CALGARY — Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan and Agrium announced Monday they are merging, a move that would create a giant in the agriculture industry. Here’s a look at both companies:
Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan
Headquarters: Saskatoon
Employees: About 5,000
Potash production capacity: 16 million tonnes
Market capitalization on Aug. 29, last day before announcement that the two companies were in merger discussions: C$17.5 billion
Revenue in 2015: US$5.8 billion
Earnings in 2015, before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization: US$2.6 billion
Founded: The Saskatchewan government formed PotashCorp in 1975 as a Crown corporation and then privatized it in 1989.
Business: Over the past three years, about half of PotashCorp’s earnings have come from potash, with another 33 per cent from nitrogen, and 16 per cent from phosphate.
———
Agrium
Headquarters: Calgary
Potash production capacity: 3 million tonnes
Employees: About 15,200
Market capitalization on Aug. 29, last day before announcement that the two companies were in merger discussions: C$16.1 billion
Revenue in 2015: US$14.8 billion
Earnings in 2015, before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization: US$2.1 billion
Founded: Agrium was founded in 1931 as part of Cominco and became a publicly traded company in 1993.
Business: Over the past three years about half of Agrium’s earnings have come from its global retail network, with nitrogen making up another 36 per cent. Potash made up only 10 per cent, and phosphate six per cent.
The Canadian Press
