SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

 

Form 6-K

 

 

Report of Foreign Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the month of: May, 2015 Commission File Number: 001-14460

 

 

AGRIUM INC.

(Name of registrant)

 

 

13131 Lake Fraser Drive S.E.

Calgary, Alberta,

Canada T2J 7E8

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:

Form 20-F  ¨             Form 40-F  x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):  ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):  ¨

The exhibit[s] to this report on Form 6-K shall be incorporated by reference into the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-195968) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

 

 


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

AGRIUM INC.
Date: May 6, 2015 By:

/S/ GARY J. DANIEL

Name:   Gary J. Daniel
Title:     Corporate Secretary &
              Senior Legal Counsel


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

  

Description of Exhibit

99.1    News Release dated May 5, 2015
99.2    Management’s Discussion and Analysis
99.3    Interim Financial Statements and Notes


EXHIBIT 99.1

 

LOGO

AGRIUM INC.

FIRST QUARTER 2015

NEWS RELEASE


LOGO

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

 

Agrium’s first quarter affected by delayed start to U.S. spring season; announces dividend increase of 12 percent

May 5, 2015 - ALL AMOUNTS ARE STATED IN U.S.$

CALGARY, Alberta — Agrium Inc. (TSX and NYSE: AGU) announced today its 2015 first quarter earnings results, with net earnings of $14-million ($0.08 diluted earnings per share) this quarter compared to $3-million ($0.02 diluted earnings per share) in the first quarter of 2014. The higher earnings were supported by strong margins and operating rates for nitrogen products in Wholesale, while some first quarter Retail earnings were pushed into the second quarter as a result of the delayed start to the spring season in the U.S. this year

Highlights:

    First quarter adjusted net earnings of $19-million or $0.12 per share1 (see page 2 for adjusted net earnings reconciliation)
    Strong nitrogen performance contributed to Wholesale gross profit of $234-million compared to $171-million in Q1 2014
    Retail gross profit of $371-million compared to $387-million in Q1 2014, impacted by slow start to U.S. spring season, shifts earnings into Q2
    Announced a 12 percent increase to dividend, now $3.50 per share on an annualized basis
    Repurchased $75-million or approximately 712,000 shares since the beginning of April
    First half guidance range of $4.75 to $5.25 diluted earnings per share and updated 2015 annual guidance range narrowed to $7.00 to $8.25 diluted earnings per share

Agrium’s Board of Directors also announced today it has approved an increase to Agrium’s dividend by 12 percent, or $0.38 U.S. per common share to a total dividend of $3.50 U.S. per common share on an annualized basis. Based on the closing price of Agrium’s shares on the NYSE on Tuesday, May 5, 2015, this represents a dividend yield of 3.4 percent. The increased dividend is expected to be paid in quarterly installments of $0.875 U.S. and the next $0.875 U.S. per common share dividend has been declared by the Board of Directors and will be paid on July 16, 2015 to shareholders of record on June 30, 2015.2

“Agrium’s first quarter results were impacted by a late start to the spring season in the U.S. this year. All indications are that Agrium will deliver strong second quarter results on solid crop input demand now that the spring application season is fully underway and given we have made excellent progress ramping up production from our expanded potash facility over the past month. We continue to position our operations and asset mix to support higher cash flow and capital returns over time irrespective of any short term headwinds. The increase in the dividend and recent share buy-back activity demonstrates our commitment to this strategy and to our shareholders,” commented Chuck Magro, Agrium’s President and CEO.

 

 

1  First quarter effective tax rate of 26 percent used for adjusted net earnings and per share calculation. These are non-IFRS measures which represent net earnings adjusted for certain income (expenses) that are considered to be non-operational in nature. We believe these measures provide meaningful comparison to the earnings of other companies by eliminating share-based payments expense (recovery), gains (losses) on foreign exchange and non-qualifying derivative hedges. These should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with IFRS and may not be directly comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.
2  All dividends paid by Agrium Inc. are, pursuant to subsection 89(14) of the Income Tax Act, designated as eligible dividends. An eligible dividend paid to a Canadian resident is entitled to an enhanced gross-up and dividend tax credit.

 

1


ADJUSTED NET EARNINGS RECONCILIATION

 

     Expense
(income)

(USD Millions)
    Net earnings
impact (post-tax)
(USD Millions)
    Per share1
(USD/share)
 
       14        0.08   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjustments

Share-based payments expense

  45      33      0.23   

Gain on sale of Purchase for Resale assets

  (38   (28   (0.19

Gain on derivatives net of foreign exchange

  (1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted net earnings2

  19      0.12   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

UPDATED 2015 ANNUAL GUIDANCE

Based on our Market Outlook, Agrium expects to achieve annual diluted earnings per share of $7.00 to $8.25 in 2015 compared to our previous estimate of $7.00 to $8.50 per share. We have narrowed the guidance range primarily based on the impact of higher Chinese urea exports on global urea prices, margin pressure on seed sales and the expected impact on crop input expenditures associated with a reduction in U.S. corn acres this year. We are issuing earnings guidance of $4.75 to $5.25 diluted earnings per share for the first half of 2015 indicative of a strong spring season despite earlier weather related delays.

We have reduced our estimate of nitrogen production tonnes to reflect our plan to dispose of our West Sacramento upgrade facility announced subsequent to March 31, 2015. Our estimate is now 3.5 million to 3.7 million tonnes for the year as all other facilities are in line with our previously disclosed production range.

Our Retail EBITDA3 for 2015 is now expected to be from $1.15-billion to $1.22-billion. The slight narrowing of the range from our previous estimate is due to some seed margin pressure this year, a reduction in U.S. corn acres and a slightly lower fertilizer pricing environment in 2015.

We have updated our finance costs range for 2015 to $230-million to $250-million to reflect the incremental interest expense related to our $1-billion bond issuance in February 2015. Our estimates of the Canada/U.S. foreign exchange rate and NYMEX for 2015 have been narrowed from our original estimates based on current market conditions.

This guidance and updated additional measures and related assumptions are summarized in the table on page 3. Guidance excludes the impact of share-based payments expense (recovery), gains (losses) on foreign exchange and non-qualifying derivative hedges. Volumetric and earnings estimates assume normal seasonal growing and harvest patterns in the geographies where Agrium operates. 4

2015 ANNUAL GUIDANCE RANGE AND ASSUMPTIONS

 

     Annual  
     Low     High  

EPS

   $ 7.00      $ 8.25   

Guidance assumptions:

    

Wholesale:

    

Production tonnes:

    

Nitrogen (millions)1

     3.5        3.7   

Potash (millions)

     1.9        2.2   

Retail:

    

EBITDA (billions)

   $ 1.15      $ 1.22   

Crop nutrient sales tonnes (millions)

     9.7        10.2   

Other:

    

Finance costs (millions)

   $ 250      $ 230   

Tax rate

     28     27

Sustaining capital expenditures (millions)

   $ 500      $ 550   

Total capital expenditures (billions)

   $ 1.2      $ 1.3   

Canada/U.S. foreign exchange rate

     1.20        1.30   

NYMEX gas price ($/MMBtu)

   $ 3.50      $ 2.50   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

1 Nitrogen production tonnes reduced to reflect disposal of West Sacramento upgrade facility.

 

1  Represents diluted per share information attributable to equity holders of Agrium.
2  First quarter effective tax rate of 26 percent used for adjusted net earnings and per share calculations.
3  Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before finance costs, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. This is a non-IFRS measure. Refer to Additional IFRS and non-IFRS Financial Measures on page 12.
4  For further assumptions related to our guidance, see disclosure in the section “Market Outlook” in our 2015 first quarter Management’s Discussion and Analysis.

 

2


MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

May 5, 2015

Unless otherwise noted, all financial information in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) is prepared using accounting policies in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) and is presented in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 – Interim Financial Reporting. All comparisons of results for the first quarter of 2015 (three months ended March 31, 2015) are against results for the first quarter of 2014 (three months ended March 31, 2014). All dollar amounts refer to United States (“U.S.”) dollars except where otherwise stated. The financial measures EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA used in this MD&A are not prescribed by IFRS, or in the case of EBIT, is an Additional IFRS financial measure. Our method of calculation may not be directly comparable to that of other companies. We consider these non-IFRS financial measures to provide useful information to both management and investors in measuring our financial performance and financial condition. These non-IFRS measures should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Refer to page 12, “Additional IFRS and Non-IFRS Financial Measures” for further details, including a reconciliation of such measures to their most directly comparable measure calculated in accordance with IFRS.

The following interim MD&A is as of May 5, 2015 and should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Interim Financial Statements for the three months ended March 31, 2015 (the “Consolidated Financial Statements”), and the annual MD&A and financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014 included in our 2014 Annual Report to Shareholders. The Board of Directors carries out its responsibility for review of this disclosure principally through its Audit Committee, comprised exclusively of independent directors. The Audit Committee reviews, and prior to publication, approves this disclosure, pursuant to the authority delegated to it by the Board of Directors. No update is provided to the disclosure in our annual MD&A where there has been no material change from the discussion in our annual MD&A. In respect of Forward-Looking Statements, please refer to the section entitled “Forward-Looking Statements” after the “Market Outlook” section of this MD&A.

 

3


2015 First Quarter Operating Results

CONSOLIDATED NET EARNINGS

Agrium’s 2015 first quarter net earnings from continuing operations were $14-million or $0.08 diluted earnings per share from continuing operations compared to net earnings from continuing operations of $12-million or $0.08 diluted earnings per share from continuing operations for the same quarter of 2014.

Financial Overview

 

(millions of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts    Three months ended March 31,  

and where noted)                                                       

   2015      2014     Change     % Change  

Sales

     2,872        3,079       (207     (7

Gross profit

     584        556       28       5  

Expenses

     509        503       6       1  

Earnings before finance costs and income taxes (“EBIT”)

     75        53       22       42  

Net earnings from continuing operations

     14        12       2       17  

Net loss from discontinued operations

     —          (9     9       (100

Net earnings

     14        3       11       367  

Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations

     0.08        0.08       —         —    

Diluted loss per share from discontinued operations

     —          (0.06     0.06       (100

Diluted earnings per share

     0.08        0.02       0.06       300  

Effective tax rate (%)

     26        29       N/A        N/A   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Sales and Gross Profit

Sales and gross profit variance by business unit

 

     Quarter to date change  

(millions of U.S. dollars)

   Sales     Gross profit  

Retail

     31       (16

Wholesale

     (194     63  

Other

     (44     (19
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
  (207   28  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Sales

Retail sales increased by $31-million for the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period last year primarily due to higher sales volumes for crop protection products in the U.S. and Australia and slightly higher sales for crop nutrients and seed. Wholesale sales for the first quarter of 2015 decreased compared to 2014 as a result of lower potash sales volumes attributable to lower opening inventory and lower production volumes associated with the start-up of the Vanscoy expansion project. Product purchased for resale had lower sales as a result of the strategic review in 2014 that lead to exiting portions of this business, but contributed higher gross profit during the quarter.

Gross Profit

Our gross profit for the first quarter of 2015 increased by $28-million compared to the first quarter of 2014. The main drivers of this variance consisted of:

 

    Wholesale’s gross profit increased by $63-million to $234-million primarily due to lower natural gas costs and manufacturing cost efficiencies and higher realized selling prices for ammonia and phosphate.

 

    Retail’s gross profit decreased by $16-million to $371-million due to a slow start to the spring season, a crop shift in planted acres, and competitive pressures which impacted our seed, application, and crop protection margins this quarter.

 

4


Expenses

General and administrative expenses decreased in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period last year as we began to realize reductions related to our Operational Excellence program.

Share-based payments

Due to a larger share price increase and stronger share performance relative to our peers during the current quarter, our share-based payments increased by $14-million compared to the same period last year.

The Board of Directors approved changes to our share-based payment plan effective January 1, 2015. Refer to note 6 of our Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.

Other Expenses (Income)

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 

(millions of U.S. dollars)

       2015             2014      

Gain on derivatives not designated as hedges net of foreign exchange

     (1     (35

Interest income

     (17     (11

Gain on sale of assets

     (38     —    

Environmental remediation and asset retirement obligations

     9       (2

Bad debt expense

     7       5  

Potash profit and capital tax

     5       3  

Other

     2       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
  (33   (40
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

In the first quarter of 2015, we began to designate all of our natural gas derivatives as qualifying hedges for accounting purposes. During 2014, we designated only certain longer-term derivatives as hedges, none of which settled in 2014. We now record all gains and losses from these natural gas derivatives initially to equity, and subsequently to cost of product sold when we sell the related product. Previously, we recorded these natural gas derivative gains and losses to other expenses, resulting in the change in 2015 compared to 2014, which included natural gas derivative gains of $32-million.

In the first quarter of 2015, we completed the sale of our Niota and Meredosia storage and distribution facilities resulting in a gain on sale of assets of $38-million. We also announced our intention to divest the West Sacramento nitrogen upgrade facility which will reduce capital cost, working capital and is not expected to impact net earnings.

Environmental remediation and asset retirement obligation expense increased by $11-million due to an increase in our environmental remediation provision for our phosphate legacy sites.

Effective Tax Rate

The effective tax rate on continuing operations was 26 percent for the first quarter of 2015 compared to 29 percent for the same period last year due to an increase in income earned from low tax jurisdictions.

BUSINESS SEGMENT PERFORMANCE

Retail

Retail reported first quarter sales of $2.3-billion, which is slightly above the $2.2-billion reported in the same quarter last year. Gross profit was $371-million in the first quarter of 2015, down from $387-million in last year’s first quarter. Retail reported an EBITDA loss of $8-million compared to earnings of $17-million in the first quarter of last year. Retail’s results were impacted by a late start to the spring season in the eastern and southern U.S., which has pushed North American earnings into the second quarter. International sales and gross profit were down in the current quarter as a result of lower merchandise sales and nutrient margins in Australia and weaker crop protection sales in South America. The first quarter saw a similar split between North American and International gross profit as the same period last year.

 

5


Total crop nutrient sales were $911-million this quarter, up slightly from $896-million in the first quarter of 2014. A 3 percent increase in total sales volumes was partially offset by marginally lower nutrient prices in the first quarter. Higher nutrient volumes were due to strong demand in the Western U.S. and from tuck-in acquisitions over the past year. Gross profit for crop nutrients was $126-million this quarter, down marginally compared to the $128-million reported in the first quarter of 2014, while per tonne margins also declined slightly from $70 per tonne in the first quarter of 2014 to $67 per tonne this quarter. The slight reduction in margins was due to the stronger relative growth in volumes in lower margin international and Canadian markets, while nutrient margins in the U.S. were up year-over-year.

Crop protection product sales were $793-million in the first quarter of 2015, compared to $730-million in the same period last year. The higher sales were attributable to increased volumes, primarily of lower margin glyphosate used for early weed control in areas where it was too wet to till. Gross profit was $108-million this quarter, compared to $105-million reported in the first quarter of 2014. Crop protection margins as a percentage of sales were 13.6 percent this quarter compared to 14.4 percent in the same period of 2014 due to a shift in sales mix to lower margin products, as well as a higher relative percentage of sales in lower margin regions such as Canada due to application delays in certain regions of the U.S.

