EX-99.3

Potash

Nitrogen

Phosphate

• North American – primarily granular

• Offshore (international) – primarily granular and standard

• Ammonia, urea, urea ammonium nitrate, industrial grade ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate

• Solid fertilizer, liquid fertilizer, industrial products and feed products

Sales prices impacted by

• North American prices referenced at delivered prices (including transportation and distribution costs)

• International prices referenced at the mine site (excluding transportation and distribution costs)

• Global energy costs and supply

• Global prices and supplies of ammonia and sulfur

EX-99.3 5 d815645dex993.htm EX-99.3 EX-99.3

Exhibit 99.3

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2019 Annual Audited

Financial Statements

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Financial

Statements


	76	At a Glance
	77	Consolidated Statements of Earnings
	77	Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
	78	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
	79	Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
	80	Consolidated Balance Sheets
	81	Note 1	Description of Business
	81	Note 2	Basis of Presentation
P,E	82	Note 3	Segment Information
P,E	86	Note 4	Business Combinations
	90	Note 5	Nature of Expenses
P,E	90	Note 6	Share-Based Compensation
	92	Note 7	Other Expenses
	93	Note 8	Finance Costs
P,E	93	Note 9	Income Taxes
P	97	Note 10	Discontinued Operations
	97	Note 11	Net Earnings Per Share
P	98	Note 12	Financial Instruments and Related Risk Management
P,E	103	Note 13	Receivables
P,E	104	Note 14	Inventories
P,E	105	Note 15	Property, Plant and Equipment
P,E	109	Note 16	Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
P,E	111	Note 17	Investments
	113	Note 18	Other Assets
	113	Note 19	Short-Term Debt
	114	Note 20	Long-Term Debt
	115	Note 21	Lease Liabilities
	116	Note 22	Payables and Accrued Charges
P,E	116	Note 23	Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefits
P,E	121	Note 24	Asset Retirement Obligations and Accrued Environmental Costs
	123	Note 25	Share Capital
	124	Note 26	Capital Management
	125	Note 27	Commitments
P	126	Note 28	Guarantees
	127	Note 29	Related Party Transactions
E	127	Note 30	Contingencies and Other Matters
P,E	129	Note 31	Accounting Policies, Estimates and Judgments

Includes Accounting Policies

Includes Accounting Estimates and Judgments

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Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Management’s

Responsibility

Management’s Responsibility for Financial Reporting

Management’s Report on Financial Statements

The accompanying consolidated financial statements and related financial information are the responsibility of the management of Nutrien Ltd. (the “Company”). They have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS”) and include amounts based on estimates and judgments. Financial information included elsewhere in this report is consistent with the consolidated financial statements.

The consolidated financial statements are approved by the Board of Directors on the recommendation of the audit committee. The audit committee of the Board of Directors is composed entirely of independent directors. The audit committee discusses and analyzes Nutrien’s interim condensed consolidated financial statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) with management before such information is approved by the committee and submitted to securities commissions or other regulatory authorities. The audit committee and management also analyze the annual consolidated financial statements and MD&A prior to their approval by the Board of Directors.

The audit committee duties also include reviewing critical accounting policies and significant estimates and judgments underlying the consolidated financial statements as presented by management and approving the fees of our independent registered public accounting firm.

Our independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, performs an audit of the consolidated financial statements, the results of which are reflected in their report for 2019 included on Page 74. KPMG LLP have full and independent access to the audit committee to discuss their audit and related matters.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act, 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.

Under our supervision and with the participation of management, the Company conducted an evaluation of the design and effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the fiscal year covered by this report, based on the framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013). Based on this evaluation, management concluded that, as of December 31, 2019, the Company did maintain effective internal control over financial reporting.

We completed the Ruralco acquisition on September 30, 2019 as more fully described in Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. This business was excluded from management’s evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019 due to the proximity of the acquisition to year-end. The associated total assets represent approximately 2 percent of consolidated total assets and total revenues represent approximately 1 percent of consolidated revenues included in Nutrien’s 2019 consolidated financial statements.

The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as at December 31, 2019 has been audited by KPMG LLP, as reflected in their report for 2019 included on page 73.

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Chuck Magro

President and Chief Executive Officer

February 19, 2020

Pedro Farah

Chief Financial Officer

February 19, 2020


72		Nutrien Annual Report 2019


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Report of Independent

Registered Public

Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Nutrien Ltd.

Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

We have audited Nutrien Ltd. and subsidiaries’ (the “Company”) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively, the “consolidated financial statements”), and our report dated February 19, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

The Company acquired Ruralco Holdings Limited (“Ruralco”) during 2019, and management excluded from its assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, Ruralco’s internal control over financial reporting associated with 2 percent of total assets and 1 percent of total revenues included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting of the Company also excluded an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of Ruralco.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Responsibility report. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the US federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

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Chartered Professional Accountants

Calgary, Canada

February 19, 2020


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			73


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Report of Independent

Registered Public

Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Nutrien Ltd.

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Nutrien Ltd. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively, the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated February 19, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Change in Accounting Principle

As discussed in Note 31 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has changed its method of accounting for leases as of January 1, 2019 due to the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standard 16, Leases.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Assessment of the carrying amount of goodwill for the Retail North America cash-generating unit

As discussed in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements, the carrying amount of goodwill as of December 31, 2019 was $11,986 million, of which $6,826 million of goodwill has been allocated to the Retail North America cash-generating unit. The Retail North America cash-generating unit is tested for impairment annually, and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the cash-generating unit, including goodwill, exceeds its estimated recoverable amount. The


74		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

assessment of the carrying amount of the Retail North America cash-generating unit involves a number of estimates including forecasted earnings before tax, interest, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”), terminal growth rate and the discount rate assumptions used to calculate the recoverable amount of the Retail North America cash-generating unit.

We identified the assessment of the carrying amount of goodwill for the Retail North America cash-generating unit as a critical audit matter. Complex auditor judgment was required to evaluate the Company’s forecasted EBITDA, terminal growth rate and discount rate, which were used to calculate the recoverable amount of the Retail North America cash-generating unit. Minor changes to these assumptions have a significant effect on the Company’s assessment of the carrying amount of the goodwill.

The primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included the following. We tested certain internal controls over the Company’s goodwill impairment assessment process, including controls related to the determination of the recoverable amount of the Retail North America cash-generating unit, and the forecasted EBITDA, terminal growth rate and discount rate. We performed sensitivity analyses over the terminal growth rate and discount rate to assess their impact on the Company’s determination that the recoverable amount of the Retail North America cash-generating unit exceeded its carrying amount. We evaluated the Company’s forecasted EBITDA for the Retail North America

cash-generating unit by comparing to historical results and forecasted planted acreage in the United States. We compared the terminal growth rate to historical growth of the Retail North America cash-generating unit and to market information, including forecasted inflation and forecasted gross domestic product in the United States. We compared the Company’s historical forecasts of EBITDA to actual results to assess the Company’s ability to accurately forecast. In addition, we involved valuation professionals with specialized skills and knowledge, who assisted in:

•

Evaluating the Company’s method for estimating its discount rate, and testing assumptions used to estimate the discount rate to publicly available market data for comparable companies; and

•

Evaluating the Company’s method for estimating the recoverable amount of the Retail North America cash-generating unit and comparing the results of the Company’s estimate to publicly available market data and valuation metrics for comparable companies.

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Chartered Professional Accountants

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2018.

Calgary, Canada

February 19, 2020


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			75


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

2019

At a Glance

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		^{Find out more at nutrien.com}


76		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Consolidated Financial Statements

Consolidated Statements of Earnings


For the years ended December 31	Note		2019		2018
					Note 2
Sales		3		20,023		19,636
Freight, transportation and distribution		5		768		864
Cost of goods sold		5		13,814		13,380

Gross Margin				5,441		5,392
Selling expenses		5		2,505		2,337
General and administrative expenses		5		404		423
Provincial mining and other taxes		5		292		250
Share-based compensation		6		104		116
Impairment of assets		15, 16		120		1,809
Other expenses		7		154		43

Earnings Before Finance Costs and Income Taxes				1,862		414
Finance costs		8		554		538

Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes				1,308		(124)
Income tax expense (recovery)		9		316		(93)

Net Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations				992		(31)
Net earnings from discontinued operations		10		–		3,604

Net Earnings				992		3,573

Net Earnings (Loss) per share from Continuing Operations		11
Basic				1.70		(0.05)
Diluted				1.70		(0.05)

Net Earnings per share from Discontinued Operations		11
Basic				–		5.77
Diluted				–		5.77

Net Earnings per share (“EPS”)		11
Basic				1.70		5.72
Diluted				1.70		5.72

Weighted average shares outstanding for basic EPS		11		582,269,000		624,900,000
Weighted average shares outstanding for diluted EPS		11		583,102,000		624,900,000

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income


For the years ended December 31 (net of related income taxes)	2019		2018
Net Earnings		992		3,573
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Items that will not be reclassified to net earnings:
Net actuarial gain on defined benefit plans		7		54
Net fair value loss on investments		(25)		(99)
Items that have been or may be subsequently reclassified to net earnings:
Gain (loss) on currency translation of foreign operations		47		(249)
Other		7		(8)

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		36		(302)

Comprehensive Income		1,028		3,271

(See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements)


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			77


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows


For the years ended December 31	Note		2019		2018
					Note 2
Operating Activities
Net earnings				992		3,573
Adjustments for:
Depreciation and amortization				1,799		1,592
Share-based compensation		6		104		116
Impairment of assets		15, 16		120		1,809
Provision for (recovery of) deferred income tax				177		(290)
Gain on sale of investments in Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (“SQM”) and Arab Potash Company (“APC”)				–		(4,399)
Income tax related to the sale of the investment in SQM				–		977
Other long-term liabilities and miscellaneous				(17)		(188)

Cash from operations before working capital changes				3,175		3,190
Changes in non-cash operating working capital:
Receivables				(64)		(153)
Inventories				190		(887)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets				(238)		561
Payables and accrued charges				602		(659)

Cash Provided by Operating Activities				3,665		2,052

Investing Activities
Additions to property, plant and equipment		15		(1,728)		(1,405)
Additions to intangible assets		16		(163)		(102)
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired		4		(911)		(433)
Proceeds from disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax		10		55		5,394
Purchase of investments				(198)		(135)
Cash acquired in Merger		4		–		466
Other				147		102

Cash (Used in) Provided by Investing Activities				(2,798)		3,887

Financing Activities
Transaction costs on long-term debt				(29)		(21)
Proceeds from (repayment of) short-term debt, net		19		216		(927)
Proceeds from long-term debt		20		1,510		–
Repayment of long-term debt		20		(1,010)		(12)
Repayment of principal portion of lease liabilities		20		(234)		–
Dividends paid		25		(1,022)		(952)
Repurchase of common shares		25		(1,930)		(1,800)
Issuance of common shares		25		20		7

Cash Used in Financing Activities				(2,479)		(3,705)

Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents				(31)		(36)

(Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents				(1,643)		2,198
Cash and Cash Equivalents – Beginning of Year				2,314		116

Cash and Cash Equivalents – End of Year				671		2,314

Cash and cash equivalents ¹ comprised of:
Cash				532		1,506
Short-term investments				139		808

				671		2,314

Supplemental Cash Flows Information
Interest paid				505		507
Income taxes paid				29		1,155
Total cash outflow for leases				345		–

¹	Highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less from the date of purchase are considered to be cash equivalents.

(See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements)


78		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Consolidated Statements of Changes in

Shareholders’ Equity

Share
Capital

Contributed
Surplus

Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income
(“AOCI”)

Retained
Earnings

Total
Equity²

Net Fair Value
Gain (Loss) on
Investments

Net
Actuarial
Gain on
Defined
Benefit
Plans¹

Loss on
Currency
Translation
of Foreign
Operations

Other

Total
AOCI

Balance –
December 31, 2017

1,806

230

–

(2)

(46)

6,242

8,303

Merger impact (Note 4)

15,898

–

(1)

15,904

Net earnings

–

3,573

Other comprehensive (loss) income

–

(99)

(249)

(8)

(302)

–

(302)

Shares repurchased (Note 25)

(998)

(23)

–

(831)

(1,852)

Dividends declared

–

(1,273)

Effect of share-based compensation including issuance of common shares

–

Transfer of net actuarial gain on defined benefit plans

–

(54)

–

(54)

–

Transfer of net loss on sale of investment

–

(19)

–

Transfer of net loss on cash flow hedges

–

Balance –
December 31, 2018

16,740

231

(7)

–

(251)

(33)

(291)

7,745

24,425

Net earnings

–

992

Other comprehensive (loss) income

–

(25)

–

Shares repurchased (Note 25)

(992)

–

(886)

(1,878)

Dividends declared

–

(754)

Effect of share-based compensation including issuance of common shares

–

Transfer of net actuarial gain on defined benefit plans

–

(7)

–

(7)

–

Transfer of net loss on sale of investment

–

(3)

–

Transfer of net loss on cash flow hedges

–

Balance –
December 31, 2019

15,771

248

(29)

–

(204)

(18)

(251)

7,101

22,869

¹	Any amounts incurred during a period were closed out 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 Consolidated Financial Statements)


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			79


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Consolidated Balance Sheets


As at December 31	Note		2019		2018
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents				671		2,314
Receivables		13		3,542		3,342
Inventories		14		4,975		4,917
Prepaid expenses and other current assets				1,477		1,089

				10,665		11,662
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment		15		20,335		18,796
Goodwill		16		11,986		11,431
Other intangible assets		16		2,428		2,210
Investments		17		821		878
Other assets		18		564		525

Total Assets				46,799		45,502

Liabilities
Current liabilities
Short-term debt		19		976		629
Current portion of long-term debt		20		502		995
Current portion of lease liabilities		21		214		8
Payables and accrued charges		22		7,437		6,703

				9,129		8,335
Non-current liabilities
Long-term debt		20		8,553		7,579
Lease liabilities		21		859		12
Deferred income tax liabilities		9		3,145		2,907
Pension and other post-retirement benefit liabilities		23		433		395
Asset retirement obligations and accrued environmental costs		24		1,650		1,673
Other non-current liabilities				161		176

Total Liabilities				23,930		21,077

Shareholders’ Equity
Share capital		25		15,771		16,740
Contributed surplus				248		231
Accumulated other comprehensive loss				(251)		(291)
Retained earnings				7,101		7,745

Total Shareholders’ Equity				22,869		24,425

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity				46,799		45,502

(See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements)

Approved by the Board of Directors,



Director				Director


80		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 1 Description of Business

Nutrien Ltd. (collectively with its subsidiaries, “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.

The Company is a corporation organized under the laws of Canada with its registered head office located at Suite 500, 122 – 1st Avenue South, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. As at December 31, 2019, the Company had assets as follows:

Retail

•

various retail facilities across the US, Canada, Australia and South America

•

private label and proprietary crop protection products and nutritionals

•

an innovative integrated digital platform for growers and crop consultants

Potash

•

six operations in the province of Saskatchewan

Nitrogen

•

eight production facilities in North America: four in Alberta and one each in Georgia, Louisiana, Ohio and Texas

•

one large-scale operation in Trinidad

•

seven upgrade facilities in North America: three in Alberta and one each in Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, and Washington

•

50 percent investment in Profertil S.A. (“Profertil”), a nitrogen producer based in Argentina

•

26 percent investment in Misr Fertilizers Production Company S.A.E. (“MOPCO”), a nitrogen producer based in Egypt

Phosphate

•

two mines and processing plants: one in Florida and one in North Carolina

•

phosphate feed plants in Illinois, Missouri and Nebraska

•

an industrial phosphoric acid plant in Ohio

Corporate and Others

•

investment in Canpotex Limited (“Canpotex”), a Canadian potash export, sales and marketing company owned in equal shares by Nutrien and another potash producer

•

22 percent investment in Sinofert Holdings Limited (“Sinofert”), a fertilizer supplier and distributor in China

Note 2 Basis of Presentation

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS”). We have consistently applied the same accounting policies throughout all periods presented, as if these policies had always been in effect, with the exception of IFRS 16, “Leases” (“IFRS 16”), which was adopted effective January 1, 2019, the impacts of which are disclosed in Note 31.

Certain immaterial 2018 figures have been reclassified or grouped together in the consolidated statements of earnings, consolidated statements of cash flows, segment information and nature of expenses.

These consolidated financial statements were authorized for issue by the Board of Directors on February 19, 2020.

Where an accounting policy is applicable to a specific note to the consolidated financial statements, the policy is described within that note, with the related financial disclosures by major caption as noted in the table of contents. Certain of our accounting policies that relate to the consolidated financial statements as a whole, as well as estimates and judgments we have made and how they affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements, are disclosed in Note 31. Sensitivity analyses included throughout the notes should be used with caution as the changes are hypothetical and not reflective of future performance. The sensitivities have been calculated independently of changes in other key variables. Changes in one factor may result in changes in another, which could increase or reduce certain sensitivities. These consolidated financial statements were prepared under the historical cost basis, except for items that IFRS requires to be measured at fair value.


