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MOSAIC CO - Quarter Report: 2019 September (Form 10-Q)


Table of Contents


 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_______________________________________________________________________
FORM 10-Q  
_______________________________________________________________________
☑QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2019
OR
  
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                      to                     
Commission file number 001-32327  
_______________________________________________________________________
The Mosaic Company
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)  
_______________________________________________________________________
 
Delaware
20-1026454
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
101 East Kennedy Blvd
Suite 2500
Tampa, Florida 33602
(800) 918-8270
(Address and zip code of principal executive offices and registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)  
_______________________________________________________________________
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
MOS
New York Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 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  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes  x     No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):    Large accelerated filer  x    Accelerated filer  ¨    Non-accelerated filer  ¨    Smaller reporting company  ☐ Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ☐    No  x
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock as of the latest practicable date: 378,762,651 shares of Common Stock as of November 1, 2019.
 


Table of Contents


Table of Contents
 
 
 
 
 
 
PART I.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
Item 1.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
 
Item 3.
 
Item 4.
 
 
 
 
PART II.
OTHER INFORMATION
 
 
Item 1.
 
Item 1A.
 
Item 2.
 
Item 4.
 
Item 6.
 



Table of Contents


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
THE MOSAIC COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(In millions, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Net sales
$
2,753.4

 
$
2,928.1

 
$
6,830.0

 
$
7,066.8

Cost of goods sold
2,473.5

 
2,432.6

 
6,013.4

 
6,034.6

Gross margin
279.9

 
495.5

 
816.6

 
1,032.2

Selling, general and administrative expenses
78.2

 
78.5

 
249.8

 
251.4

Plant City closure (benefit) costs
(15.6
)
 
—

 
353.8

 
—

Other operating expense
77.8

 
23.7

 
113.3

 
110.5

Operating earnings
139.5

 
393.3

 
99.7

 
670.3

Interest expense, net
(43.2
)
 
(40.9
)
 
(136.2
)
 
(135.4
)
Foreign currency transaction (loss)
(53.8
)
 
(2.2
)
 
(10.4
)
 
(113.1
)
Other income (expense)
9.7

 
(7.6
)
 
4.9

 
(15.6
)
Earnings (loss) from consolidated companies before income taxes
52.2

 
342.6

 
(42.0
)
 
406.2

Provision for income taxes
69.2

 
90.6

 
64.1

 
44.4

(Loss) earnings from consolidated companies
(17.0
)
 
252.0

 
(106.1
)
 
361.8

Equity in net (loss) of nonconsolidated companies
(23.0
)
 
(2.3
)
 
(34.3
)
 
(3.9
)
Net (loss) earnings including noncontrolling interests
(40.0
)
 
249.7

 
(140.4
)
 
357.9

Less: Net gain attributable to noncontrolling interests
4.1

 
2.2

 
6.0

 
0.2

Net (loss) earnings attributable to Mosaic
$
(44.1
)
 
$
247.5

 
$
(146.4
)
 
$
357.7

Basic net (loss) earnings per share attributable to Mosaic
$
(0.11
)
 
$
0.64

 
$
(0.38
)
 
$
0.93

Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding
385.0

 
385.5

 
385.5

 
384.5

Diluted net (loss) earnings per share attributable to Mosaic
$
(0.11
)
 
$
0.64

 
$
(0.38
)
 
$
0.93

Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding
385.0

 
387.5

 
385.5

 
386.1


See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
1



Table of Contents


THE MOSAIC COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(In millions)
(Unaudited)
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Net (loss) earnings including noncontrolling interest
$
(40.0
)
 
$
249.7

 
$
(140.4
)
 
$
357.9

Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation (loss) gain, net of tax
(186.6
)
 
0.5

 
(27.6
)
 
(467.6
)
Net actuarial gain and prior service cost, net of tax
2.5

 
3.4

 
0.2

 
7.4

Amortization of gain on interest rate swap, net of tax
0.5

 
0.6

 
1.6

 
1.7

Net (loss) gain on marketable securities held in trust fund, net of tax
(6.4
)
 
1.6

 
15.3

 
(3.6
)
Other comprehensive (loss) income
(190.0
)
 
6.1

 
(10.5
)
 
(462.1
)
Comprehensive (loss) income
(230.0
)
 
255.8

 
(150.9
)
 
(104.2
)
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest
1.6

 
2.8

 
3.8

 
(5.8
)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Mosaic
$
(231.6
)
 
$
253.0

 
$
(154.7
)
 
$
(98.4
)


See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
2



Table of Contents


THE MOSAIC COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In millions, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
 
September 30,
2019
 
December 31,
2018
 
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
641.1

 
$
847.7

 
Receivables, net
801.4

 
838.5

 
Inventories
2,294.3

 
2,270.2

 
Other current assets
388.5

 
280.6

 
Total current assets
4,125.3

 
4,237.0

 
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $7,527.0 million and $6,934.5 million, respectively
11,943.4

 
11,746.5

 
Investments in nonconsolidated companies
787.5

 
826.6

 
Goodwill
1,731.8

 
1,707.5

 
Deferred income taxes
371.4

 
343.8

 
Other assets
1,480.7

 
1,257.8

 
Total assets
$
20,440.1

 
$
20,119.2

 
Liabilities and Equity
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Short-term debt
$
88.0

 
$
11.5

 
Current maturities of long-term debt
42.9

 
26.0

 
Structured accounts payable arrangements
692.0

 
572.8

 
Accounts payable
766.1

 
780.9

 
Accrued liabilities
1,135.5

 
1,092.5

 
Total current liabilities
2,724.5

 
2,483.7

 
Long-term debt, less current maturities
4,533.2

 
4,491.5

 
Deferred income taxes
1,150.8

 
1,080.6

 
Other noncurrent liabilities
1,720.4

 
1,458.7

 
Equity:
 
 
 
 
Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value, 15,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018
—

 
—

 
Common Stock, $0.01 par value, 1,000,000,000 shares authorized, 389,643,771 shares issued and 380,045,964 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2019, 389,242,360 shares issued and 385,470,085 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2018
3.8

 
3.8

 
Capital in excess of par value
881.3

 
985.9

 
Retained earnings
10,880.7

 
11,064.7

 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(1,665.4
)
 
(1,657.1
)
 
Total Mosaic stockholders' equity
10,100.4

 
10,397.3

 
Noncontrolling interests
210.8

 
207.4

 
Total equity
10,311.2

 
10,604.7

 
Total liabilities and equity
$
20,440.1

 
$
20,119.2


See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
3



Table of Contents


THE MOSAIC COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In millions)
(Unaudited)
 
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30,
2019
 
September 30,
2018
 
 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
 
 
 
 
Net (loss) earnings including noncontrolling interests
$
(140.4
)
 
$
357.9

 
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) earnings including noncontrolling interests to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
649.6

 
648.8

 
Amortization of acquired inventory
(5.5
)
 
(47.4
)
 
Deferred and other income taxes
(2.9
)
 
(12.3
)
 
Equity in net loss of nonconsolidated companies, net of dividends
39.4

 
11.0

 
Accretion expense for asset retirement obligations
44.3

 
37.2

 
Share-based compensation expense
25.0

 
25.7

 
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivatives
(55.9
)
 
14.3

 
Plant City closure costs
353.8

 
—

 
Loss on sale of fixed assets
15.2

 
—

 
Other
(4.8
)
 
21.2

 
Changes in assets and liabilities, excluding effects of acquisition:
 
 
 
 
Receivables, net
33.2

 
(31.6
)
 
Inventories
(99.1
)
 
(198.1
)
 
Other current and noncurrent assets
(63.2
)
 
(75.9
)
 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
59.3

 
466.5

 
Other noncurrent liabilities
(30.2
)
 
42.5

 
Net cash provided by operating activities
817.8

 
1,259.8

 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
(931.1
)
 
(665.4
)
 
Purchases of available-for-sale securities - restricted
(484.3
)
 
(486.1
)
 
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities - restricted
468.2

 
470.5

 
Investments in consolidated affiliate
—

 
(3.6
)
 
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets
—

 
9.3

 
Acquisition, net of cash acquired
—

 
(985.3
)
 
Purchase of assets
(55.1
)
 
—

 
Purchases of held-to-maturity securities
(14.5
)
 
—

 
Proceeds from sale of held-to-maturity securities
2.3

 
—

 
Other
0.4

 
(0.3
)
 
Net cash used in investing activities
(1,014.1
)
 
(1,660.9
)
 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
 
 
 
 
Payments of short-term debt
(441.7
)
 
(120.1
)
 
Proceeds from issuance of short-term debt
521.3

 
145.2

 
Payments of structured accounts payable arrangements
(762.5
)
 
(582.4
)
 
Proceeds from structured accounts payable arrangements
865.2

 
590.2

 
Payments of long-term debt
(32.9
)
 
(722.4
)
 
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
—

 
39.3

 
Repurchases of stock
(117.1
)
 
—

 
Cash dividends paid
(48.2
)
 
(28.9
)
 
Other
(0.4
)
 
(0.5
)
 
Net cash used in financing activities
(16.3
)
 
(679.6
)
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
0.1

 
(62.8
)
 
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
(212.5
)
 
(1,143.5
)
 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash - December 31
871.0

 
2,194.4

 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash - September 30
$
658.5

 
$
1,050.9



See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
4



Table of Contents



THE MOSAIC COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)
(In millions)
(Unaudited)

 
Nine months ended
 
September 30,
2019
 
September 30,
2018
 
Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets to the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
641.1

 
$
1,029.9

Restricted cash in other current assets
8.6

 
8.2

Restricted cash in other assets
8.8

 
12.8

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of cash flows
$
658.5

 
$
1,050.9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
 
 
 
Cash paid during the period for:
 
 
 
Interest (net of amount capitalized of $20.9 and $17.0 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively)
$
116.5

 
$
97.6

Income taxes (net of refunds)
114.3

 
13.2

 
 
 
 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
5



Table of Contents



THE MOSAIC COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
(In millions, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Mosaic Shareholders
 
 
 
 
 
Shares
 
Dollars
 
 
 
 
 
Capital in Excess of Par Value
 
 
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss)
 
 
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
Common Stock
 
 
Retained Earnings
 
 
Noncontrolling Interests
 
Total Equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance as of June 30, 2018
385.4

 
$
3.8

 
$
981.7

 
$
10,734.1

 
$
(1,523.2
)
 
$
219.3

 
$
10,415.7

Total comprehensive income
—

 
—

 
—

 
247.5

 
5.5

 
2.8

 
255.8

Vesting of restricted stock units
0.1

 
—

 
(0.3
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(0.3
)
Stock based compensation
—

 
—

 
2.4

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
2.4

Dividends ($0.025 per share)
—

 
—

 
—

 
(9.9
)
 
—

 
—

 
(9.9
)
Dividends for noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(0.1
)
 
(0.1
)
Equity from noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(10.3
)
 
(10.3
)
Balance as of September 30, 2018
385.5

 
$
3.8

 
$
983.8

 
$
10,971.7

 
$
(1,517.7
)
 
$
211.7

 
$
10,653.3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance as of December 31, 2017
351.0

 
$
3.5

 
$
44.5

 
$
10,631.1

 
$
(1,061.6
)
 
$
21.6

 
$
9,639.1

Adoption of ASC Topic 606
—

 
—

 
—

 
2.7

 
—

 
—

 
2.7

Total comprehensive income (loss)
—

 
—

 
—

 
357.7

 
(456.1
)
 
(5.8
)
 
(104.2
)
Vesting of restricted stock units
0.3

 
—

 
(3.4
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(3.4
)
Stock based compensation
—

 
—

 
23.0

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
23.0

Acquisition of Vale Fertilizantes
34.2

 
0.3

 
919.7

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
920.0

Dividends ($0.05 per share)
—

 
—

 
—

 
(19.8
)
 
—

 
—

 
(19.8
)
Dividends for noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(0.5
)
 
(0.5
)
Equity from noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
196.4

 
196.4

Balance as of September 30, 2018
385.5

 
$
3.8

 
$
983.8

 
$
10,971.7

 
$
(1,517.7
)
 
$
211.7

 
$
10,653.3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance as of June 30, 2019
385.9

 
$
3.8

 
$
1,002.9

 
$
10,944.2

 
$
(1,477.9
)
 
$
209.3

 
$
10,682.3

Total comprehensive income (loss)
—

 
—

 
—

 
(44.1
)
 
(187.5
)
 
1.6

 
(230.0
)
Stock based compensation
—

 
—

 
2.9

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
2.9

Share repurchases
(5.8
)
 
—

 
(124.5
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(124.5
)
Dividends ($0.05 per share)
—

 
—

 
—

 
(19.4
)
 
—

 
—

 
(19.4
)
Dividends for noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(0.1
)
 
(0.1
)
Balance as of September 30, 2019
380.1

 
$
3.8

 
$
881.3

 
$
10,880.7

 
$
(1,665.4
)
 
$
210.8

 
$
10,311.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance as of December 31, 2018
385.5

 
3.8

 
985.9

 
11,064.7

 
(1,657.1
)
 
207.4

 
10,604.7

Adoption of ASC Topic 842
—

 
—

 
—

 
0.6

 
—

 
—

 
0.6

Total comprehensive income (loss)
—

 
—

 
—

 
(146.4
)
 
(8.3
)
 
3.8

 
(150.9
)
Vesting of restricted stock units
0.4

 
—

 
(5.1
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(5.1
)
Stock based compensation
—

 
—

 
25.0

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
25.0

Share repurchases
(5.8
)
 
—

 
(124.5
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(124.5
)
Dividends ($0.10 per share)
—

 
—

 
—

 
(38.2
)
 
—

 
—

 
(38.2
)
Dividends for noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(0.4
)
 
(0.4
)
Balance as of September 30, 2019
380.1

 
$
3.8

 
$
881.3

 
$
10,880.7

 
$
(1,665.4
)
 
$
210.8

 
$
10,311.2



See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
6



Table of Contents


THE MOSAIC COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tables in millions, except per share amounts and as otherwise designated)
(Unaudited)
1. Organization and Nature of Business
The Mosaic Company (“Mosaic”, and, with its consolidated subsidiaries, “we”, “us”, “our”, or the “Company”) produces and markets concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients. We conduct our business through wholly and majority owned subsidiaries and businesses in which we own less than a majority or a noncontrolling interest, including consolidated variable interest entities and investments accounted for by the equity method.
On January 8, 2018, we completed our acquisition (the “Acquisition”) of Vale Fertilizantes S.A. (now known as Mosaic Fertilizantes P&K S.A. or the “Acquired Business”). Upon completion of the Acquisition, we became the leading fertilizer producer and distributor in Brazil.
We are organized into the following business segments:
•
Our Phosphates business segment owns and operates mines and production facilities in Florida which produce concentrated phosphate crop nutrients and phosphate-based animal feed ingredients, and processing plants in Louisiana which produce concentrated phosphate crop nutrients. As part of the Acquisition, we acquired an additional 40% economic interest in the Miski Mayo Phosphate Mine in Peru, which increased our aggregate interest to 75%. These results are consolidated in the Phosphates segment. The Phosphates segment also includes our 25% interest in the Ma'aden Wa'ad Al Shamal Phosphate Company (the “MWSPC”), a joint venture to develop, own and operate integrated phosphate production facilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We market approximately 25% of the MWSPC phosphate production. We recognize our equity in the net earnings or losses relating to MWSPC on a one-quarter lag in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
•
Our Potash business segment owns and operates potash mines and production facilities in Canada and the U.S. which produce potash-based crop nutrients, animal feed ingredients and industrial products. Potash sales include domestic and international sales. We are a member of Canpotex, Limited (“Canpotex”), an export association of Canadian potash producers through which we sell our Canadian potash outside the U.S. and Canada.
•
Our Mosaic Fertilizantes business segment includes the assets in Brazil that we acquired in the Acquisition, which consist of five phosphate rock mines, four phosphate chemical plants and a potash mine. The segment also includes our legacy distribution business in South America, which consists of sales offices, crop nutrient blending and bagging facilities, port terminals and warehouses in Brazil and Paraguay. We also have a majority interest in Fospar S.A., which owns and operates a single superphosphate granulation plant and a deep-water crop nutrition port and throughput warehouse terminal facility in Brazil.
Intersegment eliminations, unrealized mark-to-market gains/losses on derivatives, debt expenses, Streamsong Resort® results of operations, and the results of the China and India distribution businesses are included within Corporate, Eliminations and Other. As of January 1, 2019, certain selling, general and administrative costs that are not controllable by the business segments are no longer allocated to segments and are included within Corporate, Eliminations and Other. Our operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, have been recast to reflect this change. See Note 18 of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this report for segment results.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Statement Presentation and Basis of Consolidation
The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Mosaic have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting and in accordance with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim financial reporting. As permitted under these rules, certain footnotes and other financial information that are normally required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) can be condensed or omitted. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this document reflect, in the opinion of our management, all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented. The following notes should be read in conjunction with the accounting policies and other disclosures in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with


7
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE MOSAIC COMPANY
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2018 (the “10-K Report”). Sales, expenses, cash flows, assets and liabilities can and do vary during the year as a result of seasonality and other factors. Therefore, interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year.
The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Mosaic, its majority owned subsidiaries, and certain variable interest entities in which Mosaic is the primary beneficiary. Certain investments in companies where we do not have control but have the ability to exercise significant influence are accounted for by the equity method.
Leases
At inception, we determine whether an arrangement is a lease and the appropriate lease classification. Operating leases with terms greater than twelve months are included as operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets within other assets, and lease liabilities within accrued liabilities and other noncurrent liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets. Finance leases with terms greater than twelve months are included as finance ROU assets within property and equipment, and finance lease liabilities within current maturities of long-term debt and long-term debt on our consolidated balance sheets.  Leases with terms of less than twelve months, referred to as short-term leases, do not create an ROU asset or lease liability on the balance sheet. 
ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term. Lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date of the lease, based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The company's incremental borrowing rate for a lease is the rate of interest it would have to pay on a collateralized basis to borrow an amount equal to the lease payments under similar terms. For both operating and finance leases, the initial ROU asset equals the lease liability, plus initial direct costs, less lease incentives received. Our lease agreements may include options to extend or terminate the lease, which are included in the lease term at the commencement date when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option. In general, we do not consider optional periods included in our lease agreements as reasonably certain of exercise at inception.
We have lease agreements with lease and non-lease components, which are generally accounted for separately. For full-service railcar leases, we account for the lease and non-lease components as a single lease component. Additionally, for certain equipment leases, we apply assumptions using a portfolio approach given the generally consistent terms of the agreements. Lease payments based on usage (for example, per-mile or per-hour charges), referred to as variable lease costs, are recorded separately from the determination of the ROU asset and lease liability.     
Accounting Estimates
Preparation of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of net sales and expenses during the reporting periods. The most significant estimates made by management relate to the estimates of fair value of acquired assets and liabilities, the recoverability of non-current assets including goodwill, the useful lives and net realizable values of long-lived assets, environmental and reclamation liabilities including asset retirement obligations (“ARO”), and income tax-related accounts, including the valuation allowance against deferred income tax assets. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
3. Recently Issued Accounting Guidance
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance which revises the accounting for credit losses on financial instruments within its scope. The standard introduces an approach, based on expected losses, to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments, including trade and other receivables, and modifies the impairment model for available-for-sale (“AFS”) debt securities. The guidance amends the current other-than-temporary impairment model for AFS debt securities and provides that any impairment related to credit losses be recognized as an allowance (which could be reversed) rather than as a permanent reduction in the amortized cost basis of that security. This standard is effective for us beginning January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted. We are assessing the requirements of


