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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 10-Q

     
x
  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2004

OR

     
o
  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File Number 1-10351

POTASH CORPORATION OF SASKATCHEWAN INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Canada   N/A
(State or other jurisdiction of   (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)   Identification No.)
 
122 – 1st Avenue South   S7K 7G3
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada   (Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)    

306-933-8500

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Sections 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 x  NO o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).

YES x  NO o

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

     Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

     As at April 30, 2004, Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. had 53,494,713 Common Shares outstanding.




TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
SIGNATURES
Computation Re. Earnings Per Share
Certification of CEO
Certification of CFO
Certification pursuant to Section 906


Table of Contents

PART I.     FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 
ITEM 1.     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

      These interim consolidated financial statements do not include all disclosures normally provided in annual consolidated financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the most recent annual consolidated financial statements. In management’s opinion, the unaudited consolidated financial information includes all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly such information. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the fiscal year.

Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Retained Earnings

(in millions of US dollars except per-share amounts)
(unaudited)
                   
Three Months Ended
March 31
2004 2003

Sales
  $ 728.4     $ 661.8  
Less: Freight
    58.1       64.4  
        Transportation and distribution
    23.0       23.0  
        Cost of goods sold
    523.3       493.3  

Gross Margin
    124.0       81.1  

Selling and administrative
    26.2       23.7  
Provincial mining and other taxes
    15.1       18.1  
Provision for plant shutdowns
          2.2  
Foreign exchange (gain) loss
    (8.2 )     16.9  
Other income
    (6.9 )     (4.5 )

      26.2       56.4  

Operating Income
    97.8       24.7  
Interest Expense
    22.1       19.4  

Income Before Income Taxes
    75.7       5.3  
Income Taxes (Note 7)
    25.0       2.1  

Net Income
    50.7       3.2  
Retained Earnings, Beginning of Period
    462.8       641.4  
Dividends
    (13.5 )     (13.0 )

Retained Earnings, End of Period
  $ 500.0     $ 631.6  

Net Income Per Share (Note 8)
               
 
Basic
  $ 0.95     $ 0.06  
 
Diluted
  $ 0.94     $ 0.06  

Dividends Per Share
  $ 0.25     $ 0.25  

(See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements)

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Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

(in millions of US dollars except share amounts)
                   
March 31, December 31,
2004 2003

(unaudited)
Assets
               
Current assets
               
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 11.2     $ 4.7  
 
Accounts receivable
    272.1       305.0  
 
Inventories (Note 3)
    420.5       395.2  
 
Prepaid expenses
    40.3       29.0  

      744.1       733.9  
Property, plant and equipment
    3,074.3       3,108.1  
Other assets
    623.1       628.3  
Goodwill
    97.0       97.0  

    $ 4,538.5     $ 4,567.3  

Liabilities
               
Current liabilities
               
 
Short-term debt
  $ 57.9     $ 176.2  
 
Accounts payable and accrued charges
    392.7       380.3  
 
Current portion of long-term debt
    1.3       1.3  

      451.9       557.8  
Long-term debt
    1,268.4       1,268.6  
Future income tax liability
    496.3       484.2  
Accrued post-retirement/post-employment benefits
    200.0       194.5  
Accrued reclamation costs and asset retirement obligations
    82.4       81.3  
Other non-current liabilities and deferred credits
    5.9       7.1  

      2,504.9       2,593.5  

Shareholders’ Equity
               
Share capital
    1,265.6       1,245.8  
Unlimited authorization of common shares without par value;
Issued and outstanding 53,398,713 and 53,112,216 at
March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively
               
Contributed surplus
    268.0       265.2  
Retained earnings
    500.0       462.8  

      2,033.6       1,973.8  

    $ 4,538.5     $ 4,567.3  

(See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements)

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Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow

(in millions of US dollars)
(unaudited)
                   
Three Months Ended
March 31
2004 2003

Operating Activities
               
Net income
  $ 50.7     $ 3.2  

Items not affecting cash
               
 
Depreciation and amortization
    59.7       59.0  
 
Stock-based compensation
    2.8        
 
Foreign exchange on future income tax
    (2.9 )     11.8  
 
Provision for future income tax
    15.0       2.1  
 
Share of earnings of equity investees
    (3.8 )     (2.3 )
 
Provision for post-retirement/post-employment benefits
    5.5       11.0  
 
Accrued reclamation costs and asset retirement obligations
    1.1       0.3  
 
Other non-current liabilities and deferred credits
    (1.2 )     0.1  

 
Subtotal of items not affecting cash
    76.2       82.0  

Changes in non-cash operating working capital
               
 
Accounts receivable
    32.9       (50.3 )
 
Inventories
    (26.6 )     (27.9 )
 