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			81


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 3 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 and South America and Australia. The Potash, Nitrogen and Phosphate segments are differentiated by the chemical nutrient contained in the products that each produces.

Accounting Policies, Estimates and Judgments

Operating Segments

We identified the Executive Leadership Team (“ELT”), comprised of officers at the Executive Vice President level and above, as the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”). The CODM uses net earnings (loss) before finance costs, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) to measure performance and allocate resources to the operating segments. The CODM considers EBITDA a meaningful measure because it is not impacted by long-term investment and financing decisions, but rather focuses on the performance of our day-to-day operations.

In 2019, the CODM reassessed our product groupings and decided to evaluate the performance of ammonium sulfate as part of the Nitrogen segment, rather than the Phosphate and Sulfate segment, as previously reported in our 2018 annual

consolidated financial statements. Comparative amounts for the Nitrogen and Phosphate segments were restated. For the year ended December 31, 2018, Nitrogen reflected increases of $121, $40, and $53 in sales, gross margin and EBITDA, respectively, and $377 in assets, with corresponding decreases in Phosphate. In addition, the “Others” segment was renamed to “Corporate and Others”.

Judgment is used in determining the composition of the reportable segments based on factors including risks and returns, internal organization, and internal reports reviewed by the CODM.

Certain expenses are allocated across segments based on reasonable considerations such as production capacities or historical trends.

Revenue

We recognize revenue when we transfer control over a good or service to a customer.


Transfer of Control for	Retail	Potash, Nitrogen and Phosphate
Sale of Goods	At the point in time when the product is • purchased at our Retail farm center or • delivered and accepted by customers at their premises.	At the point in time when the product is • loaded for shipping or • delivered to the customer.

Services	Over time as the promised service is rendered.	Over time as the promised service is rendered.

For transactions in which we act as an agent rather than the principal, revenue is recognized net of any commissions earned. The relating commissions are recognized as the sales occurred or as unconditional contracts are signed.

Retail

Retail revenue is generated primarily from sales of the following:



Crop nutrients		Dry and liquid macronutrient products including potash, nitrogen and phosphate, proprietary liquid micronutrient products and nutrient application services.

Crop protection products		Various third-party supplier and proprietary products designed to maintain crop quality and manage plant diseases, weeds, and other pests.

Seed		Various third-party supplier seed brands and proprietary seed product lines.

Merchandise		Fencing, feed supplements, livestock-related animal health products, storage and irrigation equipment, and other products.

Services and other revenues		Product application, soil and leaf testing, crop scouting and precision agriculture services, water services, financial services and livestock marketing.

Provisions for returns, trade discounts and rebates are deducted from sales revenue.


82		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 3 Segment Information Continued

Potash, Nitrogen and Phosphate

Our sales revenue is recorded and measured based on the “freight on board” mine, plant, warehouse or terminal price specified in the contract (except for certain vessel sales or specific product sales that are shipped and recorded on a delivered basis), which reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for the goods or services, net of any variable consideration (e.g., any trade discounts or estimated volume rebates). Where customer contracts include volume rebates, we estimate revenue at the earlier of the most likely

amount of consideration we expect to receive or when it is highly probable that a significant reversal will not occur. Our customer contracts may provide certain product quality specification guarantees but do not generally provide for refunds or returns.

Sales prices are based on North American and International benchmark market prices which are variable and subject to global supply and demand and other market factors.

Other

We do not provide general warranties. Intersegment sales are made under terms that approximate market value. Transportation costs are generally recovered from the customer through sales pricing.

We elected to use the practical expedient related to the adjustment of the promised consideration for the effects of a significant financing component as the expected period between when control over a promised good or service is transferred and when the customer pays for that good or service is less than 12 months.

Seasonality in our business results from increased demand for products during planting season. Crop input sales are generally higher in spring and fall crop input application seasons. Crop nutrient inventories are normally accumulated leading up to each application season. Our cash collections generally occur

after the application season is complete, 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.

For product sales with volume rebates, revenue is recognized to the extent that it is highly probable that significant reversals will not occur using the most likely method and accumulated experience.

Returns and incentives are estimated based on historical and forecasted data, contractual terms and current conditions. Due to the nature of goods and services sold, any single estimate would have only a negligible impact on revenue.


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			83


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 3 Segment Information Continued

Supporting Information

Financial information on each of these segments is summarized in the following tables:


2019		Retail		Potash			Nitrogen		Phosphate		Corporate and Others		Eliminations		Consolidated
Sales	– third party		13,183		2,702			2,608		1,397		133		–		20,023
	– intersegment		38		207			612		203		–		(1,060)		–

Sales	– total		13,221		2,909			3,220		1,600		133		(1,060)		20,023
Freight, transportation and distribution			–		305			372		232		–		(141)		768

Net sales			13,221		2,604			2,848		1,368		133		(919)		19,255
Cost of goods sold			9,981		1,103			2,148		1,373		133		(924)		13,814

Gross margin			3,240		1,501			700		(5)		–		5		5,441
Selling expenses			2,484		9			25		5		(18)		–		2,505
General and administrative expenses			112		6			15		7		264		–		404
Provincial mining and other taxes			–		287			2		1		2		–		292
Share-based compensation expense			–		–			–		–		104		–		104
Impairment of assets (Note 15 and 16)			–		–			–		–		120		–		120
Other expenses (income)			8		(4	)		(46)		25		171		–		154

Earnings (loss) before finance costs and income taxes			636		1,203			704		(43)		(643)		5		1,862
Depreciation and amortization			595		390			535		237		42		–		1,799

EBITDA			1,231		1,593			1,239		194		(601)		5		3,661

Assets¹			19,990		11,696			10,991		2,198		2,129		(205)		46,799

¹	Included in the Retail and Nitrogen segments are $126 and $482, respectively, relating to equity-accounted investees as described in Note 17.


2018		Retail			Potash			Nitrogen¹		Phosphate¹		Corporate and Others		Eliminations		Consolidated
Sales	– third party		12,470			2,796			2,712		1,508		150		–		19,636
	– intersegment		50			220			626		268		–		(1,164)		–

Sales	– total		12,520			3,016			3,338		1,776		150		(1,164)		19,636
Freight, transportation and distribution			–			349			373		215		–		(73)		864

Net sales			12,520			2,667			2,965		1,561		150		(1,091)		18,772
Cost of goods sold			9,485			1,183			2,145		1,473		150		(1,056)		13,380

Gross margin			3,035			1,484			820		88		–		(35)		5,392
Selling expenses			2,303			14			32		10		(22)		–		2,337
General and administrative expenses			100			10			20		9		284		–		423
Provincial mining and other taxes			–			244			3		1		2		–		250
Share-based compensation expense			–			–			–		–		116		–		116
Impairment of assets (Note 15)			–			1,809			–		–		–		–		1,809
Other (income) expenses			(75	)		14			(8)		6		106		–		43

Earnings (loss) before finance costs and income taxes			707			(607	)		773		62		(486)		(35)		414
Depreciation and amortization			499			404			442		193		54		–		1,592

EBITDA			1,206			(203	)		1,215		255		(432)		(35)		2,006

Assets²			17,964			11,710			10,386		2,406		3,678		(642)		45,502

¹	Comparative figures have been restated to reflect the change in the sulfate product grouping from Phosphate and Sulfate to Nitrogen.

²	Included in the Retail and Nitrogen segments are $208 and $428, respectively, relating to equity-accounted investees as described in Note 17.


84		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 3 Segment Information Continued

Financial information by geographic area is summarized in the following tables:


Sales – Third Party	2019		2018
United States		12,522		11,891
Canada		2,504		2,790
Australia		1,955		1,681
Canpotex ¹		1,625		1,657
Trinidad		113		190
Argentina		388		387
Europe		210		312
Other		706		728

		20,023		19,636

As described in Note 1, Canpotex executed offshore marketing, sales and distribution functions for certain of our products. Canpotex’s 2019 sales volumes were made to: Latin America 31 percent, China 22 percent, India 10 percent, Other Asian markets 27 percent, Other markets 10 percent (2018 – Latin America 33 percent, China 18 percent, India 10 percent, Other Asian markets 31 percent, Other markets 8 percent) (Note 29).


Non-Current Assets ¹	2019		2018
United States		15,685		14,501
Canada		17,503		17,100
Australia		1,172		607
Trinidad		691		570
Other		639		621

		35,690		33,399

¹	Excludes financial instruments (other than equity-accounted investees), deferred tax assets and post-employment benefit assets.

We disaggregated revenue from contracts with customers 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. Sales reported under our Corporate and Others segment primarily relates to our non-core Canadian business.


	2019		2018
Retail sales by product line
Crop nutrients		4,989		4,577
Crop protection products		4,983		4,862
Seed		1,712		1,687
Merchandise		598		584
Services and other		939		810

		13,221		12,520


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			85


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 3 Segment Information Continued


	2019		2018
Potash sales by geography
Manufactured product
North America		1,283		1,356
Offshore ¹		1,625		1,657
Other potash and purchased products		1		3

		2,909		3,016

Nitrogen sales by product line ²
Manufactured product
Ammonia		884		1,061
Urea		1,019		979
Solutions, nitrates and sulfates		812		825
Other nitrogen and purchased products		505		473

		3,220		3,338

Phosphate sales by product line ²
Manufactured product
Fertilizer		944		1,141
Industrial and feed		475		469
Other phosphate and purchased products		181		166

		1,600		1,776

¹	Relates to Canpotex.

²	Comparative figures have been restated to reflect the change in the sulfate product grouping from Phosphate and Sulfate to Nitrogen.

Note 4 Business Combinations

The Company’s business combinations include the merger between Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. (“PotashCorp”) and Agrium Inc. (“Agrium”) (the “Merger”), the acquisition of Retail businesses, including Ruralco Holdings Limited (“Ruralco”), and various digital agriculture, proprietary products and agricultural services.

Accounting Policies, Estimates and Judgments

•

Consideration is measured at the aggregate of the fair values of assets transferred, liabilities incurred or assumed, and equity instruments issued in exchange for control of the acquiree at the acquisition date.

•

Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed are generally measured at fair value.

•

The excess of total consideration for each acquisition plus non-controlling interest in the acquiree, over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired, is recorded as goodwill.

•

For each business combination, we elect to measure the non-controlling interest in the acquired entity either at fair value or at the proportionate share of the acquiree’s identifiable net assets.


86		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 4 Business Combinations Continued

Judgment is required to determine which entity is the acquirer in a merger of equals. In identifying PotashCorp as the acquirer in the Merger, we considered the voting rights of all equity instruments, the intended corporate governance structure of the combined company, the intended composition of senior management of the combined company and the size of each of the companies. In assessing the size of each of the companies, we evaluated various metrics. No single factor was the sole determinant in the overall conclusion that PotashCorp was the acquirer for accounting purposes in the Merger; rather, all factors were considered in arriving at the conclusion.

Purchase price allocation involves judgment in identifying assets acquired and liabilities assumed, and estimation of their fair values. To determine fair values, we used quoted market prices or widely accepted valuation techniques as described below. Key assumptions include discount rates and revenue growth rates specific to the acquired assets or liabilities assumed. We performed a thorough review of all internal and external sources of information available on circumstances that existed at the acquisition date. We also engaged independent valuation experts on certain acquisitions to assist in determining the fair value of certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed and related deferred income tax impacts.


Asset	Ruralco	Merger	Other Acquisitions	Valuation Technique and Judgments Applied
Property, plant and equipment	X	X	X	Market approach for land and certain types of personal property: sales comparison that measures the value of an asset through an analysis of sales and offerings of comparable assets. Replacement costs for all other depreciable property, plant and equipment: measures the value of an asset by estimating the costs to acquire or construct comparable assets and adjusts for age and condition of the asset.

Other intangible assets	X	X	X	Income approach – multi-period excess earnings method: measures the value of an asset based on the present value of the incremental after-tax cash flows attributable to the asset after deducting contributory asset charges (“CACs”). Allocation of CACs is a matter of judgment and based on the nature of the acquired businesses’ operations and historical trends. We considered several factors in determining the fair value of customer relationships, such as customers’ relationships with the acquired company and its employees, the segmentation of customers, historical customer attrition rates and revenue growth. Segmenting customers is a matter of judgment and includes factors such as the size of the customer and customer behavior patterns.

Long-term debt		X		Comparable debt instruments with similar maturities, adjusted where necessary to the acquired company’s credit spread, based on information published by financial institutions.

Asset retirement obligations and accrued environmental costs		X		Decision-tree approach of future costs and a risk premium to capture the compensation sought by risk-averse market participants for bearing the uncertainty inherent in the cash flows of the liability. We expect asset retirement obligations for phosphate sites to be paid over the next 68 years, while we expect asset retirement obligations for potash and nitrogen sites to be paid subsequently. We expect accrued environmental costs – discounted using a credit adjusted risk-free rate – to be paid over the next 30 years.


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			87


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 4 Business Combinations Continued

Supporting Information


	Ruralco	Merger	Other Acquisitions
Acquisition date	September 30, 2019	January 1, 2018	Various

Purchase price, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired	$330 On the acquisition date, we acquired 100% of the Ruralco stock that was issued and outstanding. Also included in the total consideration, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired, is the impact of $18 relating to a foreign exchange hedge loss which we designated a cash flow hedge. Transaction costs are recorded in acquisition and integration related costs in other expenses.	$16,010 We determined the purchase price based on the number of Agrium shares outstanding and their trading price on December 29, 2017. On the acquisition date, shareholders of PotashCorp received 0.400 common shares of Nutrien for each PotashCorp share held, and shareholders of Agrium received 2.230 common shares of Nutrien for each Agrium share held. Merger and related costs are included in other expenses.	2019 – $581, net of $100 previously held equity-accounted interest in Agrichem. We acquired the remaining 20 percent interest in Agrichem in the first nine months of 2019, making Agrichem a wholly owned consolidated subsidiary of the Company. (2018 – $433)

Goodwill and expected benefits of the acquisition	$202	$11,185, none of which is deductible for income tax purposes.	$341 (2018 – $197)

	The expected benefits of the acquisitions resulting in goodwill include: • synergies from expected reduction in operating costs; • wider distribution channel for selling products of acquired businesses; • a larger assembled workforce; • potential increase in customer base; • enhanced ability to innovate; • production and expense optimization, including procurement savings (specific to Merger); and • closer proximity of nitrogen operations to sources of low-cost natural gas (specific to Merger).

Description	An agriservices business in Australia with approximately 250 operating locations.	A major global producer and distributor of agricultural products, services and solutions.	68 Retail locations in North and South America and Australia, including companies operating in the proprietary products business, such as Actagro, LLC, a developer, manufacturer and marketer of environmentally sustainable soil and plant health products and technologies (2018 – 53 Retail locations in North America and Australia and companies operating within the digital agriculture, proprietary products and agricultural services businesses).


88		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 4 Business Combinations Continued

We allocated the following values to the acquired assets and assumed liabilities based upon fair values at their respective acquisition date:


	2019										2018
	Ruralco (Estimate)
	Preliminary ¹		Adjustments ²			Revised Fair Value			Other Acquisitions ³		Merger (Final)			Other Acquisitions ³
Cash and cash equivalents		–		–			–			–		466			–
Receivables		250		39			289	⁴		68		2,600	⁴		20
Inventories		116		1			117			145		3,303			146
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		11		(3	)		8			38		1,124			2
Property, plant and equipment		70		66			136			115		7,459			107
Goodwill		272		(70	)		202			341		11,185			197
Other intangible assets		55		110			165			179		2,348			8
Investments		15		–			15			–		528			11
Other assets		16		–			16	⁵		2		293	⁵		3

Total assets		805		143			948			888		29,306			494

Short-term debt		112		–			112			25		867			–
Payables and accrued charges		299		46			345			156		5,239			52
Long-term debt, including current portion		–		–			–			11		4,941			–
Lease liabilities, including current portion		44		66			110			1		–			–
Deferred income tax liabilities		7		31			38			7		934			–
Pension and other post-retirement benefit liabilities		–		–			–			–		142			–
Asset retirement obligations and accrued environmental costs		–		–			–			–		1,094			–
Other non-current liabilities		13		–			13			7		79			9

Total liabilities		475		143			618			207		13,296			61

Total consideration		330		–			330			681		16,010			433
Previously held equity-accounted interest in Agrichem		–		–			–			100		–			–

Total consideration, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired		330		–			330			581		16,010			433

Preliminary value as previously reported in our third quarter 2019 unaudited financial statements. The purchase price allocation is not final as we continue to obtain and verify information required to determine the fair value of certain assets and liabilities and the amount of deferred income taxes arising on their recognition. We estimated the preliminary purchase price allocation as of the date of the acquisition based on information that was available and continue to adjust those estimates as new information that existed at the date of acquisition becomes available. We expect to finalize the amounts recognized when we obtain the information necessary to complete the analysis, and in any event, not later than September 30, 2020.

