COMPASS MINERALS INTERNATIONAL INC, 10-K filed on 12/16/2024
Annual Report
v3.24.4
Cover - USD ($)
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Dec. 11, 2024
Mar. 31, 2024
Cover [Abstract]      
Document Type 10-K    
Document Annual Report true    
Current Fiscal Year End Date --09-30    
Document Period End Date Sep. 30, 2024    
Document Transition Report false    
Entity File Number 001-31921    
Entity Registrant Name Compass Minerals International, Inc.    
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code DE    
Entity Tax Identification Number 36-3972986    
Entity Address, Address Line One 9900 West 109th Street,    
Entity Address, Address Line Two Suite 100    
Entity Address, City or Town Overland Park,    
Entity Address, State or Province KS    
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 66210    
City Area Code 913    
Local Phone Number 344-9200    
Title of 12(b) Security Common stock, $0.01 par value    
Trading Symbol CMP    
Security Exchange Name NYSE    
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer No    
Entity Voluntary Filers No    
Entity Current Reporting Status Yes    
Entity Interactive Data Current Yes    
Entity Filer Category Accelerated Filer    
Entity Small Business false    
Entity Emerging Growth Company false    
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag true    
Document Financial Statement Error Correction [Flag] true    
Document Financial Statement Restatement Recovery Analysis [Flag] true    
Entity Shell Company false    
Entity Public Float     $ 538,071,743
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding   41,452,793  
Documents Incorporated by Reference
DocumentParts into which Incorporated
Portions of the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held March 6, 2025
Part III, Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14
   
Entity Central Index Key 0001227654    
Document Fiscal Year Focus 2024    
Document Fiscal Period Focus FY    
Amendment Flag false    
v3.24.4
Audit Information
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Audit Information [Abstract]  
Auditor Name KPMG LLP
Auditor Location Kansas City, MO
Auditor Firm ID 185
v3.24.4
Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($)
$ in Millions
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents $ 20.2 $ 38.7
Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts and rebates of $3.6 in 2024 and $2.3 in 2023 126.1 129.3
Inventories, less allowance of $11.4 in 2024 and $9.1 in 2023 414.1 399.5
Other current assets 26.9 33.4
Total current assets 587.3 600.9
Property, plant and equipment, net 806.5 852.5
Intangible assets, net 82.5 120.0
Goodwill 6.0 88.8
Other noncurrent assets 157.8 154.7
Total assets 1,640.1 1,816.9
Current liabilities:    
Current portion of long-term debt 7.5 5.0
Accounts payable 82.1 116.8
Accrued salaries and wages 22.6 25.9
Income taxes payable 13.1 16.5
Accrued interest 13.3 12.9
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 78.4 97.5
Total current liabilities 217.0 274.6
Long-term debt, net of current portion 910.0 800.3
Deferred income taxes, net 56.5 58.4
Other noncurrent liabilities 140.0 162.6
Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)
Stockholders' equity:    
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 200,000,000 authorized shares; 42,197,964 issued shares at September 30, 2024 and 2023 0.4 0.4
Additional paid-in capital 420.6 413.1
Treasury stock, at cost — 816,013 shares at September 30, 2024 and 1,038,168 shares at September 30, 2023 (10.2) (8.7)
Retained earnings 2.2 220.9
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (96.4) (104.7)
Total stockholders' equity 316.6 521.0
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 1,640.1 $ 1,816.9
v3.24.4
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Current assets:    
Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 3.6 $ 2.3
Inventory allowance $ 11.4 $ 9.1
Stockholders' equity:    
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) $ 0.01 $ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares) 200,000,000 200,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares) 42,197,964 42,197,964
Treasury stock, shares (in shares) 816,013 1,038,168
v3.24.4
Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($)
shares in Thousands, $ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Sales $ 1,117.4 $ 1,204.7 $ 1,245.2
Gross profit 195.0 232.0 199.8
Selling, general and administrative expenses 137.8 150.2 133.5
Loss on impairments 191.0 0.0 0.0
Other operating (income) expense (17.0) 4.4 20.9
Operating (loss) earnings (116.8) 77.4 45.4
Other expense (income):      
Interest income (1.0) (5.3) (0.8)
Interest expense 69.5 55.5 55.2
Loss (gain) on foreign exchange 0.7 2.3 (14.9)
Net loss in equity investees 0.0 3.1 5.2
Gain from remeasurement of equity method investment 0.0 (10.1) 0.0
Other expense, net 2.2 4.3 0.5
(Loss) earnings before income taxes from continuing operations (188.2) 27.6 0.2
Income tax expense from continuing operations 17.9 17.1 33.5
Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations (206.1) 10.5 (33.3)
Net earnings from discontinued operations 0.0 0.0 12.2
Net (loss) earnings $ (206.1) $ 10.5 $ (21.1)
Basic net (loss) earnings from continuing operations per common share (in dollars per share) $ (4.99) $ 0.25 $ (0.98)
Basic net earnings from discontinued operations per common share (in dollars per share) 0 0 0.36
Basic net (loss) earnings per common share (in dollars per share) (4.99) 0.25 (0.63)
Diluted net (loss) earnings from continuing operations per common share (in dollars per share) (4.99) 0.25 (0.98)
Diluted net earnings from discontinued operations per common share (in dollars per share) 0 0 0.36
Diluted net (loss) earnings per common share (in dollars per share) $ (4.99) $ 0.25 $ (0.63)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in thousands):      
Basic (in shares) 41,306 40,786 34,120
Diluted (in shares) 41,306 40,786 34,120
Shipping and handling cost      
Cost of goods and services $ 305.3 $ 346.1 $ 379.8
Product cost      
Cost of goods and services $ 617.1 $ 626.6 $ 665.6
v3.24.4
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]      
Net (loss) earnings $ (206.1) $ 10.5 $ (21.1)
Other comprehensive income (loss):      
Unrealized gain (loss) from change in pension costs, net of tax of $(0.1), $1.3 and $(0.9) in fiscal years 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively 0.4 (3.9) 2.7
Unrealized (loss) gain from change in other postretirement benefits, net of tax of $0.1, $(0.2) and $(0.5) in fiscal years 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively (0.3) 0.4 1.3
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges, net of tax of $0.4 and $0.7 in fiscal years 2023 and 2022, respectively 0.1 0.2 (4.7)
Cumulative translation adjustment 8.1 13.9 (4.1)
Comprehensive (loss) income $ (197.8) $ 21.1 $ (25.9)
v3.24.4
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income (Parenthetical) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]      
Unrealized gain (loss) from change in pension costs, tax $ (0.1) $ 1.3 $ (0.9)
Unrealized gain, other postretirement benefits, tax $ 0.1 (0.2) (0.5)
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges, tax   $ 0.4 $ 0.7
v3.24.4
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($)
$ in Millions
Total
Common Stock
Additional Paid-In Capital
Treasury Stock
Retained Earnings
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Beginning balance at Sep. 30, 2021 $ 297.9 $ 0.4 $ 136.3 $ 5.5 $ 277.2 $ (110.5)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]            
Comprehensive (loss) income (25.9)       (21.1) (4.8)
Dividends on common stock/equity awards (20.8)       (20.8)  
Shares issued for stock units, net of shares withheld for taxes (2.0)   (0.2) (1.8)    
Stock-based compensation 15.7   15.7      
Stock options exercised, net of shares withheld for taxes 0.3   0.3      
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2022 265.2 0.4 152.1 7.3 235.3 (115.3)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]            
Comprehensive (loss) income 21.1       10.5 10.6
Dividends on common stock/equity awards (24.9)       (24.9)  
Private placement of common stock 240.7   240.7      
Shares issued for stock units, net of shares withheld for taxes (1.7)   (0.3) (1.4)    
Stock-based compensation 20.6   20.6      
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2023 521.0 0.4 413.1 8.7 220.9 (104.7)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]            
Comprehensive (loss) income (197.8)       (206.1) 8.3
Dividends on common stock/equity awards (12.6)       (12.6)  
Shares issued for stock units, net of shares withheld for taxes (2.1)   (0.6) (1.5)    
Stock-based compensation 8.1   8.1      
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2024 $ 316.6 $ 0.4 $ 420.6 $ 10.2 $ 2.2 $ (96.4)
v3.24.4
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical) - $ / shares
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Dec. 31, 2023
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]          
Dividends on common stock/equity awards (in dollars per share) $ 0.15 $ 0.15 $ 0.30 $ 0.60 $ 0.60
v3.24.4
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Cash flows from operating activities:      
Net (loss) earnings $ (206.1) $ 10.5 $ (21.1)
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) earnings to net cash flows provided by operating activities:      
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 105.0 98.6 112.8
Amortization of deferred financing costs 2.6 2.6 2.9
Refinancing of long-term debt 0.0 1.0 0.0
Stock-based compensation 8.1 20.6 15.7
Deferred income taxes (2.7) (5.0) 18.6
Unrealized loss (gain) on foreign exchange 1.5 2.4 (29.1)
Loss on impairments 191.0 0.0 23.1
Net loss in equity investees 0.0 3.1 5.2
Net gain from remeasurement of contingent consideration (22.1) 0.0 0.0
Gain from remeasurement of equity method investment 0.0 (10.1) 0.0
Loss on disposition of assets 0.0 4.5 3.7
Other, net 4.0 0.4 (0.1)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of sale and acquisition of businesses:      
Receivables 9.0 39.1 (56.1)
Inventories (15.9) (81.0) 5.3
Other assets 0.0 16.7 (14.2)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses and other current liabilities (55.3) 17.4 55.3
Other liabilities (4.7) (14.8) (1.6)
Net cash provided by operating activities 14.4 106.0 120.4
Cash flows from investing activities:      
Capital expenditures (114.2) (154.3) (96.6)
Proceeds from sale of businesses 0.0 0.0 61.2
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired 0.0 (18.9) 0.0
Investments in equity method investees 0.0 0.0 (46.3)
Other, net (1.9) (4.7) 1.8
Net cash used in investing activities (116.1) (177.9) (79.9)
Cash flows from financing activities:      
Proceeds from revolving credit facility borrowings 422.8 150.0 466.2
Principal payments on revolving credit facility borrowings (314.2) (220.0) (403.1)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 81.6 239.9 55.9
Principal payments on long-term debt (78.6) (314.6) (109.1)
Payments for contingent consideration (9.1) 0.0 0.0
Net proceeds from private placement of common stock 0.0 240.7 0.0
Dividends paid (12.6) (24.9) (20.8)
Deferred financing costs (2.1) (3.9) (0.4)
Proceeds from stock option exercised 0.0 0.0 0.3
Shares withheld to satisfy employee tax obligations (2.1) (1.7) (2.0)
Other, net (2.6) (1.5) (1.3)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 83.1 64.0 (14.3)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 0.1 0.5 (1.1)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents (18.5) (7.4) 25.1
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the year 38.7 46.1 21.0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period 20.2 38.7 46.1
Supplemental cash flow information:      
Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized 66.3 54.5 52.9
Income taxes paid, net of refunds $ 31.3 $ 12.5 $ 17.3
v3.24.4
ORGANIZATION AND FORMATION
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
ORGANIZATION AND FORMATION ORGANIZATION AND FORMATION
Compass Minerals International, Inc. (“CMI”), through its subsidiaries (collectively, “CMP,” “Compass Minerals” or the “Company”), is a leading global provider of essential minerals focused on safely delivering where and when it matters to help solve nature’s challenges for customers and communities. The Company’s salt products help keep roadways safe during winter weather and are used in numerous other consumer, industrial, chemical and agricultural applications. Its plant nutrition business is the leading North American producer of sulfate of potash (“SOP”), which is used in the production of specialty fertilizers for high-value crops and turf and helps improve the quality and yield of crops, while supporting sustainable agriculture. The Company’s principal products are salt, consisting of sodium chloride and magnesium chloride, and SOP. The Company is also working to develop long-term fire-retardant solutions to help combat wildfires. The Company’s production sites are located in the United States (“U.S.”), Canada and the United Kingdom (“U.K.”). The Company also provides records management services in the U.K.
CMI is a holding company with no significant operations other than those of its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Disposal of Businesses
In fiscal 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a plan to sell its South America chemicals and specialty plant nutrition businesses, its investment in Fermavi Eletroquímica Ltda. (“Fermavi”) and its North America micronutrient product business (collectively, the “Specialty Businesses”). The Company concluded that the sale of the Specialty Businesses represented a strategic shift for the Company that would have a material effect on its operations and financial results. Consequently, the Specialty businesses were reclassified as discontinued operations on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. See Note 4 for further discussion. Unless otherwise indicated, amounts provided in these Notes pertain to continuing operations.

Prior-Period Reclassifications
Certain Selling, general and administrative expenses totaling $4.4 million and $20.9 million, respectively, have been reclassified in fiscal 2023 and 2022 to Other operating (income) expense to conform to current year presentation. The amounts that have been reclassified in fiscal 2023 and 2022 include employee termination costs related to restructuring and executive transition costs of $5.5 million and $3.8 million, respectively; Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) investigation and related legal costs, net of reimbursements, of $(0.3) million and $17.1 million, respectively; and changes in fair value of contingent consideration related to the acquisition of Fortress North America, LLC (“Fortress”) of $(0.8) million in fiscal 2023. The reclassification was made to separately report infrequent or other items from Selling, general and administrative expenses. See Note 13, Note 14 and Note 17 for additional information.
v3.24.4
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
a. Management Estimates:
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) as included in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

b. Basis of Consolidation:
The Company’s consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CMI and its wholly-owned domestic and foreign subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

c. Impairments:
On January 23, 2024, the Company terminated its pursuit of its lithium development. Consequently, the Company evaluated the capitalized assets, including site preparation, project engineering, equipment and materials and capitalized labor and interest and recorded an impairment charge of $74.8 million. Refer to Note 8 for additional details.
As a result of a sustained decrease in the Company’s publicly quoted share price and market capitalization continuing into fiscal 2024 and recent developments related to its magnesium chloride-based fire retardants impacting its Fortress business, the Company determined in the second quarter of fiscal 2024 that there were indicators of impairment and therefore performed long-lived assets and goodwill impairment testing. The analysis for Plant Nutrition resulted in no long-lived asset impairment but did result in a goodwill impairment, as discussed further below. The Fortress analysis resulted in an impairment of the Company’s magnesium chloride-related assets and goodwill; see below for additional details.
On March 22, 2024, the Company was notified of the decision by the U.S. Forest Service that the Company would not be awarded a contract to supply its magnesium chloride-based aerial fire retardant for the calendar 2024 fire season. For purposes of the long-lived asset impairment evaluation, management grouped and tested the magnesium chloride-related assets given their unique classification and separately identifiable cash flows. As a result of the evaluation using the income approach, the Company impaired all magnesium chloride-related assets which resulted in a long-lived asset, net, impairment of $15.6 million (finite-lived intangible assets) and an impairment of $2.4 million of inventory for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024. The long-lived asset impairment is included in loss on impairments, while the inventory impairment is reflected in product cost, both on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The undiscounted cash flows for the remaining Fortress assets were greater than their carrying value resulting in no incremental impairment. Management will continue to monitor events and circumstances that would require a future test of recoverability on the remaining Fortress long-lived assets.
The Company performed the interim goodwill impairment tests consistent with its approach for annual impairment testing, including using similar models, inputs and assumptions. As a result of the interim goodwill impairment test in the second quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company recognized impairment charges totaling $83.0 million included in loss on impairments, on the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024. Goodwill impairment of $51.0 million was related to the Company’s Plant Nutrition segment, primarily due to decreases in projected future revenues and cash flows and an increase in discount rates due to the uncertain regulatory environment in Utah. The remaining goodwill impairment of $32.0 million was related to the Company’s Fortress reporting unit (included in the Corporate and Other segment), primarily due to changes in assumptions surrounding the magnesium chloride-based fire retardants which impacted projected future revenues and cash flows. Following the impairment charges, there is no remaining goodwill balance for the Plant Nutrition and Fortress reporting units. Refer to Note 9 for a summary of goodwill by segment.
On September 3, 2024, the Company announced a binding Voluntary Agreement (“Voluntary Agreement”) with the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands (“FFSL”) outlining water and land conservation commitments the company is making toward the long-term health of the Great Salt Lake. Per the terms of the Voluntary Agreement, the Company is in the process of donating non-production-related water rights totaling approximately 201,000 acre feet annually to be used by the State of Utah for lake conservation and preservation. In connection with the annual impairment analysis, the Company performed a fair value analysis of the indefinite-lived intangible asset that resulted in an impairment of approximately $17.6 million.
A summary of the impairments incurred for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, is detailed below (in millions):
ImpairmentFinancial Statement Line ItemSegmentFiscal Year Ended
September 30, 2024
Lithium long-lived assets, netLoss on impairmentsCorporate & Other$74.8 
Plant Nutrition goodwillLoss on impairmentsPlant Nutrition51.0 
Fortress goodwillLoss on impairmentsCorporate & Other32.0 
Fortress long-lived assets, netLoss on impairmentsCorporate & Other15.6 
Fortress inventoryProduct costCorporate & Other2.4 
Water rightsLoss on impairmentsPlant Nutrition17.6 
Total$193.4 

In connection with the aforementioned impairments, the Company determined the estimated fair value for each reporting unit based on discounted cash flow projections (income approach), market values for comparable businesses (market approach) or a combination of both. Under the income approach, the Company is required to make judgments about appropriate discount rates, long-term revenue growth rates and the amount and timing of expected future cash flows. The cash flows used in its estimates are based on the reporting unit's forecast, long-term business plan, and recent operating performance. Discount rate assumptions are based on an assessment of the risk inherent in the future cash flows of the respective reporting unit and market conditions. The Company’s estimates may differ from actual future cash flows. The risk adjusted discount rate used is consistent with the weighted average cost of capital of the Company’s peer companies and is intended to represent a rate of return that would be expected by a market participant. Under the market approach, market multiples are derived from market prices of stocks of companies in the Company’s peer group. The appropriate multiple is applied to the forecasted revenue and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of the reporting unit to obtain an estimated fair value.
The most critical assumptions used in the calculation of the fair value of each reporting unit are the projected revenue growth rates, long-term operating margin, terminal growth rates, discount rate, and the selection of market multiples. The projected long term operating margin utilized in the Company’s fair value estimates is consistent with its operating plan and is dependent on the successful execution of its long-term business plan, overall industry growth rates and the competitive environment. The discount rate could be adversely impacted by changes in the macroeconomic environment and volatility in the equity and debt markets. Although management believes its estimate of fair value is reasonable, if the future financial
performance falls below expectations or there are unfavorable revisions to significant assumptions, or if the Company’s market capitalization declines, an additional non-cash goodwill or long-lived asset impairment charge may be required in a future period.

d. Business Combinations:
The Company accounts for its business combinations using the acquisition accounting method, which requires it to determine the fair value of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including any contingent consideration, to properly allocate the purchase price to the individual assets acquired and liabilities assumed and record any residual purchase price as goodwill at the date of the acquisition in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board “(FASB”) ASC Topic 805, “Business Combinations”. Management uses its best estimates and assumptions to assign fair value to the tangible and intangible assets acquired, liabilities assumed and contingent consideration at the acquisition date. Such estimates are inherently uncertain and may be subject to refinement. The determination of fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed requires estimates and the use of valuation techniques when a market value is not readily available. Any excess of purchase price over the fair value of net tangible and intangible assets acquired is allocated to goodwill. If the initial accounting for the business combination has not been completed by the end of the reporting period in which the business combination occurs, provisional amounts are reported to present information about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date. During the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the fair value of the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed with the corresponding offset to goodwill, to the extent such information was not available to the Company at the acquisition date to determine such amounts. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period or final determination of the fair value of assets acquired or liabilities assumed, whichever comes first, any subsequent adjustments are recorded to the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Accounting for business combinations requires the Company to make significant estimates and assumptions at the acquisition date. Significant assumptions relevant to the determination of the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed include, but are not limited to, future expected cash flows, contract renewal rates, discount rates, terminal growth rate and other assumptions.
All acquisition-related costs, other than the costs to issue debt or equity securities, are accounted for as expenses in the period in which they are incurred. The fair value of contingent consideration arrangements is remeasured each reporting period until resolved. Any changes that are not measurement period adjustments are recognized in earnings. In the event the Company acquires an entity with which the Company has a preexisting relationship, the Company will generally recognize a gain or loss to remeasure its previously held equity interest at acquisition date fair value on its Consolidated Statements of Operations.

e. Discontinued Operations:
The Company reports its financial results from discontinued operations and continuing operations separately to distinguish the financial impact of disposal transactions from ongoing operations. Discontinued operations reporting occurs when a component or a group of components of an entity has been disposed of or classified as held for sale and represents a strategic shift that has a major effect on the entity’s operations and financial results. In the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, the cash flows from discontinued operations are not separately classified. Significant components of cash flows related to discontinued operations are disclosed in Note 4. See Note 4 for information on discontinued operations and Note 14 for information on the Company’s reportable segments.

