UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q


[X]		QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2004

[ ]

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 333-82700

Compass Minerals Group, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		48-1135403 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

8300 College Blvd.
Overland Park, KS 66210
(913) 344-9200
(Address of principal executive offices and telephone number)

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: [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes: [ ] No: [X]

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share, at August 2, 2004 was 1,000 shares.

COMPASS MINERALS GROUP, INC.

Table of Contents


	Page
Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003 (unaudited)		2
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three month and six month periods ended June 30, 2004 and 2003 (unaudited)		3
Consolidated Statement of Stockholder’s Equity (Deficit) for the six month period ended June 30, 2004 (unaudited)		4
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six month periods ended June 30, 2004 and 2003 (unaudited)		5
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)		6
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		16
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk		23
Item 4. Controls and Procedures		24
Part II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings		25
Item 2. Changes in Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities		25
Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities		25
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders		25
Item 5. Other Information		25
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K		26
SIGNATURES		27
Section 302 Certifications
Section 302 Certifications
Certifications

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

COMPASS MINERALS GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)

(in millions, except share data)


	June 30,			December 31,
	2004			2003
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	54.9		$	2.6
Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $1.9 million in 2004 and $2.1 million in 2003		54.0			117.4
Inventories		82.7			96.7
Other		3.2			3.7

Total current assets		194.8			220.4
Property, plant and equipment, net		250.3			262.0
Intangible assets – mineral interests and other, net		171.3			172.7
Other		48.0			34.9

Total assets	$	664.4		$	690.0

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	$	0.6		$	0.8
Accounts payable		43.9			72.6
Accrued expenses		11.3			13.3
Accrued interest		12.5			12.5
Accrued salaries and wages		13.2			13.5
Income taxes payable		2.4			—

Total current liabilities		83.9			112.7
Long-term debt, net of current portion		385.2			419.4
Deferred income taxes		78.8			77.7
Other noncurrent liabilities		36.4			36.4
Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)
Stockholder’s equity (deficit):
Common Stock:
$0.01 par value, authorized shares— 1,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding		—			—
Additional paid in capital		341.9			341.9
Accumulated deficit		(286.6	)		(323.6	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income		24.8			25.5

Total stockholder’s equity		80.1			43.8

Total liabilities and stockholder’s equity	$	664.4		$	690.0

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

COMPASS MINERALS GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)

(in millions)


	Three months ended						Six months ended
	June 30,						June 30,
	2004			2003			2004		2003
Sales	$	96.9		$	88.7		$	347.4	$	301.4
Cost of sales – shipping and handling		22.7			21.1			97.1		85.2
Cost of sales – products		54.1			48.9			158.2		144.4

Gross profit		20.1			18.7			92.1		71.8
Selling, general and administrative expenses		12.4			11.5			26.4		23.1

Operating earnings		7.7			7.2			65.7		48.7
Other (income) expense:
Interest expense		9.2			9.5			18.7		19.2
Other, net		0.2			3.2			0.7		2.9

Income (loss) before income taxes		(1.7	)		(5.5	)		46.3		26.6
Income tax expense (benefit)		(2.3	)		0.2			9.3		5.4

Net income (loss)	$	0.6		$	(5.7	)	$	37.0	$	21.2

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

COMPASS MINERALS GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY (DEFICIT) (unaudited)

For the six months ended June 30, 2004

(in millions)


								Accumulated
			Additional					Other
	Common		Paid In		Accumulated			Comprehensive
	Stock		Capital		Deficit			Income			Total
Balance, December 31, 2003	$	—	$	341.9	$	(323.6	)	$	25.5		$	43.8
Comprehensive income:
Net income						37.0						37.0
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges, net of tax									0.6			0.6
Cumulative translation adjustment									(1.3	)		(1.3	)

Comprehensive income												36.3

Balance, June 30, 2004	$	—	$	341.9	$	(286.6	)		24.8			80.1

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

COMPASS MINERALS GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)

(in millions)


	Six months ended
	June 30,
	2004			2003
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	37.0		$	21.2
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		20.3			19.4
Finance fee amortization		0.8			0.8
Deferred income taxes		1.4			5.3
Loss on disposal of property, plant & equipment		0.1			—
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables		62.4			50.7
Inventories		13.6			21.0
Other assets		0.8			(2.3	)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		(26.5	)		(32.9	)
Other noncurrent liabilities		(0.3	)		(0.2	)

Net cash provided by operating activities		109.6			83.0

Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures		(8.6	)		(5.4	)
Acquisition of intangible assets		—			(21.0	)
Other		0.2			—

Net cash used in investing activities		(8.4	)		(26.4	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividend paid		—			(21.7	)
Principal payments on long-term debt, including capital leases		(20.4	)		(30.7	)
Revolver activity		(14.0	)		—
Advances to CMI, net		(13.8	)		(3.8	)

Net cash used in financing activities		(48.2	)		(56.2	)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(0.7	)		1.4

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		52.3			1.8

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		2.6			11.9

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	54.9		$	13.7

Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest paid	$	18.0		$	18.3
Income taxes paid, net of refunds		4.2			4.8

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

COMPASS MINERALS GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1. Organization, Formation and Basis of Presentation:

Compass Minerals Group, Inc. (“CMG” or the “Company”), is a producer and marketer of inorganic mineral products with manufacturing sites in North America and Europe. Its principal products are salt and sulfate of potash (“SOP”). CMG serves a variety of markets, including agriculture, food processing, chemical processing, water conditioning and highway deicing and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Compass Minerals International, Inc. (“CMI”).

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, considered necessary for a fair presentation, have been included. Operating results for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2004 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ended December 31, 2004.

The balance sheet at December 31, 2003 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2003 included in CMG’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 19, 2004.