We recorded adjustments to the preliminary fair value to reflect facts and circumstances in existence as of the date of acquisition. These adjustments primarily related to changes in the preliminary valuation assumptions, including refinement of intangible assets. All measurement period adjustments were offset against goodwill.

³	This represents preliminary fair values. For certain acquisitions, we finalized the purchase price with no material change to the fair values disclosed in prior periods.

⁴	Includes receivables from customers with gross contractual amounts of $247, of which $5 are considered to be uncollectible relating to Ruralco (2018 – $2,247 and $80 respectively relating to the Merger).

⁵	Includes deferred income tax assets of $14 relating to Ruralco (2018 – $158 relating to the Merger).

Financial Information Related to the Acquired Operations


2019 Proforma ¹	Ruralco		Other Acquisitions
Sales		1,090		480
EBITDA		50		40

¹ Estimated annual sales and EBITDA if acquisitions occurred at the beginning of the year. Net earnings before income taxes is not available.


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			89


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 4 Business Combinations Continued


	2019 Actuals						2018 Actuals
From date of acquisition	Ruralco			Other Acquisitions			Merger		Other Acquisitions
Sales		249			312			14,551		213
Net earnings (loss) before income taxes		(2	)		(1	)		546		10

Note 5 Nature of Expenses


	2019		2018

Purchased and produced raw materials and product for resale ¹		11,335		10,881

Depreciation and amortization		1,799		1,592

Employee costs ²		2,268		1,949

Freight		845		934

Impairment of assets (Note 15 and 16)		120		1,809

Provincial mining and other taxes ³		292		250

Offsite warehouse costs ⁴		51		68

Railcar and vessel costs ⁴		5		128

Merger and related costs		82		170

Acquisition and integration related costs		16		–

Contract services		504		469

Lease expense⁵		66		148

Fleet fuel, repairs and maintenance		202		183

Other		576		641


Total cost of goods sold and expenses		18,161		19,222

¹	Significant expenses include: supplies, energy, fuel, purchases of raw material (natural gas – feedstock, sulfur, ammonia and reagents) and product for resale (crop nutrients and protection products, and seed).

²	Includes employee benefits and share–based compensation. In 2018, employee costs also include a $157 gain on curtailment of defined benefit pension and other post-retirement benefit plans (“Defined Benefit Plans Curtailment Gain”) as described in Note 23.

³	Includes $190 and $102 (2018 – $160 and $90) relating to Saskatchewan potash production tax and Saskatchewan resource surcharge and other, respectively, as required under Saskatchewan provincial legislation.

⁴	Includes expenses relating to operating leases in 2018.

⁵	In 2019, includes lease expense relating to short-term leases, leases of low-value and variable lease payments.

Note 6 Share-Based Compensation

We have share-based compensation plans (including those assumed from PotashCorp and Agrium) for eligible employees and directors as part of their remuneration package, including Stock Options, Performance Share Units (“PSUs”), Restricted Share Units (“RSUs”) and Deferred Share Units (“DSUs”).

Accounting Policies, Estimates and Judgments

For awards with performance conditions that determine the number of options or units to which employees are entitled, measurement of compensation cost is based on our best estimate of the outcome of the performance conditions. Changes to vesting assumptions are reflected in earnings immediately for compensation cost already recognized.

For plans settled through the issuance of equity

•

fair value for stock options is determined on grant date using the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model, and

•

fair value for PSUs is determined on grant date by projecting the outcome of performance conditions.

For plans settled through cash, a liability is recorded based on the fair value of the awards each period.


90		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 6 Share-Based Compensation Continued

Estimation involves determining:

•

stock option-pricing model assumptions as described in the weighted average assumptions table;

•

forfeiture rate for options granted based on past experience and future expectations, and adjusted upon actual vesting;

•

projected outcome of performance conditions for PSUs, including the relative ranking of our total shareholder

return, including expected dividends, compared with a specified peer group using a Monte Carlo simulation option-pricing model and the outcome of our synergies relative to the target; and

•

the number of dividend equivalent units expected to be earned.

Supporting Information

The following summarizes the Nutrien share-based compensation plans, under which we have awards available to be granted, and the assumed legacy plans of PotashCorp and Agrium, under which no awards will be granted.


Plan Features	Stock Options	PSUs	RSUs	DSUs	SARs/TSARs ⁴
Eligibility	Officers and eligible employees	Officers and eligible employees	Eligible employees	Non-executive directors	Awards no longer granted; legacy awards only

Granted	Annually	Annually	Annually	At the discretion of the Board of Directors	Awards no longer granted; legacy awards only

Vesting Period	25% per year over four years ¹	On third anniversary of grant date based on total shareholder return over a three-year performance cycle, compared to average total shareholder return of a peer group of companies over the same period	On third anniversary of grant date and are not subject to performance conditions	Fully vest upon grant	25% per year over four years

Maximum Term	10 years	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	10 years

Settlement	Shares	Cash / Shares ²	Cash	Cash ³	Cash

¹	Under the assumed legacy PotashCorp long-term incentive and performance option plan, stock options vest on the third anniversary of the grant date.

²	Under the assumed legacy PotashCorp long-term incentive plan, PSUs will be settled in shares for grantees who are subject to our share ownership guidelines and in cash for all other grantees.

³	Based on the common share price at the time of the director’s departure from the Board of Directors.

⁴

Under the assumed legacy Agrium stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) plan, holders of tandem stock appreciation rights (“TSARs”) have the ability to choose between (a) receiving in cash the price of our shares on the date of exercise in excess of the exercise price of the right or (b) receiving common shares by paying the exercise price of the right. Our past experience and future expectation is that substantially all TSAR holders will elect to choose the first option.

The weighted average fair value of stock options granted was estimated as of the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model. The weighted average grant date fair value of stock options per unit granted in 2019 was $11.27 (2018 – $9.71). The weighted average assumptions by year of grant that impacted current year results are as follows:


		Year of Grant
Assumptions	Based On	2019		2018

Exercise price per option	Quoted market closing price¹		53.54		44.50

Expected annual dividend yield (%)	Annualized dividend rate ²		3.22		3.58

Expected volatility (%)	Historical volatility ³		27		29

Risk-free interest rate (%)	Zero-coupon government issues ⁴		2.55		2.79

Average expected life of options (years)	Historical experience		7.5		7.5

¹	Of common shares on the last trading day immediately preceding the date of the grant.

²	As of the date of grant.

³	Of the Company’s share over a period commensurate with the expected life of the option.

⁴	Implied yield available on equivalent remaining term at the time of the grant.


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			91


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 6 Share-Based Compensation Continued

A summary of the status of our stock option plans as at December 31, 2019 and 2018 and changes during the years ending on those dates is as follows:


	Number of Shares Subject to Option						Weighted Average Exercise Price
	2019			2018			2019		2018
Balance – beginning of year		9,044,237			9,947,583			58.41		69.54
Granted		1,376,533			1,875,162			53.54		44.50
Exercised		(451,574	)		(647,331	)		42.73		42.86
Forfeited or cancelled		(502,016	)		(1,793,077	)		86.53		82.84
Expired		(275,700	)		(338,100	)		76.59		154.94

Outstanding – end of year		9,191,480			9,044,237			56.88		58.41

The aggregate grant-date fair value of all stock options granted during 2019 was $16. The average share price during 2019 was $50.91 per share.

The following table summarizes information about our stock options outstanding as at December 31, 2019 with expiry dates ranging from May 2020 to February 2029:


	Options Outstanding						Options Exercisable
Range of Exercise Prices	Number		Weighted Average Remaining Life in Years		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Number		Weighted Average Exercise Price



$37.84 to $40.23		1,345,235		6		38.21		1,170,022		38.26
$40.24 to $45.40		1,934,844		7		43.61		1,067,346		42.88
$45.41 to $49.51		1,371,872		7		46.46		788,169		46.38
$49.52 to $52.75		912,183		5		51.96		912,183		51.96
$52.76 to $77.62		1,814,520		8		58.58		574,542		69.47
$77.63 to $130.78		1,812,826		3		93.56		1,812,826		93.56

		9,191,480		6		56.88		6,325,088		60.71

Information for all employee and Director share-based compensation plans is summarized below:


					Compensation Expense (Recovery)
	Units Granted in 2019		Units Outstanding as at December 31, 2019		2019		2018
Stock Options		1,376,533		9,191,480		19		23
PSUs		719,330		1,834,984		65		83
RSUs		425,082		986,756		18		14
DSUs		50,958		434,093		2		–
SARs		–		1,750,169		–		(4	)

						104		116

Note 7 Other Expenses


	2019			2018
Merger and related costs		82			170
Acquisition and integration related costs		16			–
Foreign exchange loss (gain), net of related derivatives		42			(10	)
Earnings of equity-accounted investees		(66	)		(40	)
Bad debts		24			26
Defined Benefit Plans Curtailment Gain (Note 23)		–			(157	)
Other expenses		56			54

		154			43


92		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 8 Finance Costs


	2019			2018
Interest expense
Short-term debt		87			129
Long-term debt		387			372
Lease liabilities (Note 21)		34			–
Unwinding of discount on asset retirement obligations (Note 24)		54			51
Interest on net defined benefit pension and other post-retirement plan obligations (Note 23)		15			15
Borrowing costs capitalized to property, plant and equipment		(18	)		(12	)
Interest income		(5	)		(17	)

		554			538

Borrowing costs capitalized to property, plant and equipment in 2019 were calculated by applying an average capitalization rate of 4.6 percent (2018 – 4.4 percent) to expenditures on qualifying assets.

Note 9 Income Taxes

Accounting Policies, Estimates and Judgments

We operate in a specialized industry and in several tax jurisdictions. As a result, our earnings are subject to various rates of taxation. Taxation on items recognized in the consolidated statements of earnings, other comprehensive income (“OCI”) or contributed surplus is recognized in the same location as those items.

Taxation on earnings (loss) is comprised of current and deferred income tax.


Current income tax is		Deferred income tax is
• the expected tax payable on the taxable earnings for the year, • calculated using rates enacted or substantively enacted at the dates of the consolidated balance sheets in the countries where our subsidiaries and equity-accounted investees operate and generate taxable earnings, and • inclusive of any adjustment to income tax payable or recoverable in respect of previous years.		• recognized using the liability method, • based on temporary differences between carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective income tax bases, and • determined using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the dates of the consolidated balance sheets and are expected to apply when the related deferred income tax asset is realized or the deferred income tax liability is settled.

Uncertain income tax positions are accounted for using the standards applicable to current income tax liabilities and assets (i.e., both liabilities and assets are recorded when probable and measured at the amount expected to be paid to (or recovered from) the taxation authorities using our best estimate of the amount).

Deferred income tax is not accounted for

•

with respect to investments in subsidiaries and equity-accounted investees where we are able to control the reversal of the temporary difference and that difference is not expected to reverse in the foreseeable future; and

•

if arising from initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction, other than a business combination, that at the time of the transaction affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss.

The realized and unrealized excess tax benefits from share-based compensation arrangements are recognized in contributed surplus as current and deferred tax, respectively.

Deferred income tax assets are reviewed at each balance sheet date and amended to the extent that it is no longer probable that the related tax benefit will be realized.


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			93


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 9 Income Taxes Continued

Income tax assets and liabilities are offset when


Current income taxes		Deferred income taxes
• we have a legally enforceable right to offset the recognized amounts ¹, and • the intention to settle on a net basis or realize the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.		• we have a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against current tax liabilities, and • they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority on either: 1) the same taxable entity; or 2) different taxable entities intending to settle current tax liabilities and assets on a net basis, or realize assets and settle liabilities simultaneously in each future period. ²

¹	For income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and the authority permits us to make or receive a single net payment or receipt.

²	In which significant amounts of deferred tax liabilities or assets expected are to be settled or recovered.

Estimates and judgments to determine our taxes are impacted by

•

the breadth of our operations, and

•

global complexity of tax regulations.

The final taxes paid, and potential adjustments to tax assets and liabilities, are dependent upon many factors including:

•

negotiations with taxation authorities in various jurisdictions;

•

outcomes of tax litigation; and

•

resolution of disputes arising from federal, provincial, state and local tax audits.

Estimates and judgments are used to recognize the amount of deferred tax assets, which includes the probability that future taxable profit will be available to use deductible temporary differences, and could be reduced if projected earnings are not achieved or increased if earnings previously not projected become probable.

Supporting Information

Income Taxes included in Net Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations

The provision for income taxes differs from the amount that would have resulted from applying the Canadian statutory income tax rates to earnings (loss) before income taxes as follows:


	2019			2018
Earnings (loss) before income taxes
Canada		765			(1,195	)
United States		315			619
Australia		27			96
Trinidad		(28	)		98
Other		229			258

		1,308			(124	)

Canadian federal and provincial statutory income tax rate (%)		27			27

Income tax at statutory rates		353			(33	)
Adjusted for the effect of:
Impact of foreign tax rates		(45	)		(58	)
Non-taxable income		(19	)		(10	)
Production-related deductions		(17	)		(15	)
Foreign accrual property income		18			15
Impact of tax rate changes		16			–
Other		10			8

Income tax expense (recovery) included in net earnings (loss) from continuing operations		316			(93	)


94		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 9 Income Taxes Continued

Total income tax expense (recovery), included in net earnings (loss) from continuing operations, was comprised of the following:


	2019			2018

Current income tax
Tax expense for current year		161			195
Adjustments in respect of prior years		(22	)		(15	)

Total current income tax expense		139			180

Deferred income tax
Origination and reversal of temporary differences		152			(283	)
Adjustments in respect of prior years		9			12
Impact of tax rate changes		16			–
Other		–			(2	)

Total deferred income tax expense (recovery)		177			(273	)

Income tax expense (recovery) included in net earnings (loss) from continuing operations		316			(93	)

Income Tax Balances

Income tax balances within the consolidated balance sheets as at December 31 were comprised of the following:


Income Tax Assets and Liabilities	Balance Sheet Location	2019		2018
Current income tax assets
Current	Receivables (Note 13)		104		248
Long-term	Other assets (Note 18)		36		36
Deferred income tax assets	Other assets (Note 18)		249		216

Total income tax assets			389		500

Current income tax liabilities
Current	Payables and accrued charges (Note 22)		43		47
Non-current	Other non-current liabilities		44		64
Deferred income tax liabilities	Deferred income tax liabilities		3,145		2,907

Total income tax liabilities			3,232		3,018


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			95


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 9 Income Taxes Continued

Deferred Income Taxes

In respect of each type of temporary difference, unused tax loss and unused tax credit, the amounts of deferred tax assets and liabilities recognized in the consolidated balance sheets as at December 31 and the amount of the deferred tax expense (recovery) recognized in net earnings (loss) from continuing operations were:


	Deferred Income Tax (Assets) Liabilities						Deferred Income Tax Expense (Recovery) Recognized in Net Earnings (Loss)
	2019			2018			2019			2018
Deferred income tax assets
Asset retirement obligations and accrued environmental costs		(387	)		(412	)		25			11
Tax loss and other carryforwards		(270	)		(261	)		(9	)		(198	)
Pension and other post-retirement benefit liabilities		(145	)		(130	)		(13	)		44
Long-term debt		(107	)		(110	)		3			10
Lease liabilities		(227	)		–			55			–
Receivables		(51	)		(58	)		7			(3	)
Inventories		(59	)		(54	)		(5	)		(13	)
Derivatives		(9	)		(17	)		5			15
Other assets		(61	)		(57	)		4			18
Deferred income tax liabilities
Property, plant and equipment		3,647			3,218			147			(132	)
Goodwill and other intangible assets		523			546			(58	)		(31	)
Other liabilities		42			26			16			6

		2,896			2,691			177			(273	)

Reconciliation of net deferred income tax liabilities:


	2019			2018
Balance – beginning of year		2,691			2,187
Merger and acquisitions (Note 4)		29			776
Income tax expense (recovery) recognized in net earnings (loss) from continuing operations		177			(273	)
Income tax expense (recovery) recognized in net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations		–			(17	)
Income tax charge recognized in OCI		2			22
Other		(3	)		(4	)

Balance – end of year		2,896			2,691

Amounts and expiry dates of unused tax losses and unused tax credits as at December 31, 2019 were:


	Amount		Expiry Date
Unused operating losses		1,027		2020 - Indefinite
Unused capital losses		829		Indefinite
Unused investment tax credits		38		2020 - 2038

The unused tax losses and credits with no expiry dates can be carried forward indefinitely.

As at December 31, 2019, we had $965 of tax losses for which we did not recognize deferred tax assets.

We have determined that it is probable that all recognized deferred tax assets will be realized through a combination of future reversals of temporary differences and taxable income.

The aggregate amount of temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries and equity-accounted investees, for which deferred tax liabilities have not been recognized, as at December 31, 2019 was $9,183 (2018 – $8,710).


