<PAGE>
[CN LOGO APPEARS HERE] A New Railroad [BNSF LOGO APPEARS HERE]
For A New Era.
The combination of CN and BNSF would build the first true North American
railroad, bringing together two highly successful companies that share a common
vision about their role in the future - to achieve growth through superior
customer service.
By uniting the most efficient Canadian and U.S. rail carriers, both of
which have completed successful mergers in the past four years, the new company
will share CN and BNSF's commitment to providing customers with reliable and
consistent service.
The combination uses a new model for railroad consolidation - one that will
enable the partners to effectively integrate with maximum efficiency, without
sacrificing customer service. The model preserves and protects the existing
identities and efficient rail networks of each company.
This is good news for customers, shareholders, communities and employees.
It is good for customers and shippers who, through an enhanced single-line
network, will have access to transportation services that will provide them with
the best value for their transportation dollar. It gives shareholders ownership
in a rail enterprise that is uniquely positioned to expand its market share and
improve its profitability. And it will benefit employees by creating a strong
platform for revenue growth and the potential for job creation in the future.
This is truly a new railroad for a new era.
/s/ Paul Tellier /s/ Rob Krebs
Paul Tellier Rob Krebs
President Chairman
and CEO and CEO
CN BNSF
How will customers benefit?
. Access to more markets . More efficient, single-line
. Single-line corridors created service
. Access to north-south service . Expanded network reach
spanning continent
. Improved transit times, reliability
and asset utilization
. Greater capacity in congested
areas . Fewer interchanges, seamless
. Easier to do business with service
. One bill . More direct routes
. One computer system . Application of "best practices"
. One inquiry to monitor across both systems
shipment status
[MAP OF NORTH AMERICAN ROUTES APPEARS HERE]
[ACCESS TO MORE MARKETS--NEW CORRIDORS CREATED]
Smooth, low-risk integration
The dedication of our companies to improved customer service, the unique
geographic and organizational structure of this combination and the proven track
record of both organizations in successfully executing past combinations will
contribute to the smooth implementation of the combination. As an end-to-end
combination of two highly efficient railroads with a similar customer focus and
service philosophy, we expect to avoid the service pitfalls that followed recent
railroad mergers.
. We are combining the two most efficient and service-oriented railroads. We
are not attempting to absorb a weak carrier.
---
. The end-to-end combination of our companies should not be highly complex from
an operational perspective. We are not attempting to split an existing
---
railroad into two parts.
. CN and BNSF already utilize similar transportation information systems. We
are not attempting to introduce a significantly different system to either
---
company.
. The anticipated organization structure preserves each company's identity and
customer focus. We are not attempting a major organizational restructuring
---
that would cause the loss of key personnel.
Additional information about the proposed BNSF and CN combination can be found
at www.bnsf.com and www.cn.ca.
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[MAP OF NORTH AMERICAN ROUTES APPEARS HERE]
[MAP LEGEND APPEARS HERE]
CN
BNSF
(Haulage Agreement)
Enhanced Enhanced
Access to Access to Mexico
North American
Ports
North American Railways and CN have filed a registration statement on Form
F-4/S-4 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in connection with the
securities to be issued in the combination. At the date of this printing, the
registration statement has not been declared effective. This filing also
includes the proxy statement for the shareholders meetings to be held for
approval of the combination. Investors should read this document, and other
documents filed with the SEC by the companies about the combination, because
they contain important information. These documents may be obtained for free at
the SEC's Web site, www.sec.gov. Other filings made by the companies on Forms
10-K, 10-Q and 8-K may be obtained for free by calling 817-352-6856.
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Benefits by industry
Automotive
. Connects key automotive manufacturer's plants in Michigan, Ohio and Southern
Ontario and southwestern Quebec to the U.S. southwest, West Coast and Mexico
. Links Mexican and Canadian/Michigan parts and finished vehicle assembly
plants
Chemicals, Petroleum and Sulfur
. New competitive alternative for chemical plants with access to additional
markets
. Increased single-line options for Gulf Coast producers
. Connections between Gulf Coast, Alberta and Sarnia, Ontario production
regions
Coal
. Improved ability to deliver cleaner-burning, low-sulfur PRB coal into
additional utilities and transfer facilities in the U.S., as well as plants
in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario
. New opportunities to blend PRB coal with Canadian coal for export
. Expanded opportunities for Illinois producers
Fertilizers
. Single-line access to all Saskatchewan potash mines
Forest Products
. New routes to move particle board and plywood between southeastern and
southwestern U.S. and California
. Expanded U.S. West Coast market for southern yellow pine and Canadian
dimensional lumber
. Improved single-line access to southern U.S. particle board production and
eastern Canadian newsprint and printing paper production
Grain
. Improved access to export outlets in New Orleans
. Improved market access into U.S. for malting barley and canola
. Illinois and Indiana corn and feed products producers access new processing
facilities and ports, e.g., Missouri and Arkansas
. Midwest corn, soybean and grain products producers on CN's former IC routes
have improved access to U.S. West Coast
Intermodal
. Links to CN terminals with BNSF on-line system hub facilities across North
America
. Single-line service between Buffalo, Detroit, Montreal and Toronto and U.S.
southwest, West Coast and Mexico
. Links Midwest and eastern Canadian markets to West Coast and Gulf ports
. Links BNSF shippers to ports in eastern Canada
Metals and Minerals
. Single-line access to major metal producing areas in U.S. Midwest and eastern
Canada
. Enhanced reload network
TRAFFIC MIX
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
[CN CHART APPEARS HERE] CN BNSF BNSF-CN
Auto 8% Auto 5% Auto 5%
[BNSF-CN CHART APPEARS HERE] Coal 10% Grain 14% Intermodal 24%
Intermodal 16% Coal 25% Grain 15%
[BNSF CHART APPEARS HERE] Grain 16% Merchandise 29% Coal 21%
Merchandise 50% Intermodal 27% Merchandise 35%
</TABLE>
Efficiencies
The companies estimate that the annual impact of revenue and cost synergies
on operating income will be between US$500 million and US$600 million (Cdn$750
million and Cdn$890 million) over the first three years after the close of the
transaction.
Revenue growth will be achieved in part through common marketing and
operating plans offering new and expanded single-line service for shippers.
Synergies are expected to result from the more efficient movement of goods over
shorter, more direct, shared routes and around existing major interchange
points. In addition, the network will be more competitive with trucks and will
promote growth in intermodal and merchandise traffic.
Cost efficiencies will be achieved by leveraging the operating systems of
both railroads; through common purchasing to create economies of scale; through
the more productive utilization of locomotives and freight cars; by leveraging
e-commerce initiatives; by combining certain administrative activities; and by
the exchange of best practices.
Reviews and approvals
The combination is subject to, among other things, approval by the shareholders
of both companies, as well as to customary regulatory approvals. CN will submit
to the Quebec Superior Court a Plan of Arrangement to confirm that the
combination is fair to CN shareholders. The combination will also be subject to
approval by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board. The companies expect that all
required regulatory approvals can be obtained and the transaction completed by
mid-2001.
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