f. Foreign Currency:
Assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at end of period exchange rates. Sales and expenses are translated using the monthly average rates of exchange during the year. Adjustments resulting from the translation of foreign-currency financial statements into the reporting currency, U.S. dollars, are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss. The Company recorded foreign exchange (loss) gain of $(0.2) million, $(1.6) million and $6.7 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, in accumulated other comprehensive loss related to intercompany notes which, had been deemed to be of long-term investment nature. As discussed in Note 4, the Company completed the disposition of certain foreign entities and assets during fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2022. There are certain monetary assets and liabilities that are currently being held in Brazil that will be remeasured each period with changes in foreign currency exchange rates included in earnings until they are settled or transferred to a U.S. subsidiary. Aggregate exchange losses and gains from transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency, which are included in other expense (income) for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, were $0.7 million, $2.3 million and $(14.9) million, respectively. These amounts include the effect of translating intercompany notes which were deemed to be temporary in nature.

g. Revenue Recognition:
The FASB revenue recognition guidance provides a single, comprehensive model for recognizing revenue from contracts with customers. The revenue recognition model requires revenue to be recognized upon the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration an entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or
services. The Company’s revenue arrangements generally consist of a single performance obligation to transfer promised goods or services. The Company also derives revenue from a full-service air base fire retardant contract with the United States Forest Service (“USFS”), which is comprised of three performance obligations, namely product sales, providing operations and maintenance personnel services and leasing of specified equipment. Substantially all of the Company’s revenue is recognized at a point in time when control of the goods transfers to the customer.
The Company typically recognizes revenue at the time of shipment to the customer, which coincides with the transfer of title and risk of ownership to the customer. Sales represent billings to customers net of sales taxes charged for the sale of the product. Sales include amounts charged to customers for shipping and handling costs, which are expensed when the related product is sold.

h. Cash and Cash Equivalents:
The Company considers all investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company maintains the majority of its cash in bank deposit accounts with several commercial banks with high credit ratings in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Brazil. Typically, the Company has bank deposits in excess of federally insured limits. Currently, the Company does not believe it is exposed to significant credit risk on its cash and cash equivalents.

i. Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts:
Receivables consist almost entirely of trade accounts receivable. Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in its existing trade accounts receivable. The Company determines the allowance based on historical write-off experience by business line and a current assessment of its portfolio, including information regarding individual customers. The Company reviews its account balances for collectability and adjusts its allowance for doubtful accounts accordingly. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when the Company believes it is probable that the trade accounts receivable will not be recovered.
 
j. Inventories:
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Finished goods, work in process and raw material are predominately valued using the average cost method on a first-in-first-out basis. Spare parts and supply costs are valued at average costs. Work in process costs primarily consist of costs incurred to operate the Company’s evaporation ponds prior to their harvest. Raw materials and supply costs primarily consist of raw materials purchased to aid in the production of mineral products, maintenance materials and packaging materials. Finished goods are primarily comprised of salt, magnesium chloride, SOP products and fire retardants readily available for sale. Substantially all costs associated with the production of finished goods at the Company’s production locations are captured as inventory costs. As required by GAAP, a portion of the fixed costs at a location are not included in inventory and are expensed as a product cost if production at that location is determined to be abnormally low in any period or if the nature of the cost incurred is not attributable to its production processes. Additionally, since the Company’s products are often stored at warehousing locations, the Company includes in the cost of inventory the freight and handling costs necessary to move the product to storage until the product is sold to a customer.

k. Other Current Assets:
The items included in other current assets as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, consist principally of prepaid expenses of $26.9 million and $33.3 million, respectively.

l. Property, Plant and Equipment:
Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost and includes capitalized interest. The costs of replacements or renewals, which improve or extend the life of existing property, are capitalized. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Upon retirement or disposition of an asset, any resulting gain or loss is included in the Company’s operating results.
Property, plant and equipment also includes mineral interests. The mineral interests for the Company’s Winsford U.K. mine are owned. The Company leases probable mineral reserves at its Cote Blanche and Goderich mines, its Ogden facility and several of its other North American facilities. These leases have varying terms, and many provide for a royalty payment to the lessor based on a specific amount per ton of mineral extracted or as a percentage of sales. The Company’s rights to extract minerals are contractually limited by time. The Cote Blanche mine is operated under land and mineral leases, and the mineral lease expires in 2060 with two additional 25-year renewal periods. The Goderich mine mineral reserve lease expires in 2043 with the Company’s option to renew for an additional twenty-one years after demonstrating to the lessor that the mine’s useful life is greater than the lease’s term. The Ogden facility mineral reserve lease renews annually. The Company believes it will be able to continue to extend lease agreements as it has in the past, at commercially reasonable terms, without incurring substantial costs or material modifications to the existing lease terms and conditions, and therefore, management believes that assigned lives are appropriate. The Company’s mineral interests are depleted on a units-of-production basis based upon the latest available mineral study. The weighted average amortization period for the leased probable mineral reserves is 85 years as of
September 30, 2024. The Company also owns other mineral properties. The weighted average life for the probable owned mineral reserves is 33 years as of September 30, 2024, based upon management’s current production estimates.
Buildings and structures are depreciated on a straight-line basis over lives generally ranging from 10 to 30 years. Portable buildings generally have shorter lives than permanent structures. Leasehold and building improvements have estimated lives of 5 to 40 years or lower based on the life of the lease to which the improvement relates.
The Company’s fixed assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their respective lives. The following table summarizes the estimated useful lives of the Company’s different classes of property, plant and equipment:
 Years
Land improvements
10 to 25
Buildings and structures
10 to 30
Leasehold and building improvements
5 to 40
Machinery and equipment – vehicles
2 to 10
Machinery and equipment – other mining and production
> 1 to 50
Office furniture and equipment
2 to 10
Mineral interests
20 to 99

The Company has finance leases which are recorded in property, plant and equipment at the beginning of the lease at the lower of the fair value of the leased property or the present value of the minimum lease payments. Lease payments are recorded as interest expense and a reduction of the lease liability. A finance lease asset is depreciated over the lower of its useful life or the lease term.
The Company has capitalized computer software costs of $3.0 million and $3.7 million as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, recorded in property, plant and equipment. The capitalized costs are being amortized over five years. The Company recorded $1.6 million, $3.3 million and $7.6 million of amortization expense related to capitalized computer software for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
The Company recognizes and measures obligations related to the retirement of tangible long-lived assets in accordance with applicable U.S. GAAP. Asset retirement obligations are not material to the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
The Company reviews its long-lived assets and the related mineral reserves for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amounts of such assets may not be recoverable. If an indication of a potential impairment exists, recoverability of the respective assets is determined by comparing the forecasted undiscounted net cash flows of the operation to which the assets relate, to the carrying amount, including associated intangible assets, of such operation. If the operation is determined to be unable to recover the carrying amount of its assets, then intangible assets are written down first, followed by the other long-lived assets of the operation, to fair value. Fair value is determined based on discounted cash flows or appraised values, depending upon the nature of the assets. The Company recorded an impairment charge, related to its lithium development, of $74.8 million, including $7.6 million associated with future commitments for the year ended September 30, 2024 to reflect the assets at their estimated fair value, considering equipment expected to be used by the on-going business and amounts estimated to be recoverable through returns or salvage value. Refer to Note 8 for additional details.

m. Leases:
In accordance with U.S. GAAP, lessees are required to recognize on their balance sheet a right-of-use asset which represents a lessee’s right to use the underlying asset, and a lease liability which represents a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments for the right to use the asset. In addition, the guidance requires expanded qualitative and quantitative disclosures. Refer to Note 6 for additional details.

n. Intangible Assets:
The Company amortizes its intangible assets deemed to have finite lives on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives which, for the Company, range from 5 to 50 years. The Company reviews indefinite-lived intangible assets annually for impairment. In addition, intangible assets are reviewed when an event or change in circumstances indicates the carrying amounts of such assets may not be recoverable.

o. Other Noncurrent Assets:
Other noncurrent assets include certain inventories of spare parts, net of reserve, of $42.2 million and $35.8 million at September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of September 30, 2024 and 2023, other noncurrent assets also include net operating lease assets of $50.0 million and $54.7 million, respectively.
The Company sponsors a non-qualified defined contribution plan for certain of its executive officers and key employees as described in Note 11. As of September 30, 2024 and 2023, investments in marketable securities representing amounts deferred by employees, Company contributions and unrealized gains or losses totaling $3.1 million and $2.6 million, respectively, were included in other noncurrent assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The marketable securities are classified as trading securities and accordingly, gains and losses are recorded as a component of other expense, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

p. Income Taxes:
The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method in accordance with the provisions of U.S. GAAP. Under the liability method, deferred taxes are determined based on the differences between the consolidated financial statements and the tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. The Company’s foreign subsidiaries file separate company returns in their respective jurisdictions.
The Company recognizes potential liabilities in accordance with applicable U.S. GAAP for anticipated tax issues in the U.S. and other tax jurisdictions based on its estimate of whether, and the extent to which, additional taxes will be due. If payment of these amounts ultimately proves to be unnecessary, the reversal of the liabilities would result in tax benefits being recognized in the period when the Company determines the liabilities are no longer necessary. If the Company’s estimate of tax liabilities proves to be less than the ultimate assessment, a further charge to expense would result. Any penalties and interest that are accrued on the Company’s uncertain tax positions are included as a component of income tax expense.
In evaluating the Company’s ability to realize deferred tax assets, the Company considers the sources and timing of taxable income, including the reversal of existing temporary differences, the ability to carryback tax attributes to prior periods, qualifying tax-planning strategies, and estimates of future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences. In determining future taxable income, the Company’s assumptions include the amount of pre-tax operating income according to different state, federal and international taxing jurisdictions, the origination of future temporary differences, and the implementation of feasible and prudent tax-planning strategies.
If the Company determines that a portion of its deferred tax assets will not be realized, a valuation allowance is recorded in the period that such determination is made. In the future, if the Company determines, based on the existence of sufficient evidence, that more or less of the deferred tax assets are more likely than not to be realized, an adjustment to the valuation allowance will be made in the period such a determination is made.
On December 22, 2017, the U.S. enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which subjects U.S. shareholders, including the Company, to tax on Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”) earned by certain foreign subsidiaries. The FASB issued guidance stating that an entity can make an accounting policy election to either recognize deferred taxes for temporary basis differences expected to reverse as GILTI in future years or to provide for the tax expense related to GILTI in the year the tax is incurred as a period expense only. The Company has elected to account for GILTI as a period expense only.

q. Contingent Consideration:
The approach to valuing the initial contingent consideration associated with the purchase price, including milestone achievement and the earn-out, also uses similar unobservable factors such as projected revenues and expenses over the term of the contingent milestone achievement and earn-out periods, discounted for the period of time over which the initial contingent consideration is measured. Based upon these assumptions, the initial earn-out contingent consideration is then adjusted for relevant volatility rates and valued using a Monte Carlo simulation. The milestone contingent consideration related to the Fortress acquisition can be paid in cash and/or Compass Minerals common stock, at the Company’s discretion, at a fixed price of approximately $32 per share upon the achievement of certain performance measures. This fixed share price settlement option is also factored into the fair value of the milestone contingent consideration. The fair value of the milestone contingent consideration is estimated using a probability-weighted discounted cash flow model, including a Black-Scholes option value related to a share conversion feature with significant inputs not observable in the market.

r. Environmental Costs:
Environmental costs, other than those of a capital nature, are accrued at the time the exposure becomes known and costs can be reasonably estimated. Costs are accrued based upon management’s estimates of all direct costs. Amounts reserved for environmental matters were not material at September 30, 2024 or 2023.

s. Equity Compensation Plans:
The Company has equity compensation plans under the oversight of the Company’s Board of Directors, whereby stock options, restricted stock units, performance stock units, deferred stock units and shares of common stock are granted to the Company’s employees and directors. See Note 15 for additional discussion.
t. Earnings per Share:
When calculating earnings per share, the Company’s participating securities are accounted for under the two-class method in periods in which dividends are declared. In the second fiscal quarter of 2024, the Company ceased paying dividends. The two-class method requires allocating the Company’s net earnings to both common shares and participating securities based upon their rights to receive dividends. Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net earnings available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of outstanding common shares during the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur under the more dilutive of either the treasury stock method or the two-class method for calculating the weighted-average number of outstanding common shares. The treasury stock method is calculated assuming unrecognized compensation expense, income tax benefits and proceeds from the potential exercise of employee stock options are used to repurchase common stock.

u. Derivatives:
The Company is exposed to the impact of fluctuations in foreign exchange and interest rates on its borrowings and fluctuations in the purchase price of natural gas, diesel fuel consumed in operations and fuel costs incurred to deliver its products to its customers. The Company may hedge portions of these risks through the use of derivative agreements.
The Company records derivative financial instruments as assets or liabilities measured at fair value. Accounting for the changes in the fair value of a derivative depends on its designation and effectiveness. Derivatives qualify for treatment as hedges when there is a high correlation between the change in fair value of the derivative instrument and the related change in value of the underlying hedged item. For qualifying hedges, the effective portion of the change in fair value is recognized through earnings when the underlying transaction being hedged affects earnings, allowing a derivative’s gains and losses to offset related results from the hedged item in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Until the effective portion of a derivative’s change in fair value is recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, the change in fair value is recognized in other comprehensive income. For derivative instruments that are not accounted for as hedges, or for the ineffective portions of qualifying hedges, the change in fair value is recorded through earnings in the period of change. The Company formally documents, designates and assesses the effectiveness of transactions that receive hedge accounting treatment initially and on an ongoing basis.

v. Concentration of Credit Risk:
The Company sells its salt and magnesium chloride products to various governmental agencies, manufacturers, distributors and retailers primarily in the Midwestern U.S. and throughout Canada and the U.K. The Company’s plant nutrition products are sold across the Western Hemisphere and globally. No single customer or group of affiliated customers accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s sales during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024, 2023, or 2022, or more than 10% of receivables at September 30, 2024 or 2023.

w. Recent Accounting Pronouncements:
In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures”, which updates reportable segment disclosure requirements primarily to include enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and for interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. Management is currently evaluating this ASU to determine its impact on the Company's disclosures.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures”, which updates income tax disclosures by requiring consistent categories and additional disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid by jurisdiction. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments should be applied prospectively; however, retrospective application is permitted. Management is currently evaluating this ASU to determine its impact on the Company’s disclosures.
In November 2024, the FASB issued amended guidance related to disclosure of disaggregated expenses (“ASU 2024-03”). This amendment requires public business entities to provide detailed disclosures in the notes to financial statements disaggregating specific expense categories, including employee compensation, depreciation, and intangible asset amortization, as well as certain other disclosures to provide enhanced transparency into the nature and function of expenses. This new guidance is effective for annual periods beginning in the Company’s fiscal 2028 and interim periods following annual adoption, with early adoption permitted. This guidance will be applied on a prospective basis with retrospective application permitted. Management is currently evaluating this ASU to determine its impact on the Company’s disclosures.
v3.24.4
BUSINESS ACQUISITION
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Business Combination, Asset Acquisition, and Joint Venture Formation [Abstract]  
BUSINESS ACQUISITION BUSINESS ACQUISITION
Beginning in 2020, the Company began a series of equity investments in Fortress, a fire retardant company working to develop long-term fire retardant solutions to help combat wildfires. On November 2, 2021, the Company announced its increased investment in Fortress. On May 5, 2023, the Company acquired the remaining 55% interest in Fortress not previously owned in exchange for an initial cash payment of $18.9 million (net of cash held by Fortress of $6.5 million), and additional contingent consideration of up to $28 million to be paid in cash and/or Compass Minerals common stock upon the achievement of certain performance measures over the next five years, and a cash earn-out based on financial performance and volumes of certain Fortress fire retardant products sold over a 10-year period. Building upon the previous 45% minority ownership stake in Fortress, the transaction provided the Company full ownership of all Fortress assets, contracts, and intellectual property. Refer to Note 2 for information related to impairment recognized during fiscal 2024 and Note 17 for fair value information related to the contingent consideration as of September 30, 2024.
v3.24.4
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]  
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
During fiscal 2021 the Company sold its South America specialty plant nutrition business, its equity investment in Fermavi and its North America micronutrient business. In connection with the sale of its South America specialty plant nutrition business the Company received net cash of approximately $318.4 million with an additional earnout payment of up to R$88 million Brazilian reais. On April 7, 2022, the Company received the maximum earnout possible under the terms of the sale, or $18.5 million based on exchange rates at the time of receipt.
Also in fiscal 2021 the Company completed its sale of its North America micronutrient business for approximately $56.7 million of cash proceeds and its investment in Fermavi for R$45 million Brazilian reais (including R$30 million of deferred purchase price). The Company received cash proceeds of approximately $2.9 million and recorded a discounted deferred proceeds receivable of approximately $4.8 million (based on exchange rates at the time of closing). As of September 30, 2024, approximately R$7.5 million Brazilian reais of deferred proceeds remains outstanding.
On April 20, 2022, the Company completed the sale of its South America chemicals business to a subsidiary of Cape Acquisitions LLC. Upon closing of the all-cash sale, the Company received gross proceeds of approximately $51.5 million based on exchange rates at the time of receipt, including a post-closing adjustment and compensation of $6.4 million for cash on hand that transferred to the buyer. The Company also paid fees of $2.4 million related to this sale. The Company recognized an incremental loss from the sale of $23.1 million during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, and released $49.5 million from accumulated currency translation adjustment (“CTA”). The sale included all of the Company’s remaining operations in Brazil, concluding its previously announced plan to exit the South American market.
The information below sets forth selected financial information related to the operating results of the Specialty Businesses classified as discontinued operations. The Specialty Businesses’ revenue and expenses have been reclassified to net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations in prior periods. The Consolidated Statements of Operations present the revenue and expenses that were reclassified from the specified line items to discontinued operations.
The following table represents summarized Consolidated Statements of Operations information of discontinued operations (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended
September 30,
2022
Sales$53.6 
Shipping and handling cost2.8 
Product cost28.4 
Gross profit22.4 
Selling, general and administrative expenses3.5 
Operating earnings18.9 
Interest expense0.1 
Gain on foreign exchange
(17.5)
Net loss on sale of business23.1 
Other income, net(0.6)
Earnings from discontinued operations before income taxes13.8 
Income tax expense1.6 
Net earnings from discontinued operations$12.2 
    
The significant components included in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the discontinued operations are as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended
September 30,
2022
Deferred income taxes$0.5 
Unrealized foreign exchange gain
(3.1)
Loss on impairment of long-lived assets23.1 
Capital expenditures(1.6)
Changes in receivables(4.8)
Changes in inventories (2.0)
Changes in other assets(4.7)
Changes in accounts payable and accrued expenses and other current liabilities (11.5)
Proceeds from sale of businesses61.2 
v3.24.4
REVENUES
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]  
REVENUES REVENUES
Nature of Products and Services
The Company’s Salt segment products include salt and magnesium chloride for use in road deicing and dust control, food processing, water softening, and agricultural and industrial applications. The Company’s plant nutrition segment produces and markets SOP in various grades worldwide to distributors and retailers of crop inputs, as well as growers and for industrial uses. The Company also operates a records management business utilizing excavated areas of its Winsford salt mine with one other location in London, England and, following its acquisition of Fortress North America, produces fire retardant products.

Identifying the Contract
The Company accounts for a customer contract when there is approval and commitment from both parties, the rights of the parties and payment terms are identified, the contract has commercial substance and collectability of consideration is probable.
Identifying the Performance Obligations
At contract inception, the Company assesses the goods and services it has promised to its customers and identifies a performance obligation for each promise to transfer to the customer a distinct good or service (or bundle of goods or services). Determining whether products and services are considered distinct performance obligations that should be accounted for separately or aggregated together may require significant judgment.

Identifying and Allocating the Transaction Price
The Company’s revenues are measured based on consideration specified in the customer contract, net of any sales incentives and amounts collected on behalf of third parties such as sales taxes. In certain cases, the Company’s customer contracts may include promises to transfer multiple products and services to a customer. For multiple-element arrangements, the Company generally allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation in proportion to its stand-alone selling price.