96		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 10 Discontinued Operations

Accounting Policies

Discontinued operations represent a component of our business that either has been disposed of, or is classified as held for sale, and represents a separate major line of business or geographic area of operations or is a part of a single coordinated plan to dispose of a separate major line of business or geographical area of operations.

Our significant policies include:

•

cessation of equity accounting for associates and joint ventures at the date the investments were classified as held for sale;

•

measurement of assets at the lower of carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell, with the exception of financial assets measured at fair value through other comprehensive income (“FVTOCI”); and

•

dividends received are recorded on the consolidated statements of earnings.

Supporting Information

In 2018, our investments in SQM, Israel Chemicals Ltd. (“ICL”) and APC were presented as discontinued operations due to regulatory requirements to dispose of these investments in connection with the Merger.

As of December 31, 2018, we completed all required divestitures and retained no residual interests as outlined below:


For the year ended December 31, 2018	Proceeds¹			Gain (Loss) on Sale			Gain (Loss) on Sale Net of Income Taxes			AOCI			Net Earnings and Retained Earnings
Shares in SQM		5,126			4,278			3,366			–			3,366
Shares in ICL		685			(19	)		(19	)		(19	)		–
Shares in APC		501			121			126			–			126
Conda Phosphate operations		98			–			–			–			–

Total sale		6,410	²		4,380			3,473			(19	)		3,492

¹	Proceeds are net of commissions.

²	Proceeds of $39 were collected in 2019.

Net earnings from discontinued operations for the year ended December 31 were as follows:


	2018
Gain on disposal of investments in SQM and APC		4,399
Dividend income of SQM, APC and ICL ¹		156
Income tax expense ²		(951	)

Net earnings from discontinued operations		3,604

¹	Dividend income is included in cash provided by operating activities on the consolidated statements of cash flows, net of tax of $26.

For 2018, income tax expense is comprised of $(912) relating to the disposals of SQM shares, including the repatriation of the net proceeds, and $(39) relating to earnings from discontinued operations ($(18) for the planned repatriation of the remaining excess cash available in Chile, $(26) for the repatriation of dividend income received from SQM and $5 relating to APC).

Note 11 Net Earnings Per share


	2019		2018
Weighted average number of common shares		582,269,000		624,900,000
Dilutive effect of stock options		777,000		–	¹
Dilutive effect of share-settled PSUs		56,000		–	¹

Weighted average number of diluted common shares		583,102,000		624,900,000

¹	The diluted weighted average share calculations excluded an additional 658,000 stock options and 137,000 equity-settled PSUs due to their anti-dilutive effect.


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			97


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 11 Net Earnings Per share Continued

Options excluded from the calculation of diluted net earnings per share due to the option exercise prices being greater than the average market price of common shares were as follows:


	2019		2018
Number of options excluded		4,539,529		5,721,656
Performance option plan years fully excluded		2010 – 2015		2009 – 2015
Stock option plan years fully excluded		2015, 2019		2015, 2018

Note 12 Financial Instruments and Related Risk Management

Accounting Policies

Financial instruments are classified and measured as follows:


	Fair Value Through Profit or Loss (“FVTPL”)	Fair Value Through Other Comprehensive Income (“FVTOCI”)	Financial Assets and Liabilities at Amortized Cost ¹
Instrument type	Cash and cash equivalents and derivatives	Equity investments not held for trading	Receivables, short-term debt, payables and accrued charges, long-term debt, other long-term debt instruments

Measurement	Fair value	Fair value	Amortized cost

Fair value gains and losses	Profit or loss	OCI ²	–

Interest and dividends	Profit or loss	Profit or loss	Profit or loss: effective interest rate

Impairment of assets	–	–	Profit or loss

Foreign exchange	Profit or loss	OCI	Profit or loss

Transaction costs	Profit or loss	OCI	Included in cost of instrument

¹	Amortized cost is applied if the objective of the business model for the instrument or group of instruments is to hold the asset to collect the contractual cash flows and the contractual terms give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest.

²	For equity investments not held for trading, we may make an irrevocable election at initial recognition to recognize changes in fair value through OCI rather than profit or loss.

Financial instruments are recognized at trade date when we commit to purchase or sell the asset. Financial assets are derecognized when the rights to receive cash flow from the investments have expired or we have transferred them, and all the risks and rewards of ownership have been substantially transferred.

Derivatives are used to lock in commodity prices and exchange rates. For designated and qualified cash flow hedges:

•

the effective portion of the change in the fair value of the derivative is accumulated in OCI;

•

when the hedged forecast transaction occurs, the related gain or loss is removed from AOCI and included in the cost of inventory;

•

the hedging gain or loss included in the cost of inventory is recognized in earnings when the product containing the hedged item is sold or becomes impaired; and

•

the ineffective portions of hedges are recorded in net earnings in the current period.

We also assess whether the natural gas swaps used in hedging transactions are expected to be or were highly effective, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, in offsetting changes in fair values of hedged items. Hedge effectiveness related to our New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”) natural gas hedges is assessed on a prospective and retrospective basis using regression analyses. In 2018, our Alberta Energy Company (“AECO”) natural gas hedges were assessed using a qualitative assessment. Potential sources of ineffectiveness are changes in timing of forecast transactions, changes in volume delivered or changes in our credit risk or the counterparty.


98		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 12 Financial Instruments and Related Risk Management Continued

Net investment hedges relating to the commitment to purchase a foreign operation:

•

are considered a non-financial item and are accounted for similar to a cash flow hedge; and

•

the gain or loss from the hedging instrument is deferred in OCI and subsequently recorded as an adjustment to goodwill when the business combination occurs.

Financial assets and financial liabilities are offset and the

net amount is presented in the consolidated balance sheets when we:

•

currently have a legally enforceable right to offset the recognized amounts; and

•

intend either to settle on a net basis, or to realize the assets and settle the liabilities simultaneously.

Supporting Information

Credit Risk

Our exposure to credit risk on our cash and cash equivalents, receivables (excluding taxes) and derivative instrument assets is the carrying amount of each instrument on the consolidated balance sheets.

Maximum exposure to credit risk as at December 31:


	2019		2018
Cash and cash equivalents		671		2,314
Receivables ¹		3,438		3,094
Other current assets – derivatives		5		5

		4,114		5,413

¹	Excluding income tax receivable.

Credit risk is managed through policies applicable to the following assets:


	Acceptable Minimum Counterparty Credit Ratings	Exposure Thresholds by Counterparty	Daily Counterparty Settlement Based on Prescribed Credit Thresholds	Counterparties to Contracts are Investment-Grade Quality
Cash and Cash Equivalents	X	X
Natural Gas Derivatives	X		X		X
Foreign Currency Derivatives	X

We manage our credit risk on receivables from customers through a credit management program whereby:

•

credit approval policies and procedures are in place to guide the granting of credit to new customers as well as our continued extension to existing customers;

•

existing customer accounts are reviewed every 12-24 months, depending on the credit limit amounts;

•

credit is extended to international customers based upon an evaluation of both customer and country risk;

•

the credit period on sales is generally 15 and 30 days for wholesale fertilizer customers, 30 days for industrial and feed customers, 30-90 days for Retail customers and up to 180 days for select export sales customers; and

•

credit agency reports, where available, and an assessment of other relevant information such as current financial statements and/or credit references, are used before assigning credit limits to customers. We may transact with customers that fail to meet specified benchmark creditworthiness on a cash basis or provide other evidence of ability to pay.

In our Retail operations in Western Canada, credit risk in accounts receivable is mitigated through an agency agreement with a Canadian financial institution wherein the financial institution provides credit to qualifying customers to assist in financing their crop input purchases. Through the agency agreement, which expires in 2021, customers have financing arrangements directly with the financial institution while we have only a limited recourse involvement to the extent of an indemnification of the financial institution for 54 percent (2018 – 52 percent) of its future bad debts to a maximum of 3 percent (2018 – 5 percent) of the qualified customer loans. Outstanding customer credit with the financial institution was $521 at December 31, 2019, which is not recognized in our consolidated balance sheets. Historical indemnification losses on this arrangement have been negligible, and the average aging of the customer loans with the financial institution is current. Our receivables from customers also include a concentration in Retail operations in Australia for advances to customers to purchase crop inputs and livestock. We mitigate risk in these receivables by obtaining security over livestock and crop.


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			99


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 12 Financial Instruments and Related Risk Management Continued

LOGO

Liquidity Risk

Liquidity risk arises from our general funding needs and the management of our assets, liabilities and optimal capital structure. We manage our liquidity risk to maintain sufficient liquid financial resources to fund our operations and meet our commitments and obligations in a cost-effective manner. In managing our liquidity risk, we have access to a range of

funding options and have established an external borrowing policy with the following objectives:

•

maintain an optimal capital structure;

•

maintain investment-grade credit ratings that provide ease of access to the debt capital and commercial paper markets;

•

maintain sufficient short-term credit availability; and

•

maintain long-term relationships with a sufficient number of high-quality and diverse lenders.

The table below outlines our available credit facilities as at December 31, 2019:


	Total Amount		Amount Outstanding and Committed		Amount Available
Unsecured revolving term credit facility ¹		4,500		650		3,850
Uncommitted revolving demand facility		500		–		500
Other credit facilities		820		326		494

¹	The unsecured revolving term credit facility matures April 10, 2023, subject to extension at the request of Nutrien provided that the resulting maturity date shall not exceed five years from the date of request.

The following maturity analysis of our financial liabilities and gross settled derivative contracts (for which the cash flows are settled simultaneously) is based on the expected undiscounted contractual cash flows from the date of the consolidated balance sheets to the contractual maturity date.


2019	Carrying Amount of Liability as at December 31		Contractual Cash Flows		Within 1 Year		1 to 3 Years		3 to 5 Years		Over 5 Years
Short-term debt ¹		976		976		976		–		–		–
Payables and accrued charges ²		5,264		5,264		5,264		–		–		–
Long-term debt, including current portion ¹		9,055		14,392		894		1,268		1,923		10,307
Lease liabilities, including current portion ¹		1,073		1,302		249		364		234		455
Derivatives		33		33		14		10		9		–

		16,401		21,967		7,397		1,642		2,166		10,762

¹	Contractual cash flows include contractual interest payments related to debt obligations and lease liabilities. Interest rates on variable rate debt are based on prevailing rates as at December 31, 2019.

²	Excludes non-financial liabilities and includes trade payables of approximately $1.4 billion paid in January and February 2020 through an arrangement whereby a supplier sold the right to receive payment to a financial institution.


100		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 12 Financial Instruments and Related Risk Management Continued

Foreign Exchange Risk

To manage foreign exchange risk (primarily related to our foreign operations), we may enter into foreign currency derivatives. Treasury risk management policies allow such exposures to be hedged within certain prescribed limits for

both forecast operating and capital expenditures. The risk management policy is to manage the earnings impact that could occur from a reasonably possible strengthening or weakening of the US dollar. The foreign currency derivatives are not currently designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes.

The following table presents the significant foreign currency derivatives that existed at December 31:


	2019						2018
Sell/buy	Notional		Maturities		Average contract rate		Notional		Maturities		Average contract rate
Forwards
USD/CDN		337		2020		1.3096		502		2019		1.3583
CDN/USD		120		2020		1.3138		205		2019		1.3636
USD/AUD ¹		78		2020		1.4593		40		2019		1.3777
AUD/USD		47		2020		1.4563		48		2019		1.3816

¹	Australian Dollar

Interest Rate Risk

Fluctuations in interest rates impact the future cash flows and fair values of various financial instruments.

Interest rate risk on debt is addressed by:

•

using a portfolio of fixed and floating rate instruments;

•

aligning current and long-term assets with demand and fixed-term debt;

•

monitoring the effects of market changes in interest rates; and

•

using interest rate swaps, if desired.

Related to interest rate risk on investments in marketable securities, our primary objectives are to:

•

ensure the security of principal amounts invested;

•

provide for an adequate degree of liquidity; and

•

achieve a satisfactory return.

Treasury risk management policies specify investment parameters including eligible types of investment, maximum maturity dates, maximum exposure by counterparty and minimum credit ratings.

We have credit facilities in Argentina that are subject to floating interest rates. We do not believe we have material exposure to interest rate risk on our financial instruments and earnings as at December 31, 2019 and 2018.

Price Risk

Commodity price risk exists on our natural gas derivative instruments. Our natural gas strategy is to diversify our forecast gas volume requirements, including a portion of annual requirements purchased at spot market prices, a portion at fixed prices (up to 10 years) and a portion indexed to the market price of ammonia. Our objective is to acquire a reliable supply of natural gas feedstock and fuel on a location-adjusted, cost-competitive basis.

Price risk also exists for exchange-traded equity securities measured at FVTPL or FVTOCI.

We had no material exposure to price risk on our financial instruments as at December 31, 2019 and 2018.

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.


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			101


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 12 Financial Instruments and Related Risk Management Continued

Financial instruments included in the consolidated balance sheets are measured either at fair value or amortized cost. The tables below explain the valuation methods used to determine the fair value of each financial instrument and its associated level in the fair value hierarchy.


Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value		Fair Value Method
Cash and cash equivalents		Carrying amount (approximation to fair value assumed due to short-term nature)

Equity securities		Closing bid price of the common shares as at the balance sheet date

Debt securities		Closing bid price of the debt or other instruments with similar terms and credit risk (Level 2) as at the balance sheet date

Foreign currency derivatives not traded in an active market		Quoted forward exchange rates (Level 2) as at the balance sheet date

Foreign exchange forward contracts, swaps and options and natural gas swaps not traded in an active market		A discounted cash flow model ¹ Market comparison ²

Inputs included contractual cash flows based on prices for natural gas futures contracts, fixed prices and notional volumes specified by the swap contracts, the time value of money, liquidity risk, our own credit risk (related to instruments in a liability position) and counterparty credit risk (related to instruments in an asset position). Futures contract prices used as inputs in the model were supported by prices quoted in an active market and therefore categorized in Level 2.

²	Inputs include current market and contractual prices, forward pricing curves, quoted forward prices, basis differentials, volatility factors and interest rates and therefore categorized in Level 2. Market comparison was used for the 2018 AECO natural gas hedges.


Financial Instruments Measured at Amortized Cost		Fair Value Method
Receivables, short-term debt and payables and accrued charges		Carrying amount (approximation to fair value assumed due to short-term nature)

Long-term debt		Quoted market prices (Level 1 or 2 depending on the market liquidity of the debt)

Other long-term debt instruments		Carrying amount

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


	2019									2018
Financial instruments 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		671			–			671			2,314			–			2,314
Derivative instrument assets		5			–			5			5			–			5
Other current financial assets – marketable securities ²		193			27			166			97			12			85
Investments at FVTOCI (Note 17)		161			161			–			186			186			–
Derivative instrument liabilities		(33	)		–			(33	)		(71	)		–			(71	)
Amortized cost
Current portion of long-term debt
Notes and debentures		(494	)		–			(503	)		(995	)		–			(1,009	)
Fixed and floating rate debt		(8	)		–			(8	)		(8	)		–			(8	)
Long-term debt
Notes and debentures		(8,528	)		(1,726	)		(7,440	)		(7,569	)		(1,004	)		(6,177	)
Fixed and floating rate debt		(25	)		–			(25	)		(22	)		–			(22	)

Financial instruments included in Level 1 are measured using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities, while those classified as Level 2 are measured using significant other observable inputs. During 2019 and 2018, there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 for financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Our policy is to recognize transfers at the end of the reporting period.

²	Marketable securities consist of equity and fixed income securities.


102		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 12 Financial Instruments and Related Risk Management Continued


	2019								2018
Financial assets (liabilities)	Gross			Offset		Net Amounts Presented			Gross			Offset			Net Amounts Presented
Derivative instrument assets
Natural gas derivatives		–			–		–			31			(27	)		4
Derivative instrument liabilities
Natural gas derivatives ¹		(30	)		–		(30	)		(92	)		26			(66	)
Other long-term debt instruments ²		(150	)		150		–			(150	)		150			–

		(180	)		150		(30	)		(211	)		149			(62	)

¹	Cash margin deposits of $17 (2018 – $18) were placed with counterparties related to legally enforceable master netting arrangements.

²	Back-to-back loan arrangements that are not subject to any financial test covenants but are subject to certain customary covenants and events of default. We were in compliance with these covenants as at December 31, 2019.

Natural gas derivatives outstanding:


	2019									2018
	Notional ¹		Maturities		Average Contract Price ²		Fair Value of Assets (Liabilities)			Notional ¹		Maturities		Average Contract Price ²		Fair Value of Assets (Liabilities)
NYMEX swaps		16		2020 – 2022		4.26		(30	)		22		2019 – 2022		4.26		(35	)
AECO swaps		–		n/a		–		–			26		2019		1.92		(25	)

¹	In millions of British thermal units (“MMBtu”).

