EX-99.1 2 d36798dex991.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

LOGO

   News Release

 

NYSE, TSX: NTR

 

November 2, 2020 – all amounts are in US dollars except as otherwise noted

Nutrien Delivers Improved Operating Results

as Ag Fundamentals Continue to Strengthen

Nutrien Ltd. (TSX and NYSE: NTR) announced today its 2020 third quarter results, with a net loss of $587 million ($1.03 diluted loss per share), which includes a non-cash impairment of $823 million, primarily related to our Phosphate operations. Third-quarter adjusted net earnings were $0.23 per share (adjusted EBITDA was $670 million), excluding the impairment. Adjusted net earnings includes a net tax benefit of $48 million ($0.08 per diluted share) related primarily to recoveries of prior year taxes due to US legislative changes. Adjusted net earnings per share and adjusted EBITDA (consolidated), together with the related guidance and potash cash cost of product manufactured are non-IFRS financial measures. See the “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” section for further information.

“Nutrien delivered another quarter of solid operating results with strong fertilizer sales volumes and exceptional growth of orders through our digital agriculture platform, surpassing $1 billion of sales. Market conditions are improving around the world with higher crop and fertilizer prices, lower expected inventories and strong demand for crop inputs as we finish the year and enter 2021,” commented Chuck Magro, Nutrien’s President and CEO.

Highlights:

 

 

In the third quarter of 2020, we recognized a non-cash impairment of $823 million associated primarily with our Phosphate assets related to a less favorable long-term outlook for phosphate prices and expected global supply imbalance.

 

 

Retail delivered 13 percent higher adjusted EBITDA in the first nine months of 2020, over the same period in 2019 as a result of double-digit growth in sales and gross margin. Adjusted EBITDA in the third quarter of 2020 was 15 percent lower due to elevated applications in the same period last year caused by the timing of the growing season, and was further impacted by lower insecticide and fungicide applications this quarter as a result of lower than expected US acreage and dry conditions. Total sales through our leading digital retail platform exceeded $1.0 billion in the first nine months of 2020, more than double our annual goal of $500 million. Digital sales in the first nine months of 2020 accounted for 43 percent of North American sales of products that were available for purchase online.

 

 

Potash sales volumes in the third quarter and first nine months of 2020 were higher compared to the same periods in 2019, and Nutrien is fully committed on offshore potash sales volumes and well subscribed domestically for the remainder of the year. Potash adjusted EBITDA was down 19 percent and 33 percent in the third quarter and first nine months of 2020 respectively, compared to the same periods last year as strong sales volumes and lower cost of goods sold per tonne were more than offset by lower net realized selling prices. Potash cash cost of product manufactured was $53 per tonne in the third quarter, the second lowest on record and $9 per tonne lower than in the third quarter of 2019.

 

 

Nitrogen adjusted EBITDA was 21 percent lower in the third quarter and 17 percent lower in the first nine months of 2020 compared to the same periods last year due to lower net realized selling prices and lower industrial sales volumes. We delivered higher sales volumes, lower cost of goods sold and higher ammonia utilization rates (93 percent versus 90 percent) in the first nine months of 2020 compared to the same period last year. In the third quarter, we also made the decision to indefinitely close the smallest of our four ammonia plants in Trinidad. The closure is expected to enhance the competitiveness at that site, and we are now running three plants at normal production levels.

 

 

Nutrien’s full-year 2020 adjusted net earnings per share and adjusted EBITDA guidance range is narrowed to $1.60 to $1.85 per share and $3.5 billion to $3.7 billion, respectively due to increased visibility in each of our business units to the end of the year.

 

1


Management’s Discussion and Analysis

The following management’s discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) is the responsibility of management and is dated as of November 2, 2020. The Board of Directors (“Board”) of Nutrien 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 its publication approves this disclosure pursuant to the authority delegated to it by the Board. The term “Nutrien” refers to Nutrien Ltd. and the terms “we”, “us”, “our”, “Nutrien” and “the Company” refer to Nutrien and, as applicable, Nutrien and its direct and indirect subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. Additional information relating to Nutrien (which, except as otherwise noted, is not incorporated by reference herein), including our 2019 Annual Report dated February 19, 2020, which includes our annual audited consolidated financial statements and MD&A and our Annual Information Form, each for the year ended December 31, 2019, can be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. No update is provided to the disclosure in our annual MD&A except for material information since the date of our annual MD&A. The Company is a foreign private issuer under the rules and regulations of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

This MD&A is based on the Company’s unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements as at and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 (“interim financial statements”) based on International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS”) and prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 “Interim Financial Reporting” unless otherwise noted. This MD&A contains certain non-IFRS financial measures and forward-looking statements which are described in the “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” and the “Forward-Looking Statements” sections, respectively.

Market Outlook

Agriculture and Retail

 

 

Key crop prices have increased, driven by significant improvements in supply and demand fundamentals. Higher crop prices have boosted North American grower sentiment.

 

 

The North American harvest progressed at a pace well ahead of the past two years when timing was impacted by late maturing crops and weather delays. This is expected to provide a wider window for growers to plan and apply fall fertilizer compared to the past few fall seasons.

 

 

Strong Brazilian crop prices and margins provided an incentive to boost summer soybean and Safrinha corn planting. We expect the planted area of these crops to increase by approximately 4 percent and 6 percent respectively. Planting has started slower than normal as a result of dry weather, but we expect a long planting window and high crop prices will motivate farmers to plant.

Crop Nutrient Markets

 

 

Global potash demand has been strong in 2020 and we continue to expect global potash shipments and consumption to increase by approximately 2 million tonnes from 2019 levels. As a result, we maintain our 2020 shipment forecast between 65 and 67 million tonnes.

 

 

The prospect of a robust fall application season in North America has supported strong retail-level demand. We expect that potash delivered in North America in the fall of 2020 will largely be applied to ground and that channel inventories will be lower at the end of 2020 compared to recent years. We also expect that strong fall applications in China, driven by historically high crop prices in combination with seasonal increases in compound NPK production, will support strong potash consumption in the remainder of 2020. Meanwhile, demand in India will continue to be supported by the favorable growing conditions and increased minimum support prices for crops.

 

 

Global urea prices have been relatively stable as Indian import tenders have pulled significant volumes out of the trade market. The pace of Chinese urea exports has recently increased, along with Indian demand, but remains down around 10 percent in the first nine months of the year. North American urea prices are currently discounted relative to the rest of the world, which is seasonally normal, but offshore imports are down more than 25 percent from July to September and prices need to increase significantly to reach import parity. Global ammonia prices have increased driven by improved industrial demand, higher global gas prices and production curtailments in East Asia and Trinidad.

 

 

Global phosphate prices have trended higher due to strong demand in India and Brazil and trade flow changes related to countervailing duty investigations in the US. We continue to believe the phosphate market is fundamentally oversupplied which could limit a long-term price recovery.

 

2


Financial Outlook and Guidance

Based on market factors detailed above, we are narrowing our 2020 adjusted net earnings guidance to $1.60 to $1.85 per share (from $1.50 to $1.90 per share previously) and adjusted EBITDA guidance to $3.5 to $3.7 billion (from $3.5 to $3.8 billion previously). In the third quarter of 2020, we revised the measure with which we evaluate our segments from EBITDA to adjusted EBITDA. This has not had an impact on our segment guidance numbers below.

All guidance numbers, including those noted above are outlined in the tables below. Refer to page 46 of Nutrien’s 2019 Annual Report for related sensitivities.

 

2020 Guidance Ranges 1   Low        High     

Adjusted net earnings per share 2

  $ 1.60     $ 1.85  

Adjusted EBITDA (billions) 2

  $ 3.5     $ 3.7  

Adjusted Retail EBITDA (billions)

  $ 1.37     $ 1.42  

Adjusted Potash EBITDA (billions)

  $ 1.1     $ 1.2  

Adjusted Nitrogen EBITDA (billions)

  $ 1.05     $ 1.10  

Adjusted Phosphate EBITDA (millions)

  $ 200     $ 250  

Potash sales tonnes (millions) 3

    12.2       12.5  

Nitrogen sales tonnes (millions) 3

    10.9       11.1  

Depreciation and amortization (billions)

  $ 1.85     $ 1.95  

Effective tax rate

    11     13

Sustaining capital expenditures (billions)

  $ 0.9     $ 1.0  

1 See the “Forward-Looking Statements” section.

2 See the “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” section.

3 Manufactured products only. Nitrogen excludes ESN® and Rainbow products.

Consolidated Results

 

    Three Months Ended September 30     Nine Months Ended September 30  

(millions of US dollars)

  2020     2019     % Change       2020     2019     % Change   

Sales

    4,205       4,169       1       16,807       16,581       1  

Freight, transportation and distribution

    204       210       (3     653       596       10  

Cost of goods sold

    3,004       2,819       7       12,129       11,558       5  

Gross margin

    997       1,140       (13     4,025       4,427       (9

Expenses

    1,719       812       112       3,526       2,628       34  

Net (loss) earnings

    (587     141       n/m       143       1,040       (86

Adjusted EBITDA 1

    670       787       (15     2,899       3,361       (14

Free cash flow (“FCF”) 1

    280       329       (15     1,634       2,019       (19

FCF including changes in non-cash operating working capital 1

    (888     333       n/m       34       579       (94

 1 See the “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” section.

Our third-quarter and first-nine months net (loss) earnings for 2020 were negatively impacted primarily by a non-cash impairment of assets related primarily to our Phosphate operations. Adjusted EBITDA decreased in the same periods due to significantly lower crop nutrient prices that more than offset strong Retail earnings growth and greater operational efficiencies. The COVID-19 pandemic had limited impact on our business during the periods.

Segment Results

Our discussion of segment results set out on the following pages is a comparison of the results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 to the results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, unless otherwise noted. In the third quarter of 2020, we revised the measure with which we evaluate our segments from EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA provides a better indication of the segments performance as it excludes the impact of impairments and other costs that are centrally managed by our corporate function. We have presented adjusted EBITDA for the comparative periods.

 

3


 Retail

 

    Three Months Ended September 30  
  (millions of US dollars, except   Dollars           Gross Margin         Gross Margin (%)  
       as otherwise noted)   2020     2019     % Change           2020     2019     % Change         2020     2019  

  Sales

                   

  Crop nutrients

    780       769       1         179       175       2         23       23  

  Crop protection products

    1,328       1,318       1         256       303       (16       19       23  

  Seed

    103       60       72         27       17       59         26       28  

  Merchandise

    234       135       73         37       22       68         16       16  

  Services and other

    275       217       27         162       138       17         59       64  
    2,720       2,499       9         661       655       1         24       26  

  Cost of goods sold

    2,059       1,844       12                

  Gross margin

    661       655       1                

  Expenses 1

    669       617       8                

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

    (8     38       n/m                

  Depreciation and amortization

    170       152       12                

  EBITDA / Adjusted EBITDA

    162       190       (15                                                    

  1 Includes selling expenses of $669 million (2019 – $601 million).

 

    Nine Months Ended September 30  
  (millions of US dollars, except   Dollars           Gross Margin         Gross Margin (%)  
       as otherwise noted)   2020     2019     % Change           2020     2019     % Change         2020     2019  

  Sales

                   

  Crop nutrients

    4,092       4,082       -         894       846       6         22       21  

  Crop protection products

    4,774       4,348       10         960       892       8         20       21  

  Seed

    1,638       1,613       2         305       276       11         19       17  

  Merchandise

    703       387       82         116       65       78         17       17  

  Services and other

    911       620       47         527       425       24         58       69  
    12,118       11,050       10         2,802       2,504       12         23       23  

  Cost of goods sold

    9,316       8,546       9                

  Gross margin

    2,802       2,504       12                

  Expenses 1

    2,157       1,937       11                

  EBIT

    645       567       14                

  Depreciation and amortization

    488       433       13                

  EBITDA / Adjusted EBITDA

    1,133       1,000       13                                                      

  1 Includes selling expenses of $2,068 million (2019 – $1,816 million).

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA was lower in the third quarter of 2020 due primarily to the sales mix and use of crop protection products compared to the delayed season last year which pushed sales into the third quarter in North America. US applications this year were also negatively impacted by lower than expected planted acreage and weather-related events. Adjusted EBITDA in the first nine months of 2020 increased significantly from the same period in 2019 due to strong growth in revenue and gross margins across most product lines. The increase was primarily due to organic growth, aided by more normal weather conditions in the US, as well as from the benefit of acquisitions made over the past year.

 

   

Total selling expenses increased in the periods due primarily to acquisitions, including the acquisition of Ruralco Holdings Limited (“Ruralco”). Selling expenses as a percentage of sales were also impacted by lower crop nutrient and seed prices in 2020, which resulted in lower associated sales. Total US selling expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, were down this quarter relative to the third quarter of last year.