8
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE MOSAIC COMPANY
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

this standard related to our trade receivables and AFS debt securities, but do not expect it to significantly impact our consolidated results of operations or financial condition.
4. Leases
In February 2016, the FASB issued a new standard (“ASC 842”) intended to improve financial reporting about leasing transactions. The FASB issued additional guidance subsequently to clarify aspects of the standard and provide certain relief for implementation. ASC 842 requires lessees to recognize on the balance sheet the rights and obligations created by leases with terms greater than twelve months. The primary change created by the new standard is the recognition of ROU assets and lease liabilities by lessees for those leases previously classified as operating leases. ASC 842 requires disclosures to enable users of financial statements to assess the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases.
We adopted ASC 842 effective January 1, 2019, with an immaterial cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings as of that date. As allowed under the standard, we have not changed our accounting and reporting for lease arrangements for periods presented prior to January 1, 2019. The impacts upon adoption on previously reported amounts are shown below. Our accounting for capital leases (now referred to as finance leases) remained substantially unchanged. Adoption of the standard is not expected to significantly impact lease activity reported in our statements of earnings and cash flows.
We have operating and finance leases for heavy mobile equipment, railcars, fleet vehicles, field and plant equipment, river and cross-Gulf vessels, corporate offices, land, and computer equipment. Our leases have remaining lease terms of 1 year to 29 years, some of which may include options to extend the leases for up to 10 years, and some of which may include options to terminate the leases within 1 year. As of September 30, 2019, assets recorded under finance leases, included within property, plant and equipment, were $409.8 million, and accumulated depreciation associated with finance leases was $47.2 million. As of September 30, 2019, assets recorded under operating leases were $212.6 million, included in other assets.
Adoption of the standard related to leases impacted our previously reported results as follows:
 
 
Balance as of
 
Adoption
 
Balance as of
 
 
December 31, 2018
 
Adjustments
 
January 1, 2019
(in millions)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating lease right-of-use assets
 
$
—

 
$
241.1

 
$
241.1

Finance lease right-of-use assets
 
340.9

 
—

 
340.9

Accrued and other noncurrent liabilities
 
—

 
241.1

 
241.1

Long-term debt, including current maturities
 
302.2

 
—

 
302.2


Adoption of ASC 842 had no impact to cash from or used in operating, financing, or investing on our consolidated cash flows statements.
The components of lease expense, included primarily within cost of goods sold and selling, general and administrative expenses, were as follows:


9
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE MOSAIC COMPANY
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30, 2019
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
(in millions)
 
 

 
 

Operating lease cost
 
$
25.9

 
$
79.5

Finance lease cost:
 
 
 
 
     Amortization of right-of-use assets
 
$
6.8

 
$
19.4

     Interest on lease liabilities
 
3.8

 
11.3

 
 
$
10.6

 
$
30.7

 
 
 
 
 
Short-term lease cost
 
$
2.9

 
$
8.7

Variable lease cost
 
5.6

 
15.6

Total lease cost
 
$
45.0

 
$
134.5

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows:
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
(In millions)
 
 

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
 
 

Operating cash flows from operating leases
 
$
81.3

Operating cash flows from finance leases
 
$
8.0

Financing cash flows from finance leases
 
$
27.7

 
 
 

Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations:
 
 

Operating leases
 
$
50.4

Finance leases
 
$
71.8

Other information related to leases was as follows:
 
 
September 30, 2019
Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term
 
 
Operating leases
 
4.8 years

Finance leases
 
5.0 years

 
 
 

Weighted Average Discount Rate
 
 

Operating leases
 
6.5
%
Finance leases
 
3.9
%

Future lease payments under non-cancellable leases recorded as of September 30, 2019, were as follows:


10
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE MOSAIC COMPANY
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

 
 
Operating Leases
 
Finance Leases
(in millions)
 
 
 
 
2019 (excluding the nine months ended September 30, 2019)
 
$
24.6

 
$
12.1

2020
 
76.4

 
48.3

2021
 
51.1

 
51.6

2022
 
35.3

 
43.5

2023
 
24.9

 
75.2

Thereafter
 
39.1

 
182.3

Total future lease payments
 
$
251.4

 
$
413.0

Less imputed interest
 
(36.2
)
 
(68.6
)
Total
 
$
215.2

 
$
344.4

 
 
 
 
 
Reported as of September 30, 2019
 
 
 
 
Accrued liabilities
 
$
72.3

 
$
—

Current maturities of long-term debt
 
—

 
37.5

Other noncurrent liabilities
 
142.9

 
—

Long-term debt, less current maturities
 
—

 
306.9

Total
 
$
215.2

 
$
344.4

A schedule of our minimum lease payments under non-cancelable capital and operating leases as of December 31, 2018 is as follows:
(in millions)
 
Operating Leases
 
Capital Leases
2019
 
$
97.5

 
$
20.4

2020

76.8

 
26.4

2021

54.7

 
23.4

2022

36.6

 
17.2

2023

28.1

 
48.9

Subsequent years

30.9

 
165.9

 
 
$
324.6

 
$
302.2




11
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE MOSAIC COMPANY
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

5. Other Financial Statement Data
The following provides additional information concerning selected balance sheet accounts:
 

September 30,
2019
 
December 31,
2018
 
 
Other current assets 
 
 
 
 
Income and other taxes receivable
$
236.0

 
$
149.2

 
Prepaid expenses
110.2

 
86.8

 
Other
42.3

 
44.6

 
 
$
388.5

 
$
280.6

 
 
 
 
 
 
Other assets
 
 
 
 
Restricted cash
$
8.8

 
$
15.8

 
MRO inventory
126.1

 
134.6

 
Marketable securities held in trust
685.8

 
632.3

 
Operating lease right-of-use assets
212.6

 
—

 
Indemnification asset
29.9

 
30.7

 
Long-term receivable
75.4

 
91.7

 
Other
342.1

 
352.7

 
 
$
1,480.7

 
$
1,257.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
Accrued liabilities
 
 
 
 
Accrued dividends
$
0.9

 
$
11.8

 
Payroll and employee benefits
143.7

 
217.5

 
Asset retirement obligations
164.6

 
136.3

 
Customer prepayments (a)
283.6

 
199.8

 
Accrued income tax
67.4

 
65.5

 
Operating lease obligation
72.3

 
—

 
Other
403.0

 
461.6

 
 
$
1,135.5

 
$
1,092.5

 
 
 
 
 
 
Other noncurrent liabilities
 
 
 
 
Asset retirement obligations
$
1,136.5

 
$
1,023.8

 
Operating lease obligation
142.9

 
—

 
Accrued pension and postretirement benefits
141.5

 
146.3

 
Unrecognized tax benefits
34.2

 
33.0

 
Other
265.3

 
255.6

 
 
$
1,720.4

 
$
1,458.7


______________________________
(a) The timing of recognition of revenue related to our performance obligations may be different than the timing of collection of cash related to those performance obligations.  Specifically, we collect prepayments from certain customers in Brazil. In addition, cash collection from Canpotex may occur prior to delivery of product to the end customer.  We generally satisfy our contractual liabilities within one quarter of incurring the liability.


12
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE MOSAIC COMPANY
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

6. Earnings Per Share
The numerator for basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) is net earnings attributable to Mosaic. The denominator for basic EPS is the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. The denominator for diluted EPS also includes the weighted average number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if the dilutive potential common shares had been issued, unless the shares are anti-dilutive.
The following is a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator for the basic and diluted EPS computations:
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
September 30,
 
September 30,
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Net (loss) earnings attributable to Mosaic
$
(44.1
)
 
$
247.5

 
$
(146.4
)
 
$
357.7

Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding
385.0

 
385.5

 
385.5

 
384.5

Dilutive impact of share-based awards
—

 
2.0

 
—

 
1.6

Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding
385.0

 
387.5

 
385.5

 
386.1

Basic net (loss) earnings per share attributable to Mosaic
$
(0.11
)
 
$
0.64

 
$
(0.38
)
 
$
0.93

Diluted net (loss) earnings per share attributable to Mosaic
$
(0.11
)
 
$
0.64

 
$
(0.38
)
 
$
0.93


A total of 2.7 million and 2.5 million shares of common stock subject to issuance upon exercise of stock options for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2.0 million and 2.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, have been excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS because the effect would have been anti-dilutive.
7. Income Taxes
During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, gross unrecognized tax benefits increased by $1.4 million to $39.5 million. The increase is primarily related to Canadian tax positions. If recognized, approximately $24.0 million of the $39.5 million in unrecognized tax benefits would affect our effective tax rate and net earnings in future periods. 
We recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of our income tax provision. We had accrued interest and penalties totaling $6.8 million and $4.9 million as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, that were included in other noncurrent liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Accounting for uncertain tax positions is determined by prescribing the minimum probability threshold that a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained based on the technical merits of the position. Mosaic is continually under audit by various tax authorities in the normal course of business. Such tax authorities may raise issues contrary to positions taken by the Company. If such positions are ultimately not sustained by the Company, this could result in material assessments to the Company. The costs related to defending, if needed, such positions on appeal or in court may be material. The Company believes that any issues raised are properly accounted for.
For the three months ended September 30, 2019, tax expense specific to the period was a cost of approximately $19.8 million. This consisted primarily of tax expense of $5.6 million related to changes in estimates related to prior years, $3.3 million related to the Plant City closure costs, and $10.9 million for valuation allowances in foreign jurisdictions. In addition to items specific to the period, our income tax rate is impacted by the mix of earnings across the jurisdictions in which we operate, by a benefit associated with depletion, and by the impact of certain entities being taxed in both foreign jurisdictions and the U.S., including foreign tax credits for various taxes incurred.
Generally, for interim periods, income tax is equal to the total of (1) year-to-date pretax income multiplied by our forecasted effective tax rate plus (2) tax expense items specific to the period. In situations where we expect to report losses for which we do not expect to receive tax benefits, we are required to apply separate forecasted effective tax rates to those jurisdictions rather than including them in the consolidated effective tax rate. For the three months ended September 30, 2019, income tax expense was impacted by this set of rules, resulting in an additional cost of $14.7 million compared to what would have been recorded under the general rule on a consolidated basis.


13
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE MOSAIC COMPANY
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

For the three months ended September 30, 2018, tax expense specific to the period was approximately $30.7 million. This consisted primarily of $29.8 million related to revised year-to-date accounting in 2018 for the valuation allowances on foreign tax credits, and $8.3 million as a result of revisions to the provisional estimates related to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Act"). This was partially offset by a change in sequestration charge on AMT refunds of $2.7 million, $5.1 million related to the effect on deferred income tax liabilities of a decrease in the statutory tax rate in the U.S as a result of the Act, and other miscellaneous benefits of $0.4 million. In addition to items specific to the period, our income tax rate is impacted by the mix of earnings across the jurisdictions in which we operate, by a benefit associated with depletion, and by the impact of certain entities being taxed in both foreign jurisdictions and the U.S. including foreign tax credits for various taxes incurred.
8. Inventories
Inventories consist of the following:
 
 
September 30,
2019
 
December 31,
2018
 
 
Raw materials
$
86.2

 
$
147.5

 
Work in process
592.8

 
625.5

 
Finished goods
1,454.9

 
1,343.8

 
Final price deferred(a)
43.1

 
39.3

 
Operating materials and supplies
117.3

 
114.1

 
 
$
2,294.3

 
$
2,270.2


______________________________
(a) 
Final price deferred is product that has shipped to customers, but the price has not yet been agreed upon.
9. Goodwill
Mosaic had goodwill of $1.7 billion at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018. We review goodwill for impairment annually in October or at any time events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be fully recoverable, which is based on our accounting policy and GAAP. The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill, by reporting unit, are as follows:
 
Phosphates
 
Potash
 
Mosaic Fertilizantes
 
Corporate, Eliminations and Other
 
Total
Balance as of December 31, 2018
$
588.6

 
$
1,000.4

 
$
106.4

 
$
12.1

 
$
1,707.5

Foreign currency translation
—

 
26.7

 
(2.4
)
 
—

 
24.3

Balance as of September 30, 2019
$
588.6

 
$
1,027.1

 
$
104.0

 
$
12.1

 
$
1,731.8


We performed a review of goodwill in the quarter ended September 30, 2019, and no impairment was identified. However, based on our qualitative evaluation, we determined that our Phosphates and Potash reporting units had estimated fair values that were not significantly in excess of their respective carrying values, at 12.1% and 9.4%, respectively, and could be at risk of future impairment. We continue to believe that our long-term financial goals will be achieved. Our other reporting units have substantial fair value in excess of their carrying values.
We are required to perform our next annual goodwill impairment analysis as of October 31, 2019. It is possible that, during the remainder of 2019 or beyond, business conditions could deteriorate from the current state, raw material or product price projections could decline significantly from current estimates, or our common stock price could decline significantly. If assumed net sales and cash flow projections are not achieved or our common stock price significantly declines from current levels, book values of certain operations could exceed their fair values, which may result in goodwill impairment charges in future periods. It is not possible at this time to determine if any such future impairment charge would result or, if it does, whether such charge would be material.


14
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE MOSAIC COMPANY
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

10. Marketable Securities Held in Trusts
In August 2016, Mosaic deposited $630 million into two trust funds (together, the “RCRA Trusts”) created to provide additional financial assurance in the form of cash for the estimated costs (“Gypstack Closure Costs”) of closure and long term care of our Florida and Louisiana phosphogypsum management systems (“Gypstacks”), as described further in Note 11 of our Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Our actual Gypstack Closure Costs are generally expected to be paid by us in the normal course of our Phosphate business; however, funds held in each of the RCRA Trusts can be drawn by the applicable governmental authority in the event we cannot perform our closure and long term care obligations. When our estimated Gypstack Closure Costs with respect to the facilities associated with a RCRA Trust are sufficiently lower than the amount on deposit in that RCRA Trust, we have the right to request that the excess funds be released to us. The same is true for the RCRA Trust balance remaining after the completion of our obligations, which will be performed over a period that may not end until three decades or more after a Gypstack has been closed. The investments held by the RCRA Trusts are managed by independent investment managers with discretion to buy, sell, and invest pursuant to the objectives and standards set forth in the related trust agreements. Amounts reserved to be held or held in the RCRA Trusts (including losses or reinvested earnings) are included in other assets on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The RCRA Trusts hold investments, which are restricted from our general use, in marketable debt securities classified as available-for-sale and are carried at fair value. As a result, unrealized gains and losses are included in other comprehensive income until realized, unless it is determined that the carrying value of an investment is impaired on an other-than-temporary basis. There were no other-than-temporary impairment write-downs on available-for-sale securities during the nine months ended September 30, 2019.
We review the fair value hierarchy classification on a quarterly basis. Changes in the ability to observe valuation inputs may result in a reclassification of levels for certain securities within the fair value hierarchy. We determine the fair market values of our available-for-sale securities and certain other assets based on the fair value hierarchy described below:
Level 1: Values based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2: Values based on quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, or model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market.
Level 3: Values generated from model-based techniques that use significant assumptions not observable in the market. These unobservable assumptions reflect our own estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Valuation techniques include use of option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques.
The estimated fair value of the investments in the RCRA Trusts as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 are as follows:


15
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE MOSAIC COMPANY
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

 
September 30, 2019
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
Level 1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Cash and cash equivalents
$
5.8

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
5.8

Level 2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Corporate debt securities
183.9

 
6.4

 
(0.2
)
 
190.1

    Municipal bonds
187.2

 
4.3

 
(0.4
)
 
191.1

    U.S. government bonds
284.5

 
3.8

 
(1.4
)
 
286.9

Total
$
661.4

 
$
14.5

 
$
(2.0
)
 
$
673.9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2018
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
Level 1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Cash and cash equivalents
$
4.0

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
4.0

Level 2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Corporate debt securities
180.8

 
0.3

 
(4.3
)
 
176.8

    Municipal bonds
186.1

 
0.5

 
(3.4
)
 
183.2

    U.S. government bonds
262.1

 
3.3

 
—

 
265.4

Total
$
633.0

 
$
4.1

 
$
(7.7
)
 
$
629.4


The following tables show gross unrealized losses and fair values of the RCRA Trusts' available-for-sale securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position deemed to be temporary as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018.


16
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE MOSAIC COMPANY
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

 
September 30, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
 
Less than 12 months
 
Less than 12 months
 
Fair
Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses(a)
 
Fair
Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses(a)
Corporate debt securities
$
11.8

 
$
—

 
$
43.9

 
$
(0.6
)
Municipal bonds
24.1

 
(0.1
)
 
12.3

 
—

U.S. government bonds
199.8

 
(1.4
)
 
—

 
—

Total
$
235.7

 
$
(1.5
)
 
$
56.2

 
$
(0.6
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
September 30, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
 
Greater than 12 months
 
Greater than 12 months
 
Fair
Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses(a)
 
Fair
Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses(a)
Corporate debt securities
$
30.0

 
$
(0.2
)
 
$
103.4

 
$
(3.7
)
Municipal bonds
22.2

 
(0.3
)
 
117.5

 
(3.4
)
U.S. government bonds
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Total
$
52.2

 
$
(0.5
)
 
$
220.9

 
$
(7.1
)
______________________________
(a) 
Represents the aggregate of the gross unrealized losses that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
The following table summarizes the balance by contractual maturity of the available-for-sale debt securities invested by the RCRA Trusts as of September 30, 2019. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because the issuers of the securities may have the right to prepay obligations before the underlying contracts mature.
 
September 30, 2019
Due in one year or less
$
35.7

Due after one year through five years
228.4

Due after five years through ten years
366.3

Due after ten years
37.7

Total debt securities
$
668.1


For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, realized gains were $12.9 million and $16.2 million, respectively, and realized losses were immaterial and $1.6 million, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, realized gains were immaterial and realized losses were $6.8 million and $12.9 million, respectively.
11. Asset Retirement Obligations
We recognize our estimated AROs in the period in which we have an existing legal obligation associated with the retirement of a tangible long-lived asset, and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated. The ARO is recognized at fair value when the liability is incurred with a corresponding increase in the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. We depreciate the tangible asset over its estimated useful life. The liability is adjusted in subsequent periods through accretion expense, which represents the increase in the present value of the liability due to the passage of time. Such depreciation and accretion expenses are included in cost of goods sold for operating facilities and other operating expense for indefinitely closed facilities.


