Exhibit 99.1

     Compass Minerals International Announces Secondary Offering

    OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 18, 2004--Compass
Minerals International, Inc. (NYSE: CMP) has announced that a group of
stockholders that includes Apollo Management L.P., Mosaic Global
Holdings Inc., formerly IMC Global Inc. (NYSE: MOS), and company
employees has agreed to sell 4,064,024 shares of common stock. The
company will not receive any proceeds from the sale. Upon completion
of the offering, Apollo Management L.P. will not directly hold any
shares of the company's common stock. Shortly after completion of the
offering, it is anticipated that some of the members of Compass's
board of directors who are affiliated with Apollo will step down.
    Goldman, Sachs & Co. led the offering. A copy of the final
prospectus supplement and related prospectus for the offering may be
obtained, when available, from Goldman, Sachs & Co., 85 Broad Street,
New York, New York 10004, (212-902-1171), Attn: Prospectus Department.
    A registration statement relating to these securities was filed
with and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The public offering is being made by means of a prospectus. This press
release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of
an offer to buy common stock of Compass, nor shall there be any sale
of the securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer,
solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or
qualification of the securities under the securities laws of any such
state or jurisdiction.

    About Compass Minerals International, Inc.

    Based in the Kansas City metropolitan area, Compass is the
second-leading salt producer in North America and the largest in the
United Kingdom. The company operates nine production facilities,
including the largest rock salt mine in the world in Goderich,
Ontario. The company's product lines include salt for highway deicing,
consumer deicing, water conditioning, consumer and industrial food
preparation, agriculture and industrial applications. In addition,
Compass is North America's leading producer of sulfate of potash,
which is used in the production of specialty fertilizers for
high-value crops and turf.

    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. The differences could be caused by a
number of factors including those factors identified in Compass
Minerals International's registration statement on form S-3 filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 16, 2004. The
Company will not update any forward-looking statements made in this
press release to reflect future events or developments.

    CONTACT: Compass Minerals International, Inc.
             Rodney L. Underdown, 913-344-9395
             or
             Peggy Landon, 913-344-9315