PotashCorp Announces Two-For-One Stock Split and 20 Percent Increase in Cash Dividend
22 7월 2004 - 8:05AM
PR Newswire (US)
PotashCorp Announces Two-For-One Stock Split and 20 Percent
Increase in Cash Dividend Listed: TSX, NYSE Symbol: POT SASKATOON,
SK, July 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Potash Corporation of
Saskatchewan Inc. (PotashCorp) announced today that its Board of
Directors has approved a two-for-one stock split of the company's
outstanding common shares. Payable in the form of a stock dividend,
all shareholders will receive one additional share for each share
owned on the record date of August 11, 2004. The Board of Directors
also declared a quarterly cash dividend of US $0.15 per common
share (on a post-split basis), payable November 15, 2004 to
shareholders of record on October 25, 2004. This represents a 20
percent increase in PotashCorp's quarterly cash dividend. While the
company does not have a specific dividend policy, quarterly
dividends have been declared since the first quarter of 1990, the
company's first full quarter subsequent to its initial public
offering in November 1989. "Our decision to split the stock and
increase the dividend reflects our confidence in the company's
continued success and prospects for future growth, especially in
potash - our company's franchise," said Bill Doyle, President and
Chief Executive Officer of PotashCorp. "In addition, the larger
number of shares resulting from the stock split should enhance
liquidity and our trading volume to the further benefit of
shareholders." Shareholders who have PotashCorp stock certificates
should retain them. The transfer agent, CIBC Mellon Trust Company,
will mail new certificates on August 17, 2004. Upon completion of
the stock dividend, the number of shares outstanding will
approximate 107 million. PotashCorp's common shares are expected to
commence trading on a split basis on August 9, 2004 on the Toronto
Stock Exchange and August 18, 2004 on the New York Stock Exchange.
The stock split will have no unfavorable tax consequences in Canada
or the United States. Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. is
the world's largest fertilizer enterprise producing the three
primary plant nutrients and a leading supplier to three distinct
market categories: agriculture, with the largest capacity in the
world in potash, fourth largest in phosphate and third largest in
nitrogen; animal nutrition, with the world's largest capacity in
phosphate feed ingredients; and industrial chemicals, as the
largest global producer of industrial nitrogen products and one of
only three North American suppliers of industrial phosphates. This
release contains forward-looking statements, which involve risks
and uncertainties, including those referred to in the company's
annual report to shareholders for 2003 and in filings with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian provincial
securities commissions. A number of factors could cause actual
results to differ materially from those in the forward- looking
statements, including, but not limited to, fluctuation in supply
and demand in fertilizer, sulfur and petrochemical markets; changes
in competitive pressures, including pricing pressures; risks
associated with natural gas and other hedging activities; changes
in capital markets; changes in currency and exchange rates;
unexpected geological or environmental conditions; and government
policy changes. DATASOURCE: Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc.
CONTACT: Betty-Ann Heggie, Senior Vice President, Corporate
Relations, Phone: (306) 933-8521, Fax: (306) 933-8844, E-mail: ,
Web Site: http://www.potashcorp.com/
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