UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

Form 10-K

 

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008

Commission file number 1-10351

 

 

 

Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc.

(Exact name of the registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Suite 500, 122 – 1^st Avenue South

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7K 7G3

306-933-8500

(Address and telephone number of the registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

 

The Common Shares are also listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange in Canada

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

               Yes þ     No o

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

               Yes o     No þ

 

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 þ     No o

 

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.     þ

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

               Large accelerated filer þ          Non-accelerated filer o

 

               Accelerated filer o                Smaller reporting company o

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

               Yes o     No þ

 

At June 30, 2008, the aggregate market value of the 306,386,166 Common Shares held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $70,030,685,962.62. At February 20, 2009, the registrant had 295,240,247 Common Shares outstanding.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the registrant’s Financial Review Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 (the “2008 Financial Review”), attached as Exhibit 13, are incorporated by reference into Part II.

 

Portions of the registrant’s Proxy Circular for its Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 7, 2009 (the “2009 Proxy Circular”), attached as Exhibit 99(a), are incorporated by reference into Part III.

 

POTASH CORPORATION OF SASKATCHEWAN INC.

Form 10-K
Annual Report
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2008

 

Table of Contents

 

 

(i)

 

Forward-Looking Statements

This document, including the documents incorporated by reference, contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that relate to future events or our future financial performance. Statements containing words such as “could,” “expect,” “may,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “estimate,” “plan” and similar expressions constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based on certain factors and assumptions as set forth in this document and the documents incorporated by reference herein, including foreign exchange rates, expected growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities and effective income tax rates. We consider these factors and assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available.

 

Forward-looking statements are subject to important risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. The results or events predicted in forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events. Some of the factors that could cause actual results or events to differ from current expectations include the following:

 

 

We sell to a diverse group of customers both by geography and by end product. Market conditions will vary on a year-over-year basis, and sales can be expected to shift from one period to another.

In addition to the factors mentioned above, see “Risk Factors” under Item 1A for a description of other factors affecting forward-looking statements. As a result of these and other factors, there is no assurance that any of the events, circumstances or results anticipated by forward-looking statements included or incorporated by reference into this document will occur or, if they do, of what impact they will have on our business or on our results of operations and financial condition.

 

Forward-looking statements are given only as at the date of this document or the document incorporated by reference herein, and we disclaim any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

 

Part I

 

 

General

 

Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. is a corporation organized under the laws of Canada. As used in this document, the term “PCS” refers to Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. and the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “PotashCorp” and the “Company” refer to PCS and its direct and indirect subsidiaries, individually or in any combination, as applicable.

 

We are the world’s largest integrated fertilizer and related industrial and feed products company. We are the largest producer of potash worldwide by capacity. In 2008, we estimate our potash operations represented 17% of global production and 22% of global potash capacity. We are the third largest producer of phosphates worldwide by capacity. In 2008, we estimate our phosphate operations produced 5% of world phosphoric acid production. We are the third largest nitrogen producer worldwide by ammonia capacity. In 2008, we estimate our nitrogen operations produced 2% of the world’s ammonia production.

 

Our potash is produced from six mines in Saskatchewan and one mine in New Brunswick. Of these mines, we own and operate five in Saskatchewan and one in New Brunswick.

 

Our phosphate operations include the manufacture and sale of solid and liquid phosphate fertilizers, animal feed supplements and industrial acid, which is used in food products and industrial processes. We believe that our North Carolina facility is the world’s largest integrated phosphate mine and processing plant. We also have a phosphate mine and two mineral processing plant complexes in northern Florida and six phosphate feed plants in the United States. In 2008, we sold our phosphate feed plant located in Brazil. We can produce a variety of phosphate products at our Geismar, Louisiana facility.

 

Our nitrogen operations involve the production of nitrogen fertilizers and nitrogen feed and industrial products, including ammonia, urea, nitrogen solutions, ammonium nitrate and nitric acid. We have nitrogen facilities in Georgia, Louisiana, Ohio and Trinidad.

 

We are organized under the laws of Canada. Our principal executive offices are located at 122 – 1^st Avenue South, Suite 500, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7K 7G3, and our telephone number is (306) 933-8500.

 

History

 

PCS is a corporation continued under the Canada Business Corporations Act and is the successor to a corporation without share capital established by the Province of Saskatchewan in 1975. Between 1976 and 1990, we acquired substantial interests in the Saskatchewan potash industry. We purchased the Cory mine in 1976, the Rocanville and Lanigan mines in 1977, and, by 1990, 100% of the Allan mine when we acquired all of the outstanding shares of Saskterra Fertilizers Ltd.

 

In 1989, the Province of Saskatchewan privatized PCS. While the Province initially retained an ownership interest in PCS, this interest had been reduced to zero by the end of 1993. Since 1993, we have made the following acquisitions of significance to the development of our Company:

 

 

Our potash operations include the mining and production of potash, which is predominantly used as fertilizer.

 

Properties

 

All potash produced by the Company in Saskatchewan is in the southern half of the Province, where extensive potash deposits are found. The potash ore is contained in a predominantly rock salt formation known as the Prairie Evaporite, which lies about 1,000 metres below the surface. The evaporite deposits, which are bounded by limestone formations, contain the potash beds of approximately 2.4 to 5.1 metres thickness. Three potash deposits of economic importance occur in the Province, the Esterhazy, Belle Plaine and Patience Lake Members. The Patience Lake Member is mined at the Lanigan, Allan, Patience Lake and Cory mines, and the Esterhazy Member is mined at the Rocanville and Esterhazy mines.

 

Under a mining and processing agreement effective through December 31, 2026 and subject to available reserves, Mosaic Potash Esterhazy Limited Partnership (“Mosaic”) mines and processes our mineral rights at the Esterhazy mine. We have the option to terminate this agreement every five years. The next opportunity to terminate is December 31, 2011, for which notice must be given no later than June 30, 2011. Mosaic has the option to abandon the mine at any time after December 31, 2011, thus terminating the mining and processing agreement. Following the expansion at Esterhazy, which was completed in 2007, the maximum finished product we are permitted to take each year under the mining and processing agreement is 1,313,000 tonnes and the minimum required amount is 453,600 tonnes. For the year ending December 31, 2009, we have notified Mosaic that we require 1,125,000 tonnes of finished product. Water inflow at the Esterhazy mine has continued, to a greater or lesser degree, since December 1985. We share, on an annual basis, in such water inflow remediation costs at the Esterhazy mine. See “Production” and “Reserves” tables for additional information.

 

We also produce potash at our mine near Sussex, New Brunswick from the flank of an elongated salt structure. We also hold an interest in certain oil and gas rights in the vicinity of the New Brunswick mine. Natural gas has been discovered and we, in conjunction with Corridor Resources Inc., have supplied the New Brunswick facility with natural gas to meet its fuel needs since 2003. During exploration for natural gas in the vicinity of the Sussex division, potash was detected to the south and east of existing mine operations (referred

to as Penobsquis), a new area of potash mineralization called the Picadilly deposit. Enough detailed exploration (3D seismic and drilling) took place to delineate a potash resource large enough to warrant mine design and capital cost estimate studies. These studies were completed by mid-2007 and in July 2007, the Company announced plans for a new potash mine and expanded milling facility at the New Brunswick site. Construction of this new mining facility is proceeding.

 

We control the right to mine 652,508 acres of land in Saskatchewan. Included in these holdings are mineral rights to 546,203 acres contained in blocks around the six mines in which we have an interest, of which acres approximately 34% we own, approximately 51% are under lease from the Province of Saskatchewan and approximately 15% are leased from other parties. Our remaining 106,305 acres are located elsewhere in Saskatchewan. Our leases with the Province of Saskatchewan are for 21 year terms, renewable at our option. Our significant leases with other parties are also for 21 year terms. Such leases are renewable at our option, providing generally that production is continuing and that there is continuation of the applicable Crown lease. In New Brunswick, we mine pursuant to a mining lease with the Province of New Brunswick. We control the right to mine 58,263 acres of land in New Brunswick. The lease is for a term of 21 years from 1978 with renewal provisions for three additional 21 year periods. This lease was renewed effective June 13, 1999.

 

The following map shows the location of our Canadian mining operations and Esterhazy.

 

 

Production

 

We produce potash using both conventional and solution mining methods. In conventional operations, shafts are sunk to the ore body and mining machines cut out the ore, which is lifted to the surface for processing. In solution mining, the potash is dissolved in warm brine and pumped to the surface for processing. Eleven grades of potash are produced to suit different preferences of the various markets.

 

In 2008, our conventional potash operations (excluding Esterhazy) mined 23.119 million tonnes of ore at an average grade of 22.88% potassium oxide (“K₂O”). In 2008, our potash production from all our operations (including Esterhazy) consisted of 8.697 million tonnes of potash (“KCl” or “finished product”) with an average grade of 60.99% K₂O, representing 47% of North American production.

 

Our present annual potash capacity is approximately 13.249 million tonnes KCl, which includes maximum annual production under the mining and processing agreement with Mosaic of 1,313,000 tonnes at Esterhazy. In 2008, our capacity represented an estimated 56% of the North American total capacity. We allocate production among our mines on the basis of various factors, including cost efficiency and the grades of product that can be produced. The Patience Lake mine, which was originally a conventional underground

mine, now employs a solution mining method. The other Saskatchewan mines we own or in which we have an interest employ conventional underground mining methods.

 

The New Brunswick mine is a conventional cut and fill underground mining operation. In addition to potash production, this mine also produced 0.64 million tonnes of sodium chloride (salt) in 2008. We continue to incur costs at the New Brunswick division in relation to management of a brine inflow.

