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Agrium Reports First Quarter Earnings

01.05.2017  |  Marketwire

CALGARY, AB--(Marketwired - May 01, 2017) -

ALL AMOUNTS ARE STATED IN U.S.$

Agrium Inc. (TSX: AGU) (NYSE: AGU) announced today its 2017 first quarter results, with a net loss to equity holders of Agrium of $11-million ($0.08 diluted loss per share) compared to net earnings to equity holders of $2-million ($0.02 diluted earnings per share) in the first quarter of 2016. The reduction in net earnings was driven primarily by higher natural gas prices and lower phosphate prices relative to the first quarter of 2016.

Highlights:

  • 2017 first quarter guidance relevant loss was $9-million or $0.07 diluted loss per share1.
  • Wholesale achieved 16 percent higher sales volume than the same period of 2016, with higher volumes across all three nutrients.
  • We set a first quarter record for potash production this quarter demonstrating the value of our focus on operational excellence.
  • We successfully commissioned the new urea facility at our Borger Nitrogen Operations in Texas. We expect to reach full operational capacity by the end of the second quarter of 2017. The new facility has 610,000 tonne urea production capacity, including 100,000 tonne urea equivalent of Diesel Exhaust Fluid.
  • Our Australian Retail operations continue to generate impressive results, with a 29 percent increase in EBITDA this quarter, a new record for first quarter performance.
  • We increased total sales of proprietary products by over 2 percent, and increased gross profit from proprietary products by 17 percent compared to the first quarter of 2016.
  • Agrium has updated our 2017 annual guidance to a range of $4.75 to $5.75 diluted earnings per share (see page 3 for guidance assumptions and further details).
  • The merger with PotashCorp remains on-track for a mid-year closing.

"The first quarter is the seasonally slowest quarter for our business and the wet weather in March compounded this. The spring application and planting season is now underway and we expect solid first half results, even with the shift in acres this year from corn to soybeans and cotton in the U.S.," commented Chuck Magro, Agrium's President and CEO. "Integration preparations for the pending merger with PotashCorp are progressing well and we remain confident in delivering the $500-million in annual operating synergies and completing the deal by mid-year," added Mr. Magro.

1 Effective tax rate of 27.5 percent for the first quarter of 2017 was used for the adjusted net loss, guidance relevant loss and per share calculations. These are non-IFRS measures which represent net earnings (loss) adjusted for certain income (expenses) that are considered to be non-operational in nature. We believe these measures provide meaningful comparison to the earnings (loss) of other companies and our guidance by eliminating share-based payments expense (recovery), gains (losses) on foreign exchange and related gains (losses) on non-qualifying derivative hedges and significant non-operating, non-recurring items. Our guidance is forward-looking information. We present guidance relevant earnings (loss) per share to provide an update to this previously disclosed forward-looking information. 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.

   
Adjusted Net Loss and Guidance Relevant Loss Reconciliations  
  Three months ended  
  March 31, 2017  
 
 
(millions of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts)
 
 
Expense
 
 
 
Net loss
impact
(post-tax
 
 
)
 
 
Per share(a
 
 
)
      (10 ) (0.08 )
Adjustments:            
  Share-based payments 3   2   0.01  
  Foreign exchange loss net of non-qualifying derivatives 6   4   0.04  
  Merger and related costs 16   12   0.09  
  Earnings from an associate (16 ) (12 ) (0.09 )
Adjusted net loss (b)     (4 ) (0.03 )
  Gain on sale of assets (7 ) (5 ) (0.04 )
Guidance relevant loss (b)     (9 ) (0.07 )

(a) Diluted per share information attributable to equity holders of Agrium
(b) First quarter effective tax rate of 27.5 percent was used for the adjusted net loss, guidance relevant loss, and per
share calculations.

Market Outlook

Agriculture and Crop Input Fundamentals

  • The United States Department of Agriculture ("USDA") Prospective Plantings report stated that U.S. growers intend to make significant shifts to crop acreage in 2017, including increasing soybean area by over six million acres and cotton area by over two million acres, at the expense of corn and wheat area. While U.S. spring fieldwork began early in 2017, wet weather throughout March and April has delayed activity across much of the U.S. Midwest, and may influence planting decisions as prices for some crops have performed better than others. Western Canada fertilizer volumes may be impacted in the second quarter by cool and wet weather which has delayed the start of the application season significantly compared to last year and given there are still crops left to be harvested from the previous fall.
  • The decline in North American corn acreage is expected to lower crop input demand this year. However, much of this impact is expected to be offset by the anticipated increase in soybean, cotton and canola acreage, which is projected to increase by close to 10 million acres combined in the U.S. and Canada.
  • Favorable weather supported another year of record South American corn and soybean production, with the USDA projecting combined Brazilian and Argentine corn and soybean production to increase by 38 percent and 9 percent, respectively. Strong South American production is expected to take some export market share from the U.S. in the coming months, which has led to pressure on futures prices, particularly for soybeans.

Nitrogen

  • Chinese urea exports declined by 50 percent in the first quarter of 2017 compared to 2016 levels, driven by reduced production. The reduction in Chinese urea exports was somewhat offset by reduced Indian urea imports, which were down approximately 69 percent in the first quarter of 2017 compared to 2016 levels. Analysts project that Indian urea imports could increase by approximately 25 percent in 2017, which would provide support to global demand and prices in the second half of 2017, depending on the strength of the monsoon season.
  • North American nitrogen prices came under pressure over the past few months due to a combination of a delay to the start of the U.S. application season, high volumes of offshore urea imports that arrived in January and February, and buyer caution due to the anticipation of new U.S. capacity coming on stream in 2017. We expect a strong spring application season this year, particularly in Western Canada as the fall season was constrained by weather challenges.
  • Global export prices of urea have been supported by an upward shift in raw material costs in China and Europe. Chinese coal costs were up between 13 and 60 percent, while European hub natural gas prices were up approximately 40 percent year-over-year in the first quarter of 2017.

Potash

  • Global potash shipments finished strong in 2016 and the momentum has carried forward into 2017, which has maintained relatively low supply availability.
  • Brazilian demand started 2017 particularly strong, as first quarter imports set a record, up more than 35 percent from 2016 levels. Indian potash demand was also strong in the first quarter of 2017, up 54 percent year-over-year. There is some concern about the reduction in the Indian potash subsidy for 2017/18; however, any resulting increase in Indian retail prices is expected to be modest relative to the significant price decline that occurred a year ago.
  • 2017 potash contracts between Chinese and Indian buyers and global potash suppliers remain outstanding.
  • Global potash production rates have increased and further capacity additions are expected in 2017, which could lead buyers to be cautious following the spring application season.

