AGRIUM INC. (A corporation incorporated under the laws of Canada) U.S.$500,000,000 6.125% Debentures due 2041 PURCHASE AGREEMENT
(A corporation incorporated under the laws of Canada)
U.S.$500,000,000 6.125% Debentures due 2041
Dated: December 15, 2010
AGRIUM INC.
(A corporation incorporated under the laws of Canada)
(A corporation incorporated under the laws of Canada)
U.S.$500,000,000 6.125% Debentures due 2041
December 15, 2010
BNP Paribas Securities Corp.
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.
as Representatives of the several Underwriters
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.
as Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o
|
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. | |
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | ||
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Agrium Inc., a corporation incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act (the
“Company”), confirms its agreement with BNP Paribas Securities Corp. (“BNP”), RBC Capital Markets,
LLC and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. (together, the “Representatives”) and each of the other
underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters,” which term shall also
include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10 hereof), with respect to
the issue and sale by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not
jointly, of the respective principal amounts set forth in said Schedule A of the Company’s
U.S.$500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 6.125% Debentures due 2041 (the “Securities”). The
Securities are to be issued pursuant to an indenture dated as of May 16, 2006 (the “Indenture”)
between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as successor to The Bank of New York Mellon
Trust Company, National Association (formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.),
successor to X.X. Xxxxxx Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”). Securities issued in
book-entry form will be issued to Cede & Co. as nominee of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”)
pursuant to a blanket issuer letter of representations agreement (the “DTC Agreement”), between the
Company and DTC. The term “Indenture,” as used herein, includes the Officers’ Certificate (as
defined in the Indenture) establishing the terms of the Securities pursuant to Sections 102 and 301
of the Indenture.
On August 19, 2010, the Company entered into scheme implementation deed (the “Deed”) with AWB
Limited, an Australian Corporation (“AWB”), pursuant to which the Company would acquire (the “AWB
Acquisition”) all of the issued and outstanding share capital of AWB (the “AWB Shares”) on the
basis of either (i) A.$1.50 in cash for each AWB Share or (ii) subject to receipt of a favorable
Australian Taxation Office ruling and the board of directors of AWB determining that a special
dividend be paid (the “Special Dividend”), A.$1.50 in cash per AWB Share, less the cash amount of
the Special Dividend (the “AWB
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Consideration”), representing aggregate cash consideration of approximately A.$1.236 billion for
all of the outstanding AWB Shares (on a fully diluted basis). The Offer was approved at a special
meeting of holders of AWB Shares on November 16, 2010 and became effective following approval of
the Supreme Court of Victoria on November 17, 2010 and was implemented on December 3, 2010, at
which time the Company paid to holders of AWB Shares the AWB Consideration.
The Company has prepared and filed with the securities regulatory authorities (the “Qualifying
Authorities”) in each of the provinces of Canada (the “Qualifying Provinces”) (1) a preliminary
short form base shelf prospectus (the “Canadian Preliminary Base Shelf Prospectus”), in the English
and French languages, relating to U.S.$1,000,000,000 of common shares, preferred shares,
subscription receipts, debt securities and units (collectively, the “Initial Shelf Securities”)
under the rules and procedures established in National Instrument 44-102 of the Canadian Securities
Administrators (the “Shelf Procedures”), (2) a final short form base shelf prospectus, in the
English and French languages, relating to the Initial Shelf Securities (the “Initial Canadian Final
Base Shelf Prospectus”) and (3) an amendment to the Initial Canadian Final Base Shelf Prospectus,
in the English and French languages (the “Amendment to the Canadian Final Base Shelf Prospectus”),
relating to the Initial Shelf Securities and an additional U.S.$1,000,000,000 of common shares,
preferred shares, subscription receipts, debt securities and units (the “Additional Shelf
Securities”). The Initial Canadian Final Base Shelf Prospectus, as amended by the Amendment to the
Canadian Final Base Shelf Prospectus, is hereinafter referred to as the “Canadian Final Base Shelf
Prospectus.” The U.S.$2,000,000,000 of securities qualified by the Canadian Final Base Shelf
Prospectus are referred to herein as the “Shelf Securities.” The Canadian Final Base Shelf
Prospectus together with the documents incorporated by reference therein filed with the Qualifying
Authorities is hereinafter referred to as the “Canadian Shelf Prospectus.” The term “Canadian
Prospectus” shall mean the Canadian Preliminary Prospectus (as defined below) until such time as
the Canadian Final Prospectus (as defined below) is filed with the Qualifying Authorities, after
which time “Canadian Prospectus” shall mean the Canadian Final Prospectus.
The Company has also prepared and filed with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “Commission”) (1) a registration statement on Form F-10 (File No. 333-161829)
covering the registration of the Initial Shelf Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the “1933 Act”), including the Canadian Preliminary Base Shelf Prospectus with such
deletions therefrom and additions thereto as are permitted or required by Form F-10 and the
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission (the “U.S. Preliminary Base Shelf Prospectus”),
and an amendment to such registration statement, including the Initial Canadian Final Base Shelf
Prospectus with such deletions therefrom and additions thereto as are permitted or required by Form
F-10 and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission (the “Initial U.S. Final Base Shelf
Prospectus”) (the various parts of such registration statement, including all exhibits thereto and
the documents incorporated by reference in the prospectus contained in such registration statement
at the time it became effective, as amended at the time such registration statement became
effective and including any post-effective amendment thereto, each in the form heretofore delivered
or to be delivered to the Representatives, the “Initial Registration Statement”), and (2) a
registration statement on Form F-10 (File No. 333-170580) covering the registration of the
Additional Shelf Securities under the 1933 Act, including the Canadian Shelf Prospectus with such
deletions therefrom and additions thereto as
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are permitted or required by Form F-10 and the applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission (the “U.S. Final Base Shelf Prospectus”) (the various parts of such additional
registration statement, including all exhibits thereto and the documents incorporated by reference
in the prospectus contained in such additional registration statement at the time it became
effective, as amended at the time such additional registration statement became effective and
including any post-effective amendment thereto, each in the form heretofore delivered or to be
delivered to the Representatives, the “Additional Registration Statement”; and the Additional
Registration Statement, together with the various parts of the Initial Registration Statement,
including the prospectus deemed to be included in the Initial Registration Statement pursuant to
Rule 429 under the 1933 Act at the time the Additional Registration Statement became effective, as
amended at the time the Additional Registration Statement became effective, the “Registration
Statement”). The U.S. Final Base Shelf Prospectus together with the documents incorporated by
reference therein is hereinafter referred to as the “U.S. Shelf Prospectus.” The term “U.S.
Prospectus” shall refer to the U.S. Preliminary Prospectus (as defined below), until such time as a
U.S. Final Prospectus (as defined below) is thereafter (whether or not such prospectus is required
to be filed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act (the “1933
Act Regulations”)) furnished to the Underwriters after the execution of this Agreement, after which
time the term “U.S. Prospectus” shall refer to the U.S. Final Prospectus.
In addition, the Company (A) has prepared and (1) filed with the Qualifying Authorities
pursuant to the Shelf Procedures, a preliminary prospectus supplement dated December 15, 2010 (in
the English and French languages) relating to the Securities and including the Canadian Shelf
Prospectus (the “Canadian Preliminary Prospectus”) and (2) filed with the Commission, in accordance
with General Instruction II.L. of Form F-10, a preliminary prospectus supplement dated December 15,
2010 consisting of the Canadian Preliminary Prospectus with such deletions therefrom and additions
thereto as are permitted or required by Form F-10 and the applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission (the “U.S. Preliminary Prospectus”), and (B) will prepare and file, (1) with the
Qualifying Authorities, pursuant to the Shelf Procedures, a final prospectus supplement (in the
English and French languages) including the Canadian Shelf Prospectus (the “Canadian Final
Prospectus”), on or before the earlier of the date the Canadian Final Prospectus is first sent or
delivered to a purchaser or a prospective purchaser and two Business Days (the term “Business Day”
means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York
City or Calgary) after the date hereof, and (2) with the Commission, in accordance with General
Instruction II.L. of Form F-10, a final prospectus supplement consisting of the Canadian Final
Prospectus with such deletions therefrom and additions thereto as are permitted or required by Form
F-10 and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission (the “U.S. Final Prospectus”).
The U.S. Preliminary Prospectus and the Canadian Preliminary Prospectus are referred to herein
as the “Preliminary Prospectuses,” and the U.S. Final Prospectus and the Canadian Final Prospectus
are referred to herein as the “Final Prospectuses.” Any amendment to the Canadian Prospectus, any
amended or supplemental prospectus or auxiliary material, information, evidence, return, report,
application, statement or document that may be filed by or on behalf of the Company under the
securities laws of the Qualifying Provinces prior to the Closing Time (as hereinafter defined) or,
where such document is deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Canadian Prospectus from the
date of this Agreement and prior to the expiry of the period of
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distribution of the Securities, is referred to herein collectively as the “Supplementary
Material.”