 

The following table sets forth, for each of the past three years, the production of ore, grade and finished product for each of our mines.

 

 

 

The mining of potash is a capital-intensive business subject to the normal risks and capital expenditure requirements associated with mining operations. The processing of ore may be subject to delays and costs resulting from mechanical failures and such hazards as unusual or unexpected geological formations, subsidence, floods and other water inflows, and other conditions involved in mining ore.

 

Reserves

 

The Company’s estimates for its conventional mining operations in Saskatchewan are based on exploration drill hole data, seismic data and actual mining results during the past 38 to 43 years. In Saskatchewan reserves are estimated by identifying material in place that is delineated on at least two sides and material in place within one mile from an existing sampled mine entry or borehole. The Company’s estimates for its conventional mining operations in New Brunswick are based on exploration drill hole data, seismic data and actual mining results during the past 25 years. In New Brunswick reserves are estimated by identifying material in place delineated by drilling or mining with results projected conservatively from these intersections.

A historical extraction ratio from the 25 to 43 years of mining results is applied to estimate the mineable reserves. The Company’s estimated recoverable ore (reserve tonnage only) as of December 31, 2008 for each of our potash mines is as follows:

 

 

 

Resources

 

Mineral resources, which are exclusive of the mineral reserves reported above, are contained within the lands for which a mining lease is held at each mine. These resources are reported as mineralization in-place while the reserves are reported as recoverable ore.

In Saskatchewan, where geological correlations are straightforward, the mineral resource categories are generally characterized by the Company as follows:

 

 

Exploration information used to infer and compute resource tonnage estimates for Saskatchewan consists of physical sampling (boreholes) and surface seismic data (3D and 2D).

 

In New Brunswick, where geology is complex, mineral resource categories are generally characterized by the Company as follows:

 

 

Exploration information used to infer and compute resource tonnage estimates in New Brunswick consists of physical sampling (boreholes and regional surface mapping), surface seismic data (3D and 2D), airborne electromagnetic and regional gravity data.

 

The Company’s estimated mineral resource tonnage as of December 31, 2008 for each of our mines is as follows:

 

 

 

The scientific and technical information included in the Potash Operations section has been prepared under the supervision of persons who are “qualified persons” under Canadian National Instrument 43-101. For Saskatchewan and New Brunswick operations, Garth Moore, P. Eng. (President, PCS Potash) is the qualified person who supervised the preparation of the information and who verified the data disclosed herein.

Data for the mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates for our mining operations reported herein were verified by:

 

 

We mine phosphate ore and manufacture phosphoric acid, solid and liquid fertilizers, animal feed supplements and purified phosphoric acid which is used in food products and industrial processes.

 

Properties

 

We conduct our phosphate operations primarily at two facilities, one a 35,000-acre facility near Aurora, North Carolina and the other a 100,580-acre facility near White Springs in northern Florida. We believe the Aurora facility, with a capacity of 1.2 million tonnes of phosphoric acid (“P₂O₅”) per year, to be the largest integrated phosphate mine and phosphate processing complex at one site in the world. The Aurora facility includes a 6.0 million tonne per-year mining operation, four sulfuric acid plants, four phosphoric acid plants, four purified acid plants, a liquid fertilizer plant, a superphosphoric acid (“SPA”) plant, a defluorinated phosphate (“DFP”) or animal feed plant, two granulation plants capable of producing diammonium phosphate (“DAP”) or monoammonium phosphate (“MAP”) and four silicon tetrafluoride (“STF”) plants. The White Springs facility is the third largest phosphoric acid producer, by capacity, in the United States.

 

The White Springs facility includes a mine and two production facilities, Suwannee River and Swift Creek, with two sulfuric acid plants, one phosphoric acid plant, two DAP/MAP plants, a SPA plant, a dicalcium phosphate plant and a DFP plant located at the Suwannee River complex and two sulfuric acid plants and a superphosphoric plant located at the Swift Creek complex.

 

The location of our Aurora and White Springs mining operations are shown on the following map.

 

At our Geismar, Louisiana facility, we manufacture phosphoric acid. The Geismar facility has a sulfuric acid plant, a phosphoric acid plant and a liquid fertilizer plant. A significant portion of the phosphoric acid produced at the Geismar facility is sold as feedstock to Innophos, Inc. for use in its neighboring purified acid plant. Our other phosphate properties include:

 

 

 

 

Production

 

We extract phosphate ore using surface mining techniques. At each mine site, the ore is mixed with recycled water to form a slurry, which is pumped from the mine site to our processing facilities. The ore is then screened to remove coarse materials, washed to remove clay and floated to remove limestone and calcareous gangue to produce phosphate “rock.” The annual production capacity of our mines is currently 9.6 million tonnes of phosphate rock. During 2008, the Aurora facility’s total production of phosphate rock was 4.03 million tonnes and the White Springs facility’s total production of phosphate rock was 3.03 million tonnes. The sequence for mining portions of the Aurora property has been identified in the permit issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1997. The permit expires in 2017, but the reserves in these areas could be exhausted before then. We are seeking a new permit from the Corps to mine additional areas. The Company expects to have the necessary approvals for mine continuation in April 2009. Failure to secure the required approvals for continuation of the mining operations, on acceptable terms, would negatively affect our reserves and costs.

 

Phosphate rock is the major input in our phosphorus processing operations. Substantially all of the phosphate rock produced is used internally for the production of phosphoric acid, SPA, chemical fertilizers, purified phosphoric acid and animal feed products. Unlike the Aurora and White Springs operations, the Geismar facility does not mine phosphate rock. Presently, the Geismar facility purchases phosphate rock from Morocco pursuant to a long-term agreement with a Moroccan government-owned company, wherein prices are reset at prescribed dates through negotiation.

 

In addition to phosphate ore, the principal raw materials we require are sulfur and ammonia. The production of phosphoric acid requires substantial quantities of sulfur, which we purchase from third parties. Any significant disruption in our sulfur supply to the phosphate facilities could adversely impact our financial results. We produce sulfuric acid at the Aurora facility, White Springs facility and Geismar facility.

 

Our phosphate operations purchase all of their ammonia at market rates from or through our nitrogen and sales subsidiaries. Phosphoric acid is reacted with ammonia to produce DAP and MAP as well as liquid fertilizers. In addition, ammonia operations include the purchase, sale and terminalling of anhydrous

ammonia and much of this ammonia is purchased from third parties. Ammonia to White Springs will be supplied through an ammonia tank lease in Tampa, Florida. Ammonia to Aurora will be supplied through rail deliveries from our Lima, Ohio production facility, Geismar, Louisiana storage facility, and leased storage at Pascagoula, Mississippi.

 

We produce MGA at Aurora, White Springs and Geismar. Some MGA is sold to foreign and domestic fertilizer producers and industrial customers. We further process the balance of the MGA to make solid fertilizer (DAP and MAP); liquid fertilizers; animal feed supplements for the poultry and livestock markets; and purified phosphoric acid for use in a wide variety of food, technical and industrial applications.

 

The following table sets forth, for each of the last three years, the Company’s production of phosphate rock (including tonnage and grade) and the production of phosphoric acid.

 

 

 

Reserves

 

Our phosphate deposits in North Carolina occur in a formation known as the Pungo River formation of the middle Miocene age. The formation, typically 75 feet to 125 feet below ground surface, is composed of interbedded phosphatic sands, silts and clays, diatomaceous clays and phosphatic limestone. Phosphate of value in the ore horizon occurs as pellets of brown and black sand-sized particles, with flat-sided angular quartz grains and variable amounts of silt, clay and interbedded limestone. The phosphate ore (matrix) horizon throughout is distinguished by its relative uniformity in thickness, percent P₂O₅ and other quality characteristics.

 

Our White Springs operations are in Hamilton County, Florida. The Hamilton County phosphate deposits in the North Florida Phosphate District are reported to be of the middle Miocene and Pliocene ages. Because of partial reworking during the Pliocene age, these deposits tend to be more variable than middle Miocene deposits, such as those found in North Carolina.

 

In estimating our phosphate reserves, we had previously retained a third party to prepare reports of the estimated phosphate ore reserves at Aurora and White Springs. Based on (i) a review and assessment of the Company’s land-ownership maps, (ii) drilling and technical assays and assessments, (iii) discussions with Company personnel familiar both with the geology of the phosphate ore deposits and each site’s mining operations and (iv) judgments regarding the recoverability of phosphate from the ore deposits based on economic and technical factors such as the ore grade, mining, transportation and beneficiation issues and environmental and regulatory factors, the reserve estimates set forth in the reports were developed.

Since receipt of the reports (1995 for Aurora and 1997 for White Springs), we annually adjusted and updated the ore reserve estimates for both the Aurora and White Springs operations by making adjustments for ore consumed, number of tonnes sterilized (i.e., bypassed), deletions (for property sold, traded or agreed to be set aside for environmental or other purposes), additions (based on land and mineral right acquisitions) and other appropriate adjustments. There has been no third party review of the estimates within the last four years.

 

The following table sets forth the Company’s estimated proven and probable phosphate reserves for Aurora and White Springs as of December 31, 2008 at an average grade of 30.7% P₂O₅.

 

 

The reserves set forth above for Aurora would permit mining to continue at annual production rates for about 90 years. This mine life is based on an average annual production rate of approximately 3.79 million tonnes of 30.7% concentrate over the three-year period ended December 31, 2008. Prior to our acquisition of Texasgulf in April 1995, Texasgulf transferred approximately 408 million tonnes of phosphate reserves to a newly established company, the common stock of which was transferred to Elf Aquitaine, Inc. and Williams Acquisition Holding Company, Inc. We were granted a 20-year right of first refusal (from April 10, 1995) in the event that the newly established company proposes to sell the reserves.

