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CF Industries Holdings, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2018 September (Form 10-Q)

Table of Contents
 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
 
 
x
 
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018
OR
o
 
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                               to                              
Commission file number 001-32597
CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
 (State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
20-2697511
 (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
 
4 Parkway North, Suite 400
Deerfield, Illinois
 (Address of principal executive offices)
 
60015
 (Zip Code)
(847) 405-2400
 (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x  No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes x    No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer x
 
Accelerated filer o
 
Non-accelerated filer o
 
Smaller reporting company o
 
Emerging growth company o
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o    No x
230,791,461 shares of the registrant’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share, were outstanding at October 30, 2018.
 

Table of Contents
CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC.



TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Table of Contents
CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC.



PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
 
Three months ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine months ended 
 September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
(in millions, except per share amounts)
Net sales
$
1,040

 
$
870

 
$
3,297

 
$
3,031

Cost of sales
867

 
859

 
2,622

 
2,740

Gross margin
173

 
11

 
675

 
291

Selling, general and administrative expenses
53

 
45

 
163

 
140

Other operating—net
(11
)
 
(2
)
 
(29
)
 
14

Total other operating costs and expenses
42

 
43

 
134

 
154

Equity in earnings (loss) of operating affiliates
5

 
(5
)
 
30

 
(8
)
Operating earnings (loss)
136

 
(37
)
 
571

 
129

Interest expense
59

 
81

 
180

 
241

Interest income
(4
)
 
(5
)
 
(9
)
 
(8
)
Other non-operating—net
(2
)
 
2

 
(6
)
 
4

Earnings (loss) before income taxes
83

 
(115
)
 
406

 
(108
)
Income tax provision (benefit)
12

 
(47
)
 
73

 
(55
)
Net earnings (loss)
71

 
(68
)
 
333

 
(53
)
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests
41

 
19

 
92

 
54

Net earnings (loss) attributable to common stockholders
$
30

 
$
(87
)
 
$
241

 
$
(107
)
Net earnings (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Basic
$
0.13

 
$
(0.37
)
 
$
1.03

 
$
(0.46
)
Diluted
$
0.13

 
$
(0.37
)
 
$
1.03

 
$
(0.46
)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Basic
233.5

 
233.2

 
233.8

 
233.2

Diluted
235.2

 
233.2

 
234.9

 
233.2

Dividends declared per common share
$
0.30

 
$
0.30

 
$
0.90

 
$
0.90

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.


1
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CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC.



CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(Unaudited)

 
Three months ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine months ended 
 September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
(in millions)
Net earnings (loss)
$
71

 
$
(68
)
 
$
333

 
$
(53
)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Foreign currency translation adjustment—net of taxes
—

 
52

 
(50
)
 
124

Unrealized loss on securities—net of taxes
—

 
—

 
(1
)
 
—

Defined benefit plans—net of taxes
1

 
(2
)
 
7

 
(1
)
 
1

 
50

 
(44
)
 
123

Comprehensive income (loss)
72

 
(18
)
 
289

 
70

Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests
41

 
19

 
92

 
54

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to common stockholders
$
31

 
$
(37
)
 
$
197

 
$
16

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.


2
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CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC.



CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
September 30,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
 
(in millions, except share
and per share amounts)
Assets
 

 
 

Current assets:
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
$
1,022

 
$
835

Accounts receivable—net
273

 
307

Inventories
264

 
275

Prepaid income taxes
17

 
33

Other current assets
21

 
15

Total current assets
1,597

 
1,465

Property, plant and equipment—net
8,772

 
9,175

Investment in affiliate
96

 
108

Goodwill
2,361

 
2,371

Other assets
330

 
344

Total assets
$
13,156

 
$
13,463

Liabilities and Equity
 

 
 

Current liabilities:
 

 
 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
$
467

 
$
472

Income taxes payable
—

 
2

Customer advances
313

 
89

Other current liabilities
8

 
17

Total current liabilities
788

 
580

Long-term debt
4,697

 
4,692

Deferred income taxes
1,087

 
1,047

Other liabilities
421

 
460

Equity:
 

 
 

Stockholders’ equity:
 

 
 

Preferred stock—$0.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized
—

 
—

Common stock—$0.01 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 2018—233,666,809 shares issued and 2017—233,287,799 shares issued
2

 
2

Paid-in capital
1,360

 
1,397

Retained earnings
2,474

 
2,443

Treasury stock—at cost, 2018—1,824,835 shares and 2017—710 shares
(92
)
 
—

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(308
)
 
(263
)
Total stockholders’ equity
3,436

 
3,579

Noncontrolling interests
2,727

 
3,105

Total equity
6,163

 
6,684

Total liabilities and equity
$
13,156

 
$
13,463

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

3
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CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC.



CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
(Unaudited)
 
Common Stockholders
 
 
 
 
 
$0.01 Par
Value
Common
Stock
 
Treasury
Stock
 
Paid-In
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
Total
Stockholders’ Equity
 
Noncontrolling
Interests
 
Total
Equity
 
(in millions, except per share amounts)
Balance as of December 31, 2017
$
2

 
$
—

 
$
1,397

 
$
2,443

 
$
(263
)
 
$
3,579

 
$
3,105

 
$
6,684

Adoption of ASU No. 2016-01
—

 
—

 
—

 
1

 
(1
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

Adoption of ASU No. 2014-09
—

 
—

 
—

 
(1
)
 
—

 
(1
)
 
—

 
(1
)
Net earnings
—

 
—

 
—

 
63

 
—

 
63

 
25

 
88

Other comprehensive income
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
16

 
16

 
—

 
16

Acquisition of treasury stock under employee stock plans
—

 
(1
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(1
)
 
—

 
(1
)
Issuance of $0.01 par value common stock under employee stock plans
—

 
—

 
2

 
—

 
—

 
2

 
—

 
2

Stock-based compensation expense
—

 
—

 
6

 
—

 
—

 
6

 
—

 
6

Cash dividends ($0.30 per share)
—

 
—

 
—

 
(70
)
 
—

 
(70
)
 
—

 
(70
)
Distributions declared to noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(59
)
 
(59
)
Balance as of March 31, 2018
$
2

 
$
(1
)
 
$
1,405

 
$
2,436

 
$
(248
)
 
$
3,594

 
$
3,071

 
$
6,665

Net earnings
—

 
—

 
—

 
148

 
—

 
148

 
26

 
174

Other comprehensive loss
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(61
)
 
(61
)
 
—

 
(61
)
Acquisition of treasury stock under employee stock plans
—

 
1

 
(1
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Issuance of $0.01 par value common stock under employee stock plans
—

 
—

 
2

 
—

 
—

 
2

 
—

 
2

Stock-based compensation expense
—

 
—

 
5

 
—

 
—

 
5

 
—

 
5

Cash dividends ($0.30 per share)
—

 
—

 
—

 
(70
)
 
—

 
(70
)
 
—

 
(70
)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests in TNCLP
—

 
—

 
(62
)
 
—

 
—

 
(62
)
 
(331
)
 
(393
)
Balance as of June 30, 2018
$
2

 
$
—

 
$
1,349

 
$
2,514

 
$
(309
)
 
$
3,556

 
$
2,766

 
$
6,322

Net earnings
—

 
—

 
—

 
30

 
—

 
30

 
41

 
71

Other comprehensive income
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1

 
1

 
—

 
1

Purchases of treasury stock
—

 
(91
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(91
)
 
—

 
(91
)
Acquisition of treasury stock under employee stock plans
—

 
(1
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(1
)
 
—

 
(1
)
Issuance of $0.01 par value common stock under employee stock plans
—

 
—

 
6

 
—

 
—

 
6

 
—

 
6

Stock-based compensation expense
—

 
—

 
5

 
—

 
—

 
5

 
—

 
5

Cash dividends ($0.30 per share)
—

 
—

 
—

 
(70
)
 
—

 
(70
)
 
—

 
(70
)
Distributions declared to noncontrolling interest
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(80
)
 
(80
)
Balance as of September 30, 2018
$
2

 
$
(92
)
 
$
1,360

 
$
2,474

 
$
(308
)
 
$
3,436

 
$
2,727

 
$
6,163

(Continued)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
(Continued) (Unaudited)
 
Common Stockholders
 
 
 
 
 
$0.01 Par
Value
Common
Stock
 
Treasury
Stock
 
Paid-In
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
Total
Stockholders’ Equity
 
Noncontrolling
Interests
 
Total
Equity
 
(in millions, except per share amounts)
Balance as of December 31, 2016
$
2

 
$
(1
)
 
$
1,380

 
$
2,365

 
$
(398
)
 
$
3,348

 
$
3,144

 
$
6,492

Net (loss) earnings
—

 
—

 
—

 
(23
)
 
—

 
(23
)
 
14

 
(9
)
Other comprehensive income
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
20

 
20

 
—

 
20

Stock-based compensation expense
—

 
—

 
4

 
—

 
—

 
4

 
—

 
4

Cash dividends ($0.30 per share)
—

 
—

 
—

 
(70
)
 
—

 
(70
)
 
—

 
(70
)
Distributions declared to noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(54
)
 
(54
)
Balance as of March 31, 2017
$
2

 
$
(1
)
 
$
1,384

 
$
2,272

 
$
(378
)
 
$
3,279

 
$
3,104

 
$
6,383

Net earnings
—

 
—

 
—

 
3

 
—

 
3

 
21

 
24

Other comprehensive income
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
53

 
53

 
—

 
53

Issuance of $0.01 par value common stock under employee stock plans
—

 
1

 
(1
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Stock-based compensation expense
—

 
—

 
5

 
—

 
—

 
5

 
—

 
5

Cash dividends ($0.30 per share)
—

 
—

 
—

 
(70
)
 
—

 
(70
)
 
—

 
(70
)
Distributions declared to noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(5
)
 
(5
)
Balance as of June 30, 2017
$
2

 
$
—

 
$
1,388

 
$
2,205

 
$
(325
)
 
$
3,270

 
$
3,120

 
$
6,390

Net (loss) earnings
—

 
—

 
—

 
(87
)
 
—

 
(87
)
 
19

 
(68
)
Other comprehensive income
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
50

 
50

 
—

 
50

Stock-based compensation expense
—

 
—

 
4

 
—

 
—

 
4

 
—

 
4

Cash dividends ($0.30 per share)
—

 
—

 
—

 
(70
)
 
—

 
(70
)
 
—

 
(70
)
Distributions declared to noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(66
)
 
(66
)
Balance as of September 30, 2017
$
2

 
$
—

 
$
1,392

 
$
2,048

 
$
(275
)
 
$
3,167

 
$
3,073

 
$
6,240

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

4
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CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC.



CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
 
Nine months ended 
 September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
(in millions)
Operating Activities:
 

 
 

Net earnings (loss)
$
333

 
$
(53
)
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
 

 
 

Depreciation and amortization
667

 
648

Deferred income taxes
37

 
(54
)
Stock-based compensation expense
17

 
13

Unrealized net (gain) loss on natural gas derivatives
(11
)
 
64

Unrealized loss on embedded derivative
2

 
4

(Gain) loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment
(1
)
 
3

Undistributed (earnings) losses of affiliates—net of taxes
(5
)
 
7

Changes in:
 

 
 

Accounts receivable—net
31

 
(29
)
Inventories
(3
)
 
12

Accrued and prepaid income taxes
13

 
804

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
(26
)
 
5

Customer advances
224

 
51

Other—net
(35
)
 
(74
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
1,243

 
1,401

Investing Activities:
 

 
 

Additions to property, plant and equipment
(278
)
 
(290
)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
19

 
13

Distributions received from unconsolidated affiliates
10

 
12

Insurance proceeds
10

 
—

Proceeds from sale of auction rate securities
—

 
9

Other—net
1

 
—

Net cash used in investing activities
(238
)
 
(256
)
Financing Activities:
 

 
 

Financing fees
1

 
(1
)
Dividends paid on common stock
(210
)
 
(210
)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests in TNCLP
(388
)
 
—

Distributions to noncontrolling interests
(139
)
 
(125
)
Purchases of treasury stock
(87
)
 
—

Issuances of common stock under employee stock plans
10

 
1

Shares withheld for taxes
(1
)
 
—

Net cash used in financing activities
(814
)
 
(335
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
(4
)
 
13

Increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
187

 
823

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period
835

 
1,169

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period
$
1,022

 
$
1,992

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

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CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC.



NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1.   Background and Basis of Presentation
We are a leading global fertilizer and chemical company. Our 3,000 employees operate world-class manufacturing complexes in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Our principal customers are cooperatives, independent fertilizer distributors, farmers and industrial users. Our principal nitrogen fertilizer products are ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate solution (UAN) and ammonium nitrate (AN). Our other nitrogen products include diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), urea liquor, nitric acid and aqua ammonia, which are sold primarily to our industrial customers, and compound fertilizer products (NPKs), which are solid granular fertilizer products for which the nutrient content is a combination of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. We serve our customers in North America through our production, storage, transportation and distribution network. We also reach a global customer base with exports from our Donaldsonville, Louisiana, plant, the world’s largest and most flexible nitrogen complex. Additionally, we move product to international destinations from our Verdigris, Oklahoma, facility, our Yazoo City, Mississippi, facility, and our Billingham and Ince facilities in the United Kingdom, and from a joint venture ammonia facility in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in which we own a 50 percent interest.
All references to “CF Holdings,” “the Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to CF Industries Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries, except where the context makes clear that the reference is only to CF Industries Holdings, Inc. itself and not its subsidiaries. All references to “CF Industries” refer to CF Industries, Inc., a 100% owned subsidiary of CF Industries Holdings, Inc.
The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for interim financial reporting. In the opinion of management, these statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal and recurring adjustments, that are necessary for the fair representation of the information for the periods presented. The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. Operating results for any period presented apply to that period only and are not necessarily indicative of results for any future period.
The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and related disclosures included in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 22, 2018. The preparation of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements requires us to make use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the unaudited consolidated financial statements and the reported revenues and expenses for the periods presented. Significant estimates and assumptions are used for, but are not limited to, net realizable value of inventories, environmental remediation liabilities, environmental and litigation contingencies, the cost of customer incentives, useful lives of property and identifiable intangible assets, the assumptions used in the evaluation of potential impairments of property, investments, identifiable intangible assets and goodwill, income tax and valuation reserves, allowances for doubtful accounts receivable, the measurement of the fair values of investments for which markets are not active, assumptions used in the determination of the funded status and annual expense of defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans and the assumptions used in the valuation of stock-based compensation awards granted to employees.
During the first quarter of 2018, we adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash. As a result, in our consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we have reclassified $5 million of withdrawals from restricted cash funds, previously classified as cash flows provided by investing activities, to be included in the reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash. See Note 2—New Accounting Standards for additional information.
During the first quarter of 2018, we adopted ASU No. 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. As a result, we reclassified certain amounts in our consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017. See Note 2—New Accounting Standards for additional information.


6
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CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC.



2.   New Accounting Standards
Recently Adopted Pronouncements
On January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 605, Revenue Recognition. This ASU is based on the principle that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This ASU also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments. Additionally, the costs to obtain and fulfill a contract, including assets to be recognized, are to be capitalized and such capitalized costs should be disclosed. In 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued additional ASUs that enhanced the operability of the principal versus agent guidance in ASU No. 2014-09 by clarifying that an entity should consider the nature of each good or service promised to a customer at the individual good or service level, clarified that ASU No. 2014-09 should not be applied to immaterial performance obligations, and enhanced the guidance around the treatment of shipping costs incurred to fulfill performance obligations. Our adoption of this ASU, utilizing the modified retrospective approach on contracts that were not completed as of January 1, 2018, resulted in a reduction to opening retained earnings of $1 million related to the cumulative difference between ASC Topic 605 and ASC Topic 606. See Note 3—Revenue Recognition for additional information.
On January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments—Overall (Subtopic 825-10) Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, which changes the income statement impact of equity investments held by an entity. The amendments require the unrealized gains or unrealized losses of equity instruments measured at fair value to be recognized in net income. Our adoption of this ASU resulted in an increase to opening retained earnings of $1 million representing the cumulative effect of unrealized gains from equity securities from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
On January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) Restricted Cash - a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force, which requires that the statement of cash flows include amounts described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents as part of cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning and ending period balances. Upon adoption of this ASU, $5 million of withdrawals from restricted cash funds previously reflected as cash provided by investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, and our restricted cash of $5 million as of December 31, 2016 were reclassified to be included within the reconciliation of beginning and ending cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash balances on our consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.
On January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU No. 2017-07, Compensation—Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, which changed the presentation of net benefit cost related to employer sponsored defined benefit plans and other postretirement benefits. Only service cost can be included within the same income statement line item as other compensation costs arising from services rendered during the period, while other components of net benefit cost must be presented separately outside of operating income. Additionally, only service costs may be capitalized on the balance sheet. Our adoption of this ASU was applied retrospectively for the income statement classification requirements and prospectively for the capitalization guidance, which resulted in $2 million and $4 million of net benefit cost previously recognized in cost of sales for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, to be reclassified to other non-operating on our consolidated statements of operations.
On January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU No. 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory, which requires an entity to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. Our adoption of this ASU had no impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In the third quarter of 2018, we adopted ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. This ASU simplifies the accounting for goodwill impairment by removing Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. Step 2 required entities to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill in the same manner as the amount of goodwill recognized in a business combination by assigning the fair value of a reporting unit to all of the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit. Under Step 2, the carrying value in excess of the implied fair value would be recognized as goodwill impairment. Under this new ASU, goodwill impairment is recognized as the carrying value in excess of the reporting unit’s fair value, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. Our adoption of this ASU had no impact on our consolidated financial statements.

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Recently Issued Pronouncements
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which supersedes the lease accounting requirements in ASC Topic 840, Leases. This ASU will require lessees to recognize the rights and obligations resulting from virtually all leases (other than leases that meet the definition of a short-term lease) on their balance sheets as right-of-use assets with corresponding lease liabilities. Extensive quantitative and qualitative disclosures, including significant judgments made by management, will be required to provide greater insight into the extent of income and expense recognized and expected to be recognized from existing contracts. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted, and requires the modified retrospective method of adoption. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements, which provides the option to initially apply ASU No. 2016-02 at the adoption date with a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption, instead of applying the new guidance retrospectively for each prior reporting period presented. While we are continuing to evaluate the impact of the adoption of these ASUs on our consolidated financial statements, we currently believe the most significant change relates to the recognition of the right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on our balance sheet for operating leases for certain property and equipment, including transportation equipment utilized for the distribution of our products. We estimate that the right-of-use asset and lease liability that we will recognize on our consolidated balance sheet upon adoption will be approximately $300 million to $350 million, based on our current lease portfolio. However, the ultimate impact of adopting these ASUs will depend on our lease portfolio as of the adoption date, January 1, 2019.
In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities, which improves the financial reporting of hedging relationships in order to better portray the economic results of an entity’s risk management activities in its financial statements. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018, and should be applied to existing hedging relationships as of the date of adoption. Early adoption of this ASU is permitted. We do not expect the adoption of this ASU will have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. This ASU allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and for interim periods therein. Early adoption of this ASU is permitted. We do not expect the adoption of this ASU will have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
In August 2018, in conjunction with its disclosure framework project, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-14, Compensation—Retirement Benefits—Defined Benefit Plans—General (Topic 715-20): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans. This ASU modifies the disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans. This ASU is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after January 1, 2020 and must be applied retrospectively. We expect that our adoption of this ASU will have a minimal impact on our financial statement disclosures.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That is a Service Contract. This ASU aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and can be applied either retrospectively or prospectively to all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact that our adoption of this ASU will have on our consolidated financial statements.