For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Additional
Registration Statement, the U.S. Preliminary Base Shelf Prospectus, the Initial U.S. Final Base
Shelf Prospectus, the U.S. Final Base Shelf Prospectus, any U.S. Preliminary Prospectus, the U.S.
Final Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include
the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and
Retrieval system (“XXXXX”). For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Canadian
Preliminary Base Shelf Prospectus, the Initial Canadian Final Base Shelf Prospectus, the Amendment
to the Canadian Final Base Shelf Prospectus, the Canadian Final Base Shelf Prospectus, the Canadian
Preliminary Prospectus and the Canadian Final Prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference
in the Canadian Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing (including any
Supplementary Material), shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Qualifying Authorities
pursuant to the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (“SEDAR”).
The Company has also prepared and filed with the Commission an appointment of agent for
service of process upon the Company on Form F-X in conjunction with the filing of the Initial
Registration Statement (the “Initial Form F-X”) and an appointment of agent for service of process
upon the Company on Form F-X in conjunction with the filing of the Additional Registration
Statement (the “Additional Form F-X” and together with the Initial Form F-X, the “Company Form
F-X”). In connection with the filing of the Registration Statement, the Company has also caused the
Trustee to prepare and file with the Commission a Statement of Eligibility under the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), on Form T-1.
The Company understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the
Securities in the United States (but not to any purchaser resident in any province or territory of
Canada) upon the terms set forth in the General Disclosure Package (as defined herein) and the
Final Prospectuses upon the terms and conditions of this Agreement as soon as the Representatives
deem advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered.
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information
which is “contained”, “included”, “incorporated by reference” or “stated” (and other references of
like import) in the Registration Statement, the Canadian Preliminary Base Shelf Prospectus, the
U.S. Preliminary Base Shelf Prospectus, the Initial Canadian Final Base Shelf Prospectus, the
Initial U.S. Final Base Shelf Prospectus, the Amendment to the Canadian Final Base Shelf
Prospectus, the Canadian Final Base Shelf Prospectus, the U.S. Final Base Shelf Prospectus, the
Canadian Shelf Prospectus, the U.S. Shelf Prospectus, the Canadian Preliminary Prospectus, the
Canadian Final Prospectus, the Canadian Prospectus, the U.S. Preliminary Prospectus, the U.S. Final
Prospectus and the U.S. Prospectus (collectively, the “Filed Documents”) shall be deemed to mean
and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information filed under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), or the securities laws applicable in
the Qualifying Provinces and incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed to be included in any
one or more of the Filed Documents, and all references in this Agreement to amendments or
supplements (and other references of like
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import) to any one or more of the Filed Documents (including any Supplementary Material) shall
be deemed to mean and include the filing of any document under the 1934 Act or the securities laws
applicable in the Qualifying Provinces which is incorporated by reference or otherwise deemed to be
included in any one or more of the Filed Documents.
SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties.
(a) Representations and Warranties by the Company. The Company represents and warrants to each
Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the Applicable Time referred to in Section 1(a)(i) hereof
and as of the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(b) hereof and agrees with each Underwriter, as
follows:
(i) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Company is qualified to file
a prospectus in the form of a short form shelf prospectus pursuant to the Shelf Procedures.
The Canadian Preliminary Base Shelf Prospectus, the Initial Canadian Final Base Shelf
Prospectus and the Amendment to the Canadian Final Base Shelf Prospectus have been filed
with the Qualifying Authorities, for which receipts have been obtained from the Qualifying
Authorities in respect of such Canadian Preliminary Base Shelf Prospectus, the Initial
Canadian Final Base Shelf Prospectus and the Amendment to the Canadian Final Base Shelf
Prospectus. The Canadian Preliminary Prospectus has been filed with the Qualifying
Authorities and no order suspending the distribution of the Securities has been issued by
any of the Qualifying Authorities and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or,
to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by any of the Qualifying Authorities. The
Company meets the general eligibility requirements for use of Form F-10 under the 1933 Act.
The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission under the 1933 Act
and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued
under the 1933 Act and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending
or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission, and any request on
the part of the Commission for additional information has been complied with. The Company
has filed with the Commission the U.S. Preliminary Prospectus.
At the time the Registration Statement became effective under the 1933 Act and at all
times subsequent thereto up to and including the Closing Time referred to below: (A) the
Canadian Prospectus complied and will comply in all material respects with the securities
laws applicable in the Qualifying Provinces, including the Shelf Procedures, as interpreted
and applied by the Qualifying Authorities; (B) the U.S. Prospectus conformed and will
conform to the Canadian Prospectus except for such deletions therefrom and additions thereto
as are permitted or required by Form F-10 and the applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission; (C) the Registration Statement and any amendments or supplements thereto
complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Trust
Indenture Act, the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations; (D) neither the Registration
Statement nor any amendment or supplement thereto contained or will contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and (E) each of the U.S.
Prospectus, the Canadian Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto (including any
Supplementary Material), including each document
5
incorporated therein by reference, constituted and will constitute full, true and plain
disclosure of all material facts relating to the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as
one enterprise, and the Securities, and each of the U.S. Prospectus, the Canadian Prospectus
or any amendment or supplement thereto (including any Supplementary Material), including
each document incorporated therein by reference, did not and will not include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, except that the representations and warranties contained in clauses (D) and (E)
above and the paragraphs below within this subsection shall not apply to statements in or
omissions from the Registration Statement, the U.S. Prospectus, the Canadian Prospectus, any
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below) and any Supplementary Material made in
reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by any
Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein.
The U.S. Shelf Prospectus (including the prospectus or prospectuses filed as part of
the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto) complied when so filed in all material
respects with the 1933 Act Regulations.
As of the Applicable Time (as defined below), neither (x) the Issuer General Use Free
Writing Prospectus(es) (as defined below) issued at or prior to the Applicable Time and the
Preliminary Prospectuses as of the Applicable Time, all considered together (collectively,
the “General Disclosure Package”), nor (y) any individual Issuer Limited Use Free Writing
Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included any
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions
from the General Disclosure Package or any Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus made
in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by
or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein.
As of the time of the filing of the Final Term Sheet (as defined in Section 3(b)), the
General Disclosure Package, when considered together with the Final Term Sheet, will not
include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary
in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
are made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or
omissions from the General Disclosure Package or Final Term Sheet made in reliance upon and
in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any
Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein.
As used in this subsection and elsewhere in this Agreement:
“Applicable Time” means 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on December 15, 2010 or such other
time as agreed by the Company and the Representatives.
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“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined
in Rule 433 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 433”), relating to the Securities that (i) is
required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) is a “road show that is a
written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i), whether or not required to
be filed with the Commission or (iii) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i)
because it contains a description of the Securities or of the offering that does not reflect
the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission
or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to
Rule 433(g).
“Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus
that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors, as evidenced by its
being specified in Schedule C hereto.
“Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus
that is not an Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus.
Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times
through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Securities or until any earlier
date that the issuer notified or notifies the Representatives as described in Section 3(e),
did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will
conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary
Prospectuses or the Final Prospectuses, including any document incorporated by reference
therein that has not been superseded or modified. The preceding sentence does not apply to
statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance upon and
in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any
Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein.
(ii) Incorporated Documents. Each document filed or to be filed with the
Qualifying Authorities and incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the
Canadian Prospectus complied or will comply when so filed and at the Closing Time in all
material respects with the securities laws applicable in the Qualifying Provinces as
interpreted and applied by the Qualifying Authorities, respectively, and none of such
documents contained or will contain at the time of its filing and at the Closing Time any
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were or are made, not misleading.
The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, the U.S. Shelf Prospectus, the U.S. Preliminary Prospectus and the
U.S. Final Prospectus or otherwise deemed to be a part thereof or included therein, at the
time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied and will comply in all
material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act, and the rules and regulations of
the Commission thereunder (the “1934 Act Regulations”), and, when read together with the
other information in (A) the U.S. Shelf Prospectus at the time the Registration Statement
became effective, (B) the General Disclosure Package at the
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Applicable Time, and (C) the U.S. Final Prospectus as of its date and at the Closing
Time, did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading.
(iii) Independent Accountants for the Company. KPMG LLP, who have audited the
Company’s consolidated financial statements and supporting schedules, if any, included or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and
the Final Prospectuses, are independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act and
the 1933 Act Regulations and are independent with respect to the Company within the meaning
of the Canada Business Corporations Act, as amended (the “CBCA”), and applicable Canadian
securities laws and regulations and policies thereunder and there has never been any
reportable event (within the meaning of National Instrument 51-102) with the present or any
former auditors of the Company.
(iv) Independent Accountants for AWB. Ernst & Young, who have audited AWB’s
consolidated financial statements at September 30, 2010 and 2009 and for the financial years
then ended and the supporting schedules, if any, included or incorporated by reference in
the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectuses, have
not contravened the auditor independence requirements of the Corporations Act
(2001)(Australia) in respect of AWB for such financial years.