2. Recent Accounting Pronouncements:

In January 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or “FASB,” issued Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51 (“FIN 46”). FIN 46 establishes accounting guidance for consolidation of variable interest entities that function to support the activities of the primary beneficiary. FIN 46 applies to any business enterprise, public or private, that has a controlling interest, contractual relationship or other business relationship with a variable interest entity. In December 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46(R) (“FIN 46(R)”) which supercedes FIN 46. FIN 46(R) is effective for all Special Purpose Entities (“SPEs”) created prior to February 1, 2003 at the end of the first interim or annual reporting period ending after December 15, 2003. FIN 46(R) is applicable to all non-SPEs created prior to February 1, 2003 by public entities at the end of the first interim or annual reporting period ending after March 15, 2004. The Company has determined that it has no SPEs. The Company reviewed the applicability of FIN 46(R) to entities other than SPEs and has determined that the adoption of FIN 46(R) did not have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

In April 2004, the FASB issued FASB staff position (“FSP”) FAS 141-1 and FAS 142-1, “Interaction of FASB Statements No. 141, Business Combinations, and No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, and Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Issue No. 04-2, “Whether Mineral Rights Are Tangible or Intangible Assets.” This FSP amends SFAS Nos. 141 and 142, and requires mineral rights to be accounted for as tangible assets based on the consensus reached in EITF 04-2. The Company will adopt the guidance in the FSP on July 1, 2004, and this will result in the balance sheet reclassification of approximately $147.2 million of net mineral rights from intangible assets to property, plant and equipment. Prior period amounts will be similarly reclassified. This FSP will have no impact on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations or cash flows.

3. Inventories:

Inventories consist of the following at (in millions):


	June 30,		December 31,
	2004		2003
Finished goods	$	71.6	$	84.1
Raw materials and supplies		11.1		12.6

	$	82.7	$	96.7

4. Property, Plant and Equipment:

Property, plant and equipment consists of the following at (in millions):


	June 30,		December 31,
	2004		2003
Land and buildings	$	137.3	$	135.9
Machinery and equipment		403.2		408.3
Furniture and fixtures		9.5		9.6
Mineral properties and rights		20.5		20.3
Construction in progress		13.1		6.5

		583.6		580.6
Less accumulated depreciation		333.3		318.6

	$	250.3	$	262.0

5. Intangible Assets — Mineral Interests and Other:

Mineral interests include probable mineral reserves. The Company leases mineral reserves at several of its extraction facilities. These leases have varying terms, and many provide for a royalty payment to the lessor based on a specific amount per ton of mineral extracted or as a percentage of revenue. The Company’s mineral interests are amortized on a units-of-production basis. The Company acquired other intangible assets related to its SOP segment during 2003. These assets are being amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives.

The aggregate amortization of mineral interests and other intangible assets for the three months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003 was $0.7 million and $0.4 million, respectively, and six months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003 was $1.4 million and $0.7, respectively. The estimated amortization expense from fiscal 2004 to fiscal 2008 is approximately $2.9 million annually.

Mineral interests and other intangible assets consist of the following (in millions):


	June 30, 2004						December 31, 2003
	Gross						Gross
	Carrying		Accumulated		Net Book		Carrying		Accumulated		Net Book
	Value		Amortization		Value		Value		Amortization		Value
Probable mineral reserves	$	158.6		11.4		147.2	$	158.6	$	10.6	$	148.0
SOP long-term customer contract		0.5		—		0.5		0.5		—		0.5
Other SOP intangible asset		24.3		0.7		23.6		24.3		0.1		24.2

	$	183.4		12.1		171.3	$	183.4	$	10.7	$	172.7

6. Income Taxes:

Income tax expense (benefit) for the three months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003 was $(2.3) million and $0.2 million, respectively. Income tax expense for the six months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003 was $9.3 million and $5.4 million, respectively. Our income tax provision differs from the U.S. statutory federal income tax rate primarily due to U.S. statutory depletion, state income taxes (net of federal tax benefit), foreign income tax rate differentials, foreign mining income taxes and changes in the utilization of previously reserved deferred tax assets.

At June 30, 2004, we had approximately $67.3 million of NOLs that expire between 2007 and 2022. The deferred tax assets associated with these NOLs were approximately $24.7 million at June 30, 2004. Since we do not consider recovery of these deferred tax assets to be more likely than not under our current operating structure, an offsetting valuation allowance has been recorded.

7. Long-term Debt:

Third-party long-term debt consists of the following at (in millions):


	June 30,			December 31,
	2004			2003
Senior Subordinated Notes	$	325.0		$	325.0
Term Loan		58.0			78.3
Revolving Credit Facility		—			14.0

		383.0			417.3
Premium on Senior Subordinated Notes, net		2.8			2.9
Less: current portion		(0.6	)		(0.8	)

	$	385.2		$	419.4

8. Pension Plans:

The components of pension expense were as follows for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, (in millions):


	Three months ended						Six months ended
	June 30,						June 30,
	2004			2003			2004			2003
Service cost for benefits earned during the year	$	0.3		$	0.4		$	0.6		$	0.7
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation		0.8			0.7			1.6			1.4
Return on plan assets		(0.7	)		(0.6	)		(1.4	)		(1.1	)
Net amortization and deferral		0.1			0.3			0.3			0.6

Net pension expense	$	0.5		$	0.8		$	1.1		$	1.6

The Company’s funding policy is to make the minimum annual contributions required by applicable regulations. For the six months ending June 30, 2004, $0.8 million of contributions have been made. The Company presently anticipates contributing an additional $0.8 million to fund its defined benefit pension plans for the remainder of 2004 for a total of $1.6 million.

9. Commitments and Contingencies:

The Company is involved in legal and administrative proceedings and claims of various types from normal Company activities.

The Company has become aware of an aboriginal land claim filed by The Chippewas of Nawash and The Chippewas of Saugeen (the “Chippewas”) in the Ontario Superior Court against The Attorney General of Canada and Her Majesty The Queen In Right of Ontario. The Chippewas claim that a large part of the land under Lake Huron was never conveyed by treaty and therefore belongs to the Chippewas. The land claimed includes land in which the Company’s Goderich mine operates and has mining rights granted to it by the government of Ontario. The Company is not a party to this court action. Similar claims are pending with respect to other parts of the Great Lakes by other aboriginal claimants. The Company has been informed by the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario that “Canada takes the position that the common law does not recognize aboriginal title to the Great Lakes and its connecting waterways.”

The Company does not believe that this action will result in a material adverse financial effect on the Company. Furthermore, while any litigation contains an element of uncertainty, management presently believes that the outcome of each such proceeding or claim which is pending or known to be threatened, or all of them combined, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

As of June 30, 2004, CMI had recorded approximately $80.7 million and $114.0 million for its senior discount notes and subordinated discount notes, respectively. The senior discount notes and subordinated discount notes are not a part of CMG’s consolidated financial statements. However, CMG’s operations are currently the main source of cash that is expected to service the senior discount notes, subordinated discount notes and any future dividends on CMI common stock.