 

 

Crop nutrients sales were higher in the third quarter and the first nine months of 2020, compared to the same periods in 2019 as higher sales volumes more than offset the impact of lower selling prices. Third quarter sales volumes were 10 percent higher than last year, due to strong applications in Australia which offset lower sales volumes in the US. For the first nine months of 2020, total sales volumes were up 12 percent, with increases across all geographies. Gross margin percentage was stable in the third quarter but higher in the nine-month period due to a larger proportion of higher-margin proprietary product sales.

 

 

Crop protection products sales in the third quarter and first nine months of 2020 were higher compared to the same periods in 2019, due to acquisitions and continued market share growth. Gross margin percentage decreased in the periods due to the impact of recent acquisitions, including that of Ruralco, which impacted the mix of product sold. There was also a slight reduction in use of higher margin discretionary products such as fungicides and insecticides in the US market due to a combination of weather and market factors.

 

4


 

Seed sales in the third quarter and first nine months of 2020 increased from the same period last year due to strong growth in all key markets, including contributions from the Tec Agro Group acquisition in Brazil and Ruralco in Australia. Gross margin percentage decreased in the third quarter of 2020 primarily due to the Ruralco acquisition, while US seed margins in the third quarter strengthened year over year. Gross margin percentage increased in the first nine months of 2020 due to higher margins achieved on soybean and corn sales and fewer replanting discounts compared to the same periods in 2019.

 

 

Merchandise sales increased in third quarter and first nine months of 2020 due to benefits from the acquisition of the Ruralco business in Australia. Gross margin percentage was stable in the periods.

 

 

Services and other sales were higher in the third quarter and first nine months of 2020 due to increased contributions from our Australian business. Sales and gross profit in the US declined in the third quarter but margins were slightly stronger. Gross margin percentage decreased in the periods due to product mix changes resulting primarily from the acquisition of Ruralco.

 

 Potash

 

    Three Months Ended September 30  
(millions of US dollars, except   Dollars           Tonnes (thousands)           Average per Tonne  
    as otherwise noted)   2020     2019      % Change           2020   2019      % Change           2020     2019      % Change  

Manufactured product

                        

Net sales

                        

North America

            252               330        (24     1,426     1,438        (1               176               229        (23

Offshore

    339       379        (11     2,252     1,823        24         151       208        (27
    591       709        (17     3,678     3,261        13         161       218        (26

Cost of goods sold

    303       303        -                  83       94        (12

Gross margin - manufactured

    288       406        (29                78       124        (37

Gross margin - other 1

    -       -        -       Depreciation and amortization

 

            34       34        -  

Gross margin - total

    288       406        (29     Gross margin excluding depreciation

 

        

Expenses 2

    84       86        (2    

and amortization - manufactured 3

 

            112       158        (29

EBIT

    204       320        (36     Potash cash cost of product

 

        

Depreciation and amortization

    124       110        13      

manufactured 3

 

            53       62        (15

EBITDA

    328       430        (24    

Impairment of assets

    22       -        n/m          

Adjusted EBITDA

    350       430        (19        

 1 Includes other potash and purchased products and is comprised of net sales of $Nil (2019 – $Nil) less cost of goods sold of $Nil (2019 – $Nil).

 2 Includes provincial mining and other taxes of $58 million (2019 – $83 million).

 3 See the “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” section.

 

    Nine Months Ended September 30  
(millions of US dollars, except   Dollars           Tonnes (thousands)           Average per Tonne  
    as otherwise noted)   2020     2019      % Change           2020   2019      % Change           2020     2019      % Change  

Manufactured product

                        

Net sales

                        

North America

            709               832        (15     3,774     3,389        11                 188               245        (23

Offshore

    987       1,421        (31     6,396     6,247        2         154       228        (32
    1,696       2,253        (25     10,170     9,636        6         167       234        (29

Cost of goods sold

    878       892        (2                87       93        (6

Gross margin - manufactured

    818       1,361        (40                80       141        (43

Gross margin - other 1

    -       1        (100     Depreciation and amortization

 

            32       34        (6

Gross margin - total

    818       1,362        (40     Gross margin excluding depreciation

 

        

Expenses 2

    199       242        (18    

and amortization - manufactured

 

            112       175        (36

EBIT

    619       1,120        (45     Potash cash cost of product

 

        

Depreciation and amortization

    329       324        2      

manufactured

 

            55       60        (8

EBITDA

    948       1,444        (34        

Impairment of assets

    22       -        n/m    

Adjusted EBITDA

    970       1,444        (33        

 1 Includes other potash and purchased products and is comprised of net sales of $Nil million (2019 – $1 million) less cost of goods sold of $Nil (2019 – $Nil).

 2 Includes provincial mining and other taxes of $161 million (2019 – $237 million).

 

5


 

Adjusted EBITDA decreased in the third quarter and first nine months of 2020 due to lower global potash prices. This was partially offset by higher sales volumes and lower cost of goods sold per tonne.

 

 

Sales volumes in the third quarter of 2020 were the second highest of any quarter on record while sales volumes in the first nine months of 2020 were the highest on record. Higher sales volumes relative to the same periods last year were supported by strong offshore demand, higher US planted acreage and improved crop fundamentals.

 

 

Net realized selling price decreased in the third quarter and first nine months of 2020, due to pressure in global benchmark prices.

 

 

Cost of goods sold per tonne decreased in both periods due to production efficiency gains and the deferral of maintenance projects related to COVID-19 precautions. These factors also lowered the potash cash cost of product manufactured in the third quarter and the first nine months of 2020.

Canpotex Sales by Market

 

  (percentage of sales volumes, except as    Three Months Ended September 30     Nine Months Ended September 30  
      otherwise noted)    2020      2019      % Change     2020      2019      % Change  

Latin America

     36        44        (18     33        31        6  

Other Asian markets 1

     20        21        (5     25        27        (7

China

     23        16        44       22        23        (4

India

     14        12        17       13        11        18  

Other markets

     7        7        -       7        8        (13
 

 

     100        100       

 

 

 

 

 

    100        100       

 

 

 

 

 

1 All Asian markets except China and India.

 

 Nitrogen

 

 

 

 

  Three Months Ended September 30  
  (millions of US dollars, except   Dollars    

 

 

 

    Tonnes (thousands)    

 

 

 

    Average per Tonne  
       as otherwise noted)         2020           2019     % Change      

 

          2020         2019     % Change      

 

          2020           2019     % Change  

Manufactured product

 

                   

Net sales

                     

Ammonia

    105       144       (27     546     715       (24       193       203       (5

Urea

    193       221       (13     766     726       6         251       304       (17

Solutions, nitrates and sulfates

    143       168       (15  

 

 

 

  1,091     1,081       1    

 

 

 

    131       155       (15
       441          533       (17     2,403     2,522       (5       184       211       (13

Cost of goods sold

    392       416       (6  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    164       165       (1

Gross margin - manufactured

    49       117       (58               20       46       (57

Gross margin - other 1

    9       16       (44  

 

 

 

  Depreciation and amortization

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

    55       50       10  

Gross margin - total

    58       133       (56     Gross margin excluding depreciation

 

       

Expenses

    21       13       62    

 

 

 

 

and amortization - manufactured

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

    75       96       (22

EBIT

    37       120       (69     Ammonia controllable cash cost of

 

       

Depreciation and amortization

    131       127       3    

 

 

 

 

product manufactured 2

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

    47       45       4  

EBITDA

    168       247       (32                

Impairment of assets

    27       -       n/m    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

    195       247       (21    

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

1 Includes other nitrogen (including ESN® and Rainbow) and purchased products and is comprised of net sales of $99 million (2019 – $69 million) less cost of goods sold of $90 million (2019 – $53 million).

2 See the “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” section.

 

6


 

 

 

  Nine Months Ended September 30  
  (millions of US dollars, except   Dollars    

 

 

 

    Tonnes (thousands)    

 

 

 

    Average per Tonne   
       as otherwise noted)   2020     2019     % Change      

 

    2020     2019     % Change      

 

    2020     2019     % Change  

Manufactured product

 

                   

Net sales

                     

Ammonia

            464               602       (23       2,048       2,400       (15               227               251       (10

Urea

    703       739       (5       2,622       2,342       12         268       315       (15

Solutions, nitrates and sulfates

    500       540       (7  

 

 

 

    3,451       3,166       9    

 

 

 

    145       170       (15
    1,667       1,881       (11       8,121       7,908       3         205       238       (14

Cost of goods sold

    1,344       1,345       -    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    165       170       (3

Gross margin - manufactured

    323       536       (40               40       68       (41

Gross margin - other 1

    40       57       (30  

 

 

 

      Depreciation and amortization      

 

 

 

 

 

    56       50       12  

Gross margin - total

    363       593       (39      

  Gross margin excluding depreciation

       

Expenses

    29       7       314    

 

 

 

   

     and amortization - manufactured

      96       118       (19
                                                                    

EBIT

    334       586       (43      

  Ammonia controllable cash cost of

       

Depreciation and amortization

    453       394       15    

 

 

 

   

     product manufactured

      44       44       -  

EBITDA

    787       980       (20                

Impairment of assets

    27       -       n/m    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

    814       980       (17    

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

1 Includes other nitrogen (including ESN® and Rainbow) and purchased products and is comprised of net sales of $404 million (2019 – $364 million) less cost of goods sold of $364 million (2019 – $307 million).

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA decreased in the third quarter and first nine months of 2020 as lower net realized selling prices more than offset the benefit of higher sales volumes into North American agricultural markets and lower cost of goods sold per tonne.

 

 

Sales volumes decreased in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019 due to lower industrial nitrogen demand, particularly for ammonia, and associated operational changes in Trinidad. This was partially offset by higher agriculture-related nitrogen sales. Sales volumes in the first nine months of 2020 were higher compared to the same period in 2019 due to recent expansion projects and strong operating rates at our North American facilities.

 

 

Net realized selling price of nitrogen was lower in the third quarter and first nine months of 2020 than the same periods last year due to lower global and North American benchmark prices. Third quarter sales commitments in 2020 were weighted towards the beginning of the quarter prior to benchmark price increases.

 

 

Cost of goods sold per tonne decreased in the third quarter and first nine months of 2020 compared to the same periods in 2019 due to lower natural gas prices and fixed costs. This more than offset higher depreciation and amortization per tonne related to expansion and turnaround work completed in late 2019. Ammonia controllable cash cost of product manufactured per tonne increased in the third quarter due to lower production associated with curtailments in Trinidad. Ammonia controllable cash costs for the first nine months of 2020 were consistent with the same period last year due to lower fixed costs that offset lower production.

Natural Gas Prices in Cost of Production

 

     Three Months Ended September 30     Nine Months Ended September 30  
(US dollars per MMBtu, except as otherwise noted)    2020      2019      % Change     2020      2019      % Change  

Overall gas cost excluding realized derivative impact

     2.18        2.06        6       2.17        2.47        (12

Realized derivative impact

     0.06        0.22        (73     0.06        0.14        (57

Overall gas cost

     2.24        2.28        (2     2.23        2.61        (15

Average NYMEX

     1.98        2.23        (11     1.88        2.67        (30

Average AECO

     1.62        0.78        108       1.54        1.05        47  

 

 

Gas prices in our cost of production decreased in the third quarter and first nine months of 2020 as lower US gas prices and a lower realized derivative impact more than offset higher Canadian gas prices compared to the same period last year.

 

7


 Phosphate

 

 

 

 

  Three Months Ended September 30  
  (millions of US dollars, except   Dollars    

 

 

 

    Tonnes (thousands)    

 

 

 

    Average per Tonne   
       as otherwise noted)   2020     2019     % Change      

 

    2020     2019     % Change      

 

    2020     2019     % Change  

Manufactured product

 

                   

Net sales

                     

Fertilizer

            172               164       5            542          492       10                 317               335       (5

Industrial and feed

    94       106       (11  

 

 

 

    166       192       (14  

 

 

 

    563       549       3  
    266       270       (1       708       684       4         375       396       (5

Cost of goods sold

    268       284       (6  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    379       416       (9

Gross margin - manufactured

    (2     (14     86                 (4     (20     80  

Gross margin - other 1

    1       (1     n/m    

 

 

 

     Depreciation and amortization      

 

 

 

 

 

    85       85       -  

Gross margin - total

    (1     (15     93        

 Gross margin excluding depreciation

       

Expenses

    782       9       n/m    

 

 

 

   

     and amortization - manufactured

      81       65       25  

EBIT

    (783     (24     n/m                  

Depreciation and amortization

    60       58       3    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA

    (723     34       n/m                  

Impairment of assets

    769       -       n/m    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

    46       34       35      

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

1 Includes other phosphate and purchased products and is comprised of net sales of $26 million (2019 - $44 million) less cost of goods sold of $25 million (2019 - $45 million).

