FTC Docket C-3981
agriumunocaldo
001-0100
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
BEFORE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
COMMISSIONERS:
Robert Pitofsky, Chairman
Sheila F. Anthony
Mozelle W. Thompson
Orson Swindle
Thomas B. Leary
____________________________________
In the Matter of
)
)
Agrium, Inc.,
)
a corporation, and
)
)
Docket No. C -3981
Union Oil Company of California
)
and Unocal Corporation,
)
corporations.
)
____________________________________)
DECISION AND ORDER
The Federal Trade Commission (“Commission”) having initiated an investigation of the
acquisition by Respondent Agrium, Inc. (“Agrium”) of assets held by Respondents Union Oil
Company of California (“Union Oil”) and Unocal Corporation (“Unocal”), and Respondents
having been furnished thereafter with a copy of a draft of Complaint that the Bureau of
Competition presented to the Commission for its consideration and which, if issued, would charge
Respondents with violations of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended, 15
U.S.C. § 45, and Section 7 of the Clayton Act, as amended 15 U.S.C. § 18; and
Respondents, their attorneys, and counsel for the Commission having thereafter executed
an Agreement Containing Consent Order (“Consent Agreement”), containing an admission by
Respondents of all the jurisdictional facts set forth in the aforesaid draft of Complaint, a statement
that the signing of said Consent Agreement is for settlement purposes only and does not
constitute an admission by Respondents that the law has been violated as alleged in such
Complaint, or that the facts as alleged in such Complaint, other than jurisdictional facts, are true,
and waivers and other provisions as required by the Commission’s Rules; and
The Commission having thereafter considered the matter and having determined that it had
reason to believe that Respondents have violated said Acts, and that a Complaint should issue
stating its charges in that respect, and having accepted the executed Consent Agreement and
placed such Consent Agreement on the public record for a period of thirty (30) days for the
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receipt and consideration of public comments, now in further conformity with the procedure
described in Commission Rule 2.34, 16 C.F.R. § 2.34, the Commission hereby makes the
following jurisdictional findings and issues the following Order:
a.
Respondent Agrium, Inc., is a corporation organized, existing and doing business
under and by virtue of the laws of Canada, with its office and principal place of
business located at 13131 Lake Fraser Drive SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2J7E8,
Canada. For the purposes of this matter, Agrium, Inc. acquires all assets through
its wholly owned subsidiary RSI Acquisition, Inc., a California company with its
principal place of business located at 4582 S. Ulster St., Suite 1400, Denver,
Colorado 80237.
2.
Respondent Union Oil Company of California, a wholly owned subsidiary of
Unocal Corporation, is a corporation organized, existing and doing business under
and by virtue of the laws of the State of California, with its principal place of
business at 2141 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 4000, El Segundo, California 90245.
c.
Respondent Unocal Corporation is a corporation organized, existing, and doing
business under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Delaware, with its office
and principal place of business at 2141 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 4000, El
Segundo, California 90245.
4.
The Federal Trade Commission has jurisdiction of the subject matter of this
proceeding and of Respondents and the proceeding is in the public interest.
ORDER
I.
IT IS ORDERED that, as used in this order, the following definitions shall apply:
A.
“Agrium” means Agrium, Inc., its directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives,
successors, and assigns; its joint ventures, subsidiaries, divisions, groups and affiliates
controlled by Agrium, Inc., and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents,
representatives, successors, and assigns of each.
B.
“Union Oil” means Union Oil Company of California, its directors, officers, employees,
agents, representatives, successors, and assigns; its joint ventures, subsidiaries, divisions,
groups and affiliates controlled by Union Oil Company of California, and the respective
directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, successors, and assigns of each.
C.
“Unocal” means Unocal Corporation, its directors, officers, employees, agents,
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representatives, successors, and assigns; its joint ventures, subsidiaries, divisions, groups,
and affiliates controlled by Unocal Corporation, and the respective directors, officers,
employees, agents, representatives, successors, and assigns of each.
D.
“Respondents” means Agrium, Union Oil, and Unocal, individually and collectively.
E.
“Simplot” means J.R. Simplot Company, a Nevada corporation with its principal place of
business at 999 Main Street, Suite 1300, Boise, Idaho 83605.
F.
“Commission” means the Federal Trade Commission.
G.
“Alternate Acquirer” means the entity or entities to whom the Divestiture Assets, as
defined in Paragraph I.L., may be divested by the Respondents pursuant to Paragraph II.
of this Decision and Order or by the trustee pursuant to Paragraph V. of this Decision and
Order, as applicable.
