SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Dated February 7, 2005
Fording Canadian Coal Trust
(Translation of Registrants Name Into English)
Suite 1000, 205-9th Avenue SE
Calgary, Alberta Canada T2G 0R4
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.)
Form 20-F ______
Form 40-F ___X___
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.)
Yes ______
No __X__
(If Yes is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-________.
This report furnished on Form 6-K shall be incorporated by reference into each of the Registration Statements under the Securities Act of 1933 of the registrant.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
FORDING CANADIAN COAL TRUST
February 7, 2005
By: /s/ James F. Jones
James F. Jones
Corporate Secretary
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Exhibit Index
The following is a list of Exhibits included as part of this Report on Form 6-K.
Description of Exhibit
Number
Fording Reports Tax Information for 2004 Distributions
99.1
3
February 7, 2005
Via Edgar
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
RE:
Fording Canadian Coal Trust File NO. 1-15230
Form 6-K Report dated February 7, 2005
Dear Sir or Madam:
On behalf of Fording Inc. transmitted herewith for filing under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is the Companys Report on Form 6-K.
Yours truly,
/s/ James F. Jones
James F. Jones
Corporate Secretary
Attachments
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News Release |
For Immediate Release
FORDING REPORTS TAX INFORMATION
FOR 2004 DISTRIBUTIONS
CALGARY, February 7, 2005 Fording Canadian Coal Trust (TSX: FDG.UN, NYSE: FDG) today reports the following income tax information for cash distributions declared in 2004 for unitholders resident in Canada and the United States.
Unitholders are strongly urged to consult their tax advisors with respect to their particular circumstances.
Canadian Tax Information for Unitholders Resident in Canada
The following information is based on the Trusts understanding of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and regulations thereunder, and is provided for general information only. T3 Statement of Trust Income Allocations and Designations forms are expected to be available by March 31, 2005.
The following table provides the cash distributions declared in 2004, in Canadian dollars.
Amount per Unit | |||||
Record date | Payment date | Other Trust income | Actual Dividend income | Return of Capital | Total distribution paid |
March 31, 2004 | April 15, 2004 | $ 1.000000 | $ - | $ - | $1.000000 |
June 30, 2004 | July 15, 2004 | 1.000000 | - | - | 1.000000 |
September 30, 2004 | October 15, 2004 | 1.100000 | - | - | 1.100000 |
December 31, 2004 | January 14, 2005 | 0.942249 | 0.336865 | 0.020886 | 1.300000 |
Total paid | $ 4.042249 | $ 0.336865 | $ 0.020886 | $ 4.400000 |
The Other Trust income and Actual Dividend income amounts, which is the portion of the cash distributions that is to be included in the income of unitholders, will be reported on the T3 statement. The portion of cash distributions that constitutes a return of capital is not taxable but should be deducted from the adjusted cost base of unitholders units of the Trust.
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Canadian Tax Information for Non-resident Unitholders
Distributions of income by the Trust to non-residents of Canada will be subject to Canadian withholding tax of 25% subject to reduction under the provisions of any applicable tax treaty or convention. Unitholders who are not residents of Canada for income tax purposes are advised to seek advice from a tax advisor in their country of residence for the tax treatment of distributions.
United States Tax Information for Unitholders Resident in the United States
Distributions by the Trust in 2004 are considered foreign-source dividend income under U.S. federal income tax principles, reportable on a Form 1099. Providing that applicable holder-level requirements are met, these distributions are qualified dividends, eligible for taxation at reduced rates under U.S. federal income tax legislation.
Income distributed by the Trust to U.S. unitholders is generally subject to Canadian withholding tax of 15%. U.S. unitholders are advised to seek advice from their tax advisor for the tax treatment of distributions.
Cash distributions in 2004 are reported as follows in U.S. dollars.
U.S. $ Amount per Unit | |||
Record date | Payment date | Qualified dividends | Withholding tax |
December 31, 2003 | January 15, 2004 | $ 0.773800 | $ 0.116070 |
March 31, 2004 | April 15, 2004 | 0.763100 | 0.114465 |
June 30, 2004 | July 15, 2004 | 0.746000 | 0.111900 |
September 30, 2004 | October 15, 2004 | 0.791200 | 0.118680 |
Total paid | $ 3.074100 | $ 0.461115 |
It is possible that the U.S. dollar amount was different for non-registered, or beneficial, unitholders receiving their payment from an intermediary or brokerage firm using different exchange rates.
The dividend payable to record holders on December 31, 2004 and paid on January 14, 2005 will be reported for the 2005 calendar year.
About Fording
Fording Canadian Coal Trust is an open-ended mutual fund trust. Through investments in metallurgical coal and industrial minerals mining and processing operations, the Trust makes quarterly cash distributions to unitholders. The Trust, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Fording Inc., holds a 60% interest in the Elk Valley Coal Partnership and is the world's largest
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producer of the industrial mineral wollastonite. Elk Valley Coal Partnership, comprised of Canada's senior metallurgical coal mining properties, is the world's second largest exporter of metallurgical coal, currently supplying approximately 25 million tonnes of high-quality coal products annually to the international steel industry. The Trusts shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol FDG.UN and on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol FDG.
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For further information contact:
Susan J. Soprovich
Catherine Hart
Director, Investor Relations
Coordinator, Investor Relations
403-260-9834
403-260-9817
investors@fording.ca
investors@fording.ca