B Shares. | |
• | Teck’s obligations under the Arrangement are subject to certain conditions and Teck has the right to terminate the Arrangement Agreement in certain circumstances. |
7
8
• | Warren S. R. Seyffert is a Trustee of Fording and Donald R. Lindsay is a Director of Fording ULC. Such individuals are also directors and, in the case of Mr. Lindsay, also President and Chief Executive Officer of Teck. In addition, David A. Thompson is a current Director who formerly served as a director, Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Chairman of Teck. See “Interest of Informed Persons in Material Arrangements” in this Circular. | |
• | The Trustees and Directors, including Mr. Grandin who serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Fording and Fording ULC, participate in the Joint Phantom Unit Plan with Fording. On the Effective Date, in conjunction with the Arrangement, all of the issued and outstanding Phantom Units will be deemed to have vested and each holder of Phantom Units will be deemed to have elected to redeem all Phantom Units credited to such holder’s Phantom Unit account for an amount per Phantom Unit equal to the Unit Consideration and will be paid such consideration (less any amounts withheld on account of taxes) as a result of the deemed redemption plus the Final Unitholder Distribution. See “The Arrangement — Interests of Trustees, Directors, Executive Officers and Others in the Arrangement” in this Circular. |
9
• | the Interim Order and the Final Order each having been granted; | |
• | the approval of the Arrangement Resolution having been obtained; | |
• | the TSX and the NYSE having approved the listing of the Class B Shares to be issued under the Arrangement; | |
• | the Arrangement Agreement not having been terminated; | |
• | the Closing Regulatory Approvals having been obtained; and | |
• | the absence of any Law that makes the consummation of the Arrangement illegal or otherwise prohibits or enjoins either Fording or Teck from consummating the Arrangement. |
10
• | the representations and warranties of Teck being true and correct in all material respects; | |
• | the compliance by Teck in all material respects with its covenants; | |
• | the absence of a Teck Material Adverse Effect; and | |
• | on or before October 31, 2008, the provision of written evidence by Teck that it has or will be able to draw on or prior to the Effective Date the funds (other than the funds resulting from the sale of its Units) necessary to complete the Arrangement, including the execution of definitive credit agreements in respect of its planned Debt Financing. |
• | the representations and warranties of Fording being true and correct in all material respects; | |
• | the compliance by Fording in all material respects with its covenants; | |
• | the absence of a Fording Material Adverse Effect; | |
• | confirmation from the Lenders that the conditions precedent to the availability of Teck’s planned Debt Financing, subject to certain limited exceptions, have been satisfied or waived; | |
• | the Trustees not having made a Change in Recommendation; | |
• | Dissent Rights having been exercised in respect of no more than 5% of the Units (on a fully-diluted basis); and | |
• | determination by Teck that the total amount of the Residual Liabilities existing after the completion of the Arrangement, net of current assets of Fording and excluding: (a) the FX Hedge, and (b) Residual Liabilities that were not incurred in wilful violation of the Arrangement Agreement, will not exceed $475 million (if the Fording Credit Agreement will not be repaid) or $200 million (if the Fording Credit Agreement will be repaid without Fording incurring liabilities to make such repayment). |
11
12
13
14
• | There can be no certainty that all conditions precedent to the Arrangement will be satisfied or waived, or as to the timing of their satisfaction or waiver. Failure to complete the Arrangement could negatively impact the price of the Units. |
15
• | The Arrangement is conditional on the Debt Financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter being available to Teck as of the Transaction Confirmation Date. Such availability is subject to a number of material conditions. There can be no assurance that Teck will be able to obtain the Debt Financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter, or in the event that Teck is unable to obtain the Debt Financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter, it will be able to obtain alternative debt financing commitments in replacement thereof. | |
• | The Arrangement Agreement may be terminated by Fording or Teck in certain circumstances, including after the Transaction Confirmation Date. | |
• | A liquid market for the Units may not exist during the Pre-Closing Period. | |
• | If the Arrangement is not completed, the application of the SIFT Rules may have a material and adverse impact on Fording. | |
• | The value of the cash portion of the consideration payable under the Arrangement will fluctuate depending on exchange rate fluctuations for Unitholders whose primary currency is not the US dollar. In addition, under the Arrangement, Unitholders will receive Class B Shares based on a fixed exchange ratio that will not be adjusted to reflect market fluctuations. Consequently, the Class B Shares issuable under the Arrangement may have a market value lower than expected. | |
• | As a result of the issuance of Class B Shares in connection with the Arrangement and the dual class share structure of Teck, the Unitholders’ voting interests in Teck will be significantly diluted, relative to their current proportional voting interest in Fording. |
16
17
18
19
• | continue the confidential process to determine whether there are entities, including Teck, that might have an interest in acquiring all or a portion of Fording or its assets; | |
• | review and consider the terms of any solicited or unsolicited proposals that might be received; | |
• | negotiate the terms of any such transaction, if deemed appropriate; |
20
• | recommend to the Trustees and Directors a transaction, if any, that the Independent Committees determined to be in the best interest of Unitholders; and | |
• | engage any and all advisors that the Independent Committees deem necessary to accomplish the above. |
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
• | The Independent Committees were formed in June 2007 and were given a broad mandate to consider a wide range of alternatives, including an acquisition of all of Fording’s Units by a third party, a sale of Fording’s assets, including its interest in the Partnership, a combination, reorganization or similar form of transaction, an acquisition of Teck’s 40% interest in the Partnership or continuing with Fording’s current business model. The announcement of the Arrangement Agreement on July 29, 2008 represents the culmination of a 14-month process that has been conducted at the direction and under the supervision of the Independent Committees, and with the advice of experienced external advisors, pursuant to which 21 parties located around the world were contacted to determine their interest in pursuing a transaction with Fording. From this group, 15 parties entered into confidentiality agreements and undertook a due diligence investigation of Fording and its assets. This process resulted in two indicative expressions of interest, from parties other than Teck, being received in March 2008 at values significantly lower than the consideration available under the Arrangement. In light of the thoroughness and independence of the process, the Independent Committees believe that the consideration available to Unitholders under the Arrangement represents superior value to Unitholders over any of the other alternatives that were considered. | |
• | Due to a combination of a strong demand for steel and a tight supply of seaborne metallurgical coal, exacerbated by flooding in Queensland, Australia, metallurgical coal prices for the 2008 coal year have reached historic highs of approximately US$300 per tonne and are substantially higher than the average price for seaborne metallurgical coal over the preceding 20 years and the prior year coal price of approximately US$93 per tonne. This in turn has contributed to a significant increase in the trading price of the Units. If current pricing for metallurgical coal is not sustained in respect of subsequent coal years, then the increase in revenue and income from operations experienced by Fording in respect of the 2008 coal year, and the resulting level of distributions paid to Unitholders, will not be sustainable particularly in the context of the Partnership’s position as a high cost producer relative to its competitors. The Independent Committees considered forecasts of future coal prices from various sources as well as the advice of its financial advisors regarding such forecasts when evaluating whether maintaining Fording’s current business model would yield superior value to Unitholders compared to the Arrangement. The Independent Committees concluded that maintaining Fording’s current business model would only provide enhanced value to Unitholders in circumstances where either the long-term average price of metallurgical coal is materially higher than the average level the analysts that were surveyed are currently |
28
projecting or where current metallurgical coal prices were maintained for a period materially longer than the average period the analysts that were surveyed are currently projecting, even without factoring in Fording’s taxable status commencing in 2011 as a result of the SIFT Rules. |
• | The SIFT Rules and the elimination of the tax efficiencies on distributions commencing in 2011 would reduce the cash flow otherwise available for distribution to Unitholders. In turn, the reduction of the amount of income distributed to Unitholders as a result of Fording’s taxable status could be expected to result in a reduction in the trading price of the Units. | |
• | The opinion of RBC to the effect that, as of July 28, 2008, and based upon and subject to the analyses, assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth therein, the consideration of 0.245 of a Class B Share and cash in the amount of US$82.00 (which includes the Final Unitholder Distribution of US$3.00) per Unit to be received under the Arrangement was fair, from a financial point of view, to the Unitholders (other than Teck and its affiliates). | |
• | The determination of National Bank Financial that, as of July 28, 2008, and based upon and subject to the analyses, assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth in the Independent Valuation, the fair market value of the Units was in the range of $79.00 to $99.00 per Unit. | |
• | The consideration to be received by the Unitholders under the Arrangement represented as of July 28, 2008, a premium of approximately 17% based on the weighted average trading price of Units on the TSX for the 20 trading days ended July 28, 2008 (the trading day before the Arrangement was announced). | |
• | A significant portion of the consideration payable to Unitholders pursuant to the Arrangement will be paid in cash which provides some certainty of value. | |
• | The assets of Fording consist of a non-operating interest in the Partnership and Fording does not have the right to take in kind the coal produced by the Partnership. Through its ownership of Units, Teck owns an approximately 19.6% interest in Fording. In addition, Teck owns a 40% interest in the Partnership, and, through an affiliate, acts as the Managing Partner of the Partnership and is responsible for managing its business and affairs, subject to certain matters that require the approval of all partners. Teck has also been granted a right of first offer over the transfer of Fording’s interest in the Partnership. In light of the foregoing, Fording’s interest in the Partnership is essentially a right to receive income from the sale of coal produced by the Partnership, and the Independent Committees have been advised by RBC that this fact has limited the pool of parties that would be interested in acquiring Fording or its assets as a number of parties that were contacted expressed a desire to acquire operating rights or direct access to the Partnership’s coal resources. | |
• | The Independent Committees believe that the 0.245 of a Class B Share forming part of the per Unit consideration available to Unitholders under the Arrangement provides Unitholders with continued participation in the metallurgical coal market as well as other resources. | |
• | The Class B Shares are listed on the TSX and the NYSE. Teck has a larger market capitalization than Fording and trading liquidity comparable to that of Fording. Further, upon completion of the Arrangement, Teck’s market capitalization will be larger and its liquidity enhanced. | |
• | There are no material competition or other regulatory issues which are expected to arise in connection with the Arrangement so as to prevent its completion, and all required regulatory clearances and approvals are expected to be obtained. |
• | The Arrangement Resolution must be approved by a simple majority of the votes cast by Unitholders (excluding the votes cast by Teck and certain other parties related to or affiliated with Teck that must be excluded in accordance with applicable securities laws) present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting, as well as by a special majority of Securityholders and also by a special majority of Unitholders, in each case, present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting. | |
• | Completion of the Arrangement will be subject to a judicial determination as to its fairness by the Court. |
29
• | The Independent Committees retained independent financial and legal advisors who advised the Independent Committees throughout the 14-month process noted above. | |
• | The Independent Committees conducted arm’s-length negotiations with Teck over the key economic terms of the Arrangement Agreement and oversaw the negotiation of other material terms of the Arrangement Agreement and the Arrangement. After negotiations with Teck, in which the Independent Committees obtained improved financial terms, the Independent Committees concluded that the consideration offered in the Arrangement was the highest price that Fording could obtain from Teck and that, based on Teck’s unequivocal statements that the consideration offered under the Arrangement was Teck’s best and final offer, further negotiation could have caused Teck to withdraw its proposal, thereby leaving Unitholders without an opportunity to evaluate and vote on a transaction that provides a premium to the current trading price for the Units. | |
• | If the Arrangement does not receive the Requisite Level of Approval or the financing condition in favour of Teck or the condition relating to Teck demonstrating to Fording that Teck has or will be able to draw sufficient funds (other than the funds resulting from the sale of its Units) to complete the Arrangement is not satisfied or waived, Teck has agreed to reimburse Fording for the expenditures incurred by Fording in connection with the Arrangement to a maximum of $10 million. Further, in the event that the Arrangement Agreement is terminated as a result of the failure of the financing condition to be satisfied or waived, Fording is not required to pay the US$400 million Break Fee to Teck. | |
• | Registered Unitholders who do not vote in favour of the Arrangement will have the right to require a judicial appraisal of their Units and obtain “fair value” pursuant to the exercise of the Dissent Rights under the Arrangement. | |
• | Under the Arrangement Agreement, the Trustees are able to respond, in accordance with their fiduciary duties, to unsolicited Acquisition Proposals that are or could reasonably be expected to lead to a Superior Proposal. The terms of the Arrangement Agreement, including the US$400 million Break Fee payable to Teck in certain circumstances, are reasonable and not, in the opinion of the Independent Committees, preclusive of other proposals. | |
• | Teck has agreed that, if there is a Superior Proposal that would otherwise be subject to Teck’s right of first offer and Teck does not exercise its matching rights under the Arrangement Agreement, it shall, upon payment of the US$400 million Break Fee, waive the 60 day right of first offer that it currently has over the transfer of Fording’s indirect interest in the Partnership and which could otherwise significantly impede certain types of alternative transactions. |
• | The Arrangement is conditional on the Debt Financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter being available to Teck as of the Transaction Confirmation Date. Such availability is subject to a number of conditions. There can be no assurance that Teck will be able to obtain the Debt Financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter or, in the event that Teck is unable to obtain the Debt Financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter, that it will be able to obtain alternative debt financing commitments. The Independent Committees considered the advice of RBC as to the current state of the financial markets and the advice of Osler as to the terms of the Debt Commitment Letter. The Independent Committees also considered the magnitude of Teck’s obligations in obtaining the financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter, the adverse affect that the failure to satisfy the conditions and obtain the financing would have on Teck, and that Teck must reimburse Fording for its Transaction Expenses, to a maximum of $10 million, if the conditions to the Arrangement are not met due to Teck’s failure to obtain the financing. | |
• | If the Arrangement is successfully completed, Fording will no longer exist as an independent public income trust and, although Unitholders, through the Class B Shares to be issued under the Arrangement, will have the opportunity to continue to participate in the metallurgical coal markets, the consummation of the Arrangement will diminish the opportunity for Unitholders (other than Teck and its affiliates) to participate in the longer term potential benefits of the business of Fording to the extent that those benefits exceed those potential benefits reflected in the consideration to be received under the Arrangement. |
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• | Teck was prepared to offer the consideration available under the Arrangement only if the Arrangement was structured as an asset sale by Fording to Teck. The Independent Committees believe that the net tax efficiency of the structure to Teck has enabled Teck to make an enhanced offer to Unitholders under the Arrangement. This structure results in the distribution of taxable income to Unitholders generally equal to the payments to be made to Unitholders under the Arrangement. This distribution of income may result in a higher level of taxation than would have been the case had Teck offered to purchase the Units from Unitholders who are Canadian residents (for tax purposes) and who hold Units as capital property and from Non-Resident Unitholders. However, no such offer was available. The Independent Committees considered available information as to the composition of the Unitholders and the advice of RBC as to the likely liquidity and operation of the public markets prior to and during the Pre-Closing Period. | |
• | If Fording is required to pay the US$400 million Break Fee to Teck and an alternative transaction is not concluded, Fording’s financial condition will be materially and adversely affected. | |
• | If the Arrangement Agreement is terminated and the Trustees decide to seek another merger or business combination, there is no assurance that Fording will be able to find a party willing to pay greater or equivalent value compared to the consideration available to Unitholders under the Arrangement, or that the continued operation of Fording under its current business model will yield equivalent or greater value to Unitholders compared to that available under the Arrangement. | |
• | The trading price of the Class B Shares may fluctuate. The Independent Committees received advice from RBC as to the likely impact of the issuance of the Class B Shares in connection with the Arrangement on the market price for such shares, and the possible effect on earnings per share, cash flow and credit characteristics of Teck as a result of its acquisition of Fording. The Independent Committees also received advice from RBC and Osler as to the scope and results of the focused confirmatory diligence investigation of Teck that was undertaken by the advisors. The Independent Committees considered the advice that was received from the advisors in that regard and further considered the characteristics of the Class B Shares. | |
• | Teck’s obligations under the Arrangement are subject to certain conditions and Teck has the right to terminate the Arrangement Agreement in certain circumstances. |
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• | The formation of the Independent Committees was publicly announced in December 2007. Fording has disclosed in this Circular that the Independent Committees conducted a review process, which, among other things, involved the solicitation of alternative purchasers and the consideration of alternative transactions. According to the disclosure of Fording in this Circular, no alternative purchaser came forward with a transaction comparable to the one proposed by Teck. | |
• | The terms of the Arrangement Agreement and the Plan of Arrangement were negotiated at arm’s length among (a) Teck and its advisors and (b) the Independent Committees (which are comprised exclusively of independent Trustees and Directors) and its advisors. | |
• | The consideration to be received by the Unitholders under the Arrangement represented as of July 28, 2008 a premium of approximately 17% based on the volume weighted average trading price of Units on the TSX for the 20 trading days ended July 28, 2008 (the trading day before the Arrangement was announced). |
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• | The structure of the transaction, which involves a purchase of all of the assets of Fording, and the tax consequences of that structure to Teck, permit Teck to pay aggregate consideration that reflects the tax efficiency of Fording’s income trust structure, which would otherwise terminate on December 31, 2010. | |
• | Under the Arrangement Agreement, the Trustees are able to respond, in accordance with their fiduciary duties, to unsolicited Acquisition Proposals that are or could reasonably be expected to lead to a Superior Proposal, and Teck must in certain circumstances pay Fording’s expenses in connection with the Arrangement to a maximum of $10 million. | |
• | Teck has agreed that, if there is a Superior Proposal that would otherwise be subject to Teck’s right of first offer, and Teck does not exercise its matching rights under the Arrangement Agreement, it shall, upon payment of the US$400 million Break Fee, waive the60-day right of first offer that it currently has over the direct or indirect transfer of Fording’s interest in the Partnership that would otherwise apply to such Superior Proposal, and which could otherwise significantly impede certain types of alternative transactions. | |
• | The members of the Independent Committees unanimously determined that the Arrangement is fair to the Unitholders (other than Teck and its affiliates) and in the best interests of Fording. | |
• | Teck did not have any involvement in the Independent Committees’ evaluation of the Arrangement. | |
• | The members of the Independent Committees unanimously approved the Arrangement and unanimously recommended that (a) the Trustees and the Directors approve the Arrangement Agreement and the Arrangement, and (b) the Trustees and the Directors recommend that the Unitholders vote for the Arrangement Resolution. | |
• | The Trustees and the Directors unanimously (with the interested Trustee and Directors excusing themselves from the determination to make such recommendation) (a) determined that the terms of the Arrangement are fair to the Unitholders (other than Teck and its affiliates) and in the best interests of Fording, (b) approved and authorized Fording to enter into the Arrangement Agreement and the Arrangement, (c) authorized the submission of the Arrangement to the Securityholders for their approval at the Meeting, and (d) determined to recommend that the Unitholders vote for the Arrangement Resolution. | |
• | The Arrangement Resolution must be approved by, among others, at least a simple majority of the votes cast by Unitholders (excluding the votes cast by Teck and certain other parties related to or affiliated with Teck that must be excluded in accordance with applicable securities laws) present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting. | |
• | The Independent Committees received a Fairness Opinion from RBC to the effect that, as of July 28, 2008, based upon and subject to the various considerations set forth in the opinion, including the various analyses, assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth therein, the consideration to be received under the Arrangement was fair, from a financial point of view, to the Unitholders (other than Teck and its affiliates). | |
• | The Independent Committees received the Independent Valuation from National Bank Financial to the effect that, as of July 28, 2008, and based upon and subject to the analyses, assumptions, qualifications and limitations set out in the Independent Valuation, the fair market value of the Units was in the range of $79.00 to $99.00 per Unit. | |
• | Registered Unitholders will be granted Dissent Rights and may seek appraisal of the fair value of their Units if the Arrangement is completed, subject to their compliance with the dissent procedures summarized under the heading “Dissenting Registered Unitholders’ Rights” in this Circular. | |
• | The Arrangement must be approved by a Final Order of the Court, based on its consideration of, among other things, the fairness of the Arrangement to the Unitholders. | |
• | Other than as disclosed in this Circular, Teck is not aware of any offer made by any unaffiliated person during the past two years for a merger or consolidation of Fording, a purchase or other transfer of all or substantially all of Fording’s assets, or a purchase of Units that would enable the holder to exercise control over Fording. |
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• | a DCF approach; | |
• | a comparable trading approach; and | |
• | a comparable precedent transactions approach. |
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• | the Class B Shares are securities of a reporting issuer; | |
• | Fording has no knowledge of any material information concerning Teck, or concerning the Class B Shares, that has not been generally disclosed; | |
• | a liquid market (as such term in defined for the purposes of MI61-101) in the Class B Shares exists, which determination was verified by National Bank Financial as at July 28, 2008; | |
• | the Class B Shares to be issued in connection with the Arrangement constitute 25% or less of the number of Class B Shares that are outstanding immediately before the Arrangement; | |
• | the Class B Shares will be freely tradable under applicable securities laws at the time the Arrangement is completed; and | |
• | National Bank Financial has advised the Independent Committees that it is of the opinion that a valuation of the Class B Shares is not required. |
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• | at least 662/3% of the votes cast at the Meeting by Unitholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting, voting separately as a class; | |
• | at least 662/3% of the votes cast at the Meeting by Securityholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting, voting together as a single class; and | |
• | at least a simple majority of the votes cast by Unitholders (excluding the votes cast by Teck and certain other parties related to or affiliated with Teck that must be excluded in accordance with applicable securities laws) present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting (collectively, the“Requisite Level of Approval”). |
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(a) | the Unitholder Rights Plan will terminate and be of no further force or effect; | |
(b) | the Fording LP Agreement Amendments will become effective; | |
(c) | the Royalty Agreement Amendments will become effective; | |
(d) | the New Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust will become effective; | |
(e) | [intentionally deleted]; | |
(f) | each of the Trustees will be deemed to have resigned and the Corporate Trustee will be appointed and become the sole trustee of Fording; | |
(g) | each of the Directors and each of the directors of Acquiror will be deemed to have resigned and the directors of Fording ULC and the directors of Acquiror will be those persons designated by Teck; | |
(h) | immediately before the time that the transaction described in paragraph (i) below occurs, Fording LP will make a distribution to Fording in an amount equal to all debts owing by Fording to Fording LP, and will make such distribution by offset against such debts; | |
(i) | Acquiror will purchase from Fording, and Fording will transfer to Acquiror, all of the limited partnership interest in Fording LP held by Fording and all of the issued and outstanding equity securities of Fording ULC held by Fording at a price equal to the amount described in paragraph (j)(vi) below, in consideration for the issuance by Acquiror to Fording of 10,000,000 common shares of Acquiror, and at the time of the purchase, Fording will cease to be a member of Fording LP; | |
(j) | Fording will transfer to Teck, and Teck will purchase from Fording, the Royalty (including all rights under the Royalty Agreement, other than any amount of Royalty accrued but not paid up to the Effective Time), all of the issued and outstanding equity securities of Acquiror, and all of the issued and outstanding equity securities of the Legacy Subsidiaries held by Fording at the Effective Time, in consideration of: |
(i) | the payment by Teck to Fording of the Securityholder Consideration, plus | |
(ii) | the payment by Teck to Fording of sufficient cash to enable Fording, when such additional cash is combined with its otherwise available cash, to make the Final Unitholder Distribution of US$3.00 per Unit, plus | |
(iii) | the assumption by Teck of the Residual Liabilities, |
(iv) | an amount equal to the fair market value of the equity securities of each of the Legacy Subsidiaries will be allocated to those securities; | |
(v) | 97% of the remaining consideration will be allocated to the purchase of the Royalty and the rights under the Royalty Agreement from Fording; and | |
(vi) | 3% of the remaining consideration will be allocated to the purchase of all of the equity securities of Acquiror; |
(k) | Fording will make the Final Unitholder Distribution by distributing to each Unitholder (including Dissenting Unitholders) and to each registered holder of Phantom Units, in respect of each Unit (including Fractional Unit Interests) or Phantom Unit then held, its pro rata portion of the Final Unitholder Distribution by paying in accordance with Article 5 of the Plan of Arrangement such amount to the Unitholders (in the case of Unitholders other than Dissenting Unitholders) and holders of Phantom Units, and by paying such amount to |
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the Dissenter Trustee in the case of Dissenting Unitholders, in each case, less amounts withheld in respect of the distribution pursuant to Section 5.4 of the Plan of Arrangement. The payment of the Final Unitholder Distribution to the registered holders of Phantom Units as aforesaid shall be in lieu of, and shall extinguish the right of, such holders to receive additional Phantom Units under the Joint Phantom Unit Plan in connection with the Final Unitholder Distribution; |
(l) | each holder of an issued and outstanding Exchange Option will be deemed to have exercised such holder’s Unit Appreciation Rights, as defined in the Exchange Option Plan, pursuant to the Notice of Exercise thereunder, in exchange for the payment by Fording to such registered holder, for each Exchange Option held by such holder, of an amount in cash equal to the difference between the sum of the Unit Consideration plus the Final Unitholder Distribution over the Exercise Price of such Exchange Option (less any amounts withheld pursuant to Section 5.4 of the Plan of Arrangement), and thereafter all of the Exchange Options will be terminated and none of the former holders of Exchange Options, Fording, the Trustees, the Directors, the Fording Subsidiaries, Teck, the Acquiror or any of their respective successors or assigns will have any rights, liabilities or obligations in connection with such Exchange Options. For the purpose of this paragraph (l), the cash value of the Share Consideration component of the Unit Consideration shall be calculated using the weighted average trading price per share of the Class B Shares on the NYSE over the last 10 trading days ending on the second trading day prior to the Effective Date; | |
(m) | the Effective Date will be deemed to be a Mandatory Payment Date (as defined in the Joint Phantom Unit Plan) and at the Effective Time all of the then issued and outstanding Phantom Units will be deemed to have vested and each holder of Phantom Units at the Effective Time will be deemed to have elected pursuant to Section 5.4(d) of the Joint Phantom Unit Plan to redeem all Phantom Units credited to such holder’s Phantom Unit Account for an amount per Phantom Unit equal to the Unit Consideration, and Fording will pay and transfer to such holder the Unit Consideration to which such holder is entitled as a result of such deemed redemption (less any amounts withheld pursuant to Section 5.4 of the Plan of Arrangement); amounts paid by Fording in relation to Phantom Units held by Directors and issued to them in that capacity will be deemed to have been paid by Fording on behalf of Fording ULC and will be deemed to have been funded by way of a capital contribution by Fording to Acquiror and immediately thereafter, by way of a capital contribution by Acquiror to Fording ULC and thereafter all of the Phantom Units will be terminated and none of the former holders of Phantom Units, Fording, the Trustees, the Directors, the Fording Subsidiaries, Teck, the Acquiror or any of their respective successors or assigns will have any rights, liabilities or obligations in connection with such Phantom Units; | |
(n) | [intentionally deleted]; | |
(o) | the Exchange Option Plan and the Joint Phantom Unit Plan will terminate and thereafter, none of Fording, the Trustees, the Directors, the Fording Subsidiaries, Teck, the Acquiror or any of their respective successors or assigns will have any further liability or obligation to the Securityholders under such plans or agreements and the Securityholders will have no further rights under such plans or agreements; | |
(p) | Fording will distribute in respect of each issued and outstanding Unit, including Fractional Unit Interests and Units and Fractional Unit Interests held by Dissenting Unitholders, as a payment under Canadian law in respect of the capital interest in Fording represented by the Unit or Fractional Unit Interests, as applicable, and not as proceeds of disposition of that capital interest, an amount per Unit (or the prorated portion thereof in the case of Fractional Unit Interests) equal to: |
(i) | the Unit Consideration, less |
(ii) | any amounts in respect of the Unit or Fractional Unit Interests, as applicable, withheld pursuant to Section 5.4 of the Plan of Arrangement in respect of the amounts described in paragraph (p)(i) above and paragraph (q) below, plus | |
(iii) | 0.001 of a Class B Share, |
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(q) | each issued and outstanding Unit, and if applicable, each outstanding Fractional Unit Interest (including Units and Fractional Unit Interests held by Dissenting Unitholders that have exercised their Dissent Rights) will be purchased by Fording for cancellation without any further act or formality and free and clear of all encumbrances (other than obligations in respect of Dissent Rights) in consideration of the payment by Fording in respect of each Unit or Fractional Unit Interest, as applicable, of 0.001 of a Class B Share per Unit (or the prorated portion thereof in the case of Fractional Unit Interests), which consideration shall be transferred to the Unitholder (in the case of Unitholders other than Dissenting Unitholders) in accordance with Article 5 of the Plan of Arrangement and shall be transferred to the Dissenter Trustee in the case of Dissenting Unitholders, and thereafter all such Units and Fractional Unit Interests will be cancelled, the Fording DRIP will terminate and none of the Unitholders or former Unitholders, any former beneficial owner of Units, Fording, the Trustees, the Directors, the Fording Subsidiaries, Teck, the Acquiror or any of their respective successors or assigns will have any rights, liabilities or obligations in connection with such Units and Fractional Unit Interests (other than, as applicable, the obligations in respect of Dissent Rights in Article 4 of the Plan of Arrangement and the right to receive the distributions and other amounts payable under the Plan of Arrangement in accordance with Article 5 of the Plan of Arrangement); and | |
(r) | contemporaneously with the purchase of the Units pursuant to paragraph (q) above, all of the remaining assets of Fording, including the right to amounts under the Royalty accrued but not paid up to the Effective Time and any other Acquired Assets not transferred to Teck pursuant to paragraph (j) above, will be transferred by Fording to Teck with such transfer occurring as a reduction of the consideration paid by Teck in respect of the purchase of assets pursuant to paragraph (j) above and in an amount equal to the fair market value of the assets transferred under this paragraph (r), and the reduction of the consideration will be allocated proportionately between the assets described in paragraph (j)(v) and paragraph (j)(vi) above, and immediately thereon Fording shall terminate and cease to exist. |
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Ownership or | ||||||
Control over | ||||||
Name | Position | Units(1),(2) | ||||
Michael A. Grandin | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer/Trustee and Director | 39,000 | ||||
Richard T. Mahler | Trustee and Director | 6,000 | ||||
Michael S. Parrett | Trustee and Director | 6,000 | ||||
Donald Pether | Trustee | — | ||||
Warren S.R. Seyffert | Trustee | — | ||||
Peter Valentine | Trustee | — | ||||
John B. Zaozirny | Trustee | 12,500 | ||||
Dawn L. Farrell | Director | 1,000 | ||||
Donald R. Lindsay | Director | — | ||||
Dr. Thomas J. O’Neil | Director | — | ||||
L.I. Prillaman | Director | — | ||||
David Thompson | Director | — | ||||
Boyd Payne | President | — | ||||
R. James Brown, C.A. | Vice President | — | ||||
James F. Jones | Vice President, Human Resources and Legal Affairs, Secretary | 1,500 | ||||
Mark D. Gow, C.A. | Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | — | ||||
Paul Clements, C.A. | Controller | — |
(1) | The Units held by the individual Trustees and Directors and officers in each case represent less than 1% of the Units. |
(2) | Does not include Units that may be held through the Trust Unit Purchase Plan. |
Ownership or | % of the | |||||||
Control over | Outstanding | |||||||
Name | Units | Units(1) | ||||||
Teck Cominco Limited | 29,507,142 | 19.6 | % | |||||
Mayank M. Ashar, Director | 1,023 | — | ||||||
Jalynn H. Bennett, Director | 1,347 | — | ||||||
Ronald A. Millos, Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer | 1,359 | — |
(1) | The Units held by the individuals represent less than 1% of the Units. |
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% of the | Cash | |||||||||||||||||
No. of | Outstanding | Consideration(1),(2),(3) | Share | |||||||||||||||
Name | Position | Phantom Units | Phantom Units | (US$) | Consideration(4),(5) | |||||||||||||
Michael A. Grandin | Trustee and Director | 15,091.64 | 9.99 | $ | 1,237,514.48 | 3,697 | ||||||||||||
Richard T. Mahler | Trustee and Director | 20,266.09 | 13.42 | $ | 1,661,819.38 | 4,965 | ||||||||||||
Michael S. Parrett | Trustee and Director | 20,211.72 | 13.38 | $ | 1,657,361.04 | 4,951 | ||||||||||||
Donald Pether | Trustee | 4,499.46 | 2.98 | $ | 368,955.72 | 1,102 | ||||||||||||
Warren S.R. Seyffert | Trustee | 4,499.46 | 2.98 | $ | 368,955.72 | 1,102 | ||||||||||||
Peter Valentine | Trustee | 18,947.60 | 12.54 | $ | 1,553,703.20 | 4,642 | ||||||||||||
John B. Zaozirny | Trustee | 16,143.51 | 10.69 | $ | 1,323,767.82 | 3,955 | ||||||||||||
Dawn L. Farrell | Director | 12,216.74 | 8.09 | $ | 1,001,772.68 | 2,993 | ||||||||||||
Donald R. Lindsay | Director | 8,395.73 | 5.56 | $ | 688,449.86 | 2,056 | ||||||||||||
Dr. Thomas J. O’Neil | Director | 6,503.34 | 4.31 | $ | 533,273.88 | 1,593 | ||||||||||||
L.I. Prillaman | Director | 5,828.03 | 3.86 | $ | 477,898.46 | 1,427 | ||||||||||||
David Thompson | Director | 18,445.91 | 12.21 | $ | 1,512,564.62 | 4,519 |
(1) | Rounded to the nearest cent. |
(2) | Amounts do not include any cash amount that may be received for fractional share interests. |
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(3) | The consideration stated assumes that the Trustees and Directors will not convert their Phantom Units to Units prior to the Effective Date. |
(4) | In Class B Shares. |
(5) | Fractions of Class B Shares, which will be sold into the market and paid to the holder of Phantom Units, are not depicted. |
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• | there not occurring or becoming known to a Lender any event, development or circumstance that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, operations, property or condition (financial or otherwise) of Teck, the Partnership, and their subsidiaries, taken as a whole; | |
• | such Lender not becoming aware of any information or other matter (including any matter relating to financial models and underlying assumptions relating to projections) affecting Teck, the Partnership and their subsidiaries or the Arrangement or the Debt Financing that in such Lender’s judgment is inconsistent in a material and adverse manner with any such information or other matter disclosed to such Lender prior to the date of the Debt Commitment Letter or could reasonably be expected to materially impair the syndication of the Facilities; | |
• | there not having occurred a material disruption of or material adverse change in conditions in the financial, banking or capital markets that, in such Lender’s judgment, could reasonably be expected to materially impair the syndication of the Facilities; | |
• | such Lender’s satisfaction that prior to and during the syndication of the Facilities there shall be no competing offering, placement or arrangement of any debt securities or bank financing by or on behalf of Teck, the Partnership or any of their affiliates (other than debt securities to be issued by Teck to refinance the senior bridge loan facility or to reduce the amount required to be borrowed under the senior bridge loan facility on the date on which the conditions precedent to the Facilities are satisfied); | |
• | the Arrangers having been afforded a reasonable period of time to syndicate the Facilities, which in no event will be less than 45 days from the date of commencement of syndication; | |
• | the execution and delivery of the definitive financing documentation on or before September 30, 2008 and the funding of the loans under the Facilities on or before December 31, 2008; | |
• | all government and third party approvals necessary in connection with the Arrangement, the financing thereof and the continuing operations of Teck and the Acquired Assets having been obtained on satisfactory terms; | |
• | there not existing any action, investigation, litigation or proceeding pending or threatened in any court or before any arbitrator or governmental authority that could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Teck, the Acquired Assets, the Arrangement, the financing thereof or any of the other transactions contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter; | |
• | the accuracy of all representations and warranties in the definitive credit documentation (including, without limitation, the material adverse change and litigation representations), and there being no default or event of default in existence at the time of, or after giving effect to the making of, such extension of credit (as used in the Debt Commitment Letter, “material adverse change” means an event, development or circumstance that has had a material adverse effect on the business, properties, conditions (financial or otherwise) or operations of Teck and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or which could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Teck’s ability to perform its obligations under the credit documentation); | |
• | receipt of certain Teck financial information and certain pro forma financial information, adjusted to give effect to the Arrangement and the debt financing; and | |
• | other customary conditions for financings of this type. |
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• | the Interim Order shall have been granted in form and substance satisfactory to Fording and Teck, acting reasonably, and shall not have been set aside or modified in a manner unacceptable to Fording and Teck, acting reasonably; | |
• | the Arrangement Resolution shall have received the Requisite Level of Approval; | |
• | the Final Order shall have been granted in form and substance satisfactory to Fording and Teck, acting reasonably, and shall not have been set aside or modified in a manner unacceptable to Fording and Teck, acting reasonably; | |
• | the Articles of Arrangement shall be in form and substance consistent with the Arrangement Agreement, the Plan of Arrangement and the Final Order and shall be satisfactory to Fording and Teck, acting reasonably; | |
