Compass Minerals completes cross-border acquisition of Big Quill Resources

On January 10, 2011, Compass Minerals (NYSE: CMP) of Kansas acquired Big Quill Resources Inc., Canada's leading producer of sulfate of potash, in an all-cash transaction valued at $56 million, subject to customary post-closing adjustments. Located on Big Quill Lake near Wynyard, Saskatchewan, Big Quill Resources produces high-purity sulfate of potash (SOP) for non-agricultural specialty applications as well as for nutrients used by growers of high-value crops and turf. Compass Minerals is a leading producer of minerals, including salt, sulfate of potash specialty fertilizer and magnesium chloride. Compass Minerals was advised in this transaction by Fasken Martineau with a team led by Douglas R. Scott and that included Andrew Nunes, Michael Gleeson and Nick Shkordoff (corporate); Gabriel Stern and Kevin Holbeche (technology/IP); and Anthony Baldanza and Mark Magro (competition); assisted by student-at-law Arun Krishnamurti.