The Mosaic Company Reports First Quarter Results

PLYMOUTH, Minn., Sept. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mosaic Company (NYSE: MOS) reported first quarter fiscal year 2012 net earnings of $526 million, up 77 percent from $298 million in the prior year quarter.  Earnings per diluted share were $1.17 in the quarter, up 75 percent from $0.67 per diluted share in the prior year period.  Mosaic's net sales in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 were $3.1 billion, a 41 percent increase from $2.2 billion in the same period last year.

"We just completed another excellent quarter for Mosaic," said Jim Prokopanko, president and chief executive officer of Mosaic.  "Strong agricultural markets combined with our strength in execution are leading to excellent financial results, including the second highest gross margin for a first quarter in our history.  

"Our confidence in the long-term demand prospects for our products remains high.  Our multi-year, multi-billion dollar potash expansion remains on time and on budget, positioning us to reap benefits from long-term growth in potash demand.  Our Phosphates team continues to show results from their operational excellence efforts, growing the value of our Phosphates business.  We are successfully maintaining our low-cost position, and developing new products that create value for our customers.  This allows us to successfully capitalize on the long-term growth in phosphate demand," added Prokopanko.

Mosaic's gross margin for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 was $848 million, or 28 percent of net sales, compared to $505 million, or 23 percent of net sales, a year ago.  First quarter operating earnings were $730 million, an increase of 78 percent compared to $410 million a year ago.  The increase in gross margin and operating earnings was driven primarily by higher selling prices and improved potash operating rates partially offset by increased phosphates raw material costs.

Cash flow provided by operating activities in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 was $554 million compared to $556 million in the prior year.  Increases in cash flow due to net earnings were offset by the impact of changes in customer prepayments.  Capital expenditures totaled $391 million in the quarter.  Mosaic's total cash and cash equivalents, net of debt as of August 31, 2011, was $3.2 billion, up from $1.0 billion a year ago.

Subsequent to the quarter, the Company facilitated an underwritten public secondary offering of 20.7 million shares held by the Margaret A. Cargill trusts, as part of the planned orderly distribution of shares formerly owned by Cargill, Inc.  Mosaic's inclusion in the S&P 500 on September 23, 2011, created increased market demand for the Company's shares, allowing the trusts to further divest their Mosaic holdings.  As part of the split-off, the Company committed to facilitate the sale of 157 million shares through August 2012.  Assuming closing of the latest transaction as scheduled, on September 29, 2011, only 21.3 million of those shares remain to be sold.  

Business Highlights

• Several notable expense items lowered pre-tax results by $26 million, or $0.04 per share after tax, as detailed in a table at the end of this release
• Mining production significantly improved with phosphate rock production higher by 470,000 tonnes, or 20 percent, and potash production higher by 415,000 tonnes, or 29 percent, over the same period last year
• Customer demand for MicroEssentials®, a premium phosphate product, is up with production of 397,000 tonnes during the quarter, up 104 percent from 195,000 tonnes a year ago
• The Company announced it will begin production of Nexfos™, a new granulated feed-grade phosphate product
• The Company continues to make progress with its potash expansions.  Capital spending on potash expansions exceeded $200 million during the quarter
• In conjunction with Standard & Poor's announcement that it would add Mosaic to the S&P 500 index last week, the Company facilitated the sale of 20.7 million shares by the Margaret A. Cargill trusts
• The Company's Environmental, Health and Safety management system received ISO certification for its ability to identify risks, take mitigating actions and continuously improve processes.  The Company is the only North American crop nutrient producer to meet the high standards required to achieve this recognition
• In North America and Asia, the Company achieved a Net Promoter Score® in the excellent range, an indicator of high customer satisfaction

Potash

"Our Potash business continues to generate great returns," said Prokopanko.  "We accelerated our summer maintenance work, driving higher operating rates to meet strong demand.  To meet future expected demand growth, we continue to successfully execute our five million tonne expansion plan, with material new capacity expected to come on-line in fiscal 2013."

Net sales in the Potash segment totaled $873 million for the first quarter, up 40 percent compared to $622 million a year ago.  Gross margin was $444 million, or 51 percent of net sales, compared to $257 million, or 41 percent of net sales, a year ago.  Operating earnings were $402 million, up 84 percent compared to $218 million in the prior year.  The increase in gross margin and operating earnings was primarily the result of increased selling prices and higher operating rates.  Gross margin excluding resource taxes, a measure comparable to certain peer reporting, was 62 percent in the first quarter compared to 50 percent a year ago.

The average first quarter MOP selling price, FOB plant, was $446 per tonne, up from $331 a year ago.  The Potash segment's total sales volumes for the first quarter were 1.8 million tonnes, compared to 1.7 million tonnes last year, with 51 percent being sold through Canpotex in the quarter.

Potash production was 1.9 million tonnes, or 81 percent of operational capacity, an increase from 1.4 million tonnes, or 62 percent of operational capacity a year ago.

Phosphates

"Global demand for phosphate continues to grow, and we are operating near full capacity to meet customer requirements," stated Prokopanko.  "In this environment, finished product prices moved up.  One example is the new India contract with PhosChem with pricing up $65 per tonne compared to six months ago.  The benefits of higher prices were partially offset by increased costs for raw materials.  Our mining performance was excellent allowing us to offset much of the impact of the South Fort Meade injunction.  Our Phosphates team continues to focus on driving value by improving our mining efficiency, maintaining our low-cost position and meeting the growing demand for our premium products."