H.
“Divestiture Agreement” means the July 12, 2000, Purchase and Sale Agreement and the
August 3, 2000, Amendment to that Agreement (and all Exhibits attached to either)
between Simplot and Agrium whereby Simplot acquires the Divestiture Assets from
Agrium. All references in this Decision and Order to Exhibits are to the Exhibits of the
Divestiture Agreement, unless otherwise specified.
I.
“Rivergate” means the terminal facility that has “tidewater” access and is located in
Portland, Oregon, as defined in Exhibit A.
J.
“Hedges” means the terminal facility located in Kennewick, Washington, as defined in
Exhibit C.
K.
“Apportioned Hedges” means the divested terminal facility comprised of a 600 x 700 foot
block in the east south east corner of Hedges and a 200 foot wide corridor along the south
east property line of Hedges, as illustrated in Exhibit B.
L.
“Divestiture Assets” means all of Agrium’s right, title, and interest acquired from Union
Oil and Unocal pursuant to the Acquisition in all assets described in the Divestiture
Agreement, including, without limitation, the following:
1.
The real property Rivergate together with all rights, interests, improvements, and
appurtenances pertaining thereto, including but not limited to the following assets:
a.
All fertilizer terminal related assets such as the “tidewater” piers, ship
unloading systems, warehousing facilities, machinery, fixtures, equipment,
technology, know-how, specifications, designs, drawings, processes,
quality control data, vehicles, transportation and storage facilities,
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furniture, tools, supplies, stores, spare parts, and any tangible personal
property defined in Exhibit E;
b.
Any adjacent strips and gores between the property and any abutting
properties, and any land lying in or under the bed of any creek, stream, or
waterway or any highway, avenue, road, easement, street, alley, or right-
of-way, open or proposed, in, on, across, abutting, or adjacent to the
property;
c.
All certificates for appropriation of water and other water rights generally
that relate to the property;
d.
All right, title, interest in and to the contracts listed in Exhibit D;
e.
All rights under warranties and guarantees, express or implied, wherever
located;
f.
All dedicated management information systems and information contained
in management information systems, and all separately maintained, as well
as relevant portions of not separately maintained books, records, and files,
wherever located;
g.
All federal, state, and local regulatory agency registrations, permits, and
applications, and all documents related thereto, wherever located;
h.
All items of prepaid expense;
i.
Services of one to four Crane Operators at any given time for a period of
(12) twelve months following the Closing Date, according to the terms of
the Crane Operator Labor Agreement set out in Exhibit J; and
j.
Any additional assets defined in the Divestiture Agreement.
2.
The real property Apportioned Hedges together with all rights, interests,
improvements, and appurtenances pertaining thereto, including but not limited to
the following assets:
a.
A 10,000 short ton dry warehouse, related loading and unloading
equipment, machinery, fixtures, equipment, designs, drawings, and
transportation and storage facilities;
b.
Any adjacent strips and gores between the property and any abutting
properties, and any land lying in or under the bed of any creek, stream, or
waterway or any highway, avenue, road, easement, street, alley, or right-
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of-way, open or proposed, in, on, across, abutting, or adjacent to the
property;
c.
A lease for transfer, storage, and handling of up to 20,000 short tons of
anhydrous ammonia at the ammonia facilities at Hedges for a period of ten
years with an option to extend the lease for another ten years, according to
the terms of the Transfer, Storage, and Handling Agreement set out in
Exhibit I;
d.
A perpetual, non-exclusive easement granting to Simplot or the Alternate
Acquirer, as applicable, the right-of-way to pass and repass, and to install
and/or maintain utilities to or from Apportioned Hedges over and along the
private roadway and the rail track spur (as identified in Exhibit A of the
Easement Agreement), according to the terms of the Easement Agreement
set out in Exhibit L;
e.
An irrevocable, non-exclusive license to access the Pier (as identified in
Exhibit A of the Easement Agreement) for the purposes of barge unloading
and loading of dry fertilizer products, according to the terms of the
Easement Agreement set out in Exhibit L;
f.
Truck and rail car scale services, according to the terms of the Easement
Agreement set forth in Exhibit L;
g.
For five (5) years, either a commercially reasonable lease for ammonia
barge services or, if an agreement cannot be reached, an unconditional
option to purchase one barge at its independently appraised value,
according to the terms of the Divestiture Agreement;
h.
Right of First Refusal on the non-divested portion of the Hedges site,
according to the terms of the Right of First Refusal Agreement set out in
Exhibit G;
i.