(v) Company Financial Statements. The consolidated financial statements of the
Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General
Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectuses, together with the related schedules, if any,
and notes thereto, present fairly the financial position of the Company and its consolidated
subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the consolidated statement of operations, retained
earnings and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries present fairly the
results of operations for the periods specified (subject, in the case of unaudited
statements, to normal year-end adjustments and to any other adjustments described therein,
including the notes thereto); such consolidated financial statements have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in Canada (“Canadian GAAP”) applied
on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the
notes thereto); and such consolidated financial statements have been reconciled to generally
accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) in accordance
with Item 18 of Form 20-F under the 1934 Act. The selected historical consolidated financial
information included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the
Final Prospectuses presents fairly the information shown therein and has been compiled on a
basis consistent with that of the consolidated financial statements included or incorporated
by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final
Prospectuses. The pro forma consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto
included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure
Package and the Final Prospectuses present fairly the information shown therein, have been
prepared in accordance with the rules of the Qualifying Authorities with respect to pro
forma consolidated financial statements and have been properly compiled on the bases
described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and
8
the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and
circumstances referred to therein. The selected pro forma consolidated financial information
included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final
Prospectuses presents fairly the information shown therein and has been compiled on a basis
consistent with that of the pro forma consolidated financial statements and the related
notes included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General
Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectuses. There have been no changes in the
consolidated assets or liabilities of the Company from the position thereof as set forth in
the consolidated financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectuses, except
changes arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business which, in the
aggregate, have not been material to the Company and its subsidiaries (taken together as a
single enterprise) and except changes that are disclosed in the General Disclosure Package
and the Final Prospectuses.
(vi) AWB Financial Statements. The consolidated financial statements of AWB
included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final
Prospectuses, together with the related notes, (i) present fairly in all material respects
the financial position and results of operations of AWB and its consolidated subsidiaries at
the dates indicated and for the periods specified; (ii) have been prepared in accordance
with the Australian equivalent to International Financial Reporting Standards (“A-IFRS”)
applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as may be indicated in
the notes thereto); and (iii) have been reconciled to Canadian GAAP.
(vii) No Material
Adverse Change in Business of the Company. Since the respective dates as of which
information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, the
Final Prospectuses and the Supplementary Material, except as otherwise stated therein, (A)
there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in
the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries
considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a
“Material Adverse Effect”), (B) there have been no transactions entered into by the Company
or any of its subsidiaries, other than those in the ordinary course of business, which are
material with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, and
(C) except for regular semi-annual dividends on the Company’s issued and outstanding common
shares (the “Common Shares”) in amounts per share that are consistent with past practice,
there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company
on any class of its share capital.
(viii) Good Standing of the Company. The Company has been duly organized and is
validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the CBCA and has the corporate
power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as
described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectuses and to enter into and
perform its obligations under this Agreement; and the Company is duly qualified or
registered as an extra-provincial corporation or a foreign corporation to transact business
and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification or registration is
required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or
the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or register or to be in
good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
9
(ix) Good Standing of Subsidiaries. The following is a list of the Company’s
wholly-owned or majority-owned subsidiaries which constitute a “significant subsidiary” of
the Company (as such term is defined under Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the 0000 Xxx)
and subsidiaries or joint ventures that are otherwise material: the Agrium Partnership (as
defined in the Preliminary Prospectuses and the Final Prospectuses) and its subsidiaries
(the “Partnership”)), Agrium U.S. Inc., Crop Production Services, Inc., Profertil S.A.,
Cominco Fertilizer Partnership, Loveland Products, Inc., AWB and AWB (Geneva) S.A.
(“AWB Geneva”) (each a “Subsidiary” and collectively the “Subsidiaries”). All other
wholly-owned or majority-owned subsidiaries of the Company do not, singly, constitute
“significant subsidiaries” (as such term is defined under Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under
the 1934 Act). Each Subsidiary has been duly organized and is validly existing as a
corporation or partnership in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation or formation, has the corporate or partnership power and authority to own,
lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the General
Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectuses and is duly qualified as an extra-provincial
or foreign corporation or partnership to transact business and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or
leasing of property or the conduct of business or otherwise, except where the failure so to
qualify, register or be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect;
except as otherwise disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectuses,
all of the issued and outstanding share capital or partnership interests of each such
Subsidiary (other than AWB or AWB Geneva), as applicable, and to the Company’s knowledge, of
AWB and AWB Geneva, has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and
non-assessable and all (or, in the case of Profertil S.A. 50%) of the issued and outstanding
share capital or partnership interests of each such Subsidiary is owned by the Company
directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge,
lien, encumbrance, claim or equity; none of the outstanding share capital or partnership
interests of any Subsidiary (other than AWB or AWB Geneva), or to the Company’s knowledge,
of AWB or AWB Geneva, was issued in violation of the preemptive or similar rights of any
securityholder of such Subsidiary or of AWB or of AWB Geneva.
(x) Capitalization. The authorized, issued and outstanding share capital of the
Company is as set forth in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectuses under
the caption “Consolidated Capitalization” in the column entitled “Actual” (except for
subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to (A) reservations, agreements or employee benefit
plans referred to in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectuses or (B) the
exercise of convertible securities or options referred to in the General Disclosure Package
and the Final Prospectuses). All of the issued and outstanding shares in the capital of the
Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable
and have been issued in compliance with all U.S. and Canadian securities laws; none of the
outstanding shares in the capital of the Company was issued in violation of the preemptive
or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.
10
(xi) Authorization of Agreement. The Company has the corporate power and
authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and this
Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(xii) Authorization of the Indenture. The Indenture has been duly authorized by
the Company and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to
fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting enforcement of
creditors’ rights generally and except as enforcement thereof is subject to general
principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law); the Indenture is qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.
(xiii) Authorization of the Securities. The Securities have been duly
authorized and, at the Closing Time, will have been duly executed by the Company and, when
authenticated, issued and delivered in the manner provided for in the Indenture and
delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor as provided in this Agreement, will
constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfers),
reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights
generally and except as enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of equity
(regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), and
will be in the form contemplated by, and entitled to the benefits of, the Indenture.
(xiv) Description of the Securities and the Indenture. The Indenture conforms,
and the Securities will conform, in all material respects to the respective statements
relating thereto contained in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectuses and
will be in substantially the respective forms filed or incorporated by reference, as the
case may be, as exhibits to the Registration Statement.
(xv) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary
is in violation of its charter or by-laws or partnership agreement, as the case may be, or
in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or
condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit
agreement, note, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any
Subsidiary is a party or by which it or any Subsidiary may be bound, or to which any of the
property or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary is subject (collectively, “Agreements
and Instruments”) except for such defaults that would not result in a Material Adverse
Effect; and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Indenture and the
Securities and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein, therein and in the
General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectuses (including the issuance and sale of
the Securities and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in
the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectuses under the caption “Use of
Proceeds”) and compliance by the Company with its obligations hereunder and under the
Indenture and the Securities have
11
been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and do not and will not, whether
with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute
a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the
creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the
Company or any subsidiary pursuant to, the Agreements and Instruments (except for such
conflicts, breaches or defaults, Repayment Events or liens, charges or encumbrances that
would not result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation
of or conflict with the provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or
decree of any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, or stock
exchange, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their
assets, properties or operations. As used herein, a “Repayment Event” means any event or
condition which gives the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness
(or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase,
redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of
its subsidiaries.
(xvi) Absence of Labor Dispute. No labor dispute with the employees of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent,
and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees
of any of its or any of its subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, manufacturers, customers or
contractors, which, in each case, may reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(xvii) Absence of Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or
investigation before or brought by any court or governmental agency, governmental
instrumentality or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which is
required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or
the Final Prospectuses or the Supplementary Material (other than as disclosed therein), or
which might reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or, with respect
to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which might reasonably be expected to materially
and adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or
the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder; the aggregate of all pending
legal or governmental proceedings to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party
or of which any of their respective property or assets is the subject which are not
described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Final
Prospectuses or the Supplementary Material, including ordinary routine litigation incidental
to the business of the Company, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
(xviii) Accuracy of Exhibits. There are no contracts or documents which are
required to be described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or
the Final Prospectuses or to be filed as exhibits thereto which have not been so described
and filed as required.
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(xix) Possession of Intellectual Property. The Company and its subsidiaries
(other than AWB and its subsidiaries) and, to the Company’s knowledge, AWB and its
subsidiaries, own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents, patent
rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other
unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or
procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property
(collectively, “Intellectual Property”) necessary to carry on the business now operated by
them except, in each case, as would not have a Material Adverse Effect and neither the
Company nor any of its subsidiaries (other than AWB and its subsidiaries) nor, to the
Company’s knowledge, AWB or any of its subsidiaries, has received any notice or is otherwise
aware of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any
Intellectual Property or of any facts or circumstances which would render any Intellectual
Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interest of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries (other than AWB and its subsidiaries) or, to the Company’s knowledge, AWB or
any of its subsidiaries, therein, and which infringement or conflict (if the subject of any
unfavorable decision, ruling or finding) or invalidity or inadequacy, singly or in the
aggregate, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xx) No Stabilization or Manipulation. Neither the Company nor any affiliate of
the Company has taken, nor will the Company or any affiliate take, directly or indirectly
any action which is designed to or which has constituted or that might be reasonably
expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of
the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.