Net sales in the Phosphates segment were $2.2 billion for the first quarter, up 40 percent compared to $1.6 billion last year.  Gross margin was $410 million, or 18 percent of net sales, compared to $245 million, or 15 percent of net sales, for the same period a year ago.  Operating earnings were $333 million, up 87 percent compared to $178 million last year.  The increase in gross margin and operating earnings was primarily due to increased selling prices partially offset by higher raw material costs.

The average first quarter DAP selling price, FOB plant, was $576 per tonne, compared to $431 a year ago.  Phosphates segment total sales volumes were 3.2 million tonnes, compared to 3.1 million tonnes a year ago.

Mosaic's North American finished phosphate production was 2.2 million tonnes, or 89 percent of operational capacity, comparable to the same period a year ago.  Phosphate rock production was 2.8 million tonnes during the first quarter compared to 2.3 million tonnes a year ago due to a 37 percent year-over-year increase in production at the Four Corners mine, up 512,000 tonnes.

Other

Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) were $101 million for the first quarter, an increase from $88 million a year ago.  Other operating expenses were $18 million for the first quarter compared to $6 million a year ago.  The increase in other operating expenses was due mainly to costs associated with the recent Cargill transaction.  Income tax expense was $205 million for the first quarter resulting in an effective tax rate of 28 percent, compared to $110 million, or 27 percent, for the same period last year.

Financial Guidance

"Despite global economic uncertainty, we expect continued strong demand for crop nutrients," Prokopanko said.  "This is driven by the urgent need to replenish global grain and oilseed stocks.  To meet this demand, farmers will strive for higher yields to generate the record harvests required over the next several years.  We believe phosphate and potash application will be critical to generate these record harvests."

Total sales volumes for the Potash segment are expected to range from 1.7 to 2.1 million tonnes for the second quarter of fiscal 2012.  Mosaic's realized MOP price, FOB plant, for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 is estimated to range from $440 to $465 per tonne.

Total sales volumes for the Phosphates segment are expected to range from 3.1 to 3.5 million tonnes for the second quarter of fiscal 2012.  Mosaic's realized DAP price, FOB plant, for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 is estimated to range from $600 to $625 per tonne.

The second quarter operating rate in the Potash segment is expected to range from 80 percent to 90 percent of operational capacity as planned annual maintenance activities continue at a diminished rate. The Company's operating rate at its North American phosphate operations is expected to exceed 85 percent of operational capacity during its second quarter.  

Previously disclosed 2012 guidance for capital spending, SG&A, Canadian resource taxes and royalties, and effective income tax rate have not changed:

• Total capital spending for fiscal 2012 is expected to range from $1.6 to $1.9 billion
• SG&A are estimated to range from $400 to $430 million
• Canadian resource taxes and royalties are expected to range from $420 to $470 million
• The effective income tax rate is estimated in the upper 20 percent range

Canadian resource taxes and royalties are included as a component of cost of goods sold in the Company's consolidated income statement.

About The Mosaic Company

The Mosaic Company is one of the world's leading producers and marketers of concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients.  Mosaic is a single source provider of phosphate and potash fertilizers and feed ingredients for the global agriculture industry.  More information on the company is available at www.mosaicco.com.  

Mosaic will conduct a conference call on Thursday, September 29, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. EDT to discuss first quarter earnings results as well as global markets and trends.  Presentation slides and a simultaneous audio webcast of the conference call may be accessed through Mosaic's website at www.mosaicco.com/investors.  This webcast will be available up to one year from the time of the earnings call.

The Mosaic Company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to the predictability and volatility of, and customer expectations about, agriculture, fertilizer, raw material, energy and transportation markets that are subject to competitive and other pressures and economic and credit market conditions; the level of inventories in the distribution channels for crop nutrients; changes in foreign currency and exchange rates; international trade risks; changes in government policy; changes in environmental and other governmental regulation, including greenhouse gas regulation and implementation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's numeric water quality standards for the discharge of nutrients into Florida lakes and streams; further developments in the lawsuit involving the federal wetlands permit for the extension of the Company's South Fort Meade, Florida, mine into Hardee County, including orders, rulings, injunctions or other actions by the court or actions by the plaintiffs, the Army Corps of Engineers or others in relation to the lawsuit, or any actions the Company may identify and implement in an effort to mitigate the effects of the lawsuit; other difficulties or delays in receiving, or increased costs of, necessary governmental permits or approvals; further developments in the lawsuit involving the tolling agreement at the Company's Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, potash mine, including settlement or orders, rulings, injunctions or other actions by the court, the plaintiff or others in relation to the lawsuit; the effectiveness of our processes for managing our strategic priorities; adverse weather conditions affecting operations in Central Florida or the Gulf Coast of the United States, including potential hurricanes or excess rainfall; actual costs of various items differing from management's current estimates, including among others asset retirement, environmental remediation, reclamation or other environmental regulation or Canadian resource taxes and royalties; accidents and other disruptions involving Mosaic's operations, including brine inflows at its Esterhazy, Saskatchewan potash mine and other potential mine fires, floods, explosions, seismic events or releases of hazardous or volatile chemicals, as well as other risks and uncertainties reported from time to time in The Mosaic Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

For the first quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company recorded the following notable expense items:

SOURCE The Mosaic Company