• | the TSX shall have approved the listing of the Class B Shares to be issued in connection with the Arrangement subject only to satisfaction of customary conditions; | |
• | the Class B Shares to be issued in connection with the Arrangement shall have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject only to official notice of issuance; | |
• | the Arrangement Agreement shall not have been terminated in accordance with its terms; | |
• | the Closing Regulatory Approvals shall have been obtained on terms and conditions acceptable to Fording and Teck, acting reasonably, and shall not have been set aside or modified in a manner unacceptable to Fording and Teck, acting reasonably; and | |
• | there shall not be in effect any applicable Law that makes the consummation of the Arrangement or any other transactions contemplated in the Arrangement Agreement which are necessary to complete the Arrangement illegal or otherwise prohibited or enjoins either Fording or Teck from consummating the Arrangement or any other transactions contemplated in the Arrangement Agreement which are necessary to complete the Arrangement. |
• | the representations and warranties made by Teck in the Arrangement Agreement which are qualified by the expression “material”, “Teck Material Adverse Effect” or “material and adverse” shall be true and correct as of the date of the Arrangement Agreement and as of the Transaction Confirmation Date as if made on and as of such date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly speak as of an earlier date, in which event such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such earlier date) and all other representations and warranties made by Teck in the Arrangement Agreement which are not so qualified shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date of the Arrangement Agreement and as of the Transaction Confirmation Date as if made on such date (except to the extent that such representations and warranties expressly speak of an earlier date, in which event, such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date), and Teck shall have provided to Fording a certificate of two authorized persons certifying such accuracy on the Transaction Confirmation Date; |
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• | Teck shall have complied in all material respects with its covenants under the Arrangement Agreement, and Teck shall have provided to Fording a certificate of two authorized persons certifying that it has complied with such covenants; | |
• | from the date of the Arrangement Agreement up to and including the Transaction Confirmation Date, there shall not have occurred or have been disclosed to the public a Teck Material Adverse Effect, and Teck shall have provided to Fording a certificate of two qualified officers to such effect on the Transaction Confirmation Date; and | |
• | on or before October 31, 2008, Teck shall have provided written evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Trustees that it has or will be able to draw, on or prior to the Effective Date, the funds (other than the funds resulting from the sale of its Units) necessary to complete the Arrangement which shall include the execution of definitive credit agreements in respect of the Debt Financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter. |
• | the representations and warranties made by Fording in the Arrangement Agreement which are qualified by the expression “material”, “material adverse change” or “material adverse effect” shall be true and correct as of the date of the Arrangement Agreement and as of the Transaction Confirmation Date as if made on such date (except to the extent that such representations and warranties expressly speak of an earlier date, in which event, such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such earlier date) and all other representations and warranties made by Fording in the Arrangement Agreement which are not so qualified shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date of the Arrangement Agreement and as of the Transaction Confirmation Date as if made on such date (except to the extent that such representations and warranties expressly speak of an earlier date, in which event, such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date), and Fording shall have provided to Teck a certificate of two qualified officers certifying such accuracy on the Transaction Confirmation Date; | |
• | from the date of the Arrangement Agreement up to and including the Transaction Confirmation Date, there shall not have occurred or have been disclosed to the public a Fording Material Adverse Effect and Fording shall have provided to Teck a certificate of two qualified officers to such effect on the Transaction Confirmation Date; | |
• | Fording shall have complied in all material respects with its covenants in the Arrangement Agreement, and Fording shall have provided to Teck a certificate of two qualified officers certifying that it has complied with such covenants; | |
• | the Lenders shall have confirmed to Teck in writing that the conditions precedent to the availability of the Debt Financing, other than the condition which provides that the Chief Financial Officer of Teck shall have delivered a certificate confirming that (a) the Pre-Closing Period has been completed in accordance with the Arrangement Agreement; (b) Teck is ready to initiate the transaction implementation procedure under the Arrangement Agreement; and (c) substantially concurrently with the advance of funds, the Arrangement, the Debt Financing and the payments of fees, commissions and expenses in connection with each of the foregoing will be completed in accordance with the Arrangement Agreement and other than the payment by Teck to Fording of the transaction consideration and payment by Teck of the fees payable to the Lenders on the closing date, have been satisfied or waived in the event that Teck intends to utilize such Debt Financing in connection with the Arrangement; | |
• | the Trustees shall not have made a Change in Recommendation; | |
• | Dissent Rights shall not have been exercised in respect of more than 5% of the Units (on a fully-diluted basis); and | |
• | Teck shall have determined in good faith that the total amount of the Residual Liabilities on the Effective Date and immediately after completion of the steps comprising the Plan of Arrangement, net of current assets of Fording and excluding the FX Hedge and Residual Liabilities that were not incurred in wilful violation of the |
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Arrangement Agreement, will not exceed $475 million (if the Fording Credit Agreement will not be repaid on or prior to the Effective Date) or will not exceed $200 million (if the Fording Credit Agreement will be repaid on or prior to the Effective Date without Fording incurring liabilities to make such repayment). |
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• | participate in meetings, drafting sessions and due diligence sessions; | |
• | furnish such financial and other pertinent information regarding Fording and the Fording Subsidiaries as may be reasonably requested; | |
• | assist in the preparation of an offering document to be used in connection with the Debt Financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter or the refinancing thereof, as well as presentation materials and materials for rating agency presentations; | |
• | reasonably cooperate with the marketing and syndication efforts; | |
• | obtain reasonable auditors’ reports, reasonable comfort letters and reasonable legal opinions (in each case as are customary); and | |
• | provide Teck with reasonable cooperation and assist in satisfying the conditions and obligations set forth in the Debt Commitment Letter in respect of matters within the control of Fording. |
• | pay any commitment, consent or other fee or incur any other liability in connection with any such financing prior to the Effective Time; | |
• | take any action or do anything that would contravene any applicable Law, contravene any contract of Fording or any Fording Subsidiary that relates to borrowed money or would be capable of impairing or preventing the satisfaction of any condition described under the heading “The Arrangement Agreement — Conditions to the Arrangement — Fording Conditions”; | |
• | commit to take any action that is not contingent on the consummation of the Arrangement at the Effective Time; | |
• | disclose any information that would result in the disclosure of any trade secrets or similar information or violate any obligations of Fording or any other person with respect to confidentiality; or | |
• | cooperate with Teck to the extent that it would unreasonably interfere with the business or operations of Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries. |
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• | obtain all Fording Regulatory Approvals; | |
• | respond to any request for information made by any Governmental Entity; | |
• | oppose, lift or rescind any injunction or restraining order or other order, proceeding or action challenging or affecting the Arrangement or the transactions contemplated thereby, or seeking to restrain, enjoin or prohibit the completion of the Arrangement in accordance with the terms thereof; | |
• | obtain and maintain all approvals, clearances, consents, registrations, permits, authorizations and other confirmations required to be obtained from any Governmental Entity or other third party that are necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the Arrangement, including the Third Party Consents; and | |
• | co-operate with Teck in connection with the performance by it of its obligations thereunder. |
• | obtain all Teck Regulatory Approvals; |
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• | respond to any request for information made by any Governmental Entity; | |
• | oppose, lift or rescind any injunction or restraining order or other order, proceeding or action challenging or affecting the Arrangement Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby, or seeking to restrain, enjoin or prohibit the completion of the Arrangement in accordance with the terms of the Arrangement Agreement; | |
• | obtain and maintain all approvals, clearances, consents, registrations, permits, authorizations and other confirmations required to be obtained from any Governmental Entity or other third party that are necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the Arrangement; and | |
• | co-operate with Fording in connection with the performance by it of its obligations under the Arrangement Agreement. |
• | the Debt Commitment Letter expires or is terminated for any reason; | |
• | any event occurs that, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, would individually or in the aggregate, constitute a default or breach on the part of Teck under any material term or condition of the Debt Commitment Letter or under any agreement or instrument contemplated therein or if Teck has any reason to believe that it will be unable to satisfy, on a timely basis, any term or condition of any funding arrangements contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter required to be satisfied by it, that in each case, would reasonably be expected to impair the ability of Teck to consummate the Debt Financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter; or | |
• | any financing source that is a party to the Debt Commitment Letter advises Teck, whether orally or in writing, that such source either no longer intends to provide or underwrite any financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter on the terms set forth in the Debt Commitment Letter or requests amendments or waivers thereto that are or could reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the timely completion by Teck of the transactions contemplated by the Arrangement Agreement. |
• | it will use its best efforts to arrange and obtain the Debt Financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any event prior to October 31, 2008, on the terms and conditions described in the |
60
Debt Commitment Letter and it will deliver to Fording correct and complete copies of executed definitive agreements and documentation promptly when available and drafts of such agreements and documentation from time to time upon the reasonable request by Fording; |
• | it will use its best efforts to satisfy, on a timely basis, in all material respects all covenants, terms, representations and warranties and conditions in the Debt Commitment Letter that are within its control; | |
• | other than as specifically contemplated in the Arrangement Agreement, it will not, without the prior written consent of Fording, take any action or enter into any transaction, including any merger, acquisition, joint venture, disposition, lease, contract or debt or equity financings, that would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impede or delay Teck in obtaining the Debt Financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter or prevent, materially impede or delay its ability to complete the Arrangement; | |
• | it will not amend or alter, or agree to amend or alter, the Debt Commitment Letter or any other definitive agreement or documentation related to the Debt Commitment Letter in any manner that would reasonably be expected to prevent, materially impede or delay the completion of the Arrangement without the prior written consent of Fording; and | |
• | if the Debt Commitment Letter is terminated or modified in a manner materially adverse to Teck’s ability to complete the Arrangement for any reason, it will use commercially reasonable efforts to: |
• | obtain, as promptly as practicable, and, once obtained, provide Fording with a copy of, one or more new debt financing commitments in replacement of the Debt Financing and in an amount substantially similar to the amount anticipated to be available under the Debt Financing, that is not subject to any condition precedent materially less favourable from the perspective of Fording than the conditions precedent contained in the Debt Commitment Letter (provided that Teck is not required to use any efforts to obtain any commitments that are on terms materially less favourable to Teck, as determined in the reasonable judgment of Teck, than those in the Debt Commitment Letter); | |
• | negotiate and enter into definitive credit, loan or other agreements and all required documentation with such third parties as may be necessary for Teck to obtain such funds on terms and conditions consistent with such new debt financing commitments, as soon as reasonably practicable but in any event prior to October 31, 2008, and deliver to Fording correct and complete copies of such executed definitive agreements and documentation promptly when available; and | |
• | satisfy, on a timely basis, in all material respects, all covenants, terms, representations and warranties and conditions applicable to Teck in respect of such new debt financing commitments and all other required agreements and documentation related to such commitments. |
• | solicit, assist, initiate, encourage or otherwise in any way facilitate (including by way of furnishing information, or entering into any form of written or oral agreement, arrangement or understanding) any Acquisition Proposal or any inquiries, proposals or offers regarding any Acquisition Proposal; | |
• | participate in any discussion or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any person any confidential information with respect to, any Acquisition Proposal or potential Acquisition Proposal or otherwise co-operate in any way with, or assist or participate in, facilitate or encourage, any effort or attempt by any person to make an Acquisition Proposal or potential Acquisition Proposal; | |
• | make a Change in Recommendation; |
61
• | accept, approve, agree to, endorse, recommend, or propose publicly to accept, approve, agree to, endorse, recommend any Acquisition Proposal; or | |
• | accept, approve, agree to, endorse or recommend or enter into, or publicly propose to accept, approve, agree to, endorse or recommend or enter into, any agreement in respect of an Acquisition Proposal, |
62
• | any Acquisition Proposal which is publicly announced is determined not to be a Superior Proposal; or | |
• | Fording and Teck enter into an amended Arrangement Agreement pursuant to the provisions of the Arrangement Agreement described under the heading “The Arrangement Agreement — Covenants Regarding Non-Solicitation — Right to Match” which results in any Acquisition Proposal not being a Superior Proposal. |
• | the Acquisition Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal; | |
• | Fording has complied with the provisions of the Arrangement Agreement described under the heading “The Arrangement Agreement — Covenants Regarding Non-Solicitation”; | |
• | Fording has provided Teck with notice in writing that there is a Superior Proposal together with all documentation comprising such Acquisition Proposal; | |
• | a period of at least eight business days (the“Matching Period”) shall have elapsed from the later of the date: (a) Teck received notice of Fording’s proposed determination to accept, approve, recommend or enter into any agreement relating to such Superior Proposal (other than a confidentiality agreement in accordance with provisions of the Arrangement Agreement described under the heading “The Arrangement Agreement — Covenants Regarding Non-Solicitation — Covenant in Respect of Acquisition Proposals”); and (b) Teck received a true and complete copy of the Acquisition Proposal; | |
• | if Teck proposes to amend the terms of the Arrangement Agreement in accordance with provisions of the Arrangement Agreement described under the heading “The Arrangement Agreement — Covenants Regarding Non-Solicitation — Right to Match”, the Trustees (after receiving advice from their financial advisors and outside legal counsel) shall have determined in good faith that the Acquisition Proposal continues to constitute a Superior Proposal after taking into account such amendments; and | |
• | prior to entering into an agreement relating to such Superior Proposal (other than a confidentiality agreement in accordance with provisions of the Arrangement Agreement described under the heading “The Arrangement Agreement — Covenants Regarding Non-Solicitation — Covenant in Respect of Acquisition Proposals”), Fording shall have terminated the Arrangement Agreement and paid to Teck the Break Fee. |
• | the Announced Acquisition Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal; | |
• | Fording has provided Teck with not less than eight business days prior written notice that the Trustees intend to make a Change in Recommendation; | |
• | Fording has complied with the provisions of the Arrangement Agreement described under the heading “The Arrangement Agreement — Covenants Regarding Non-Solicitation” with respect thereto; and |
63
• | if Teck has proposed to amend the terms of the Arrangement Agreement in accordance with provisions of the Arrangement Agreement described under the heading “The Arrangement Agreement — Covenants Regarding Non-Solicitation — Right to Match”, the Trustees (after receiving advice from their financial advisors and outside legal counsel) shall have determined in good faith that the Announced Acquisition Proposal continues to constitute a Superior Proposal after taking into account such amendments. |
• | by mutual written consent of Fording and Teck; or | |
• | by either Fording or Teck, as applicable, if the conditions precedent in its favour have not been satisfied by November 20, 2008, and that failure is not the result of a breach of the Arrangement Agreement by the party proposing to terminate; or | |
• | by Teck on or prior to the date on which the Requisite Level of Approval is obtained, if on or prior to the date when such Requisite Level of Approval is obtained the Trustees withdraw, amend, modify or qualify, or propose publicly to withdraw, amend, modify or qualify, in a manner adverse to Teck, their recommendation of the Arrangement (a“Change in Recommendation”) or shall have failed to reaffirm their recommendation of the Arrangement within five business days of receipt of any written request to do so by Teck; or | |
• | by Teck if there is a breach of Fording’s non-solicitation obligations in any material respect; or | |
• | by Teck or by Fording if the Meeting shall have been held and completed and the Requisite Level of Approval shall not have been obtained; or | |
• | by Fording to enter into an agreement in respect of a Superior Proposal as provided in the Arrangement Agreement provided Fording pays the Break Fee to Teck; or | |
• | by Teck if, following the Transaction Confirmation Date, Teck determines, in good faith, that (a) the total amount of the Residual Liabilities on the Effective Date and immediately after completion of the steps comprising the Plan of Arrangement, net of current assets of Fording and excluding the FX Hedge, will exceed CDN$475 million (if the Fording Credit Agreement is not repaid on or prior to the Effective Date) or CDN$200 million (if the Fording Credit Agreement is repaid on or prior to the Effective Date without incurring liabilities to make such repayment), and such excess constitutes a Fording Material Adverse Effect; or (b) that the total amount of the Residual Liabilities on the Effective Date and immediately after completion of the steps comprising the Plan of Arrangement, net of current assets of Fording and excluding the FX Hedge and any Residual Liabilities that were |
64
not incurred in wilful violation of the Arrangement Agreement, will exceed CDN$475 million (if the Fording Credit Agreement is not repaid on or prior to the Effective Date) or CDN$200 million (if the Fording Credit Agreement is repaid on or prior to the Effective Date without Fording incurring liabilities to make such repayment); or |
• | by Teck or by Fording if the Transaction Confirmation Date does not occur on or before November 20, 2008 or the Effective Date does not occur on or before December 30, 2008, except that such right to terminate is not available to any party whose wilful failure to fulfill any of its obligations has been the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the Transaction Confirmation Date or the Effective Date, as applicable, not to occur by such date; or | |
• | by Teck or by Fording if after the date of the Arrangement Agreement any action is taken under applicable Laws or any statute, rule, regulation or order is enacted, enforced, promulgated, issued, amended, modified or terminated by any court, department, board, regulatory authority, Governmental Entity or similar agency, domestic or foreign, entitled to exercise jurisdiction over either of Teck or Fording, or in the administration or interpretation thereof, that has become final and non-appealable and that makes illegal or otherwise directly or indirectly restrains, enjoins or prohibits the Arrangement or any other transactions contemplated by the Arrangement Agreement which are necessary to complete the Arrangement; or | |
• | by Teck or by Fording if after the date of the Arrangement Agreement any action is taken under applicable Laws or any statute, rule, regulation or order is enacted, enforced, promulgated, issued, amended, modified or terminated by any court, department, board, regulatory authority, Governmental Entity or similar agency, domestic or foreign, entitled to exercise jurisdiction over either of Teck or Fording, or in the administration or interpretation thereof, or any announcement is issued or made by way of press release or otherwise by any such department, board, regulatory authority, Governmental Entity or similar agency that results in a material and adverse change in the anticipated tax treatment of the Arrangement, or any material part thereof, to Fording or Teck or any Unitholders, provided that in the case of a material and adverse change in the anticipated tax treatment to the Unitholders, only Fording may terminate the Arrangement Agreement. |
• | by Teck pursuant to the third bullet (relating to a Change in Recommendation) under the heading “The Arrangement Agreement — Termination”; | |
• | by Fording pursuant to the sixth bullet (relating to entering into an agreement in respect of a Superior Proposal) under the heading “The Arrangement Agreement — Termination”; | |
• | by Teck pursuant to the fourth bullet (relating to a material breach of Fording’s non — solicitation obligations) under the heading “The Arrangement Agreement — Termination”; or | |
• | by Teck pursuant to the second bullet (relating to the satisfaction of conditions) or fifth bullet (relating to the failure to obtain the Requisite Level of Approval) under the heading “The Arrangement Agreement — Termination”, but only if (a) after the date of the Arrangement Agreement and prior to such termination, an Acquisition Proposal is made or publicly disclosed; and (b) within twelve months following the date of such termination of the Arrangement Agreement: (i) Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries enters into a contract providing for the implementation of an Acquisition Proposal (whether or not such Acquisition Proposal is the same Acquisition Proposal referred to above) and such Acquisition Proposal is consummated, whether or not amended prior to its consummation and whether such consummation is before or after the expiry of such twelve month period; or (ii) an Acquisition Proposal (whether or not such Acquisition Proposal is the same Acquisition Proposal referred to above) is consummated, |
65
66
• | any non fulfillment or breach of any covenant or agreement on the part of Teck contained in the Arrangement Agreement or in any certificate or other document furnished by or on behalf of Teck pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement; | |
• | any act undertaken or failed to be undertaken by any Fording Indemnified Party in their capacity as a trustee, director or officer of Fording or any Fording Subsidiary including in connection with the Arrangement; | |
• | the Residual Liabilities; and | |
• | any information furnished by Teck for inclusion in this Circular containing any misrepresentation or alleged misrepresentation. |
• | such person acted with a view to the best interest of Fording or the Fording Subsidiaries, as the case may be, provided that such person shall be deemed, absent compelling evidence to the contrary, to have acted with a view to the best interests of Fording or the Fording Subsidiaries, as the case may be, and Teck shall have the burden of establishing an absence of good faith on the part of such persons, provided further that, the knowledgeand/or actions or failure to act, of any other trustee, director, officer or agent of Fording, any Fording Subsidiary or any other entity, shall not be imputed to such person for the purposes of determining the right to indemnification; and | |
• | in the case of a criminal or administrative action or proceeding that is enforced by a monetary penalty, such person had reasonable grounds for believing their conduct was lawful. |
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• | European Commission filing and approval; | |
• | Canada Transportation Act filing and approval; | |
• | KFTC filing and approval; and | |
• | Turkish Competition Board filing and approval. |
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69
70
71
• | Teck and any other interested party to the Arrangement within the meaning of MI 61-101; | |
• | any other related party of Teck, including its directors and senior officers, or of an interested party within the meaning of MI 61-101, subject to the exceptions set out therein; and | |
• | any person that is a joint actor with any of the foregoing for the purposes of MI 61-101. |
• | Teck is and has been a reporting issuer in a jurisdiction of Canada for the four months immediately preceding the trade; | |
• | such trade is not a control distribution; | |
• | no unusual effort is made to prepare the market or to create a demand for Class B Shares; | |
• | no extraordinary commission or consideration is paid to a person or company in respect of such trade; and | |
• | if the selling security holder is an insider or officer of Teck, the selling security holder has no reasonable grounds to believe that Teck is in default of securities legislation. |
72
73
74
75
76
Six Months Ended | Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
June 30, 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||
(millions of | (millions of | |||||||||||
Canadian dollars) | Canadian dollars) | |||||||||||
Ratio of Earnings (Loss) to Fixed Charges: | ||||||||||||
Earnings (loss): | ||||||||||||
Net Income from continuing operations before income taxes | $ | 436.9 | $ | 434.2 | $ | 627.3 | ||||||
Fixed charges | 7.8 | 21.4 | 18.8 | |||||||||
$ | 444.7 | $ | 455.6 | $ | 646.1 | |||||||
Fixed charges: | ||||||||||||
Interest expense | $ | 7.8 | $ | 21.4 | $ | 18.8 | ||||||
Ratio of earnings (loss) to fixed charges | 57.0 | 21.3 | 34.4 | |||||||||
As at | ||||
June 30, | ||||
2008 | ||||
Book Value Per Unit: | ||||
Book value of equity (in millions of Canadian dollars) | $ | 266.1 | ||
Outstanding Units (in millions) | 148.9 | |||
Book value per Unit | $ | 1.79 | ||
Distribution | ||||
Declared | ||||
(per Unit) | ||||
2006 | ||||
Third Quarter | $ | 0.80 | ||
Fourth Quarter | $ | 0.95 | ||
2007 | ||||
First Quarter | $ | 0.65 | ||
Second Quarter | $ | 0.65 | ||
Third Quarter | $ | 0.60 | ||
Fourth Quarter | $ | 0.53 | ||
2008 | ||||
First Quarter | $ | 0.50 | ||
Second Quarter | $ | 2.50 |
77
Date | Purpose of Distribution | Number of Units | Aggregate Proceeds | |||||||
Fiscal 2003 | Exercise of Exchange Options | 1,998,801 | (1) | $ | 12,202,575.10 | |||||
Fiscal 2004 | Exercise of Exchange Options | 103,158 | $ | 556,710.65 | ||||||
April 8, 2004 | Distribution pursuant to Short Form Prospectus | 6,000,000 | (2) | $ | 105,000,000.00 | (3) | ||||
Fiscal 2005 | Exercise of Exchange Options | 48,762 | $ | 174,225.85 | ||||||
Fiscal 2006 | Exercise of Exchange Options | 50,130 | $ | 317,658.93 | ||||||
Fiscal 2007 | Exercise of Exchange Options | 12,684 | $ | 46,592.23 | ||||||
Fiscal 2008 | Exercise of Exchange Options | 2,890 | $ | 12,856.46 |
(1) | This number comprises both the 125,307 common shares in the capital of the public company predecessor to Fording issued pursuant to option exercises prior to the plan of arrangement that occurred in 2003 and the 1,873,494 Units issued pursuant to the exercise of Exchange Options following the completion of such arrangement. |
(2) | This number is adjusted to reflect the three-for-one split of the Units effected on September 6, 2005. |
(3) | $17.50 per Unit. |
78
High | Low | |||||||||||
Month | (CDN$) | (CDN$) | Volume | |||||||||
2006 | ||||||||||||
January 2006 | 47.55 | 41.91 | 6,542,246 | |||||||||
February 2006 | 47.25 | 44.61 | 9,778,011 | |||||||||
March 2006 | 49.39 | 43.74 | 10,213,356 | |||||||||
April 2006 | 44.66 | 40.93 | 5,882,276 | |||||||||
May 2006 | 41.82 | 36.60 | 7,429,955 | |||||||||
June 2006 | 39.07 | 34.18 | 6,552,333 | |||||||||
July 2006 | 35.24 | 29.23 | 5,281,372 | |||||||||
August 2006 | 34.74 | 32.25 | 4,154,994 | |||||||||
September 2006 | 33.50 | 28.01 | 6,753,617 | |||||||||
October 2006 | 29.02 | 27.05 | 15,660,792 | |||||||||
November 2006 | 25.50 | 21.60 | 11,287,298 | |||||||||
December 2006 | 27.63 | 23.79 | 8,557,721 | |||||||||
2007 | ||||||||||||
January 2007 | 26.73 | 23.08 | 5,953,595 | |||||||||
February 2007 | 29.45 | 26.56 | 9,429,896 | |||||||||
March 2007 | 28.80 | 24.90 | 9,397,091 | |||||||||
April 2007 | 27.22 | 25.37 | 6,739,917 | |||||||||
May 2007 | 31.84 | 27.32 | 13,254,315 | |||||||||
June 2007 | 35.00 | 30.04 | 12,431,509 | |||||||||
July 2007 | 36.88 | 33.39 | 11,277,788 | |||||||||
August 2007 | 34.85 | 30.25 | 13,969,468 | |||||||||
September 2007 | 38.45 | 35.46 | 8,746,092 | |||||||||
October 2007 | 40.46 | 34.62 | 16,895,501 | |||||||||
November 2007 | 34.30 | 29.82 | 13,618,870 | |||||||||
December 2007 | 39.60 | 34.30 | 10,686,724 | |||||||||
2008 | ||||||||||||
January 2008 | 45.00 | 32.76 | 15,885,582 | |||||||||
February 2008 | 51.63 | 44.25 | 18,838,397 | |||||||||
March 2008 | 54.27 | 49.67 | 17,034,482 | |||||||||
April 2008 | 67.51 | 55.07 | 16,789,569 | |||||||||
May 2008 | 78.75 | 62.00 | 11,461,290 | |||||||||
June 2008 | 97.50 | 80.52 | 17,538,319 | |||||||||
July 2008 | 90.51 | 75.25 | 43,096,294 | |||||||||
August 1 to August 19, 2008 | 92.88 | 88.86 | 18,065,614 |
79
High | Low | |||||||||||
Month | (US$) | (US$) | Volume | |||||||||
2006 | ||||||||||||
January 2006 | 41.47 | 36.00 | 24,478,100 | |||||||||
February 2006 | 40.98 | 38.65 | 15,516,200 | |||||||||
March 2006 | 42.88 | 37.55 | 27,554,600 | |||||||||
April 2006 | 39.43 | 36.13 | 17,841,700 | |||||||||
May 2006 | 37.51 | 32.95 | 21,960,200 | |||||||||
June 2006 | 35.57 | 30.69 | 20,742,100 | |||||||||
July 2006 | 31.90 | 25.69 | 19,814,000 | |||||||||
August 2006 | 31.20 | 28.53 | 14,422,000 | |||||||||
September 2006 | 30.20 | 24.90 | 22,952,100 | |||||||||
October 2006 | 25.74 | 23.77 | 24,179,400 | |||||||||
November 2006 | 22.42 | 18.98 | 44,389,900 | |||||||||
December 2006 | 24.04 | 20.75 | 32,742,600 | |||||||||
2007 | ||||||||||||
January 2007 | 22.66 | 19.80 | 17,680,400 | |||||||||
February 2007 | 25.10 | 22.68 | 18,981,600 | |||||||||
March 2007 | 24.57 | 21.00 | 19,263,500 | |||||||||
April 2007 | 24.38 | 21.87 | 15,095,500 | |||||||||
May 2007 | 29.47 | 24.66 | 21,629,600 | |||||||||
June 2007 | 32.74 | 28.12 | 23,357,400 | |||||||||
July 2007 | 35.28 | 31.60 | 20,160,900 | |||||||||
August 2007 | 33.11 | 28.62 | 20,899,500 | |||||||||
September 2007 | 38.78 | 33.90 | 14,445,600 | |||||||||
October 2007 | 42.25 | 36.42 | 21,852,500 | |||||||||
November 2007 | 36.75 | 30.36 | 16,731,900 | |||||||||
December 2007 | 39.25 | 33.89 | 13,825,400 | |||||||||
2008 | ||||||||||||
January 2008 | 44.64 | 34.21 | 26,937,600 | |||||||||
February 2008 | 54.00 | 44.39 | 32,416,800 | |||||||||
March 2008 | 54.39 | 49.05 | 34,915,600 | |||||||||
April 2008 | 66.99 | 54.05 | 45,521,000 | |||||||||
May 2008 | 80.00 | 60.77 | 32,865,500 | |||||||||
June 2008 | 95.61 | 79.40 | 57,072,800 | |||||||||
July 2008 | 92.56 | 75.35 | 91,430,800 | |||||||||
August 1 to August 19, 2008 | 87.40 | 83.31 | 37,758,666 |
80
81
Operation | Ownership Interest | Type of Operation | Jurisdiction | |||||
Trail | 100 | % | Zinc/Lead Refinery | British Columbia, Canada | ||||
Red Dog | 100 | % | Zinc/Lead Mine | Alaska, USA | ||||
Pend Oreille | 100 | % | Zinc/Lead Mine | Washington, USA | ||||
Antamina | 22.5 | % | Copper/Zinc Mine | Ancash, Peru | ||||
Highland Valley | 97.5 | % | Copper/Molybdenum Mine | British Columbia, Canada | ||||
Quebrada Blanca | 76.5 | % | Copper Mine | Tarapaca, Chile | ||||
Andacollo | 90 | % | Copper Mine | Coquimbo, Chile | ||||
Duck Pond | 100 | % | Copper/Zinc Mine | Newfoundland, Canada | ||||
Elkview | 38 | %(1) | Coal Mine | British Columbia, Canada | ||||
Fording River | 40 | %(1) | Coal Mine | British Columbia, Canada | ||||
Greenhills | 32 | %(1) | Coal Mine | British Columbia, Canada | ||||
Coal Mountain | 40 | %(1) | Coal Mine | British Columbia, Canada | ||||
Line Creek | 40 | %(1) | Coal Mine | British Columbia, Canada | ||||
Cardinal River | 40 | %(1) | Coal Mine | Alberta, Canada | ||||
David Bell/Williams | 50 | % | Gold Mine | Ontario, Canada | ||||
Pogo | 40 | % | Gold Mine | Alaska, USA |
(1) | Percentages do not include Teck’s existing indirect interest through ownership of approximately 19.6% of the outstanding Units of Fording. |
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Class A Shares | Class B Shares |
Month | High | Low | Volume | Month | High | Low | Volume | |||||||||||||||||||
(CDN$) | (CDN$) | (CDN$) | (CDN$) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
July | 58.20 | 50.00 | 107,229 | July | 52.22 | 45.80 | 57,190,129 | |||||||||||||||||||
August | 55.00 | 48.45 | 134,156 | August | 46.31 | 40.35 | 56,387,114 | |||||||||||||||||||
September | 55.45 | 51.14 | 38,200 | September | 48.22 | 42.58 | 52,170,476 | |||||||||||||||||||
October | 57.36 | 52.85 | 46,011 | October | 51.24 | 46.20 | 46,236,084 | |||||||||||||||||||
November | 52.50 | 42.34 | 65,628 | November | 45.74 | 34.83 | 78,523,395 | |||||||||||||||||||
December | 48.75 | 43.50 | 81,623 | December | 39.35 | 33.60 | 58,262,811 | |||||||||||||||||||
2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
January | 44.90 | 35.50 | 96,801 | January | 36.02 | 28.98 | 86,587,974 | |||||||||||||||||||
February | 47.11 | 40.25 | 60,641 | February | 41.19 | 32.88 | 77,971,117 | |||||||||||||||||||
March | 48.45 | 43.01 | 45,853 | March | 42.91 | 38.27 | 71,921,957 | |||||||||||||||||||
April | 53.74 | 46.00 | 35,851 | April | 48.28 | 41.09 | 65,213,122 | |||||||||||||||||||
May | 56.01 | 48.20 | 141,962 | May | 52.00 | 43.60 | 50,421,912 | |||||||||||||||||||
June | 53.25 | 49.40 | 70,083 | June | 50.01 | 47.25 | 39,945,448 | |||||||||||||||||||
July | 51.99 | 40.37 | 54,746 | July | 48.66 | 38.66 | 70,152,804 | |||||||||||||||||||
August 1 to August 19 | 47.00 | 41.00 | 29,446 | August 1 to August 19 | 45.00 | 38.66 | 24,935,889 |
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Number of Class B | ||||||||
Date of Issuance | Shares Issued | Issue Price | ||||||
August 1, 2008 | 6,918,097 | CDN$ | 45.00 | |||||
September 28, 2007 | 1,493,849 | CDN$ | 43.33 | |||||
August 22, 2007 | 20,478,057 | CDN$ | 43.33 |
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• | risks resulting from the fact that the Fort Hills project and other projects are at an early stage of development and therefore are subject to development and construction risks, including the risk of significant cost overruns and delays in construction, and technical and other problems; | |
• | risks associated with delays in obtaining, or conditions imposed by, regulatory approvals; | |
• | risks associated with obtaining amendments to existing regulatory approvals and additional regulatory approvals which will be required; | |
• | risks of significant fluctuation in prevailing prices for copper, gold, oil, other petroleum products and natural gas, which may affect the profitability of the projects; | |
• | risks resulting from the fact that Teck is a minority partner in the Fort Hills Energy Limited Partnership and major decisions with respect to project design and construction may be made without its consent; | |
• | risks associated with the fact that Teck has partners or joint venturers in certain other projects, and major project decisions may require the agreement of both parties; | |
• | risks associated with litigation; | |
• | risks resulting from dependence on third parties for services and utilities for the projects; |
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• | risks associated with the availability of sufficient water or water rights for Teck’s operations and development projects; | |
• | risks associated with the ability of Teck’s partners and joint venturers to finance their respective shares of project expenditures; and | |
• | risks associated with Teck’s obtaining financing for these projects on commercially reasonable terms. |
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• | at least 75% of its gross income is “passive” income (referred to as the “income test”); or | |
• | at least 50% of the average value of its assets is attributable to assets that produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income (referred to as the “asset test”). |
• | dividends, royalties, rents, annuities, interest, and income equivalent to interest; and | |
• | net gains from the sale or exchange of property that gives rise to dividends, interest, royalties, rents, or annuities and certain gains from commodities transactions. |
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• | in the name of an Intermediary, or | |
• | in the name of a clearing agency (such as CDS or similar entities) of which the Intermediary is a participant. |
• | instruct the Intermediary to exercise the Dissent Right on the Non-Registered Unitholder’s behalf (which, if the Units are registered in the name of CDS or other clearing agency, would require that the Units first bere-registered in the name of the Intermediary); or | |
• | instruct the Intermediary to re-register the Units in the name of the beneficial Unitholder, in which case, the beneficial Unitholder would be able to exercise the Dissent Rights directly. In this regard, the beneficial Unitholder will have to demonstrate that such person beneficially owned the Units in respect of which the Dissent Rights are being exercised, on the record date established for the Meeting (being August 26, 2008). |
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Legal and Accounting Fees | $ | 8,500,000 | ||
Financial Advisory Fees | $ | 57,000,000 | ||
Independent Valuation Fees | $ | 2,500,000 | ||
Independent Committees Fees | $ | 300,000 | ||
Printing, Proxy Solicitation, Filing and Mailing Costs | $ | 3,500,000 | ||
Total | $ | 71,800,000 | ||
• | if the Effective Date occurs all of Fording’s Transaction Expenses shall be paid to Fording (or as it may direct) by Teck; | |
• | Teck is required to pay Fording an expense payment to a maximum of CDN$l0 million if the Arrangement Agreement is terminated because the Requisite Level of Approval is not obtained at the Meeting or in the event that the Arrangement Agreement is terminated as a result of Teck’s failure to obtain the required financing; | |
• | Teck has agreed to pay the cost of retaining The Laurel Hill Advisory Group to solicit proxies by and on behalf of the management of Fording for use at the Meeting on behalf of Fording. |
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• | attend the Meeting in person; | |
• | sign, date and return the enclosed form of proxy, or such other proper form of proxy prepared for use at the Meeting which is acceptable to the Transfer Agent; or | |
• | otherwise communicate their voting instructions in accordance with the instructions set out in the enclosed form of proxy or through the use of another acceptable and proper form of proxy. |
• | by mailto the address set forth above (apre-paid,pre-addressed return envelope is enclosed); | |
• | by hand or by courierto the address set forth above; | |
• | by telephoneat[ l ] (Canada and the United States only); or | |
• | by internetatwww.investorvote.com. |
• | in the name of an Intermediary; or | |
• | in the name of a clearing agency (such as CDS or similar entities) of which the Intermediary is a participant. |
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• | inserting the name of the person or company to be appointed in the blank space provided in the form of proxy; or | |
• | completing another proper form of proxy acceptable to the Transfer Agent, |
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Percentage of | ||||||||
Name and Municipality of Residence | Number of Units | Outstanding Units | ||||||
Teck Cominco Limited | ||||||||
Vancouver, British Columbia | 29,507,142 | 19.6 | % |
• | where the Unitholder makes a written comment on the form of proxy or otherwise clearly indicates that the Unitholder wishes to communicate his, her or its position to management; | |
• | where it is necessary to meet the requirements of applicable Law or a regulatory authority; or | |
• | in the event of a proxy contest. |
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• | the Annual Information Form of Fording filed March 17, 2008 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007; | |
• | the audited consolidated financial statements of Fording as at December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for each year in thethree-year period ended December 31, 2007, together with the auditors report thereon and the notes thereto; | |
• | management’s discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition and results of operations of Fording for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007; | |
• | the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of Fording for the six months ended June 30, 2008, together with the notes thereto; | |
• | management’s discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition of Fording for the six months ended June 30, 2008; | |
• | the management information circular of Fording dated March 14, 2008 distributed in connection with the annual general meeting of the Unitholders held on April 30, 2008; and | |
• | the material change report of Fording dated August 5, 2008 relating to the proposed Arrangement. |
• | the Annual Information Form of Teck dated March 19, 2008 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007; | |
• | the audited consolidated financial statements of Teck as at December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for each year in thethree-year period ended December 31, 2007, together with the auditors report thereon and the notes thereto; | |
• | management’s discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition and results of operations of Teck for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007; | |
• | the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of Teck for the six months ended June 30, 2008, together with the notes thereto; | |
• | management’s discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition of Teck for the six months ended June 30, 2008; | |
• | the business acquisition report dated October 29, 2007 in respect of Teck’s acquisition of Aur Resources Inc.; | |
• | the management information circular of Teck dated March 3, 2008 distributed in connection with the annual and special meeting of the shareholders of Teck held on April 23, 2008; | |
• | the material change report dated July 31, 2008 relating to the proposed Arrangement; and | |
• | the material change report dated August 1, 2008, which restated and supplemented the material change report dated July 31, 2008. |
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Q: | What am I voting on? | |