When Performance Obligations Are Satisfied
The vast majority of the Company’s revenues are recognized at a point in time when the performance obligations are satisfied based upon transfer of control of the product or service to a customer. To determine when the control of goods is transferred, the Company typically assesses, among other things, the shipping terms of the contract, as shipping is an indicator of transfer of control. The vast majority of the Company’s products are sold when the control of the goods transfers to the customer at the time of shipment. There are also instances when the Company provides shipping services to deliver its products. Shipping and handling costs that occur before the customer obtains control of the goods are deemed to be fulfillment activities and are accounted for as fulfillment costs. The Company has made an accounting policy election to recognize any shipping and handling costs that are incurred after the customer obtains control of the goods as fulfillment costs which are accrued at the time of revenue recognition.
The Company also derived revenue in fiscal 2023 and 2024 from a full-service air base fire retardant contract with the USFS. Full-service air bases include sales from the supply of fire retardant product and related equipment and service for inspection and loading the fire retardant onto aircraft at designated air tanker bases. The revenue derived from the contract with the USFS is comprised of three performance obligations, namely product sales, providing operations and maintenance personnel services and leasing of specified equipment. For full-service fire-retardant contracts, the Company identifies the fire-retardant product, equipment leases and services as separate units of account. The performance obligation for product sales is satisfied at a point in time when control of the product is transferred onto the aircraft, typically when the product is consumed by the customer. The services and leases represent “stand-ready obligations” and the revenue is recognized straight-line over the service period, which could be intermittent.

Significant Payment Terms
The customer contract states the final terms of the sale, including the description, quantity and price of each product or service purchased. Payment is typically due in full within 30 days of delivery. The Company does not adjust the consideration for the effects of a significant financing component if the Company expects, at contract inception, that the period between when the good or service is transferred to the customer and when the customer pays for that good or service will be one year or less. Payment terms vary by contract and sales to customers are deemed collectible at the time of sale based on customer history, prior credit checks, and controls around customer credit limits.
Sales and other taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction, which are collected by the Company from a customer, are excluded from revenue.

Refunds, Returns and Warranties
The Company’s products are generally not sold with a right of return and the Company does not generally provide credits or incentives, which may be required to be accounted for as variable consideration when estimating the amount of revenue to be recognized. The Company uses historical experience to estimate accruals for refunds due to manufacturing or other defects, which have historically been minimal. Therefore, there is no estimated obligation for returns. Standard terms of delivery are generally included in the Company's contracts of sale, order confirmation documents and invoices. The Company has recorded a provision of $0.8 million for estimated costs related to an October 2024 product recall, discussed further in Note 13.

Shipping and Handling
The Company uses the policy election to account for the shipping and handling activities as activities to fulfill the Company’s promise to transfer goods to the customer, rather than as a performance obligation. Accordingly, the costs of the shipping and handling activities are accrued for at the time of shipment.
Deferred Revenue
Deferred revenue represents collections under non-cancellable contracts before the related product or service is transferred to the customer. The portion of deferred revenue that is anticipated to be recognized as revenue during the succeeding twelve-month period is recorded in accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Deferred revenue as of September 30, 2024 and 2023 was approximately $3.6 million and $8.5 million, respectively.

Practical Expedients and Accounting Policy Elections
The Company has elected the following practical expedients and accounting policies not mentioned above: (i) to expense costs to obtain a contract as incurred when the Company expects that the amortization period would have been one year or less, (ii) not to recast revenue for customer contracts that begin and end in the same fiscal period, and (iii) not to assess whether promised goods or services are performance obligations if they are immaterial in the context of the customer contract.
See Note 14 for disaggregation of sales by segment, type and geographical region.
v3.24.4
LEASES
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Leases [Abstract]  
LEASES LEASES
The Company enters into leases for warehouses and depots, rail cars, vehicles, mobile equipment, office space and certain other types of property and equipment. The Company determines whether an arrangement is or contains a lease at the inception of the contract. The right-of-use asset and lease liability are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the estimated lease term. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company estimates its incremental borrowing rate for each lease based upon the estimated lease term, the type of asset and the location of the leased asset. The most significant judgments in the application of the FASB guidance include whether a contract contains a lease and the lease term.
Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company recognizes lease expense for these short-term leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Many of the Company’s leases include one or more options to renew and extend the initial lease term. The exercise of lease renewal options is generally at the Company’s discretion. The lease term includes renewal periods in only those instances in which the Company determines it is reasonably assured of renewal.
The depreciable lives of assets and leasehold improvements are limited by the expected lease term, unless there is a transfer of title or purchase option reasonably certain of exercise. In these instances, the assets are depreciated over the useful life of the asset.
The Company has elected the practical expedient available under the FASB guidance to not separate lease and non-lease components on all of its lease categories. As a result, many of the Company’s leases include variable payments for services (such as handling or storage) or payments based on the usage of the asset. In addition, certain of the Company’s lease agreements include rental payments that are adjusted periodically for inflation. The Company’s lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or any material restrictive covenants. The Company’s sublease income is immaterial.
The Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets includes the following (in millions):
Consolidated Balance Sheet LocationSeptember 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
Assets
Operating lease assetsOther noncurrent assets$50.0 $54.7 
Finance lease assetsProperty, plant and equipment, net15.7 6.9 
Total lease assets $65.7 $61.6 
Liabilities 
Current liabilities: 
OperatingAccrued expenses and other current liabilities$13.3 $16.5 
FinanceAccrued expenses and other current liabilities5.2 1.7 
Noncurrent liabilities: 
OperatingOther noncurrent liabilities38.6 40.2 
FinanceOther noncurrent liabilities11.2 5.5 
Total lease liabilities $68.3 $63.9 
The Company’s components of lease cost are as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended
September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
September 30,
2022
Finance lease cost:
Amortization of lease assets$2.8 $1.5 $1.2 
Interest on lease liabilities0.5 0.2 0.1 
Operating lease cost20.9 20.9 18.0 
Variable lease cost(a)
15.9 16.7 15.6 
Total lease cost$40.1 $39.3 $34.9 
(a)Short-term leases are immaterial and included in variable lease cost.

Maturities of lease liabilities are as follows (in millions):
Years Ending September 30: Operating LeasesFinance LeasesTotal
2025$15.6 $6.1 $21.7 
202612.7 5.0 17.7 
20279.6 2.5 12.1 
20286.9 1.8 8.7 
20295.5 0.4 5.9 
After 2029
8.8 4.8 13.6 
Total lease payments59.1 20.6 79.7 
Less: Interest(7.2)(4.2)(11.4)
Present value of lease liabilities$51.9 $16.4 $68.3 

Supplemental lease term and discount rate information related to leases is as follows:
Fiscal Year Ended
September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
September 30,
2022
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years)
Operating leases5.15.15.5
Finance leases7.813.220.7
Weighted-average discount rate
Operating leases5.2 %4.6 %4.0 %
Finance leases6.2 %5.0 %3.2 %

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases is as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended
September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
September 30,
2022
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from operating leases$20.9 $21.1 $18.2 
Operating cash flows from finance leases0.5 0.2 0.1 
Financing cash flows from finance leases2.7 1.5 1.3 
Leased assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities13.0 14.5 26.4 
Leased assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities12.0 5.3 — 
LEASES LEASES
The Company enters into leases for warehouses and depots, rail cars, vehicles, mobile equipment, office space and certain other types of property and equipment. The Company determines whether an arrangement is or contains a lease at the inception of the contract. The right-of-use asset and lease liability are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the estimated lease term. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company estimates its incremental borrowing rate for each lease based upon the estimated lease term, the type of asset and the location of the leased asset. The most significant judgments in the application of the FASB guidance include whether a contract contains a lease and the lease term.
Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company recognizes lease expense for these short-term leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Many of the Company’s leases include one or more options to renew and extend the initial lease term. The exercise of lease renewal options is generally at the Company’s discretion. The lease term includes renewal periods in only those instances in which the Company determines it is reasonably assured of renewal.
The depreciable lives of assets and leasehold improvements are limited by the expected lease term, unless there is a transfer of title or purchase option reasonably certain of exercise. In these instances, the assets are depreciated over the useful life of the asset.
The Company has elected the practical expedient available under the FASB guidance to not separate lease and non-lease components on all of its lease categories. As a result, many of the Company’s leases include variable payments for services (such as handling or storage) or payments based on the usage of the asset. In addition, certain of the Company’s lease agreements include rental payments that are adjusted periodically for inflation. The Company’s lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or any material restrictive covenants. The Company’s sublease income is immaterial.
The Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets includes the following (in millions):
Consolidated Balance Sheet LocationSeptember 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
Assets
Operating lease assetsOther noncurrent assets$50.0 $54.7 
Finance lease assetsProperty, plant and equipment, net15.7 6.9 
Total lease assets $65.7 $61.6 
Liabilities 
Current liabilities: 
OperatingAccrued expenses and other current liabilities$13.3 $16.5 
FinanceAccrued expenses and other current liabilities5.2 1.7 
Noncurrent liabilities: 
OperatingOther noncurrent liabilities38.6 40.2 
FinanceOther noncurrent liabilities11.2 5.5 
Total lease liabilities $68.3 $63.9 
The Company’s components of lease cost are as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended
September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
September 30,
2022
Finance lease cost:
Amortization of lease assets$2.8 $1.5 $1.2 
Interest on lease liabilities0.5 0.2 0.1 
Operating lease cost20.9 20.9 18.0 
Variable lease cost(a)
15.9 16.7 15.6 
Total lease cost$40.1 $39.3 $34.9 
(a)Short-term leases are immaterial and included in variable lease cost.

Maturities of lease liabilities are as follows (in millions):
Years Ending September 30: Operating LeasesFinance LeasesTotal
2025$15.6 $6.1 $21.7 
202612.7 5.0 17.7 
20279.6 2.5 12.1 
20286.9 1.8 8.7 
20295.5 0.4 5.9 
After 2029
8.8 4.8 13.6 
Total lease payments59.1 20.6 79.7 
Less: Interest(7.2)(4.2)(11.4)
Present value of lease liabilities$51.9 $16.4 $68.3 

Supplemental lease term and discount rate information related to leases is as follows:
Fiscal Year Ended
September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
September 30,
2022
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years)
Operating leases5.15.15.5
Finance leases7.813.220.7
Weighted-average discount rate
Operating leases5.2 %4.6 %4.0 %
Finance leases6.2 %5.0 %3.2 %

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases is as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended
September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
September 30,
2022
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from operating leases$20.9 $21.1 $18.2 
Operating cash flows from finance leases0.5 0.2 0.1 
Financing cash flows from finance leases2.7 1.5 1.3 
Leased assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities13.0 14.5 26.4 
Leased assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities12.0 5.3 — 
v3.24.4
INVENTORIES
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]  
INVENTORIES INVENTORIES
Inventories consist of the following (in millions):
 September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
Finished goods$336.5 $319.3 
Work in process
6.47.3
Raw materials and supplies(a)
71.2 72.9 
Total inventories$414.1 $399.5 
(a)Excludes certain raw materials and supplies of $42.2 million and $35.8 million as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, that are not expected to be consumed within the next twelve months, which are included in Other noncurrent assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
v3.24.4
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]  
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Property, plant and equipment consists of the following (in millions):
 September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
Land, buildings and structures and leasehold improvements$559.8 $547.9 
Machinery and equipment1,149.5 1,102.0 
Office furniture and equipment24.1 21.6 
Mineral interests170.4 169.1 
Construction in progress56.0 113.3 
 1,959.8 1,953.9 
Less accumulated depreciation and depletion
(1,153.3)(1,101.4)
Property, plant and equipment, net$806.5 $852.5 

The cost of leased property, plant and equipment under finance leases included above was $18.7 million and $9.9 million with accumulated depreciation of $3.0 million as of both September 30, 2024 and 2023. The net change to property, plant and equipment through accounts payable and accrued expenses and other current liabilities was $12.9 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024.
The Company had been pursuing the development of a sustainable lithium salt resource to support the North American battery market. The passage of Utah House Bill 513 in March 2023 and the subsequent rulemaking process altered certain aspects of the regulatory landscape that will govern the development of lithium at the Great Salt Lake, introducing uncertainty into how development would proceed. As previously disclosed in the Company’s 2023 Form 10-K, the Company indefinitely paused new investment in its lithium development project pending greater clarity on the evolving regulatory environment in Utah. In December of 2023, a revised draft of the aforementioned rulemaking was published that continued to be, in the Company's assessment, adverse to its lithium development project. In addition, in December of 2023, the Company further refined its engineering estimates that, taken together with the proposed rules and decline in market price for lithium products, would result in inadequate risk-adjusted returns on capital.
On January 23, 2024, the Company severed certain members of its lithium development team and terminated its pursuit of the lithium development. Consequently, the Company evaluated the capitalized assets, including site preparation, project engineering, equipment and materials and capitalized labor and interest. As a result, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $74.8 million, including $7.6 million associated with future commitments for the year ended September 30, 2024 to reflect the assets at their estimated fair value, considering equipment expected to be used by the on-going business and amounts estimated to be recoverable through returns or salvage value. Prior to recognizing an impairment, the Company had capitalized $72.7 million to its property, plant and equipment on its Consolidated Balance Sheet with approximately $4.8 million of spare parts remaining in inventories as of September 30, 2024. The Company engaged a valuation specialist to assist in determining the appropriate fair value of the lithium assets and the resulting impairment charge. Given the assets are likely to either be used in other operations or liquidated at a later date, the Company utilized a market-based approach that relied on Level 3 inputs (see Note 17 for a discussion of the levels in the fair value hierarchy).
v3.24.4
GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]  
GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill are summarized as follows (in millions):
Plant NutritionCorporate & OtherConsolidated
Balance as of September 30, 2022$50.9 $5.5 $56.4 
Acquisition of business(a)
— 32.0 32.0 
Foreign currency translation adjustment0.2 0.2 0.4 
Balance as of September 30, 202351.1 37.7 88.8 
Foreign currency translation adjustment(0.1)0.3 0.2 
Impairments(51.0)(32.0)(83.0)
Balance as of September 30, 2024$— $6.0 $6.0 
(a)Goodwill related to the Company’s acquisition of Fortress, as discussed further in Note 3.

In the second quarter of fiscal 2024, there were indicators necessitating an interim impairment test of the Company’s goodwill based on the Company’s review of its operating performance, among other factors, for the relevant reporting units. Refer to Note 2 for additional details.
In connection with the Fortress acquisition described in Note 3, the Company acquired identifiable intangible assets which consisted of customer relationships, developed technology, in-process research and development and trade name. The fair values were determined using Level 3 inputs (see Note 17 for a discussion of the levels in the fair value hierarchy). Upon acquisition, the fair value of the customer relationships was estimated using an income approach method while the fair values of developed technology, in-process research and development and trade name were estimated using the relief from royalty method.
As a result of the Fortress-related impairments discussed in Note 2, the Company impaired all magnesium chloride-related assets which resulted in an impairment of the Company’s developed technology intangible asset of $15.6 million, net of accumulated amortization of $0.4 million. The Company continues to have Fortress-related net intangible assets consisting of customer relationships and trade name of $54.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively, as of September 30, 2024. The Company also has $2.2 million of indefinite-lived in-process research and development recognized in connection with the Fortress acquisition as of September 30, 2024, which will be reviewed for impairment at least annually, or in the event of indicators of impairment, until product development is completed. No additional impairments were identified in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 based on our annual analyses.
The asset values and accumulated amortization for the finite-lived intangibles assets are as follows (in millions):
 Customer RelationshipsTrade NameSupply AgreementSOP Production RightsLease RightsTotal
September 30, 2024
Gross intangible asset$58.5 $0.2 $26.8 $24.3 $1.7 $111.5 
Accumulated amortization(3.4)(0.1)(7.4)(20.2)(0.8)(31.9)
Net intangible assets$55.1 $0.1 $19.4 $4.1 $0.9 $79.6 


 Customer RelationshipsDeveloped TechnologyTrade NameSupply AgreementSOP Production RightsLease RightsTotal
September 30, 2023
Gross intangible asset$58.4 $16.1 $0.2 $26.8 $24.3 $1.6 $127.4 
Accumulated amortization(1.0)(0.1)— (6.8)(19.3)(0.7)(27.9)
Net intangible assets$57.4 $16.0 $0.2 $20.0 $5.0 $0.9 $99.5 
 
The weighted average estimated lives of the Company’s finite-lived intangible assets are as follows:
Intangible assetEstimated Lives
Customer relationships25 years
Trade name5 years
Supply agreement50 years
SOP production rights25 years
Lease rights25 years

None of the finite-lived intangible assets have a residual book value. Aggregate amortization expense was $4.3 million, $2.7 and $1.6 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and is projected to be between $3 million and $5 million per year over the next five years. The weighted average life for the Company’s finite-lived intangibles is approximately 30 years.
In addition, the Company had water rights of $0.2 million and $17.8 million as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company is in the process of donating non-production-related water rights totaling approximately 201,000 acre feet annually to be used by the State of Utah for lake conservation and preservation. In connection with the annual impairment analysis, the Company performed a fair value analysis of the indefinite-lived intangible asset that resulted in an impairment of its water rights valued at approximately $17.6 million. Refer to Note 2 for additional details.
The Company also had trade names and in-process research and development of $0.5 million and $2.2 million as of both September 30, 2024 and 2023, which have indefinite lives.
v3.24.4
INCOME TAXES
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
INCOME TAXES INCOME TAXES
The Company files tax returns in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Brazil at the federal and local taxing jurisdictional levels. The Company’s U.S. federal tax returns for tax years 2017 forward remain open and subject to examination. Generally, the Company’s state, local and foreign tax returns for years as early as 2002 forward remain open and subject to examination, depending on the jurisdiction.
The following table summarizes the Company’s income tax provision (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended
 September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
September 30,
2022
Current:
Federal$(0.3)$(1.4)$8.7 
State(0.4)0.9 (2.0)
Foreign21.3 22.6 8.8 
Total current20.6 22.1 15.5 
Deferred:   
Federal6.8 (0.8)16.0 
State(8.8)(2.0)(1.8)
Foreign(0.7)(2.2)3.8 
Total deferred(2.7)(5.0)18.0 
Total provision for income taxes$17.9 $17.1 $33.5 
The following table summarizes components of earnings before income taxes and shows the tax effects of significant adjustments from the expected income tax expense computed at the federal statutory rate (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended
 September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
September 30,
2022
U.S. loss$(226.2)$(22.7)$(65.5)
Foreign income38.0 50.3 65.7 
Earnings before income taxes$(188.2)$27.6 $0.2 
Computed tax at the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21%
$(39.5)$5.8 $— 
Foreign income rate differential, mining, and withholding taxes, net of U.S. federal deduction11.3 9.6 4.3 
Benefit recognized on Canadian law change
— (6.2)— 
Percentage depletion in excess of basis(2.4)(2.7)(5.7)
Non-deductible compensation 2.0 3.1 3.3 
Other domestic tax reserves, net of reversals0.2 (2.6)(1.1)
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit(8.4)(1.3)(2.4)
Change in valuation allowance on deferred tax asset46.9 11.1 35.4 
Interest expense recognition differences— — (2.8)
Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income and Base Erosion and Anti-Abuse Tax— 1.1 — 
Goodwill impairment
8.5 — — 
Tax on repatriated amounts— (0.7)(0.3)
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) Settlement— — 2.5 
Other (income) expense, net(0.7)(0.1)0.3 
Provision for income taxes$17.9 $17.1 $33.5 
Effective tax rate(10)%62 %16,750 %
Under U.S. GAAP, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax effects, based on enacted tax law, of temporary differences between the values of assets and liabilities recorded for financial reporting and tax purposes, and of net operating losses and other carryforwards. The significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows (in millions):
 September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
Deferred tax assets to be netted with deferred tax liabilities:
U.S. intangible asset
$3.9 $— 
Net operating loss carryforwards
22.3 16.8 
Excess interest expense63.0 45.6 
Foreign tax credit39.4 39.4 
Stock-based compensation2.1 2.4 
Research and development costs
4.3 2.2 
Federal and state capital losses
3.6 3.6 
Right of use lease liability12.7 13.8 
State tax credits8.9 8.3 
Inventory
7.3 — 
Other, net
18.1 16.2 
Total deferred tax assets before valuation allowance185.6 148.3 
Valuation allowance
(167.3)(121.2)
Total deferred tax assets to be netted with deferred tax liabilities18.3 27.1 
Deferred tax liabilities:  
Property, plant and equipment53.9 55.2 
U.S. intangible asset
— 2.8 
Foreign intangible asset
4.3 8.9 
Right of use lease asset12.7 13.8 
Unrealized foreign exchange gain1.2 1.3 
Other, net2.7 3.5 
Total deferred tax liabilities74.8 85.5 
Net deferred tax liabilities$56.5 $58.4 