All rights under warranties and guarantees, express or implied, wherever
located;
j.
All separately maintained, as well as relevant portions of not separately
maintained books, records, and files, wherever located;
k.
All federal, state, and local regulatory agency registrations, permits, and
applications, and all documents related thereto, wherever located;
l.
All items of prepaid expense; and
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m.
Any additional assets defined in the Divestiture Agreement.
3.
Agrium storage and handling lease for the Tidewater Terminal Co., Inc. terminal at
East Pasco, Washington (defined as “Lease” in the Divestiture Agreement), and
Prodica leases for the Tidewater Terminal Co., Inc. terminals at Vancouver and
Wilma, Washington (as listed in Exhibit D) .
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, Divestiture Assets do not include the following assets:
(1) Product inventory located at either Rivergate or Apportioned Hedges;
(2) The non-divested, western portion (approximately 29 acres) of Hedges including the
pier and related ammonia truck and barge handling equipment systems and sites (as
illustrated in Exhibit B);
(3) The assets and facilities known as the N-Phuric Production Facility, as illustrated by
Exhibit B; and
(4) Any additional assets excluded in the Divestiture Agreement.
M.
“Nitrogen-Based Fertilizers” means urea, UAN 32% solution, and anhydrous ammonia.
N.
“Acquisition” means the proposed acquisition by Agrium of Unocal’s Agricultural
Products Business as described in the January 19, 2000, Purchase and Sale Agreement
between RSI Acquisition, Inc., and Union Oil.
O.
“Agricultural Products Business” means the assets of Prodica LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company, and the assets of Alaska Nitrogen Products LLC, an Alaska limited
liability company, both with their principal places of business at 2141 Rosecrans Avenue,
Suite 4000, El Segundo, California 90245. Prodica LLC and Alaska Nitrogen Products
LLC are wholly owned subsidiaries of Respondent Union Oil.
P.
“Acquisition Agreement” means the January 19, 2000, Purchase and Sale Agreement
between RSI Acquisition, Inc., and Union Oil.
Q.
“Closing Date” means the date, as defined in the Divestiture Agreement, when the parties
have fully consummated the transfer of assets contemplated in the Divestiture Agreement.
R.
“Northwest” means the State of Washington and any and all land and territorial waters
subject to the jurisdiction of the State of Washington; the State of Oregon and any and all
land and territorial waters subject to the jurisdiction of the State of Oregon; and the State
of Idaho and any and all land subject to the jurisdiction of the State of Idaho.
S.
“Third Party Approvals” means all consents or waivers from private entities, and local,
state and federal regulatory bodies, or other consents or waivers from partners or
otherwise, that are necessary to effect the complete transfer of the Divestiture Assets to
Simplot or the Alternate Acquirer, as applicable.
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T.
“Unocal Employees” means all employees currently employed by Unocal who work
primarily at the Rivergate facility, including but not limited to (a) individuals executing the
duties generally performed by executive managers, managers, and supervisors, (b) all
“Employees” as that term is defined and used in the Divestiture Agreement, and (c) all
other personnel necessary and beneficial to maintaining Rivergate as an ongoing facility.
U.
“Crane Operators” means qualified, state certified crane operators of the type currently
utilized at Rivergate.
II.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
A.
Respondents shall divest or cause to be divested to Simplot, or to the Alternate Acquirer if
applicable, absolutely and in good faith, at no minimum price, the Divestiture Assets as
ongoing facilities in the distribution and wholesale sale of Nitrogen-Based Fertilizers.
B.
1.
The divestiture shall be made immediately after Respondent Agrium consummates
the Acquisition, and shall be pursuant to and in accordance with the Divestiture
Agreement (which agreement shall not vary or contradict, or be construed to vary
or contradict, the terms of this Decision and Order). Failure to comply with the
Divestiture Agreement shall constitute a failure to comply with this Decision and
Order.
2.
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if Respondents have divested the Divestiture
Assets to Simplot prior to the date the Decision and Order becomes final, and if, at
the time the Commission determines to make the Decision and Order final, the
Commission notifies Respondents that Simplot is not an acceptable acquirer or that
the Divestiture Agreement specifies an unacceptable manner of divestiture, then
Respondents shall immediately rescind the transaction with Simplot and shall
divest the Divestiture Assets within four (4) months of the date the Decision and
Order becomes final. Respondents shall divest the Divestiture Assets only to an
Alternate Acquirer that receives the prior approval of the Commission and only in
a manner that receives the prior approval of the Commission.