 

 

 

 

  Nine Months Ended September 30  
  (millions of US dollars, except   Dollars    

 

 

 

    Tonnes (thousands)    

 

 

 

    Average per Tonne   
       as otherwise noted)   2020     2019     % Change      

 

    2020     2019     % Change      

 

    2020     2019     % Change  

Manufactured product

 

                   

Net sales

                     

Fertilizer

            491               635       (23       1,582       1,664       (5               310               382       (19

Industrial and feed

    304       321       (5  

 

 

 

    551       578       (5  

 

 

 

    552       555       (1
    795       956       (17       2,133       2,242       (5       373       426       (12

Cost of goods sold

    779       963       (19  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    366        429       (15

Gross margin - manufactured

    16       (7     n/m                 7       (3     n/m  

Gross margin - other 1

    4       (4     n/m    

 

 

 

     Depreciation and amortization      

 

 

 

 

 

    84       80       5  

Gross margin - total

    20       (11     n/m        

 Gross margin excluding depreciation

       

Expenses

    799       29       n/m    

 

 

 

   

     and amortization - manufactured

      91       77       18  

EBIT

    (779     (40     n/m                  

Depreciation and amortization

    179       180       (1  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA

    (600     140       n/m                  

Impairment of assets

    769       -       n/m    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

    169       140       21      

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

1 Includes other phosphate and purchased products and is comprised of net sales of $87 million (2019 - $125 million) less cost of goods sold of $83 million (2019 - $129 million).

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA increased in the third quarter and first nine months of 2020 primarily due to lower cost of goods sold per tonne. As part of our expenses, we recognized a $769 million non-cash impairment of assets which is added back to adjusted EBITDA. This impairment relates to a less favorable long-term outlook of phosphate selling prices and an expected global supply imbalance.

 

 

Sales volumes increased in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the third quarter last year due to higher fertilizer sales that more than offset lower industrial and feed sales. Sales volumes in the first nine months of 2020 decreased compared to the same period last year primarily due to the conversion of the Redwater phosphate facility to ammonium sulfate in 2019 and lower phosphoric acid exports in 2020.

 

 

Net realized selling price of phosphate fertilizer sales was lower than in the third quarter of last year due to the lag effect in realized prices, which was partially offset by higher industrial and feed prices. Net realized selling prices in the first nine months of 2020 were lower than the same period last year consistent with declines in global benchmark prices.

 

 

Cost of goods sold per tonne decreased in the third quarter of 2020 due to lower raw material costs and a favorable non-cash inventory adjustment. Cost of goods sold per tonne decreased significantly in the first nine months of 2020 compared to the same period last year primarily due to both lower raw material costs and a change in estimate related to an asset retirement obligation recorded in the second quarter of 2020.

 

8


 Corporate and Others

 

  (millions of US dollars, except as otherwise    Three Months Ended September 30     Nine Months Ended September 30  
       noted)            2020                 2019             % Change                 2020                 2019             % Change   

Sales 1

     23       35       (34     70       99       (29)  

Cost of goods sold

     20       35       (43     63       99       (36)  

Gross margin

     3       -       n/m       7       -       n/m   

Selling expenses

     (4     (5     (20     (17     (14     21   

General and administrative expenses

     66       65       2       191       191        

Provincial mining and other taxes

     -       8       (100     1       13       (92)  

Share-based compensation expense
(recovery)

     29       (21     n/m       9       95       (91)  

Impairment of assets

     5       -       n/m       5       33       (85)  

Other expenses

     67       40       68       153       95       61   

EBIT

     (160     (87     84       (335     (413     (19)  

Depreciation and amortization

     15       10       50       41       32       28   

EBITDA

     (145     (77     88       (294     (381     (23)  

Merger and related costs

     -       21       (100     -       57       (100)  

Acquisition and integration related costs

     10       -       n/m       38       -       n/m   

Share-based compensation expense
(recovery)

     29       (21     n/m       9       95       (91)  

Impairment of assets

     5       -       n/m       5       33       (85)  

COVID-19 related expenses

     11       -       n/m       30       -       n/m   

Foreign exchange loss, net of related
derivatives

     13       2       550       4       14       (71)  

Loss on disposal of business

     6       -       n/m       6       -       n/m   

Adjusted EBITDA

     (71     (75     (5     (202     (182     11   

Finance costs

     129       147       (12     401       413       (3)  

Income tax (recovery) expense

     (264     40       n/m       (45     346       n/m   

Other comprehensive income (loss)

     71       (75     n/m       (86     (57     51   

1 Primarily relates to our non-core Canadian business which was sold in the third quarter of 2020.

 

 

Share-based compensation expense (recovery) - We had an expense for the third quarter of 2020 due to an increase in share price and a recovery for the comparative period in 2019 due to a decrease in share price. We had a lower expense for the first nine months of 2020 as our share price was negatively impacted from market volatility due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the first nine months of 2020.

 

 

Impairment of assets was lower for the first nine months of 2020 due to a $33 million impairment of our intangible assets as a result of Fertilizantes Heringer S.A. filing for bankruptcy protection in 2019.

 

 

Other expenses in the third quarter and first nine months of 2020 were higher due to project costs related to our Retail enterprise resource planning system as part of our digital transformation and COVID-19 related expenses. COVID-19 expenses primarily consist of increased cleaning and sanitization costs, the purchase of personal protective equipment, discretionary supplemental employee costs and costs related to construction delays from access limitations and other government restrictions.

 

 

Finance costs in the third quarter and first nine months of 2020 were slightly lower than the same periods last year. Lower interest rates more than offset higher finance costs incurred as we managed our immediate liquidity position during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

 

Income tax (recovery) expense – Income tax recoveries were recorded for the third quarter and first nine months of 2020 due to an impairment of assets, discrete tax recoveries primarily related to US legislative changes and a change in jurisdictional earnings composition. The discrete tax recoveries were $48 million and $59 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2020, respectively.

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss) For the third quarter of 2020, we had higher other comprehensive income from a gain on translation of our Retail operations in Canada and Australia as the Canadian and Australian dollars appreciated relative to the US dollar as global markets rebounded following the COVID-19 pandemic in the early part of 2020. For the first nine months of 2020, we had a higher other comprehensive loss due primarily to a loss on translation of our Retail operations in Brazil as the Brazilian Real declined relative to the US dollar. There were also offsetting impacts from translation of our Canadian and Australian Retail operations.

 

9


Financial Condition Review

The following balance sheet categories contained variances that were considered significant:

 

     As at               
  (millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)        September 30, 2020      December 31, 2019       $ Change     % Change  

Assets

          

Cash and cash equivalents

     465        671         (206     (31

Receivables

     5,056        3,542         1,514       43  

Inventories

     3,829        4,975         (1,146     (23

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     531        1,477         (946     (64

Property, plant and equipment

     19,308        20,335         (1,027     (5

Liabilities and Equity

          

Short-term debt

     1,644        976         668       68  

Current portion of long-term debt

     -        502         (502     (100

Payables and accrued charges

     5,239        7,437         (2,198     (30

Long-term debt

     10,041        8,553         1,488       17  

Retained earnings

     6,477        7,101         (624     (9

 

 

Explanations for changes in Cash and cash equivalents are in the “Sources and Uses of Cash” section.

 

 

Receivables increased due to seasonal Retail sales resulting in higher receivables from customers and vendor rebates receivables.

 

 

Inventories decreased due to seasonal Retail sales activity.

 

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets decreased due to the drawdown of prepaid inventory where Retail typically prepays for products at year-end and takes possession of inventory throughout the year.

 

 

Property, plant and equipment decreased primarily due to a non-cash impairment of our Phosphate production facilities as described in Note 3 to the interim financial statements.

 

 

Short-term debt increased from commercial paper issuances as part of our seasonal working capital management.

 

 

Payables and accrued charges decreased due to lower customer prepayments as Retail customers took delivery of prepaid products. This was partially offset by an increase related to a shift in timing of vendor payments.

 

 

Long-term debt (including current portion) increased due to the addition of $1.5 billion in notes issued in May 2020 exceeding the repayment of $500 million in notes that matured in the first quarter of 2020.

 

 

Retained earnings decreased due to dividends declared exceeding net earnings.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Sources and Uses of Liquidity

We managed our capital in accordance with our capital allocation strategy. We believe that our internally generated cash flow, supplemented by available borrowings under our existing financing sources, if necessary, will be sufficient to meet our anticipated capital expenditures and other cash requirements for at least the next 12 months. As further developments and impacts of COVID-19 are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, we continue to monitor our liquidity position. Refer to the “Capital Structure and Management” section for details on our existing long-term debt and credit facilities.

Key uses and sources of cash and cash equivalents in the third quarter and/or nine months ended September 30, 2020 included:

 

Investments in capital assets to sustain and grow our safe, reliable and cost-efficient operations. Sustaining capital expenditures were $203 million in the third quarter of 2020 and were $511 million in the first nine months of 2020. Investing capital expenditures were $96 million in the third quarter of 2020 and were $360 million for the first nine months of 2020.

 

Returns to our shareholders through dividends and share repurchases (See Note 9 to the interim financial statements). Dividends paid were $257 million in the third quarter of 2020 and were $771 million for the first nine months of 2020. Share repurchases were $nil in the third quarter of 2020 and were $160 million in the first nine months of 2020.

 

10


 

Other financing activities including the following:

   

Issued $1.5 billion of notes on May 13, 2020. See Note 8 to the interim financial statements.

   

Drew down $446 million and $801 million from our commercial paper during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively.

   

Repaid at maturity $500 million of 4.875 percent notes during the nine months ended September 30, 2020. See Note 8 to the interim financial statements.

   

Established new committed revolving credit facilities totaling approximately $1.5 billion in March and April 2020, in response to the market uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. We closed these credit facilities after the issuance of the new notes, as described above. During the first nine months of 2020, we drew down from and later repaid $3.5 billion of our revolving credit facilities to provide additional liquidity in the volatile market caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sources and Uses of Cash

 

  (millions of US dollars, except as otherwise   Three Months Ended September 30     Nine Months Ended September 30  
       noted)   2020     2019     % Change     2020     2019     % Change  

Cash (used in) provided by operating activities

    (685     589       n/m       545       1,246       (56

Cash used in investing activities

    (356     (904     (61     (1,209     (2,133     (43

Cash provided by (used in) financing activities

    85       272       (69     465       (837     n/m  

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash
equivalents

    6       (5     n/m       (7     (22     (68

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

    (950     (48     n/m       (206     (1,746     (88

Cash and cash equivalents decreased by $950 million in the third quarter of 2020 compared to a decrease of $48 million in 2019 as a result of lower cash from our operating activities mainly due to lower crop nutrient prices and comparatively strong results in the third quarter of 2019. We also settled more trade payables due to the shift in timing of vendor payments from the second to third quarter of 2020.

As cash from operations decreased, we lowered our spend in investing activities through:

 

A $305 million decrease in cash used for acquisitions compared to the same period in 2019. We acquired Ruralco in the third quarter of 2019 with no similar acquisition in the third quarter of 2020.

 

A $276 million decrease in capital expenditures compared to the same period in 2019 as we deferred or reduced capital projects mainly due to lower crop nutrient prices, as well as COVID-19 precautions.

Cash and cash equivalents decreased by $206 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to a decrease of $1.7 billion in the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

Cash from our operating activities decreased as a result of lower crop nutrient prices. Despite this decrease, we had a $933 million decrease in short-term debt net proceeds compared to the same period in 2019, due to improved working capital management.

The decrease in our cash from operating activities was partially offset by:

 

An approximately $900 million decrease in cash used for Retail acquisitions and capital expenditures compared to the same period in 2019.

 

A decrease of $1.8 billion in cash payments to shareholders in the form of share repurchases compared to the same period in 2019.

 

A $503 million decrease in long-term debt repayments compared to the same period in 2019.

Capital Structure and Management

Principal Debt Instruments

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to monitor our liquidity position. We added new credit facilities of $1.5 billion in March and April 2020, which we subsequently closed in May 2020 after the issuance of the new notes described below. We use a combination of cash generated from operations and short-term and long-term debt to finance our operations. We are in compliance with our debt covenants and did not have any changes to our credit ratings in the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

 

11


Short-term Debt

 

 

 

 

     As at September 30, 2020  
  (millions of US dollars)      Rate of Interest (%)        Total Facility Limit        Outstanding and
Committed
     Remaining Available   

Credit facilities

                 

Unsecured revolving term credit facility

       NIL          4,500          -        4,500   

Uncommitted revolving demand facility

       NIL          500          -        500   

Other credit facilities 1

       0.8 - 9.5          600          193        407   

Commercial paper

       0.2 - 0.6         

 

 

 

 

 

       1,451       

 

 

 

 

 

Total

      

 

 

 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

       1,644       

 

 

 

 

 

1 Other credit facilities are unsecured and consist of South American facilities with debt of $143 (December 31, 2019 – $149) and interest rates ranging from 2.0 percent to 9.5 percent, Australian facilities with debt of $24 (December 31, 2019 – $157) and an interest rate of 1.3 percent, and other facilities with debt of $26 (December 31, 2019 – $20) and interest rates ranging from 0.8 percent to 4.0 percent.

