CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) announced that it has completed the purchase of the outstanding interests it did not already own in Canadian Fertilizers Limited (CFL) for total cash consideration of roughly C$910 million (around $904 million).
Last year, CF Industries entered into an agreement with Glencore International plc to acquire the interests in CFL that were owned by Viterra, Inc. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Glencore), subject to certain adjustments. The deal replaced an earlier agreement under which Glencore planned to sell the stake to Agrium Inc (AGU).
The finalization of the deal was subject to the closing of Glencore's acquisition of Viterra, receipt of regulatory approvals in Canada and other terms and conditions in the definitive purchase agreement. CF Industries held a 66% interest in CFL before it announced its intentions to acquire the remaining shares in Aug 2012.
CFL owns the largest nitrogen fertilizer complex located in Medicine Hat, Alberta, in Canada. With the closure of the acquisition, CF Industries’ annual marketable nitrogen volume has increased by about 425,000 gross tons of ammonia and 275,000 tons of urea.
The Medicine Hat complex has two ammonia plants with 1,250,000 tons of production capacity and a urea plant with 810,000 tons of production capacity. Before the close of the acquisition, CFL’s results were included in CF Industries’ financial statements as a consolidated variable interest entity.
Cliffs Industries currently retains a short-term Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). The company is scheduled to release its first-quarter 2013 results after the closing bell on May 8.
Other fertilizer companies having favorable Zacks Rank are CVR Partners, LP (UAN) and Monsanto (MON). While CVR Partners holds a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Monsanto carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
AGRIUM INC (AGU): Free Stock Analysis Report
CF INDUS HLDGS (CF): Free Stock Analysis Report
MONSANTO CO-NEW (MON): Free Stock Analysis Report
CVR PARTNERS LP (UAN): Free Stock Analysis Report
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