Agrium

Agrium Inc. was a Canadian agricultural-inputs company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. Before it ceased to exist as an independent company, Agrium operated two closely related businesses: a large agricultural retail network serving farmers and a wholesale division producing and marketing fertilizers. Its product portfolio covered the three principal agricultural nutrients—nitrogen, phosphate and potash—as well as sulphur-based and specialty fertilizers. Through its retail operations, the company supplied growers with fertilizers, seeds, crop-protection products and related agronomic services. The company originated in 1931 as Cominco Fertilizers, a business associated with Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company. It adopted the Agrium name in 1995. Over time, Agrium expanded beyond fertilizer production through acquisitions and the development of a substantial retail platform. Its retail business operated nearly 1,500 agricultural centres across the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. Major retail banners and operating businesses included Crop Production Services in the United States, Crop Production Services Canada, Agroservicios Pampeanos in South America and Landmark in Australia. Crop Production Services had been acquired in 1994, helping establish the retail platform as a central part of the company. Agrium also expanded in Australia through its acquisition of the Australian Wheat Board, announced in 2010 and completed that year for A$1.236 billion. The transaction added agricultural retail and related activities, although approximately 40 percent of the acquired holdings, including the Commodity Management Business, was subsequently sold to Cargill. In 2013, Agrium announced the acquisition of Viterra's Canadian retail assets, further strengthening its direct relationship with Canadian growers. The company was also a part-owner of Canpotex, the Saskatchewan-based potash export marketing organization. The wholesale division operated fertilizer assets in North America and overseas. Its activities included nitrogen production, phosphate mining and processing, potash mining and production, and the marketing of fertilizer products. Agrium owned and operated a potash mine and production facility in Saskatchewan and a phosphate mine in Idaho. It also held nitrogen-related production interests in Bahía Blanca, Argentina, and Damietta, Egypt. This combination of manufacturing, mining, marketing and retail distribution gave Agrium exposure to multiple stages of the agricultural-inputs supply chain. Agrium faced environmental compliance issues during its later history. A Kennewick, Washington, facility was subject to an administrative compliance order in 2003 concerning excessive emissions. The company had identified the violations through a Clean Air Act audit conducted in 2000 and reported the findings to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under its self-disclosure policy. In 2005, Agrium was fined in connection with failing to disclose the release of toxic gases at the same facility. On September 12, 2016, Agrium and PotashCorp announced an agreement to merge. The proposed combination was designed to unite Agrium's retail and fertilizer businesses with PotashCorp's major potash operations. The transaction received the required approvals and closed on January 1, 2018. The combined company was named Nutrien and became a large integrated supplier of agricultural inputs. After completion, Agrium no longer operated as a standalone public company; its businesses and assets were absorbed into Nutrien.

Agrium's roots extended to 1931, when the business was established as Cominco Fertilizers, a name derived from Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company. The company initially developed around fertilizer production and marketing, participating in the expanding industrial agriculture supply chain. It changed its name to Agrium in 1995, adopting the corporate identity under which it became a major North American agricultural-inputs company. Agrium's later development was shaped by the integration of wholesale fertilizer production with agricultural retail. Its wholesale business produced and marketed nitrogen, phosphate and potash fertilizers, as well as sulphur-based products and specialty fertilizers. The company operated a potash mine and production facility in Saskatchewan and a phosphate mine in Conda, Idaho. Its nitrogen-related assets and interests included facilities in Bahía Blanca, Argentina, and Damietta, Egypt. Agrium was also a part-owner of Canpotex, which manages Saskatchewan potash exports. The retail division gave Agrium direct access to farmers and commercial growers. Crop Production Services was acquired in 1994 and became a key part of the retail platform. Agrium subsequently operated close to 1,500 agricultural centres in the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. The network sold fertilizers, seeds, crop-protection products and other farm inputs, while also providing agronomic and crop-production support. Its retail activities operated under several regional names, including Crop Production Services, Crop Production Services Canada, Agroservicios Pampeanos and Landmark. International expansion was particularly visible in Australia. In 2010, Agrium completed the acquisition of the Australian Wheat Board for A$1.236 billion. The transaction added to the retail division, although Agrium sold roughly 40 percent of the acquired holdings, including the Commodity Management Business, to Cargill. In 2013, the company announced the acquisition of Viterra's Canadian retail assets, extending its domestic agricultural retail presence. The company also encountered environmental compliance problems. Its Kennewick, Washington, facility was subject to an administrative compliance order in 2003 for excessive emissions. Agrium had found the violations through a comprehensive Clean Air Act audit in late 2000 and voluntarily reported the findings under the Environmental Protection Agency's self-policing and self-disclosure framework. In 2005, the company was fined for failing to disclose the release of toxic gases at the same facility. Agrium's final strategic transformation came through its combination with PotashCorp. On September 12, 2016, the companies announced an agreed merger. The proposed transaction brought together Agrium's agricultural retail network and fertilizer operations with PotashCorp's large potash business. After regulatory review and shareholder approvals, the merger closed on January 1, 2018. The combined enterprise was named Nutrien. Agrium consequently ceased to be a standalone company, and its operations became part of Nutrien's integrated agricultural-inputs business.

• 2018

  Agrium merges into Nutrien

  [2]Nutrienen.wikipedia.org

  The Agrium–PotashCorp merger closed on January 1, forming Nutrien and ending Agrium's standalone corporate existence.