At September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company had $76.4 million and $65.4 million, respectively, of gross federal net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards that have no expiration date and $6.1 million and $2.9 million, respectively, of net operating tax-effected state NOL carryforwards which will expire beginning in 2031. At both September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company also had $2.0 million of tax-effected state capital losses which will expire beginning in 2027 and $1.6 million of tax-effected federal capital losses, which will expire beginning in 2025.
The Company has recorded a valuation allowance for a portion of its deferred tax asset relating to various tax attributes that it does not believe are more likely than not to be realized. As of September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company’s valuation allowance was $167.3 million and $121.2 million, respectively. Management assesses the available positive and negative evidence to estimate whether sufficient future taxable income will be generated to permit use of the existing deferred tax assets. A significant piece of objective negative evidence evaluated was the cumulative loss incurred in the U.S. over the three-year period ended September 30, 2024. Such objective evidence limits the ability to consider other subjective evidence, such as management’s projections for future income. On the basis of this evaluation, for the fiscal year 2024, an additional valuation allowance of $46.0 million has been recorded to recognize only the portion of the U.S. deferred tax assets that are more likely than not to be realized. The amount of the deferred tax assets considered realizable, however, could be adjusted if objective negative evidence in the form of cumulative losses is no longer present and additional weight is given to subjective evidence such as management’s projections for income. In the future, if the Company determines, based on existence of sufficient evidence, that it should realize more or less of its deferred tax assets, an adjustment to the valuation allowance will be made in the period such a determination is made.
The calculation of the Company’s tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax regulations in multiple jurisdictions. The Company recognizes potential liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits in the U.S. and
other tax jurisdictions in accordance with applicable U.S. GAAP, which requires uncertain tax positions to be recognized only if they are more likely than not to be upheld based on their technical merits. The measurement of the uncertain tax position is based on the largest benefit amount that is more likely than not (determined on a cumulative probability basis) to be realized upon settlement of the matter. If payment of these amounts ultimately proves to be unnecessary, the reversal of the liabilities would result in tax benefits being recognized in the period when the Company determines the liabilities are no longer necessary. If the Company’s estimate of tax liabilities proves to be less than the ultimate assessment, a further charge to expense may result.
The Company’s uncertain tax positions primarily relate to transactions and deductions involving U.S. and Canadian operations. If favorably resolved, a maximum of $28.7 million of unrecognized tax benefits would decrease the Company’s effective tax rate. Management believes that it is reasonably possible that $0.3 million of the unrecognized tax benefits will decrease in the next twelve months. In fiscal 2024, the Company’s income tax expense included a benefit of approximately $0.2 million related to the release of uncertain tax positions due to the expiration of statutes of limitations.
The following table shows a reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended
 September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
September 30,
2022
Unrecognized tax benefits:
Balance at beginning of period$35.4 $33.6 $38.0 
Additions resulting from current year tax positions1.7 3.8 — 
Additions relating to tax positions taken in prior years0.2 0.5 — 
Reductions relating to tax positions taken in prior years— — (3.2)
Reductions due to expiration of tax years(0.2)(2.5)(1.2)
Balance at end of period$37.1 $35.4 $33.6 
 
The Company accrues interest and penalties related to its uncertain tax positions within its tax provision. During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, the Company accrued interest and penalties, net of reversals, of $5.1 million, $(3.0) million and $0.9 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2024 and 2023, accrued interest and penalties included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets totaled $27.8 million and $22.7 million, respectively.
As a result of U.S. tax reform, in fiscal 2018, the Company revised its permanently reinvested assertion expecting to repatriate approximately $150 million of unremitted foreign earnings from Canada. In fiscal 2022, the Company revised its permanently reinvested assertion, expecting to repatriate an additional $10 million of unremitted foreign earnings from its U.K. operations and in fiscal 2023 the Company revised it again expecting to repatriate an additional approximately $6 million of unremitted foreign earnings from its U.K. operations. During the first quarter of fiscal 2023, $89.2 million was repatriated from Canada and in the third quarter of fiscal 2023, $15.6 million was repatriated from the U.K. Net income tax expense of $3.8 million has been recorded for foreign withholding tax, state income tax and foreign exchange losses on these changes in assertion as of September 30, 2024, consisting of a tax benefit of $0.0 million recorded in fiscal 2024, a $0.7 million tax benefit recorded in fiscal 2023, a $0.2 million tax benefit recorded in fiscal 2022 and tax expense of $4.7 million recorded in years prior to fiscal 2022. The Company intends to continue its permanently reinvested assertion on the remaining undistributed earnings of its foreign subsidiaries indefinitely. As of September 30, 2024, the Company has approximately $213.5 million of outside basis differences on which no deferred taxes have been recorded as the determination of the unrecognized deferred taxes is not practicable.
Canadian provincial tax authorities have challenged tax positions claimed by one of the Company’s Canadian subsidiaries and have issued tax reassessments for fiscal years 2002-2019. The reassessments are a result of ongoing audits and total approximately $201.0 million, including interest, through September 30, 2024. The Company disputes these reassessments and plans to continue to work with the appropriate authorities in Canada to resolve the dispute. There is a reasonable possibility that the ultimate resolution of this dispute, and any related disputes for other open tax years, may be materially higher or lower than the amounts the Company has reserved for such disputes. In connection with this dispute, local regulations require the Company to post security with the tax authority until the dispute is resolved. The Company has posted collateral in the form of a $162.2 million performance bond and has paid $36.9 million (most of which is recorded in other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2024), which is necessary to proceed with future appeals or litigation.
The Company expects that it will be required by local regulations to provide security for additional interest on the above unresolved disputed amounts and for any future reassessments issued by these Canadian tax authorities in the form of cash, letters of credit, performance bonds, asset liens or other arrangements agreeable with the tax authorities until the disputes are resolved.
The Company expects that the ultimate outcome of these matters will not have a material impact on its results of operations or financial condition. However, the Company can provide no assurance as to the ultimate outcome of these matters and the impact could be material if they are not resolved in the Company’s favor. As of September 30, 2024, the Company believes it has adequately reserved for these reassessments.
Additionally, the Company has other uncertain tax positions as well as assessments and disputed positions with taxing authorities in its various jurisdictions.
v3.24.4
PENSION PLANS AND OTHER BENEFITS
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
PENSION PLANS AND OTHER BENEFITS PENSION PLANS AND OTHER BENEFITS
U.K. Pension
The Company has a defined benefit pension plan for certain of its former U.K. employees. Benefits of this pension plan are based on a combination of years of service and compensation levels. This plan was closed to new participants in 1992. Beginning December 1, 2008, future benefits ceased to accrue for the remaining active employee participants in the pension plan concurrent with the establishment of a defined contribution plan for these employees.
The Company’s U.K. pension plan investment strategy is to maximize return on investments while minimizing risk. This is accomplished by investing in high-grade equity and debt securities. The Company’s portfolio guidelines recommend that equity securities comprise approximately 30% of the total portfolio and that approximately 70% be invested in debt securities. The Company attempts to follow strategies that will reduce volatility, while also maximizing returns. Investment strategies and portfolio allocations are based on the U.K. pension plan’s benefit obligations and its funded or underfunded status, expected returns, and the Company’s portfolio guidelines and are monitored on a regular basis. The weighted-average asset allocations by asset category are as follows:
Asset CategorySeptember 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
Cash and cash equivalents%%
Blended funds43 %39 %
Bond funds55 %60 %
Total100 %100 %

The fair value of the Company’s U.K. pension plan assets by asset category (see Note 17 for a discussion regarding fair value measurements) are as follows (in millions):
 September 30,
2024
Level OneLevel TwoLevel Three
Asset category:
Cash and cash equivalents(a)
$1.0 $1.0 $— $— 
Blended funds(b)
20.2 — 20.2 — 
Bond funds(c):
    
Treasuries26.0 — 26.0 — 
Total Pension Assets$47.2 $1.0 $46.2 $— 

 September 30,
2023
Level OneLevel TwoLevel Three
Asset category:
Cash and cash equivalents(a)
$0.5 $0.5 $— $— 
Blended funds(b)
16.2 — 16.2 — 
Bond funds(c):
    
Treasuries24.8 — 24.8 — 
Total Pension Assets$41.5 $0.5 $41.0 $— 
(a)The fair value of cash and cash equivalents is its carrying value.
(b)The Company is invested in a diversified growth fund. The diversified growth fund is valued at the last traded or official close for the underlying equities and bid or mid for the underlying fixed income securities depending on the portfolio benchmark. Where representative prices are unavailable, underlying fixed income investments are valued based on other observable market-based inputs.
(c)This category includes investments in investment-grade fixed-income instruments and funds linked to U.K. treasury notes. The funds are valued using the bid amounts for each fund. All of the Company’s bond fund pension assets are invested in U.K.-linked treasuries as of September 30, 2024 and 2023.
As of September 30, 2024 and 2023, amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, consisted of actuarial net losses of $6.3 million (including $6.9 million of accumulated loss less prior service cost of $0.7 million) and $6.7 million (including $7.3 million of accumulated loss less prior service cost of $0.7 million), respectively. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, the amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, consisted of actuarial net gains of $0.1 million, amortization of loss of $1.0 million, amortization of prior service cost of $(0.1) million and foreign exchange of $(0.7) million.
During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, the amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, consisted of actuarial net losses of $(3.7) million, amortization of loss of $0.2 million, amortization of prior service cost of $(0.1) million and foreign exchange of $(0.3) million. 
During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, the amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, consisted of actuarial net gains of $1.6 million, amortization of loss of $0.4 million, amortization of prior service cost of $(0.1) million and foreign exchange of $1.3 million. The Company expects to recognize approximately $1.0 million ($1.1 million of amortization of loss less $0.1 million of prior service cost) of losses from accumulated other comprehensive loss as a component of net periodic pension cost in fiscal 2025. Total net periodic pension cost in fiscal 2025 is expected to be $0.9 million.
The assumptions used in determining pension information for the U.K. pension plan were as follows:
Fiscal Year Ended
 September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
September 30,
2022
Discount rate4.90 %5.55 %5.45 %
Expected return on plan assets5.00 %5.40 %5.05 %
 
The overall expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is a weighted-average expectation based on the fair value of targeted and expected portfolio composition. The Company considers historical performance and current benchmarks to arrive at expected long-term rates of return in each asset category. The Company determines its discount rate based on a forward yield curve for a portfolio of high-credit-quality bonds with expected cash flows and an average duration closely matching the expected benefit payments under the plan.
The Company’s funding policy is to make the minimum annual contributions required by applicable regulations or agreements with the plan administrator. Management expects there will be no contributions during 2025. In addition, the Company may periodically make contributions to the plan based upon the underfunded status of the plan or other transactions, which warrant incremental contributions in the judgment of management.
The U.K. pension plan includes a provision whereby supplemental benefits may be available to participants under certain circumstances after case review and approval by the plan trustees. Because instances of this type of benefit have historically been infrequent, the development of the projected benefit obligation and net periodic pension cost (benefit) has not provided for any future supplemental benefits. If additional benefits are approved by the trustees, it is likely that an additional contribution would be required and the amount of incremental benefits would be expensed by the Company.
The Company expects to pay the following benefit payments (in millions):
Years Ending September 30:Future Expected Benefit Payments
2025$3.1 
20263.2 
20273.2 
20283.3 
20293.4 
2030-203418.1 
The following table sets forth pension obligations and plan assets for the Company’s U.K. pension plan (in millions):
 September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of period$39.7 $36.7 
Interest cost2.2 2.1 
Actuarial loss2.0 0.1 
Benefits paid(2.9)(2.7)
Currency fluctuation adjustment4.0 3.5 
Benefit obligation at end of period45.0 39.7 
Change in plan assets:  
Fair value at beginning of period41.5 42.7 
Actual return4.3 (2.5)
Company contributions— — 
Currency fluctuation adjustment4.3 4.0 
Benefits paid(2.9)(2.7)
Fair value of plan assets at end of period47.2 41.5 
Overfunded status of the plan$2.2 $1.8 

The Company’s U.K. pension plan was overfunded as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, and accordingly, $2.2 million and $1.8 million has been recorded as a noncurrent asset, respectively, in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. The accumulated benefit obligation for the U.K. pension plan was $45.0 million and $39.7 million as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The plan assets were in excess of the accumulated benefit obligation as of September 30, 2024 and 2023. The vested benefit obligation is the actuarial present value of the vested benefits to which the employee is currently entitled but based on the employee’s expected date of retirement. Since all employees are vested, the accumulated benefit obligation and the vested benefit obligation are the same amount.
The Company uses a straight-line methodology of amortization subject to a corridor based upon the higher of the fair value of assets and the pension benefit obligation over a five-year period. The components of net periodic pension cost (benefit) were as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended
 September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
September 30,
2022
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation$2.2 $2.1 $1.2 
Prior service cost(0.1)(0.1)(0.1)
Expected return on plan assets(2.2)(2.3)(2.0)
Net amortization1.4 0.3 0.5 
Net periodic pension cost (benefit)$1.3 $— $(0.4)

Other Post-Employment Benefits
The Company provides retirement medical, dental and life insurance benefits and post-employment vacation benefits to certain Canadian employees (collectively, the “Canadian Benefits”), which are considered other post-employment benefit obligations.
The assumed discount rate used to determine the benefit obligation for the Canadian Benefits as of September 30, 2024 and 2023 was 4.60% and 5.70%, respectively. The ultimate trend rate used to determine the benefit obligation for the Canadian Benefits as of September 30, 2024 and 2023 was 4.00%. The year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate is 2040.
The Company expects to pay the following payments for the Canadian Benefits (in millions):
Years Ending September 30:Future Expected Benefit Payments
2025$0.6 
20260.5 
20270.5 
20280.6 
20290.6 
2030-20343.2 

The following table sets forth the Company’s benefit obligation (in millions):
 September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of period$8.8 $8.9 
Service cost0.2 0.3 
Interest cost0.5 0.5 
Benefits paid(0.4)(0.3)
Actuarial loss (gain)
0.3 (0.7)
Currency fluctuation adjustment— 0.1 
Benefit obligation at end of period$9.4 $8.8 

The Company uses the Projected Unit Credit Method in determining its benefit obligation. Under this method, each participant’s benefits are attributed to years of service, taking into account the projection of benefit costs. The components of net periodic cost (benefit) are also shown above.

Other
The Company has defined contribution and pre-tax savings plans (the “Savings Plans”) for certain of its employees. Under each of the Savings Plans, participants are permitted to defer a portion of their compensation. Company matching contributions to the Savings Plans are based on a percentage of employee contributions. Additionally, certain of the Savings Plans have a profit-sharing feature for salaried and non-union hourly employees. The Company contribution to the profit-sharing feature is discretionary and based on the Company’s financial performance and other factors. Expense attributable to the Savings Plans was $12.1 million, $10.7 million and $9.7 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
The Savings Plans include a non-qualified plan for certain executive officers and other key employees who are limited in their ability to participate in qualified plans due to existing regulations. These employees are allowed to defer a portion of their compensation, upon which they will be entitled to receive Company contributions despite the limitations imposed by current U.S. regulations for qualified plans. The Company’s contributions to the Savings Plans include Company matching contributions based on a percentage of the employee’s deferred salary, discretionary profit sharing contributions and any investment income (loss) that would have been credited to their account had the contributions been made according to employee-designated investment specifications. Although not required to do so, the Company invests amounts equal to the salary deferrals, the corresponding Company matching contribution and discretionary profit sharing amounts according to the employee-designated investment specifications. As of September 30, 2024 and 2023, investments in marketable securities totaling $3.1 million and $2.6 million, respectively, were included in other noncurrent assets with a corresponding deferred compensation liability included in other noncurrent liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Compensation expense recorded for the non-qualified plan was immaterial for each of the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, including amounts attributable to investment income, and was included in other, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
v3.24.4
LONG TERM DEBT
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
LONG TERM DEBT LONG TERM DEBT
Long-term debt consists of the following (in millions):
 September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
6.75% Senior Notes due December 2027
$500.0 $500.0 
Term Loan due May 2028
193.8 198.8 
Revolving Credit Facility due May 2028
190.1 81.5 
AR Securitization Facility expires March 202738.9 30.9 
922.8 811.2 
Less unamortized debt issuance costs(5.3)(5.9)
Total debt917.5 805.3 
Less current portion(7.5)(5.0)
Long-term debt$910.0 $800.3 

Credit Agreement
On May 5, 2023, the Company entered into an agreement to amend and restate the Company’s credit agreement entered into on November 26, 2019 (as amended, the “2019 Credit Agreement”, as in effect prior to such restatement, the “Existing Credit Agreement”) with a new $575 million senior secured credit agreement due May 5, 2028 (as amended, the “2023 Credit Agreement”), comprised of a $375 million revolving credit facility and a $200 million term loan. The term loan is payable in quarterly installments of interest and principal, which began September 30, 2023. The 2023 Credit Agreement increases the Applicable Margins by 25 basis points over those defined in the Existing Credit Agreement and added an additional level to the pricing grid at a consolidated total leverage ratio of greater than 4:00 to 1.00. The outstanding term loan can be prepaid at any time without penalty.
As of September 30, 2024, the term loan and revolving credit facility under the 2023 Credit Agreement were secured by substantially all existing and future U.S. assets of the Company, the Goderich mine in Ontario, Canada and capital stock of certain subsidiaries. As of September 30, 2024 and 2023, the weighted average interest rate was 7.7% and 7.8%, respectively, on all borrowings outstanding under the 2023 Credit Agreement. Depending on the type, borrowings under the 2023 Credit Agreement accrue interest at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, the Adjusted EURIBO Rate, Prime Rate or the CDO Rate (as defined in the credit agreement), as applicable, plus Applicable Margins (as defined in the credit agreement) which resulted in interest rates between 7.3% and 9.5% as of September 30, 2024, and 7.7% and 9.8% as of September 30, 2023.
The 2023 Credit Agreement, among other things, amended and restated the Existing Credit Agreement to (i) increase the Revolving Commitments (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) from $300 million to $375 million and extend the maturity date of the Revolving Commitments to May 5, 2028, (ii) refinance the Term Loans (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) with a new tranche of term loans in an aggregate principal amount equal to $200 million having a maturity date of May 5, 2028, and (iii) amend certain other terms of the Existing Credit Agreement, including, but not limited to, (a) expressly permit “run rate” cost savings in “Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA” (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) and (b) revise select covenants in the Existing Credit Agreement.
In connection with the 2023 Credit Agreement, the Company paid $4.3 million in fees ($3.9 million was capitalized as deferred financing costs with $0.4 million recorded as an expense). These capitalized costs are amortized over the term of the debt and are included as a component of interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company incurred a loss on the extinguishment of debt of $1.0 million to write off previously capitalized deferred financing costs, which is included as a component of interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
The 2023 Credit Agreement requires the Company to maintain certain financial ratios, including a minimum interest coverage ratio and a maximum total net leverage ratio. The total net leverage ratio represents the ratio of (a) consolidated total net debt to (b) consolidated adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”). Consolidated total net debt includes the aggregate principal amount of total debt, net of unrestricted cash not to exceed $75.0 million.
Under the current revolving credit facility, up to $40 million may be drawn in Canadian dollars and $10 million may be drawn in British pounds sterling. Additionally, the revolving credit facility includes a sub-limit for short-term letters of credit in an amount not to exceed $50 million. The Company incurs participation fees related to its outstanding letters of credit and commitment fees on its available borrowing capacity. The rates vary depending on the Company’s leverage ratio. Bank fees are not material.
In April 2022, the Company utilized earnout proceeds from the 2021 sale of its South America specialty plant nutrition business and proceeds from the April 2022 sale of the South America chemicals business to repay approximately $60.6 million of its term loan balance.
In November 2022, the Company entered into the third amendment to the 2019 Credit Agreement, principally to affect a transition from the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate pricing benchmark provisions.
During the quarter ended December 31, 2022, the Company paid off the outstanding revolving credit facility balance utilizing proceeds from a private placement of common stock. Refer to Note 15 for additional details.
On March 27, 2024, the Company entered into an amendment to its 2023 Credit Agreement, which eased the restrictions of certain covenants contained in the agreement. The amendment included increasing the maximum allowed consolidated total net leverage ratio (as defined and calculated under the terms of the amended 2023 Credit Agreement) to 6.5x as of the last day of any quarter through the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2024, then gradually stepping down to 4.75x by the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2026 and thereafter. In connection with this amendment, the Company paid fees totaling $1.7 million which were capitalized as deferred financing costs. Additional arrangement and legal fees of $0.9 million were expensed.
On August 12, 2024, the Company entered into an amendment to its 2023 Credit Agreement, which extended the deadline for delivery of the Company’s financial statements for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, together with the respective compliance certificates, from 45 days to 75 days after the last day of the quarter ended June 30, 2024.
On September 13, 2024, the Company entered into an amendment to its 2023 Credit Agreement, which extended the deadline for delivery of the Company’s financial statements for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 (the “Q3 2024 Form 10-Q”), together with the respective compliance certificates, to November 29, 2024, 152 days after the last day of the quarter ended June 30, 2024.
On September 18, 2024, the Company received a notice of default relating to its 6.750% Senior Notes due 2027 because the Company failed to timely furnish a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Q3 2024 Form 10-Q. The Company has 90 days from receipt of the notice to remedy prior to it becoming an Event of Default under the terms of the Indenture, dated November 26, 2019. The Company’s Q3 Form 10-Q was filed with the SEC on October 30, 2024. The Company was in compliance with each of its covenants under the 2023 Credit Agreement as of September 30, 2024.
On December 12, 2024, the Company entered into an amendment to its 2023 Credit Agreement, which, among other things, eased the restrictions of certain covenants contained in the agreement. The amendment included increasing the maximum allowed consolidated total net leverage ratio (as defined and calculated under the terms of the amended 2023 Credit Agreement) to 6.5x as of the last day of any quarter through the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2025, then gradually stepping down to 4.5x for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2026 and thereafter. The amendment also decreased the Revolving Commitments (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) from $375 million to $325 million with additional reductions stepping down to $250 million on July 1, 2026.
As of September 30, 2024, there was $190.1 million outstanding under the revolving credit facility and, after deducting outstanding letters of credit totaling $15.2 million, the Company’s borrowing availability was $169.7 million. 