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3.   Revenue Recognition
Prior to the adoption of ASC 606, under ASC 605, the basic criteria necessary for revenue recognition were: (1) evidence that a sales arrangement existed, (2) delivery of goods had occurred, (3) the seller's price to the buyer was fixed or determinable, and (4) collectability was reasonably assured. We recognized revenue when these criteria had been met, and when title and risk of loss transferred to the customer, which could be at the plant gate, a distribution facility, a supplier location or a customer destination.
We adopted ASC 606 on January 1, 2018. The revenue that we recognize, both prior to and after the adoption of ASC 606, arises from contracts we have with our customers. Our performance obligations under a contract correspond to each shipment of product that we make to our customer under the contract; as a result, each contract may have more than one performance obligation based on the number of products ordered, the quantity of product to be shipped and the mode of shipment requested by the customer. Control of our products transfers to our customers when the customer is able to direct the use of, and obtain substantially all of the benefits from, our products, which generally occurs at the later of when the customer obtains title to our product or when the customer assumes risk of loss of our product. The transfer of control generally occurs at a point in time upon loading of our product onto transportation equipment or upon delivery to the customer’s intended destination. Once this occurs, we have satisfied our performance obligation and we recognize revenue.
When we enter into a contract with a customer, we are obligated to provide the product during a mutually agreed upon time period. Depending on the terms of the contract, either we or the customer arranges delivery of the product to the customer’s intended destination. In situations where we have agreed to arrange delivery of the product to the customer’s intended destination and control of the product transfers upon loading of our product onto transportation equipment, we have elected to account for any freight income associated with the delivery of these products as freight revenue, consistent with our treatment of this income prior to the adoption of ASC 606, since this activity fulfills our obligation to transfer the product to the customer. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the total amount of freight recognized as revenue was not material.
Certain of our contracts require us to supply products on a continuous basis to the customer. We recognize revenue on these contracts based on the quantity of products transferred to the customer during the period. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the amount of revenue for these types of transactions was $23 million and $64 million, respectively.
From time to time, we will enter the marketplace to purchase product in order to meet our customer contracts. When we purchase product to meet customer contracts, we are the principal in the transaction and recognize revenue on a gross basis. As discussed in Note 8—Equity Method Investments, we have transactions in the normal course of business with Point Lisas Nitrogen Limited (PLNL), reflecting our obligation to purchase 50% of the ammonia produced by PLNL at current market prices. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, other than products purchased from PLNL, we did not purchase any products in the marketplace in order to meet our customer contracts.
Transaction Price
We agree with our customers on the selling price of each transaction. This transaction price is generally based on the product, market conditions, including supply and demand balances, freight arrangements including where control transfers, and customer incentives. In our contracts with customers, we allocate the entire transaction price to the sale of product to the customer, which is the basis for the determination of the relative standalone selling price allocated to each performance obligation. Returns of our product by our customers are permitted only when the product is not to specification, and were not material for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. Any sales tax, value added tax, and other tax we collect concurrently with our revenue-producing activities are excluded from revenue.
We offer cash incentives to certain customers based on the volume of their purchases over a certain period. These incentives do not provide an option to the customer for additional product. Customer incentives are reported as a reduction in net sales. Accrual of these incentives involves the use of estimates, including how much product the customer will purchase and whether the customer will achieve a certain level of purchases within the incentive period. The balances of customer incentives accrued at September 30, 2018, and December 31, 2017 were not material.
If we had continued to apply legacy revenue recognition guidance for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, our revenues, gross margin, and net income attributable to common shareholders would not have been materially different. See Note 2—New Accounting Standards for the impact of our adoption of ASU No. 2014-09.

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Revenue Disaggregation
We track our revenue by product and by geography. See Note 17—Segment Disclosures for our revenue by reportable segment, which are ammonia, granular urea, UAN, AN and Other.
The following table summarizes our revenue by product and by geography (based on destination of our shipment) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018:
 
Ammonia
 
Granular
Urea
 
UAN
 
AN
 
Other
 
Total
 
(in millions)
Three months ended September 30, 2018
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

North America
$
148

 
$
292

 
$
214

 
$
45

 
$
61

 
$
760

Europe and other
44

 
61

 
56

 
94

 
25

 
280

Total revenue
$
192

 
$
353

 
$
270

 
$
139

 
$
86

 
$
1,040

Nine months ended September 30, 2018
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

North America
$
665

 
$
901

 
$
750

 
$
139

 
$
184

 
$
2,639

Europe and other
113

 
76

 
142

 
224

 
103

 
658

Total revenue
$
778

 
$
977

 
$
892

 
$
363

 
$
287

 
$
3,297

Accounts Receivable and Customer Advances
Our customers purchase our products through sales on credit or forward sales. Products sold to our customers on credit are recorded as accounts receivable when the customer obtains control of the product. Customers that purchase our products on credit are required to pay in accordance with our customary payment terms, which are generally less than 30 days. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the amount of customer bad debt expense recognized was immaterial.
For forward sales, the customer prepays a portion of the value of the sales contract prior to obtaining control of the product. These prepayments, when received, are recorded as customer advances and are recognized as revenue when the customer obtains control of the product. Forward sales are customarily offered for periods of less than one year in advance of when the customer obtains control of the product.
As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had $313 million and $89 million, respectively, in customer advances on our consolidated balance sheets. The increase in the balance of customer advances primarily resulted from customer forward purchases under our fill programs in the third quarter of 2018. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, all of our customer advances that were recorded as of December 31, 2017 were recognized as revenue.
We have certain customer contracts with performance obligations where if the customer does not take the required amount of product specified in the contract, then the customer is required to make a payment to us, which may vary based upon the terms and conditions of the applicable contract. As of September 30, 2018, excluding contracts with original durations of less than one year, and based on the minimum product tonnage to be sold and current market price estimates, our remaining performance obligations under these contracts are approximately $1.4 billion. We expect to recognize approximately 5% of these performance obligations as revenue during the remainder of 2018, approximately 41% as revenue during 2019 and 2020, approximately 30% as revenue during 2021 and 2022, and the remainder thereafter. If these customers do not fulfill their contractual obligations under such contracts, the legally enforceable minimum amount that they would pay to us under these contracts is approximately $285 million as of September 30, 2018. Other than the performance obligations described above, any performance obligations with our customers that were unfulfilled or partially filled at December 31, 2017 will be satisfied in 2018.
All of our contracts require that the period between the payment for goods and the transfer of those goods to the customer occur within normal contractual terms that do not exceed one year; therefore, we have not adjusted the transaction price of any of our contracts to recognize a significant financing component. We have also expensed any incremental costs associated with obtaining a contract that has a duration of less than one year, and there were no costs capitalized during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

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4.   Net Earnings (Loss) Per Share
Net earnings (loss) per share were computed as follows:
 
Three months ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine months ended 
 September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
(in millions, except per share amounts)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to common stockholders
$
30

 
$
(87
)
 
$
241

 
$
(107
)
Basic earnings per common share:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Weighted-average common shares outstanding
233.5

 
233.2

 
233.8

 
233.2

Net earnings (loss) attributable to common stockholders
$
0.13

 
$
(0.37
)
 
$
1.03

 
$
(0.46
)
Diluted earnings per common share:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Weighted-average common shares outstanding
233.5

 
233.2

 
233.8

 
233.2

Dilutive common shares—stock options
1.7

 
—

 
1.1

 
—

Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding
235.2

 
233.2

 
234.9

 
233.2

Net earnings (loss) attributable to common stockholders
$
0.13

 
$
(0.37
)
 
$
1.03

 
$
(0.46
)
In the computation of diluted earnings per common share, potentially dilutive stock options are excluded if the effect of their inclusion is anti-dilutive. Shares for anti-dilutive stock options not included in the computation of diluted earnings per common share were 1.5 million and 1.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, and 6.5 million in each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017.
5.   Inventories
Inventories consist of the following:
 
September 30,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
 
(in millions)
Finished goods
$
226

 
$
233

Raw materials, spare parts and supplies
38

 
42

Total inventories
$
264

 
$
275


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6.   Property, Plant and Equipment—Net
Property, plant and equipment—net consists of the following:
 
September 30,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
 
(in millions)
Land
$
70

 
$
71

Machinery and equipment
12,172

 
12,070

Buildings and improvements
886

 
882

Construction in progress
225

 
223

Property, plant and equipment(1)
13,353

 
13,246

Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization
4,581

 
4,071

Property, plant and equipment—net
$
8,772

 
$
9,175

_______________________________________________________________________________
(1) 
As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had property, plant and equipment that was accrued but unpaid of approximately $66 million and $46 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had property, plant and equipment that was accrued but unpaid of $204 million and $225 million, respectively.

Depreciation and amortization related to property, plant and equipment was $227 million and $648 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, and $217 million and $622 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively.
Plant turnarounds—Scheduled inspections, replacements and overhauls of plant machinery and equipment at our continuous process manufacturing facilities during a full plant shutdown are referred to as plant turnarounds. The expenditures related to turnarounds are capitalized in property, plant and equipment when incurred. The following is a summary of capitalized plant turnaround costs:
 
Nine months ended 
 September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
(in millions)
Net capitalized turnaround costs:
 

 
 

Beginning balance
$
208

 
$
206

Additions
95

 
83

Depreciation
(83
)
 
(75
)
Effect of exchange rate changes
1

 
5

Ending balance
$
221

 
$
219

Scheduled replacements and overhauls of plant machinery and equipment include the dismantling, repair or replacement and installation of various components including piping, valves, motors, turbines, pumps, compressors, heat exchangers and the replacement of catalysts when a full plant shutdown occurs. Scheduled inspections are also conducted during full plant shutdowns, including required safety inspections which entail the disassembly of various components such as steam boilers, pressure vessels and other equipment requiring safety certifications. Internal employee costs and overhead amounts are not considered turnaround costs and are not capitalized.

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7.  Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
The following table shows the carrying amount of goodwill by reportable segment as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:
 
Ammonia
 
Granular Urea
 
UAN
 
AN
 
Other
 
Total
 
(in millions)
Balance as of December 31, 2017
$
587

 
$
829

 
$
576

 
$
306

 
$
73

 
$
2,371

Effect of exchange rate changes
—

 
(1
)
 
—

 
(8
)
 
(1
)
 
(10
)
Balance as of September 30, 2018
$
587

 
$
828

 
$
576

 
$
298

 
$
72

 
$
2,361

All of our identifiable intangible assets have definite lives and are presented in other assets on our consolidated balance sheets at gross carrying amount, net of accumulated amortization, as follows:
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
Gross
Carrying
Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Net
 
Gross
Carrying
Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Net
 
(in millions)
Intangible assets:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Customer relationships
$
129

 
$
(36
)
 
$
93

 
$
132

 
$
(31
)
 
$
101

TerraCair brand
10

 
(10
)
 
—

 
10

 
(10
)
 
—

Trade names
31

 
(5
)
 
26

 
32

 
(4
)
 
28

Total intangible assets
$
170

 
$
(51
)
 
$
119

 
$
174

 
$
(45
)
 
$
129

Amortization expense of our identifiable intangible assets was $1 million and $6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, and $2 million and $7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively. Our intangible assets are being amortized over a weighted-average life of approximately 20 years. Total estimated amortization expense for the remainder of 2018 and each of the five succeeding fiscal years is as follows:
 
Estimated
Amortization
Expense
 
(in millions)
Remainder of 2018
$
2

2019
9

2020
9

2021
9

2022
9

2023
9


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8.  Equity Method Investments
We have a 50% ownership interest in PLNL, which operates an ammonia production facility in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. We include our share of the net earnings from this equity method investment as an element of earnings from operations because PLNL provides additional production to our operations and is integrated with our other supply chain and sales activities in the ammonia segment.
As of September 30, 2018, the total carrying value of our equity method investment in PLNL was $96 million, $50 million more than our share of PLNL’s book value. The excess is attributable to the purchase accounting impact of our acquisition of the investment in PLNL and reflects the revaluation of property, plant and equipment. The increased basis for property, plant and equipment is being amortized over a remaining period of approximately 15 years. Our equity in earnings of PLNL is different from our ownership interest in income reported by PLNL due to amortization of this basis difference.
We have transactions in the normal course of business with PLNL reflecting our obligation to purchase 50% of the ammonia produced by PLNL at current market prices. Our ammonia purchases from PLNL totaled $21 million and $59 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, and $9 million and $53 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively.
The Trinidadian tax authority (the Board of Inland Revenue) previously issued a tax assessment against PLNL related to a dispute over whether tax depreciation must be claimed during a tax holiday period that was granted to PLNL under the Trinidadian Fiscal Incentives Act. The tax holiday was granted as an incentive to construct PLNL’s ammonia plant. Based on the facts and circumstances of this matter, PLNL recorded a tax contingency accrual in the second quarter of 2017, which reduced our equity in earnings of PLNL for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 by approximately $7 million reflecting our 50% ownership interest. In early 2018, PLNL settled this matter with the Board of Inland Revenue for the amounts accrued.
PLNL operates an ammonia plant that relies on natural gas supplied, under a Gas Sales Contract (the NGC Contract), by The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (NGC). PLNL experienced past curtailments in the supply of natural gas from NGC, which reduced historical ammonia production at PLNL. The NGC Contract had an initial expiration date of September 2018 and was extended on the same terms until September 2023. Any NGC commitment to supply gas beyond 2023 will be based on new agreements. In May 2018, the NGC and PLNL reached a settlement of an arbitration proceeding regarding PLNL’s claims for damages due to natural gas supply curtailments. The net after-tax impact of the settlement reached between NGC and PLNL that is recognized in our consolidated statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was an increase in our equity in earnings of operating affiliates of approximately $19 million.
9.  Fair Value Measurements
Our cash and cash equivalents and other investments consist of the following:
 
September 30, 2018
 
Cost Basis
 
Unrealized
Gains
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
(in millions)
Cash
$
54

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
54

Cash equivalents:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. and Canadian government obligations
963

 
—

 
—

 
963

Other debt securities
5

 
—

 
—

 
5

Total cash and cash equivalents
$
1,022

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
1,022

Nonqualified employee benefit trusts
18

 
2

 
—

 
20


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December 31, 2017
 
Cost Basis
 
Unrealized
Gains
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
(in millions)
Cash
$
120

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
120

Cash equivalents:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. and Canadian government obligations
710

 
—

 
—

 
710

Other debt securities
5

 
—

 
—

 
5

Total cash and cash equivalents
$
835

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
835

Nonqualified employee benefit trusts
17

 
2

 
—

 
19

Under our short-term investment policy, we may invest our cash balances, either directly or through mutual funds, in several types of investment-grade securities, including notes and bonds issued by governmental entities or corporations. Securities issued by governmental entities include those issued directly by the U.S. and Canadian federal governments; those issued by state, local or other governmental entities; and those guaranteed by entities affiliated with governmental entities.
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
The following tables present assets and liabilities included in our consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 that are recognized at fair value on a recurring basis, and indicate the fair value hierarchy utilized to determine such fair value:
 
September 30, 2018
 
Total Fair
Value
 
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
(in millions)
Cash equivalents
$
968

 
$
968

 
$
—

 
$
—

Nonqualified employee benefit trusts
20

 
20

 
—

 
—

Derivative assets
1

 
—

 
1

 
—

Derivative liabilities
(1
)
 
—

 
(1
)
 
—

Embedded derivative liability
(27
)
 
—

 
(27
)
 
—

 
December 31, 2017
 
Total Fair
Value
 
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
(in millions)
Cash equivalents
$
715

 
$
715

 
$
—

 
$
—

Nonqualified employee benefit trusts
19

 
19

 
—

 
—

Derivative assets
1

 
—

 
1

 
—

Derivative liabilities
(12
)
 
—

 
(12
)
 
—

Embedded derivative liability
(25
)
 
—

 
(25
)
 
—

Cash Equivalents
As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, our cash equivalents consisted primarily of U.S. and Canadian government obligations and money market mutual funds that invest in U.S. government obligations and other investment-grade securities.

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Nonqualified Employee Benefit Trusts
We maintain trusts associated with certain nonqualified supplemental pension plans. The fair values of the trust assets are based on daily quoted prices in an active market, which represent the net asset values of the shares held in the trusts, and are included on our consolidated balance sheets in other assets. Debt securities are accounted for as available-for-sale securities. In 2018, as a result of our adoption of ASU 2016-01 on January 1, 2018, changes in the fair value of equity securities in the trust assets are recognized through earnings. See Note 2—New Accounting Standards for additional information.
Derivative Instruments
The derivative instruments that we use are primarily natural gas fixed price swaps, natural gas basis swaps and natural gas options traded in the over-the-counter (OTC) markets with multinational commercial banks, other major financial institutions or large energy companies. The natural gas derivative contracts represent anticipated natural gas needs for future periods and settlements are scheduled to coincide with anticipated natural gas purchases during those future periods. The natural gas derivative contracts settle using primarily NYMEX futures prices. To determine the fair value of these instruments, we use quoted market prices from NYMEX and standard pricing models with inputs derived from or corroborated by observable market data such as forward curves supplied by an industry-recognized independent third party. See Note 13—Derivative Financial Instruments for additional information.
Embedded Derivative Liability
Under the terms of our strategic venture with CHS Inc. (CHS), if our credit rating as determined by two of three specified credit rating agencies is below certain levels, we are required to make a non-refundable yearly payment of $5 million to CHS. Since our credit ratings were below certain levels in 2016 and 2017, we made a payment of $5 million to CHS in each year. These payments will continue on a yearly basis until the earlier of the date that our credit rating is upgraded to or above certain levels by two of the three specified credit rating agencies or February 1, 2026. This obligation is recognized on our consolidated balance sheets as an embedded derivative. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the embedded derivative liability of $27 million and $25 million, respectively, is included in other current liabilities and other liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets. The inputs into the fair value measurement include the probability of future upgrades and downgrades of our credit rating based on historical credit rating movements of other public companies and the discount rates to be applied to potential annual payments based on applicable credit spreads of other public companies at different credit rating levels. Based on these inputs, our fair value measurement is classified as Level 2. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, we recognized charges of $2 million and $4 million, respectively, related to the embedded derivative, which are included in other operating—net in our consolidated statements of operations.
See Note 14—Noncontrolling Interests for additional information regarding our strategic venture with CHS.
Financial Instruments
The carrying amount and estimated fair value of our financial instruments are as follows:
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Fair Value
 
(in millions)
Long-term debt
$
4,697

 
$
4,570

 
$
4,692

 
$
4,800

The fair value of our long-term debt was based on quoted prices for identical or similar liabilities in markets that are not active or valuation models in which all significant inputs and value drivers are observable and, as a result, they are classified as Level 2 inputs.
The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, as well as instruments included in other current assets and other current liabilities that meet the definition of financial instruments, approximate fair values because of their short-term maturities.

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Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
We also have assets and liabilities that may be measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis; that is, the assets and liabilities are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis, but are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances, such as when there is evidence of impairment, when there is allocation of purchase price in an acquisition or when a new liability is being established that requires fair value measurement. These include long-lived assets, goodwill and other intangible assets and investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries, such as equity method investments, which may be written down to fair value as a result of impairment. The fair value measurements related to each of these rely primarily on Company-specific inputs and the Company’s assumptions about the use of the assets. Since certain of the Company’s assumptions would involve inputs that are not observable, these fair values would reside within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
10.   Income Taxes
For the three months ended September 30, 2018, we recorded an income tax provision of $12 million on pre-tax income of $83 million, or an effective tax rate of 15.3%, compared to an income tax benefit of $47 million on pre-tax loss of $115 million, or an effective tax rate of 40.9%, for the three months ended September 30, 2017.
Our effective tax rate in 2018 is based on the U.S. federal tax rate of 21% as a result of the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on December 22, 2017, as compared to the U.S. federal tax rate of 35% that was applicable in 2017.
Our effective tax rate is impacted by earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests in CF Industries Nitrogen, LLC (CFN) and in the third quarter of 2017 by earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interests in Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P. (TNCLP), as our consolidated income tax provision (benefit) does not include a tax provision on the earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interests. Our effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2018 of 15.3%, which is based on pre-tax income of $83 million, would be 29.4% exclusive of the earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interests of $41 million. Our effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2017 of 40.9%, which is based on pre-tax loss of $115 million, would be 35.2% exclusive of the earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interests of $19 million. See Note 14—Noncontrolling Interests for additional information.
During the fourth quarter of 2017, we recorded the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that was enacted on December 22, 2017, including a provisional amount for the impact of the transition tax liability based on amounts reasonably estimable. A $12 million increase to the transition tax liability was recorded in the third quarter of 2018 to reflect changes in the computation of the allowable foreign tax credit against the transition tax liability, as well as the allocation of certain gains and losses among various foreign tax credit baskets. The adjustment to the provisional amount represents an approximate 15% increase to our effective tax rate for the period. Our effective tax rate for the period was also impacted by a decrease in the annualized effective tax rate. The provisional amount may be adjusted as more information becomes available prior to the end of the one-year measurement period in December 2018.
The income tax benefit of $47 million in the third quarter of 2017 was impacted by a $5 million increase to our deferred tax liability resulting from the enactment of a tax rate increase by the State of Illinois.
During the third quarter of 2016, one of our Canadian subsidiaries received a Notice of Reassessment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for tax years 2006 through 2009 asserting a disallowance of certain patronage allocations. The tax assessment of CAD $174 million (or approximately $135 million), including provincial taxes but excluding any interest or penalties, is the result of an audit that was initiated by the CRA in January 2010 and involves the sole issue of whether certain patronage allocations meet the requirements for deductibility under the Income Tax Act of Canada. The reassessment has been appealed and a letter of credit in the amount of CAD $87 million (or approximately $67 million) has been posted. We believe that it is more likely than not that the patronage allocation deduction will ultimately be sustained. In the event that we do not prevail in the appeal, we should be entitled to a U.S. foreign tax credit against any incremental Canadian tax paid. This issue is currently under review by the competent authorities of Canada and the United States.