Throughout the six months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003, CMG advanced CMI cash to pay certain third parties. Advances totaling approximately $13.8 million were made during the six months ended June 30, 2004 that primarily consisted of costs related to CMI’s initial public offering and quarterly dividends. Advances totaling approximately $3.8 million were made during the six months ended June 30, 2003 that primarily consisted of costs related to the senior discount notes issued by CMI during 2002 and the senior subordinated notes issued in May 2003. At June 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, CMG is due $24.2 million and $10.4 million, respectively, from CMI. This receivable is recorded in other noncurrent assets.

10. Operating Segments:

Segment information is as follows (in millions):


Three months ended June 30, 2004	Salt		Potash		Other^(a)			Total
Sales to external customers	$	74.3	$	22.6	$	—		$	96.9
Intersegment sales		—		2.5		(2.5	)		—
Cost of sales – shipping and handling costs		19.2		3.5		—			22.7
Operating earnings (loss)		6.3		6.2		(4.8	)		7.7
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		7.8		2.0		—			9.8
Total assets		492.8		133.0		38.6			664.4


Three months ended June 30, 2003	Salt		Potash		Other^(a)			Total
Sales to external customers	$	74.4	$	14.3	$	—		$	88.7
Intersegment sales		—		2.1		(2.1	)		—
Cost of sales – shipping and handling costs		18.9		2.2		—			21.1
Operating earnings (loss)		8.8		2.5		(4.1	)		7.2
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		7.7		1.9		—			9.6
Total assets		445.0		139.1		21.1			605.2


Six months ended June 30, 2004	Salt		Potash		Other^(a)			Total
Sales to external customers	$	303.0	$	44.4	$	—		$	347.4
Intersegment sales		—		4.8		(4.8	)		—
Cost of sales – shipping and handling costs		89.9		7.2		—			97.1
Operating earnings (loss)		66.5		9.2		(10.0	)		65.7
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		16.3		4.0		—			20.3


Six months ended June 30, 2003	Salt		Potash		Other^(a)			Total
Sales to external customers	$	274.8	$	26.6	$	—		$	301.4
Intersegment sales		—		3.9		(3.9	)		—
Cost of sales – shipping and handling costs		80.9		4.3		—			85.2
Operating earnings (loss)		54.2		2.8		(8.3	)		48.7
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		15.5		3.9		—			19.4

^(a)

“Other” includes corporate entities and eliminations.

11. Other Comprehensive Income (loss):

The Company’s comprehensive income (loss) is comprised of net income (loss), the change in the unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges related to the Company’s gas hedging activities and foreign currency translation adjustments. The components of comprehensive income (loss) for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, are (in millions):


	Three months ended June 30,						Six months ended June 30,
	2004			2003			2004			2003
Net income (loss)	$	0.6		$	(5.7	)	$	37.0		$	21.2
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges, net of tax		0.3			0.4			0.6			(0.2	)
Cumulative translation adjustment		(2.8	)		8.7			(1.3	)		10.9

Comprehensive income (loss)	$	(1.9	)	$	3.4		$	36.3		$	31.9

The following tables provide additional detail related to amounts recorded in Other Comprehensive Income during the six-month period ended June 30, 2004:


									Accumulated
	Minimum			Unrealized gains		Foreign			Other
	Pension			on cash flow		currency			Comprehensive
	Liability			hedges		Adjustments			Income
Balance at December 31, 2003	$	(7.0	)	$	0.8	$	31.7		$	25.5
2004 changes		—			0.6		(1.3	)		(0.7	)

Balance at June 30, 2004	$	(7.0	)	$	1.4	$	30.4		$	24.8


	Before tax			Tax			Net-of-tax
	Amount			Expense			Amount
For the six-months ended June 30, 2004:
Unrealized gains on cash flow hedges	$	0.8		$	(0.2	)	$	0.6
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(1.3	)		—			(1.3	)

Other comprehensive income (loss)	$	(0.5	)	$	(0.2	)	$	(0.7	)

12. Guarantor/Non-guarantor Condensed Consolidated Statements:

As discussed in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 19, 2004, the Company issued a total of $325.0 million of 10% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2011. These notes were unsecured obligations of CMG, however, they were guaranteed on an unsecured basis by its domestic subsidiaries. The guarantee is full and unconditional.

The following condensed consolidated financial statements present the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company, its domestic subsidiaries (guarantors) and its foreign subsidiaries (non-guarantors).

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)
June 30, 2004
(in millions)


				Non-
	Guarantors			guarantors		CMG		Eliminations			Consolidated
Cash and cash equivalents	$	45.2		$	9.7	$	—	$	—		$	54.9
Receivables, net		33.4			20.6		—		—			54.0
Inventories		55.8			26.9		—		—			82.7
Other current assets		1.8			1.4		—		—			3.2
Property, plant and equipment, net		64.6			185.7		—		—			250.3
Intangible assets – mineral interests and other, net		171.3			—		—		—			171.3
Investment in subsidiaries		—			—		544.8		(544.8	)		—
Other		7.9			4.0		36.1		—			48.0

Total assets	$	380.0		$	248.3	$	580.9	$	(544.8	)	$	664.4

Current portion of long-term debt	$	—		$	—	$	0.6	$	—		$	0.6
Other current liabilities		42.9			30.0		10.4		—			83.3

Total current liabilities		42.9			30.0		11.0		—			83.9
Long-term debt, net of current portion		—			—		385.2		—			385.2
Due to (from) affiliates		(153.8	)		67.9		85.9		—			—
Other noncurrent liabilities		81.6			14.9		18.7		—			115.2
Total stockholder’s equity		409.3			135.5		80.1		(544.8	)		80.1

Total liabilities and common stockholder’s equity	$	380.0		$	248.3	$	580.9	$	(544.8	)	$	664.4

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)
December 31, 2003
(in millions)


				Non-
	Guarantors			guarantors		CMG			Eliminations			Consolidated
Cash and cash equivalents	$	0.3		$	2.3	$	—		$	—		$	2.6
Receivables, net		68.6			48.8		—			—			117.4
Inventories		66.5			30.2		—			—			96.7
Other current assets		2.8			1.7		(0.8	)		—			3.7
Property, plant and equipment, net		55.9			206.1		—			—			262.0
Intangible assets – mineral interests and other, net		172.7			—		—			—			172.7
Investment in subsidiaries		—			—		503.0			(503.0	)		—
Other		7.9			3.9		23.1			—			34.9