17
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE MOSAIC COMPANY
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

Our legal obligations related to asset retirement require us to: (i) reclaim lands disturbed by mining as a condition to receive permits to mine phosphate ore reserves; (ii) treat low pH process water in Gypstacks to neutralize acidity; (iii) close and monitor Gypstacks at our Florida and Louisiana facilities at the end of their useful lives; (iv) remediate certain other conditional obligations; (v) remove all surface structures and equipment, plug and abandon mine shafts, contour and revegetate, as necessary, and monitor for five years after closing our Carlsbad, New Mexico facility; (vi) decommission facilities, manage tailings and execute site reclamation at our Saskatchewan potash mines at the end of their useful lives; (vii) de-commission mines in Brazil and Peru acquired as part of the Acquisition and (viii) decommission plant sites and close Gypstacks in Brazil also as part of the Acquisition. The estimated liability for these legal obligations is based on the estimated cost to satisfy the above obligations, which is discounted using a credit-adjusted risk-free rate.
A reconciliation of our AROs is as follows:
(in millions)
September 30, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
AROs, beginning of period
$
1,160.1

 
$
859.3

Liabilities acquired in the Acquisition
—

 
258.9

Liabilities incurred
11.8

 
27.8

Liabilities settled
(83.4
)
 
(69.6
)
Accretion expense
44.3

 
48.0

Revisions in estimated cash flows
177.4

 
78.2

Foreign currency translation
(9.1
)
 
(42.5
)
AROs, end of period
1,301.1

 
1,160.1

Less current portion
164.6

 
136.3

 
$
1,136.5

 
$
1,023.8


North America Gypstack Closure Costs
A majority of our ARO relates to Gypstack Closure Costs in Florida and Louisiana. For financial reporting purposes, we recognize our estimated Gypstack Closure Costs at their present value. This present value determined for financial reporting purposes is reflected on our Consolidated Balance Sheets in accrued liabilities and other noncurrent liabilities.
As discussed below, we have arrangements to provide financial assurance for the estimated Gypstack Closure Costs associated with our facilities in Florida and Louisiana.
EPA RCRA Initiative. On September 30, 2015, we and our subsidiary, Mosaic Fertilizer, LLC (“Mosaic Fertilizer”), reached agreements with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”), the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (“FDEP”) and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality on the terms of two consent decrees (collectively, the “2015 Consent Decrees”) to resolve claims relating to our management of certain waste materials onsite at our Riverview, New Wales, Mulberry, Green Bay, South Pierce and Bartow fertilizer manufacturing facilities in Florida and our Faustina and Uncle Sam facilities in Louisiana. This followed a 2003 announcement by the EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance that it would be targeting facilities in mineral processing industries, including phosphoric acid producers, for a thorough review under the U.S. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”) and related state laws. As discussed below, a separate consent decree was previously entered into with EPA and the FDEP with respect to RCRA compliance at the Plant City, Florida phosphate concentrates facility (the “Plant City Facility”) that we acquired as part of our acquisition (the “CF Phosphate Assets Acquisition”) of the Florida phosphate assets and assumption of certain related liabilities of CF Industries, Inc. (“CF”).
The remaining monetary obligations under the 2015 Consent Decrees include:
•
Modification of certain operating practices and undertaking certain capital improvement projects over a period of several years that are expected to result in capital expenditures likely to exceed $200 million in the aggregate.
•
Provision of additional financial assurance for the estimated Gypstack Closure Costs for Gypstacks at the covered facilities. The RCRA Trusts are discussed in Note 10 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. In


18
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE MOSAIC COMPANY
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

addition, we have agreed to guarantee the difference between the amounts held in each RCRA Trust (including any earnings) and the estimated closure and long-term care costs.
As of December 31, 2018, the undiscounted amount of our Gypstack Closure Costs ARO associated with the facilities covered by the 2015 Consent Decrees, determined using the assumptions used for financial reporting purposes, was approximately $1.5 billion, and the present value of our Gypstack Closure Costs ARO reflected in our Consolidated Balance Sheet for those facilities was approximately $457.1 million.
Plant City and Bonnie Facilities. As part of the CF Phosphate Assets Acquisition, we assumed certain AROs related to Gypstack Closure Costs at both the Plant City Facility and a closed Florida phosphate concentrates facility in Bartow, Florida (the “Bonnie Facility”) that we acquired. Associated with these assets are two related financial assurance arrangements for which we became responsible and that provided sources of funds for the estimated Gypstack Closure Costs for these facilities, pursuant to federal or state law: the government entities can draw against such amounts in the event we cannot perform such closure activities. One was initially a trust (the “Plant City Trust”) established to meet the requirements under a consent decree with the EPA and the FDEP with respect to RCRA compliance at Plant City that also satisfied Florida financial assurance requirements at that site. Beginning in September 2016, as a substitute for the financial assurance provided through the Plant City Trust, we have provided financial assurance for the Plant City Facility in the form of a surety bond (the “Plant City Bond”). The amount of the Plant City Bond is $233.7 million, which reflects our closure cost estimates as of December 31, 2018.  The other was also a trust fund (the “Bonnie Facility Trust”) established to meet the requirements under Florida financial assurance regulations that apply to the Bonnie Facility. In July 2018, we received $21.0 million from the Bonnie Facility Trust by substituting for the trust fund a financial test mechanism (“Bonnie Financial Test”) supported by a corporate guarantee as allowed by state regulations. Both financial assurance funding obligations require estimates of future expenditures that could be impacted by refinements in scope, technological developments, new information, cost inflation, changes in regulations, discount rates and the timing of activities. Under our current approach to satisfying applicable requirements, additional financial assurance would be required in the future if increases in cost estimates exceed the face amount of the Plant City Bond or the amount supported by the Bonnie Financial Test.
At September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the aggregate amounts of AROs associated with the Plant City Facility and Bonnie Facility gypstack closure costs included in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets were $215.9 million and $109.2 million, respectively. The aggregate amount represented by the Plant City Bond exceeds the aggregate amount of ARO associated with that Facility. This is because the amount of financial assurance we are required to provide represents the aggregate undiscounted estimated amount to be paid by us in the normal course of our Phosphates business over a period that may not end until three decades or more after the Gypstack has been closed, whereas the ARO included in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet reflects the discounted present value of those estimated amounts.
12. Contingencies
We have described below judicial and administrative proceedings to which we are subject.
We have contingent environmental liabilities that arise principally from three sources: (i) facilities currently or formerly owned by our subsidiaries or their predecessors; (ii) facilities adjacent to currently or formerly owned facilities; and (iii) third-party Superfund or state equivalent sites. At facilities currently or formerly owned by our subsidiaries or their predecessors, the historical use and handling of regulated chemical substances, crop and animal nutrients and additives and by-product or process tailings have resulted in soil, surface water and/or groundwater contamination. Spills or other releases of regulated substances, subsidence from mining operations and other incidents arising out of operations, including accidents, have occurred previously at these facilities, and potentially could occur in the future, possibly requiring us to undertake or fund cleanup or result in monetary damage awards, fines, penalties, other liabilities, injunctions or other court or administrative rulings. In some instances, pursuant to consent orders or agreements with governmental agencies, we are undertaking certain remedial actions or investigations to determine whether remedial action may be required to address contamination. At other locations, we have entered into consent orders or agreements with appropriate governmental agencies to perform required remedial activities that will address identified site conditions. Taking into consideration established accruals of approximately $43.7 million and $58.6 million as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, expenditures for these known conditions currently are not expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material effect on our business or


19
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE MOSAIC COMPANY
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

financial condition. However, material expenditures could be required in the future to remediate the contamination at known sites or at other current or former sites or as a result of other environmental, health and safety matters. Below is a discussion of the more significant environmental matters.
New Wales Water Loss Incident. In August 2016, a sinkhole developed under one of the two cells of the active Gypstack at our New Wales facility in Polk County, Florida, resulting in process water from the stack draining into the sinkhole. The incident was reported to the FDEP and EPA. In October 2016, our subsidiary, Mosaic Fertilizer, entered into a consent order (the “Order”) with the FDEP relating to the incident. Under the Order, Mosaic Fertilizer agreed to, among other things: implement a remediation plan to close the sinkhole; perform additional monitoring of the groundwater quality and act to assess and remediate in the event monitored off-site water does not comply with applicable standards as a result of the incident; evaluate the risk of potential future sinkhole formation at the New Wales facility and at Mosaic Fertilizer’s active Gypstack operations at the Bartow, Riverview and Plant City facilities with recommendations to address any identified issues; and provide financial assurance of no less than $40.0 million, which we have done without the need for any expenditure of corporate funds through satisfaction of a financial strength test and Mosaic parent guarantee. The Order did not require payment of civil penalties relating to the incident. 
As of September 30, 2019, the sinkhole repairs were substantially complete, with $80.2 million spent in remediation and sinkhole-related costs through this date. We estimate remaining costs will be approximately $0.6 million. Additional expenditures could be required in the future for additional remediation or other measures in connection with the sinkhole including if, for example, FDEP or EPA were to request additional measures to address risks presented by the Gypstack. These expenditures could be material.  In addition, we are unable to predict at this time what, if any, impact the New Wales water loss incident will have on future Florida permitting efforts.
EPA RCRA Initiative.
We have certain financial assurance and other obligations under consent decrees and a separate financial assurance arrangement relating to our facilities in Florida and Louisiana. These obligations are discussed in Note 11 of our Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
EPA EPCRA Initiative. In July 2008, DOJ sent a letter to major U.S. phosphoric acid manufacturers, including us, stating that EPA’s ongoing investigation indicates apparent violations of Section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (“EPCRA”) at their phosphoric acid manufacturing facilities. Section 313 of EPCRA requires annual reports to be submitted with respect to the use or presence of certain toxic chemicals. DOJ and EPA also stated that they believe that a number of these facilities have violated Section 304 of EPCRA and Section 103 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”) by failing to provide required notifications relating to the release of hydrogen fluoride from the facilities. The letter did not identify any specific violations by us or assert a demand for penalties against us. We cannot predict at this time whether EPA and DOJ will initiate an enforcement action over this matter, what its scope would be, or what the range of outcomes of such a potential enforcement action might be.
Florida Sulfuric Acid Plants. On April 8, 2010, EPA Region 4 submitted an administrative subpoena to us under Section 114 of the Federal Clean Air Act (the “CAA”) regarding compliance of our Florida sulfuric acid plants with the “New Source Review” requirements of the CAA. The request received by Mosaic appears to be part of a broader EPA national enforcement initiative focusing on sulfuric acid plants.  On June 16, 2010, EPA issued a notice of violation to CF (the “CF NOV”) with respect to “New Source Review” compliance at the Plant City Facility's sulfuric acid plants and the allegations in the CF NOV were not resolved before our 2014 acquisition of the Plant City Facility.  CF has agreed to indemnify us with respect to any penalty EPA may assess as a result of the allegations in the CF NOV.
We have been engaged in settlement discussions with U.S. EPA and the Department of Justice, originating with the allegations of violations of Clean Air Act Prevention of Significant Deterioration (“PSD”) permitting requirements at the Plant City sulfuric acid plants and encompassing injunctive relief regarding sulfur dioxide emissions across Mosaic’s Florida sulfuric acid plant fleet.  With the closure of Plant City fertilizer operations, there is no longer a need to reach resolution with the government on injunctive relief (i.e., reduction of sulfur dioxide emissions) at that facility.  Furthermore, the DOJ has determined that there is no basis for proceeding with a settlement, as EPA and the DOJ have not currently alleged any violations of the Clean Air Act PSD permitting requirements at any other of Mosaic’s Florida sulfuric acid plants.


20
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE MOSAIC COMPANY
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

We cannot predict at this time whether EPA and DOJ will initiate an enforcement action in the future with respect to “New Source Review” compliance at our Florida sulfuric acid plants or what its scope would be, or what the range of outcomes might be with respect to such a potential enforcement action.
Uncle Sam Gypstack. In January 2019, we observed lateral movement of the north slope of our active phosphogypsum stack at the Uncle Sam facility in Louisiana.  The observation was reported to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. EPA.  We continue to provide updates to the agencies on the movement, which has slowed following actions we have taken, which include reducing process water volume stored atop the stack to reduce the active load causing the movement; constructing a stability berm at the base of the slope to increase resistance; and removing gypsum from the north side to the south stack. These steps have improved slope stability and reduced slope movement. There has been no loss of containment resulting from the movement observed, and none is expected. Although continued lateral movement on the north slope could have a material effect on our future operations at that facility, we cannot predict the prospective impact on our results of operations at this time.
Other Environmental Matters. Superfund and equivalent state statutes impose liability without regard to fault or to the legality of a party’s conduct on certain categories of persons who are considered to have contributed to the release of "hazardous substances" into the environment. Under Superfund, or its various state analogues, one party may, under certain circumstances, be required to bear more than its proportionate share of cleanup costs at a site where it has liability if payments cannot be obtained from other responsible parties. Currently, certain of our subsidiaries are involved or concluding involvement at several Superfund or equivalent state sites. Our remedial liability from these sites, alone or in the aggregate, currently is not expected to have a material effect on our business or financial condition. As more information is obtained regarding these sites and the potentially responsible parties involved, this expectation could change.
We believe that, pursuant to several indemnification agreements, our subsidiaries are entitled to at least partial, and in many instances complete, indemnification for the costs that may be expended by us or our subsidiaries to remedy environmental issues at certain facilities. These agreements address issues that resulted from activities occurring prior to our acquisition of facilities or businesses from parties including, but not limited to, ARCO (BP); Beatrice Fund for Environmental Liabilities; Conoco; Conserv; Estech, Inc.; Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation; Kerr-McGee Inc.; PPG Industries, Inc.; The Williams Companies; CF; and certain other private parties. Our subsidiaries have already received and anticipate receiving amounts pursuant to the indemnification agreements for certain of their expenses incurred to date as well as future anticipated expenditures. We record potential indemnifications as an offset to the established accruals when they are realizable or realized. The failure of an indemnitor to fulfill its obligations could result in future costs that could be material.
Louisiana Parishes Coastal Zone Cases
Several Louisiana parishes and the City of New Orleans have filed lawsuits against hundreds of oil and gas companies seeking regulatory, restoration and compensatory damages in connection with historical oil, gas and sulfur mining and transportation operations in the coastal zone of Louisiana. Mosaic is the corporate successor to certain companies which performed these types of operations in the coastal zone of Louisiana. Mosaic has been named in two of the lawsuits filed to date. In addition, in several other cases, historical oil, gas and sulfur operations which may have been related to Mosaic’s corporate predecessors have been identified in the complaints. Based upon information known to date, Mosaic has contractual indemnification rights against third parties for any loss or liability arising out of these claims pursuant to indemnification agreements entered into by Mosaic’s corporate predecessor(s) with third parties. There may also be insurance contracts which may respond to some or all of the claims. However, the financial ability of the third party indemnitors, the extent of potential insurance coverage and the extent of potential liability from these claims is currently unknown.
In September 2019, legal counsel for several of the parishes announced that an agreement had been reached to settle the claims against Mosaic and its corporate predecessors, subject to approval by the participating parishes and the State of Louisiana. In connection with that settlement agreement, the proposed settlement payment obligations would be paid by third party indemnitors.
Phosphate Mine Permitting in Florida
Denial of the permits sought at any of our mines, issuance of the permits with cost-prohibitive conditions, substantial delays in issuing the permits, legal actions that prevent us from relying on permits or revocation of permits may create


21
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE MOSAIC COMPANY
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

challenges for us to mine the phosphate rock required to operate our Florida and Louisiana phosphate plants at desired levels or increase our costs in the future.
The South Pasture Extension. In November 2016, the Army Corps of Engineers (the “Corps”) issued a federal wetlands permit under the Clean Water Act for mining an extension of our South Pasture phosphate rock mine in central Florida. On December 20, 2016, the Center for Biological Diversity, ManaSota-88, People for Protecting Peace River and Suncoast Waterkeeper issued a 60-day notice of intent to sue the Corps and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (the “Service”) under the federal Endangered Species Act regarding actions taken by the Corps and the Service in connection with the issuance of the permit. On March 15, 2017, the same group filed a complaint against the Corps, the Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division. The complaint alleges that various actions taken by the Corps and the Service in connection with the issuance of the permit, including in connection with the Service's biological opinion and the Corps' reliance on that biological opinion, violated substantive and procedural requirements of the federal Clean Water Act (“CWA”), the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”) and the Endangered Species Act (the “ESA”), and were arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, and otherwise not in accordance with law, in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act (the “APA”). As to the Corps, plaintiffs allege in their complaint, among other things, that the Corps failed to conduct an adequate analysis under the CWA of alternatives, failed to fully consider the effects of the South Pasture extension mine, failed to take adequate steps to minimize potential adverse impacts and violated the ESA by relying on the Service's biological opinion to determine that its permitting decision is not likely to adversely affect certain endangered or rare species. As to the Service, plaintiffs allege in their complaint, among other things, that the Service's biological opinion fails to meet statutory requirements, that the Service failed to properly consider impacts and adequately assess the cumulative effects on certain species, and that the Service violated the ESA in finding that the South Pasture extension mine is not likely to adversely affect certain endangered or rare species. The plaintiffs are seeking relief including (i) declarations that the Corps' decision to issue the permit violated the CWA, NEPA, the ESA and the APA and that its NEPA review violated the law; (ii) declarations that the Service's biological opinion violated applicable law and that the Corps' reliance on the biological opinion violated the ESA; (iii) orders that the Corps rescind the permit, that the Service withdraw its biological opinion and related analyses and prepare a biological opinion that complies with the ESA; and (iv) that the Corps be preliminarily and permanently enjoined from authorizing any further action under the permit until it complies fully with the requirements of the CWA, NEPA, the ESA and the APA. On March 31, 2017, Mosaic's motion for intervention was granted with no restrictions. Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on June 2, 2017, without any new substantive allegations, and on June 28, 2017, Mosaic (as intervenor) and separately, the defendants, filed answers to the amended complaint. On June 30, 2017, the plaintiffs filed a motion for summary judgment, arguing that the permit should not have been issued. On July 15, 2017, Mosaic filed a response in opposition to the plaintiffs' motion, and on July 28, 2017, Mosaic filed its own motion for summary judgment. On December 14, 2017, the Tampa District Court granted Mosaic’s motion for summary judgment in favor of Mosaic and the government defendants, and denied the plaintiffs’ motion to supplement the administrative record. On February 12, 2018, the plaintiffs filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit of the Tampa District Court decision. A mandatory mediation occurred on March 19, 2018, but no settlement was reached. Oral argument was held before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals on May 22, 2019. The Court has not yet issued its decision.
We believe the plaintiffs' claims in this case are without merit and we intend to vigorously defend the Corps' issuance of the South Pasture extension permit and the Service's biological opinion. However, if the plaintiffs were to prevail in this case, we would be prohibited from continuing to mine the South Pasture extension, and obtaining new or modified permits could significantly delay our resumption of mining and could result in more onerous mining conditions. This could have a material effect on our future results of operations, reduce future cash flows from operations, and in the longer term, conceivably adversely affect our liquidity and capital resources.
Brazil Legal Contingencies
Our Brazilian subsidiaries are engaged in a number of judicial and administrative proceedings regarding labor, environmental, mining and civil claims that allege aggregate damages and/or fines of approximately $1.1 billion. We estimate that our probable aggregate loss with respect to these claims is approximately $58.1 million, which amount is included in our accrued liabilities in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2019.
Approximately $738.5 million of the maximum potential loss relates to labor claims, such as in-house and third party