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11.   Interest Expense
Details of interest expense are as follows:
 
Three months ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine months ended 
 September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
(in millions)
Interest on borrowings(1)
$
57

 
$
76

 
$
171

 
$
228

Fees on financing agreements(1)
3

 
5

 
10

 
13

Interest on tax liabilities
(1
)
 
1

 
—

 
2

Interest capitalized
—

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
(2
)
Total interest expense
$
59

 
$
81

 
$
180

 
$
241

_______________________________________________________________________________
(1) 
See Note 12—Financing Agreements for additional information.
12.  Financing Agreements
Revolving Credit Agreement
We have a senior secured revolving credit agreement (the Revolving Credit Agreement) providing for a revolving credit facility of up to $750 million with a maturity of September 18, 2020. The Revolving Credit Agreement includes a letter of credit sub-limit of $125 million. Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement may be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. CF Industries, the borrower under the Revolving Credit Agreement, may also designate as borrowers one or more wholly owned subsidiaries that are organized in the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia.
Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement may be denominated in dollars, Canadian dollars, euros and British pounds, and bear interest at a per annum rate equal to an applicable eurocurrency rate or base rate plus, in either case, a specified margin, and the borrowers are required to pay an undrawn commitment fee on the undrawn portion of the commitments under the Revolving Credit Agreement and customary letter of credit fees. The specified margin and the amount of the commitment fee depend on CF Holdings’ credit rating at the time.
The guarantors under the Revolving Credit Agreement are currently comprised of CF Holdings and CF Holdings’ wholly owned subsidiaries CF Industries Enterprises, LLC (CFE), CF Industries Sales, LLC (CFS) and CF USA Holdings, LLC (CF USA).
As of September 30, 2018, we had excess borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Agreement of $745 million (net of outstanding letters of credit of $5 million). There were no borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Credit Agreement as of September 30, 2018 or December 31, 2017, or during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
The Revolving Credit Agreement contains representations and warranties and affirmative and negative covenants, including financial covenants. As of September 30, 2018, we were in compliance with all covenants under the Revolving Credit Agreement.
Letters of Credit
In addition to the letters of credit outstanding under the Revolving Credit Agreement, as described above, we have also entered into a bilateral agreement with capacity to issue letters of credit up to $125 million (reflecting an increase of $50 million in March 2018). As of September 30, 2018, approximately $120 million of letters of credit were outstanding under this agreement.

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Senior Notes
Long-term debt presented on our consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 consisted of the following Public Senior Notes (unsecured) and Senior Secured Notes issued by CF Industries:
 
Effective Interest Rate
 
September 30,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
 
 
Principal
 
Carrying Amount (1)
 
Principal
 
Carrying Amount (1)
 
 
 
(in millions)
Public Senior Notes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7.125% due May 2020
7.529%
 
$
500

 
$
497

 
$
500

 
$
496

3.450% due June 2023
3.562%
 
750

 
746

 
750

 
746

5.150% due March 2034
5.279%
 
750

 
740

 
750

 
739

4.950% due June 2043
5.031%
 
750

 
742

 
750

 
741

5.375% due March 2044
5.465%
 
750

 
741

 
750

 
741

Senior Secured Notes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.400% due December 2021
3.782%
 
500

 
494

 
500

 
493

4.500% due December 2026
4.759%
 
750

 
737

 
750

 
736

Total long-term debt
 
 
$
4,750

 
$
4,697

 
$
4,750

 
$
4,692

_______________________________________________________________________________
(1) 
Carrying amount is net of unamortized debt discount and deferred debt issuance costs. Total unamortized debt discount was $11 million and $12 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, and total deferred debt issuance costs were $42 million and $46 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. 
Public Senior Notes
Under the indentures (including the applicable supplemental indentures) governing the senior notes due 2020, 2023, 2034, 2043 and 2044 identified in the table above (the Public Senior Notes), each series of Public Senior Notes is guaranteed by CF Holdings and CF Holdings’ wholly owned subsidiaries CFE, CFS and CF USA. CFE, CFS and CF USA became subsidiary guarantors of the Public Senior Notes as a result of their becoming guarantors under the Revolving Credit Agreement. Interest on the Public Senior Notes is payable semiannually, and the Public Senior Notes are redeemable at our option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at specified make-whole redemption prices.
Senior Secured Notes
On November 21, 2016, CF Industries issued $500 million aggregate principal amount of 3.400% senior secured notes due 2021 (the 2021 Notes) and $750 million aggregate principal amount of 4.500% senior secured notes due 2026 (the 2026 Notes, and together with the 2021 Notes, the Senior Secured Notes). CF Holdings and the subsidiary guarantors of the Public Senior Notes are also guarantors of the Senior Secured Notes. Interest on the Senior Secured Notes is payable semiannually on December 1 and June 1 beginning on June 1, 2017, and the Senior Secured Notes are redeemable at our option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at specified make-whole redemption prices.
13.   Derivative Financial Instruments
We use derivative financial instruments primarily to reduce our exposure to changes in commodity prices.
Natural gas is the largest and most volatile component of the manufacturing cost for nitrogen-based products. We manage the risk of changes in natural gas prices primarily through the use of derivative financial instruments. The derivatives that we use for this purpose are primarily natural gas fixed price swaps, natural gas basis swaps and natural gas options traded in the OTC markets. These natural gas derivatives settle using primarily a NYMEX futures price index, which represents the basis for fair value at any given time. We enter into natural gas derivative contracts with respect to natural gas to be consumed by us in the future, and settlements of those derivative contracts are scheduled to coincide with our anticipated purchases of natural gas used to manufacture nitrogen products during those future periods. We use natural gas derivatives as an economic hedge of natural gas price risk, but without the application of hedge accounting. As a result, changes in fair value of these contracts are recognized in earnings. As of September 30, 2018, we had natural gas NYMEX fixed price swaps covering periods through December 2018 and natural gas basis swaps covering certain periods through March 2019.

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As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had open natural gas derivative contracts, including natural gas fixed price swaps and natural gas basis swaps, for 16.0 million MMBtus (millions of British thermal units) and 35.9 million MMBtus, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we used natural gas NYMEX fixed price swaps to cover approximately 9% of our natural gas consumption.
The effect of derivatives in our consolidated statements of operations is shown in the table below.
 
Gain (loss) recognized in income
 
 
 
Three months ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine months ended 
 September 30,
Location
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
 
(in millions)
Natural gas derivatives
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized net gains (losses)
Cost of sales
 
$
3

 
$
7

 
$
11

 
$
(64
)
Realized net losses
Cost of sales
 
(3
)
 
(11
)
 
(7
)
 
(13
)
Net derivative (losses) gains
 
 
$
—

 
$
(4
)
 
$
4

 
$
(77
)
The fair values of derivatives on our consolidated balance sheets are shown below. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, none of our derivative instruments were designated as hedging instruments. See Note 9—Fair Value Measurements for additional information on derivative fair values.
 
Asset Derivatives
 
Liability Derivatives
 
Balance Sheet
Location
 
September 30,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
 
Balance Sheet
Location
 
September 30,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
 
 
 
(in millions)
 
 
 
(in millions)
Natural gas derivatives
Other current assets
 
$
1

 
$
1

 
Other current liabilities
 
$
(1
)
 
$
(12
)
Most of our International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) agreements contain credit-risk-related contingent features such as cross default provisions and credit support thresholds. In the event of certain defaults or a credit ratings downgrade, our counterparty may request early termination and net settlement of certain derivative trades or may require us to collateralize derivatives in a net liability position. The Revolving Credit Agreement, at any time when it is secured, provides a cross collateral feature for those of our derivatives that are with counterparties that are party to, or affiliates of parties to, the Revolving Credit Agreement so that no separate collateral would be required for those counterparties in connection with such derivatives. In the event the Revolving Credit Agreement becomes unsecured, separate collateral could be required in connection with such derivatives. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the aggregate fair value of the derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features in net liability positions was $1 million and $12 million, respectively, which also approximates the fair value of the maximum amount of additional collateral that would need to be posted or assets needed to settle the obligations if the credit-risk-related contingent features were triggered at the reporting dates. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had no cash collateral on deposit with counterparties for derivative contracts. The credit support documents executed in connection with certain of our ISDA agreements generally provide us and our counterparties the right to set off collateral against amounts owing under the ISDA agreements upon the occurrence of a default or a specified termination event.

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The following table presents amounts relevant to offsetting of our derivative assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:
 
Amounts
presented in
consolidated
balance
sheets(1)
 
Gross amounts not offset in consolidated balance sheets
 
 
 
 
Financial
instruments
 
Cash
collateral
received
(pledged)
 
Net
amount
 
(in millions)
September 30, 2018
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Total derivative assets
$
1

 
$
1

 
$
—

 
$
—

Total derivative liabilities
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
—

 
—

Net derivative liabilities
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

December 31, 2017
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Total derivative assets
$
1

 
$
1

 
$
—

 
$
—

Total derivative liabilities
(12
)
 
(1
)
 
—

 
(11
)
Net derivative liabilities
$
(11
)
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
(11
)
_______________________________________________________________________________
(1) 
We report the fair values of our derivative assets and liabilities on a gross basis on our consolidated balance sheets. As a result, the gross amounts recognized and net amounts presented in the table above are the same.
We do not believe the contractually allowed netting, close-out netting or setoff of amounts owed to, or due from, the counterparties to our ISDA agreements would have a material effect on our financial position.

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14.   Noncontrolling Interests
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of noncontrolling interests and distributions payable to noncontrolling interests in our consolidated balance sheets is provided below.
 
Nine months ended 
 September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
CFN
 
TNCLP
 
Total
 
CFN
 
TNCLP
 
Total
 
(in millions)
Noncontrolling interests:
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Beginning balance
$
2,772

 
$
333

 
$
3,105

 
$
2,806

 
$
338

 
$
3,144

Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests
84

 
8

 
92

 
40

 
14

 
54

Declaration of distributions payable
(129
)
 
(10
)
 
(139
)
 
(107
)
 
(18
)
 
(125
)
Purchase of the Public Units
—


(331
)
 
(331
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

Ending balance
$
2,727

 
$
—

 
$
2,727

 
$
2,739

 
$
334

 
$
3,073

Distributions payable to noncontrolling interests:
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Beginning balance
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

Declaration of distributions payable
129

 
10

 
139

 
107

 
18

 
125

Distributions to noncontrolling interests
(129
)
 
(10
)
 
(139
)
 
(107
)
 
(18
)
 
(125
)
Ending balance
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

CF Industries Nitrogen, LLC (CFN)
We have a strategic venture with CHS under which they own an equity interest in CFN, a subsidiary of CF Holdings, which represents approximately 11% of the membership interest of CFN. We own the remaining membership interest. Under the terms of CFN’s limited liability company agreement, each member’s interest will reflect, over time, the impact of the profitability of CFN and any member contributions made to, and distributions received from, CFN. For financial reporting purposes, the assets, liabilities and earnings of the strategic venture are consolidated into our financial statements. CHS’ interest in the strategic venture is recorded in noncontrolling interests in our consolidated financial statements. CHS also receives deliveries pursuant to a supply agreement under which CHS has the right to purchase annually from CFN up to approximately 1.1 million tons of granular urea and 580,000 tons of UAN at market prices. As a result of its equity interest in CFN, CHS is entitled to semi-annual cash distributions from CFN. We are also entitled to semi-annual cash distributions from CFN. The amounts of distributions from CFN to us and CHS are based generally on the profitability of CFN and determined based on the volume of granular urea and UAN sold by CFN to us and CHS pursuant to supply agreements, less a formula driven amount based primarily on the cost of natural gas used to produce the granular urea and UAN, and adjusted for the allocation of items such as operational efficiencies and overhead amounts. Additionally, under the terms of the strategic venture, we recognized an embedded derivative related to our credit rating. See Note 9—Fair Value Measurements for additional information.
Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P. (TNCLP)
On February 7, 2018, we announced that, in accordance with the terms of TNCLP’s First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership, the TNCLP Agreement of Limited Partnership), Terra Nitrogen GP Inc. (TNGP), the sole general partner of TNCLP and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of CF Holdings, elected to exercise its right to purchase all of the 4,612,562 publicly traded common units of TNCLP (the Public Units). TNGP completed its purchase of the Public Units on April 2, 2018 (the Purchase) for an aggregate cash purchase price of $388 million, which was recognized as a reduction in paid-in capital of $62 million; a deferred tax liability of $5 million; and the removal of the TNCLP noncontrolling interests, as shown in the table above. Upon completion of the Purchase, CF Holdings owned, through its subsidiaries, 100 percent of the general and limited partnership interests of TNCLP.

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Prior to April 2, 2018, TNCLP was a master limited partnership that owned a nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing facility in Verdigris, Oklahoma. We owned approximately 75.3% of TNCLP through general and limited partnership interests and outside investors owned the remaining approximately 24.7% of the limited partnership. For financial reporting purposes, the assets, liabilities and earnings of the partnership were consolidated into our financial statements. The outside investors’ limited partnership interests in the partnership were recorded in noncontrolling interests in our consolidated financial statements. The noncontrolling interest represents the noncontrolling unitholders’ interest (prior to the Purchase) in the earnings and equity of TNCLP. Affiliates of CF Industries were required to purchase all of TNCLP’s fertilizer products at market prices as defined in the Amendment to the General and Administrative Services and Product Offtake Agreement, dated September 28, 2010.
Prior to April 2, 2018, TNCLP made cash distributions to the general and limited partners based on formulas defined within the TNCLP Agreement of Limited Partnership. Cash available for distribution (Available Cash) was defined in the TNCLP Agreement of Limited Partnership generally as all cash receipts less all cash disbursements, less certain reserves (including reserves for future operating and capital needs) established as the general partner determined in its reasonable discretion to be necessary or appropriate. Changes in working capital affected Available Cash, as increases in the amount of cash invested in working capital items (such as increases in receivables or inventory and decreases in accounts payable) reduced Available Cash, while declines in the amount of cash invested in working capital items increased Available Cash. Cash distributions to the limited partners and general partner varied depending on the extent to which the cumulative distributions exceeded certain target threshold levels set forth in the TNCLP Agreement of Limited Partnership.
In each of the first, second and third quarters of 2017, the minimum quarterly distributions under the TNCLP Agreement of Limited Partnership were satisfied, which entitled TNGP to receive incentive distributions on its general partner interests (in addition to minimum quarterly distributions). TNGP assigned its right to receive such incentive distributions to an affiliate of TNGP that was also an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of CF Holdings. The earnings attributed to our general partner interest in excess of the threshold levels for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $19 million.

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15.   Stockholders’ Equity
Treasury Stock
On August 1, 2018, our board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to $500 million of CF Holdings common stock through June 30, 2020. Repurchases under this program may be made from time to time in the open market, through privately negotiated transactions, block transactions or otherwise. The manner, timing and amount of repurchases will be determined by our management based on the evaluation of market conditions, stock price, and other factors.

In the third quarter of 2018, we repurchased 1.8 million shares for $91 million, of which $4 million was accrued but unpaid at September 30, 2018. At September 30, 2018, we held 1,824,835 shares of treasury stock.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Changes to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are as follows:
 
Foreign
Currency
Translation
Adjustment
 
Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
on
Securities
 
Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
on
Derivatives
 
Defined
Benefit
Plans
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
(in millions)
Balance as of December 31, 2016
$
(272
)
 
$
1

 
$
5

 
$
(132
)
 
$
(398
)
Gain arising during the period
—

 
—

 
—

 
7

 
7

Reclassification to earnings
—

 
—

 
—

 
1

 
1

Effect of exchange rate changes and deferred taxes
124

 
—

 
—

 
(9
)
 
115

Balance as of September 30, 2017
$
(148
)
 
$
1

 
$
5

 
$
(133
)
 
$
(275
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance as of December 31, 2017
$
(145
)
 
$
1

 
$
4

 
$
(123
)
 
$
(263
)
Adoption of ASU No. 2016-01(1)
—

 
(1
)
 
—

 
—

 
(1
)
Unrealized loss
—

 
(1
)
 
—

 
—

 
(1
)
Gain arising during the period
—

 
—

 
—

 
5

 
5

Reclassification to earnings
—

 
—

 
—

 
1

 
1

Effect of exchange rate changes and deferred taxes
(50
)
 
—

 
—

 
1

 
(49
)
Balance as of September 30, 2018
$
(195
)
 
$
(1
)
 
$
4

 
$
(116
)
 
$
(308
)
____________________________________________________________________________
(1) 
See Note 2—New Accounting Standards for additional information.
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to earnings during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:
 
Three months ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine months ended 
 September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
(in millions)
Defined Benefit Plans
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Amortization of prior service (benefit) cost(1)
$
(1
)
 
$
(1
)
 
$
(1
)
 
$
(1
)
Amortization of net loss(1)
1

 
2

 
2

 
2

Total before tax
—

 
1

 
1

 
1

Tax effect
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Net of tax
$
—

 
$
1

 
$
1

 
$
1

Total reclassifications for the period
$
—

 
$
1

 
$
1

 
$
1

____________________________________________________________________________
(1) 
These components are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost and were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into other non-operating costs.

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16.  Contingencies
Litigation
West Fertilizer Co.
On April 17, 2013, there was a fire and explosion at the West Fertilizer Co. fertilizer storage and distribution facility in West, Texas. According to published reports, 15 people were killed and approximately 200 people were injured in the incident, and the fire and explosion damaged or destroyed a number of homes and buildings around the facility. Various subsidiaries of CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (the CF Entities) have been named as defendants along with other companies in lawsuits filed in 2013, 2014 and 2015 in the District Court of McLennan County, Texas by the City of West, individual residents of the County and other parties seeking recovery for damages allegedly sustained as a result of the explosion. The cases have been consolidated for discovery and pretrial proceedings in the District Court of McLennan County under the caption “In re: West Explosion Cases.” The two-year statute of limitations expired on April 17, 2015. As of that date, over 400 plaintiffs had filed claims, including at least 9 entities, 325 individuals, and 80 insurance companies. Plaintiffs allege various theories of negligence, strict liability, and breach of warranty under Texas law. Although we do not own or operate the facility or directly sell our products to West Fertilizer Co., products that the CF Entities have manufactured and sold to others have been delivered to the facility and may have been stored at the West facility at the time of the incident.
The Court granted in part and denied in part the CF Entities’ Motions for Summary Judgment in August 2015. Over two hundred cases have been resolved pursuant to confidential settlements that have been or we expect will be fully funded by insurance. The remaining cases are in various stages of discovery and pre-trial proceedings. There is no trial date currently set; however, we anticipate that the Court will schedule a trial sometime in mid-2019. We believe we have strong legal and factual defenses and intend to continue defending the CF Entities vigorously in the pending lawsuits. The Company cannot provide a range of reasonably possible loss due to the lack of damages discovery for many of the remaining claims and the uncertain nature of this litigation, including uncertainties around the potential allocation of responsibility by a jury to other defendants or responsible third parties. The recognition of a potential loss in the future in the West Fertilizer Co. litigation could negatively affect our results in the period of recognition. However, based upon currently available information, including available insurance coverage, we do not believe that this litigation will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Other Litigation
From time to time, we are subject to ordinary, routine legal proceedings related to the usual conduct of our business, including proceedings regarding public utility and transportation rates, environmental matters, taxes and permits relating to the operations of our various plants and facilities. Based on the information available as of the date of this filing, we believe that the ultimate outcome of these routine matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Environmental
Louisiana Environmental Matters
Clean Air Act—Ozone Attainment Designation
Our Donaldsonville nitrogen complex is located in a five-parish region near Baton Rouge, Louisiana. On December 15, 2016, the EPA redesignated the Baton Rouge Nonattainment Area as “attainment” with respect to the 2008 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). However, based on 2013-2015 air quality monitoring data, the State of Louisiana recommended that the EPA designate the Baton Rouge area as “non-attainment” pursuant to the updated 2015 8-hour ozone standard. On December 20, 2017, the EPA notified the state of Louisiana that it intends to designate the Baton Rouge area as non-attainment for the 2015 ozone standard. On January 5, 2018, the EPA published notice of a public comment period with respect to the proposed attainment/non-attainment designations of certain air quality regions, including the Baton Rouge area. The EPA subsequently determined, based on certified air emissions data for calendar year 2017, that the air quality monitors for the Baton Rouge area are attaining the 2015 standard. As a result, on April 30, 2018, the EPA Administrator signed a notice designating the Baton Rouge area as “attainment/unclassifiable” with respect to the 2015 ozone standard. Designation of the Baton Rouge area as nonattainment with respect to the 2015 ozone standard could have resulted in more stringent air pollution emissions limits for our existing operation and would have subjected our facilities to more stringent requirements to obtain approvals for plant expansions, or made it more difficult to obtain such approvals.