Total assets	$	374.7		$	293.0	$	525.3		$	(503.0	)	$	690.0

Current portion of long-term debt	$	—		$	—	$	0.8		$	—		$	0.8
Other current liabilities		55.2			45.6		11.1			—			111.9

Total current liabilities		55.2			45.6		11.9			—			112.7
Long-term debt, net of current portion		—			—		419.4			—			419.4
Due to (from) affiliates		(122.4	)		83.1		39.3			—			—
Other noncurrent liabilities		100.8			2.4		10.9			—			114.1
Total stockholder’s equity		341.1			161.9		43.8			(503.0	)		43.8

Total liabilities and common stockholder’s equity	$	374.7		$	293.0	$	525.3		$	(503.0	)	$	690.0

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2004 (in millions)


			Non-
	Guarantors		guarantors			CMG			Eliminations			Consolidated
Sales	$	60.1	$	36.8		$	—		$	—		$	96.9
Cost of sales – shipping and handling		16.3		6.4			—			—			22.7
Cost of sales – products		30.7		23.4			—			—			54.1

Gross profit		13.1		7.0			—			—			20.1
Selling, general and administrative expenses		6.8		5.6			—			—			12.4

Operating income		6.3		1.4			—			—			7.7
Interest expense		—		2.2			7.0			—			9.2
Other (income) expense		0.1		0.1			—			—			0.2
(Earnings) in equity of subsidiary		—		—			(5.3	)		5.3			—

Income (loss) before income taxes		6.2		(0.9	)		(1.7	)		(5.3	)		(1.7	)
Income tax expense (benefit)		0.4		(0.4	)		(2.3	)		—			(2.3	)

Net income (loss)	$	5.8	$	(0.5	)	$	0.6		$	(5.3	)	$	0.6

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2003 (in millions)


				Non-
	Guarantors			guarantors			CMG			Eliminations			Consolidated
Sales	$	53.5		$	35.2		$	—		$	—		$	88.7
Cost of sales – shipping and handling		15.3			5.8			—			—			21.1
Cost of sales – products		27.3			21.6			—			—			48.9

Gross profit		10.9			7.8			—			—			18.7
Selling, general and administrative expenses		6.3			5.2			—			—			11.5

Operating income		4.6			2.6			—			—			7.2
Interest expense		0.2			2.0			7.3			—			9.5
Other (income) expense		(0.2	)		2.3			1.1			—			3.2
(Earnings) in equity of subsidiary		—			—			(3.0	)		3.0			—

Income (loss) before income taxes		4.6			(1.7	)		(5.4	)		(3.0	)		(5.5	)
Income tax expense (benefit)		0.1			(0.2	)		0.3			—			0.2

Net income (loss)	$	4.5		$	(1.5	)	$	(5.7	)	$	(3.0	)	$	(5.7	)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2004 (in millions)


			Non-
	Guarantors		guarantors		CMG			Eliminations			Consolidated
Sales	$	217.0	$	130.4	$	—		$	—		$	347.4
Cost of sales – shipping and handling		66.8		30.3		—			—			97.1
Cost of sales – products		95.8		62.4		—			—			158.2

Gross profit		54.4		37.7		—			—			92.1
Selling, general and administrative expenses		15.0		11.4		—			—			26.4

Operating income		39.4		26.3		—			—			65.7
Interest expense		0.1		4.4		14.2			—			18.7
Other (income) expense		0.2		0.5		—			—			0.7
(Earnings) in equity of subsidiary		—		—		(42.2	)		42.2			—

Income (loss) before income taxes		39.1		21.4		28.0			(42.2	)		46.3
Income tax expense (benefit)		11.2		7.1		(9.0	)		—			9.3

Net income (loss)	$	27.9	$	14.3	$	37.0		$	(42.2	)	$	37.0

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2003 (in millions)


				Non-
	Guarantors			guarantors		CMG			Eliminations			Consolidated
Sales	$	193.5		$	107.9	$	—		$	—		$	301.4
Cost of sales – shipping and handling		61.7			23.5		—			—			85.2
Cost of sales – products		87.3			57.1		—			—			144.4

Gross profit		44.5			27.3		—			—			71.8
Selling, general and administrative expenses		13.0			10.1		—			—			23.1

Operating income (loss)		31.5			17.2		—			—			48.7
Interest expense		0.3			4.3		14.6			—			19.2
Other (income) expense		(0.4	)		2.2		1.1			—			2.9
Equity earning in subsidiaries		—			—		(28.0	)		28.0			—

Income (loss) before income taxes		31.6			10.7		12.3			(28.0	)		26.6
Income tax expense (benefit)		9.5			4.8		(8.9	)		—			5.4

Net income (loss)	$	22.1		$	5.9	$	21.2		$	(28.0	)	$	21.2

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2004
(in millions)


				Non-
	Guarantors			guarantors			CMG			Eliminations		Consolidated
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	80.4		$	42.6		$	(13.4	)	$	—	$	109.6
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures		(4.1	)		(4.5	)		—			—		(8.6	)
Other		—			0.2			—			—		0.2

Net cash used in investing activities		(4.1	)		(4.3	)		—			—		(8.4	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Revolver activity		—			—			(14.0	)		—		(14.0	)
Principal payments on other long-term debt, including capital leases		—			—			(20.4	)		—		(20.4	)
Payments (to) from Affiliates, net		(31.4	)		(29.0	)		46.6			—		(13.8	)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(31.4	)		(29.0	)		12.2			—		(48.2	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		—			(1.9	)		1.2			—		(0.7	)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		44.9			7.4			—			—		52.3
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		0.3			2.3			—			—		2.6

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	45.2		$	9.7		$	—		$	—	$	54.9

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2003
(in millions)


				Non-
	Guarantors			guarantors			CMG			Eliminations		Consolidated
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	74.6		$	25.6		$	(17.2	)	$	—	$	83.0
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures		(2.8	)		(2.6	)		—			—		(5.4	)
Acquisition of intangible assets		(21.0	)		—			—			—		(21.0	)