Senior Notes
In November 2019, the Company issued $500 million 6.75% Senior Notes due December 2027 (the “6.75% Notes”), which are subordinate to the 2023 Credit Agreement borrowings. The 6.75% Notes are unsecured obligations and are guaranteed by certain of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries. Interest on the 6.75% Notes is due semi-annually in June and December. The 6.75% Notes are subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness. In connection with the 6.75% Notes, the Company paid $8.2 million of fees, all of which were capitalized as deferred financing costs.
The 2023 Credit Agreement and the agreement governing the 6.75% Notes and other indebtedness contain covenants that limit the Company’s ability, among other things, to incur additional indebtedness or contingent obligations or grant liens; pay dividends or make distributions to stockholders; repurchase or redeem the Company’s stock; make investments or dispose of assets; prepay, or amend the terms of certain junior indebtedness; engage in sale and leaseback transactions; make changes to the Company’s organizational documents or fiscal periods; grant liens on the Company’s assets or make certain intercompany dividends, investments or asset transfers; enter into new lines of business; enter into transactions with the Company’s stockholders and affiliates; and acquire the assets of or merge or consolidate with other companies.

Securitization
On June 30, 2020, certain of the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries entered into a three-year committed revolving accounts receivable financing facility (the “AR Facility”) of up to $100.0 million with PNC Bank, National Association (“PNC”), as administrative agent and lender, and PNC Capital Markets, LLC, as structuring agent. On June 27, 2022, certain of the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries entered into an amendment to the AR Facility, extending the facility to June 2025. In January 2023, certain of the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries entered into the second amendment to the AR Securitization Facility with PNC Bank, which temporarily eased the restrictions of certain covenants contained in the agreement through March 2023. The amendment made certain adjustments to the financial tests including: (i) the default ratio and (ii) the delinquency ratio to make compliance with such tests more likely.
On March 27, 2024, certain of the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries entered into an amendment to its revolving accounts receivable financing facility with PNC Bank, National Association, extending the facility to March 2027. In connection with this amendment, the Company paid fees totaling $0.4 million which were capitalized as deferred financing costs.
On August 12, 2024, the Company entered into an amendment to its AR Facility, which extended the deadline for delivery of the Company’s Q3 2024 Form 10-Q, together with the respective compliance certificates, from 45 days to 75 days after the last day of the quarter ended June 30, 2024.
On September 13, 2024, the Company entered into an amendment to its AR Facility, which extended the deadline for delivery of the Company’s Q3 2024 Form 10-Q, together with the respective compliance certificates, to November 29, 2024, 152 days after the last day of the quarter ended June 30, 2024. The Company’s Q3 2024 Form 10-Q was filed with the SEC on October 30, 2024.
In connection with the AR Facility, one of the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries, from time to time, sells and contributes receivables and certain related assets to a special purposes entity and wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of the Company (the “SPE”). The SPE finances its acquisition of the receivables by obtaining secured loans from PNC and the other lenders party to a receivables financing agreement. A U.S. subsidiary of the Company services the receivables on behalf of the SPE for a fee. In addition, the Company has agreed to guarantee the performance by its subsidiaries. The Company and its subsidiaries do not guarantee the loan principal or interest under the receivables financing agreement or the collectability of the receivables under the AR Facility.
The purchase price for the sale of receivables consists of cash available to the SPE from loans under the AR Facility and from collections on previously sold receivables and, to the extent the SPE does not have funds available to pay the purchase price due on any day in cash, through an increase in the principal amount of a subordinated intercompany loan. The SPE pays monthly interest and fees with respect to amounts advanced by the lenders under the AR Facility.
The SPE’s sole business consists of the purchase or acceptance through capital contributions of the receivables and the subsequent granting of a security interest in these receivables and related rights to PNC on behalf of the lenders under the AR Facility. The SPE is a separate legal entity with its own separate creditors who will be entitled, upon its liquidation, to be satisfied out of the SPE’s assets prior to any assets or value in the SPE becoming available to the Company and the assets of the SPE are not available to pay creditors of the Company or any of its affiliates other than the SPE. The Company accounts for the securitization as a borrowing and the related receivables are included in the accounts receivable balance.
Future maturities of long-term debt are as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Years Ending September 30: Debt Maturity
2025$7.5 
202610.0 
202748.9 
2028856.4 
2029— 
Thereafter— 
Total$922.8 
v3.24.4
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Contingent Obligations:
As previously disclosed, the Company was the subject of an investigation by the Division of Enforcement of the SEC regarding the Company’s disclosures primarily concerning the operation of the Goderich mine, the former South American businesses, and related accounting and internal control matters including Salt interim inventory valuation methodology issues that were disclosed in the Company’s Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2020, and Form 10-Q/A for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, each filed with the SEC on September 3, 2021.
On September 23, 2022, the Company reached a settlement with the SEC, concluding and resolving the SEC investigation in its entirety. Under the terms of the settlement, the Company, without admitting or denying the findings in the administrative order issued by the SEC, agreed to pay a civil penalty of $12 million and to cease and desist from violations of specified provisions of the federal securities laws and rules promulgated thereunder, and to retain an independent compliance consultant for a period of approximately one year to review certain accounting practices and procedures. The Company accrued for the full amount of the penalty in fiscal 2022, of which $10 million was reflected in accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2023 and subsequently paid during the first quarter of fiscal 2024.
On October 21, 2022, a putative securities class was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas. The lawsuit alleges that the Company and certain former executives of the Company made misleading statements and that shareholders were damaged by these statements. Plaintiffs filed an Amended Complaint on March 13, 2023; the Company filed
a Motion to Dismiss on May 12, 2023. On December 12, 2023, the court granted and denied in part the Company’s Motion to Dismiss. On December 29, 2023, the Company filed a request for an interlocutory appeal and a request for a stay of discovery. On March 15, 2024, the Court denied the Company’s request for an interlocutory appeal. The parties participated in a mediation on November 19, 2024; the parties did not resolve the matter at mediation. Discovery in the matter is ongoing.
On February 1, 2023, a shareholder derivative lawsuit was filed in the District of Kansas by an individual shareholder, purportedly on behalf of the Company. The lawsuit alleges that certain directors and executives breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders by failing to prevent the dissemination of misstatements and omissions from October 30, 2017, to November 18, 2018. The parties have stipulated to stay this matter through the discovery stage of the putative securities class action. On October 30, 2024, an additional shareholder derivative lawsuit was filed in the District of Kansas by an individual shareholder, purportedly on behalf of the Company. The lawsuit alleges that certain directors and executives breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders by willfully or recklessly causing the Company to make false and/or misleading statements and/or omissions of material fact from October 31, 2017, to October 21, 2022.
The Company is also involved in legal and administrative proceedings and claims of various types from the ordinary course of the Company’s business.
Management cannot predict the outcome of legal claims and proceedings with certainty. Nevertheless, management believes that the outcome of legal proceeding and claims, which are pending or known to be threatened, even if determined adversely, will not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position, except as otherwise described in Note 10 and this Note 13.
Nearly 50% of the Company’s workforce is represented by collective bargaining agreements. Of the Company’s 12 collective bargaining agreements in effect on September 30, 2024, six will expire in fiscal 2025 (including the Company’s Cote Blanche mine), four will expire in fiscal 2026 (including the Company’s Goderich mine), and two will expire in fiscal 2027.
The Company also has contingent consideration liabilities related to the Fortress acquisition. Refer to Note 17 for additional information.
On October 25, 2024, the Company issued a recall for nine production lots of food-grade salt produced at its Goderich Plant following a customer report of a non-organic, foreign material in its product. The products recalled included both products sold prior and subsequent to September 30, 2024. The Company followed recall protocol and notified its BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety certifying body, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (“CFIA”) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). The Company has been working to obtain and assess the reported foreign material, complete the necessary investigation, and determine the next steps. Based on initial feedback received from customers impacted by the recall and other currently available information, the Company has recorded $0.8 million for estimated costs expected to be borne by the Company, which have been included in other (income) expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the year ended September 30, 2024. Additionally, as of September 30, 2024, the Company has recorded reserves of $6.7 million and estimated insurance recoveries of $6.7 million in its Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The Company continues to assess the scope and magnitude of additional customer claims for product produced and shipped after September 30, 2024. At this time, based on currently available information and its applicable insurance coverage, the Company does not believe any incremental losses will have a material adverse effect on its results of operations or cash flows in future periods.

Commitments:
Royalties: The Company has various private, state and Canadian provincial leases associated with the salt and SOP businesses, most of which are renewable by the Company. Many of these leases provide for a royalty payment to the lessor based on a specific amount per ton of mineral extracted or as a percentage of revenue. Royalty expense related to these leases was $16.2 million, $18.7 million and $20.0 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Performance Bonds: The Company has various salt and other deicing product sales contracts that include performance provisions governing delivery and product quality. These sales contracts either require the Company to maintain performance bonds for stipulated amounts or contain contractual penalty provisions in the event of non-performance. For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, the Company has had no material penalties related to these sales contracts. At September 30, 2024, the Company had $242.4 million of outstanding performance bonds, which includes bonds related to Ontario mining tax reassessments.

Purchase Commitments: In connection with the operations of the Company’s facilities, the Company purchases utilities, other raw materials and services from third parties under contracts extending, in some cases, for multiple years. Purchases under these contracts are generally based on prevailing market prices. The Company has minimum throughput contracts with some of its depots and warehouses. The purchase commitments for these contracts are estimated to be $32.0 million for 2025, $28.1 million in 2026, $28.0 million in 2027, $9.9 million in 2028, $3.6 million in 2029 and $2.7 million thereafter.
v3.24.4
OPERATING SEGMENTS
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Segment Reporting [Abstract]  
OPERATING SEGMENTS OPERATING SEGMENTS
The Company’s reportable segments are strategic business units that offer different products and services, and each business requires different technology and marketing strategies. For all periods presented in this report, the Company has two reportable segments in its Consolidated Financial Statements: Salt and Plant Nutrition. The Salt segment produces and markets salt, consisting primarily of sodium chloride and magnesium chloride, for use in road deicing for winter roadway safety and for dust control, food processing, water softeners and other consumer, agricultural and industrial applications. The Plant Nutrition segment produces and markets various grades of SOP. The results of operations for the Company’s fire retardant and records management businesses are included in Corporate and Other in the tables below.
The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. All inter-segment sales prices are market-based. The Company evaluates performance based on the operating earnings of the respective segments.
Segment information is as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2024
SaltPlant Nutrition
Corporate & Other(a)
Total
Sales to external customers$907.8 $181.0 $28.6 $1,117.4 
Intersegment sales— 8.0 (8.0)— 
Shipping and handling cost280.1 24.6 0.6 305.3 
Operating earnings (loss)(b)(c)(d)
163.6 (86.4)(194.0)(116.8)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization63.4 34.1 7.5 105.0 
Total assets1,084.5 388.1 167.5 1,640.1 
Capital expenditures77.2 9.9 27.1 114.2 


Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2023
SaltPlant Nutrition
Corporate & Other(a)
Total
Sales to external customers$1,010.8 $172.1 $21.8 $1,204.7 
Intersegment sales— 9.7 (9.7)— 
Shipping and handling cost324.5 21.4 0.2 346.1 
Operating earnings (loss)(c)(d)
170.5 9.5 (102.6)77.4 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization58.5 32.9 7.2 98.6 
Total assets1,050.4 473.4 293.1 1,816.9 
Capital expenditures71.9 29.5 52.9 154.3 
 
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2022
SaltPlant Nutrition
Corporate & Other(a)
Total
Sales to external customers$1,011.4 $222.3 $11.5 $1,245.2 
Intersegment sales— 6.4 (6.4)— 
Shipping and handling cost353.6 26.2 — 379.8 
Operating earnings (loss)(c)(d)
115.6 40.2 (110.4)45.4 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization66.1 35.6 11.1 112.8 
Total assets1,020.6 484.0 147.8 1,652.4 
Capital expenditures63.6 25.7 5.7 95.0 
Disaggregated revenue by product type is as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2024
SaltPlant Nutrition
Corporate & Other(a)
Total
Highway Deicing Salt$546.4 $— $— $546.4 
Consumer & Industrial Salt361.4 — — 361.4 
SOP— 189.0 — 189.0 
Fire Retardant Products— — 14.2 14.2 
Revenue from Services— — 0.5 0.5 
Eliminations & Other— (8.0)13.9 5.9 
Sales to external customers$907.8 $181.0 $28.6 $1,117.4 

Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2023
SaltPlant Nutrition
Corporate & Other(a)
Total
Highway Deicing Salt$641.7 $— $— $641.7 
Consumer & Industrial Salt369.1 — — 369.1 
SOP— 181.8 — 181.8 
Fire Retardant Products— — 8.6 8.6 
Revenue from Services— — 1.8 1.8 
Eliminations & Other— (9.7)11.4 1.7 
Sales to external customers$1,010.8 $172.1 $21.8 $1,204.7 

Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2022
SaltPlant Nutrition
Corporate & Other(a)
Total
Highway Deicing Salt $641.3 $— $— $641.3 
Consumer & Industrial Salt370.1 — — 370.1 
SOP— 228.7 — 228.7 
Eliminations & Other— (6.4)11.5 5.1 
Sales to external customers$1,011.4 $222.3 $11.5 $1,245.2 
(a)Corporate and Other includes corporate entities, records management operations, the Fortress fire retardant business, equity method investments, lithium costs and other incidental operations and eliminations. Operating earnings (loss) for corporate and other includes indirect corporate overhead, including costs for general corporate governance and oversight, lithium-related expenses, as well as costs for the human resources, information technology, legal and finance functions.
(b)The Company recognized impairments of $193.4 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, which impacted operating results. Refer to Note 2 for additional information regarding the Plant Nutrition and Fortress impairments and Note 8 for additional information about the impairment of lithium development assets.
(c)Corporate operating results were impacted by net gains of $22.1 million and $0.8 million related to the decline in the valuation of the Fortress contingent consideration for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Corporate operating results also include a reserve for estimated costs related to a product recall of $0.8 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, and net reimbursements related to the settled SEC investigation of $0.3 million for the fiscal year ended September 30 2023. Corporate operating results for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022 include a contingent loss accrual and costs related to the SEC investigation of $17.1 million. Refer to Note 17 for information regarding the Fortress contingent consideration and to Note 13 for more information regarding the product recall and the SEC investigation and settlement.
(d)The Company continued to take steps to align its cost structure to its current business needs. These initiatives impacted Corporate operating results and resulted in net severance and related charges for reductions in workforce, changes to executive leadership and additional restructuring costs related to the termination of the Company’s lithium development project of $15.8 million, $5.5 million and $3.8 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Financial information relating to the Company’s operations by geographic area is as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended
SalesSeptember 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
September 30,
2022
United States(a)
$825.0 $860.4 $896.0 
Canada234.7 269.7 278.0 
United Kingdom50.7 66.1 57.7 
Other7.0 8.5 13.5 
Total sales$1,117.4 $1,204.7 $1,245.2 
(a)United States sales exclude product sold to foreign customers at U.S. ports.

Financial information relating to the Company’s long-lived assets, excluding the investments related to the nonqualified retirement plan and pension plan assets, by geographic area (in millions):
Long-Lived AssetsSeptember 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
September 30,
2022
United States$580.9 $741.7 $612.0 
Canada392.6 398.0 394.8 
United Kingdom67.5 64.2 58.1 
Other6.5 7.7 8.8 
Total long-lived assets$1,047.5 $1,211.6 $1,073.7 
v3.24.4
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND EQUITY INSTRUMENTS
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Equity [Abstract]  
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND EQUITY INSTRUMENTS STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND EQUITY INSTRUMENTS
The Company paid dividends of $0.30 per share in fiscal 2024. In April 2024, the Board of Directors determined not to declare dividends for the foreseeable future in order to align the Company’s capital allocation priorities with its corporate focus on accelerating cash flow generation and debt reduction. The declaration and payment of future dividends to holders of the Company’s common stock will be at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors and will depend upon many factors, including the Company’s financial condition, earnings, legal requirements, capital allocation strategy, restrictions in its debt agreements (see Note 12) and other factors the Company’s Board of Directors deems relevant.

Non-Employee Director Compensation
Non-employee directors may defer all or a portion of the fees payable for their service into deferred stock units, equivalent to the value of the Company’s common stock. Beginning in May 2020, the annual fees related to the director’s equity compensation were granted in deferred stock units or restricted stock units and vest at the next annual meeting. Additionally, as dividends are declared on the Company’s common stock, these deferred stock units are entitled to accrete dividends in the form of additional units based on the stock price on the dividend payment date. Accumulated deferred stock units are distributed in the form of Company common stock at a future specified date or following resignation from the Board of Directors, based upon the Director’s annual election. During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, members of the Board of Directors were credited with 60,337, 35,577 and 12,643 deferred stock units, respectively. During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, the Directors were granted 22,740, 14,945 and 11,933 restricted stock units, respectively. During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, 67,563, 75,919 and 41,225 shares of common stock, respectively, were issued from treasury shares for director compensation.

Koch Equity Investment
On September 14, 2022, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with Koch Minerals & Trading, LLC (“KM&T”), a subsidiary of Koch Industries, Inc. (“KII”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell 6,830,700 shares of its common stock at a purchase price of $36.87 for aggregate net proceeds of approximately $240.7 million, net of transaction costs. On October 18, 2022, the Company closed the direct private placement with KM&T, through its affiliate KM&T Investment Holdings, LLC, resulting in their ownership of approximately 17% of the Company’s outstanding common stock. The Company has used, or committed to use, approximately $78 million of the proceeds from the private placement for capital expenditures to advance the first development phase of the lithium project with the remainder of the proceeds used to reduce debt or for general corporate purposes. However, the Company has suspended indefinitely any further investment in the lithium development project beyond certain already committed items associated with the early stages of construction of its
commercial scale demonstration unit until further clarity is provided on the evolving regulatory climate. The shares issued and sold to KM&T were registered via a resale registration statement on Form S-3, filed with the SEC on September 21, 2023.

Preferred stock
The Company is authorized to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, of which no shares are currently issued or outstanding. Of those, 200,000 shares of preferred stock were designated as series A junior participating preferred stock in connection with the Company’s now expired rights agreement.

Equity Compensation Awards
In 2005, the Company adopted the 2005 Incentive Award Plan (as amended, the “2005 Plan”), which authorized the issuance of 3,240,000 shares of Company common stock. In May 2015, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2015 Incentive Award Plan (as amended, the “2015 Plan”), which authorizes the issuance of 3,000,000 shares of Company common stock. Upon the approval of the 2015 Plan, the Company ceased issuing equity awards under the 2005 Plan. In May 2020, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2020 Incentive Award Plan (the “2020 Plan”), which authorizes the issuance of 2,977,933 shares of Company common stock. In February 2022, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the 2020 Plan, authorizing an additional 750,000 shares of Common stock. Since the date the 2020 Plan was approved, the Company ceased issuing equity awards under the 2015 Plan. The 2005 Plan, 2015 Plan and 2020 Plan allow for grants of equity awards to executive officers, other employees and directors, including shares of common stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance stock units (“PSUs”), stock options and deferred stock units. In March 2024, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the 2020 Plan authorizing an additional 3,000,000 shares of Company stock.

