Fording Canadian Coal Trust (TSX: FDG.UN) (NYSE: FDG) and Teck
Cominco Limited (TSX: TCK.A) (TSX: TCK.B) (NYSE: TCK) today
announced that Fording and Teck have provided notice to the Toronto
Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange that closing of the
previously announced arrangement involving the sale by Fording of
all of its assets to Teck is expected to occur before 9:30 a.m.
(Eastern Standard Time) on October 30, 2008.
As a result, the TSX has issued a bulletin confirming that
mandatory special settlement rules will apply to the units of
Fording trading on the TSX. In particular:
- All trades on October 27, 2008 will be for special two day
settlement on October 29, 2008. These trades will be entered into
the CDS system with a settlement date of October 29, 2008.
- All trades on October 28, 2008 will be for special cash
settlement the following business day, October 29, 2008. These
trades will be entered into the CDS system with a settlement date
of October 29, 2008.
- All trades on October 29, 2008 will be for special cash same
day settlement, October 29, 2008.
The NYSE has also issued a bulletin confirming that the NYSE
will implement a trading halt of the Fording units for the three
trading days immediately prior to the effective date of the
arrangement such that there will be no trading in the units on the
NYSE commencing on the opening of trading on October 27, 2008 and
continuing through close of markets on October 29, 2008. Trades in
the units made on the NYSE on October 24, 2008 will settle on
October 29, 2008.
Tax Considerations
Holders of units should be aware of the Canadian income tax
consequences of the arrangement summarized under "Certain Tax
Considerations for Unitholders - Certain Canadian Federal Income
Tax Considerations" in Fording's management information circular
dated September 6, 2008, including the treatment of amounts payable
to holders of units under the arrangement. In particular, for
Canadian federal income tax purposes, Fording expects that all or
substantially all of the distributions and other amounts payable to
holders of units under the arrangement, including all cash amounts
and the fair market value of any Class B subordinate voting shares
of Teck, will constitute ordinary income to holders of units and,
in the case of non-resident holders of units, will be subject to
Canadian non-resident withholding tax. This income inclusion cannot
be offset by capital losses, if any, recognized as a result of the
arrangement. Taxable holders of units who are resident in Canada
and who hold their units on capital account and holders of units
who are not residents of Canada will want to consider disposing of
their units on the TSX or the NYSE with a settlement date that is
prior to the closing date of the arrangement and should consult
their own tax and investment advisors with regard to this
decision.
About Fording
Fording Canadian Coal Trust is an open-ended mutual fund trust
and one of the largest royalty trusts in Canada. Fording holds a
60% interest in the metallurgical coal operations of the Elk Valley
Coal Partnership. Fording's units are traded on the TSX under the
symbol FDG.UN and on the NYSE under the symbol FDG.
About Teck
Teck is a diversified mining company, headquartered in
Vancouver, Canada. Teck's shares are listed on the TSX under the
symbols TCK.A and TCK.B and on the NYSE under the symbol TCK. Teck
is a world leader in the production of zinc and metallurgical coal
and is also a significant producer of copper, gold and specialty
metals. Further information can be found at www.teck.com.
Forward-Looking Information Advisory
This press release contains forward-looking information within
the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 and the Ontario Securities Act relating, but not
limited to, Fording's and Teck's expectations, intentions, plans
and beliefs. Forward-looking information can often be identified by
forward-looking or similar words suggesting future outcomes, or
other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions,
intentions or statements about future events or performance.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
forward-looking information. By its nature, forward-looking
information involves numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks
and uncertainties, of both a general and specific nature, that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those
suggested by the forward-looking information or contribute to the
possibility that predictions, forecasts or projections will prove
to be materially inaccurate.
The forward-looking statements are based, in part, on certain
assumptions, including, but not limited to: the implementation by
the TSX and NYSE of the special settlement rules and trading halt
described above, respectively, in the manner provided for in their
respective bulletins, no termination rights exercised pursuant to
the arrangement agreement between Fording and Teck or pursuant to
the credit agreements respecting the $9.8 billion bridge and term
loan facilities of Teck as described in the joint news release of
Teck and Fording dated September 30, 2008, and completion of the
sale of Teck's units of Fording as described in Teck's news release
dated October 13, 2008.
The forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks,
which include, but are not limited to, a "major default" under the
Teck credit agreements (as described above), the failure by Teck to
obtain sufficient proceeds from the sale of its units of Fording to
complete the arrangement, the amount of residual liabilities of
Fording exceeding certain levels in the circumstances described
above, a material and adverse change in the anticipated tax
treatment of the arrangement, the occurrence of any event, change
or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of
the arrangement agreement, or the delay of consummation of the
arrangement or failure to complete the arrangement for any other
reason. Fording and Teck caution that the list of risks and
assumptions set forth or referred to above is not exhaustive. Some
of the risks, uncertainties and other factors which may negatively
affect the reliability of forward-looking information are discussed
in Fording's management information circular dated September 6,
2008, as well as in Fording's and Teck's respective public filings
with the Canadian and United States securities regulatory
authorities, including their most recent annual information forms,
annual reports, management's discussion and analysis, quarterly
reports, material change reports and new releases. Fording's public
filings are available through Fording's website at www.fording.ca.
Copies of Fording's Canadian public filings are available on SEDAR
at www.sedar.com. Fording's public filings in the United States,
including Fording's most recent annual report on Form 40-F and its
filings on Form 6-K, are available at www.sec.gov. Teck's public
filings are available through Teck's website at www.teck.com.
Copies of Teck's Canadian public filings are available on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com. Teck's public filings in the United States are
available at www.sec.gov. Fording and Teck further caution that
information contained on, or accessible through, these websites is
current only as of the date of such information and may be
superseded by subsequent events, public statements or filings.
Neither Fording nor Teck undertakes any obligation to update
publicly or otherwise revise any information, including any
forward-looking information, whether as a result of new
information, future events or other such factors that affect this
information, except as required by law.
Contacts: Investor Relations Contact: Fording Canadian Coal
Trust Colin Petryk, Director, Investor Relations (403) 260-9823
Fording Canadian Coal Trust Najda Dupanovic Coordinator, Investor
Relations (403) 260-9892 Email: investors@fording.ca Website:
www.fording.ca Media Contact: Lute & Company John Lute (416)
929-5883 x222 Email: jlute@luteco.com Investor Relations Contact:
Teck Cominco Limited Greg Waller Vice President, Investor Relations
& Strategic Analysis (604) 699-4014 Email: greg.waller@teck.com
Website: www.teck.com
Fording Canadian Coal (NYSE:FDG)
Historical Stock Chart
From Oct 2024 to Nov 2024
Fording Canadian Coal (NYSE:FDG)
Historical Stock Chart
From Nov 2023 to Nov 2024