Net cash used in investing activities		(23.8	)		(2.6	)		—			—		(26.4	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid		—			—			(21.7	)		—		(21.7	)
Principal payments on other long-term debt, including capital leases		—			—			(30.7	)		—		(30.7	)
Payments (to) from Affiliates, net		(52.7	)		(19.2	)		68.1			—		(3.8	)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(52.7	)		(19.2	)		15.7			—		(56.2	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		—			(0.1	)		1.5			—		1.4

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash Equivalents		(1.9	)		3.7			—			—		1.8
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		6.5			5.4			—			—		11.9

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	4.6		$	9.1		$	—		$	—	$	13.7

Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

All statements, other than statements of historical fact contained herein constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: general business and economic conditions; governmental policies affecting the agricultural industry or highway maintenance programs in localities where the Company or its customers operate; weather conditions; the impact of competitive products; pressure on prices realized by the Company for its products; constraints on supplies of raw materials used in manufacturing certain of the Company’s products; capacity constraints limiting the production of certain products; difficulties or delays in the development, production, testing and marketing of products; difficulties or delays in receiving required governmental and regulatory approvals; market acceptance issues, including the failure of products to generate anticipated sales levels; difficulties in integrating acquired businesses and in realizing related cost savings and other benefits; the effects of and changes in trade, monetary, environmental and fiscal policies, laws and regulations; foreign exchange rates and fluctuations in those rates; the costs and effects of legal proceedings including environmental and administrative proceedings involving the Company; and other risk factors reported from time to time in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission reports.

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions. Actual events or results may differ materially.

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. We are under no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Unless the context requires otherwise, references in this quarterly report to the “Company,” “Compass,” “Compass Minerals,” “CMG,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Compass Minerals Group, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Critical Accounting Estimates

Preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Management believes the most complex and sensitive judgements, because of their significance to our consolidated financial statements, result primarily from the need to make estimates about the effects of matters that are inherently uncertain. Management’s Discussion and Analysis and Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 19, 2004, describe the significant accounting estimates and policies used in preparation of our consolidated financial statements. Actual results in these areas could differ from management’s estimates. There have been no significant changes in our critical accounting estimates during the first six months of 2004.

Results of Operations

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared to present the historical financial condition and results of operations and cash flows for the Company. The following tables and discussion should be read in conjunction with the information contained in our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this quarterly report.


	Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	June 30,						June 30,
	2004			2003			2004		2003
	(dollars in millions, except per ton data)
Sales	$	96.9		$	88.7		$	347.4	$	301.4
Cost of sales – shipping and handling		22.7			21.1			97.1		85.2
Cost of sales – products		54.1			48.9			158.2		144.4

Gross profit		20.1			18.7			92.1		71.8
Selling, general and administrative expenses		12.4			11.5			26.4		23.1

Operating income		7.7			7.2			65.7		48.7
Interest expense		9.2			9.5			18.7		19.2
Other expense / (income)		0.2			3.2			0.7		2.9

Income (loss) before income taxes		(1.7	)		(5.5	)		46.3		26.6
Income tax expense (benefit)		(2.3	)		0.2			9.3		5.4

Net income (loss)	$	0.6		$	(5.7	)	$	37.0	$	21.2

Sales by Segment:
Salt	$	74.3		$	74.4		$	303.0	$	274.8
Specialty potash fertilizers		22.6			14.3			44.4		26.6

Total	$	96.9		$	88.7		$	347.4	$	301.4

Sales Volumes (in thousands of tons):
Highway deicing		846			909			5,525		5,287
General trade		630			632			1,415		1,364
Specialty potash		99			66			200		124
Average Sales Price (per ton):
Highway deicing	$	21.92		$	23.74		$	30.88	$	29.47
General trade		88.50			83.61			93.58		87.18
Specialty potash		228.41			215.95			219.64		216.20

Three Months Ended June 30, 2004 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2003

Sales

Sales for the second quarter of 2004 of $96.9 million increased $8.2 million, or 9% compared to $88.7 million for the second quarter of 2003. Sales include revenues from the sale of our products, or “Product Sales,” as well as pass-through shipping and handling fees charged to customers to reimburse us for shipping and handling costs incurred in delivering salt and sulfate of potash (“SOP”) product to the customer. Such shipping and handling fees were $22.7 million during the second quarter of 2004, an increase of $1.6 million compared to the second quarter of 2003 shipping and handling fees of $21.1 million. The increase in shipping and handling related fees for the second quarter of 2004 is due to increased sales and the change in the mix of products sold as compared to 2003.

Product Sales for the second quarter of 2004 of $74.2 million increased $6.6 million, or 10% compared to $67.6 million for the same period in 2003. Salt Product Sales for the second quarter of 2004 of $55.1 million remained consistent as compared to $55.5 million for the same period in 2003. Decreased sales volumes in our North American highway deicing product line ($3.0 million) were slightly offset by increased sales volumes in our United Kingdom (“U.K.”) highway deicing product line ($0.5 million). The decreased sales volumes in our North American highway deicing product line of approximately 83,000 tons for the second quarter was primarily due to unusual late winter season

snowfall experienced in the prior year period. Sales volumes in our general trade product line for the second quarter of 2004 remained consistent as compared to the same period in 2003.

Salt Product Sales were also favorably impacted by approximately $2.5 million from the effect of a stronger Canadian dollar and British pound against the U.S. dollar. Average prices, net of foreign exchange effects, were slightly higher by approximately $0.7 million.

Specialty potash fertilizer Product Sales for the second quarter of 2004 of $19.1 million increased $7.0 million, or 58% compared to $12.1 million for the same period in 2003 primarily due to increased sales volumes of approximately 33,000 tons ($6.1 million), reflecting increases in both domestic and international market share primarily due to the purchase and successful integration of IMC Global, Inc.’s (“IMC”) former SOP marketing business. Average prices were also higher by approximately $1.1 million.

Gross Profit

Gross profit for the second quarter of 2004 of $20.1 million increased $1.4 million, or 7% compared to $18.7 million for the same period in 2003. The increase in gross profit primarily reflects the impact of improved specialty potash fertilizer sales volumes ($2.6 million) combined with improved pricing ($1.8 million) partially offset by decreased salt sales volumes ($2.7 million).

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the second quarter of 2004 of $12.4 million increased $0.9 million, or 8% compared to $11.5 million for the same period in 2003. The increase primarily reflects additional variable compensation and benefit costs of approximately $0.4 million due to improved financial results and the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates of approximately $0.4 million.