Options
Substantially all of the stock options granted under each of the plans vest ratably, in tranches, over a four-year service period. Unexercised options expire after seven years. Options do not have dividend or voting rights. Upon vesting, each option can be exercised to purchase one share of the Company’s common stock. The exercise price of options is equal to the closing stock price on the day of grant.
To estimate the fair value of options on the grant date, the Company uses the Black-Scholes option valuation model. Award recipients are grouped according to expected exercise behavior. Unless better information is available to estimate the expected term of the options, the estimate is based on historical exercise experience. The risk-free rate, using U.S. Treasury yield curves in effect at the time of grant, is selected based on the expected term of each group. The Company’s historical stock price is used to estimate expected volatility. The Company did not grant any options in fiscal 2024 or 2023. The weighted average assumptions and fair values for options granted in fiscal 2022 are included in the following table.
Fiscal Year Ended
 September 30,
2022
Fair value of options granted$16.84 
Expected term (years)4.8
Expected volatility37.9 %
Dividend yield3.9 %
Risk-free interest rates1.1 %

RSUs
Most of the RSUs granted under the 2020 Plan vest after one to three years of service entitling the holders to one share of common stock for each vested RSU. The unvested RSUs do not have voting rights but are entitled to receive non-forfeitable dividends (generally after a performance hurdle has been satisfied for the year of the grant) or other distributions that may be declared on the Company’s common stock equal to the per-share dividend declared. The closing stock price on the day of grant is used to determine the fair value of RSUs.

PSUs
Substantially all of the PSUs outstanding under the 2020 Plan are either total stockholder return PSUs (the “TSR PSUs”) or PSUs based upon several operational performance measures (“Scorecard PSUs”). The actual number of shares of the Company’s common stock that may be earned with respect to TSR PSUs is calculated by comparing the Company’s total stockholder return to the total stockholder return for each company comprising the Company’s peer group or a total return percentage target over a two or three-year performance period and may range from 0% to 300% of the target number of shares based upon the attainment of these performance conditions. The actual number of shares of common stock that may be earned
with respect to Scorecard PSUs is calculated based upon the attainment of free cash flow, cash unit costs, cash unit cost reduction, capital expenditures and safety measures during the performance period and may range from 0% to 300%. Holders of PSUs do not have voting rights but are entitled to receive non-forfeitable dividends or other distributions equal to those declared on the Company’s common stock for PSUs that are earned, which are paid when the shares underlying the PSUs are issued.
To estimate the fair value of the TSR PSUs on the grant date for accounting purposes, the Company uses a Monte-Carlo simulation model, which simulates future stock prices of the Company as well as the Company’s peer group. This model uses historical stock prices to estimate expected volatility and the Company’s correlation to the peer group. The risk-free rate was determined using the same methodology as the option valuations as discussed above. The Company’s closing stock price on the grant date was used to estimate the fair value of the Scorecard PSUs. The Company will adjust the expense of the Scorecard PSUs based upon its estimate of the number of shares that will ultimately vest at each interim date during the vesting period.
The following is a summary of the Company’s stock option, RSU and PSU activity and related information for the following periods:
 Stock OptionsRSUsPSUs
 NumberWeighted-average exercise priceNumberWeighted-average fair valueNumberWeighted-average fair value
Outstanding at
September 30, 2021
828,706 $61.56 223,499 $59.00 279,907 $64.90 
Granted
73,290 73.77 103,363 66.36 178,052 73.86 
Exercised(a)
(3,861)67.76 — — — — 
Released from restriction(a)
— — (85,849)56.88 (28,666)55.98 
Cancelled/Expired(123,555)74.15 (32,278)62.23 (97,934)61.44 
Outstanding at
September 30, 2022
774,580 $60.68 208,735 $63.02 331,359 $71.51 
Granted
— — 354,694 37.17 183,794 68.33 
Exercised(a)
— — — — — — 
Released from restriction(a)
— — (132,827)60.34 — — 
Cancelled/Expired
(131,585)66.60 (37,362)43.11 (121,574)67.15 
Outstanding at
September 30, 2023
642,995 $59.46 393,240 $42.50 393,579 $71.37 
Granted
— — 545,528 25.24 276,916 24.69 
Exercised(a)
— — — — — — 
Released from restriction(a)
— — (266,335)40.01 — — 
Cancelled/Expired
(455,972)58.08 (221,342)32.65 (441,026)58.27 
Outstanding at
September 30, 2024
187,023 $62.85 451,091 $27.93 229,469 $40.26 
(a)Common stock issued for exercised options, vested RSUs and vested and earned PSUs were issued from treasury shares.

As of September 30, 2023, there were 642,995 options outstanding of which 562,997 were exercisable. The following table summarizes information about options outstanding and exercisable at September 30, 2024.
Options OutstandingOptions Exercisable
Range of exercise pricesOptions outstandingWeighted-average remaining contractual life (years)Weighted-average exercise price of options outstandingOptions exercisableWeighted-average remaining contractual life (years)Weighted-average exercise price of exercisable options
$54.44 - $56.96
32,1761.5$55.00 31,9301.5$55.01 
$56.97 - $59.21
35,2862.358.91 35,2862.358.91 
$59.22 - $61.32
26,4770.559.50 26,4770.559.50 
$61.33 - $67.81
52,9443.363.14 40,2163.363.14 
$67.82 - $74.49
40,1404.074.44 20,9894.074.44 
Totals187,0232.6$62.85 154,8982.3$61.41 

During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, the Company recorded net compensation expense, inclusive of discontinued operations, of $10.1 million (includes $2.0 million paid in cash), $21.1 million (includes $0.5 million paid in cash) and $17.2 million (includes $1.5 million paid in cash), respectively, related to its stock-based compensation awards that are expected to vest. No amounts have been capitalized. The fair value of options vested was $0.5 million, $0.8 million and $1.6 million in the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
As of September 30, 2024, unrecorded compensation cost related to non-vested awards of $7.1 million is expected to be recognized through 2026, with a weighted average period of 1.6 years.
The intrinsic value of stock options exercised relating to the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022 each totaled less than $0.1 million. As of September 30, 2024, there was no intrinsic value for options outstanding; 154,898 options were exercisable with no intrinsic value. The number of shares held in treasury is sufficient to cover the net shares issued from all outstanding equity awards as of September 30, 2024.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income
The Company’s comprehensive (loss) income is comprised of net (loss) earnings, net amortization of the change in the unrealized gain (loss) of the pension obligation, the change in the unrealized (loss) gain in other postretirement benefits, the change in the unrealized gain (loss) on natural gas and foreign currency cash flow hedges, and CTA. The components of and changes in AOCL are as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2024(a)
(Losses) and Gains on Cash Flow HedgesDefined Benefit PensionOther Post-Employment BenefitsForeign CurrencyTotal
Beginning balance$(1.4)$(6.6)$1.7 $(98.4)$(104.7)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications(b)
(4.6)(0.6)(0.2)8.1 2.7 
Amounts reclassified from AOCL4.7 1.0 (0.1)— 5.6 
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)
0.1 0.4 (0.3)8.1 8.3 
Ending balance$(1.3)$(6.2)$1.4 $(90.3)$(96.4)
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2023(a)
(Losses) and Gains on Cash Flow HedgesDefined Benefit PensionOther Post-Employment BenefitsForeign CurrencyTotal
Beginning balance$(1.6)$(2.7)$1.3 $(112.3)$(115.3)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications(b)
(3.3)(4.0)0.5 13.9 7.1 
Amounts reclassified from AOCL3.5 0.1 (0.1)— 3.5 
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)
0.2 (3.9)0.4 13.9 10.6 
Ending balance$(1.4)$(6.6)$1.7 $(98.4)$(104.7)
(a)With the exception of the CTA, for which no tax effect is recorded, the changes in the components of AOCL presented in the table are reflected net of applicable income taxes.
(b)The Company recorded foreign exchange loss of $0.2 million and $1.6 million in the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, in AOCL related to intercompany notes which were deemed to be of a long-term investment nature.

Amount Reclassified from AOCLLine Item Impacted in the Consolidated Statement of Operations
Fiscal Year Ended
September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Natural gas instruments$4.7 $4.7 Product cost
Foreign currency contracts— — Interest expense
Income tax expense— (1.2)
 Reclassifications, net of income taxes4.7 3.5 
Amortization of defined benefit pension: 
Amortization of loss$1.3 $0.1 Product cost
Income tax benefit(0.3)— 
 Reclassifications, net of income taxes1.0 0.1 
Amortization of other post-employment benefits
Amortization of loss$(0.1)$(0.1)Product cost
Income tax benefit— — 
Reclassifications, net of income taxes(0.1)(0.1)
 Reclassifications, CTA due to sale of foreign entity— — 
Total reclassifications, net of income taxes$5.6 $3.5 
v3.24.4
DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]  
DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Company is subject to various types of market risks, including interest rate risk, foreign currency exchange rate transaction and translation risk and commodity pricing risk. Management may take actions to mitigate the exposure to these types of risks, including entering into forward purchase contracts and other financial instruments. The Company manages a portion of its commodity pricing and foreign currency exchange rate risks by using derivative instruments. From time to time, the Company may enter into foreign exchange contracts to mitigate foreign exchange risk. The Company does not seek to engage in trading activities or take speculative positions with any financial instrument arrangement. The Company enters into natural gas derivative instruments and foreign currency derivative instruments with counterparties it views as creditworthy. However, the Company does attempt to mitigate its counterparty credit risk exposures by, among other things, entering into master netting agreements with some of these counterparties. The Company records derivative financial instruments as either assets or liabilities at fair value in its Consolidated Balance Sheets. The assets and liabilities recorded as of September 30, 2024 and 2023 were not material.
Derivatives qualify for treatment as hedges when there is a high correlation between the change in fair value of the derivative instrument and the related change in value of the underlying hedged item. Depending on the exposure being hedged, the Company must designate the hedging instrument as a fair value hedge, a cash flow hedge or a net investment in foreign
operations hedge. For the qualifying derivative instruments that have been designated as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the change in fair value is recognized through earnings when the underlying transaction being hedged affects earnings, allowing a derivative’s gains and losses to offset related results from the hedged item in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Any ineffectiveness related to these instruments accounted for as hedges was not material for any of the periods presented. For derivative instruments that have not been designated as hedges, the entire change in fair value is recorded through earnings in the period of change.

Natural Gas Derivative Instruments
Natural gas is consumed at several of the Company’s production facilities, and changes in natural gas prices impact the Company’s operating margin. The Company seeks to reduce the earnings and cash flow impacts of changes in market prices of natural gas by fixing the purchase price of up to 90% of its forecasted natural gas usage. It is the Company’s policy to consider hedging portions of its natural gas usage up to 36 months in advance of the forecasted purchase. As of September 30, 2024, the Company had entered into natural gas derivative instruments to hedge a portion of its natural gas purchase requirements through December 2025. As of both September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company had agreements in place to hedge forecasted natural gas purchases of 2.3 million MMBtus.
On March 1, 2023, the Company de-designated its natural gas cash flow hedges related to its Ogden, Utah production facility as the Company did not believe these hedges were probable of being highly effective in the second fiscal quarter of 2023. Beginning March 1, 2023, the change in the derivative was recorded in other expense, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company recognized $0.8 million and $2.9 million of expense in other expense, net on the Consolidated Statements of Operations during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Following the de-designation, these natural gas economic hedging instruments were recorded at fair value through earnings until settled. Substantially all other natural gas derivative instruments held by the Company as of September 30, 2024 and 2023 qualified and were designated as cash flow hedges. As of September 30, 2024, the Company expects to reclassify from AOCL to earnings during the next twelve months $1.2 million of net losses on derivative instruments related to its natural gas hedges. Refer to Note 17 for the estimated fair value of the Company’s natural gas derivative instruments as of September 30, 2024 and 2023.
The following tables present the fair value of the Company’s derivatives (in millions):

 Asset DerivativesLiability Derivatives
Consolidated Balance Sheet LocationSeptember 30, 2024Consolidated Balance Sheet LocationSeptember 30, 2024
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contractsOther current assets$0.5 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities$1.7 
Commodity contractsOther assets0.1 Other noncurrent liabilities0.2 
Total derivatives(a)
$0.6 $1.9 
(a)The Company has master netting agreements with its commodity hedge counterparties and accordingly has netted in its Consolidated Balance Sheets $0.6 million of its commodity contracts that are in receivable positions against its contracts in payable positions.
Asset DerivativesLiability Derivatives
Consolidated Balance Sheet LocationSeptember 30, 2023Consolidated Balance Sheet LocationSeptember 30, 2023
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contractsOther current assets$0.9 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities$2.3 
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments0.9 2.3 
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contractsOther current assets0.1 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities— 
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments0.1 — 
Total derivatives(a)
$1.0 $2.3 
(a)The Company has master netting agreements with its commodity hedge counterparties and accordingly has netted in its Consolidated Balance Sheets $1.0 million of its commodity contracts that are in receivable positions against its contracts in payable positions.

The following tables present activity related to other comprehensive (loss) income before taxes (in millions):
 
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2024
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging RelationshipsLocation of Change Reclassified from Accumulated OCI Into Income (Effective Portion)Amount Recognized in OCI on Derivative (Effective Portion)Amount Reclassified from Accumulated OCI Into Income (Effective Portion)
Commodity contractsProduct cost$(4.6)$4.7 
Total $(4.6)$4.7 


 
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2023
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging RelationshipsLocation of Change Reclassified from Accumulated OCI Into Income Effective Portion)Amount Recognized in OCI on Derivative (Effective Portion)Amount Reclassified from Accumulated OCI Into Income (Effective Portion)
Commodity contractsProduct cost$(4.9)$4.7 
Total $(4.9)$4.7 
v3.24.4
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The Company’s financial instruments are measured and reported at their estimated fair value. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction. When available, the Company uses quoted prices in active markets to determine the fair values for its financial instruments (Level 1 inputs), or absent quoted market prices, observable market-corroborated inputs over the term of the financial instruments (Level 2 inputs). The Company does not have any unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market inputs (Level 3 inputs), except as stated below and in Note 3.
The Company holds marketable securities associated with its Savings Plans, which are valued based on readily available quoted market prices. The Company utilizes derivative instruments to manage its risk of changes in natural gas prices and foreign exchange rates (see Note 16). The fair value of the natural gas and foreign currency derivative instruments are determined using market data of forward prices for all of the Company’s contracts. 
The estimated fair values for each type of instrument are presented below (in millions).

 September 30, 2024Level OneLevel TwoLevel Three
Asset Class:
Mutual fund investments in a non-qualified savings plan(a)
$3.1 $3.1 $— $— 
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments - natural gas instruments, net
0.6 — 0.6 — 
Total Assets$3.7 $3.1 $0.6 $— 
Liability Class:    
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments - natural gas instruments, net
$(1.9)$— $(1.9)$— 
Liabilities related to non-qualified savings plan(3.1)(3.1)— — 
Total Liabilities$(5.0)$(3.1)$(1.9)$— 
(a)Includes mutual fund investments of approximately 35% in the common stock of large-cap U.S. companies, 5% in the common stock of small to mid-cap U.S. companies, 5% in the common stock of international companies, 10% in bond funds, 5% in short-term investments and 40% in blended funds.

September 30, 2023Level OneLevel TwoLevel Three
Asset Class:
Mutual fund investments in a non-qualified savings plan(a)
$2.6 $2.6 $— $— 
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments - natural gas instruments, net
0.1 — 0.1 — 
Total Assets$2.7 $2.6 $0.1 $— 
Liability Class:
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments - natural gas instruments, net
$(1.4)$— $(1.4)$— 
Liabilities related to non-qualified savings plan(2.6)(2.6)— — 
Total Liabilities$(4.0)$(2.6)$(1.4)$— 
(a)Includes mutual fund investments of approximately 25% in the common stock of large-cap U.S. companies, 5% in the common stock of small to mid-cap U.S. companies, 10% in the common stock of international companies, 10% in bond funds, 5% in short-term investments and 45% in blended funds.

Cash and cash equivalents, receivables (net of reserve for doubtful accounts) and accounts payable are carried at cost, which approximates fair value due to their liquid and short-term nature. The Company’s investments related to its nonqualified retirement plan of $3.1 million and $2.6 million as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, are stated at fair value based on quoted market prices. As of September 30, 2024 and 2023, the estimated fair value of the Company’s fixed-rate 6.75% Notes, based on available trading information (Level 2), totaled $497.0 million and $472.5 million, respectively, compared with the aggregate principal amount at maturity of $500.0 million. The fair value at September 30, 2024 and 2023 of amounts outstanding under the Company’s term loans and revolving credit facility, based upon available bid information received from the Company’s lender (Level 2), totaled approximately $379.1 million and $277.1 million, respectively, compared with the aggregate principal amount at maturity of $383.9 million and $280.3 million, respectively.
In connection with the acquisition of Fortress, the Company entered into a contingent consideration arrangement (milestone and earnout payments). The fair value of the milestone contingent consideration is estimated using a probability-weighted discounted cash flow model, including a Black Scholes option value related to a share conversion feature with significant inputs not observable in the market and is therefore considered a Level 3 measurement while the earn-out is valued using a Monte Carlo simulation, also a Level 3 measurement. For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company recorded income of $22.1 million and $0.8 million, respectively. The change in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024 is reflective of milestone and earn-out payments made related to calendar year 2023 activity, recent developments related to the Company’s magnesium chloride-based fire retardants, as discussed further in Note 2, updated financial performance, changes in discount rates and the passage of time. The change in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 is reflective of changes in discount rates and the passage of time. The changes are recorded in other operating (income) expense in the Consolidated Statement of Operations to reflect the contingent consideration liability at its fair value. The Company will continue to recognize remeasurement changes in the estimated fair value of contingent consideration in earnings at each reporting date until all contingencies are resolved. Refer to Note 3 for a discussion of the milestone and earnout payments.
The following table presents the fair value of the Company’s total contingent consideration arrangement (in millions):
Consolidated Balance Sheet LocationSeptember 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities$— $7.3 
Other noncurrent liabilities7.9 31.8 
Total contingent consideration(a)
$7.9 $39.1 
(a)The decrease in total contingent consideration was related to a net $22.1 million decrease in the fair value of the remaining contingent consideration, discussed further above, and $9.1 million of payments made during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024.