²	US dollars per MMBtu.

n/a = not applicable

Note 13 Receivables

Accounting Policies, Estimates and Judgments

Receivables from customers are recognized initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortized cost less allowance for expected credit losses of receivables from customers. We estimate losses on receivables based on known troubled accounts and historical experience of losses incurred using the lifetime expected credit loss method, which represents the expected credit loss that will result from all possible default events over the expected life of a financial instrument. To determine the expected credit losses, receivables from customers have been grouped based on geography, days past due and/or customer credit risk profile. Receivables are considered to be in default and are written off against the allowance when it is probable that all remaining contractual payments due will not be collected in accordance with the terms of the agreement. Subsequent recoveries of amounts previously written off are credited to the consolidated statements of earnings.

Vendors may offer various incentives to purchase products for resale. Vendor rebates and prepay discounts are accounted for as a reduction of the prices of the suppliers’ products. Rebates based on the amount of materials purchased reduce cost of goods sold as inventory is sold. Rebates earned based on sales volumes of products are offset to cost of goods sold.

Rebates that are probable and can be reasonably estimated are accrued. Rebates that are not probable or estimable are accrued when certain milestones are achieved.

Determining when there is no reasonable expectation of recovering the amounts requires judgment.

Estimation of rebates can be complex in nature as vendor arrangements are diverse. The amount of the accrual is determined by analyzing and reviewing historical trends to apply negotiated rates to estimated and actual purchase volumes. Estimated amounts accrued throughout the year could also be impacted if actual purchase volumes differ from projected volumes.


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			103


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 13 Receivables Continued

Supporting Information


		2019			2018
Receivables from customers	– third parties		2,936			2,628
	– Canpotex (Note 29)		194			208
Less allowance for expected credit losses of receivables from customers			(83	)		(90	)

			3,047			2,746
Rebates			190			169
Income taxes (Note 9)			104			248
Other receivables			201			179

			3,542			3,342

Note 14 Inventories

Accounting Policies, Estimates and Judgments

Inventories are valued monthly at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Costs are allocated to inventory using the weighted average cost method and include: direct acquisition costs, direct costs related to units of production and a systematic allocation of fixed and variable production overhead, as applicable.

Net realizable value is based on


Products and raw materials		Materials and supplies
• selling price of the finished product (in ordinary course of business) less the estimated costs of completion and estimated costs to make the sale.		• replacement cost.

A writedown is recognized if the carrying amount exceeds net realizable value and may be reversed if the circumstances which caused it no longer exist.

Various factors impact our estimates of net realizable value, including inventory levels, forecasted prices of key production inputs, global nutrient capacities, and crop price trends.

Supporting Information


	2019		2018
Product purchased for resale ¹		3,592		3,545
Finished products		524		501
Intermediate products		244		218
Raw materials		205		275
Materials and supplies		410		378

		4,975		4,917

¹	Includes biological assets of $33 (December 31, 2018 – $2) measured at fair value less cost of disposal.

LOGO

Inventories expensed to cost of goods sold during the year were $13,465 (2018 – $13,083).


104		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 15 Property, Plant and Equipment

The majority of our tangible assets are the buildings, machinery and equipment used to produce or distribute our products and render our services.

Accounting Policies, Estimates and Judgments

Owned Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and any recognized impairment loss.

Cost includes all expenditures directly attributable to bringing the asset to the location and installing it in working condition for its intended use, including:

•

additions to, and betterments and renewals of, existing assets;

•

borrowing costs incurred during construction using a capitalization rate based on the weighted average interest rate of our outstanding debt; and

•

a reduction for income derived from the asset during construction.

Each component of an item of property, plant and equipment with a cost that is significant in relation to the item’s total cost is depreciated separately. When the cost of replacing part of an item of property, plant and equipment is capitalized, the carrying amount of the replaced part is derecognized. The cost of major inspections and overhauls is capitalized and depreciated over the period until the next major inspection or overhaul. Maintenance and repair expenditures that do not improve or extend productive life are expensed in the period incurred.

Environmental costs related to current operations are also capitalized if:

•

property life is extended,

•

capacity is increased,

•

contamination from future operations is mitigated or prevented, or

•

the expenditure is related to legal or constructive asset retirement obligations.

Judgment involves determining:

•

costs, including income or expenses derived from an asset under construction, that are eligible for capitalization;

•

timing to cease cost capitalization, generally when the asset is capable of operating in the manner intended by management, but also considering the circumstances and the industry in which the asset is to be operated, normally predetermined by management with reference to such factors as productive capacity;

•

the appropriate level of componentization (for individual components for which different depreciation methods or rates are appropriate);

•

repairs and maintenance that qualify as major inspections and overhauls; and

•

useful life over which such costs should be depreciated.

Certain property, plant and equipment directly related to the Potash, Nitrogen and Phosphate segments are depreciated using the units-of-production method based on the shorter of estimates of reserves or service lives. Pre-stripping costs are depreciated on a units-of-production basis over the ore mined from the mineable acreage stripped. Land is not depreciated. The remaining assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis.

Estimated useful lives, expected patterns of consumption, depreciation method and residual values are reviewed at least annually with the effect of any changes in estimate being accounted for on a prospective basis.

Uncertainties are inherent in estimating reserve quantities, particularly as they relate to assumptions regarding future prices, the geology of our mines, the mining methods used, and the related costs incurred to develop and mine reserves. Changes in these assumptions could result in material adjustments to reserve estimates, which could result in impairments or changes to depreciation expense in future periods.


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			105


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 15 Property, Plant and Equipment Continued

Leased Property, Plant and Equipment

A contract is a lease or contains a lease if it conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Leases are recognized as right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and corresponding liabilities at the date at which a leased asset is available for use. Lease payments are allocated between finance costs, calculated using the effective interest method, and a reduction of the liability. ROU assets are depreciated over the shorter of the asset’s useful life and the lease term on a straight-line basis.

Our major categories of assets leased are:

•

railcars and marine vessels used to transport product to customers;

•

real estate used as office space, storage and distribution; and

•

mobile equipment primarily used to deliver and apply product and to meet with customers.

Railcars are utilized in North America and include general service and high-pressure tank cars and general-purpose hopper cars. Railcars are sourced from multiple suppliers and terms vary by lease agreement. For railcars required in our operations, we have a history of renegotiating new leases at termination of existing leases. Marine vessels include ocean-going vessels used to transport ammonia from our nitrogen facilities in Trinidad to our customers. We lease real estate across our operations consisting of office space and product storage and distribution sites. Real estate leases have varying terms by location and use of the property, and are normally renewable at market rates. Most storage and distribution leases do not convey a right to use a specific identified space and accordingly these are not classified as leases under IFRS 16 and are expensed as incurred. Our Retail segment leases a fleet of motor vehicles and product application equipment and other transportation equipment. Motor vehicle leases primarily have a 50-month initial term and are renewable annually thereafter. We expect to renew all our Retail motor vehicle leases for substantially all of the useful life of the equipment.

We seek to maximize operational flexibility in managing our leasing activities by including extension options when negotiating new leases. Extension options are exercisable at our option and not by the lessors. In determining if a renewal period should be included in the lease term, we consider all relevant factors that create an economic incentive for us to exercise a renewal, including the location of the asset, the availability of suitable alternatives, the significance of the asset to operations, and our business strategy.

Lease agreements do not contain significant covenants; however, leased assets may be used as security for lease liabilities and other borrowings.

ROU assets are measured at cost, less any impairments, including:

•

the initial measurement of lease liability (see Note 21);

•

any lease payments made at or before the commencement date less any lease incentives received;

•

any initial direct costs; and

•

an estimate of costs, if any, to be incurred by us in restoring the underlying asset to the condition required by the terms and conditions of the lease.

Liabilities arising from a lease are initially measured as the net present value of the future lease payments, including:

•

fixed payments (including in-substance fixed payments), less any lease incentives;

•

variable lease payments that are based on an index or a rate;

•

amounts expected to be payable under residual value guarantees;

•

the exercise price of a purchase option if we are reasonably certain to exercise that option; and

•

payments of penalties for terminating the lease, if the lease term reflects us exercising that option.

In recording ROU assets and related liabilities at inception of a lease, lease payments are discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease. If that rate cannot be determined, an incremental borrowing rate is used, being a rate that we would have to pay to borrow the funds required to obtain a similar asset, adjusted for term, security, asset value and the borrower’s economic environment.

The carrying amount of ROU assets and lease liabilities is remeasured if there is a modification of the lease, a change in the lease term, a change in the in-substance fixed lease payments, a change in the expected amount under a residual value guarantee or a change in the assessment to exercise a purchase, extension or termination option.

Payments for short-term leases and leases of low-value assets are expensed on a straight-line basis. Short-term leases are leases with a lease term of 12 months or less that do not contain a purchase option. Low-value assets generally comprise IT equipment and office furniture.

Judgment is required to determine whether a contract or arrangement includes a lease and if it is reasonably certain that an extension option will be exercised.

Estimation is used to determine the useful lives of ROU assets, the lease term and the appropriate discount rate applied to the lease payments to calculate the lease liability.

Refer to Note 31 for impacts of the adoption of IFRS 16.

Accounting policies, estimates and judgments related to impairment of long-lived assets are described in Note 31.


106		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 15 Property, Plant and Equipment Continued

Supporting Information


	Land and Improvements			Buildings and Improvements			Machinery and Equipment			Mine Development Costs			Assets Under Construction			Total
Useful life range (years)		3 – 80			1 – 60			1 – 80			n/a			n/a

Carrying amount – December 31, 2018		1,018			6,044			9,882			709			1,143			18,796
ROU assets recognized on adoption of IFRS 16		48			307			704			–			–			1,059
Acquisitions (Note 4)		17			136			61			–			37			251
Additions		14			30			225			–			1,487			1,756
Additions – ROU		–			22			177			–			–			199
Disposals		(3	)		(5	)		(84	)		–			–			(92	)
Transfers		108			145			932			110			(1,295	)		–
Foreign currency translation and other		(4	)		(37	)		(14	)		5			6			(44	)
Depreciation		(36	)		(187	)		(1,004	)		(77	)		–			(1,304	)
Depreciation – ROU		(2	)		(46	)		(186	)		–			–			(234	)
Impairment		–			–			(52	)		–			–			(52	)

Carrying amount – December 31, 2019		1,160			6,409			10,641			747			1,378			20,335

Balance – December 31, 2019 comprised of:
Cost		1,474			8,207			18,548			2,068			1,378			31,675
Accumulated depreciation and impairments		(314	)		(1,798	)		(7,907	)		(1,321	)		–			(11,340	)

Carrying amount – December 31, 2019		1,160			6,409			10,641			747			1,378			20,335

Balance – December 31, 2019 comprised of:
Owned property, plant and equipment		1,117			6,065			9,973			747			1,378			19,280
ROU assets		43			344			668			–			–			1,055

Carrying amount – December 31, 2019		1,160			6,409			10,641			747			1,378			20,335

Carrying amount – December 31, 2017		612			4,184			6,744			979			452			12,971
Merger impact (Note 4)		396			2,695			4,042			–			326			7,459
Other acquisitions		10			31			66			–			–			107
Additions		41			61			327			42			975			1,446
Disposals		(3	)		(14	)		(30	)		–			–			(47	)
Transfers		10			30			538			18			(596	)		–
Foreign currency translation and other		(9	)		28			(21	)		10			(14	)		(6	)
Depreciation		(33	)		(195	)		(1,032	)		(65	)		–			(1,325	)
Impairment		(6	)		(776	)		(752	)		(275	)		–			(1,809	)

Carrying amount – December 31, 2018		1,018			6,044			9,882			709			1,143			18,796

Balance – December 31, 2018 comprised of:
Cost		1,294			7,617			16,806			1,954			1,143			28,814
Accumulated depreciation and impairments		(276	)		(1,573	)		(6,924	)		(1,245	)		–			(10,018	)

Carrying amount – December 31, 2018		1,018			6,044			9,882			709			1,143			18,796


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			107


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 15 Property, Plant and Equipment Continued

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment was included in the following:


	2019		2018
Freight, transportation and distribution		137		15
Cost of goods sold		1,008		1,016
Selling expenses		344		259
General and administrative expenses		40		35

		1,529		1,325
Depreciation recorded in inventory		161		108

		1,690		1,433

After a strategic portfolio review was completed in 2018, we determined the New Brunswick Potash operations would no longer be part of our medium-term or long-term strategic plans. The decision was considered a significant change in the expected manner of use and the related assets were moved from the Potash cash-generating unit (“CGU”) to the New Brunswick CGU, which was then assessed for impairment. The estimated recoverable amount of the New Brunswick CGU,

based on fair value less costs of disposal (“FVLCD”), was $50 resulting in an impairment loss of $1,809 ($1,320 net of tax) being recorded in the Potash segment. The estimated recoverable amount was determined to be the salvage value of the assets based on the estimated fair market value of similar used assets and past experience, a Level 3 fair value measurement. There were no reversals of impairment in 2019 or 2018.

LOGO


108		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 16 Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Accounting Policies, Estimates and Judgments

Goodwill is carried at cost, is not amortized, and represents the excess of the cost of an acquisition over the fair value of the Company’s share of the net identifiable assets of the acquired subsidiary at the date of acquisition. Other intangible assets are generally measured at cost less accumulated amortization and any accumulated impairment losses.

Goodwill is allocated to CGUs or groups of CGUs for impairment testing based on the level at which it is monitored by management, and not at a level higher than an operating

segment. The allocation is made to those CGUs or groups of CGUs expected to benefit from the business combination in which the goodwill arose.

Judgment is applied in determining when expenditures are eligible for capitalization as intangible assets.

Estimation is applied to determine expected useful lives used in the straight-line amortization of intangible assets with finite lives. Useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at least annually.

Supporting Information


				Other Intangibles
	Goodwill			Customer Relationships ²			Technology			Trade Names			Other			Total
Useful life range (years)		n/a			3 – 15			3 – 30			10 – 20	³		1 – 20

Carrying amount – December 31, 2018		11,431			1,554			117			90			449			2,210
Acquisitions (Note 4)		543			173			43			13			115			344
Additions – internally developed		–			–			197			–			2			199
Foreign currency translation and other		12			2			9			18			(25	)		4
Impairment		–			–			–			(35	)		(33	)		(68	)
Amortization ¹		–			(145	)		(15	)		(24	)		(77	)		(261	)

Carrying amount – December 31, 2019		11,986			1,584			351			62			431			2,428

Balance – December 31, 2019 comprised of:
Cost		11,993			1,906			429			92			597			3,024
Accumulated amortization and impairment		(7	)		(322	)		(78	)		(30	)		(166	)		(596	)

Carrying amount – December 31, 2019		11,986			1,584			351			62			431			2,428

Carrying amount – December 31, 2017		97			–			–			–			69			69
Merger impact (Note 4)		11,185			1,708			44			122			474			2,348
Other acquisitions (Note 4)		197			1			–			–			7			8
Additions – internally developed		–			–			79			–			19			98
Disposals		–			–			–			–			(27	)		(27	)
Foreign currency translation and other		(48	)		(20	)		1			(4	)		(6	)		(29	)
Amortization ¹		–			(135	)		(7	)		(28	)		(87	)		(257	)

Carrying amount – December 31, 2018		11,431			1,554			117			90			449			2,210

Balance – December 31, 2018 comprised of:
Cost		11,438			1,691			124			118			586			2,519
Accumulated amortization		(7	)		(137	)		(7	)		(28	)		(137	)		(309	)

Carrying amount – December 31, 2018		11,431			1,554			117			90			449			2,210

¹	Amortization of $234 was included in selling expenses during the year ended December 31, 2019 (2018 – $225).

²	The remaining amortization period of customer relationships at December 31, 2019, was approximately 7 years.

³	Certain trade names have indefinite useful lives as there are no regulatory, legal, contractual, cooperative, economic or other factors that limit their useful lives.


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			109


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 16 Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Continued

Goodwill Impairment Testing

LOGO

We performed our annual impairment test on goodwill during the fourth quarter and did not identify any impairment, however the recoverable amount for Retail – North America did not substantially exceed its carrying amount.

In testing for impairment of goodwill, we calculate the recoverable amount for groups of CGUs containing goodwill. We used the FVLCD methodology based on after-tax discounted cash flows (five-year projections and a terminal year thereafter) and incorporated assumptions an independent market participant would apply. We adjusted discount rates for each group of CGUs for the risk associated with achieving our

forecasts (five-year projections) and for the currency in which we expect to generate cash flows. FVLCD is a Level 3 measurement. We use our market capitalization and comparative market multiples to corroborate discounted cash flow results.

The key assumptions with the greatest influence on the calculation of the recoverable amounts are the discount rates, terminal growth rates and cash flow forecasts. The key forecast assumptions were based on historical data and estimates of future results from internal sources as well as industry and market trends.