 

The reserves set forth above for White Springs would permit mining to continue at annual production rates for about 16 years. This mine life is based on an average annual production rate of approximately 3.04 million tonnes of 30.7% concentrate over the three-year period ended December 31, 2008.

 

The scientific and technical information included in the Phosphate Operations section has been prepared by persons who are “qualified persons” under Canadian National Instrument 43-101. For the Aurora operation, I. K. Gilmore CPG, PG (PCS Phosphate – Aurora, Superintendent Mine Planning & Chief Geologist) is the qualified person who prepared the information and who verified the data disclosed here. For the White Springs operation, Cameron Lynch P.E. (PCS Phosphate – White Springs, Superintendent Mine Planning/Mine Services) is the qualified person who supervised the preparation of the information and verified the data disclosed herein.

 

Data for the mineral reserve estimates reported for Aurora were verified by reviewing:

 

 

Data for the mineral reserve estimates reported for White Springs were verified by reviewing:

 

 

Our nitrogen operations include production of nitrogen fertilizers and nitrogen chemicals. These products are used for agricultural, industrial and animal nutrition purposes.

 

Properties

 

We have four nitrogen production facilities, of which three are located in the United States and one is located in Trinidad. The following table sets forth the facility locations and production capabilities.

 

Plant Locations		Nitrogen Products Produced
Augusta, Georgia		Ammonia, urea, nitric acid, ammonium nitrate and nitrogen solutions
Geismar, Louisiana(1)		Nitric acid and nitrogen solutions
Lima, Ohio		Ammonia, urea, nitric acid and nitrogen solutions
Point Lisas, Trinidad		Ammonia and urea

 

 

Production

 

Unlike potash and phosphate, nitrogen is not mined. It is taken from the air and reacted with a hydrogen source, usually natural gas reformed with steam, to produce ammonia. The ammonia is used to produce a full line of upgraded nitrogen products, including urea, nitrogen solutions, ammonium nitrate and nitric acid. Ammonia, urea and nitrogen solutions are sold as fertilizers to agricultural customers and to industrial customers for various applications, while nitric acid and ammonium nitrate are sold to industrial customers for various applications. Urea is also sold for animal feed applications.

 

The following table sets forth, for each of the last three years, the Company’s production of ammonia.

 

 

 

Raw Materials

 

Natural gas is the primary raw material used for the production of nearly all of our nitrogen products. In the U.S., we employ natural gas hedges with the goal of minimizing risk from volatile gas prices. In Trinidad, natural gas is purchased pursuant to long-term contracts using pricing formulas related to the market price of ammonia. In Trinidad, we have multiple long-term gas contracts in place. These contracts, which include minimum take or pay requirements, can provide the entire ammonia complex with 100% of our needs in 2009 and 2010, 90% in 2011, 83% in 2012, 67% in 2013, 56% in 2014 and 2015, and 51% from 2016 to 2018. With the exception of the Trinidad facility, we purchase most of our natural gas from producers or marketers at the point of delivery of the natural gas into the pipeline system, then pay the pipeline company and, where applicable, the local distribution company to transport the natural gas to our nitrogen facilities. Approximately

85% of our domestic consumption of natural gas by our nitrogen operations is delivered pursuant to firm transportation contracts, which do not permit the pipeline or local distribution company to interrupt service to, or divert natural gas from, the plant.

 

The following table summarizes our sales from potash, phosphate and nitrogen products (by geographical distribution) in the past three fiscal years.

 

 

 

For financial information about our business segments and North American and offshore sales, see the information under “Potash – Performance” on pages 18 through 20, “Phosphate – Performance” on pages 24 through 26 and “Nitrogen – Performance” on pages 30 through 32 in our 2008 Financial Review, attached as Exhibit 13, and Note 19, Segment Information, to our 2008 consolidated financial statements, incorporated by reference under Items 7 and 8 in this report. Information with respect to the geographical locations of long-lived assets is disclosed in Note 19, Segment Information, to our 2008 consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference under Item 8 in this report.

 

We have a diversified customer base and, apart from sales to Canpotex, no one customer accounted for more than 10% of our sales in 2008.

 

Potash from our Saskatchewan mines for sale outside Canada and the United States is sold exclusively to Canpotex. PCS Sales (Canada) Inc. and PCS Sales (USA), Inc. execute offshore marketing and sales for our New Brunswick potash and marketing and sales for our potash, phosphate and nitrogen products in Canada. PCS Sales (USA), Inc. executes marketing and sales for our potash, phosphate and nitrogen products in the United States. PhosChem, an association formed under the U.S. Webb-Pomerene Act, is the principal vehicle through which we execute offshore marketing and sales for our phosphate fertilizers. See “Offshore Marketing” below.

North American Marketing

 

In 2008, North American sales from potash products represented 37% of our total potash sales, substantially all of which were attributable to potash customers in the United States. Typically, our North American potash sales are larger in the first half of the year. The vast majority of sales are made on the spot market with the balance made under short-term contracts. We have no material contractual obligations in connection with North American sales to sell potash in the future at a fixed price.

 

In 2008, North American sales from phosphate products represented 64% of our total phosphate sales, substantially all of which were attributable to phosphate customers in the United States. In 2008, the majority of our phosphate product sales were made on the spot market, with the balance made under short-term contracts (generally on an annual basis) and a limited number of sales made pursuant to multi-year contracts. We have no material contractual obligations in connection with North American sales to sell phosphate products in the future at a fixed price.

 

In 2008, North American sales from nitrogen products represented 91% of our total nitrogen sales and our total non-fertilizer products accounted for 65% of our total nitrogen revenue. Typically, North American nitrogen fertilizer sales are greatest in the second calendar quarter. In 2008, our nitrogen product sales were made on the spot market and under short-term and multi-year contracts. We have no material contractual obligations in connection with North American sales to sell nitrogen in the future at a fixed price.

 

Ammonia purchased by us is used in our operations and is sold to third party customers by PCS Sales (USA), Inc.

 

The primary customers for fertilizer products are retailers, dealers, cooperatives, distributors and other fertilizer producers. Such retailers, dealers and cooperatives have both distribution and application capabilities. The primary customers for industrial products are chemical product manufacturers. The majority of our purified phosphoric acid is sold directly to consumers of the product, with the balance sold through an authorized non-exclusive distribution network.

 

Offshore Marketing

 

Potash we produce in Saskatchewan for sale outside Canada and the United States is sold to Canpotex, which is owned in equal shares by the three potash producers in the Province of Saskatchewan (including us). Canpotex, which was incorporated in 1970 and commenced operations in 1972, acts as an export company and as a unified sales, marketing and distribution force for all Saskatchewan potash production in the offshore marketplace. Each shareholder of Canpotex has an equal voting interest as a shareholder through its nominees on the board of directors. All the shareholders of Canpotex have agreed that, as long as they are members of Canpotex and with respect to potash produced in Canada, they will not make offshore sales independently. The members of Canpotex have exempted production from our New Brunswick mine from this requirement. Any member may terminate its membership in Canpotex at a specified time of the year on six months’ notice.

 

In general, Canpotex sales are allocated among the producers based on production capacity. If a shareholder cannot satisfy demand for potash by Canpotex, the remaining shareholders are entitled to satisfy the demand pro rata based on their allotted production capacity. In 2008, we supplied 54% of Canpotex’s requirements. Canpotex generally sells potash to private firms and government agencies pursuant to contracts at negotiated prices or by spot sales.

The following table sets forth the percentage of sales volumes by Canpotex for the past three calendar years in the various geographical regions.

 

 

For 2008, sales to Canpotex represented 55% of our total potash sales. Offshore sales of potash from the New Brunswick mine, through PCS Sales (Canada) Inc. and PCS Sales (USA), Inc., represented 8% of our total potash sales in 2008.

 

Since 1975, PhosChem has been the largest exporter of U.S. phosphate fertilizers. Currently, the members of PhosChem are PCS Sales (USA), Inc. and Mosaic Crop Nutrition LLC. The PhosChem members have agreed, except for certain sales that are reserved individually to the PhosChem member companies, to export their fertilizer products exclusively through PhosChem. PhosChem negotiates prices and other terms for such export sales of its members’ phosphate fertilizer products that are made through PhosChem. According to the terms of a PhosChem agreement effective January 1, 1995, Mosaic Global Operations Inc. is responsible for the marketing of solid fertilizers and PCS Sales (USA), Inc., is responsible for the marketing of liquid merchant grade phosphoric acid to export countries. Total sales for 2008 (on a P₂O₅ basis) were apportioned as follows: 78% to Mosaic Crop Nutrition LLC and 22% to PCS Sales (USA), Inc. The PhosChem agreement is renewed annually.

 

Revenue from sales to PhosChem accounted for 25% of our total phosphate sales in 2008. Other offshore phosphate sales accounted for 11% of our total phosphate sales in 2008. In 2008, 88% of PhosChem’s sales volume was in the form of DAP.

 

The following table sets forth the percentage of DAP sales volumes of PhosChem for the past three calendar years in the various geographical regions.

 

 

Ammonia and urea predominate offshore sales of nitrogen and originate primarily from Trinidad, with other sales coming from purchased product locations. For 2008, our offshore sales of nitrogen products represented 9% of our total nitrogen sales.

 

Offshore sales are subject to those risks customarily encountered in foreign operations, including (i) fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; (ii) changes in currency and exchange controls; (iii) the availability of foreign exchange; (iv) laws, policies and actions affecting foreign trade; and (v) other economic, political and regulatory policies of foreign governments.