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Other
CERCLA/Remediation Matters
From time to time, we receive notices from governmental agencies or third parties alleging that we are a potentially responsible party at certain cleanup sites under CERCLA or other environmental cleanup laws. In 2011, we received a notice from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) that alleged that we were a potentially responsible party for the cleanup of a former phosphate mine site we owned in the late 1950s and early 1960s located in Georgetown Canyon, Idaho. The current owner of the property and a former mining contractor received similar notices for the site. In 2014, we and the current property owner entered into a Consent Order with IDEQ and the U.S. Forest Service to conduct a remedial investigation and feasibility study of the site. In 2015, we and several other parties received a notice that the U.S. Department of the Interior and other trustees intend to undertake a natural resource damage assessment for 17 former phosphate mines in southeast Idaho, one of which is the former Georgetown Canyon mine. We are not able to estimate at this time our potential liability, if any, with respect to the cleanup of the site or a possible claim for natural resource damages. However, based on currently available information, we do not expect the remedial or financial obligations to which we may be subject involving this or other cleanup sites will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

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17.  Segment Disclosures
Our reportable segments consist of ammonia, granular urea, UAN, AN and Other. These segments are differentiated by products. Our management uses gross margin to evaluate segment performance and allocate resources. Total other operating costs and expenses (consisting of selling, general and administrative expenses and other operating—net) and non-operating expenses (interest and income taxes) are centrally managed and are not included in the measurement of segment profitability reviewed by management.
Our assets, with the exception of goodwill, are not monitored by or reported to our chief operating decision maker by segment; therefore, we do not present total assets by segment. Goodwill by segment is presented in Note 7—Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.
Segment data for sales, cost of sales and gross margin for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 are presented in the tables below.
 
Ammonia(2)
 
Granular
Urea(1)
 
UAN(1)(2)
 
AN(1)
 
Other(1)
 
Consolidated(2)
 
(in millions)
Three months ended September 30, 2018
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Net sales
$
192

 
$
353

 
$
270

 
$
139

 
$
86

 
$
1,040

Cost of sales
181

 
238

 
243

 
129

 
76

 
867

Gross margin
$
11

 
$
115

 
$
27

 
$
10

 
$
10

 
173

Total other operating costs and expenses
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
42

Equity in earnings of operating affiliates
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
5

Operating earnings
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
$
136

Three months ended September 30, 2017
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Net sales
$
194

 
$
228

 
$
243

 
$
135

 
$
70

 
$
870

Cost of sales
203

 
220

 
252

 
123

 
61

 
859

Gross margin
$
(9
)
 
$
8

 
$
(9
)
 
$
12

 
$
9

 
11

Total other operating costs and expenses
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
43

Equity in losses of operating affiliates
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
(5
)
Operating loss
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
$
(37
)
 
Ammonia(2)
 
Granular
Urea(1)(2)
 
UAN(1)(2)
 
AN(1)
 
Other(1)
 
Consolidated(2)
 
.
Nine months ended September 30, 2018
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Net sales
$
778

 
$
977

 
$
892

 
$
363

 
$
287

 
$
3,297

Cost of sales
641

 
682

 
731

 
320

 
248

 
2,622

Gross margin
$
137

 
$
295

 
$
161

 
$
43

 
$
39

 
675

Total other operating costs and expenses
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
134

Equity in earnings of operating affiliates
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
30

Operating earnings
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
$
571

Nine months ended September 30, 2017
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Net sales
$
865

 
$
725

 
$
846

 
$
372

 
$
223

 
$
3,031

Cost of sales
770

 
667

 
781

 
331

 
191

 
2,740

Gross margin
$
95

 
$
58

 
$
65

 
$
41

 
$
32

 
291

Total other operating costs and expenses
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
154

Equity in losses of operating affiliates
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
(8
)
Operating earnings
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
$
129

_______________________________________________________________________________
(1) 
The cost of the products that are upgraded into other products is transferred at cost into the upgraded product results.
(2) 
As a result of our adoption of ASU No. 2017-07 on January 1, 2018, cost of sales and gross margin were updated for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017. See Note 2—New Accounting Standards for additional information.

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18.   Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements
The following condensed consolidating financial information is presented in accordance with SEC Regulation S-X Rule 3-10, Financial statements of guarantors and issuers of guaranteed securities registered or being registered, and relates to (i) the senior notes due 2020, 2023, 2034, 2043 and 2044 (described in Note 12—Financing Agreements and referred to in this report as the Public Senior Notes) issued by CF Industries, Inc. (CF Industries), a 100% owned subsidiary of CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (Parent), and guarantees of the Public Senior Notes by Parent and by CFE, CFS and CF USA (the Subsidiary Guarantors), which are 100% owned subsidiaries of Parent, and (ii) debt securities of CF Industries (Other Debt Securities), and guarantees thereof by Parent and the Subsidiary Guarantors, that may be offered and sold from time to time under registration statements that may be filed by Parent, CF Industries and the Subsidiary Guarantors with the SEC.
In the event that a subsidiary of Parent, other than CF Industries, becomes a borrower or a guarantor under the Revolving Credit Agreement (or any renewal, replacement or refinancing thereof), such subsidiary would be required to become a guarantor of the Public Senior Notes, provided that such requirement will no longer apply with respect to the Public Senior Notes due 2023, 2034, 2043 and 2044 following the repayment of the Public Senior Notes due 2020 or the subsidiaries of Parent, other than CF Industries, otherwise becoming no longer subject to such a requirement to guarantee the Public Senior Notes due 2020. The Subsidiary Guarantors became guarantors of the Public Senior Notes as a result of this requirement.
All of the guarantees of the Public Senior Notes are, and we have assumed for purposes of this presentation of condensed consolidating financial information that the guarantees of any Other Debt Securities would be, full and unconditional (as such term is defined in SEC Regulation S-X Rule 3-10(h)) and joint and several. The guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor will be automatically released with respect to a series of the Public Senior Notes (1) upon the release, discharge or termination of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s guarantee of the Revolving Credit Agreement (or any renewal, replacement or refinancing thereof), (2) upon legal defeasance with respect to the Public Senior Notes of such series or satisfaction and discharge of the indenture with respect to such series of Public Senior Notes or (3) in the case of the Public Senior Notes due 2023, 2034, 2043 and 2044, upon the discharge, termination or release of, or the release of such Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under, such Subsidiary Guarantor’s guarantee of the Public Senior Notes due 2020, including, without limitation, any such discharge, termination or release as a result of retirement, discharge or legal or covenant defeasance of, or satisfaction and discharge of the supplemental indenture governing, the Public Senior Notes due 2020.
For purposes of the presentation of condensed consolidating financial information, the subsidiaries of Parent other than CF Industries and the Subsidiary Guarantors are referred to as the Non-Guarantors.
Presented below are condensed consolidating statements of operations for Parent, CF Industries, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Non-Guarantors for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, condensed consolidating statements of cash flows for Parent, CF Industries, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Non-Guarantors for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, and condensed consolidating balance sheets for Parent, CF Industries, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Non-Guarantors as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. The condensed consolidating financial information presented below is not necessarily indicative of the financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income or cash flows of Parent, CF Industries, the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Non-Guarantors on a stand-alone basis.
In these condensed consolidating financial statements, investments in subsidiaries are presented under the equity method, in which our investments are recorded at cost and adjusted for our ownership share of a subsidiary’s cumulative results of operations, distributions and other equity changes, and the eliminating entries reflect primarily intercompany transactions such as sales, accounts receivable and accounts payable and the elimination of equity investments and earnings of subsidiaries. As of September 30, 2018, two of our consolidated entities have made elections to be taxed as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes and are included in the Non-Guarantors column. Due to the partnership tax treatment, these subsidiaries do not record taxes on their financial statements. The tax provision pertaining to the income of these partnerships, plus applicable deferred tax balances are reflected on the financial statements of the parent company owner that is included in the Subsidiary Guarantors column in the following financial information. Liabilities related to benefit plan obligations are reflected on the legal entity that funds the obligation, while the benefit plan expense is included on the legal entity to which the employee provides services.

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Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
 
Three months ended September 30, 2018
 
Parent
 
CF Industries
 
Subsidiary Guarantors
 
Non-Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
(in millions)
Net sales
$
—

 
$
69

 
$
788

 
$
885

 
$
(702
)
 
$
1,040

Cost of sales
—

 
56

 
763

 
750

 
(702
)
 
867

Gross margin
—

 
13

 
25

 
135

 
—

 
173

Selling, general and administrative expenses
2

 
(2
)
 
37

 
16

 
—

 
53

Other operating—net
—

 
(4
)
 
2

 
(9
)
 
—

 
(11
)
Total other operating costs and expenses
2

 
(6
)
 
39

 
7

 
—

 
42

Equity in earnings of operating affiliates
—

 
—

 
—

 
5

 
—

 
5

Operating (loss) earnings
(2
)
 
19

 
(14
)
 
133

 
—

 
136

Interest expense
—

 
60

 
3

 
1

 
(5
)
 
59

Interest income
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
(2
)
 
(5
)
 
5

 
(4
)
Net earnings of wholly owned subsidiaries
(31
)
 
(63
)
 
(99
)
 
—

 
193

 
—

Other non-operating—net
—

 
—

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
—

 
(2
)
Earnings before income taxes
30

 
23

 
85

 
138

 
(193
)
 
83

Income tax (benefit) provision
—

 
(8
)
 
20

 
—

 
—

 
12

Net earnings
30

 
31

 
65

 
138

 
(193
)
 
71

Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
—

 
41

 
—

 
41

Net earnings attributable to common stockholders
$
30

 
$
31

 
$
65

 
$
97

 
$
(193
)
 
$
30


Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income
 
Three months ended September 30, 2018
 
Parent
 
CF Industries
 
Subsidiary Guarantors
 
Non-Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
(in millions)
Net earnings
$
30

 
$
31

 
$
65

 
$
138

 
$
(193
)
 
$
71

Other comprehensive income (loss)
1

 
1

 
4

 
(1
)
 
(4
)
 
1

Comprehensive income
31

 
32

 
69

 
137

 
(197
)
 
72

Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
—

 
41

 
—

 
41

Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders
$
31

 
$
32

 
$
69

 
$
96

 
$
(197
)
 
$
31


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Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2018
 
Parent
 
CF Industries
 
Subsidiary Guarantors
 
Non-Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
(in millions)
Net sales
$
—

 
$
259

 
$
2,563

 
$
2,688

 
$
(2,213
)
 
$
3,297

Cost of sales
—

 
215

 
2,401

 
2,211

 
(2,205
)
 
2,622

Gross margin
—

 
44

 
162

 
477

 
(8
)
 
675

Selling, general and administrative expenses
3

 
1

 
109

 
58

 
(8
)
 
163

Other operating—net
—

 
(12
)
 
—

 
(17
)
 
—

 
(29
)
Total other operating costs and expenses
3

 
(11
)
 
109

 
41

 
(8
)
 
134

Equity in earnings of operating affiliates
—

 
2

 
—

 
28

 
—

 
30

Operating (loss) earnings
(3
)
 
57

 
53

 
464

 
—

 
571

Interest expense
—

 
183

 
13

 
4

 
(20
)
 
180

Interest income
(2
)
 
(4
)
 
(7
)
 
(16
)
 
20

 
(9
)
Net earnings of wholly owned subsidiaries
(242
)
 
(338
)
 
(373
)
 
—

 
953

 
—

Other non-operating—net
—

 
—

 
(1
)
 
(5
)
 
—

 
(6
)
Earnings before income taxes
241

 
216

 
421

 
481

 
(953
)
 
406

Income tax (benefit) provision
—

 
(26
)
 
93

 
6

 
—

 
73

Net earnings
241

 
242

 
328

 
475

 
(953
)
 
333

Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
—

 
92

 
—

 
92

Net earnings attributable to common stockholders
$
241

 
$
242

 
$
328

 
$
383

 
$
(953
)
 
$
241


Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2018
 
Parent
 
CF Industries
 
Subsidiary Guarantors
 
Non-Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
(in millions)
Net earnings
$
241

 
$
242

 
$
328

 
$
475

 
$
(953
)
 
$
333

Other comprehensive loss
(45
)
 
(45
)
 
(30
)
 
(48
)
 
124

 
(44
)
Comprehensive income
196

 
197

 
298

 
427

 
(829
)
 
289

Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
—

 
92

 
—

 
92

Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders
$
196

 
$
197

 
$
298

 
$
335

 
$
(829
)
 
$
197


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Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
 
Three months ended September 30, 2017
 
Parent
 
CF Industries
 
Subsidiary Guarantors
 
Non-Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
(in millions)
Net sales
$
—

 
$
105

 
$
661

 
$
770

 
$
(666
)
 
$
870

Cost of sales
—

 
62

 
723

 
740

 
(666
)
 
859

Gross margin
—

 
43

 
(62
)
 
30

 
—

 
11

Selling, general and administrative expenses
1

 
(2
)
 
28

 
18

 
—

 
45

Other operating—net
—

 
(6
)
 
3

 
1

 
—

 
(2
)
Total other operating costs and expenses
1

 
(8
)
 
31

 
19

 
—

 
43

Equity in losses of operating affiliates
—

 
—

 
—

 
(5
)
 
—

 
(5
)
Operating (loss) earnings
(1
)
 
51

 
(93
)
 
6

 
—

 
(37
)
Interest expense
—

 
80

 
11

 
1

 
(11
)
 
81

Interest income
—

 
(8
)
 
(5
)
 
(3
)
 
11

 
(5
)
Net loss of wholly owned subsidiaries
86

 
73

 
13

 
—

 
(172
)
 
—

Other non-operating—net
—

 
—

 
2

 
—

 
—

 
2

(Loss) earnings before income taxes
(87
)
 
(94
)
 
(114
)
 
8

 
172

 
(115
)
Income tax (benefit) provision
—

 
(8
)
 
(44
)
 
5

 
—

 
(47
)
Net (loss) earnings
(87
)
 
(86
)
 
(70
)
 
3

 
172

 
(68
)
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
—

 
19

 
—

 
19

Net loss attributable to common stockholders
$
(87
)
 
$
(86
)
 
$
(70
)
 
$
(16
)
 
$
172

 
$
(87
)

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive (Loss) Income
 
Three months ended September 30, 2017
 
Parent
 
CF Industries
 
Subsidiary Guarantors
 
Non-Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
(in millions)
Net (loss) earnings
$
(87
)
 
$
(86
)
 
$
(70
)
 
$
3

 
$
172

 
$
(68
)
Other comprehensive income
50

 
49

 
36

 
49

 
(134
)
 
50

Comprehensive (loss) income
(37
)
 
(37
)
 
(34
)
 
52

 
38

 
(18
)
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
—

 
19

 
—

 
19

Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to common stockholders
$
(37
)
 
$
(37
)
 
$
(34
)
 
$
33

 
$
38

 
$
(37
)

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Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2017
 
Parent
 
CF Industries
 
Subsidiary Guarantors
 
Non-Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
(in millions)
Net sales
$
—

 
$
306

 
$
2,386

 
$
2,499

 
$
(2,160
)
 
$
3,031

Cost of sales
—

 
184

 
2,484

 
2,232

 
(2,160
)
 
2,740

Gross margin
—

 
122

 
(98
)
 
267

 
—

 
291

Selling, general and administrative expenses
3

 
3

 
83

 
51

 
—

 
140

Other operating—net
—

 
(8
)
 
5

 
17

 
—

 
14

Total other operating costs and expenses
3

 
(5
)
 
88

 
68

 
—

 
154

Equity in losses of operating affiliates
—

 
—

 
—

 
(8
)
 
—

 
(8
)
Operating (loss) earnings
(3
)
 
127

 
(186
)
 
191

 
—

 
129

Interest expense
—

 
241

 
31

 
4

 
(35
)
 
241

Interest income
—

 
(27
)
 
(7
)
 
(9
)
 
35

 
(8
)
Net loss (earnings) of wholly owned subsidiaries
105

 
49

 
(127
)
 
—

 
(27
)
 
—

Other non-operating—net
—

 
—

 
4

 
—

 
—

 
4

(Loss) earnings before income taxes
(108
)
 
(136
)
 
(87
)
 
196

 
27

 
(108
)
Income tax (benefit) provision
(1
)
 
(31
)
 
(34
)
 
11

 
—

 
(55
)
Net (loss) earnings
(107
)
 
(105
)
 
(53
)
 
185

 
27

 
(53
)
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
—

 
54

 
—

 
54

Net (loss) earnings attributable to common stockholders
$
(107
)
 
$
(105
)
 
$
(53
)
 
$
131

 
$
27

 
$
(107
)

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2017
 
Parent
 
CF Industries
 
Subsidiary Guarantors
 
Non-Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
(in millions)
Net (loss) earnings
$
(107
)
 
$
(105
)
 
$
(53
)
 
$
185

 
$
27

 
$
(53
)
Other comprehensive income
123

 
122

 
85

 
117

 
(324
)
 
123

Comprehensive income
16

 
17

 
32

 
302

 
(297
)
 
70

Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
—

 
54

 
—

 
54

Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders
$
16

 
$
17

 
$
32

 
$
248

 
$
(297
)
 
$
16




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Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
 
September 30, 2018
 
Parent
 
CF Industries
 
Subsidiary Guarantors
 
Non- Guarantors
 
Eliminations
and
Reclassifications
 
Consolidated
 
(in millions)
Assets
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Current assets:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
$
53

 
$
42

 
$
459

 
$
468

 
$
—

 
$
1,022

Accounts and notes receivable—net
136

 
478

 
1,158

 
726

 
(2,225
)
 
273

Inventories
—

 
—

 
119

 
145

 
—

 
264

Prepaid income taxes
—

 
—

 
13

 
4

 
—

 
17

Other current assets
—

 
—

 
13

 
8

 
—

 
21

Total current assets
189

 
520

 
1,762

 
1,351

 
(2,225
)
 
1,597

Property, plant and equipment—net
—

 
—

 
120

 
8,652

 
—

 
8,772

Deferred income taxes
—

 
1

 
—

 
—

 
(1
)
 
—

Investments in affiliates
4,087

 
8,480

 
6,681

 
96

 
(19,248
)
 
96

Goodwill
—

 
—

 
2,064

 
297

 
—

 
2,361

Other assets
—

 
83

 
45

 
322

 
(120
)
 
330

Total assets
$
4,276

 
$
9,084

 
$
10,672

 
$
10,718

 
$
(21,594
)
 
$
13,156

Liabilities and Equity
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Current liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Accounts and notes payable and accrued expenses
$
840

 
$
285

 
$
1,227

 
$
340

 
$
(2,225
)
 
$
467

Customer advances
—

 
—

 
313

 
—

 
—

 
313

Other current liabilities
—

 
—

 
8

 
—

 
—

 
8

Total current liabilities
840

 
285

 
1,548

 
340

 
(2,225
)
 
788

Long-term debt
—

 
4,697

 
42

 
78

 
(120
)
 
4,697

Deferred income taxes
—

 
—

 
918

 
170

 
(1
)
 
1,087

Other liabilities
—

 
15

 
236

 
170

 
—

 
421

Equity:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Stockholders’ equity:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Preferred stock
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Common stock
2

 
—

 
—

 
5,248

 
(5,248
)
 
2

Paid-in capital
1,360

 
1,799

 
9,250

 
1,268

 
(12,317
)
 
1,360

Retained earnings
2,474

 
2,596

 
(1,104
)
 
978

 
(2,470
)
 
2,474

Treasury stock
(92
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(92
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(308
)
 
(308
)
 
(210
)
 
(269
)
 
787

 
(308
)
Total stockholders’ equity
3,436

 
4,087

 
7,936

 
7,225

 
(19,248
)
 
3,436

Noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
(8
)
 
2,735

 
—

 
2,727

Total equity
3,436

 
4,087

 
7,928

 
9,960

 
(19,248
)
 
6,163

Total liabilities and equity
$
4,276

 
$
9,084

 
$
10,672

 
$
10,718

 
$
(21,594
)
 
$
13,156


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CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC.



Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
 
December 31, 2017
 
Parent
 
CF Industries
 
Subsidiary Guarantors
 
Non- Guarantors
 
Eliminations
and
Reclassifications
 
Consolidated
 
(in millions)
Assets
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Current assets:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
$
—

 
$
15

 
$
388

 
$
432

 
$
—

 
$
835

Accounts and notes receivable—net
743

 
1,553

 
2,670

 
768

 
(5,427
)
 
307

Inventories
—

 
4

 
104

 
167

 
—

 
275

Prepaid income taxes
—

 
—

 
33

 
—

 
—

 
33

Other current assets
—

 
—

 
10

 
5

 
—

 
15

Total current assets
743

 
1,572

 
3,205

 
1,372

 
(5,427
)
 
1,465

Property, plant and equipment—net
—

 
—

 
123

 
9,052

 
—

 
9,175

Deferred income taxes
—

 
8

 
—

 
—

 
(8
)
 
—

Investments in affiliates
4,055

 
8,411

 
6,490

 
108

 
(18,956
)
 
108

Goodwill
—

 
—

 
2,063

 
308

 
—

 
2,371

Other assets
—

 
85

 
82

 
453

 
(276
)
 
344

Total assets
$
4,798

 
$
10,076

 
$
11,963

 
$
11,293

 
$
(24,667
)
 
$
13,463

Liabilities and Equity
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Current liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Accounts and notes payable and accrued expenses
$
1,219

 
$
1,314

 
$
2,658

 
$
708

 
$
(5,427
)
 
$
472

Income taxes payable
—

 
—

 
—

 
2

 
—

 
2

Customer advances
—

 
—

 
89

 
—

 
—

 
89

Other current liabilities
—

 
—

 
14

 
3

 
—

 
17

Total current liabilities
1,219

 
1,314

 
2,761

 
713

 
(5,427
)
 
580

Long-term debt
—

 
4,692

 
198

 
78

 
(276
)
 
4,692

Deferred income taxes
—

 
—

 
876

 
179

 
(8
)
 
1,047

Other liabilities
—

 
16

 
243

 
201

 
—

 
460

Equity:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Stockholders’ equity:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Preferred stock
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Common stock
2

 
—

 
—

 
4,738

 
(4,738
)
 
2

Paid-in capital
1,397

 
1,854

 
9,505

 
1,783

 
(13,142
)
 
1,397

Retained earnings
2,443

 
2,463

 
(1,432
)
 
709

 
(1,740
)
 
2,443

Treasury stock
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(263
)
 
(263
)
 
(180
)
 
(221
)
 
664

 
(263
)
Total stockholders’ equity
3,579

 
4,054

 
7,893

 
7,009

 
(18,956
)
 
3,579

Noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
(8
)
 
3,113

 
—

 
3,105

Total equity
3,579

 
4,054

 
7,885

 
10,122

 
(18,956
)
 
6,684

Total liabilities and equity
$
4,798

 
$
10,076

 
$
11,963

 
$
11,293

 
$
(24,667
)
 
$
13,463



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CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC.



Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2018
 
Parent
 
CF Industries
 
Subsidiary Guarantors
 
Non- Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
(in millions)
Operating Activities:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Net earnings
$
241

 
$
242

 
$
328

 
$
475

 
$
(953
)
 
$
333

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Depreciation and amortization
—

 
6

 
17

 
644

 
—

 
667

Deferred income taxes
—

 
—

 
41

 
(4
)
 
—

 
37

Stock-based compensation expense
16

 
—

 
—

 
1

 
—

 
17

Unrealized net gain on natural gas derivatives
—

 
—

 
(7
)
 
(4
)
 
—

 
(11
)
Unrealized loss on embedded derivative
—

 
—

 
2

 
—

 
—

 
2

Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment
—

 
—

 
—

 
(1
)
 
—

 
(1
)
Undistributed earnings of affiliates—net
(242
)
 
(338
)
 
(373
)
 
(5
)
 
953

 
(5
)
Changes in:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Intercompany accounts receivable/accounts payable—net
(17
)
 
(89
)
 
97

 
9

 
—

 
—

Accounts receivable—net
—

 
(6
)
 
48

 
(11
)
 
—

 
31

Inventories
—

 
4

 
(14
)
 
7

 
—

 
(3
)
Accrued and prepaid income taxes
—

 
(26
)
 
47

 
(8
)
 
—

 
13

Accounts and notes payable and accrued expenses
—

 
(1
)
 
(7
)
 
(18
)
 
—

 
(26
)
Customer advances
—

 
—

 
224

 
—

 
—

 
224

Other—net
—

 
—

 
(1
)
 
(34
)
 
—

 
(35
)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
(2
)
 
(208
)
 
402

 
1,051

 
—

 
1,243

Investing Activities:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Additions to property, plant and equipment
—

 
—

 
(11
)
 
(267
)
 
—

 
(278
)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
—

 
—

 
—

 
19

 
—

 
19

Distributions received from unconsolidated affiliates
—

 
200

 
306

 
(496
)
 
—

 
10

Insurance proceeds
—

 
—

 
—

 
10

 
—

 
10

Investments in consolidated subsidiaries - capital contributions
—

 
(31
)
 
(415
)
 
446

 
—

 
—

Other—net
—

 
—

 
—

 
1

 
—

 
1

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
—

 
169

 
(120
)
 
(287
)
 
—

 
(238
)
Financing Activities:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Long-term debt—net
—

 
—

 
178

 
(178
)
 
—

 
—

Short-term debt—net
233

 
175

 
(438
)
 
30

 
—

 
—

Financing fees
—

 
1

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1

Dividends paid on common stock
(210
)
 
(110
)
 
—

 
(49
)
 
159

 
(210
)
Dividends to/from affiliates
110

 
—

 
49

 
—

 
(159
)
 
—

Acquisition of noncontrolling interests in TNCLP
—

 
—

 
—

 
(388
)
 
—

 
(388
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
—

 
(139
)
 
—

 
(139
)
Purchases of treasury stock
(87
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(87
)
Issuances of common stock under employee stock plans
10

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
10

Shares withheld for taxes
(1
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(1
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
55

 
66

 
(211
)
 
(724
)
 
—

 
(814
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
—

 
—

 
—

 
(4
)
 
—

 
(4
)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents
53

 
27

 
71

 
36

 
—

 
187

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
—

 
15

 
388

 
432

 
—

 
835

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
53

 
$
42

 
$
459

 
$
468

 
$
—

 
$
1,022


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CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC.



Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2017
 
Parent
 
CF Industries
 
Subsidiary Guarantors
 
Non- Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
(in millions)
Operating Activities:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Net (loss) earnings
$
(107
)
 
$
(105
)
 
$
(53
)
 
$
185

 
$
27

 
$
(53
)
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) earnings to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Depreciation and amortization
—

 
10

 
16

 
622

 
—

 
648

Deferred income taxes
—

 
—

 
(44
)
 
(10
)
 
—

 
(54
)
Stock-based compensation expense
13

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
13

Unrealized net loss on natural gas derivatives
—

 
—

 
54

 
10

 
—

 
64

Unrealized loss on embedded derivative
—

 
—

 
4

 
—

 
—

 
4

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment
—

 
—

 
—

 
3

 
—

 
3

Undistributed losses (earnings) of affiliates—net
105

 
48

 
(126
)
 
7

 
(27
)
 
7

Changes in:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Intercompany accounts receivable/accounts payable—net
(10
)
 
(91
)
 
92

 
9

 
—

 
—

Accounts receivable—net
—

 
(8
)
 
(23
)
 
2

 
—

 
(29
)
Inventories
—

 
—

 
1

 
11

 
—

 
12

Accrued and prepaid income taxes
(1
)
 
(30
)
 
832

 
3

 
—

 
804

Accounts and notes payable and accrued expenses
—

 
37

 
(4
)
 
(28
)
 
—

 
5

Customer advances
—

 
—

 
51

 
—

 
—

 
51

Other—net
—

 
(5
)
 
(46
)
 
(23
)
 
—

 
(74
)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
—

 
(144
)
 
754

 
791

 
—

 
1,401

Investing Activities:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Additions to property, plant and equipment
—

 
—

 
(7
)
 
(283
)
 
—

 
(290
)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
—

 
—

 
—

 
13

 
—

 
13

Distributions received from unconsolidated affiliates
—

 
—

 
179

 
(167
)
 
—

 
12

Proceeds from sale of auction rate securities
—

 
9

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
9

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
—

 
9

 
172

 
(437
)
 
—

 
(256
)
Financing Activities:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Long-term debt—net
—

 
(126
)
 
215

 
(89
)
 
—

 
—

Short-term debt—net
209

 
258

 
(473
)
 
6

 
—

 
—

Financing fees
—

 
(1
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(1
)
Dividends paid on common stock
(210
)
 
—

 
—

 
(73
)
 
73

 
(210
)
Dividends to/from affiliates
—

 
—

 
73

 
—

 
(73
)
 
—

Distributions to noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
—

 
(125
)
 
—

 
(125
)
Issuances of common stock under employee stock plans
1

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
—

 
131

 
(185
)
 
(281
)
 
—

 
(335
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
—

 
—

 
—

 
13

 
—

 
13

(Decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
—

 
(4
)
 
741

 
86

 
—

 
823

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period
—

 
36

 
878

 
255

 
—

 
1,169

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period
$
—

 
$
32

 
$
1,619

 
$
341

 
$
—

 
$
1,992


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CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC.



ITEM 2.    MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
        You should read the following discussion and analysis in conjunction with our annual consolidated financial statements and related notes, which were included in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 22, 2018, as well as Item 1. Financial Statements, in this Form 10-Q. All references to “CF Holdings,” “we,” “us,” “our” and “the Company” refer to CF Industries Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries, except where the context makes clear that the reference is only to CF Industries Holdings, Inc. itself and not its subsidiaries. All references to “CF Industries” refer to CF Industries, Inc., a 100% owned subsidiary of CF Industries Holdings, Inc. References to tons refer to short-tons. Notes referenced in this discussion and analysis refer to the notes to our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements that are found in the preceding section: Item 1. Financial Statements. The following is an outline of the discussion and analysis included herein:
•
Overview of CF Holdings
•
Our Company
•
Items Affecting Comparability of Results
•
Financial Executive Summary
•
Results of Consolidated Operations
•
Third Quarter of 2018 Compared to Third Quarter of 2017
•
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
•
Operating Results by Business Segment
•
Liquidity and Capital Resources
•
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
•
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
•
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
•
Forward-Looking Statements
Overview of CF Holdings
Our Company
We are a leading global fertilizer and chemical company. Our 3,000 employees operate world-class manufacturing complexes in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Our principal customers are cooperatives, independent fertilizer distributors, farmers and industrial users. Our principal nitrogen fertilizer products are ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate solution (UAN) and ammonium nitrate (AN). Our other nitrogen products include diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), urea liquor, nitric acid and aqua ammonia, which are sold primarily to our industrial customers, and compound fertilizer products (NPKs), which are solid granular fertilizer products for which the nutrient content is a combination of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. We serve our customers in North America through our production, storage, transportation and distribution network. We also reach a global customer base with exports from our Donaldsonville, Louisiana, plant, the world’s largest and most flexible nitrogen complex. Additionally, we move product to international destinations from our Verdigris, Oklahoma, facility, our Yazoo City, Mississippi, facility, and our Billingham and Ince facilities in the United Kingdom, and from a joint venture ammonia facility in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in which we own a 50 percent interest.
Our principal assets as of September 30, 2018 include:
•
five U.S. nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing facilities located in Donaldsonville, Louisiana (the largest nitrogen fertilizer complex in the world); Port Neal, Iowa; Yazoo City, Mississippi; Verdigris, Oklahoma; and Woodward, Oklahoma. These facilities are owned by CF Industries Nitrogen, LLC (CFN), of which we own approximately 89% and CHS Inc. (CHS) owns the remainder. See Note 14—Noncontrolling Interests for additional information on our strategic venture with CHS;
•
two Canadian nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing facilities located in Medicine Hat, Alberta (the largest nitrogen fertilizer complex in Canada) and Courtright, Ontario;
•
two United Kingdom nitrogen manufacturing complexes located in Billingham and Ince;
•
an extensive system of terminals and associated transportation equipment located primarily in the Midwestern United States; and

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CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC.



•
a 50% interest in Point Lisas Nitrogen Limited (PLNL), an ammonia production joint venture located in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago that we account for under the equity method.
Our nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing facility in Verdigris, Oklahoma, is operated by Terra Nitrogen, Limited Partnership (TNLP). Prior to April 2, 2018, TNLP was a subsidiary of Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P. (TNCLP), which was a publicly traded limited partnership of which we were the sole general partner and the majority limited partner, and in which we owned an approximate 75.3% interest.
On February 7, 2018, we announced that, in accordance with the terms of TNCLP’s First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership, the TNCLP Agreement of Limited Partnership), Terra Nitrogen GP Inc. (TNGP), the sole general partner of TNCLP and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of CF Holdings, elected to exercise its right to purchase all of the 4,612,562 publicly traded common units of TNCLP (the Public Units). TNGP completed its purchase of the Public Units on April 2, 2018 (the Purchase) for an aggregate cash purchase price of $388 million. We funded the Purchase with cash on hand. Upon completion of the Purchase, CF Holdings owned, through its subsidiaries, 100 percent of the general and limited partnership interests of TNCLP.
Items Affecting Comparability of Results
Sales Volume
In the first quarter of 2018, drought conditions in the Southern Plains along with wet and cold temperatures throughout much of the Midwestern United States and the United Kingdom delayed the spring application season and impacted sales volume. This delay in the spring application season resulted in high inventory levels both entering and through much of the second quarter as volume typically shipped in the first quarter was instead shipped in the second quarter of 2018. Through the first half of 2018, sales volume for our products was up approximately 1% compared to the first half of 2017.
For the three months ended September 30, 2018, sales volume for our products was 4.8 million product tons, a decrease of 2% compared to sales volume of 4.9 million product tons for the three months ended September 30, 2017, resulting in a decrease in net sales of approximately $25 million. Our total sales volume decreased due primarily to lower ammonia supply availability driven by a lower level of beginning inventory and lower AN production as a result of plant turnaround and maintenance activity. These decreases were partially offset by higher granular urea sales supported by increased production. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, sales volume for our products was essentially unchanged compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017.
Selling Prices
The U.S. Gulf is a major global fertilizer pricing point due to the volume of nitrogen fertilizer that trades there. Through most of 2016, nitrogen pricing at the U.S. Gulf declined, often trading below parity with other international pricing points due to the combination of new global nitrogen production capacity that came on line in 2016, continued imports from various exporting regions and decreased North American buyer interest as a result of the greater global nitrogen supply availability. Seasonal decreases in agricultural demand combined with delayed customer purchasing activity resulted in multi-year lows in nitrogen fertilizer selling prices in the second half of 2016. In 2017, the significant price fluctuations we experienced continued and were symptoms of a market in transition as new production capacity came on line and global trade flows began to adjust.
In 2018, higher energy costs in Asia and Europe, along with continued enforcement of environmental regulations in China, resulted in lower nitrogen production in these regions. In addition, outages impacted the nitrogen supply and demand balance, which collectively drove global nitrogen prices higher.
The average selling price for our products for the three months ended September 30, 2018 was $218 per ton compared to $178 per ton for the three months ended September 30, 2017, an increase of 22% resulting in an increase in both net sales and gross margin of approximately $195 million. The average selling price for our products for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $226 per ton compared to $207 per ton for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, an increase of 9% resulting in an increase in both net sales and gross margin of approximately $322 million.
Other Items Affecting Comparability
In addition to the impact of market conditions on nitrogen fertilizer selling prices and sales volume, certain significant items impacted our financial results during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. The following table and related discussion outline these significant items and how they impacted the comparability of our financial results during these periods. During the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, we reported net earnings (loss) attributable to

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CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC.



common stockholders of $30 million and $(87) million, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, we reported net earnings (loss) attributable to common stockholders of $241 million and $(107) million, respectively.
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
Pre-Tax
After-Tax
 
Pre-Tax
After-Tax
 
Pre-Tax
After-Tax
 
Pre-Tax
After-Tax
 
(in millions)
Unrealized net mark-to-market (gain) loss on natural gas derivatives(1)
$
(3
)
$
(2
)
 
$
(7
)
$
(4
)
 
$
(11
)
$
(8
)
 
$
64

$
40

Loss on foreign currency transactions, including intercompany loans(2)
4

3

 
1

1

 
1

1

 
2

2

Insurance proceeds(2)
(10
)
(8
)
 
—

—

 
(10
)
(8
)
 
—

—

Costs related to the acquisition of TNCLP public units(3)
—

—

 
—

—

 
2

1

 
—

—

Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests - TNCLP(4)
—

—

 
2

2

 
8

8

 
14

14

PLNL settlement income(5)
—

—

 
—

—

 
(19
)
(19
)
 
—

—

Equity method investment tax contingency accrual(5)
—

—

 
—

—

 
—

—

 
7

7

______________________________________________________________________________
(1) 
Included in cost of sales in our consolidated statements of operations.
(2) 
Included in other operating—net in our consolidated statements of operations.
(3) 
Included in selling, general and administrative expenses in our consolidated statements of operations.
(4) 
Included in net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests in our consolidated statements of operations.
(5) 
Included in equity in earnings (loss) of operating affiliates in our consolidated statements of operations.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following describes the significant items, identified in the table above, that impacted the comparability of our financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. Descriptions of items below that refer to amounts in the table above refer to the pre-tax amounts.
Unrealized net mark-to-market (gain) loss on natural gas derivatives
Natural gas is typically the largest and most volatile single component of the manufacturing cost for nitrogen-based products. We manage the risk of changes in natural gas prices through the use of derivative financial instruments. The derivatives that we use for this purpose are primarily natural gas fixed price swaps, natural gas basis swaps and natural gas options. We use natural gas derivatives as an economic hedge of natural gas price risk, but without the application of hedge accounting. This can result in volatility in reported earnings due to the unrealized mark-to-market adjustments that occur from changes in the value of the derivatives, which is reflected in cost of sales in our consolidated statements of operations. In the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, we recognized unrealized net mark-to-market gains of $3 million and $7 million, respectively. In the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recognized an unrealized net mark-to-market gain of $11 million compared to an unrealized net mark-to-market loss of $64 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2017.
Loss on foreign currency transactions, including intercompany loans
In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recognized a loss of $4 million and $1 million, respectively, from the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on primarily British pound and Canadian dollar denominated intercompany loans that were not permanently invested.
Insurance proceeds
In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recognized income of $10 million related to a property insurance claim at one of our nitrogen complexes. These proceeds are reflected in other operating—net in our consolidated statements of operations.
Acquisition of the TNCLP public units
In the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we incurred $2 million of costs for various legal services associated with the acquisition of the publicly traded common units of TNCLP. These costs are reflected in selling, general and administrative expenses in our consolidated statements of operations.

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Beginning in the second quarter of 2018, as a result of the April 2, 2018 acquisition of the TNCLP public units, there are no longer earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests in TNCLP. In the nine months ended September 30, 2018, earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests in TNCLP was $8 million. In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests in TNCLP were $2 million and $14 million, respectively.
PLNL settlement income
PLNL operates an ammonia plant that relies on natural gas supplied, under a Gas Sales Contract (the NGC Contract), by The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (NGC). PLNL experienced past curtailments in the supply of natural gas, which reduced historical ammonia production at PLNL. The NGC Contract had an initial expiration date of September 2018 and was extended on the same terms until September 2023. Any NGC commitment to supply gas beyond 2023 will be based on new agreements. In May 2018, the NGC and PLNL reached a settlement of an arbitration proceeding regarding PLNL’s claims for damages due to natural gas supply curtailments. The net after-tax impact of the settlement reached between NGC and PLNL that is recognized in our consolidated statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was an increase in our equity in earnings of operating affiliates of approximately $19 million.
Equity method investment tax contingency accrual
The Trinidadian tax authority (the Board of Inland Revenue) previously issued a tax assessment against our equity method investment in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, PLNL, related to a dispute over whether tax depreciation must be claimed during a tax holiday period that was granted to PLNL under the Trinidadian Fiscal Incentives Act. The tax holiday was granted as an incentive to construct PLNL’s ammonia plant. Based on the facts and circumstances of this matter, PLNL recorded a tax contingency accrual in the second quarter of 2017, which reduced our equity in earnings of PLNL for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 by approximately $7 million reflecting our 50% ownership interest. In early 2018, PLNL settled this matter with the Board of Inland Revenue for the amounts accrued.
Financial Executive Summary
We reported net earnings attributable to common stockholders of $30 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to a net loss of $87 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, or an increase in net earnings of $117 million between the periods. Diluted net earnings (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders increased $0.50 per share to $0.13 in the third quarter of 2018 compared to $(0.37) in the third quarter of 2017. The increase in net earnings of $117 million was due primarily to the following:
•
Net sales were $1,040 million in the third quarter of 2018, an increase of $170 million, or 20%, from $870 million in the third quarter of 2017, reflecting an increase in average selling prices of 22% partially offset by a 2% decline in sales volume.
•
Gross margin increased by $162 million in the third quarter of 2018 to $173 million as compared to $11 million in the third quarter of 2017. The increase in gross margin was driven by higher average selling prices, which increased gross margin by $195 million and were driven by the tightening supply and demand conditions in the global nitrogen market, which are more fully described in the section above titled “Items Affecting Comparability of Results”. This increase in net sales was partially offset by higher costs associated with plant turnaround and maintenance activity in the third quarter of 2018.
•
Net interest expense declined by $21 million to $55 million in the third quarter of 2018 compared to $76 million in the third quarter of 2017. The decline is due to our redemption in December 2017 of all of the $800 million outstanding principal amount of the 6.875% senior notes due May 2018 (the 2018 Notes) and our December 2017 purchase of approximately $300 million of the $800 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of the 7.125% senior notes due 2020 (the 2020 Notes).
•
Income tax provision increased by $59 million in the third quarter of 2018 compared to the third quarter of 2017, as we recorded an income tax provision of $12 million on pre-tax income of $83 million in the third quarter of 2018, compared to an income tax benefit of $47 million on a pre-tax loss of $115 million in the third quarter of 2017.
In August 2018, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $500 million of CF Holdings common stock through June 30, 2020. Repurchases under this program may be made from time to time in the open market, through privately negotiated transactions, block transactions, or otherwise. The manner, timing and amount of repurchases will be determined by our management based on the evaluation of market conditions, stock price and other factors. In the third quarter of 2018, we repurchased 1.8 million shares for $91 million.

