Unprecedented business conditions and a very favorable long-term outlook for global agriculture made 2007 an exceptional year for PotashCorp. Shareholders benefited from a total return of 202 percent, a three-for-one share split that added liquidity to the stock and a 100 percent dividend increase.
The company's transparent approach with the investment community involves consistent communication about strategies, performance and important business/industry developments, and integrating feedback into its ongoing decision-making.
In 2007, it:
- Hosted meetings with 348 investors and an analyst meeting at the New York Stock Exchange with 74 analysts and investors.
- Gave 19 conference presentations.
- Held quarterly conference calls to discuss financial performance that attracted an average of 695 participants, more than double the number in 2006.
- Continued its annual surveys of buy-side and sell-side analysts.
Through these interactions, PotashCorp learned that its investors continue to see potash as the key driver of the company's long-term growth, and support investment in adding potash capacity through debottlenecks, expansions and selective acquisitions. They consider this the best use of the company's cash flow.
Responding to rising world demand for its core nutrient, in 2007 PotashCorp announced $4.5 billion in potash projects that will raise its operating capacity to 15.7 million tonnes by the end of 2012, and potentially to 17.2 million tonnes in 2015.
Investors' questions focused significantly on global potash supply/demand fundamentals and risk factors to the business.