Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP) is a leading producer of rock salt and specialty potash fertilizer. This has traditionally been a high-quality company benefiting from a unique collection of resource assets. We invested in this company as we believed that earnings were due to turn after four years of weak road salt demand driven by mild Northeast winters and production problems at its potash mines. During 2013 the potash industry was rocked by the potential collapse of a European cartel, which led to falling potash prices. Facing significant uncertainty for the future of the potash market, we sold the stock during the period.
From Meridian Funds's semi-annual report ended December 31, 2013.