(xxi) Absence of Further Requirements. No filing with, or authorization,
approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any government,
governmental instrumentality, agency, authority or court of (A) any of the Qualifying
Provinces, (B) the federal government of Canada, (C) the federal government of the United
States or (D) the various States of the United States in which the Securities are to be
offered for sale or sold, or of any political subdivision of any of the foregoing is
necessary or required for the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, in
connection with the offering, valid authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the
Securities or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or for the
due execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the performance of the Indenture
by the Company, in each case as contemplated by the General Disclosure Package and the Final
Prospectuses, except such as have been already obtained or as may be required under the 1933
Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the state securities laws of the various States of the United
States, the CBCA and the securities laws of the Qualifying Provinces.
(xxii) Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Company and its subsidiaries
possess such permits, certificates, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations
(collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) issued by the appropriate federal, provincial,
state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now
operated by them, except where the failure to so possess would not, singly or in the
aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; the Company and its subsidiaries are in
compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except
13
where the failure so to comply would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a
Material Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and
effect, except where the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such
Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not, singly or in the aggregate,
result in a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such
Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable
decision, ruling or finding, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxiii) Title to Property. The Company and its subsidiaries (other than AWB and
its subsidiaries) and, to the Company’s knowledge, AWB and its subsidiaries, have good and
marketable title to all real property owned by the Company and its subsidiaries (other than
AWB and its subsidiaries) and, to the Company’s knowledge, AWB and its subsidiaries, and
good title to all other properties owned by them, in each case free and clear of all
mortgages, pledges, liens, security interests, claims, restrictions or encumbrances of any
kind except such as (a) are described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final
Prospectuses or (b) do not, singly or in the aggregate, affect the value of such property
and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the
Company, or any of its subsidiaries (other than AWB and its subsidiaries), or AWB or any of
its subsidiaries, except in each case that would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and
all of the leases and subleases of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one
enterprise, and under which the Company or any of its subsidiaries holds properties
described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectuses, are in full force
and effect except as would not have Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any
of its subsidiaries (other than AWB and its subsidiaries) nor, to the Company’s knowledge,
AWB or any of its subsidiaries has any notice of any claim of any sort that has been
asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any
of the leases or subleases mentioned above, or affecting or questioning the rights of the
Company or such subsidiary to the continued possession of the leased or subleased premises
under any such lease or sublease except in each case as would not have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(xxiv) Compliance with Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Act. Neither the Company nor any of its
affiliates (other than AWB and its subsidiaries) nor, to the Company’s knowledge, AWB or any
of its affiliates, is in violation of the provisions of the U.S. Cuban Liberty and
Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996.
(xxv) Investment Company Act. The Company is not required, and upon the
issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated and the application of the net
proceeds therefrom as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectuses
will not be required, to register as an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an
“investment company” as such terms are defined in the United States Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).
(xxvi) Environmental Laws. Except as described in the General Disclosure
Package and the Final Prospectuses and except as would not, singly or in the aggregate,
14
result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, provincial, state, local, municipal or foreign
statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law or civil law
or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or
administrative order, consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or protection of
human health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water,
groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation,
laws and regulations relating to the release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants,
contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum
products, asbestos-containing materials or mold (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) or to
the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or
handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (B) the Company and
its subsidiaries have all permits, authorizations and approvals required under any
applicable Environmental Laws and are each in compliance with their requirements, (C) there
are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company and its subsidiaries, threatened
administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims,
liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigations or proceedings relating to any
Environmental Law against the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (D) to the knowledge of
the Company and its subsidiaries, there are no events or circumstances that would reasonably
be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or
proceeding by any private party or governmental body or agency, against or affecting the
Company or any of its subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental
Laws. In the ordinary course of its business, the Company periodically reviews the effect
of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Company and its
subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates associated costs and
liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required
for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws, or any permit,
license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential
liabilities to third parties); on the basis of such review, the Company has reasonably
concluded that such associated costs and liabilities that have not been accounted for would
not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxvii) Registration Rights. There are no persons with registration rights or
other similar rights to have any securities registered or qualified for distribution
pursuant to the Registration Statement, the Canadian Prospectus or otherwise registered by
the Company under the 1933 Act or qualified for distribution under any Canadian provincial
securities legislation.
(xxviii) Other Reports and Information. There are no reports or information
that, in accordance with the requirements of applicable Canadian securities legislation,
must be made publicly available in connection with the offering of the Securities that have
not been made publicly available as required; no material change reports or other documents
have been filed on a confidential basis with any of the Qualifying Authorities which as at
the date hereof remain confidential; there are no documents required to be filed with the
Qualifying Authorities or with any other Canadian provincial securities regulatory authority
in connection with the Canadian Prospectus that have not been filed as required;
15
there are no contracts, documents or other materials required to be described or
referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final
Prospectuses or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not
described, referred to or filed as required.
(xxix) Accounting Controls. (i) The Company and the Subsidiaries (other than
AWB and AWB Geneva) maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide
reasonable assurances that (1) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s
general or specific authorization; (2) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of financial statements in conformity with Canadian GAAP and reconciled to U.S.
GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (3) access to assets is permitted only in
accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (4) the recorded
accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and
appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Since the end of the Company’s
most recent audited fiscal year (1) there has been no material weakness in the Company’s
internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remedied) and (2) there has been
no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially
affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over
financial reporting; (ii) to the Company’s knowledge, AWB and its subsidiaries, maintain a
system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (1)
material transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific
authorization; (2) material transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of
financial statements in conformity with A-IFRS and reconciled to Canadian GAAP and to
maintain accountability for assets; (3) access to assets is permitted only in accordance
with management’s general or specific authorization; and (4) the recorded accountability for
assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action
is taken with respect to any differences..
(xxx) Disclosure Controls. The Company and the Subsidiaries (other than AWB
and AWB Geneva) maintain disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 or
Rule 15d-15 of the 1934 Act Regulations, as applicable, and as contemplated by the
certifications required under Form 52-109F1 and Form 52-109F2 under Multilateral Instrument
52-109 — Certification of Disclosures in Issuer’s Annual and Interim Filings, as
applicable; such controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurances that
all material information concerning the Company and the Subsidiaries (other than AWB and AWB
Geneva) is made known, on a timely basis, to the individuals responsible for the preparation
of the Company’s filings with the Commission and the Qualifying Authorities.
(xxxi) Compliance with the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act. There is and has been no failure
on the part of the Company (other than AWB or and its subsidiaries) or any of the Company’s
directors or officers (other than the directors and officers of AWB and its subsidiaries),
in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with any provision of the
Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith
(the “Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act”), including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906
related to certifications.
16
(xxxii) Taxes. There are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges
under Canadian federal laws or the laws of any province or any political subdivision thereof
or U.S. federal laws or the laws of any state or any political subdivision thereof, required
to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance
by the Company or sale by the Company of the Securities. No stamp duty, registration or
documentary taxes, duties or similar charges are payable under the federal laws of Canada or
the laws of any province in connection with the creation, issuance, sale and delivery to the
Underwriters of the Securities or the authorization, execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement or the resale of Securities by an Underwriter to U.S. residents.
(xxxiii) Statistical and Market-Related Data. Any statistical, industry and
market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package
and the Final Prospectuses is based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to
be reliable and accurate, and the Company has obtained the written consent to the use of
such data from such sources, to the extent any such consent is required.
(xxxiv) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Neither the Company nor, to the
knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person
acting on behalf of the Company or its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action,
directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of, as applicable:
(i) the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder (the “FCPA”), but solely to the extent such persons were subject to the
requirements thereof at the time of such action or (ii) any Australian law equivalent to the
FCPA, but solely to the extent such persons were subject to the requirements thereof at the
time of such action. Clause (i) shall include: making use of the mails or any means or
instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment,
promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift,
promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign
official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official
thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA and the
Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, its affiliates have conducted their businesses
in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures
designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued
compliance therewith.
(xxxv) OFAC. Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any
director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or person acting on behalf of the Company or
its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of
Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not
directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise
make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or
entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any
U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.
17
(xxxvi) No Broker. Other than as contemplated by this Agreement, there is no
broker, finder or other party that is entitled to receive from the Company any brokerage or
finder’s fee or other fee or commission as a result of the sale of Securities contemplated
by this Agreement.
