M&A

5 November, 2009

Canada's Agrium to make final offer for CF - WSJ

Nov 5 (Reuters) - In the latest twist in a takeover battle going on since January, Canadian fertilizer maker Agrium Inc (AGU.TO) is planning to make a final offer for CF Industries Holdings Inc (CF.N) on Thursday, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter.

In the Canadian company's fourth proposal, CF shareholders will be offered $45 in cash and one Agrium share for each CF share, valuing CF at $4.65 billion or about $93 a share, the people told the paper.

CF's shares closed at $86.39 Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange.

Agrium is likely to say on Thursday that it received Canadian government clearance on any regulatory concerns if it acquires CF and that it would reapply for U.S. regulatory approval, the Journal said.

Canada's Competition Bureau said on Wednesday it had reached an agreement with Agrium to address some of its antitrust concerns.

CF is itself waging a hostile battle to take over Terra Industries (TRA.N), a smaller U.S. rival, which on Wednesday rejected a sweetened $4.1 billion CF bid as inadequate. [ID:nN04543202]

Agrium and CF could not be immediately reached for comment by Reuters.

(Reporting by Ajay Kamalakaran in Bangalore; Editing by Erica Billingham)

Source: http://www.reuters.com