A: | You are being asked to vote FOR the Arrangement Resolution approving the Arrangement, which provides for, among other things, Teck acquiring all of the assets of Fording and assuming all of Fording’s liabilities. Through the Arrangement, Unitholders will receive consideration of 0.245 of a Class B Share and cash in the amount of US$82.00 (which includes the Final Unitholder Distribution of US$3.00) (less any amounts withheld on account of taxes) per Unit. You also are being asked to approve the transaction of any other business that may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournments or postponements of the Meeting. | |
Q: | When and where is the Meeting? | |
A: | The Meeting will take place on September 30, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. (Calgary time), at the Alberta Room at the Palliser Hotel, 133 9th Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M3. | |
Q: | Who is soliciting my proxy? | |
A: | Your proxy is being solicited by management of Fording. This Circular is furnished in connection with that solicitation. The solicitation of proxies for the Meeting will be made primarily by mail, and may be supplemented by telephone or other personal contact by the Trustees, officers or agents of Fording retained to assist in the solicitation of proxies. The Laurel Hill Advisory Group is acting as Fording’s proxy solicitation agent. The fees and expenses of The Laurel Hill Advisory Group will be paid on behalf of Fording by Teck. | |
Q: | Who can attend and vote at the Meeting and what is the quorum for the Meeting? | |
A: | Only Securityholders of record as of the close of business on August 26, 2008, the record date for the Meeting, are entitled to receive notice of and to attend, and to vote at, the Meeting or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) of the Meeting. Unitholders who become holders of record of Units after August 26, 2008 and who wish to vote at the Meeting must make arrangements with the selling Unitholder to direct how such Units may be voted at the Meeting. | |
The Meeting Materials are being sent by Fording directly to Registered Unitholders and Non-Objecting Unitholders resident in Canada and to Intermediaries for distribution to Objecting Unitholders resident in Canada and all Non-Registered Unitholders resident outside of Canada. If you are a Registered Unitholder, please see “Information Concerning Voting at the Meeting — Registered Unitholders” in this Circular. If you are aNon-Registered Unitholder, please see “Information Concerning Voting at the Meeting —Non-Registered Unitholders” in this Circular. | ||
The quorum for the transaction of business at the Meeting will be two individuals present at the opening of the Meeting being Unitholders or persons representing Unitholders by proxy who hold in the aggregate not less than 10% of the votes attached to all outstanding Units. | ||
Q: | How many Units are entitled to vote? | |
A: | As of August 19, 2008, there were 150,175,327 Units outstanding and entitled to vote at the Meeting. | |
Q: | What will I receive in the Arrangement? | |
A: | If the Arrangement is completed, Unitholders will be entitled to receive consideration of 0.245 of a Class B Share and cash in the amount of US$82.00 (which includes the Final Unitholder Distribution of US$3.00) (less in each case any amounts withheld on account of taxes) for each outstanding Unit. The cash payment is payable in US dollars only. Any fractional interest in a Class B Share which would otherwise be distributed to a Unitholder will, after aggregating all such fractions, be sold in the market, and the Unitholder will instead receive a cash payment in Canadian dollars equal to the Unitholder’s pro rata portion of the net proceeds after deduction of the expenses of all such sales, less any amounts withheld on account of taxes. | |
Q: | Will I continue to receive quarterly or other distributions in respect of my Units? | |
A: | If the Arrangement is completed, no further distributions with respect to the Units will be paid to you. |
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Q: | How does the consideration offered for Units compare to the market price of the Units before the Arrangement was announced? | |
A: | The consideration to be received by the Unitholders under the Arrangement represented as of July 28, 2008 a premium of approximately 17% based on the weighted average trading price of Units on the TSX for the 20 trading days ended July 28, 2008 (the trading day before the Arrangement was announced). | |
Q: | What vote is required at the Meeting to approve the Arrangement Resolution? | |
A: | The Arrangement Resolution must be passed by the affirmative vote of: | |
• at least 662/3 of the votes cast at the Meeting by Unitholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting, voting separately as a class; | ||
• at least 662/3 of the votes cast at the Meeting by Securityholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting, voting together as a single class; and | ||
• at least a simple majority of the votes cast by Unitholders (excluding the votes cast by Teck and certain other parties related to or affiliated with Teck that must be excluded in accordance with applicable securities laws) present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting. See “Principal Legal Matters — Canadian Securities Law Matters” in this Circular. | ||
To the knowledge of Fording, after reasonable inquiry, a total of 29,510,871 votes that may be cast on the Arrangement Resolution will be excluded in determining whether minority Unitholder approval for the Arrangement Resolution has been obtained. | ||
Q: | I am a Unitholder. Who are the Securityholders? | |
A: | The “Securityholders” are the Unitholders plus the holders of Exchange Options and Phantom Units. Holders of Exchange Options and Phantom Units are also being affected by the Arrangement and accordingly are entitled to participate in its authorization. As of August 19, 2008, there were 150,175,327 Units, 18,632 Exchange Options and 151,049.23 Phantom Units outstanding. | |
Q: | What are the recommendations of the Independent Committees, the Trustees and the Directors? | |
A: | The Independent Committees unanimously recommended that the Trustees and the Directors approve the Arrangement and recommend that Unitholders vote for the Arrangement, and the Trustees and the Directors unanimously (with the interested Trustees and Directors declaring their interests and excusing themselves from the determination to make such recommendation) recommend that Unitholders vote FOR the Arrangement Resolution to approve the Arrangement. | |
Q: | Why are the Independent Committees, the Trustees and the Directors making this recommendation? | |
A: | In reaching their conclusion that the Arrangement is substantively and procedurally fair to the Unitholders (other than Teck and its affiliates), and that the Arrangement is in the best interests of Fording, the Independent Committees, the Trustees and the Directors considered and relied upon a number of factors, including those described under the headings “Special Factors — Position of the Independent Committees as to Fairness”, “Special Factors — Recommendation of the Trustees and the Directors” and “Special Factors — Reasons for the Arrangement from Fording’s and Fording ULC’s Perspectives”. | |
Q: | In addition to the approval of Securityholders, are there any other approvals required for the Arrangement? | |
A: | Yes, the Arrangement requires the approval of the Court and also is subject to the receipt of certain anti-trust and other approvals in the United States, Canada and several other jurisdictions. See “Principal Legal Matters — Principal Regulatory Matters” in this Circular. | |
Q: | How does Teck intend to finance the Arrangement and related transactions? | |
A: | Teck will be required to pay approximately US$12.4 billion in cash to fund its obligations under the Arrangement and the other transactions contemplated by the Arrangement Agreement, and will be required to issue approximately 36.8 million Class B Shares. Teck has also agreed, if necessary, to pay to Fording sufficient cash to enable Fording, when such additional cash is combined with its otherwise available cash, to make the Final Unitholder |
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Distribution of US$3.00 per Unit. Teck expects to finance the Cash Consideration with borrowings under the Facilities and the sale prior to the Effective Date of its approximate 19.6% interest in Fording. See “The Arrangement — Sources of Funds for the Arrangement” in this Circular. | ||
Q: | Do any Trustees, Directors and executive officers of Fording have any interests in the Arrangement that are different from, or in addition to, those of the Unitholders? | |
A: | Certain Trustees, Directors and executive officers of Fording and Fording ULC may have interests in the Arrangement that differ from those of Unitholders, including acting as executive officers and/or directors of Teck. See “The Arrangement — Interests of Trustees, Directors, Executive Officers and Others in the Arrangement” in this Circular. | |
Q: | Will the Units continue to be listed on the TSX and the NYSE after the Arrangement? | |
A: | No. The Units will bede-listed from the TSX and NYSE when the Arrangement is completed. | |
Q: | Should I send my Unit certificates now? | |
A: | You are not required to send your certificates representing Units to validly cast your vote in respect of the Arrangement Resolution. We encourage Registered Unitholders who choose not to dispose of their Units on the TSX or the NYSE to complete, sign, date and return the enclosed Letter of Transmittal, together with your unit certificate(s), at least two business days prior to the Effective Date which will assist Teck in arranging for the prompt payment in respect of your Units if the Arrangement is completed. | |
Q: | When can I expect to receive consideration for my Units? | |
A: | If you hold your Units through an Intermediary, then you are not required to take any action and the consideration will be delivered to your Intermediary through the procedures in place for such purposes between CDS or similar entities and such Intermediaries. If you hold your Units through an Intermediary, you should contact your Intermediary if you have questions regarding this process. | |
In the case of Registered Unitholders, as soon as practicable after the Effective Date, assuming due delivery of the required documentation, including the applicable Unit certificates and a duly and properly completed Letter of Transmittal, Teck will cause the Depositary to forward a cheque (or other form of immediately available funds) and a certificate representing the Class B Shares to which the Registered Unitholder is entitled, in each case less applicable withholding taxes, by first class mail to the address of the Unitholder as shown on the register maintained by Computershare Investor Services Inc., unless the Unitholder indicates in the Letter of Transmittal that it wishes to pick up the cheque and the certificate representing the Class B Shares. Under no circumstance will interest on the consideration be paid by Teck, Fording or the Depositary by reason of any delay in paying the consideration or otherwise. | ||
Q: | How will the votes be counted? | |
A: | Computershare Investor Services Inc., Fording’s Transfer Agent, counts and tabulates the proxies. Proxies are counted and tabulated by the Transfer Agent in such a manner as to preserve the confidentiality of the voting instructions of Registered Unitholders subject to a limited number of exceptions. | |
Q: | How will I know when the Arrangement will be implemented? | |
A: | The Transaction Confirmation Date will occur upon satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions to the completion of the Arrangement. If the Requisite Level of Approval is obtained at the Meeting, the Transaction Confirmation Date is expected to occur on or about September 30, 2008, the date of the Meeting. On the Transaction Confirmation Date, Fording and Teck will confirm in writing that the conditions to closing are satisfied or waived and publicly announce that the conditions are satisfied or waived. Following the Transaction Confirmation Date, a 20 Trading Day Pre-Closing Period will occur. During the Pre-Closing Period that will follow the Transaction Confirmation Date, the Units will continue to trade on the TSX and the NYSE. Fording and Teck expect that closing will occur on or about October 30, 2008, after such Pre-Closing Period has been completed. |
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Q: | Are there risks I should consider in deciding whether to vote for the Arrangement Resolution? | |
A: | Yes. Some of these risks include the following: | |
• There can be no certainty that all conditions precedent to the Arrangement will be satisfied or waived, or as to the timing of their satisfaction or waiver. Failure to complete the Arrangement could negatively impact the price of the Units. | ||
• The Arrangement is conditional on the Debt Financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter being available to Teck on the Transaction Confirmation Date. Such availability is subject to a number of material conditions. There can be no assurance that Teck will be able to obtain the Debt Financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter, or in the event that Teck is unable to obtain the Debt Financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter it will be able to obtain alternative debt financing commitments in replacement thereof. See “The Arrangement — Sources of Funds for the Arrangement”. | ||
• The Arrangement Agreement may be terminated by Fording or Teck in certain circumstances, including after the Transaction Confirmation Date. | ||
• A liquid market for the Units may not exist during the Pre-Closing Period. | ||
• If the Arrangement is not completed, the application of the SIFT Rules may have a material and adverse impact on Fording. | ||
• The value of the cash portion of the consideration payable under the Arrangement will fluctuate depending on exchange rate fluctuations for Unitholders whose primary currency is not the US dollar. In addition, under the Arrangement, Unitholders will receive Class B Shares based on a fixed exchange ratio that will not be adjusted to reflect market fluctuations. Consequently, the Class B Shares issuable under the Arrangement may have a market value lower than expected. | ||
• As a result of the issuance of Class B Shares in connection with the Arrangement and the dual class share structure of Teck, the Unitholders’ voting interests in Teck will be significantly diluted, relative to their current proportional voting interest in Fording. | ||
See “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward — Looking Statements”, “Risks Factors Relating to the Arrangement”, “Information Concerning Fording — Risk Factors Relating to Fording” and “Information Concerning Teck — Risk Factors Relating to Teck” in this Circular. | ||
Q: | What are the Canadian income tax consequences of the Arrangement? | |
A: | The Arrangement is structured, among other things, as a sale of assets by Fording and includes the distribution to Unitholders of an aggregate amount equal to the Unit Consideration and the Final Unitholder Distribution. |
Unitholders should be aware of the Canadian income tax consequences of the Arrangement summarized under “Certain Tax Considerations for Unitholders — Certain Canadian Federal Income Tax Considerations”, including the treatment of amounts payable to Unitholders under the Arrangement. In particular, for Canadian federal income tax purposes, Fording expects that all or substantially all of the distributions and other amounts payable to Unitholders under the Arrangement, including all cash amounts and the fair market value of any Class B Shares received by Unitholders, will constitute ordinary income to Unitholders. This income inclusion cannot be offset by capital losses, if any, recognized as a result of the Arrangement. Taxable Unitholders who are resident in Canada and who hold their Units on capital account and Unitholders who are not residents of Canada will want to consider disposing of their Units on the TSX or the NYSE with a settlement date that is prior to the Effective Date of the Arrangement and should consult their own tax and investment advisors with regard to this decision. |
Unitholders should be aware of the Canadian tax consequences of the Arrangement, including the allocation of income to Unitholders in respect of the Arrangement and should consult their own tax and investment advisors with regard to the tax treatment to them of the consideration paid under the Arrangement. For a summary of certain material Canadian income tax consequences of the Arrangement, see “Certain Tax Considerations for Unitholders — Certain Canadian Federal Income Tax Considerations”. Such disclosure is not intended to be |
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legal or tax advice to any particular Unitholder. Unitholders should consult their own tax and investment advisors with respect to their circumstances. | ||
Q: | What are the U.S. Federal income tax consequences of the Arrangement? | |
A: | The disposition of a Unit pursuant to the Arrangement will be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A U.S. Holder may be subject to substantial restrictions on its ability to obtain a foreign tax credit in respect of Canadian taxes withheld in connection with the Arrangement and a U.S. Holder may be unable to obtain a full credit with respect to such taxes for U.S. federal income tax purposes. For a summary of certain material U.S. income tax consequences of the Arrangement, see “Certain Tax Considerations for Unitholders — Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” in this Circular. Such disclosure is not intended to be legal or tax advice to any particular Unitholder. Unitholders should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Arrangement to them, having regard to their particular circumstances. | |
Q: | Am I entitled to Dissent Rights? | |
A: | The Plan of Arrangement and the Interim Order provide the Registered Unitholders with dissent and appraisal rights in connection with the Arrangement that will be available in the event that the Arrangement Resolution is approved by the Securityholders. The Dissent Rights available under the Arrangement are different than and in lieu of the dissent rights set out in the Declaration of Trust. They are in many respects similar to the dissent and appraisal rights provided by Section 191 of the ABCA, however such provisions are not identical.Registered Unitholders considering exercising Dissent Rights should seek the advice of their own legal counsel and tax and investment advisors and should carefully review the description of such rights set forth in the Circular, as well as the Plan of Arrangement and the Interim Order, and comply with the provisions of Section 191 of the ABCA the full text of which is set out on Appendix H to this Circular as modified by the Plan of Arrangement and the Interim Order. See “Dissenting Registered Unitholders’ Rights” in the Circular. | |
Q: | Are there tax consequences to exercising my Dissent Rights? | |
A: | Unitholders who duly exercise their Dissent Rights will, for Canadian income tax purposes, be deemed to have participated in the Arrangement on the same basis as a non-Dissenting Unitholder, which could result in a requirement for the Dissenting Unitholder to pay tax in respect of amounts deemed to be distributed to the Dissenting Unitholder under the Arrangement, even if the fair value is less than the value of the consideration offered under the Arrangement or the Dissenting Unitholder does not ultimately receive fair value for its Units until substantially following the completion of the Arrangement. See “Certain Tax Considerations for Unitholders — “Certain Canadian Federal Income Tax Considerations”. For a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of exercising Dissent Rights, see “Certain Tax Considerations for Unitholders — Certain United States Income Tax Considerations — U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Arrangement — Dissenting U.S. Holders”. | |
Q: | What will happen to the Units that I currently own after completion of the Arrangement? | |
A: | Upon completion of the Arrangement, certificates representing Units will represent only the right of the Registered Unitholder to receive consideration of 0.245 of a Class B Share and cash in the amount of US$82.00 (which includes the Final Unitholder Distribution of US$3.00) (less any amounts withheld on account of taxes) per Unit. Trading in Units on the TSX and on the NYSE will cease and Fording will terminate its status as a reporting issuer under Canadian Securities Laws and will cease to be required to file reports with the applicable Canadian Securities Administrators. Fording will deregister the Units under U.S. Securities Laws and will cease to be required to file reports with the SEC. | |
Q: | Who can I contact if I have questions? | |
A: | Unitholders who have additional questions about the Arrangement, including the procedures for voting, should contact The Laurel Hill Advisory Group, toll-free, at[ l ]. Unitholders who have questions about deciding how to vote should contact their financial, legal or professional advisors. |
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1. | The arrangement agreement (the“Arrangement Agreement”) dated as of July 29, 2008 between Fording Canadian Coal Trust (“Fording”) and Teck Cominco Limited (“Teck”), a copy of which is attached to the Management Information Circular of Fording dated August 21, 2008 (the“Circular”) as Appendix B, and all other transactions contemplated by the Arrangement Agreement, together with such amendments or variations thereto made in accordance with the terms of the Arrangement Agreement as may be approved by the persons referred to in paragraph 3 hereof, are hereby authorized, approved, ratified and confirmed; |
2. | The arrangement (the“Arrangement”) under section 193 of theBusiness Corporations Act (Alberta) substantially as set forth in the plan of arrangement (the“Plan of Arrangement”), a copy of which is attached to the Circular as Appendix E, involving among other things the acquisition by Teck of all of the assets of Fording and the assumption by Teck of all of Fording’s liabilities and including, without limitation: |
(a) | the termination of the Unitholder Rights Plan; | |
(b) | the Fording LP Agreement Amendments and the Royalty Agreement Amendments; | |
(c) | the amendments to the Declaration of Trust as may be necessary or desirable to implement or facilitate the Arrangement and also as contemplated by the Arrangement Agreement; | |
(d) | the transfer by Fording of all of the limited partnership interest in Fording LP held by Fording and all of the issued and outstanding equity securities of Fording ULC held by Fording; | |
(e) | the purchase by Teck of the Acquired Assets in consideration of the payment to Fording of the consideration set out in the Plan of Arrangement; | |
(f) | the termination of the Exchange Option Plan, Joint Phantom Unit Plan and the Fording DRIP; | |
(g) | the distributions and other payments by Fording in accordance with the Plan of Arrangement and the purchase for cancellation by Fording of each issued and outstanding Unit held by Unitholders; and | |
(h) | the termination of Fording, |
3. | Any two trustees or any trustee and an officer of Fording be and they are hereby authorized and directed to execute on behalf of Fording and to deliver and to cause to be delivered, all such documents, agreements and instruments and to do or cause to be done all such other acts and things as they shall determine to be necessary or desirable in order to carry out the intent of the foregoing resolutions and the matters authorized thereby, such determination to be conclusively evidenced by the execution and delivery of such documents, agreements or instruments or the doing of any such act or thing; |
4. | Notwithstanding that this resolution has been passed by the Securityholders or that the Arrangement has been approved by the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta, the trustees of Fording and the members of the board of directors of Fording (GP) ULC, are authorized, without further notice to or approval of the Securityholders (a) to amend the Arrangement Agreement or the Plan of Arrangement to the extent permitted by the Arrangement Agreement or the Plan of Arrangement and (b) subject to the terms of the Arrangement Agreement, not to proceed with the Arrangement at any time prior to the filing of the Articles of Arrangement giving effect to the Arrangement; and |
5. | All capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this resolution have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Circular. |
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Page | ||||
DEFINITIONS AND BREAKOUT PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETATION | 1 | |||
Definitions | 1 | |||
Certain Rules of Interpretation | 12 | |||
Accounting Matters | 13 | |||
Knowledge | 13 | |||
Entire Agreement | 13 | |||
Material | 13 | |||
Disclosure in Writing | 13 | |||
Schedules | 14 | |||
THE ARRANGEMENT | 14 | |||
Interim Order | 14 | |||
Final Order | 14 | |||
Plan of Arrangement | 15 | |||
Articles of Arrangement and Effective Date | 15 | |||
Fording Approval | 15 | |||
Withholding Taxes | 15 | |||
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF FORDING | 16 | |||
Representations and Warranties of Fording | 16 | |||
Survival of Representations and Warranties | 23 | |||
Disclaimer of Additional Representations and Warranties | 23 | |||
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER | 24 | |||
Representations and Warranties | 24 | |||
Survival of Representations and Warranties | 29 | |||
Disclaimer of Additional Representations and Warranties | 29 | |||
COVENANTS | 29 | |||
Press Releases; Filings | 29 | |||
Covenants of Fording | 30 | |||
Further Covenants of Fording | 32 | |||
General Covenants and Acknowledgments of Purchaser | 36 | |||
Covenants Regarding Non-Solicitation | 39 | |||
Notice by Fording of Superior Proposal Determination | 41 | |||
Access to Information | 42 | |||
Trustees’ Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification | 43 | |||
Winding-Up of Fording | 43 | |||
Indemnification Obligations | 44 | |||
Pre-ArrangementWind-Up of Fording LLC | 45 | |||
Treatment of Fording Officers following the Effective Time | 45 | |||
Merger of Covenants | 45 | |||
CONDITIONS | 46 | |||
Mutual Conditions | 46 | |||
Fording Conditions | 46 | |||
Purchaser Conditions | 47 | |||
Notice and Cure Provisions | 48 | |||
Merger of Conditions | 48 | |||
Confirmation of Transaction | 48 | |||
AMENDMENT | 49 | |||
Amendment | 49 |
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TERMINATION | 49 | |||
Termination | 49 | |||
Break Fee | 50 | |||
Nature of Break Fee | 51 | |||
Effect of Termination | 51 | |||
Payment of Transaction Expenses | 51 | |||
GENERAL | 51 | |||
Expenses | 51 | |||
Remedies | 52 | |||
Notices | 52 | |||
Further Assurances | 53 | |||
Governing Law | 53 | |||
Execution in Counterparts | 53 | |||
Waiver | 53 | |||
Enurement and Assignment | 53 | |||
Liability | 53 | |||
A-1 | ||||
B-1 | ||||
C-1 |
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A. | The Parties wish to propose an arrangement involving the Parties, certain subsidiaries or other affiliates of each of the Parties and certain securityholders of Fording. |
B. | The Parties intend to carry out the transactions contemplated herein by way of an arrangement under the provisions of theBusiness Corporations Act (Alberta). |
C. | In furtherance of the foregoing, the Parties have entered into this Agreement to provide for the matters referred to in the foregoing recitals and for other matters relating to the above-noted arrangement. |
DEFINITIONS AND BREAKOUT PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETATION
1.1 | Definitions |
(a) | a 100% interest in the Royalty; | |
(b) | all of the limited partnership interests in Fording LP held by Fording; | |
(c) | all of the issued and outstanding equity securities of Fording ULC; | |
(d) | all of the issued and outstanding equity securities of the Legacy Subsidiaries held by Fording at the Effective Time; and | |
(e) | all of the other assets of Fording following the completion of the steps comprising the Plan of Arrangement, other than its rights under this Agreement; |
(a) | a securities exchange, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, recapitalization, arrangement, reorganization, business combination, liquidation, dissolution or other similar transaction involving Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries, |
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(b) | any acquisition or purchase (or any lease, long-term supply agreement, assignment or other arrangement or transaction having a similar economic effect as a sale), direct or indirect, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, of assets representing 20% or more of the consolidated assets or contributing 20% or more of the consolidated revenue or net income of Fording and the Fording Subsidiaries, or any of the voting or equity securities of Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries (or rights or interests therein or thereto), or | |
(c) | any take-over bid, tender offer or exchange offer that, if consummated, would result in such person or group of persons beneficially owning 20% or more of any class of voting or equity securities of Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries, |
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(a) | the Commissioner of Competition (the“Commissioner”) appointed under theCompetition Act (Canada) (the“Competition Act”) shall have issued an advance ruling certificate under Section 102 of the Competition Act in connection with the Transaction; or | |
(b) | the waiting period under Section 123 of the Competition Act shall have expired or shall have been terminated or the obligation to make a Competition Act Part IX pre-closing merger filing shall have been waived by the Commissioner pursuant to Section 113(c) of the Competition Act and the Commissioner shall have advised Purchaser in writing that she is of the view that grounds do not exist to file an application pursuant to the merger provisions of the Competition Act in connection with the Transaction; |
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(a) | the audited consolidated balance sheets of Fording as at December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, and the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, accumulated earnings and cash flows for the twelve month periods ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 and the notes thereto and auditor’s report thereon; and | |
(b) | the consolidated balance sheets of Fording as of June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 and the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, accumulated earnings and cash flows for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 and the notes thereto; |
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(a) | multinational, federal, provincial, state, regional, municipal, local or other government, governmental or public department, central bank, court, tribunal, arbitral body, commission, board, bureau or agency, domestic or foreign, | |
(b) | Securities Authorities, self-regulatory organization or stock exchange including the NYSE and the TSX, and | |
(c) | any subdivision, agent, commission, board, or authority of any of the foregoing, or any quasi-governmental or private body exercising any regulatory, or expropriation or taxing authority under or for the account of any of the foregoing; |
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(a) | the metallurgical coal mining industry as a whole (provided that such change, effect, event, occurrence, circumstance or state of facts does not have a materially disproportionate effect on Fording relative to other comparable companies and entities operating in the metallurgical coal mining industry); | |
(b) | general economic, financial, currency exchange, securities or commodity market conditions; | |
(c) | any act of terrorism or outbreak or escalation of hostilities or armed conflict; | |
(d) | any change in the market price of metallurgical coal; | |
(e) | any change in the market price of the Units (it being understood that without limiting the applicability of clauses (a) to (k), the cause or causes of any such change in the market price of the Units may constitute, in and of itself, a material adverse change or material adverse effect and may be taken into account in determining whether a material adverse change or material adverse effect has occurred); | |
(f) | (i) any action initiated by or at the direction of the Managing Partner or any affiliate of the Managing Partner; (ii) the negligence or wilful misconduct of the Managing Partner or any affiliate of the Managing Partner; or (iii) the failure by the Managing Partner or any affiliate of the Managing Partner to take any action that it is required to take pursuant to the EVCP Partnership Agreement or any agreement related to the operation or governance of the Partnership; | |
(g) | any change in Laws, rules or regulations, or the interpretation or administration thereof, by any Governmental Entities or any changes in Canadian GAAP; | |
(h) | shortages or price changes on a current or forward basis with respect to raw materials, fuel, explosives, spares, transportation or other products or services used or sold by the Acquired Assets; |
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(i) | the failure to meet any internal or public projections, forecasts or estimates of revenues or earnings (it being understood that without limiting the applicability of clauses (a) to (k), the cause or causes of any such failure may constitute, in and of itself, a material adverse change or material adverse effect and may be taken into account in determining whether a material adverse change or material adverse effect has occurred); | |
(j) | any action expressly contemplated by this Agreement or any action taken by Fording with the prior written consent of Purchaser; or | |
(k) | the public announcement of the Transaction or the completion thereof. |
(a) | if terminated would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect or cause a material adverse change; or | |
(b) | provides for obligations of or entitlements to Fording or any Fording Subsidiary, or which has an economic value to Fording or any Fording Subsidiary, in excess of either $25 million per annum or $50 million in total; or | |
(c) | contains any non-competition obligations or otherwise restricts in any material way the business of Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries or that includes any exclusive dealing arrangement or any other arrangement that grants any right of first refusal or right of first offer or similar right or that limits or purports to limit in any respect the ability of the owner of the Acquired Assets to own, operate, sell, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of any material assets or business; or | |
(d) | relates to indebtedness in excess of $25 million or relates to the direct or indirect guarantee or assumption by Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries (contingent or otherwise) of any payment or performance obligations of any other person in excess of $25 million; |
(i) | an untrue statement of a material fact, or | |
(ii) | an omission to state a material fact that is required to be stated, or | |
(iii) | an omission to state a material fact that is necessary to be stated in order for a statement not to be misleading; |
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(a) | applicable municipal by-laws, development agreements, subdivision agreements, site plan agreements, other agreements, building and other restrictions, easements, servitudes, rights of way and licences that do not materially and adversely affect the use or value of the assets affected thereby; | |
(b) | defects or irregularities in title to any interest in real property which are of a minor nature and do not materially and adversely affect the use or value of the real property affected thereby; | |
(c) | inchoate statutory liens for Taxes, assessments, governmental or utility charges or levies not due as at the Transaction Confirmation Date; | |
(d) | rights of equipment lessors under equipment contracts, leases or similar arrangements provided the terms of such contracts, leases and other arrangements have been performed in all material respects prior to the Transaction Confirmation Date; | |
(e) | any privilege in favour of any lessor, licensor or permitter for rent to become due or for other obligations or acts, the performance of which is required under any contract, agreement or arrangement to which Fording or any Fording Subsidiary is a party so long as the payment of or the performance of such other obligation or act is not delinquent and provided that such liens or privileges do not materially and adversely affect the use or value of the assets affected thereby; and | |
(f) | any lien, encumbrance, right, guarantee, indemnity, security interest, charge or other restriction granted by Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries in connection with the Fording Credit Agreement or FX Hedge; |
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(a) | the audited consolidated balance sheets of Purchaser as at December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, and the consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, retained earnings and cash flows for the twelve month periods ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 and the notes thereto and auditor’s report thereon; and | |
(b) | the consolidated balance sheet of Purchaser as at June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 and the consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, retained earnings and cash flows for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 and the notes thereto; |
(a) | the mineral resource industry as a whole provided that such change, effect, event, occurrence, circumstance or state of facts does not have a materially disproportionate effect on Purchaser relative to other comparable companies and entities operating in the mining industry; | |
(b) | general economic, financial, currency exchange, securities or commodity market conditions; | |
(c) | any act of terrorism or outbreak or escalation of hostilities or armed conflict; | |
(d) | any change in the market price of base metals, specialty metals, metallurgical coal or gold or Purchaser Shares (it being understood that without limiting the applicability of clauses (a) to (i), the cause or causes underlying any such change in the market price of the Purchaser Shares may constitute a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect and may be taken into account in determining whether a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect has occurred); | |
(e) | any change in Laws, rules or regulations, or the interpretation or administration thereof, by any Governmental Entities or any changes in Canadian GAAP; | |
(f) | shortages or price changes on a current or forward basis with respect to raw materials, fuel, explosives, spares, transportation or other products or services used or sold by Purchaser, its subsidiaries or its joint venture interests; | |
(g) | the failure to meet any internal or public projections, forecasts or estimates of revenues or earnings (it being understood that without limiting the applicability of clauses (a) to (i), the cause or causes underlying such failure may constitute a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect and may be taken into account in determining whether a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect has occurred); | |
(h) | any action expressly contemplated by this Agreement or any action taken by Purchaser with the prior written consent of Fording; or | |
(i) | the public announcement of the Transaction or the completion thereof. |
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(a) | to acquire all of the outstanding Units or all of the Acquired Assets; | |
(b) | that is reasonably capable of being completed, taking into account all financial (including the financing required to complete such Acquisition Proposal), legal, regulatory and other aspects of such proposal and the person making such proposal; | |
(c) | that is not subject to any due diligence condition which would allow access to the books and records, personnel or properties of Fording beyond 5:00 p.m. (Calgary time) on the fifth day after which access is first afforded to the third party making the Acquisition Proposal (provided, however, that the foregoing shall not restrict the ability of such third party to continue to review after such period information provided to it by Fording during such five day period); and | |
(d) | in respect of which the Fording Trustees determine in good faith (after receipt of advice from their financial advisors with respect to (ii) below and their outside legal counsel with respect to (i) below) that: |
(i) | failure to recommend such Acquisition Proposal to Unitholders would be inconsistent with their fiduciary duties, and |
(ii) | such Acquisition Proposal, taking into account all of the terms and conditions thereof, if consummated in accordance with its terms (but not assuming away any risk of non-completion), would result in a transaction more favourable to Unitholders from a financial point of view than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including in each case after taking into account any modifications to this Agreement proposed by Purchaser as contemplated by Section 5.6(b); |
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1.2 | Certain Rules of Interpretation |
(a) | Consent – Whenever a provision of this Agreement requires an approval or consent and such approval or consent is not delivered within the applicable time limit, then, unless otherwise specified, the Party whose consent or approval is required shall be conclusively deemed to have withheld its approval or consent. | |
(b) | Currency – Unless otherwise specified, all references to $ and to dollars are to lawful currency of Canada, and all references to U.S.$ and U.S. dollars are to lawful currency of the United States of America. | |
(c) | Headings – Headings of Articles and Sections are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement. | |
(d) | Including – Where the word “including” or “includes” is used in this Agreement, it means “including (or includes) without limitation”. | |
(e) | No Strict Construction – The language used in this Agreement is the language chosen by the Parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any Party. | |
(f) | Number and Gender – Unless the context otherwise requires, words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa and words importing gender include all genders. | |
(g) | Severability – If, in any jurisdiction, any provision of this Agreement or its application to any Party or circumstance is restricted, prohibited or unenforceable, such provision shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective only to the extent of such restriction, prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement and without affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction or without affecting its application to the other Parties or circumstances. |
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(h) | Statutory References – A reference to a statute includes all rules and regulations made pursuant to such statute and, unless otherwise specified, the provisions of any statute or regulation or rule which amends, supplements or supersedes any such statute or any such regulation or rule. | |
(i) | Time – Time is of the essence in the performance of the Parties’ respective obligations. | |
(j) | Time Periods – Unless otherwise specified, time periods within or following which any payment is to be made or act is to be done shall be calculated by excluding the day on which the period commences and including the day on which the period ends and by extending the period to the next business day following if the last day of the period is not a business day. |
1.3 | Accounting Matters |
1.4 | Knowledge |
(a) | Fording shall mean, unless otherwise specified, to the knowledge of Fording’s senior officers, being Messrs. Grandin, Payne, Brown, Gow, Jones and Clements, after reviewing relevant records and making reasonable inquiries regarding the relevant matter; or | |
(b) | Purchaser shall mean, unless otherwise specified, to the knowledge of the following senior officers of Purchaser, being Messrs. Horswill, Manuel, Millos, Rozee, Vance and Mackwood. |
1.5 | Entire Agreement |
1.6 | Material |
1.7 | Disclosure in Writing |
(a) | information contained in the Fording Disclosure Letter; | |
(b) | information or documentation that has been Publicly Disclosed by Fording; and | |
(c) | matters disclosed in this Agreement or in the Schedules hereto. |
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1.8 | Schedules |
Schedule | Description | |
“A” | Plan of Arrangement | |
“B” | Consents and Approvals | |
“C” | Material Purchaser Entities |
THE ARRANGEMENT
2.1 | Interim Order |
(a) | for the class of persons to whom notice is to be provided in respect of the Arrangement and the Fording Meeting and for the manner in which such notice is to be provided; | |
(b) | for the record date(s) for purposes of determining the persons to whom notice of the Fording Meeting is to be provided and for purposes of determining the persons entitled to vote at the Fording Meeting; | |
(c) | that each registered holder of Exchange Options and Phantom Units shall be entitled to one vote at the Fording Meeting in respect of each such security or instrument held at the record date established for the Fording Meeting and that the holders of Exchange Options and Phantom Units shall vote in the manner described in paragraph (d)(ii) below; | |
(d) | that the required level of Securityholder approval for the Arrangement Resolution shall be: |