22
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE MOSAIC COMPANY
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

employees’ judicial proceedings alleging the right to receive overtime pay, additional payment due to work in hazardous conditions, risk premium, profit sharing, additional payment due to night work, salary parity and wage differences. We estimate that our probable aggregate loss regarding these claims is approximately $40.0 million, which is included in accrued liabilities in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2019. Based on Brazil legislation and the current status of similar labor cases involving unrelated companies, we believe we have recorded adequate loss contingency reserves sufficient to cover our estimate of probable losses. If the status of similar cases involving unrelated companies were to adversely change in the future, our maximum potential exposure could increase and additional accruals could be required.
Approximately $2.6 million of the above mentioned $40.0 million reserves relates to a purported class action filed by one of the unions claiming additional payment for occupational hazard due to the alleged exposure of workers at the Company’s potash mine at Rosário do Catete, Sergipe, to explosive gases that could be found during the mining process. The matter currently is before the Brazilian Labor Supreme Court.
The environmental judicial and administrative proceedings claims allege aggregate damages and/or fines of approximately $140.4 million. We estimate that our probable aggregate loss regarding these claims is approximately $5.4 million, which has been accrued at September 30, 2019. The majority of the reserves involves a claim filed in 2012 by the State Public Prosecutor Office, alleging that the Company delayed construction of an effluent treatment plant, thereby subjecting it to a fine under the commitment agreement.
The mining judicial and administrative proceedings claims allege aggregate damages and/or fines of approximately $16.1 million. We estimate that our probable aggregate loss regarding these claims is approximately $9.2 million, which has been accrued at September 30, 2019. The majority of the reserves involves an arbitration proceeding initiated by EMS/GEOFOCUS ("EMS") in which Mosaic was ordered to indemnify EMS for the costs of exploring certain mining rights on behalf of Mosaic.
Our Brazilian subsidiaries also have certain other civil contingent liabilities with respect to judicial, administrative and arbitration proceedings and claims related to contract disputes, pension plan matters, real estate disputes and other civil matters arising in the ordinary course of business. These claims allege aggregate damages in excess of $173.0 million. We estimate that the probable aggregate loss with respect to these matters is approximately $3.4 million.
Uberaba Judicial Settlement
In 2008, the Federal Public Prosecutor filed a public civil action requesting the Company to adopt several measures to mitigate soil and water contamination related to the Gypstack at our Uberaba facility, including compensation for the alleged social and environmental damages. In 2014, our predecessor subsidiary in Brazil entered into a judicial settlement with the Federal Public Prosecutor, the State of Minas Gerais public prosecutor and the federal environmental agency. Under this agreement, we agreed to implement remediation measures such as: constructing a liner under the Gypstack water ponds and lagoons, and monitoring the groundwater and soil quality. We also agreed to create a private reserve of natural heritage and to pay compensation in the amount of approximately $0.3 million, which was paid in July 2018. We are currently acting in compliance with our obligations under the judicial settlement and expect them to be completed by December 31, 2023.
Uberaba EHS Class Action
In 2013, the State of Minas Gerais public prosecutor filed a class action claiming that our predecessor company in Brazil did not comply with labor safety rules and working hour laws. This claim was based on an inspection conducted by the Labor and Employment Ministry in 2010, following which we were fined for not complying with several labor regulations. We filed our defense, claiming that we complied with these labor regulations and that the assessment carried out by the inspectors in 2010 was abusive. Following the initial hearing, the court ordered an examination to determine whether there has been any non-compliance with labor regulations. The examination is currently pending. The amount involved in the proceeding is $33.4 million.
Brazil Tax Contingencies
Our Brazilian subsidiaries are engaged in a number of judicial and administrative proceedings relating to various non-income tax matters. We estimate that our maximum potential liability with respect to these matters is approximately $460.0 million, of which $216.0 million is subject to an indemnification agreement entered into with Vale S.A in connection with the Acquisition.


23
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE MOSAIC COMPANY
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

Approximately $285.0 million of the maximum potential liability relates to a Brazilian federal value-added tax, PIS and Cofins, and tax credit cases, while the majority of the remaining amount relates to various other non-income tax cases such as value-added taxes. The maximum potential liability can increase with new audits. Based on Brazil legislation and the current status of similar tax cases involving unrelated taxpayers, we believe we have recorded adequate accruals, which are immaterial, for the probable liability with respect to these Brazilian judicial and administrative proceedings. If the status of similar tax cases involving unrelated taxpayers changes in the future, additional accruals could be required.
Other Claims
We also have certain other contingent liabilities with respect to judicial, administrative and arbitration proceedings and claims of third parties, including tax matters, arising in the ordinary course of business. We do not believe that any of these contingent liabilities will have a material adverse impact on our business or financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
13. Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
We periodically enter into derivatives to mitigate our exposure to foreign currency risks, interest rate movements and the effects of changing commodity prices. We record all derivatives on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value. The fair value of these instruments is determined by using quoted market prices, third party comparables, or internal estimates. We net our derivative asset and liability positions when we have a master netting arrangement in place. Changes in the fair value of the foreign currency, commodity and freight derivatives are immediately recognized in earnings. As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the gross asset position of our derivative instruments was $38.2 million and $13.4 million, respectively, and the gross liability position of our liability instruments was $37.0 million and $89.4 million, respectively.
 We do not apply hedge accounting treatments to our foreign currency exchange contracts, commodities contracts, or freight contracts. Unrealized gains and (losses) on foreign currency exchange contracts used to hedge cash flows related to the production of our products are included in cost of goods sold in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Unrealized gains and (losses) on commodities contracts and certain forward freight agreements are also recorded in cost of goods sold in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Unrealized gains or (losses) on foreign currency exchange contracts used to hedge cash flows that are not related to the production of our products are included in the foreign currency transaction gain/(loss) caption in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
We apply fair value hedge accounting treatment to our fixed-to-floating interest rate contracts. Under these arrangements, we agree to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between fixed and floating interest amounts calculated by reference to an agreed-upon notional principal amount. The mark-to-market of these fair value hedges is recorded as gains or losses in interest expense. These fair value hedges are considered to be highly effective and, thus, as of September 30, 2019, the impact on earnings due to hedge ineffectiveness was immaterial. Consistent with our intent to have floating rate debt as a portion of our outstanding debt, in December 2016 and the first quarter of 2017, we entered into four and five, respectively, fixed-to-floating interest rate swap agreements, with a total notional amount of $310.0 million and $275.0 million, respectively, related to our Senior Notes due 2023.
As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the following is the total absolute notional volume associated with our outstanding derivative instruments:
(in millions of Units)
 
 
 
 
 
September 30,
2019
 
December 31,
2018
Derivative Instrument
Derivative Category
Unit of Measure
Foreign currency derivatives
 
Foreign currency
 
US Dollars
 
1,979.7

 
2,091.7
Interest rate derivatives
 
Interest rate
 
US Dollars
 
585.0

 
585.0
Natural gas derivatives
 
Commodity
 
MMbtu
 
48.7

 
52.2



24
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE MOSAIC COMPANY
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

Credit-Risk-Related Contingent Features
Certain of our derivative instruments contain provisions that are governed by International Swap and Derivatives Association agreements with the counterparties. These agreements contain provisions that allow us to settle for the net amount between payments and receipts, and also state that if our debt were to be rated below investment grade, certain counterparties could request full collateralization on derivative instruments in net liability positions. The aggregate fair value of all derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features that were in a liability position as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, was $19.7 million and $37.9 million, respectively. We have no cash collateral posted in association with these contracts. If the credit-risk-related contingent features underlying these agreements were triggered on September 30, 2019, we would have been required to post an additional $17.0 million of collateral assets, which are either cash or U.S. Treasury instruments, to the counterparties.
Counterparty Credit Risk
We enter into foreign exchange, certain commodity and interest rate derivatives, primarily with a diversified group of highly rated counterparties. We continually monitor our positions and the credit ratings of the counterparties involved and limit the amount of credit exposure to any one party. While we may be exposed to potential losses due to the credit risk of non-performance by these counterparties, material losses are not anticipated. We closely monitor the credit risk associated with our counterparties and customers and to date have not experienced material losses.
14. Fair Value Measurements
Following is a summary of the valuation techniques for assets and liabilities recorded in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value on a recurring basis:
Foreign Currency Derivatives - The foreign currency derivative instruments that we currently use are forward contracts and zero-cost collars, which typically expire within eighteen months. Most of the valuations are adjusted by a forward yield curve or interest rates. In such cases, these derivative contracts are classified within Level 2. Some valuations are based on exchange-quoted prices, which are classified as Level 1. Changes in the fair market values of these contracts are recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as a component of cost of goods sold in our Corporate, Eliminations and Other segment, or foreign currency transaction (gain) loss. As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the gross asset position of our foreign currency derivative instruments was $19.7 million and $13.1 million, respectively, and the gross liability position of our foreign currency derivative instruments was $29.8 million and $62.2 million, respectively.
Commodity Derivatives - The commodity contracts primarily relate to natural gas. The commodity derivative instruments that we currently use are forward purchase contracts, swaps, and three-way collars. The natural gas contracts settle using NYMEX futures or AECO price indexes, which represent fair value at any given time. The contracts’ maturities and settlements are scheduled for future months and settlements are scheduled to coincide with anticipated gas purchases during those future periods. Quoted market prices from NYMEX and AECO are used to determine the fair value of these instruments. These market prices are adjusted by a forward yield curve and are classified within Level 2. Changes in the fair market values of these contracts are recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as a component of cost of goods sold in our Corporate, Eliminations and Other segment. As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the gross asset position of our commodity derivative instruments was $2.1 million and $0.3 million, respectively, and the gross liability position of our commodity instruments was $7.2 million and $17.7 million, respectively.
Interest Rate Derivatives - We manage interest expense through interest rate contracts to convert a portion of our fixed-rate debt into floating-rate debt. We also enter into interest rate swap agreements to hedge our exposure to changes in future interest rates related to anticipated debt issuances. Valuations are based on external pricing sources and are classified as Level 2. Changes in the fair market values of these contracts are recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as a component of interest expense. As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the gross asset position of our interest rate swap instruments was $16.4 million and zero, respectively, and the gross liability position of our interest rate swap instruments was zero and $9.5 million, respectively.


25
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE MOSAIC COMPANY
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

Financial Instruments
The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of our financial instruments are as follows:
 
 
September 30, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
 
Carrying Amount
 
Fair Value
Carrying Amount
 
Fair Value
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
641.1

 
$
641.1

 
$
847.7

 
$
847.7

 
Accounts Receivables
801.4

 
801.4

 
838.5

 
838.5

 
Accounts payable
766.1

 
766.1

 
780.9

 
780.9

 
Structured accounts payable arrangements
692.0

 
692.0

 
572.8

 
572.8

 
Short-term debt
88.0

 
88.0

 
11.5

 
11.5

 
Long-term debt, including current portion
4,576.1

 
4,848.5

 
4,517.5

 
4,554.6


For cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivables, accounts payable, structured accounts payable arrangements, and short-term debt, the carrying amount approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of those instruments. The fair value of long-term debt, including the current portion, is estimated using quoted market prices for the publicly registered notes and debentures, classified as Level 1 and Level 2, respectively, within the fair value hierarchy, depending on the market liquidity of the debt.
15. Related Party Transactions
We enter into transactions and agreements with certain of our non-consolidated companies and other related parties from time to time. As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the net amount due (to) from our non-consolidated companies totaled $(105.4) million and $95.2 million, respectively. These amounts include a long-term indemnification asset of $29.9 million from Vale S.A. for reimbursement of pension plan obligations.
The Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings included the following transactions with our non-consolidated companies:
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Transactions with non-consolidated companies included in net sales
$
273.6

 
$
248.3

 
$
825.4

 
$
579.0

Transactions with non-consolidated companies included in cost of goods sold
396.7

 
426.8

 
947.5

 
817.5


As part of the MWSPC joint venture, we market approximately 25% of the MWSPC production, for which approximately $2.4 million and $7.0 million is included in revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively.
In November 2015, we agreed to provide funds to finance the purchase and construction of two articulated tug and barge units, intended to transport anhydrous ammonia for our operations, through a bridge loan agreement with Gulf Marine Solutions, LLC (“GMS”).  GMS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Gulf Sulphur Services Ltd., LLLP (“Gulf Sulphur Services”), an entity in which we and a joint venture partner, Savage Companies (“Savage”), each indirectly own a 50% equity interest and for which a subsidiary of Savage provides operating and management services. GMS provided these funds through draws on the Mosaic bridge loan, and through additional loans from Gulf Sulphur Services.  We determined, beginning in 2015 that we are the primary beneficiary of GMS, a variable interest entity and, at that time, we consolidated GMS’s operations in our Phosphates segment.  
On October 24, 2017, a lease financing transaction was completed with respect to the completed tug and barge unit, and, following the application of proceeds from the transaction, all outstanding loans made by Gulf Sulphur Services to GMS, together with accrued interest, were repaid, and the bridge loans related to the first unit’s construction were repaid.


26
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE MOSAIC COMPANY
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

At September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, $80.5 million and $75.3 million in bridge loans, respectively, which are eliminated in consolidation, were outstanding, relating to the cancelled second barge and the remaining tug. Reserves against the bridge loan of approximately $54.2 million were recorded through December 31, 2018, and no additional charges were recorded in 2018 or 2019.  The construction of the remaining tug, funded by the bridge loan advances in excess of the reserves, is recorded within construction in-progress within our consolidated balance sheet. Several subsidiaries of Savage operate vessels utilized by Mosaic under time charter arrangements, including the ammonia tug and barge unit.
16. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
The following table sets forth the changes in AOCI, net of tax, by component during the nine months ended September 30, 2019:
 
Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss)
 
Net Actuarial Gain and Prior Service Cost
 
Amortization of Gain on Interest Rate Swap
 
Net Gain (Loss) on Marketable Securities Held in Trust
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2018
$
(1,547.4
)
 
$
(105.3
)
 
$
1.1

 
$
(5.5
)
 
$
(1,657.1
)
Other comprehensive income (loss)
(27.6
)
 
0.2

 
1.6

 
15.3

 
(10.5
)
Amount attributable to noncontrolling interest
2.2

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
2.2

Balance at September 30, 2019
$
(1,572.8
)
 
$
(105.1
)
 
$
2.7

 
$
9.8

 
$
(1,665.4
)

17. Share Repurchases
In May 2015, our Board of Directors authorized a $1.5 billion share repurchase program (the “2015 Repurchase Program”), allowing Mosaic to repurchase shares of our Common Stock through open market purchases, accelerated share repurchase arrangements, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. The 2015 Repurchase Program has no set expiration date. 
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, we repurchased 5.8 million shares of Common Stock under the 2015 Repurchase Program for approximately $125 million, of which approximately $7 million is included in accrued liabilities at September 30, 2019. We previously repurchased 15,765,025 shares under the 2015 Repurchase Program. The remaining amount that can be repurchased under this program is $725.4 million. In October 2019, we repurchased an additional 1.3 million shares of Common Stock for approximately $25 million.
The extent to which we repurchase our shares and the timing of any such repurchases depend on a number of factors, including market and business conditions, the price of our shares, and corporate, regulatory and other considerations.
18. Business Segments
The reportable segments are determined by management based upon factors such as products and services, production processes, technologies, market dynamics, and for which segment financial information is available for our chief operating decision maker.


27
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE MOSAIC COMPANY
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

For a description of our business segments, see Note 1 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. We evaluate performance based on the operating earnings of the respective business segments, which includes certain allocations of corporate selling, general and administrative expenses. The segment results may not represent the actual results that would be expected if they were independent, stand-alone businesses. Intersegment eliminations, including profit on intersegment sales, mark-to-market gains/losses on derivatives, debt expenses, Streamsong Resort® results of operations and the results of the China and India distribution businesses are included within Corporate, Eliminations and Other. As of January 1, 2019, certain selling, general and administrative costs that are not controllable by the business segments are no longer allocated to segments and are included within Corporate, Eliminations and Other. Our operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, have been recast to reflect this change.
Segment information for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 was as follows:


28
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE MOSAIC COMPANY
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

 
Phosphates
 
Potash
 
Mosaic Fertilizantes
 
Corporate, Eliminations and Other (a)
 
Total
Three months ended September 30, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales to external customers
$
615.6

 
$
609.1

 
$
1,388.3

 
$
140.4

 
$
2,753.4

Intersegment net sales
204.3

 
7.3

 
—

 
(211.6
)
 
—

Net sales
819.9

 
616.4

 
1,388.3

 
(71.2
)
 
2,753.4

Gross margin
(19.3
)
 
158.3

 
132.1

 
8.8

 
279.9

Canadian resource taxes
—

 
58.1

 
—

 
—

 
58.1

Gross margin (excluding Canadian resource taxes)
(19.3
)
 
216.4

 
132.1

 
8.8

 
338.0

Operating earnings (loss)
(69.9
)
 
148.1

 
98.1

 
(36.8
)
 
139.5

Capital expenditures
123.6

 
153.1

 
43.2

 
2.4

 
322.3

Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense
108.9

 
63.1

 
33.6

 
5.2

 
210.8

Three months ended September 30, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales to external customers
$
801.1

 
$
603.0

 
$
1,399.8

 
$
124.2

 
$
2,928.1

Intersegment net sales
240.4

 
6.0

 
—

 
(246.4
)
 
—

Net sales
1,041.5

 
609.0

 
1,399.8

 
(122.2
)
 
2,928.1

Gross margin
180.0

 
160.9

 
152.0

 
2.6

 
495.5

Canadian resource taxes
—

 
40.5

 
—

 
—

 
40.5

Gross margin (excluding Canadian resource taxes)
180.0

 
201.4

 
152.0

 
2.6

 
536.0

Operating earnings (loss)
169.2

 
148.9

 
124.0

 
(48.8
)
 
393.3

Capital expenditures
103.4

 
97.5

 
39.9

 
0.2

 
241.0

Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense
100.9

 
72.7

 
35.9

 
5.0

 
214.5

Nine months ended September 30, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales to external customers
$
1,814.3

 
$
1,698.3

 
$
2,919.0

 
$
398.4

 
$
6,830.0

Intersegment net sales
729.0

 
20.7

 
—

 
(749.7
)
 
—

Net sales
2,543.3

 
1,719.0

 
2,919.0

 
(351.3
)
 
6,830.0

Gross margin
23.7

 
524.8

 
219.7

 
48.4

 
816.6

Canadian resource taxes
—

 
161.4

 
—

 
—

 
161.4

Gross margin (excluding Canadian resource taxes)
23.7

 
686.2

 
219.7

 
48.4

 
978.0

Operating earnings (loss)
(419.5
)
 
497.9

 
127.8

 
(106.5
)
 
99.7

Capital expenditures
366.1

 
423.6

 
135.8

 
5.6

 
931.1

Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense
317.4

 
219.7

 
97.2

 
15.3

 
649.6

Nine months ended September 30, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales to external customers
$
2,345.7

 
$
1,564.5

 
$
2,777.8

 
$
378.8

 
$
7,066.8

Intersegment net sales
614.9

 
17.7

 
—

 
(632.6
)
 
—

Net sales
2,960.6

 
1,582.2

 
2,777.8

 
(253.8
)
 
7,066.8

Gross margin
430.3

 
395.5

 
264.2

 
(57.8
)
 
1,032.2

Canadian resource taxes
—

 
100.5

 
—

 
—

 
100.5

Gross margin (excluding Canadian resource taxes)
430.3

 
496.0

 
264.2

 
(57.8
)
 
1,132.7

Operating earnings (loss)
388.9

 
362.0

 
154.2

 
(234.8
)
 
670.3

Capital expenditures
295.1

 
281.4

 
86.6

 
2.3

 
665.4

Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense
302.3

 
221.2

 
109.9

 
15.4

 
648.8

______________________________
(a) 
The “Corporate, Eliminations and Other” category includes the results of our ancillary distribution operations in India and China.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, distribution operations in India and China had revenue of $134.3 million and $360.8 million, respectively, and gross margin of $0.4 million and $19.6 million, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, distribution operations in India and


29
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE MOSAIC COMPANY
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

China had revenue of $117.8 million and $345.1 million, respectively, and gross margin of $9.4 million and $32.1 million, respectively.

