New executive jet ‘reflects business needs’: Nutrien
The world’s largest fertilizer company bought a three-year-old business jet to serve its Calgary headquarters before listing its older and smaller Saskatoon-based jet for sale.
Public records show Nutrien Ltd. registered the jet — a Gulfstream GV- SP, known as a G550 — on Sept. 14, two months before the Saskatoon StarPhoenix reported its plan to sell the older aircraft.
The purchase comes amid growing concern at the highest levels of the provincial government about the company running most of its operations out of Calgary.
Nutrien spokesman Will Tigley said it is a coincidence.
“The main reason that we purchased this and made this business decision was functionality. This new jet, it provides a greater ability to fly internationally for us. It reflects our business needs,” Tigley said. “We had a business need identified during our merger, and we went and procured the assets that helped us meet this business need.”
Tigley said the Gulfstream is based in Calgary because that’s where it’s needed for the company’s global business. He declined to say which Nutrien employees use the aircraft or how much the company paid for it.
The company came under scrutiny last month after the StarPhoenix reported that all but one of its senior executives, including CEO Chuck Magro, live outside the province and Calgary appears to be its primary base of operations.
Nutrien at the time denied that its decision to sell the Dassault Falcon was related to where its senior executives live. The company said the decision was a “business decision” and not a “leadership decision.”
Nutrien was formed when Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. joined forces with Agrium Inc. in a deal worth US$26 billion.
While it is a publicly-traded company, the provincial government believes it is subject to a unique piece of legislation passed 29 years ago that requires PotashCorp and its successors to maintain “head office functions” in Saskatchewan.
The company has refused to confirm if it believes the law applies, saying only that will be a “point of discussion” in an upcoming meeting between its CEO and board chair, and government representatives including Premier Scott Moe.
Nutrien and the province have refused to reveal when and where the meeting will take place, except to say “this week.” Magro and board chair Derek Pannell are expected to be in Saskatoon later this week for a scheduled meeting of the board of directors.