Prepaid expenses
    (11.3 )     (5.9 )
 
Accounts payable and accrued charges
    9.5       54.7  
 
Current income taxes
    2.9       (11.7 )

 
Subtotal of changes in non-cash operating working capital
    7.4       (41.1 )

Cash provided by operating activities
    134.3       44.1  

Investing Activities
               
Additions to property, plant and equipment
    (16.4 )     (17.0 )
Proceeds from disposal of (additions to) other assets
    0.8       (8.4 )

Cash used in investing activities
    (15.6 )     (25.4 )

Cash before financing activities
    118.7       18.7  

Financing Activities
               
Proceeds from long-term debt
          250.0  
Repayment of long-term debt
    (0.2 )     (0.2 )
Repayment of short-term debt
    (118.3 )     (208.8 )
Dividends
    (13.5 )     (13.0 )
Issuance of shares
    19.8       0.5  

Cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    (112.2 )     28.5  

Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents
    6.5       47.2  
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period
    4.7       24.5  

Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period
  $ 11.2     $ 71.7  

Supplemental cash flow disclosure
               
 
Interest paid
  $ 13.4     $ 1.4  
 
Income taxes paid
  $ 6.2     $ 15.9  

(See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements)

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Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc.

 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

(in millions of US dollars except share and per-share amounts)
(unaudited)

1.   Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

      With its subsidiaries, Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. (“PCS”) — together known as “PotashCorp” or “the company” except to the extent the context otherwise requires — forms an integrated fertilizer and related industrial and feed products company. The company’s accounting policies are in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in Canada (“Canadian GAAP”). These policies are consistent with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“US GAAP”) except as outlined in Note 15. The accounting policies used in preparing these interim consolidated financial statements are consistent with those used in the preparation of the 2003 annual consolidated financial statements, except as disclosed in Note 2.

      In 2003, the company approved plans to restructure certain operations. Those plans required significant estimates to be made of: (i) the recoverability of the carrying value of certain assets based on their capacity to generate future cash flows, and (ii) employee termination, contract termination and other exit costs. Because restructuring activities are complex processes that can take several months to complete, they involve periodically reassessing estimates. As a result, the company may have to change originally reported estimates as actual payments are made or activities are completed.

Principles of Consolidation

      The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the company and its principal operating subsidiaries:

     — PCS Sales (Canada) Inc.

          — PCS Joint Venture, L.P.
     — PCS Sales (USA), Inc.
     — PCS Phosphate Company, Inc.
          — PCS Purified Phosphates
     — White Springs Agricultural Chemicals, Inc.
     — PCS Nitrogen, Inc.
          — PCS Nitrogen Fertilizer, L.P.
          — PCS Nitrogen Ohio, L.P.
          — PCS Nitrogen Trinidad Limited
     — PCS Cassidy Lake Company
     — PCS Yumbes S.C.M. (“PCS Yumbes”)
     — PCS Fosfatos do Brasil Ltda.

2.   Changes in Accounting Policy

Sources of GAAP

      Effective January 1, 2004, the company prospectively adopted new accounting requirements of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (“CICA”) as issued in Section 1100, “Generally Accepted Accounting Principles”. This section establishes standards for financial reporting in accordance with GAAP and provides guidance on sources to consult when selecting accounting policies and determining appropriate disclosures when a matter is not dealt with explicitly in the primary sources of GAAP. In light of the new Section 1100 provisions, the company reviewed the application of its accounting policies and changed the consolidated financial statement presentation of sales revenue, freight costs and transportation and distribution

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expenses, without any effect on gross margin or net income. All comparative information has been appropriately reclassified.

      In prior years, the company reported sales revenues (net of discounts, and including amounts recoverable from customers for freight, transportation and distribution) net of related freight, transportation and distribution expenses. The company now reports sales revenues (net of discounts, and including amounts recoverable from customers for freight, transportation and distribution), freight costs, and transportation and distribution expenses as separate line items on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Retained Earnings.

Asset Retirement Obligations

      On January 1, 2004, the company adopted CICA Section 3110, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations”, which requires the company to record an asset and related liability for the costs associated with the retirement of long-lived tangible assets when a legal liability to retire such assets exists. This includes obligations incurred as a result of acquisition, construction, or normal operation of a long-lived asset. The provisions of Section 3110 require the asset retirement obligation to be recorded at fair value at the time the liability is incurred. Accretion expense is recognized as an operating expense using the credit-adjusted risk-free interest rate in effect when the liability was recognized. The associated asset retirement obligations are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset and depreciated over the estimated remaining useful life of the asset. The company has recorded asset retirement obligations primarily associated with certain closure, reclamation, and restoration costs for its potash and phosphate operations.