Financial information relating to our operations by geographic area is as follows:
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
(in millions)
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Net sales(a):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brazil
$
1,347.3

 
$
1,388.4

 
$
2,831.0

 
$
2,779.5

Canpotex(b)
272.1

 
245.8

 
811.4

 
557.9

Canada
157.0

 
160.1

 
435.3

 
436.4

China
48.8

 
52.9

 
172.7

 
169.2

India
85.2

 
64.9

 
185.3

 
180.0

Mexico
28.6

 
25.9

 
108.8

 
108.0

Argentina
25.3

 
26.9

 
97.7

 
60.3

Australia
12.0

 
16.8

 
68.1

 
101.0

Paraguay
38.7

 
40.2

 
86.2

 
78.9

Peru
27.1

 
23.9

 
73.3

 
57.0

Colombia
28.7

 
22.8

 
67.3

 
80.1

Chile
11.9

 
—

 
32.1

 
22.6

Thailand
5.6

 
5.6

 
18.8

 
22.2

Dominican Republic
4.5

 
8.1

 
13.5

 
10.6

Japan
1.8

 
21.3

 
10.8

 
79.2

Honduras
3.6

 
9.7

 
11.7

 
25.5

Other
18.6

 
10.5

 
44.1

 
48.5

Total international countries
2,116.8

 
2,123.8

 
5,068.1

 
4,816.9

United States
636.6

 
804.3

 
1,761.9

 
2,249.9

Consolidated
$
2,753.4

 
$
2,928.1

 
$
6,830.0

 
$
7,066.8

______________________________
(a) 
Revenues are attributed to countries based on location of customer.
(b) 
Canpotex is the export association of the Saskatchewan potash producers.


30
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE MOSAIC COMPANY
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

Net sales by product type are as follows:
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
(in millions)
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Sales by product type:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Phosphate Crop Nutrients
$
736.7

 
$
906.0

 
$
1,904.6

 
$
2,241.4

Potash Crop Nutrients
891.9

 
865.8

 
2,175.9

 
1,975.5

Crop Nutrient Blends
509.0

 
497.0

 
1,089.8

 
1,031.8

Specialty Products(a)
470.7

 
536.9

 
1,207.6

 
1,383.0

Phosphate Rock
14.1

 
—

 
33.5

 
29.8

Other(b)
131.0

 
122.4

 
418.6

 
405.3

 
$
2,753.4

 
$
2,928.1

 
$
6,830.0

 
$
7,066.8

____________________________
(a) 
Includes sales of MicroEssentials®, K-Mag, Aspire and animal feed ingredients.
(b) 
Includes sales of industrial potash, nitrogen and other products.
19. Plant City Closure Costs
On June 18, 2019, we announced the permanent closure of the Plant City Facility. We temporarily idled the Plant City Facility in the fourth quarter of 2017, as it was one of our higher cost phosphate facilities. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, we recognized pre-tax (benefits) costs of $(15.6) million and $353.8 million, respectively, related to the permanent closure of this facility. These costs consisted of approximately $210 million related to the write-off of fixed assets, $110 million related to asset retirement obligations, including the benefit of $15.6 million recorded in the three months ended September 30, 2019 related to revisions in estimated costs, and $34 million related to inventory and other reserves.





31

Table of Contents


ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with the material under the heading "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of The Mosaic Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 2018 (the “10-K Report”) and the material under Item 1 of Part I of this report.
Throughout the discussion below, we measure units of production, sales and raw materials in metric tonnes, which are the equivalent of 2,205 pounds, unless we specifically state we mean long ton(s), which are the equivalent of 2,240 pounds. In the following tables, there are certain percentages that are not considered to be meaningful and are represented by "NM".
Results of Operations
The following table shows the results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018:
 
Three months ended
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended
 
 
 
 
 
September 30,
 
2019-2018
 
September 30,
 
2019-2018
(in millions, except per share data)
2019
 
2018
 
Change
 
Percent
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
 
Percent
Net sales
$
2,753.4

 
$
2,928.1

 
$
(174.7
)
 
(6
)%
 
$
6,830.0

 
$
7,066.8

 
$
(236.8
)
 
(3
)%
Cost of goods sold
2,473.5

 
2,432.6

 
40.9

 
2
 %
 
6,013.4

 
6,034.6

 
(21.2
)
 
0
 %
Gross margin
279.9

 
495.5

 
(215.6
)
 
(44
)%
 
816.6

 
1,032.2

 
(215.6
)
 
(21
)%
Gross margin percentage
10
%
 
17
%
 
 
 
 
 
12
%
 
15
%
 
 
 


Selling, general and administrative expenses
78.2

 
78.5

 
(0.3
)
 
0
 %
 
249.8

 
251.4

 
(1.6
)
 
(1
)%
Plant City closure (benefit) costs
(15.6
)
 
—

 
(15.6
)
 
NM

 
353.8

 
—

 
353.8

 
NM

Other operating expense
77.8

 
23.7

 
54.1

 
NM

 
113.3

 
110.5

 
2.8

 
3
 %
Operating earnings
139.5

 
393.3

 
(253.8
)
 
(65
)%
 
99.7

 
670.3

 
(570.6
)
 
(85
)%
Interest expense, net
(43.2
)
 
(40.9
)
 
(2.3
)
 
6
 %
 
(136.2
)
 
(135.4
)
 
(0.8
)
 
1
 %
Foreign currency transaction (loss)
(53.8
)
 
(2.2
)
 
(51.6
)
 
NM

 
(10.4
)
 
(113.1
)
 
102.7

 
(91
)%
Other income (expense)
9.7

 
(7.6
)
 
17.3

 
NM

 
4.9

 
(15.6
)
 
20.5

 
NM

Earnings (loss) from consolidated companies before income taxes
52.2

 
342.6

 
(290.4
)
 
(85
)%
 
(42.0
)
 
406.2

 
(448.2
)
 
NM

Provision for income taxes
69.2

 
90.6

 
(21.4
)
 
(24
)%
 
64.1

 
44.4

 
19.7

 
44
 %
(Loss) earnings from consolidated companies
(17.0
)
 
252.0

 
(269.0
)
 
NM

 
(106.1
)
 
361.8

 
(467.9
)
 
NM

Equity in net (loss) of nonconsolidated companies
(23.0
)
 
(2.3
)
 
(20.7
)
 
NM

 
(34.3
)
 
(3.9
)
 
(30.4
)
 
NM

Net (loss) earnings including noncontrolling interests
(40.0
)
 
249.7

 
(289.7
)
 
NM

 
(140.4
)
 
357.9

 
(498.3
)
 
NM

Less: Net gain attributable to noncontrolling interests
4.1

 
2.2

 
1.9

 
86
 %
 
6.0

 
0.2

 
5.8

 
NM

Net (loss) earnings attributable to Mosaic
$
(44.1
)
 
$
247.5

 
$
(291.6
)
 
NM

 
$
(146.4
)
 
$
357.7

 
$
(504.1
)
 
NM

Diluted net (loss) earnings per share attributable to Mosaic
$
(0.11
)
 
$
0.64

 
$
(0.75
)
 
NM

 
$
(0.38
)
 
$
0.93

 
$
(1.31
)
 
NM

Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding
385.0

 
387.5

 
 
 
 
 
385.5

 
386.1

 
 
 
 
On January 8, 2018, we completed our acquisition (the “Acquisition”) of Vale Fertilizantes S.A. (now known as Mosaic Fertilizantes P&K S.A. or the “Acquired Business”). The aggregate consideration paid by us at closing was $1.08 billion in cash (after giving effect to certain adjustments based on matters such as the working capital and indebtedness balances of the Acquired Business, which were estimated at the time of closing) and 34,176,574 shares of our Common Stock, par


32

Table of Contents


value $0.01 per share, which was valued at $26.92 per share at closing. The assets we acquired included five Brazilian phosphate rock mines; four phosphate chemical plants; a potash mine in Brazil; an additional 40% economic interest in the Miski Mayo phosphate rock mine in the Bayovar region of Peru, which increased our aggregate interest to 75%; and a potash project in Kronau, Saskatchewan. Upon completion of the Acquisition, we became the leading fertilizer producer and distributor in Brazil.
Overview of Consolidated Results for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018
For the three months ended September 30, 2019, Mosaic had a net loss of $44.1 million, or $(0.11) per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $247.5 million, or $0.64 per diluted share, for the prior year period. The current period net loss was impacted by $81 million, or $(0.19) per diluted share, related to the following notable items:
•Foreign currency transaction loss of $54 million, or $(0.10) per diluted share
•Discrete income tax expense of $16 million, or $(0.05) per diluted share
•Other operating expenses of $29 million, or $(0.05) per diluted share, primarily related to revisions in the estimated costs of our asset retirement obligations
•A benefit of $15 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, related to a revision in the estimated cost of our asset retirement obligation at our permanently closed Plant City, Florida phosphates manufacturing facility. Discrete income tax expense of $4 million was associated with this.
•Depreciation expense of $12 million, or $(0.02) per diluted share, related to the acceleration of the closure of our K1 and K2 mine shafts at our Esterhazy, Saskatchewan mine as we ramp up K3
•Unrealized loss on derivatives of $7 million, or $(0.01) per diluted share
•Expenses of $7 million, or $(0.01) per diluted share, related to repairing the lateral movement at the Gypstack at our Uncle Sam facility in Louisiana
•Other non-operating income of $13 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, related to a realized gain on RCRA trust securities
During the three months ended September 30, 2018, our results included:
•Discrete income tax expense of $29 million, or $(0.08) per diluted share primarily related to the reversal of a valuation allowance associated with foreign tax credits
•Other operating expenses of $15 million, or $(0.04) per diluted share, primarily related to the Acquisition
•Other non-operating expenses of $7 million, or $(0.01) per diluted share, related to a realized loss on RCRA trust securities
•Foreign currency transaction losses and unrealized gain on derivatives of $9 million, or $0.02 per diluted share
Significant factors affecting our results of operations and financial condition are listed below. Certain of these factors are discussed in more detail in the following sections of this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
In addition to the items noted above, our operating results during the three months ended September 30, 2019, were favorably impacted in our Potash segment by higher average selling prices compared to the prior year period. This was driven by the continued recovery of prices which began in 2018. The recovery was supported by the benefit of increased pricing from the China and India contracts, which settled in September of 2018. The price strengthening has stalled due to a full product pipeline, as a result of adverse weather conditions in North America in the first half of 2019, but pricing has remained above that experienced in the prior year. Operating results were unfavorably impacted by lower potash sales volumes in the current year period compared to the same period in the prior year. In the current year, domestic sales volumes declined as a result of the adverse weather conditions discussed above, which resulted in a late spring season compared to the prior year and full product pipelines. Operating results were also negatively impacted by higher fixed cost absorption due to lower production and higher Canadian resource taxes as a result of tax law changes which became effective in 2019.
Operating results were unfavorably impacted in our Phosphates segment, primarily due to a significant decrease in average selling prices compared to the same period in the prior year. Phosphate prices began to decrease in the fourth quarter of 2018 due to the limited fall application season in North America and increased import activity. They have remained low in 2019 due to reduced demand as a result of the adverse weather conditions in North America throughout the first half


33

Table of Contents


of 2019, which significantly delayed planting, increased supply, due to new capacity coming online, and stronger China exports due to lower Chinese domestic demand and a weaker currency. These factors have also unfavorably impacted finished product sales volumes in the current year period.
For the three months ended September 30, 2019, operating results were also unfavorably impacted in our Mosaic Fertilizantes segment. This was due to increased expenses related to the temporary idling of operations at our phosphates mines in Brazil, as we work to comply with new legislation regarding tailing dams in Brazil. This resulted in increased raw material costs, as we imported rock to meet our production needs, increased conversion costs and idle plants costs. Operating results were also unfavorably impacted by lower sales volumes due to planting delays from dry weather and product availability. These expenses were partially offset by an increase in average selling prices in the current year compared to the prior year period. This increase was driven by better pricing in Brazil due to a favorable mix of products sold, product positioning, and the timing of sales.
Other Highlights
•Our remaining phosphate mines in Brazil, which had been previously idled to address new legislation which introduced rules regarding tailing dam safety, construction, environmental licenses and operations, returned to full operations. The Tapira and Araxá mines returned to full production in September 2019. The Catalão mine had returned to full production in June 2019. Until full operations resumed, we processed available rock inventory to maintain finished product sales. We supplemented requirements with imported rock from our mine in Peru and shipped finished phosphates from our Florida operations to meet our Brazilian customers’ needs.
•In August 2019, we announced the temporary idling of our Colonsay, Saskatchewan potash mine. We expect this action to lower our cost of production, accelerate inventory depletion, and increase our leverage to strengthening markets into 2020.
•In September 2019, we announced several strategic decisions:
◦We plan to repurchase up to $250 million of our Common Stock under our existing share repurchase authorization. During the quarter ended September 30, 2019, we repurchased 5.8 million shares for approximately $125 million. In October 2019, we repurchased an additional 1.3 million shares of Common Stock for approximately $25 million.
◦We plan to temporarily idle our Louisiana phosphates operations effective October 1. We plan to reduce production by approximately 500,000 tonnes during the remainder of 2019, which we expect to accelerate the reduction of high phosphate fertilizer inventories.
◦We have implemented actions necessary to meet or exceed our previously announced synergy target for Mosaic Fertilizantes of $275 million in 2019. In addition, we announced that we intend to drive an additional $200 million in annual value with Mosaic Fertilizantes through ongoing business transformation efforts by the end of 2022.
Subsequent to the quarter-end, on October 10, 2019, we announced that we will temporary curtail production at our Esterhazy, Saskatchewan potash mine, bringing our total 2019 potash curtailment to approximately 600,000 tonnes. The increased curtailment is based on increasing inventories as a result of a short-term slowdown in global potash markets and increased risks of a delay in the Chinese contract settlement. We also plan to accelerate development of the Esterhazy K3 mine by an additional year, with expected completion by mid-2022.
Overview of Consolidated Results for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018
Net loss attributable to Mosaic for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $(146.4) million, or $(0.38) per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $357.7 million, or $0.93 per diluted share, for the same period a year ago. The net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was impacted by $386 million, or $(0.82) per diluted share, due to the following notable items:
•Plant City closing costs of $354 million, or $(0.70) per diluted share. There was a discrete income tax benefit of $81 million associated with this.
•Discrete income tax expense of $26 million, or $(0.07) per diluted share


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Table of Contents


•Asset retirement obligation costs of $30 million, or $(0.06) per diluted share, related to revisions in the estimated costs of our asset retirement obligations
•Expenses of $21 million, or $(0.04) per diluted share, related to repairing the lateral movement at the Gypstack at our Uncle Sam facility in Louisiana
•Depreciation expense of $12 million, or $(0.02) per diluted share, related to the acceleration of the closure of our K1 and K2 mine shafts at our Esterhazy, Saskatchewan mine as we ramp up K3
•Other operating expenses of $17 million, or $(0.04) per diluted share, related to the Acquisition, partially offset by income of $12 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, related to the reversal of our previously estimated and accrued earn-out obligation to Vale
•Foreign currency transaction losses of $10 million, or $(0.01) per diluted share
•Unrealized gains on derivatives of $25 million, or $0.05 per diluted share
•Other operating income of $8 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, related to insurance proceeds for the 2017 flooding at the Miski Mayo mine
•Other non-operating income of $13 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, related to a realized gain on RCRA trust securities

During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, our results included:
•Foreign currency transaction losses of $113 million, or $(0.22) per diluted share
•Other operating expense of $72 million, or $(0.15) per diluted share, primarily related to the Acquisition
•Unrealized losses on derivatives of $35 million, or $(0.07) per diluted share
•Discrete income tax benefit of $32 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, primarily related to the reversal of a valuation allowance associated with foreign tax credits
•Expenses of $30 million related to a refinement of our weighted average inventory costing, or $(0.06) per diluted share
•Other non-operating expenses of $12 million, or $(0.02) per diluted share, related to a realized loss on RCRA trust securities
•Sales tax refund of $6 million, or $0.01 per diluted share
Results for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 reflected the factors discussed above in the discussion for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, in addition to those noted below. Certain of these factors are discussed in more detail in the following sections of this Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Operating results in our Potash segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 were favorably impacted by an increase in the average selling price of potash compared to the prior year period. These results were partially offset by lower sales volumes, driven by the factors mentioned above in the three-month discussion.
Operating results in our Phosphates segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 were unfavorably impacted by lower phosphate average selling prices compared to the prior year period. These results were driven by the factors mentioned above in the three-month discussion and lower sales volumes due to adverse weather conditions in North America throughout the first half of 2019. Operating results were also negatively impacted by higher costs related to the idling of South Pasture, Florida mine in August 2018, operational challenges as we transitioned to new mining areas, and costs related to the permanent closure of Plant City, Florida phosphate facility, which we announced in the second quarter of 2019.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, operating results in our Mosaic Fertilizantes segment were favorably impacted by an increase in average selling prices in the current year compared to the prior year period, driven by the factors mentioned above in the three-month discussion. These results were offset by the unfavorable impact of the expenses related to the temporary idling of three of our Brazilian phosphate mines for a large portion of the period, as discussed above in the three-month discussion.


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Table of Contents


Other Highlights
•In April 2019, we purchased the Pine Bend distribution facility in Rosemount, Minnesota, near the northern end of the Mississippi River, for $55 million. This large facility significantly improves our ability to serve customers in the U.S., allows us to capture time-place premiums, and reduces our logistics risk.