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CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC.



Results of Consolidated Operations
The following table presents our consolidated results of operations and supplemental data:
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018 v. 2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018 v. 2017
 
(in millions, except as noted)
Net sales
$
1,040

 
$
870

 
$
170

 
20
 %
 
$
3,297

 
$
3,031

 
$
266

 
9
 %
Cost of sales
867

 
859

 
8

 
1
 %
 
2,622

 
2,740

 
(118
)
 
(4
)%
Gross margin
173

 
11

 
162

 
N/M

 
675

 
291

 
384

 
132
 %
Gross margin percentage
16.6
%
 
1.3
%
 
15.3
%
 
 
 
20.5
%
 
9.6
%
 
10.9
%
 
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
53

 
45

 
8

 
18
 %
 
163

 
140

 
23

 
16
 %
Other operating—net
(11
)
 
(2
)
 
(9
)
 
N/M

 
(29
)
 
14

 
(43
)
 
N/M

Total other operating costs and expenses
42

 
43

 
(1
)
 
(2
)%
 
134

 
154

 
(20
)
 
(13
)%
Equity in earnings (loss) of operating affiliates
5

 
(5
)
 
10

 
N/M

 
30

 
(8
)
 
38

 
N/M

Operating earnings (loss)
136

 
(37
)
 
173

 
N/M

 
571

 
129

 
442

 
N/M

Interest expense—net
55

 
76

 
(21
)
 
(28
)%
 
171

 
233

 
(62
)
 
(27
)%
Other non-operating—net
(2
)
 
2

 
(4
)
 
N/M

 
(6
)
 
4

 
(10
)
 
N/M

Earnings (loss) before income taxes
83

 
(115
)
 
198

 
N/M

 
406

 
(108
)
 
514

 
N/M

Income tax provision (benefit)
12

 
(47
)
 
59

 
N/M

 
73

 
(55
)
 
128

 
N/M

Net earnings (loss)
71

 
(68
)
 
139

 
N/M

 
333

 
(53
)
 
386

 
N/M

Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests
41

 
19

 
22

 
116
 %
 
92

 
54

 
38

 
70
 %
Net earnings (loss) attributable to common stockholders
$
30

 
$
(87
)
 
$
117

 
N/M

 
$
241

 
$
(107
)
 
$
348

 
N/M

Diluted net earnings (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders
$
0.13

 
$
(0.37
)
 
$
0.50

 
N/M

 
$
1.03

 
$
(0.46
)
 
$
1.49

 
N/M

Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding          
235.2

 
233.2

 
2.0

 
1
 %
 
234.9

 
233.2

 
1.7

 
1
 %
Dividends declared per common share
$
0.30

 
$
0.30

 
$
—

 
—
 %
 
$
0.90

 
$
0.90

 
$
—

 
—
 %
Natural gas supplemental data (per MMBtu)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Natural gas costs in cost of sales(1)
$
3.16

 
$
3.22

 
$
(0.06
)
 
(2
)%
 
$
3.11

 
$
3.41

 
$
(0.30
)
 
(9
)%
Realized derivatives loss in cost of sales(2)
0.03

 
0.13

 
(0.10
)
 
(77
)%
 
0.03

 
0.05

 
(0.02
)
 
(40
)%
Cost of natural gas in cost of sales
$
3.19

 
$
3.35

 
$
(0.16
)
 
(5
)%
 
$
3.14

 
$
3.46

 
$
(0.32
)
 
(9
)%
Average daily market price of natural gas Henry Hub (Louisiana)
$
2.90

 
$
2.93

 
$
(0.03
)
 
(1
)%
 
$
2.91

 
$
2.99

 
$
(0.08
)
 
(3
)%
Average daily market price of natural gas National Balancing Point (UK)
$
8.40

 
$
5.46

 
$
2.94

 
54
 %
 
$
7.98

 
$
5.43

 
$
2.55

 
47
 %
Unrealized net mark-to-market (gain) loss on natural gas derivatives
$
(3
)
 
$
(7
)
 
$
4

 
57
 %
 
$
(11
)
 
$
64

 
$
(75
)
 
N/M

Depreciation and amortization
$
233

 
$
226

 
$
7

 
3
 %
 
$
667

 
$
648

 
$
19

 
3
 %
Capital expenditures
$
133

 
$
105

 
$
28

 
27
 %
 
$
278

 
$
290

 
$
(12
)
 
(4
)%
Sales volume by product tons (000s)
4,765

 
4,877

 
(112
)
 
(2
)%
 
14,606

 
14,668

 
(62
)
 
—
 %
Production volume by product tons (000s):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ammonia(3)
2,456

 
2,489

 
(33
)
 
(1
)%
 
7,424

 
7,653

 
(229
)
 
(3
)%
Granular urea
1,296

 
1,091

 
205

 
19
 %
 
3,675

 
3,329

 
346

 
10
 %
UAN (32%)
1,595

 
1,483

 
112

 
8
 %
 
4,957

 
5,022

 
(65
)
 
(1
)%
AN
474

 
571

 
(97
)
 
(17
)%
 
1,355

 
1,572

 
(217
)
 
(14
)%
___________________________________________________________________________
N/M—Not Meaningful
(1) 
Includes the cost of natural gas that is included in cost of sales during the period under the first-in, first-out inventory cost method.
(2) 
Includes realized gains and losses on natural gas derivatives settled during the period. Excludes unrealized mark-to-market gains and losses on natural gas derivatives.
(3) 
Gross ammonia production, including amounts subsequently upgraded on-site into granular urea, UAN, or AN.

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CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC.



Third Quarter of 2018 Compared to Third Quarter of 2017
Net Sales
Our total net sales increased $170 million, or 20%, to $1,040 million in the third quarter of 2018 compared to $870 million in the third quarter of 2017 due to a 22% increase in average selling prices, which increased net sales by $195 million, partially offset by lower sales volumes, which decreased net sales by $25 million.
Average selling prices were $218 per ton in the third quarter of 2018 compared to $178 per ton in the third quarter of 2017 due to higher selling prices across all segments, driven by the impact of a tighter global nitrogen supply and demand balance resulting from outages and curtailments as global energy prices continue to rise impacting operating rates, primarily in high cost production regions.
Our total sales volume decreased 2% from the third quarter of 2017 to the third quarter of 2018, due primarily to lower ammonia supply availability driven by a lower level of beginning inventory and lower AN production as a result of plant turnaround and maintenance activity. These decreases were partially offset by higher granular urea sales supported by increased production.
Cost of Sales
Our total cost of sales increased $8 million, or 1%, from the third quarter of 2017 to the third quarter of 2018. The increase in our cost of sales was due primarily to higher maintenance and turnaround costs at certain plants, partially offset by lower realized natural gas costs. The cost of sales per ton averaged $182 in the third quarter of 2018, a 3% increase from $176 per ton in the same quarter of 2017.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $8 million to $53 million in the third quarter of 2018 as compared to $45 million in the comparable period of 2017, due primarily to higher incentive compensation as a result of improved operating results and certain corporate initiatives.
Other Operating—Net
Other operating—net was $11 million of income in the third quarter of 2018 compared to $2 million of income in the comparable period of 2017. The increase was due primarily to the recognition of insurance proceeds of $10 million in the third quarter of 2018 related to a property insurance claim at one of our nitrogen complexes.
Equity in Earnings (Loss) of Operating Affiliates
Equity in earnings of operating affiliates was $5 million in the third quarter of 2018 compared to a loss of $5 million in the third quarter of 2017. The increase was due to improved operating results for PLNL primarily driven by higher ammonia selling prices due to a tighter global supply and demand balance and increased production.
Interest Expense—Net
Net interest expense was $55 million in the third quarter of 2018 compared to $76 million in the third quarter of 2017. The $21 million decrease is due primarily to our redemption in December 2017 of all of the $800 million outstanding principal amount of the 2018 Notes and our December 2017 purchase of approximately $300 million of the $800 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of the 2020 Notes.
Income Taxes
For the three months ended September 30, 2018, we recorded an income tax provision of $12 million on pre-tax income of $83 million, or an effective tax rate of 15.3%, compared to an income tax benefit of $47 million on a pre-tax loss of $115 million, or an effective tax rate of 40.9%, for the three months ended September 30, 2017. Our effective tax rate in the third quarter of 2018 is based on the U.S. federal tax rate of 21% as a result of the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on December 22, 2017, as compared to the U.S. federal tax rate of 35% that was applicable in the third quarter of 2017.
Our effective tax rate is impacted by earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interests in CFN and in the third quarter of 2017 by earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interests in TNCLP, as our consolidated income tax provision (benefit) does not include a tax provision on the earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interests. Our effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2018 of 15.3%, which is based on pre-tax income of $83 million, would be 29.4% exclusive of the earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interests of $41 million. Our effective tax rate for the three months ended

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September 30, 2017 of 40.9%, which is based on pre-tax loss of $115 million, would be 35.2% exclusive of the earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interests of $19 million.
During the fourth quarter of 2017, we recorded the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that was enacted on December 22, 2017, including a provisional amount for the impact of the transition tax liability based on amounts reasonably estimable. A $12 million increase to the transition tax liability was recorded in the third quarter of 2018 to reflect changes in the computation of the allowable foreign tax credit against the transition tax liability, as well as the allocation of certain gains and losses among various foreign tax credit baskets. The adjustment to the provisional amount represents an approximate 15% increase to our effective tax rate for the period. Our effective tax rate for the period was also impacted by a decrease in the annualized effective tax rate. The provisional amount may be adjusted as more information becomes available prior to the end of the one-year measurement period in December 2018.
The income tax benefit of $47 million in the third quarter of 2017 was impacted by a $5 million increase to our deferred tax liability resulting from the enactment of a tax rate increase by the State of Illinois.
See Note 10—Income Taxes and Note 14—Noncontrolling Interests for additional information.
Net Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests increased $22 million in the third quarter of 2018 compared to the third quarter of 2017 due to higher earnings from CFN driven by higher average selling prices due to the impact of a tighter global nitrogen supply and demand balance and lower natural gas prices, partially offset by the reduction in noncontrolling interests due to the April 2, 2018 purchase of the noncontrolling interests in TNCLP.
Diluted Net Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders
Diluted net earnings (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders increased $0.50 to $0.13 per share in the third quarter of 2018 from $(0.37) per share in the third quarter of 2017. This increase is primarily driven by higher gross margin driven by higher selling prices due to the impact of a tighter global nitrogen supply and demand balance resulting from outages and curtailments as global energy prices continued to rise.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
Net Sales
Our total net sales increased $266 million, or 9%, to $3,297 million in the first nine months of 2018 compared to $3,031 million in the first nine months of 2017 due to a 9% increase in average selling prices, which increased net sales by $322 million, partially offset by a change in product mix, which decreased net sales by $56 million.
Average selling prices were $226 per ton in the first nine months of 2018, or 9% higher, as compared to $207 per ton in the first nine months of 2017 due to higher selling prices across all segments. During 2018, higher energy costs in Asia and Europe, along with continued enforcement of environmental regulations in China, resulted in lower nitrogen production in these regions. In addition, outages impacted the nitrogen supply and demand balance, which collectively drove global nitrogen prices higher.
Our total sales volume was essentially unchanged from the first nine months of 2017 to the first nine months of 2018, due primarily to higher sales volume in our granular urea and Other segments, offset by lower ammonia, AN and UAN sales volumes.
Cost of Sales
Our total cost of sales decreased $118 million, or 4%, from the first nine months of 2017 to the first nine months of 2018. The decrease in our cost of sales was due primarily to an unrealized net mark-to-market gain on natural gas derivatives in the first nine months of 2018 compared to a loss in the same period of 2017 and the impact of lower realized natural gas costs, partially offset by higher costs related to plant turnaround and maintenance activity. The first nine months of 2018 included an $11 million unrealized net mark-to-market gain compared to a $64 million unrealized net mark-to-market loss in the first nine months of 2017. Additionally, realized natural gas costs, including the impact of realized derivatives, decreased 9% from $3.46 per MMBtu in the first nine months of 2017 to $3.14 in the first nine months of 2018. The cost of sales per ton averaged $180 in the first nine months of 2018, a 4% decrease from $187 per ton in the same period of 2017.

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Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $23 million to $163 million in the first nine months of 2018 as compared to $140 million in the comparable period of 2017. The increase was due primarily to higher employee costs, including increased incentive compensation as a result of improved operating results, certain corporate initiatives, and costs for various legal services associated with the acquisition of the publicly traded common units of TNCLP.
Other Operating—Net
Other operating—net was $29 million of income in the first nine months of 2018 compared to $14 million of expense in the comparable period of 2017. The income in the first nine months of 2018 was primarily due to the combination of changes in legal reserves, insurance proceeds of $10 million and a gain of $5 million due to the recovery of certain precious metals used in the manufacturing process.
Equity in Earnings (Loss) of Operating Affiliates
Equity in earnings of operating affiliates was $30 million in the first nine months of 2018 compared to a loss of $8 million in the first nine months of 2017. Earnings in the first nine months of 2018 includes approximately $19 million related to the net after-tax impact of a settlement reached between NGC and PLNL of an arbitration proceeding regarding PLNL’s claims for damages due to historical natural gas supply curtailments. See above under “Items Affecting Comparability of Results—PLNL settlement income” for additional information.
During the second quarter of 2017, PLNL recorded a tax contingency accrual related to a tax assessment against PLNL, which reduced our equity in earnings of PLNL for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 by approximately $7 million reflecting our 50% ownership interest. See above under “Items Affecting Comparability of Results—Equity method investment tax contingency accrual” for additional information.
Interest Expense—Net
Net interest expense was $171 million in the first nine months of 2018 compared to $233 million in the first nine months of 2017. The $62 million decrease is due primarily to our redemption in December 2017 of all of the 2018 Notes and our December 2017 purchase of approximately $300 million aggregate principal amount of the 2020 Notes.
Income Taxes
For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recorded an income tax provision of $73 million on pre-tax income of $406 million, or an effective tax rate of 18.1%, compared to an income tax benefit of $55 million on pre-tax loss of $108 million, or an effective tax rate of 50.8%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. Our effective tax rate in the first nine months of 2018 is based on the U.S. federal tax rate of 21% as a result of the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on December 22, 2017, as compared to the U.S. federal tax rate of 35% that was applicable in the first nine months of 2017.
Our effective tax rate is impacted by earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interests in CFN and TNCLP, as our consolidated income tax provision (benefit) does not include a tax provision on the earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interests. Our effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, exclusive of the earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interests of $92 million and $54 million, respectively, would be 23.3% and 34.0%, respectively.
During the fourth quarter of 2017, we recorded the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that was enacted on December 22, 2017, including a provisional amount for the impact of the transition tax liability based on amounts reasonably estimable. Our effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was impacted by a $12 million increase to the provisional amount that was recorded to reflect the transition tax liability.
On April 2, 2018, we acquired the TNCLP Public Units. Our effective tax rate in the first nine months of 2018 is impacted by a $20 million reduction to our deferred tax liability as a result of the change in our effective state income tax rate as a result of the implementation of legal entity structure changes related to the acquisition.
The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was also impacted by the tax contingency accrual of $7 million recorded by PLNL, which reduced our earnings before income taxes but did not change our income tax provision as the charge was not tax deductible.
The income tax benefit of $55 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was impacted by a $5 million increase to our deferred tax liability resulting from the enactment of a tax rate increase by the State of Illinois.

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See Note 8—Equity Method Investments, Note 10—Income Taxes and Note 14—Noncontrolling Interests for additional information.
Net Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests increased $38 million in the first nine months of 2018 compared to the first nine months of 2017 due to higher earnings from CFN driven by higher average selling prices due to the impact of a tighter global nitrogen supply and demand balance and lower natural gas prices, partially offset by the reduction in noncontrolling interests due to the April 2, 2018 purchase of the noncontrolling interests in TNCLP.
Diluted Net Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders
Diluted net earnings (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders increased $1.49 to $1.03 per share in the first nine months of 2018 from $(0.46) per share in the first nine months of 2017. This increase is due to higher gross margin primarily driven by higher selling prices due to the impact of a tighter global nitrogen supply and demand balance, the impact of higher unrealized net mark-to-market gains on natural gas derivatives, and lower realized natural gas costs.
Operating Results by Business Segment
Our reportable segments consist of ammonia, granular urea, UAN, AN and Other. These segments are differentiated by products. Our management uses gross margin to evaluate segment performance and allocate resources. Total other operating costs and expenses (consisting of selling, general and administrative expenses and other operating—net) and non-operating expenses (interest and income taxes), are centrally managed and are not included in the measurement of segment profitability reviewed by management. The following table presents summary operating results by business segment:
 
Ammonia(2)
 
Granular
Urea(1)(2)
 
UAN(1)(2)
 
AN(1)
 
Other(1)
 
Consolidated
 
(in millions, except percentages)
Three months ended September 30, 2018
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Net sales
$
192

 
$
353

 
$
270

 
$
139

 
$
86

 
$
1,040

Cost of sales
181

 
238

 
243

 
129

 
76

 
867

Gross margin
$
11

 
$
115

 
$
27

 
$
10

 
$
10

 
$
173

Gross margin percentage
5.7
 %
 
32.6
%
 
10.0
 %
 
7.2
%
 
11.6
%
 
16.6
%
Three months ended September 30, 2017
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Net sales
$
194

 
$
228

 
$
243

 
$
135

 
$
70

 
$
870

Cost of sales
203

 
220

 
252

 
123

 
61

 
859

Gross margin
$
(9
)
 
$
8

 
$
(9
)
 
$
12

 
$
9

 
$
11

Gross margin percentage
(4.6
)%
 
3.5
%
 
(3.7
)%
 
8.9
%
 
12.9
%
 
1.3
%
Nine months ended September 30, 2018
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Net sales
$
778

 
$
977

 
$
892

 
$
363

 
$
287

 
$
3,297

Cost of sales
641

 
682

 
731

 
320

 
248

 
2,622

Gross margin
$
137

 
$
295

 
$
161

 
$
43

 
$
39

 
$
675

Gross margin percentage
17.6
 %
 
30.2
%
 
18.0
 %
 
11.8
%
 
13.6
%
 
20.5
%
Nine months ended September 30, 2017
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Net sales
$
865

 
$
725

 
$
846

 
$
372

 
$
223

 
$
3,031

Cost of sales
770

 
667

 
781

 
331

 
191

 
2,740

Gross margin
$
95

 
$
58

 
$
65

 
$
41

 
$
32

 
$
291

Gross margin percentage
11.0
 %
 
8.0
%
 
7.7
 %
 
11.0
%
 
14.3
%
 
9.6
%
_______________________________________________________________________________
(1) 
The cost of products that are upgraded into other products is transferred at cost into the upgraded product results.
(2) 
Cost of sales for the ammonia and UAN segments for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was adjusted to reflect the reclassification of $2 million of defined benefit plan costs to other operating—net. Cost of sales for our ammonia, granular urea and UAN segments for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was adjusted to reflect the reclassification of $4 million of defined benefit plan costs to other operating—net. These adjustments were a result of our adoption of ASU No. 2017-07 on January 1, 2018. See Note 2—New Accounting Standards for additional information.