      The adoption of Section 3110 did not have a significant effect on the results of operations or financial position of the company. Had the provisions of Section 3110 been applied as of January 1, 2003, the pro forma effects for the year ended December 31, 2003 on net loss would not have been material. As required under the standard, the company will make periodic assessments as to the reasonableness of its asset retirement obligation estimates and revise those estimates accordingly. The respective asset and liability balances will be adjusted, which will correspondingly increase or decrease the amounts expensed in future periods.

Hedging Relationships

      Effective January 1, 2004, the company adopted CICA Accounting Guideline 13 “Hedging Relationships”. This guideline sets out the criteria that must be met in order to apply hedge accounting for derivatives and is based on many of the principles outlined in the US standards relating to derivative instruments and hedging activities. Specifically, the guideline provides detailed guidance on the identification, designation, documentation and effectiveness of hedging relationships, for purposes of applying hedge accounting, and the discontinuance of hedge accounting. Income and expenses on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedges under this guideline are recognized in earnings in the same period as the related hedged item. Ineffective hedging relationships and hedges not designated in a hedging relationship are carried at fair value on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, and subsequent changes in their fair value are recorded in earnings. The adoption of this accounting guideline did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements for the quarter.

3.   Inventories

                 
March 31, December 31,
2004 2003

(unaudited)
Finished product
  $ 200.8     $ 160.7  
Materials and supplies
    107.9       108.0  
Raw materials
    44.0       54.1  
Work in process
    67.8       72.4  

    $ 420.5     $ 395.2  

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4.   Long-Term Debt

      In January and February 2004, the company entered into interest rate swap contracts designated as fair value hedges that effectively converted a notional amount of $300.0 of fixed rate debt (due 2011) into floating rate debt based on six-month US dollar LIBOR rates. Net settlements on the swap instruments are recorded as adjustments to interest expense. The company did not enter into any interest rate swap contracts in 2003.

5.   Provision for Plant Shutdowns

Memphis and Geismar Nitrogen Operations

      In June 2003, the company indefinitely shut down its Memphis, Tennessee plant and suspended production of ammonia and nitrogen solutions at its Geismar, Louisiana facilities due to high US natural gas costs and low product margins. The plants have not been re-started since that time.

      The company determined that all employee positions pertaining to the affected operations would be eliminated and recorded $4.8 in connection with costs of special termination benefits in the third quarter of 2003. The number of employees terminated as a result of the shutdowns was 187, of which 185 had left the company as of March 31, 2004. The company has made payments relating to the terminations totaling $3.5. All remaining workforce reduction costs pertaining to the 187 employees are expected to be paid by December 31, 2004.

      In connection with the shutdowns, management had determined that the carrying amounts of the long-lived assets at the Memphis and Geismar nitrogen facilities were not fully recoverable, and an impairment loss of $101.6, equal to the amount by which the carrying amount of the facilities’ asset groups exceeded their respective fair values, was recognized. Of the total impairment charge, $100.6 related to property, plant and equipment and $1.0 related to other assets. As part of its review, management also wrote down certain parts inventories at these plants in the amount of $12.4.

      In addition to the costs described above, management expects to incur other shutdown-related costs of approximately $11.1 and nominal annual expenditures for site security and other maintenance costs. These amounts have not been recorded in the consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2004. Such costs will be recognized and recorded in the period in which they are incurred.

Kinston Phosphate Feed Plant

      The phosphate feed plant at Kinston, North Carolina ceased operations in the first quarter of 2003. In that quarter, the company recorded $0.6 for costs of special termination benefits for Kinston employees, $0.3 for parts inventory writedowns, and $1.3 for long-lived asset impairment charges. In lieu of full plant closure, the company continued to operate the facility as a warehouse. In the third quarter of 2003, company management determined that the cost of operating Kinston as a stand-alone warehouse was uneconomical. This decision triggered a further review by management of the carrying amounts of the plant’s long-lived assets. As a result of this review, management determined that the carrying amounts of the long-lived assets were not recoverable, and an additional impairment charge of $2.7, equal to the amount by which the carrying amount of the plant’s long-lived assets exceeded their fair value, was recognized.