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Table of Contents


Phosphates Net Sales and Gross Margin
The following table summarizes the Phosphates segment’s net sales, gross margin, sales volume, selling prices and raw material prices:
 
Three months ended
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended
 
 
 
 
 
September 30,
 
2019-2018
 
September 30,
 
2019-2018
(in millions, except price per tonne or unit)  
2019
 
2018
 
Change
 
Percent
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
 
Percent
Net sales:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
North America
$
484.1

 
$
626.5

 
$
(142.4
)
 
(23
)%
 
$
1,326.6

 
$
1,691.4

 
$
(364.8
)
 
(22
)%
International
335.8

 
415.0

 
(79.2
)
 
(19
)%
 
1,216.7

 
1,269.2

 
(52.5
)
 
(4
)%
Total
819.9

 
1,041.5

 
(221.6
)
 
(21
)%
 
2,543.3

 
2,960.6

 
(417.3
)
 
(14
)%
Cost of goods sold
839.2

 
861.5

 
(22.3
)
 
(3
)%
 
2,519.6

 
2,530.3

 
(10.7
)
 
0
 %
Gross margin
$
(19.3
)
 
$
180.0

 
$
(199.3
)
 
NM

 
$
23.7

 
$
430.3

 
$
(406.6
)
 
(94
)%
Gross margin as a percentage of net sales
(2
)%
 
17
%
 
 
 
 
 
1
%
 
15
%
 
 
 
 
Sales volumes(a) (in thousands of metric tonnes)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DAP/MAP
1,311

 
1,261

 
50

 
4
 %
 
3,727

 
3,888

 
(161
)
 
(4
)%
Specialty(b)
883

 
974

 
(91
)
 
(9
)%
 
2,441

 
2,594

 
(153
)
 
(6
)%
       Total finished product tonnes
2,194

 
2,235

 
(41
)
 
(2
)%
 
6,168

 
6,482

 
(314
)
 
(5
)%
Rock
536

 
399

 
137

 
34
 %
 
1,401

 
1,000

 
401

 
40
 %
Total Phosphates Segment Tonnes(a)
2,730

 
2,634

 
96

 
4
 %
 
7,569

 
7,482

 
87

 
1
 %
Realized prices ($/tonne)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average finished product selling price (destination)
$
355

 
$
454

 
$
(99
)
 
(22
)%
 
$
396

 
$
446

 
$
(50
)
 
(11
)%
Average rock selling price (destination)(a)
$
75

 
$
68

 
$
7

 
10
 %
 
$
73

 
$
72

 
$
1

 
1
 %
Average cost per unit consumed in cost of goods sold:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ammonia (metric tonne)
$
306

 
$
329

 
$
(23
)
 
(7
)%
 
$
331

 
$
332

 
$
(1
)
 
0
 %
Sulfur (long ton)
$
119

 
$
137

 
$
(18
)
 
(13
)%
 
$
136

 
$
135

 
$
1

 
1
 %
Blended rock (metric tonne)
$
65

 
$
57

 
$
8

 
14
 %
 
$
63

 
$
57

 
$
6

 
11
 %
Production volume (in thousands of metric tonnes) - North America
2,111

 
2,115

 
(4
)
 
0
 %
 
6,153

 
6,241

 
(88
)
 
(1
)%
______________________________
(a) Includes intersegment sales volumes.
(b) Includes sales volumes of MicroEssentials® and animal feed ingredients.
Three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018
The Phosphates segment’s net sales were $819.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $1.0 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2018. The decrease in net sales was primarily due to significantly lower selling prices, which impacted net sales by approximately $210 million, and slightly lower sales volumes in the current year period, which unfavorably impacted net sales by approximately $10 million.
Our average finished product selling price was $355 per tonne for the three months ended September 30, 2019, a decrease of 22% from the same period a year ago, due to the factors discussed in the Overview.
The Phosphates segment’s sales volumes of finished products decreased by 2% for the three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to the same period in the prior year, due to the factors discussed in the Overview. The 34% increase in sales volumes of rock shown in the table above were due to Mosaic Fertilizantes purchasing rock from the Miski Mayo mine in Peru (included in our Phosphates segment) to supplement their production requirements, as Mosaic Fertilizantes' mines were temporarily idled for a portion of the current year quarter as discussed in the Overview.


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Table of Contents


Gross margin for the Phosphates segment decreased to $(19.3) million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, from $180.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018. The decrease in gross margin in the current year period was primarily due to the impact of lower finished product prices of approximately $210 million compared to the prior year. Higher rock costs, of approximately $30 million, were partially offset by lower sulfur and ammonia costs of $25 million as described below. In addition, gross margin was favorably impacted by approximately $10 million related to lower idle plant costs in the current year period.
The average consumed price for ammonia for our North American operations decreased to $306 per tonne for the three months ended September 30, 2019, from $329 in the same period a year ago. We typically purchase approximately one-third of our ammonia from various suppliers in the spot market, with the remaining two-thirds either purchased through an ammonia supply agreement or produced internally at our Faustina, Louisiana location. In the current year quarter, we used a higher percentage of ammonia purchased from third parties in production as our internal ammonia production has been lower in the current year. The average consumed sulfur price for our North American operations decreased to $119 per long ton for the three months ended September 30, 2019, from $137 in the same period a year ago. The purchase prices of these raw materials are driven by global supply and demand. The consumed ammonia and sulfur prices also include transportation, transformation, and storage costs.
The average consumed cost of purchased and produced phosphate rock increased to $65 per tonne for the three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $57 per tonne for the three months ended September 30, 2018. Our rock costs increased due to lower production in the current year. For the three months ended September 30, 2019, our North American phosphate rock production decreased to 3.1 million tonnes from 3.4 million tonnes for the same period of the prior year, primarily due to the idling of our South Pasture, Florida mine in August of 2018.
The Phosphates segment's production of crop nutrient dry concentrates and animal feed ingredients decreased slightly to 2.11 million tonnes for the three months ended September 30, 2019, from 2.12 million tonnes in the prior year period. For the three months ended each of September 30, 2019 and 2018, our operating rate for processed phosphate production was 87%.

Nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018
The Phosphates segment’s net sales were $2.5 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $3.0 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The decrease in net sales was due to lower selling prices and sales volumes in the current year period, which unfavorably impacted net sales by approximately $285 million and $135 million, respectively.
Our average finished product selling price was $396 per tonne for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, a decrease of 11% per tonne from the same period a year ago, due to the factors discussed in the Overview.
The Phosphates segment’s sales volumes of finished products decreased by 5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to the same period in the prior year ago, due to the factor discussed in the Overview.
Gross margin for the Phosphates segment decreased to $23.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, from $430.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The decrease in gross margin in the current year period was due to the impact of lower finished product prices of approximately $285 million, lower sales volumes of approximately $35 million and higher blended rock costs, of approximately $60 million. In addition, gross margin in the current year period was negatively impacted by higher costs of approximately $50 million, primarily related to the timing of maintenance turnarounds, higher idle costs for the South Pasture mine and costs related to repairing the lateral movement at the Gypstack at our Uncle Sam facility in Louisiana. The prior year period also included an unfavorable impact of approximately $20 million related to a refinement of our weighted average inventory costing.
The average consumed price for ammonia for our North American operations was $331 per tonne for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $332 in the same period a year ago. The average consumed price for sulfur for our North American operations increased slightly to $136 per long ton for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, from $135 in the same period a year ago.  The purchase prices of these raw materials are driven by global supply and demand. The average consumed cost of purchased and produced phosphate rock was $63 per tonne for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $57 per tonne for the prior year period. The increase in rock costs is due to the factors discussed below.


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Table of Contents


The Phosphate segment's production of crop nutrient dry concentrates and animal feed ingredients was 6.15 million tonnes for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to 6.24 million tonnes in the prior year period. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, our operating rate for processed phosphate production decreased slightly to 85%, compared to 86% in the same period of the prior year.
Our North American phosphate rock production decreased to 9.0 million tonnes for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to 11.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The decrease from the prior year was primarily due to the idling of our South Pasture, Florida mine in August of 2018, and operational challenges as we transitioned into new mining areas in the current year.
 


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Table of Contents


Potash Net Sales and Gross Margin
The following table summarizes the Potash segment’s net sales, gross margin, sales volume and selling price:
 
Three months ended
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended
 
 
 
 
 
September 30,
 
2019-2018
 
September 30,
 
2019-2018
(in millions, except price per tonne or unit)  
2019
 
2018
 
Change
 
Percent
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
 
Percent
Net sales:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
North America
$
327.7

 
$
345.4

 
$
(17.7
)
 
(5
)%
 
$
859.3

 
$
976.4

 
$
(117.1
)
 
(12
)%
International
288.7

 
263.6

 
25.1

 
10
 %
 
859.7

 
605.8

 
253.9

 
42
 %
Total
616.4

 
609.0

 
7.4

 
1
 %
 
1,719.0

 
1,582.2

 
136.8

 
9
 %
Cost of goods sold
458.1

 
448.1

 
10.0

 
2
 %
 
1,194.2

 
1,186.7

 
7.5

 
1
 %
Gross margin
$
158.3

 
$
160.9

 
$
(2.6
)
 
(2
)%
 
$
524.8

 
$
395.5

 
$
129.3

 
33
 %
Gross margin as a percentage of net sales
26
%
 
26
%
 
 
 
 
 
31
%
 
25
%
 
 
 
 
Sales volume(a) (in thousands of metric tonnes)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MOP
2,099

 
2,187

 
(88
)
 
(4
)%
 
5,747

 
5,837

 
(90
)
 
(2
)%
Specialty(b)
222

 
241

 
(19
)
 
(8
)%
 
598

 
645

 
(47
)
 
(7
)%
Total Potash Segment Tonnes
2,321

 
2,428

 
(107
)
 
(4
)%
 
6,345

 
6,482

 
(137
)
 
(2
)%
Realized prices ($/tonne)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average finished product selling price (destination)
$
266

 
$
251

 
$
15

 
6
 %
 
$
271

 
$
244

 
$
27

 
11
 %
Production volume (in thousands of metric tonnes)
1,771

 
2,220

 
(449
)
 
(20
)%
 
6,205

 
6,646

 
(441
)
 
(7
)%
______________________________
(a) Includes intersegment sales volumes.
(b) Includes sales volumes of K-mag, Aspire and animal feed ingredients.
Three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018
The Potash segment’s net sales increased to $616.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $609.0 million in the same period a year ago. The increase was due to higher selling prices, which had a favorable impact on net sales of approximately $40 million, partially offset by lower sales volumes, which had an unfavorable impact on net sales of approximately $30 million.
Our average finished product selling price was $266 per tonne for the three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $251 per tonne for the same period a year ago, as a result of the factors described in the Overview.
The Potash segment’s sales volumes of finished products decreased to 2.3 million tonnes for the three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to 2.4 million tonnes in the same period a year ago, due to the factors discussed in the Overview.
Gross margin for the Potash segment decreased to $158.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, from $160.9 million in the same period of the prior year. The decrease in gross margin in the current year period is due to approximately $18 million of higher Canadian resource taxes, as described below, approximately $10 million in lower sales volumes and approximately $15 million of higher fixed cost absorption due to lower production, as discussed below. These were mostly offset by higher selling prices of $40 million in the current year period.
We had expense of $58.1 million from Canadian resource taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $40.5 million in the same period a year ago. Canadian royalty expense decreased to $8.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $9.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018. The fluctuations in Canadian resource taxes are a result of increased average selling prices and margins, due to the factors discussed in the Overview, and the passing of Canadian resource tax law changes, which became effective on April 1, 2019. The decrease in royalties is due to reduced production, as a described below.


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Table of Contents


We incurred $32.0 million in brine inflow management expenses, including depreciation on brine assets, at our Esterhazy mine during the three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $37.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018. We have been effectively managing the brine inflows at Esterhazy since 1985, and from time to time we experience changes to the amounts and patterns of brine inflows. Inflows continue to be within the range of our historical experience. Brine inflow expenditures continue to reflect the cost of addressing changing inflow patterns, including inflows from below our mine workings, which can be more complex and costly to manage. The mine has significant brine storage capacity. Depending on inflow rates, pumping and disposal rates, and other variables, the volume of brine stored in the mine may change significantly from period to period. In general, the higher the level of brine stored in the mine, the less time available to mitigate new or increased inflows that exceed our capacity for pumping or disposal of brine outside the mine, and therefore the less time to avoid flooding and/or loss of the mine. Our past investments in remote injection and increased pumping capacities facilitate our management of the brine inflows and the amount of brine stored in the mine. We are continuing the expansion of capacity in our Potash segment with the K3 shafts at our Esterhazy mine. Once completed, we expect this to provide us the opportunity to reduce or eliminate future brine inflow management costs and risks.
Our operating rate for potash production was 67% for the current year period, compared to 85% in the prior year period. This decrease in the current year period is due to lower production volumes related to the timing and length of maintenance turnarounds at our Esterhazy and Colonsay, Saskatchewan mines, and the temporary idling of the Colonsay mine during the current year quarter, as discussed in the Overview. We expect our operating rate to remain low in the fourth quarter of 2019 as we have announced curtailments at our Colonsay and Esterhazy mines.
Nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018
The Potash segment’s net sales increased to $1.7 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $1.6 billion in the same period a year ago. The increase was due to higher selling prices, which had a favorable impact on net sales of approximately $220 million, partially offset by lower sales volumes, which had an unfavorable impact on net sales of approximately $85 million.
Our average selling price was $271 per tonne for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $244 per tonne for the same period a year ago, due to the factors discussed above in the Overview.
The Potash segment’s sales volumes decreased to 6.3 million tonnes for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to 6.5 million tonnes in the same period a year ago, due to the factors discussed in the Overview. In the prior year period, our sales volumes were unfavorably impacted by a change in the Canpotex revenue recognition policy.
Gross margin for the Potash segment increased to $524.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, from $395.5 million for the same period in the prior year. Gross margin was favorably impacted by approximately $220 million, due to the increase in average selling prices, partially offset by approximately $10 million, due to the impact of lower sales volumes. Gross margin was also unfavorably impacted by approximately $65 million due to higher Canadian resource taxes and royalties, as discussed below. We also saw favorable foreign exchange impacts due to the strengthening of the U.S. Dollar against the Canadian Dollar. These impacts were offset by higher fixed cost absorption and plant spending due to lower production and increased length of maintenance turnarounds.
We incurred $161.4 million in Canadian resource taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $100.5 million in the same period a year ago. Canadian royalty expense increased to $30.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $26.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The fluctuations in Canadian resource taxes are due to the items discussed in the three-month discussion above. The increase in royalties is due to higher average selling prices, partially offset by lower production in the current year.
We incurred expense of $103.9 million, including depreciation on brine assets, related to managing the brine inflows at our Esterhazy mine during the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $115.4 million in the prior year period.
Our operating rate was 79% for the current year period, compared to 84% in the prior year period. The decrease is due to the factors discussed in the three-month discussion above.


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Table of Contents


Mosaic Fertilizantes Net Sales and Gross Margin
The following table summarizes the Mosaic Fertilizantes segment’s net sales, gross margin, sales volume and selling price.
 
Three months ended
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended
 
 
 
 
 
September 30,
 
2019-2018
 
September 30,
 
2019-2018
(in millions, except price per tonne or unit)  
2019
 
2018
 
Change
 
Percent
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
 
Percent
Net Sales
$
1,388.3

 
$
1,399.8

 
$
(11.5
)
 
(1
)%
 
$
2,919.0

 
$
2,777.8

 
$
141.2

 
5
 %
Cost of goods sold
1,256.2

 
1,247.8

 
8.4

 
1
 %
 
2,699.3

 
2,513.6

 
185.7

 
7
 %
Gross margin
$
132.1

 
$
152.0

 
$
(19.9
)
 
(13
)%
 
$
219.7

 
$
264.2

 
$
(44.5
)
 
(17
)%
Gross margin as a percent of net sales
10
%
 
11
%
 
 
 
 
 
8
%
 
10
%
 
 
 
 
Sales volume (in thousands of metric tonnes)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Phosphate produced in Brazil
846

 
1,214

 
(368
)
 
(30
)%
 
2,021

 
2,277

 
(256
)
 
(11
)%
Potash produced in Brazil
88

 
82

 
6

 
7
 %
 
241

 
247

 
(6
)
 
(2
)%
Purchased nutrients for distribution
2,500

 
2,299

 
201

 
9
 %
 
4,791

 
4,501

 
290

 
6
 %
Total Mosaic Fertilizantes Segment Tonnes
3,434

 
3,595

 
(161
)
 
(4
)%
 
7,053

 
7,025

 
28

 
—
 %
Realized prices ($/tonne)

 


 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average finished product selling price (destination)
$
404

 
$
389

 
$
15

 
4
 %
 
$
414

 
$
395

 
$
19

 
5
 %
Purchases ('000 tonnes)

 


 


 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DAP/MAP from Mosaic
201

 
97

 
104

 
107
 %
 
664

 
383

 
281

 
73
 %
MicroEssentials® from Mosaic
294

 
394

 
(100
)
 
(25
)%
 
852

 
968

 
(116
)
 
(12
)%
Potash from Mosaic/Canpotex
868

 
841

 
27

 
3
 %
 
1,878

 
2,000

 
(122
)
 
(6
)%
Average cost per unit consumed in cost of goods sold:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Ammonia (metric tonne)
$
375

 
$
333

 
$
42

 
13
 %
 
$
385

 
$
359

 
$
26

 
7
 %
    Sulfur (long ton)
$
178

 
$
184

 
$
(6
)
 
(3
)%
 
$
190

 
$
190

 
$
—

 
0
 %
    Blended rock (metric tonne)
$
103

 
$
93

 
$
10

 
11
 %
 
$
104

 
$
102

 
$
2

 
2
 %
Production volume (in thousands of metric tonnes)
765

 
920

 
(155
)
 
(17
)%
 
2,341

 
2,729

 
(388
)
 
(14
)%
______________________________
Three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018
The Mosaic Fertilizantes segment’s net sales decreased to $1.39 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2019, from $1.40 billion in the same period a year ago. The decrease in net sales was due to lower sales volumes, which unfavorably impacted net sales by approximately $45 million, partially offset by higher selling prices in the current year period, which favorably impacted net sales by approximately $35 million.
Our average finished product selling price was $404 per tonne for the three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $389 per tonne for the same period a year ago, as a result of the factors described in the Overview.
The Mosaic Fertilizantes segment’s sales volumes of finished products decreased to 3.4 million tonnes for the three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to 3.6 million tonnes in the same period a year ago, as a result of the factors described in the Overview.
Gross margin for the Mosaic Fertilizantes segment decreased to $132.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, from $152.0 million in the same period of the prior year. Gross margin decreased approximately $35 million in the current year period primarily due to higher costs related to using more imported rock, as two of our mines were temporarily idled during most of the quarter, and higher fixed cost absorption due to lower production tonnes. This was partially offset by approximately $15 million related to the increase in finished product selling prices, as discussed in the Overview.