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Ammonia Segment
Our ammonia segment produces anhydrous ammonia (ammonia), which is our most concentrated nitrogen fertilizer as it contains 82% nitrogen. The results of our ammonia segment consist of sales of ammonia to external customers. In addition, ammonia is the “basic” nitrogen product that we upgrade into other nitrogen products such as granular urea, UAN and AN. We produce ammonia at all of our nitrogen manufacturing complexes.
The following table presents summary operating data for our ammonia segment:
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018 v. 2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018 v. 2017
 
(dollars in millions, except per ton amounts)
Net sales
$
192

 
$
194

 
$
(2
)
 
(1
)%
 
$
778

 
$
865

 
$
(87
)
 
(10
)%
Cost of sales
181

 
203

 
(22
)
 
(11
)%
 
641

 
770

 
(129
)
 
(17
)%
Gross margin
$
11

 
$
(9
)
 
$
20

 
N/M

 
$
137

 
$
95

 
$
42

 
44
 %
Gross margin percentage
5.7
%
 
(4.6
)%
 
10.3
%
 
 
 
17.6
%
 
11.0
%
 
6.6
%
 
 
Sales volume by product tons (000s)
657

 
826

 
(169
)
 
(20
)%
 
2,415

 
2,898

 
(483
)
 
(17
)%
Sales volume by nutrient tons (000s)(1)
539

 
677

 
(138
)
 
(20
)%
 
1,981

 
2,376

 
(395
)
 
(17
)%
Average selling price per product ton
$
292

 
$
235

 
$
57

 
24
 %
 
$
322

 
$
298

 
$
24

 
8
 %
Average selling price per nutrient ton(1)
$
356

 
$
287

 
$
69

 
24
 %
 
$
393

 
$
364

 
$
29

 
8
 %
Gross margin per product ton
$
17

 
$
(11
)
 
$
28

 
N/M

 
$
57

 
$
33

 
$
24

 
73
 %
Gross margin per nutrient ton(1)
$
20

 
$
(13
)
 
$
33

 
N/M

 
$
69

 
$
40

 
$
29

 
73
 %
Depreciation and amortization
$
33

 
$
37

 
$
(4
)
 
(11
)%
 
$
110

 
$
130

 
$
(20
)
 
(15
)%
Unrealized net mark-to-market (gain) loss on natural gas derivatives
$
(1
)
 
$
(3
)
 
$
2

 
67
 %
 
$
(3
)
 
$
20

 
$
(23
)
 
N/M

_______________________________________________________________________________
N/M—Not Meaningful
(1) 
Ammonia represents 82% nitrogen content. Nutrient tons represent the equivalent tons of nitrogen within the product tons.
Third Quarter of 2018 Compared to Third Quarter of 2017
Net Sales.    Net sales in the ammonia segment decreased by $2 million, or 1%, in the third quarter of 2018 from the third quarter of 2017 due primarily to a 20% decrease in sales volume partially offset by a 24% increase in average selling prices. Sales volume in the third quarter was impacted by reduced supply availability resulting from a lower level of beginning inventory. Average selling prices increased to $292 per ton in the third quarter of 2018 compared to $235 in the comparable period of 2017 due primarily to the impact of a tighter global nitrogen supply and demand balance.
Cost of Sales.    Cost of sales in our ammonia segment averaged $275 per ton in the third quarter of 2018, a 12% increase from the $246 per ton in the same quarter of 2017. The increase was due to higher costs associated with plant turnaround and maintenance activity, partially offset by lower realized natural gas costs.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
Net Sales.    Net sales in the ammonia segment decreased by $87 million, or 10%, in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 from the nine months ended September 30, 2017 due primarily to a 17% decrease in sales volume partially offset by an 8% increase in average selling prices. Sales volume was lower due to strong ammonia movement in the fourth quarter of 2017 resulting in 2018 beginning inventory being lower than at the beginning of 2017, and lower production volume in 2018 as a result of plant turnaround and maintenance activity. The increase in selling prices was due to the impact of a tighter global nitrogen supply and demand balance.
Cost of Sales.    Cost of sales in our ammonia segment averaged $265 per ton in the nine months ended September 30, 2018, unchanged from the comparable period of 2017, reflecting the net impact of a combination of factors. These factors include higher costs associated with plant turnaround and maintenance activity, offset by lower natural gas costs and the impact of a $3 million unrealized net mark-to-market gain on natural gas derivatives in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to a $20 million loss in the comparable period of 2017.

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Granular Urea Segment
Our granular urea segment produces granular urea, which contains 46% nitrogen. Produced from ammonia and carbon dioxide, it has the highest nitrogen content of any of our solid nitrogen fertilizers. Granular urea is produced at our Courtright, Ontario; Donaldsonville, Louisiana; Medicine Hat, Alberta; and Port Neal, Iowa, nitrogen complexes.
The following table presents summary operating data for our granular urea segment:
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018 v. 2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018 v. 2017
 
(dollars in millions, except per ton amounts)
Net sales
$
353

 
$
228

 
$
125

 
55
%
 
$
977

 
$
725

 
$
252

 
35
%
Cost of sales
238

 
220

 
18

 
8
%
 
682

 
667

 
15

 
2
%
Gross margin
$
115

 
$
8

 
$
107

 
N/M

 
$
295

 
$
58

 
$
237

 
N/M

Gross margin percentage
32.6
%
 
3.5
%
 
29.1
%
 
 
 
30.2
%
 
8.0
%
 
22.2
%
 
 
Sales volume by product tons (000s)
1,363

 
1,170

 
193

 
16
%
 
3,779

 
3,349

 
430

 
13
%
Sales volume by nutrient tons (000s)(1)
627

 
539

 
88

 
16
%
 
1,738

 
1,541

 
197

 
13
%
Average selling price per product ton
$
259

 
$
195

 
$
64

 
33
%
 
$
259

 
$
216

 
$
43

 
20
%
Average selling price per nutrient ton(1)
$
563

 
$
423

 
$
140

 
33
%
 
$
562

 
$
470

 
$
92

 
20
%
Gross margin per product ton
$
84

 
$
7

 
$
77

 
N/M

 
$
78

 
$
17

 
$
61

 
N/M

Gross margin per nutrient ton(1)
$
183

 
$
15

 
$
168

 
N/M

 
$
170

 
$
38

 
$
132

 
N/M

Depreciation and amortization
$
74

 
$
67

 
$
7

 
10
%
 
$
214

 
$
187

 
$
27

 
14
%
Unrealized net mark-to-market (gain) loss on natural gas derivatives
$
(1
)
 
$
(2
)
 
$
1

 
50
%
 
$
(3
)
 
$
17

 
$
(20
)
 
N/M

_______________________________________________________________________________
N/M—Not Meaningful
(1) 
Granular urea represents 46% nitrogen content. Nutrient tons represent the tons of nitrogen within the product tons.

Third Quarter of 2018 Compared to Third Quarter of 2017
Net Sales.    Net sales in the granular urea segment increased $125 million, or 55%, in the third quarter of 2018 from the third quarter of 2017 due primarily to a 33% increase in average selling prices and a 16% increase in sales volume. Average selling prices increased to $259 per ton in the third quarter of 2018 compared to $195 per ton in the comparable period of 2017 due primarily to the impact of a tighter global nitrogen supply and demand balance. Sales volume was higher due to increased production in the third quarter of 2018 compared to the comparable period of 2017 as a result of higher demand.
Cost of Sales.    Cost of sales in our granular urea segment averaged $175 per ton in the third quarter of 2018, a 7% decrease from $188 per ton in the comparable period of 2017. The decrease was due primarily to lower realized natural gas costs in the third quarter of 2018 compared to the comparable period of 2017 and the impact of a 19% increase in production.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
Net Sales.    Net sales in the granular urea segment increased $252 million, or 35%, in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 from the nine months ended September 30, 2017 due primarily to a 20% increase in average selling prices and a 13% increase in sales volume. Average selling prices increased to $259 per ton in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to $216 per ton in the comparable period of 2017 due primarily to the impact of a tighter global nitrogen supply and demand balance. Sales volume was higher due primarily to higher supply availability from increased production at our Port Neal facility as a result of higher demand, and higher inventories entering the year.
Cost of Sales.    Cost of sales in our granular urea segment averaged $181 per ton in the nine months ended September 30, 2018, a 9% decrease from $199 per ton in the comparable period of 2017. The decrease was due primarily to lower realized natural gas costs and an unrealized net mark-to-market gain on natural gas derivatives in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to a loss in the comparable period of 2017 and the impact of a 10% increase in production.

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UAN Segment
Our UAN segment produces urea ammonium nitrate solution (UAN). UAN, a liquid fertilizer product with a nitrogen content that typically ranges from 28% to 32%, is produced by combining urea and ammonium nitrate. UAN is produced at our nitrogen complexes in Courtright, Ontario; Donaldsonville, Louisiana; Port Neal, Iowa; Verdigris, Oklahoma; Woodward, Oklahoma; and Yazoo City, Mississippi.
The following table presents summary operating data for our UAN segment:
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018 v. 2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018 v. 2017
 
(dollars in millions, except per ton amounts)
Net sales
$
270

 
$
243

 
$
27

 
11
 %
 
$
892

 
$
846

 
$
46

 
5
 %
Cost of sales
243

 
252

 
(9
)
 
(4
)%
 
731

 
781

 
(50
)
 
(6
)%
Gross margin
$
27

 
$
(9
)
 
$
36

 
N/M

 
$
161

 
$
65

 
$
96

 
148
 %
Gross margin percentage
10.0
%
 
(3.7
)%
 
13.7
%
 
 
 
18.0
%
 
7.7
%
 
10.3
%
 
 
Sales volume by product tons (000s)
1,620

 
1,693

 
(73
)
 
(4
)%
 
5,109

 
5,173

 
(64
)
 
(1
)%
Sales volume by nutrient tons (000s)(1)
513

 
536

 
(23
)
 
(4
)%
 
1,615

 
1,636

 
(21
)
 
(1
)%
Average selling price per product ton
$
167

 
$
144

 
$
23

 
16
 %
 
$
175

 
$
164

 
$
11

 
7
 %
Average selling price per nutrient ton(1)
$
526

 
$
453

 
$
73

 
16
 %
 
$
552

 
$
517

 
$
35

 
7
 %
Gross margin per product ton
$
17

 
$
(5
)
 
$
22

 
N/M

 
$
32

 
$
13

 
$
19

 
146
 %
Gross margin per nutrient ton(1)
$
53

 
$
(17
)
 
$
70

 
N/M

 
$
100

 
$
40

 
$
60

 
150
 %
Depreciation and amortization
$
65

 
$
71

 
$
(6
)
 
(8
)%
 
$
200

 
$
192

 
$
8

 
4
 %
Unrealized net mark-to-market (gain) loss on natural gas derivatives
$
(1
)
 
$
(2
)
 
$
1

 
50
 %
 
$
(4
)
 
$
19

 
$
(23
)
 
N/M

_______________________________________________________________________________
N/M—Not Meaningful
(1) 
UAN represents between 28% and 32% of nitrogen content, depending on the concentration specified by the customer. Nutrient tons represent the tons of nitrogen within the product tons.
Third Quarter of 2018 Compared to Third Quarter of 2017
Net Sales.    Net sales in the UAN segment increased $27 million, or 11%, in the third quarter of 2018 from the third quarter of 2017 due primarily to a 16% increase in average selling prices partially offset by a 4% decrease in sales volume. Average selling prices increased to $167 per ton in the third quarter of 2018 compared to $144 per ton in the comparable period of 2017 due primarily to the impact of a tighter global nitrogen supply and demand balance. Sales volume declined due to lower supply availability from beginning inventory following strong sales in the second quarter of 2018.
Cost of Sales.    Cost of sales in our UAN segment averaged $150 per ton in the third quarter of 2018, a 1% increase from $149 per ton in the comparable period of 2017 as the impact of costs associated with plant turnaround and maintenance activity were offset by the impact of lower realized natural gas costs and an 8% increase in production.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
Net Sales.    Net sales in the UAN segment increased $46 million, or 5%, in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 from the nine months ended September 30, 2017 due primarily to a 7% increase in average selling prices, partially offset by a 1% decline in sales volume. Average selling prices increased to $175 per ton in the nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to $164 per ton in the comparable period of 2017, due primarily to the impact of a tighter global nitrogen supply and demand balance.
Cost of Sales.    Cost of sales in our UAN segment averaged $143 per ton in the nine months ended September 30, 2018, a 5% decrease from $151 per ton in the comparable period of 2017. The decrease was due primarily to lower realized natural gas costs and the impact of an unrealized net mark-to-market gain on natural gas derivatives in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to a loss in the comparable period of 2017, partially offset by costs associated with plant turnaround and maintenance activity.

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AN Segment
Our AN segment produces ammonium nitrate (AN). AN is a nitrogen-based product with a nitrogen content between 29% and 35%. AN is used as nitrogen fertilizer and is also used by industrial customers for commercial explosives and blasting systems. AN is produced at our nitrogen complexes in Yazoo City, Mississippi and Ince and Billingham, United Kingdom.
The following table presents summary operating data for our AN segment:
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018 v. 2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018 v. 2017
 
(dollars in millions, except per ton amounts)
Net sales
$
139

 
$
135

 
$
4

 
3
 %
 
$
363

 
$
372

 
$
(9
)
 
(2
)%
Cost of sales
129

 
123

 
6

 
5
 %
 
320

 
331

 
(11
)
 
(3
)%
Gross margin
$
10

 
$
12

 
$
(2
)
 
(17
)%
 
$
43

 
$
41

 
$
2

 
5
 %
Gross margin percentage
7.2
%
 
8.9
%
 
(1.7
)%
 
 
 
11.8
%
 
11.0
%
 
0.8
%
 
 
Sales volume by product tons (000s)
601

 
670

 
(69
)
 
(10
)%
 
1,586

 
1,777

 
(191
)
 
(11
)%
Sales volume by nutrient tons (000s)(1)
202

 
225

 
(23
)
 
(10
)%
 
535

 
599

 
(64
)
 
(11
)%
Average selling price per product ton
$
231

 
$
201

 
$
30

 
15
 %
 
$
229

 
$
209

 
$
20

 
10
 %
Average selling price per nutrient ton(1)
$
688

 
$
600

 
$
88

 
15
 %
 
$
679

 
$
621

 
$
58

 
9
 %
Gross margin per product ton
$
17

 
$
18

 
$
(1
)
 
(6
)%
 
$
27

 
$
23

 
$
4

 
17
 %
Gross margin per nutrient ton(1)
$
50

 
$
53

 
$
(3
)
 
(6
)%
 
$
80

 
$
68

 
$
12

 
18
 %
Depreciation and amortization
$
35

 
$
24

 
$
11

 
46
 %
 
$
67

 
$
64

 
$
3

 
5
 %
Unrealized net mark-to-market loss on natural gas derivatives
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
—
 %
 
$
—

 
$
3

 
$
(3
)
 
(100
)%
_______________________________________________________________________________
(1) 
Nutrient tons represent the tons of nitrogen within the product tons.
Third Quarter of 2018 Compared to Third Quarter of 2017
Net Sales.    Net sales in our AN segment increased $4 million, or 3%, in the third quarter of 2018 from the third quarter of 2017 due primarily to an increase in average selling prices of 15% partially offset by a 10% decrease in sales volume. The higher average selling price in the third quarter of 2018 reflects a tighter global nitrogen supply and demand balance. Sales volume was lower primarily due to lower production as a result of plant turnaround and maintenance activity.
Cost of Sales.  Cost of sales in our AN segment averaged $214 per ton in the third quarter of 2018, a 17% increase from $183 per ton in the comparable period of 2017. The increase was due primarily to higher realized natural gas costs in the United Kingdom.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
Net Sales.    Net sales in our AN segment decreased $9 million, or 2%, in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 from the nine months ended September 30, 2017 due primarily to an 11% decrease in sales volume, as a result of lower supply availability. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in average selling prices of 10% due primarily to the impact of a tighter global nitrogen supply and demand balance.
Cost of Sales.     Cost of sales in our AN segment averaged $202 per ton in the nine months ended September 30, 2018, a 9% increase from $186 per ton in the comparable period of 2017. The increase was due primarily to higher realized natural gas costs in the United Kingdom.

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Other Segment
Our Other segment primarily includes the following products:
•
Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) is an aqueous urea solution typically made with 32.5% high-purity urea and 67.5% deionized water.
•
Urea liquor is a liquid product that we sell in concentrations of 40%, 50% and 70% urea as a chemical intermediate.
•
Nitric acid is a nitrogen-based product with a nitrogen content of 22.2%.
•
Compound fertilizer products (NPKs) are solid granular fertilizer products for which the nutrient content is a combination of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
The following table presents summary operating data for our Other segment:
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018 v. 2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018 v. 2017
 
(dollars in millions, except per ton amounts)
Net sales
$
86

 
$
70

 
$
16

 
23
%
 
$
287

 
$
223

 
$
64

 
29
%
Cost of sales
76

 
61

 
15

 
25
%
 
248

 
191

 
57

 
30
%
Gross margin
$
10

 
$
9

 
$
1

 
11
%
 
$
39

 
$
32

 
$
7

 
22
%
Gross margin percentage
11.6
%
 
12.9
%
 
(1.3
)%
 
 
 
13.6
%
 
14.3
%
 
(0.7
)%
 
 
Sales volume by product tons (000s)
524

 
518

 
6

 
1
%
 
1,717

 
1,471

 
246

 
17
%
Sales volume by nutrient tons (000s)(1)
102

 
97

 
5

 
5
%
 
335

 
285

 
50

 
18
%
Average selling price per product ton
$
164

 
$
135

 
$
29

 
21
%
 
$
167

 
$
152

 
$
15

 
10
%
Average selling price per nutrient ton(1)
$
843

 
$
722

 
$
121

 
17
%
 
$
857

 
$
782

 
$
75

 
10
%
Gross margin per product ton
$
19

 
$
17

 
$
2

 
12
%
 
$
23

 
$
22

 
$
1

 
5
%
Gross margin per nutrient ton(1)
$
98

 
$
93

 
$
5

 
5
%
 
$
116

 
$
112

 
$
4

 
4
%
Depreciation and amortization
$
18

 
$
15

 
$
3

 
20
%
 
$
49

 
$
40

 
$
9

 
23
%
Unrealized net mark-to-market (gain) loss on natural gas derivatives
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
—
%
 
$
(1
)
 
$
5

 
$
(6
)
 
N/M

_______________________________________________________________________________
N/M—Not Meaningful
(1) 
Nutrient tons represent the tons of nitrogen within the product tons.
Third Quarter of 2018 Compared to Third Quarter of 2017
Net Sales.    Net sales in our Other segment increased by $16 million, or 23%, in the third quarter of 2018 from the third quarter of 2017 due to a 21% increase in average selling prices and a 1% increase in sales volume. The increase in average selling prices is due to the impact of a tighter global nitrogen supply and demand balance. The increase in sales volume was due primarily to an increase in DEF sales volume. Demand for DEF in North America continues to grow, which is supported by the increase in DEF production as a result of our new DEF unit at our Donaldsonville facility that came on line in the second quarter of 2017.
Cost of Sales.    Cost of sales in our Other segment averaged $145 per ton in the third quarter of 2018, a 23% increase from $118 per ton in the third quarter of 2017 due primarily to plant turnaround and maintenance activity and higher natural gas costs in the United Kingdom.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
Net Sales.    Net sales in our Other segment increased by $64 million, or 29%, in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 from the nine months ended September 30, 2017 due to a 17% increase in sales volume and a 10% increase in average selling prices. The increase in sales volume was due primarily to an increase in DEF and nitric acid sales volume. The increase in average selling prices is due to the impact of a tighter global nitrogen supply and demand balance.
Cost of Sales.    Cost of sales in our Other segment averaged $144 per ton in the nine months ended September 30, 2018, an 11% increase from $130 per ton in the nine months ended September 30, 2017 due primarily to plant turnaround and maintenance activity and higher natural gas costs in the United Kingdom, partially offset by the impact of an unrealized net mark-to-market gain on natural gas derivatives in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to a loss in the first nine months of 2017.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary uses of cash are generally for operating costs, working capital, capital expenditures, debt service, investments, taxes, share repurchases and dividends. Our working capital requirements are affected by several factors, including demand for our products, selling prices, raw material costs, freight costs and seasonal factors inherent in the business. Generally, our primary source of cash is cash from operations, which includes cash generated by customer advances. We may also from time to time access the capital markets or engage in borrowings under our credit agreement.
On December 1, 2017, we redeemed all of the $800 million outstanding principal amount of the 2018 Notes in accordance with the optional redemption provisions provided in the indenture. The total aggregate redemption price was approximately $817 million. On December 26, 2017, we purchased approximately $300 million of the $800 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of the 2020 Notes at a total purchase price of approximately $331 million.
On April 2, 2018, we purchased all of the 4,612,562 publicly traded common units of TNCLP (the Public Units) for $388 million. See discussion under “Purchase of Publicly Traded Common Units of TNCLP,” below, for further information.
At September 30, 2018, we were in compliance with all applicable covenant requirements under our Revolving Credit Agreement, Public Senior Notes and Senior Secured Notes. There were no borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Credit Agreement as of September 30, 2018 or December 31, 2017, or during the nine months ended September 30, 2018. See discussion under “Debt,” below, for further information.
Our cash and cash equivalents balance was $1,022 million and $835 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.
Cash Equivalents
Cash equivalents include highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash with original maturities of three months or less. Under our short-term investment policy, we may invest our cash balances, either directly or through mutual funds, in several types of investment-grade securities, including notes and bonds issued by governmental entities or corporations. Securities issued by governmental entities include those issued directly by the U.S. and Canadian federal governments; those issued by state, local or other governmental entities; and those guaranteed by entities affiliated with governmental entities.
Share Repurchase Program
On August 1, 2018, our board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to $500 million of CF Holdings common stock through June 30, 2020. Repurchases under this program may be made from time to time in the open market, through privately negotiated transactions, block transactions or otherwise. The manner, timing and amount of repurchases will be determined by our management based on the evaluation of market conditions, stock price, and other factors.
In the third quarter of 2018, we repurchased 1.8 million shares for $91 million, of which $4 million was accrued but unpaid at September 30, 2018. At September 30, 2018, we held in treasury 1,824,835 shares of repurchased stock.
Capital Spending
We make capital expenditures to sustain our asset base, increase our capacity, improve plant efficiency and comply with various environmental, health and safety requirements. Capital expenditures totaled $278 million in the first nine months of 2018 compared to $290 million in the first nine months of 2017.
Full year capital expenditures for new activity in 2018 are estimated to be approximately $425 million. Planned capital expenditures are subject to change due to delays in regulatory approvals or permitting, unanticipated increases in cost, changes in scope and completion time, performance of third parties, delay in the receipt of equipment, adverse weather, defects in materials and workmanship, labor or material shortages, transportation constraints, acceleration or delays in the timing of the work and other unforeseen difficulties.