Seed sales were $308-million in the first quarter of 2015, up slightly from $298-million reported in the first quarter of last year. The increase in sales was driven by a slight increase in volumes in the U.S. this quarter as farmers prepared in advance for the spring season. This was partly offset by lower sales in Canada due to timing of purchases and the impact of the lower Canadian dollar compared to the same period last year. Gross profit was $40-million this quarter compared to $46-million for the same period last year, as competitive sales and crop mix shift impacted margins. Planted acres of corn are expected to be lower in 2015 compared to last year, and the spring delays have mainly impacted corn growing regions. These factors caused a lower percentage of higher-margin corn seed sales in the first quarter. As a result, seed margins as a percentage of sales were 13.0 percent in the first quarter of 2015, a reduction from the 15.4 percent reported in the first quarter of 2014.

Sales of merchandise in the first quarter of 2015 were $142-million, compared to $186-million in the same period last year. Gross profit for this product line was $20-million this quarter, down slightly from $24-million in the first quarter of 2014. Merchandise results were impacted by lower demand and selling price for fuel in Western Canada, as well as decreased demand for fencing and water equipment in Australia.

Services and other sales were $109-million this quarter, compared to the $122-million reported in the first quarter of 2014. Gross profit was $77-million in the first quarter of 2015, compared to $84-million for the same period last year. These decreases were largely due to a later than usual start to the spring application season across much of the eastern and southern U.S. and the timing of livestock shipments in Australia.

Selling expenses as a percentage of sales were 18.7 percent in the first quarter of 2015 which is down from the 19.5 percent reported in the same period last year stemming from operational excellence initiatives and from the lower Canadian dollar. Retail selling expenses were $423-million for the first quarter, compared to $436-million in the same period last year. This variance was due to lower employee-related costs and the overall improvement in the cost structure of Australia, lower fuel costs for rolling stock expenses and lower depreciation charges.

Wholesale

Wholesale’s 2015 first quarter sales were $867-million, down from the $1.1-billion reported in the same quarter last year primarily due to lower potash sales volumes and a decision to reduce the low-margin purchase for resale business. Gross profit was $234-million this quarter, compared to $171-million in the first quarter of 2014. Wholesale Adjusted EBITDA was $286-million in the first quarter of 2015 compared to $237-million reported in the same period last year. The increase in earnings was primarily due to significantly lower cost of production for our nitrogen and phosphate facilities, as a result of lower natural gas costs, improved operating rates and efficiencies and the impact of a weaker Canadian dollar on related fixed costs.

 

6


Nitrogen gross profit for the first quarter of 2015 was $143-million compared to $90-million in the same quarter last year. Nitrogen production in the quarter was about 5 percent higher than the same quarter last year due to higher operating rates. Sales volumes were 761,000 tonnes, a slight decrease from the 792,000 tonnes in the same quarter last year due to lower opening inventories in the current period. Overall realized nitrogen sales prices were $414 per tonne, a $10 per tonne decrease from the same period in 2014. The decrease was due to lower urea benchmark prices, as record Chinese global urea exports in the first quarter of 2015 contributed to weakened international prices. Nitrogen cost of product sold was $226 per tonne this quarter, compared to $311 per tonne for the same period last year. The decrease was a result of significantly lower natural gas costs, a weaker Canadian dollar which lowered production costs reported in U.S. dollars and stronger operating rates and efficiencies. Average nitrogen gross margins were $188 per tonne this quarter, compared to $113 per tonne in the same period last year.

As of January 1, 2015, we have designated all of our natural gas derivatives as hedges1, with realized gains and losses now recorded to cost of product sold (which also includes transportation and administration costs). Nitrogen cost of product sold for the first quarter of 2014 would have been $288 per tonne if realized gains from natural gas derivatives had been applied on a comparative basis.

Agrium’s average natural gas cost was $2.93/MMBtu this quarter ($2.52/MMBtu excluding the impact of realized losses on natural gas derivatives) compared to $4.29/MMBtu ($5.02/MMBtu excluding the impact of realized gains on natural gas derivatives) for the same period in 2014. The average U.S. benchmark (NYMEX) natural gas price for the first quarter of 2015 was $2.96/MMBtu, compared to $4.90/MMBtu in the same quarter last year. The AECO (Alberta) basis differential was a $0.74/MMBtu discount to NYMEX in the first quarter of 2015, an increase from the $0.56/MMBtu discount in the first quarter of 2014.

Potash gross profit for the first quarter of 2015 was $7-million, compared to $46-million reported in the same quarter last year. Sales volumes were 185,000 tonnes this quarter compared to 428,000 tonnes in the first quarter of 2014. The decrease in sales volumes was a result of the initial ramp-up of production volumes in the quarter after completing the tie-in of the Vanscoy one million tonne expansion project in December of 2014 and very low opening inventory in 2015. Average realized potash sales prices were $361 per tonne compared to $298 per tonne in the same period last year. Both North America and international realized sales prices were 10 to15 percent higher than the same period last year combined with a higher proportion of our sales this quarter sold into the North American market. Gross margin per tonne was impacted by higher costs related to the ramp-up of production, which were allocated over lower sales volumes. This was partially offset by the impact of a weaker Canadian dollar on fixed costs in the current period compared to the same period last year.

Phosphate gross profit was $45-million in the first quarter of 2015, compared to $2-million in the same quarter last year. Phosphate sales volumes were 282,000 tonnes in the first quarter of 2015, compared to 308,000 tonnes in the same quarter last year. Realized phosphate sales prices were $639 per tonne this quarter compared to $544 per tonne in the same period last year, due to strong market conditions and tight supply. Phosphate cost of product sold was $481 per tonne in the first quarter of 2015, a decrease of $55 per tonne compared to the same period last year as a result of higher production rates, lower ammonia and rock costs, fixed cost savings and the impact of the weaker Canadian dollar on fixed costs. Gross margin in the first quarter of 2015 was $158 per tonne compared to $8 per tonne in the same period last year.

 

 

 

1  In the prior year, unrealized and realized gains and losses on derivatives not designated as hedges were included in other expenses.

 

7


Wholesale’s Other, which includes product purchased for resale, ammonium sulfate, Environmentally Smart Nitrogen (“ESN®”, hereinafter referred to as “ESN”) and other gross profit was $39-million this quarter compared to $33-million in the same quarter of 2014. Ammonium sulfate gross profit was $16-million this quarter, $4-million higher than same period last year due to higher realized sales prices and lower input costs. ESN gross profit was $12-million compared to $10-million in the first quarter of 2014. This increase was due to higher volumes and lower ammonia input costs partially offset by lower realized sales prices for ESN in the current quarter. Product purchased for resale gross profit for the first quarter was $3-million higher than the same period last year due to higher margins in the current period.

Wholesale expenses in the first quarter of 2015 were $9-million higher compared to the same period last year. The increase was related primarily to the $32-million gain from natural gas derivatives in the first quarter of 2014 and recorded in other expenses, and an $11-million increase in environmental remediation estimates. This was largely offset by a $38-million gain on the sale of non-core Purchase for Resale terminals this quarter.

Other

EBITDA for our Other non-operating business unit for the first quarter of 2015 was a net expense of $88-million, compared to a net expense of $68-million for the first quarter of 2014. The increase was due to the following:

 

    a $19-million higher gross profit elimination for the first quarter of 2015 compared to the first quarter of 2014. This is the result of an increase in margin per tonne in 2015 on intercompany inventory held by our Retail business unit compared to a decrease in the first quarter of 2014 coupled with higher intercompany inventory at the end of the first quarter of 2015; and,

 

    a $14-million increase in share-based payments expense.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

The following are changes to working capital on our Consolidated Balance Sheets for the three-month period ended March 31, 2015 compared to December 31, 2014.

 

(millions of U.S. dollars, except as noted)

   March 31,
2015
     December 31,
2014
     $ Change     % Change    

Explanation of the change in balance

Current assets

            

Cash and cash equivalents

     780         848         (68     (8 %)    See discussion under the section “Liquidity and Capital Resources”.

Accounts receivable

     2,045         2,075         (30     (1 %)   

Income taxes receivable

     112         138         (26     (19 %)    Receipt of income tax refunds.

Inventories

     4,820         3,505         1,315        38   Seasonal Retail inventory build-up in preparation for the spring season.

Prepaid expenses and deposits

     315         710         (395     (56 %)    Drawdown of prepaid inventory as Retail took delivery of product in anticipation of the spring season.

Other current assets

     123         122         1        1  

Current liabilities

            

Short-term debt

     265         1,527         (1,262     (83 %)    Proceeds from the issuance of debentures were used to repay commercial paper and credit facilities.

Accounts payable

     5,672         4,197         1,475        35   Retail inventory purchases and customer prepayments made in anticipation of the spring season.

Income taxes payable

     4         5         (1     (20 %)   

Current portion of long-term debt

     1         11         (10     (91 %)   

Current portion of other provisions

     88         113         (25     (22 %)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

Working capital

  2,165      1,545      620      40
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

8


LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Summary of Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Below is a summary of our cash provided by or used in operating, investing, and financing activities as reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 

(millions of U.S. dollars)

   2015      2014      Change  

Cash provided by operating activities

     705        761        (56

Cash used in investing activities

     (461      (483      22  

Cash used in financing activities

     (295      (467      172  

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (17      (3      (14
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations

  (68   (192   124  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents used in discontinued operations

      (17   17  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Analysis of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2015

Cash flows provided by operating activities decreased due to a smaller growth in accounts payable during the first quarter of 2015 compared to the first quarter of 2014 as a result of softer market conditions and outlook on fertilizer pricing.

Other key changes in our cash flows in the first quarter of 2015 were capital expenditures and financing. We incurred capital expenditures of $318-million for our Vanscoy potash facility ramp-up and our Borger nitrogen expansion project and we repaid short-term debt of $1.2-billion primarily from the proceeds of the issuance of $1-billion of debentures. Dividend payments were $109-million for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

 

9


Capital Expenditures

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 

(millions of U.S. dollars)

   2015      2014  

Sustaining capital

     95        114  

Investing capital

     304        345  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

  399     459  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Our investing capital expenditures decreased in the first three months of 2015 compared to the first three months of 2014 due to the completion of the tie-in of our Vanscoy potash facility expansion in the fourth quarter of 2014, partially offset by increased expenditures relating to the Borger nitrogen expansion project. We incurred investing capital expenditures amounting to $197-million and $121-million for the Vanscoy facility ramp-up and the expansion of the Borger nitrogen facility, respectively. We expect the remaining capital spending to approximate $900-million to $1-billion in 2015.

Short-term Debt

Our short-term debt of $265-million at March 31, 2015 is outlined in note 5 of our Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Our short-term debt decreased by $1.3-billion during the three months ended March 31, 2015, which primarily increased our unutilized short-term financing capacity to $2.6-billion as at March 31, 2015.

Capital Management

During the quarter, we issued $550-million of 3.375 percent debentures due March 15, 2025 and $450-million of 4.125 percent debentures due March 15, 2035. The debentures were issued under our base shelf prospectus, which permits issuance in Canada and the U.S. of up to $2.5-billion of common shares, debt and other securities less the offering price of securities issued between the 2014 filing date of the base shelf prospectus and May 2016. Issuance of further securities under the base shelf prospectus requires filing a prospectus supplement and is subject to availability of funding in capital markets.

Our revolving credit facilities require that we maintain specific interest coverage and debt-to-capital ratios, as well as other non-financial covenants as defined in our credit agreements. We were in compliance with all covenants at March 31, 2015.

NORMAL COURSE ISSUER BID

On January 22, 2015, the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) accepted Agrium’s notice of intention to make a normal course issuer bid (“NCIB”) whereby Agrium may purchase up to 7,185,866 common shares on the TSX and New York Stock Exchange during the period from January 26, 2015 to January 25, 2016. From April 1, 2015 to May 5, 2015, we purchased approximately 712,000 shares at an average share price of $105 for total consideration of $75-million. There were no share repurchases during the three months ended March 31, 2015. Shareholders can obtain a copy of the NCIB notice submitted to the TSX from Agrium without charge upon request.

OUTSTANDING SHARE DATA

Agrium had 143,029,081 outstanding shares at May 5, 2015. At that date, under our stock option plans, shares expected to be issued for options outstanding were negligible.

 

10


SELECTED QUARTERLY INFORMATION

 

     2015      2014     2014     2014     2014     2013     2013     2013  

(millions of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts)

   Q1      Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2  

Sales

     2,872        2,705       2,920       7,338       3,079       2,867       2,796       6,908  

Gross profit

     584        732       665       1,599       556       740       629       1,699  

Net earnings from continuing operations

     14        70       91       625       12       110       80       744  

Net (loss) earnings from discontinued operations

     —          (19     (41     (9     (9     (11     (4     3  

Net earnings

     14        51       50       616       3       99       76       747  

Earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to equity holders of Agrium:

                 

Basic and diluted

     0.08        0.46       0.63       4.34       0.08       0.74       0.54       5.00  

(Loss) earnings per share from discontinued operations attributable to equity holders of Agrium:

                 

Basic and diluted

     —          (0.13     (0.28     (0.06     (0.06     (0.08     (0.02     0.02  

Earnings per share attributable to equity holders of Agrium:

                 

Basic and diluted

     0.08        0.33       0.35       4.28       0.02       0.66       0.52       5.02  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The agricultural products business is seasonal in nature. Consequently, comparisons made on a year-over-year basis are more appropriate than quarter-over-quarter comparisons. Crop input sales are primarily concentrated in the spring and fall crop input application seasons. Crop nutrient inventories are normally accumulated leading up to each application season. Our cash collections generally occur after the application season is complete.

ADDITIONAL IFRS AND NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES

Certain financial measures in this MD&A are not prescribed by IFRS. We consider these financial measures discussed herein to provide useful information to both management and investors in measuring our financial performance and financial condition.

In general, an additional IFRS financial measure is a measure relevant to understanding a company’s financial performance that is not a minimum financial statement measure mandated by IFRS. A non-IFRS financial measure generally either excludes or includes amounts not excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with IFRS. Non-IFRS financial measures are not recognized measures under IFRS and our method of calculation is unlikely to be directly comparable to that of other companies. These non-IFRS measures should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.

The following table outlines our additional IFRS financial measure, its definition and how management assesses such measure.

 

Additional IFRS financial measure

  

Definition

  

Why We Use the Measure and Why it is Useful to Investors

EBIT    Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before finance costs and income taxes.    Provides management and investors with information for comparison of our operating results to the operating results of other companies. These measures eliminate the impact of finance and tax structure variables that exist between entities.

 

11


The following table outlines our non-IFRS financial measures, their definitions and usefulness, and how management assesses each measure.

 

Non-IFRS financial measures

  

Definition

  

Why We Use the Measure and Why it is Useful to
Investors

EBITDA    Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before finance costs, income taxes, depreciation and amortization.    Refer to EBIT. EBITDA is also frequently used by investors and analysts for valuation purposes when multiplied by a factor to estimate the enterprise value of a company. EBITDA is also a component in the determination of annual incentive compensation for certain management employees, and in calculation of certain of our debt covenants.
Adjusted EBITDA    EBITDA before finance costs, income taxes, depreciation and amortization of joint ventures.    Useful in evaluating our business performance by including our proportionate share of joint ventures in operating results.