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The Mosaic Fertilizantes segment's production of crop nutrient dry concentrates and animal feed ingredients decreased 17% to 0.8 million tonnes for the three months ended September 30, 2019, from 0.9 million tonnes in the prior year period. This decrease was primarily due to temporarily idling of two of our mines in Brazil for most of the quarter, as discussed in the Overview. For the three months ended September 30, 2019, our operating rate decreased to 62%, compared to 82% in the same period of the prior year.
For the three months ended September 30, 2019, our Brazilian phosphate rock production decreased to 0.7 million tonnes from 1.0 million tonnes for the same period of the prior year, due to the temporary idling of two of our mines, as discussed in the Overview. 
Nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018
The Mosaic Fertilizantes segment’s net sales were $2.9 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $2.8 billion in the prior year period. The increase in net sales was due to higher selling prices in the current year period, which favorably impacted net sales by approximately $125 million, and slightly higher sales volumes, which favorably impacted net sales by approximately $15 million.
The average finished product selling price increased $19 per tonne to $414 per tonne for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $395 per tonne in the prior year period, primarily due to factors mentioned above in the Overview.
The Mosaic Fertilizantes segment’s sales volume increased slightly to 7.1 million tonnes for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, from 7.0 million tonnes in the same period a year ago.
Total gross margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, decreased to $219.7 million from $264.2 million in the same period in the prior year. The favorable impact of higher finished product prices of approximately $60 million was more than offset by approximately $80 million of higher idle costs and fixed cost absorption due to lower production tonnes related to the temporary idling of our mines in Brazil, as discussed in the Overview. We also had higher raw material costs of approximately $20 million compared to the prior year period, including the negative impact of imported rock costs. These costs were partially offset by the favorable impact of foreign exchange rates in the current year period. In addition, the prior year period included a positive impact of approximately $48 million related to the purchase price adjustment for the fair market value of inventory acquired in the Acquisition, primarily on rock.
The Mosaic Fertilizantes segment's production of crop nutrient dry concentrates and animal feed ingredients decreased 14% to 2.3 million tonnes for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, from 2.7 million tonnes in the prior year period. The decline in production is due to the temporarily idling of three of our mines for a large portion of the period as discussed in the Overview. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, our operating rate decreased to 63%, compared to 79% in the same period of the prior year.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, our Brazilian phosphate rock production decreased to 1.7 million tonnes from 2.9 million tonnes for the same period of the prior year, due to the temporary idling of our mines as discussed above.
Corporate, Eliminations and Other
In addition to our three operating segments, we assign certain costs to Corporate, Eliminations and Other, which is presented separately in Note 18 to our Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Corporate, Eliminations and Other includes the results of the China and India distribution businesses, intersegment eliminations, including profit on intersegment sales, unrealized mark-to-market gains and losses on derivatives, debt expenses and Streamsong Resort® results of operations. As of January 1, 2019, certain selling, general and administrative costs that are not controllable by the business segments are no longer allocated to segments and are included within Corporate, Eliminations and Other. Our operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, have been recast to reflect this change.
For the three months ended September 30, 2019, gross margin for Corporate, Eliminations and Other was a gain of $8.8 million, compared to a gain of $2.6 million for the same period in the prior year. The change was driven by a lower elimination of profit on intersegment sales in the current year period, which contributed to the change from the prior year by approximately $35.4 million. Results were also impacted by a net unrealized loss of $6.4 million in the current year period, primarily on foreign currency derivatives, compared to a net unrealized gain of $10.6 million in the prior year period.


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Distribution operations in India and China had revenue of $134.3 million and gross margin of $0.4 million in the current year period, compared to revenue of $117.8 million and gross margin of $9.4 million in the prior year period.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, gross margin for Corporate, Eliminations and Other was a gain of $48.4 million, compared to a loss of $57.8 million for the same period in the prior year. The change was driven by a net unrealized gain of $25.6 million in the current year period, primarily on foreign currency and commodity derivatives, compared to a net unrealized loss of $34.8 million in the prior year period. Lower elimination of profit on intersegment sales in the current year period contributed to the change by approximately $65.3 million. Distribution operations in India and China had revenue of $360.8 million and gross margin of $19.6 million in the current year period, compared to revenue of $345.1 million and gross margin of $32.1 million in the prior year period.
Other Income Statement Items
 
Three months ended
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended
 
 
 
 
 
September 30,
 
2019-2018
 
September 30,
 
2019-2018
(in millions)
2019
 
2018
 
Change
 
Percent
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
 
Percent
Selling, general and administrative expenses
$
78.2

 
$
78.5

 
$
(0.3
)
 
0
 %
 
$
249.8

 
$
251.4

 
$
(1.6
)
 
(1
)%
Plant City closure (benefit) costs
(15.6
)
 
—

 
(15.6
)
 
NM

 
353.8

 
—

 
353.8

 
NM

Other operating expense
77.8

 
23.7

 
54.1

 
NM

 
113.3

 
110.5

 
2.8

 
3
 %
Interest expense
(53.1
)
 
(57.7
)
 
4.6

 
(8
)%
 
(161.1
)
 
(171.9
)
 
10.8

 
(6
)%
Interest income
9.9

 
16.8

 
(6.9
)
 
(41
)%
 
24.9

 
36.5

 
(11.6
)
 
(32
)%
      Interest expense, net
(43.2
)
 
(40.9
)
 
(2.3
)
 
6
 %
 
(136.2
)
 
(135.4
)
 
(0.8
)
 
1
 %
Foreign currency transaction (loss)
(53.8
)
 
(2.2
)
 
(51.6
)
 
NM

 
(10.4
)
 
(113.1
)
 
102.7

 
(91
)%
Other income (expense)
9.7

 
(7.6
)
 
17.3

 
NM

 
4.9

 
(15.6
)
 
20.5

 
NM

Provision for income taxes
69.2

 
90.6

 
(21.4
)
 
(24
)%
 
64.1

 
44.4

 
19.7

 
44
 %
Equity in net (loss) of nonconsolidated companies
(23.0
)
 
(2.3
)
 
(20.7
)
 
NM

 
(34.3
)
 
(3.9
)
 
(30.4
)
 
NM

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses of $78.2 million and $249.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, were comparable to the same periods of the prior year.
Plant City Closure Costs
On June 18, 2019, we announced the closure of our previously idled Plant City phosphates manufacturing facility in Hillsborough County, Florida. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, we recognized pre-tax (benefits) costs of $(15.6) million and $353.8 million, respectively related to the permanent closure of this facility. These costs consisted of approximately $210 million related to the write-off of fixed assets, $110 million related to asset retirement obligations, including the benefit recorded in the three months ended September 30, 2019 related to revisions in estimated costs, and $34 million related to inventory and other reserves.
Other Operating Expense
For the three months ended September 30, 2019, we had other operating expenses of $77.8 million, compared to $23.7 million for the same period in the prior year. The three months ended September 30, 2019 include approximately $27 million related to revisions in estimated closure costs for our asset retirement obligations, $17 million of costs related to closed facilities, $13 million related to reserves for legal matters settled during the quarter and $2 million of integration costs related to the Acquisition. The prior year quarter included $8 million of estimated future earn-out obligations due to Vale, $4 million of costs to capture expected future synergies and $3 million of integration costs related to the Acquisition.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we had other operating expenses of $113.3 million, compared to $110.5 million for the same period in the prior year. The nine months ended September 30, 2019 include approximately $30 million of asset retirement obligation expenses, $10 million of integration costs related to the Acquisition and $7 million of costs to capture expected future synergies associated with the Acquired Business, compared to $34 million of fees and integration


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costs, $26 million to capture expected future synergies and $8 million of estimated future earn-out obligation due to Vale in the prior year period. The current year period also includes income of approximately $12 million generated by the fair value adjustment for the reduction in estimated future earn-out obligations related to the Acquisition and $8 million of insurance proceeds related to flooding that occurred at the Miski Mayo mine in 2017.
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss)
We recorded foreign currency transaction losses of $53.8 million and $10.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to foreign currency transaction losses of $2.2 million and $113.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. For the three months ended September 30, 2019, the loss was primarily the result of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to the Brazilian real on significant U.S. dollar-denominated payables held by our Brazilian subsidiaries and the effect of strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to the Canadian dollar on significant U.S. dollar-denominated intercompany loans. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the loss was primarily the result of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to the Brazilian real on significant U.S. dollar-denominated payables held by our Brazilian subsidiaries, partially offset by the result of the effect of weakening of the U.S. dollar relative to the Canadian dollar on significant U.S. dollar-denominated intercompany loans.
For the three months ended September 30, 2018, the loss was primarily the result of the effect of strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to the Brazilian real on significant U.S. dollar-denominated payables held by our Brazilian subsidiaries, offset by the weakening of the U.S. dollar relative to the Canadian dollar on significant U.S. dollar-denominated intercompany loans. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the loss was the result of the effect of strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to the Brazilian real on significant U.S. dollar-denominated payables held by our Brazilian subsidiaries and the strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to the Canadian dollar on significant U.S. dollar-denominated intercompany loans.
Other Income (Expenses)
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, we had other income of $9.7 million and $4.9 million, respectively, compared to other expenses of $7.6 million and $15.6 million for the same periods in the prior year. The increase is primarily due to a realized gain on RCRA trust securities of $13 million in the current year period.
Equity in Net (Loss) Earnings of Nonconsolidated Companies
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, we had equity in net loss of nonconsolidated companies of $23.0 million and $34.3 million, respectively, compared to equity in net loss of nonconsolidated companies of $2.3 million and $3.9 million for the same periods in the prior year. This decrease is primarily related to the operations at MWSPC as they are not yet operating at full capacity.
Provision for (Benefit from) Income Taxes
 
Three months ended
 
Effective Tax Rate
 
Provision for (Benefit from) Income Taxes
 
 
September 30, 2019
 
132.6
 %
 
$
69.2

 
September 30, 2018
 
26.4
 %
 
90.6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended
 
Effective Tax Rate
 
Provision for (Benefit from) Income Taxes
 
September 30, 2019
 
(152.6
)%
 
$
64.1

 
September 30, 2018
 
10.9
 %
 
44.4

Income tax expense was $69.2 million and $64.1million, and the effective tax rate was 132.6% and (152.6)% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019.
For the three months ended September 30, 2019, tax expense specific to the period was a cost of approximately $19.8 million. This consisted primarily of tax expense of $5.6 million related to changes in estimates related to prior years, $3.3 million related to the Plant City closure costs, and $10.9 million for valuation allowances in foreign jurisdictions. In addition to items specific to the period, our income tax rate is impacted by the mix of earnings across the jurisdictions in which we


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operate, by a benefit associated with depletion, and by the impact of certain entities being taxed in both foreign jurisdictions and the U.S., including foreign tax credits for various taxes incurred.
Generally, for interim periods, income tax is equal to the total of (1) year-to-date pretax income multiplied by our forecasted effective tax rate plus (2) tax expense items specific to the period. In situations where we expect to report losses for which we do not expect to receive tax benefits, we are required to apply separate forecasted effective tax rates to those jurisdictions rather than including them in the consolidated effective tax rate. For the three months ended September 30, 2019, income tax expense was impacted by this set of rules, resulting in an additional cost of $14.7 million compared to what would have been recorded under the general rule on a consolidated basis.
For the three months ended September 30, 2018, tax expense specific to the period was approximately $30.7 million. This consisted primarily of $29.8 million related to the revised year-to-date accounting for the valuation allowances on foreign tax credits, and $8.3 million as a result of revisions to the provisional estimates related to the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("The Act"). This was partially offset by a change in sequestration charge on AMT refunds of $2.7 million, $5.1 million related to the effect on deferred income tax liabilities of a decrease in the statutory tax rate in the U.S as a result of the Act, and other miscellaneous benefits of $0.4 million. In addition to items specific to the period, our income tax rate is impacted by the mix of earnings across the jurisdictions in which we operate, by a benefit associated with depletion, and by the impact of certain entities being taxed in both foreign jurisdictions and the US including foreign tax credits for various taxes incurred.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in conformity with GAAP. In preparing the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, we are required to make various judgments, estimates and assumptions that could have a significant impact on the results reported in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. We base these estimates on historical experience and other assumptions believed to be reasonable by management under the circumstances. Changes in these estimates could have a material effect on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
The basis for our financial statement presentation, including our significant accounting estimates, is summarized in Note 2 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this report. A summary description of our significant accounting policies is included in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 10-K Report. Further detailed information regarding our critical accounting estimates is included in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition in our 10-K Report.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of September 30, 2019, we had cash and cash equivalents of $0.6 billion, long-term debt, including current maturities, of approximately $4.6 billion, and stockholders’ equity of approximately $10.3 billion. We have a target liquidity buffer of up to $3.0 billion, including cash and available committed credit lines. We expect our liquidity to fluctuate from time to time, especially in the first quarter of each year, to manage through the seasonality of our business. We also target debt leverage ratios that are consistent with investment grade credit ratings. Our capital allocation priorities include maintaining our investment grade ratings and financial strength, sustaining our assets, including ensuring the safety and reliability of our assets, investing to grow our business, either through organic growth or taking advantage of strategic opportunities, and returning excess cash to shareholders, including paying our dividend. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we invested $931.1 million in capital expenditures.
Funds generated by operating activities, available cash and cash equivalents, and our credit facilities continue to be our most significant sources of liquidity. We believe funds generated from the expected results of operations and available cash, cash equivalents and borrowings under our credit facilities, as needed, will be sufficient to finance our operations, including our capital expenditures, existing strategic initiatives and expected dividend payments, for the next 12 months. There can be no assurance, however, that we will continue to generate cash flows at or above current levels. At September 30, 2019, we had $1.99 billion available under our $2.0 billion revolving credit facility. Our credit facilities, including the revolving credit facility and our term loans, require us to maintain certain financial ratios, as discussed in Note 10 of our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our 10-K Report.  We were in compliance with these ratios as of September 30, 2019.


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All of our cash and cash equivalents are diversified in highly rated investment vehicles. Our cash and cash equivalents are held either in the U.S. or held by non-U.S. subsidiaries and are not subject to significant foreign currency exposures, as the majority are held in investments denominated in U.S. dollars as of September 30, 2019. These funds may create foreign currency transaction gains or losses, however, depending on the functional currency of the entity holding the cash. In addition, there are no significant restrictions that would preclude us from bringing these funds back to the U.S., aside from withholding taxes.
The following table represents a comparison of the net cash provided by operating activities, net cash provided by or used in investing activities, and net cash used in or provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018:
(in millions)
Nine months ended
 
 
 
 
September 30,
 
2019-2018
Cash Flow
2019
 
2018
 
Change
 
Percent
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
817.8

 
$
1,259.8

 
$
(442.0
)
 
(35
)%
Net cash used in investing activities
(1,014.1
)
 
(1,660.9
)
 
646.8

 
(39
)%
Net cash used in financing activities
(16.3
)
 
(679.6
)
 
663.3

 
(98
)%
Operating Activities
During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, net cash provided by operating activities was $817.8 million, compared to $1.3 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. Our results of operations, after non-cash adjustments to net earnings, contributed $917.8 million to cash flows from operating activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to a contribution of $1.1 billion as computed on the same basis for the prior year period. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we had an unfavorable working capital change of $100.0 million, compared to a favorable change of $203.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
The change in working capital for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, was primarily driven by an increase in inventories of $99.1 million and an increase in other assets of $63.2 million, partially offset by an increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $59.3 million. The increase in inventories was primarily due to building inventory volumes. We had lower sales volumes in the current period, primarily due to the adverse weather conditions causing a delayed spring season in North America and higher pipeline inventories, as discussed in the Overview. The increase in other assets is primarily due to income tax receivables, as we have made payments in excess of our expected tax liabilities. The increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses is due to the timing of payments for capital expenditures.
The change in working capital for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, was primarily driven by an increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $466.5 million, partially offset by increases in inventories and other assets of $198.1 million and $75.9 million, respectively. Accounts payable increased due to the timing of payments for inventory purchases and an increase in the cost of raw materials. Accrued expenses increased due to liabilities associated with customer prepayments in Brazil. The increase in inventories was primarily due to higher raw material costs and building inventory volumes, especially in the Mosaic Fertilizantes segment. The increase in other assets was primarily related to tax receivables.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $1.0 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $1.7 billion for the same period a year ago. We had capital expenditures of $931.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $665.4 million in the prior year period. The increase was due to the acceleration of the K3 mineshafts at our Esterhazy Potash mine and increased expenditures, as we have a larger asset base in Brazil related to the Acquired Business. We also purchased the Pine Bend distribution facility for $55.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2019. In the prior year, we completed the Acquisition for approximately $1.0 billion.
Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, was $16.3 million, compared to $679.6 million for the same period in the prior year. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we had net proceeds from borrowings on short-term debt of $79.6 million, compared to $25.1 million in the prior year. These borrowings were used to fund incremental seasonal working capital needs in our international locations. We also had net proceeds from


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structured accounts payable of $102.7 million, compared to $7.8 million in the prior year period. During the current year period, we used cash of $117.1 million to repurchase Common Stock under our existing share repurchase authorization and made payments on our long-term debt of $32.9 million. We also paid dividends of $48.2 million in the current year period compared to $28.9 million in the prior year period.
In the prior year period, we also made net payments on long-term debt of $683.1 million, including a prepayment of $200 million on our term loan.
Debt Instruments, Guarantees and Related Covenants
See Notes 11 and17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 10-K Report.
Financial Assurance Requirements
In addition to various operational and environmental regulations related to our Phosphates segment, we are subject to financial assurance requirements. In various jurisdictions in which we operate, particularly Florida and Louisiana, we are required to pass a financial strength test or provide credit support, typically in the form of surety bonds, letters of credit, certificates of deposit or trust funds. Further information regarding financial assurance requirements is included in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition in our 10-K Report, under "EPA RCRA Initiative", and in Note 11 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Obligations
Information regarding off-balance sheet arrangements and obligations is included in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition in our 10-K Report and Note 15 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
Contingencies
Information regarding contingencies is hereby incorporated by reference to Note 12 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.