C.
Respondents shall secure all Third-Party Approvals prior to the Closing Date.
D.
The purpose of the divestiture of the Divestiture Assets is to ensure the continued use of
the Divestiture Assets in the same businesses in which they were engaged at the time of
the announcement of the proposed Acquisition, and to remedy the lessening of
competition resulting from the Acquisition as alleged in the Commission's complaint.
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E.
Respondents shall waive and not exercise any preferential right, right of first refusal, back-
in right, or any contractual option that would permit Respondents, as a result of the
divestiture to Simplot or Alternate Acquirer, as applicable, to acquire any interest in any
Divestiture Asset acquired pursuant to this Decision and Order by Simplot or Alternate
Acquirer, as applicable.
III.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
A.
Respondents shall maintain the viability, marketability, and competitiveness of the
Divestiture Assets, and shall not cause the wasting or deterioration of the Divestiture
Assets, nor shall they cause the Divestiture Assets to be operated in a manner inconsistent
with applicable laws, nor shall they sell, transfer, encumber, or otherwise impair the
viability, marketability, or competitiveness of the Divestiture Assets. Respondents shall
comply with the terms of this Paragraph until such time as Respondents have divested the
Divestiture Assets pursuant to the terms of this Decision and Order. Respondents shall
conduct or cause to be conducted the business of the Divestiture Assets in the regular and
ordinary course and in accordance with past practice (including regular repair and
maintenance efforts) and shall use their best efforts to preserve the existing relationships
with suppliers, customers, employees, and others having business relations with the
Divestiture Assets in the ordinary course of business and in accordance with past practice.
Respondents shall not terminate the operation of any Divestiture Asset and Respondents
shall continue to operate the Divestiture Assets at a level and manner consistent with those
maintained by Respondents in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practices.
B.
Respondents shall use best efforts to keep the organization and properties of each
Divestiture Asset intact, including current business operations and physical facilities.
Included in the above obligations as set forth in Paragraph III.A. and B., Respondents
shall, without limitation:
1.
Maintain operations and departments and neither reduce hours nor manner of
operation of any Divestiture Asset;
2.
Not transfer inventory or equipment from any Divestiture Asset or make any
physical alterations to any Divestiture Asset other than in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice, or unless otherwise agreed to by
Respondents in the Divestiture Agreement; and
3.
Make any payment required to be paid under any contract or lease when due,
maintain and renew all permits and licenses associated with any Divestiture Asset,
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and otherwise pay all liabilities and satisfy all obligations associated with any
Divestiture Asset, in each case in a manner consistent with past practice.
IV.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
A.
From the date Respondents sign the Consent Agreement until the divestiture is completed
pursuant to the terms of this Decision and Order, Respondents shall take, or cause to be
taken, reasonable steps, including implementing appropriate incentive plans (such as
vesting or crediting of all current and accrued benefits and pensions, to which Unocal
Employees are entitled) and paying bonuses, to cause the Unocal Employees to accept
offers of employment from Simplot or the Alternate Acquirer, as applicable.
B.
For a period of two (2) years following the date Respondents sign the Consent
Agreement, Respondents shall not solicit for employment any Unocal Employee employed
by Simplot or the Alternate Acquirer, as applicable, unless and until such employee’s
employment by Simplot or the Alternate Acquirer, as applicable, has been terminated.
V.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
A.
If Respondents have not divested or have not caused to be divested, absolutely and in
good faith the Divestiture Assets to Simplot or the Alternate Acquirer, as applicable,
within the time period required by Paragraph II. of this Decision and Order, the
Commission may appoint a trustee to divest or cause to be divested the Divestiture Assets.
B.
In the event that the Commission or the Attorney General brings an action pursuant to
§ 5(l) of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45(l), or any other statute
enforced by the Commission, Respondents shall consent to the appointment of a trustee in
such action. Neither the appointment of a trustee nor a decision not to appoint a trustee
under this Paragraph shall preclude the Commission or the Attorney General from seeking
civil penalties or any other relief available to it, including a court-appointed trustee,
pursuant to § 5(l) of the Federal Trade Commission Act, or any other statute enforced by
the Commission, for any failure by the Respondents to comply with this Decision and
Order.
C.
If a trustee is appointed by the Commission or a court pursuant to Paragraph V.A. of this
Decision and Order, Respondents shall consent to the following terms and conditions
regarding the trustee's powers, duties, authority, and responsibilities:
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1.