The Company has certain assets, including goodwill and other intangible assets, which are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis and are adjusted to fair value only if an impairment charge is recognized. The categorization of the framework used to measure fair value of the assets is considered to be within the Level 3 valuation hierarchy due to the subjective nature of the unobservable inputs used. Refer to Note 2 for details of the Company’s impairment of goodwill related to Plant Nutrition and Fortress, Note 8 for details of the Company’s impairment of long-lived assets related the termination of its lithium development and Note 9 for details of the Company’s intangible asset impairment related to Fortress.
v3.24.4
EARNINGS PER SHARE
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]  
EARNINGS PER SHARE EARNINGS PER SHARE
On April 22, 2024, the Board of Directors determined not to declare dividends for the foreseeable future in order to align the Company’s capital allocation priorities with its corporate focus on accelerating cash flow generation and debt reduction. The Company calculated earnings per share using the treasury stock method during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share (in millions, except for share and per-share data):
Fiscal Year Ended
September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
September 30,
2022
Numerator:
Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations$(206.1)$10.5 $(33.3)
Less: Net earnings allocated to participating securities(a)
(0.2)(0.3)(0.3)
Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations available to common stockholders(206.3)10.2 (33.6)
Net earnings from discontinued operations available to common stockholders— — 12.2 
Net (loss) earnings available to common stockholders$(206.3)$10.2 $(21.4)
Denominator (in thousands):
Weighted average common shares outstanding, shares for basic earnings per share(b)
41,306 40,786 34,120 
Weighted average equity awards outstanding— — — 
Shares for diluted earnings per share41,306 40,786 34,120 
Basic net (loss) earnings from continuing operations per common share$(4.99)$0.25 $(0.98)
Basic net earnings from discontinued operations per common share— — 0.36 
Basic net (loss) earnings per common share$(4.99)$0.25 $(0.63)
Diluted net (loss) earnings from continuing operations per common share$(4.99)$0.25 $(0.98)
Diluted net earnings from discontinued operations per common share— — 0.36 
Diluted net (loss) earnings per common share$(4.99)$0.25 $(0.63)
(a)Participating securities include PSUs and RSUs that receive non-forfeitable dividends. Net earnings were allocated to participating securities of 667,000, 476,000 and 407,000 for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
(b)For the calculation of diluted earnings per share, the Company uses the more dilutive of either the treasury stock method or the two-class method to determine the weighted average number of outstanding common shares. In addition, the Company had 1,286,000, 1,264,000 and 1,106,000 weighted options outstanding for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, which were anti-dilutive and therefore not included in the diluted earnings per share calculation.
v3.24.4
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
As discussed in Note 15, on October 18, 2022, KII, through its KM&T subsidiary, purchased common stock representing an ownership interest of approximately 17% of the outstanding common stock of the Company. As part of the Stock Purchase Agreement, KM&T appointed two members to the Company’s Board of Directors, effective November 13, 2022.
During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company recorded SOP sales of approximately $3.4 million and $4.3 million, respectively, to certain subsidiaries of KII. As of September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company had approximately $0.3 million and $0.4 million, respectively, of receivables from related parties on its Consolidated Balance Sheets. There were no amounts payable outstanding as of September 30, 2024 or 2023.
On December 20, 2023 and March 20, 2024, the Company paid a cash dividend to its stockholders of record at the close of business on December 11, 2023 and March 11, 2024, respectively, in the amount of $0.15 per share. KM&T received approximately $2.1 million in respect to its common shares for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024.
v3.24.4
Pay vs Performance Disclosure - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Pay vs Performance Disclosure      
Net (loss) earnings $ (206.1) $ 10.5 $ (21.1)
v3.24.4
Insider Trading Arrangements
3 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Trading Arrangements, by Individual  
Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Adopted false
Non-Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Adopted false
Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Terminated false
Non-Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Terminated false
v3.24.4
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Management Estimates Management Estimates:
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) as included in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Basis of Consolidation Basis of Consolidation:
The Company’s consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CMI and its wholly-owned domestic and foreign subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Business Combinations Business Combinations:
The Company accounts for its business combinations using the acquisition accounting method, which requires it to determine the fair value of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including any contingent consideration, to properly allocate the purchase price to the individual assets acquired and liabilities assumed and record any residual purchase price as goodwill at the date of the acquisition in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board “(FASB”) ASC Topic 805, “Business Combinations”. Management uses its best estimates and assumptions to assign fair value to the tangible and intangible assets acquired, liabilities assumed and contingent consideration at the acquisition date. Such estimates are inherently uncertain and may be subject to refinement. The determination of fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed requires estimates and the use of valuation techniques when a market value is not readily available. Any excess of purchase price over the fair value of net tangible and intangible assets acquired is allocated to goodwill. If the initial accounting for the business combination has not been completed by the end of the reporting period in which the business combination occurs, provisional amounts are reported to present information about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date. During the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the fair value of the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed with the corresponding offset to goodwill, to the extent such information was not available to the Company at the acquisition date to determine such amounts. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period or final determination of the fair value of assets acquired or liabilities assumed, whichever comes first, any subsequent adjustments are recorded to the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Accounting for business combinations requires the Company to make significant estimates and assumptions at the acquisition date. Significant assumptions relevant to the determination of the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed include, but are not limited to, future expected cash flows, contract renewal rates, discount rates, terminal growth rate and other assumptions.
All acquisition-related costs, other than the costs to issue debt or equity securities, are accounted for as expenses in the period in which they are incurred. The fair value of contingent consideration arrangements is remeasured each reporting period until resolved. Any changes that are not measurement period adjustments are recognized in earnings. In the event the Company acquires an entity with which the Company has a preexisting relationship, the Company will generally recognize a gain or loss to remeasure its previously held equity interest at acquisition date fair value on its Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Discontinued Operations Discontinued Operations:The Company reports its financial results from discontinued operations and continuing operations separately to distinguish the financial impact of disposal transactions from ongoing operations. Discontinued operations reporting occurs when a component or a group of components of an entity has been disposed of or classified as held for sale and represents a strategic shift that has a major effect on the entity’s operations and financial results. In the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, the cash flows from discontinued operations are not separately classified. Significant components of cash flows related to discontinued operations are disclosed in Note 4.
Foreign Currency Foreign Currency:Assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at end of period exchange rates. Sales and expenses are translated using the monthly average rates of exchange during the year. Adjustments resulting from the translation of foreign-currency financial statements into the reporting currency, U.S. dollars, are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss.
Revenue Recognition Revenue Recognition:
The FASB revenue recognition guidance provides a single, comprehensive model for recognizing revenue from contracts with customers. The revenue recognition model requires revenue to be recognized upon the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration an entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or
services. The Company’s revenue arrangements generally consist of a single performance obligation to transfer promised goods or services. The Company also derives revenue from a full-service air base fire retardant contract with the United States Forest Service (“USFS”), which is comprised of three performance obligations, namely product sales, providing operations and maintenance personnel services and leasing of specified equipment. Substantially all of the Company’s revenue is recognized at a point in time when control of the goods transfers to the customer.
The Company typically recognizes revenue at the time of shipment to the customer, which coincides with the transfer of title and risk of ownership to the customer. Sales represent billings to customers net of sales taxes charged for the sale of the product. Sales include amounts charged to customers for shipping and handling costs, which are expensed when the related product is sold.
Nature of Products and Services
The Company’s Salt segment products include salt and magnesium chloride for use in road deicing and dust control, food processing, water softening, and agricultural and industrial applications. The Company’s plant nutrition segment produces and markets SOP in various grades worldwide to distributors and retailers of crop inputs, as well as growers and for industrial uses. The Company also operates a records management business utilizing excavated areas of its Winsford salt mine with one other location in London, England and, following its acquisition of Fortress North America, produces fire retardant products.

Identifying the Contract
The Company accounts for a customer contract when there is approval and commitment from both parties, the rights of the parties and payment terms are identified, the contract has commercial substance and collectability of consideration is probable.
Identifying the Performance Obligations
At contract inception, the Company assesses the goods and services it has promised to its customers and identifies a performance obligation for each promise to transfer to the customer a distinct good or service (or bundle of goods or services). Determining whether products and services are considered distinct performance obligations that should be accounted for separately or aggregated together may require significant judgment.

Identifying and Allocating the Transaction Price
The Company’s revenues are measured based on consideration specified in the customer contract, net of any sales incentives and amounts collected on behalf of third parties such as sales taxes. In certain cases, the Company’s customer contracts may include promises to transfer multiple products and services to a customer. For multiple-element arrangements, the Company generally allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation in proportion to its stand-alone selling price.

When Performance Obligations Are Satisfied
The vast majority of the Company’s revenues are recognized at a point in time when the performance obligations are satisfied based upon transfer of control of the product or service to a customer. To determine when the control of goods is transferred, the Company typically assesses, among other things, the shipping terms of the contract, as shipping is an indicator of transfer of control. The vast majority of the Company’s products are sold when the control of the goods transfers to the customer at the time of shipment. There are also instances when the Company provides shipping services to deliver its products. Shipping and handling costs that occur before the customer obtains control of the goods are deemed to be fulfillment activities and are accounted for as fulfillment costs. The Company has made an accounting policy election to recognize any shipping and handling costs that are incurred after the customer obtains control of the goods as fulfillment costs which are accrued at the time of revenue recognition.
The Company also derived revenue in fiscal 2023 and 2024 from a full-service air base fire retardant contract with the USFS. Full-service air bases include sales from the supply of fire retardant product and related equipment and service for inspection and loading the fire retardant onto aircraft at designated air tanker bases. The revenue derived from the contract with the USFS is comprised of three performance obligations, namely product sales, providing operations and maintenance personnel services and leasing of specified equipment. For full-service fire-retardant contracts, the Company identifies the fire-retardant product, equipment leases and services as separate units of account. The performance obligation for product sales is satisfied at a point in time when control of the product is transferred onto the aircraft, typically when the product is consumed by the customer. The services and leases represent “stand-ready obligations” and the revenue is recognized straight-line over the service period, which could be intermittent.

Significant Payment Terms
The customer contract states the final terms of the sale, including the description, quantity and price of each product or service purchased. Payment is typically due in full within 30 days of delivery. The Company does not adjust the consideration for the effects of a significant financing component if the Company expects, at contract inception, that the period between when the good or service is transferred to the customer and when the customer pays for that good or service will be one year or less. Payment terms vary by contract and sales to customers are deemed collectible at the time of sale based on customer history, prior credit checks, and controls around customer credit limits.
Sales and other taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction, which are collected by the Company from a customer, are excluded from revenue.

Refunds, Returns and Warranties
The Company’s products are generally not sold with a right of return and the Company does not generally provide credits or incentives, which may be required to be accounted for as variable consideration when estimating the amount of revenue to be recognized. The Company uses historical experience to estimate accruals for refunds due to manufacturing or other defects, which have historically been minimal. Therefore, there is no estimated obligation for returns. Standard terms of delivery are generally included in the Company's contracts of sale, order confirmation documents and invoices. The Company has recorded a provision of $0.8 million for estimated costs related to an October 2024 product recall, discussed further in Note 13.

Shipping and Handling
The Company uses the policy election to account for the shipping and handling activities as activities to fulfill the Company’s promise to transfer goods to the customer, rather than as a performance obligation. Accordingly, the costs of the shipping and handling activities are accrued for at the time of shipment.
Deferred Revenue
Deferred revenue represents collections under non-cancellable contracts before the related product or service is transferred to the customer. The portion of deferred revenue that is anticipated to be recognized as revenue during the succeeding twelve-month period is recorded in accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Deferred revenue as of September 30, 2024 and 2023 was approximately $3.6 million and $8.5 million, respectively.

Practical Expedients and Accounting Policy Elections
The Company has elected the following practical expedients and accounting policies not mentioned above: (i) to expense costs to obtain a contract as incurred when the Company expects that the amortization period would have been one year or less, (ii) not to recast revenue for customer contracts that begin and end in the same fiscal period, and (iii) not to assess whether promised goods or services are performance obligations if they are immaterial in the context of the customer contract.
Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents:
The Company considers all investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company maintains the majority of its cash in bank deposit accounts with several commercial banks with high credit ratings in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Brazil. Typically, the Company has bank deposits in excess of federally insured limits. Currently, the Company does not believe it is exposed to significant credit risk on its cash and cash equivalents.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts:
Receivables consist almost entirely of trade accounts receivable. Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in its existing trade accounts receivable. The Company determines the allowance based on historical write-off experience by business line and a current assessment of its portfolio, including information regarding individual customers. The Company reviews its account balances for collectability and adjusts its allowance for doubtful accounts accordingly. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when the Company believes it is probable that the trade accounts receivable will not be recovered.
Inventories Inventories:
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Finished goods, work in process and raw material are predominately valued using the average cost method on a first-in-first-out basis. Spare parts and supply costs are valued at average costs. Work in process costs primarily consist of costs incurred to operate the Company’s evaporation ponds prior to their harvest. Raw materials and supply costs primarily consist of raw materials purchased to aid in the production of mineral products, maintenance materials and packaging materials. Finished goods are primarily comprised of salt, magnesium chloride, SOP products and fire retardants readily available for sale. Substantially all costs associated with the production of finished goods at the Company’s production locations are captured as inventory costs. As required by GAAP, a portion of the fixed costs at a location are not included in inventory and are expensed as a product cost if production at that location is determined to be abnormally low in any period or if the nature of the cost incurred is not attributable to its production processes. Additionally, since the Company’s products are often stored at warehousing locations, the Company includes in the cost of inventory the freight and handling costs necessary to move the product to storage until the product is sold to a customer.
Other Current Assets Other Current Assets:The items included in other current assets as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, consist principally of prepaid expenses of $26.9 million and $33.3 million, respectively.
Property, Plant and Equipment Property, Plant and Equipment:
Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost and includes capitalized interest. The costs of replacements or renewals, which improve or extend the life of existing property, are capitalized. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Upon retirement or disposition of an asset, any resulting gain or loss is included in the Company’s operating results.
Property, plant and equipment also includes mineral interests. The mineral interests for the Company’s Winsford U.K. mine are owned. The Company leases probable mineral reserves at its Cote Blanche and Goderich mines, its Ogden facility and several of its other North American facilities. These leases have varying terms, and many provide for a royalty payment to the lessor based on a specific amount per ton of mineral extracted or as a percentage of sales. The Company’s rights to extract minerals are contractually limited by time. The Cote Blanche mine is operated under land and mineral leases, and the mineral lease expires in 2060 with two additional 25-year renewal periods. The Goderich mine mineral reserve lease expires in 2043 with the Company’s option to renew for an additional twenty-one years after demonstrating to the lessor that the mine’s useful life is greater than the lease’s term. The Ogden facility mineral reserve lease renews annually. The Company believes it will be able to continue to extend lease agreements as it has in the past, at commercially reasonable terms, without incurring substantial costs or material modifications to the existing lease terms and conditions, and therefore, management believes that assigned lives are appropriate. The Company’s mineral interests are depleted on a units-of-production basis based upon the latest available mineral study. The weighted average amortization period for the leased probable mineral reserves is 85 years as of
September 30, 2024. The Company also owns other mineral properties. The weighted average life for the probable owned mineral reserves is 33 years as of September 30, 2024, based upon management’s current production estimates.
Buildings and structures are depreciated on a straight-line basis over lives generally ranging from 10 to 30 years. Portable buildings generally have shorter lives than permanent structures. Leasehold and building improvements have estimated lives of 5 to 40 years or lower based on the life of the lease to which the improvement relates.
The Company’s fixed assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their respective lives. The following table summarizes the estimated useful lives of the Company’s different classes of property, plant and equipment:
 Years
Land improvements
10 to 25
Buildings and structures
10 to 30
Leasehold and building improvements
5 to 40
Machinery and equipment – vehicles
2 to 10
Machinery and equipment – other mining and production
> 1 to 50
Office furniture and equipment
2 to 10
Mineral interests
20 to 99

The Company has finance leases which are recorded in property, plant and equipment at the beginning of the lease at the lower of the fair value of the leased property or the present value of the minimum lease payments. Lease payments are recorded as interest expense and a reduction of the lease liability. A finance lease asset is depreciated over the lower of its useful life or the lease term.
The Company has capitalized computer software costs of $3.0 million and $3.7 million as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, recorded in property, plant and equipment. The capitalized costs are being amortized over five years. The Company recorded $1.6 million, $3.3 million and $7.6 million of amortization expense related to capitalized computer software for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
The Company recognizes and measures obligations related to the retirement of tangible long-lived assets in accordance with applicable U.S. GAAP. Asset retirement obligations are not material to the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
The Company reviews its long-lived assets and the related mineral reserves for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amounts of such assets may not be recoverable. If an indication of a potential impairment exists, recoverability of the respective assets is determined by comparing the forecasted undiscounted net cash flows of the operation to which the assets relate, to the carrying amount, including associated intangible assets, of such operation. If the operation is determined to be unable to recover the carrying amount of its assets, then intangible assets are written down first, followed by the other long-lived assets of the operation, to fair value. Fair value is determined based on discounted cash flows or appraised values, depending upon the nature of the assets. The Company recorded an impairment charge, related to its lithium development, of $74.8 million, including $7.6 million associated with future commitments for the year ended September 30, 2024 to reflect the assets at their estimated fair value, considering equipment expected to be used by the on-going business and amounts estimated to be recoverable through returns or salvage value. Refer to Note 8 for additional details.
Leases Leases:In accordance with U.S. GAAP, lessees are required to recognize on their balance sheet a right-of-use asset which represents a lessee’s right to use the underlying asset, and a lease liability which represents a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments for the right to use the asset. In addition, the guidance requires expanded qualitative and quantitative disclosures.
The Company enters into leases for warehouses and depots, rail cars, vehicles, mobile equipment, office space and certain other types of property and equipment. The Company determines whether an arrangement is or contains a lease at the inception of the contract. The right-of-use asset and lease liability are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the estimated lease term. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company estimates its incremental borrowing rate for each lease based upon the estimated lease term, the type of asset and the location of the leased asset. The most significant judgments in the application of the FASB guidance include whether a contract contains a lease and the lease term.
Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company recognizes lease expense for these short-term leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Many of the Company’s leases include one or more options to renew and extend the initial lease term. The exercise of lease renewal options is generally at the Company’s discretion. The lease term includes renewal periods in only those instances in which the Company determines it is reasonably assured of renewal.
The depreciable lives of assets and leasehold improvements are limited by the expected lease term, unless there is a transfer of title or purchase option reasonably certain of exercise. In these instances, the assets are depreciated over the useful life of the asset.
The Company has elected the practical expedient available under the FASB guidance to not separate lease and non-lease components on all of its lease categories. As a result, many of the Company’s leases include variable payments for services (such as handling or storage) or payments based on the usage of the asset. In addition, certain of the Company’s lease agreements include rental payments that are adjusted periodically for inflation. The Company’s lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or any material restrictive covenants.
Intangible Assets Intangible Assets:The Company amortizes its intangible assets deemed to have finite lives on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives which, for the Company, range from 5 to 50 years. The Company reviews indefinite-lived intangible assets annually for impairment. In addition, intangible assets are reviewed when an event or change in circumstances indicates the carrying amounts of such assets may not be recoverable.
Marketable Securities The marketable securities are classified as trading securities and accordingly, gains and losses are recorded as a component of other expense, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Income Taxes Income Taxes:
The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method in accordance with the provisions of U.S. GAAP. Under the liability method, deferred taxes are determined based on the differences between the consolidated financial statements and the tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. The Company’s foreign subsidiaries file separate company returns in their respective jurisdictions.
The Company recognizes potential liabilities in accordance with applicable U.S. GAAP for anticipated tax issues in the U.S. and other tax jurisdictions based on its estimate of whether, and the extent to which, additional taxes will be due. If payment of these amounts ultimately proves to be unnecessary, the reversal of the liabilities would result in tax benefits being recognized in the period when the Company determines the liabilities are no longer necessary. If the Company’s estimate of tax liabilities proves to be less than the ultimate assessment, a further charge to expense would result. Any penalties and interest that are accrued on the Company’s uncertain tax positions are included as a component of income tax expense.
In evaluating the Company’s ability to realize deferred tax assets, the Company considers the sources and timing of taxable income, including the reversal of existing temporary differences, the ability to carryback tax attributes to prior periods, qualifying tax-planning strategies, and estimates of future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences. In determining future taxable income, the Company’s assumptions include the amount of pre-tax operating income according to different state, federal and international taxing jurisdictions, the origination of future temporary differences, and the implementation of feasible and prudent tax-planning strategies.
If the Company determines that a portion of its deferred tax assets will not be realized, a valuation allowance is recorded in the period that such determination is made. In the future, if the Company determines, based on the existence of sufficient evidence, that more or less of the deferred tax assets are more likely than not to be realized, an adjustment to the valuation allowance will be made in the period such a determination is made.
On December 22, 2017, the U.S. enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which subjects U.S. shareholders, including the Company, to tax on Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”) earned by certain foreign subsidiaries. The FASB issued guidance stating that an entity can make an accounting policy election to either recognize deferred taxes for temporary basis differences expected to reverse as GILTI in future years or to provide for the tax expense related to GILTI in the year the tax is incurred as a period expense only. The Company has elected to account for GILTI as a period expense only.
Environmental Costs Environmental Costs:Environmental costs, other than those of a capital nature, are accrued at the time the exposure becomes known and costs can be reasonably estimated. Costs are accrued based upon management’s estimates of all direct costs.
Equity Compensation Plans Equity Compensation Plans:The Company has equity compensation plans under the oversight of the Company’s Board of Directors, whereby stock options, restricted stock units, performance stock units, deferred stock units and shares of common stock are granted to the Company’s employees and directors.
Earnings per Share Earnings per Share:
When calculating earnings per share, the Company’s participating securities are accounted for under the two-class method in periods in which dividends are declared. In the second fiscal quarter of 2024, the Company ceased paying dividends. The two-class method requires allocating the Company’s net earnings to both common shares and participating securities based upon their rights to receive dividends. Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net earnings available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of outstanding common shares during the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur under the more dilutive of either the treasury stock method or the two-class method for calculating the weighted-average number of outstanding common shares. The treasury stock method is calculated assuming unrecognized compensation expense, income tax benefits and proceeds from the potential exercise of employee stock options are used to repurchase common stock.
Derivatives Derivatives:
The Company is exposed to the impact of fluctuations in foreign exchange and interest rates on its borrowings and fluctuations in the purchase price of natural gas, diesel fuel consumed in operations and fuel costs incurred to deliver its products to its customers. The Company may hedge portions of these risks through the use of derivative agreements.
The Company records derivative financial instruments as assets or liabilities measured at fair value. Accounting for the changes in the fair value of a derivative depends on its designation and effectiveness. Derivatives qualify for treatment as hedges when there is a high correlation between the change in fair value of the derivative instrument and the related change in value of the underlying hedged item. For qualifying hedges, the effective portion of the change in fair value is recognized through earnings when the underlying transaction being hedged affects earnings, allowing a derivative’s gains and losses to offset related results from the hedged item in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Until the effective portion of a derivative’s change in fair value is recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, the change in fair value is recognized in other comprehensive income. For derivative instruments that are not accounted for as hedges, or for the ineffective portions of qualifying hedges, the change in fair value is recorded through earnings in the period of change. The Company formally documents, designates and assesses the effectiveness of transactions that receive hedge accounting treatment initially and on an ongoing basis.
Concentration of Credit Risk Concentration of Credit Risk:
The Company sells its salt and magnesium chloride products to various governmental agencies, manufacturers, distributors and retailers primarily in the Midwestern U.S. and throughout Canada and the U.K. The Company’s plant nutrition products are sold across the Western Hemisphere and globally. No single customer or group of affiliated customers accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s sales during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024, 2023, or 2022, or more than 10% of receivables at September 30, 2024 or 2023.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Recent Accounting Pronouncements:
In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures”, which updates reportable segment disclosure requirements primarily to include enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and for interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. Management is currently evaluating this ASU to determine its impact on the Company's disclosures.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures”, which updates income tax disclosures by requiring consistent categories and additional disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid by jurisdiction. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments should be applied prospectively; however, retrospective application is permitted. Management is currently evaluating this ASU to determine its impact on the Company’s disclosures.
In November 2024, the FASB issued amended guidance related to disclosure of disaggregated expenses (“ASU 2024-03”). This amendment requires public business entities to provide detailed disclosures in the notes to financial statements disaggregating specific expense categories, including employee compensation, depreciation, and intangible asset amortization, as well as certain other disclosures to provide enhanced transparency into the nature and function of expenses. This new guidance is effective for annual periods beginning in the Company’s fiscal 2028 and interim periods following annual adoption, with early adoption permitted. This guidance will be applied on a prospective basis with retrospective application permitted. Management is currently evaluating this ASU to determine its impact on the Company’s disclosures.
v3.24.4
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Schedule of Impairments Incurred
A summary of the impairments incurred for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, is detailed below (in millions):
ImpairmentFinancial Statement Line ItemSegmentFiscal Year Ended
September 30, 2024
Lithium long-lived assets, netLoss on impairmentsCorporate & Other$74.8 
Plant Nutrition goodwillLoss on impairmentsPlant Nutrition51.0 
Fortress goodwillLoss on impairmentsCorporate & Other32.0 
Fortress long-lived assets, netLoss on impairmentsCorporate & Other15.6 
Fortress inventoryProduct costCorporate & Other2.4 
Water rightsLoss on impairmentsPlant Nutrition17.6 
Total$193.4 
Schedule of Estimated Useful Lives of Property, Plant and Equipment The following table summarizes the estimated useful lives of the Company’s different classes of property, plant and equipment:
 Years
Land improvements
10 to 25
Buildings and structures
10 to 30
Leasehold and building improvements
5 to 40
Machinery and equipment – vehicles
2 to 10
Machinery and equipment – other mining and production
> 1 to 50
Office furniture and equipment
2 to 10
Mineral interests
20 to 99
v3.24.4
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]  
Schedule of Significant Components of Discontinued Operations
The following table represents summarized Consolidated Statements of Operations information of discontinued operations (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended
September 30,
2022
Sales$53.6 
Shipping and handling cost2.8 
Product cost28.4 
Gross profit22.4 
Selling, general and administrative expenses3.5 
Operating earnings18.9 
Interest expense0.1 
Gain on foreign exchange
(17.5)
Net loss on sale of business23.1 
Other income, net(0.6)
Earnings from discontinued operations before income taxes13.8 
Income tax expense1.6 
Net earnings from discontinued operations$12.2 
    