Interest Expense

Interest expense for the second quarter of 2004 of $9.2 million decreased $0.3 million compared to $9.5 million for the same period in 2003. This decrease is primarily the result of lower average debt outstanding under the senior credit facility during the second quarter of 2004.

Other Expense / (Income)

Other expense for the second quarter of 2004 of $0.2 million decreased $3.0 million compared to $3.2 million for the same period in 2003. In the second quarter of 2003, we recorded $1.1 million of costs related to amending the Senior Credit Facility. Additionally, we recorded foreign exchange losses of $0.3 million and $2.2 million in the second quarter of 2004 and 2003, respectively.

Income Tax Expense(Benefit)

Income tax benefit for the second quarter of 2004 of $2.3 million increased $2.5 million compared to income tax expense of $0.2 million for the same period in 2003. Our income tax provision differs from the U.S. statutory federal income tax rate primarily due to U.S. statutory depletion, state income taxes (net of federal tax benefit), foreign income tax rate differentials, foreign mining income taxes and changes in the utilization of previously reserved deferred tax assets.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2004 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2003

Sales

Sales for the six months ended June 30, 2004 of $347.4 million increased $46.0 million, or 15% compared to $301.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003. Sales include revenues from the sale of our products, or “Product Sales,” as well as pass-through shipping and handling fees charged to customers to reimburse us for shipping and handling costs incurred in delivering salt and sulfate of potash (“SOP”) product to the customer. Such shipping and handling fees were $97.1 million during the six months ended June 30, 2004, an increase of $11.9 million compared to the six months ended June 30, 2003 shipping and handling fees of $85.2 million. The increase in shipping and handling related fees for the six months ended June 30, 2004 is due to the increased volume of products sold as compared to 2003.

Product Sales for the six months ended June 30, 2004 of $250.3 million increased $34.1 million, or 16% compared to $216.2 million for the same period in 2003. Salt Product Sales for the six months ended June 30, 2004 of $213.1 million increased $19.2 million, or 10% compared to $193.9 million for the same period in 2003 primarily due to increased sales volumes in our highway deicing product lines ($4.0 million) and increased sales volumes in our general trade product line ($4.5 million). The increased sales volumes in our highway deicing product line came mainly from the U.K. (approximately 220,000 tons) and was primarily due to more normal winter weather in the U.K. in the March quarter of 2004 compared to an extremely mild March quarter in 2003. The increased sales volumes in our North American general trade product line of approximately 56,000 tons was primarily due to above average winter weather on the East Coast, where our retail deicing products are sold.

Salt Product Sales were also favorably impacted by approximately $11.3 million from the effect of a weakened U.S. dollar against both the Canadian dollar and the British pound. Average prices, net of foreign exchange effects, remained relatively consistent.

Specialty potash fertilizer Product Sales for the six months ended June 30, 2004 of $37.2 million increased $14.9 million, or 67% compared to $22.3 million for the same period in 2003 primarily due to increased sales volumes of approximately 76,000 tons ($13.5 million), reflecting increases in both domestic and international market share primarily due to the purchase and successful integration of IMC Global, Inc.’s former SOP marketing business. Average prices were also higher by approximately $1.5 million.

Gross Profit

Gross profit for the six months ended June 30, 2004 of $92.1 million increased $20.3 million, or 28% compared to $71.8 million for the same period in 2003. The increase in gross profit primarily reflects the impact of improved prices and volumes ($1.2 million and $6.8 million, respectively) and changes in foreign exchange rates as described above ($4.8 million). Additionally, a reduction in costs to produce and distribute products increased our gross profit by $7.3 million.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2004 of $26.4 million increased $3.3 million, or 14% compared to $23.1 million for the same period in 2003. The increase primarily reflects additional variable compensation and benefit costs of approximately $1.7 million due to improved financial results and the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates of approximately $1.2 million.

Interest Expense

Interest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2004 of $18.7 million decreased $0.5 million compared to $19.2 million for the same period in 2003. This decrease is primarily the result of lower average debt outstanding under the senior credit facility during the six months ended June 30, 2004.

Other Expense / (Income)

Other expense for the six months ended June 30, 2004 of $0.7 million decreased $2.2 million compared to other expense of $2.9 million for the same period in 2003. In the second quarter of 2003, we recorded $1.1 million of costs related to amending the Senior Credit Facility. Additionally, as part of other expense, we recorded foreign exchange losses of $0.7 million and $1.9 million in the six months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense for the six months ended June 30, 2004 of $9.3 million increased $3.9 million compared to income tax expense of $5.4 million for the same period in 2003. This increase between periods is primarily due to the overall increase in pre-tax income and a larger portion of pre-tax income being generated outside of the United States. This decrease in the percentage of domestic pre-tax income compared to the same period in 2003 results in a lessor portion of our taxable income being offset by the utilization of previously reserved NOLs. Our income tax provision differs from the U.S. statutory federal income tax rate primarily due to U.S. statutory depletion, state income taxes (net of federal tax benefit), foreign income tax rate differentials, foreign mining income taxes and changes in the utilization of previously reserved deferred tax assets.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Historically, we have used cash generated from operations to meet our working capital needs and to fund capital expenditures. Our primary sources of liquidity will continue to be cash flow from operations and borrowings under our revolving credit facility. We expect that ongoing requirements for debt service and capital expenditures will be funded from these sources.

On November 28, 2001, Apollo Management V, L.P., through its subsidiary, YBR Holdings LLC, acquired control of CMG’s parent, Compass Minerals International, Inc. (“CMI”), from IMC Global, Inc. pursuant to a recapitalization transaction (“Recapitalization”) with assets and liabilities of CMG retaining their historical value. We have incurred substantial indebtedness in connection with the Recapitalization and subsequent financings. As of June 30, 2004, we had $383.0 million of principal indebtedness, net of issuance premium, consisting of $325.0 million of senior subordinated notes and $58.0 million of our term loan. Our senior credit facility provides for a revolving credit facility in an aggregate amount of up to $135.0 million. As of June 30, 2004, no indebtedness was outstanding under our revolving credit facility and $8.2 million of letters of credit were outstanding, leaving approximately $126.8 million available under our revolving credit facility. Future borrowings under our revolving credit facility will be available to fund our working capital requirements, capital expenditures and for other general corporate purposes. We maintained $54.9 million in cash on hand as of June 30, 2004.