The Commission shall select the trustee, subject to the consent of the Respondents,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The trustee shall be a person
with experience and expertise in acquisitions and divestitures. If Respondents have
not opposed, in writing, including the reasons for opposing, the selection of any
proposed trustee within ten (10) days after receipt of notice by the staff of the
Commission to Respondents of the identity of any proposed trustee, Respondents
shall be deemed to have consented to the selection of the proposed trustee.
2.
Subject to the prior approval of the Commission, the trustee shall have the
exclusive power and authority to divest or cause to be divested, respectively, the
Divestiture Assets.
3.
Within ten (10) days after appointment of the trustee, Respondents shall execute a
trust agreement that, subject to the prior approval of the Commission and, in the
case of a court-appointed trustee, of the court, transfers to the trustee all rights
and powers necessary to permit the trustee to effect the divestiture and obtain the
consents required by this Decision and Order.
4.
The trustee shall have twelve (12) months from the date the Commission approves
the trust agreement described in Paragraph V.C.3. to accomplish the divestiture
and obtain the consents, which shall be subject to the prior approval of the
Commission. If, however, at the end of the twelve-month period the trustee has
submitted a plan of divestiture or believes that divestiture can be achieved within a
reasonable time or that consents can be obtained in a reasonable time, the
divestiture period may be extended by the Commission, or, in the case of a
court-appointed trustee, by the court; provided, however, the Commission may
extend this period only two (2) times.
5.
The trustee shall have full and complete access, subject to any legally recognized
privilege of Respondents, to the personnel, books, records and facilities related to
the Divestiture Assets or to any other relevant information, as the trustee may
request. Respondents shall develop such financial or other information as the
trustee may request and shall cooperate with the trustee. Respondents shall take
no action to interfere with or impede the trustee's accomplishment of the
divestiture. Any delays in divestiture caused by Respondents shall extend the time
for divestiture under this Paragraph in an amount equal to the delay, as determined
by the Commission or, for a court-appointed trustee, by the court.
6.
The trustee shall use his or her best efforts to negotiate the most favorable price
and terms available in each contract that is submitted to the Commission, but shall
divest expeditiously at no minimum price. The divestiture shall be made only to an
acquirer that receives the prior approval of the Commission, and the divestiture
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and consents shall be accomplished only in a manner that receives the prior
approval of the Commission; provided, however, if the trustee receives bona fide
offers from more than one acquiring entity, and if the Commission determines to
approve more than one such acquiring entity, the trustee shall divest to the
acquiring entity or entities selected by Respondents from among those approved by
the Commission; provided further, however, that Respondents shall select such
entity within five (5) days of receiving written notification of the Commission’s
approval.
7.
The trustee shall serve, without bond or other security, at the cost and expense of
Respondents, on such reasonable and customary terms and conditions as the
Commission or a court may set. The trustee shall have the authority to employ, at
the cost and expense of Respondents such consultants, accountants, attorneys,
investment bankers, business brokers, appraisers, and other representatives and
assistants as are necessary to carry out the trustee's duties and responsibilities. The
trustee shall account for all monies derived from the divestiture and all expenses
incurred. After approval by the Commission and, in the case of a court-appointed
trustee, by the court, of the account of the trustee, including fees for his or her
services, all remaining monies shall be paid at the direction of the Respondents,
and the trustee's power shall be terminated. The trustee's compensation shall be
based at least in significant part on a commission arrangement contingent on the
trustee's divesting the Divestiture Assets.
8.
Respondents shall indemnify the trustee and hold the trustee harmless against any
losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or expenses arising out of, or in connection
with, the performance of the trustee's duties, including all reasonable fees of
counsel and other expenses incurred in connection with the preparation for, or
defense of any claim, whether or not resulting in any liability, except to the extent
that such liabilities, losses, damages, claims, or expenses result from misfeasance,
gross negligence, willful or wanton acts, or bad faith by the trustee.
9.
If the trustee ceases to act or fails to act diligently, a substitute trustee shall be
appointed in the same manner as provided in Paragraph V.A. of this Decision and
Order.
10.
The Commission or, in the case of a court-appointed trustee, the court, may on its
own initiative or at the request of the trustee issue such additional orders or
directions as may be necessary or appropriate to accomplish the divestiture
required by this Decision and Order.
11.
In the event that the trustee determines that he or she is unable to divest or cause
to be divested the Divestiture Assets in a manner consistent with the Commission's
purpose as described in Paragraph II., the trustee may divest assets similar and
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corresponding to the Divestiture Assets of Respondents as necessary to achieve
the remedial purposes of this Decision and Order.