The amount available under the commercial paper program is limited to the availability of backup funds under the $4,500 million unsecured revolving term credit facility and excess cash invested in highly liquid securities.

Long-term Debt

Our long-term debt consists primarily of notes. See the “Capital Structure and Management” section of our 2019 Annual Report for information on balances, rates and maturities for our notes. On May 13, 2020, we issued $1.5 billion in notes. See Note 8 to the interim financial statements. During the first quarter of 2020, we repaid the $500 million 4.875 percent notes that matured March 30, 2020.

Outstanding Share Data

 

 

 

 

 

   As at October 30, 2020  

Common shares

     569,145,935  

Options to purchase common shares

     11,123,020  

For more information on our capital structure and management, see Note 26 to our 2019 financial statements.

Quarterly Results

 

  (millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)   Q3 2020     Q2 2020     Q1 2020     Q4 2019     Q3 2019     Q2 2019     Q1 2019     Q4 2018  

Sales

    4,205       8,416       4,186       3,442       4,169       8,693       3,719       3,762  

Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations

    (587     765       (35     (48     141       858       41       296  

Net earnings from discontinued operations

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       2,906  

Net earnings (loss)

    (587     765       (35     (48     141       858       41       3,202  

Adjusted EBITDA

    670       1,721       508       664       787       1,870       704       924  

Earnings (loss) per share (“EPS”) from continuing operations

               

Basic

    (1.03     1.34       (0.06     (0.08     0.25       1.48       0.07       0.48  

Diluted

    (1.03     1.34       (0.06     (0.08     0.24       1.47       0.07       0.48  

EPS

               

Basic

    (1.03     1.34       (0.06     (0.08     0.25       1.48       0.07       5.23  

Diluted

    (1.03     1.34       (0.06     (0.08     0.24       1.47       0.07       5.22  

Seasonality in our business results from increased demand for products during the planting season. Crop input sales are generally higher in the spring and fall 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, while customer prepayments made to us are concentrated in December and January and inventory prepayments paid to our vendors are typically concentrated in the period from November to January. Feed and industrial sales are more evenly distributed throughout the year.

 

12


Since the fourth quarter of 2019, Potash earnings have been impacted by lower net realized selling prices caused by a temporary slowdown in global demand. In the fourth quarter of 2018, earnings were impacted by $2.9 billion in after-tax gains on the sales of our investments in Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. and Arab Potash Company, which were categorized as discontinued operations. In the third quarter of 2020, earnings were impacted by non-cash impairments of property, plant and equipment primarily in the Phosphate segment as a result of lower forecasted global phosphate prices.

Risk Factors

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic

Epidemics, pandemics or other such crises or public health concerns in regions of the world where we have operations or source material or sell products could impact or disrupt our business. Specifically, the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in travel restrictions and extended shutdowns of certain businesses around the world, as well as a deterioration of general economic conditions. These or any governmental or other regulatory responses or developments or health concerns in countries in which we operate could result in operational restrictions or social and economic instability, or labor shortages. More specifically, there remains uncertainty relating to the potential impact that COVID-19 could ultimately have on our business. It is still possible that COVID-19 could impact our operations, create supply chain disruptions and/or limit our ability to timely sell or distribute our products in the future, which would negatively impact our business, financial condition and operating results. It is also possible that COVID-19 could negatively impact our customers, even though the agriculture sector is classified as an essential service. Any significant long-term downturn in the global economy or agricultural markets could impact the Company’s access to capital or credit ratings, or our customers’ access to liquidity, which could increase our counterparty credit exposure.

Critical Accounting Estimates

Our critical accounting policies are disclosed in our 2019 Annual Report. We have discussed the development, selection and application of our key accounting policies, and the critical accounting estimates and assumptions they involve, with the audit committee of the Board. Our critical accounting estimates are discussed on page 54 of our 2019 Annual Report. Other than the critical accounting estimates discussed below, there were no significant changes in the first nine months of 2020.

Long-lived Asset Impairment

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, we identified an impairment indicator in our Phosphate cash generating units (“CGUs”) due to lower long-term forecasted global phosphate prices and recorded impairments of assets in the statement of (loss) earnings relating to our property plant and equipment at Aurora and White Springs of $545 million and $215 million, respectively. See Note 3 to the interim financial statements.

The recoverable values of Aurora and White Springs are most sensitive to the following key assumptions: our internal sales price forecasts which consider projections from an independent third-party data source, discount rates, long-term growth rates, and expected mine life. We used key assumptions that were based on historical data and estimates of future results from internal sources, external price benchmarks, mineral reserve technical reports, as well as industry and market trends.

The following table highlights sensitivities to the recoverable value which could result in additional impairment losses or reversals of previously recorded losses. The sensitivities have been calculated independently of changes in other key variables.

 

 

 

   Aurora  
  Key Assumptions      

 

       Change in Assumption        

 

       Increase (Decrease)  
to Recoverable Value ($ millions)  
 

Net selling price

   ±          10 per tonne          ±          150    

Discount rate

   ±          1.0 percentage point          ±          120    

For our White Springs CGU, there were no reasonably possible changes in the key assumptions that would result in a substantial change in the recoverable value.

At September 30, 2020, we performed impairment testing on the Trinidad CGU, part of our Nitrogen segment, due to the indefinite closure of an ammonia plant in response to market conditions and lower long-term forecasted global ammonia prices. No impairment resulted from comparing the carrying value of the Trinidad CGU to its recoverable value determined on a fair value less costs of disposal (“FVLCD”) methodology. FVLCD was based on after-tax discounted cash flows (using a five-year projection and a 2.0% terminal growth rate) discounted at a post-tax rate of 12.6%.

 

13


The following table indicates the percentages by which key assumptions would need to change individually for the estimated Trinidad CGU recoverable value to be equal to the carrying value:

 

  Key Assumptions    Change Required for Carrying  
Value to Equal Recoverable Value  
 

Net selling price (5-year average)

     4 percent decrease      

Production volumes (5-year average)

     5 percent decrease      

Discount rate (post-tax)

     0.9 percentage point increase      

Controls and Procedures

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and National Instrument 52-109 Certification of Disclosure in Issuers’ Annual and Interim Filings. Internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS. Any system of internal control over financial reporting, no matter how well designed, has inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.

There have been changes to our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended June 30, 2020. As part of our digital transformation, we have implemented a new enterprise resource planning system in the Retail segment resulting in a more automated control environment for our Canadian and Loveland Products operations. This change continues to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.

As a result of the acquisition of Ruralco and the integration of the Australian Retail operations, the internal control over the Australian Retail operations will come into scope of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting for the fourth quarter of 2020. The acquisition of Ruralco was previously excluded from management’s evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019 due to the proximity of the acquisition to year-end. The integration of the Australian Retail operations is expected to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.

COVID-19 has also affected our business. During the quarter, corporate office staff and many site administrative staff have worked from home. This change has required certain processes and controls that were previously done or documented manually to be completed and retained in electronic form. This change has not materially affected our internal control over financial reporting.

Except as discussed herein, there have been no changes during the quarter ended September 30, 2020, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements and other information included and incorporated by reference in this document constitute “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) under applicable securities laws (such statements are often accompanied by words such as “anticipate”, “forecast”, “expect”, “believe”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “estimate”, “intend” or other similar words). All statements in this document, other than those relating to historical information or current conditions, are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: Nutrien’s 2020 annual guidance, including expectations regarding our adjusted net earnings per share, adjusted EBITDA (consolidated and by segment); capital spending expectations for 2020; expectations regarding our liquidity; expectations regarding performance of our operating segments in 2020, including the impact of our ammonia plant closure on our Nitrogen segment; our operating segment market outlooks and market conditions for 2020, including the impact of COVID-19 thereon, and the 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 import and export volumes; and acquisitions and divestitures, and the expected synergies associated with various acquisitions, including timing 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.

 

14


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 we believe that these assumptions are reasonable, having regard to our experience and our perception of historical trends, 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. Current conditions, economic and otherwise, render assumptions, although reasonable when made, subject to greater uncertainty. The additional key assumptions that have been made include, among other things, assumptions with respect to our ability to successfully complete, integrate and realize the anticipated benefits of our already completed and future acquisitions and divestitures, 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 us, including with respect to prices, margins, demand, supply, product availability, supplier agreements, availability and cost of labor and interest, exchange and effective tax rates; 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 2020 and in the future; our expectations regarding the impacts, direct and indirect, of COVID-19 on our business, customers, business partners, employees, supply chain, other stakeholders and the overall economy; 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 divestitures and negotiate acceptable terms; our ability to maintain investment grade ratings and achieve our performance targets; and 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.

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; failure to complete announced and future acquisitions or divestitures at all or on the expected terms and within the expected timeline; climate change and 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 products; governmental and regulatory requirements and actions by governmental authorities, including changes in government policy (including tariffs, trade restrictions and climate change initiatives), government ownership requirements, changes in environmental, tax and other laws or regulations and the interpretation thereof; political risks, including civil unrest, actions by armed groups or conflict and malicious acts including terrorism; the occurrence of a major environmental or safety incident; innovation and cybersecurity risks related to our systems, including our costs of addressing or mitigating such risks; regional natural gas supply restrictions; counterparty and sovereign risk; delays in completion of turnarounds at our major facilities; gas supply interruptions; any significant impairment of the carrying value of certain assets; risks related to reputational loss; certain complications that may arise in our mining processes; the ability to attract, engage and retain skilled employees and strikes or other forms of work stoppages; the COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting effects on economic conditions, restrictions imposed by public health authorities or governments, fiscal and monetary responses by governments and financial institutions and disruptions to global supply chains; and other risk factors detailed from time to time in Nutrien reports filed with the Canadian securities regulators and the SEC in the United States.

The purpose of our expected adjusted net earnings per share and adjusted EBITDA (consolidated and by segment) guidance ranges are to assist readers in understanding our expected financial results, and this information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

The forward-looking statements in this document are made as of the date hereof and Nutrien 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 Canadian securities legislation or applicable US federal securities laws.

Terms and Definitions

For the definitions of certain financial and non-financial terms used in this document, as well as a list of abbreviated company names and sources, see the “Terms and Definitions” section of our 2019 Annual Report dated February 19, 2020. All references to per share amounts pertain to diluted net earnings (loss) per share, “n/m” indicates information that is not meaningful and all financial amounts are stated in millions of US dollars, unless otherwise noted.

 

15


About Nutrien

Nutrien is the world’s largest provider of crop inputs and services, playing a critical role in helping growers increase food production in a sustainable manner. We produce and distribute 25 million tonnes of potash, nitrogen and phosphate products world-wide. With this capability and our leading agriculture retail network, we are well positioned to supply the needs of our customers. We operate with a long-term view and are committed to working with our stakeholders as we address our economic, environmental and social priorities. The scale and diversity of our integrated portfolio provides a stable earnings base, multiple avenues for growth and the opportunity to return capital to shareholders.

For Further Information:

Investor Relations:

Richard Downey

Vice President, Investor Relations

(403) 225-7357

Investors@nutrien.com

Tim Mizuno

Director, Investor Relations

(306) 933-8548

Media Relations:

Megan Fielding

Vice President, Brand & Culture Communications

(403) 797-3015

Contact us at: www.nutrien.com

Selected financial data for download can be found in our data tool at www.nutrien.com/investors/interactive-datatool

Such data is not incorporated by reference herein.

 

 

Nutrien will host a Conference Call on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at 10:00 am Eastern Time.

 

 

In order to expedite access to our conference call, each participant will be required to pre-register for the event:

   

Online: http://www.directeventreg.com/registration/event/9668938.

   

Via Phone: 1-888-869-1189 Conference ID 9668938.

 

Once the registration is complete, a confirmation will be sent providing the dial in number and both the Direct Event Passcode and your unique Registrant ID to join this call. For security reasons, please do not share your information with anyone else.

