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

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corporate news transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer/originator is solely
responsible for the content of this announcement.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mergers - Acquisitions - Takeovers

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

Ende der Mitteilung euro adhoc
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ots Originaltext: K+S Aktiengesellschaft
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Michael Wudonig

phone: +49 561 9301-1262

fax: +49 561 9301-1666

michael.wudonig@k-plus-s.com

Branche: Chemicals
ISIN: DE0007162000
WKN: 716200
Index: DAX, Midcap Market Index, CDAX, Classic All Share, HDAX,
Prime All Share
Börsen: Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard
Berlin / regulated dealing
Hamburg / regulated dealing
Stuttgart / regulated dealing
Düsseldorf / regulated dealing
Hannover / regulated dealing
München / regulated dealing