For each group of CGUs, terminal growth rates and discount rates used were as follows:


	Terminal Growth Rate (%)		Discount Rate (%)
Retail – North America		2.5		7.0
Retail – International¹		2.0		7.5 - 15.0
Potash		2.5		8.0
Nitrogen		2.0		9.0

¹	The discount rates reflect the country risk premium and size for our international groups of CGUs.


110		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 16 Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Continued

The Retail – North America group of CGUs recoverable amount exceeds its carrying amount by $794 which is 6% of the recoverable amount. As a result of the Merger, the non-cash fair value adjustment to the Retail — North America goodwill was $4,284. Goodwill is more susceptible to impairment risk if business operating results or economic conditions deteriorate and we do not meet our forecasts. A reduction in the terminal growth rate, an increase in the discount rate or a decrease in forecasted cash flows could cause material impairment in the future. The following table indicates the percentage by which key assumptions would need to change individually for the estimated Retail — North America recoverable amount to be equal to the carrying amount:


Key Assumptions	Change Required for Carrying Amount to Equal Recoverable Amount (%)		Value Used in Impairment Model
Terminal growth rate		(0.3)		2.5	%
Forecasted EBITDA over forecast period		(4.1)		6,128
Discount rate		0.2		7.0	%

Note 17 Investments

We hold interests in associates and joint ventures, the most significant being Canpotex, MOPCO and Profertil. Our most significant investment accounted for as FVTOCI is Sinofert.

Accounting Policies, Estimates and Judgments

Investments in Equity-Accounted Investees

Investments in which we exercise significant influence (but do not control) or have joint control (as joint ventures) are accounted for using the equity method. Significant influence is the power to participate in the financial and operating policy decisions of the investee, commonly referred to as an associate.

We recognize profits on sales to Canpotex when there is a transfer of control, either at the time the product is loaded for shipping or delivered, depending on the terms of the contract.

Investments at FVTOCI

The fair value of investments designated as FVTOCI is recorded in the consolidated balance sheets, with unrealized gains and losses, net of related income taxes, recorded in AOCI.

Our significant policies include the following:

•

the cost of investments sold is based on the weighted average method, and

•

unrealized gains and losses on these investments remain in OCI until the time of sale or disposal when it is transferred to retained earnings.

Investments in Equity-Accounted Investees and Investments at FVTOCI

We continuously assess our ability to exercise significant influence or joint control over our investments. Our 22 percent ownership in Sinofert does not constitute significant influence as we do not have any representation on the Board of Directors of Sinofert.

We have representation on the MOPCO Board of Directors providing significant influence over MOPCO. We recorded our share of MOPCO’s earnings on a one-quarter lag, adjusted for any material transactions for the current quarter, as the financial statements of MOPCO are not available on the date of issuance of our consolidated financial statements.

We elected to account for our investment in Sinofert as FVTOCI as it is held for strategic purposes.


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			111


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 17 Investments Continued

Supporting Information

Equity-accounted investees and investments at FVTOCI as at December 31 were comprised of:

Principal Activity

Principal Place
of Business and
Incorporation

Proportion of Ownership Interest
and Voting Rights Held (%)

Carrying Amount

Name

2019

2018

2019

2018

Equity-accounted investees

MOPCO

Nitrogen Producer

Egypt

270

236

Profertil

Nitrogen Producer

Argentina

212

192

Canpotex

Marketing and Logistics

Canada

–

Agrichem ¹

Fertilizer Producer and Marketer

Brazil

100

–

103

Other associates and joint ventures

178

161

Total equity-accounted investees

660

692

Investments at FVTOCI

Sinofert

Fertilizer Supplier and Distributor

China/Bermuda

161

180

Other

–

Total investments at FVTOCI

161

186

¹	During 2019, we acquired the remaining 20 percent interest in Agrichem making it a wholly owned consolidated subsidiary, as described in Note 4, and as a result ceased equity accounting. Prior to this acquisition, we had joint control with the other shareholder of Agrichem.

Future conditions, including those related to MOPCO and Profertil, are subject to variability due to political instability and civil unrest. We are exposed to foreign exchange risk related to fluctuations in the Egyptian pound and Argentine peso against the US dollar. This may also restrict our ability to obtain dividends from Profertil.

Additional financial information on our proportionate interest in equity-accounted investees for the years ended December 31 was as follows:


	Associates				Joint Ventures
	2019		2018		2019		2018
Earnings from continuing operations and net earnings		34		24		32		16
Other comprehensive income		6		–		–		–

Total comprehensive income		40		24		32		16


112		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 18 Other Assets

Other assets as at December 31 were comprised of:


	2019		2018
Deferred income tax assets (Note 9)		249		216
Ammonia catalysts – net of accumulated amortization of $71 (2018 – $79)		89		81
Long-term income tax receivable (Note 9)		36		36
Accrued pension benefit asset (Note 23)		25		27
Other – net of accumulated amortization of $41 (2018 – $38)		165		165

		564		525

Note 19 Short-Term Debt

We use our $4.5 billion commercial paper program for our short-term cash requirements. The commercial paper program is backstopped by the $4.5 billion unsecured revolving term credit facility (“Nutrien Credit Facility”). Short-term facilities are renegotiated periodically.

Short-term debt as at December 31 was comprised of:


	Rate of Interest (%)		2019		2018
Commercial paper		2.0 – 2.1		650		391
Other credit facilities ¹		0.8 – 10.4		326		238

				976		629

Credit facilities are unsecured and consist of South American facilities with debt of $149 (2018 – $216) and interest rates ranging from 3.00 percent to 10.38 percent, Australia facilities with debt of $157 (2018 – $Nil) and interest rates ranging from 0.75 percent to 2.09 percent, and Other facilities with debt of $20 (2018 – $22) and interest rates ranging from 1.64 percent to 2.50 percent.

The amount available under the commercial paper program is limited to the availability of backup funds under the Nutrien Credit Facility. As at December 31, 2019, we were authorized to issue commercial paper up to $4,500 (2018 – $4,500). Principal covenants and events of default under the Nutrien Credit Facility include a debt to capital ratio of less than or equal to 0.65:1 and other customary events of default and covenant provisions. Non-compliance with such covenants

could result in accelerated repayment and/or termination of the credit facility. We were in compliance with all covenants as at December 31, 2019.

We also had other facilities available from which we could draw short-term debt, including a $500 uncommitted revolving demand facility and $820 of other facilities mostly denominated in foreign currencies. Our $500 accounts receivable securitization program was terminated in 2019.


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			113


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 20 Long-Term Debt

We source our borrowings for funding purposes primarily through notes, debentures and long-term credit facilities. We have access to the capital markets through our base shelf prospectus.

Supporting Information

Long-term debt as at December 31 was comprised of:


	Rate of Interest (%)		Maturity		2019		2018
Notes¹
		6.750		January 15, 2019		–		500
		6.500		May 15, 2019		–		500
		4.875		March 30, 2020		500		500
		3.150		October 1, 2022		500		500
		3.500		June 1, 2023		500		500
		3.625		March 15, 2024		750		750
		3.375		March 15, 2025		550		550
		3.000		April 1, 2025		500		500
		4.000		December 15, 2026		500		500
		4.200		April 1, 2029		750		–
		4.125		March 15, 2035		450		450
		7.125		May 23, 2036		300		300
		5.875		December 1, 2036		500		500
		5.625		December 1, 2040		500		500
		6.125		January 15, 2041		500		500
		4.900		June 1, 2043		500		500
		5.250		January 15, 2045		500		500
		5.000		April 1, 2049		750		–
Debentures ¹		7.800		February 1, 2027		125		125
Other						33		10

						8,708		8,185
Add net unamortized fair value adjustments						424		444
Less net unamortized debt issue costs						(77)		(55)

						9,055		8,574
Less current maturities						(508)		(1,000)
Less current portion of net unamortized fair value adjustments						–		(1)
Add current portion of net unamortized debt issue costs						6		6

						(502)		(995)

						8,553		7,579

¹	Each series of notes and debentures is unsecured and has no sinking fund requirements prior to maturity. Each series is redeemable and has various provisions that allow redemption prior to maturity, at our option, at specified prices.

We are subject to certain customary covenants including limitation on liens, merger and change of control covenants, and customary events of default. We were in compliance with these covenants as at December 31, 2019.


114		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 20 Long-Term Debt Continued

The following is a summary of changes in liabilities arising from financing activities:


	Short-Term Debt and Current Portion of Long-Term Debt ¹			Current Portion of Lease Liabilities			Long-Term Debt			Lease Liabilities			Total



Balance – December 31, 2018		1,624			8			7,579			12			9,223
Adoption of IFRS 16 (Note 15)		–			196			–			863			1,059
Debt acquired (Note 4)		145			20			3			91			259
Cash flows ¹		(794	)		(184	)		1,461			75			558
Reclassifications		500			178			(500	)		(178	)		–
Foreign currency translation and other non-cash changes		3			(4	)		10			(4	)		5

Balance – December 31, 2019		1,478			214			8,553			859			11,104

Balance – December 31, 2017		730			–			3,711			–			4,441
Debt acquired in Merger (Note 4)		870			8			4,918			12			5,808
Cash flows ¹		(927	)		–			(12	)		–			(939)
Reclassifications		1,023			–			(1,023	)		–			–
Foreign currency translation and other non-cash changes		(72	)		–			(15	)		–			(87)

Balance – December 31, 2018		1,624			8			7,579			12			9,223

¹	Cash inflows and cash outflows are presented on a net basis.

Note 21 Lease Liabilities

We adopted IFRS 16, “Leases” as of January 1, 2019. See Note 15 and 31 for the respective accounting policies, estimates and judgments.


	Rate of Interest (%)		2019		2018
Lease liabilities		3.35		859		12
Current portion of lease liabilities		3.06		214		8

Total				1,073		20


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			115


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 22 Payables and Accrued Charges

Payables and accrued charges consist primarily of amounts we owe to suppliers and prepayments made by customers planning to purchase our products for the upcoming growing season.

Payables and accrued charges as at December 31 were comprised of:


	2019		2018
Trade accounts		4,016		3,053
Customer prepayments		1,693		1,625
Dividends		258		526
Accrued compensation		434		425
Current portion of asset retirement obligations and accrued environmental costs (Note 24)		148		156
Accrued interest		103		105
Current portion of share-based compensation (Note 6)		118		87
Current portion of derivatives		13		45
Income taxes (Note 9)		43		47
Current portion of pension and other post-retirement benefits (Note 23)		15		13
Other payables and other accrued charges		596		621

		7,437		6,703

Note 23 Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefits

We offer the following pension and other post-retirement benefits to qualified employees: defined benefit pension plans; defined contribution pension plans; and health, disability, dental and life insurance (referred to as other defined benefit) plans. Substantially all our employees participate in at least one of these plans.

Accounting Policies, Estimates and Judgments

For employee retirement and other defined benefit plans

•

accrued liabilities are recorded net of plan assets;

•

costs including current and past service costs, gains or losses on curtailments and settlements, and remeasurements are actuarially determined on a regular basis using the projected unit credit method; and

•

past service cost is recognized in net earnings at the earlier of i) when a plan amendment or curtailment occurs; or ii) when related restructuring costs or termination benefits are recognized.

Remeasurements, recognized directly in OCI in the period they occur, are comprised of actuarial gains and losses, return on plan assets (excluding amounts included in net interest) and the effect of the asset ceiling (if applicable).

When a plan amendment occurs before a settlement, we recognize past service cost before any gain or loss on settlement.

Defined contribution plan costs are recognized in net earnings for services rendered by employees during the period.


116		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 23 Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefits Continued

Estimates and judgments are required to determine discount rates, health care cost trend rates, projected salary increases, retirement age, longevity and termination rates. These assumptions are determined by management and are reviewed annually by our independent actuaries.

Our discount rate assumptions are impacted by:

•

the weighted average interest rate at which each pension and other post-retirement plan liability could be effectively settled at the measurement date;

•

country specific rates; and

•

the use of a yield curve approach based on the respective plans’ demographics, expected future pension benefits and medical claims, payments are measured and discounted to determine the present value of the expected future cash flows. The cash flows are discounted using yields on high-quality AA-rated non-callable bonds with cash flows of similar timing where there is a deep market for such bonds. Where we do not believe there is a deep market for such bonds (such as for terms in excess of 10 years in Canada), the cash flows are discounted using a yield curve derived from yields on provincial bonds rated AA or better to which a spread adjustment is added to reflect the additional risk of corporate bonds.

Supporting Information

The significant assumptions used to determine the benefit obligations and expense for our significant plans as at and for the year ended December 31 were as follows:


	Pension				Other
	2019		2018		2019			2018
Assumptions used to determine the benefit obligations ¹:
Discount rate (%)		3.35		4.22		3.20			4.17
Rate of increase in compensation levels (%)		4.66		4.75		n/a			n/a
Medical cost trend rate – assumed (%)		n/a		n/a		4.50 – 6.10	²		4.50 – 6.10	²
Medical cost trend rate – year reaches ultimate trend rate		n/a		n/a		2037			2037
Mortality assumptions (years) ³
Life expectancy at 65 for a male member currently at age 65		20.5		20.6		20.3			20.4
Life expectancy at 65 for a female member currently at age 65		22.7		22.8		22.9			22.8
Average duration of the defined benefit obligations ⁴ (years)		14.61		13.7		15.8			15.1

¹	The current year’s expense is determined using the assumptions that existed at the end of the previous year.

²	We assumed a graded medical cost trend rate starting at 6.10 percent in 2019, moving to 4.50 percent by 2037 (2018 – starting at 6.10 percent, moving to 4.50 percent by 2037).

³	Based on actuarial advice in accordance with the latest available published tables, adjusted where appropriate to reflect future longevity improvements for each country.

⁴	Weighted average length of the underlying cash flows.

n/a	= not applicable

Of the most significant assumptions, a change in discount rates has the greatest potential impact on our pension and other post-retirement benefit plans, with sensitivity to change as follows:


		2019					2018
	Change in Assumption	Benefit Obligations		Expense in Earnings Before Income Taxes			Benefit Obligations		Recovery in Loss Before Income Taxes
As reported			2,044		71			1,797		(87)

Discount rate	1.0 percentage point decrease		335		9			271		24
	1.0 percentage point increase		(268)		(11	)		(218)		(22)


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			117


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 23 Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefits Continued

Description of Defined Benefit Pension Plans

We sponsor defined benefit pension plans as follows:


	Plan Type	Contributions
United States	• non-contributory, • guaranteed annual pension payments for life, • benefits generally depend on years of service and compensation level in the final years leading up to age 65,	• made to meet or exceed minimum funding requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and associated Internal Revenue Service regulations and procedures.

Canada	• benefits available starting at age 55 at a reduced rate, and • plans provide for maximum pensionable salary and maximum annual benefit limits.	• made to meet or exceed minimum funding requirements based on provincial statutory requirements and associated federal taxation rules.

Supplemental Plans in US and Canada for Senior Management	• non-contributory, • unfunded, and • supplementary pension benefits.	• provided for by charges to earnings sufficient to meet the projected benefit obligations, and • payments to plans are made as plan payments to retirees occur.

Our defined benefit pension plans are funded with separate funds that are legally separated from the Company and administered through an employee benefits or management committee in each country, which is composed of our employees. The employee benefits or management committee is required by law to act in the best interests of the plan participants and, in the US and Canada, is responsible for the governance of the plans, including setting certain policies

(e.g., investment and contribution) of the funds. The current investment policy for each country’s plans generally does not include any asset/liability matching strategies or currency hedging strategies. Plan assets held in trusts are governed by local regulations and practice in each country, as is the nature of the relationship between the Company and the trustees and their composition.


118		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 23 Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefits Continued

Description of Other Post-Retirement Plans

We provide health care plans for certain eligible retired employees in the US, Canada and Trinidad. Eligibility for these benefits is generally based on a combination of age and years of service at retirement. Certain terms of the plans include:

•

coordination with government-provided medical insurance in each country;

•

certain unfunded cost-sharing features such as co-insurance, deductibles and co-payments – benefits subject to change;

•

for certain plans, maximum lifetime benefits;

•

at retirement, the employee’s spouse and certain dependent children may be eligible for coverage;

•

benefits are self-insured and are administered through third-party providers; and

•

generally, retirees contribute towards annual cost of the plans.

We provide non-contributory life insurance plans for certain retired employees who meet specific age and service eligibility requirements.

Risks

The defined benefit pension and other post-retirement plans expose us to broadly similar actuarial risks. The most significant risks include investment risk and interest rate risk as discussed below. Other risks include longevity risk and salary risk.



Investment Risk		A deficit will be created if plan assets underperform the discount rate used in the defined benefit obligation valuation. To mitigate investment risk, we employ:

		• a total return on investment approach whereby a diversified mix of equities and fixed income investments is used to maximize long-term return for a prudent level of risk; and • risk tolerance established through careful consideration of plan liabilities, plan funded status and corporate financial condition.