 

Live Audio Webcast: Visit http://www.nutrien.com/investors/events/2020-q3-earnings-conference-call

 

16


Appendix A - Selected Additional Financial Data

 

Selected Retail measures   Three Months Ended September 30         Nine Months Ended September 30  

 

                  2020                     2019                     2020                         2019  

Proprietary products margin as a percentage of product line margin (%)

       

Crop nutrients

    33       31       27       24  

Crop protection products

    43       39       40       42  

Seed

    n/m       20       43       44  

All products

    25       27       27       28  

Crop nutrients sales volumes (tonnes - thousands)

       

North America

    1,159       1,202       7,683       7,254  

International

    741       533       2,364       1,677  

Total

    1,900       1,735       10,047       8,931  

Crop nutrients selling price per tonne

       

North America

    413       467       423       471  

International

    407       389       356       395  

Total

    411       443       407       457  

Crop nutrients gross margin per tonne

       

North America

    116       114       102       103  

International

    61       70       47       57  

Total

    94       101       89       95  
Financial performance measures                 2020 Target     2020 Actuals  

Retail Adjusted EBITDA to sales (%) 1, 2

        10       10  

Retail adjusted average working capital to sales (%) 1, 2

 

      21       17  

Retail cash operating coverage ratio (%) 1, 2

        61       62  

Retail Adjusted EBITDA per US selling location (thousands of US dollars) 1, 2

 

            1,000       1,031  

1 Rolling four quarters ended September 30, 2020.

2 See the “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” section.

 

Nutrien Financial    As at September 30, 2020  
(millions of US dollars)    Current     

31-90 days

past due

    

>90 days

past due

     Allowance 2     Total  

Nutrien Financial receivables 1

     1,661        37        35        (22     1,711  

1 See the “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” section.

2 Allowance for expected credit losses of receivables from customers.

 

17


Selected Nitrogen measures   Three Months Ended September 30     Nine Months Ended September 30  
     2020     2019                     2020                     2019  

Sales volumes (tonnes - thousands)

       

Fertilizer

    1,426       1,304       5,010       4,204  

Industrial and feed

    977       1,218       3,111       3,704  

Net sales (millions of US dollars)

       

Fertilizer

    280       316       1,108       1,155  

Industrial and feed

    161       217       559       726  

Net selling price per tonne

       

Fertilizer

    196       243       221       275  

Industrial and feed

    166       178       180       196  

 

Production measures   Three Months Ended September 30     Nine Months Ended September 30  
     2020     2019                     2020                     2019  

Potash production (Product tonnes - thousands)

    3,430       2,977       9,811       9,761  

Potash shutdown weeks 1

    4       11       38       27  

Nitrogen production (Ammonia tonnes - thousands) 2

    1,413       1,529       4,479       4,763  

Ammonia operating rate (%) 3

    91       85       93       90  

Phosphate production (P2O5 tonnes - thousands) 4

    354       374       1,083       1,124  

Phosphate P2O5 operating rate (%) 4

    83       87       85       88  

1 Represents weeks of full production shutdown, excluding the impact of any periods of reduced operating rates and planned routine annual maintenance shutdowns and announced workforce reductions.

2 All figures are provided on a gross production basis.

3 Excludes Trinidad and Joffre.

4 Excludes Redwater.

 

18


Appendix B - Non-IFRS Financial Measures

We use both IFRS and certain non-IFRS financial measures to assess performance. Non-IFRS financial measures are numerical measures of a company’s performance, that either exclude or include amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measures calculated and presented in accordance with IFRS. In evaluating these measures, investors should consider that the methodology applied in calculating such measures may differ among companies and analysts.

Management believes the non-IFRS financial measures provide transparent and useful supplemental information to help investors evaluate our financial performance, financial condition and liquidity using the same measures as management. 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.

The following section outlines our non-IFRS financial measures, their definitions and why management uses each measure. It includes reconciliations to the most directly comparable IFRS measures. Except as otherwise described herein, our non-IFRS financial measures are calculated on a consistent basis from period to period and are adjusted for specific items in each period, as applicable. As non-recurring, unusual or other non-operational items arise, we generally exclude these items in our calculation.

Adjusted EBITDA (Consolidated)

Most directly comparable IFRS financial measure: Net earnings (loss).

Definition: Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as net earnings (loss) before finance costs, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, Merger and related costs, certain acquisition and integration related costs, share-based compensation, impairment of assets, certain foreign exchange gain/loss (net of related derivatives), COVID-19 related expenses and loss on disposal of business. In the first and third quarter of 2020, respectively, we have amended our calculation of adjusted EBITDA to adjust for the impact of COVID-19 related expenses and loss on disposal of business. There were no similar expenses in the comparative period. To align with the change in our segment performance measure effective in the third quarter of 2020, we will primarily use Adjusted EBITDA going forward as our consolidated performance measure.

Why we use the measure and why it is useful to investors: It is not impacted by long-term investment and financing decisions, but rather focuses on the performance of our day-to-day operations. It provides a measure of our ability to service debt and to meet other payment obligations.

 

    Three Months Ended September 30     Nine Months Ended September 30  
(millions of US dollars)   2020     2019 1     2020     2019 1  

Net (loss) earnings

    (587     141       143       1,040  

Finance costs

    129       147       401       413  

Income tax (recovery) expense

    (264     40       (45     346  

Depreciation and amortization

    500       457       1,490       1,363  

EBITDA

    (222     785       1,989       3,162  

Merger and related costs

    -       21       -       57  

Acquisition and integration related costs

    10       -       38       -  

Share-based compensation expense (recovery)

    29       (21     9       95  

Impairment of assets

    823       -       823       33  

COVID-19 related expenses

    11       -       30       -  

Foreign exchange loss, net of related derivatives

    13       2       4       14  

Loss on disposal of business

    6       -       6       -  

Adjusted EBITDA

    670       787       2,899       3,361  
1 In the fourth quarter of 2019, we amended our calculations of adjusted EBITDA and restated the comparative periods to exclude the impact of foreign exchange gain/loss, net of related derivatives, as foreign exchange changes are not indicative of our operating performance.

 

19


Adjusted EBITDA (Consolidated) and Adjusted Net Earnings Per Share Guidance

Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net earnings per share guidance are forward-looking non-IFRS financial measures. We do not provide a reconciliation of such forward-looking measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with IFRS due to unknown variables and the uncertainty related to future results. These unknown variables may include unpredictable transactions of significant value that may be inherently difficult to determine, without unreasonable efforts. Guidance excludes the impacts of acquisition and integration related costs, share-based compensation, certain foreign exchange gain/loss (net of related derivatives), and COVID-19 related expenses.

Adjusted Net Earnings and Adjusted Net Earnings Per Share

Most directly comparable IFRS financial measure: Net earnings (loss) and net earnings (loss) per share.

Definition: Net earnings (loss) before certain acquisition and integration related costs, share-based compensation, certain foreign exchange gain/loss (net of related derivatives), COVID-19 related expenses (including those recorded under finance costs), loss on disposal of business and impairment of assets, net of tax. In 2020, we have amended our calculation of adjusted net loss to adjust for the impact of COVID-19 related expenses and loss on disposal of business.

Why we use the measure and why it is useful to investors: Focuses on the performance of our day-to-day operations excluding the effects of non-operating items.

 

    

Three Months Ended

September 30, 2020

    

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 2020

 
(millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)    Increases
(Decreases)
       Post-Tax      Per
Diluted
Share
     Increases
(Decreases)
       Post-Tax        Per
Diluted
Share
 

Net (loss) earnings

          (587      (1.03           143          0.25  

Adjustments:

                       

Acquisition and integration related costs

     10          8        0.01        38          31          0.06  

Share-based compensation expense

     29          23        0.04        9          7          0.01  

Impairment of assets

     823          661        1.16        823          661          1.16  

COVID-19 related expenses

     14          11        0.02        45          36          0.06  

Foreign exchange loss, net of related derivatives

     13          10        0.02        4          3          0.01  

Loss on disposal of business

     6          5        0.01        6          5          0.01  

Adjusted net earnings

                131        0.23                   886          1.56  

Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Including Changes in Non-Cash Operating Working Capital

Most directly comparable IFRS financial measure: Cash from operations before working capital changes.

Definition: Cash from operations before working capital changes less sustaining capital expenditures. We also calculate a similar measure which includes changes in non-cash operating working capital.

Why we use the measure and why it is useful to investors: For evaluation of liquidity and financial strength, and as a component of employee remuneration calculations. These are also useful as indicators of our ability to service debt, meet other payment obligations and make strategic investments. These do not represent residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures.

 

          Three Months Ended September 30     Nine Months Ended September 30  
(millions of US dollars)          2020     2019                     2020     2019  

Cash from operations before working capital changes

      483       585       2,145       2,686  

Sustaining capital expenditures

            (203     (256     (511     (667

Free cash flow

      280       329       1,634       2,019  

Changes in non-cash operating working capital

            (1,168     4       (1,600     (1,440

Free cash flow including changes in non-cash
operating working capital

            (888     333       34       579  

 

20


Potash Cash Cost of Product Manufactured (“COPM”)

Most directly comparable IFRS financial measure: Cost of goods sold (“COGS”) for the Potash segment.

Definition: Potash COGS for the period excluding depreciation and amortization expense and inventory and other adjustments divided by the production tonnes for the period.

Why we use the measure and why it is useful to investors: To assess operational performance. Potash cash COPM excludes the effects of production from other periods and long-term investment decisions, supporting a focus on the performance of our day-to-day operations.

 

    Three Months Ended September 30      Nine Months Ended September 30  
 (millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)   2020     2019                  2020     2019  

 Total COGS - Potash

    303       303        878       892  

 Change in inventory

    4       (26      (28     (1

 Other adjustments

    -       (4      (5     (16

 COPM

    307       273        845       875  

 Depreciation and amortization included in COPM

    (124     (87      (305     (292

 Cash COPM

    183       186        540       583  

 Production tonnes (tonnes - thousands)

    3,430       2,977        9,811       9,761  

 Potash cash COPM per tonne

    53       62        55       60  

Ammonia Controllable Cash COPM

Most directly comparable IFRS financial measure: COGS for the Nitrogen segment.

Definition: The total of COGS for the Nitrogen segment excluding depreciation and amortization expense included in COGS, cash COGS for products other than ammonia, other adjustments, and natural gas and steam costs, divided by net ammonia production tonnes.

Why we use the measure and why it is useful to investors: To assess operational performance. Ammonia controllable cash COPM excludes the effects of production from other periods, the costs of natural gas and steam, and long-term investment decisions, supporting a focus on the performance of our day-to-day operations.

 

    Three Months Ended September 30      Nine Months Ended September 30  
 (millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)   2020     2019                  2020     2019  

 Total COGS - Nitrogen

    482       469        1,708       1,652  

 Depreciation and amortization in COGS

    (113     (109      (395     (340

 Cash COGS for products other than ammonia

    (287     (262      (1,017     (952

 Ammonia

        

 Total cash COGS before other adjustments

    82       98        296       360  

 Other adjustments 1

    (11     (2      (46     (35

 Total cash COPM

    71       96        250       325  

 Natural gas and steam costs

    (45     (62      (164     (221

 Controllable cash COPM

    26       34        86       104  

 Production tonnes (net tonnes 2 - thousands)

       557          755        1,945       2,343  

 Ammonia controllable cash COPM per tonne

    47       45        44       44  

1 Includes changes in inventory balances and other adjustments.

2 Ammonia tonnes available for sale, as not upgraded to other Nitrogen products.

Gross Margin Excluding Depreciation and Amortization Per Tonne - Manufactured

Most directly comparable IFRS financial measure: Gross margin.

Definition: Gross margin from manufactured products per tonne less depreciation and amortization per tonne. Reconciliations are provided in the “Segment Results” section.

Why we use the measure and why it is useful to investors: Focuses on the performance of our day-to-day operations, which excludes the effects of items that primarily reflect the impact of long-term investment and financing decisions.

 

21


Retail Adjusted EBITDA to Sales

Most directly comparable IFRS financial measure: Retail adjusted EBITDA divided by Retail sales.

Definition: Retail adjusted EBITDA divided by Retail sales for the last four rolling quarters.

Why we use the measure and why it is useful to investors: To evaluate operational efficiency. A higher or lower percentage represents increased or decreased efficiency, respectively. In the third quarter of 2020, we revised this measure from EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDA to align with how we evaluate Retail results. There were no changes to this measure as a result of the change.

 

    Rolling four quarters ended September 30, 2020  
 (millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)   Q4 2019     Q1 2020     Q2 2020     Q3 2020     Total  

 Adjusted EBITDA

    231       7       964       162       1,364  

 Sales

    2,171       2,649       6,749       2,720       14,289  

 Adjusted EBITDA to sales (%)

                                    10  

Nutrien Financial Receivables

Most directly comparable IFRS financial measure: Receivables.