Phosphate

  • The global phosphate supply and demand balance was relatively tight throughout the first quarter of 2017, partially driven by pent-up demand that emerged once prices began to improve. This was evident in Brazil, where imports of diammonium phosphate and monoammoium phosphate set a record in the first quarter of 2017, up more than 160 percent year-over-year.
  • In recent weeks, demand has seasonally slowed down and global exportable supplies have increased, which has pressured finished phosphate prices; however, prices remain well-above late-2016 lows.
  • Some of the support for phosphate prices has also come from high input costs, specifically increased ammonia and sulfur prices, which have declined from early 2017 highs, but remain above the prices observed in the second half of 2016.

2017 Annual guidance

Based on our assumptions set out under the heading "Market Outlook", Agrium expects to achieve annual diluted earnings per share of $4.75 to $5.75 in 2017 compared to our previous estimate of $4.50 to $6.00 per share. We have narrowed the range width encompassing approximately $200-million of EBITDA variability. We are issuing earnings guidance of $3.75 to $4.25 diluted earnings per share for the first half of 2017.

We maintain our Retail EBITDA range of $1.125-billion to $1.225-billion while our Retail crop nutrient sales volumes are now expected to range between 10.0 million and 10.4 million tonnes in 2017.

Based on our utilization rate for our nitrogen assets, we maintain our nitrogen production range of 3.6 million to 3.8 million tonnes.Our earnings per share guidance assumes NYMEX gas prices will be between $3.10 and $3.60 per MMBtu in 2017.

Agrium's expectation for potash production in 2017 remains between 2.4 million and 2.8 million tonnes.

Total capital expenditures are expected to be in the range of $600-million to $700-million, of which approximately $450-million to $500-million is expected to be sustaining capital expenditures.

Agrium's annual effective tax rate for 2017 is expected to range between 27 to 29 percent.

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

 
2017 Annual Guidance Range and Assumptions
  Annual
  Low High
Diluted EPS (in U.S. dollars) $4.75 $5.75
Guidance assumptions:    
Wholesale:    
  Production tonnes:    
    Nitrogen (millions) 3.6 3.8
    Potash (millions) 2.4 2.8
Retail:    
  EBITDA (millions of U.S. dollars) $1,125 $1,225
  Crop nutrient sales tonnes (millions) 10.0 10.4
Other:    
  Tax rate 29% 27%
  Sustaining capital expenditures (millions of U.S. dollars) $450 $500
  Total capital expenditures (millions of U.S. dollars) $600 $700
       

May 1, 2017

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) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and is presented in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 €“ Interim Financial Reporting. All comparisons of results for the first quarter of 2017 (three months ended March 31, 2017) are against results for the first quarter of 2016 (three months ended March 31, 2016). All dollar amounts refer to United States (U.S.) dollars except where otherwise stated. The financial measures net earnings (loss) before finance costs, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations (EBITDA) and cash gross margin per tonne used in this MD&A are not prescribed by IFRS. 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. These non-IFRS financial measures should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Please refer to the section entitled "Non-IFRS Financial Measures" of this MD&A for further details, including a reconciliation of such measure to its most directly comparable measure calculated in accordance with IFRS.

The following interim MD&A is as of May 1, 2017 and should be read in conjunction with the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements for the three months ended March 31, 2017 (the "Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements"), and the annual MD&A and financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016 included in our 2016 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 except for material information since the date of our annual MD&A. In respect of Forward-Looking Statements, please refer to the section titled "Forward-Looking Statements" in this MD&A.

2017 First Quarter Operating Results  
   
CONSOLIDATED NET EARNINGS  
   
Financial Overview              
   
  Three months ended March 31,  
(millions of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts and where noted) 2017   2016 Change   % Change  
Sales 2,720   2,725 (5 ) -  
Gross profit 558   554 4   1  
Expenses 501   479 22   5  
Net earnings before finance costs, income taxes and              
  net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations (EBIT) 57   75 (18 ) (24 )
Net earnings (loss) (10 ) 3 (13 ) (433 )
Diluted earnings (loss) per share (0.08 ) 0.02 (0.10 ) (500 )
Effective tax rate (%) 27.5   29 N/A   N/A  
               
   
Sales and Gross Profit  
             
  Three months ended March 31,  
(millions of U.S. dollars) 2017   2016   Change  
Sales            
  Retail 2,240   2,290   (50 )
  Wholesale 675   649   26  
  Other (195 ) (214 ) 19  
  2,720   2,725   (5 )
             
Gross profit            
  Retail 434   402   32  
  Wholesale 142   153   (11 )
  Other (18 ) (1 ) (17 )
  558   554   4  
             
  • Retail's sales decreased in the first quarter of 2017 primarily as a result of lower crop nutrient prices. Despite lower sales, Retail's gross profit increased as a result of higher sales of proprietary products that have higher margins.
  • Wholesale's sales increased in the first quarter compared to the same period last year due to higher sales volume for all product lines partially offset by lower realized selling prices, which were consistent with benchmark pricing, across most product lines. Despite an increase in sales volumes, gross profit was lower primarily due to lower global fertilizer prices and higher natural gas input costs.

Expenses

  • Selling expense increased by $37-million (9 percent) as a result of incremental costs from the recent acquisitions and higher fuel costs.
  • Earnings from associates and joint ventures increased primarily due to the devaluation of the Egyptian pound that led to a foreign exchange gain in Misr Fertilizers Production Company S.A.E. ("MOPCO").
  • Other expenses remained consistent with prior period. During the quarter, we incurred merger and related costs of $16-million, partially offset by a gain from sale of assets of $7-million.

For further breakdown on Other expenses, see table below:

Other expenses breakdown        
     
  Three months ended March 31,  
(millions of U.S. dollars) 2017   2016  
Loss on foreign exchange and related derivatives 6   2  
Interest income (13 ) (13 )
Environmental remediation and asset retirement obligations (1 ) 2  
Bad debt expense 7   8  
Potash profit and capital tax 3   3  
Merger and related costs 16   -  
Other (8 ) 9  
  10   11  
         
           
Depreciation and Amortization          
                 
Depreciation and amortization breakdown
  Three months ended March 31,
  2017 2016
(millions of U.S. dollars) Cost of
product
sold


Selling
General
and
administrative


Total
Cost of
product
sold


Selling
General
and
administrative


Total
Retail 2 67 2 71 2 63 2 67
Wholesale                
  Nitrogen 16 - - 16 13 - - 13
  Potash 29 - - 29 20 - - 20
  Phosphate 16 - - 16 10 - - 10
  Wholesale Other (a) 3 - - 3 1 - - 1
  64 - - 64 44 - - 44
Other - - 4 4 - - 3 3
Total 66 67 6 139 46 63 5 114
                 

(a) This includes ammonium sulfate, Environmentally Smart Nitrogen ® (ESN) and other products.