		Other assets such as private equity and hedge funds are not used at this time. Our policy is not to invest in commodities, precious metals, mineral rights, bullions, or collectibles. Investment risk is measured and monitored on an ongoing basis through quarterly investment portfolio reviews, annual liability measurements and periodic asset/liability studies.

Interest Rate Risk		A decrease in bond interest rates will increase the pension liability; however, this is generally expected to be partially offset by an increase in the return on the plan’s debt investments.


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			119


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 23 Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefits Continued

Financial Information

Movements in the pension and other post-retirement benefit assets (liabilities)


	2019						2018
	Obligation		Plan Assets		Net		Obligation		Plan Assets		Net
Balance – beginning of year		(1,797)		1,416		(381)		(1,831)		1,380		(451)
Merger impact ¹		–		–		–		(347)		205		(142)
Components of defined benefit expense recognized in earnings
Current service cost for benefits earned during the year		(40)		–		(40)		(67)		–		(67)
Interest (expense) income		(74)		59		(15)		(77)		62		(15)
Past service cost, including curtailment gains and settlements ²		–		–		–		157		–		157
Foreign exchange rate changes and other		(29)		13		(16)		39		(27)		12

Subtotal of components of defined benefit (expense) recovery recognized in earnings		(143)		72		(71)		52		35		87

Remeasurements of the net defined benefit liability recognized in OCI during the year
Actuarial gain arising from:
Changes in financial assumptions		(199)		–		(199)		210		–		210
Changes in demographic assumptions		14		–		14		11		–		11
Loss on plan assets (excluding amounts included in net interest)		–		193		193		–		(149)		(149)

Subtotal of remeasurements		(185)		193		8		221		(149)		72

Cash flows
Contributions by plan participants		(5)		5		–		(6)		6		–
Employer contributions		–		21		21		–		53		53
Benefits paid		86		(86)		–		114		(114)		–

Subtotal of cash flows		81		(60)		21		108		(55)		53

Balance – end of year ³		(2,044)		1,621		(423)		(1,797)		1,416		(381)

Balance comprised of:
Non-current assets
Other assets (Note 18)						25						27
Current liabilities
Payables and accrued charges (Note 22)						(15)						(13)
Non-current liabilities
Pension and other post-retirement benefit liabilities						(433)						(395)

¹	We acquired Agrium’s pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations, representing the fair values at the acquisition date as described in Note 4.

In 2018, as part of our continuous assessment of our operations, participation (based on age and years of service) in certain company defined benefit pension and other post-retirement benefit plans was suspended and/or discontinued effective January 1, 2020. As a result, we recognized a Merger-related Defined Benefit Plans Curtailment Gain of $157.

³	Obligations arising from funded and unfunded pension plans are $(1,652) and $(392), respectively (2018 – $(1,466) and $(331)). Other post-retirement benefit plans have no plan assets and are unfunded.


120		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 23 Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefits Continued

Plan Assets

As at December 31, the fair value of plan assets of our defined benefit pension plans, by asset category, were as follows:


	2019						2018
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets		Other ¹		Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets		Other		Total
Cash and cash equivalents		8		112		120		6		54		60
Equity securities and equity funds
US		1		571		572		454		65		519
International		35		62		97		175		65		240
Debt securities ²		–		698		698		187		329		516
International balanced fund		–		112		112		–		97		97
Other		–		22		22		(25)		9		(16	)

Total pension plan assets		44		1,577		1,621		797		619		1,416

¹	Approximately 60% of the Other plan assets are held in funds whose fair values are estimated as a practical expedient using their net asset value per share. The redemption frequency of these funds is immediate and no notice period is required.

²	Debt securities included US securities of 82 percent (2018 – 52 percent), International securities of 18 percent (2018 – 31 percent) and Mortgage-backed securities of Nil percent (2018 – 17 percent).

Letters of credit secured certain of our Canadian unfunded defined benefit plan liabilities as at December 31, 2019.

We expect to contribute approximately $95 to all pension and post-retirement plans during 2020. Total contributions recognized as expense under all defined contribution plans for 2019 was $88 (2018 – $75).

Note 24 Asset Retirement Obligations and Accrued Environmental Costs

A provision is an estimated liability with uncertainty over the timing or amount that will be paid. The most significant asset retirement and environmental remediation provisions relate to costs to restore potash and phosphate sites to their original, or another specified, condition.

Accounting Policies, Estimates and Judgments

Provisions are:

•

measured at the present value of the cash flow expected to be required to settle the obligation; and

•

reviewed at the end of each reporting period for any changes, including the discount rate, foreign exchange rate and amount or timing of the underlying cash flows, and adjusted against the carrying amount of the provision and any related asset; otherwise, it is recognized in net earnings.

As a result of the Merger, we recognized contingent liabilities, which represent additional environmental costs that are present obligations although cash outflows of resources are not probable. These contingent liabilities are subsequently measured at the higher of the amount initially recognized and the best estimate of the discounted underlying cash flows.

Asset retirement obligations and accrued environmental costs include:

•

reclamation and restoration costs at our potash and phosphate mining operations, including management of materials generated by mining and mineral processing, such as various mine tailings and gypsum;

•

land reclamation and revegetation programs;

•

decommissioning of underground and surface operating facilities;

•

general cleanup activities aimed at returning the areas to an environmentally acceptable condition; and

•

post-closure care and maintenance.


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			121


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 24 Asset Retirement Obligations and Accrued Environmental Costs Continued

Estimates for provisions take into account the following:

•

most provisions will not be settled for a number of years;

•

environmental laws and regulations and interpretations by regulatory authorities could change or circumstances affecting our operations could change, either of which could result in significant changes to current plans; and

•

the nature, extent and timing of current and proposed reclamation and closure techniques in view of present environmental laws and regulations.

It is reasonably possible that the ultimate costs could change in the future and that changes to these estimates could have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

We use appropriate technical resources, including outside consultants, to develop specific site closure and post-closure plans in accordance with the requirements of the various jurisdictions in which we operate. Other than certain land reclamation programs, settlement of the obligations is typically correlated with mine life estimates.

Supporting Information

The pre-tax risk-free discount rate, expected cash flow payments and sensitivity to changes in the discount rate on the recorded liability for asset retirement obligations and accrued environmental costs at December 31, 2019 were as follows:


									Discount Rate
	Risk-Free Rate (%) ¹		Cash Flow Payments (years)²		Undiscounted Cash Flows		Discounted Cash Flows		+0.5%			-0.5%
Asset retirement obligations										(81	)		87
Retail		2.08 – 2.81		1 – 30		11		10
Potash		5.00		40 – 442		650 ³		70
Phosphate		2.93 – 3.19		1 – 81		853		495
Corporate and Other^4,5		1.22 – 6.50		1 – 483		864		675
Accrued environmental costs										(14	)		17
Retail		1.92 – 4.27		1 – 30		77		72
Corporate and Other		1.47 – 3.02		1 – 28		563		467

¹	Risk-free discount rates reflect current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the timing and jurisdiction of the obligation.

²	Time frame in which payments are expected to principally occur from December 31, 2019. Changes in years can result from changes to the mine life and/or changes in the rate of tailing volumes.

Represents total undiscounted cash flows in the first year of decommissioning. This excludes subsequent years of tailings dissolution, fine tails capping, tailings management area reclamation, post reclamation activities and monitoring, and final decommissioning, which are estimated to take an additional 92 to 401 years.

⁴

For nitrogen sites, we have not recorded any asset retirement obligations because no significant asset retirement obligations have been identified or there is no reasonable basis for estimating a date or range of dates of cessation of operations. We considered the historical performance of our facilities as well as our planned maintenance, major upgrades and replacements which can extend the useful lives of our facilities indefinitely.

⁵	Includes certain potash and phosphate sites that are non-operating sites, with the majority of phosphate site payments taking place over the next 81 years.

Following is a reconciliation of asset retirement obligations and accrued environmental costs:


	Asset Retirement Obligations		Accrued Environmental Costs		Total
Balance – December 31, 2018		1,295		534		1,829
Recorded in earnings		39		17		56
Capitalized to property, plant and equipment		5		–		5
Settled during the year		(103)		(16)		(119)
Foreign currency translation and other		18		9		27

Balance – December 31, 2019		1,254		544		1,798

Balance – December 31, 2019 comprised of:
Current liabilities
Payables and accrued charges (Note 22)		123		25		148
Non-current liabilities
Asset retirement obligations and accrued environmental costs		1,131		519		1,650


122		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 24 Asset Retirement Obligations and Accrued Environmental Costs Continued

We are subject to numerous environmental requirements under federal, provincial, state and local laws in the countries in which we operate. We have gypsum stack capping, closure and post-closure obligations through our subsidiaries, PCS Phosphate Company, Inc. in White Springs, Florida and PCS

Nitrogen Inc. in Geismar, Louisiana pursuant to the financial assurance regulatory requirements in those states. The recorded provisions may not necessarily reflect our obligations under these financial assurances.

Note 25 Share Capital

Authorized

We are authorized to issue an unlimited number of common shares without par value and an unlimited number of preferred shares. The common shares are not redeemable or convertible. The preferred shares may be issued in one or more series with rights and conditions to be determined by the Board of Directors.

Issued


	Number of Common Shares		Share Capital
Balance – December 31, 2018		608,535,477		16,740
Issued under option plans and share-settled plans		474,655		23
Repurchased		(36,067,323)		(992)

Balance – December 31, 2019		572,942,809		15,771

Share repurchase programs


	Board of Directors Approval	Expiry	Maximum Shares for Repurchase
2018 Normal Course Issuer Bid¹	February 20, 2018	February 22, 2019		50,363,686
2019 Normal Course Issuer Bid²	February 20, 2019	February 26, 2020		42,164,420

¹	On December 14, 2018, the normal course issuer bid was increased to permit the repurchase of up to approximately 8 percent of our outstanding common shares for cancellation.

On December 2, 2019, the normal course issuer bid was increased to permit the repurchase of up to 7 percent of our outstanding common shares for cancellation. Purchases of common shares can expire earlier than the date above if the maximum number of common shares allowable is acquired earlier or we 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 repurchases:


	2019		2018
Common shares repurchased for cancellation		36,067,323		36,332,197
Average price per share		52.07		50.97
Total cost		1,878		1,852

As of February 19, 2020, an additional 2,214,780 common shares were repurchased for cancellation at a cost of $95 and an average price per share of $42.84.

Dividends declared

Dividends declared for the years ended December 31 were as follows:


	2019			2018
Declared	Per Share		Declared	Per Share
May 10, 2019		0.43	February 20, 2018		0.40
July 30, 2019		0.45	May 23, 2018		0.40
December 13, 2019		0.45	July 19, 2018		0.40
			November 5, 2018		0.43
			December 14, 2018		0.43

		1.33			2.06

Subsequent to year-end, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.45 per share payable on April 16, 2020 to shareholders of record on March 31, 2020. The total estimated dividend to be paid is $257.


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			123


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 26 Capital Management

The objective of our capital allocation policy is to balance the return of capital to our shareholders, improvements in the efficiency of our existing assets, and delivery on our growth opportunities, while maintaining a strong balance sheet and flexible capital structure to optimize the cost of capital at an acceptable level of risk. Our goal is to pay a stable and growing dividend with a target payout that represents 40 to 60 percent of free cash flow after sustaining capital through the agricultural cycle.

We monitor our capital structure and, based on changes in economic conditions, may adjust the structure by adjusting the amount of dividends paid to shareholders, repurchasing shares, issuing new shares, issuing new debt or retiring existing debt.

We use a combination of short-term and long-term debt to finance our operations. We typically pay floating rates of interest on short-term debt and credit facilities, and fixed rates on notes and debentures.

Adjusted net debt and adjusted shareholders’ equity are included as components of our capital structure. The calculation of adjusted net debt, adjusted shareholders’ equity and adjusted capital are set out in the following table:


	2019		2018
Short-term debt		976		629
Current portion of long-term debt		502		995
Current portion of lease liabilities		214		8
Long-term debt		8,553		7,579
Lease liabilities		859		12

Total debt		11,104		9,223
Cash and cash equivalents		(671)		(2,314)

Net debt		10,433		6,909
Unamortized fair value adjustments		(424)		(444)

Adjusted net debt		10,009		6,465

Total shareholders’ equity		22,869		24,425
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		251		291

Adjusted shareholders’ equity		23,120		24,716

Adjusted capital		33,129		31,181

We monitor the following ratios:


	2019		2018
Adjusted net debt to adjusted EBITDA		2.5		1.6
Adjusted EBITDA to adjusted finance costs		8.0		8.1
Adjusted net debt to adjusted capital (%)		30.2		20.7

LOGO


124		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 26 Capital Management Continued

Other components of ratios above are calculated as follows:


	2019		2018
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations		992		(31)
Finance costs		554		538
Income tax expense (recovery)		316		(93)
Depreciation and amortization		1,799		1,592

EBITDA		3,661		2,006
Impairment of assets		120		1,809
Merger and related costs		82		170
Acquisition and integration related costs		16		–
Share-based compensation		104		116
Foreign exchange loss (gain), net of derivatives		42		(10)
Defined Benefit Plans Curtailment Gain		–		(157)

Adjusted EBITDA		4,025		3,934


	2019		2018
Finance costs		554		538
Unwinding of discount on asset retirement obligations		(54)		(51)
Borrowing costs capitalized to property, plant and equipment		18		12
Interest on net defined benefit pension and other post-retirement plan obligations		(15)		(15)

Adjusted finance costs		503		484

We maintain a base shelf prospectus, which permits issuance through April 2020 in Canada and the US, of common shares, debt, and other securities up to $11,000. Issuance of securities under the base shelf prospectus requires filing a prospectus

supplement and is subject to the availability of funding in capital markets. During the year ended December 31, 2019, we filed a prospectus supplement to issue $1,500 of notes, as discussed in Note 20.

Note 27 Commitments

A commitment is a legally binding and enforceable agreement to purchase goods or services in the future. The amounts below reflect our commitments based on current expected contract prices.

Refer to Note 31 for details pertaining to the impact of the adoption of IFRS 16 in 2019 and Note 15 for the discussion related to the accounting policies, estimates and judgments.

Supporting Information

Minimum future commitments under these contractual arrangements were as follows at December 31, 2019:


	Lease Liabilities¹		Long-Term Debt¹		Purchase Commitments		Capital Commitments		Other Commitments		Total
Within 1 year		249		894		877		43		118		2,181
1 to 3 years		364		1,268		766		7		137		2,542
3 to 5 years		234		1,923		438		–		58		2,653
Over 5 years		455		10,307		209		–		124		11,095

Total		1,302		14,392		2,290		50		437		18,471

¹	Includes principal portion and estimated interest.


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			125


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 27 Commitments Continued

Purchase Commitments

In 2018, we entered into a new long-term natural gas purchase agreement in Trinidad, that began January 1, 2019 and is set to expire December 31, 2023. The contract provides for prices that vary primarily with ammonia market prices, and annual escalating floor prices. The commitments included in the foregoing table are based on floor prices and minimum purchase quantities.

Profertil has long-term gas contracts denominated in US dollars which expire in 2021, which account for virtually all of Profertil’s gas requirements. YPF S.A., our joint venture partner in Profertil, supplies approximately 70 percent of the gas under these contracts.

The Carseland facility has a power co-generation agreement, expiring on December 31, 2026, which provides 60 megawatt-hours of power per hour. The price for the power is based on a fixed charge adjusted for inflation and a variable charge based on the cost of natural gas provided to the facility for power generation.

Agreements for the purchase of sulfur for use in production of phosphoric acid provide for specified purchase quantities and prices based on market rates at the time of delivery. Commitments included in the foregoing table are based on expected contract prices.

As part of the agreement to sell the Conda Phosphate operations (“CPO”), we entered into long-term strategic supply and offtake agreements which extend to 2023. Under the terms of the supply and offtake agreements, we will supply 100 percent of the ammonia requirements of CPO and purchase 100 percent of the monoammonium phosphate (“MAP”) product produced at CPO. The MAP production is estimated at 330,000 tonnes per year.

Other Commitments

Other commitments consist principally of pipeline capacity, technology service contracts, throughput and various rail and vessel freight contracts, the latest of which expires in 2026, and mineral lease commitments, the latest of which expires in 2038.

Note 28 Guarantees

Accounting Policies

Guarantees are not recognized in the consolidated balance sheets, but are disclosed and include contracts or indemnifications that contingently require us to make payments to the guaranteed party based on:

•

changes in the underlying contract or indemnification;

•

another entity’s failure to perform under an agreement; and

•

failure of a third party to pay its indebtedness when due.