12.
The trustee shall have no obligation or authority to operate or maintain the
Divestiture Assets.
13.
The trustee shall report in writing to Respondents and the Commission every sixty
(60) days concerning the trustee's efforts to accomplish the divestiture and to
obtain the necessary consents.
VI.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, for a period commencing on the date this Decision
and Order becomes final and continuing for ten (10) years, Respondents shall not, without
providing advance written notification to the Commission acquire, directly or indirectly, through
subsidiaries or otherwise, any ownership, leasehold, or other interest, in whole or in part, in (a)
any of the Divestiture Assets required to be divested pursuant to Paragraph II. of this Decision
and Order, and (b) any terminal facility that has “tidewater” access and is used in the transfer and
storage of UAN 32% solution in the Northwest.
Said notification shall be given on the Notification and Report Form set forth in the
Appendix to Part 803 of Title 16 of the Code of Federal Regulations as amended (hereinafter
referred to as “the Notification”), and shall be prepared and transmitted in accordance with the
requirements of that part, except that no filing fee will be required for any such notification,
notification shall be filed with the Secretary of the Commission, notification need not be made to
the United States Department of Justice, and notification is required only of Respondents and not
of any other party to the transaction. Respondents shall provide the Notification to the
Commission at least thirty (30) days prior to consummating any such transaction (hereinafter
referred to as the “first waiting period”). If, within the first waiting period, representatives of the
Commission make a written request for additional information or documentary material (within
the meaning of 16 C.F.R. § 803.20), Respondents shall not consummate the transaction until
twenty (20) days after submitting such additional information or documentary material. Early
termination of the waiting periods in this Paragraph may be requested and, where appropriate,
granted by letter from the Bureau of Competition. Provided, however, that prior notification
shall not be required by this Paragraph for a transaction for which notification is required to be
made, and has been made, pursuant to Section 7A of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. § 18a.
VII.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
A.
Within thirty (30) days after the date this Decision and Order becomes final and every
thirty (30) days thereafter until Respondents have fully complied with the provisions of
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Paragraphs II. through IV. of this Decision and Order, Respondents shall submit to the
Commission a verified written report setting forth in detail the manner and form in which
they intend to comply, are complying, and have complied with Paragraphs II. through IV.
of this Decision and Order. Respondents shall include in their compliance reports, among
other things that are required from time to time, a full description of the efforts being
made to comply with Paragraphs II. through IV. of the Decision and Order, including a
description of all substantive contacts or negotiations relating to the divestitures and the
approvals. Respondents shall include in their compliance reports copies, other than of
privileged materials, of all written communications to and from such parties, all internal
memoranda, and all reports and recommendations concerning the divestiture and
approvals. The final compliance report required by this Paragraph VII. A. shall include a
statement that the divestiture has been accomplished in the manner approved by the
Commission and shall include the date the divestiture was accomplished.
B.
One (1) year from the date this Order becomes final, annually for the next nine (9) years
on the anniversary of the date this Order becomes final, and at other times as the
Commission may require, Respondents shall file a verified written report with the
Commission setting forth in detail the manner and form in which they have complied and
are complying with this Order.
VIII.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Respondents shall notify the Commission at least
thirty (30) days prior to any proposed change in the Respondents that may affect compliance
obligations arising out of this Decision and Order, such as dissolution, assignment, sale resulting
in the emergence of a successor corporation, or the creation or dissolution of subsidiaries or any
other change in the corporation.
IX.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, for the purpose of determining or securing
compliance with this Decision and Order, and subject to any legally recognized privilege, and
upon written request with reasonable notice to Respondents, Respondents shall permit any duly
authorized representative of the Commission:
A.
Access, during office hours and in the presence of counsel, to all facilities and access to
inspect and copy all non-privileged books, ledgers, accounts, correspondence, memoranda
and other records and documents in the possession or under the control of Respondents
relating to any matter contained in this Decision and Order; and
B.
Upon five (5) days’ notice to Respondents and without restraint or interference from
them, to interview officers, directors, or employees of Respondents, who may have
counsel present, regarding any such matters.
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X.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this Decision and Order shall terminate:
A. With respect to Respondent Agrium, on November 13, 2010.
B. With respect to Respondents Unocal and Union Oil, when the transfer of the Divestiture
Assets to Respondent Agrium has been completed pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement.
By the Commission, Commissioner Swindle not participating.
Donald S. Clark
Secretary
SEAL
ISSUED: November 13, 2000
[Confidential Appendix I Redacted From Public Record Version]