  • Depreciation and amortization expense increased in the first quarter of 2017 primarily due to higher Wholesale sales volumes as we calculate property, plant and equipment directly related to our nitrogen, phosphate and potash depreciation expense on a units-of-production basis.

Effective Tax Rate

  • The effective tax rate of 27.5 percent for the first quarter of 2017 was lower than the tax rate of 29 percent for the same period in 2016 due to tax treatment of losses on derivative financial instruments in 2016.

Business segment performance

   
Retail  
             
  Three months ended March 31,  
(millions of U.S. dollars, except where noted) 2017   2016   Change  
Sales 2,240   2,290   (50 )
Cost of product sold 1,806   1,888   (82 )
Gross profit 434   402   32  
EBIT (21 ) (23 ) 2  
EBITDA 50   44   6  
Selling and general and administrative expenses 473   432   41  
             
  • Retail reported higher first quarter EBITDA and gross profit this year, with improved results from both our North American and International segments. Despite lower U.S. corn acreage this year, demand for crop inputs was steady in the first quarter.
  • Total Retail selling and general and administrative expenses were up by $41-million compared to the prior year, largely due to additional expenses related to recent acquisitions, additional expenses in Australia as well as higher payroll-related and fuel and maintenance costs in North America.
  • Regionally, U.S. EBITDA lagged compared to the prior year due to weather delays to the start of the spring season, especially in the West and Midwest regions of the U.S., where rainfalls have been significantly higher than the prior year. Our Canadian operations achieved slightly higher year-over-year results, and Australia achieved $8-million higher EBITDA compared to the prior year, reflecting strong crop protection product sales and higher livestock revenues.
 
Retail sales and gross profit by product line        
  Three months ended March 31,
  Sales   Gross profit   Gross profit (%)
(millions of U.S. dollars, except where noted) 2017 2016 Change   2017 2016 Change   2017 2016
Crop nutrients 714 839 (125)   141 134 7   20 16
Crop protection products 872 831 41   130 121 9   15 15
Seed 382 376 6   54 51 3   14 14
Merchandise 134 117 17   22 19 3   16 16
Services and other 138 127 11   87 77 10   63 61
                     

Crop nutrients

  • Total crop nutrient sales were 15 percent lower this quarter compared to the same period last year, due to lower fertilizer prices across most nutrients. Nutrient volumes were 6 percent lower compared to the prior year, which was driven by lower sales in Australia and weather delays in North America, particularly relative to the early spring in 2016.
  • Total crop nutrient gross profit was 5 percent higher, and margins per tonne increased by $9 per tonne compared to the first quarter of last year, as lower cost of product sold more than offset the lower selling prices.

Crop protection products

  • Total crop protection sales were up 5 percent this quarter due to higher demand and sales volumes. The U.S., Australia and South America all saw increased crop protection sales.
  • Gross profit was 7 percent higher due to an increase in proprietary product sales. Proprietary product margins as a percentage of sales improved by 4 percent compared to the same period last year due to decreased product input costs and operational excellence efficiencies. Canada saw particularly strong increases in proprietary product margins, as we continue to grow our penetration of these products in the region.
  • Proprietary crop protection sales as a percentage of total sales were 24 percent this quarter, in line with the same period last year.

Seed

  • Total seed sales increased 2 percent over the prior period, with steady demand for seed for the spring season and strong performance this quarter in Canada and South America. Seed results were supported by higher soybean seed sales in the U.S. and strong canola seed sales in Canada. Both soybean and canola seeds favor a higher proportion of higher-margin proprietary seed sales for Agrium Retail.
  • Seed gross profit improved by 6 percent, largely driven by increased proprietary seed margins and sales.

Merchandise

  • Merchandise sales increased 15 percent, and gross profit increased 16 percent. These results were primarily driven by higher fuel prices in Canada.

Services and other

  • Sales for services and other were up 9 percent this quarter, while gross profit was 13 percent higher. The increase in sales and gross profit was primarily related to higher livestock sales in Australia.
             
Wholesale            
             
  Three months ended March 31,  
(millions of U.S. dollars, except where noted) 2017   2016   Change  
Sales 675   649   26  
Sales volumes (tonnes 000's) 2,236   1,926   310  
Cost of product sold 533   496   37  
Gross profit 142   153   (11 )
EBIT 131   119   12  
EBITDA 195   163   32  
Expenses (including earnings from associates and joint ventures) 11   34   (23 )
Earnings from associates and joint ventures (16 ) (1 ) (15 )
             
  • Wholesale gross profit this quarter was slightly lower than the same period last year due to higher natural gas prices and lower global phosphate and nitrogen fertilizer prices which more than offset the benefits of higher total sales volumes and overall lower cost of product sold per tonne.
  • EBITDA in the current quarter was 20 percent higher than the same period last year due to higher earnings from associates and joint ventures and lower costs related to ongoing Operational Excellence initiatives.
 
Wholesale NPK product information
  Three months ended March 31,
  Nitrogen   Potash   Phosphate
(millions of U.S. dollars, except where noted)
2017 2016 Change   2017 2016 Change   2017 2016 Change
Gross profit (millions) 77 95 (18)   35 14 21   7 20 (13)
Sales volumes (tonnes 000's) 772 741 31   636 456 180   288 220 68
Selling price ($/tonne) 311 338 (27)   208 199 9   466 589 (123)
Cost of product sold ($/tonne) 211 209 2   153 168 (15)   440 499 (59)
Gross margin ($/tonne) 100 129 (29)   55 31 24   26 90 (64)
                       

Nitrogen

  • Nitrogen gross profit was down 19 percent compared to the same period last year due to lower North American nitrogen prices and higher average natural gas input costs. Average realized selling prices per tonne were down 8 percent compared to the same period last year.
  • Total sales volumes were up 4 percent over the same period last year. Urea sales volumes increased by 13 percent due to strong Western Canadian demand, reflecting reduced fall applications in 2016 due to weather conditions. Ammonia sales remained approximately the same compared to last year.
  • Cost of product sold per tonne increased slightly compared to the same period last year due to higher natural gas input costs and outages at Borger, which were partly offset by overall lower fixed costs. Total nitrogen margins averaged $100 per tonne this quarter, while urea margins averaged $131 per tonne.
     