(i) | 662/3% of the votes cast on the Arrangement Resolution by Unitholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Fording Meeting voting separately as a class; and |
(ii) | 662/3% of the votes cast on the Arrangement Resolution by Securityholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Fording Meeting, voting together as a single class; |
(e) | for the grant of the Dissent Rights; | |
(f) | that, in all other respects, the terms, restrictions and conditions of the Declaration of Trust, including quorum requirements and all other matters, shall apply in respect of the Fording Meeting; and | |
(g) | for the notice requirements with respect to the presentation of the application to the Court for the Final Order. |
2.2 | Final Order |
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2.3 | Plan of Arrangement |
2.4 | Articles of Arrangement and Effective Date |
(a) | In the event that the Interim Order is issued, the Parties will carry out the terms of the Interim Order as soon as is reasonably practicable following its issuance. | |
(b) | In the event that the Final Order is issued, the Parties will carry out the terms of the Final Order as soon as is reasonably practicable following its issuance, and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Sections 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3 (as evidenced by the delivery of the notices contemplated by Section 6.6 hereof) and the completion of the Pre-Closing Period, and provided that this Agreement is not otherwise terminated in accordance with its terms, Fording shall cause Acquiror to, on the business day immediately following completion of the Pre-Closing Period, send the Articles of Arrangement to the Registrar pursuant to Section 193 of the Corporate Statute to give effect to the Arrangement and implement the Plan of Arrangement. The Arrangement shall become effective at the Effective Time whereupon the steps comprising the Plan of Arrangement will be deemed to occur in the order, at the times, and in the manner set out therein. |
2.5 | Fording Approval |
(a) | Fording represents to Purchaser that as of the date hereof: |
(i) | the Fording Trustees (excluding Mr. Seyffert who has declared his interest and abstained from voting) and the Fording Directors (excluding Messrs. Lindsay and Thompson who have each declared his interest and abstained from voting) have unanimously determined that the Arrangement is fair to the Unitholders and is in the best interests of Fording and the Unitholders; | |
(ii) | the Fording Trustees (excluding Mr. Seyffert who has declared his interest and abstained from voting) and the Fording Directors (excluding Messrs. Lindsay and Thompson who have each declared his interest and abstained from voting) have unanimously resolved to recommend in the Proxy Circular that the Unitholders vote in favour of the Arrangement; | |
(iii) | Fording has been advised by each Fording Trustee and each Fording Director that each such person intends to vote all of the Units, Exchange Options and Phantom Units held by such person in favour of the Arrangement Resolution and will so represent in the Proxy Circular; | |
(iv) | the Fording Trustees and Fording Directors have received, orally, the Fairness Opinion; and | |
(v) | the Fording Trustees and Fording Directors have received the Independent Valuation. |
2.6 | Withholding Taxes |
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF FORDING
3.1 | Representations and Warranties of Fording |
(a) | Organization. Fording is a trust duly formed and validly existing under the laws of the Province of Alberta pursuant to the Declaration of Trust. The Declaration of Trust is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Fording Trustees enforceable against them by the Unitholders in accordance with the terms of the Declaration of Trust, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization (under debtor or creditor Laws), fraudulent transfer, moratorium and other applicable Laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, and to general principles of equity. The Declaration of Trust has not been amended since March 1, 2007. | |
(b) | Power to Carry on Business. Each of Fording and each of the Fording Subsidiaries has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and to own, lease and operate its properties and assets (except where the failure to have such power or authority to own, lease or operate its properties and assets would not, in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect) and each of Fording and the Fording Subsidiaries is current with all material filings required to be made in all jurisdictions in which it carries on any material business. | |
(c) | Subsidiaries. |
(i) | Except for the Fording Subsidiaries and the Legacy Subsidiaries, Fording does not have any subsidiaries, and other than through its interest in the Partnership, Fording does not, directly or indirectly, own, nor has it agreed to acquire, any equity or debt interests or securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, equity or debt interests of any other entity. | |
(ii) | Each Fording Subsidiary is a corporation, unlimited liability corporation, limited liability corporation, or limited partnership, as the case may be, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, organization or formation, as the case may be. | |
(iii) | Except as disclosed in writing by Fording: |
(A) | Fording, through its Trustees, is the sole registered and beneficial owner of all of the issued and outstanding securities or interests of Fording LLC; | |
(B) | Fording, through its Trustees, is the sole limited partner of Fording LP and is the sole registered and beneficial owner of all limited partnership interests of Fording LP; | |
(C) | Fording LLC is the sole registered and beneficial owner of all of the issued and outstanding securities or interests of Fording ULC; and | |
(D) | Fording ULC is the sole general partner of Fording LP, and the registered and beneficial owner of all of the general partnership interests of Fording LP; |
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(iv) | Upon incorporation and until the Effective Time, the authorized capital of Acquiror will consist of an unlimited number of common shares (and no others), of which 100 shares (and no more) will have been duly issued and outstanding as fully paid and non-assessable in compliance with all applicable Laws, all of which will be registered in the sole name of Fording. Acquiror will have no assets other than $100 in cash, and will not have any obligations or liabilities (contingent or otherwise) whatsoever other than as provided in this Agreement. Acquiror will not carry on, and will have never carried on, any business or activities other than as expressly contemplated by this Agreement and the Plan of Arrangement. |
(d) | Capitalization. The authorized capital of Fording consists of an unlimited number of Units. As of the date hereof there are 150,175,327 Units, 156,762.63 Phantom Units and 18,632 Exchange Options (and no more) issued and outstanding, and an aggregate of 175,394 Units are issuable upon exercise of all issued and outstanding Phantom Units and Exchange Options. Except as disclosed in writing by Fording or as contemplated by this Agreement, no options, warrants, conversion privileges, equity-based awards or other rights, agreements or commitments of any character whatsoever requiring or which may require the issuance, sale or transfer by Fording of any Units or other securities of Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries or any securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, or otherwise evidencing a right to acquire, or whose value is based on or in reference to the value or price of, any Units or other securities of Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries, are outstanding. All outstanding Units have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid (and no such Units have been issued in violation of any pre-emptive or similar rights). Except as disclosed in writing by Fording or as contemplated by this Agreement, there are no outstanding contractual or other obligations of Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its securities or with respect to the voting or disposition of any outstanding securities of a subsidiary. Except as disclosed in writing by Fording, there are no outstanding contractual or other obligations of Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries, the value of which is based on the value of the Units. | |
(e) | Authority. Fording has the requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Fording, the performance by Fording of its obligations under this Agreement and the completion of the Transaction by Fording have been duly authorized by its trustees and no other proceedings on the part of Fording are necessary to authorize this Agreement or the Transaction other than the calling of the Fording Meeting and the completion of related procedures by Fording, the approval by the Fording Trustees of the Proxy Circular and related materials, the approval of the Arrangement Resolution by Securityholders in the manner contemplated by the Interim Order and the requirement to obtain the Interim Order and the Final Order. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Fording and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Fording, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization (under debtor or creditor Laws), fraudulent transfer, moratorium and other applicable Laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, and to general principles of equity. | |
(f) | No Breach. Other than as disclosed in writing by Fording, the execution and delivery by Fording of this Agreement and performance by Fording of its obligations hereunder and the completion of the Transaction will not result in a violation or breach of or give rise to any termination rights or change any right or obligation or result in the loss of any benefit to which Fording or any Fording Subsidiary is entitled to under any provision of: |
(i) | any term of the Declaration of Trust or, after the Effective Time, the New Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, as applicable, the constating documents of any of the Fording Subsidiaries, any resolution of the Fording Trustees (including any committees thereof) or the Unitholders or of the directors (including any committees thereof) or shareholders or partners of the Fording Subsidiaries, as applicable, that are in effect as at or after the date of this Agreement; | |
(ii) | except as disclosed in writing by Fording, any Material Contract or material permit, approval, consent, authorization or other document to which Fording or the Fording Subsidiaries are a party or by which they are bound; or | |
(iii) | any applicable Law or any judgment, decree or order binding upon Fording or the Fording Subsidiaries or the property or assets of Fording or the Fording Subsidiaries, |
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(g) | Indebtedness. Except as disclosed in writing by Fording, Fording and the Fording Subsidiaries are in compliance with all material covenants under, and no material default on the part of any of such parties exists under, any instrument securing or otherwise relating to any indebtedness of Fording or the Fording Subsidiaries. | |
(h) | Consents and Approvals. |
(i) | Other than those which the failure to obtain or make would not individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect, no consent, waiver, approval, permit, order or authorization of, or declaration or filing with, any Governmental Entity is required to be obtained by Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Fording or the completion of the Transaction by the Fording Parties other than: |
(A) | the Interim Order; | |
(B) | any approvals required by the Interim Order; | |
(C) | the Final Order; | |
(D) | Competition Act Approval; | |
(E) | HSR Approval; | |
(F) | Schedule 13E-3; | |
(G) | those consents, approvals, orders, authorizations and filings listed in Schedule “B” hereto; and | |
(H) | filings with the Registrar under the Corporate Statute and approvals from and filings with Securities Authorities, the TSX and the NYSE; |
(ii) | Other than as disclosed in writing by Fording, no Third Party Consents are required by Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Fording, the performance by Fording of its obligations under this Agreement or the completion of the Transaction by the Fording Parties except where the failure to obtain such consent, approval, or authorization would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect. |
(i) | No Defaults. Other than as disclosed in writing by Fording, neither Fording nor any of the Fording Subsidiaries is in default under, and there exists no event, condition or occurrence which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default under, any contract, agreement, concession or licence to which it is a party or by which it is bound, which would, if terminated or upon exercise of a right made available to a third party solely by reason of such a default, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect. | |
(j) | No Breach of Laws. Neither Fording nor any of the Fording Subsidiaries is or has been in violation of, and to the knowledge of Fording is not under investigation with respect to and has not been threatened to be charged with or given notice of any violation of, any applicable Laws, except for violations that have not had and would not be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect. | |
(k) | Conduct of Business. |
(i) | Fording is currently conducting its business in material compliance with the terms and provisions of the Declaration of Trust. Each of the Fording Subsidiaries is currently conducting its business in material compliance with its constating documents. Each of Fording and the Fording Subsidiaries holds all licences, permits, approvals, consents, certificates, registrations and authorizations (whether governmental, regulatory or otherwise) to enable its business to be carried on as now conducted and its property and assets to be owned, leased and operated, in the manner currently owned, leased and operated, except where the same would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect; and |
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(ii) | Since December 31, 2007 and except as disclosed in writing by Fording: |
(A) | there has not occurred any change, financial or otherwise, in the liabilities (contingent or otherwise), business, affairs, operations, assets, financial condition or capital of Fording and the Fording Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis that has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect; and | |
(B) | except for the issue of Units under the Fording DRIP in the ordinary course, there has not been any material change in the capital or long-term debt of Fording and the Fording Subsidiaries considered as a whole. |
(l) | Employment and Consulting Agreements. |
(i) | Except as disclosed in writing by Fording, neither Fording nor any of the Fording Subsidiaries is a party to any written or oral policy, agreement, obligation or understanding providing for severance or termination payments to, or any employment or consulting agreement with, any of their respective trustees, directors, officers, Employees or consultants; | |
(ii) | Except as disclosed in writing by Fording, there are no contracts of employment or consulting entered into by Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries with any of their respective trustees, directors, officers, Employees or consultants which would entitle any such trustee, director, officer, Employee or consultant to receive enhanced benefits or payments upon Fording entering into this Agreement or any of the other documents contemplated by this Agreement to which Fording or any Fording Subsidiary is a party or upon the completion of the Transaction; | |
(iii) | Neither Fording nor any of the Fording Subsidiaries: (A) is party to any collective bargaining agreement; or (B) has any current, pending or threatened strikes (including official or unofficial strikes or other labour relations difficulties), work stoppage, slowdowns or lockouts, union representation or organizing activities or unlawful labour practices or actions; and | |
(iv) | Except as disclosed in writing by Fording, neither Fording nor any of the Fording Subsidiaries is subject to any material claim for wrongful dismissal, constructive dismissal or any other material tort claim, actual or threatened, or any litigation, actual or threatened, relating to employment or termination of employment of Employees or independent contractors. |
(m) | Financial Statements. The Fording Financial Statements are, as at their respective dates, complete and correct in all material respects, were prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP, and present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the entities to which such financial statements relate as at the date and for the periods stated therein. The financial statements of Fording described in paragraph (a) of the definition of “Fording Financial Statements” have been reconciled to generally accepted accounting principles as required by Item 17 ofForm 20-F under the Exchange Act. | |
(n) | Books and Records. The financial books, records and accounts of Fording and the Fording Subsidiaries in all material respects fairly reflect the financial position of Fording and the Fording Subsidiaries and the material financial transactions of Fording and the Fording Subsidiaries and accurately and fairly reflect the basis for the Fording Financial Statements. | |
(o) | Litigation, Etc. Except as disclosed in writing by Fording, (i) there is no claim, action, proceeding, suit, arbitration or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of Fording, threatened against or relating to Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries or affecting any of their properties or assets before any court or governmental or regulatory authority or body or other Governmental Entity or arbitral authority which would, if adversely determined, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect; and (ii) neither Fording nor any of the Fording Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets is subject to any outstanding judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree or arbitrator’s decision which has or would, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect. | |
(p) | Liabilities. Except as disclosed in writing by Fording, and other than the Transaction Expenses, neither Fording nor any of the Fording Subsidiaries have any liabilities of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) except (i) liabilities set forth in the audited consolidated balance sheet of Fording as |
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of December 31, 2007 forming part of the Fording Financial Statements, or (ii) liabilities incurred since December 31, 2007 in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice. To the knowledge of Fording, based on information existing on the date of this Agreement, following completion of the steps comprising the Plan of Arrangement and assuming an Effective Date of October 31, 2008, the Residual Liabilities are estimated to be those set out in Schedule “A” of the Fording Disclosure Letter. |
(q) | Environmental. All operations of Fording and the Fording Subsidiaries have been, and are now being, undertaken in compliance with all Environmental Laws, except where the failure to be in compliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect. Fording and the Fording Subsidiaries are in possession of, and in compliance with, all permits, authorizations, certificates, registrations, approvals and consents necessary under Environmental Laws to own, lease and operate their properties and to conduct their respective businesses as they are now being conducted or as proposed to be conducted, except where the failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect. Neither Fording nor any of the Fording Subsidiaries is subject to: |
(i) | any current or threatened proceeding, application, order or directive which relates to environmental, health or safety matters, and which may require any material work, repairs, construction or expenditures; or | |
(ii) | any demand or notice with respect to the breach of any Environmental Laws applicable to Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries, including any regulations respecting the use, storage, treatment, transportation, or disposition of Hazardous Substances, |
(r) | Tax Matters. Except as: |
(i) | disclosed in writing by Fording, Fording and each of the Fording Subsidiaries have timely filed, or caused to be filed, all Tax Returns required to be filed by them (all of which returns were, to their knowledge, correct and complete in all material respects). Fording and each of the Fording Subsidiaries have timely paid, collected, withheld or remitted, or caused to be paid, withheld or remitted, all material Taxes that are due and payable (including all instalments on account of Taxes for the current year that are due and payable by Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries whether or not assessed (or reassessed) by the appropriate Governmental Entity). There are no encumbrances for Taxes (other than Taxes not yet due and payable or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of Fording in accordance with Canadian GAAP) upon any of the assets or properties of Fording or any Fording Subsidiaries; | |
(ii) | disclosed in writing by Fording, Fording has provided adequate accruals in accordance with Canadian GAAP in its consolidated financial statements for the period from inception to December 31, 2007 for any Taxes for the period covered by such financial statements that have not been paid, whether or not shown as being due on any Tax Returns; | |
(iii) | disclosed in writing by Fording, since the publication date of Fording’s consolidated financial statements for the period ending December 31, 2007, no material Tax liability not reflected in such statements or otherwise provided for has been assessed, incurred, proposed to be assessed or accrued, and there is no material assessment or reassessment for Taxes under review or appeal with any Governmental Entity; | |
(iv) | disclosed in writing by Fording, Fording and each Fording Subsidiary has duly and timely withheld from any amount paid or credited by it to or for the account or benefit of any person the amount of all Taxes and other deductions required by all applicable Law to be withheld from any such amount and has duly and timely remitted the same to the appropriate Governmental Entity; | |
(v) | set forth in the Fording Disclosure Letter, there are no material proceedings, investigations, audits or claims now pending or, to the knowledge of Fording, threatened against Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries in respect of any Taxes and there are no matters under discussion, audit or appeal with any Governmental Entity relating to Taxes and no waivers of statutes of limitations, statutory limitation |
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periods, agreements or other arrangements providing for an extension of time with respect to the filing of any Tax Return or payment of any Taxes have been given or requested with respect to Fording or any Fording Subsidiary; |
(vi) | disclosed in writing by Fording, neither Fording nor any Fording Subsidiary is a party to any Tax sharing allocation, indemnity or similar agreement or arrangement (whether or not written) pursuant to which Fording or any Fording Subsidiary will have any obligation to make any payments after the acquisition of the Units by Acquiror; | |
(vii) | set forth in the Fording Disclosure Letter, Fording is a “mutual fund trust” for purposes of the Tax Act; | |
(viii) | set forth in the Fording Disclosure Letter, Fording is not a “non-resident person” for purposes of the Tax Act; | |
(ix) | set forth in the Fording Disclosure Letter, the Fording Units were listed on the TSX before November 1, 2006 and continuously thereafter and Fording would have been a “SIFT trust” on October 31, 2006 had the definition of “SIFT trust” contained in subsection 122.1(1) of the Tax Act, (the“SIFT Proposals”) been in force and applied to Fording on that date, and Fording has not exceeded its normal growth limitations as determined for purposes of the SIFT Proposals; and | |
(x) | set forth in the Fording Disclosure Letter, Fording and each Fording Subsidiary has not engaged in any transaction which could result in the application of section 15(2), 17, 78, 80, 80.01, 80.02, 80.03 or 80.04 of the Tax Act. |
(s) | Employee Benefits. |
(i) | Fording has disclosed in writing a complete list of all of the Benefit Plans; | |
(ii) | Each Benefit Plan is, and has been, established, registered, amended and administered in compliance with the terms of such Benefit Plan, all applicable Laws, the terms of the material documents that support such Benefit Plan and the terms of agreements between Fording and/or any Fording Subsidiaries, as the case may be, and their respective Employees and former employees who are members of, or beneficiaries under, the such Benefit Plan; | |
(iii) | There is no investigation by any Governmental Entity pending or, to the knowledge of Fording, threatened involving any Benefit Plan and, to the knowledge of Fording, there exists no state of facts which after notice or lapse of time or both would reasonably be expected to give rise to any such investigation, examination or other proceeding, action or claim or to affect the registration of any Benefit Plan required to be registered; | |
(iv) | All current obligations of the Fording Parties regarding the Benefit Plans have been satisfied in all material respects, and all contributions, premiums or taxes required to be made or paid by any Fording Party, as the case may be, under the terms of each Benefit Plan or by applicable Laws in respect of the Benefit Plans have been made in a timely fashion; | |
(v) | Fording has not resolved or agreed to improve or change the benefits provided under any Benefit Plan other than changes expressly contemplated by such plans on the date hereof; and | |
(vi) | All data necessary to administer each Benefit Plan is in the possession of Fording, the Fording Subsidiaries, or an agent thereof, as applicable, and is in a form which is sufficient for the proper administration of the Benefit Plan in accordance with its terms and all applicable Laws and such data is complete and correct. |
(t) | Reports. Fording has, in accordance with applicable Laws, filed with the Securities Authorities, the TSX and the NYSE, as applicable, true and complete copies of all forms, reports, schedules, statements, material change reports, circulars, press releases, disclosures relating to options and other stock based incentive plans, prospectuses, other offering documents and all other documents required to be filed by it with Securities Authorities, the TSX or the NYSE as applicable since January 1, 2007 (such forms, reports, schedules, statements and other documents, including any financial statements or other documents, including any schedules included therein, are referred to herein as the“Fording Public Documents”). None of the Fording |
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Public Documents at the time filed, or as applicable, the time of the filing becoming effective, contained any misrepresentation or any material misstatements or omissions necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made. Fording has not filed any confidential material change or similar report with any Securities Authorities, stock exchange or other regulatory authority that at the date hereof remains confidential. |
(u) | Intellectual Property. Other than any Intellectual Property owned or licenced by Purchaser and made available to Fording and except as disclosed in writing by Fording or as would not have material adverse effect, Fording and the Fording Subsidiaries own all right, title and interest in and to, or are validly licenced (and are not in material breach of such licenses) or otherwise have the right to use all patents, patent rights, trademarks, trade-names, service marks, service names, copyrights, license rights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) and other intellectual property rights (the“Intellectual Property”) necessary to carry on business in the manner presently conducted. | |
(v) | Sarbanes-Oxley Act and Internal Controls. Fording and, to Fording’s knowledge, each of the Fording Trustees and officers of Fording are in material compliance with and have complied in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act as they apply to Fording. Fording has implemented and maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with Canadian GAAP. Fording has implemented and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined inRule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) to ensure that material information relating to Fording, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to the President, in his capacity as principal executive officer of Fording, and the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, in his capacity as principal financial officer of Fording, by others within Fording. Based on its most recent evaluation of internal controls prior to the date hereof, Fording has disclosed to its auditors and audit committee (i) that there were no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls that are reasonably likely to adversely affect Fording’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information and (ii) that there was no fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in internal controls. | |
(w) | Non-Arm’s Length Transactions. Except for the Benefit Plans and other than, contracts, agreements and arrangements between Fording and the Fording Subsidiaries on the one hand and Purchaser and its affiliates or the Partnership on the other hand, and except as disclosed in writing by Fording, there are no contracts or other transactions between Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any (i) officer, trustee or director of Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries, (ii) any holder of record or beneficial owner of 5% or more of the Units, or (iii) any associate or affiliate of any such officer, trustee, director or beneficial owner, on the other hand. | |
(x) | Reporting Issuer Status. Fording is a “reporting issuer” under applicable Canadian Securities Laws in each of the provinces of Canada in which such concept exists and a “foreign private issuer” as defined inRule 3b-4 under the Exchange Act and is in compliance in all material respects with Canadian Securities Laws, U.S. Securities Laws and the rules and policies of the TSX and the NYSE. The Units are listed and posted for trading on the TSX and the NYSE and Fording is not in material default of any of the listing conditions of such exchanges. | |
(y) | No Orders. No order, ruling or determination having the effect of suspending the sale of, or ceasing the trading of, the Units or any other securities of Fording has been issued by any regulatory authority and is continuing in effect and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted, are pending or, to the knowledge of Fording, are contemplated or threatened under any Canadian Securities Laws or U.S. Securities Laws or by any other regulatory authority. | |
(z) | Material Contracts. The Material Contracts are all in full force and effect, unamended and there are no outstanding defaults (or events which would constitute a default with the passage of time or giving of notice or both) under any such Material Contract on the part of Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries, as applicable, and to the knowledge of Fording, on the part of any other party to such Material Contracts, in either case where such defaults would, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect. |
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(aa) | Investment Company. Fording is not registered and is not required to be registered as an investment company pursuant to the United States Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. | |
(bb) | Royalty Agreement. The Royalty Agreement is a legal, valid and binding obligation of each of Fording and Fording LP enforceable against each party by the other in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization (under debtor or creditor Laws), fraudulent transfer, moratorium and other applicable Laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, and to general principles of equity. Each of Fording and Fording LP is in material compliance with the terms and conditions of the Royalty Agreement, and the Royalty Agreement has not been amended in any respect since December 31, 2006. | |
(cc) | Ownership of the Partnership. Fording LP directly, and Fording indirectly, holds a 60% general partnership interest in the Partnership free and clear of all liens, mortgages, charges, pledges, security interests, encumbrances, claims or demands, other than Permitted Encumbrances and rights under the EVCP Partnership Agreement and the Teck Agreement. The Partnership is a validly subsisting partnership governed by the EVCP Partnership Agreement. The EVCP Partnership Agreement is a legal, valid and binding agreement of the partners of the Partnership enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization (under debtor or creditor Laws), fraudulent transfer, moratorium and other applicable Laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, and to general principles of equity, and has not been amended since February 27, 2006. | |
(dd) | Brokers. Except for RBC and the Independent Valuator, no broker, finder, investment banker or other market intermediary is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s, consulting, advisory, valuation or other fee or commission, or to the reimbursement of any of its expenses, in connection with the Arrangement or the other elements of the Transaction. | |
(ee) | Acquired Assets. Fording has good and valid title to the Acquired Assets free and clear of all mortgages, charges, pledges, security interests, encumbrances, claims or demands whatsoever other than Permitted Encumbrances and rights under the EVCP Partnership Agreement and the Teck Agreement, and no person or other entity (other than Purchaser) has or will have any agreement, option, right or privilege (whether pre-emptive or contractual) capable of becoming an agreement for or right to purchase from Fording all or any of the Acquired Assets or any issued or unissued equity securities of any of the Fording Subsidiaries or any interest of Fording or Fording LP in the Partnership. |
3.2 | Survival of Representations and Warranties |
3.3 | Disclaimer of Additional Representations and Warranties |
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER
4.1 | Representations and Warranties |
(a) | Organization. Each of Purchaser and the Material Purchaser Entities has been duly organized and is validly existing under the Laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized. Each of Purchaser and the Material Purchaser Entities has full corporate or legal power and authority to own its properties and assets and conduct its business as currently conducted, except where the failure to have such power or authority would not have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect. Each of Purchaser and the Material Purchaser Entities is current with all material filings required to be made in all jurisdictions in which it carries on any material business. | |
(b) | Subsidiaries and Interests. |
(i) | Except for the Material Purchaser Entities, the Purchaser has no subsidiaries (as defined for the purposes of National Instrument51-102 of the Canadian Securities Administrators but expressly excluding the Partnership) that would be required to be disclosed under Item 3.2 ofForm 51-102F2 of National Instrument51-102 of the Canadian Securities Administrators provided that the determination as to whether a subsidiary of the Purchaser would be required to be disclosed under such item shall be determined based on a subsidiary’s total assets, sales and operating revenues as at and for the twelve months ending June 30, 2008 and the Purchaser’s consolidated assets, sales and operating revenues as at and for the twelve months ending June 30, 2008 rather than as at the end of the Purchaser’s most recent financial year-end; and | |
(ii) | Except as Publicly Disclosed by Purchaser, no person or other entity has or will have any agreement, option, right or privilege (whether pre-emptive or contractual), other than rights of first refusal, capable of becoming an agreement for or right to purchase from Purchaser all or any material amount of issued or unissued equity securities of any of the Material Purchaser Entities. |
(c) | Authority. Purchaser has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Purchaser, the performance by Purchaser of its obligations under this Agreement and the completion by Purchaser of the Transaction have been duly authorized by the Board of Directors of Purchaser, and no other proceedings on the part of Purchaser are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the performance by the Purchaser of its obligations hereunder or the completion of the Transaction by Purchaser. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Purchaser and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Purchaser, enforceable against Purchaser in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization (under debtor or creditor Laws), fraudulent transfer, moratorium and other applicable Laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, and to general principles of equity. | |
(d) | No Breach. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Purchaser and performance by Purchaser of its obligations hereunder and the completion of the Transaction will not result in a violation or breach of or give rise to any termination rights under any provision of: |
(i) | the certificate of incorporation, articles, by-laws or other charter documents of Purchaser; | |
(ii) | any mortgage, note, indenture, contract, agreement, instrument, lease, permit, approval, consent, authorization or other document to which Purchaser or any Material Purchaser Entity (to the knowledge of Purchaser with respect to any Material Purchaser Entity that is not a subsidiary) is a party or by which it is bound; or | |
(iii) | any applicable Law or any judgment, decree or order binding upon Purchaser or any Material Purchaser Entity (to the knowledge of Purchaser with respect to any Material Purchaser Entity that is not a subsidiary) or the property or assets of Purchaser or the Material Purchaser Entities (to the knowledge of Purchaser with respect to any Material Purchaser Entity that is not a subsidiary), except in each case |
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such violations or breaches that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect. |
(e) | Consents and Approvals. Other than those which the failure to obtain or make, would not individually or in the aggregate, have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect, no consent, waiver, approval, permit, order or authorization of, or declaration or filing with, any Governmental Entity is required to be obtained by Purchaser or any Material Purchaser Entity (to the knowledge of Purchaser with respect to any material Purchaser Entity that is not a subsidiary) in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the completion by Purchaser of the Transaction other than: |
(i) | the Interim Order; | |
(ii) | any approvals required by Purchaser pursuant to the operation of the Interim Order; | |
(iii) | the Final Order; | |
(iv) | Competition Act Approval; | |
(v) | HSR Approval; | |
(vi) | Schedule 13E-3; | |
(vii) | filings with the Registrar under the Corporate Statute and approvals from and filings with Securities Authorities, the TSX and the NYSE; and | |
(viii) | those consents, approvals, orders, authorizations and filings listed in Schedule “B” hereto; |
(f) | Purchaser Third Party Consents. No Purchaser Third Party Consents are required by Purchaser or its subsidiaries in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Purchaser, the performance by Purchaser of its obligations under this Agreement or the completion of the Transaction by Purchaser, except where the failure to obtain such consent, approval or authorization would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect. | |
(g) | Litigation, Etc. Except as Publicly Disclosed by Purchaser, and to the knowledge of Purchaser in respect of any Material Purchaser Entity that is not a subsidiary, there is no claim, action, proceeding, suit, arbitration or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of Purchaser, threatened against or relating to Purchaser, its subsidiaries or any Material Purchaser Entity which is not a subsidiary or affecting any of their properties or assets before any court or governmental or regulatory authority or body or other Governmental Entity or arbitral authority which would, if adversely determined, individually or in the aggregate, have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect and neither Purchaser, nor any of its subsidiaries, nor to the knowledge of Purchaser any Material Purchaser Entity which is not a subsidiary, nor any of their respective properties or assets is subject to any outstanding judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree or arbitrator’s decision which has or would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect. | |
(h) | No Breach of Laws. Neither Purchaser, any of its subsidiaries, nor to the knowledge of Purchaser any Material Purchaser Entity which is not a subsidiary, is or has been in violation of, and to the knowledge of Purchaser is not under investigation with respect to and has not been threatened to be charged with or given notice of any violation of, any applicable Laws, except for violations that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect. | |
(i) | Capitalization and Listing. The authorized share capital of Purchaser consists of an unlimited number of Class A common shares, an unlimited number of Purchaser Shares and an unlimited number of preference shares, issuable in series. As of the date hereof, there are 9,353,450 Class A common shares, 433,072,558 Purchaser Shares and no preference shares issued and outstanding. The Purchaser Shares to be issued in connection with the Arrangement will be duly authorized and when issued under the Arrangement, all such Purchaser Shares will be: (i) validly issued as fully paid and non-assessable; and (ii) listed for trading on the TSX and the NYSE. The outstanding Class A common shares of Purchaser and the Purchaser Shares are validly issued and outstanding as fully paid and non-assessable shares. Except as Publicly Disclosed by Purchaser, (i) no options, warrants, conversion privileges, equity-based awards or other rights, agreements or commitments of any character whatsoever requiring or which may require the issuance, sale or transfer by |
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Purchaser of equity securities of Purchaser or any securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, or otherwise evidencing a right to acquire, or whose value is based on or in reference to the value or price of any equity securities of Purchaser, are outstanding; (ii) there are no outstanding contractual or other obligations of Purchaser to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its equity securities; and (iii) there are no outstanding contractual or other obligations of Purchaser, the value of which is based on the value of the Purchaser Shares. |
(j) | Reports. Purchaser has, in accordance with applicable Laws, filed with the Securities Authorities, the TSX and the NYSE, as applicable, true and complete copies of all forms, reports, schedules, statements, material change reports, circulars, press releases, disclosures relating to options and other stock based incentive plans, prospectuses, other offering documents and all other documents required to be filed by it with Securities Authorities, the TSX or the NYSE as applicable since January 1, 2007 (such forms, reports, schedules, statements and other documents, including any financial statements or other documents, including any schedules included therein, are referred to herein as the“Purchaser Public Documents”). None of the Purchaser Public Documents at the time filed, or as applicable, at the time of the filing becoming effective, contained any misrepresentation or any material misstatements or omissions necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances in which they were made. Purchaser has not filed any confidential material change or similar report with any Securities Authorities, stock exchanges or other regulatory authority that at the date hereof remains confidential. | |
(k) | Reporting Issuer Status. Purchaser is a “reporting issuer” under applicable Canadian Securities Laws in each of the provinces of Canada in which such concept exists and a “foreign private issuer” as defined inRule 3b-4 under the Exchange Act and is in compliance in all material respects with Canadian Securities Laws, U.S. Securities Laws and the rules and policies of the TSX and the NYSE. The Purchaser Shares are listed and posted for trading on the TSX and the NYSE and Purchaser is not in material default of any of the listing conditions of such exchanges. | |
(l) | Financial Statements. The Purchaser Financial Statements are, as at their respective dates, complete and correct in all material respects, were prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP, and present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the entities to which such financial statements relate as at the date and for the periods stated therein. The financial statements of the Purchaser described in paragraph (a) of the definition of “Purchaser Financial Statements” have been reconciled to generally accepted accounting principles as required by Item 17 ofForm 20-F under the Exchange Act. | |
(m) | Conduct of Business. |