 

We have an extensive infrastructure and distribution system to store and transport our products. In addition to storage located at our production facilities, in 2008, we owned or leased approximately 172 terminal and warehouse facilities, some of which have multi-product capability for a total of 203 strategically located distribution points in Canada and the United States to serve our customers. To complement our distribution

system in Canada and the United States, we also own or lease approximately 9,600 rail cars. In the offshore market, the Company leases one warehouse in China and leases one warehouse in Brazil through a joint venture.

 

Potash Products

 

Transportation costs add significantly to the total cost of potash. Producers have a definite advantage in markets close to their sources of supply (e.g., Saskatchewan producers in the Midwestern United States, New Brunswick producers on the U.S. Eastern Seaboard and New Mexico producers in the Southern and Western United States). International shipping cost variances permit offshore producers (including those in the former Soviet Union, Germany and the Middle East) to compete effectively in some of our traditional markets.

 

Most of our potash for North American customers is shipped by rail. Shipments are also made by rail from each of our Saskatchewan mines to Thunder Bay, Ontario, for shipment by lake vessel to our warehouses and storage facilities in Canada and the United States. Potash from the New Brunswick mine is shipped primarily by ocean-going vessel from the Port of Saint John, although truck and rail transport are also used for North American customers.

 

In the case of our sales to Canpotex, potash is transported by rail principally to Vancouver, British Columbia, where port facilities exist for storage pending shipment overseas. We have an equity interest in Canpotex Bulk Terminals Limited, which is a part owner of these port facilities. Through Canpotex, we also have an interest in a port facility located in Portland, Oregon.

 

Phosphate Products

 

With respect to phosphates, we have long-term leases on shipping terminals in Morehead City and Beaufort, North Carolina, through which we receive and store Aurora facility raw materials and finished product. We use barges and tugboats to transport solid products, phosphoric acid and sulfur between the Aurora facility and Morehead City, North Carolina. Raw materials and products, including sulfur, are also transported to and from the Aurora facility by rail.

 

Sulfur is delivered to the White Springs facility by rail and truck from Canada and the U.S. Most of the phosphoric acid and chemical fertilizers produced at the White Springs facility are shipped to domestic destinations by rail. We also ship some of our products, produced at the White Springs facility, through the bulk terminal located in Morehead City, North Carolina and through a leased terminal in Tampa, Florida, for offshore sales. We received ammonia for our phosphate operations at White Springs and Aurora primarily through our ammonia terminal in Savannah, Georgia. The ammonia was shipped by rail from Savannah to the White Springs and Aurora facilities. Our operations at the Port of Savannah ceased in December 2008. Ammonia to White Springs will be supplied through an ammonia tank lease in Tampa, Florida commencing in 2009. Ammonia to Aurora will be supplied through rail deliveries from our Lima, Ohio production facility, Geismar, Louisiana storage facility and leased storage at Pascagoula, Mississippi commencing in 2009.

 

Much of the Geismar facility’s phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid is delivered via pipeline to nearby customers. The balance of the facility’s phosphate products are shipped by rail or tank truck. Phosphate rock feedstock is delivered to Geismar from Morocco in large ocean-going vessels. Sulfur is delivered to the Geismar facility by barge, truck and rail.

 

Nitrogen Products

 

We distribute our nitrogen products by vessel, barge, railcar, truck and direct pipeline to our customers and, in high consumption areas, through our strategically located storage terminals. We lease or own 22 nitrogen terminal facilities. The terminals provide off-season storage and also serve local dealers during the peak seasonal demand period.

 

We distribute products from the Trinidad plant to markets in Latin America and Europe in addition to the United States. Our distribution operations in Trinidad employ four long-term chartered ocean-going vessels and

utilize short-term and spot charters as necessary for the transportation of ammonia. All bulk urea production from Trinidad is shipped through third-party carriers.

 

Potash is a commodity and consequently producers compete based on price and service (e.g., delivery time and ability to supply high quality material). We price competitively and sell high quality products and provide high quality service to our customers. Our service includes maintaining warehouses, leasing railcars and chartering ocean-going vessels to enhance our delivery capabilities. The high cost of transporting potash affects competition in various geographic areas. Our competition includes three North American producers and offshore producers located in the former Soviet Union, the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Latin America.

 

Markets for most phosphate products are highly competitive. Our principal advantage at Aurora and White Springs is that we operate integrated phosphate mine and phosphate processing complexes, while most of our North American competitors are required to ship phosphate rock by rail or truck greater distances from their mines to their mineral processing plants, thus incurring higher rock processing costs. In addition, due to our location in North Carolina and the relatively high cost of transportation, our U.S. phosphate sales from Aurora have a natural advantage in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic and eastern Midwest regions. Similarly, White Springs and other Florida producers have a natural advantage in the South. Gulf Coast producers have a natural advantage in areas of the Midwest accessible to barge traffic up the Mississippi River.

 

We compete with government enterprises and independent phosphate producers in important exporting countries, including Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan, South Africa, Russia and Australia. In addition, increased phosphate fertilizer production in traditionally important U.S. export markets such as China have impacted U.S. export sales to those countries. Our principal competitors in North American markets include The Mosaic Company and CF Industries, Inc.

 

Within the animal feed supplement business in the phosphate segment, opportunities exist to differentiate products based on nutritional content, thereby making it less commodity-like. We have a significant presence in the domestic feed supplement market segments.

 

Industrial products are the least commodity-like of the phosphate products as product quality is a more significant consideration for customer buying decisions. We market industrial phosphate products only in the U.S. and we compete against domestic suppliers and imports from Morocco, Israel and China.

 

Nitrogen, globally the most widely produced nutrient, is primarily a regional business. However, ammonia, the feedstock for all nitrogen products, can be manufactured in any country with adequate natural gas supplies and can enable developing nations to monetize their natural gas resources. Several countries with large reserves and low production costs use little of their gas domestically, and can produce ammonia cheaply for the export market. Rising natural gas costs in several markets around the world have led to plant curtailments and/or closures, since natural gas can be up to 90% of the cash cost of producing ammonia.

 

Nitrogen is an input into industrial production of a wide range of products. Manufacturers want consistent quality and just-in-time delivery to keep their plants running. Many industrial consumers are attached to their suppliers by pipeline.

 

Our nitrogen production serves both fertilizer and industrial customers. Our U.S. plants primarily supply industrial customers, and Trinidad supplies both our fertilizer and industrial customers. We are not immune when expensive natural gas makes U.S. ammonia plants non-competitive with offshore production, but our lower-cost Trinidad operations help offset this. Within North America, sales are regionalized due to transportation costs. CF Industries, Inc., Koch Industries, Inc., Terra Industries, Inc. and importers are our main competitors. Imports are expected to continue.

 

At December 31, 2008, we employed 5,301 persons, of whom 1,779 were salaried and 3,522 were hourly paid. Of these 5,301 employees, our potash operations employed 1,964 people, our phosphate operations

2,131 and our nitrogen operations 801. Our sales and transportation and distribution functions were handled by 104 employees in Northbrook, Illinois and various other locations in the United States and by 18 employees in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Excluding sales personnel, the Saskatoon and Northbrook offices had a staff of 283.

 

We have entered into eight collective bargaining agreements with labor organizations representing employees. The collective bargaining agreements at the Allan, Cory and Patience Lake divisions expire on April 30, 2011. The Lanigan agreement expired on January 31, 2009 and contract negotiations at Lanigan began in early 2009. PCS and the Rocanville Potash Employees Association have an agreement that expires on May 31, 2009. The agreement at PCS Cassidy Lake expires on December 31, 2010. The agreement between Mosaic and the union representing the employees at the Esterhazy mine expires on January 31, 2010. The collective bargaining agreement with the union representing employees at the White Springs plant expires on December 7, 2009 and the agreement at the PCS Purified Phosphates facility in Cincinnati expires on November 1, 2010. The agreement with the union representing employees at the Lima plant expires on October 1, 2012. We believe our relations with our employees to be good.

 

Saskatchewan potash production is taxed at the provincial level under The Mineral Taxation Act, 1983 (Saskatchewan). This tax consists of a base payment and a profit tax (“Potash Production Tax”). The Potash Production Tax totaled $431.3 million in 2008. As a resource corporation in the Province of Saskatchewan, we are also subject to a capital tax that is the greater of a percentage of our taxable paid up capital or a percentage of the value of our resource sales (as defined in The Corporation Capital Tax Act of Saskatchewan). In addition, we pay capital tax on our taxable capital as defined in the New Brunswick Income Tax Act. In 2008, we paid total capital tax of $108.3 million.

 

In addition to the Potash Production Tax and capital tax, royalties, taxes and rental fees are payable to the Provinces of Saskatchewan and New Brunswick, municipalities and others by potash producers in respect of potash sales, production or property in the Provinces of Saskatchewan and New Brunswick. These royalties, taxes and fees, which are included in cost of goods sold, were $110.9 million in 2008.

 

For 2008, miscellaneous taxes paid (not included above) totaled $3.8 million. We do not make royalty payments in connection with our phosphate and nitrogen operations.

 

Income Taxes

 

PCS and certain subsidiaries are subject to federal and provincial income taxes in Canada. Our subsidiaries that operate in the United States are subject to U.S. federal and state income taxes. Our nitrogen subsidiary operating in Trinidad is subject to Trinidadian taxes.

