Compass Minerals International, Inc. Files a Registration Statement For a Secondary Offering of Common Stock

Business Wire, June 8, 2004

Business Editors

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 8, 2004

Compass Minerals International, Inc. (NYSE:CMP) filed a registration statement today with the Securities and Exchange Commission to register the sale of up to six million shares of common stock by certain of its shareholders.

It is expected that the shares of common stock are primarily being offered by affiliates of Apollo Management L.P. The shares to be sold in the offering represent approximately 19 percent of fully diluted shares outstanding as of June 7, 2004. The underwriters will have an option to purchase up to an additional 900,000 shares from certain selling shareholders. Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Credit Suisse First Boston LLC are serving as joint book-running lead managers. Deutsche Bank Securities, JP Morgan and UBS Investment Bank are serving as co-managers for the offering.

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time that the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state. The common stock offering may be made only by means of a prospectus, copies of which may be obtained by contacting Goldman, Sachs & Co. or Credit Suisse First Boston LLC as indicated in this press release.

When available, copies of the preliminary prospectus related to the common stock offering may be obtained from Goldman, Sachs & Co., 85 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004, (212-902-1171), Attn: Prospectus Department; or Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, One Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010 (212-325-2580), Attn.: Prospectus Department.

About Compass Minerals International

Based in the Kansas City metropolitan area, Compass is the second-leading salt producer in North America and the largest in the United Kingdom. The company operates nine production facilities, including the largest rock salt mine in the world in Goderich, Ontario. The company's product lines include salt for highway deicing, consumer deicing, water conditioning, consumer and industrial food preparation, agriculture and industrial applications. In addition, Compass is North America's leading producer of sulfate of potash, which is used in the production of specialty fertilizers for high-value crops and turf.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the Company's current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially. The differences could be caused by a number of factors including those factors identified in Compass Minerals International's registration statement on form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 8, 2004. The Company will not update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect future events or developments.