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      No additional costs were incurred in connection with the plant shutdowns in the first quarter of 2004. The following table summarizes, by reportable segment, the total amount of costs incurred to date and the total costs expected to be incurred in connection with the plant shutdowns described above:

                 
Cumulative Total Costs
Costs Expected
Incurred to to be
Date Incurred

Nitrogen Segment
               
Employee termination and related benefits
  $ 4.8     $ 4.8  
Writedown of parts inventory
    12.4       12.4  
Asset impairment charges
    101.6       101.6  
Other related exit costs
          11.1  

      118.8       129.9  

Phosphate Segment
               
Employee termination and related benefits
    0.6       0.6  
Writedown of parts inventory
    0.3       0.3  
Asset impairment charges
    4.0       4.0  

      4.9       4.9  

    $ 123.7     $ 134.8  

      The following table summarizes, by reportable segment, the costs accrued as of March 31, 2004 in connection with the plant shutdowns described above:

                         
Accrued Accrued
Balance Balance
December 31, Cash March 31,
2003 Payments 2004

Nitrogen Segment
                       
Employee termination and related benefits
  $ 2.1     $ (0.8 )   $ 1.3  
 
Phosphate Segment
                       
Employee termination and related benefits
    0.5       (0.1 )     0.4  

    $ 2.6     $ (0.9 )   $ 1.7  

      The accrued balance is included in accounts payable and accrued charges in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as at March 31, 2004.

6.   Provision for PCS Yumbes S.C.M.

      In November 2003, the company entered into a share purchase agreement with Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (“SQM”), whereby SQM is to acquire the shares of PCS Yumbes for an aggregate purchase price of $35.0, subject to adjustments. Under the terms of the share purchase agreement, and prior to the sale closing, PCS Yumbes will continue to operate the facility and expeditiously liquidate the inventory of nitrates. All other working capital is to be fully realized or discharged (as applicable) by the company prior to the closing. It is expected that the closing will occur no later than the end of 2004.

      In 2003, management conducted an assessment of the recoverability of the long-lived assets of the PCS Yumbes operations. As a result of its review, management determined that the carrying amounts of PCS Yumbes’ long-lived assets were not recoverable and recorded an impairment charge of $77.4, equal to the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset group exceeded fair value. Of the total impairment charge, $13.0 related to property, plant and equipment, $63.9 related to deferred pre-production costs, and $0.5 related to deferred acquisition costs. As part of the review, management also wrote down certain non-parts inventory

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by $50.2 due to the need to liquidate all inventories that would not be transferred to SQM under the agreement.

      The company plans to eliminate all employee positions at PCS Yumbes by December 31, 2004 and has recorded a provision of $1.8 pertaining to contractual termination benefits to be paid, primarily under Chilean law. As of March 31, 2004, 124 of the employees had left the company. The remaining 100 employees are expected to leave the company by December 31, 2004, and all remaining workforce reduction costs are expected to be paid by that date.

      The company had incurred early termination penalties in respect of certain PCS Yumbes contractual arrangements. The company recorded a provision of $11.1 in the third quarter of 2003 for these contract termination costs and $0.5 remained to be paid at March 31, 2004.

      No costs were incurred in connection with the above in the first quarter of 2004. The following table summarizes the total amount of costs incurred to date and the total costs expected to be incurred in connection with PCS Yumbes:

                 
Cumulative Total Costs
Costs Expected
Incurred to to be
Date Incurred

Potash Segment
               
Contract termination costs
  $ 11.1     $ 11.1  
Employee termination and related benefits
    1.8       1.8  
Writedown of non-parts inventory
    50.2       50.2  
Asset impairment charges
    77.4       77.4  

    $ 140.5     $ 140.5  

      The following table summarizes the costs accrued as of March 31, 2004 in connection with PCS Yumbes as described above:

                                 
Accrued Accrued
Balance Balance
December 31, Cash March 31,
2003 Payments Adjustments 2004

Potash Segment
                               
Contract termination costs
  $ 0.6     $ (0.1 )   $     $ 0.5  
Employee termination and related benefits
    1.2       (0.1 )     (0.2 )     0.9  

    $ 1.8     $ (0.2 )   $ (0.2 )   $ 1.4  

      The accrued balance is included in accounts payable and accrued charges in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as at March 31, 2004.

7.   Income Taxes

      The company’s consolidated income tax rate for the current period approximates 33 percent. In the first quarter of 2003, this rate approximated 40 percent. The decrease in rate is due primarily to the impact of Saskatchewan resource tax incentives and changes to the Canadian federal resource allowance, plus the scheduled Canadian federal statutory rate reduction.

8.   Net Income Per Share

      Basic net income per share for the quarter is calculated on the weighted average shares issued and outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2004 of 53,343,000 (2003 — 52,089,000). Diluted net income per share is calculated based on the weighted average shares issued and outstanding during the period, adjusted by the total of the additional common shares that would have been issued assuming exercise of all

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stock options with exercise prices at or below the average market price for the period. For periods in which there was a loss applicable to common shares, stock options with exercise prices at or below the average market price for the period were excluded for the calculations of diluted loss per share, as inclusion of these securities would have been anti-dilutive to the net loss per share. Weighted average shares outstanding for the diluted net income per share calculation for the three months ended March 31, 2004 were 54,023,000 (2003 — 52,312,000).

9.   Segment Information