(xxxvii) Pending Proceedings and Examinations. The Registration Statement is
not the subject of a pending proceeding or examination under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the
1933 Act, and the Company is not the subject of a pending proceeding under Section 8A of the
1933 Act in connection with the offering of the Securities.
(xxxviii) Relationships with Underwriters. Except as disclosed in the General
Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectuses, neither the Company nor any of the
Subsidiaries (i) has any material lending or other relationship with any bank or lending
affiliate of any of the Underwriters, or (ii) intends to use any of the proceeds from the
sale of the Securities hereunder to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of any
of the Underwriters.
(xxxix) French Language Documents. The French language versions of the
Canadian Preliminary Prospectus and the Canadian Final Prospectus, including each document
incorporated therein by reference therein and the financial statements and other financial
data contained therein, is in all material respects a complete and proper or complete and
accurate translation of the English language versions thereof.
(b) Officer’s Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a
representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.
SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing.
(a) Securities. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and
subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each
Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to
purchase from the Company, at the prices set forth in Schedule B, the aggregate principal amount of
the Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any additional
principal amount of the Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant
to the provisions of Section 10 hereof.
(b) Payment. Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates for, the
Securities shall be made at the offices of Blake, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP, Calgary, Alberta, Canada,
or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, at 9:00 a.m.
(Eastern time) on the third Business Day after the date hereof (unless postponed in accordance with
the provisions of Section 10 hereof), or at such other time not later than ten Business Days after
such date as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company (such time and date of
payment and delivery being herein called the “Closing Time”).
Payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank
account designated by the Company, against delivery to the Representatives for
18
the respective accounts of the Underwriters of one or more certificates for the Securities to
be purchased by them. It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representatives,
for its account, to accept delivery of, accept receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price
for, the Securities which it has agreed to purchase. The Representatives individually, and not as
representatives of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the
purchase price for the Securities to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been
received by the Closing Time, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its
obligations hereunder.
The services provided by the Underwriters in connection herewith will not be subject to the
goods and services tax provided for in the Excise Tax Act (Canada) and taxable supplies provided
will be incidental to the exempt financial services provided.
(c) Denominations; Registration. Certificates for the Securities shall be in such
denominations ($2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000) as the Representatives may request in
writing at least one full Business Day before the Closing Time. The certificates representing the
Securities shall be registered in the name of Cede & Co. pursuant to the DTC Agreement and shall be
made available for examination and packaging by the Representatives in The City of New York not
later than 10:00 a.m. (Eastern time) on the Business Day prior to the Closing Time.
SECTION 3. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants with each Underwriter as
follows:
(a) Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests. The Company, subject to
Section 3(b), will comply with the requirements of the Shelf Procedures and General Instruction
II.L. of Form F-10, and the Company will notify the Representatives immediately, and confirm the
notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or new
registration statement relating to the Securities shall have been filed with the Commission or
shall have become effective, or when any supplement or amendment to the U.S. Prospectus or the
Canadian Prospectus or any amended U.S. Prospectus or Canadian Prospectus or any Supplementary
Material shall have been filed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Qualifying Authorities
or the Commission, (iii) of any request by the Qualifying Authorities to amend or supplement the
Canadian Prospectus or for additional information or of any request by the Commission for any
amendment to the Registration Statement or the filing of a new registration statement or any
amendment or supplement to the U.S. Prospectus or any document incorporated by reference therein or
otherwise deemed to be a part thereof or for additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or such new
registration statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary
prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any
jurisdiction, or of the institution or, to the knowledge of the Company, the initiation or
threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes or of any examination pursuant to Section
8(e) of the 1933 Act concerning the Registration Statement, (v) if the Company becomes the subject
of a proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act in connection with the offering of the Securities
and (vi) of the issuance by the Qualifying Authorities or any stock exchange in Canada or the
United States of any order having the effect of ceasing or suspending the distribution of the
19
Securities or the trading in the Common Shares or any other securities of the Company, or of
the institution or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatening of any proceedings for any such
purpose. The Company will effect the filings required pursuant to General Instruction II.L of Form
F-10 not later than the Commission’s close of business on the Business Day following the date of
filing thereof with the Qualifying Authorities and will take such steps as it deems necessary to
ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing pursuant to General
Instruction II.L of Form F-10 was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it
was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. The Company will use every reasonable effort to
prevent the issuance of any such stop order or of any order preventing or suspending such use or
such order ceasing or suspending the distribution of the Securities or the trading in the Common
Shares or any other securities of the Company and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the
lifting thereof at the earliest possible time.
(b) Filing of Amendments and Exchange Act Documents; Preparation of Final Term Sheet. The
Company will not at any time prior to the later of the Closing Time and the completion of the
offering of the Securities file or make any amendment to the Registration Statement or new
registration statement relating to the Securities, any amendment, supplement or revision to the
Canadian Preliminary Prospectus, the U.S. Preliminary Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to
any of the prospectuses included in the Registration Statement at the time it becomes effective,
the U.S. Prospectus, the Canadian Prospectus or any Supplementary Material, of which the
Representatives shall not have previously been advised and furnished copies a reasonable amount of
time prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, or to which the Representatives
shall have reasonably objected promptly after reasonable notice thereof; provided, however, that
this provision shall not prohibit the Company from complying in a timely manner with its timely
disclosure obligations under applicable securities legislation and the requirements of any relevant
stock exchange arising out of any material change in the business or affairs of the Company. The
Company has given the Representatives notice of any filings made pursuant to the 1934 Act or the
1934 Act Regulations, within 48 hours prior to the Applicable Time; the Company will give the
Representatives notice of its intention to make any such filing from the Applicable Time to the
Closing Time and will furnish the Representatives with copies of any such documents a reasonable
amount of time prior to such proposed filing and will not file or use any such document to which
the Representatives shall reasonably object. The Company will prepare a final term sheet (the
“Final Term Sheet”) reflecting the final terms of the Securities, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Representatives, and shall file such Final Term Sheet as an “issuer free
writing prospectus” pursuant to Rule 433 prior to the close of business two Business Days after the
date hereof; provided that the Company shall furnish the Representatives with copies of any such
Final Term Sheet a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing and will not use or file
any such document to which the Representatives shall object.
(c) Delivery of Filed Documents. The Company has furnished or will deliver to each of the
Underwriters, without charge, a copy of the Initial Canadian Final Base Shelf Prospectus (in
English and French), the Amendment to the Canadian Final Base Shelf Prospectus (in English and
French), the Canadian Preliminary Prospectus (in English and French), the Canadian Final Prospectus
(in English and French), the documents incorporated by reference in the Canadian Prospectus (in
English and French), and any Supplementary Material (in English and French), approved, signed and
certified as required by the securities laws of the Qualifying
20
Provinces and signed and conformed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed
and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference
therein and documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein or otherwise
deemed a part thereof), the Company Form F-X and signed copies of all consents and certificates of
experts. The copies of the English and French versions of the Initial Canadian Final Base Shelf
Prospectus, the Amendment to the Canadian Final Base Shelf Prospectus, the Canadian Preliminary
Prospectus, the Canadian Final Prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in the Canadian
Prospectus, and any Supplementary Material furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the
corresponding electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Qualifying Authorities
pursuant to SEDAR, and the copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment or supplement
thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies
thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to XXXXX, except to the extent permitted by Regulation
S-T. The Company will also deliver to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters copies
of all correspondence with the Qualifying Authorities relating to any proposed or requested
exemptions from the requirements of applicable Canadian securities laws relating to the Canadian
Prospectus or the Securities.
(d) Delivery of Commercial Prospectuses. The Company has delivered to each Underwriter,
without charge, as many commercial copies of the U.S. Preliminary Prospectus (in the English
language) as such Underwriter has reasonably requested, and the Company hereby consents to the use
of such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act. The Company will furnish to each
Underwriter, without charge, during the period when a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act or the
1933 Act Regulations to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities, such number of
copies of the U.S. Final Prospectus (in the English language) and any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus (each as amended or supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably request. The copies
of the U.S. Preliminary Prospectus and the U.S. Final Prospectus furnished to the Underwriters will
be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to
XXXXX, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(e) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. The Company will comply with the 1933 Act and
the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations and the securities laws of the
Qualifying Provinces so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Securities as
contemplated in this Agreement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectuses. If at
any time when a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with sales of
the Securities, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is
necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters or for the Company, to amend the
Registration Statement or to file a new registration statement or to amend or supplement the U.S.
Prospectus or the Canadian Prospectus in order that the U.S. Prospectus or the Canadian Prospectus
will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing
at the time it is delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in the opinion of such
counsel, at any such time to amend the Registration Statement, file a new registration statement,
or amend or supplement the U.S. Prospectus or the Canadian Prospectus in order to comply with the
requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations or the securities laws of the Qualifying
Provinces, the Company will promptly prepare and file with the Commission and with the Qualifying
Authorities, subject to Section 3(b), such amendment,
21
supplement or new registration statement as may be necessary to correct such statement or
omission or to make the Registration Statement or the U.S. Prospectus or the Canadian Prospectus
comply with such requirements, the Company will use its reasonable efforts to have such amendment,
supplement or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable and the Company
will furnish to the Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment, supplement or new
registration statement as the Underwriters may reasonably request. If at any time following the
issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a
result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the
information contained in the Registration Statement (or any other registration statement relating
to the Securities), the General Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectuses or included or would
include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at
that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives, upon
which notification, the Underwriters agree to discontinue use of such Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus, and the Company will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.