Definition: Nutrien Financial receivables are a subcategory of US Retail receivables managed in the Nutrien Financial portfolio, segregated predominately according to credit quality. We manage our credit portfolio based on a combination of customer credit metrics, experience with the customer and by managing exposure to any single customer.

Why we use the measure and why it is useful to investors: Used by credit rating agencies and other users to evaluate overall credit risk.

 

 (millions of US dollars)   As at September 30, 2020  

 Nutrien Financial receivables

    1,711  

 Non-Nutrien Financial receivables

    3,345  

 Receivables

    5,056  

Retail Adjusted Average Working Capital to Sales

Most directly comparable IFRS financial measure: (Current assets minus current liabilities for Retail) divided by Retail sales.

Definition: Retail adjusted average working capital divided by Retail adjusted sales for the last four rolling quarters. We exclude in our calculations the working capital and sales of certain acquisitions (such as Ruralco) during the first year following the acquisition. We have amended our calculation to adjust for the sales of certain recently acquired businesses.

Why we use the measure and why it is useful to investors: To evaluate operational efficiency. A lower or higher percentage represents increased or decreased efficiency, respectively.

 

    Rolling four quarters ended September 30, 2020  
 (millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)   Q4 2019     Q1 2020     Q2 2020     Q3 2020     Average/Total  

 Working capital

    1,759       2,288       2,030       3,216    

 Working capital from certain recent acquisitions

    (138     (108     63       -          

 Adjusted working capital

    1,621       2,180       2,093       3,216       2,278  

 Sales

    2,171       2,649       6,749       2,720    

 Sales from certain recent acquisitions

    (249     (348     (338     -          

 Adjusted sales

    1,922       2,301       6,411       2,720       13,354  

 Adjusted average working capital to sales (%)

                                    17  

 

22


Retail Cash Operating Coverage Ratio

Most directly comparable IFRS financial measure: Retail operating expenses as a percentage of Retail gross margin.

Definition: Retail operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization expense, divided by Retail gross margin excluding depreciation and amortization expense in cost of goods sold, for the last four rolling quarters.

Why we use the measure and why it is useful to investors: To understand the costs and underlying economics of our Retail operations and to assess our Retail operating performance and ability to generate free cash flow.

 

    Rolling four quarters ended September 30, 2020  
 (millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)   Q4 2019     Q1 2020     Q2 2020     Q3 2020     Total  

 Operating expenses 1

    667       677       811       669       2,824  

 Depreciation and amortization in operating expenses

    (160     (153     (161     (167     (641

 Operating expenses excluding depreciation and amortization

    507       524       650       502       2,183  

 Gross margin

    736       529       1,612       661       3,538  

 Depreciation and amortization in cost of goods sold

    2       2       2       3       9  

 Gross margin excluding depreciation and amortization

    738       531       1,614       664       3,547  

 Cash operating coverage ratio (%)

                                    62  

1 Includes Retail expenses below gross margin including selling expenses, general and administrative expenses and other (income) expenses.

Retail Adjusted EBITDA per US Selling Location

Most directly comparable IFRS financial measure: Retail US adjusted EBITDA.

Definition: Total Retail US adjusted EBITDA for the last four rolling quarters, adjusted for acquisitions in those quarters, divided by the number of US locations that have generated sales in the last four rolling quarters, adjusted for acquired locations.

Why we use the measure and why it is useful to investors: To assess our US Retail operating performance. This measure includes locations we have owned for more than 12 months. In the third quarter of 2020, we revised this measure from US EBITDA to US adjusted EBITDA to align with how we evaluate Retail results. There were no changes to this measure as a result of the change.

 

    Rolling four quarters ended September 30, 2020  
 (millions of US dollars, except as otherwise noted)   Q4 2019     Q1 2020     Q2 2020     Q3 2020     Total  

 Adjusted US EBITDA

    143       (44     766       86       951  

 Adjustments for acquisitions

                                    (11

 Adjusted US EBITDA adjusted for acquisitions

            940  

 Number of US selling locations adjusted for acquisitions

                                    912  

 Adjusted EBITDA per US selling location (thousands of US dollars)

 

                            1,031  

 

23


Unaudited   In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted  

 

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Condensed Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Earnings

 

        Three Months Ended
September 30
    Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
     Note   2020     2019     2020     2019  
              Note 1           Note 1  

 SALES

  2     4,205       4,169       16,807       16,581  

 Freight, transportation and distribution

      204       210       653       596  

 Cost of goods sold

        3,004       2,819       12,129       11,558  

 GROSS MARGIN

      997       1,140       4,025       4,427  

 Selling expenses

      676       607       2,081       1,835  

 General and administrative expenses

      107       97       312       287  

 Provincial mining and other taxes

      58       92       163       253  

 Share-based compensation expense (recovery)

      29       (21     9       95  

 Impairment of assets

  3     823       -       823       33  

 Other expenses

  4     26       37       138       125  

 (LOSS) EARNINGS BEFORE FINANCE COSTS AND INCOME TAXES

      (722     328       499       1,799  

 Finance costs

        129       147       401       413  

 (LOSS) EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES

      (851     181       98       1,386  

 Income tax (recovery) expense

  5     (264     40       (45     346  

 NET (LOSS) EARNINGS

        (587     141       143       1,040  

 NET (LOSS) EARNINGS PER SHARE (“EPS”)

         

    Basic

      (1.03     0.25       0.25       1.78  

    Diluted

        (1.03     0.24       0.25       1.77  

 Weighted average shares outstanding for basic EPS

      569,146,000       572,887,000       569,818,000       585,421,000  

 Weighted average shares outstanding for diluted EPS

        569,146,000       573,702,000       569,818,000       586,335,000  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income

 

    Three Months Ended
September 30
    Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
 (Net of related income taxes)                   2020                     2019                     2020                     2019  

 NET (LOSS) EARNINGS

    (587     141       143       1,040  

 Other comprehensive income (loss)

       

 Items that will not be reclassified to net (loss) earnings:

       

 Net actuarial gain on defined benefit plans

    -       -       3       -  

 Net fair value loss on investments

    (4     (11     (25     (26

 Items that have been or may be subsequently reclassified to net (loss) earnings:

       

 Gain (loss) on currency translation of foreign operations

    69       (71     (52     (36

 Other

    6       7       (12     5  

 OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

    71       (75     (86     (57

 COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME

    (516     66       57       983  

 (See Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements)

 

24


Unaudited   In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted  

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

          Three Months Ended
September 30
    Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
     Note     2020     2019     2020     2019  
                Note 1           Note 1  

 OPERATING ACTIVITIES

         

 Net (loss) earnings

      (587     141       143       1,040  

 Adjustments for:

         

 Depreciation and amortization

      500       457       1,490       1,363  

 Share-based compensation expense (recovery)

      29       (21     9       95  

 Impairment of assets

    3       823       -       823       33  

 (Recovery of) provision for deferred income tax

      (161     31       (99     178  

 Other long-term liabilities and miscellaneous

            (121     (23     (221     (23

 Cash from operations before working capital changes

      483       585       2,145       2,686  

 Changes in non-cash operating working capital:

         

 Receivables

      692       624       (1,455     (1,427

 Inventories

      407       541       1,153       1,239  

 Prepaid expenses and other current assets

      (77     (23     936       801  

 Payables and accrued charges

            (2,190     (1,138     (2,234     (2,053

 CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

            (685     589       545       1,246  

 INVESTING ACTIVITIES

         

 Additions to property, plant and equipment

      (266     (518     (927     (1,177

 Additions to intangible assets

      (19     (43     (87     (118

 Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired

    10       (43     (348     (216     (837

 Proceeds from disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax

      -       -       -       55  

 Purchase of investments

      (13     (42     (79     (164

 Other

            (15     47       100       108  

 CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES

            (356     (904     (1,209     (2,133

 FINANCING ACTIVITIES

         

 Transaction costs on long-term debt

      -       -       (15     (29

 Proceeds from short-term debt, net

      397       575       601       1,534  

 Proceeds from long-term debt

    8       14       -       1,520       1,510  

 Repayment of long-term debt

    8       -       (11     (507     (1,010

 Repayment of principal portion of lease liabilities

      (69     (49     (203     (166

 Dividends paid

    9       (257     (244     (771     (764

 Repurchase of common shares

    9       -       -       (160     (1,930

 Issuance of common shares

            -       1       -       18  

 CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES

            85       272       465       (837

 EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

            6       (5     (7     (22

 DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

    (950     (48     (206     (1,746

 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS – BEGINNING OF PERIOD

            1,415       616       671       2,314  

 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS – END OF PERIOD

            465       568       465       568  

 Cash and cash equivalents comprised of:

         

 Cash

              328               326               328               326  

 Short-term investments

            137       242       137       242  
              465       568       465       568  

 SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOWS INFORMATION

         

 Interest paid

      85       111       334       353  

 Income taxes paid

      27       46       92       1  

 Total cash outflow for leases

            78       89       266       253  

 (See Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements)

 

25


Unaudited   In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted  

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity

 

                      Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income (“AOCI”)              
     Number of
Common
Shares
    Share
Capital
    Contributed
Surplus
    Net Fair
Value
Loss on
Investments
    Net
Actuarial
Gain on
Defined
Benefit
Plans 1
    Loss on
Currency
Translation
of Foreign
Operations
    Other     Total
AOCI
    Retained
Earnings
    Total
Equity 2
 
       

BALANCE – DECEMBER 31, 2018

    608,535,477       16,740       231       (7     -       (251     (33     (291     7,745       24,425  
       

Net earnings

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       1,040       1,040  
       

Other comprehensive (loss) income

    -       -       -       (26     -       (36     5       (57     -       (57
       

Shares repurchased (Note 9)

    (36,066,766     (992     -       -       -       -       -       -       (886     (1,878
       

Dividends declared

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (496     (496
       

Effect of share-based compensation including issuance of common shares

    431,485       21       13       -       -       -       -       -       -       34  
       

Transfer of net loss on sale of investment

    -       -       -       4       -       -       -       4       (4     -  
       

Transfer of net loss on cash flow hedges

    -       -       -       -       -       -       8       8       -       8  
       

BALANCE – SEPTEMBER 30, 2019

    572,900,196       15,769       244       (29     -       (287     (20     (336     7,399       23,076  
       

BALANCE – DECEMBER 31, 2019

    572,942,809       15,771       248       (29     -       (204     (18     (251     7,101       22,869  
       

Net earnings

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       143       143  
       

Other comprehensive (loss) income

    -       -       -       (25     3       (52     (12     (86     -       (86
       

Shares repurchased (Note 9)

    (3,832,580     (105     (55     -       -       -       -       -       -       (160
       

Dividends declared

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (770     (770
       

Effect of share-based compensation including issuance of common shares

    35,706       1       10       -       -       -       -       -       -       11  
       

Transfer of net loss on cash flow hedges

    -       -       -       -       -       -       13       13       -       13  
       

Transfer of net actuarial gain on defined benefit plans

    -       -       -       -       (3     -       -       (3     3       -  
       

BALANCE – SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

    569,145,935       15,667       203       (54     -       (256     (17     (327     6,477       22,020  

1 Any amounts incurred during a period were transferred to retained earnings at each period-end. Therefore, no balance exists at the beginning or end of period.

2 All equity transactions were attributable to common shareholders.

(See Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements)

 

26


Unaudited   In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted  

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

           September 30            December 31  
As at   Note      2020      2019            2019  

ASSETS

            

Current assets

            

Cash and cash equivalents

       465        568          671  

Receivables

       5,056        4,843          3,542  

Inventories

       3,829        3,873          4,975  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

             531        440          1,477  
       9,881        9,724          10,665  

Non-current assets

            

Property, plant and equipment

    3        19,308        20,045          20,335  

Goodwill

    10        12,179        11,983          11,986  

Other intangible assets

       2,352        2,330          2,428  

Investments

       809        809          821  

Other assets

             742        538          564  

TOTAL ASSETS

                             45,271                        45,429                          46,799  

LIABILITIES

            

Current liabilities

            

Short-term debt

    7        1,644        2,287          976  

Current portion of long-term debt

    8        -        501          502  

Current portion of lease liabilities

       230        219          214  

Payables and accrued charges

             5,239        4,615          7,437  
       7,113        7,622          9,129  

Non-current liabilities

            

Long-term debt

    8        10,041        8,555          8,553  

Lease liabilities

       847        793          859  

Deferred income tax liabilities

    5        3,053        3,137          3,145  

Pension and other post-retirement benefit liabilities

       446        425          433  

Asset retirement obligations and accrued environmental costs

       1,575        1,662          1,650  

Other non-current liabilities

             176        159          161  

TOTAL LIABILITIES

             23,251        22,353          23,930  

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

            

Share capital

    9        15,667        15,769          15,771  

Contributed surplus

       203        244          248  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

       (327      (336        (251

Retained earnings

             6,477        7,399          7,101  

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

             22,020        23,076          22,869  

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

             45,271        45,429          46,799  

(See Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements)

 

27


Unaudited   In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted  

 

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

As at and for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020

NOTE 1  BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Nutrien Ltd. (collectively with its subsidiaries, known as “Nutrien”, “we”, “us”, “our” or the “Company”) is the world’s largest provider of crop inputs and services. Nutrien plays a critical role in helping growers around the globe increase food production in a sustainable manner.

