CN, KCS respond to STB request for more documents

CN and Kansas City Southern yesterday announced that they jointly filed certain documents requested by the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to enable the STB to review the voting trust proposal as part of the CN-KCS merger agreement.

With this filing, CN and KCS are one step closer to creating their merged railway. CN and KCS look forward to the STB’s review and are confident that their voting trust will be approved, officials with both organizations said in a press release.

In response to the STB’s request for information about KCS’s pre-existing capital allocation policy, CN and KCS also submitted to the STB a statement from KCS Chief Financial Officer Michael Upchurch. In his statement, Upchurch emphasized the financial strength of KCS and its capital investment plans during the trust period.

The STB filing, as well as additional information about CN’s pro-competitive combination with KCS, is available at www.ConnectedContinent.com.

Meanwhile, Canadian Pacific announced yesterday that North America's largest railroad operating union, SMART-Transportation Division (SMART-TD), has submitted a letter urging the STB to reject CN’s proposed use of a voting trust in its KCS merger agreement.

In contrast, the SMART-TD letter stated of CP’s proposed combination with KCS: “We anticipate growth in both rail businesses and jobs for SMART-TD members."

CP continues to make a public case for its proposal to merge with KCS, which initially agreed to combine with CP but then pulled out of the pact to pursue a merger agreement with CN.