425-08062015-2
Filed by CF Industries Holdings, Inc.
pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Subject Company: CF Industries Holdings, Inc.; OCI N.V.
SEC File No.: 001-32597
Date: August 6, 2015
Valued Customer,
I am writing to share some exciting news. Today, we announced that CF Industries has agreed to combine with the European and North American businesses of OCI N.V. When the transaction is complete, CF will be the world’s leading manufacturer of nitrogen fertilizers.
OCI, which is headquartered in the Netherlands, is one of the largest global producers of natural gas-based products, including nitrogen fertilizers and methanol. Combining with their European and North American businesses provides us with a premier global footprint, strengthened operations in the U.S., and significantly expanded production capacity. Together, the new company will have a production capacity of approximately 12 million nutrient tons and additional product diversity through methanol.
By expanding our capabilities and product offerings, we are enhancing further our ability to be your dependable and reliable partner. In addition, the improved cash flows of the new company will enable us to invest in the continued expansion of our platform to support your needs and the communities in which we operate.
This announcement is just the first step in the process and the transaction is expected to close in 2016, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. I want to assure you that this announcement does not impact your relationship with us or our current contract terms. From now until the transaction closes, we will operate as independent entities and we will continue to work with you as we always have. Our number one priority remains providing you with the high level of service you have come to expect.
The expanded capabilities and broader range of products and services that will result from this combination will create opportunities for us to do even more together. We look forward to continuing that journey with you.
In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact your CF Industries representative if you have any questions or concerns.
As always, thank you for your continued business and ongoing support.
Sincerely,
Bert
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements in this communication by CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”), other than those relating to historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by their use of terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict” or “project” and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed acquisition by the Company from OCI N.V. ("OCI") of OCI’s European, North American and global distribution businesses and certain other assets (the “Business”), including, without limitation, statements about the benefits of the acquisition transaction (the “Transaction”); the expected timing of completion of the Transaction; future financial and operating results of the new holding company (“New CF”), the Company and the Business; New CF’s and the Company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions; and other statements relating to the Transaction that are not historical facts. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those in the forward-looking statements include, among others: risks and uncertainties relating to the ability to obtain the requisite approvals of stockholders of CF Industries Holdings, Inc. and OCI with respect to the Transaction; the risk that New CF, the Company and OCI are unable to obtain governmental and regulatory approvals required for the Transaction, or that required governmental and regulatory approvals delay the Transaction or result in the imposition of conditions that could reduce the anticipated benefits from the Transaction or cause the parties to abandon the Transaction; the risk that a condition to closing of the Transaction may not be satisfied; the length of time necessary to consummate the Transaction; the risk that the businesses of the Company and the Business will not be integrated successfully; the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the Transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the risk that access to financing, including for refinancing of indebtedness of the Business or the Company, may not be available on a timely basis and on reasonable terms; the risk that the Business is unable to complete its current production capacity development and improvement projects on schedule as planned and on budget or at all; the risk that the Transaction or the prospect of the Transaction disrupts or makes it more difficult to maintain existing relationships or impedes establishment of new relationships with customers, employees or suppliers; diversion of management time on transaction-related issues; the risk that New CF, the Company and the Business are unable to retain and hire key personnel; the effect of future regulatory or legislative actions on New CF, the Company and the Business; the risk that the Transaction is not accorded the tax and accounting treatment anticipated by the Company; unanticipated costs or liabilities associated with the Transaction-related financing; and the risk that the credit ratings of New CF and the Company, including such ratings taking into account the Transaction and related financing, may differ from the Company’s expectations. Additional important factors, which currently relate to the Company and would relate to the combination of the Company and the Business, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the volatility of natural gas prices in North America and Europe; the cyclical nature of the Company’s business and the agricultural sector; the global commodity nature of the Company’s fertilizer products, the impact of global supply and demand on the Company’s selling prices, and the intense global competition from other fertilizer producers; conditions in the U.S. and European agricultural industry; difficulties in securing the supply and delivery of raw materials, increases in their costs or delays or interruptions in their delivery; reliance on third party providers of transportation services and equipment; the significant risks and hazards involved in producing and handling the Company’s products against which the Company not be fully insured; risks associated with cyber security; weather conditions; the Company’s ability to complete its production capacity expansion projects on schedule as planned and on budget or at all; risks associated with other expansions of the Company’s business, including unanticipated adverse consequences and the significant resources that could be required; an inability to achieve, or a delay in achieving, the expected benefits of the GrowHow transaction as contemplated; difficulties associated with the integration of GrowHow; unanticipated costs or liabilities associated with the GrowHow transaction; and the risk that disruptions from the GrowHow transaction as contemplated will harm relationships with customers, employees and suppliers. potential liabilities and expenditures related to environmental and health and safety laws and regulations; the Company’s potential inability to obtain or maintain required permits and governmental approvals or to meet financial assurance requirements from governmental authorities; future regulatory restrictions and requirements related to greenhouse gas emissions; the seasonality of the fertilizer business; the impact of changing market conditions on the Company’s forward sales programs; risks involving derivatives and the effectiveness of the Company’s risk measurement and hedging activities; the Company’s reliance on a limited number of key facilities; risks associated with joint ventures; acts of terrorism and regulations to combat terrorism; risks associated with international operations; losses on the Company’s investments in securities; deterioration of global market and economic conditions; and the Company’s ability to manage its indebtedness. More detailed information about factors that may affect the Company’s performance and could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations may be found in CF Industries Holdings, Inc.’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including CF Industries Holdings, Inc.’s most recent periodic reports filed on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, which are available in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s web site. Forward-looking statements are given only as of the date of this communication and the Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to or in connection with the proposed transaction or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. No offer of
securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and otherwise in accordance with applicable law.
Additional Information
New CF will file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 that will include the proxy statement of CF Industries and the shareholders circular of OCI that also constitute prospectuses of New CF. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, THE SHAREHOLDERS CIRCULAR/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus, the shareholders circular and other documents filed with the SEC by New CF and CF Industries through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus, the shareholders circular and other documents filed by CF Industries and New CF with the SEC by contacting CF Industries Investor Relations at: CF Industries Holdings, Inc., c/o Corporate Communications, 4 Parkway North, Suite 400, Deerfield, Illinois, 60015 or by calling (847) 405-2542.
Participants in the Solicitation
CF Industries and its directors and executive officers and OCI and its executive directors and non-executive directors may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of CF Industries in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the stockholders of CF Industries in connection with the proposed transaction, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus when it is filed with the SEC. Information regarding the directors and executive officers of CF Industries is contained in CF Industries’ proxy statement for its 2015 annual meeting of stockholders, filed with the SEC on April 2, 2015, and CF Industries’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 25, 2015. Information about the executive directors and non-executive directors of OCI is contained in OCI’s annual report for the year ended December 31, 2014, available on OCI’s web site at www.oci.nl.