RECONCILIATIONS OF ADDITIONAL IFRS AND NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES

Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDA to EBIT

 

     Three months ended March 31, 2015      Three months ended March 31, 2014  

(millions of U.S. dollars)

   Retail     Wholesale      Other     Consolidated      Retail     Wholesale      Other     Consolidated  

Adjusted EBITDA

     (8     286        (88     190        17       237        (68     186  

Equity accounted joint ventures:

                   

Finance costs and income taxes

     —         1        —         1        —         4        —         4  

Depreciation and amortization

     —         3        —         3        —         2        —         2  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBITDA

  (8   282     (88   186     17     231     (68   180  

Depreciation and amortization

  57     50     4     111     72     53     2     127  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBIT

  (65   232     (92   75     (55   178     (70   53  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

We prepare our financial statements in accordance with IFRS, which requires us to make judgments, assumptions and estimates in applying accounting policies. For further information on the Company’s critical accounting estimates, refer to the section “Critical Accounting Estimates” in our 2014 annual MD&A, which is contained in our 2014 Annual Report. Since the date of our 2014 annual MD&A, there have not been any material changes to our critical accounting estimates.

CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The accounting policies applied in our Consolidated Interim Financial Statements for the three months ended March 31, 2015 are the same as those applied in our audited annual financial statements in our 2014 Annual Report, with the exception of changes in accounting estimates described in note 9 of our Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

BUSINESS RISKS

The information presented in the “Enterprise Risk Management” section on pages 64 - 68 in our 2014 Annual Report and under the heading “Risk Factors” on pages 22 - 31 in our 2014 Annual Information Form has not changed materially since December 31, 2014.

 

12


CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2015 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PUBLIC SECURITIES FILINGS

Additional information about our Company, including our 2014 Annual Information Form is filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities through SEDAR at www.sedar.com and with the U.S. securities regulatory authorities through EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

MARKET OUTLOOK

Record global crop production in 2014 and a sizeable Southern Hemisphere crop this year has weighed on international crop prices. The start of the spring application season in North America was delayed due to wet weather across the southern and eastern United States but seeding rates started to catch up in late April, and as of early May, were above the historical average. Drier conditions in the Northern Plains and Western Canada are expected to support strong seeded acreage and related crop input demand in these regions this year compared to recent history. This is particularly important for our Wholesale nitrogen sales and Canadian Retail operations. California is in a drought situation, which is expected to reduce acreage of some row crops this year, but high fruit and vegetable prices have supported crop input demand. U.S. corn acreage expectations have decreased slightly over the past month as a result of the delayed spring season in the Southern and Eastern U.S. If U.S. crop yields come in at or below trend levels this year we expect crop prices to firm up in the second half of 2015.

The late start to the season in the Southern and Eastern U.S., combined with lower crop prices, resulted in delays in decisions regarding seeding and crop protection product use, pushing sales into the second quarter. Some growers have been more discerning regarding genetic traits and in some cases have selected older, lower-priced varieties. The later planting season is expected to support demand for retail services in the second quarter as growers focus on getting the crop inputs in place in a compressed season.

Global crop nutrient demand was relatively strong in late 2014 and early 2015 as buyers purchased product ahead of the Northern Hemisphere spring season. This led to comfortable inventory levels heading into the spring season and has contributed to recent weakness in global nutrient pricing. The significant decline in the value of most non-U.S. currencies relative to the U.S. dollar has lowered the cost of production for many non-U.S. producers and raised the cost of crop inputs in some local currencies. However, overall the lower currencies have been a net benefit for growers in these regions due to higher crop prices in local currencies.

China exported just over four million tonnes of urea in the first quarter of 2015, more than double the volume exported in the same period of 2014. Exports were supported by strong import demand from the United States and India. Ukrainian urea production and exports increased over the past few months, further adding prilled urea supplies to global trade. In recent weeks, Chinese nitrogen producers have resisted further price declines, indicating that urea prices are near the cost-based floor level and that the pace of Chinese exports is expected to slow relative to 2014 levels in the coming months.

The delay in concluding Chinese and Indian potash supply agreements resulted in other potash buyers postponing purchases which pressured global potash prices in the first quarter of 2015. The North American potash market was also impacted by the delayed spring and higher offshore potash imports this year. Global phosphate demand has slowed in recent weeks, which has put some pressure on international and domestic pricing. Brazilian phosphate demand has begun relatively slow in 2015, but domestic deliveries improved in March and the import pace is expected to increase in the coming months. Analysts expect that Indian potash and phosphate demand will increase again in 2015.

 

13


Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements and other information included in this document constitute “forward-looking information” and/or “financial outlook” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation or constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable U.S. securities legislation (collectively, the “forward-looking statements”). All statements in this document other than those relating to historical information or current conditions are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements as to management’s expectations with respect to: the payment of an increased dividend; Agrium’s delivery of strong second quarter results and that our operations and asset mix will support higher cash flow and dividends over time; second quarter earnings; second quarter and annual diluted EPS; 2015 capital spending expectations; and our market outlook for the remainder of 2015 including anticipated supply and demand for our products and services, expected market and industry conditions with respect to planted acres, prices and the impact of currency fluctuations and import and export volumes. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. As such, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements. The purpose of the outlook provided herein is to assist readers in understanding our expected and targeted financial and operating results, and this information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

All of the forward-looking statements are qualified by the assumptions that are stated or inherent in such forward-looking statements, including the assumptions referred to below and elsewhere in this document. Although Agrium believes that these assumptions are reasonable, this list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the forward-looking statements and the reader should not place an undue reliance on these assumptions and such forward-looking statements. The additional key assumptions that have been made include, among other things assumptions with respect to Agrium’s ability to successfully integrate and realize the anticipated benefits of its already completed and future acquisitions and that we will be able to implement our standards, controls, procedures and policies at any acquired businesses to realize the expected synergies; that future business, regulatory and industry conditions will be within the parameters expected by Agrium, with respect to prices, margins, product availability and supplier agreements; the completion of our expansion projects on schedule, as planned and on budget; assumptions with respect to global economic conditions and the accuracy of our market outlook expectations for the remainder of 2015; the adequacy of our cash generated from operations and our ability to access our credit facilities or capital markets for additional sources of financing; our ability to identify suitable candidates for acquisitions and negotiate acceptable terms; our ability to maintain our investment grade rating and achieve our performance targets; and our receipt, on time, of all necessary permits, utilities and project approvals with respect to our expansion projects and that we will have the resources necessary to meet the project’s approach. Also refer to the discussion under the heading “Key Assumptions and Risks in Respect of Forward-Looking Statements” in our 2014 annual MD&A, with respect to further material assumptions associated with our forward-looking statements.

Events or circumstances that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: general economic, market and business conditions; weather conditions including impacts from regional flooding and/or drought conditions; crop yield and prices; the supply and demand and price levels for our major products may vary from what we currently anticipate; governmental and regulatory requirements and actions by governmental authorities, including changes in government policy, government ownership requirements, changes in environmental, tax and other laws or regulations and the interpretation thereof, and political risks, including civil unrest, actions by armed groups or conflict, regional natural gas supply restrictions, as well as counterparty and sovereign risk; delays in completion of turnarounds at our major facilities; the risk that work on the Egyptian Misr Fertilizers Production Company S.A.E. nitrogen facility expansion in Egypt may be interrupted again and may not be completed on the timelines currently anticipated or at all; the risk of additional capital expenditure cost escalation or delays in respect of our Borger nitrogen expansion project and the ramp-up of production following the recent tie-in of our Vanscoy potash expansion project; and other risk factors detailed from time to time in Agrium reports filed with the Canadian securities regulators and the Securities and Exchange Commission in the United States including those disclosed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2014 and under the headings “Enterprise Risk Management” and “Key Assumptions and Risks in respect of Forward-Looking Statements” in our 2014 annual MD&A.

 

14


Agrium disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this document as a result of new information or future events, except as may be required under applicable U.S. federal securities laws or applicable Canadian securities legislation.

OTHER

Agrium Inc. is a major producer and distributor of agricultural products and services in North America, South America, Australia and Egypt through its agricultural retail-distribution and wholesale nutrient businesses. Agrium supplies growers with key products and services such as crop nutrients, crop protection, seed, and agronomic and application services, thereby helping to meet the ever growing global demand for food and fiber. Agrium produces nitrogen, potash and phosphate fertilizers, with a combined wholesale nutrient capacity of over nine million tonnes and with competitive advantages across all product lines. Agrium retail-distribution has an unmatched network of over 1,300 facilities and over 3,000 crop consultants. We partner with over half a million grower customers globally to help them increase their yields and returns on more than 50 different crops. With a focus on sustainability, the company strives to improve the communities in which it operates through safety, education, environmental improvement and new technologies such as the development of precision agriculture and controlled release nutrient products. Agrium is focused on driving operational excellence across our businesses, pursuing value-enhancing growth opportunities and returning capital to shareholders. For more information visit: www.agrium.com.

A WEBSITE SIMULCAST of the 2015 1st Quarter Conference Call will be available in a listen-only mode beginning Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at 7:30 a.m. MST (9:30 a.m. EST). Please visit the following website: www.agrium.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Investor/Media Relations:

Richard Downey, Vice President, Investor & Corporate Relations

(403) 225-7357

Todd Coakwell, Director, Investor Relations

(403) 225-7437

Louis Brown, Analyst, Investor Relations

(403) 225-7761

Contact us at: www.agrium.com

 

15


AGRIUM INC.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Millions of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 
     2015     2014  

Sales

     2,872       3,079  

Cost of product sold

     2,288       2,523  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

  584     556  

Expenses

Selling

  430     444  

General and administrative

  67     69  

Share-based payments (note 6)

  45     31  

Earnings from associates and joint ventures

  —       (1

Other income (note 3)

  (33   (40
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings before finance costs and income taxes

  75     53  

Finance costs related to long-term debt

  37     19  

Other finance costs

  19     17  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings before income taxes

  19     17  

Income taxes

  5     5  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings from continuing operations

  14     12  

Net loss from discontinued operations

  —       (9
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings

  14     3  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Attributable to:

Equity holders of Agrium

  12     2  

Non-controlling interest

  2     1  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings

  14     3  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings per share attributable to equity holders of Agrium (note 4)

Basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations

  0.08     0.08  

Basic and diluted loss per share from discontinued operations

  —       (0.06
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic and diluted earnings per share

  0.08     0.02  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

16


AGRIUM INC.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(Millions of U.S. dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 
     2015     2014  

Net earnings

     14       3  

Other comprehensive loss

    

Items that are or may be reclassified to earnings

    

Cash flow hedges

    

Effective portion of changes in fair value

     (16     —    

Deferred income taxes on changes in fair value

     4       —    

Reclassifications to earnings

     11       —    

Deferred income taxes on reclassifications to earnings

     (3     —    

Share of comprehensive (loss) income of associates and joint ventures

     (5     1  

Foreign currency translation

    

Losses

     (295     (106
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive loss

  (304   (105
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss

  (290   (102
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Attributable to:

Equity holders of Agrium

  (291   (103

Non-controlling interest

  1     1  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss

  (290   (102
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

17


AGRIUM INC.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Millions of U.S. dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

     March 31,     December 31,  
     2015     2014     2014  

Assets

      

Current assets

      

Cash and cash equivalents

     780       592       848  

Accounts receivable

     2,045       2,143       2,075  

Income taxes receivable

     112       106       138  

Inventories

     4,820       4,789       3,505  

Prepaid expenses and deposits

     315       379       710  

Other current assets

     123       124       122  

Assets held for sale

     —         230       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  8,195     8,363     7,398  

Property, plant and equipment (note 8)

  6,177     5,193     6,272  

Intangibles

  660     724     695  

Goodwill

  2,027     1,970     2,014  

Investments in associates and joint ventures

  595     639     576  

Other assets

  69     114     78  

Deferred income tax assets

  72     78     75  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  17,795     17,081     17,108  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity

Current liabilities

Short-term debt (note 5)

  265     397     1,527  

Accounts payable

  5,672     5,721     4,197  

Income taxes payable

  4     2     5  

Current portion of long-term debt

  1     54     11  

Current portion of other provisions

  88     115     113  

Liabilities held for sale

  —       59     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  6,030     6,348     5,853  

Long-term debt (note 5)

  4,534     3,058     3,559  

Post-employment benefits

  144     131     151  

Other provisions

  332     410     367  

Other liabilities

  75     35     69  

Deferred income tax liabilities

  393     514     422  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  11,508     10,496     10,421  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity

Share capital

  1,823     1,820     1,821  

Retained earnings

  5,402     5,139     5,502  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

  (946   (376   (643
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity holders of Agrium

  6,279     6,583     6,680  

Non-controlling interest

  8     2     7  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity

  6,287     6,585     6,687  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  17,795     17,081     17,108  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

18


AGRIUM INC.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Millions of U.S. dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three months ended  
     March 31,  
     2015     2014  

Operating

  

Net earnings from continuing operations

     14       12  

Adjustments for

    

Depreciation and amortization

     111       127  

Earnings from associates and joint ventures

     —         (1

Share-based payments

     45       31  

Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative financial instruments

     26       (14

Unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain)

     41       (2

Interest income

     (17     (11

Finance costs

     56       36  

Income taxes

     5       5  

Other

     (25     12  

Interest received

     17       12  

Interest paid

     (42     (32

Income taxes received (paid)

     18       (36

Dividends from associates and joint ventures

     1       1  

Net changes in non-cash working capital

     455       621  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash provided by operating activities

  705     761  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

  (60   (16

Capital expenditures

  (399   (459

Capitalized borrowing costs

  (15   (23

Purchase of investments

  (42   (26

Proceeds from sale of investments

  18     12  

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

  50     —    

Other

  5     (22

Net changes in non-cash working capital

  (18   51  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash used in investing activities

  (461   (483
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financing

Short-term debt

  (1,160   (349

Long-term debt issued

  1,000     —    

Transaction costs on long-term debt

  (14   —    

Repayment of long-term debt

  (13   (10

Dividends paid

  (109   (108

Shares issued

  1     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash used in financing activities

  (295   (467
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

  (17   (3
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations

  (68   (192

Cash and cash equivalents used in discontinued operations

  —       (17

Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of period

  848     801  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents – end of period

  780     592  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

19


AGRIUM INC.

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity

(Millions of U.S. dollars, except share data)

(Unaudited)

 

                         Other comprehensive income                    
     Millions
of
common
shares
     Share
capital
     Retained
earnings
    Cash
flow
hedges
    Comprehensive
loss of
associates and
joint ventures
    Available
for sale
financial
instruments
    Foreign
currency
translation
    Total     Equity
holders of
Agrium
    Non-
controlling
interest
    Total
equity
 

December 31, 2013

     144        1,820        5,253       —         (7     (8     (264     (279     6,794       2       6,796  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings

  —       —       2     —       —       —       —       —       2     1     3  

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

Other

  —       —       —       —       1     —       (106   (105   (105   —       (105
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

  —       —       2     —       1     —       (106   (105   (103   1     (102

Dividends

  —       —       (108   —       —       —       —       —       (108   —       (108

Non-controlling interest transactions

  —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       (1   (1

Impact of adopting IFRS 9 at January 1, 2014

  —       —       (8   —       —       8     —       8     —       —       —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

  144     1,820     5,139     —       (6   —       (370   (376   6,583     2     6,585  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

December 31, 2014

  144     1,821     5,502     (27   (11   —       (605   (643   6,680     7     6,687  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings

  —       —       12     —       —       —       —       —       12     2     14  

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

Other

  —       —       —       (4   (5   —       (294   (303   (303   (1   (304
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

  —       —       12     (4   (5   —       (294   (303   (291   1     (290

Dividends

  —       —       (112   —       —       —       —       —       (112   —       (112

Share-based payment transactions

  —       2     —       —       —       —       —       —       2     —       2  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

March 31, 2015

  144     1,823     5,402     (31   (16   —       (899   (946   6,279     8     6,287  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

20


AGRIUM INC.

Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2015

(Millions of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

1. Corporate Information

Corporate information

Agrium Inc. (“Agrium”) is incorporated under the laws of Canada with common shares listed under the symbol “AGU” on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). Our Corporate head office is located at 13131 Lake Fraser Drive S.E., Calgary, Canada. We conduct our operations globally from our Wholesale head office in Calgary and our Retail head office in Loveland, Colorado, United States. In these financial statements, “we”, “us”, “our” and “Agrium” mean Agrium Inc., its subsidiaries and joint arrangements.

Agrium operates two business units:

    Retail: Distributes crop nutrients, crop protection products, seed, merchandise and services directly to growers through a network of farm centers in two geographical segments:

 

    North America, including the United States and Canada; and

 

    International, including Australia and South America.

 

    Wholesale: Operates in North and South America and Europe producing, marketing and distributing crop nutrients and industrial products through the following businesses:

 

    Nitrogen: Manufacturing in Alberta, Texas and Argentina;

 

    Potash: Mining and processing in Saskatchewan;

 

    Phosphate: Mining and production facilities in Alberta and Idaho; and

 

    Other: Marketing nutrient based products from other suppliers in North and South America and Europe, and producing blended crop nutrients and ESN® (Environmentally Smart Nitrogen) polymer-coated nitrogen crop nutrients.

Additional information on our operating segments is included in note 2.

Seasonality in our business results from increased demand for our products during planting seasons. Sales are generally higher in spring and fall.

Basis of preparation and statement of compliance

These consolidated interim financial statements (“interim financial statements”) were approved for issuance by the Audit Committee on May 5, 2015. We prepared these interim financial statements in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 Interim Financial Reporting. These statements do not include all information and disclosures normally provided in annual financial statements and should be read in conjunction with our audited annual financial statements and related notes contained in our 2014 Annual Report, available at www.agrium.com.

 

21


AGRIUM INC.

Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2015

(Millions of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

2. Operating Segments

 

Segment information by business unit

   Three months ended March 31,  
     2015     2014  
     Retail     Wholesale     Other (1)     Total     Retail     Wholesale     Other (1)     Total  

Sales - external

     2,260       612       —         2,872       2,227       852       —         3,079  

  - inter-segment

     3       255       (258     —         5       209       (214     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total sales

  2,263     867     (258   2,872     2,232     1,061     (214   3,079  

Cost of product sold

  1,892     633     (237   2,288     1,845     890     (212   2,523  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

  371     234     (21   584     387     171     (2   556  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit (%)

  16     27     20     17     16     18  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Expenses

Selling

  423     11     (4   430     436     11     (3   444  

General and administrative

  26     10     31     67     28     10     31     69  

Share-based payments

  —       —       45     45     —       —       31     31  

(Earnings) loss from associates and joint ventures

  (1   3     (2   —       (1   —       —       (1

Other (income) expenses

  (12   (22   1     (33   (21   (28   9     (40
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) earnings before finance costs and income taxes

  (65   232     (92   75     (55   178     (70   53  

Finance costs

  —       —       56     56     —       —       36     36  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) earnings before income taxes

  (65   232     (148   19     (55   178     (106   17  

Depreciation and amortization

  57     50     4     111     72     53     2     127  

Finance costs

  —       —       56     56     —       —       36     36  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBITDA (2)

  (8   282     (88   186     17     231     (68   180  

Share of joint ventures

Finance costs and income taxes

  —       1     —       1     —       4     —       4  

Depreciation and amortization

  —       3     —       3     —       2     —       2  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA (3)

  (8   286     (88   190     17     237     (68   186  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes inter-segment eliminations.
(2) Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before finance costs, income taxes, depreciation and amortization.
(3) During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the chief operating decision maker revised its internal reports to include Adjusted EBITDA.

 

22


AGRIUM INC.

Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2015

(Millions of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

Segment information – Retail

   Three months ended March 31,  
     2015     2014  
     North
America
    International     Retail     North
America
    International     Retail  

Sales - external

     1,773       487       2,260       1,716       511       2,227  

  - inter-segment

     3       —         3       5       —         5  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total sales

  1,776     487     2,263     1,721     511     2,232  

Cost of product sold

  1,503     389     1,892     1,438     407     1,845  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

  273     98     371     283     104     387  

Expenses

Selling

  345     78     423     349     87     436  

General and administrative

  17     9     26     17     11     28  

Earnings from associates and joint ventures

  (1   —       (1   —       (1   (1

Other income

  (3   (9   (12   (1   (20   (21
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) earnings before income taxes

  (85   20     (65   (82   27     (55

Depreciation and amortization

  52     5     57     63     9     72  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBITDA

  (33   25     (8   (19   36     17  

Adjusted EBITDA

  (33   25     (8   (19   36     17  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

23


AGRIUM INC.

Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2015

(Millions of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

Segment information – Wholesale

   Three months ended March 31,  
     2015     2014  
     Nitrogen     Potash     Phosphate      Wholesale
Other 
(1)
    Wholesale     Nitrogen     Potash      Phosphate     Wholesale
Other (1)
     Wholesale  

Sales - external

     218       25       110        259       612       255       83        112       402        852  

  - inter-segment

     97       42       71        45       255       81       45        55       28        209  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total sales

  315     67     181     304     867     336     128     167     430     1,061  

Cost of product sold

  172     60     136     265     633     246     82     165     397     890  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross profit

  143     7     45     39     234     90     46     2     33     171  

Expenses

Selling

  4     1     1     5     11     3     2     1     5     11  

General and administrative

  3     2     2     3     10     2     2     2     4     10  

Loss from associates and joint ventures

  —       —       —       3     3     —       —       —       —       —    

Other (income) expenses

  (2   5     12     (37   (22   (33   6     (1   —       (28
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) before income taxes

  138     (1   30     65     232     118     36     —       24     178  

Depreciation and amortization

  18     14     13     5     50     20     13     13     7     53  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

EBITDA

  156     13     43     70     282     138     49     13     31     231  

Share of joint ventures

Finance costs and income taxes

  1     —       —       —       1     4     —       —       —       4  

Depreciation and amortization

  3     —       —       —       3     2     —       —       —       2  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

  160     13     43     70     286     144     49     13     31     237  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes product purchased for resale, ammonium sulfate, ESN and other products.

 

24


AGRIUM INC.

Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2015

(Millions of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

Gross profit by product line

   Three months ended March 31,  
     2015     2014  
     Sales     Cost of
product
sold
    Gross
profit
    Sales     Cost of
product
sold
    Gross
profit
 

Retail

            

Crop nutrients

     911       785       126       896       768       128  

Crop protection products

     793       685       108       730       625       105  

Seed

     308       268       40       298       252       46  

Merchandise

     142       122       20       186       162       24  

Services and other

     109       32       77       122       38       84  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  2,263     1,892     371     2,232     1,845     387  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Wholesale

Nitrogen

  315     172     143     336     246     90  

Potash

  67     60     7     128     82     46  

Phosphate

  181     136     45     167     165     2  

Product purchased for resale

  192     185     7     294     290     4  

Ammonium sulfate, ESN and other

  112     80     32     136     107     29  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  867     633     234     1,061     890     171  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other inter-segment eliminations

  (258   (237   (21   (214   (212   (2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  2,872     2,288     584     3,079     2,523     556  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Wholesale share of joint ventures

Nitrogen

  21     22     (1   27     18     9  

Product purchased for resale

  26     25     1     21     20     1  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  47     47     —       48     38     10  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Wholesale including proportionate share in joint ventures

  914     680     234     1,109     928     181  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

25


AGRIUM INC.

Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2015

(Millions of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

Selected volumes and per tonne information

   Three months ended March 31,  
     2015     2014  
     Sales
tonnes
(000’s)
     Selling
price
($/tonne)
     Cost of
product
sold
($/tonne)
     Margin
($/tonne)
    Sales
tonnes
(000’s)
     Selling
price
($/tonne)
     Cost of
product
sold
($/tonne)
     Margin
($/tonne)
 

Retail

                      

Crop nutrients

                      

North America

     1,435        511        431        80       1,400        502        421        81  

International

     452        394        366        28       426        453        418        35  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total crop nutrients

  1,887     483     416     67     1,826     491     421     70  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Wholesale

Nitrogen

North America

Ammonia

  175     529     179     498  

Urea

  348     422     382     441  

Other

  238     320     231     339  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total nitrogen

  761     414     226     188     792     424     311     113  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Potash

North America

  149     393     292     342  

International

  36     226     136     204  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total potash

  185     361     324     37     428     298     191     107  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Phosphate

  282     639     481     158     308     544     536     8  

Product purchased for resale

  548     349     336     13     805     365     360     5  

Ammonium sulfate

  82     335     134     201     92     306     172     134  

ESN and other

  176     211  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Wholesale

  2,034     426     311     115     2,636     403     338     65  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Wholesale share of joint ventures

Nitrogen

  52     408     429     (21   62     433     282     151  

Product purchased for resale

  85     310     297     13     64     328     320     8  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
  137     347     347     —       126     380     302     78  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Wholesale including proportionate share in joint ventures

  2,171     421     313     108     2,762     401     336     65  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

26


AGRIUM INC.

Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2015

(Millions of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

3. Expenses

 

Other expenses

   Three months ended
March 31,
 
     2015      2014  

Gain on derivatives not designated as hedges, net of foreign exchange

     (1      (35

Interest income

     (17      (11

Gain on sale of assets

     (38      —    

Environmental remediation and asset retirement obligations

     9        (2

Bad debt expense

     7        5  

Potash profit and capital tax

     5        3  

Other

     2        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
  (33   (40
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

4. Earnings per Share

 

Attributable to equity holders of Agrium

   Three months ended
March 31,
 
     2015      2014  

Numerator

     

Net earnings from continuing operations

     12        11  

Net loss from discontinued operations

     —          (9
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net earnings

  12     2  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Denominator (millions)

Weighted average number of shares outstanding for basic and diluted earnings per share

  144     144  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

5. Debt

 

     Maturity      Rate (%)  (1)      March 31,
2015
     December 31,
2014
 

Short-term debt

           

Commercial paper

     2015        0.57         144        1,117  

Credit facilities

        4.85         121        410  
        

 

 

    

 

 

 
  265     1,527  
        

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (1) Weighted average rates at March 31, 2015.

During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we issued $550-million of 3.375 percent debentures and $450-million of 4.125 percent debentures due March 2025 and March 2035, respectively. The debentures were issued under our base shelf prospectus, which permits issuance in Canada and the United States of common shares, debt and other securities up to $2.5-billion, less the offering price of securities issued between the 2014 filing date of the base shelf prospectus and May 2016. Issuance of further securities under the base shelf prospectus requires filing a prospectus supplement and is subject to the availability of funding in capital markets.

 

27


AGRIUM INC.

Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2015

(Millions of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

6. Share-based Payments

In December 2014, the Board of Directors approved changes to the Stock Option Plan applicable to awards granted subsequent to January 1, 2015. Share-based payments granted to officers in Canada will consist of performance share units (“PSUs”) and stock options without cash-settled tandem stock appreciation rights. The Stock Option Plan provides for settlement through the issuance of common shares. We determine the fair value of stock options on their grant date using the Black-Scholes model. Eligible non-officer employees will receive PSUs and restricted share units (“RSUs”). All PSU awards will include an additional performance metric based on free cash flow per share. RSU awards entitle the holder to receive the value of a common share plus accumulated dividends at the end of the three-year vesting period. We settle RSU awards in cash, with fair value determined using the Black-Scholes model.

During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we recorded $45-million (2014 – $31-million) of share-based payments expense. We granted the following share-based compensation awards to officers and employees.

 

Award type

   Number      Grant price  

Stock options

     449,149        115.87  

Stock appreciation rights

     72,370        115.87  

Share units

     273,163        N/A   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

7. Financial Instruments

Commodity price risk

 

Natural gas derivative financial instruments outstanding (notional amounts in millions of MMBtu)

 
     March 31,     December 31,  
     2015     2014  
     Notional      Maturities      Average
contract
price
(USD per
MMBtu)
     Fair value
of assets
(liabilities)
    Notional      Maturities      Average
contract
price
(USD per
MMBtu)
     Fair value
of assets
(liabilities)
 

Not designated as hedges

                      

NYMEX swaps

     —          —          —          —         1        2015        3.83        (1

AECO swaps

     —          —          —          —         10        2015        3.40        (10
           

 

 

            

 

 

 
  —       (11
           

 

 

            

 

 

 

Designated as hedges

NYMEX swaps

  2     2015     2.79     (1   —       —       —       —    

AECO swaps

  92     2015 –2018      2.90     (37   69     2015 – 2018      3.32     (25
           

 

 

            

 

 

 
  (38   (25
           

 

 

            

 

 

 

 

     Fair value of assets (liabilities)  

Maturities of natural gas derivative contracts

   2015     2016     2017     2018  

Designated as hedges

     (4     (15     (10     (9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

28


AGRIUM INC.

Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2015

(Millions of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

Impact of change in fair value of natural gas derivative financial instruments

   March 31,      December 31,  
     2015      2014  

A $10-million impact to net earnings requires movement in gas prices per MMBtu

     —          1.23  

A $10-million impact to other comprehensive income requires movement in gas prices per MMBtu

     0.95        0.19  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Use of derivatives to hedge exposure to natural gas market price risk

                           

Term (gas year – 12 months ending October 31)

     2015        2016        2017        2018  

Maximum allowable (% of forecasted gas requirements)

     75        75        75        25  (1) 

Forecasted average monthly purchases (millions MMBtu)

     8        9        9        9  

Gas requirements hedged using derivatives designated as hedges (%)

     32        25        25        17  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Maximum monthly hedged volume may not exceed 90 percent of planned monthly requirements.

For our natural gas derivatives designated in hedging relationships, the underlying risk of the forward contracts is identical to the hedged risk, and accordingly we have established a hedge ratio of 1:1. Due to a strong correlation between AECO future contract prices and our delivered cost, we did not experience any ineffectiveness on our hedges, and accordingly we have recorded the full change in the fair value of natural gas forward contracts designated as hedges to other comprehensive income.