 

The effective income tax rate for 2008 was 24% compared to 27% in 2007. A scheduled one and a half percentage point reduction in the Canadian federal income tax rate applicable to resource companies along with the elimination of the one percent surtax became effective at the beginning of 2008. In addition, there was a significant increase in permanent deductions in the U.S. Income tax recoveries of $71.1 million were recorded in 2008 which related to higher permanent deductions in the U.S. from prior years. In 2008, future income tax assets were written down by $11.0 million and the $25.3 million gain recognized as a result of the change in fair value of the forward purchase contract for shares in Sinofert was not taxable.

 

Our operations are subject to numerous environmental requirements under federal, provincial, state and local laws and regulations of Canada, U.S., Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago. These laws and regulations govern matters such as air emissions, wastewater discharges, land use and reclamation and solid and hazardous waste management. Many of these laws, regulations and permit requirements are becoming increasingly stringent, and the cost of compliance with these requirements can be expected to increase over time.

Our operating expenses, other than those associated with asset retirement obligations, relating to compliance with environmental laws and regulations governing ongoing operations were approximately $123.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, as compared to $104.8 million and $92.6 million for the years ending December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. These amounts include environmental operating expenses related primarily to the production of phosphoric acid, fertilizer, feed and other products.

 

We routinely undertake environmental capital projects. In 2008, capital expenditures of $89.6 million (2007 – $44.2 million) were incurred to meet pollution prevention and control objectives and $0.5 million (2007 – $0.5 million) were incurred to meet other environmental objectives. Future capital expenditures are subject to a number of uncertainties, including changes to environmental regulations and interpretations, and enforcement initiatives. While we currently anticipate that our operating and capital expenditures related to environmental regulatory matters in 2009 will not differ materially from amounts expended in the past two years, at this time we are unable to estimate the capital expenditures we may make in subsequent years to meet pollution prevention and control objectives and other environmental objectives.

 

Environmental Requirements, Permits and Regulatory Approvals

 

Many of our operations and facilities are required by federal, provincial, state and local environmental laws to operate in compliance with a range of regulatory requirements, permits and approvals. Such permits and approvals typically have to be renewed or reissued periodically. We may also become subject to new laws or regulations that impose new requirements or require us to obtain new or additional permits or approvals. We believe that we are currently in material compliance with existing regulatory programs, permits and approvals. However, there can be no assurance that such permits or approvals will issue in the ordinary course. Further, the terms and conditions of future regulations, permits and approvals may be more stringent and may require increased expenditures on our part.

 

Air Emissions. With respect to air emissions, we anticipate that additional actions and expenditures may be required to meet increasingly stringent U.S. federal and state regulatory and permit requirements, including existing and anticipated regulations under the federal Clean Air Act. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“USEPA”) has issued a number of regulations establishing requirements to reduce air pollutant emissions. We continue to monitor developments in these various programs and to assess their potential impact on our operations.

 

In 2002, the Canadian government ratified the Kyoto Protocol, which calls for Canada to reduce its emissions of “greenhouse gases” to 94% of its 1990 emissions by 2012. The Kyoto Protocol became effective on February 16, 2005. The Canadian government has proposed a regulatory approach for addressing the greenhouse gas reductions and other clean air requirements. It is uncertain when final rules will be issued and if they will have any material impact on us. Under the proposal, Canada would begin to apply intensity-based greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions targets to major industrial sectors in 2010 and 2012, respectively. The United States is not presently expected to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and has announced plans for voluntary programs and incentives. A variety of laws to regulate greenhouse gas emissions have been introduced in the United States Congress, but the prospects for adoption of particular legislative objectives or requirements are uncertain at this time. Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago have also ratified the Kyoto Protocol. Our operations there would not be immediately impacted by the implementation of the treaty as these are developing countries, which do not have any specific emission reduction requirements. We continue to monitor the development of programs to implement the obligations established by the Kyoto Protocol and will continue to assess the range of potential impacts of these programs on our operations. In particular, the United States is participating in global negotiations to develop a system that would become effective in 2012. We have determined that climate change is of sufficient concern to governments, elected officials, non-governmental organizations, community leaders and the general public such that we will pursue a greenhouse gas mitigation strategy. We have assembled a multidisciplinary task force to assess the objectives of such a strategy along with the revenue opportunities and the corporate costs of doing so.

USEPA Phosphate Initiative. The USEPA has an ongoing initiative to evaluate implementation within the phosphate industry of a particular exemption for mineral processing wastes under the hazardous waste program. In connection with this industry-wide initiative, the USEPA conducted hazardous waste compliance evaluation inspections at numerous phosphate operations, including our plants in Aurora, North Carolina, Geismar, Louisiana and White Springs, Florida. The USEPA has notified us of various alleged violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”) at our Aurora and White Springs plants. We and other industry members have met with representatives of the U.S. Department of Justice, the USEPA and various state environmental agencies regarding potential resolution of these matters. During these meetings, we were informed that the USEPA also believes the Geismar plant is in violation of these requirements. As part of the initiative we entered into RCRA 3013 Administrative Orders on Consent to perform certain site assessment activities at our White Springs, Aurora and Geismar plants. We are uncertain if any resolution will be possible without litigation, or, if litigation occurs, what the outcome would be. At this time, we are unable to evaluate the extent of any exposure that the Company may have in these matters.

 

USEPA Clean Air Act Initiative. The USEPA also has begun an initiative to evaluate compliance with the Clean Air Act at sulfuric and nitric acid plants. In connection with this industry-wide initiative, the USEPA has sent requests for information to numerous facilities, including the company’s plants in Augusta, Georgia; Aurora, North Carolina; Geismar, Louisiana; Lima, Ohio; and White Springs, Florida. The USEPA has notified the company of various alleged violations of the Clean Air Act at its Geismar and Lima plants. The company has met and will continue to meet with representatives of the USEPA and the U.S. Department of Justice regarding potential resolutions of these matters. At this time, we are unable to evaluate the extent of any exposure that the Company may have in these matters.

 

Aurora Facility Permits. Significant portions of our phosphate reserves in Aurora, North Carolina are located in wetlands. Under the Clean Water Act, we must obtain a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the “Corps”) before disturbing the wetlands. We have a permit from the Corps to mine specified areas. This permit expires in 2017, but the reserves in these areas could be exhausted before then. We are seeking a new permit from the Corps to mine additional areas. This process includes significant public review and comment that could affect current mitigation and reclamation practices. The Company expects to have the necessary approvals for mine continuation in April 2009. Failure to secure the required approvals for continuation of the mining operations on acceptable terms would negatively affect our reserves and costs.

 

Asset Retirement Obligations

 

We have recorded in the accompanying consolidated financial statements an asset retirement obligation for the costs associated with the retirement of our long-lived assets when a legal liability to retire such assets exists. This includes obligations incurred as a result of acquisition, construction or normal operation of these assets. The major categories of asset retirement obligations include reclamation and restoration costs at our potash and phosphate mining operations (most particularly phosphate mining), including the management of materials generated by mining and mineral processing, such as various mine tailings and gypsum; land reclamation and revegetation programs; decommissioning of underground and surface operating facilities; general clean-up activities aimed at returning the areas to an environmentally acceptable condition; and post-closure care and maintenance.

 

The estimation of asset retirement obligation costs depends on the development of environmentally acceptable closure and post-closure plans, which, in some cases, may require significant research and development to identify preferred methods for such plans which are economically sound and which, in most cases, may not be implemented for several decades. We have continued to utilize appropriate technical resources, including outside consultants, to develop specific site closure and post-closure plans in accordance with the requirements of the various jurisdictions in which we operate. Our asset retirement obligations include reclamation costs related to the gypsum stack capping, closure and post-closure operating and maintenance requirements applicable to our phosphate facilities. The asset retirement obligations are generally incurred over an extended period of time. At December 31, 2008, we had accrued a total of $127.5 million for asset retirement obligations. The current portion totaled $8.7 million.

The environmental regulations of the Province of Saskatchewan require each potash mine to have decommissioning and reclamation plans. Financial assurances for these plans must be established within one year following approval of these plans by the responsible provincial minister. The Minister of the Environment for Saskatchewan (“MOE”) provisionally approved the plans in July 2000. In July 2001, a Cdn $2.0 million irrevocable Letter of Credit was posted. We submitted a revised plan when it was due in 2006. In early 2009, the MOE advised that our 2006 decommissioning and reclamation plans were approved and advised of its preferred position regarding the financial assurances to be provided by the Company. The financial assurances will be subject to ongoing discussions with the MOE, and the Company has been advised that these financial assurances are to be in place by June 30, 2009. Under the regulations, the decommissioning and reclamation plans and financial assurances are to be reviewed at least once every five years, or sooner as required by the MOE. The next scheduled review for the decommissioning and reclamation plans and financial assurances is in 2011. Based on current information, the Company does not believe that its financial assurance requirements or future obligations with respect to this matter are reasonably likely to have a material impact on its consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

Site Assessment and Remediation

 

We are also subject to environmental statutes that address investigation and, where necessary, remediation of contaminated properties. The U.S. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA”) and other U.S. federal and state laws impose liability on, among others, past and present owners and operators of properties or facilities at which hazardous substances have been released into the environment and persons who arrange for disposal of hazardous substances that are released into the environment. Liability under these laws may be imposed jointly and severally and without regard to fault or the legality of the original actions, although such liability may be divided or allocated according to various equitable and other factors. We have incurred and expect to continue to incur costs and liabilities because of our current and former operations, including those of divested and acquired businesses. We have generated and, with respect to our current operations, continue to generate substances that could result in liability for us under these laws.

