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Merger Agreement
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Business Combinations [Abstract]  
Merger Agreement Merger Agreement
On March 21, 2021, KCS entered into a merger agreement with Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (“CP”), a Canadian corporation, under which CP agreed to acquire KCS in a stock and cash transaction valued at $275 per common share. On May 6, 2021, the Surface Transportation Board (“STB”) unanimously approved the use of a voting trust for CP’s proposed merger with KCS. The voting trust permits KCS to maintain its independence and protect its financial health during the STB’s review of the ultimate merger as well as enable KCS stockholders to receive the value of their shares, even if the STB ultimately rejected the merger.
On April 20, 2021, KCS received an unsolicited merger proposal valued at $325 per common share from Canadian National Railway Company (“CN”), a Canadian corporation, which, after negotiation with and a revised proposal from CN, was determined on May 13, 2021 by the Company’s board of directors to be a superior proposal as defined by the CP merger agreement. On May 21, 2021, KCS terminated the CP merger agreement and paid CP a merger termination fee of $700.0 million, which was recognized in merger costs within the consolidated statements of operations.
On May 21, 2021, KCS and CN entered into a merger agreement (the “CN merger agreement”), and a U.S. affiliate of CN paid KCS $700.0 million as reimbursement for the termination fee paid to CP. KCS was obligated to repay the termination fee to CN under certain circumstances, including but not limited to, if KCS were to terminate the CN merger agreement to accept a superior proposal as defined by the CN merger agreement. As a result, the $700.0 million reimbursement from CN was recognized in accounts payable and accrued liabilities within the consolidated balance sheet. In addition, KCS was obligated to pay CN a termination fee of $700.0 million to terminate the CN merger agreement.
On August 10, 2021, KCS received an unsolicited merger proposal from CP to acquire KCS in a stock and cash transaction valued at $300 per common share. On August 12, 2021, the Company’s board of directors determined that the CP proposal did not constitute a superior proposal as defined by the CN merger agreement.
On August 31, 2021, the STB unanimously rejected the use of a voting trust in the proposed merger between CN and KCS. Shortly thereafter, CP reaffirmed its August 10th proposal to acquire KCS for a then estimated value of $300 per common share, which, after negotiation with CP, the Company’s board of directors determined to be a superior proposal as defined by the CN merger agreement. On September 15, 2021, KCS terminated the CN merger agreement and paid CN $1,400.0 million, which included (1) a $700.0 million merger termination fee recognized in merger costs within the consolidated statements of operations and (2) reimbursement of the CN payment for the CP termination fee of $700.0 million recognized as a reduction to accounts payable and accrued liabilities within the consolidated balance sheet.
On September 15, 2021, KCS and CP entered into a merger agreement (the “Merger Agreement”) and CP paid KCS $1,400.0 million, which included (1) $700.0 million for reimbursement of the CP termination fee recognized as a reduction of merger costs and (2) $700.0 million for reimbursement of the termination fee paid to CN. KCS is obligated to repay the $700.0 million CN termination fee to CP under certain circumstances, including but not limited to, if KCS were to terminate the Merger Agreement to accept a superior proposal as defined by the Merger Agreement. As a result, the $700.0 million reimbursement from CP was recognized in accounts payable and accrued liabilities within the consolidated balance sheet. In addition, KCS would be required to pay CP a termination fee of $700.0 million to terminate the Merger Agreement.
On September 30, 2021, in response to the revised merger notice filed by CP in connection with the Merger Agreement, the STB reconfirmed its prior decision approving the use of the voting trust in the Merger Agreement.
Upon completion of the merger (the “Merger”) the ownership interest of KCS would then be deposited into a voting trust subject to a voting trust agreement (the “Voting Trust Transaction”). Each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of KCS
that is outstanding immediately prior to the Merger will be converted into the right to receive (1) 2.884 common shares of CP and (2) $90 in cash (together, the “Merger Consideration”), and each share of preferred stock, par value $25 per share, that is outstanding immediately prior to the Merger will be converted into the right to receive $37.50 in cash.
Subject to receipt of regulatory clearances, approval by stockholders of KCS and shareholders of CP, and other customary closing conditions, the completion of the Voting Trust Transaction is currently expected to occur in the first quarter of 2022, and upon completion, KCS stockholders are expected to own approximately 28% of CP’s outstanding common shares. KCS’s management and its board of directors will continue to manage KCS while it is in the voting trust, pursuing KCS’s independent business plan and growth strategies. Final control approval from the STB and other applicable regulatory authorities is expected to be completed in the second half of 2022.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, KCS incurred $36.5 million and $776.6 million, respectively, of merger-related costs. For the three months ended September 30, 2021, the merger costs primarily related to compensation and benefits costs and legal fees. For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, merger costs included the fee associated with the termination of the CN merger agreement by KCS of $700.0 million, in addition to compensation and benefits costs and bankers’ and legal fees. These merger-related costs were recognized in merger costs within the consolidated statements of operations.
On September 30, 2021, KCS entered into a letter waiver with lenders to the KCS revolving credit facility to waive the events of default that would occur under the KCS revolving credit facility as a result of the change of control that would arise upon consummation of the Voting Trust Transaction and as a result of CP obtaining control of KCS following final approval of the transaction by the STB.