Currency risk

 

Foreign exchange derivative financial instruments outstanding (notional amounts in millions of U.S. dollars)

 
     March 31,     December 31,  
     2015     2014  

Sell/Buy

   Notional      Maturities      Fair value
of assets
(liabilities)
    Notional      Maturities      Fair value
of assets
(liabilities)
 

Not designated as hedges

                

Forwards

                

USD/CAD

     20        2015        —         —          —           —    

CAD/USD

     928        2015        2       1,675        2015        31  

USD/AUD

     17        2015        (3     33        2015        (3

AUD/USD

     5        2015        —         12        2015        —    

Swaps

                

USD/AUD

     41        2015        (4     26        2015        (1

AUD/USD

     36        2015        6       21        2015        2  

Options

                

USD/CAD

     275        2015        (3     —          —           —    

CAD/USD

     20        2015        —         —          —           —    
        

 

 

         

 

 

 
  (2   29  
        

 

 

         

 

 

 

 

29


AGRIUM INC.

Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2015

(Millions of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

     March 31,      December 31,  
     2015      2014  

Financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis

   Fair value      Carrying
value
     Fair value      Carrying
value
 
   Level 1      Level 2         Level 1      Level 2     

Cash and cash equivalents

     —          780        780        —          848        848  

Accounts receivable – derivatives

     —          10        10        —          33        33  

Other current financial assets – marketable securities

     20        103        123        24        70        94  

Accounts payable – derivatives

     —          19        19        —          18        18  

Other financial liabilities – derivatives

     —          31        31        —          22        22  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other financial instruments

Current portion of long-term debt

Floating rate debt – amortized cost

  —       1     1     —       11     11  

Long-term debt

Debentures – amortized cost

  —       4,976     4,468     —       3,879     3,483  

Fixed and floating rate debt – amortized cost

  —       66     66     —       76     76  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

There have been no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements in the three months ended March 31, 2015 or March 31, 2014. We do not measure any of our financial instruments using Level 3 inputs.

 

8. Additional Information

Property, plant and equipment

At the end of 2014, we completed a major turnaround to tie in the expansion project at our Vanscoy potash facility. The assets related to the expansion project became available for use during the three months ended March 31, 2015 resulting in the transfer of $2.6-billion from assets under construction to buildings and improvements, and machinery and equipment.

During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we added $197-million to assets under construction at our Vanscoy potash facility to facilitate the ramp-up of annual capacity by one million tonnes and $121-million to assets under construction at our Borger Nitrogen facility.

Dividends

 

March 31,

 

2015

 

Declared

     Paid to       

Effective

   Per share      Total     

Shareholders

   Total  

December 11, 2014

     0.78        112      January 21, 2015      109  

February 24, 2015

     0.78        112      April 16, 2015      N/A   

Normal course issuer bid

In January 2015, the Toronto Stock Exchange accepted our Normal Course Issuer Bid (“NCIB”). Under the NCIB, we may purchase for cancellation up to 5 percent of our currently issued and outstanding common shares until January 25, 2016. The actual number of shares purchased will be at Agrium’s discretion and will depend on market conditions, share prices, Agrium’s cash position and other factors. From April 1, 2015 to May 5, 2015, we purchased 711,648 shares at an average share price of $105.39 for total consideration of $75-million.

 

30


AGRIUM INC.

Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2015

(Millions of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

9. Significant Accounting Policies

Except as described below, the accounting policies applied in these interim financial statements are the same as those applied in our 2014 Annual Report.

Changes in Accounting Estimates

As at January 1, 2015, we changed the method of depreciation for the Vanscoy potash facility mining and milling assets from the straight-line basis to the units of production basis. These assets will be depreciated based on the shorter of estimates of reserves or service lives. The change in method of depreciation reflects our expectations of changes in the expected pattern of consumption of the future economic benefits of the assets based on a review of our Vanscoy potash facility. In December 2014, the Vanscoy potash facility completed a major turnaround and recommenced production in an expanded facility that added approximately 50 percent to its existing capacity. The change in estimate is accounted for prospectively. The current and expected reduction in depreciation expense is 2015 – $32-million and 2016 – $12-million.

As at January 1, 2015, based on a review of the expected timing of future expenditures, we revised our estimate for decommissioning costs of our nitrogen assets. The revision in estimate decreased our asset retirement obligation provision by $55-million and decreased our property, plant and equipment by $55-million. The current reduction in depreciation and accretion expense for the three months ended March 31, 2015 is $1-million. The expected reduction in depreciation and accretion expense is $4-million in each of the years 2015 through 2018.

 

31



EXHIBIT 99.2

 

LOGO

AGRIUM INC.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED

MARCH 31, 2015


MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

May 5, 2015

Unless otherwise noted, all financial information in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) is prepared using accounting policies in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) and is presented in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 – Interim Financial Reporting. All comparisons of results for the first quarter of 2015 (three months ended March 31, 2015) are against results for the first quarter of 2014 (three months ended March 31, 2014). All dollar amounts refer to United States (“U.S.”) dollars except where otherwise stated. The financial measures EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA used in this MD&A are not prescribed by IFRS, or in the case of EBIT, is an Additional IFRS financial measure. Our method of calculation may not be directly comparable to that of other companies. We consider these non-IFRS financial measures to provide useful information to both management and investors in measuring our financial performance and financial condition. These non-IFRS measures should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Refer to page 12, “Additional IFRS and Non-IFRS Financial Measures” for further details, including a reconciliation of such measures to their most directly comparable measure calculated in accordance with IFRS.

The following interim MD&A is as of May 5, 2015 and should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Interim Financial Statements for the three months ended March 31, 2015 (the “Consolidated Financial Statements”), and the annual MD&A and financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014 included in our 2014 Annual Report to Shareholders. The Board of Directors carries out its responsibility for review of this disclosure principally through its Audit Committee, comprised exclusively of independent directors. The Audit Committee reviews, and prior to publication, approves this disclosure, pursuant to the authority delegated to it by the Board of Directors. No update is provided to the disclosure in our annual MD&A where there has been no material change from the discussion in our annual MD&A. In respect of Forward-Looking Statements, please refer to the section entitled “Forward-Looking Statements” after the “Market Outlook” section of this MD&A.

 

1


2015 First Quarter Operating Results

CONSOLIDATED NET EARNINGS

Agrium’s 2015 first quarter net earnings from continuing operations were $14-million or $0.08 diluted earnings per share from continuing operations compared to net earnings from continuing operations of $12-million or $0.08 diluted earnings per share from continuing operations for the same quarter of 2014.

Financial Overview

 

(millions of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts    Three months ended March 31,  

and where noted)                                                       

   2015      2014     Change     % Change  

Sales

     2,872        3,079       (207     (7

Gross profit

     584        556       28       5  

Expenses

     509        503       6       1  

Earnings before finance costs and income taxes (“EBIT”)

     75        53       22       42  

Net earnings from continuing operations

     14        12       2       17  

Net loss from discontinued operations

     —          (9     9       (100

Net earnings

     14        3       11       367  

Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations

     0.08        0.08       —         —    

Diluted loss per share from discontinued operations

     —          (0.06     0.06       (100

Diluted earnings per share

     0.08        0.02       0.06       300  

Effective tax rate (%)

     26        29       N/A        N/A   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Sales and Gross Profit

Sales and gross profit variance by business unit

 

     Quarter to date change  

(millions of U.S. dollars)

   Sales     Gross profit  

Retail

     31       (16

Wholesale

     (194     63  

Other

     (44     (19
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
  (207   28  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Sales

Retail sales increased by $31-million for the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period last year primarily due to higher sales volumes for crop protection products in the U.S. and Australia and slightly higher sales for crop nutrients and seed. Wholesale sales for the first quarter of 2015 decreased compared to 2014 as a result of lower potash sales volumes attributable to lower opening inventory and lower production volumes associated with the start-up of the Vanscoy expansion project. Product purchased for resale had lower sales as a result of the strategic review in 2014 that lead to exiting portions of this business, but contributed higher gross profit during the quarter.

Gross Profit

Our gross profit for the first quarter of 2015 increased by $28-million compared to the first quarter of 2014. The main drivers of this variance consisted of:

 

    Wholesale’s gross profit increased by $63-million to $234-million primarily due to lower natural gas costs and manufacturing cost efficiencies and higher realized selling prices for ammonia and phosphate.

 

    Retail’s gross profit decreased by $16-million to $371-million due to a slow start to the spring season, a crop shift in planted acres, and competitive pressures which impacted our seed, application, and crop protection margins this quarter.

 

2


Expenses

General and administrative expenses decreased in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period last year as we began to realize reductions related to our Operational Excellence program.

Share-based payments

Due to a larger share price increase and stronger share performance relative to our peers during the current quarter, our share-based payments increased by $14-million compared to the same period last year.

The Board of Directors approved changes to our share-based payment plan effective January 1, 2015. Refer to note 6 of our Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.

Other Expenses (Income)

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 

(millions of U.S. dollars)

       2015             2014      

Gain on derivatives not designated as hedges net of foreign exchange

     (1     (35

Interest income

     (17     (11

Gain on sale of assets

     (38     —    

Environmental remediation and asset retirement obligations

     9       (2

Bad debt expense

     7       5  

Potash profit and capital tax

     5       3  

Other

     2       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
  (33   (40
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

In the first quarter of 2015, we began to designate all of our natural gas derivatives as qualifying hedges for accounting purposes. During 2014, we designated only certain longer-term derivatives as hedges, none of which settled in 2014. We now record all gains and losses from these natural gas derivatives initially to equity, and subsequently to cost of product sold when we sell the related product. Previously, we recorded these natural gas derivative gains and losses to other expenses, resulting in the change in 2015 compared to 2014, which included natural gas derivative gains of $32-million.

In the first quarter of 2015, we completed the sale of our Niota and Meredosia storage and distribution facilities resulting in a gain on sale of assets of $38-million. We also announced our intention to divest the West Sacramento nitrogen upgrade facility which will reduce capital cost, working capital and is not expected to impact net earnings.

Environmental remediation and asset retirement obligation expense increased by $11-million due to an increase in our environmental remediation provision for our phosphate legacy sites.

Effective Tax Rate

The effective tax rate on continuing operations was 26 percent for the first quarter of 2015 compared to 29 percent for the same period last year due to an increase in income earned from low tax jurisdictions.

BUSINESS SEGMENT PERFORMANCE

Retail

Retail reported first quarter sales of $2.3-billion, which is slightly above the $2.2-billion reported in the same quarter last year. Gross profit was $371-million in the first quarter of 2015, down from $387-million in last year’s first quarter. Retail reported an EBITDA loss of $8-million compared to earnings of $17-million in the first quarter of last year. Retail’s results were impacted by a late start to the spring season in the eastern and southern U.S., which has pushed North American earnings into the second quarter. International sales and gross profit were down in the current quarter as a result of lower merchandise sales and nutrient margins in Australia and weaker crop protection sales in South America. The first quarter saw a similar split between North American and International gross profit as the same period last year.

 

3


Total crop nutrient sales were $911-million this quarter, up slightly from $896-million in the first quarter of 2014. A 3 percent increase in total sales volumes was partially offset by marginally lower nutrient prices in the first quarter. Higher nutrient volumes were due to strong demand in the Western U.S. and from tuck-in acquisitions over the past year. Gross profit for crop nutrients was $126-million this quarter, down marginally compared to the $128-million reported in the first quarter of 2014, while per tonne margins also declined slightly from $70 per tonne in the first quarter of 2014 to $67 per tonne this quarter. The slight reduction in margins was due to the stronger relative growth in volumes in lower margin international and Canadian markets, while nutrient margins in the U.S. were up year-over-year.

Crop protection product sales were $793-million in the first quarter of 2015, compared to $730-million in the same period last year. The higher sales were attributable to increased volumes, primarily of lower margin glyphosate used for early weed control in areas where it was too wet to till. Gross profit was $108-million this quarter, compared to $105-million reported in the first quarter of 2014. Crop protection margins as a percentage of sales were 13.6 percent this quarter compared to 14.4 percent in the same period of 2014 due to a shift in sales mix to lower margin products, as well as a higher relative percentage of sales in lower margin regions such as Canada due to application delays in certain regions of the U.S.

Seed sales were $308-million in the first quarter of 2015, up slightly from $298-million reported in the first quarter of last year. The increase in sales was driven by a slight increase in volumes in the U.S. this quarter as farmers prepared in advance for the spring season. This was partly offset by lower sales in Canada due to timing of purchases and the impact of the lower Canadian dollar compared to the same period last year. Gross profit was $40-million this quarter compared to $46-million for the same period last year, as competitive sales and crop mix shift impacted margins. Planted acres of corn are expected to be lower in 2015 compared to last year, and the spring delays have mainly impacted corn growing regions. These factors caused a lower percentage of higher-margin corn seed sales in the first quarter. As a result, seed margins as a percentage of sales were 13.0 percent in the first quarter of 2015, a reduction from the 15.4 percent reported in the first quarter of 2014.

Sales of merchandise in the first quarter of 2015 were $142-million, compared to $186-million in the same period last year. Gross profit for this product line was $20-million this quarter, down slightly from $24-million in the first quarter of 2014. Merchandise results were impacted by lower demand and selling price for fuel in Western Canada, as well as decreased demand for fencing and water equipment in Australia.

Services and other sales were $109-million this quarter, compared to the $122-million reported in the first quarter of 2014. Gross profit was $77-million in the first quarter of 2015, compared to $84-million for the same period last year. These decreases were largely due to a later than usual start to the spring application season across much of the eastern and southern U.S. and the timing of livestock shipments in Australia.

Selling expenses as a percentage of sales were 18.7 percent in the first quarter of 2015 which is down from the 19.5 percent reported in the same period last year stemming from operational excellence initiatives and from the lower Canadian dollar. Retail selling expenses were $423-million for the first quarter, compared to $436-million in the same period last year. This variance was due to lower employee-related costs and the overall improvement in the cost structure of Australia, lower fuel costs for rolling stock expenses and lower depreciation charges.

Wholesale

Wholesale’s 2015 first quarter sales were $867-million, down from the $1.1-billion reported in the same quarter last year primarily due to lower potash sales volumes and a decision to reduce the low-margin purchase for resale business. Gross profit was $234-million this quarter, compared to $171-million in the first quarter of 2014. Wholesale Adjusted EBITDA was $286-million in the first quarter of 2015 compared to $237-million reported in the same period last year. The increase in earnings was primarily due to significantly lower cost of production for our nitrogen and phosphate facilities, as a result of lower natural gas costs, improved operating rates and efficiencies and the impact of a weaker Canadian dollar on related fixed costs.

 

4


Nitrogen gross profit for the first quarter of 2015 was $143-million compared to $90-million in the same quarter last year. Nitrogen production in the quarter was about 5 percent higher than the same quarter last year due to higher operating rates. Sales volumes were 761,000 tonnes, a slight decrease from the 792,000 tonnes in the same quarter last year due to lower opening inventories in the current period. Overall realized nitrogen sales prices were $414 per tonne, a $10 per tonne decrease from the same period in 2014. The decrease was due to lower urea benchmark prices, as record Chinese global urea exports in the first quarter of 2015 contributed to weakened international prices. Nitrogen cost of product sold was $226 per tonne this quarter, compared to $311 per tonne for the same period last year. The decrease was a result of significantly lower natural gas costs, a weaker Canadian dollar which lowered production costs reported in U.S. dollars and stronger operating rates and efficiencies. Average nitrogen gross margins were $188 per tonne this quarter, compared to $113 per tonne in the same period last year.