Natural gas prices: North American indices and North American Agrium prices
  Three months ended March 31,
(U.S. dollars per MMBtu) 2017 2016
Overall gas cost excluding realized derivative impact 2.34 1.61
Realized derivative impact 0.27 0.33
Overall gas cost 2.61 1.94
Average NYMEX 3.25 2.05
Average AECO 2.21 1.53
     

Potash

  • Potash gross profit more than doubled compared to the same period last year, primarily due to higher production and sales volumes related to the continued ramp up of the Vanscoy expansion project and stronger global demand.
  • Sales volumes were 39 percent higher in the current period with domestic sales volumes up 44 percent and international volumes up 34 percent.
  • Average realized selling prices increased slightly over the past year with North American prices up over last year, which was mostly offset by lower international prices over the same period.
  • Our cost of product sold per tonne was 9 percent lower than the same period last year due to higher production volumes and fixed cost savings. Average potash margins increased by 77 percent per tonne and cash margins this quarter averaged $100 per tonne.

Phosphate

  • Phosphate gross profit was 65 percent lower than the same period last year due to continued pressure on phosphate benchmark prices.
  • Sales volumes were 31 percent higher than the same period last year due to a shift in sales from the fourth quarter of 2016 to the first quarter of the year for certain customers, and strong domestic demand in the current quarter.
  • Cost of product sold per tonne was down 12 percent compared to the same period last year due to lower input costs.
         
Wholesale Other  
         
Wholesale Other: gross profit breakdown  
  Three months ended March 31,  
(millions of U.S. dollars) 2017 2016 Change  
Ammonium sulfate 12 10 2  
ESN 8 8 -  
Other 3 6 (3 )
  23 24 (1 )
         
  • Gross profit from Wholesale Other was lower than the same period last year primarily driven by lower overall realized nutrient prices, which has been partly offset by higher sales volumes of ammonium sulfate throughout the quarter.

Expenses

  • Wholesale expenses decreased by $23-million in the current quarter primarily due to $15-million of higher earnings from associates and joint ventures and lower selling and general and administrative expenses compared to the same period last year. Earnings from associates and joint ventures increased this quarter as a result of the devaluation of Egyptian pound in MOPCO.

Other

EBITDA for our Other non-operating business unit for the first quarter of 2017 was a net expense of $49-million, compared to a net expense of $18-million for the first quarter of 2016. The variance was primarily due to:

  • Higher gross profit elimination of $17-million as a result of higher intersegment inventory held at the end of the first quarter of 2017
  • Merger and related costs of $16-million

FINANCIAL CONDITION

The following are changes to working capital on our Consolidated Balance Sheets for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to December 31, 2016.

(millions of U.S. dollars, except where noted) March 31,  2017 December 31,  2016 $ Change % Change   Explanation of the change in the balance
Current assets            
  Cash and cash equivalents 262 412 (150) (36%)   See discussion under the section "Liquidity and Capital Resources".
                 
  Accounts receivable 2,315 2,208 107 5%   -
  Income taxes receivable 54 33 21 64%   -
  Inventories 4,537 3,230 1,307 40%   Seasonal Retail inventory build-up in preparation for the spring season.
  Prepaid expenses and deposits 253 855 (602) (70%)   Drawdown of prepaid inventory as Retail took delivery of product in anticipation of the spring season.
  Other current assets 134 123 11 9%   -
Current liabilities            
  Short-term debt 678 604 74 12%   Increase primarily due to seasonally higher working capital requirements.
  Accounts payable 5,603 4,662 941 20%   Retail inventory purchases and customer prepayments made in anticipation of the spring season.
  Income taxes payable - 17 (17) (100%)   -
  Current portion of long-term debt 10 110 (100) (91%)   Decrease relates to $100-million 7.7 percent debentures paid in 2017.
  Current portion of other provisions 55 59 (4) (7%)   -
Working capital 1,209 1,409 (200) (14%)    

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Agrium generally expects that it will be able to meet its working capital requirements, capital resource needs and shareholder returns through a variety of sources, including available cash on hand, cash provided by operations, short-term borrowings from the issuance of commercial paper, and borrowings from our credit facilities, as well as long-term debt and equity capacity from the capital markets.

As of March 31, 2017, we have sufficient current assets to meet our current liabilities.

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) 2017   2016   Change  
Cash provided by operating activities 178   343   (165 )
Cash used in investing activities (187 ) (277 ) 90  
Cash used in financing activities (160 ) (325 ) 165  
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 19   20   (1 )
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents (150 ) (239 ) 89  
             
   
Cash provided by operating activities €¢ Lower cash provided by operating activities due to net changes in non-cash working capital of $282-million, primarily arising from timing of payments to our suppliers in our Retail business unit. This was partially offset by lower final tax payments made of $102-million in comparison to the prior year.
Cash used in investing activities €¢ Lower cash used in investing activities due to reduced business acquisition activity in our Retail business unit and lower spending on Borger expansion project in comparison to the prior year.
Cash used in financing activities €¢ Lower cash used in financing activities. We paid down less short and long-term debt this year in comparison to prior year.
   
     
Capital Spending and Expenditures (a)    
  Three months ended
  March 31,
(millions of U.S. dollars) 2017 2016
Retail    
  Sustaining 47 47
  Investing 13 9
  60 56
  Acquisitions (b) 30 94
  90 150
Wholesale    
  Sustaining 26 49
  Investing 55 68
  81 117
Other    
  Sustaining - 1
  Investing 2 -
  2 1
Total    
  Sustaining 73 97
  Investing 70 77
  143 174
  Acquisitions (b) 30 94
  173 268
     

(a) This excludes capitalized borrowing costs.
(b) This represents business acquisitions and includes acquired working capital; property, plant and equipment; intangibles; goodwill; and investments in associates and joint ventures.

  • Our total capital expenditures decreased in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the same period last year due to completion of the construction of our Borger expansion project at the end of 2016. In 2017, pre-commissioning and commissioning costs were incurred related to this project.
  • We expect Agrium's capital expenditures for the remainder of 2017 to approximate $600-million to $700-million. We anticipate that we will be able to finance the announced projects through a combination of cash provided from operating activities and existing credit facilities.

Short-term Debt

  • Our short-term debt of $678-million at March 31, 2017 is outlined in note 6 of our Summarized Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements.
  • Our short-term debt increased by $74-million during the first three months of 2017, which in turn contributed to a decrease in our unutilized short-term financing capacity to $2.7-billion at March 31, 2017.

Capital Management

  • 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, 2017. Our ability to comply with these covenants has not changed since December 31, 2016.

OUTSTANDING SHARE DATA

Agrium had 138,176,418 outstanding shares at April 28, 2017. At April 28, 2017, the number of shares issuable pursuant to stock options outstanding (issuable assuming full conversion, where each option granted can be exercised for one common share) was approximately 1,381,612.