(i) | Each of Purchaser, its subsidiaries and to the knowledge of Purchaser the Material Purchaser Entities which are not subsidiaries is currently conducting its business in material compliance with its governing documents. | |
(ii) | Purchaser, its subsidiaries and to the knowledge of Purchaser the Material Purchaser Entities which are not subsidiaries hold all licences, permits, approvals, consents, certificates, registrations and authorizations (whether governmental, regulatory or otherwise) to enable their respective businesses to be carried on as now conducted and their respective property and assets to be owned, leased and operated, in the manner currently owned, leased and operated, except where the failure to hold such licence, permit, approval, consent, certificate, registration or authorization, would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect. | |
(iii) | Since December 31, 2007, and except as Publicly Disclosed by Purchaser there has not occurred any change, financial or otherwise, in the liabilities (contingent or otherwise), business, affairs, operations, assets, financial condition or capital of Purchaser and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, nor to the knowledge of Purchaser of the Material Purchaser Entities that are not subsidiaries, that has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect; and | |
(iv) | Since December 31, 2007, except as Publicly Disclosed by Purchaser there has not been any material change in the capital or long-term debt of Purchaser and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. |
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(n) | No Orders. No order, ruling or determination having the effect of suspending the sale of, or ceasing the trading of, the Purchaser Shares or any other securities of Purchaser has been issued by any regulatory authority and is continuing in effect and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted, are pending or, to the knowledge of Purchaser, are contemplated or threatened under any Canadian Securities Laws or U.S. Securities Laws or by any other regulatory authority. | |
(o) | Sufficient Funds. Purchaser has delivered to Fording a copy of an executed commitment letter (the“Debt Commitment Letter”), dated as of the date hereof, from JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A, Citibank, N.A., Canadian branch, Merrill Lynch Capital Corporation, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Royal Bank of Canada, and Bank of Montreal (the“Lenders”). Pursuant to the Debt Commitment Letter and subject to the terms and conditions contained therein, the Lenders have committed to provide U.S.$9,810,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of debt financing to Purchaser on or before the Effective Date (the“Debt Financing”). The obligations to fund the commitments under the Debt Commitment Letter are not subject to any condition other than those set forth therein (including any further internal credit or other approval by the Lenders). Purchaser has no knowledge of any fact or occurrence that would reasonably be expected to (i) make any of the assumptions or statements set forth in the Debt Commitment Letter inaccurate, (ii) cause the Debt Commitment Letter to be ineffective or (iii) preclude in any material respect the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the Debt Commitment Letter. As of the date hereof, the Debt Commitment Letter is in full force and effect and has not been amended in any material respect, and the financing and other fees that are due and payable on or before the date hereof under the Debt Commitment Letter have been paid in full. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Debt Commitment Letter, the funds contemplated to be received pursuant to the Debt Commitment Letter, together with the expected proceeds of the sale of Units by Purchaser and funds that Purchaser currently has on hand, will be sufficient to pay, and will be used to pay, the aggregate Cash Consideration forming part of Securityholder Consideration under the Arrangement and to make all other necessary payments (including related fees and expenses) by Purchaser in connection with the Arrangement. | |
(p) | Security Ownership. Other than as disclosed by Purchaser on June 20, 2008 in its filing with the SEC on Schedule 13D, wherein it represented that Purchaser owned beneficially 29,507,142 Units, Purchaser does not own or exercise control or direction over any other Units. | |
(q) | Indebtedness. Purchaser, its subsidiaries and to the knowledge of Purchaser, the Material Purchaser Entities which are not subsidiaries, are in compliance with all material covenants under, and no material default on the part of any of such parties exists under, any instrument securing or otherwise relating to any indebtedness of Purchaser, its subsidiaries and to the knowledge of Purchaser, those Material Purchaser Entities which are not subsidiaries. | |
(r) | Environmental. Except as Publicly Disclosed by Purchaser, all operations of Purchaser, its subsidiaries and to the knowledge of Purchaser, the Material Purchaser Entities which are not subsidiaries have been, and are now being, undertaken in compliance with all Environmental Laws, except where the failure to be in compliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect. Except as Publicly Disclosed by Purchaser, its subsidiaries and to the knowledge of Purchaser, the Material Purchaser Entities which are not subsidiaries are in possession of, and in compliance with, all permits, authorizations, certificates, registrations, approvals and consents necessary under Environmental Laws to own, lease and operate their properties and to conduct their respective businesses as they are now being conducted or as proposed to be conducted, except where the failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect. Except as Publicly Disclosed by Purchaser, none of Purchaser, its subsidiaries and to the knowledge of Purchaser, the Material Purchaser Entities which are not subsidiaries, is subject to: |
(i) | any current or threatened proceeding, application, order or directive which relates to environmental, health or safety matters, and which may require any material work, repairs, construction or expenditures; or | |
(ii) | any demand or notice with respect to the breach of any Environmental Laws applicable to Purchaser, its subsidiaries and the Material Purchaser Entities which are not subsidiaries, including any regulations respecting the use, storage, treatment, transportation, or disposition of Hazardous Substances, |
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(s) | Mineral Reserves and Resources. The estimated proven and probable mineral reserves and estimated indicated, measured and inferred mineral resources disclosed in the Purchaser Public Documents filed on SEDAR as of the year-ended December 31, 2007 have been prepared and disclosed in all material respects in accordance with accepted engineering practices and all applicable Laws. There has been no material reduction in the aggregate amount of estimated mineral reserves, estimated mineral resources or mineralized material of Purchaser, its subsidiaries and to the knowledge of Purchaser the Material Purchaser Entities which are not subsidiaries taken as a whole, from the amounts disclosed in the Purchaser Public Documents filed on SEDAR as of the year-ended December 31, 2007 other than as a result of mining activities undertaken in the ordinary course. | |
(t) | Employment Matters. None of Purchaser, its subsidiaries or to the knowledge of Purchaser the Material Purchaser Entities which are not subsidiaries has any current, pending or threatened strikes (including official or unofficial strikes or other labour relations difficulties), work stoppage, slowdowns or lockouts, union representation or organizing activities or unlawful labour practices or actions. | |
(u) | Tax Matters. |
(i) | Purchaser, each of its subsidiaries and to the knowledge of Purchaser each of the Material Purchaser Entities which are not subsidiaries have timely filed, or caused to be filed, all Tax Returns required to be filed by them (all of which returns were correct and complete in all material respects). Purchaser, each of its subsidiaries and to the knowledge of Purchaser each of the Material Purchaser Entities which are not subsidiaries have timely paid, collected, withheld or remitted, or caused to be paid, withheld or remitted, all material Taxes that are due and payable (including all instalments on account of Taxes for the current year that are due and payable by Purchaser, any of its subsidiaries and to the knowledge of Purchaser the Material Purchaser Entities which are not subsidiaries whether or not assessed (or reassessed) by the appropriate Governmental Entity). There are no encumbrances for Taxes (other than Taxes not yet due and payable or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of Purchaser in accordance with Canadian GAAP) upon any of the assets or properties of Purchaser, any of its subsidiaries and the Material Purchaser Entities which are not subsidiaries; | |
(ii) | Purchaser has provided adequate accruals in accordance with Canadian GAAP in its consolidated financial statements for the period from inception to December 31, 2007 for any Taxes for the period covered by such financial statements that have not been paid, whether or not shown as being due on any Tax Returns; | |
(iii) | since the publication date of Purchaser’s consolidated financial statements for the period ending December 31, 2007, no material Tax liability not reflected in such statements or otherwise provided for has been assessed, incurred, proposed to be assessed or accrued or raised for review or placed under appeal; | |
(iv) | Purchaser, each of its subsidiaries and to the knowledge of Purchaser each of the Material Purchaser Entities which are not subsidiaries has duly and timely withheld from any amount paid or credited by it to or for the account or benefit of any person the amount of all Taxes and other deductions required by all applicable Law to be withheld from any such amount and has duly and timely remitted the same to the appropriate Governmental Entity; and | |
(v) | there are no material proceedings, investigations, audits or claims now pending or, to the knowledge of Purchaser, threatened against Purchaser, any of its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of Purchaser, the Material Purchaser Entities which are not subsidiaries in respect of any Taxes and there are no material matters under discussion, audit or appeal with any Governmental Entity relating to Taxes and no material waivers of statutes of limitations, statutory limitation periods, agreements or other arrangements providing for an extension of time with respect to the filing of any Tax Return or payment of any Taxes have been given or requested with respect to Purchaser, any of its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of Purchaser, the Material Purchaser Entities which are not subsidiaries. |
(v) | No Defaults. None of Purchaser, nor any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of Purchaser, the Material Purchaser Entities which are not subsidiaries is in default under, and there exists no event, condition or |
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occurrence which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default under, any contract, agreement, concession or licence to which it is a party or by which it is bound which would, if terminated or upon exercise of a right made available to a third party solely by reason of such a default, individually or in the aggregate, have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect. |
(w) | Sarbanes-Oxley Act and Internal Controls. Purchaser and, to the knowledge of Purchaser, each of the directors and officers of Purchaser are in material compliance with and have complied in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act as they apply to Purchaser. Purchaser has implemented and maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with Canadian GAAP. Purchaser has implemented and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined inRule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) to ensure that material information relating to Purchaser, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to the Chief Executive Officer, in his capacity as principal executive officer of Purchaser, and the Chief Financial Officer, in his capacity as principal financial officer of Purchaser, by others within Purchaser. Based on its most recent evaluation of internal controls prior to the date hereof, Purchaser has disclosed to its auditors and audit committee (i) that there were no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls that are reasonably likely to adversely affect Purchaser’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information, and (ii) that there was no fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in internal controls. | |
(x) | Investment Canada Act. Purchaser is a Canadian entity for purposes of theInvestment Canada Act. |
4.2 | Survival of Representations and Warranties |
4.3 | Disclaimer of Additional Representations and Warranties |
COVENANTS
5.1 | Press Releases; Filings |
(a) | The Parties agree to use reasonable commercial efforts to consult with each other in issuing any press releases or otherwise making public statements or public filings with respect to this Agreement, the Arrangement or the other elements of the Transaction except with respect to Acquisition Proposals, Superior Proposals or disagreements under this Agreement. Subject to the requirements of applicable Law, Fording and Purchaser shall provide each other with a reasonable period of time to review and comment on all such press releases, public statements or public filings prior to release thereof. Fording and Purchaser agree to issue jointly or concurrently with each other a press release with respect to this Agreement as soon as practicable, in a form acceptable to each Party, acting reasonably. | |
(b) | The Parties will prepare and file as promptly as practicable, and in any event prior to the expiration of any legal or regulatory deadlines, all necessary documents, registrations, statements, petitions, filings, supporting evidence and applications, including theSchedule 13E-3, that are required by applicable Law or in order to obtain the Regulatory Approvals and use their commercially reasonable efforts to obtain and maintain the Regulatory Approvals. |
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(c) | The Parties shall reasonably cooperate with each other in the preparation of any applications and filings for the Regulatory Approvals and any other orders, clearances, consents, rulings, exemptions, certificates, no-action letters and approvals reasonably deemed by either Purchaser or Fording to be necessary to discharge their respective obligations under this Agreement or otherwise required or advisable under applicable Laws in connection with the Arrangement, the other elements of the Transaction and this Agreement. In connection with the foregoing, each Party shall furnish, on a timely basis, all information as may be reasonably required by the other Party or required under applicable Law by any Governmental Entity to effectuate the foregoing actions, and each covenants that, to its knowledge, no information so furnished by it in writing shall contain a misrepresentation. Subject to applicable Law, each of Fording and Purchaser shall provide the other with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment upon drafts of such applications and filings and consult with, and consider in good faith any suggestions or comments made by the other with respect to the documentation relating to the applications and filings for the Regulatory Approvals, provided that, to the extent any such document contains any information or disclosure relating to a Party or any affiliate of a Party, such Party shall have approved such information or disclosure prior to the submission or filing of any such document (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). | |
(d) | Subject to applicable Laws, the Parties shall cooperate with and keep each other fully informed as to the status of and the processes and proceedings relating to obtaining the Regulatory Approvals, and shall promptly notify each other of any communication from any Governmental Entity in respect of the Arrangement, the other elements of the Transaction or this Agreement, and shall not make any submissions or filings, participate in any material meetings or any material conversations with any Governmental Entity in respect of inquiries related to the Arrangement, the other elements of the Transaction or this Agreement unless it consults with the other Party in advance and, to the extent not precluded by such Governmental Entity, gives the other Party the opportunity to review drafts of any submissions or filings, or attend and participate in any such meetings or material conversations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, submissions, filings or other written communications with any Governmental Entity may be redacted as necessary before being shared with the other Parties to address reasonable solicitor-client or other privilege or confidentiality concerns, provided that external legal counsel to Purchaser and Fording shall receive non-redacted versions of drafts or final submissions, filings or other written communications to any Governmental Entity on the basis that the redacted information shall not be shared with their respective clients. The Parties shall request that the Regulatory Approvals be processed by the applicable Governmental Entity on an expedited basis and, to the extent that a public hearing is held, the Parties shall request the earliest possible hearing date for the consideration of the Regulatory Approvals. | |
(e) | Each of the Parties shall promptly notify the other if at any time before the Effective Time it becomes aware that: |
(i) | any application for a Regulatory Approval or other filing under applicable Laws, including theSchedule 13E-3, made in connection with this Agreement or the Transaction contains a misrepresentation; or | |
(ii) | any Regulatory Approval or other order, clearance, consent, ruling, exemption, no-action letter or other approval applied for as contemplated herein which has been obtained contains or reflects or was obtained following submission of any application, filing, document or su bmission as contemplated herein that contained a misrepresentation; |
5.2 | Covenants of Fording |
(a) | it will: |
(i) | following the execution of this Agreement, promptly suspend, and not subsequently reinstate, the distribution of Units under the Fording DRIP; |
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(ii) | promptly following the execution of this Agreement, suspend the grant of further Phantom Units under the Joint Phantom Unit Plan (it being acknowledged and agreed that in lieu of the grant of further Phantom Units, Fording will make cash equivalent payments in the ordinary course and in a manner consistent with past compensation practice, to the Fording Trustees and the Fording Directors); | |
(iii) | co-operate with Purchaser and the Partnership to take all action necessary to terminate the TUPP at the Effective Date; | |
(iv) | as soon as reasonably practicable after the execution of this Agreement but in any event, subject to Section 6.4, Section 5.6(c) and Section 5.2(f), on or before October 31, 2008, convene and conduct the Fording Meeting in accordance with this Agreement, the Interim Order, the Declaration of Trust and applicable Laws; | |
(v) | prepare and complete, in consultation with Purchaser, the Proxy Circular together with any other documents required by the Declaration of Trust, the Interim Order or applicable Laws in connection with the Fording Meeting and the Arrangement (provided that in any event Fording will have prepared all materials necessary for filing the application for the Interim Order with the Court and the Registrar within thirty days after the date of this Agreement); and | |
(vi) | no later than 21 days prior to the Fording Meeting, cause the Proxy Circular and other documentation required in connection with the Fording Meeting to be filed and to be sent to each Securityholder and other persons as required by the Declaration of Trust, the Interim Order and applicable Laws, in each case so as to permit the Fording Meeting to be held within the time required by Section 5.2(a)(iv); |
(b) | it will ensure that the Proxy Circular complies in all material respects with all applicable Laws, and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, that the Proxy Circular (including with respect to any information incorporated therein by reference from the Fording Public Documents) will not contain a misrepresentation (other than with respect to any information furnished by Purchaser for inclusion in the Proxy Circular) and shall provide Securityholders with information in sufficient detail to permit them to form a reasoned judgement concerning the matters to be placed before them at the Fording Meeting; | |
(c) | it will include in the Proxy Circular the recommendation of the Fording Trustees that Unitholders vote in favour of the Arrangement Resolution (it being understood that such recommendation may be withdrawn, amended, modified or qualified in the event a Change in Recommendation is made in accordance with Section 5.6); | |
(d) | it will give Purchaser and its legal counsel a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on drafts of the Proxy Circular and other documents related thereto, it being acknowledged and agreed that Fording shall, acting reasonably, determine whether or not to take account of such comments, provided that all information relating to Purchaser, its subsidiaries and joint venture interests, or their respective businesses and properties included in the Proxy Circular shall be in form and content satisfactory to Purchaser, acting reasonably; | |
(e) | it will provide notice to Purchaser of the Fording Meeting and allow Purchaser’s representatives to attend the Fording Meeting; | |
(f) | subject to Section 6.4 and Section 5.6(c) except as required for quorum purposes or by applicable Laws, it will not postpone or adjourn (or propose any such adjournment or postponement) the Fording Meeting without Purchaser’s prior written consent, and in the event of any such postponement or adjournment, it will, as promptly as practicable, take all steps necessary to thereafter reconvene the Fording Meeting; | |
(g) | it will advise Purchaser as Purchaser may reasonably request, and at least on a daily basis on each of the last ten (10) business days prior to the date of the Fording Meeting, as to the aggregate tally of the proxies received by Fording in respect of the Arrangement Resolution; | |
(h) | it will promptly advise Purchaser of any written notice of dissent or purported exercise by any Unitholder of Dissent Rights received by Fording in relation to the Arrangement Resolution and any withdrawal of Dissent Rights received by Fording and any written communications sent by or on behalf of Fording to any Unitholder exercising or purporting to exercise Dissent Rights in relation to the Arrangement Resolution; |
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(i) | in a timely and expeditious manner, and in consultation with Purchaser, it will prepare and file any amendments or supplements to the Proxy Circular that are required by applicable Law or that Fording, acting reasonably, determines to be desirable and mail the same as required by the Interim Order and in accordance with all applicable Laws, in all jurisdictions where the same is required, complying in all material respects with all applicable legal requirements on the date of mailing thereof; | |
(j) | at the request of Purchaser and provided Purchaser agrees to pay the costs of such solicitation, it will use commercially reasonable efforts to solicit from the Securityholders proxies in favour of the Arrangement Resolution, including using the services of dealers and proxy solicitation services, and will take all other action that is necessary, desirable or advisable to secure the approval of the Arrangement Resolution, unless and until the Fording Trustees have changed their recommendation of the Arrangement; | |
(k) | it will provide legal counsel to Purchaser with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment upon drafts of all material to be filed with the Court in connection with the Interim Order and Final Order, and will give reasonable consideration to all such comments; and | |
(l) | it will provide legal counsel to Purchaser on a timely basis with copies of any notice of appearance and evidence served on Fording or any Fording Subsidiary or its legal counsel in respect of the application for the Final Order or any appeal therefrom and with copies of any materials filed with the Court by Fording or any Fording Subsidiary in connection with the Arrangement. |
5.3 | Further Covenants of Fording |
(a) | subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, in a timely and expeditious manner take or cause to be taken all such steps and do or cause to be done all such acts and things, as are specified in the Interim Order, the Plan of Arrangement and the Final Order to be taken or done by Fording and the Fording Subsidiaries; | |
(b) | as soon as reasonably practicable after the date hereof, subject to the concluding sentence of this Section 5.3(b), use all commercially reasonable efforts to satisfy (or cause the satisfaction of) the conditions precedent to its and Purchaser’s obligations hereunder set forth in Article 6 to the extent the same is within its or any Fording Subsidiary’s control and to take, or cause to be taken, all other actions and to do, or cause to be done, all other things necessary, proper or advisable under all applicable Laws to complete the Arrangement and the other elements of the Transaction as promptly as practicable, including using its commercially reasonable efforts to: |
(i) | obtain all Fording Regulatory Approvals; | |
(ii) | respond to any request for information that may be made by any Governmental Entity so as to enable the Parties to expeditiously complete the Arrangement and the other elements of the Transaction as promptly as practicable; | |
(iii) | oppose, lift or rescind any injunction or restraining order or other order, proceeding or action challenging or affecting this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, or seeking to restrain, enjoin or prohibit the completion of the Transaction in accordance with the terms hereof; | |
(iv) | obtain and maintain all approvals, clearances, consents, registrations, permits, authorizations and other confirmations required to be obtained from any Governmental Entity or other third party that are necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the Transaction, including the Third Party Consents; and | |
(v) | co-operate with Purchaser in connection with the performance by it of its obligations hereunder. |
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(c) | subject to its commercially reasonable efforts, not take any action or permit any action to be taken or not taken by any of the Fording Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impede or delay the completion of the Arrangement or the other elements of the Transaction or would render, or that reasonably may be expected to render, any representation or warranty made by it in this Agreement untrue in any material respect at any time prior to the Transaction Confirmation Date or the Effective Date if then made; | |
(d) | not do anything that (i) would adversely affect Fording’s status as a “mutual fund trust” for purposes of the Tax Act or (ii) would cause the definition of a “SIFT trust” in subsection 122.1(1) of the Tax Act to apply to Fording for any taxation year ending before 2011; | |
(e) | use reasonable commercial efforts to provide, and shall use reasonable commercial efforts to cause its trustees, directors, officers, Employees, independent auditors, counsel and other representatives to provide, all such reasonable and timely cooperation in connection with the arrangement of the debt financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter as may be reasonably requested by Purchaser, the Lenders or their affiliates, including but not limited to using its reasonable commercial efforts to: |
(i) | participate in meetings, drafting sessions and due diligence sessions, | |
(ii) | furnish Purchaser and its financing sources with such financial and other pertinent information regarding Fording and the Fording Subsidiaries as may be reasonably requested by Purchaser, | |
(iii) | assist Purchaser and its financing sources in the preparation of an offering document to be used in connection with the debt financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter or the refinancing thereof, as well as presentation materials and materials for rating agency presentations, | |
(iv) | reasonably cooperate with the marketing and syndication efforts of Purchaser and its financing sources; | |
(v) | obtain reasonable auditors’ reports, reasonable comfort letters and reasonable legal opinions (in each case as are customary), and | |
(vi) | provide reasonable cooperation to Purchaser to assist it in satisfying the conditions and obligations of Purchaser set forth in the Debt Commitment Letter in respect of matters within the control of Fording. |
(A) | pay any commitment, consent or other fee or incur any other liability in connection with any such financing prior to the Effective Time; | |
(B) | take any action or do anything that would contravene any applicable Law, contravene any contract of Fording or any Fording Subsidiary that relates to borrowed money or would be capable of impairing or preventing the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article 6; | |
(C) | commit to take any action that is not contingent on the consummation of the Transaction at the Effective Time; | |
(D) | disclose any information that in the reasonable judgment of Fording would result in the disclosure of any trade secrets or similar information or violate any obligations of the Fording or any other person with respect to confidentiality; or | |
(E) | cooperate with Purchaser to the extent that it would unreasonably interfere with the business or operations of Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries. |
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(f) | subject to its reasonable commercial efforts, co-operate with Purchaser to take all such action as may be necessary or advisable to permit all amounts outstanding under the Fording Credit Agreement to be repaid at the Effective Time and for all related security and hedging arrangements to be fully discharged and releases related thereto to be obtained from all applicable lenders at the cost of Purchaser provided that Fording shall not be required to take any action, or fail to take any action inconsistent with or that otherwise affects its ability to make a payment under the Plan of Arrangement; | |
(g) | unless expressly required by any contract, agreement or arrangement in effect on the date hereof or applicable Laws, directly or indirectly, whether by or through any Fording Subsidiary, do or permit to occur any of the following: |
(i) | issue, sell, pledge, lease, dispose of, encumber or agree to issue, sell, pledge, lease, dispose of or encumber any Units, shares, securities or units of, or any options, warrants, calls, conversion privileges or similar rights of any kind to acquire any Units, shares, securities or units of, it or any subsidiary, other than: |
(A) | the issue of Units pursuant to the due exercise of Exchange Options in accordance with their terms; or | |
(B) | the issue of securities in connection with the redemption of Units at the request of a Unitholder, except that Fording shall not be permitted to distribute, directly or indirectly, any interest in the Royalty or any general or limited partnership interest in Fording LP in connection with any such redemption; or | |
(C) | the issue of Units pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the operation of the Joint Phantom Unit Plan; |
(ii) | mortgage, charge, pledge, grant a security interest or encumber any of the Acquired Assets or sell or dispose of, or agree to sell or dispose of, any material assets; | |
(iii) | amend or propose to amend the Declaration of Trust or their articles, charter, by-laws or other similar organizational documents of any of the Fording Subsidiaries or any of the terms of the Joint Phantom Unit Plan, Exchange Option Plan or the Fording DRIP; | |
(iv) | split, combine, reclassify or amend the terms of any of its outstanding securities or any securities of the Fording Subsidiaries or declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution payable in cash, stock, property or otherwise with respect to such securities (other than the final distribution made by Fording and the Fording Subsidiaries of up to U.S. $3.00 per Unit pursuant to and in accordance with the Plan of Arrangement); | |
(v) | redeem, purchase or offer to purchase (or permit any of the Fording Subsidiaries to redeem, purchase or offer to purchase) any Units (including by way of issuer bid) or other equity securities of it or any of the Fording Subsidiaries, except that Fording shall be permitted to redeem Units at the request of a Unitholder in accordance with the Declaration of Trust, but shall not be permitted to distribute, directly or indirectly, any interest in the Royalty or any general or limited partnership interest in Fording LP in connection with any such redemption; | |
(vi) | repay, redeem, repurchase or retire, or otherwise make any payment in respect of any indebtedness for borrowed money of it or any of the Fording Subsidiaries or any debt securities, or any rights, warrants, calls or options to acquire any debt securities of it or any of the Fording Subsidiaries, other than in the ordinary course of business in a manner consistent with past practice or other than as required by their terms as in effect on the date of this Agreement, or authorize, or make any commitment to make any new capital expenditure, other than expenses incurred in connection with the Transaction or the other matters expressly contemplated by this Agreement; | |
(vii) | reorganize, amalgamate or merge it or any of the Fording Subsidiaries with any other person; |
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(viii) | adopt a plan of liquidation or resolutions providing for the liquidation or dissolution of Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries; | |
(ix) | acquire or agree to acquire, or make any investment in, any person (or material interest therein) or division, other than the short term investment of cash on hand, including by way of merger, amalgamation, plan of arrangement, acquisition of securities or otherwise; | |
(x) | incur or commit to provide guarantees for borrowed money, or incur or assume any additional indebtedness for borrowed money or any other material liability or obligation or issue any debt securities, except for borrowings in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or other than in connection with the Break Fee in the circumstances contemplated herein; | |
(xi) | except as required by Canadian GAAP or applicable Law make, change or revoke any material election relating to Taxes, change any annual accounting period, adopt or change any existing accounting practices, or take any action, or omit to take any action, in either case inconsistent with past practice, relating to the filing of any Tax Return or the payment of any Tax; | |
(xii) | except as otherwise expressly provided in this Section 5.3, pay, settle, discharge or satisfy any material claim, liability or obligation (whether absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or otherwise), other than in the ordinary course of business and in a manner consistent with past practice; | |
(xiii) | except as otherwise provided in Section 5.8, amend, modify or terminate any insurance policy in effect on the date hereof; or | |
(xiv) | agree, resolve or commit to do any of the foregoing; |
(h) | not enter into or modify any employment, severance, collective bargaining or similar agreement, policy or arrangement with, or grant any bonus, salary increase, stock option, pension or supplemental pension benefit, profit sharing, retirement allowance, deferred compensation, incentive compensation, severance or termination pay to, or make any loan to, any of its Employees, trustees, officers or directors other than payments to the Fording Trustees and the Fording Directors on suspension of the grant of Phantom Units under the Joint Phantom Unit Plan in the manner contemplated herein; | |
(i) | use its reasonable commercial efforts to cause its current insurance (or re-insurance) policies not to be cancelled or terminated or any of the coverages thereunder to lapse, unless simultaneously with such termination, cancellation or lapse, replacement policies underwritten by insurance and re-insurance companies of nationally recognized standing providing coverage equal to or greater than the coverage under the cancelled, terminated or lapsed policies for substantially similar premiums are in full force and effect; | |
(j) | unless expressly required by a Material Contract or applicable Laws, continue to carry on its and each Fording Subsidiary’s business and operations in the usual and ordinary course in a manner consistent with past practice, and shall use its reasonable commercial efforts to preserve intact its and each Fording Subsidiary’s business organizations and goodwill; | |
(k) | promptly notify Purchaser in writing of: |
(i) | any material adverse change or material adverse effect, or any change, effect, event, development, occurrence, circumstance or state of facts which would reasonably be expected to become a material adverse change or material adverse effect; and | |
(ii) | of any material Governmental Entity complaints, investigations, hearings or any material third party litigation, (or communications indicating that the same may be contemplated or threatened); |
(l) | not settle or compromise any claim (including any exercise of Dissent Rights) brought by any present, former or purported holder of any of its securities; | |
(m) | not: |
(i) | authorize any waiver, release or relinquishment of any material contractual right; or | |
(ii) | modify in any material fashion in a manner adverse to Fording or terminate any Material Contract; |
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(n) | promptly advise Purchaser in writing: |
(i) | if it or any Fording Subsidiary becomes aware that the Proxy Circular or any application for an order in connection with the Transaction contains any misrepresentation or otherwise requires an amendment or supplement; | |
(ii) | of any event, condition or circumstance that would reasonably be expected to cause any representation or warranty made by it in this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate in any material respect at any time prior to the Transaction Confirmation Date or the Effective Date (or, in the case of any representation or warranty made as of a specified date, as of such specified date); | |
(iii) | of any material breach by it of any covenant, obligation or agreement contained in this Agreement; and |
(o) | subject to its reasonable commercial efforts, cooperate with Purchaser to secure, effective on the Effective Date, resignations of all individuals who are currently Fording Trustees, Fording Directors, officers of Fording or directors or officers of the Fording Subsidiaries, together with duly executed comprehensive mutual releases from each such individual, and, as applicable, Fording or the Fording Subsidiary, of all of their claims, respectively, against Fording and the Fording Subsidiaries (except for any claims for unpaid remuneration, including bonus, severance and change of control payments) on the one hand, and a release by Fording or the Fording Subsidiary of all claims against such person on the other hand. |
5.4 | General Covenants and Acknowledgments of Purchaser |
(a) | subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, it will in a timely and expeditious manner take all such steps and do all such acts and things, as are specified in the Interim Order, the Plan of Arrangement and the Final Order to be taken or done by Purchaser; | |
(b) | it shall (subject to its commercially reasonable efforts) not take any action, or permit any of its subsidiaries to take any action that would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impede or delay the completion of the Arrangement or the other elements of the Transaction or would render, or that reasonably may be expected to render, any representation or warranty made by it in this Agreement untrue in any material respect at any time prior to the Transaction Confirmation Date or the Effective Date if then made; | |
(c) | it shall promptly notify Fording in writing of: |
(i) | any material Governmental Entity complaints, investigations, hearings or any material third party litigation relating to or affecting the Arrangement or the Transaction (or communications indicating that the same may be contemplated or threatened); |
(d) | it shall, subject to its commercially reasonable efforts, take all necessary action to ensure that it has sufficient funds, in excess of those expected to be made available as part of the Debt Financing, to carry out its obligations under this Agreement, the Arrangement and the other elements of the Transaction and to pay all related fees and expenses; | |
(e) | as soon as reasonably practicable after the date hereof, it shall, subject to the concluding sentence of this Section 5.4(e), use all commercially reasonable efforts to satisfy (or cause the satisfaction of) the conditions precedent to its obligations hereunder set forth in Article 6 to the extent the same is within its control (including voting all Units held by it or over which it or its affiliates exercises direction or control) and to take, or cause to be taken, all other actions and to do, or cause to be done, all other things necessary, proper or advisable under all applicable Laws to complete the Arrangement and the other elements of the Transaction as promptly as practicable, including using its commercially reasonable efforts to: |
(i) | obtain all Purchaser Regulatory Approvals; | |
(ii) | respond to any request for information that may be made by any Governmental Entity so as to enable the Parties to expeditiously complete the Arrangement and the other elements of the Transaction as promptly as practicable; |
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(iii) | oppose, lift or rescind any injunction or restraining order or other order, proceeding or action challenging or affecting this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, or seeking to restrain, enjoin or prohibit the completion of the Transaction in accordance with the terms hereof; | |
(iv) | obtain and maintain all approvals, clearances, consents, registrations, permits, authorizations and other confirmations required to be obtained from any Governmental Entity or other third party that are necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the Transaction; and | |
(v) | co-operate with Fording in connection with the performance by it of its obligations hereunder. |
(f) | it shall (subject to its commercially reasonable efforts) not take any action that would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impede or delay the completion of the Arrangement or the other elements of the Transaction, or would render, or that reasonably may be expected to render, any representation or warranty made by it in this Agreement untrue in any material respect at any time prior to the Transaction Confirmation Date or the Effective Date if then made; | |
(g) | in a timely and expeditious manner, it shall provide to Fording all information, including anypro forma financial statements prepared in accordance with applicable Laws, as may be reasonably requested by Fording or as required by the Interim Order or applicable Laws with respect to Purchaser, its subsidiaries and joint venture interests and their respective businesses and properties for inclusion in the Proxy Circular or in any amendments or supplements to such Proxy Circular complying in all material respects with all applicable Laws on the date of mailing thereof and shall ensure such information does not, and represents and warrants that it will not, contain any misrepresentation. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, Purchaser shall execute reasonable certificates as to factual matters and provide such information to counsel reasonably necessary such that counsel can provide the tax opinions and tax disclosure in the Proxy Circular customary for an arrangement; | |
(h) | it shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause any of its independent auditors, qualified persons and any other advisors providing any expert information, includingpro forma financial statements or technical reports (if legally required), for inclusion in the Proxy Circular to furnish to Fording a consent permitting such inclusion and the identification in the Proxy Circular of such advisor; | |
(i) | from the date hereof until the earlier of the Effective Date and the day upon which this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, it shall, unless it has received the prior written consent of Fording, (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), or except as expressly contemplated in this Agreement or required by a contract, agreement or arrangement in effect on the date hereof or applicable Laws, continue to carry on its business and operations in the usual and ordinary course in a manner consistent with past practice, and shall use its reasonable commercial efforts to preserve intact its business organizations and goodwill, and it shall not unless it has received the prior written consent of Fording, (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), or except as expressly contemplated in this Agreement, or unless expressly required by any contract, agreement or arrangement in effect on the date hereof or applicable Laws, do or permit to occur any of the following: |