Supporting Information

In the normal course of business, we provide indemnification agreements to counterparties in transactions such as purchase and sale contracts, service agreements, director/officer contracts and leasing transactions. The terms of these indemnification agreements

•

may require us to compensate counterparties for costs incurred as a result of various events, including environmental liabilities and changes in (or in the interpretation of) laws and regulations, or as a result of litigation claims or statutory sanctions that may be suffered by a counterparty as a consequence of the transaction;

•

will vary based upon the contract, the nature of which prevents us from making a reasonable estimate of the

maximum potential amount that it could be required to pay to counterparties; and

•

have not historically resulted in any significant payments by Nutrien and, as at December 31, 2019, no amounts have been accrued in the consolidated financial statements (except for accruals relating to the underlying potential liabilities).

We directly guarantee certain commitments of our investee (such as railcar leases) under certain agreements with third parties. We would be required to perform on these guarantees in the event of default by the investee. No material loss is anticipated by reason of such agreements and guarantees.


126		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 29 Related Party Transactions

We transact with a number of related parties, the most significant being with our associates and joint ventures, key management personnel and post-employment benefit plans.

Supporting Information

Sale of Goods

We sell potash from our Canadian mines for use outside Canada and the US exclusively to Canpotex. Sales are at prevailing market prices and are settled on normal trade terms. Sales to Canpotex for the year ended December 31, 2019 were $1,625 (2018 – $1,657). Canpotex’s proportionate sales volumes by geographic area are shown in Note 3.

The receivable outstanding from Canpotex is shown in Note 13 and arose from sale transactions described above. It is unsecured and bears no interest. There are no provisions held against this receivable.

Receivables from equity holders of our equity-accounted investees

For certain equity holders of our other equity-accounted investees, we have provided loans which have an outstanding balance at December 31, 2019 of $1 (2018 – $Nil). There are no provisions held against these receivables.

Key Management Personnel Compensation

Compensation to key management personnel was comprised of:


	2019		2018
Salaries and other short-term benefits		15		19
Share-based compensation		31		53
Post-employment benefits		3		3
Termination benefits		12		23

		61		98

Transactions with Post-Employment Benefit Plans

Disclosures related to our post-employment benefit plans are shown in Note 23.

Note 30 Contingencies and Other Matters

Contingent liabilities, which are not recognized in the consolidated financial statements but may be disclosed, are possible obligations as a result of uncertain future events outside of our control, or present obligations not recognized because the amount cannot be sufficiently measured or payment is not probable.

Accounting Estimates and Judgments

The following judgments are required to determine our exposure to possible losses and gains related to environmental matters and other various claims and lawsuits pending:

•

prediction of the outcome of uncertain events (i.e., being virtually certain, probable, remote or undeterminable);

•

determination of whether recognition or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements is required; and

•

estimation of potential financial effects.

Where no amounts are recognized, such amounts are contingent and disclosure may be appropriate. While the amount disclosed in the consolidated financial statements may not be material, the potential for large liabilities exists and, therefore, these estimates could have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			127


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 30 Contingencies and Other Matters Continued

Supporting Information

Canpotex

Nutrien is a shareholder in Canpotex, which markets Canadian potash outside of Canada and the US. Should any operating losses or other liabilities be incurred by Canpotex, the shareholders have contractually agreed to reimburse it in proportion to each shareholder’s productive capacity. Through December 31, 2019, there were no such operating losses or other liabilities.

Mining Risk

The risk of underground water inflows and other underground risks is insured on a limited basis, subject to insurance market availability.

Legal and Other Matters

We are engaged in ongoing site assessment and/or remediation activities at a number of facilities and sites. Anticipated costs associated with these matters are added to accrued environmental costs in the manner described in Note 24.

Environmental Remediation

We have established provisions for environmental site assessment and/or remediation matters to the extent that expenses associated with those matters we consider likely to be incurred. Except for the uncertainties described below, we do not believe that our future obligations with respect to these matters are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Legal matters with significant uncertainties include the following:

•

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“US EPA”) has an ongoing enforcement initiative directed at the phosphate industry related to the scope of an exemption for mineral processing wastes under the US Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”). This initiative affects the Conda Phosphate plant previously owned by Nu-West Industries, Inc. (“Nu-West”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Agrium, and the Nutrien phosphoric acid facilities in Aurora, North Carolina; Geismar, Louisiana; and White Springs, Florida. All of these facilities received US EPA notices of violation (“NOVs”) that remain outstanding for alleged violations of RCRA and various other environmental laws. Notwithstanding the sale of the Conda Phosphate operations in January 2018, Nu-West remains responsible for environmental liabilities attributable to its historic activities and for resolution of the NOVs. All of the facilities have been and continue to be involved in ongoing discussions with the US EPA, the US Department of Justice

and the related state agencies to resolve these matters. Due to the nature of the allegations, we are uncertain as to how the matters will be resolved. Based on settlements with other members of the phosphate industry, we expect that a resolution could involve any or all of the following: 1) penalties, which we currently believe will not be material; 2) modification of certain operating practices; 3) capital improvement projects; 4) providing financial assurance for the future closure, maintenance and monitoring costs for the phosphogypsum stack system; and, 5) addressing findings resulting from RCRA section 3013 site investigations undertaken voluntarily in response to the NOVs.

•

In August 2015, the US EPA finalized amendments to the hazardous air pollutant emission standards for phosphoric acid manufacturing and phosphate fertilizer production (“Final Rule”). Required emissions testing at our Aurora facility in 2016 indicated alleged exceedances of the mercury emission limits that were established by the Final Rule. We have communicated with the relevant agencies about this issue and petitioned the US EPA to reconsider the mercury emission limits. The facility also entered into an agreed order with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality in November 2016 to resolve the alleged mercury exceedances and provide a plan and schedule for evaluating alternative compliance strategies. Given the pending legal issues and our evaluation of alternative compliance strategies, the resulting cost of compliance with the various provisions of the Final Rule cannot be predicted with reasonable certainty at this time.

•

We operate in countries that are parties to the Paris Agreement adopted in December 2015 pursuant to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Each country that is a party to the Paris Agreement submitted an Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (“INDC”) toward the control of greenhouse gas emissions. The impacts on our operations of these INDCs and other national and local efforts to limit or tax greenhouse gas emissions cannot be determined with any certainty at this time.

In addition, various other claims and lawsuits are pending against the Company in the ordinary course of business. While it is not possible to determine the ultimate outcome of such actions at this time, and inherent uncertainties exist in predicting such outcomes, we believe that the ultimate resolution of such actions is not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements.


128		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 30 Contingencies and Other Matters Continued

The breadth of our operations and the global complexity of tax regulations require assessments of uncertainties and judgments in estimating the taxes we will ultimately pay. The final taxes paid are dependent upon many factors, including negotiations with taxing authorities in various jurisdictions, outcomes of tax litigation and resolution of disputes arising from federal, provincial, state and local tax audits. The resolution of these uncertainties and the associated final taxes may result in adjustments to our tax assets and tax liabilities.

We own facilities that have been either permanently or indefinitely shut down. We expect to incur nominal annual expenditures for site security and other maintenance costs at some of these facilities. Should the facilities be dismantled, certain other shutdown-related costs may be incurred. Such costs are not expected to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements and would be recognized and recorded in the period in which they are incurred.

Note 31 Accounting Policies, Estimates and Judgments

Accounting Policies, Estimates and Judgments

The following table discusses the significant accounting policies, estimates, judgments and assumptions, in addition to those disclosed elsewhere in these consolidated financial statements, that we have adopted and made and how they affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements. Certain of our policies involve accounting estimates and judgments because they require us to make subjective or complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain and because of the likelihood that materially different amounts could be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions.


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			129


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 31 Accounting Policies, Estimates and Judgments Continued


Topic	Accounting Policies		Accounting Estimates and Judgments
Principles of Consolidation (continued)	Principal (wholly owned) Operating Subsidiaries:	Location	Principal Activity

	Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc.	Canada	Mining and/or processing of crop nutrient products and corporate functions
	Agrium Inc.	Canada	Manufacturer and distributor of crop nutrients and corporate functions
	Agrium Canada Partnership	Canada	Manufacturer and distributor of crop nutrients
	Agrium Potash Ltd.	Canada	Manufacturer and distributor of crop nutrients
	Agrium U.S. Inc.	United States	Manufacturer and distributor of crop nutrients
	Cominco Fertilizer Partnership	United States	Manufacturer and distributor of crop nutrients
	Landmark Operations Ltd.	Australia	Crop input retailer
	Nutrien Ag Solutions (Canada) Inc.	Canada	Crop input retailer
	Nutrien Ag Solutions, Inc.	United States	Crop input retailer
	PCS Nitrogen Fertilizer, LP	United States	Production of nitrogen products in the United States
	PCS Nitrogen Trinidad Limited	Trinidad	Production of nitrogen products in Trinidad
	PCS Phosphate Company, Inc.	United States	Mining and/or processing of phosphate products
	Phosphate Holding Company, Inc.	United States	Mining and/or processing of phosphate products and production of nitrogen products in the United States
	Intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated on consolidation.

Long-Lived Asset Impairment	To assess impairment, assets are grouped at the smallest levels for which there are separately identifiable cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets (this can be at the asset or CGU level). At the end of each reporting period, we review conditions to determine whether there is any indication that an impairment exists that could potentially impact the carrying amounts of both our long-lived assets (including property, plant and equipment, and investments) to be held and used and our identifiable intangible assets and goodwill. When such indicators exist, impairment testing is performed. Regardless, goodwill is tested at least annually (in the fourth quarter). Where impairment indicators exist for the asset or CGU: • the recoverable amount is estimated (the higher of FVLCD and value in use); • to assess value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value (using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset or CGU for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted); • the impairment loss is the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount; and		Estimates and judgment involves: • identifying the appropriate asset or CGU; • determining the appropriate discount rate for assessing the recoverable amount; and • making assumptions about future sales, market conditions, terminal growth rates and cash flow forecasts over the long-term life of the assets or CGUs. We cannot predict if an event that triggers impairment will occur, when it will occur or how it will affect reported asset amounts. Asset impairment amounts previously recorded could be affected if different assumptions were used or if market and other conditions change. Such changes could result in non-cash charges materially affecting our consolidated financial statements. Impairments were recognized during 2019 and 2018 as shown in Note 15 and Note 16. At December 31, 2019, we reviewed our Phosphate CGUs for impairment triggers. For our Aurora CGU, we used judgment in assessing possible indicators of impairment including expected mine life, supply and demand variables and expected benchmark prices. Based on our assessment, there were no impairment triggers. For our White Springs CGU, we identified an impairment trigger due to deteriorating price expectations and the expected remaining mine life. We completed an impairment analysis and determined that there was no impairment in excess of the $250 impairment loss previously recorded at December 31, 2017.


130		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 31 Accounting Policies, Estimates and Judgments Continued

Topic

Accounting Policies

Accounting Estimates and Judgments

Long-Lived Asset Impairment (continued)

• the impairment loss is allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any related goodwill and then pro rata to each asset in the unit (on the basis of the carrying amount).

Non-financial assets, other than goodwill, that previously suffered an impairment loss are reviewed at each reporting date for possible reversal of the impairment.

The following table highlights for White Springs CGU sensitivities to the recoverable amount which could result in additional impairment losses or reversals of previously recorded losses:

Key Assumptions

Potential Change
(percent)

Increase (Decrease)
to Recoverable
Amount

Sales prices

±1.0

±20

Forecasted EBITDA over forecast period

±5.0

±20

Discount rate

±0.5

±10


Fair Value Measurements	Fair value measurements are categorized into levels based on the degree to which inputs are observable and their significance: • Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices (in active markets accessible at the measurement date for identical assets or liabilities). • Level 2 – Quoted prices (in markets that are not active or based on inputs that are observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability). • Level 3 – Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall measurement.	Fair value estimates: • are at a point-in-time and may change in subsequent reporting periods due to market conditions or other factors; • can be determined using multiple methods, which can cause values (or a range of reasonable values) to differ; and • may require assumptions about costs/prices over time, discount and inflation rates, defaults and other relevant variables. Determination of the level hierarchy is based on our assessment of the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement and is subject to estimation and judgment.

Restructuring Charges	Plant shutdowns, sales of business units or other corporate restructurings may trigger restructuring charges. Incremental costs for employee termination, contract termination and other exit costs are recognized as a liability and an expense when: • a detailed formal plan for restructuring has been demonstrably committed to; • withdrawal is without realistic possibility; and • a reliable estimate can be made.	Restructuring activities are complex, can take several months to complete and usually involve reassessing estimates throughout the process.

Foreign Currency Transactions	Items included in our consolidated financial statements and those of our subsidiaries are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the individual entity operates (the “functional currency”).	The consolidated financial statements are presented in US dollars, which was determined to be the functional currency of the Company and the majority of our subsidiaries. In determining the functional currency of our operations, we primarily considered the currency that determines the pricing of transactions rather than focusing on the currency in which transactions are denominated.


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			131


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 31 Accounting Policies, Estimates and Judgments Continued

Standards, Amendments and Interpretations Effective and Applied

The International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and IFRS Interpretations Committee (“IFRIC”) have issued certain standards and amendments or interpretations to existing standards that were effective and we have applied. The standards disclosed below had a material impact or disclosure impact on our consolidated financial statements.


Standard	Description	Impact
IFRS 16, Leases	Issued to supersede IAS 17 and related standards, we are required to apply a new model for lessee accounting under which all leases will be recorded as a ROU asset on the balance sheet and a corresponding lease liability. Lease costs will be recognized in the income statement over the lease term as depreciation of the ROU asset and finance charges on the lease liability. ROU assets represent the right to use an asset for the lease term, and lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease. ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement of a lease based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. The standard requires capitalizing the lease payments and expected residual value guarantees over the initial non-cancellable period plus periods covered by renewal, purchase and termination options where such are reasonably certain of exercise. The standard requires capitalization using the interest rate implicit in the lease at commencement, or if the implicit rate is not available, an incremental borrowing rate, adjusted for term, security, asset value, and the borrower’s economic environment.	We adopted IFRS 16 effective January 1, 2019, using the modified retrospective method, which in our case resulted in prospective application as there was no impact to opening retained earnings on transition. Under this method of adoption, we measured the ROU asset equal to the lease liability and used our incremental borrowing rate to determine the present value of future lease payments. We have chosen to apply practical expedients, including the use of a single discount rate for a portfolio of leases with reasonably similar characteristics, reliance on previous assessments as to whether lease contracts are onerous, exclusion of initial direct costs in measuring ROU assets at the date of initial application, the election not to separate non-lease components and instead to account for lease and non-lease components as a single arrangement, recognition exemptions for short-term and low-value leases, use of hindsight in assessing lease terms and grandfathering of the lease definition on transition. Until January 1, 2019, substantially all of our leases were classified as operating leases under IAS 17, “Leases”, with payments expensed on a straight-line basis over the lease term.


132		Nutrien Annual Report 2019		In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted


Overview		Management’s Discussion & Analysis		Two Year Highlights		Financial Statements		Other Information

Note 31 Accounting Policies, Estimates and Judgments Continued

IFRS 16, Leases (continued)

The following table summarizes the impact of adopting IFRS 16 on the consolidated financial statements:


	December 31, 2018		IFRS 16 Adjustment		January 1, 2019
Property, plant and equipment – ROU assets¹		46		1,059		1,105
Lease liabilities, including current portion		20		1,059		1,079

Undiscounted operating lease commitments at December 31, 2018						1,087
Operating lease commitments that did not qualify as leases under IFRS 16						(150)
Extension options reasonably certain to be exercised						297
Effect of discounting using the incremental borrowing rate at January 1, 2019 ²						(175)

Discounted operating lease commitments at January 1, 2019 ²						1,059
Finance lease liabilities at December 31, 2018						20

Total lease liabilities at January 1, 2019						1,079

¹	Balances as at December 31, 2018 reflect finance leases that were included in property, plant and equipment.

²	When measuring lease liabilities, we discounted lease payments using our incremental borrowing rate at January 1, 2019. The weighted average rate applied was 3.52 percent.

Refer to Note 15 and Note 21 for additional information relating the adoption of IFRS 16.

We have adopted the following amended standards and interpretations with no material impact on our consolidated financial statements:

•

IFRIC 23, Uncertainty Over Income Tax Treatments

•

Amendments to IAS 28, Long-term Interests in Associates and Joint Ventures

•

Amendments to IAS 19, Employee Benefits

•

Amendments to IFRS 3, Business Combinations

•

Amendments to IAS 12, Income Taxes

•

Amendments to IAS 23, Borrowing Costs

Standards, Amendments and Interpretations Not Yet Effective and Not Applied

The IASB and IFRIC have issued the following standards, amendments or interpretations to existing standards that were not yet effective and not applied as at December 31, 2019. The following amended standards are not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements:

•

Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting

•

Amendments to IAS 1 and IAS 8, Definition of Material

•

Amendments to IFRS 3, Business Combinations, Definition of a business

The following amended standards and interpretations are being reviewed to determine the potential impact on our consolidated financial statements:

•

IFRS 17, Insurance Contracts


In millions of US dollars except as otherwise noted		Nutrien Annual Report 2019			133