 
SELECTED QUARTERLY INFORMATION
                     
  2017   2016 2016   2016 2016 2015 2015 2015
(millions of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts) Q1   Q4 Q3   Q2 Q1 Q4 Q3 Q2
Sales 2,720   2,280 2,245   6,415 2,725 2,407 2,524 6,992
Gross profit 558   748 568   1,525 554 900 696 1,708
Net earnings (loss) (10 ) 67 (39 ) 565 3 200 99 675
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to equity holders of Agrium:                    
  Basic and diluted (0.08 ) 0.49 (0.29 ) 4.08 0.02 1.45 0.72 4.71
Dividends declared 120   121 120   122 121 121 120 125
Dividends declared per share 0.875   0.875 0.875   0.875 0.875 0.875 0.875 0.875
                     

The agricultural products business is seasonal. Consequently, year-over-year comparisons 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 from accounts receivables generally occur after the application season is complete, and our customer prepayments are concentrated in December and January.

NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES

Financial measures that are not specified, defined or determined under IFRS are non-IFRS measures unless they are presented in our Consolidated Financial Statements. The following table outlines our non-IFRS financial measures, their definitions and why management uses the measures.

     
Non-IFRS financial measure Definition Why we use the measure and why it is useful to investors
Cash margin per tonne Selected financial measures excluding depreciation and amortization Assists management and investors in understanding the costs and underlying economics of our operations and in assessing our operating performance and our ability to generate free cash flow from our business units and overall as a company.
EBITDA Net earnings (loss) before finance costs, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations EBITDA is 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 used in determining annual incentive compensation for certain management employees and in calculating certain of our debt covenants.
     
   
Wholesale potash cash gross margin per tonne  
  Three months ended
  March 31, 2017
(millions of U.S. dollars)  
Potash gross margin per tonne 55
Depreciation and amortization in cost of product sold per tonne 45
Potash cash gross margin per tonne 100
   
               
Consolidated and business unit EBITDA Three months ended March 31,  
(millions of U.S. dollars) Retail   Wholesale Other   Consolidated  
2017              
Net loss           (10 )
Finance costs related to long-term debt           47  
Other finance costs           23  
Income taxes           (3 )
EBIT (21 ) 131 (53 ) 57  
Depreciation and amortization 71   64 4   139  
EBITDA 50   195 (49 ) 196  
2016              
Net earnings           3  
Finance costs related to long-term debt           52  
Other finance costs           18  
Income taxes           2  
EBIT (23 ) 119 (21 ) 75  
Depreciation and amortization 67   44 3   114  
EBITDA 44   163 (18 ) 189  
               

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

We prepare our Condensed Consolidated 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 2016 annual MD&A, which is contained in our 2016 Annual Report. Since the date of our 2016 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 Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the three months ended March 31, 2017 are the same as those applied in our audited annual financial statements in our 2016 Annual Report, with the exception of changes in accounting policies described in note 7 of our Summarized Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

BUSINESS RISKS

The information presented in the "Enterprise Risk Management" section on pages 52 - 56 in our 2016 annual MD&A and under the heading "Risk Factors" on pages 23 - 38 in our Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2016 has not changed materially since December 31, 2016.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended March 31, 2017 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 2016 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.

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 news release 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: 2017 annual guidance, including expectations regarding our diluted earnings per share and Retail EBITDA; capital spending expectations for 2017; expectations regarding performance of our business segments in 2017; expectations regarding completion of previously announced expansion projects (including timing and volumes of production associated therewith) and acquisitions; our market outlook for 2017, including nitrogen, potash and phosphate outlook and including anticipated supply and demand for our products and services, expected market and industry conditions with respect to crop nutrient application rates, planted acres, crop mix, prices and the impact of currency fluctuations and import and export volumes; and the proposed merger with PotashCorp, including timing of completion thereof. 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.

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, including 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 2017 and in the future; 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; the 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 projects' approach; the receipt, on a timely basis, of regulatory approvals in respect of the proposed merger with PotashCorp and satisfaction of other closing conditions relating thereto. Also refer to the discussion under the heading "Key Assumptions and Risks in Respect of Forward-Looking Statements" in our 2016 annual MD&A and under the heading "Market Outlook" herein, 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 global economic, market and business conditions; weather conditions, including impacts from regional flooding and/or drought conditions; crop planted acreage, 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; gas supply interruptions at the Egyptian Misr Fertilizers Production Company S.A.E. nitrogen facility expansion in Egypt; the risk of additional capital expenditure cost escalation or delays in respect of our expansion projects; the risks that are inherent in the nature of the proposed merger with PotashCorp, including the failure to obtain required regulatory approvals and failure to satisfy all other closing conditions in accordance with the terms of the proposed merger with PotashCorp, in a timely manner or at all; 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 U.S. including those disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in our Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2016 and under the headings "Enterprise Risk Management" and "Key Assumptions and Risks in respect of Forward-Looking Statements" in our 2016 annual MD&A.

The purpose of our expected diluted earnings per share and Retail EBITDA guidance range is to assist readers in understanding our expected and targeted financial results, and this information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

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 global producer and distributor of agricultural products, services and solutions. Agrium produces nitrogen, potash and phosphate fertilizers, with a combined wholesale nutrient capacity of over 11 million tonnes and with significant competitive advantages across our product lines. We supply key products and services directly to growers, including crop nutrients, crop protection, seed, as well as agronomic and application services, thereby helping growers to meet the ever growing global demand for food and fiber. Agrium retail-distribution has an unmatched network of approximately 1,500 facilities and over 3,300 crop consultants who provide advice and products to our grower customers to help them increase their yields and returns on hundreds of 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 2017 1st Quarter Conference Call will be available in a listen-only mode beginning Tuesday, May 2, 2017 at 8:00 a.m. MT (10:00 a.m. ET). Please visit the following website: www.agrium.com.

AGRIUM INC.  
Condensed Consolidated Interim  Statements of Operations  
(Unaudited)  
               
        Three months ended  
        March 31,  
(millions of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated) Notes   2017   2016  
           
Sales     2,720   2,725  
Cost of product sold     2,162   2,171  
Gross profit     558   554  
Expenses            
  Selling     451   414  
  General and administrative     60   55  
  Share-based payments 5   3   4  
  Earnings from associates and joint ventures     (23 ) (5 )
  Other expenses 4   10   11  
Earnings before finance costs and income taxes     57   75  
  Finance costs related to long-term debt     47   52  
  Other finance costs     23   18  
(Loss) earnings before income taxes     (13 ) 5  
  Income taxes     (3 ) 2  
Net (loss) earnings     (10 ) 3  
Attributable to            
  Equity holders of Agrium     (11 ) 2  
  Non-controlling interests     1   1  
Net (loss) earnings     (10 ) 3  
               
Earnings per share attributable to equity holders of Agrium            
  Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share     (0.08 ) 0.02  
  Weighted average number of shares outstanding for basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share (millions of common  shares)    
138
 
138
 
See accompanying notes.  

