Agrium Proposes to Acquire CF Industries for US$72.00 Per Share in Cash and Stock, a 30 Percent Premium

Market Wire, February, 2009

ALL AMOUNTS ARE STATED IN U.S.$

Agrium Inc. (TSX: AGU)(NYSE: AGU) today announced that it has submitted a proposal to the board of directors of CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CF) to acquire all of the capital stock of CF for cash and Agrium shares at $72.00 per CF share, or a total of approximately $3.6-billion, based on yesterday's closing price of Agrium shares.

The proposal represents a premium of 30 percent over CF's closing price on February 24, 2009, and a premium of 42 percent over the 30-day volume-weighted average share price of CF. Under the terms of the proposed transaction, stockholders of CF would be entitled to receive one Agrium common share and $31.70 in cash for each CF share. Of the total consideration, approximately 56 percent would be in Agrium common shares and 44 percent would be in cash.

"The proposed transaction is strategically compelling and a superb opportunity to create value for both Agrium and CF shareholders. Adding CF's strong North American nitrogen, phosphate and extensive crop nutrient distribution assets to Agrium's broader global wholesale and retail capabilities would greatly enhance our existing portfolio and enable us to create a premier global franchise across the entire agricultural value chain," said Agrium President and CEO Mike Wilson. "We will have combined revenues of nearly $14-billion and become a global leader in nutrient production and distribution. The acquisition would also triple our phosphate and UAN capacity and further strengthen all aspects of our business. We expect to achieve significant operating synergies - well in excess of those contemplated in CF's proposal to acquire Terra Industries Inc. - and expect the combination to provide many benefits to the customers, suppliers, and employees of both Agrium and CF, as well as the communities in which both companies operate. Furthermore, our offer presents CF stockholders a compelling opportunity for significant long-term value through their ownership in the combined company."

Mr. Wilson continued, "Importantly, this proposed transaction will not diminish our ability to continue to build on our position as the leading North American agricultural retailer, further expand our potash capacity and advanced technologies business or pursue other strategic opportunities. We look forward to engaging with CF's board of directors to quickly reach a negotiated agreement and deliver on the exciting opportunities this combination offers to both companies."

Agrium expects to realize substantial annual operating synergies of approximately $150-million from the combination within three years of closing, and CF stockholders will share in the value of those synergies through their continued ownership of 24 percent of the combined company. Agrium expects the transaction to be accretive to both earnings and cash flow in 2010 and significantly accretive on both measures in subsequent years.

The proposal is not subject to a financing condition. Agrium has sufficient cash resources and committed financing underwritten by Royal Bank of Canada and The Bank of Nova Scotia to fund the cash portion of the proposal.

RBC Capital Markets and Scotia Capital are acting as financial advisors to Agrium and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP and Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP are providing legal advice.

The full text of the letter sent today to the CF board of directors is as follows:

Board of Directors
CF Industries Holdings, Inc.
4 Parkway North
Suite 400
Deerfield, Illinois 60015-2590
Attention: Stephen R. Wilson, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive
           Officer

Dear Members of the Board:

On behalf of the board of directors of Agrium Inc. ("Agrium"), I am writing to submit for your consideration a proposal to acquire CF Industries Holdings, Inc. ("CF") in a transaction that will create significantly more value for your stockholders than your proposal to acquire Terra Industries Inc. ("Terra").

Under the terms of our cash-and-stock proposal, Agrium would acquire 100% of the outstanding capital stock of CF (the "Proposed Transaction") at a per share value of US$72.00 based on Agrium's current share price. Our offer price represents a premium of 30% over CF's closing price of $55.58 on February 24, 2009, the day before we announced our proposal, a premium of 42% over the 30-day volume-weighted average share price of CF and a premium of 52% over CF's closing price of $47.23 on January 15, 2009, immediately prior to CF's announced proposal to acquire Terra. Under the terms of the Proposed Transaction, stockholders of CF would be entitled to receive one Agrium common share and $31.70 in cash for each CF share. Of the approximately $3.6 billion of total consideration, 56% would be in Agrium common shares and 44% would be in cash.

As you know, our two companies had serious discussions regarding a combination prior to CF's initial public offering in 2005. Since that time, we have closely followed CF and believe that the strategic and business logic of a combination, which was compelling then, is even stronger now. We have the highest regard for CF and its employees and believe that our companies, which share highly compatible cultures and operating philosophies, exhibit complementary strengths both geographically and in terms of our product mix.