Calgary Alberta - Canadian Pacific (CP) and Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GNWR) announced today that they have executed an agreement pursuant to which CP will sell the west end of its Dakota Minnesota & Eastern (DME) line to GNWR for continued rail operations.
 
The west end encompasses approximately 660 miles of CP's current operations between Tracy, Minnesota, and Rapid City, South Dakota, north of Rapid City to Colony, Wyoming, south of Rapid City to Dakota Junction, Nebraska, and connecting branch lines, as well as trackage from Dakota Junction to Crawford, Nebraska, currently leased to the Nebraska Northwestern Railroad (NNW).
 
Customers on the line ship approximately 52,000 carloads annually of grain, bentonite clay, ethanol, fertilizer, and other products.
 
The new rail operation will have the ability to interchange with CP, Union Pacific, BNSF, and the NNW.
 
The asset sale is expected to close by mid-2014, subject to approval of the U.S. Surface Transportation Board and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.
 
Upon closing, the new railroad will be named the Rapid City Pierre & Eastern Railroad.
 
GNWR expects to hire approximately 180 employees to staff the new company and anticipates these employees will come primarily from those currently working on the rail line.
 
The agreement with GNWR concludes the comprehensive strategic review process that was launched by CP on 4 Dec 2012.
 
Canadian Pacific has operated the rail line in this area since it assumed operational control of the DME railroad in 2008 and will continue to own and operate approximately 1,900 miles of former DME track following the sale of the west end.
 
Under the terms of the definitive transaction agreements, the purchase price is approximately US$210 million, subject to certain adjustments including the purchase of inventory, equipment, and vehicles.
 
For CP, it is anticipated the sale will result in a net after-tax write down of approximately US$240 million, subject to closing adjustments, which will be recorded in CP's fourth quarter 2013 financial statements.
 
The transaction is cash positive for CP and the sale will not have a material effect on anticipated future earnings.
 
For GNWR, it is expected the transaction will generate annual revenues of approximately US$65 million and be immediately accretive to book and cash earnings per share in 2014.
 
The sale is expected to benefit CP in its ongoing transformation to make its network stronger for its entire customer base.
 
For GNWR, the purchase is expected to add an important rail corridor with a strong customer base and continued access to CP's North American network.
 
"There is a strong long-term franchise here and we are pleased to have found a partner in GNWR, which will maintain a high standard of customer service," said CP Chief Executive Officer, E. Hunter Harrison.
 
"South Dakota remains an important economic driver in the Midwest and CP looks forward to working with GNWR."
 
Jack Hellmann, GNWR Chief Executive Officer commented, "We are excited to be working with CP to expand GNWR rail operations into South Dakota, as well as into Wyoming, Minnesota, and Nebraska. Given GNWR commitment to safety, service, and long-term infrastructure investment, we believe this transaction will significantly benefit our customers, the employees we plan to hire, the communities that we serve, and our connecting Class I rail partners."
 
Evercore served as exclusive financial advisor to CP on the transaction.

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