Basis of preparation and statement of compliance

These condensed consolidated interim financial statements ("interim financial statements") were approved for issuance by the Audit Committee on May 1, 2017. We prepared these interim financial statements in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 Interim Financial Reporting. These interim financial 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 2016 Annual Report, available at www.agrium.com.

The accounting policies applied in these interim financial statements are the same as those applied in our audited annual financial statements in our 2016 Annual Report, except as described in note 7.

AGRIUM INC.  
Condensed Consolidated Interim  Statements of Comprehensive Income  
(Unaudited)  
                     
              Three months ended  
              March 31,  
(millions of U.S. dollars) Notes   2017   2016  
                     
Net (loss) earnings     (10 ) 3  
  Other comprehensive income            
    Items that are or may be reclassified to earnings            
      Cash flow hedges 3          
        Effective portion of changes in fair value     (23 ) (23 )
        Deferred income taxes     5   7  
      Associates and joint ventures            
        Share of comprehensive (loss) income     (29 ) 2  
        Deferred income taxes     8   -  
      Foreign currency translation            
        Gains     65   179  
        Reclassifications to earnings     5   -  
              31   165  
    Items that will never be reclassified to earnings            
      Post-employment benefits            
        Actuarial losses     (3 ) -  
        Deferred income taxes     1   -  
              (2 ) -  
  Other comprehensive income     29   165  
Comprehensive income     19   168  
Attributable to            
  Equity holders of Agrium     18   167  
  Non-controlling interests     1   1  
Comprehensive income     19   168  
See accompanying notes.  
AGRIUM INC.  
Condensed Consolidated Interim  Balance Sheets  
(Unaudited)  
                       
            March 31,   December 31,  
(millions of U.S. dollars) Notes   2017   2016   2016  
Assets                
  Current assets                
    Cash and cash equivalents     262   276   412  
    Accounts receivable     2,315   2,200   2,208  
    Income taxes receivable     54   61   33  
    Inventories     4,537   4,524   3,230  
    Prepaid expenses and deposits     253   254   855  
    Other current assets     134   152   123  
          7,555   7,467   6,861  
  Property, plant and equipment     6,919   6,712   6,818  
  Intangibles     555   645   566  
  Goodwill     2,110   1,988   2,095  
  Investments in associates and joint ventures     533   637   541  
  Other assets     49   54   48  
  Deferred income tax assets     37   52   34  
        17,758   17,555   16,963  
Liabilities and shareholders' equity                
  Current liabilities                
    Short-term debt 6   678   629   604  
    Accounts payable     5,603   5,309   4,662  
    Income taxes payable     -   1   17  
    Current portion of long-term debt 6   10   108   110  
    Current portion of other provisions     55   81   59  
        6,346   6,128   5,452  
  Long-term debt 6   4,401   4,415   4,398  
  Post-employment benefits     129   132   141  
  Other provisions     339   337   322  
  Other liabilities     61   76   68  
  Deferred income tax liabilities     400   402   408  
        11,676   11,490   10,789  
  Shareholders' equity                
    Share capital     1,768   1,759   1,766  
    Retained earnings     5,503   5,414   5,634  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (1,195 ) (1,113 ) (1,231 )
    Equity holders of Agrium     6,076   6,060   6,169  
    Non-controlling interests     6   5   5  
    Total equity     6,082   6,065   6,174  
        17,758   17,555   16,963  
See accompanying notes.  
AGRIUM INC.  
Condensed Consolidated Interim  Statements of Cash Flows  
(Unaudited)  
                 
          Three months ended  
          March 31,  
(millions of U.S. dollars) Notes   2017   2016  
                 
Operating            
  Net (loss) earnings     (10 ) 3  
  Adjustments for            
    Depreciation and amortization     139   114  
    Earnings from associates and joint ventures     (23 ) (5 )
    Share-based payments     3   4  
    Unrealized (gain) loss on derivative financial instruments     (5 ) 83  
    Unrealized foreign exchange gain     -   (124 )
    Interest income     (13 ) (13 )
    Finance costs     70   70  
    Income taxes     (3 ) 2  
    Other     (11 ) 6  
  Interest received     13   14  
  Interest paid     (84 ) (89 )
  Income taxes paid     (39 ) (141 )
  Dividends from associates and joint ventures     5   1  
  Net changes in non-cash working capital     136   418  
Cash provided by operating activities     178   343  
Investing            
  Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired     (30 ) (94 )
  Capital expenditures     (143 ) (174 )
  Capitalized borrowing costs     (8 ) (5 )
  Purchase of investments     (33 ) (23 )
  Proceeds from sale of investments     28   18  
  Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment     9   4  
  Other     (4 ) (3 )
  Net changes in non-cash working capital     (6 ) -  
Cash used in investing activities     (187 ) (277 )
Financing            
  Short-term debt 6   64   (204 )
  Repayment of long-term debt 6   (103 ) (2 )
  Dividends paid     (121 ) (119 )
Cash used in financing activities     (160 ) (325 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents     19   20  
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents     (150 ) (239 )
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period     412   515  
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period     262   276  
See accompanying notes.  
AGRIUM INC.
Condensed Consolidated Interim  Statements of Shareholders' Equity
(Unaudited)
                  Other comprehensive income (loss)              
(millions of U.S. dollars, except per share data) Millions
of
common
shares
 

Share
capital
 

Retained
earnings
 
Cash
flow
hedges
  Comprehensive
loss of
associates and
joint ventures
 
Foreign
currency
translation
 


Total
 
Equity
holders of
Agrium
 
Non-
controlling
interests
 

Total
equity
 
December 31, 2015 138   1,757   5,533   (56 ) (17 ) (1,214 ) (1,287 ) 6,003   4   6,007  
  Net earnings -   -   2   -   -   -   -   2   1   3  
  Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax                                        
    Other -   -   -   (16 ) 2   179   165   165   -   165  
  Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax -   -   2   (16 ) 2   179   165   167   1   168  
  Dividends ($0.875 per share) -   -   (121 ) -   -   -   -   (121 ) -   (121 )
  Share-based payment transactions -   2   -   -   -   -   -   2   -   2  
  Reclassification of cash flow hedges, net of tax -   -   -   9   -   -   9   9   -   9  
March 31, 2016 138   1,759   5,414   (63 ) (15 ) (1,035 ) (1,113 ) 6,060   5   6,065  
                                             