 

We have accrued $18.1 million for costs associated with site assessment and remediation, including consulting fees, related to the clean-up of contaminated sites currently or formerly associated with the Company or its predecessors’ businesses. The current portion of these costs totaled $3.5 million. The accrued amounts include the Company’s or its subsidiaries’ expected final share of the costs for the site assessment and remediation matters, including matters described below to the extent the incurrence of the costs is reasonably probable and reasonably estimable.

 

Lakeland, Florida Location. In 1998, the Company, along with other parties, was notified by the USEPA of potential liability under CERCLA with respect to certain soil and groundwater conditions at a PCS Joint Venture, Ltd. (“PCS Joint Venture”) blending facility in Lakeland, Florida and certain adjoining property. In 1999, PCS Joint Venture signed an Administrative Order and Consent with the USEPA pursuant to which PCS Joint Venture agreed to conduct a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (“RI/FS”) of these conditions. PCS Joint Venture and another party are sharing the costs of the RI/FS, which is now complete. A Record of Decision (“ROD”) based upon the RI/FS was issued on September 27, 2007. The ROD provides for a remedy that requires excavation of impacted soils and interim treatment of groundwater. The total remedy cost is estimated in the ROD to be $8.5 million. Soil excavation activities are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2009. PCS Joint Venture and additional potentially responsible parties are negotiating with USEPA a Remedial Design/Remedial Action Consent Decree, pursuant to which the parties will perform the ROD remedy. In addition, negotiations are underway regarding the appropriate share of the cost of the remedy that should be borne by each party. Although PCS Joint Venture sold the Lakeland property in July 2006, it has retained the above-described remediation responsibilities and has indemnified the third-party purchaser for the costs of remediation and certain related claims.

 

Planters Property. The USEPA has identified PCS Nitrogen, Inc. (“PCS Nitrogen”) as a potentially responsible party with respect to a former fertilizer blending operation in Charleston, South Carolina, known

as the Planters Property or Columbia Nitrogen Site, formerly owned by a company from which PCS Nitrogen acquired certain other assets. The USEPA has requested reimbursement of $3.0 million of previously incurred response costs and the performance or financing of future site investigation and response activities from PCS Nitrogen and other named potentially responsible parties. In September 2005, Ashley II of Charleston, L.L.C., the current owner of the Planters Property, filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina (the “Court”) seeking a declaratory judgment that PCS Nitrogen is liable to pay environmental response costs that Ashley II of Charleston, L.L.C. alleges it has incurred and will incur in connection with response activities at the site. The Court entered an order bifurcating the case into two phases. In the third quarter of 2007, the Court issued its decision for the first phase of the case, in which it determined that PCS Nitrogen is the successor to a former owner of the site and may be liable to Ashley II of Charleston, L.L.C. for its environmental response costs at the site. In the first quarter of 2008, PCS Nitrogen filed a motion with the Court for certification of an interlocutory appeal of the Court’s order and to stay further proceedings pending a decision on the appeal from the Fourth Circuit Appellate Court. In April 2008, the Court denied PCS Nitrogen’s motion for certification. PCS Nitrogen will have to wait until the Court issues a final ruling before it can appeal the Court’s decision. PCS Nitrogen has filed third-party complaints against owners and operators that it believes should be responsible parties with respect to the site. PCS Nitrogen is currently pursuing the complaints that it has filed against the third-party defendants. The Court will enter a final decision regarding the allocation and amount of liability that PCS Nitrogen and the third party defendants may have relating to the Planters Property in the second phase of the case. PCS Nitrogen denies that it is a potentially responsible party and is vigorously defending its interests in these actions.

 

Ward Superfund Site. PCS Phosphate Company, Inc. (“PCS Phosphate”), along with several other entities, has received notice from parties to an Administrative Settlement Agreement (“Settling Parties”) with the USEPA of alleged contribution liability under CERCLA for costs incurred and to be incurred addressing PCB soil contamination at the Ward Superfund Site in Raleigh, North Carolina (“Site”). PCS Phosphate has agreed to participate, on a non-joint and several basis, with the Settling Parties in the performance of the removal action and the payment of certain other costs associated with the Site, including reimbursement of the USEPA’s past costs. The cost of performing the removal at the Site is estimated at $50.0 million. The removal activities commenced at the Site in August 2007. The company anticipates recovering some portion of its expenditures in this matter from other liable parties. In September 2008, the USEPA issued a final remedy, with an estimated cost of $6.1 million, for PCB-impacted sediments downstream of the Site (“Operable Unit 1”). In October 2008, the USEPA issued special notice letters to PCS Phosphate and other alleged potentially responsible parties requiring a good faith offer to perform and/or pay for the cleanup of Operable Unit 1, to perform further investigation at the Site and adjacent properties, and to reimburse USEPA for its past costs. In January 2009, in addition to good faith offers made by other potentially responsible parties, PCS Phosphate, along with some of the Settling Parties, submitted a good faith offer letter to USEPA. USEPA is reviewing the good faith offers. At this time, the company is unable to evaluate the extent of any exposure that it may have for the matters addressed in the special notice letter.

 

Augusta, Georgia Location. Pursuant to the 1996 Corrective Action Consent Order (the “Order”) executed between PCS Nitrogen Fertilizer, LP, f/k/a Arcadian Fertilizer, LP (“PCS Nitrogen Fertilizer”) and Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division (“GEPD”) in conjunction with PCS Nitrogen Fertilizer’s purchase of certain real property located in Augusta, Georgia from the entity from which PCS Nitrogen Fertilizer previously leased such property, PCS Nitrogen Fertilizer agreed to perform certain activities including a facility investigation and, if necessary, a corrective action. In accordance with the Order, PCS Nitrogen Fertilizer has performed an investigation of environmental site conditions and has documented its findings in several successive facility investigation reports submitted to GEPD. Based on these findings and on the requirements of the Order, PCS Nitrogen Fertilizer is implementing a pilot study to evaluate the viability of in-situ bioremediation of groundwater at the site. In the event the technology proves successful and full-scale implementation is warranted, upon GEPD approval, a full-scale bioremediation remedy will be implemented. If the pilot study proves unsuccessful or if GEPD does not approve this remedial strategy, other, more costly remediation alternatives may need to be evaluated and implemented.

The Company is also engaged in ongoing site assessment and/or remediation activities at a number of other facilities and sites. Based on current information, it does not believe that its future obligations with respect to these facilities and sites are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position or results of operations. However, it is often difficult to estimate and predict the potential costs and liabilities associated with these programs, and there is no guarantee that we will not in the future be identified as potentially responsible for additional costs under these programs, either as a result of changes in existing laws and regulations or as a result of the identification of additional matters or properties covered by these programs.

 

Facility and Product Security

 

Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, we, through our Safety, Health and Environment department, evaluated and addressed actual and potential security issues and requirements associated with our operations in the United States and elsewhere using approved security vulnerability methodologies. Additional actions and expenditures may be required in the future. In the United States, chemical facilities are regulated under the Maritime Transportation Security Act and the Chemical Facility Anti-terrorism Standards. It is anticipated that Congress will continue to consider federal legislation designed to reduce the risk of any future terrorist acts at industrial facilities. We believe that we are in material compliance with applicable security requirements, and we also have adopted security measures and enhancements beyond those presently required. To date, neither the security regulations nor our expenditures on security matters have had a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations. We are unable to predict the potential future costs to us of any new governmental programs or voluntary initiatives.

 

The name, age, period of service with the Company and position held for each of our executive officers as at February 20, 2009 is as follows:

 

 

Each of the officers have held the position indicated above for the previous five years except as follows:

 

 

We have three principal business segments: potash, phosphate and nitrogen. For information with respect to the sales, gross margin and assets attributable to each segment and to our North American and offshore sales, see Note 19, Segment Information, to our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2008, incorporated by reference under Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

 

We present our consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in Canada, or Canadian GAAP. See Note 33, Reconciliation of Canadian and United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, to our 2008 consolidated financial statements, incorporated by reference under Item 8 of this Form 10-K, for a discussion of certain significant differences between Canadian GAAP and accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or U.S. GAAP, as they relate to us.

 

Unless otherwise specified, financial information is presented in U.S. dollars.

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). You may read and copy any of the information on file with the Commission at the Commission’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, NE, Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549. Please call the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. In addition, the Commission maintains an Internet site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file, as we do, electronically with the Commission.

 

We make available, free of charge through our website, http://www.potashcorp.com, our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as soon as is reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the Commission. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this annual report on Form 10-K.

 

 

Our performance and future development are affected by a wide range of risk factors. Any or all of these risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and on the market price of our common shares. We use our integrated Risk Management Framework to identify risks across all segments of the Company, evaluate those risks, and implement strategies designed to mitigate those risks. This process is further described under “Risk Management” on pages 39 and 40 in our 2008 Financial Review, attached as Exhibit 13, incorporated herein by reference. See also note regarding “Forward-Looking Statements,” earlier in this report.

 

The Company implements strategies to mitigate risks, including the risks identified in this section. A discussion of the Company’s strategies to mitigate certain risks is included in our “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our 2008 Financial Review, attached as Exhibit 13, on pages 13 through 18 for potash, 21 through 24 for phosphate and 27 through 30 for nitrogen.

 

Set forth below are the most significant risks and uncertainties that affect the Company and its businesses:

 

Global demand for our products that differs from expectations could adversely affect the results of future operations.

 

The Company has taken major steps to prepare for an anticipated increase in potash demand in future years. The Company is undertaking several key expansion and debottlenecking projects totaling approximately Cdn $7 billion. These projects are expected to come on stream incrementally over the next several years.