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Forward-Looking Statements
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information
All statements, other than statements of historical fact, appearing in this report constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, among other things, statements about our expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies for the future, including statements about our recently completed Acquisition and the anticipated benefits and synergies of the Acquisition, statements about MWSPC and its nature, impact and benefits, statements about other proposed or pending future transactions or strategic plans, statements concerning our future operations, financial condition and prospects, statements regarding our expectations for capital expenditures, statements concerning our level of indebtedness and other information, and any statements of assumptions regarding any of the foregoing. In particular, forward-looking statements may include words such as "anticipate", "believe", "could", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "potential", "predict", "project" or "should". These statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations as of the date of this filing.
Factors that could cause reported results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following:
•
difficulties with realization of the benefits of the Acquisition, including the risks that the Acquired Business may not be integrated successfully,
•
because of political and economic instability in Brazil or changes in government policy in Brazil, our operations could be disrupted, as higher costs of doing business could result, including those associated with implementation of new freight tables and new mining legislation;
•
business and economic conditions and governmental policies affecting the agricultural industry where we or our customers operate, including price and demand volatility resulting from periodic imbalances of supply and demand;
•
changes in farmers’ application rates for crop nutrients;
•
changes in the operation of world phosphate or potash markets, including continuing consolidation in the crop nutrient industry, particularly if we do not participate in the consolidation;
•
the expansion or contraction of production capacity or selling efforts by competitors or new entrants in the industries in which we operate, including the effects of actions by members of Canpotex to prove the production capacity of potash expansion projects, through proving runs or otherwise;
•
the expected cost of MWSPC and our expected remaining investment to be made in it, the amount, terms, availability and sufficiency of funding for MWSPC from us, Saudi Arabian Mining Company and Saudi Basic Industries Corporation and existing or future external sources, the timely development and commencement of operations of production facilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, political and economic instability in the region, and in general the future success of current plans for the joint venture and any future changes in those plans;
•
build-up of inventories in the distribution channels for our products that can adversely affect our sales volumes and selling prices;
•
the effect of future product innovations or development of new technologies on demand for our products;
•
seasonality in our business that results in the need to carry significant amounts of inventory and seasonal peaks in working capital requirements, and may result in excess inventory or product shortages;
•
changes in the costs, or constraints on supplies, of raw materials or energy used in manufacturing our products, or in the costs or availability of transportation for our products;
•
declines in our selling prices or significant increases in costs that can require us to write down our inventories to the lower of cost or market, or require us to impair goodwill or other long-lived assets, or establish a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets;


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•
the effects on our customers of holding high cost inventories of crop nutrients in periods of rapidly declining market prices for crop nutrients;
•
the lag in realizing the benefit of falling market prices for the raw materials we use to produce our products that can occur while we consume raw materials that we purchased or committed to purchase in the past at higher prices;
•
customer expectations about future trends in the selling prices and availability of our products and in farmer economics;
•
disruptions to existing transportation or terminaling facilities, including those of Canpotex or any joint venture in which we participate;
•
shortages or other unavailability of railcars, tugs, barges and ships for carrying our products and raw materials;
•
the effects of and change in trade, including tariffs, particularly around U.S. - Chinese trade policies, monetary, environmental, tax and fiscal policies, laws and regulations;
•
foreign exchange rates and fluctuations in those rates;
•
tax regulations, currency exchange controls and other restrictions that may affect our ability to optimize the use of our liquidity;
•
other risks associated with our international operations, including any potential adverse effects related to the Miski Mayo mine in the event that protests against natural resource companies in Peru were to extend to or impact the Miski Mayo mine;
•
adverse weather conditions affecting our customer's fertilizer applications and our operations, including the impact of potential hurricanes, excessive heat, cold, snow or rainfall, or drought;
•
difficulties or delays in receiving, challenges to, increased costs of obtaining or satisfying conditions of, or revocation or withdrawal of required governmental and regulatory approvals, including permitting activities;
•
changes in the environmental, mining and other governmental regulation that applies to our operations, including Brazil's mining regulations, federal legislation or regulatory action expanding the types and extent of water resources regulated under federal law and the possibility of further federal or state legislation or regulatory action affecting or related to greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon taxes or other measures that may be implemented in Canada or other jurisdictions in which we operate, or of restrictions or liabilities related to elevated levels of naturally-occurring radiation that arise from disturbing the ground in the course of mining activities or possible efforts to reduce the flow of nutrients into the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River basin or elsewhere;
•
the potential costs and effects of implementation of federal or state water quality standards for the discharge of nitrogen and/or phosphorus into Florida waterways;
•
the financial resources of our competitors, including state-owned and government-subsidized entities in other countries;
•
the possibility of defaults by our customers on trade credit that we extend to them or on indebtedness that they incur to purchase our products and that we guarantee, particularly when we are exiting our business operations or locations that produced or sold the products to that customer;
•
any significant reduction in customers’ liquidity or access to credit that they need to purchase our products;
•
the effectiveness of the processes we put in place to manage our significant strategic priorities, including the expansion of our Potash business and our investment in MWSPC, and to successfully integrate and grow acquired businesses;
•
actual costs of various items differing from management’s current estimates, including, among others, asset retirement, environmental remediation, reclamation or other environmental obligations and Canadian resource taxes and royalties, or the costs of MWSPC, its existing or future funding and our commitments in support of such funding;


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•
the costs and effects of legal and administrative proceedings and regulatory matters affecting us, including environmental, tax or administrative proceedings, complaints that our operations are adversely impacting nearby farms, businesses, other property uses or properties, settlements thereof and actions taken by courts with respect to approvals of settlements, costs related to defending and resolving global audit, appellate or other court-related activity other developments in legal proceedings and regulatory matters;
•
the success of our efforts to attract and retain highly qualified and motivated employees;
•
strikes, labor stoppages or slowdowns by our work force or increased costs resulting from unsuccessful labor contract negotiations, and the potential costs and effects of compliance with new regulations affecting our workforce, which increasingly focus on wages and hours, healthcare, retirement and other employee benefits;
•
brine inflows at our Esterhazy, Saskatchewan potash mines, as well as potential inflows at our other shaft mines;
•
accidents or other incidents involving our properties or operations, including potential fires, explosions, seismic events, sinkholes, unsuccessful tailings management, ineffective mine safety procedures, or releases of hazardous or volatile chemicals;
•
terrorism or other malicious intentional acts and costs associated with such acts;
•
cybersecurity risks, including attempts to gain unauthorized access to, or disable, our information technology systems, the potential misappropriation of assets or sensitive information, or our costs of addressing cybersecurity risks and attacks;
•
other disruptions of operations at any of our key production and distribution facilities, particularly when they are operating at high operating rates;
•
changes in antitrust and competition laws or their enforcement;
•
actions by the holders of controlling equity interests in businesses in which we hold a noncontrolling interest;
•
changes in our relationships with other members of Canpotex or any joint venture in which we participate or their or our exit from participation in Canpotex or any such export association or joint venture, and other changes in our commercial arrangements with unrelated third parties;
•
the adequacy of our property, business interruption and casualty insurance policies to cover potential hazards and risks incident to our business, and our willingness and ability to maintain current levels of insurance coverage as a result of market conditions, our loss experience and other factors;
•
difficulties in realizing benefits under our long-term natural gas based pricing ammonia supply agreement with CF Industries, Inc., including the risks that the cost savings initially anticipated from the agreement may not be fully realized over the term of the agreement or that the price of natural gas or the market price for ammonia during the agreement's term are at levels at which the agreement’s natural gas based pricing is disadvantageous to us, compared with purchases in the spot market; and
•
other risk factors reported from time to time in our Securities and Exchange Commission reports.
Material uncertainties and other factors known to us are discussed in Item 1A, "Risk Factors," of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and incorporated by reference herein as if fully stated herein.
We base our forward-looking statements on information currently available to us, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any of these statements, whether as a result of changes in underlying factors, new information, future events or other developments.


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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We are exposed to the impact of fluctuations in the relative value of currencies, the impact of interest rates, fluctuations in the purchase price of natural gas, ammonia and sulfur consumed in operations, and changes in freight costs, as well as changes in the market value of our financial instruments. We periodically enter into derivatives in order to mitigate our foreign currency risks, interest rate risks and the effects of changing commodity prices, but not for speculative purposes. See Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 10-K Report and Note 13 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts
Due to the global nature of our operations, we are exposed to currency exchange rate changes which may cause fluctuations in our earnings and cash flows. Our primary foreign currency exposures are the Canadian dollar and Brazilian real. To reduce economic risk and volatility on expected cash flows that are denominated in the Canadian dollar and Brazilian real, we use financial instruments that may include forward contracts, zero-cost collars and/or futures. Mosaic hedges cash flows on a declining basis, up to 18 months for the Canadian dollar and up to 12 months for the Brazilian real. We may enter into hedges up to 36 months for expected Canadian dollar capital expenditures related to our Esterhazy K3 expansion program. Due to the Acquisition, Mosaic’s exposure to the Brazilian real has increased and, as a result, the amount of foreign derivatives that we have entered into related to the Brazilian real has increased.
As of September 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, the fair value of our major foreign currency exchange contracts was ($10.3) million and $(49.1) million, respectively. The table below provides information about Mosaic’s significant foreign exchange derivatives.
(in millions US$)
As of September 30, 2019
 
As of December 31, 2018
Expected Maturity Date
 
Fair Value
Expected Maturity Date
 
Fair Value
Years ending December 31,
 
Year ending December 31,
2019
 
2020
 
2021
 
2022
 
2019
 
2020
 
2021
Foreign Currency Exchange Forwards
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Canadian Dollar
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
(9.2
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
(40.7
)
Notional (million US$) - long Canadian dollars
$
219.9

 
$
350.7

 
$
138.2

 
$
49.3

 

 
$
651.3

 
$
170.1

 
$
138.2

 
 
Weighted Average Rate - Canadian dollar to U.S. dollar
1.3098

 
1.3047

 
1.3025

 
1.3183

 
 
 
1.2989

 
1.2877

 
1.3025

 
 
Foreign Currency Exchange Collars
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Canadian Dollar
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
(0.2
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
0.0

Notional (million US$)
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
22.8

 
 
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
 
Weighted Average Participation Rate - Canadian dollar to U.S. dollar
—

 
—

 
—

 
1.3443

 
 
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
 
Weighted Average Protection Rate - Canadian dollar to U.S. dollar
—

 
—

 
—

 
1.2900

 
 
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
 
Indian Rupee
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
(0.1
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
0.0

Notional (million US$)
$
20.0

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
 
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
 
Weighted Average Participation Rate - Indian rupee to U.S. dollar
69.7500

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
 
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
 


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Weighted Average Protection Rate - Indian rupee to U.S. dollar
74.2950

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
 
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign Currency Exchange Non-Deliverable Forwards
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brazilian Real
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
0.5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
(2.5
)
Notional (million US$) - short Brazilian real
$
495.0

 
$
3.7

 
$
—

 
$
—

 

 
$
535.1

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
 
Weighted Average Rate - Brazilian real to U.S. dollar
4.0238

 
4.0804

 
—

 
—

 
 
 
3.8385

 
—

 
—

 
 
Notional (million US$) - long Brazilian real
$
204.8

 
$
216.9

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
 
 
$
459.1

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
 
Weighted Average Rate - Brazilian real to U.S. dollar
4.0412

 
4.0120

 
—

 
—

 
 
 
3.8333

 
—

 
—

 
 
Indian Rupee
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
(1.3
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
(5.9
)
Notional (million US$) - short Indian rupee
$
224.5

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
 
 
$
137.9

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
 
Weighted Average Rate - Indian rupee to U.S. dollar
71.4323

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
 
 
73.0517

 
—

 
—

 
 
Total Fair Value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
(10.3
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
(49.1
)
Further information regarding foreign currency exchange rates and derivatives is included in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our 10-K Report and Note 13 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
Commodities
As of September 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, the fair value of our natural gas commodities contracts was $(5.2) million and $(17.0) million, respectively.
The table below provides information about our natural gas derivatives which are used to manage the risk related to significant price changes in natural gas.
(in millions)
As of September 30, 2019
 
As of December 31, 2018
Expected Maturity Date
 
 
Expected Maturity Date
 
 
Years ending December 31,
 
 
Years ending December 31,
 
2019
 
2020
 
2021
 
2022
 
Fair Value
2019
 
2020
 
2021
 
2022
Fair Value
Natural Gas Swaps
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
(5.2
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
(17.0
)
Notional (million MMBtu) - long
3.9

 
21.4

 
18.5

 
4.9

 
 
 
20.4

 
15.8

 
13.2

 
2.9

 
 
Weighted Average Rate (US$/MMBtu)
$
2.07

 
$
1.95

 
$
1.97

 
$
1.81

 
 
 
$
2.22

 
$
1.92

 
$
1.73

 
$
1.47

 
 
Total Fair Value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
(5.2
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
(17.0
)
Further information regarding commodities and derivatives is included in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our 10-K Report and Note 13 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.


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Interest Rates
We manage interest expense through interest rate contracts to convert a portion of our fixed-rate debt into floating-rate debt. We also enter into interest rate swap agreements to hedge our exposure to changes in future interest rates related to anticipated debt issuances. As of September 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, the fair value of our interest rate contracts was $16.4 million and $(9.5) million, respectively. Further information regarding our interest rate contracts is included in Note 13 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.


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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
(a)
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and (ii) accumulated and communicated to management, including our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report on Form 10-Q. Our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer have concluded, based on such evaluations, that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective for the purpose for which they were designed as of the end of such period.
(b)
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer, have evaluated any changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended September 30, 2019 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, did not identify any such changes during the three months ended September 30, 2019.



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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We have included information about legal and environmental proceedings in Note 12 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this report. This information is incorporated herein by reference.
We are also subject to the following legal and environmental proceedings in addition to those described in Note 12 of our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this report:

Waters of the United States.  In June 2015, EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the “Corps”) jointly issued a final rule that proposed to clarify, but may actually expand, the scope of waters regulated under the federal Clean Water Act.  The final rule (the “2015 Clean Water Rule”) became effective in August 2015, but has been challenged through numerous lawsuits.  In October 2015, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued an order staying the effectiveness of the final rule nationwide pending adjudication of substantive challenges to the rule. In early 2017, the U.S. President issued an Executive Order directing EPA and the Corps to publish a proposed rule rescinding or revising the new rule. In June 2017, EPA and the Corps issued a proposed rule that would rescind the 2015 Clean Water Rule and re-codify regulatory text that existed prior to enactment of the 2015 Clean Water Rule.  In November 2017, EPA issued a rule notice proposing to extend the applicability date of the 2015 Clean Water Rule for two years from the date of final action on the proposed rule, to provide continuity and regulatory certainty while agencies proceed to consider potential changes to the 2015 Clean Water Rule. 

In January 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously held all challenges to the 2015 Clean Water Rule must be heard in federal district courts rather than in the federal courts of appeal, overruling a decision by the Sixth Circuit's Court of Appeals.  With the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals no longer having jurisdiction, that court lifted its 2015 nationwide stay in February 2018. After the nationwide stay was lifted, a number of U.S. District Courts revived dormant litigation that challenged the 2015 Clean Water Rule. In June 2018, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia entered an injunction against implementation of the 2015 Clean Water Rule covering 11 states, including Florida.  As of September 2018, federal district courts have put the 2015 Clean Water Rule on hold in 28 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories.

On December 11, 2018, EPA and the Corps issued a proposed rule to replace the 2015 Clean Water Rule. The agencies’ stated interpretation for the proposed rule is to provide clarity, predictability and consistency so that the regulated community can better understand where the Clean Water Act applies and where it does not. EPA and the Corps received over 600,000 public comments on the proposed rule. A final, new rule has not yet been promulgated by EPA and the Corps.

On September 12, 2019, EPA and the Corps jointly issued a final regulation that repeals the 2015 Clean Water Rule and restores the previous regulatory regime. This regulation reestablishes national consistency by returning all jurisdictions to the longstanding regulatory framework that existed prior to the 2015 Clean Water Rule. The final rule takes effect sixty (60) days after publication in the Federal Register. A challenge to this legislation is possible.

Repeal of the 2015 Clean Water Rule was the first step in a two-step rulemaking process to define the scope of “waters of the United States” that are regulated under the Clean Water Act. The second step is finalizing the regulation proposed in December 2018 that would define where federal jurisdiction begins and ends in accordance with the Clean Water Act and Supreme Court precedent. In the proposed rulemaking, the agencies provided a definition of the difference between federally regulated waterways and those waters that remain solely under state authority.

We believe the 2015 Clean Water Rule, if not rescinded, may expand the types and extent of water resources regulated under federal law, thereby potentially expanding our permitting and reporting requirements, increasing our costs of compliance, including costs associated with wetlands and stream mitigation, lengthening the time necessary to obtain permits, and potentially restricting our ability to mine certain of our phosphate rock reserves.


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57
   


ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Important risk factors that apply to us are outlined in Item 1A in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 (the “10-K Report”). In addition to these risk factors, we include the following update related to the tailing dams in Brazil:
We use tailings, sediment and water dams to manage residual materials generated by our Brazilian mining operations. If our operational, environmental or safety procedures are not effective, an accident involving these impoundments could result in damage to property or the environment, the inability to operate our facilities, or serious injuries or death, any of which could materially adversely affect our results of operations in Brazil.
Mining and processing of potash and phosphate generate residual materials that must be managed both during the operation of the facility and upon facility closure. Potash tailings, consisting primarily of salt and clay, are stored in surface disposal sites. Phosphate clay residuals from mining in Brazil are deposited in large tailing dams. They are regularly monitored to evaluate structural stability and for leaks. The failure of tailings dams and other impoundments at any of our Brazilian mining operations could cause severe property and environmental damage and loss of life. As a result, we apply significant operational and financial resources and both internal and external technical resources towards operating those facilities safely.
We own and maintain 11 tailings dams in Brazil. In response to an unaffiliated dam collapse in Brazil, we arranged for an independent third-party assessment of all our Brazilian dams, which we completed during the second quarter of 2019. Recently, Brazil’s National Mining Agency implemented new regulatory standards. As a result of these inspections and the new regulatory standards, we have temporarily idled operations at four tailings dams and the three related mines at Araxá, Tapira and Catalão. We resumed full mining operations at Catalão in June 2019, and at Tapira and Araxá in September 2019. In addition, we continue to augment our existing practices in an effort to reduce the risk of catastrophic failure and expect to bring all our tailings dams to be in compliance with Brazilian safety requirements. As part of our remediation efforts, and in the ordinary course of business, we plan to build and license new dams in Brazil.
Legislation at both Brazilian federal and state levels has introduced new rules regarding tailings dam safety, construction, licensing and operations. We cannot predict the full impact of these legislative or potentially related judicial actions, or future actions, or whether or how it would affect our Brazilian operations or customers.
Any accident involving our Brazilian tailings or other dams, or any shut down or idling of our related mines, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Pursuant to our employee stock plans relating to the grant of employee stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock unit awards, and other equity-based awards, we have granted and may in the future grant employee stock options to purchase shares of our Common Stock for which the purchase price may be paid by means of delivery to us by the optionee of shares of our Common Stock that are already owned by the optionee (at a value equal to market value on the date of the option exercise). During the periods covered by this report, no options to purchase shares of our Common Stock were exercised for which the purchase price was so paid.
The following table sets forth information with respect to shares of our Common Stock that we purchased under the 2015 Repurchase Program during the quarter ended September 30, 2019:


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Issuer Repurchases of Equity Securities(a) 
Period
 
Total number of shares purchased
 
Average price paid per share
 
Total number of shares purchased as part of a publicly announced program
 
Maximum approximate dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the program(a)
Common Stock
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
July 1, 2019 -
July 31, 2019....................
 
—
 
—
 
—
 
$850,067,864
August 1, 2019 -
August 31, 2019...............
 
—
 
—
 
—
 
$850,067,864
September 1, 2019 -
September 30, 2019.........
 
5,825,532
 
$21.40
 
5,825,532
 
$725,390,351
Total.................................
 
5,825,532
 
$21.40
 
5,825,532
 
$725,390,351
(a) On May 14, 2015, we announced the 2015 Repurchase Program to repurchase up to $1.5 billion of our Common Stock through open market purchases, accelerated share repurchase arrangements, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Information concerning mine safety violations or other regulatory matters required by Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 104 of Regulation S-K is included in Exhibit 95 to this report.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
The following Exhibits are being filed herewith.


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Exhibit Index
Exhibit No
 
Description
 
Incorporated Herein by Reference to
 
Filed with Electronic Submission
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.1
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
31.1
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
31.2
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
32.1
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
32.2
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
95
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.INS
 
Inline XBRL Instance Document (the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.SCH
 
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.CAL
 
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.LAB
 
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.PRE
 
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.DEF
 
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
 
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
104
 
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
 
 
 
X



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Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
THE MOSAIC COMPANY
 
 
 
 
 
by:
 
/S/ CLINT C. FREELAND
 
 
 
Clint C. Freeland
 
 
 
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
(on behalf of the registrant and as principal accounting officer)
 
 
November 5, 2019
 


61