(f) Blue Sky Qualifications. The Company will use its reasonable efforts, in cooperation with
the Underwriters, to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the applicable securities
laws of such states and other jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably designate and to
maintain such qualifications in effect for a period of not less than one year from the date hereof;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service
of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction
in which it is not so qualified or so subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in
any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject. In each jurisdiction in which the
Securities have been so qualified, the Company will file such statements and reports as may be
required by the laws of such jurisdiction to continue such qualification in effect for a period of
not less than one year from the effective date of the Registration Statement. The Company will also
supply the Underwriters with such information as is necessary for the determination of the legality
of the Securities for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriters may
request.
(g) Rule 158. The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the 1934 Act as are
necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable an
earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide to the Underwriters the benefits
contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.
(h) Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the
Securities in the manner specified in the Preliminary Prospectuses and the Final Prospectuses under
“Use of Proceeds.”
(i) Restriction on Sale of Securities. From the date of the Final Prospectuses and continuing
to and including the Closing Time, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the
Representatives, directly or indirectly issue, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any
option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option for the
sale of, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of, any debt securities of
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the Company, or file a registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to any of the
foregoing (except for the Securities)
(j) Reporting Requirements. The Company, during the period when the U.S. Prospectus is
required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, will file all documents required to be
filed by the Company with (i) the Commission pursuant to the 1934 Act within the time periods
required by the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations, and (ii) the Qualifying Authorities under
the applicable securities laws of the Qualifying Provinces.
(k) Subsequent Filings with Canadian Regulatory Authorities. In the event that any document is
filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities subsequent to the time the Registration
Statement becomes effective that is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Canadian
Prospectus, the Company will, if required by the 1933 Act Regulations, file such document in
accordance with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations.
(l) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company represents and agrees that, unless it
obtains the prior consent of the Representatives, and each Underwriter represents and agrees that,
unless it obtains the prior consent of the Company and the Representatives, it has not made and
will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an “issuer free writing
prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing
prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405, required to be filed with the Commission; provided, however,
that prior to the preparation of the Final Term Sheet in accordance with Section 3(b), the
Underwriters are authorized to use the information with respect to the final terms of the
Securities in communications conveying information relating to the offering to investors. Any such
free writing prospectus consented to by the Company and the Representatives is hereinafter referred
to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus” and is listed on Schedule C hereto. The Company
represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus
as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply
with the requirements of Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including
timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping.
SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses.
(a) Expenses. The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations
under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration
Statement (including financial statements and exhibits and the Company Form F-X) as originally
filed and of each amendment thereto, the U.S. Preliminary Base Shelf Prospectus, the U.S. Final
Base Shelf Prospectus, the U.S. Preliminary Prospectus, the U.S. Final Prospectus, the Initial
Canadian Final Base Shelf Prospectus, the Amendment to the Canadian Final Base Shelf Prospectus,
the Canadian Shelf Prospectus, the Canadian Preliminary Prospectus, the Canadian Final Prospectus,
any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses and any Supplementary Material and any amendments or
supplements thereto, and the cost of furnishing copies thereof to the Underwriters, (ii) the
preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of this Agreement, any Agreement among
Underwriters, the Indenture and such other documents as may be required in connection with the
offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of the
23
Securities; provided, however, that this clause (ii) shall not include the fees of counsel to
the Underwriters in connection with the foregoing, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of
the certificates for the Securities to the Underwriters, including any charges of DTC in connection
therewith, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the Company’s counsel, accountants (including AWB’s
accountants) and other advisers, (v) the qualification of the Securities under applicable
securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(f) hereof, including filing fees and
the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and
in connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto, (vi) the
printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of each preliminary prospectus, the U.S.
Preliminary Base Shelf Prospectus, the U.S. Final Base Shelf Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing
Prospectus, the U.S. Preliminary Prospectus, the U.S. Final Prospectus, the Initial Canadian Final
Base Shelf Prospectus, the Amendment to the Canadian Final Base Shelf Prospectus, the Canadian
Shelf Prospectus, the Canadian Preliminary Prospectus, the Canadian Final Prospectus, and
Supplementary Material and any amendments or supplements thereto, (vii) the preparation, printing
and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto,
(viii) the fees and expenses of the Trustee, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for
the Trustee in connection with the Indenture and the Securities, (ix) the reasonable and documented
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with compliance with the rules
and regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., and (x) the costs and
expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in
connection with the marketing of the Securities, including without limitation, expenses associated
with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged
in connection with the road show presentations, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives
and officers of the Company and any such consultants, and the cost of aircraft and other
transportation chartered in connection with the road show and any fees payable in connection with
the rating of the Securities. Except as indicated above in this paragraph, it is understood that
the Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses, including the fees and expenses of their
counsel and certain advertising expenses in connection with any offer the Underwriters make with
respect to the Securities.
(b) Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives in
accordance with the provisions of Section 5 or Section 9(a)(i) hereof, the Company shall reimburse
the Underwriters for all of their out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable and documented
fees and disbursements of U.S. and Canadian counsel for the Underwriters within 30 days of receipt
of reasonable evidence of such expenses.
SECTION 5. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the several
Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the
Company contained in Section 1 hereof or in certificates of any officer of the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the
Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further conditions:
(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Canadian Final Prospectus shall have been
filed with the Qualifying Authorities under the Shelf Procedures and the Registration Statement
shall have become effective; and at the Closing Time no stop order suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement shall have been issued under the 1933 Act or
24
proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the Commission, no order having the effect of
ceasing or suspending the distribution of the Securities or the trading in the Common Shares of the
Company or any other securities of the Company shall have been issued or proceedings therefor
initiated or threatened by any securities commission, securities regulatory authority or stock
exchange in Canada or the United States, and any request on the part of the Qualifying Authorities
or the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable
satisfaction of the Underwriters. Each of (i) the Canadian Preliminary Prospectus and the Canadian
Final Prospectus shall have been filed with the Qualifying Authorities under the Shelf Procedures,
and (iii) the U.S. Preliminary Prospectus and the U.S. Final Prospectus shall have been filed with
the Commission in accordance with General Instruction II.L. of Form F-10, in each case, within the
time period prescribed for such filing, as applicable.
(b) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Canadian Counsel for the Company. At the Closing Time, the
Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion and Rule 10b-5 negative assurance
statement, dated as of the Closing Time, of Blake, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP, Canadian counsel for the
Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, together
with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters.
(c) Opinion of General Counsel for the Company. At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall
have received the favorable opinion, dated as of the Closing Time, of Xxxx Xxxxxx, general counsel
of the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters,
together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters.
(d) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of U.S. Counsel for the Company. At the Closing Time, the
Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion and Rule 10b-5 negative assurance
statement, dated as of the Closing Time, of Xxxx, Weiss, Rifkind, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, United
States counsel for the Company, together with signed or reproduced copies of such opinion for each
of the other Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the
Underwriters.
(e) Opinion of Special Colorado Counsel for Agrium U.S. Inc., Loveland Products, Inc. and
Cominco Fertilizer Partnership. At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received the
favorable opinion dated as of the Closing Time, of special Colorado counsel for Agrium U.S. Inc.,
Loveland Products, Inc. and Cominco Fertilizer Partnership acceptable to the Representatives,
together with signed or reproduced copies of such opinion for each of the other Underwriters, in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.
(f) Opinion of Special Argentina Counsel for Profertil S.A. At the Closing Time, the
Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion dated as of the Closing Time, of special
Argentina counsel for Profertil S.A. acceptable to the Representatives, together with signed or
reproduced copies of such opinion for each of the other Underwriters, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.
(g) Opinion of Special Spanish Counsel for Agrium Holdco Spain, S.L.U. At the Closing Time,
the Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion dated as of the
25
Closing Time, of special Spanish counsel for Agrium Holdco Spain, S.L.U. acceptable to the
Representatives, together with signed or reproduced copies of such opinion for each of the other
Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.
(h) Opinion of Australian Counsel for AWB. At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have
received the favorable opinion dated as of the Closing Time, of Australian counsel for AWB
acceptable to the Representatives, together with signed or reproduced copies of such opinion for
each of the other Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the
Underwriters.
(i) Opinion of General Counsel for AWB Geneva. At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall
have received the favorable opinion dated as of the Closing Time, of the general counsel for AWB
Geneva acceptable to the Representatives, together with signed or reproduced copies of such opinion
for each of the other Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for
the Underwriters.