(i) | split, combine, reclassify or amend the terms of any of its outstanding securities or declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution payable in cash, stock, property or otherwise with respect to such securities, except for (A) cash dividends consistent with past practice and in the ordinary course, in each case with usual declaration, record and payment dates and in accordance with Purchaser’s current dividend policy and (B) dividends or distributions paid to Purchaser or any its subsidiaries by any subsidiary of Purchaser; |
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(ii) | issue or sell or agree to issue or sell any Purchaser Shares or any options, warrants, calls, conversion privileges or similar rights of any kind to acquire any Purchaser Shares, other than: |
(A) | issuances of Purchaser Shares upon the exercise of stock options outstanding on the date hereof or issued after the date hereof in compliance with the terms of this Agreement in accordance with their present terms; | |
(B) | grants of options, restricted shares, and/or deferred stock units to its employees and directors in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; or | |
(C) | issuances of Purchaser Shares required pursuant to the conversion of convertible securities outstanding on the date hereof; or | |
(D) | issuances of Purchaser Shares or securities convertible, directly or indirectly, for Purchaser Shares in connection with any refinancing by Purchaser of the Debt Financing; |
(iii) | amend its articles of incorporation, by-laws or other similar organizational documents; | |
(iv) | reorganize, amalgamate or merge with any other person, other than one or more wholly-owned subsidiaries; | |
(v) | adopt a plan or agreement of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, amalgamation, restructuring, recapitalization or other material reorganization (other than a merger, amalgamation or consolidation between or only involving wholly-owned subsidiaries of Purchaser); or | |
(vi) | agree, resolve or commit to do any of the foregoing; |
(j) | it will cause the Managing Partner to manage the Partnership in the ordinary course and, subject to compliance with the then current Approved Plan (as such term is defined in the EVCP Partnership Agreement), in a manner consistent with past practice, and otherwise in full compliance with the EVCP Partnership Agreement and applicable Laws; | |
(k) | it shall ensure that the Purchaser Shares to be issued in accordance with the Arrangement will, immediately following issuance, be listed and posted for trading on the TSX and NYSE; | |
(l) | it shall promptly advise Fording in writing of: |
(i) | any event, condition or circumstance that might reasonably be expected to cause any representation or warranty of Purchaser contained in this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate in any material respect on the Transaction Confirmation Date or the Effective Date (or, in the case of any representation or warranty made as of a specified date, as of such specified date); | |
(ii) | any material breach by Purchaser of any covenant, obligation or agreement contained in this Agreement; | |
(iii) | any Purchaser Material Adverse Effect or any change, effect, event, development, occurrence, circumstance or state of facts which would reasonably be expected to become a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect; and | |
(iv) | any material change with respect to the debt financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Purchaser agrees to notify Fording promptly, and in any event within 24 hours, if at any time prior to the Effective Time: (A) the Debt Commitment Letter will expire or be terminated for any reason; (B) any event occurs that, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, would individually or in the aggregate, constitute a default or breach on the part of Purchaser under any material term or condition of the Debt Commitment Letter or under any agreement or instrument contemplated therein or if Purchaser has any reason to believe that it will be unable to satisfy, on a timely basis, any term or condition of any funding arrangements contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter required to be satisfied by it, that in each case would reasonably be expected to impair the ability of Purchaser to consummate the debt financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter; or (C) any financing source that is a party to the Debt Commitment Letter advises Purchaser, whether orally or in writing, that such source either no longer intends to provide or underwrite any financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter on the terms set forth in |
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the Debt Commitment Letter or requests amendments or waivers thereto that are or could reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the timely completion by Purchaser of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. |
(m) | in connection with the Debt Commitment Letter: |
(i) | it shall use its best efforts to arrange and obtain the debt financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any event prior to October 31, 2008, on the terms and conditions described therein. Purchaser shall deliver to Fording correct and complete copies of such executed definitive agreements and documentation promptly when available and drafts thereof from time to time upon the reasonable request by Fording; | |
(ii) | it shall use its best efforts to satisfy, on a timely basis, in all material respects all covenants, terms, representations and warranties and conditions in the Debt Commitment Letter that are within its control; | |
(iii) | other than as specifically contemplated in this Agreement, Purchaser shall not, without the prior written consent of Fording, take any action or enter into any transaction, including any merger, acquisition, joint venture, disposition, lease, contract or debt or equity financings, that would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impede or delay Purchaser in obtaining the debt financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter or prevent, materially impede or delay its ability to complete the Transaction; | |
(iv) | it shall not amend or alter, or agree to amend or alter, the Debt Commitment Letter or any other definitive agreement or documentation related thereto in any manner that would reasonably be expected to prevent, materially impede or delay the completion of the Transaction, in each case without the prior written consent of Fording; and | |
(v) | if the Debt Commitment Letter is terminated or modified in a manner materially adverse to Purchaser’s ability to complete the Transaction for any reason, Purchaser shall use commercially reasonable efforts to: (A) obtain, as promptly as practicable, and, once obtained, provide Fording with a copy of, one or more new debt financing commitments in replacement of the Debt Financing and in an amount substantially similar to the amount anticipated to be available under the Debt Financing, that is not subject to any condition precedent materially less favourable from the perspective of Fording than the conditions precedent contained in the Debt Commitment Letter (provided that Purchaser shall not be required to use any efforts to obtain any commitments that are on terms materially less favourable to Purchaser, as determined in the reasonable judgment of Purchaser, than those in the Debt Commitment Letter); (B) negotiate and enter into definitive credit, loan or other agreements and all required documentation with such third parties as may be necessary for Purchaser to obtain such funds on terms and conditions consistent with such new debt financing commitments, as soon as reasonably practicable but in any event prior to October 31, 2008, and deliver to Fording correct and complete copies of such executed definitive agreements and documentation promptly when available; and (C) satisfy, on a timely basis, in all material respects all covenants, terms, representations and warranties and conditions applicable to Purchaser in respect of such new debt financing commitments and all other required agreements and documentation related thereto. Any such replacement commitments shall be deemed to constitute the Debt Commitment Letter for the purposes of this Agreement. |
5.5 | Covenants Regarding Non-Solicitation |
(a) | Except as expressly provided in this Section 5.5 and Section 5.6, from and after the date of this Agreement, Fording shall not, directly or indirectly, through any officer, trustee, director, employee, representative (including any financial or other advisor) or agent of Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries (collectively,“Fording Representatives”): |
(i) | solicit, assist, initiate, encourage or otherwise in any way facilitate (including by way of furnishing information, or entering into any form of written or oral agreement, arrangement or understanding) any Acquisition Proposal or any inquiries, proposals or offers regarding any Acquisition Proposal; | |
(ii) | participate in any discussion or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any person any confidential information with respect to, any Acquisition Proposal or potential Acquisition Proposal or otherwise co- |
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operate in any way with, or assist or participate in, facilitate or encourage, any effort or attempt by any person to make an Acquisition Proposal or potential Acquisition Proposal; |
(iii) | make a Change in Recommendation; | |
(iv) | accept, approve, agree to, endorse, recommend, or propose publicly to accept, approve, agree to, endorse, recommend any Acquisition Proposal; or | |
(v) | accept, approve, agree to, endorse or recommend or enter into, or publicly propose to accept, approve, agree to, endorse or recommend or enter into, any agreement in respect of an Acquisition Proposal, |
(b) | Fording shall, and shall cause the Fording Subsidiaries and the Fording Representatives to, immediately cease and cause to be terminated any solicitation, encouragement, discussion or negotiation with any persons (other than the Purchaser) conducted heretofore by Fording, the Fording Subsidiaries or any of the Fording Representatives with respect to any Acquisition Proposal or potential Acquisition Proposal, and, in connection therewith, Fording will discontinue access to the Virtual Data Room (and not establish or allow access to any other data rooms, virtual or otherwise or otherwise furnish information other than as permitted in paragraph (a) above) and shall as soon as possible request, to the extent that it is entitled to do so, the return or destruction of all confidential information regarding Fording, the Fording Subsidiaries or the Partnership previously provided to any such person or any other person and will request, to the extent it is entitled to do so, the destruction of all material including or incorporating or otherwise reflecting any confidential information regarding Fording, the Fording Subsidiaries or the Partnership. Fording agrees that it will not terminate, waive, amend or modify any provision of any existing confidentiality agreement relating to an Acquisition Proposal or potential Acquisition Proposal, or any standstill agreement to which it or any of the Fording Subsidiaries is a party. In this regard, the Parties agree that any deemed amendment or modification to any aforementioned confidentiality agreement or standstill agreement resulting from the entering into of this Agreement or the Confidentiality Agreement without further action by Fording will not constitute an amendment or modification of such agreement for purposes of this paragraph. | |
(c) | Fording shall promptly (and in any event within 24 hours) notify Purchaser (at first orally and then in writing) of any Acquisition Proposal (or any amendment thereto) or any request for non-public information relating to Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries or any of their assets of which Fording or any of the Fording Representatives are or become aware, or any amendments to the foregoing. Such notice shall include a copy of any written Acquisition Proposal (and any amendment thereto) which has been received or, if no written Acquisition Proposal has been received, a description of the material terms and conditions of, and the identity of the person making, any inquiry, proposal, offer or request. Fording shall also provide such further and other |
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details of the Acquisition Proposal or any amendment thereto as Purchaser may reasonably request. Fording shall keep Purchaser promptly and fully informed of the status, including any change to the material terms, of any Acquisition Proposal or any amendment thereto, shall respond promptly to all inquiries by Purchaser with respect thereto, and shall provide to Purchaser copies of all material correspondence and other written material sent or provided to Fording by any person in connection with such inquiry, proposal, offer or request or sent or provided by Fording to any person in connection with such inquiry, proposal, offer or request. |
(d) | Fording shall reaffirm its recommendation of the Transaction to be effected by the Arrangement by press release promptly (having regard, where applicable, to the requirement for Fording to convene a meeting of the Fording Trustees) in the event that: |
(i) | any Acquisition Proposal which is publicly announced is determined not to be a Superior Proposal; or | |
(ii) | the Parties enter into an amended Agreement pursuant to Section 5.6(b) which results in any Acquisition Proposal not being a Superior Proposal. |
(e) | Fording shall ensure that the Fording Subsidiaries and the Fording Representatives are aware of the provisions of this Section 5.5, and it shall be responsible for any breach of such provisions by any of them. | |
(f) | Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Fording Trustees from responding through a trustees’ circular or otherwise as required by applicable Laws to an Acquisition Proposal that they determine is not a Superior Proposal. |
5.6 | Notice by Fording of Superior Proposal Determination |
(a) | Fording covenants that: |
(i) | it shall not accept, approve, agree to, endorse, recommend or enter into any agreement in respect of an Acquisition Proposal (a“Proposed Agreement”) (other than a confidentiality agreement in accordance with Section 5.5(a)) unless: |
(A) | the Acquisition Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal; | |
(B) | Fording has complied with Section 5.5 and Section 5.6; | |
(C) | Fording has provided Purchaser with notice in writing that there is a Superior Proposal together with all documentation comprising such Acquisition Proposal; | |
(D) | a period of at least eight (8) business days (the“Matching Period”) shall have elapsed from the later of the date (i) Purchaser received notice of Fording’s proposed determination to accept, approve, recommend or enter into any agreement relating to such Superior Proposal (other than a confidentiality agreement in accordance with Section 5.5(a)), and (ii) Purchaser received a true and complete copy of the Acquisition Proposal; | |
(E) | if Purchaser has proposed to amend the terms of this Agreement in accordance with Section 5.6(b) hereof, the Fording Trustees (after receiving advice from their financial advisors and outside legal counsel) shall have determined in good faith that the Acquisition Proposal continues to constitute a Superior Proposal after taking into account such amendments; and | |
(F) | prior to entering into an agreement relating to such Superior Proposal (other than a confidentiality agreement in accordance with Section 5.5(a)), Fording shall have terminated this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(f) and paid to Purchaser the Break Fee pursuant to Section 8.2. |
(ii) | the Fording Trustees shall not, after the public announcement of an Acquisition Proposal in respect of which no Proposed Agreement has been or is proposed to be entered into (an“Announced Acquisition Proposal”) make a Change in Recommendation or accept, approve, agree to, endorse or recommend any Announced Acquisition Proposal unless: |
(A) | the Announced Acquisition Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal; | |
(B) | Fording has provided Purchaser with not less than eight (8) business days prior written notice that the Fording Trustees intend to make a Change in Recommendation; |
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(C) | Fording has complied with Section 5.5 and Section 5.6 with respect thereto; and | |
(D) | if Purchaser has proposed to amend the terms of this Agreement in accordance with Section 5.6(b) hereof, the Fording Trustees (after receiving advice from their financial advisors and outside legal counsel) shall have determined in good faith that the Announced Acquisition Proposal continues to constitute a Superior Proposal after taking into account such amendments. |
(b) | During the Matching Period, Fording acknowledges that Purchaser shall have the opportunity, but not the obligation, to offer to amend the terms of this Agreement and the Arrangement, and Fording shall co-operate with Purchaser with respect thereto, including negotiating in good faith with Purchaser to enable Purchaser to propose such adjustments to the terms and conditions of the Agreement and the Arrangement as Purchaser deems appropriate. The Fording Trustees will review any offer by Purchaser to amend the terms of this Agreement and the Arrangement in good faith in order to determine, after seeking the advice of their financial advisors and outside legal counsel, whether any such amended offer upon acceptance by Fording would result in such Superior Proposal ceasing to be a Superior Proposal. If the Fording Trustees so determine, Fording will enter into an amended agreement with Purchaser reflecting Purchaser’s amended proposal. | |
(c) | If Fording provides Purchaser with notice under Section 5.6(a)(i)(C) or 5.6(a)(ii)(B) on a date that is less than eight (8) business days before the date of the Fording Meeting, subject to applicable Laws, Fording shall postpone or adjourn the Fording Meeting to a date that is at least two business days and not more than ten (10) business days following the expiry of the Matching Period or the eight (8) business day period referred to in Section 5.6(a)(ii)(B), as applicable. | |
(d) | Fording acknowledges and agrees that each successive modification of any Acquisition Proposal or Superior Proposal shall constitute a new Acquisition Proposal or Superior Proposal for purposes of Section 5.6(a). | |
(e) | Purchaser agrees that if there is an Acquisition Proposal that is a Superior Proposal and that would otherwise be subject to the right of first offer under the Teck Agreement or the EVCP Partnership Agreement, and Purchaser does not exercise its right under Section 5.6(b) to amend the terms of this Agreement, then, effective upon payment of the Break Fee pursuant to Section 8.2, Purchaser hereby waives all rights of first offer under the Teck Agreement and the EVCP Partnership Agreement in respect of such Acquisition Proposal. For greater certainty, except as expressly provided herein, Purchaser does not waive or relinquish any right of first offer under the Teck Agreement or the EVCP Partnership Agreement, which rights of first offer shall continue in accordance with their terms. |
5.7 | Access to Information |
(a) | Subject to Section 5.7(c) and applicable Laws, upon reasonable notice, Fording shall (and shall cause each of the Fording Subsidiaries to) afford Purchaser’s officers, employees, counsel, accountants and other authorized representatives and advisors (including, without limitation, any underwriters with regard to any debt or equity offerings Purchaser may choose to undertake prior to Closing, and each such underwriters’ counsel) (“Purchaser Representatives”) reasonable access, during normal business hours from the date hereof until the earlier of the Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement, to its and the Fording Subsidiaries’ financial or accounting records, books, contracts and records (including technical, geological and engineering data) as well as to its management and other personnel, and, during such period, Fording shall (and shall cause each of the Fording Subsidiaries to) furnish promptly to Purchaser all information in the possession of Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries concerning Fording’s and the Fording Subsidiaries’ business, operations, investments and personnel as Purchaser may reasonably request. Nothing in the foregoing shall require Fording to disclose information subject to a written confidentiality agreement with third parties, or customer-specific or competitively sensitive information, except that such information will be shared with counsel for the Purchaser on an outside counsel only basis if reasonably necessary in order to obtain the Regulatory Approvals. | |
(b) | Fording agrees to (i) consult and co-operate in a reasonable manner with Purchaser with respect to any of the foregoing matters and (ii) keep Purchaser informed as to the status of any matters relating to material litigation to which Fording is a party. |
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(c) | Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that information provided by Fording to it under Section 5.5(c) and this Section 5.7 is confidential and that Purchaser and the Purchaser Representatives shall keep such information confidential. | |
(d) | The Purchaser shall keep confidential all Personal Information disclosed to it by the Purchaser or its Representatives. |
5.8 | Trustees’ Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification |
(a) | Purchaser shall ensure that the Declaration of Trust, as well as the by-laws and other charter documents of any of the Fording Subsidiaries and any entity continuing following any amalgamation, merger, plan of arrangement, consolidation orwinding-up of Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries with or into one or more persons (a“Continuing Entity”) shall contain provisions with respect to indemnification that are no less favourable to the persons entitled to indemnification under the Declaration of Trust and the charter documents of the Fording Subsidiaries at the Effective Time, as applicable (“Fording Indemnified Persons”) as compared to those rights of indemnification in favour of Fording Indemnified Parties contained in the Declaration of Trust and in the charter documents of the Fording Subsidiaries at the Effective Time, as applicable, which provisions shall not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified for a period of six years from the Effective Date in any manner that would adversely affect the rights thereunder of any Fording Indemnified Persons, and, subject to applicable Law, Purchaser shall ensure that the obligations of Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries under any indemnification agreements between Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries on the one hand and any of their respective Fording Indemnified Persons on the other hand continue in place and are assumed by, if applicable, any Continuing Entity (the rights of indemnification in favour of the Fording Indemnified Persons described in this Section 5.8(a) are collectively referred to as the“Charter and Contractual Indemnification Rights”). | |
(b) | Purchaser agrees that Fording shall, prior to the Effective Time, purchase and maintain for the period from the Effective Time until six years after the Effective Time on a “trailing” (or “run-off”) basis, a prepaid, non-cancellable trustees’, directors’ and officers’ insurance policy for the benefit of all Fording Indemnified Persons, covering claims made prior to or within six years after the Effective Time, on terms and conditions which are no less advantageous to such persons than to Fording’s existing trustees’ and officers’ insurance policies, and in compliance with all indemnification agreements in effect at the Effective Time and providing coverage of an amount no less than (but not materially more than) such existing policies for all such persons (the“Trailing D&O Coverage”). |
5.9 | Winding-Up of Fording |
(a) | Fording will have no material assets; | |
(b) | the Residual Liabilities shall have been assumed by Purchaser and/or Acquiror; | |
(c) | Fording will have no further obligations to the Securityholders and all of the Units and Exchange Options outstanding at the Effective Time will have been cancelled; | |
(d) | Fording shall have no further obligations under the Exchange Option Plan, the Fording DRIP or the Joint Phantom Unit Plan; | |
(e) | the Corporate Trustee shall be the sole Trustee of Fording and the directors of Fording ULC shall be those persons designated by the Purchaser; and | |
(f) | the residual beneficiary of Fording will be a person designated by the Purchaser. |
(i) | filing all final Tax Returns of Fording, |
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(ii) | providing notices and information in respect of Tax matters to the former holders of Units, | |
(iii) | causing the Units to cease to be listed on the TSX and NYSE, | |
(iv) | causing Fording to cease to be a reporting issuer (or the equivalent thereof) in the applicable jurisdictions, | |
(v) | de-registering the Units under the Exchange Act; and | |
(vi) | discharging the Residual Liabilities. |
5.10 | Indemnification Obligations |
(a) | From and after the Effective Time, the Purchaser shall indemnify and save harmless each of the Fording Trustees, the Fording Directors, the officers of Fording and the respective directors, officers and employees of the Fording Subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the“Fording Indemnified Parties”) from and against all Claims, whether or not arising due to third party Claims and whether or not in respect of the period preceding or following the Effective Time, which may be made or brought against the Fording Indemnified Parties, or any of them, or which they may suffer or incur, directly or indirectly as a result of or in connection with or relating to: |
(i) | any non fulfillment or breach of any covenant or agreement on the part of Purchaser contained in this Agreement or in any certificate or other document furnished by or on behalf of Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement; | |
(ii) | any act undertaken or failed to be undertaken by any Fording Indemnified Party in their capacity as a trustee, director or officer of Fording or any Fording Subsidiary including in connection with the Transaction; | |
(iii) | the Residual Liabilities; and | |
(iv) | any information furnished by Purchaser for inclusion in the Proxy Circular containing any misrepresentation or alleged misrepresentation. |
(b) | In the case only of the Fording Trustees, the Fording Directors and the directors and officers of the Fording Subsidiaries, the indemnity provided at Section 5.10(a)(ii) shall only be available to the extent that: |
(i) | such persons acted with a view to the best interest of Fording or the Fording Subsidiaries, as the case may be, provided that such persons shall be deemed, absent compelling evidence to the contrary, to have acted with a view to the best interests of Fording or the Fording Subsidiaries, as the case may be, and the Purchaser shall have the burden of establishing an absence of good faith on the part of such persons, provided further that, the knowledge and/or actions or failure to act, of any other trustee, director, officer or agent of Fording, any Fording Subsidiary or any other entity, shall not be imputed to such persons for the purposes of determining the right to indemnification; and | |
(ii) | in the case of a criminal or administrative action or proceeding that is enforced by a monetary penalty, such persons had reasonable grounds for believing their conduct was lawful. |
(c) | The provisions of Section 5.10 are in addition to the existing indemnities and protections provided by the Charter and Contractual Indemnification Rights and the Trailing D&O Coverage. | |
(d) | The Purchaser acknowledges that those Fording Trustees serving in such capacity on the date of this Agreement are acting as trustee and agent for the Fording Indemnified Parties, on whose behalf and for whose benefit the indemnity in this Section 5.10 is provided and that the Fording Indemnified Parties shall have the full right and entitlement to take the benefit of and enforce such indemnity notwithstanding that they may not individually be parties to this Agreement. The Purchaser agrees that those Fording Trustees serving in such capacity at the date of this Agreement may enforce the indemnity provided for herein for and on behalf of the Fording Indemnified Parties and, in such event, the Purchaser will not in any proceeding to enforce the |
44
indemnity by or on behalf of such Fording Indemnified Parties assert any defence thereto based on the absence of authority or consideration or privity of contract and irrevocably waives the benefit of any such defence. |
5.11 | Pre-ArrangementWind-Up of Fording LLC |
5.12 | Treatment of Fording Officers following the Effective Time |
(a) | the Identified Officers shall be free to provide the Support Services to Fording and Fording ULC in connection with the Transaction and in so doing, will report to the Chief Executive Officer of Fording and to the Chief Executive Officer Fording ULC, as applicable, who shall, on behalf of the Independent Committees, be entitled to direct such persons in that regard; | |
(b) | in providing the Support Services, the Identified Officers shall not, directly or indirectly, be required to disclose to Purchaser or any of its affiliates any information relating to the provision of the Support Services or information relating to the status of the Transaction obtained by the Identified Officers in providing such services; | |
(c) | ensure that the Identified Officers do not incur any adverse employment consequences following the Effective Date as a result of providing the Support Services; and | |
(d) | without limiting the generality of the foregoing, for a period of 24 months following the Effective Date, Purchaser shall cause Teck Cominco Coal Partnership, as managing partner of the Partnership, to provide the Identified Officers with terms and conditions of employment, including without limitation, salary, bonus, benefits, perquisites, title, duties, responsibilities and location of employment, which are the same or better than those enjoyed by the Identified Officers immediately prior to the announcement of the Transaction other than such changes resulting directly from the completion of the Transaction. |
5.13 | Merger of Covenants |
45
CONDITIONS
6.1 | Mutual Conditions |
(a) | the Interim Order shall have been granted in form and substance satisfactory to the Parties, acting reasonably, and shall not have been set aside or modified in a manner unacceptable to the Parties, acting reasonably, on appeal or otherwise; | |
(b) | the Requisite Level of Approval shall have been obtained; | |
(c) | the Final Order shall have been granted in form and substance satisfactory to the Parties, acting reasonably, and shall not have been set aside or modified in a manner unacceptable to each of the Parties, acting reasonably, on appeal or otherwise; | |
(d) | the Articles of Arrangement shall be in form and substance consistent with this Agreement, the Plan of Arrangement and the Final Order and shall be satisfactory to the Parties, acting reasonably; | |
(e) | the TSX shall have approved the listing of the Purchaser Shares to be issued in connection with the Arrangement subject only to satisfaction of customary conditions; | |
(f) | the Purchaser Shares to be issued in connection with the Arrangement shall have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject only to official notice of issuance; | |
(g) | this Agreement shall not have been terminated pursuant to Article 8; | |
(h) | the Closing Regulatory Approvals shall have been obtained on terms and conditions acceptable to the Parties acting reasonably and shall not have been set aside or modified in a manner unacceptable to the Parties acting reasonably, on appeal or otherwise; and | |
(i) | there shall not be in effect any applicable Law that makes the consummation of the Arrangement or any other transactions contemplated herein which are necessary to complete the Arrangement illegal or otherwise prohibited or enjoins any Party from consummating the Arrangement or any other transactions contemplated herein which are necessary to complete the Arrangement. |
6.2 | Fording Conditions |
(a) | the representations and warranties made by Purchaser in this Agreement which are qualified by the expression “material”, “Purchaser Material Adverse Effect” or “material and adverse” shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Transaction Confirmation Date as if made on and as of such date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly speak as of an earlier date, in which event such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such earlier date) and all other representations and warranties made by Purchaser in this Agreement which are not so qualified shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Transaction Confirmation Date as if made on such date (except to the extent that such representations and warranties expressly speak of an earlier date, in |
46
which event, such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respect as of such earlier date), and Purchaser shall have provided to Fording a certificate of two authorized persons certifying such accuracy on the Transaction Confirmation Date; |
(b) | Purchaser shall have complied in all material respects with its covenants herein, and Purchaser shall have provided to Fording a certificate of two authorized persons dated as of the Transaction Confirmation Date certifying that it has so complied with its covenants herein; | |
(c) | from the date hereof up to and including the Transaction Confirmation Date, there shall not have occurred or have been disclosed to the public a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect, and Purchaser shall have provided to Fording a certificate of two qualified officers to such effect on the Transaction Confirmation Date; and | |
(d) | on or before October 31, 2008, Purchaser shall have provided written evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Fording Trustees that it has or will be able to draw on or prior to the Effective Date, the funds (other than the funds resulting from the sale of its Units) necessary to complete the Transaction which shall include the execution of a definitive credit agreement in respect to the debt financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter. |
6.3 | Purchaser Conditions |
(a) | the representations and warranties made by Fording in this Agreement which are qualified by the expression “material”, “material adverse change” or “material adverse effect” shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Transaction Confirmation Date as if made on such date (except to the extent that such representations and warranties expressly speak of an earlier date, in which event, such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such earlier date) and all other representations and warranties made by Fording in this Agreement which are not so qualified shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Transaction Confirmation Date as if made on such date (except to the extent that such representations and warranties expressly speak of an earlier date, in which event, such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date), and Fording shall have provided to Purchaser a certificate of two qualified officers certifying such accuracy on the Transaction Confirmation Date; | |
(b) | from the date hereof up to and including the Transaction Confirmation Date, there shall not have occurred or have been disclosed to the public a material adverse change or material adverse effect, and Fording shall have provided to Purchaser a certificate of two qualified officers to such effect on the Transaction Confirmation Date; | |
(c) | Fording shall have complied in all material respects with its covenants herein, and Fording shall have provided to Purchaser a certificate of two qualified officers dated as of the Transaction Confirmation Date certifying the same; | |
(d) | the Lenders shall have confirmed to the Purchaser in writing that the conditions precedent to the availability of the Debt Financing, other than the conditions set forth in paragraph (m) of Exhibit C of the Debt Commitment Letter and other than the payment by Purchaser to Fording of the transaction consideration and payment by Purchaser of the fees payable to the Lenders on the closing date, have been satisfied or waived in the event that Purchaser intends to utilize such Debt Financing in connection with the Transaction; | |
(e) | the Fording Trustees shall not have made a Change in Recommendation; |
47
(f) | Dissent Rights shall not have been exercised in respect of more than 5% of the Units (on a fully-diluted basis); and | |
(g) | Purchaser shall have determined in good faith that the total amount of the Residual Liabilities on the Effective Date and immediately after completion of the steps comprising the Plan of Arrangement, net of current assets of Fording and excluding the FX Hedge and Residual Liabilities that were not incurred in wilful violation of this Agreement, will not exceed $475 million (if the Fording Credit Agreement will not be repaid on or prior to the Effective Date) or will not exceed $200 million (if the Fording Credit Agreement will be repaid on or prior to the Effective Date without Fording incurring liabilities to make such repayment). |
6.4 | Notice and Cure Provisions |
(a) | cause any of the representations or warranties of the other Party contained herein to be untrue or inaccurate in any material respect on the date hereof or on the Transaction Confirmation Date, as applicable; | |
(b) | result in the failure to comply with or satisfy any covenant or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by the other Party prior to the Transaction Confirmation Date; or | |
(c) | result in the failure to satisfy any of the conditions precedent in its favour contained in Sections 6.1, 6.2 or 6.3, as the case may be. |
(i) | forthwith and in any event prior to the Transaction Confirmation Date, the Party intending to rely thereon has delivered a written notice to the other Party specifying in reasonable detail all breaches of covenants, representations and warranties or other matters which the Party delivering such notice is asserting as the basis for the non-fulfilment of the applicable condition precedent or termination right, as the case may be; and | |
(ii) | if any such notice is delivered, and a Party is proceeding diligently to cure such matter, if such matter is capable of being cured, the other Party may not terminate this Agreement until the earlier of November 20, 2008, and the expiration of a period of 45 days from such notice. |
6.5 | Merger of Conditions |
6.6 | Confirmation of Transaction |
48
AMENDMENT
7.1 | Amendment |
(a) | change the time for performance of any of the obligations or acts of the Parties; | |
(b) | waive any inaccuracies or modify any representation or warranty contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto; | |
(c) | waive compliance with or modify any of the covenants herein contained and waive or modify performance of any of the obligations of the Parties; and | |
(d) | waive compliance with or modify any conditions precedent herein contained; |
TERMINATION
8.1 | Termination |
(a) | by mutual written consent of the Parties; or | |
(b) | as provided in Sections 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3, subject to compliance with Section 6.4; or | |
(c) | by Purchaser on or prior to the date on which the Requisite Level of Approval is obtained, if on or prior to the date when such Requisite Level of Approval is obtained the Fording Trustees: |
(i) | shall have failed to recommend this Agreement or the Arrangement in the manner set forth in Section 5.2(c) hereof; | |
(ii) | withdraw, amend, modify or qualify, or propose publicly to withdraw, amend, modify or qualify, in a manner adverse to Purchaser, their recommendation of the Arrangement (a“Change in Recommendation”), or | |
(iii) | shall have failed to reaffirm their recommendation of the Arrangement within five (5) business days of receipt of any written request to do so by Purchaser; or |
(d) | by Purchaser if there is a breach of Section 5.5(a) in any material respect; or | |
(e) | by Purchaser or by Fording if the Fording Meeting shall have been held and completed and the Requisite Level of Approval shall not have been obtained; or | |
(f) | by Fording in the circumstances contemplated in Section 5.6(a)(i) provided Fording complies with the obligations under Section 8.2; or |
49
(g) | by Purchaser if, following the Transaction Confirmation Date: |
(i) | the Purchaser determines, in good faith, that the total amount of the Residual Liabilities on the Effective Date and immediately after completion of the steps comprising the Plan of Arrangement, net of current assets of Fording and excluding the FX Hedge, will exceed $475 million (if the Fording Credit Agreement will not be repaid on or prior to the Effective Date) or $200 million (if the Fording Credit Agreement will be repaid on or prior to the Effective Date without incurring liabilities to make such repayment), and such excess constitutes a material adverse change; or | |
(ii) | the Purchaser determines, in good faith, that the total amount of the Residual Liabilities on the Effective Date and immediately after completion of the steps comprising the Plan of Arrangement, net of current assets of Fording and excluding the FX Hedge and any Residual Liabilities that were not incurred in wilful violation of this Agreement, will exceed $475 million (if the Fording Credit Agreement will not be repaid on or prior to the Effective Date) or $200 million (if the Fording Credit Agreement will be repaid on or prior to the Effective Date without Fording incurring liabilities to make such repayment); or |
(h) | by Purchaser or by Fording if the Transaction Confirmation Date does not occur on or before November 20, 2008 or the Effective Date does not occur on or before December 30, 2008, except that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.1(h) shall not be available to any Party whose wilful failure to fulfill any of its obligations has been the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the Transaction Confirmation Date or the Effective Date, as applicable, not to occur by such date; or | |
(i) | by Purchaser or by Fording if after the date of this Agreement any action is taken under applicable Laws or any statute, rule, regulation or order is enacted, enforced, promulgated, issued, amended, modified or terminated by any court, department, board, regulatory authority, Government Entity or similar agency, domestic or foreign, entitled to exercise jurisdiction over either of the Parties, or in the administration or interpretation thereof, that has become final and non-appealable and that makes illegal or otherwise directly or indirectly restrains, enjoins or prohibits the Arrangement or any other transactions contemplated herein which are necessary to complete the Arrangement; or | |
(j) | by Purchaser or by Fording if after the date of this Agreement any action is taken under applicable Laws or any statute, rule, regulation or order is enacted, enforced, promulgated, issued, amended, modified or terminated by any court, department, board, regulatory authority, Government Entity or similar agency, domestic or foreign, entitled to exercise jurisdiction over either of the Parties, or in the administration or interpretation thereof, or any announcement is issued or made by way of press release or otherwise by any such department, board, regulatory authority, Government Entity or similar agency that results in a material and adverse change in the anticipated tax treatment of the Transaction, or any material part thereof, to Fording or Purchaser or any Unitholders, provided that in the case of a material and adverse change in the anticipated tax treatment to the Unitholders, only Fording may terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.1(j). |
8.2 | Break Fee |
(a) | by Purchaser pursuant to Section 8.1(c); | |
(b) | by Fording pursuant to Section 8.1(f); | |
(c) | by Purchaser pursuant to Section 8.1(d); or | |
(d) | by Purchaser pursuant to Section 8.1(b) or Section 8.1(e), but only if: |
(i) | after the date of this Agreement and prior to such termination an Acquisition Proposal is made or publicly disclosed; and | |
(ii) | within twelve months following the date of such termination: |
(A) | Fording or any of the Fording Subsidiaries enters into a contract providing for the implementation of an Acquisition Proposal (whether or not such Acquisition Proposal is the same Acquisition Proposal referred to in subclause (i) above) and such Acquisition Proposal is consummated, |
50
whether or not amended prior to its consummation and whether such consummation is before or after the expiry of such twelve month period, or |
(B) | an Acquisition Proposal (whether or not such Acquisition Proposal is the same Acquisition Proposal referred to in subclause (i) above) is consummated. |
8.3 | Nature of Break Fee |
8.4 | Effect of Termination |
8.5 | Payment of Transaction Expenses |
GENERAL
9.1 | Expenses |
51
9.2 | Remedies |
9.3 | Notices |
Suite 600, 200 Burrard Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V6C 3L9
Facsimile No.:604-640-5395
5300 Commerce Court West
199 Bay Street
Toronto, ON M5L 1B9
Facsimile No.:416-947-0866
Suite 1000, 205 — 9th Avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta T2G 0R4
Facsimile No.:403-264-7339
52
Suite 2500, 450 — 1st Street S.W.