As of January 1, 2015, we have designated all of our natural gas derivatives as hedges1, with realized gains and losses now recorded to cost of product sold (which also includes transportation and administration costs). Nitrogen cost of product sold for the first quarter of 2014 would have been $288 per tonne if realized gains from natural gas derivatives had been applied on a comparative basis.

Agrium’s average natural gas cost was $2.93/MMBtu this quarter ($2.52/MMBtu excluding the impact of realized losses on natural gas derivatives) compared to $4.29/MMBtu ($5.02/MMBtu excluding the impact of realized gains on natural gas derivatives) for the same period in 2014. The average U.S. benchmark (NYMEX) natural gas price for the first quarter of 2015 was $2.96/MMBtu, compared to $4.90/MMBtu in the same quarter last year. The AECO (Alberta) basis differential was a $0.74/MMBtu discount to NYMEX in the first quarter of 2015, an increase from the $0.56/MMBtu discount in the first quarter of 2014.

Potash gross profit for the first quarter of 2015 was $7-million, compared to $46-million reported in the same quarter last year. Sales volumes were 185,000 tonnes this quarter compared to 428,000 tonnes in the first quarter of 2014. The decrease in sales volumes was a result of the initial ramp-up of production volumes in the quarter after completing the tie-in of the Vanscoy one million tonne expansion project in December of 2014 and very low opening inventory in 2015. Average realized potash sales prices were $361 per tonne compared to $298 per tonne in the same period last year. Both North America and international realized sales prices were 10 to15 percent higher than the same period last year combined with a higher proportion of our sales this quarter sold into the North American market. Gross margin per tonne was impacted by higher costs related to the ramp-up of production, which were allocated over lower sales volumes. This was partially offset by the impact of a weaker Canadian dollar on fixed costs in the current period compared to the same period last year.

Phosphate gross profit was $45-million in the first quarter of 2015, compared to $2-million in the same quarter last year. Phosphate sales volumes were 282,000 tonnes in the first quarter of 2015, compared to 308,000 tonnes in the same quarter last year. Realized phosphate sales prices were $639 per tonne this quarter compared to $544 per tonne in the same period last year, due to strong market conditions and tight supply. Phosphate cost of product sold was $481 per tonne in the first quarter of 2015, a decrease of $55 per tonne compared to the same period last year as a result of higher production rates, lower ammonia and rock costs, fixed cost savings and the impact of the weaker Canadian dollar on fixed costs. Gross margin in the first quarter of 2015 was $158 per tonne compared to $8 per tonne in the same period last year.

 

 

 

1  In the prior year, unrealized and realized gains and losses on derivatives not designated as hedges were included in other expenses.

 

5


Wholesale’s Other, which includes product purchased for resale, ammonium sulfate, Environmentally Smart Nitrogen (“ESN®”, hereinafter referred to as “ESN”) and other gross profit was $39-million this quarter compared to $33-million in the same quarter of 2014. Ammonium sulfate gross profit was $16-million this quarter, $4-million higher than same period last year due to higher realized sales prices and lower input costs. ESN gross profit was $12-million compared to $10-million in the first quarter of 2014. This increase was due to higher volumes and lower ammonia input costs partially offset by lower realized sales prices for ESN in the current quarter. Product purchased for resale gross profit for the first quarter was $3-million higher than the same period last year due to higher margins in the current period.

Wholesale expenses in the first quarter of 2015 were $9-million higher compared to the same period last year. The increase was related primarily to the $32-million gain from natural gas derivatives in the first quarter of 2014 and recorded in other expenses, and an $11-million increase in environmental remediation estimates. This was largely offset by a $38-million gain on the sale of non-core Purchase for Resale terminals this quarter.

Other

EBITDA for our Other non-operating business unit for the first quarter of 2015 was a net expense of $88-million, compared to a net expense of $68-million for the first quarter of 2014. The increase was due to the following:

 

    a $19-million higher gross profit elimination for the first quarter of 2015 compared to the first quarter of 2014. This is the result of an increase in margin per tonne in 2015 on intercompany inventory held by our Retail business unit compared to a decrease in the first quarter of 2014 coupled with higher intercompany inventory at the end of the first quarter of 2015; and,

 

    a $14-million increase in share-based payments expense.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

The following are changes to working capital on our Consolidated Balance Sheets for the three-month period ended March 31, 2015 compared to December 31, 2014.

 

(millions of U.S. dollars, except as noted)

   March 31,
2015
     December 31,
2014
     $ Change     % Change    

Explanation of the change in balance

Current assets

            

Cash and cash equivalents

     780         848         (68     (8 %)    See discussion under the section “Liquidity and Capital Resources”.

Accounts receivable

     2,045         2,075         (30     (1 %)   

Income taxes receivable

     112         138         (26     (19 %)    Receipt of income tax refunds.

Inventories

     4,820         3,505         1,315        38   Seasonal Retail inventory build-up in preparation for the spring season.

Prepaid expenses and deposits

     315         710         (395     (56 %)    Drawdown of prepaid inventory as Retail took delivery of product in anticipation of the spring season.

Other current assets

     123         122         1        1  

Current liabilities

            

Short-term debt

     265         1,527         (1,262     (83 %)    Proceeds from the issuance of debentures were used to repay commercial paper and credit facilities.

Accounts payable

     5,672         4,197         1,475        35   Retail inventory purchases and customer prepayments made in anticipation of the spring season.

Income taxes payable

     4         5         (1     (20 %)   

Current portion of long-term debt

     1         11         (10     (91 %)   

Current portion of other provisions

     88         113         (25     (22 %)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

Working capital

  2,165      1,545      620      40
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

6


LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Summary of Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Below is a summary of our cash provided by or used in operating, investing, and financing activities as reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 

(millions of U.S. dollars)

   2015      2014      Change  

Cash provided by operating activities

     705        761        (56

Cash used in investing activities

     (461      (483      22  

Cash used in financing activities

     (295      (467      172  

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (17      (3      (14
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations

  (68   (192   124  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents used in discontinued operations

      (17   17  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Analysis of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2015

Cash flows provided by operating activities decreased due to a smaller growth in accounts payable during the first quarter of 2015 compared to the first quarter of 2014 as a result of softer market conditions and outlook on fertilizer pricing.

Other key changes in our cash flows in the first quarter of 2015 were capital expenditures and financing. We incurred capital expenditures of $318-million for our Vanscoy potash facility ramp-up and our Borger nitrogen expansion project and we repaid short-term debt of $1.2-billion primarily from the proceeds of the issuance of $1-billion of debentures. Dividend payments were $109-million for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

 

7


Capital Expenditures

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 

(millions of U.S. dollars)

   2015      2014  

Sustaining capital

     95        114  

Investing capital

     304        345  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

  399     459  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Our investing capital expenditures decreased in the first three months of 2015 compared to the first three months of 2014 due to the completion of the tie-in of our Vanscoy potash facility expansion in the fourth quarter of 2014, partially offset by increased expenditures relating to the Borger nitrogen expansion project. We incurred investing capital expenditures amounting to $197-million and $121-million for the Vanscoy facility ramp-up and the expansion of the Borger nitrogen facility, respectively. We expect the remaining capital spending to approximate $900-million to $1-billion in 2015.

Short-term Debt

Our short-term debt of $265-million at March 31, 2015 is outlined in note 5 of our Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Our short-term debt decreased by $1.3-billion during the three months ended March 31, 2015, which primarily increased our unutilized short-term financing capacity to $2.6-billion as at March 31, 2015.

Capital Management

During the quarter, we issued $550-million of 3.375 percent debentures due March 15, 2025 and $450-million of 4.125 percent debentures due March 15, 2035. The debentures were issued under our base shelf prospectus, which permits issuance in Canada and the U.S. of up to $2.5-billion of common shares, debt and other securities less the offering price of securities issued between the 2014 filing date of the base shelf prospectus and May 2016. Issuance of further securities under the base shelf prospectus requires filing a prospectus supplement and is subject to availability of funding in capital markets.

Our revolving credit facilities require that we maintain specific interest coverage and debt-to-capital ratios, as well as other non-financial covenants as defined in our credit agreements. We were in compliance with all covenants at March 31, 2015.

NORMAL COURSE ISSUER BID

On January 22, 2015, the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) accepted Agrium’s notice of intention to make a normal course issuer bid (“NCIB”) whereby Agrium may purchase up to 7,185,866 common shares on the TSX and New York Stock Exchange during the period from January 26, 2015 to January 25, 2016. From April 1, 2015 to May 5, 2015, we purchased approximately 712,000 shares at an average share price of $105 for total consideration of $75-million. There were no share repurchases during the three months ended March 31, 2015. Shareholders can obtain a copy of the NCIB notice submitted to the TSX from Agrium without charge upon request.

OUTSTANDING SHARE DATA

Agrium had 143,029,081 outstanding shares at May 5, 2015. At that date, under our stock option plans, shares expected to be issued for options outstanding were negligible.

 

8


SELECTED QUARTERLY INFORMATION

 

     2015      2014     2014     2014     2014     2013     2013     2013  

(millions of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts)

   Q1      Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2  

Sales

     2,872        2,705       2,920       7,338       3,079       2,867       2,796       6,908  

Gross profit

     584        732       665       1,599       556       740       629       1,699  

Net earnings from continuing operations

     14        70       91       625       12       110       80       744  

Net (loss) earnings from discontinued operations

     —          (19     (41     (9     (9     (11     (4     3  

Net earnings

     14        51       50       616       3       99       76       747  

Earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to equity holders of Agrium:

                 

Basic and diluted

     0.08        0.46       0.63       4.34       0.08       0.74       0.54       5.00  

(Loss) earnings per share from discontinued operations attributable to equity holders of Agrium:

                 

Basic and diluted

     —          (0.13     (0.28     (0.06     (0.06     (0.08     (0.02     0.02  

Earnings per share attributable to equity holders of Agrium:

                 

Basic and diluted

     0.08        0.33       0.35       4.28       0.02       0.66       0.52       5.02  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The agricultural products business is seasonal in nature. Consequently, comparisons made on a year-over-year basis are more appropriate than quarter-over-quarter comparisons. Crop input sales are primarily concentrated in the spring and fall crop input application seasons. Crop nutrient inventories are normally accumulated leading up to each application season. Our cash collections generally occur after the application season is complete.

ADDITIONAL IFRS AND NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES

Certain financial measures in this MD&A are not prescribed by IFRS. We consider these financial measures discussed herein to provide useful information to both management and investors in measuring our financial performance and financial condition.

In general, an additional IFRS financial measure is a measure relevant to understanding a company’s financial performance that is not a minimum financial statement measure mandated by IFRS. A non-IFRS financial measure generally either excludes or includes amounts not excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with IFRS. Non-IFRS financial measures are not recognized measures under IFRS and our method of calculation is unlikely to be directly comparable to that of other companies. These non-IFRS measures should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.

The following table outlines our additional IFRS financial measure, its definition and how management assesses such measure.

 

Additional IFRS financial measure

  

Definition

  

Why We Use the Measure and Why it is Useful to Investors

EBIT    Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before finance costs and income taxes.    Provides management and investors with information for comparison of our operating results to the operating results of other companies. These measures eliminate the impact of finance and tax structure variables that exist between entities.

 

9


The following table outlines our non-IFRS financial measures, their definitions and usefulness, and how management assesses each measure.

 

Non-IFRS financial measures

  

Definition

  

Why We Use the Measure and Why it is Useful to
Investors

EBITDA    Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before finance costs, income taxes, depreciation and amortization.    Refer to EBIT. EBITDA is also frequently used by investors and analysts for valuation purposes when multiplied by a factor to estimate the enterprise value of a company. EBITDA is also a component in the determination of annual incentive compensation for certain management employees, and in calculation of certain of our debt covenants.
Adjusted EBITDA    EBITDA before finance costs, income taxes, depreciation and amortization of joint ventures.    Useful in evaluating our business performance by including our proportionate share of joint ventures in operating results.

RECONCILIATIONS OF ADDITIONAL IFRS AND NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES

Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDA to EBIT

 

     Three months ended March 31, 2015      Three months ended March 31, 2014  

(millions of U.S. dollars)

   Retail     Wholesale      Other     Consolidated      Retail     Wholesale      Other     Consolidated  

Adjusted EBITDA

     (8     286        (88     190        17       237        (68     186  

Equity accounted joint ventures:

                   

Finance costs and income taxes

     —         1        —         1        —         4        —         4  

Depreciation and amortization

     —         3        —         3        —         2        —         2  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBITDA

  (8   282     (88   186     17     231     (68   180  

Depreciation and amortization

  57     50     4     111     72     53     2     127  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBIT

  (65   232     (92   75     (55   178     (70   53  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

We prepare our financial statements in accordance with IFRS, which requires us to make judgments, assumptions and estimates in applying accounting policies. For further information on the Company’s critical accounting estimates, refer to the section “Critical Accounting Estimates” in our 2014 annual MD&A, which is contained in our 2014 Annual Report. Since the date of our 2014 annual MD&A, there have not been any material changes to our critical accounting estimates.

CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The accounting policies applied in our Consolidated Interim Financial Statements for the three months ended March 31, 2015 are the same as those applied in our audited annual financial statements in our 2014 Annual Report, with the exception of changes in accounting estimates described in note 9 of our Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

BUSINESS RISKS

The information presented in the “Enterprise Risk Management” section on pages 64 - 68 in our 2014 Annual Report and under the heading “Risk Factors” on pages 22 - 31 in our 2014 Annual Information Form has not changed materially since December 31, 2014.

 

10


CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2015 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PUBLIC SECURITIES FILINGS

Additional information about our Company, including our 2014 Annual Information Form is filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities through SEDAR at www.sedar.com and with the U.S. securities regulatory authorities through EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

MARKET OUTLOOK

Record global crop production in 2014 and a sizeable Southern Hemisphere crop this year has weighed on international crop prices. The start of the spring application season in North America was delayed due to wet weather across the southern and eastern United States but seeding rates started to catch up in late April, and as of early May, were above the historical average. Drier conditions in the Northern Plains and Western Canada are expected to support strong seeded acreage and related crop input demand in these regions this year compared to recent history. This is particularly important for our Wholesale nitrogen sales and Canadian Retail operations. California is in a drought situation, which is expected to reduce acreage of some row crops this year, but high fruit and vegetable prices have supported crop input demand. U.S. corn acreage expectations have decreased slightly over the past month as a result of the delayed spring season in the Southern and Eastern U.S. If U.S. crop yields come in at or below trend levels this year we expect crop prices to firm up in the second half of 2015.

The late start to the season in the Southern and Eastern U.S., combined with lower crop prices, resulted in delays in decisions regarding seeding and crop protection product use, pushing sales into the second quarter. Some growers have been more discerning regarding genetic traits and in some cases have selected older, lower-priced varieties. The later planting season is expected to support demand for retail services in the second quarter as growers focus on getting the crop inputs in place in a compressed season.

Global crop nutrient demand was relatively strong in late 2014 and early 2015 as buyers purchased product ahead of the Northern Hemisphere spring season. This led to comfortable inventory levels heading into the spring season and has contributed to recent weakness in global nutrient pricing. The significant decline in the value of most non-U.S. currencies relative to the U.S. dollar has lowered the cost of production for many non-U.S. producers and raised the cost of crop inputs in some local currencies. However, overall the lower currencies have been a net benefit for growers in these regions due to higher crop prices in local currencies.