(j) Opinion of Canadian Counsel for the Underwriters. At the Closing Time, the Representatives
shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of the Closing Time, of Xxxxxxx Xxxxx LLP,
Canadian counsel for the Underwriters. In giving such opinion such counsel may rely, as to certain
matters relating to the Company, upon the opinion of Blake, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP and, as to all
other matters governed by the laws of Qualifying Provinces other than the Province of Alberta and
the federal laws of Canada, upon the opinions of counsel satisfactory to the Representatives. Such
counsel may also state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters, they have relied, to
the extent they deem proper, upon certificates of officers of the Company and its subsidiaries and
certificates of public officials.
(k) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of U.S. Counsel for the Underwriters. At the Closing Time, the
Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion and Rule 10b-5 negative assurance
statement, dated as of the Closing Time, of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP, United States
counsel for the Underwriters. Such counsel may state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual
matters, they have relied, to the extent they deem proper, upon certificates of officers of the
Company and its subsidiaries and certificates of public officials.
(l) Officers’ Certificate. At the Closing Time, there shall not have been, since the date
hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the General Disclosure
Package and the Final Prospectuses, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or
otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its
subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of
business, and the Representatives shall have received a certificate of the President or a Vice
President of the Company and of the chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of the
Company, dated as of Closing Time, to the effect that (i) there has been no such material adverse
change, (ii) the representations and warranties in Section 1(a) hereof are true and correct with
the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of the Closing Time, (iii) the Company
has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or
satisfied at or prior to the Closing Time, (iv) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or
are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission, and
26
(v) no order having the effect of ceasing or suspending the distribution of the Securities
shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or,
to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Qualifying Authorities.
(m) Accountant’s Comfort Letter. At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the
Representatives shall have received (i) from KPMG LLP, a letter dated such date, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Representatives, together with signed or reproduced copies of such
letter for each of the other Underwriters containing statements and information of the type
ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to U.S. and Canadian underwriters with
respect to the financial statements and certain financial information relating to the Company and
the pro forma financial statements and certain pro forma financial information included or
incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package and (ii) from Ernst & Young, a letter
dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, together with signed or
reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters containing statements and
information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to U.S. and Canadian
underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information of AWB
included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package.
(n) Bring-down Comfort Letter. At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received
(i) from KPMG LLP, a letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the
Representatives, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other
Underwriters containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’
“comfort letters” to U.S. and Canadian underwriters with respect to the financial statements and
certain financial information relating to the Company and the pro forma financial statements and
certain pro forma financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Final
Prospectuses and (ii) from Ernst & Young, a letter dated such date, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Representatives, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for
each of the other Underwriters containing statements and information of the type ordinarily
included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to U.S. and Canadian underwriters with respect to the
financial statements and certain financial information of AWB included or incorporated by reference
in the Final Prospectuses.
(o) Maintenance of Rating. At the Closing Time, the Securities shall be rated at least “Baa2”
by Moody’s Investor’s Service Inc. and “BBB” by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, a division of The
XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies, Inc. and the Company shall have delivered to the Representatives a letter
dated within 10 days of the Closing Time, from each such rating agency, or other evidence
satisfactory to the Representatives, confirming that the Securities have such ratings; and since
the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred a downgrading in the rating assigned to
the Securities or any of the Company’s other securities by any “nationally recognized statistical
rating organization,” as such term is used in relation to Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the 1934
Act, and no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or
review its rating of the Securities or any of the Company’s other securities.
(p) Agent for Service. Prior to the Closing Time, the Company shall have furnished to the
Representatives satisfactory evidence of its due and valid authorization of CT Corporation System
as its agent to receive service of process in the United States pursuant to Section 11
27
hereof and satisfactory evidence of CT Corporation System accepting its appointment as such
agent.
(q) Additional Documents. At the Closing Time, counsel for the Underwriters shall have been
furnished with such documents and opinions as they may require for the purpose of enabling them to
pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence
the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the
conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the
issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated shall be satisfactory in form and
substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters.
(r) Termination of Agreement. If any condition specified in this Section 5 shall not have been
fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated by the
Representatives by notice to the Company at any time at or prior to the Closing Time and such
termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in
Section 4 and except that Sections 1, 6, 7, 8 and 11 shall survive any such termination and remain
in full force and effect.
SECTION 6. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification of Underwriters. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Underwriter, its affiliates, as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) under the 1933 Act (each, an
“Affiliate”), its selling agents and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the
meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act as follows:
(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as
incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the omission or
alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Preliminary Prospectuses, the Final
Prospectuses, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package, or any
Supplementary Material (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged
omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as
incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any
investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or
of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such
alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 6(d) below) any such
settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company;
28
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever reasonably incurred, as incurred
(including the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of U.S. and Canadian counsel
chosen by the Representatives), in investigating, preparing or defending against any
litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced
or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or
any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not
paid under (i) or (ii) above;
provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission
or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for
use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), the Preliminary Prospectuses, the
Final Prospectuses, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or any
Supplementary Material (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
(b) Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers. Each Underwriter severally agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, each of its officers who signed the
Registration Statement, the Canadian Preliminary Prospectus and the Canadian Final Prospectus, and
each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or
Section 20 of the 1934 Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described
in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section 6, as incurred, but only with respect
to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), the Preliminary Prospectuses, the Final
Prospectuses, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package, or any
Supplementary Material (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Representatives
expressly for use therein.
(c) Actions Against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall give notice as
promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in
respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party
shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not
materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability
which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of parties
indemnified pursuant to Section 6(a) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by
the Representatives, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(b) above,
counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company. An indemnifying party may
participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided, however, that counsel
to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be
counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and
expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own
counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or
related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or
circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any
litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or
29
body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or
contribution could be sought under this Section 6 or Section 7 hereof (whether or not the
indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or
consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising
out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as
to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified
party.
(d) Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If at any time an indemnified party
shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses
of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature
contemplated by Section 6(a) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered
into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such
indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days
prior to such settlement being entered into, and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have
reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such
settlement. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, if at any time an indemnified party
shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses
of counsel, an indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated
by Section 6(a)(ii) effected without its consent if such indemnifying party (i) reimburses such
indemnified party in accordance with such request to the extent it considers such request to be
reasonable and (ii) provides written notice to the indemnified party substantiating the unpaid
balance as unreasonable, in each case prior to the date of such settlement.
SECTION 7. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 6 hereof is
for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of
any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying
party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and
expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate
to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on
the other hand from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the
allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the
relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in
connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims,
damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the
other hand in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be
deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the
Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the
total underwriting commission received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth on the cover
of the Final Prospectuses, bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Securities as
set forth on the cover of the Final Prospectuses.
30
The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall
be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were
treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take
account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7. The aggregate amount
of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred
to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation,
or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or
any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities
underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of
any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue
or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the
0000 Xxx) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation.
For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the
meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act and each Underwriter’s
Affiliates and selling agents shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and
each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement or
the Canadian Preliminary Prospectus or the Canadian Final Prospectus, and each person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act
shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. The Underwriters’ respective obligations
to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to the principal amount of
Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint.
SECTION 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery. All
representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of
officers of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain
operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of
any Underwriter or its Affiliates or selling agents, any person controlling any Underwriter, its
officers or directors or any person controlling the Company, and (ii) delivery of and payment for
the Securities.
31
SECTION 9. Termination of Agreement.
(a) Termination, General. The Representatives may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the
Company, at any time at or prior to Closing Time (i) if there has been, since the time of execution
of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Final
Prospectuses or the General Disclosure Package, any material adverse change in the condition,
financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company
and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of
business, or (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the
United States or Canada, or in the international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or
escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective
change in United States, Canadian or international political, financial or economic conditions, in
each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives,
impracticable or inadvisable to market the Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the
Securities, or (iii) if trading in any securities of the Company has been suspended or materially
limited by the Commission, the Qualifying Authorities, any other securities commission or
securities regulatory authority in Canada or the Toronto Stock Exchange or the New York Stock
Exchange, or if trading generally on the American Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, the
Toronto Stock Exchange or in the Nasdaq Stock Market has been suspended or materially limited, or
minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been
required, by any of said exchanges or by such system or by order of the Commission, the Qualifying
Authorities, any other securities commission or securities regulatory authority in Canada, the
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. or any other governmental authority, or (iv) a
material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance
services in the United States or Canada, or (v) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either
United States federal, New York state or Canadian federal or Alberta provincial authorities.
(b) Liabilities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section 9, such termination
shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 hereof,
and Sections 1, 6, 7, 8 and 11 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 10. Default by One or More of the Underwriters. If one or more of the
Underwriters shall fail at the Closing Time to purchase the Securities which it or they are
obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the “Defaulted Securities”), the Representatives shall
have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the
non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of
the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth;
if, however, the Representatives shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour
period, then:
(a) if the principal amount of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the aggregate
principal amount of the Securities to be purchased hereunder, each of the non-defaulting
Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in
the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting
obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or
32
(b) if the principal amount of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the aggregate principal
amount of the Securities to be purchased hereunder, this Agreement shall terminate without
liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.