Calgary, Alberta T2P 5H1
Facsimile No.:403-260-7024
9.4 | Further Assurances |
9.5 | Governing Law |
9.6 | Execution in Counterparts |
9.7 | Waiver |
9.8 | Enurement and Assignment |
9.9 | Liability |
53
Per: | /s/ Donald R. Lindsay |
Per: | /s/ Ronald J. Vance |
signatory for and on behalf of the trustees
Per: /s/ Michael Grandin |
54
PLAN OF ARRANGEMENT
A-1
CONSENTS AND APPROVALS
1. | Canada Transportation Act Filing and Approval — Notification of the Transaction provided to the Minister of Transport pursuant to section 53.1(1) of the Canada Transportation Act (the“CTA”) and |
(a) | The Minister of Transport within 42 days of receiving notification of the Transaction gives notice pursuant to section 53.1(4) of the CTA of his opinion that the Transaction does not raise issues with respect to the public interest as it relates to national transportation; or | |
(b) | The Governor in Council approves the Transaction pursuant to Section 53.2(7) of the CTA. |
2. | European Commission Filing and Approval — Notification to the European Commission provided pursuant to Article 4(1) of the EC Merger Regulation (Council Regulation 139/2004/EC) and a clearance decision shall have been issued by the European Commission under either Article 6(1)(a), Article 6(1)(b) or Article 6(2) of the EC Merger Regulation. |
3. | Further Competition Pre-merger Filings and Approvals — Notifications, applications and filings to and receipt of approvals and clearances from the applicable Governmental Entity or other responsible authority pursuant to merger control legislation in each of the following countries: |
(a) | Brazil; | |
(b) | People’s Republic of China (China); | |
(c) | Japan; | |
(d) | Republic of Korea (South Korea); and | |
(e) | Turkey. |
B-1
MATERIAL PURCHASER ENTITIES
1. | AurCay Holdings Inc. | |
2. | Canada Tungsten (Cayman) Inc. | |
3. | Teck Financial Ltd. | |
4. | Teck Base Metals Ltd. | |
5. | Teck Cominco Metals Ltd. | |
6. | Teck Cominco Coal Partnership | |
7. | Cominco Mining Partnership | |
8. | Teck Cominco American Incorporated | |
9. | Teck Cominco Alaska Incorporated | |
10. | Highland Valley Copper Partnership | |
11. | Fort Hills Energy Limited Partnership | |
12. | Compania Minera Quebrada Blanca S.A. | |
13. | Carmen de Andacollo S.A. | |
14. | Compañía Minera de Antamina S.A. |
C-1
1. | Audited financial statements of Fording and Elk Valley Coal Partnership (“EVCP”) for each of the three years ended December 31, 2007; |
2. | Unaudited interim financial statements of Fording for the quarters ended March 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008; | |
3. | Annual reports of Fording in respect of each of the two years ended December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2007; | |
4. | Notices of Annual Meeting of Unitholders and Management Information Circulars of Fording dated March 14, 2008 and March 19, 2007, respectively; | |
5. | Annual information forms of Fording in respect of each of the two years ended December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2007; | |
6. | Unaudited segmented financial statements of EVCP for each of the two years ended December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2007; | |
7. | Unaudited projected financial statements for EVCP on both a consolidated basis and segmented by mine prepared by senior officers of Fording for the years ending December 31, 2008 to December 31, 2067 (the “Management Projections”); | |
8. | Various non-public documents relating to Fording and EVCP including audited and unaudited financial statements, investor presentations, EVCP’s 2008 to 2017 Operating Plan, internal Fording documents relating to cash balances, working capital and closing expenses and other relevant information; | |
9. | Third party technical reports for the Fording River, Greenhills, and Elkview mines and Reserve and Resource Reports for the Cardinal River, Line Creek and Coal Mountain mines; |
10. | Mine Plans for the Fording River, Greenhills, Elkview, Cardinal River, Line Creek and Coal Mountain mines; | |
11. | Ranking study for the Mount Babcock project; | |
12. | Discussions with senior officers of Fording and certain employees of EVCP providing support to Fording and Fording ULC under services agreements among EVCP, Fording and Fording ULC; | |
13. | Discussions with counsel to the Independent Committees and to Fording; | |
14. | A review of certain material contracts with respect to Fording and EVCP; | |
15. | Public information relating to the business, operations, financial performance and stock trading history of Fording and other selected public entities considered by us to be relevant; | |
16. | Public information with respect to other transactions of a comparable nature considered by us to be relevant; | |
17. | Public information regarding the coal, steel and iron ore industries; | |
18. | Various independent and institutional research reports regarding the coal, steel and iron ore industries; | |
19. | Representations contained in certificates addressed to us, dated as of the date hereof, from senior officers of Fording as to the completeness and accuracy of the information upon which the Valuation was based; and | |
20. | Such other corporate, industry and financial market information, investigations and analyses as NBF considered necessary or appropriate in the circumstances. |
Closing Price ($ per Unit) | ||||||||||||
High | Low | Total Volume | ||||||||||
2007 | ||||||||||||
January | $ | 26.73 | $ | 23.08 | 5,953,595 | |||||||
February | 29.45 | 26.56 | 9,429,896 | |||||||||
March | 28.80 | 24.90 | 9,397,191 | |||||||||
April | 27.22 | 25.37 | 6,739,917 | |||||||||
May | 31.84 | 27.32 | 13,254,315 | |||||||||
June | 35.00 | 30.04 | 12,431,509 | |||||||||
July | 36.88 | 33.39 | 11,277,788 | |||||||||
August | 34.85 | 30.25 | 13,969,468 | |||||||||
September | 38.45 | 35.46 | 8,746,092 | |||||||||
October | 40.46 | 34.62 | 16,895,201 | |||||||||
November | 34.30 | 29.82 | 13,631,070 | |||||||||
December | 39.60 | 34.30 | 10,718,824 | |||||||||
2008 | ||||||||||||
January | $ | 45.00 | $ | 32.76 | 15,995,082 | |||||||
February | 51.63 | 44.25 | 18,903,697 | |||||||||
March | 54.27 | 49.67 | 17,146,564 | |||||||||
April | 67.51 | 55.07 | 16,894,069 | |||||||||
May | 78.75 | 62.00 | 11,705,290 | |||||||||
June | 97.50 | 80.52 | 17,921,119 | |||||||||
July | 90.51 | 75.25 | 44,039,094 | |||||||||
(a) | discounted cash flow (“DCF”) approach; | |
(b) | comparable trading approach; and |
(c) | comparable precedent transactions approach. |
i) | Forecast Scenarios |
• | Conservative Case: This case represents the most conservative scenario and is based principally on current production at existing mines increasing to 30 million tonnes per annum and revenues derived from a long-term coal price of $110 per tonne. This coal price is below analyst consensus estimates. Operating expenses are consistent with the Management Projections. | |
• | Expected Case: This case utilizes analyst consensus forecast coal prices and foreign exchange rates. Future production is based principally on production at existing mines increasing to 30 million tonnes per annum and expansion at Mount Babcock. Operating expenses are as per the Management Projections. | |
• | Upside Case: This case utilizes coal prices that are significantly above analyst consensus forecast coal prices and foreign exchange rates consistent with analyst consensus. Production is based principally on production at existing mines increasing to 30 million tonnes per annum and expansion at Mount Babcock. Operating expenses are as per the Management Projections. |
2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 / LT | ||||||||||||||||
Coal Price Per Tonne (US$) | $ | 300 | $ | 280 | $ | 225 | $ | 175 | $ | 150 / $115 | ||||||||||
2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 + | ||||||||||||||||
Foreign (US$/C$) Exchange Rate | 0.9615 | 0.9174 | 0.9091 | 0.8929 | 0.8929 | |||||||||||||||
iv) | Production Volumes |
a. | Existing Production |
b. | Brownfield and Greenfield Development |
v) | Neptune Bulk Terminals |
vi) | Discount Rate |
Cost of Debt | ||||
Risk free rate | 3.8 | % | ||
Pre-tax cost of debt | 5.5 | % | ||
Tax rate | 29.5 | % | ||
After tax cost of debt (after 2010) | 4.4 | % | ||
Cost of Equity | ||||
Risk free rate | 3.8 | % | ||
Equity risk premium | 5.0 | % | ||
Levered beta | 0.95 | |||
After tax cost of equity | 9.1 | % | ||
Optimal Debt/Capital | 15.0 | % | ||
WACC Calculated From Above | 8.4 | % |
($ Millions) | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||
Revenue | 2,996 | 4,760 | 4,469 | 3,933 | 3,132 | 2,733 | ||||||||||||||||||
EBITDA | 1,672 | 3,222 | 2,916 | 2,344 | 1,623 | 1,055 | ||||||||||||||||||
Capital Expenditures | 181 | 217 | 128 | 283 | 111 | 167 | ||||||||||||||||||
Low | High | ||||||||
($ Millions, except per Unit amounts) | |||||||||
Fording River | $ | 4,168 | $ | 5,193 | |||||
Greenhills (80%) | 1,771 | 2,182 | |||||||
Coal Mountain | 1,090 | 1,370 | |||||||
Elkview | 2,526 | 3,150 | |||||||
Line Creek | 1,046 | 1,364 | |||||||
Cardinal River | 774 | 1,019 | |||||||
Quintette | 448 | 678 | |||||||
PV of Tax Shield | 336 | 346 | |||||||
Less: S,G&A and Hedging | (116 | ) | (119 | ) | |||||
Less: Balance Sheet Adjustments | (269 | ) | (269 | ) | |||||
Equity Value | $ | 11,326 | $ | 14,236 | |||||
Equity Value per Unit | $ | 78.71 | $ | 99.41 | |||||
Variable | Expected Case | Change | ~Value / Unit | % Change | ||||||||||
Long-Term Coal Price / Tonne | US$115 | +$5.00 | $ | 4.55 | 5.4 | % | ||||||||
Short-Term Coal | 2009 - US$280 | +$5.00 | $ | 1.16 | 1.4 | % | ||||||||
Price / Tonne | 2010 - US$225 | |||||||||||||
2011 - US$175 | ||||||||||||||
2012 - US$150 | ||||||||||||||
Long-term US$/C$ Exchange Rate | $0.89 | $0.05 | $ | (5.67 | ) | −6.7 | % | |||||||
Cash Operating Cost per Tonne | $44 | +$5.00 | $ | (6.86 | ) | −8.1 | % | |||||||
Distribution Cost per Tonne | $33 | +$2.50 | $ | (3.43 | ) | −4.1 | % | |||||||
WACC | 2008-2010: 8.5% | +0.50 | % | $ | (3.49 | ) | −4.1 | % | ||||||
2011+: 8.5% | ||||||||||||||
EVC | Fording Stake | Multiple | Valuation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Metric | Metric | (@ 60%) | Low | High | Low | High | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(C$Millions, except multiple and valuation ranges) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Enterprise Value / 2009E EBITDA | $5,263 | $3,158 | 4.00x | 5.25x | $82.47 | $108.79 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Enterprise Value / Measured & Indicated | 4,975 | 2,985 | $3.50 | $4.50 | $67.92 | $87.81 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minimum / Maximum Valuations | $67.92 | $108.79 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Average Valuations | $75.19 | $98.30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
EVC | Fording | Multiple | Valuation | |||||||||||||||||||||
Metric | Metric | (@60%) | Low | High | Low | High | ||||||||||||||||||
(C$Millions, except multiple and valuation ranges) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Enterprise Value / Measured & Indicated Resources | 4,975 | 2,985 | $4.00 | $4.75 | $77.86 | $92.79 | ||||||||||||||||||
Equity Value Per Unit | ||||||||
Low | High | |||||||
Discounted Cash Flow | $ | 78.71 | $ | 99.41 | ||||
Comparable Trading | $ | 75.19 | $ | 98.30 | ||||
Precedent Transactions | $ | 77.86 | $ | 92.79 | ||||
Enterprise Value | ||||||||||||||
Enterprise | / Measured and | |||||||||||||
Enterprise | Value / 2009E | Indicated | ||||||||||||
Value5,6 | EBITDA7 | Resources8 9 | ||||||||||||
Australian Producers | ||||||||||||||
Coal & Allied Industries Ltd. | $ | 9,416 | 4.4x | $ | 2.15 | |||||||||
New Hope Corp. Ltd. | $ | 1,632 | 4.0x | $ | 2.29 | |||||||||
MacArthur Coal Ltd. | $ | 2,906 | 3.6x | $ | 4.14 | |||||||||
Felix Resources Ltd. | $ | 3,648 | 5.3x | $ | 5.73 | |||||||||
Average | 4.3x | $ | 3.58 | |||||||||||
Adjusted Average (excluding high and low) | 4.2x | $ | 3.22 | |||||||||||
Canadian Producers | ||||||||||||||
Grande Cache Coal Corporation | $ | 613 | 1.6x | $ | 4.03 | |||||||||
Hillsborough Resources Ltd. | $ | 78 | 3.7x | $ | 0.56 | |||||||||
Western Canadian Coal Corp. | $ | 1,551 | 1.8x | $ | 9.71 | |||||||||
Average | 2.3x | $ | 4.77 | |||||||||||
Adjusted Average (excluding high and low) | 1.8x | $ | 4.03 | |||||||||||
US Producers | ||||||||||||||
Peabody Energy Corp. | $ | 21,572 | 7.3x | n/a | ||||||||||
Massey Energy Co. | $ | 6,432 | 6.5x | n/a | ||||||||||
Foundation Coal Holdings Inc. | $ | 3,362 | 5.3x | n/a | ||||||||||
Walter Industries Inc. | $ | 6,534 | 5.3x | n/a | ||||||||||
Patriot Coal Corporation | $ | 5,512 | 6.8x | n/a | ||||||||||
Average | 6.2x | n/a | ||||||||||||
Adjusted Average (excluding high and low) | 6.2x | n/a | ||||||||||||
Total Average | 4.6x | $ | 4.09 | |||||||||||
Total Adjusted Average (excluding high and low) | 4.7x | $ | 3.67 | |||||||||||
5 | As at July 28, 2008. | |
6 | Applied fully-diluted number calculated using the treasury method. | |
7 | Applied the consensus estimates of research analysts. | |
8 | Inclusive of proven and probable reserves. | |
9 | Excludes American producers as only proven and probable reserves are disclosed |
EV / Measured | ||||||||||||||||||
Corp / | and Indicated | |||||||||||||||||
Date | Acquiror | Target | Asset | Coal Type | Stage | Interest | EV | Resource10 11 | ||||||||||
Jul-08 | Kerry, MCS, Mongolia | QGX | Corp | Met / Therm | Not Prod | 100 | % | $251 | $0.99 | |||||||||
Jul-08 | BHP Billiton Mitsubishi | New Saraji | Asset | Met | Not Prod | 100 | % | $2,400 | $15.38 | |||||||||
Jun-08 | Posco | Macarthur Coal | Corp | PCI | Prod | 10 | % | $408 | $6.51 | |||||||||
Jun-08 | ArcelorMittal | Macarthur Coal | Corp | PCI | Prod | 5 | % | $204 | $6.51 | |||||||||
May-08 | ArcelorMittal | Macarthur Coal | Corp | PCI | Prod | 15 | % | $612 | $6.55 | |||||||||
Apr-08 | ArcelorMittal | Coal of Africa | Corp | Met / Therm | Not Prod | 16 | % | $108 | $3.92 | |||||||||
Dec-07 | Anglo American | Foxleigh Mine | Asset | PCI | Prod | 70 | % | $620 | $3.05 | |||||||||
Dec-07 | MacArthur Coal | Custom Mining | Corp | Met | Dev | 100 | % | $243 | $5.07 | |||||||||
Sep-07 | Xstrata | Austral Coal | Corp | Met | Prod | 100 | % | $598 | $2.83 | |||||||||
Sep-07 | Xstrata | Anvil Hill | Asset | Therm | Not Prod | 100 | % | $355 | $2.34 | |||||||||
Aug-07 | Tata Steel | Mosambique Coal | Asset | Met / Therm | Not Prod | 35 | % | $86 | $3.91 | |||||||||
Apr-07 | Cleveland-Cliffs | Sonoma Coal Project | Asset | Met / Therm | Not Prod | 45 | % | $109 | $2.26 | |||||||||
Aug-06 | Sojitz | Minerva Coal Mine | Asset | Met / Therm | Prod | 15 | % | $25 | $2.84 | |||||||||
Feb-05 | Centennial | Austral Coal | Corp | Met | Prod | 100 | % | $296 | $1.75 | |||||||||
Total Average | $4.57 | |||||||||||||||||
Total Adjusted Average (excluding high and low) | $3.96 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Inclusive of proven and probable reserves. | |
11 | Precedent transactions for which a Measured and Indicated Resource was not disclosed were excluded. |
1.1 | Definitions |
(a) | a 100% interest in the Royalty, | |
(b) | all of the limited partnership interests in Fording LP held by Fording, | |
(c) | all of the issued and outstanding equity securities of Fording ULC, | |
(d) | all of the issued and outstanding equity securities of the Legacy Subsidiaries held by Fording at the Effective Time, and | |
(e) | all of the other assets of Fording; |
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(a) | provide that, for purposes of the Tax Act, all income and losses of Fording LP for its fiscal period ending December 31, 2008, and to the extent permitted under the Tax Act, all other amounts of Fording LP in respect of that fiscal period that are allocable for purposes of the Tax Act, will be allocated to Fording and to Fording ULC to the extent earned or accrued up to the Effective Time; and | |
(b) | allow for the distribution contemplated in Section 3.1(h) hereof and provide that no further distributions shall be made to Fording; |
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(a) | multinational, federal, provincial, state, regional, municipal, local or other government, governmental or public department, central bank, court, tribunal, arbitral body, commission, board, bureau or agency, domestic or foreign, | |
(b) | Securities Authorities, self-regulatory organization or stock exchange including the NYSE and the TSX, and | |
(c) | any subdivision, agent, commission, board, or authority of any of the foregoing, or any quasi-governmental or private body exercising any regulatory, or expropriation or taxing authority under or for the account of any of the foregoing; |
(a) | that, at the time specified in this Plan of Arrangement, the Fording Trustees will be deemed to resign and the Corporate Trustee will be appointed and will become the sole trustee of Fording; | |
(b) | that the income arising within Fording for purposes of the Tax Act in 2008 up to and including the time of completion of the events described in Section 3.1 is deemed to have been made payable and paid to those holders of Units who received distributions made by Fording in 2008 on or before the Effective Date or pursuant to Sections 3.1(k), 3.1(p) and 3.1(q) of this Plan of Arrangement, to the extent of such distributions, or, if such distributions in total exceed such income, then in proportion to the distributed amounts; and | |
(c) | for certain other matters required to give effect to the Transaction; |
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1.2 | Certain Rules of Interpretation |
(a) | Currency —Unless otherwise specified, all references to money amounts are to lawful currency of the United States. | |
(b) | Headings —Headings of Articles and Sections are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Plan of Arrangement. | |
(c) | Including —Where the word “including” or “includes” is used in this Plan of Arrangement, it means “including (or includes) without limitation”. | |
(d) | Number and Gender —Unless the context otherwise requires, words importing the singular include the plural andvice versa and words importing gender include all genders. | |
(e) | Statutory References —A reference to a statute includes all rules and regulations made pursuant to such statute and, unless otherwise specified, the provisions of any statute or regulation or rule which amends, supplements or supersedes any such statute or any such regulation or rule. | |
(f) | Time — Time is of the essence in every matter or action contemplated hereunder. | |
(g) | Time Periods — Unless otherwise specified, time periods within or following which any payment is to be made or act is to be done shall be calculated by excluding the day on which the period commences and including the day on which the period ends and by extending the period to the next business day following if the last day of the period is not a business day. If the date on which any action is required to be taken hereunder by any Person is not a business day in the place where the action is required to be taken, such action shall be required to be taken on the next succeeding day which is a business day in such place. |
EFFECT OF THE ARRANGEMENT
2.1 | Arrangement Agreement |
2.2 | Binding Effect |
(a) | Fording; | |
(b) | Fording LP; |
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(c) | Fording ULC; | |
(d) | the Fording Trustees and the Fording Directors, in their capacities as trustees of Fording and directors of Fording ULC, as applicable; | |
(e) | the Purchaser; | |
(f) | the Acquiror; | |
(g) | all Unitholders and beneficial owners of Units and where applicable, Fractional Unit Interests (including Dissenting Unitholders); | |
(h) | all registered holders of Exchange Options and beneficial owners of Exchange Options; | |
(i) | all registered holders of Phantom Units and beneficial owners of Phantom Units; | |
(j) | the registrar and transfer agent in respect of the Units; | |
(k) | the Dissenter Trustee; and | |
(l) | the Depositary. |
2.3 | Complete Liquidation for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes |
ARRANGEMENT
3.1 | Events Occurring Within the Plan |
(a) | The Unitholder Rights Plan will terminate and be of no further force or effect; | |
(b) | The Fording LP Agreement Amendments shall become effective; | |
(c) | The Royalty Agreement Amendments shall become effective; | |
(d) | The New Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust shall become effective; | |
(e) | [paragraph intentionally deleted] | |
(f) | Each of the Fording Trustees will be deemed to have resigned and the Corporate Trustee will be appointed and become the sole trustee of Fording; | |
(g) | Each of the Fording Directors and each of the directors of Acquiror will be deemed to have resigned and the directors of Fording ULC and the directors of Acquiror will be those Persons designated by the Purchaser; | |
(h) | Immediately before the time that the transaction described in Section 3.1(i) occurs, Fording LP will make a distribution to Fording in an amount equal to all debts owing by Fording to Fording LP, and will make such distribution by offset against such debts; | |
(i) | Acquiror will purchase from Fording, and Fording will transfer to Acquiror, all of the limited partnership interests in Fording LP held by Fording and all of the issued and outstanding equity securities of Fording ULC held by Fording at a price equal to the amount described in Section 3.1(j)(vi) hereof, in consideration |
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for the issuance by Acquiror to Fording of 10,000,000 common shares of Acquiror, and at the time of the purchase, Fording will cease to be a member of Fording LP; |
(j) | Fording will transfer to Purchaser, and Purchaser will purchase from Fording, the Royalty (including all rights under the Royalty Agreement, other than any amount of Royalty accrued but not paid up to the Effective Time), all of the issued and outstanding equity securities of Acquiror, and all of the issued and outstanding equity securities of the Legacy Subsidiaries held by Fording at the Effective Time, in consideration of: |
(i) | the payment by Purchaser to Fording of the Securityholder Consideration,plus | |
(ii) | the payment by Purchaser to Fording of sufficient cash to enable Fording, when such additional cash is combined with its otherwise available cash, to make the Final Unitholder Distribution,plus | |
(iii) | the assumption by the Purchaser of the Residual Liabilities, |
(iv) | an amount equal to the fair market value of the equity securities of each of the Legacy Subsidiaries will be allocated to those securities, | |
(v) | 97% of the remaining consideration will be allocated to the purchase of the Royalty and the rights under the Royalty Agreement from Fording, and | |
(vi) | 3% of the remaining consideration will be allocated to the purchase of all of the equity securities of Acquiror; |
(k) | Fording will make the Final Unitholder Distribution by distributing to each Unitholder (including Dissenting Unitholders) and to each registered holder of Phantom Units, in respect of each Unit (including Fractional Unit Interests), or Phantom Unit then held, its pro-rata portion of the Final Unitholder Distribution by paying, in accordance with Article 5 of this Plan of Arrangement, such amount to the Unitholders (in the case of Unitholders other than Dissenting Unitholders) and holders of Phantom Units, and by paying such amount to the Dissenter Trustee in the case of Dissenting Unitholders, in each case less amounts withheld in respect of the distribution pursuant to Section 5.4 of this Plan of Arrangement. The payment of the Final Unitholder Distribution to the registered holders of Phantom Units as aforesaid shall be in lieu of, and shall extinguish the right of, such holders to receive additional Phantom Units under the Joint Phantom Unit Plan in connection with the Final Unitholder Distribution; | |
(l) | Each holder of an issued and outstanding Exchange Option shall be deemed to have exercised such holder’s Unit Appreciation Rights, as defined in the Exchange Option Plan, pursuant to the Notice of Exercise thereunder, in exchange for the payment by Fording to such registered holder, for each Exchange Option held by such holder, of an amount in cash equal to the difference between the sum of the Unit Consideration plus the Final Unitholder Distribution over the Exercise Price of such Exchange Option (less any amounts withheld pursuant to Section 5.4 of this Plan of Arrangement), and thereafter all of the Exchange Options will be terminated and none of the former holders of Exchange Options, Fording, the Fording Trustees, the Fording Directors, the Fording Subsidiaries, Purchaser, Acquiror or any of their respective successors or assigns will have any rights, liabilities or obligations in connection with such Exchange Options. For the purpose of this Section 3.1(l), the cash value of the Share Consideration component of the Unit Consideration shall be calculated using the weighted average trading price per share of the Purchaser Shares on the NYSE over the last 10 trading days ending on the second trading day prior to the Effective Date; | |
(m) | The Effective Date shall be deemed to be a Mandatory Payment Date (as defined in the Joint Phantom Unit Plan) and at the Effective Time all of the then issued and outstanding Phantom Units shall be deemed to have vested and each holder of Phantom Units at the Effective Time shall be deemed to have elected pursuant to Section 5.4(d) of the Joint Phantom Unit Plan to redeem all Phantom Units credited to such holder’s Phantom Unit Account for an amount per Phantom Unit equal to the Unit Consideration, and |
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Fording shall pay and transfer to such holder the Unit Consideration to which such holder is entitled as a result of such deemed redemption (less any amounts withheld pursuant to Section 5.4 of this Plan of Arrangement); amounts paid by Fording in relation to Phantom Units held by Fording Directors and issued to them in that capacity will be deemed to have been paid by Fording on behalf of Fording ULC and will be deemed to have been funded by way of a capital contribution by Fording to Acquiror and immediately thereafter, by way of a capital contribution by Acquiror to Fording ULC and thereafter all of the Phantom Units will be terminated and none of the former holders of Phantom Units, Fording, the Fording Trustees, the Fording Directors, the Fording Subsidiaries, Purchaser, Acquiror or any of their respective successors or assigns will have any rights, liabilities or obligations in connection with such Phantom Units; |
(n) | [Paragraph intentionally deleted] | |
(o) | The Exchange Option Plan and the Joint Phantom Unit Plan will terminate and thereafter, none of Fording, the Fording Trustees, the Fording Directors, the Fording Subsidiaries, Purchaser, Acquiror or any of their respective successors or assigns will have any further liability or obligation to the Securityholders under such plans or agreements and the Securityholders will have no further rights under such plans or agreements; | |
(p) | Fording will distribute in respect of each issued and outstanding Unit, including Fractional Unit Interests and Units and Fractional Unit Interests held by Dissenting Unitholders, as a payment under Canadian law in respect of the capital interest in Fording represented by the Unit or Fractional Unit Interest, as applicable, and not as proceeds of disposition of that capital interest, an amount per Unit (or the prorated portion thereof in the case of Fractional Unit Interests) equal to: |
(i) | the Unit Consideration,less |
(ii) | any amounts in respect of the Unit or Fractional Unit Interest, as applicable, withheld pursuant to Section 5.4 of this Plan of Arrangement in respect of the amounts described in Section 3.1(p)(i) above and Section 3.1(q) below,plus | |
(iii) | 0.001 of a Purchaser Share, |
(q) | Each issued and outstanding Unit, and if applicable, each outstanding Fractional Unit Interest (including Units and Fractional Unit Interests held by Dissenting Unitholders that have exercised their Dissent Rights) will be purchased by Fording for cancellation without any further act or formality and free and clear of all encumbrances (other than obligations in respect of Dissent Rights in the manner set out in Article 4) in consideration of the payment by Fording in respect of each Unit or Fractional Unit Interest, as applicable, of 0.001 of a Purchaser Share per Unit (or the pro rata portion thereof in the case of Fractional Unit Interests), which consideration shall be transferred to the Unitholder, in the case of Unitholders other than Dissenting Unitholders, in accordance with Article 5 of this Plan of Arrangement and shall be transferred to the Dissenter Trustee in the case of Dissenting Unitholders, and thereafter all such Units and Fractional Unit Interests will be cancelled, the Fording DRIP will terminate and none of the Unitholders or former Unitholders, any former beneficial owner of Units, Fording, the Fording Trustees, the Fording Directors, the Fording Subsidiaries, Purchaser, Acquiror or any of their respective successors or assigns will have any rights, liabilities or obligations in connection with such Units and Fractional Unit Interests (other than as applicable the obligations in respect of Dissent Rights in Article 4 and the right to receive the distributions and other amounts payable under this Plan of Arrangement in accordance with Article 5); and | |
(r) | Contemporaneously with the purchase of the Units under Section 3.1(q), all of the remaining assets of Fording, including the right to amounts under the Royalty accrued but not paid up to the Effective Time and any other Acquired Assets not transferred to the Purchaser pursuant to Section 3.1(j), will be transferred by Fording to Purchaser with such transfer occurring as a reduction of the consideration paid by Purchaser in respect of the purchase of assets pursuant to Section 3.1(j) hereof and in an amount equal to |
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the fair market value of the assets transferred under this Section 3.1(r), and the reduction of the consideration will be allocated proportionately between the assets described in Section 3.1(j)(v) and (j)(vi) above, and immediately thereon Fording shall terminate and cease to exist. |
DISSENTING UNITHOLDERS
4.1 | Dissenting Unitholders |
(a) | notwithstanding Section 191(5) of the Corporate Statute, the written objection to the Arrangement Resolution referred to in Section 191(5) of the Corporate Statute must be received by Fording not later than 5:00 p.m. (Calgary time) on the business day that is two business days prior to the date of the Fording Meeting; | |
(b) | Unitholders who duly exercise their Dissent Rights and who: |
(i) | are ultimately entitled to be paid the fair value of their Units or Fractional Unit Interests, as applicable, shall, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 191 of the Corporate Statute, be deemed to have participated in the Arrangement on the same basis as a non-Dissenting Unitholder and upon payment to the Dissenter Trustee (less any amounts withheld pursuant to Section 5.4 of this Plan of Arrangement) shall be deemed to have received and been paid the amounts described in Sections 3.1(k), 3.1(p) and 3.1(q), as applicable, of this Plan of Arrangement in respect of each Unit or Fractional Unit Interest held, and shall be deemed to have transferred their Units or Fractional Unit Interests, as applicable, free and clear of all encumbrances to Fording as described in Section 3.1(q) of this Plan of Arrangement and will only be entitled to be paid the fair value of their Units or Fractional Unit Interests, as applicable, and will not be entitled to any other payment or consideration, including any payment that would be payable under the Arrangement had such Unitholders not exercised their Dissent Rights in respect of such Units or Fractional Unit Interests, as applicable; or | |