We predict the future level of demand for our products and attempt to meet growing demand. Accurate predictions allow us to avoid surplus inventory and missed sales opportunities. However, incorrect predictions can lead to rising costs and decreased profits. If our estimates of future potash demand prove to be overstated, we would experience a lower return on investment due to lower revenues.

 

New product supply can create a structural market imbalance, which could reduce our profits.

 

Fertilizer is a bulk commodity that is generally characterized by minimal product differentiation. Consequently, the market for fertilizer is subject to competitive pricing pressures and cyclicality. An increase in the competitive supply of fertilizer that outpaces the growth in world consumption generally reduces prices; whereas, a supply shortage can increase prices as customers compete for available product. Low prices tend to discourage capacity investment, thereby diminishing future supply growth, while high prices typically accelerate new supply projects and increase production.

 

Commodity price cyclicality varies from industry to industry. The nitrogen industry, for example, is characterized by many producers around the world, lower capital costs of entry and short construction times. Not surprisingly, nitrogen is prone to substantial price volatility. In contrast, good potash deposits are rare; capital costs are very high; and Greenfield projects take 5 to 7 years to develop. As a result, potash prices are less volatile than nitrogen prices.

 

We rely heavily upon railcars, ocean freightliners, warehouse and port storage facilities to transport and distribute product to our customers.

 

Transportation is a significant part of the final sale price of our products and some of our customers require just-in-time delivery. Finding affordable and dependable transportation is important in allowing us to supply customers close to our operating facilities and customers around the world. Labor disputes, derailments, adverse weather or other environmental events, short term swings in demand for potash and changes to rail or ocean freight systems could interrupt or limit available transport services, which could result in customer dissatisfaction, loss of sales potential and could negatively affect our financial performance.

 

Strong demand for grain and other products affects railcar availability. A shortage of railcars for carrying product and increased transit time in North America may result in inability to deliver on a timely basis, customer dissatisfaction, loss of sales and higher transportation costs. Delays and missed shipments relying on ocean freight could result in customer dissatisfaction and loss of sales potential and could negatively affect our financial performance.

 

As discussed below, the global financial crisis could affect our ability to access transport services as and when required because of the potential impact on the businesses of these transport service providers.

 

The Company is subject to risks associated with international operations.

 

The Company has operations and investments in countries outside of Canada and the United States. Historically, these countries have had less stable political environments. We have a nitrogen production facility in Trinidad. In addition, we have significant investments in SQM, APC, Sinofert and ICL. Additionally, potash from our Saskatchewan operations for sale outside Canada and the United States is sold exclusively to Canpotex, which acts as an export marketing and sales company. A significant portion of Canpotex sales are to China. Other key offshore customers are located in Brazil, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Japan.

 

Global expansion opportunities with the lowest cost and the highest synergies are sometimes located in politically sensitive regions. Risks inherent in doing business inside Canada and the United States also exist in foreign countries and may be exaggerated by differences in culture, laws and regulations. Political and economic conditions, foreign trade policies, fiscal policies, laws, regulations and other activities of foreign governments may affect performance and development of our operations and investments. Our operations and investments may be affected by abrupt political change, forced divestiture, selective discrimination,

inconvertibility of funds, armed conflict, terrorist activity and unexpected changes in regulatory requirements, social, political, labor and economic conditions.

 

Water inflows in our potash mines, or potash mines in which we have an interest, could result in increased costs and could require us to abandon a mine, either of which could adversely affect the results of our operations.

 

The presence of water-bearing strata in many underground mines carries the risk of water inflows. It is difficult to predict if water inflow will occur at our mines or mines in which we have an interest. We currently manage water inflows at our New Brunswick mine, while ongoing water inflows are being managed at the Esterhazy mine, in which we have an interest in the mineral rights. Additional water inflows at these or other mines could increase the costs required to operate such mines, injure our employees and/or lead to the abandonment of a mine. The risk of underground water inflows, similar to other underground risks, is not insurable.

 

The Company may be adversely affected by changing anti-trust laws to which it is subject.

 

We are subject to anti-trust laws in various countries throughout the world. We cannot predict how these laws or their interpretation, administration and enforcement will change over time. Changes in anti-trust laws globally, or the interpretation, administration or enforcement thereof, may limit our future acquisitions, or the operations of Canpotex and PhosChem.

 

Strikes or other forms of work stoppage or slowdown could disrupt our business and lead to increased costs.

 

Adverse labor relations or contract negotiations that do not result in an agreement could result in strikes or slowdowns. These disruptions may decrease our production and sales or impose additional costs to resolve disputes.

 

Damage to our reputation could negatively affect our performance.

 

Loss of our reputation can be the consequence of a number of events. Reputation loss extends throughout all risk categories and may result in loss of investor confidence, loss of customer confidence, poor community relations and a decline in employee productivity. Reputation loss could interfere with our ability to execute our strategies. Reputation loss is a negative consequence resulting from these or other risks and can have a detrimental affect on our performance.

 

Deliberate, malicious acts involving our products or facilities or downstream product mishaps may expose employees, contractors or the public to extensive injury, cause property damage or affect the Company’s reputation.

 

Intentional acts of destruction could hinder our sales or production and interrupt our supply chain. Facilities could be damaged leading to a reduction in our operational production capacity. Employees, contractors and the public could suffer substantial physical injury. The consequences of any such actions could damage our reputation, negatively affecting our sales and profits.

 

Other risks may hurt our operating results.

 

The duration and depth of the global financial crisis are impossible to predict. As a result of this crisis, our relationships with customers and with external partners in the supply chain upon whom we rely may become riskier. Conditions in the credit markets could negatively affect the ability of our customers to pay or reduce their demand for our products. If our customers’ financial condition reduces demand for our products or our suppliers’ financial condition causes disruptions to our supply chain, our operating results may be negatively affected.

In addition to the above, other risks may affect our performance including unexpected or adverse weather conditions; price risks associated with feedstocks, including natural gas and sulfur; other hedging activities; changes in capital markets and corresponding effects on our investments, including our investments in auction rate securities; changes in currencies and exchange rates; unexpected geological or environmental conditions; legal proceedings; changes in, and the effects of, government policy and regulation, including environmental regulations and greenhouse gas regulations and regulations and actions affecting our transportation and sale of natural gas; inherent risks in industrial operations, including inability to obtain insurance for underground operations; inappropriate handling and transportation of some of our products by customers or carriers; and future acquisitions by the Company.

 

None.

 

Information concerning our properties is set forth under the “Properties” sections in Item 1.

 

Between September 11 and October 2, 2008, the company and PCS Sales (USA), Inc., were named as defendants in eight very similar antitrust complaints filed in federal courts. Other potash producers are also defendants in these cases. Each of the separate complaints allege conspiracy to fix potash prices, to divide markets, to restrict supply and to fraudulently conceal the conspiracy, all in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act.

 

Five of the eight complaints were brought by plaintiffs who claim to have purchased potash directly from at least one of the defendants during the period between July 1, 2003, and the present (collectively, the “Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs”). All five Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs purport to sue on behalf of a class of persons who purchased potash in the United States directly from a defendant. The Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs, who filed a single, consolidated amended complaint on November 13, 2008, seek unspecified treble damages, injunctive relief, attorneys’ fees, costs and pre- and post-judgment interest.

 

The other three complaints were brought by Plaintiffs who claim to be indirect purchasers of potash (collectively, the “Indirect Purchaser Plaintiffs”). The Indirect Purchaser Plaintiffs, who purport to sue on behalf of all persons who purchased potash indirectly in the United States, filed a single, consolidated amended complaint on November 13, 2008. In addition to the Sherman Act claim described above, the Indirect Purchaser Plaintiffs also assert claims for violation of various state antitrust laws; violations of various state consumer protection statutes; and for unjust enrichment. The Indirect Purchaser Plaintiffs seek injunctive relief, unspecified damages, treble damages where allowed, costs, fees and pre- and post-judgment interest.

 

All eight lawsuits have been consolidated into a Multidistrict Litigation proceeding, or MDL, (No. 1996) for coordinated pretrial proceedings before Judge Ruben Castillo in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

 

The company and PCS Sales (USA), Inc. believe each of these eight private antitrust law lawsuits is without merit and intend to defend them vigorously.

General

 

In the normal course of business, we are subject to legal proceedings being brought against us. While the final outcome of these proceedings is uncertain, we believe that these proceedings, in the aggregate, are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

 

Environmental Proceedings

 

For a description of certain environmental proceedings in which we are involved, see “Environmental Matters” under Item 1.

 

 

None.

 

Part II

 

 Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

 

The information under “Common Share Prices and Volumes”, “Ownership”, “Dividends” and “NYSE Corporate Governance” on page 118 in our 2008 Financial Review, attached as Exhibit 13, is incorporated herein by reference and “11 Year Report” on page 61 in our 2008 Financial Review, attached as Exhibit 13, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

On May 2, 2007, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a three-for-one stock split of the Company’s outstanding common shares. The stock split was effected in the form of a stock dividend of two additional common shares for each share owned by shareholders of record at the close of business on May 22, 2007. All equity-based benefit plans have been adjusted to reflect the stock split. In this annual report on Form 10-K, all share and per-share data has been adjusted to reflect the stock split.

 

In each of the first and second quarters of 2007, the Company paid a cash dividend of $0.05 per common share, and in each of the third and fourth quarters of 2007, the Company paid a cash dividend of $0.10 per common share, for a total of $0.30 for the year. In each quarter of 2008, the Company paid a cash dividend of $0.10 per common share, for a total of $0.40 for the year.

