Kansas City Southern’s first-quarter financials were slightly off from the prior-year period due to several factors, but the merger-bound Class I says it anticipates improved operating and service metrics and revenue growth this year.
Kansas City Southern (KCS), now in the midst of a merger with Canadian Pacific, has bolstered its executive leadership team with two strategic appointments: Jeffrey M. Songer in the new role of Executive Vice President-Strategic Merger Planning, and John F. Orr as Executive Vice President-Operations.
SMART Transportation Division (SMART-TD) President Jeremy R. Ferguson has sent a letter to Canadian Pacific (CP) President and CEO Keith Creel stating that the union he runs generally supports what CP and Kansas City Southern (KCS) are seeking from the Surface Transportation Board for their merger.
Merger applicants Canadian Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS) are refuting the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) recent filing with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) questioning use of a voting trust and granting KCS an exemption under merger rules established about 20 years ago.
Two first-quarter 2021 surveys of rail shippers on pricing and business outlook as well as equipment needs conducted by Cowen and Company analysts Jason Seidl (Managing Director and Railway Age Wall Street Contributing Editor), Matt Elkott and Elliot Alper indicate that, compared with the previous quarter, Class I railroad customers are anticipating somewhat higher rate increases, and a slight decline in new railcar demand.
Canadian Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS) submitted a filing to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) asserting what they say is their “right” to have their merger reviewed under a waiver the STB granted to KCS in 2001.
Canadian Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS) are inching toward 400 supporters of their planned combination, “CPKC.”
Several shipper trade associations, a major agricultural shipper and four of the remaining five North American Class I railroads have asked the Surface Transportation Board to review Canadian Pacific’s proposed acquisition of Kansas City Southern under the more stringent 2001 merger rules. A few argue that the smallest Class I rail carrier, KCS, should not get a “gentle pass” STB review. As to the merger itself, most support it, with a few notable exceptions.
The majority of shippers participating in Cowen and Company’s survey on the proposed Canadian Pacific (CP)/Kansas City Southern (KCS) merger have a positive view of the transaction, and merger synergies “look promising,” according to the firm, which released results March 29.
The recent merger agreement between Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS) offers a unique opportunity to fuel economic growth across North America while reducing freight congestion, helping the environment, and strengthening competition in the freight transport marketplace.