December 31, 2016 138   1,766   5,634   (25 ) (51 ) (1,155 ) (1,231 ) 6,169   5   6,174  
  Net (loss) earnings -   -   (11 ) -   -   -   -   (11 ) 1   (10 )
  Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax                                        
    Post-employment benefits -   -   (2 ) -   -   -   -   (2 ) -   (2 )
    Other -   -   -   (18 ) (21 ) 70   31   31   -   31  
  Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax -   -   (13 ) (18 ) (21 ) 70   31   18   1   19  
  Dividends ($0.875 per share) -   -   (120 ) -   -   -   -   (120 ) -   (120 )
  Non-controlling interest transactions -   -   2   -   -   (2 ) (2 ) -   -   -  
  Share-based payment transactions -   2   -   -   -   -   -   2   -   2  
  Reclassification of cash flow hedges, net of tax -   -   -   7   -   -   7   7   -   7  
March 31, 2017 138   1,768   5,503   (36 ) (72 ) (1,087 ) (1,195 ) 6,076   6   6,082  
See accompanying notes.  

AGRIUM INC.
Summarized Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
For the three months ended March 31, 2017
(millions of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated)
(Unaudited)

1. Corporate Management

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.

We categorize our operating segments within the Retail and Wholesale business units as follows:

  • Retail: Distributes crop nutrients, crop protection products, seed and merchandise and provides financial and other services directly to growers through a network of farm centers in two geographical segments:
    • North America including the United States and Canada
    • International including Australia and South America
  • Wholesale: Produces, markets and distributes crop nutrients and industrial products as follows:
    • Nitrogen: Manufacturing in Alberta and Texas
    • Potash: Mining and processing in Saskatchewan
    • Phosphate: Production facilities in Alberta and production and mining facilities in Idaho
    • Wholesale Other: Producing blended crop nutrients and Environmentally Smart Nitrogen ® (ESN) polymer-coated nitrogen crop nutrients, and operating joint ventures and associates

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.

2. Operating Segments

Segment information by business unit Three months ended March 31,  
      2017   2016  
      Retail   Wholesale   Other (a)   Total   Retail   Wholesale   Other (a)   Total  
Sales - external 2,227   493   -   2,720   2,278   447   -   2,725  
    - inter-segment 13   182   (195 ) -   12   202   (214 ) -  
Total sales 2,240   675   (195 ) 2,720   2,290   649   (214 ) 2,725  
Cost of product sold 1,806   533   (177 ) 2,162   1,888   496   (213 ) 2,171  
Gross profit 434   142   (18 ) 558   402   153   (1 ) 554  
Gross profit (%) 19   21       21   18   24       20  
Expenses                                
  Selling 448   7   (4 ) 451   410   8   (4 ) 414  
  General and administrative 25   6   29   60   22   8   25   55  
  Share-based payments -   -   3   3   -   -   4   4  
  Earnings from associates and joint ventures (6 ) (16 ) (1 ) (23 ) (4 ) (1 ) -   (5 )
  Other (income) expenses (12 ) 14   8   10   (3 ) 19   (5 ) 11  
(Loss) earnings before finance costs and income taxes (21 ) 131   (53 ) 57   (23 ) 119   (21 ) 75  
  Finance costs -   -   70   70   -   -   70   70  
(Loss) earnings before income taxes (21 ) 131   (123 ) (13 ) (23 ) 119   (91 ) 5  
  Depreciation and amortization 71   64   4   139   67   44   3   114  
  Finance costs -   -   70   70   -   -   70   70  
EBITDA (b) 50   195   (49 ) 196   44   163   (18 ) 189  
(a) Includes inter-segment eliminations
(b) EBITDA is net earnings (loss) before finance costs, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations.
Segment information - Retail Three months ended March 31,  
      2017   2016  
      North  America   International   Retail (a)   North America   International   Retail  
Sales - external 1,758   469   2,227   1,797   481   2,278  
    - inter-segment 13   -   13   12   -   12  
Total sales 1,771   469   2,240   1,809   481   2,290  
Cost of product sold 1,451   355   1,806   1,506   382   1,888  
Gross profit 320   114   434   303   99   402  
Expenses                        
  Selling 364   84   448   337   73   410  
  General and administrative 18   7   25   15   7   22  
  Earnings from associates and joint ventures (5 ) (1 ) (6 ) (4 ) -   (4 )
  Other (income) expenses (7 ) (5 ) (12 ) 6   (9 ) (3 )
(Loss) earnings before income taxes (50 ) 29   (21 ) (51 ) 28   (23 )
  Depreciation and amortization 66   5   71   61   6   67  
EBITDA 16   34   50   10   34   44  
(a) Included within the Retail business unit is a separate Financial Services operating segment with total sales of $6-million and EBITDA of $8-million. The Financial Services operating segment was introduced in mid-2016.
Segment information - Wholesale Three months ended March 31,  
      2017   2016  
                  Wholesale                   Wholesale      
      Nitrogen   Potash   Phosphate   Other (a)   Wholesale   Nitrogen   Potash   Phosphate   Other (a)   Wholesale  
Sales - external 182   90   90   131   493   173   48   80   146   447  
    - inter-segment 58   42   44   38   182   77   43   50   32   202  
Total sales 240   132   134   169   675   250   91   130   178   649  
Cost of product sold 163   97   127   146   533   155   77   110   154   496  
Gross profit 77   35   7   23   142   95   14   20   24   153  
Expenses                                        
  Selling 3   1   1   2   7   4   2   1   1   8  
  General and administrative 2   1   1   2   6   4   2   1   1   8  
  Earnings from associates and joint ventures -   -   -   (16 ) (16 ) -   -   -   (1 ) (1 )
  Other expenses 9   2   2   1   14   6   6   4   3   19  
Earnings before income taxes 63   31   3   34   131   81   4   14   20   119  
  Depreciation and amortization 16   29   16   3   64   13   20   10   1   44  
EBITDA 79   60   19   37   195   94   24   24   21   163  
(a) Includes ammonium sulfate, ESN and other products
Gross profit by product line Three months ended March 31,  
    2017   2016  
        Cost of           Cost of      
        product   Gross       product   Gross  
    Sales   sold   profit   Sales   sold   profit  
Retail                        
  Crop nutrients 714   573   141   839   705   134  
  Crop protection products 872   742   130   831   710   121  
  Seed 382   328   54   376   325   51  
  Merchandise 134   112   22   117   98   19  
  Services and other (a) 138   51   87   127   50   77  
  2,240   1,806   434   2,290   1,888   402  
Wholesale                        
  Nitrogen 240   163   77   250   155   95  
  Potash 132   97   35   91   77   14  
  Phosphate 134   127   7   130   110   20  
  Ammonium sulfate, ESN and other 169   146   23   178   154   24  
    675   533   142   649   496   153  
Other inter-segment eliminations (195 ) (177 ) (18 ) (214 ) (213 ) (1 )
Total 2,720   2,162   558   2,725   2,171   554  
                           