China exported just over four million tonnes of urea in the first quarter of 2015, more than double the volume exported in the same period of 2014. Exports were supported by strong import demand from the United States and India. Ukrainian urea production and exports increased over the past few months, further adding prilled urea supplies to global trade. In recent weeks, Chinese nitrogen producers have resisted further price declines, indicating that urea prices are near the cost-based floor level and that the pace of Chinese exports is expected to slow relative to 2014 levels in the coming months.

The delay in concluding Chinese and Indian potash supply agreements resulted in other potash buyers postponing purchases which pressured global potash prices in the first quarter of 2015. The North American potash market was also impacted by the delayed spring and higher offshore potash imports this year. Global phosphate demand has slowed in recent weeks, which has put some pressure on international and domestic pricing. Brazilian phosphate demand has begun relatively slow in 2015, but domestic deliveries improved in March and the import pace is expected to increase in the coming months. Analysts expect that Indian potash and phosphate demand will increase again in 2015.

 

11


Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements and other information included in this document constitute “forward-looking information” and/or “financial outlook” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation or constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable U.S. securities legislation (collectively, the “forward-looking statements”). All statements in this document other than those relating to historical information or current conditions are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements as to management’s expectations with respect to: the payment of an increased dividend; Agrium’s delivery of strong second quarter results and that our operations and asset mix will support higher cash flow and dividends over time; second quarter earnings; second quarter and annual diluted EPS; 2015 capital spending expectations; and our market outlook for the remainder of 2015 including anticipated supply and demand for our products and services, expected market and industry conditions with respect to planted acres, prices and the impact of currency fluctuations and import and export volumes. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. As such, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements. The purpose of the outlook provided herein is to assist readers in understanding our expected and targeted financial and operating results, and this information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

All of the forward-looking statements are qualified by the assumptions that are stated or inherent in such forward-looking statements, including the assumptions referred to below and elsewhere in this document. Although Agrium believes that these assumptions are reasonable, this list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the forward-looking statements and the reader should not place an undue reliance on these assumptions and such forward-looking statements. The additional key assumptions that have been made include, among other things assumptions with respect to Agrium’s ability to successfully integrate and realize the anticipated benefits of its already completed and future acquisitions and that we will be able to implement our standards, controls, procedures and policies at any acquired businesses to realize the expected synergies; that future business, regulatory and industry conditions will be within the parameters expected by Agrium, with respect to prices, margins, product availability and supplier agreements; the completion of our expansion projects on schedule, as planned and on budget; assumptions with respect to global economic conditions and the accuracy of our market outlook expectations for the remainder of 2015; the adequacy of our cash generated from operations and our ability to access our credit facilities or capital markets for additional sources of financing; our ability to identify suitable candidates for acquisitions and negotiate acceptable terms; our ability to maintain our investment grade rating and achieve our performance targets; and our receipt, on time, of all necessary permits, utilities and project approvals with respect to our expansion projects and that we will have the resources necessary to meet the project’s approach. Also refer to the discussion under the heading “Key Assumptions and Risks in Respect of Forward-Looking Statements” in our 2014 annual MD&A, with respect to further material assumptions associated with our forward-looking statements.

Events or circumstances that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: general economic, market and business conditions; weather conditions including impacts from regional flooding and/or drought conditions; crop yield and prices; the supply and demand and price levels for our major products may vary from what we currently anticipate; governmental and regulatory requirements and actions by governmental authorities, including changes in government policy, government ownership requirements, changes in environmental, tax and other laws or regulations and the interpretation thereof, and political risks, including civil unrest, actions by armed groups or conflict, regional natural gas supply restrictions, as well as counterparty and sovereign risk; delays in completion of turnarounds at our major facilities; the risk that work on the Egyptian Misr Fertilizers Production Company S.A.E. nitrogen facility expansion in Egypt may be interrupted again and may not be completed on the timelines currently anticipated or at all; the risk of additional capital expenditure cost escalation or delays in respect of our Borger nitrogen expansion project and the ramp-up of production following the recent tie-in of our Vanscoy potash expansion project; and other risk factors detailed from time to time in Agrium reports filed with the Canadian securities regulators and the Securities and Exchange Commission in the United States including those disclosed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2014 and under the headings “Enterprise Risk Management” and “Key Assumptions and Risks in respect of Forward-Looking Statements” in our 2014 annual MD&A.

 

12


Agrium disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this document as a result of new information or future events, except as may be required under applicable U.S. federal securities laws or applicable Canadian securities legislation.

 

13



EXHIBIT 99.3

 

LOGO

AGRIUM INC.

CONSOLIDATED

INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED

March 31, 2015


Table of Contents

 

    Page  
Consolidated Statements of Operations     1   
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income     2   
Consolidated Balance Sheets     3   
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows     4   
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity     5   
Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements     6   
1. Corporate Information     6   
2. Operating Segments     7   
3. Expenses     12   
4. Earnings per Share     12   
5. Debt     12   
6. Share-based Payments     13   
7. Financial Instruments     13   
8. Additional Information     15   
9. Significant Accounting Policies     16   


AGRIUM INC.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Millions of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 
     2015     2014  

Sales

     2,872       3,079  

Cost of product sold

     2,288       2,523  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

  584     556  

Expenses

Selling

  430     444  

General and administrative

  67     69  

Share-based payments (note 6)

  45     31  

Earnings from associates and joint ventures

  —       (1

Other income (note 3)

  (33   (40
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings before finance costs and income taxes

  75     53  

Finance costs related to long-term debt

  37     19  

Other finance costs

  19     17  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings before income taxes

  19     17  

Income taxes

  5     5  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings from continuing operations

  14     12  

Net loss from discontinued operations

  —       (9
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings

  14     3  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Attributable to:

Equity holders of Agrium

  12     2  

Non-controlling interest

  2     1  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings

  14     3  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings per share attributable to equity holders of Agrium (note 4)

Basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations

  0.08     0.08  

Basic and diluted loss per share from discontinued operations

  —       (0.06
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic and diluted earnings per share

  0.08     0.02  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

1


AGRIUM INC.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(Millions of U.S. dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 
     2015     2014  

Net earnings

     14       3  

Other comprehensive loss

    

Items that are or may be reclassified to earnings

    

Cash flow hedges

    

Effective portion of changes in fair value

     (16     —    

Deferred income taxes on changes in fair value

     4       —    

Reclassifications to earnings

     11       —    

Deferred income taxes on reclassifications to earnings

     (3     —    

Share of comprehensive (loss) income of associates and joint ventures

     (5     1  

Foreign currency translation

    

Losses

     (295     (106
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive loss

  (304   (105
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss

  (290   (102
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Attributable to:

Equity holders of Agrium

  (291   (103

Non-controlling interest

  1     1  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss

  (290   (102
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

2


AGRIUM INC.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Millions of U.S. dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

     March 31,     December 31,  
     2015     2014     2014  

Assets

      

Current assets

      

Cash and cash equivalents

     780       592       848  

Accounts receivable

     2,045       2,143       2,075  

Income taxes receivable

     112       106       138  

Inventories

     4,820       4,789       3,505  

Prepaid expenses and deposits

     315       379       710  

Other current assets

     123       124       122  

Assets held for sale

     —         230       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  8,195     8,363     7,398  

Property, plant and equipment (note 8)

  6,177     5,193     6,272  

Intangibles

  660     724     695  

Goodwill

  2,027     1,970     2,014  

Investments in associates and joint ventures

  595     639     576  

Other assets

  69     114     78  

Deferred income tax assets

  72     78     75  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  17,795     17,081     17,108  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity

Current liabilities

Short-term debt (note 5)

  265     397     1,527  

Accounts payable

  5,672     5,721     4,197  

Income taxes payable

  4     2     5  

Current portion of long-term debt

  1     54     11  

Current portion of other provisions

  88     115     113  

Liabilities held for sale

  —       59     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  6,030     6,348     5,853  

Long-term debt (note 5)

  4,534     3,058     3,559  

Post-employment benefits

  144     131     151  

Other provisions

  332     410     367  

Other liabilities

  75     35     69  

Deferred income tax liabilities

  393     514     422  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  11,508     10,496     10,421  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity

Share capital

  1,823     1,820     1,821  

Retained earnings

  5,402     5,139     5,502  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

  (946   (376   (643
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity holders of Agrium

  6,279     6,583     6,680  

Non-controlling interest

  8     2     7  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity

  6,287     6,585     6,687  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  17,795     17,081     17,108  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

3


AGRIUM INC.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Millions of U.S. dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three months ended  
     March 31,  
     2015     2014  

Operating

  

Net earnings from continuing operations

     14       12  

Adjustments for

    

Depreciation and amortization

     111       127  

Earnings from associates and joint ventures

     —         (1

Share-based payments

     45       31  

Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative financial instruments

     26       (14

Unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain)

     41       (2

Interest income

     (17     (11

Finance costs

     56       36  

Income taxes

     5       5  

Other

     (25     12  

Interest received

     17       12  

Interest paid

     (42     (32

Income taxes received (paid)

     18       (36

Dividends from associates and joint ventures

     1       1  

Net changes in non-cash working capital

     455       621  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash provided by operating activities

  705     761  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

  (60   (16

Capital expenditures

  (399   (459

Capitalized borrowing costs

  (15   (23

Purchase of investments

  (42   (26

Proceeds from sale of investments

  18     12  

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

  50     —    

Other

  5     (22

Net changes in non-cash working capital

  (18   51  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash used in investing activities

  (461   (483
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financing

Short-term debt

  (1,160   (349

Long-term debt issued

  1,000     —    

Transaction costs on long-term debt

  (14   —    

Repayment of long-term debt

  (13   (10

Dividends paid

  (109   (108

Shares issued

  1     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash used in financing activities

  (295   (467
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

  (17   (3
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations

  (68   (192

Cash and cash equivalents used in discontinued operations

  —       (17

Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of period

  848     801  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents – end of period

  780     592  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

4


AGRIUM INC.

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity

(Millions of U.S. dollars, except share data)

(Unaudited)

 

                         Other comprehensive income                    
     Millions
of
common
shares
     Share
capital
     Retained
earnings
    Cash
flow
hedges
    Comprehensive
loss of
associates and
joint ventures
    Available
for sale
financial
instruments
    Foreign
currency
translation
    Total     Equity
holders of
Agrium
    Non-
controlling
interest
    Total
equity
 

December 31, 2013

     144        1,820        5,253       —         (7     (8     (264     (279     6,794       2       6,796  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings

  —       —       2     —       —       —       —       —       2     1     3  

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

Other

  —       —       —       —       1     —       (106   (105   (105   —       (105
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

  —       —       2     —       1     —       (106   (105   (103   1     (102

Dividends

  —       —       (108   —       —       —       —       —       (108   —       (108

Non-controlling interest transactions

  —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       (1   (1

Impact of adopting IFRS 9 at January 1, 2014

  —       —       (8   —       —       8     —       8     —       —       —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

  144     1,820     5,139     —       (6   —       (370   (376   6,583     2     6,585  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

December 31, 2014

  144     1,821     5,502     (27   (11   —       (605   (643   6,680     7     6,687  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings

  —       —       12     —       —       —       —       —       12     2     14  

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

Other

  —       —       —       (4   (5   —       (294   (303   (303   (1   (304
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

  —       —       12     (4   (5   —       (294   (303   (291   1     (290

Dividends

  —       —       (112   —       —       —       —       —       (112   —       (112

Share-based payment transactions

  —       2     —       —       —       —       —       —       2     —       2  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

March 31, 2015

  144     1,823     5,402     (31   (16   —       (899   (946   6,279     8     6,287  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

5


AGRIUM INC.

Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2015

(Millions of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

1. Corporate Information

Corporate information

Agrium Inc. (“Agrium”) is incorporated under the laws of Canada with common shares listed under the symbol “AGU” on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). Our Corporate head office is located at 13131 Lake Fraser Drive S.E., Calgary, Canada. We conduct our operations globally from our Wholesale head office in Calgary and our Retail head office in Loveland, Colorado, United States. In these financial statements, “we”, “us”, “our” and “Agrium” mean Agrium Inc., its subsidiaries and joint arrangements.

Agrium operates two business units:

    Retail: Distributes crop nutrients, crop protection products, seed, merchandise and services directly to growers through a network of farm centers in two geographical segments:

 

    North America, including the United States and Canada; and

 

    International, including Australia and South America.

 

    Wholesale: Operates in North and South America and Europe producing, marketing and distributing crop nutrients and industrial products through the following businesses:

 

    Nitrogen: Manufacturing in Alberta, Texas and Argentina;

 

    Potash: Mining and processing in Saskatchewan;

 

    Phosphate: Mining and production facilities in Alberta and Idaho; and

 

    Other: Marketing nutrient based products from other suppliers in North and South America and Europe, and producing blended crop nutrients and ESN® (Environmentally Smart Nitrogen) polymer-coated nitrogen crop nutrients.

Additional information on our operating segments is included in note 2.

Seasonality in our business results from increased demand for our products during planting seasons. Sales are generally higher in spring and fall.

Basis of preparation and statement of compliance

These consolidated interim financial statements (“interim financial statements”) were approved for issuance by the Audit Committee on May 5, 2015. We prepared these interim financial statements in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 Interim Financial Reporting. These statements do not include all information and disclosures normally provided in annual financial statements and should be read in conjunction with our audited annual financial statements and related notes contained in our 2014 Annual Report, available at www.agrium.com.

 

6


AGRIUM INC.

Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2015

(Millions of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

2. Operating Segments

 

Segment information by business unit

   Three months ended March 31,  
     2015     2014  
     Retail     Wholesale     Other (1)     Total     Retail     Wholesale     Other (1)     Total  

Sales - external

     2,260       612       —         2,872       2,227       852       —         3,079  

  - inter-segment

     3       255       (258     —         5       209       (214     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total sales

  2,263     867     (258   2,872     2,232     1,061     (214   3,079  

Cost of product sold

  1,892     633     (237   2,288     1,845     890     (212   2,523  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

  371     234     (21   584     387     171     (2   556  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit (%)

  16     27     20     17     16     18  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Expenses

Selling

  423     11     (4   430     436     11     (3   444  

General and administrative

  26     10     31     67     28     10     31     69  

Share-based payments

  —       —       45     45     —       —       31     31  

(Earnings) loss from associates and joint ventures

  (1   3     (2   —       (1   —       —       (1

Other (income) expenses

  (12   (22   1     (33   (21   (28   9     (40
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) earnings before finance costs and income taxes

  (65   232     (92   75     (55   178     (70   53  

Finance costs

  —       —       56     56     —       —       36     36  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) earnings before income taxes

  (65   232     (148   19     (55   178     (106   17  

Depreciation and amortization

  57     50     4     111     72     53     2     127  

Finance costs

  —       —       56     56     —       —       36     36  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBITDA (2)

  (8   282     (88   186     17     231     (68   180  

Share of joint ventures

Finance costs and income taxes

  —       1     —       1     —       4     —       4  

Depreciation and amortization

  —       3     —       3     —       2     —       2  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA (3)

  (8   286     (88   190     17     237     (68   186  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes inter-segment eliminations.
(2) Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before finance costs, income taxes, depreciation and amortization.
(3) During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the chief operating decision maker revised its internal reports to include Adjusted EBITDA.