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Purchase of Publicly Traded Common Units of TNCLP
On February 7, 2018, we announced that, in accordance with the terms of TNCLP’s First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership), TNGP elected to exercise its right to purchase the Public Units. TNGP completed its purchase of the Public Units on April 2, 2018 (the Purchase), for an aggregate cash purchase price of $388 million. We funded the Purchase with cash on hand. Upon completion of the Purchase, CF Holdings owned, through its subsidiaries, 100 percent of the general and limited partnership interests of TNCLP.
Debt
Revolving Credit Agreement
We have a senior secured revolving credit agreement (the Revolving Credit Agreement) providing for a revolving credit facility of up to $750 million with a maturity of September 18, 2020. The Revolving Credit Agreement includes a letter of credit sub-limit of $125 million. Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement may be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. CF Industries is the borrower under the Revolving Credit Agreement and may also designate as borrowers one or more wholly owned subsidiaries that are organized in the United States or any state thereof, or the District of Columbia.
Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement may be denominated in U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars, euro and British pounds, and bear interest at a per annum rate equal to an applicable eurocurrency rate or base rate plus, in either case, a specified margin, and the borrowers are required to pay an undrawn commitment fee on the undrawn portion of the commitments under the Revolving Credit Agreement and customary letter of credit fees. The specified margin and the amount of the commitment fee depend on CF Holdings’ credit rating at the time.
The guarantors under the Revolving Credit Agreement are currently comprised of CF Holdings and CF Holdings’ wholly owned subsidiaries CF Industries Enterprises, LLC (CFE), CF Industries Sales, LLC (CFS) and CF USA Holdings, LLC (CF USA).
As of September 30, 2018, we had excess borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Agreement of $745 million (net of outstanding letters of credit of $5 million). There were no borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Credit Agreement as of September 30, 2018 or December 31, 2017, or during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
The Revolving Credit Agreement contains representations and warranties and affirmative and negative covenants, including financial covenants. As of September 30, 2018, we were in compliance with all covenants under the Revolving Credit Agreement.
Letters of Credit
In addition to the letters of credit outstanding under the Revolving Credit Agreement, as described above, we have also entered into a bilateral agreement with capacity to issue letters of credit up to $125 million (reflecting an increase of $50 million in March 2018). As of September 30, 2018, approximately $120 million of letters of credit were outstanding under this agreement.

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Senior Notes
Long-term debt presented on our consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 consisted of the following Public Senior Notes (unsecured) and Senior Secured Notes issued by CF Industries:
 
Effective Interest Rate
 
September 30,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
 
 
Principal
 
Carrying Amount (1)
 
Principal
 
Carrying Amount (1)
 
 
 
(in millions)
Public Senior Notes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7.125% due May 2020
7.529%
 
$
500

 
$
497

 
$
500

 
$
496

3.450% due June 2023
3.562%
 
750

 
746

 
750

 
746

5.150% due March 2034
5.279%
 
750

 
740

 
750

 
739

4.950% due June 2043
5.031%
 
750

 
742

 
750

 
741

5.375% due March 2044
5.465%
 
750

 
741

 
750

 
741

Senior Secured Notes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.400% due December 2021
3.782%
 
500

 
494

 
500

 
493

4.500% due December 2026
4.759%
 
750

 
737

 
750

 
736

Total long-term debt
 
 
$
4,750

 
$
4,697

 
$
4,750

 
$
4,692

_______________________________________________________________________________
(1) 
Carrying amount is net of unamortized debt discount and deferred debt issuance costs. Total unamortized debt discount was $11 million and $12 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, and total deferred debt issuance costs were $42 million and $46 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. 
Public Senior Notes
Under the indentures (including the applicable supplemental indentures) governing our senior notes due 2020, 2023, 2034, 2043 and 2044 (the Public Senior Notes), each series of Public Senior Notes is guaranteed by CF Holdings and CF Holdings’ wholly owned subsidiaries CFE, CFS and CF USA. CFE, CFS and CF USA became subsidiary guarantors of the Public Senior Notes as a result of their becoming guarantors under the Revolving Credit Agreement.
Interest on the Public Senior Notes is payable semiannually, and the Public Senior Notes are redeemable at our option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at specified make-whole redemption prices.
Senior Secured Notes
On November 21, 2016, CF Industries issued $500 million aggregate principal amount of 3.400% senior secured notes due 2021 (the 2021 Notes) and $750 million aggregate principal amount of 4.500% senior secured notes due 2026 (the 2026 Notes, and together with the 2021 Notes, the Senior Secured Notes). CF Holdings and the subsidiary guarantors of the Public Senior Notes are also guarantors of the Senior Secured Notes.
Interest on the Senior Secured Notes is payable semiannually on December 1 and June 1 beginning on June 1, 2017, and the Senior Secured Notes are redeemable at our option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at specified make-whole redemption prices.
Forward Sales and Customer Advances
We offer our customers the opportunity to purchase products from us on a forward basis at prices and on delivery dates we propose. Therefore, our reported fertilizer selling prices and margins may differ from market spot prices and margins available at the time of shipment.
Customer advances, which typically represent a portion of the contract’s sales value, are received shortly after the contract is executed, with any remaining unpaid amount generally being collected by the time the product is shipped, thereby reducing or eliminating the accounts receivable related to such sales. Any cash payments received in advance from customers in connection with forward sales contracts are reflected on our consolidated balance sheets as a current liability until related orders are shipped and revenue is recognized. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had $313 million and $89 million, respectively, in customer advances on our consolidated balance sheets.

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While customer advances are a source of liquidity, the level of forward sales contracts is affected by many factors including current market conditions and our customers’ outlook on future market fundamentals. During periods of declining prices, customers tend to delay purchasing fertilizer in anticipation that prices in the future will be lower than the current prices. If the level of sales under our forward sales programs were to decrease in the future, our cash received from customer advances would likely decrease and our accounts receivable balances would likely increase. Additionally, borrowing under the Revolving Credit Agreement could become necessary. Due to the volatility inherent in our business and changing customer expectations, we cannot estimate the amount of future forward sales activity.
Under our forward sales programs, a customer may delay delivery of an order due to weather conditions or other factors. These delays generally subject the customer to potential charges for storage or may be grounds for termination of the contract by us. Such a delay in scheduled shipment or termination of a forward sales contract due to a customer’s inability or unwillingness to perform may negatively impact our reported sales.
Derivative Financial Instruments
We use derivative financial instruments to reduce our exposure to changes in prices for natural gas that will be purchased in the future. Natural gas is the largest and most volatile component of our manufacturing cost for nitrogen-based fertilizers. From time to time, we also use derivative financial instruments to reduce our exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Volatility in reported quarterly earnings can result from the unrealized mark-to-market adjustments in the value of the derivatives. In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recognized unrealized net mark-to-market gains on derivative financial instruments of $3 million and $11 million, respectively. In the three months ended September 30, 2017, we recognized an unrealized net mark-to-market gain on derivative financial instruments of $7 million and, in the nine months ended September 30, 2017, an unrealized net mark-to-market loss of $64 million. These amounts are reflected in cost of sales in our consolidated statements of operations.
Derivatives expose us to counterparties and the risks associated with their ability to meet the terms of the contracts. For derivatives that are in net asset positions, we are exposed to credit loss from nonperformance by the counterparties. We control our credit risk through the use of multiple counterparties that are multinational commercial banks, other major financial institutions or large energy companies, and, in most cases, the use of International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) agreements. The ISDA agreements are master netting arrangements commonly used for over-the-counter derivatives that mitigate exposure to counterparty credit risk, in part, by creating contractual rights of netting and setoff, the specifics of which vary from agreement to agreement.
The ISDA agreements for most of our derivative instruments contain credit-risk-related contingent features, such as cross default provisions and credit support thresholds. In the event of certain defaults or a credit ratings downgrade, our counterparty may request early termination and net settlement of certain derivative trades or may require us to collateralize derivatives in a net liability position. The Revolving Credit Agreement, at any time when it is secured, provides a cross collateral feature for those of our derivatives that are with counterparties that are party to, or affiliates of parties to, the Revolving Credit Agreement so that no separate collateral would be required for those counterparties in connection with such derivatives. In the event the Revolving Credit Agreement becomes unsecured, separate collateral could be required in connection with such derivatives.
As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the aggregate fair value of the derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features in net liability positions was $1 million and $12 million, respectively, which also approximates the fair value of the maximum amount of additional collateral that would need to be posted or assets needed to settle the obligations if the credit-risk-related contingent features were triggered at the reporting dates. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had open natural gas derivative contracts, including natural gas fixed price swaps and natural gas basis swaps, for 16.0 million MMBtus and 35.9 million MMBtus, respectively. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had no cash collateral on deposit with counterparties for derivative contracts. The credit support documents executed in connection with certain of our ISDA agreements generally provide us and our counterparties the right to set off collateral against amounts owing under the ISDA agreements upon the occurrence of a default or a specified termination event.
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
We contributed $32 million to our pension plans during the nine months ended September 30, 2018. Over the remainder of 2018, we expect to contribute an additional $7 million to our pension plans, or a total of approximately $39 million for the full year 2018.

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Distribution on Noncontrolling Interest in CFN
In the third quarter of 2018, the CFN Board of Managers approved semi-annual distribution payments for the distribution period ended June 30, 2018 in accordance with the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of CFN, as amended. On July 31, 2018, CFN distributed $79 million to CHS for the distribution period ended June 30, 2018. The estimate of the partnership distribution earned by CHS, but not yet declared, for the third quarter of 2018 is approximately $40 million.
Cash Flows
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities during the first nine months of 2018 was $1,243 million as compared to $1,401 million in the first nine months of 2017. The decrease of $158 million was due primarily to our receipt in 2017 of an $815 million income tax refund as a result of the claim to carry back the 2016 federal tax loss to prior income tax years, partially offset by higher net earnings and an increase in customer advances during the first nine months of 2018.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $238 million in the first nine months of 2018 as compared to $256 million in the first nine months of 2017. During the first nine months of 2018, capital expenditures totaled $278 million compared to $290 million in the first nine months of 2017. Net cash used in investing activities in the first nine months of 2018 included $10 million related to property insurance proceeds received.
Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities was $814 million in the first nine months of 2018 compared to $335 million in the same period of 2017. Dividends paid on common stock in each of the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were $210 million. Net cash used in financing activities in the first nine months of 2018 included $388 million related to our acquisition of all of the outstanding publicly traded common units of TNCLP. In addition, we repurchased 1.8 million shares of our common stock in the first nine months of 2018 for $91 million, of which $4 million was accrued but unpaid at September 30, 2018.
Contractual Obligations
As of September 30, 2018, there have been no material changes outside the ordinary course of business to our contractual obligations as described in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 22, 2018.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have operating leases for certain property and equipment under various noncancelable agreements, including rail car leases and barge tow charters that are utilized for the distribution of our products. The rail car leases currently have minimum terms ranging from one to eleven years and the barge charter commitments currently have terms ranging from one to seven years. We also have terminal and warehouse storage agreements for our distribution system, some of which contain minimum throughput requirements. The storage agreements contain minimum terms ranging from one to five years and commonly contain automatic annual renewal provisions thereafter unless canceled by either party. See Note 23—Leases in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 22, 2018 for additional information concerning leases.
We do not have any other off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a material current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
There were no changes to our significant accounting policies or estimates during the first nine months of 2018.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2—New Accounting Standards for a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements.



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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
From time to time, in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as well as in other written reports and oral statements, we make forward-looking statements that are not statements of historical fact and may involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. These statements may also relate to our prospects, future developments and business strategies. We have used the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “will,” or “would” and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions, to identify forward-looking statements in this document. These forward-looking statements are made based on currently available competitive, financial and economic data, our current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industries and markets in which we operate and management’s beliefs and assumptions concerning future events affecting us. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and factors relating to our operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Therefore, our actual results may differ materially from what is expressed in or implied by any forward-looking statements. We want to caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. We do not undertake any responsibility to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to take into account events or circumstances that occur after the date of this document. Additionally, we do not undertake any responsibility to provide updates regarding the occurrence of any unanticipated events which may cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this document.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations are disclosed under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 22, 2018. Such factors include, among others:
•
the cyclical nature of our business and the agricultural sector;
•
the global commodity nature of our fertilizer products, the impact of global supply and demand on our selling prices, and the intense global competition from other fertilizer producers;
•
conditions in the U.S. and European agricultural industry;
•
the volatility of natural gas prices in North America and Europe;
•
difficulties in securing the supply and delivery of raw materials, increases in their costs or delays or interruptions in their delivery;
•
reliance on third party providers of transportation services and equipment;
•
the significant risks and hazards involved in producing and handling our products against which we may not be fully insured;
•
our ability to manage our indebtedness;
•
operating and financial restrictions imposed on us by the agreements governing our senior secured indebtedness;
•
risks associated with our incurrence of additional indebtedness;
•
our ability to maintain compliance with covenants under the agreements governing our indebtedness;
•
downgrades of our credit ratings;
•
risks associated with cyber security;
•
weather conditions;
•
risks associated with changes in tax laws and disagreements with taxing authorities;
•
our reliance on a limited number of key facilities;
•
potential liabilities and expenditures related to environmental, health and safety laws and regulations and permitting requirements;
•
future regulatory restrictions and requirements related to greenhouse gas emissions;
•
risks associated with expansions of our business, including unanticipated adverse consequences and the significant resources that could be required;
•
the seasonality of the fertilizer business;
•
the impact of changing market conditions on our forward sales programs;
•
risks involving derivatives and the effectiveness of our risk measurement and hedging activities;
•
risks associated with the operation or management of the CHS strategic venture, risks and uncertainties relating to the market prices of the fertilizer products that are the subject of our supply agreement with CHS over the life of the supply agreement, and the risk that any challenges related to the CHS strategic venture will harm our other business relationships;
•
risks associated with our PLNL joint venture;
•
acts of terrorism and regulations to combat terrorism;
•
risks associated with international operations; and
•
deterioration of global market and economic conditions.

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ITEM 3.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
We are exposed to the impact of changes in commodity prices, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates.
Commodity Prices
Our net sales, cash flows and estimates of future cash flows related to nitrogen-based fertilizers are sensitive to changes in fertilizer prices as well as changes in the prices of natural gas and other raw materials unless these costs have been fixed or hedged. A $1.00 per MMBtu change in the price of natural gas would change the cost to produce a ton of ammonia, granular urea, UAN (32%), and AN by approximately $32, $22, $14 and $15, respectively.
Natural gas is the largest and most volatile component of the manufacturing cost for nitrogen-based fertilizers. We manage the risk of changes in natural gas prices primarily with the use of derivative financial instruments. The derivative instruments that we use are primarily natural gas fixed price swaps, natural gas basis swaps and natural gas options. These derivatives settle using primarily NYMEX futures price indexes, which represent the basis for fair value at any given time. The contracts represent anticipated natural gas needs for future periods and settlements are scheduled to coincide with anticipated natural gas purchases during those future periods. As of September 30, 2018, we had natural gas NYMEX fixed price swaps covering periods through December 2018 and natural gas basis swaps covering certain periods through March 2019.
As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had open natural gas derivative contracts, including natural gas fixed price swaps and natural gas basis swaps, for 16.0 million MMBtus and 35.9 million MMBtus, respectively. A $1.00 per MMBtu increase in the forward curve prices of natural gas at September 30, 2018 would result in a favorable change in the fair value of these derivative positions of $13 million, and a $1.00 per MMBtu decrease in the forward curve prices of natural gas would change their fair value unfavorably by $13 million.
From time to time we may purchase nitrogen products on the open market to augment or replace production at our facilities.
Interest Rate Fluctuations
As of September 30, 2018, we had seven series of senior notes totaling $4.75 billion of principal outstanding with maturity dates of May 1, 2020, December 1, 2021, June 1, 2023, December 1, 2026, March 15, 2034, June 1, 2043 and March 15, 2044. The senior notes have fixed interest rates. As of September 30, 2018, the carrying value and fair value of our senior notes was approximately $4.70 billion and $4.57 billion, respectively.
Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement bear current market rates of interest and we are subject to interest rate risk on such borrowings. There were no borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Credit Agreement as of September 30, 2018 or December 31, 2017, or during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rates
We are directly exposed to changes in the value of the Canadian dollar, the British pound and the euro. We generally do not maintain any exchange rate derivatives or hedges related to these currencies.



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ITEM 4.    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
        (a)    Disclosure Controls and Procedures.  The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on such evaluation, the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in (i) ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (ii) ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
        (b)    Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.  There have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended September 30, 2018 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
West Fertilizer Co.
On April 17, 2013, there was a fire and explosion at the West Fertilizer Co. fertilizer storage and distribution facility in West, Texas. According to published reports, 15 people were killed and approximately 200 people were injured in the incident, and the fire and explosion damaged or destroyed a number of homes and buildings around the facility. Various subsidiaries of CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (the CF Entities) have been named as defendants along with other companies in lawsuits filed in 2013, 2014 and 2015 in the District Court of McLennan County, Texas by the City of West, individual residents of the County and other parties seeking recovery for damages allegedly sustained as a result of the explosion. The cases have been consolidated for discovery and pretrial proceedings in the District Court of McLennan County under the caption “In re: West Explosion Cases.” The two-year statute of limitations expired on April 17, 2015. As of that date, over 400 plaintiffs had filed claims, including at least 9 entities, 325 individuals, and 80 insurance companies. Plaintiffs allege various theories of negligence, strict liability, and breach of warranty under Texas law. Although we do not own or operate the facility or directly sell our products to West Fertilizer Co., products that the CF Entities have manufactured and sold to others have been delivered to the facility and may have been stored at the West facility at the time of the incident.
The Court granted in part and denied in part the CF Entities’ Motions for Summary Judgment in August 2015. Over two hundred cases have been resolved pursuant to confidential settlements that have been or we expect will be fully funded by insurance. The remaining cases are in various stages of discovery and pre-trial proceedings. There is no trial date currently set; however, we anticipate that the Court will schedule a trial sometime in mid-2019. We believe we have strong legal and factual defenses and intend to continue defending the CF Entities vigorously in the pending lawsuits. The Company cannot provide a range of reasonably possible loss due to the lack of damages discovery for many of the remaining claims and the uncertain nature of this litigation, including uncertainties around the potential allocation of responsibility by a jury to other defendants or responsible third parties. The recognition of a potential loss in the future in the West Fertilizer Co. litigation could negatively affect our results in the period of recognition. However, based upon currently available information, including available insurance coverage, we do not believe that this litigation will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

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ITEM 2.    UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.
The following table sets forth stock repurchases, on a trade date basis, for each of the three months of the quarter ended September 30, 2018.
 
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Period
Total
Number
of Shares
(or Units)
Purchased
 
Average
Price Paid
per Share
(or Unit)(3)
 
Total Number of
Shares (or Units)
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs
 
Maximum Number (or
Approximate Dollar
Value) of Shares (or
Units) that May Yet Be
Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs
(in thousands)
July 1, 2018 - July 31, 2018
—

 
$
—

 
—

 
$
—

August 1, 2018 - August 31, 2018
1,064,648

(1)(2) 
49.18

 
1,040,000

 
448,853

September 1, 2018 - September 30, 2018
760,000

(1) 
52.60

 
760,000

 
408,880

Total
1,824,648

 
$
50.60

 
1,800,000

 
 

_______________________________________________________________________________
(1) On August 1, 2018, our Board of Directors authorized management to repurchase common stock for a total expenditure of up to $500 million through June 30, 2020 (the 2018 Stock Repurchase Program). This program is discussed in Note 15—Stockholders’ Equity, in the notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements included in Part I.

(2) Includes 24,648 shares withheld to pay employee tax obligations upon the exercise of nonqualified stock options.

(3) Average price paid per share of common stock repurchased under the 2018 Stock Repurchase Program is the execution price, excluding commissions paid to brokers.
ITEM 6.    EXHIBITS.
A list of exhibits filed with this Report on Form 10-Q (or incorporated by reference to exhibits previously filed or furnished) is provided in the Exhibit Index on page 60 of this report.


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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.
Description




101

The following financial information from CF Industries Holdings, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2018, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (1) Consolidated Statements of Operations, (2) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss), (3) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (4) Consolidated Statements of Equity, (5) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (6) the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements


    

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC.
 
Date: November 1, 2018
By:
/s/ W. ANTHONY WILL
 
 
 
W. Anthony Will
 President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
Date: November 1, 2018
By:
/s/ DENNIS P. KELLEHER
 
 
 
Dennis P. Kelleher
 Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

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