These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements (“interim financial statements”) are based on International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS”) and have been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34, “Interim Financial Reporting”. The accounting policies and methods of computation used in preparing these interim financial statements are consistent with those used in the preparation of our 2019 annual consolidated financial statements. These interim financial statements include the accounts of Nutrien and its subsidiaries; however, they do not include all disclosures normally provided in annual consolidated financial statements and should be read in conjunction with our 2019 annual consolidated financial statements.

Certain immaterial 2019 figures have been reclassified in the condensed consolidated statements of (loss) earnings, condensed consolidated statements of cash flows and segment information.

In management’s opinion, the interim financial statements include all adjustments necessary to fairly present such information in all material respects. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for any other interim period or the fiscal year. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the novel strain of coronavirus (“COVID-19”) a global pandemic. We have assessed our accounting estimates and other matters that require the use of forecasted financial information for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The assessment included estimates of the unknown future impacts of the pandemic using information that is reasonably available at this time. Accounting estimates and other matters assessed include the allowance for expected credit losses of receivables from customers, inventory valuation, goodwill and other long-lived assets, financial assets, tax assets, pension obligation and assets, and revenue recognition. Based on our current assessment, there was not a material impact to these interim financial statements. As additional information becomes available, the future assessment of these estimates, including expectations about the severity, duration and scope of the pandemic, could differ materially in future reporting periods.

These interim financial statements were authorized by the audit committee of the Board of Directors for issue on November 2, 2020.

NOTE 2  SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company has four reportable operating segments: Retail, Potash, Nitrogen and Phosphate. The Retail segment distributes crop nutrients, crop protection products, seed and merchandise, and provides services directly to growers through a network of farm centers in North America, South America and Australia. The Potash, Nitrogen and Phosphate segments are differentiated by the chemical nutrient contained in the products that each produces. Sales reported under our Corporate and Others segment primarily relates to our non-core Canadian business which was sold in the third quarter of 2020.

In the third quarter of 2020, our Chief Operating Decision Maker changed the measure used to evaluate the performance of our operating segments from net earnings (loss) before finance costs, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) to adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA provides a better indication of the segments performance as it excludes the impact of impairments and other costs that are centrally managed by our corporate function. Due to the change in the measurement of the segments, we have presented adjusted EBITDA for the comparative periods.

 

28


Unaudited   In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted  

 

     Three Months Ended September 30, 2020  
      Retail     Potash     Nitrogen     Phosphate     Corporate
and Others
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

 Sales   – third party

     2,712       634       524       312       23       -       4,205  

             – intersegment

     8       63       103       40       -       (214     -  

 Sales   – total

     2,720       697       627       352       23       (214     4,205  

 Freight, transportation and distribution

     -       106       87       60       -       (49     204  

 Net sales

     2,720       591       540       292       23       (165     4,001  

 Cost of goods sold

     2,059       303       482       293       20       (153     3,004  

 Gross margin

     661       288       58       (1     3       (12     997  

 Selling expenses

     669       3       7       1       (4     -       676  

 General and administrative expenses

     34       2       3       2       66       -       107  

 Provincial mining and other taxes

     -       58       -       -       -       -       58  

 Share-based compensation expense

     -       -       -       -       29       -       29  

 Impairment of assets

     -       22       27       769       5       -       823  

 Other (income) expenses

     (34     (1     (16     10       67       -       26  

 (Loss) earnings before finance costs and income taxes

     (8     204       37       (783     (160     (12     (722

 Depreciation and amortization

     170       124       131       60       15       -       500  

 EBITDA

     162       328       168       (723     (145     (12     (222

 Acquisition and integration related costs

     -       -       -       -       10       -       10  

 Share-based compensation expense

     -       -       -       -       29       -       29  

 Impairment of assets

     -       22       27       769       5       -       823  

 COVID-19 related expenses

     -       -       -       -       11       -       11  

 Foreign exchange loss, net of related derivatives

     -       -       -       -       13       -       13  

 Loss on disposal of business

     -       -       -       -       6       -       6  

 Adjusted EBITDA

     162       350       195       46       (71     (12     670  

 Assets – at September 30, 2020

     19,722       12,005       10,805       1,362       1,760       (383     45,271  
     Three Months Ended September 30, 2019  
      Retail     Potash     Nitrogen     Phosphate     Corporate
and Others
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

 Sales   – third party

     2,489       748       564       333       35       -       4,169  

             – intersegment

     10       68       115       43       -       (236     -  

 Sales   – total

     2,499       816       679       376       35       (236     4,169  

 Freight, transportation and distribution

     -       107       77       62       -       (36     210  

 Net sales

     2,499       709       602       314       35       (200     3,959  

 Cost of goods sold

     1,844       303       469       329       35       (161     2,819  

 Gross margin

     655       406       133       (15     -       (39     1,140  

 Selling expenses

     601       2       7       2       (5     -       607  

 General and administrative expenses

     28       -       4       -       65       -       97  

 Provincial mining and other taxes

     -       83       1       -       8       -       92  

 Share-based compensation recovery

     -       -       -       -       (21     -       (21

 Other (income) expenses

     (12     1       1       7       40       -       37  

 Earnings (loss) before finance costs and income taxes

     38       320       120       (24     (87     (39     328  

 Depreciation and amortization

     152       110       127       58       10       -       457  

 EBITDA

     190       430       247       34       (77     (39     785  

 Merger and related costs

     -       -       -       -       21       -       21  

 Share-based compensation recovery

     -       -       -       -       (21     -       (21

 Foreign exchange loss, net of related derivatives

     -       -       -       -       2       -       2  

 Adjusted EBITDA

     190       430       247       34       (75     (39     787  

 Assets – at December 31, 2019

     19,990       11,696       10,991       2,198       2,129       (205     46,799  

 

29


Unaudited   In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted  

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020  
      Retail     Potash     Nitrogen     Phosphate     Corporate
and Others
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

 Sales   – third party

     12,091       1,798       1,925       923       70       -       16,807  

   – intersegment

     27       191       481       146       -       (845     -  

 Sales   – total

     12,118       1,989       2,406       1,069       70       (845     16,807  

 Freight, transportation and distribution

     -       293       335       187       -       (162     653  

 Net sales

     12,118       1,696       2,071       882       70       (683     16,154  

 Cost of goods sold

     9,316       878       1,708       862       63       (698     12,129  

 Gross margin

     2,802       818       363       20       7       15       4,025  

 Selling expenses

     2,068       7       19       4       (17     -       2,081  

 General and administrative expenses

     102       5       7       7       191       -       312  

 Provincial mining and other taxes

     -       161       1       -       1       -       163  

 Share-based compensation expense

     -       -       -       -       9       -       9  

 Impairment of assets

     -       22       27       769       5       -       823  

 Other (income) expenses

     (13     4       (25     19       153       -       138  

 Earnings (loss) before finance costs and income taxes

     645       619       334       (779     (335     15       499  

 Depreciation and amortization

     488       329       453       179       41       -       1,490  

 EBITDA

     1,133       948       787       (600     (294     15       1,989  

 Acquisition and integration related costs

     -       -       -       -       38       -       38  

 Share-based compensation expense

     -       -       -       -       9       -       9  

 Impairment of assets

     -       22       27       769       5       -       823  

 COVID-19 related expenses

     -       -       -       -       30       -       30  

 Foreign exchange loss, net of related derivatives

     -       -       -       -       4       -       4  

 Loss on disposal of business

     -       -       -       -       6       -       6  

 Adjusted EBITDA

     1,133       970       814       169       (202     15       2,899  

 Assets – at September 30, 2020

     19,722       12,005       10,805       1,362       1,760       (383     45,271  
     Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019  
      Retail     Potash     Nitrogen     Phosphate     Corporate
and Others
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

 Sales   – third party

     11,022       2,328       2,033       1,099       99       -       16,581  

   – intersegment

     28       178       487       160       -       (853     -  

 Sales   – total

     11,050       2,506       2,520       1,259       99       (853     16,581  

 Freight, transportation and distribution

     -       252       275       178       -       (109     596  

 Net sales

     11,050       2,254       2,245       1,081       99       (744     15,985  

 Cost of goods sold

     8,546       892       1,652       1,092       99       (723     11,558  

 Gross margin

     2,504       1,362       593       (11     -       (21     4,427  

 Selling expenses

     1,816       7       21       5       (14     -       1,835  

 General and administrative expenses

     82       -       11       3       191       -       287  

 Provincial mining and other taxes

     -       237       2       1       13       -       253  

 Share-based compensation expense

     -       -       -       -       95       -       95  

 Impairment of assets

     -       -       -       -       33       -       33  

 Other expenses (income)

     39       (2     (27     20       95       -       125  

 Earnings (loss) before finance costs and income taxes

     567       1,120       586       (40     (413     (21     1,799  

 Depreciation and amortization

     433       324       394       180       32       -       1,363  

 EBITDA

     1,000       1,444       980       140       (381     (21     3,162  

 Merger and related costs

     -       -       -       -       57       -       57  

 Share-based compensation expense

     -       -       -       -       95       -       95  

 Impairment of assets

     -       -       -       -       33       -       33  

 Foreign exchange loss, net of related derivatives

     -       -       -       -       14       -       14  

 Adjusted EBITDA

     1,000       1,444       980       140       (182     (21     3,361  

 Assets – at December 31, 2019

     19,990       11,696       10,991       2,198       2,129       (205     46,799  

 

30


Unaudited   In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted  

 

Presented below is revenue from contracts with customers disaggregated by product line or geographic location for each reportable segment to show how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors.

 

    Three Months Ended  
September 30  
    Nine Months Ended  
September 30  
 
     2020     2019     2020     2019  

 Retail sales by product line

       

 Crop nutrients

    780       769       4,092       4,082  

 Crop protection products

    1,328       1,318       4,774       4,348  

 Seed

    103       60       1,638       1,613  

 Merchandise

    234       135       703       387  

 Services and other

    275       217       911       620  
      2,720       2,499       12,118       11,050  

 Potash sales by geography

       

 Manufactured product

       

 North America

    358       437       1,002       1,084  

 Offshore 1

    339       379       987       1,421  

 Other potash and purchased products

    -       -       -       1  
      697       816       1,989       2,506  

 Nitrogen sales by product line

       

 Manufactured product

       

 Ammonia

    129       172       576       713  

 Urea

    214       239       780       801  

 Solutions, nitrates and sulfates

    177       193       606       613  

 Other nitrogen and purchased products

    107       75       444       393  
      627       679       2,406       2,520  

 Phosphate sales by product line

       

 Manufactured product

       

 Fertilizer

    216       205       622       752  

 Industrial and feed

    105       119       342       359  

 Other phosphate and purchased products

    31       52       105       148  
      352       376       1,069       1,259  

1 Relates to Canpotex Limited (“Canpotex”) (Note 12).

NOTE 3  IMPAIRMENT OF ASSETS

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, we recorded the following impairments of assets in the statement of (loss) earnings relating to our property plant and equipment:

 

 Cash-generating units (“CGUs”)    Aurora    White Springs

 Segment

   Phosphate

 Impairment indicator

   Lower long-term forecasted global phosphate prices

 Pre-tax impairment loss ($)

   545    215

 Recoverable value ($)

   995 (post-tax)    160 (pre-tax)

 Valuation technique

   Fair value less costs of disposal (“FVLCD”) a Level 3 measurement    Value in use

 Key assumptions

         

 End of mine life (proven and probable reserves) (year)

   2050    2029

 Long-term growth rate (%)

   2.0    n/a

 Post-tax discount rate (%)

   10.5    12.0 (pre-tax - 16.0)

For our Aurora CGU, the recoverable value was based on after-tax discounted cash flows (using a five-year projection and a terminal year thereafter to the expected mine life), which incorporated assumptions an independent market participant would apply. For our White Springs CGU, the recoverable value was based on pre-tax discounted cash flows until the end of the mine life.

The recoverable value is most sensitive to the following key assumptions: our internal sales price forecasts which consider projections from an independent third-party data source, discount rates, long-term growth rates, and expected mine life. We used key assumptions that were based on historical data and estimates of future results from internal sources, external price benchmarks, mineral reserve technical reports, as well as industry and market trends.

