OREANDA-NEWS. January 28, 2015. Agrium Inc. (TSX: AGU) (NYSE: AGU) ("Agrium" or the "Corporation") today announced it has increased its target dividend payout ratio to 40 percent to 50 percent of free cash flow (net of sustaining capital)1, which is an increase from the previous target of 25 percent to 35 percent of free cash flow (net of sustaining capital).

Agrium also announced the acceptance by the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") of Agrium's Notice of Intention to Make a Normal Course Issuer Bid (the "Bid"). Pursuant to the Bid, Agrium proposes to purchase through the facilities of the TSX, the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") and/or alternative Canadian trading platforms, from time to time over the next 12 months, if considered advisable, up to 7,185,866 common shares, being 5% of Agrium's 143,717,326 issued and outstanding shares.

"Increasing our dividend target payout ratio and putting the Bid in place are in alignment with our company strategy and the strength and diversity of our earnings base", commented Chuck Magro, Agrium's President and CEO. "We expect our free cash flow generation to increase significantly as we complete our major production capacity expansion projects for nitrogen and potash this year. We believe that the higher payout ratio strikes a balance between returning significant capital to shareholders, while maintaining our core assets and flexibility for growth. The Bid provides an additional avenue to return capital to shareholders, while we also intend to increase our dividend in step with the growth in free cash flow".

In respect to the Bid, Agrium will be limited to daily purchases of up to 117,313 common shares on the TSX, being 25% of Agrium's average daily TSX trading volume of 469,253 common shares during the six months ended December 31, 2014, subject to certain prescribed exemptions available under applicable Canadian rules. The maximum number of shares which can be purchased per day on the NYSE will be 25% of the average daily trading volume for the four calendar weeks preceding the date of purchase, subject to certain exceptions for block purchases. No purchases of common shares have been made by Agrium under a normal course issuer bid during the past 12 months.

Agrium is authorized to make purchases during the period of January 26, 2015 to January 25, 2016 or until such earlier time as the Bid is completed or terminated at the option of Agrium. Any common shares Agrium purchases under the Bid will be purchased on the open market through the facilities of the TSX, the NYSE and/or alternative Canadian trading platforms at the prevailing market price at the time of such transaction. Agrium will rely on an automatic purchase plan during the Bid. The automatic purchase plan allows for purchases by Agrium of its common shares during certain pre-determined blackout periods, subject to certain parameters. Outside of these pre-determined black-out periods, shares will be purchased in accordance with management's discretion.

The Bid has been put in place because Agrium believes that the repurchase of common shares is consistent with Agrium's objective of delivering a strong return of capital to its shareholders over time. All common shares purchased through the Bid will be returned to treasury for cancellation.