Contact: Rodney L. Underdown Chief Financial Officer Compass Minerals Group, Inc. 913-344-9200 November 3 , 2003 COMPASS MINERALS GROUP, INC. ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER 2003 RESULTS; $18.5 MILLION ADJUSTED EBITDA OVERLAND PARK, KS, November 3, 2003 - Compass Minerals Group, Inc., a leading producer and marketer of salt and specialty potash, today reported its financial results for the third quarter of 2003. For the three months ended September 30, 2003, operating earnings were $6.7 million, and Adjusted EBITDA was $18.5 million on sales of $97.1 million. Adjusted EBITDA increased $2.5 million compared to the same period in the prior year. For the prior year period, operating earnings were $3.5 million and Adjusted EBITDA was $16.0 million on sales of $92.2 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2003, operating earnings were $55.4 million, and Adjusted EBITDA was $86.6 million on sales of $398.5 million. Adjusted EBITDA increased $15.6 million compared to the same period in the prior year. For the prior year period, operating earnings were $35.5 million and Adjusted EBITDA was $71.0 million on sales of $336.9 million. "Our improved results for the third quarter were primarily due to stronger pre-season deicing sales," said Michael E. Ducey, President and CEO. "Our general trade business line results were also good despite higher natural gas prices. We have virtually completed our 2003-2004 North American highway deicing bid season with an improvement in both volumes awarded and pricing. We continue to focus on operational excellence for improvements in top-line growth, cost controls and further strength from our cash flows," concluded Mr. Ducey. Compass Minerals Group will be hosting an investor conference call on Tuesday, November 4th at 10:00 a.m. ET. The public is cordially invited to listen and participate by dialing the following toll-free number: 877-228-7138. Outside the U.S. dial: 706-643-0377. If you are unable to listen to the call at that time, the replay will be available 24 hours per day from 11:30 a.m. ET, November 4th, 2003, to 11:59 p.m. ET, November 11, 2003, by dialing the following toll-free number: 800-642-1687. Outside the U.S. dial: 706-645-9291. (Conference ID#: 3752088). Compass Minerals Group is the second largest North American producer of salt, the largest producer of salt in the United Kingdom and the largest North American producer of sulfate of potash, a specialty fertilizer. Compass Minerals Group is 94% owned by Apollo Management LP and Company management, with the remainder owned by IMC Global Inc. Certain statements in this press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the Company's current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. The Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Factors that could cause the Company's results to differ materially from current expectations include: general economic and business conditions, industry trends, weather, raw material costs and availability, changes in demand for its products, actions of its competitors and the additional factors and risks contained in the Company's Form 10-K Annual Report, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2003. The Company's performance, as measured by earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or "EBITDA," and EBITDA adjusted for the restructuring and other charges described below, or "Adjusted EBITDA," is used by management as an approximate measure of cash flow generation. The Company's calculation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to the calculation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA by other companies and are non-GAAP financial measures. Compass Minerals Group, Inc. Consolidated and Combined Operating Results ###