compass minerals (nyse: cmp) (www.compassminerals.com) is a leading provider of essential minerals that provide solutions to nature’s challenges, including salt for winter roadway safety and other consumer, industrial and agricultural uses, and specialty plant nutrition minerals that improve the quality and yield of crops. the company produces its minerals at locations throughout the u.s. and canada and in the u.k. based in the kansas city metropolitan area, the company provides bulk treated and untreated highway deicing salt to customers in north america and the united kingdom and plant nutrients to growers worldwide. compass minerals also produces consumer deicing and water conditioning products, consumer and commercial culinary salt, and other mineral-based products for consumer, agricultural and industrial applications. in addition, the company provides records management services to businesses throughout the united kingdom. though the company’s history stretches back as far as