 

Dividends paid to U.S. holders of our common shares, who do not use the shares in carrying on a business in Canada, are subject to a Canadian withholding tax under the Income Tax Act. Under the Canada-U.S. Income Tax Convention (1980), the rate of withholding is generally reduced to 15%. Shareholders in the U.S. who have not filed a W-9 are also subject to the back-up withholding tax (currently 28%). Subject to certain limitations, the Canadian withholding tax is treated as a foreign income tax that can generally be claimed as a deduction from income or as a credit against the U.S. income tax liability of the holder. Holders are generally not subject to tax under the Income Tax Act with respect to any gain realized from a disposition of common shares.

 

The following table provides information about company purchases of equity securities that are registered by the Company pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act during the quarter ended December 31, 2008:

 

										(c) Total Number of				(d) Maximum
										Shares Purchased				Number of Shares
		(a) Total Number				(b) Average				as Part of Publicly				that May Yet Be
		of Shares				Price Paid				Announced				Purchased Under
Period		Purchased				per Share(1)				Programs(2,3)				the Programs(3)
October 1, 2008 – October 31, 2008			379,200			$	69.13				16,199,200				15,300,800
November 1, 2008 – November 30, 2008			3,100,000			$	69.48				19,299,200				12,200,800
December 1, 2008 – December 31, 2008			3,550,000			$	59.68				22,849,200				8,650,800
Total			7,029,200			$	64.51				22,849,200				8,650,800

 

 Item 6. Selected Financial Data

 

 

The information under “11 Year Report” on page 61 in our 2008 Financial Review, attached as Exhibit 13, is incorporated herein by reference. Such information has been presented on the basis of Canadian GAAP. These principles differ in certain significant respects from U.S. GAAP. The following supplemental financial data is provided on the basis of reconciliations between Canadian and U.S. GAAP.

 

		(In millions of US dollars, except per-share amounts)
U.S. GAAP		2008				2007				2006				2005				2004
Net income			3,395.2				1,061.5				625.8				532.7				290.5
Net income per share – basic			11.04				3.36				2.01				1.64				0.90
Total assets			9,889.4				9,483.6				7,038.9				5,841.8				5,202.7
Long-term obligations(1)			1,758.0				1,358.3				1,339.8				1,257.6				1,258.6

 

 

 Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

 

The information under “Management’s Discussion & Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” on pages 4 through 61 and “Appendix” on pages 119 and 120 in our 2008 Financial Review, attached as Exhibit 13, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

The information under “Management’s Discussion & Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Market Risks Associated With Financial Instruments” on page 54 and Note 28 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements on pages 99 through 103 in our 2008 Financial Review, attached as Exhibit 13, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

The information under “Management’s Responsibility”, “Accountants’ Reports” and “Consolidated Financial Statements” contained on pages 65 through 117 in our 2008 Financial Review, attached as Exhibit 13, are incorporated herein by reference and “Management’s Discussion & Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Quarterly Results” on pages 45 and 46 in our 2008 Financial Review, attached as Exhibit 13, are incorporated herein by reference.

 

 Item 9. Changes In and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 

 

None.

 

 

As of December 31, 2008, 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 our disclosure controls and procedures. There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives. Based upon that evaluation and as of December 31, 2008, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the reports the Company files and submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported as and when required and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the year ended December 31, 2008 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. “Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting” and the “Report of Independent Registered Chartered Accountants” contained on pages 65 and 66 in our 2008 Financial Review, attached as Exhibit 13, are incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

Medium-Term Incentive Plan

 

On February 23, 2009, we adopted a new Medium Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) that is effective for the performance period that began January 1, 2009 and ends December 31, 2011. The Plan replaces the Medium-Term Incentive Plan that was effective for the performance period that began January 1, 2006 and ended December 31, 2008.

 

The Plan is intended to reward senior executives and other key employees for superior performance over a three-year performance period and for continued contributions to our success. The performance objectives under the Plan are designed to further align the interests of senior executives and other key employees with those of shareholders by linking the vesting of awards to the total return to shareholders, or TSR, over the three-year performance period. TSR measures the capital appreciation in shares of our common stock, including dividends paid during the performance period, and thereby simulates the actual investment performance of the shares.

 

Our named executive officers are eligible to participate in the Plan and, as described in the Plan, were granted a number of units based on the participant’s salary at the beginning of the performance period (multiplied by three), a target award percentage, and the average share price of our common stock over the 30 trading days immediately preceding the performance period. The target award percentages range from 20% to 70%, depending upon the executive’s position and potential for contribution to our success, and are set forth in Section 4.04 of the Plan.

 

Units granted under the Plan vest over the three-year performance period ending December 31, 2011. One-half of the units vest based on increases in our TSR. The remaining one-half of the units vest based on the extent to which our TSR matches or exceeds the TSR of the common shares of a peer group of companies, which consists of the companies included in the DAXglobal Agribusiness Index. None of the units vest if minimum TSR-based performance objectives are not achieved.

 

Plan participants generally are required to continue in a qualifying position throughout the performance period as a condition to vesting. However, if a participant’s employment terminates earlier due to the participant’s retirement, disability or death, or we terminate a participant’s employment without just cause,

the participant is entitled to a cash payment in settlement of a pro rata number of units. A participant who resigns or whose employment is terminated for just cause forfeits all rights to any units granted under the Plan.

 

The foregoing description of the Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Plan, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10(qq) and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Supplemental Retirement Plans and Agreements

 

On February 23, 2009, we entered into amendments (collectively, the “Amendments”), effective with respect to services provided on or after July 1, 2009, to (1) the Company’s Supplemental Executive Retirement Income Plan (the “Canadian Plan”), (2) the Company’s Supplemental Retirement Plan for U.S. Executives (the “U.S. Plan”), and (3) the agreements (the “Individual Agreements”) we had entered into with each of William J. Doyle, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Wayne R. Brownlee, Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, and Garth W. Moore, President, PCS Potash, concerning supplemental retirement benefits.

 

For the purpose of calculating a participant’s benefit under the Canadian Plan, the U.S. Plan and the Individual Agreements, the Amendments limit the inclusion of awards paid pursuant to the Company’s Short-Term Incentive Plan to 100% of base salary for the relevant calendar year. In addition, the Amendments modify the calculation of a participant’s benefit under the Canadian Plan and the Individual Agreements to be based on the participant’s three highest consecutive years’ earnings rather than the participant’s three highest years’ earnings.

 

The foregoing description of the Amendments is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amendments, which are attached hereto as Exhibits 10(r), 10(v), 10(w), 10(x) and 10(aa) and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Part III

 

 

The information under “Board of Directors – Nominees for Election to the Board of Directors” and the first eight paragraphs under “Appointment of Auditors and Report of Audit Committee – Report of the Audit Committee” in our 2009 Proxy Circular, attached as Exhibit 99(a), and Appendix F to our 2009 Proxy Circular are incorporated herein by reference. Information concerning executive officers is set forth under “Our Executive Officers” in Part I of the Form 10-K.

 

We have adopted the “PotashCorp Core Values and Code of Conduct” that applies to all of our directors, officers and employees. We make this code, as well as our corporate governance principles and the respective Charters of our Corporate Governance and Nominating, Audit and Compensation Committees, available free of charge on our website, http://www.potashcorp.com, or by request. We intend to disclose certain amendments to the “PotashCorp Core Values and Code of Conduct”, or any waivers of the “PotashCorp Core Values and Code of Conduct” granted to executive officers and directors, on our website within four business days following the date of such amendment or waiver.

 

 

The information under “Board of Directors – Director Compensation,” “Compensation – Report of the Compensation Committee and Compensation Committee Responsibilities and Procedures,” “Compensation – Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “Compensation – Executive Compensation” in our 2009 Proxy Circular, attached as Exhibit 99(a), is incorporated herein by reference.

 

 Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

 

 

The information under “Ownership of Shares”, and the tables titled “Board of Directors – “At-Risk” Investment and Year Over Year Changes” and “Adoption of 2009 Performance Option Plan – Equity Compensation Plan Information” in our 2009 Proxy Circular, attached as Exhibit 99(a), is incorporated herein by reference.

 

 Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

 

 

The information under “Board of Directors – Director Independence and Other Relationships” on pages 12 through 14 in our 2009 Proxy Circular, attached as Exhibit 99(a), is incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

The information under “Appointment of Auditors and Report of Audit Committee – Appointment of Auditors” in our 2009 Proxy Circular, attached as Exhibit 99(a), is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Part IV

 

 

The consolidated financial statements contained on pages 65 through 117 in our 2008 Financial Review, attached as Exhibit 13, are incorporated under Item 8 by reference.

 

Reports of Independent Registered Chartered Accountants			66-67
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position			68
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Retained Earnings			69
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow			70
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income			71
Consolidated Statements of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income			71
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements			72-117

 

 

Schedules not listed are omitted because the required information is inapplicable or is presented in the consolidated financial statements.

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS

 

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc.

 

We have audited the consolidated financial statements of Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008, and the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, and have issued our reports thereon (which reports (1) express an unqualified opinion on the consolidated financial statements and include an explanatory paragraph referring to changes in the Company’s accounting for inventories and (2) express an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting), dated February 20, 2009; such consolidated financial statements and reports are included in your 2008 Financial Review Annual Report and are incorporated herein by reference. Our audits also included the consolidated financial statement schedules of the Company listed in Item 15. These consolidated financial statement schedules are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits. In our opinion, such consolidated financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

 

 

Independent Registered Chartered Accountants

Saskatoon, Canada

February 20, 2009

 

 

 

The registrant hereby undertakes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, copies of any constituent instruments defining the rights of holders of long-term debt of the registrant or its subsidiaries that have not been filed herewith because the amounts represented thereby are less than 10% of the total assets of the registrant and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.