No action taken pursuant to this Section 10 shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from
liability in respect of its default.
In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement
either the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Time for a
period not exceeding seven days to the extent such delay is necessary to effect any required
changes in the Registration Statement, the U.S. Prospectus or the Canadian Prospectus or in any
other material documents. As used herein, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted
for an Underwriter under this Section 10.
SECTION 11. Agent for Service; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Immunities. By
the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company (i) acknowledges that it has, by separate
written instrument, irrevocably designated and appointed CT Corporation System (or any successor)
(together with any successor, the “Agent for Service”), as its authorized agent upon which process
may be served in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the
Securities, or the Indenture that may be instituted in any federal or state court in the State of
New York, or brought under federal or state securities laws, and acknowledges that the Agent for
Service has accepted such designation, (ii) submits to the jurisdiction of any such court in any
such suit or proceeding, and (iii) agrees that service of process upon the Agent for Service (or
any successor) and written notice of said service to the Company (mailed or delivered to its
Corporate Secretary at its principal office in Calgary, Alberta, Canada), shall be deemed in every
respect effective service of process upon the Company in any such suit or proceeding. The Company
further agrees to take any and all action, including the execution and filing of any and all such
documents and instruments, as may be necessary to continue such designation and appointment of the
Agent for Service in full force and effect so long as any of the Securities shall be outstanding.
To the extent that the Company has acquired or hereafter may acquire any immunity from
jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service of notice, attachment
prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise) with respect to itself
or its property, it hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations under the
above-referenced documents, to the extent permitted by law.
The provisions of this Section 11 shall survive any termination of this Agreement, in whole or
in part.
SECTION 12. Judgment Currency. In respect of any judgment or order given or made for
any amount due hereunder that is expressed and paid in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other
than United States dollars, the Company will indemnify each Underwriter against any loss incurred
by such Underwriter as a result of any variation as between (i) the rate of exchange at which the
United States dollar amount is converted into the Judgment Currency for the purpose of such
judgment or order and (ii) the rate of exchange at which an Underwriter is able to purchase United
States dollars with the amount of Judgment Currency actually received
33
by such Underwriter. The foregoing indemnity shall constitute a separate and independent
obligation of the Company and shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any such
judgment or order as aforesaid. The term “rate of exchange” shall include any premiums and costs
of exchange payable in connection with the purchase of or conversion into United States dollars.
SECTION 13. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form
of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to BNP at 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: Fixed Income Syndicate; and notices to the Company shall be
directed to it at 00000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx X.X., Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx, X0X 0X0, attention of
Corporate Secretary.
SECTION 14. No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees
that (a) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including the
determination of the public offering price of the Securities and any related discounts and
commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and
the several Underwriters, on the other hand, (b) in connection with the offering contemplated
hereby and the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter is and has been acting solely
as a principal and not as the agent or fiduciary of the Company or its shareholders, creditors,
employees or any other party, (c) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory or
fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby
or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is
currently advising the Company on other matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the
Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby except the obligations expressly set forth
in this Agreement, (d) the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad
range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company, and (e) the
Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the
offering contemplated hereby and the Company has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory
and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.
SECTION 15. Integration. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company and the Underwriters, or any of them,
with respect to the subject matter hereof.
SECTION 16. Parties. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
the Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in
this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other
than the Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors and the controlling persons
and officers and directors referred to in Sections 6 and 7 and their heirs and legal
representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this
Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions
hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters and the Company
and their respective successors, and said controlling persons and officers and directors and their
heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No
purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of
such purchase.
34
SECTION 17. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 18. TIME. TIME SHALL BE OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS AGREEMENT. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE
SET FORTH HEREIN, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.
SECTION 19. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall
together constitute one and the same Agreement.
SECTION 20. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only
and shall not affect the construction hereof.
35
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and
return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts,
will become a binding agreement between the Underwriters and the Company in accordance with its
terms.
Very truly yours, AGRIUM INC. |
||||
By | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer |
|||
By: | /s/ Xxx Xxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxx Xxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Vice President and Treasurer | |||
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED as of the date first above written: BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP. RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC SCOTIA CAPITAL (USA) INC. |
||||
By: | BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP. | |||
By: | /s/ Xxx Xxxxxx | |||
Authorized Signatory | ||||
By: | RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC | |||
By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx | |||
Authorized Signatory | ||||
By: | SCOTIA CAPITAL (USA) INC. | |||
By: | /s/ Xxxx XxXxxxx | |||
Authorized Signatory | ||||
For themselves and as Representatives of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto.
36
SCHEDULE A
Principal Amount of | ||||
Securities to be | ||||
Name of Underwriter | Purchased | |||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
U.S.$ | 126,666,667 | ||
RBC Capital Markets, LLC |
$ | 126,666,667 | ||
Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. |
$ | 126,666,666 | ||
BMO Capital Markets Corp. |
$ | 25,000,000 | ||
NBF Securities (USA) Corp |
$ | 25,000,000 | ||
Rabo Securities USA, Inc. |
$ | 25,000,000 | ||
CIBC World Markets Corp. |
$ | 15,000,000 | ||
RBS Securities Inc. |
$ | 15,000,000 | ||
TD Securities (USA) LLC |
$ | 15,000,000 | ||
Total |
U.S.$ | 500,000,000 | ||
A-1
SCHEDULE B
U.S.$500,000,000 6.125% Debentures due 2041
1. | The initial public offering price of the Securities shall be 98.909% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest, if any, from the date of issuance. | |
2. | The purchase price to be paid by the Underwriters for the Securities shall be 98.034% of the principal amount thereof. | |
3. | The interest rate on the Securities shall be 6.125% per annum. |
C-1
SCHEDULE C
Pricing Term Sheet
December 15, 2010
December 15, 2010
Agrium Inc.
U.S. $500,000,000 6.125% Debentures due January 15, 2041
U.S. $500,000,000 6.125% Debentures due January 15, 2041
Issuer:
|
Agrium Inc. | |
Format:
|
SEC Registered — Registration Statement Nos. 333-161829 and 333-170580 | |
Ranking:
|
Senior Unsecured | |
Trade Date:
|
December 15, 2010 | |
Settlement Date:
|
December 20, 2010 (T+3) | |
Maturity Date:
|
January 15, 2041 | |
Aggregate Principal Amount Offered:
|
$500,000,000 | |
Coupon:
|
6.125% | |
Price to Public (Issue Price):
|
98.909% | |
Interest Payment Dates:
|
January 15 and July 15 of each year, beginning on July 15, 2011 | |
Benchmark:
|
UST 3.875% due 08/40 | |
UST Spot (Price/Yield)
|
88-08 / 4.605% | |
Spread to Benchmark:
|
UST + 160 basis points | |
Re-offer Yield:
|
6.205% | |
Net Proceeds to Issuer:
|
U.S. $490,170,000 | |
Daycount:
|
30/360 | |
Optional Redemption:
|
At any time and from time to time at the Treasury Rate + 25 basis points at anytime prior to July 15, 2040. Callable at 100% at any time on or after July 15, 2040. | |
CUSIP:
|
000000 XX0 | |
Denominations:
|
Minimum denominations of U.S. $2,000 and integral multiples of U.S. $1,000 | |
Joint Bookrunners:
|
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. | |
RBC Capital Markets, LLC | ||
Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. | ||
Lead Managers:
|
BMO Capital Markets Corp. | |
Rabo Securities USA, Inc. | ||
NBF Securities (USA) Corp. |
C-2
Co-Managers:
|
CIBC World Markets Corp. | |
RBS Securities Inc. | ||
TD Securities (USA) LLC |
A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to
revision or withdrawal at any time.
The Issuer has filed a Registration Statement (File Nos. 333-161829 and 333-170580), including a
short form base shelf prospectus dated November 20, 2009, as amended by amendment No. 1 dated
November 12, 2010 with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the offering to which this
communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration
statement and documents incorporated by reference therein that the Issuer has filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission for more complete information about the Issuer and this
offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting XXXXX on the SEC Web site at xxx.xxx.xxx
or by visiting the Canadian system for electronic document analysis and retrieval (SEDAR) website
at xxx.xxxxx.xxx. Alternatively, the Issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the
offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling (1) BNP Paribas
Securities Corp. toll-free at 0-000-000-0000, (2) RBC Capital Markets, LLC toll-free at
0-000-000-0000, or (3) Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. toll free at 0-000-000-0000.
Any legends, disclaimers or other notices that may appear below are not applicable to this
communication and should be disregarded. Such legends, disclaimers or other notices have been
automatically generated as a result of this communication having been sent via Bloomberg or another
system.
C-3