Canadian National to Sell Rail Line Section to Defuse Kansas City Southern Antitrust Concerns

By Jacquie McNish

Canadian National Railway Co. is offering to sell a 70-mile stretch of a Louisiana rail network to defuse antitrust concerns as it seeks regulatory approval for its roughly $30 billion agreement to merge with Kansas City Southern, people familiar with the matter said.

The two railroads plan to jointly file a motion with the U.S. Surface Transportation Board Wednesday morning seeking approval for a voting trust to acquire Kansas City Southern stock from its shareholders, the people said. The STB's review of the proposed trust is the first of a lengthy two-step regulatory process that requires the regulator to ensure that major railroad mergers are in the public interest and enhance competition.

Canadian National's main rail lines travel across Canada and south into the U.S. through such major hubs as Chicago, Detroit and New Orleans. Kansas City Southern routes extend from Illinois to Southern Mexico. The two railroads operate nearby routes from Baton Rouge to New Orleans that largely ship chemical products. The railways share some customers on the route region.

Canadian National would sell the Louisiana section owned by Kansas City Southern if its proposed merger is approved by the STB, the people said

There have been no major railroad mergers in the U.S. for two decades after a handful of industry combinations triggered widespread complaints about poor service. Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. sought to break the deal gridlock with an agreement in March to merge with Kansas City Southern for about $25 billion in cash and stock, but it was outbid by its bigger competitor Canadian National earlier this month. The STB's review of the Canadian National and Kansas City merger is expected to last well into next year.

Corrections & Amplifications

This was corrected at 12:30 p.m. ET because didn't specify which railroad was selling the route. Canadian National Railway is offering to sell a stretch of rail line owned by Kansas City Southern if their planned merger is approved by regulators.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

05-26-21 0741ET