Agrium follows CF’s example

Article Excerpt

AGRIUM INC. $68 (Toronto symbol AGU; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 157.0 million; Market cap: $10.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.0; Dividend yield: 0.2%; SI Rating: Average) is still trying to buy U.S.-based fertilizer maker CF Industries Holdings Inc. (New York symbol CF). Agrium is offering $5.3 billion in cash and shares (all amounts except share price and market cap in U.S. dollars). CF has rejected Agrium’s offer, and is pursuing its own hostile takeover of fertilizer company Terra Industries Inc. (New York symbol TRA). CF moved a step closer to taking over Terra when it recently replaced three of Terra’s directors with it own nominees. Agrium will now use the same tactic, and nominate its own directors to CF’s board at next year’s annual meeting. However, it seems likely that CF will buy Terra before then. If that happens, Agrium will drop its bid. Moreover, CF’s shareholder-rights plan will continue to block any takeover unless CF’s current directors negotiate a..