As of June 30, 2004, our parent corporation, CMI, also maintained $80.7 million of senior discount notes with a face value of $123.5 million and $114.0 million of senior subordinated discount notes with a face value of $179.6 million. The senior discount notes and senior subordinated discount notes are not part of our consolidated financial statements. These notes have neither current cash interest nor maturity obligations until 2008. Our operations are currently the main source of cash that is expected to service the senior discount notes, senior subordinated discount notes and any future dividends on CMI common stock.

During the six months ended June 30, 2004, cash flows from operations were $109.6 million. We used a portion of those cash flows to pay down $14.0 million of our revolving credit facility that was outstanding as of December 31, 2003 and to make a $20.0 million voluntary principal payment on our term loan.

Our significant debt service obligations following the Recapitalization could, under certain circumstances, materially affect our financial condition and prevent us from fulfilling our obligations under the senior subordinated notes, senior credit facility and our parent’s senior discount notes and senior subordinated discount notes. As of June 30, 2004, we are in compliance with all conditions and covenants related to the senior credit facility and senior subordinated notes and our parent, CMI, is in compliance with all conditions and covenants related to its senior discount notes and senior subordinated discount notes.

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2004 and 2003

Net cash flow generated by operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003 was $109.6 million and $83.0 million, respectively. Of these amounts, $49.5 million and $38.8 million for 2004 and 2003, respectively, were generated by working capital reductions. The primary working capital reductions for 2004 and 2003 were decreases in receivables of $62.4 million and $50.7 million, respectively, and decreases in inventories of $13.6 million and $21.0 million, respectively. These reductions were partially offset by decreases in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $26.5 million and $32.9 million, respectively. These reductions are indicative of the seasonal nature of highway deicing product line sales.

Net cash flow used by investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003, was $8.4 million and $26.4 million, respectively. These cash flows consisted of capital expenditures primarily to maintain our facilities of $8.6 million and $5.4 million in 2004 and 2003, respectively, and $21.0 million in 2003 related to our purchase of certain intangible assets related to IMC’s SOP business.

Net cash flow used by financing activities was $48.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004, due to a $14.0 million pay down of our revolving credit facility, $20.0 million in voluntary principal repayments that reduced the amount of long-term debt outstanding under our term loan credit facility and $13.8 million of advances to CMI. No gain or loss was recorded upon repayment of debt. Net cash flow used by financing activities was $56.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003, due to $30.0 million voluntary principal repayment that reduced the amount of long-term debt outstanding under our term loan credit facility, $21.7 million of dividends paid to CMI and $3.8 million of advances to CMI.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

The Company’s contractual obligations and commitments at June 30, 2004 are as follows (in millions):

Payments Due by Period


			Less
			than		2–3		4–5		After 5
Contractual Cash Obligations	Total		1 Year		Years		Years		Years
Long-term debt	$	382.9	$	0.6	$	1.2	$	28.5	$	352.6
Operating leases (a)		26.0		6.1		7.8		4.0		8.1
Unconditional purchase obligations (b)		60.6		8.8		17.6		17.6		16.6
Management agreement (c)		7.5		1.0		2.0		2.0		2.5

Total contractual cash obligations	$	477.0	$	16.5	$	28.6	$	52.1	$	379.8

Amount of Commitment Expiration per Period


			Less
			than		2–3		4–5		After 5
Other Commitments	Total		1 Year		Years		Years		Years
Amount available under the revolving credit facility	$	126.8	$	–	$	–	$	126.8	$	–
Outstanding letters of credit		8.2		8.2		–		–		–
Outstanding performance bonds (d)		12.3		12.3		–		–		–

Total other commitments	$	147.3	$	20.5	$	–	$	126.8	$	–

(a)		We lease property and equipment under non-cancelable operating leases for varying periods.

(b)		We have long-term contracts to purchase certain amounts of electricity and steam.

(c)		Refer to Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2003 included in CMG’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 19, 2004, for additional information.

(d)		Refer to Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2003 included in CMG’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 19, 2004, for additional information related to Sales Contracts.

Our ability to make scheduled payments of principal, to pay the interest on, or to refinance our indebtedness or to fund planned capital expenditures will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future. This, to a certain extent, is subject to general economic, weather, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control.

Based on our current level of operations, we believe that cash flow from operations and available cash, together with available borrowings under our senior credit facilities, will be adequate to meet our liquidity needs over the next twelve months.

There can be no assurance, however, that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations or that future borrowings will be available to us under our senior credit facilities in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay our indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity needs. If we consummate an acquisition, our debt service requirements could increase. We may need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness on or before maturity. We cannot assure you that we will be able to refinance any of our indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

Effects of Currency Fluctuations and Inflation

We conduct operations in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Therefore, our results of operations are subject to both currency transaction risk and currency translation risk. We incur currency transaction risk whenever we or one of our subsidiaries enter into either a purchase or sales transaction using a currency other than the local currency of the transacting entity. With respect to currency translation risk, our financial condition and results of operations are measured and recorded in the relevant local currency and then translated into U.S. dollars for inclusion in our historical combined and consolidated financial statements. Exchange rates between these currencies and U.S. dollars in recent years have fluctuated significantly and may do so in the future. The majority of our revenues and costs are denominated in U.S. dollars, with pounds sterling and Canadian dollars also being significant. The weakened U.S. dollar against the pound sterling and Canadian dollar has had a positive impact on our reported consolidated sales. However, significant changes in the value of the Canadian dollar, the euro or pound sterling relative to the U.S. dollar could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and our ability to meet interest and principal payments on U.S. dollar denominated debt, including borrowings under our senior credit facilities.

Seasonality

We experience a substantial amount of seasonality in salt sales. The result of this seasonality is that sales and operating income are generally higher in the first and fourth quarters and lower during the second and third quarters of each year. In particular, sales of highway and consumer deicing salt products are seasonal as they vary based on the severity of the winter conditions in areas where the product is used. Following industry practice in North America, we stockpile sufficient quantities of deicing salt in the second, third and fourth quarters to meet the estimated requirements for the winter season.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2004, the FASB issued FASB staff position (“FSP”) FAS 141-1 and FAS 142-1, “Interaction of FASB Statements No. 141, Business Combinations, and No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, and Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Issue No. 04-2, “Whether Mineral Rights Are Tangible or Intangible Assets.” This FSP amends SFAS Nos. 141 and 142, and requires mineral rights to be accounted for as tangible assets based on the consensus reached in EITF 04-2. We will adopt the guidance in the FSP on July 1, 2004, and this will result in the balance sheet reclassification of approximately $147.2 million of net mineral rights from intangible assets to property, plant and equipment. Prior period amounts will be similarly reclassified. This FSP will have no impact on our consolidated statements of operations or cash flows.

Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Our business is subject to various types of market risks that include, but are not limited to, interest rate risk, foreign currency translation risk and commodity pricing risk. In the future, management may take actions that would mitigate our exposure to these types of risks including forward purchase contracts and financial instruments. However, there can be no assurance that our hedging operations will eliminate or substantially reduce risks associated with these risks. We will not enter into any financial instrument arrangements for speculative purposes.

Interest Rate Risk

As of June 30, 2004, we had $58.0 million of debt outstanding under the term loan credit facility and nothing outstanding under our revolving credit facility. Both the term loan credit facility and revolving credit facility are subject to variable rates. Accordingly, our earnings and cash flows are affected by changes in interest rates. Assuming no change in the term loan credit facility borrowings at June 30, 2004, and an average level of borrowings from our revolving credit facility at variable rates, and assuming a one hundred basis point increase in the average interest rate under these borrowings, it is

estimated that our interest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2004 would have increased by approximately $0.3 million. Actual changes will vary from hypothetical changes.

Foreign Currency Risk

We conduct our business primarily in the United Kingdom and North America and export some products to Europe, Southeast Asia and Latin America. Our operations may, therefore, be subject to volatility because of currency fluctuations, inflation changes and changes in political and economic conditions in these countries. Sales and expenses are frequently denominated in local currencies and results of operations may be affected adversely as currency fluctuations affect our product prices and operating costs or those of our competitors. We may engage in hedging operations, including forward foreign exchange contracts, to reduce the exposure of our cash flows to fluctuations in foreign currency rates. We will not engage in hedging for speculative investment reasons. Our historical results do not reflect any foreign exchange hedging activity. There can be no assurance that our hedging operations will eliminate or substantially reduce risks associated with fluctuating currencies.

A hypothetical 10% change in the exchange rates compared to the U.S. dollar would have an estimated $0.1 million impact on earnings for the six months ended June 30, 2004. Actual changes in market prices or rates will differ from hypothetical changes.

Commodity Pricing Risk: Commodity Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

We have reviewed various options to mitigate the impact of fluctuating natural gas prices. During 2003 and 2004, we instituted a hedging policy to mitigate the impact of fluctuations in the price of natural gas. The notional volumes hedged are based on a combination of factors, including estimated natural gas usage, current market prices and historical market prices. Pursuant to our policy, we enter into contractual gas price swaps related to the purchase price of our natural gas requirements up to 36 months in advance of the physical purchase of the natural gas and hedge up to approximately 80% of our expected natural gas usage. We have determined that these financial instruments qualify as cash flow hedges under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activity,” as amended. The notional amount of natural gas swap derivative contracts outstanding at June 30, 2004 that expire in one year or less and expire greater than one year total $10.3 million and $5.6 million, respectively.

Excluding gas hedged with derivative instruments, a hypothetical 10% adverse change in our natural gas prices during the six months ended June 30, 2004 would have had an estimated $0.3 million impact on earnings. Actual results will vary based on actual changes in market prices and rates.

Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Within the 90 days prior to the date of this quarterly report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the disclosure controls and procedures of Compass Minerals Group, Inc. pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, we recognized that any controls and procedures, regardless of how designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer have concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to us required to be included in periodic SEC filings. The conclusions of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer from this evaluation were communicated to the Audit Committee. In connection with this evaluation, there were no breaches of such controls that would require disclosure to the Audit Committee or our independent auditors.

On July 1, 2004, we began using a new financial system that included accounts payable and accounts receivable functions. Additionally, throughout the second quarter of 2004, and subsequently, we made changes to controls as we deemed necessary resulting from ongoing evaluations of our disclosure and financial controls and procedures. There were no other significant changes in our disclosure or financial controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of the evaluation.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company from time to time is involved in various routine legal proceedings. These primarily involve commercial claims, product liability claims, personal injury claims and workers’ compensation claims. We cannot predict the outcome of these lawsuits, legal proceedings and claims with certainty. Nevertheless, we believe that the outcome of these proceedings, even if determined adversely, would not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, in connection with the Recapitalization, IMC Global has agreed to indemnify us against certain legal matters.

We have become aware of an aboriginal land claim filed by The Chippewas of Nawash and The Chippewas of Saugeen (the “Chippewas”) in the Ontario Superior Court against The Attorney General of Canada and Her Majesty The Queen In Right of Ontario. The Chippewas claim that a large part of the land under Lake Huron was never conveyed by treaty and therefore belongs to the Chippewas. The land claimed includes land in which our Goderich mine operates and has mining rights granted to it by the government of Ontario. We are not a party to this court action. Similar claims are pending with respect to other parts of the Great Lakes by other aboriginal claimants. We have been informed by the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario that “Canada takes the position that the common law does not recognize aboriginal title to the Great Lakes and its connecting waterways.” We do not believe that this action will result in a material adverse financial effect on the Company.

Item 2. CHANGES IN SECURITIES, USE OF PROCEEDS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

None

Item 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None

Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

None

Item 5. OTHER INFORMATION

Not Applicable

Item 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

(a) Exhibits

EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit
No.		Description of Exhibit
31.1*		Section 302 Certifications of Michael E. Ducey, President and Chief Executive Officer.

31.2*		Section 302 Certifications of Rodney L. Underdown, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President.

32*		Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C.§1350 of Michael E. Ducey, President and Chief Executive Officer and Rodney L. Underdown, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President.

Filed herewith

(b)

Reports on Form 8-K

None

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.


		COMPASS MINERALS GROUP, INC.

Date: August 6, 2004
		/s/ Michael E. Ducey

		Michael E. Ducey
		President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: August 6, 2004
		/s/ Rodney L. Underdown

		Rodney L. Underdown
		Chief Financial Officer and Vice President

COMPASS MINERALS GROUP INC 10-Q