 

31


Unaudited   In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted  

 

The following table highlights sensitivities to the recoverable value which could result in additional impairment losses or reversals of previously recorded losses. The sensitivities have been calculated independently of changes in other key variables.

 

    Aurora  
Key Assumptions         Change in Assumption            Increase (Decrease)
to Recoverable Value ($)
 

Net selling price

  ±      10 per tonne      ±      150  

Discount rate

  ±      1.0 percentage point      ±      120  

For our White Springs CGU, there were no reasonably possible changes in the key assumptions that would result in a substantial change in the recoverable value.

At September 30, 2020, we performed impairment testing on the Trinidad CGU, part of our Nitrogen segment, due to the indefinite closure of an ammonia plant in response to market conditions and lower long-term forecasted global ammonia prices. No impairment resulted from comparing the carrying value of the Trinidad CGU to its recoverable value determined on a FVLCD methodology. FVLCD was based on after-tax discounted cash flows (using a five-year projection and a 2.0% terminal growth rate) discounted at a post-tax rate of 12.6%.

The following table indicates the percentages by which key assumptions would need to change individually for the estimated Trinidad CGU recoverable value to be equal to the carrying value:

 

Key Assumptions    Change Required for Carrying
Value to Equal Recoverable Value
 

Net selling price (5-year average)

     4 percent decrease      

Production volumes (5-year average)

     5 percent decrease      

Discount rate (post-tax)

     0.9 percentage point increase      

During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we also recorded $63 of impairment losses relating to other non-current assets.

NOTE 4  OTHER EXPENSES (INCOME)

 

    Three Months Ended
September 30
    Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
      2020       2019       2020       2019  

Merger and related costs

    -       21       -       57  

Acquisition and integration related costs

    10       -       38       -  

Foreign exchange loss, net of related derivatives

    14       2       1       14  

Earnings of equity-accounted investees

    (23     (6     (46     (53

Bad debt (recovery) expense

    (18     3       9       38  

COVID-19 related expenses

    11       -       30       -  

Loss on disposal of business

    6       -       6       -  

Other expenses

    26       17       100       69  
      26       37       138       125  

 

32


Unaudited   In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted  

 

NOTE 5  INCOME TAXES

A separate estimated average annual effective income tax rate was determined for each taxing jurisdiction and applied individually to the interim period pre-tax earnings for each jurisdiction.

 

    Three Months Ended
September 30
    Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
     2020     2019     2020     2019   

 Income tax (recovery) expense

    (264     40       (45     346   

 Actual effective tax rate on loss/earnings (%)

    26       22       14       25   

 Actual effective tax rate including discrete items (%)

    31       22       (47     25  

 Discrete tax adjustments that impacted the tax rate

    (48     1       (59      

Income tax balances within the condensed consolidated balance sheets were comprised of the following:

 

 Income Tax Assets and Liabilities   Balance Sheet Location   As at September 30, 2020     As at December 31, 2019   

 Income tax assets

     

 Current

  Receivables     50       104   

 Non-current

  Other assets     213       36   

 Deferred income tax assets

  Other assets     258       249   

 Total income tax assets

        521       389   

 Income tax liabilities

     

 Current

  Payables and accrued charges     105       43   

 Non-current

  Other non-current liabilities     40       44   

 Deferred income tax liabilities

  Deferred income tax liabilities     3,053       3,145   

 Total income tax liabilities

        3,198       3,232   

NOTE 6  FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Fair Value

Estimated fair values for financial instruments are designed to approximate amounts for which the instruments could be exchanged in a current arm’s-length transaction between knowledgeable, willing parties. The valuation policies and procedures for financial reporting purposes are determined by our finance department. There have been no changes to our valuation methods presented in Note 12 of the 2019 annual consolidated financial statements and those valuation methods have been applied in these interim financial statements.

The following table presents our fair value hierarchy for financial instruments carried at fair value on a recurring basis or measured at amortized cost:

 

    September 30, 2020     December 31, 2019  
Financial assets (liabilities) measured at   Carrying
Amount
    Level 1 1     Level 2 1     Carrying
Amount
    Level 1 1     Level 2 1  

Fair value on a recurring basis

           

Cash and cash equivalents

    465       -       465       671       -       671  

Derivative instrument assets

    31       -       31       5       -       5  

Other current financial assets - marketable securities 2

    155       23       132       193       27       166  

Investments at FVTOCI 3

    135       135       -       161       161       -  

Derivative instrument liabilities

    (35     -       (35     (33     -       (33

Amortized cost

           

Current portion of long-term debt

           

Notes and debentures

    -       -       -       (494     -       (503

Fixed and floating rate debt

    -       -       -       (8     -       (8

Long-term debt

           

Notes and debentures

    (10,003     (7,911     (3,494     (8,528     (1,726     (7,440

Fixed and floating rate debt

    (38     -       (38     (25     -       (25

1 During the period ended September 30, 2020, there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 for financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

2 Marketable securities consist of equity and fixed income securities. We determine the fair value of equity securities based on the bid price of identical instruments in active markets. We value fixed income securities using quoted prices of instruments with similar terms and credit risk.

3 Investments at fair value through other comprehensive income (“FVTOCI”) are comprised of shares in Sinofert Holdings Ltd.

 

33


Unaudited   In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted  

 

NOTE 7  SHORT-TERM DEBT

Short-term debt was comprised of:

 

      Rate of Interest (%)      Total Facility Limit as
at September 30, 2020
   

As at

September 30, 2020

   

As at

December 31, 2019

 

 Credit facilities

         

 Unsecured revolving term credit facility

     NIL        4,500       -       -  

 Uncommitted revolving demand facility

     NIL        500       -       -  

 Other credit facilities 1

     0.8 - 9.5        600       193       326  

 Commercial paper

     0.2 - 0.6                1,451       650  
                        1,644       976  
1 Other credit facilities are unsecured and consist of South American facilities with debt of $143 (December 31, 2019 – $149) and interest rates ranging from 2.0 percent to 9.5 percent, Australian facilities with debt of $24 (December 31, 2019 – $157) and an interest rate of 1.3 percent, and other facilities with debt of $26 (December 31, 2019 – $20) and interest rates ranging from 0.8 percent to 4.0 percent.

 

The amount available under the commercial paper program is limited to the availability of backup funds under the $4,500 unsecured revolving term credit facility and excess cash invested in highly liquid securities.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we entered into new committed revolving credit facilities totaling approximately $1,500, all with the same principal covenants and events of default as our existing credit facilities. We closed these credit facilities after the issuance of the new notes as described in Note 8.

NOTE 8  LONG-TERM DEBT

The following tables summarize our long-term debt issuances and repayment activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2020:

 

      Rate of interest (%)      Maturity      Amount  

Notes issued 2020

     1.900        May 13, 2023        500  

Notes issued 2020

     2.950        May 13, 2030        500  

Notes issued 2020

     3.950        May 13, 2050        500  
                         1,500  

The notes issued in 2020 are unsecured, rank equally with our existing unsecured notes, and have no sinking fund requirements prior to maturity. Each series is redeemable and provides for redemption prior to maturity, at our option, at specified prices.

 

      Rate of interest (%)      Maturity      Amount  

Notes repaid 2020

     4.875        March 30, 2020        500  

In March 2020, we filed a base shelf prospectus in Canada and the US qualifying the issuance of up to $5,000 of common shares, debt and other securities during a period of 25 months from March 16, 2020. Issuance of securities requires us to file a prospectus supplement and is subject to availability of funding in capital markets. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we filed a prospectus supplement to issue $1,500 of notes, as described above.

 

34


Unaudited   In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted  

 

NOTE 9  SHARE CAPITAL

Share repurchase programs

 

      Board of Directors Approval        Expiry        Maximum Shares for Repurchase  

2019 Normal Course Issuer Bid 1

     February 20, 2019          February 26, 2020          42,164,420  

2020 Normal Course Issuer Bid 2

     February 18, 2020          February 26, 2021          28,572,458  

1 The 2019 normal course issuer bid permitted the repurchase of up to 7 percent of our outstanding common shares for cancellation. As of the expiry date, we had repurchased 33,256,668 of the maximum shares for repurchase.

2 The 2020 normal course issuer bid permits the repurchase of up to 5 percent of our outstanding common shares for cancellation and can expire earlier than the date above if we acquire the maximum number of common shares allowable or otherwise decide not to make any further repurchases.

Purchases under the normal course issuer bids were, or may be, made through open market purchases at market prices as well as by other means permitted by applicable securities regulatory authorities, including private agreements.

The following table summarizes our share repurchase activities during the period:

 

    Three Months Ended 
September 30 
    Nine Months Ended 
September 30 
 
     2020     2019      2020     2019   

 Number of common shares repurchased for cancellation

    -             3,832,580       36,066,766   

 Average price per share (US dollars)

    -             41.96       52.07   

 Total cost

    -             160       1,878   

Dividends declared

We declared dividends per share of $0.45 (2019 – $0.45) during the three months ended September 30, 2020, payable on October 16, 2020 to shareholders of record on September 30, 2020 and $1.35 (2019 – $0.88) during the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

NOTE 10  BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS

Ruralco

On September 30, 2019, we acquired Ruralco Holdings Limited (“Ruralco”) for a purchase price, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired, of $330. We have completed our assessment of identifying and measuring all the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. This assessment included a thorough review of all internal and external sources of information available on circumstances that existed at the acquisition date. We engaged independent valuation experts to assist in determining the fair value of certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The significant fair value considerations used in determining the allocation of purchase price are consistent with those disclosed in Note 4 of the 2019 annual consolidated financial statements.

Other Acquisitions

During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we acquired several businesses, the largest of which was Tec Agro Group, a leading agriculture retailer in Brazil. The acquired businesses include 37 Retail locations in North and South America and Australia. Expected benefits of the acquisitions include expansion of geographical coverage for the sale of crop input products and services, an increased customer base and workforce, and synergies between Nutrien and the acquired businesses.

 

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Unaudited   In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted  

 

The fair values allocated to the acquired assets and assumed liabilities were as follows:

 

     September 30, 2020  
     Ruralco            Other Acquisitions      
      Preliminary 1      Adjustments     Final Fair Value                Preliminary  

Receivables

     318        (2     316     2         69  

Inventories

     115        (3     112          63  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     8        (1     7          4  

Property, plant and equipment

     136        4       140          53  

Goodwill

     207        29       236          184  

Other intangible assets

     210        (2     208          -  

Investments

     15        -       15          -  

Other assets

     16        (14     2          -  

Total assets

     1,025        11       1,036          373  

Short-term debt

     167        -       167          36  

Payables and accrued charges

     363        (39     324          111  

Lease liabilities, including current portion

     110        -       110          -  

Deferred income tax liabilities

     42        (11     31          1  

Other non-current liabilities

     13        61       74          9  

Total liabilities

     695        11       706          157  

Total consideration

     330        -       330                216  

1 As previously reported in our second quarter financial statements. We recorded additional adjustments to the preliminary fair value primarily related to changes in the preliminary valuation assumptions, including refinement of our liabilities. All measurement period adjustments were offset against goodwill.

2 Includes receivables from customers with gross contractual amounts of $260, of which $7 are considered to be uncollectible.

Financial information related to business acquisitions is as follows:

 

 Pro Forma 1    Other Acquisitions   

 Sales

     320   

 EBIT

     24   

1 Estimated annual sales and earnings before finance costs and income taxes (“EBIT”) if acquisitions occurred at January 1, 2020.

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30, 2020
       Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2020
 
 From date of acquisition    Other Acquisitions        Other Acquisitions  

 Sales

     60          100  

 EBIT

     6          6  

NOTE 11  SEASONALITY

Seasonality in our business results from increased demand for products during planting season. Crop input sales are generally higher in spring and fall application seasons. Crop input inventories are normally accumulated leading up to each application season. The results of this seasonality have a corresponding effect on receivables from customers and rebates receivables, inventories, prepaid expenses and other current assets and trade payables. Our short-term debt also fluctuates during the year to meet working capital needs. Our cash collections generally occur after the application season is complete, while customer prepayments made to us are typically concentrated in December and January and inventory prepayments paid to our vendors are typically concentrated in the period from November to January. Feed and industrial sales are more evenly distributed throughout the year.

NOTE 12  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

We sell potash from our Canadian mines for use outside Canada and the United States exclusively to Canpotex. Canpotex sells potash to buyers in export markets pursuant to term and spot contracts at agreed upon prices. Our revenue is recognized at the amount received from Canpotex representing proceeds from their sale of potash, less net costs of Canpotex. Sales to Canpotex are shown in Note 2.

 

 As at    September 30, 2020        December 31 ,2019  

 Receivables from Canpotex

     201          194  

 

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