• 2016

  Merger with PotashCorp is announced

  [2]Nutrienen.wikipedia.org

  Agrium and PotashCorp announced an agreed merger that would create Nutrien.

• 2013

  Viterra Canadian retail assets are targeted

  [1]Agriumen.wikipedia.org

  Agrium announced the acquisition of Viterra's Canadian retail locations, strengthening its Canadian farm-input network.

• 2010

  Australian Wheat Board acquisition is completed

  [1]Agriumen.wikipedia.org

  Agrium completed its A$1.236 billion acquisition of the Australian Wheat Board, adding to its retail activities.

• 2005

  Fine related to toxic-gas disclosure

  [1]Agriumen.wikipedia.org

  Agrium was fined for failing to disclose the release of toxic gases at its Kennewick facility.

• 2003

  Kennewick facility receives emissions compliance order

  [1]Agriumen.wikipedia.org

  Agrium's Kennewick, Washington, plant was issued an administrative compliance order concerning excessive emissions.

• 1995

  The company adopts the Agrium name

  [1]Agriumen.wikipedia.org

  Cominco Fertilizers changed its corporate name to Agrium.

• 1994

  Crop Production Services is acquired

  [1]Agriumen.wikipedia.org

  Agrium acquired Crop Production Services, a transaction that helped establish the agricultural retail platform later operated across multiple regions.

• 1931

  Cominco Fertilizers is established

  [1]Agriumen.wikipedia.org

  The company that later became Agrium was founded as Cominco Fertilizers, associated with Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company.

An integrated agricultural-inputs supplier combining fertilizer production, nutrient marketing, farm-input retail and agronomic services.

• Fertilizers

  Nitrogen fertilizers

  Nitrogen fertilizers were a central part of Agrium's wholesale business. They supplied growers with nitrogen, a major crop nutrient, and were produced, marketed and distributed through the company's fertilizer operations and agricultural retail channels.

• Fertilizers

  Phosphate fertilizers

  Phosphate fertilizers formed part of Agrium's wholesale nutrient portfolio. The company supported this business with phosphate mining activity, including a phosphate mine in Conda, Idaho, and sold phosphate products for crop nutrition.

• Fertilizers

  Potash fertilizers

  Potash was one of Agrium's three principal agricultural nutrients. The company operated a potash mine and production facility in Saskatchewan and participated in the marketing structure for Saskatchewan potash exports through its part-ownership of Canpotex.

• Fertilizers

  Sulphur-based and specialty fertilizers

  Agrium's wholesale segment also produced or marketed sulphur-based and specialty fertilizers. These products complemented the company's broad nutrient offering and enabled it to serve crop-specific and soil-specific requirements in addition to standard nitrogen, phosphate and potash products.

• Agricultural services

  Agricultural retail

  Agrium's retail business operated a network of nearly 1,500 agricultural centres in North America, South America and Australia. The centres supplied fertilizers, seeds, crop-protection products and other farm inputs, while supporting growers with retail and agronomic services.

• Agricultural retail banner · 1994

  Crop Production Services

  Crop Production Services was a major Agrium retail banner in the United States. Acquired in 1994, it became an important route to market for fertilizers, seeds, crop-protection products and related services for American growers.

• Agricultural retail banner

  Landmark

  Landmark was one of the regional names used for Agrium's agricultural retail operations in Australia. It served growers with farm inputs and related crop-production support as part of Agrium's international retail network.

• 2005

  Fine for failure to disclose toxic-gas release

  Agrium was fined for failing to disclose the release of toxic gases at the Kennewick facility, adding a second regulatory action connected with the plant's environmental compliance record.

  Source

• 2003

  Kennewick emissions compliance case

  Agrium's Kennewick, Washington, facility was issued an administrative compliance order for excessive emissions. The company had identified the violations during an internal Clean Air Act audit and reported them to the EPA under its self-disclosure policy.

  Source

Read more

• 2016

  Merge with PotashCorpM&A

  Background

  Agrium and PotashCorp sought to combine fertilizer production, potash assets and agricultural retail operations in a larger integrated agricultural-inputs company.

  Action taken

  The companies announced an agreed merger on September 12, 2016, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals.

  Aftermath

  The merger closed on January 1, 2018, creating Nutrien and ending Agrium's operation as a standalone company.

  Source

• 2013

  Acquire Viterra's Canadian retail assetsM&A

  Background

  Agrium aimed to strengthen its Canadian agricultural retail network and expand direct access to growers.

  Action taken

  Agrium announced the acquisition of Viterra's Canadian retail locations.

  Aftermath

  The transaction expanded Agrium's Canadian retail footprint before the company later became part of Nutrien.

  Source

• 2010

  Acquire the Australian Wheat BoardM&A

  Background

  Agrium sought to expand its agricultural retail activities and international farm-input presence.

  Action taken

  Agrium completed the acquisition of the Australian Wheat Board for A$1.236 billion. Approximately 40 percent of the acquired holdings, including the Commodity Management Business, was sold to Cargill.

  Aftermath

  The transaction added Australian activities to Agrium's retail division while the divestiture reduced the portion of the acquired business retained by Agrium.

  Acquisition price. A$1.236 billion (2010)

  Source

1. 1Agriumen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Nutrienen.wikipedia.org