CHS : Nitrogen Fertilizer Manufacturing Investment...

ST. PAUL, Minn. , Aug. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- A record $2.8 billion investment in nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing through CF Industries Nitrogen, LLC, is a historic step that links CHS Inc. (NASDAQ: CHSCP) member cooperative- and farmer-owners to long-term assured product supply, efficiency and economics, the president and chief executive officer of North America's leading farmer-owned cooperative said today.

CHS and CF Industries Holdings, Inc. announced today that they have agreed to enter into a strategic venture through an equity investment agreement and a fertilizer supply agreement through CF Nitrogen, LLC.

"This investment links CHS strength as the nation's largest fertilizer wholesaler with CF Nitrogen's manufacturing platform, creating supply sourcing efficiency and economics for our owners," said Carl Casale , CHS president and chief executive officer. "In short, through CF Nitrogen, CHS will be able to add direct value and provide sustained access to dependable, patronage-eligible fertilizer products comparable to our successful 70-year-old petroleum refining platform."

Casale also announced today that the company has made a separate decision against moving forward with construction of a proposed fertilizer plant at Spiritwood, N.D.

"Our long-term goal has always been to add value for CHS owners through investment in the nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing space. To that end, we've continued to look at a variety of options, including the Spiritwood project," he said. "Ultimately, we determined that the construction cost, water supply challenges, overall risk profile and time required for the Spiritwood project had changed significantly since it was first considered. As a result, we concluded we couldn't achieve the level of returns needed to justify the increased costs and risks.

"We deeply appreciate the tremendous support and assistance from the Jamestown and Spiritwood communities, North Dakota's governor, elected officials and state agencies and organizations like the North Dakota Farmers Union; and other government leaders who have supported us through our due diligence process."

Casale noted that CHS has been a committed North Dakota business and neighbor since its 1931 founding and looks forward to a bright future that includes other investments in the state.

Given the dynamic market for nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing and distribution, investing in CF Nitrogen creates access to more immediate benefits to CHS owners and customers than a four-year plant construction window, Casale said.

An investment in CF Nitrogen enables CHS to serve its entire customer base through geographically diversified production and multiple transportation modes - including truck, rail and barge - that leverages the CHS distribution system and risk management expertise, he said.

CHS Inc. (www.chsinc.com) is a leading global agribusiness owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives across the United States . Diversified in energy, grains and foods, CHS is committed to helping its customers, farmer-owners and other stakeholders grow their businesses through its domestic and global operations. CHS, a Fortune 100 company, supplies energy, crop nutrients, grain marketing services, animal feed, food and food ingredients, along with business solutions including insurance, financial and risk management services. The company operates petroleum refineries/pipelines and manufactures, markets and distributes Cenex® brand refined fuels, lubricants, propane and renewable energy products.

This document and other CHS Inc. publicly available documents contain, and CHS officers and representatives may from time to time make, "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Report Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "goal," "seek," "believe," "project," "estimate," "expect," "strategy," "future," "likely," "may," "should," "will" and similar references to future periods. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on CHS current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of its businesses, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of CHS control. CHS actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause CHS actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements are discussed or identified in CHS public filings made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the "Risk Factors" discussion in Item 1A of CHS Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014 . Any forward-looking statements made by CHS in this document are based only on information currently available to CHS and speak only as of the date on which the statement is made. CHS undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

SOURCE CHS Inc.