(ii) | are ultimately not entitled to be paid the fair value for their Units or Fractional Unit Interests, as applicable, shall, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 191 of the Corporate Statute, be deemed to have participated in the Arrangement on the same basis as a non-Dissenting Unitholder and shall be deemed to have received and been paid the amounts described in Sections 3.1(k), 3.1(p) and 3.1(q) of this Plan of Arrangement in respect of each Unit or Fractional Unit Interest, as applicable, held (which payment shall be made out of the proceeds held by the Dissenter Trustee on the same terms and conditions set out in Article 5, less any amounts withheld pursuant to Section 5.4 of this Plan of Arrangement, and subject to such Unitholder receiving their pro rata share of the net cash proceeds from the sale of the Share Consideration, in lieu of the Share Consideration, in the event that Purchaser has directed the sale of such Share Consideration), and such Unitholders shall be deemed to have transferred their Units or Fractional Unit Interests, as applicable, free and clear of all encumbrances to Fording as described in Section 3.1(q) of this Plan of Arrangement. |
(c) | Any payment of fair value to which a Dissenting Unitholder is entitled shall first be made out of the proceeds paid to the Dissenter Trustee (such payment to be made on a pro rata basis to all Dissenting Unitholders who are ultimately entitled to be paid the fair value of their Units based on the number of Units |
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or Fractional Unit Interests, as applicable, in respect of which they have exercised such Dissent Rights) with any remaining balance, after satisfaction of all of the Dissent Rights that were duly exercised, to be paid to Purchaser. Any amounts continuing to be held by the Dissenter Trustee shall, following such payments, be paid to Purchaser. Purchaser shall have the right at any time to direct the Dissenter Trustee to sell all or any part of the aggregate Share Consideration held by the Dissenter Trustee in such capacity at any time through a recognized stock exchange on such dates and at such prices as the Dissenter Trustee determines in its sole discretion, and the proceeds after deduction of expenses of disposition and amounts withheld in accordance with Section 5.4 of this Plan of Arrangement shall be substituted for the Share Consideration portion of the amount otherwise receivable under this Section; and |
(d) | In addition to any other restrictions in Section 191 of the Corporate Statute, none of the following shall be entitled to exercise Dissent Rights: (i) holders of Exchange Options; (ii) holders of Phantom Units; and (iii) Unitholders who vote, or who have or have been deemed to have instructed a proxy holder to vote, in favour of the Arrangement Resolution. The fair value of the Units or Fractional Unit Interests, as applicable, shall be determined as of the close of business on the last business day before the day on which the Arrangement is approved at the Fording Meeting. |
4.2 | Recognition of Dissenting Unitholders |
4.3 | Dissent Rights Pursuant to the Declaration of Trust |
CERTIFICATES AND PAYMENTS
5.1 | Payment of Consideration |
(a) | On or before the Effective Date, in satisfaction of its payment obligations under this Plan of Arrangement, Purchaser shall, in accordance with the Arrangement Agreement, deposit with the Depositary in escrow for the benefit of Securityholders (and the Dissenter Trustee), the Securityholder Consideration and the amount payable under Section 3.1(j)(ii). As soon as practicable on or after the later of the Effective Date and the date on which a Unitholder surrenders to the Depositary for cancellation a certificate which immediately prior to the Effective Time represented outstanding Units (other than uncertificated Units issued under the Fording DRIP which are represented solely on the records of Fording or its agents(“DRIP Units”)), that were purchased for cancellation under this Plan of Arrangement, together with a duly completed and executed Letter of Transmittal and such additional documents and instruments as the Purchaser or the Depositary may reasonably require, the Unitholder shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor, and Purchaser shall cause the Depositary to deliver, and the Depositary shall deliver to such person, a cheque (or other form of immediately available funds) representing the cash to which such Unitholder is entitled under this Plan of Arrangement in respect of such Units and, subject to Section 5.3, a certificate representing the Share Consideration to which such Unitholder is entitled under this Plan of Arrangement in respect of such Units, less any amounts withheld pursuant to Section 5.4 of this Plan of Arrangement, and any certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be cancelled. Upon such payment in full in respect of such Units represented by a properly deposited certificate, any entitlements of Unitholders under this Plan of Arrangement in relation to the Units represented by such certificate shall be extinguished and |
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none of the Unitholders or former Unitholders, any former beneficial owner of Units, Fording, the Fording Trustees, the Fording Directors, the Fording Subsidiaries, Purchaser, Acquiror or any of their respective successors or assigns will have any rights, liabilities or obligations in connection with such certificate or the Unitsand/or Fractional Unit Interests represented by such certificate. The cash deposited with the Depositary shall be held in an interest-bearing account, and any interest earned on such funds shall be for the account of Purchaser. Prior to the time of surrender of any certificate which immediately prior to the Effective Time represented Units, any dividends or other distributions declared or made with respect to the Purchaser Shares to which such Unitholder is entitled with a record date on or after the Effective Date will be made or paid to the Depositary to be held by it in trust for such Unitholder. All monies so held in trust by the Depositary shall be deposited in an interest-bearing account and any interest earned on such funds shall be for the account of Purchaser. Subject to applicable law and Section 5.1(b), at the time a certificate is so surrendered, there shall, in addition to the delivery of a certificate representing Purchaser Shares and the cash to which the applicable Unitholder is entitled, be delivered to such person, without interest, the amount of any dividend or other distribution with a record date after the Effective Date theretofore paid with respect to such Purchaser Shares. The Depositary shall transfer the Unit Consideration and the Final Unitholder Distribution in respect of the Dissenting Unitholders to the Dissenter Trustee. |
(b) | Until surrendered as contemplated by this Article 5, each certificate which immediately prior to the Effective Time represented Units, shall be deemed after the Effective Time to represent only the right to receive upon such surrender the payments due under this Plan of Arrangement, as contemplated in this Plan of Arrangement, less any amounts withheld pursuant to Section 5.4 of this Plan of Arrangement. Any such certificate formerly representing Units not duly surrendered on or before the Sixth Anniversary shall cease to represent a claim by or interest of any Unitholder, of any kind or nature against or in Fording, Purchaser or the Acquiror. On the Sixth Anniversary: (i) all cash to which such Unitholder was entitled shall be deemed to have been surrendered and forfeited to Purchaser for no consideration; and (ii) the certificates representing the Purchaser Shares to which such Unitholder was entitled shall be delivered to the Purchaser for cancellation and shall be cancelled by the Purchaser and the interest of such former holder in the Purchaser Shares, together with all entitlements to dividends and distributions thereon, represented by such certificates shall be deemed to have been surrendered and forfeited to Purchaser for no consideration. | |
(c) | As soon as practicable on or after the Effective Date, the Depositary shall (without duplication) deliver on behalf of Fording to each holder who immediately before the Effective Time was a holder of Exchange Options, a holder of Phantom Units or a holder of DRIP Units, in each case, as reflected on the books and records of Fording, a cheque (or other form of immediately available funds) representing the cash which such holder is entitled in respect of such Exchange Options, Phantom Units or DRIP Units, as the case may be, under this Plan of Arrangement, and to the extent applicable, a certificate representing the Share Consideration portion of the Unit Consideration, against receipt of such documentation as the Purchaser or Fording may reasonably require acknowledging the exerciseand/or termination of the Exchange Options or Phantom Units, as the case may be, held by such holder. | |
(d) | Any payment made by way of cheque by the Depositary that has not been deposited or has been returned to the Depositary or that otherwise remains unclaimed on or before the Sixth Anniversary, and any right or claim to payment hereunder that remains outstanding on the Sixth Anniversary shall cease to represent a right or claim of any kind or nature and the right of the holder to receive the consideration for Units, Fractional Unit Interests, Exchange Options or Phantom Units, as the case may be, pursuant to this Plan of Arrangement shall terminate and be deemed to be surrendered and forfeited (in the case of Purchaser Shares, together with all entitlements to dividends and distributions thereon) to Purchaser for no consideration. |
5.2 | Lost Certificates |
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5.3 | Fractional Purchaser Shares |
(a) | Each fractional interest in a Purchaser Share, which would otherwise be distributed to a Unitholder or a registered holder of Phantom Units pursuant to the operation of this Plan of Arrangement (after aggregating all Purchaser Shares otherwise distributable to such holder) will be delivered to the Depositary as agent for such Unitholder or registered holder of Phantom Units, as applicable, and each such holder will receive a cash payment in Canadian dollars equal to such holder’s pro rata portion of the net proceeds after expenses of disposition received by the Depositary upon the sale of whole Purchaser Shares, representing an accumulation of all fractional interests in Purchaser Shares to which all such holders would otherwise be entitled hereunder, less any amounts withheld pursuant to Section 5.4. | |
(b) | The Depositary shall cause to be sold, on behalf of the affected Persons, all Purchaser Shares described in Section 5.3(a) through the facilities of any stock exchange upon which the Purchaser Shares are then listed as soon as reasonably practicable following the Effective Date on such dates and at such prices as the Depositary determines in its sole discretion. None of Fording, the Fording Trustees, the Fording Directors, the Fording Subsidiaries, Purchaser, Acquiror, the Depositary or any of their successors or assigns shall be liable for any loss arising out of any such sales. | |
(c) | The aggregate net proceeds after expenses of such sales, less any amounts withheld pursuant to Section 5.4, shall be distributed by the Depositary among the persons entitled to receive same as provided in Section 5.3(a) with amounts that would otherwise be payable to Dissenting Unitholders payable to the Dissenter Trustee. No dividend, distribution, split or other change in the capital structure of Purchaser will have any effect on any Purchaser Shares described in Section 5.3(a) and such securities will not entitle the holder thereof to exercise any rights as a security holder of Purchaser. |
5.4 | Withholding Taxes |
AMENDMENTS
6.1 | Amendments |
(a) | filed with the Court and, if made following the Fording Meeting, approved by the Court; |
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(b) | communicated to Unitholders in the manner required by the Court (if so required); and | |
(c) | approved by the Purchaser. |
6.2 | Effectiveness of Amendments Made Prior to or at the Fording Meeting |
6.3 | Effectiveness of Amendments Made Following the Fording Meeting |
(a) | Any amendment, modification or supplement to this Plan of Arrangement that is approved or directed by the Court following the Fording Meeting shall be effective only if: (i) it is consented to by each of Fording and the Purchaser (in each case, acting reasonably); and (ii) if required by the Court, it is consented to by some or all of the Securityholders voting in the manner directed by the Court. | |
(b) | Any amendment, modification or supplement to this Plan of Arrangement may be made following the Effective Date unilaterally by the Purchaser, provided that it concerns a matter which, in the reasonable opinion of the Purchaser, is of an administrative nature required to better give effect to the implementation of this Plan of Arrangement and is not adverse to the economic or financial interests of any former holder of Units, Exchange Options or Phantom Units. |
FURTHER ASSURANCES
7.1 | Further Assurances |
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(a) | amend its articles under section 173 or 174 to add, change or remove any provisions restricting or constraining the issue or transfer of shares of that class, | |
(b) | amend its articles under section 173 to add, change or remove any restrictions on the business or businesses that the corporation may carry on, |
(b.l) | amend its articles under section 173 to add or remove an express statement establishing the unlimited liability of shareholders as set out in section 15.2(1), |
(c) | amalgamate with another corporation, otherwise than under section 184 or 187, | |
(d) | be continued under the laws of another jurisdiction under section 189, or | |
(e) | sell, lease or exchange all or substantially all its property under section 190. |
(2) | A holder of shares of any class or series of shares entitled to vote under section 176, other than section 176(1)(a), may dissent if the corporation resolves to amend its articles in a manner described in that section. | |
(3) | In addition to any other right the shareholder may have, but subject to subsection (20), a shareholder entitled to dissent under this section and who complies with this section is entitled to be paid by the corporation the fair value of the shares held by the shareholder in respect of which the shareholder dissents, determined as of the close of business on the last business day before the day on which the resolution from which the shareholder dissents was adopted. | |
(4) | A dissenting shareholder may only claim under this section with respect to all the shares of a class held by the shareholder or on behalf of any one beneficial owner and registered in the name of the dissenting shareholder. | |
(5) | A dissenting shareholder shall send to the corporation a written objection to a resolution referred to in subsection (1) or (2) |
(a) | at or before any meeting of shareholders at which the resolution is to be voted on, or | |
(b) | if the corporation did not send notice to the shareholder of the purpose of the meeting or of the shareholder’s right to dissent, within a reasonable time after the shareholder learns that the resolution was adopted and of the shareholder’s right to dissent. |
(6) | An application may be made to the Court by originating notice after the adoption of a resolution referred to in subsection (1) or (2) |
(a) | by the corporation, or | |
(b) | by a shareholder if the shareholder has sent an objection to the corporation under subsection (5), |
(7) | If an application is made under subsection (6), the corporation shall, unless the Court otherwise orders, send to each dissenting shareholder a written offer to pay the shareholder an amount considered by the directors to be the fair value of the shares. |
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(8) | Unless the Court otherwise orders, an offer referred to in subsection (7) shall be sent to each dissenting shareholder |
(a) | at least 10 days before the date on which the application is returnable, if the corporation is the applicant, or | |
(b) | within 10 days after the corporation is served with a copy of the originating notice, if a shareholder is the applicant. |
(9) | Every offer made under subsection (7) shall |
(a) | be made on the same terms, and | |
(b) | contain or be accompanied with a statement showing how the fair value was determined. |
(10) | A dissenting shareholder may make an agreement with the corporation for the purchase of the shareholder’s shares by the corporation, in the amount of the corporation’s offer under subsection (7) or otherwise, at any time before the Court pronounces an order fixing the fair value of the shares. | |
(11) | A dissenting shareholder |
(a) | is not required to give security for costs in respect of an application under subsection (6), and | |
(b) | except in special circumstances shall not be required to pay the costs of the application or appraisal. |
(12) | In connection with an application under subsection (6), the Court may give directions for |
(a) | joining as parties all dissenting shareholders whose shares have not been purchased by the corporation and for the representation of dissenting shareholders who, in the opinion of the Court, are in need of representation, | |
(b) | the trial of issues and interlocutory matters, including pleadings and examinations for discovery, | |
(c) | the payment to the shareholder of all or part of the sum offered by the corporation for the shares, | |
(d) | the deposit of the share certificates with the Court or with the corporation or its transfer agent, | |
(e) | the appointment and payment of independent appraisers, and the procedures to be followed by them, | |
(f) | the service of documents, and | |
(g) | the burden of proof on the parties. |
(13) | On an application under subsection (6), the Court shall make an order |
(a) | fixing the fair value of the shares in accordance with subsection (3) of all dissenting shareholders who are parties to the application, | |
(b) | giving judgment in that amount against the corporation and in favour of each of those dissenting shareholders, | |
(c) | fixing the time within which the corporation must pay that amount to a shareholder, and | |
(d) | fixing the time at which a dissenting shareholder of an unlimited liability corporation ceases to become liable for any new liability, act or default of the unlimited liability corporation. |
(14) | On |
(a) | the action approved by the resolution from which the shareholder dissents becoming effective, | |
(b) | the making of an agreement under subsection (10) between the corporation and the dissenting shareholder as to the payment to be made by the corporation for the shareholder’s shares, whether by the acceptance of the corporation’s offer under subsection (7) or otherwise, or |
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(c) | the pronouncement of an order under subsection (13), |
(15) | Subsection (14)(a) does not apply to a shareholder referred to in subsection (5)(b). | |
(16) | Until one of the events mentioned in subsection (14) occurs |
(a) | the shareholder may withdraw the shareholder’s dissent, or | |
(b) | the corporation may rescind the resolution, and in either event proceedings under this section shall be discontinued. |
(17) | The Court may in its discretion allow a reasonable rate of interest on the amount payable to each dissenting shareholder, from the date on which the shareholder ceases to have any rights as a shareholder by reason of subsection (14) until the date of payment. | |
(18) | If subsection (20) applies, the corporation shall, within 10 days after |
(a) | the pronouncement of an order under subsection (13), or | |
(b) | the making of an agreement between the shareholder and the corporation as to the payment to be made for the shareholder’s shares, |
(19) | Notwithstanding that a judgment has been given in favour of a dissenting shareholder under subsection (13)(b), if subsection (20) applies, the dissenting shareholder, by written notice delivered to the corporation within 30 days after receiving the notice under subsection (18), may withdraw the shareholder’s notice of objection, in which case the corporation is deemed to consent to the withdrawal and the shareholder is reinstated to the shareholder’s full rights as a shareholder, failing which the shareholder retains a status as a claimant against the corporation, to be paid as soon as the corporation is lawfully able to do so or, in a liquidation, to be ranked subordinate to the rights of creditors of the corporation but in priority to its shareholders. | |
(20) | A corporation shall not make a payment to a dissenting shareholder under this section if there are reasonable grounds for believing that |
(a) | the corporation is or would after the payment be unable to pay its liabilities as they become due, or | |
(b) | the realizable value of the corporation’s assets would by reason of the payment be less than the aggregate of its liabilities. |
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PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
As at June 30, 2008
Pro Forma | ||||||||||||||||||
Adjustments | Pro Forma | |||||||||||||||||
($ millions, unaudited) | Teck | Fording | Note 3 | Amounts | Teck | |||||||||||||
A | B | C | A+B+C | |||||||||||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||||||||||||
Current assets | ||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,162 | $ | 273 | a | (9,331 | ) | $ | 1,129 | |||||||||
a | (502 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
e | 9,865 | |||||||||||||||||
f | (338 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Accounts receivable | 902 | 295 | 1,197 | |||||||||||||||
Inventories and other | 993 | 159 | b | 179 | 1,331 | |||||||||||||
3,057 | 727 | 3,657 | ||||||||||||||||
Investments | 1,815 | — | a | 11,201 | 1,075 | |||||||||||||
c | (740 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
d | (11,201 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment and other non-current assets | 9,314 | 719 | b | 10,989 | 22,099 | |||||||||||||
c | 1,077 | |||||||||||||||||
$ | 14,186 | $ | 1,446 | $ | 26,831 | |||||||||||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||||||||||||
Current liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 775 | $ | 193 | $ | 968 | ||||||||||||
Dividends payable | 221 | 372 | 593 | |||||||||||||||
Current portion of long-term debt | 32 | 2 | e | 1,705 | 1,737 | |||||||||||||
f | (2 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
1,028 | 567 | 3,298 | ||||||||||||||||
Long-term debt | 1,508 | 314 | e | 8,160 | 9,646 | |||||||||||||
f | (336 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Other liabilities | 935 | 165 | b | 81 | 1,223 | |||||||||||||
c | 42 | |||||||||||||||||
Future income and resource taxes | 2,204 | 134 | b | 99 | 2,785 | |||||||||||||
c | 348 | |||||||||||||||||
Minority interests | 76 | — | 76 | |||||||||||||||
5,751 | 1,180 | 17,028 | ||||||||||||||||
Shareholders’ equity | 8,435 | 266 | a | 1,368 | 9,803 | |||||||||||||
b | 10,988 | |||||||||||||||||
c | (53 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
d | (11,201 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
$ | 14,186 | $ | 1,446 | $ | 26,831 | |||||||||||||
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PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS
For the year ended December 31, 2007
Pro Forma | ||||||||||||||||||
Adjustments | Pro Forma | |||||||||||||||||
($ millions, unaudited) | Teck | Fording | Note 3 | Amounts | Teck | |||||||||||||
A | B | C | A+B+C | |||||||||||||||
Revenues | $ | 6,371 | $ | 1,427 | $ | 7,798 | ||||||||||||
Operating expenses | (3,300 | ) | (1,040 | ) | g | 19 | (4,309 | ) | ||||||||||
i | 12 | |||||||||||||||||
Depreciation | (333 | ) | (51 | ) | g | (351 | ) | (768 | ) | |||||||||
i | (33 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Operating profit | 2,738 | 336 | 2,721 | |||||||||||||||
Other expenses | ||||||||||||||||||
General and administration | (109 | ) | (28 | ) | (137 | ) | ||||||||||||
Interest on long-term debt | (85 | ) | (21 | ) | h | (509 | ) | (593 | ) | |||||||||
j | 22 | |||||||||||||||||
Mineral exploration | (105 | ) | (105 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Research and development | (32 | ) | (32 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Asset impairment charges | (69 | ) | (69 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Other income (expense) | 170 | 147 | 317 | |||||||||||||||
(230 | ) | 98 | (619 | ) | ||||||||||||||
2,508 | 434 | 2,102 | ||||||||||||||||
Provision for income and resource taxes | (795 | ) | (112 | ) | l | 315 | (592 | ) | ||||||||||
Minority interests | (47 | ) | (47 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Equity earnings (loss) | (5 | ) | i | (28 | ) | (33 | ) | |||||||||||
Net earnings from continuing operations | 1,661 | 322 | 1,430 | |||||||||||||||
Discontinued operations | (46 | ) | 11 | k | (11 | ) | (46 | ) | ||||||||||
Net earnings | $ | 1,615 | $ | 333 | $ | 1,384 | ||||||||||||
Earnings per share | Pro forma earnings per share (Note 5) | |||||||||||||||||
Basic | $ | 3.74 | $ | 2.96 | ||||||||||||||
Diluted | $ | 3.72 | $ | 2.94 | ||||||||||||||
Earnings per share from continuing operations | Pro forma earnings per share from continuing operations (Note 5) | |||||||||||||||||
Basic | $ | 3.85 | $ | 3.06 | ||||||||||||||
Diluted | $ | 3.83 | $ | 3.04 |
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PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS
For the six months ended June 30, 2008
Pro Forma | ||||||||||||||||||
Adjustments | Pro Forma | |||||||||||||||||
($ millions, unaudited) | Teck | Fording | Note 3 | Amounts | Teck | |||||||||||||
A | B | C | A+B+C | |||||||||||||||
Revenues | $ | 3,441 | $ | 1,148 | $ | 4,589 | ||||||||||||
Operating expenses | (1,735 | ) | (617 | ) | g | 10 | (2,318 | ) | ||||||||||
i | 24 | |||||||||||||||||
Depreciation | (213 | ) | (29 | ) | g | (176 | ) | (435 | ) | |||||||||
i | (17 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Operating profit | 1,493 | 502 | 1,836 | |||||||||||||||
Other expenses | ||||||||||||||||||
General and administration | (70 | ) | (23 | ) | (93 | ) | ||||||||||||
Interest on long-term debt | (37 | ) | (8 | ) | h | (258 | ) | (294 | ) | |||||||||
j | 9 | |||||||||||||||||
Mineral exploration | (46 | ) | (46 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Research and development | (16 | ) | (16 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Asset impairment charge | (12 | ) | (12 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Other income (expense) | 33 | (34 | ) | (1 | ) | |||||||||||||
(148 | ) | (65 | ) | (462 | ) | |||||||||||||
1,345 | 437 | 1,374 | ||||||||||||||||
Provision for income and resource taxes | (503 | ) | (63 | ) | l | 140 | (426 | ) | ||||||||||
Minority interests | (59 | ) | (59 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Equity earnings (loss) | 64 | i | (54 | ) | 10 | |||||||||||||
Net earnings from continuing operations | 847 | 374 | 899 | |||||||||||||||
Discontinued operations | (5 | ) | (5 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net earnings | $ | 842 | $ | 374 | $ | 894 | ||||||||||||
Earnings per share | Pro forma earnings per share (Note 5) | |||||||||||||||||
Basic | $ | 1.90 | $ | 1.87 | ||||||||||||||
Diluted | $ | 1.90 | $ | 1.86 | ||||||||||||||
Earnings per share from continuing operations | Pro forma earnings per share from continuing operations (Note 5) | |||||||||||||||||
Basic | $ | 1.92 | $ | 1.88 | ||||||||||||||
Diluted | $ | 1.91 | $ | 1.87 |
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PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated
(Unaudited)
1. | BASIS OF PRESENTATION |
2. | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
3. | PRO FORMA ADJUSTMENTS |
(a) | To record the purchase of Fording assets for cash and the issuance of Teck shares as follows: |
($ millions) | ||||
Cash portion of the Fording Acquisition | $ | 9,331 | ||
Issue of 36.5 million Teck subordinate voting shares(1) | 1,368 | |||
10,699 | ||||
Transaction costs, taxes and other | 502 | |||
Total purchase price | $ | 11,201 | ||
(1) | The price was calculated using a price of $39.46 for each Teck subordinate voting share issued, net of deemed issue costs. |
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PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated
(Unaudited)
(b) | The following allocates the purchase price based on management’s preliminary estimate of fair values after giving effect to (a) above: |
Fording | Fording | |||||||||||
Book Value | Fair Value | Fair Value | ||||||||||
($ millions) | (80.18%) | Adjustments | (80.18%) | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 219 | $ | — | $ | 219 | ||||||
Inventories | 127 | 179 | 306 | |||||||||
Other current assets | 237 | — | 237 | |||||||||
Property, plant and equipment and other non-current assets | 576 | 10,989 | 11,565 | |||||||||
Total assets | $ | 1,159 | $ | 11,168 | $ | 12,327 | ||||||
Current portion of long-term debt | $ | 2 | $ | — | $ | 2 | ||||||
Other current liabilities | 453 | — | 453 | |||||||||
Long-term debt | 252 | — | 252 | |||||||||
Other liabilities | 132 | 81 | 213 | |||||||||
Future income and resource taxes | 107 | 99 | 206 | |||||||||
Total liabilities | $ | 946 | $ | 180 | $ | 1,126 | ||||||
Net assets purchased | $ | 213 | $ | 10,988 | $ | 11,201 | ||||||
(c) | To reclassify the historic purchase price adjustments on the 19.82% of Fording units held prior to the Acquisition from equity investments to the balance sheet items to which they relate. | |
(d) | To eliminate the 80.18% investment in Fording on consolidation. | |
(e) | To record the proceeds of the additional $10 billion of debt less $135 million in transaction fees to finance the cash portion of the Acquisition. These statements assume a drawdown of a bridge facility of $6 billion of which $5 billion will be replaced by the issuance of long-term bonds either prior to or shortly after the Acquisition, with the remainder of the bridge facility to be retired by operating cash flow. The remaining $4 billion debt is an amortizing 3 year term loan. | |
(f) | To record the repayment of Fording and Elk Valley Coal Partnership debt at the date of the Acquisition. |
(g) | To depreciate and amortize the preliminary fair value adjustments as set out in (b) above. | |
(h) | To record interest expense on the debt incurred to finance the Acquisition. | |
(i) | To eliminate Teck’s equity earnings from Fording units held prior to the Acquisition and to reclassify depreciation of the historic purchase price adjustments on the 19.82% of Fording units held prior to the Acquisition from equity earnings to the statement of earnings line items to which they relate. | |
(j) | To eliminate interest expense on Fording and Elk Valley Coal Partnership debt per (f) above. | |
(k) | To eliminate the results of Fording’s discontinued operations, which are not part of the Acquisition. | |
(l) | To provide for taxes on the above items. |
4. | ITEMS NOT ADJUSTED |
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PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated
(Unaudited)
5. | PRO FORMA EARNINGS PER SHARE INFORMATION |
Six Months Ended | Year Ended | |||||||
June 30, 2008 | December 31, 2007 | |||||||
Basic pro forma earnings per share computation | ||||||||
Numerator($ millions): | ||||||||
Pro forma net earnings from continuing operations | $ | 899 | $ | 1,430 | ||||
Pro forma net earnings from discontinued operation | (5 | ) | (46 | ) | ||||
Pro forma net earnings available to shareholders | $ | 894 | $ | 1,384 | ||||
Denominator(thousands of shares): | ||||||||
Teck weighted average shares outstanding | 442,200 | 431,498 | ||||||
Shares issued to Fording unitholders | 36,481 | 36,481 | ||||||
Pro forma weighted average shares outstanding | 478,681 | 467,979 | ||||||
Basic pro forma earnings per share | $ | 1.87 | $ | 2.96 | ||||
Basic pro forma earnings per share from continuing operations | $ | 1.88 | $ | 3.06 | ||||
Diluted pro forma earnings per share computation | ||||||||
Numerator($ millions) | ||||||||
Pro forma net earnings available to shareholders, assuming dilution | $ | 894 | $ | 1,384 | ||||
Pro forma net earnings available to shareholders from continuing operations, assuming dilution | 899 | 1,430 | ||||||
Denominator(thousands of shares): | ||||||||
Pro forma weighted average shares outstanding | 478,681 | 467,979 | ||||||
Dilutive effect of Teck Class B Share options | 1,774 | 2,229 | ||||||
Pro forma weighted average shares outstanding | 480,455 | 470,208 | ||||||
Diluted pro forma earnings per share | $ | 1.86 | $ | 2.94 | ||||
Diluted pro forma earnings per share from continuing operations | $ | 1.87 | $ | 3.04 |
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