 

7


AGRIUM INC.

Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2015

(Millions of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

Segment information – Retail

   Three months ended March 31,  
     2015     2014  
     North
America
    International     Retail     North
America
    International     Retail  

Sales - external

     1,773       487       2,260       1,716       511       2,227  

  - inter-segment

     3       —         3       5       —         5  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total sales

  1,776     487     2,263     1,721     511     2,232  

Cost of product sold

  1,503     389     1,892     1,438     407     1,845  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

  273     98     371     283     104     387  

Expenses

Selling

  345     78     423     349     87     436  

General and administrative

  17     9     26     17     11     28  

Earnings from associates and joint ventures

  (1   —       (1   —       (1   (1

Other income

  (3   (9   (12   (1   (20   (21
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) earnings before income taxes

  (85   20     (65   (82   27     (55

Depreciation and amortization

  52     5     57     63     9     72  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBITDA

  (33   25     (8   (19   36     17  

Adjusted EBITDA

  (33   25     (8   (19   36     17  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

8


AGRIUM INC.

Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2015

(Millions of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

Segment information – Wholesale

   Three months ended March 31,  
     2015     2014  
     Nitrogen     Potash     Phosphate      Wholesale
Other 
(1)
    Wholesale     Nitrogen     Potash      Phosphate     Wholesale
Other (1)
     Wholesale  

Sales - external

     218       25       110        259       612       255       83        112       402        852  

  - inter-segment

     97       42       71        45       255       81       45        55       28        209  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total sales

  315     67     181     304     867     336     128     167     430     1,061  

Cost of product sold

  172     60     136     265     633     246     82     165     397     890  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross profit

  143     7     45     39     234     90     46     2     33     171  

Expenses

Selling

  4     1     1     5     11     3     2     1     5     11  

General and administrative

  3     2     2     3     10     2     2     2     4     10  

Loss from associates and joint ventures

  —       —       —       3     3     —       —       —       —       —    

Other (income) expenses

  (2   5     12     (37   (22   (33   6     (1   —       (28
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) before income taxes

  138     (1   30     65     232     118     36     —       24     178  

Depreciation and amortization

  18     14     13     5     50     20     13     13     7     53  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

EBITDA

  156     13     43     70     282     138     49     13     31     231  

Share of joint ventures

Finance costs and income taxes

  1     —       —       —       1     4     —       —       —       4  

Depreciation and amortization

  3     —       —       —       3     2     —       —       —       2  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

  160     13     43     70     286     144     49     13     31     237  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes product purchased for resale, ammonium sulfate, ESN and other products.

 

9


AGRIUM INC.

Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2015

(Millions of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

Gross profit by product line

   Three months ended March 31,  
     2015     2014  
     Sales     Cost of
product
sold
    Gross
profit
    Sales     Cost of
product
sold
    Gross
profit
 

Retail

            

Crop nutrients

     911       785       126       896       768       128  

Crop protection products

     793       685       108       730       625       105  

Seed

     308       268       40       298       252       46  

Merchandise

     142       122       20       186       162       24  

Services and other

     109       32       77       122       38       84  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  2,263     1,892     371     2,232     1,845     387  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Wholesale

Nitrogen

  315     172     143     336     246     90  

Potash

  67     60     7     128     82     46  

Phosphate

  181     136     45     167     165     2  

Product purchased for resale

  192     185     7     294     290     4  

Ammonium sulfate, ESN and other

  112     80     32     136     107     29  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  867     633     234     1,061     890     171  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other inter-segment eliminations

  (258   (237   (21   (214   (212   (2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  2,872     2,288     584     3,079     2,523     556  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Wholesale share of joint ventures

Nitrogen

  21     22     (1   27     18     9  

Product purchased for resale

  26     25     1     21     20     1  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  47     47     —       48     38     10  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Wholesale including proportionate share in joint ventures

  914     680     234     1,109     928     181  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

10


AGRIUM INC.

Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2015

(Millions of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

Selected volumes and per tonne information

   Three months ended March 31,  
     2015     2014  
     Sales
tonnes
(000’s)
     Selling
price
($/tonne)
     Cost of
product
sold
($/tonne)
     Margin
($/tonne)
    Sales
tonnes
(000’s)
     Selling
price
($/tonne)
     Cost of
product
sold
($/tonne)
     Margin
($/tonne)
 

Retail

                      

Crop nutrients

                      

North America

     1,435        511        431        80       1,400        502        421        81  

International

     452        394        366        28       426        453        418        35  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total crop nutrients

  1,887     483     416     67     1,826     491     421     70  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Wholesale

Nitrogen

North America

Ammonia

  175     529     179     498  

Urea

  348     422     382     441  

Other

  238     320     231     339  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total nitrogen

  761     414     226     188     792     424     311     113  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Potash

North America

  149     393     292     342  

International

  36     226     136     204  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total potash

  185     361     324     37     428     298     191     107  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Phosphate

  282     639     481     158     308     544     536     8  

Product purchased for resale

  548     349     336     13     805     365     360     5  

Ammonium sulfate

  82     335     134     201     92     306     172     134  

ESN and other

  176     211  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Wholesale

  2,034     426     311     115     2,636     403     338     65  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Wholesale share of joint ventures

Nitrogen

  52     408     429     (21   62     433     282     151  

Product purchased for resale

  85     310     297     13     64     328     320     8  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
  137     347     347     —       126     380     302     78  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Wholesale including proportionate share in joint ventures

  2,171     421     313     108     2,762     401     336     65  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

11


AGRIUM INC.

Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2015

(Millions of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

3. Expenses

 

Other expenses

   Three months ended
March 31,
 
     2015      2014  

Gain on derivatives not designated as hedges, net of foreign exchange

     (1      (35

Interest income

     (17      (11

Gain on sale of assets

     (38      —    

Environmental remediation and asset retirement obligations

     9        (2

Bad debt expense

     7        5  

Potash profit and capital tax

     5        3  

Other

     2        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
  (33   (40
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

4. Earnings per Share

 

Attributable to equity holders of Agrium

   Three months ended
March 31,
 
     2015      2014  

Numerator

     

Net earnings from continuing operations

     12        11  

Net loss from discontinued operations

     —          (9
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net earnings

  12     2  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Denominator (millions)

Weighted average number of shares outstanding for basic and diluted earnings per share

  144     144  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

5. Debt

 

     Maturity      Rate (%)  (1)      March 31,
2015
     December 31,
2014
 

Short-term debt

           

Commercial paper

     2015        0.57         144        1,117  

Credit facilities

        4.85         121        410  
        

 

 

    

 

 

 
  265     1,527  
        

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (1) Weighted average rates at March 31, 2015.

During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we issued $550-million of 3.375 percent debentures and $450-million of 4.125 percent debentures due March 2025 and March 2035, respectively. The debentures were issued under our base shelf prospectus, which permits issuance in Canada and the United States of common shares, debt and other securities up to $2.5-billion, less the offering price of securities issued between the 2014 filing date of the base shelf prospectus and May 2016. Issuance of further securities under the base shelf prospectus requires filing a prospectus supplement and is subject to the availability of funding in capital markets.

 

12


AGRIUM INC.

Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2015

(Millions of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

6. Share-based Payments

In December 2014, the Board of Directors approved changes to the Stock Option Plan applicable to awards granted subsequent to January 1, 2015. Share-based payments granted to officers in Canada will consist of performance share units (“PSUs”) and stock options without cash-settled tandem stock appreciation rights. The Stock Option Plan provides for settlement through the issuance of common shares. We determine the fair value of stock options on their grant date using the Black-Scholes model. Eligible non-officer employees will receive PSUs and restricted share units (“RSUs”). All PSU awards will include an additional performance metric based on free cash flow per share. RSU awards entitle the holder to receive the value of a common share plus accumulated dividends at the end of the three-year vesting period. We settle RSU awards in cash, with fair value determined using the Black-Scholes model.

During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we recorded $45-million (2014 – $31-million) of share-based payments expense. We granted the following share-based compensation awards to officers and employees.

 

Award type

   Number      Grant price  

Stock options

     449,149        115.87  

Stock appreciation rights

     72,370        115.87  

Share units

     273,163        N/A   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

7. Financial Instruments

Commodity price risk

 

Natural gas derivative financial instruments outstanding (notional amounts in millions of MMBtu)

 
     March 31,     December 31,  
     2015     2014  
     Notional      Maturities      Average
contract
price
(USD per
MMBtu)
     Fair value
of assets
(liabilities)
    Notional      Maturities      Average
contract
price
(USD per
MMBtu)
     Fair value
of assets
(liabilities)
 

Not designated as hedges

                      

NYMEX swaps

     —          —          —          —         1        2015        3.83        (1

AECO swaps

     —          —          —          —         10        2015        3.40        (10
           

 

 

            

 

 

 
  —       (11
           

 

 

            

 

 

 

Designated as hedges

NYMEX swaps

  2     2015     2.79     (1   —       —       —       —    

AECO swaps

  92     2015 – 2018      2.90     (37   69     2015 – 2018      3.32     (25
           

 

 

            

 

 

 
  (38   (25
           

 

 

            

 

 

 

 

     Fair value of assets (liabilities)  

Maturities of natural gas derivative contracts

   2015     2016     2017     2018  

Designated as hedges

     (4     (15     (10     (9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

13


AGRIUM INC.

Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2015

(Millions of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

Impact of change in fair value of natural gas derivative financial instruments

   March 31,      December 31,  
     2015      2014  

A $10-million impact to net earnings requires movement in gas prices per MMBtu

     —          1.23  

A $10-million impact to other comprehensive income requires movement in gas prices per MMBtu

     0.95        0.19  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Use of derivatives to hedge exposure to natural gas market price risk

                           

Term (gas year – 12 months ending October 31)

     2015        2016        2017        2018  

Maximum allowable (% of forecasted gas requirements)

     75        75        75        25  (1) 

Forecasted average monthly purchases (millions MMBtu)

     8        9        9        9  

Gas requirements hedged using derivatives designated as hedges (%)

     32        25        25        17  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Maximum monthly hedged volume may not exceed 90 percent of planned monthly requirements.

For our natural gas derivatives designated in hedging relationships, the underlying risk of the forward contracts is identical to the hedged risk, and accordingly we have established a hedge ratio of 1:1. Due to a strong correlation between AECO future contract prices and our delivered cost, we did not experience any ineffectiveness on our hedges, and accordingly we have recorded the full change in the fair value of natural gas forward contracts designated as hedges to other comprehensive income.

Currency risk

 

Foreign exchange derivative financial instruments outstanding (notional amounts in millions of U.S. dollars)

 
     March 31,     December 31,  
     2015     2014  

Sell/Buy

   Notional      Maturities      Fair value
of assets
(liabilities)
    Notional      Maturities      Fair value
of assets
(liabilities)
 

Not designated as hedges

                

Forwards

                

USD/CAD

     20        2015        —         —          —           —    

CAD/USD

     928        2015        2       1,675        2015        31  

USD/AUD

     17        2015        (3     33        2015        (3

AUD/USD

     5        2015        —         12        2015        —    

Swaps

                

USD/AUD

     41        2015        (4     26        2015        (1

AUD/USD

     36        2015        6       21        2015        2  

Options

                

USD/CAD

     275        2015        (3     —          —           —    

CAD/USD

     20        2015        —         —          —           —    
        

 

 

         

 

 

 
  (2   29  
        

 

 

         

 

 

 

 

14


AGRIUM INC.

Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2015

(Millions of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

     March 31,      December 31,  
     2015      2014  

Financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis

   Fair value      Carrying
value
     Fair value      Carrying
value
 
   Level 1      Level 2         Level 1      Level 2     

Cash and cash equivalents

     —          780        780        —          848        848  

Accounts receivable – derivatives

     —          10        10        —          33        33  

Other current financial assets – marketable securities

     20        103        123        24        70        94  

Accounts payable – derivatives

     —          19        19        —          18        18  

Other financial liabilities – derivatives

     —          31        31        —          22        22  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other financial instruments

Current portion of long-term debt

Floating rate debt – amortized cost

  —       1     1     —       11     11  

Long-term debt

Debentures – amortized cost

  —       4,976     4,468     —       3,879     3,483  

Fixed and floating rate debt – amortized cost

  —       66     66     —       76     76  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

There have been no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements in the three months ended March 31, 2015 or March 31, 2014. We do not measure any of our financial instruments using Level 3 inputs.

 

8. Additional Information

Property, plant and equipment

At the end of 2014, we completed a major turnaround to tie in the expansion project at our Vanscoy potash facility. The assets related to the expansion project became available for use during the three months ended March 31, 2015 resulting in the transfer of $2.6-billion from assets under construction to buildings and improvements, and machinery and equipment.

During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we added $197-million to assets under construction at our Vanscoy potash facility to facilitate the ramp-up of annual capacity by one million tonnes and $121-million to assets under construction at our Borger Nitrogen facility.

Dividends

 

March 31,

 

2015

 

Declared

     Paid to       

Effective

   Per share      Total     

Shareholders

   Total  

December 11, 2014

     0.78        112      January 21, 2015      109  

February 24, 2015

     0.78        112      April 16, 2015      N/A   

Normal course issuer bid

In January 2015, the Toronto Stock Exchange accepted our Normal Course Issuer Bid (“NCIB”). Under the NCIB, we may purchase for cancellation up to 5 percent of our currently issued and outstanding common shares until January 25, 2016. The actual number of shares purchased will be at Agrium’s discretion and will depend on market conditions, share prices, Agrium’s cash position and other factors. From April 1, 2015 to May 5, 2015, we purchased 711,648 shares at an average share price of $105.39 for total consideration of $75-million.

 

15


AGRIUM INC.

Summarized Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2015

(Millions of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

9. Significant Accounting Policies

Except as described below, the accounting policies applied in these interim financial statements are the same as those applied in our 2014 Annual Report.

Changes in Accounting Estimates

As at January 1, 2015, we changed the method of depreciation for the Vanscoy potash facility mining and milling assets from the straight-line basis to the units of production basis. These assets will be depreciated based on the shorter of estimates of reserves or service lives. The change in method of depreciation reflects our expectations of changes in the expected pattern of consumption of the future economic benefits of the assets based on a review of our Vanscoy potash facility. In December 2014, the Vanscoy potash facility completed a major turnaround and recommenced production in an expanded facility that added approximately 50 percent to its existing capacity. The change in estimate is accounted for prospectively. The current and expected reduction in depreciation expense is 2015 – $32-million and 2016 – $12-million.

As at January 1, 2015, based on a review of the expected timing of future expenditures, we revised our estimate for decommissioning costs of our nitrogen assets. The revision in estimate decreased our asset retirement obligation provision by $55-million and decreased our property, plant and equipment by $55-million. The current reduction in depreciation and accretion expense for the three months ended March 31, 2015 is $1-million. The expected reduction in depreciation and accretion expense is $4-million in each of the years 2015 through 2018.

 

16

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