EANS-News: K+S Aktiengesellschaft / Closing completed: K+S Closes the Acquisition of Morton Salt

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Utl.: K+S Aktiengesellschaft / Closing completed: K+S Closes the Acquisition of
Morton Salt =

Kassel (euro adhoc) - Kassel, 1 October 2009

Closing completed
K+S Closes the Acquisition of Morton Salt

. Excellent growth opportunity in the global salt business
. K+S becomes the world's leading salt producer
. With Morton Salt, K+S acquires the best-known US consumer brand in the
food grade salt sector
. Access to new and less volatile de-icing salt regions
. Acquisition strengthens the entire K+S Group in Europe and overseas
. Positive impact on earnings per share from 2010

K+S successfully completed the acquisition of Morton International, Inc.
(Morton Salt), one of the leading producers of consumer, industrial and de-
icing salts in North America. The closing agreement with the seller, Dow
Chemical, was signed in New York today. The company is valued at USD 1.675
billion; less the debts and customary closing adjustments established
provisionally, which results in a net cash payment of USD 1.576 billion.

Major milestone in the K+S growth strategy
The acquisition of Morton Salt is a further milestone in the K+S strategy,
which is geared towards both organic growth as well as expansion by means of
acquisitions and cooperation. "Morton Salt offers us an outstanding opportunity
to considerably expand the K+S global salt business within the framework of our
growth strategy," says Norbert Steiner, Chairman of the Board of Executive
Directors of K+S Aktiengesellschaft. "Morton Salt is a widely well known,
highly respected and very profitable company with an excellent market position.
Together with Morton, we want to be our customers first choice for salt. We
share a passion for and commitment to the salt business, and we have a common
understanding of how we can increase value for our customers, partners and
shareholders."

Bundling the strengths of K+S and Morton
K+S and Morton Salt complement each other ideally because of the different
regional positioning and the low degree of overlap in operating business. "Both
companies have a long tradition in the salt business in common. The conditions
are optimal for smooth integration and successful cooperation with our
colleagues from Morton Salt. We look forward to our common future," says
Steiner.

For 2008, Morton Salt reported revenues of USD 1.2 billion. The company
operates six rock salt mines as well as seven solar and ten evaporated salt
plants in North America. Its annual production capacity amounts to just under
13 million tonnes. Morton Salt was established in 1848, employs about 2,900
people and has its registered office in Chicago. Together with Morton Salt, the
future annual production capacity of the K+S salt business will amount to
almost 30 million tonnes, thus making K+S the leading supplier worldwide.

Positive contribution to earnings expected from 2010
As was already announced in April, K+S expects that in the current fourth
quarter, the first-time inclusion of Morton Salt's operating earnings
contribution should exceed the integration costs. Non-recurrent financing and
tax outlays will, however, depress net earnings slightly.

From 2010 onwards, a markedly positive impact on earnings per share can be
expected.

Experience growth
The K+S Group is one of the world's leading suppliers of speciality and
standard fertilizers, plant care as well as salt products. With its products
and brands, K+S offers its customers a range of needs-based goods and services
which provides growth opportunities in virtually every sphere of daily life.
The K+S Group currently employs about 15,000 people worldwide and achieved
revenues of just under EUR 5.0 billion in 2008. K+S is quoted on all German
stock exchanges (ISIN: DE0007162000, symbol: SDF) and listed on the DAX® share
index.

Your contact persons:
Press:
Michael Wudonig
phone: +49 561 9301-1262
fax: +49 561 9301-1666
michael.wudonig@k-plus-s.com

Investor Relations:
Christian Herrmann
phone: +49 561 9301-1460
fax: +49 561 9301-2425
christian.herrmann@k-plus-s.com

Further inquiry note:
Michael Wudonig
phone: +49 561 9301-1262
fax: +49 561 9301-1666
michael.wudonig@k-plus-s.com
Ende der Mitteilung euro adhoc
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issuer: K+S Aktiengesellschaft
Bertha-von-Suttner-Straße 7
D-34131 Kassel
phone: +49 (0)561 9301-1100
FAX: +49 (0)561 9301-2425
mail: christian.herrmann@k-plus-s.com
WWW: http://www.k-plus-s.com
sector: Chemicals
ISIN: DE0007162000
indexes: DAX, Midcap Market Index, CDAX, Classic All Share, HDAX, Prime All
Share
stockmarkets: regulated dealing/prime standard: Frankfurt, regulated dealing:
Berlin, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, Hannover, München
language: English

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