Wholesale share of joint ventures                        
  Nitrogen 24   19   5   25   21   4  
Total Wholesale including proportionate share in joint ventures 699   552   147   674   517   157  
(a) Includes financial services products
Selected volumes and per tonne information Three months ended March 31,
        2017   2016  
                Cost of               Cost of      
        Sales   Selling   product       Sales   Selling   product      
        tonnes   price   sold   Margin   tonnes   price   sold   Margin  
        (000's)   ($/tonne)   ($/tonne)   ($/tonne)   (000's)   ($/tonne)   ($/tonne)   ($/tonne)  
Retail                                
  Crop nutrients                                
    North America 1,490   409   322   87   1,520   450   369   81  
    International 352   296   265   31   440   354   328   26  
  Total crop nutrients 1,842   388   311   77   1,960   428   360   68  
                                       
Wholesale                                
  Nitrogen                                
    North America                                
      Ammonia 226   367           230   398          
      Urea 361   311           319   338          
      Other 185   242           192   265          
  Total nitrogen 772   311   211   100   741   338   209   129  
                                       
  Potash                                
    North America 378   248           263   215          
    International 258   149           193   177          
  Total potash 636   208   153   55   456   199   168   31  
                                       
  Phosphate 288   466   440   26   220   589   499   90  
  Ammonium sulfate 88   259   124   135   57   289   113   176  
  ESN and other 452               452              
Total Wholesale 2,236   302   239   63   1,926   337   258   79  
                                       
Wholesale share of joint ventures                                
  Nitrogen 77   313   252   61   83   296   247   49  
Total Wholesale including proportionate share  in joint ventures
2,313
 
302
 
239
 
63
 
2,009
 
335
 
257
 
78
 

3. Risk Management

Commodity price risk

Natural gas derivative financial instruments outstanding (notional amounts in millions of MMBtu)  
    March 31,   December 31,  
    2017   2016  
            Average   Fair value           Average   Fair value  
            contract   of assets           contract   of assets  
    Notional   Maturities   price (a)   (liabilities)   Notional   Maturities   price (a)   (liabilities)  
Designated as hedges                                
  AECO swaps 38   2017 - 2019   2.37   (38 ) 48   2017 - 2018   2.90   (21 )
                (38 )             (21 )
(a) U.S. dollars per MMBtu
  Fair value of assets (liabilities)  
Maturities of natural gas derivative contracts 2017   2018   2019  
AECO swaps (14 ) (22 ) (2 )
       
Impact of change in fair value of natural gas derivative  financial instruments March 31,   December 31,
  2017   2016
A $10-million impact to other comprehensive income requires  movement in gas prices per MMBtu 0.14   0.29

The underlying risk of the derivative contracts is identical to the hedged risk; accordingly we have established a ratio of 1:1 for all natural gas hedges. 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 derivative 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,  
      2017   2016  
              Average   Fair value           Average   Fair value  
              contract   of assets           contract   of assets  
Sell/Buy Notional   Maturities   price (a)   (liabilities)   Notional   Maturities   price (a)   (liabilities)  
  Forwards                                
    USD/CAD 48   2017   1.33   -   -   -   -   -  
    CAD/USD 302   2017   1.31   5   180   2017   1.34   -  
    USD/AUD 3   2017   1.34   -   14   2017   1.32   (1 )
    AUD/USD 90   2017   1.31   -   22   2017   1.34   1  
    CNY/AUD 19   2017   6.81   -   23   2017   7.16   -  
  Options                                
    USD/CAD - buy USD puts 55   2017   1.29   -   -   -   -   -  
    USD/CAD - sell USD calls 74   2017   1.37   -   -   -   -   -  
                  5               -  
(a) Foreign currency per U.S. dollar
      March 31,   December 31,
      2017   2016
      Fair value   Carrying  value   Fair value   Carrying value  
      Level 1   Level 2   Level 1   Level 2    
Financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis                        
  Cash and cash equivalents -   262   262   -   412   412  
  Accounts receivable - derivatives -   6   6   -   2   2  
  Other current financial assets - marketable securities 19   113   132   22   99   121  
  Other non-current financial assets - derivatives -   3   3   -   -   -  
  Accounts payable - derivatives -   16   16   -   7   7  
  Other financial liabilities - derivatives -   26   26   -   16   16  
Financial instruments measured at  amortized cost                        
  Current portion of long-term debt                        
    Debentures -   -   -   -   101   100  
    Fixed and floating rate debt -   10   10   -   10   10  
  Long-term debt                        
    Debentures -   4,714   4,373   -   4,600   4,373  
    Fixed and floating rate debt -   28   28   -   25   25  

There have been no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements in the three months ended March 31, 2017 or March 31, 2016. We do not measure any of our financial instruments using Level 3 inputs.

4. Expenses

  Three months ended  
Other expenses March 31,  
  2017   2016  
Loss on foreign exchange and related derivatives 6   2  
Interest income (13 ) (13 )
Environmental remediation and asset retirement obligations (1 ) 2  
Bad debt expense 7   8  
Potash profit and capital tax 3   3  
Merger and related costs 16   -  
Other (8 ) 9  
  10   11  

5. Share-based Payments

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, we granted the following share-based compensation awards to officers and employees.

Award type Number   Grant price  
Stock options 444,084   103.22  
Stock appreciation rights 79,153   103.22  
Share units 270,293   N/A  

6. Debt

        March 31,   December 31,
            2017   2016
    Maturity   Rate (%) (a)        
Short-term debt              
  Commercial paper 2017   1.26   454   306
  Credit facilities     3.78   224   298
            678   604
(a) Weighted average rates at March 31, 2017
      Short-term debt   Long-term debt (a)  
December 31, 2016 604   4,508  
  Cash flows reported as financing activities 64   (103 )
  Non-cash changes        
    Other adjustments -   6  
    Foreign currency translation 10   -  
March 31, 2017 678   4,411  
(a) Includes current portion

7. Significant Accounting Policies

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Effective January 1, 2017, Agrium adopted the amendments of IAS 7 Statement of Cash Flow which require us to provide disclosures that enable users of financial statements to evaluate changes in liabilities arising from financing activities, including both changes arising from cash flows and non-cash changes. Refer to note 6 for the reconciliation between the opening and closing balances for liabilities from financing activities.



Contact

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


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