The significant components included in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the discontinued operations are as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended
September 30,
2022
Deferred income taxes$0.5 
Unrealized foreign exchange gain
(3.1)
Loss on impairment of long-lived assets23.1 
Capital expenditures(1.6)
Changes in receivables(4.8)
Changes in inventories (2.0)
Changes in other assets(4.7)
Changes in accounts payable and accrued expenses and other current liabilities (11.5)
Proceeds from sale of businesses61.2 
v3.24.4
LEASES (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Leases [Abstract]  
Schedule of Lease Assets and Lease Liabilities
The Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets includes the following (in millions):
Consolidated Balance Sheet LocationSeptember 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
Assets
Operating lease assetsOther noncurrent assets$50.0 $54.7 
Finance lease assetsProperty, plant and equipment, net15.7 6.9 
Total lease assets $65.7 $61.6 
Liabilities 
Current liabilities: 
OperatingAccrued expenses and other current liabilities$13.3 $16.5 
FinanceAccrued expenses and other current liabilities5.2 1.7 
Noncurrent liabilities: 
OperatingOther noncurrent liabilities38.6 40.2 
FinanceOther noncurrent liabilities11.2 5.5 
Total lease liabilities $68.3 $63.9 
Schedule of Components of Lease Cost, Supplemental Lease Term and Discount Rate and Supplemental Cash Flow Information Related to Leases
The Company’s components of lease cost are as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended
September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
September 30,
2022
Finance lease cost:
Amortization of lease assets$2.8 $1.5 $1.2 
Interest on lease liabilities0.5 0.2 0.1 
Operating lease cost20.9 20.9 18.0 
Variable lease cost(a)
15.9 16.7 15.6 
Total lease cost$40.1 $39.3 $34.9 
(a)Short-term leases are immaterial and included in variable lease cost.
Supplemental lease term and discount rate information related to leases is as follows:
Fiscal Year Ended
September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
September 30,
2022
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years)
Operating leases5.15.15.5
Finance leases7.813.220.7
Weighted-average discount rate
Operating leases5.2 %4.6 %4.0 %
Finance leases6.2 %5.0 %3.2 %

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases is as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended
September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
September 30,
2022
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from operating leases$20.9 $21.1 $18.2 
Operating cash flows from finance leases0.5 0.2 0.1 
Financing cash flows from finance leases2.7 1.5 1.3 
Leased assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities13.0 14.5 26.4 
Leased assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities12.0 5.3 — 
Schedule of Maturities of Operating Lease Liabilities
Maturities of lease liabilities are as follows (in millions):
Years Ending September 30: Operating LeasesFinance LeasesTotal
2025$15.6 $6.1 $21.7 
202612.7 5.0 17.7 
20279.6 2.5 12.1 
20286.9 1.8 8.7 
20295.5 0.4 5.9 
After 2029
8.8 4.8 13.6 
Total lease payments59.1 20.6 79.7 
Less: Interest(7.2)(4.2)(11.4)
Present value of lease liabilities$51.9 $16.4 $68.3 
Schedule of Maturities of Financing Lease Liabilities
Maturities of lease liabilities are as follows (in millions):
Years Ending September 30: Operating LeasesFinance LeasesTotal
2025$15.6 $6.1 $21.7 
202612.7 5.0 17.7 
20279.6 2.5 12.1 
20286.9 1.8 8.7 
20295.5 0.4 5.9 
After 2029
8.8 4.8 13.6 
Total lease payments59.1 20.6 79.7 
Less: Interest(7.2)(4.2)(11.4)
Present value of lease liabilities$51.9 $16.4 $68.3 
v3.24.4
INVENTORIES (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]  
Schedule of Inventories
Inventories consist of the following (in millions):
 September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
Finished goods$336.5 $319.3 
Work in process
6.47.3
Raw materials and supplies(a)
71.2 72.9 
Total inventories$414.1 $399.5 
(a)Excludes certain raw materials and supplies of $42.2 million and $35.8 million as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, that are not expected to be consumed within the next twelve months, which are included in Other noncurrent assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
v3.24.4
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]  
Schedule of Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment consists of the following (in millions):
 September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
Land, buildings and structures and leasehold improvements$559.8 $547.9 
Machinery and equipment1,149.5 1,102.0 
Office furniture and equipment24.1 21.6 
Mineral interests170.4 169.1 
Construction in progress56.0 113.3 
 1,959.8 1,953.9 
Less accumulated depreciation and depletion
(1,153.3)(1,101.4)
Property, plant and equipment, net$806.5 $852.5 
v3.24.4
GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]  
Schedule of Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill are summarized as follows (in millions):
Plant NutritionCorporate & OtherConsolidated
Balance as of September 30, 2022$50.9 $5.5 $56.4 
Acquisition of business(a)
— 32.0 32.0 
Foreign currency translation adjustment0.2 0.2 0.4 
Balance as of September 30, 202351.1 37.7 88.8 
Foreign currency translation adjustment(0.1)0.3 0.2 
Impairments(51.0)(32.0)(83.0)
Balance as of September 30, 2024$— $6.0 $6.0 
(a)Goodwill related to the Company’s acquisition of Fortress, as discussed further in Note 3.
Schedule of Asset Values and Accumulated Amortization for Finite-Lived Intangibles Assets
The asset values and accumulated amortization for the finite-lived intangibles assets are as follows (in millions):
 Customer RelationshipsTrade NameSupply AgreementSOP Production RightsLease RightsTotal
September 30, 2024
Gross intangible asset$58.5 $0.2 $26.8 $24.3 $1.7 $111.5 
Accumulated amortization(3.4)(0.1)(7.4)(20.2)(0.8)(31.9)
Net intangible assets$55.1 $0.1 $19.4 $4.1 $0.9 $79.6 


 Customer RelationshipsDeveloped TechnologyTrade NameSupply AgreementSOP Production RightsLease RightsTotal
September 30, 2023
Gross intangible asset$58.4 $16.1 $0.2 $26.8 $24.3 $1.6 $127.4 
Accumulated amortization(1.0)(0.1)— (6.8)(19.3)(0.7)(27.9)
Net intangible assets$57.4 $16.0 $0.2 $20.0 $5.0 $0.9 $99.5 
Schedule of Weighted Average Estimated Lives of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
The weighted average estimated lives of the Company’s finite-lived intangible assets are as follows:
Intangible assetEstimated Lives
Customer relationships25 years
Trade name5 years
Supply agreement50 years
SOP production rights25 years
Lease rights25 years
v3.24.4
INCOME TAXES (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Schedule of Income Tax Provision
The following table summarizes the Company’s income tax provision (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended
 September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
September 30,
2022
Current:
Federal$(0.3)$(1.4)$8.7 
State(0.4)0.9 (2.0)
Foreign21.3 22.6 8.8 
Total current20.6 22.1 15.5 
Deferred:   
Federal6.8 (0.8)16.0 
State(8.8)(2.0)(1.8)
Foreign(0.7)(2.2)3.8 
Total deferred(2.7)(5.0)18.0 
Total provision for income taxes$17.9 $17.1 $33.5 
Schedule of Components of Earnings Before Income Taxes, Provision for Income Taxes and Effective Tax Rate
The following table summarizes components of earnings before income taxes and shows the tax effects of significant adjustments from the expected income tax expense computed at the federal statutory rate (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended
 September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
September 30,
2022
U.S. loss$(226.2)$(22.7)$(65.5)
Foreign income38.0 50.3 65.7 
Earnings before income taxes$(188.2)$27.6 $0.2 
Computed tax at the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21%
$(39.5)$5.8 $— 
Foreign income rate differential, mining, and withholding taxes, net of U.S. federal deduction11.3 9.6 4.3 
Benefit recognized on Canadian law change
— (6.2)— 
Percentage depletion in excess of basis(2.4)(2.7)(5.7)
Non-deductible compensation 2.0 3.1 3.3 
Other domestic tax reserves, net of reversals0.2 (2.6)(1.1)
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit(8.4)(1.3)(2.4)
Change in valuation allowance on deferred tax asset46.9 11.1 35.4 
Interest expense recognition differences— — (2.8)
Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income and Base Erosion and Anti-Abuse Tax— 1.1 — 
Goodwill impairment
8.5 — — 
Tax on repatriated amounts— (0.7)(0.3)
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) Settlement— — 2.5 
Other (income) expense, net(0.7)(0.1)0.3 
Provision for income taxes$17.9 $17.1 $33.5 
Effective tax rate(10)%62 %16,750 %
Schedule of Significant Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities The significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows (in millions):
 September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
Deferred tax assets to be netted with deferred tax liabilities:
U.S. intangible asset
$3.9 $— 
Net operating loss carryforwards
22.3 16.8 
Excess interest expense63.0 45.6 
Foreign tax credit39.4 39.4 
Stock-based compensation2.1 2.4 
Research and development costs
4.3 2.2 
Federal and state capital losses
3.6 3.6 
Right of use lease liability12.7 13.8 
State tax credits8.9 8.3 
Inventory
7.3 — 
Other, net
18.1 16.2 
Total deferred tax assets before valuation allowance185.6 148.3 
Valuation allowance
(167.3)(121.2)
Total deferred tax assets to be netted with deferred tax liabilities18.3 27.1 
Deferred tax liabilities:  
Property, plant and equipment53.9 55.2 
U.S. intangible asset
— 2.8 
Foreign intangible asset
4.3 8.9 
Right of use lease asset12.7 13.8 
Unrealized foreign exchange gain1.2 1.3 
Other, net2.7 3.5 
Total deferred tax liabilities74.8 85.5 
Net deferred tax liabilities$56.5 $58.4 
Schedule of Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits
The following table shows a reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended
 September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
September 30,
2022
Unrecognized tax benefits:
Balance at beginning of period$35.4 $33.6 $38.0 
Additions resulting from current year tax positions1.7 3.8 — 
Additions relating to tax positions taken in prior years0.2 0.5 — 
Reductions relating to tax positions taken in prior years— — (3.2)
Reductions due to expiration of tax years(0.2)(2.5)(1.2)
Balance at end of period$37.1 $35.4 $33.6 
v3.24.4
PENSION PLANS AND OTHER BENEFITS (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Schedule of Weighted-Average Asset Allocations The weighted-average asset allocations by asset category are as follows:
Asset CategorySeptember 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
Cash and cash equivalents%%
Blended funds43 %39 %
Bond funds55 %60 %
Total100 %100 %
Schedule of Fair Value of Pension Plan Assets
The fair value of the Company’s U.K. pension plan assets by asset category (see Note 17 for a discussion regarding fair value measurements) are as follows (in millions):
 September 30,
2024
Level OneLevel TwoLevel Three
Asset category:
Cash and cash equivalents(a)
$1.0 $1.0 $— $— 
Blended funds(b)
20.2 — 20.2 — 
Bond funds(c):
    
Treasuries26.0 — 26.0 — 
Total Pension Assets$47.2 $1.0 $46.2 $— 

 September 30,
2023
Level OneLevel TwoLevel Three
Asset category:
Cash and cash equivalents(a)
$0.5 $0.5 $— $— 
Blended funds(b)
16.2 — 16.2 — 
Bond funds(c):
    
Treasuries24.8 — 24.8 — 
Total Pension Assets$41.5 $0.5 $41.0 $— 
(a)The fair value of cash and cash equivalents is its carrying value.
(b)The Company is invested in a diversified growth fund. The diversified growth fund is valued at the last traded or official close for the underlying equities and bid or mid for the underlying fixed income securities depending on the portfolio benchmark. Where representative prices are unavailable, underlying fixed income investments are valued based on other observable market-based inputs.
(c)This category includes investments in investment-grade fixed-income instruments and funds linked to U.K. treasury notes. The funds are valued using the bid amounts for each fund. All of the Company’s bond fund pension assets are invested in U.K.-linked treasuries as of September 30, 2024 and 2023.
Schedule of Assumptions Used in Determining Pension Information
The assumptions used in determining pension information for the U.K. pension plan were as follows:
Fiscal Year Ended
 September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
September 30,
2022
Discount rate4.90 %5.55 %5.45 %
Expected return on plan assets5.00 %5.40 %5.05 %
Schedule of Future Expected Benefit Payments
The Company expects to pay the following benefit payments (in millions):
Years Ending September 30:Future Expected Benefit Payments
2025$3.1 
20263.2 
20273.2 
20283.3 
20293.4 
2030-203418.1 
The Company expects to pay the following payments for the Canadian Benefits (in millions):
Years Ending September 30:Future Expected Benefit Payments
2025$0.6 
20260.5 
20270.5 
20280.6 
20290.6 
2030-20343.2 
Schedule of Pension Obligations and Plan Assets and Benefit Obligations
The following table sets forth pension obligations and plan assets for the Company’s U.K. pension plan (in millions):
 September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of period$39.7 $36.7 
Interest cost2.2 2.1 
Actuarial loss2.0 0.1 
Benefits paid(2.9)(2.7)
Currency fluctuation adjustment4.0 3.5 
Benefit obligation at end of period45.0 39.7 
Change in plan assets:  
Fair value at beginning of period41.5 42.7 
Actual return4.3 (2.5)
Company contributions— — 
Currency fluctuation adjustment4.3 4.0 
Benefits paid(2.9)(2.7)
Fair value of plan assets at end of period47.2 41.5 
Overfunded status of the plan$2.2 $1.8 
The following table sets forth the Company’s benefit obligation (in millions):
 September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of period$8.8 $8.9 
Service cost0.2 0.3 
Interest cost0.5 0.5 
Benefits paid(0.4)(0.3)
Actuarial loss (gain)
0.3 (0.7)
Currency fluctuation adjustment— 0.1 
Benefit obligation at end of period$9.4 $8.8 
Schedule of Components of Net Periodic Pension Cost (Benefit) The components of net periodic pension cost (benefit) were as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended
 September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
September 30,
2022
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation$2.2 $2.1 $1.2 
Prior service cost(0.1)(0.1)(0.1)
Expected return on plan assets(2.2)(2.3)(2.0)
Net amortization1.4 0.3 0.5 
Net periodic pension cost (benefit)$1.3 $— $(0.4)
v3.24.4
LONG TERM DEBT (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Schedule of Long-Term Debt
Long-term debt consists of the following (in millions):
 September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
6.75% Senior Notes due December 2027
$500.0 $500.0 
Term Loan due May 2028
193.8 198.8 
Revolving Credit Facility due May 2028
190.1 81.5 
AR Securitization Facility expires March 202738.9 30.9 
922.8 811.2 
Less unamortized debt issuance costs(5.3)(5.9)
Total debt917.5 805.3 
Less current portion(7.5)(5.0)
Long-term debt$910.0 $800.3 
Schedule of Future Maturities of Long-Term Debt
Future maturities of long-term debt are as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Years Ending September 30: Debt Maturity
2025$7.5 
202610.0 
202748.9 
2028856.4 
2029— 
Thereafter— 
Total$922.8 
v3.24.4
OPERATING SEGMENTS (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Segment Reporting [Abstract]  
Schedule of Segment Information
Segment information is as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2024
SaltPlant Nutrition
Corporate & Other(a)
Total
Sales to external customers$907.8 $181.0 $28.6 $1,117.4 
Intersegment sales— 8.0 (8.0)— 
Shipping and handling cost280.1 24.6 0.6 305.3 
Operating earnings (loss)(b)(c)(d)
163.6 (86.4)(194.0)(116.8)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization63.4 34.1 7.5 105.0 
Total assets1,084.5 388.1 167.5 1,640.1 
Capital expenditures77.2 9.9 27.1 114.2 


Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2023
SaltPlant Nutrition
Corporate & Other(a)
Total
Sales to external customers$1,010.8 $172.1 $21.8 $1,204.7 
Intersegment sales— 9.7 (9.7)— 
Shipping and handling cost324.5 21.4 0.2 346.1 
Operating earnings (loss)(c)(d)
170.5 9.5 (102.6)77.4 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization58.5 32.9 7.2 98.6 
Total assets1,050.4 473.4 293.1 1,816.9 
Capital expenditures71.9 29.5 52.9 154.3 
 
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2022
SaltPlant Nutrition
Corporate & Other(a)
Total
Sales to external customers$1,011.4 $222.3 $11.5 $1,245.2 
Intersegment sales— 6.4 (6.4)— 
Shipping and handling cost353.6 26.2 — 379.8 
Operating earnings (loss)(c)(d)
115.6 40.2 (110.4)45.4 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization66.1 35.6 11.1 112.8 
Total assets1,020.6 484.0 147.8 1,652.4 
Capital expenditures63.6 25.7 5.7 95.0 
Schedule of Disaggregated Revenue by Product Type
Disaggregated revenue by product type is as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2024
SaltPlant Nutrition
Corporate & Other(a)
Total
Highway Deicing Salt$546.4 $— $— $546.4 
Consumer & Industrial Salt361.4 — — 361.4 
SOP— 189.0 — 189.0 
Fire Retardant Products— — 14.2 14.2 
Revenue from Services— — 0.5 0.5 
Eliminations & Other— (8.0)13.9 5.9 
Sales to external customers$907.8 $181.0 $28.6 $1,117.4 

Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2023
SaltPlant Nutrition
Corporate & Other(a)
Total
Highway Deicing Salt$641.7 $— $— $641.7 
Consumer & Industrial Salt369.1 — — 369.1 
SOP— 181.8 — 181.8 
Fire Retardant Products— — 8.6 8.6 
Revenue from Services— — 1.8 1.8 
Eliminations & Other— (9.7)11.4 1.7 
Sales to external customers$1,010.8 $172.1 $21.8 $1,204.7 

Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2022
SaltPlant Nutrition
Corporate & Other(a)
Total
Highway Deicing Salt $641.3 $— $— $641.3 
Consumer & Industrial Salt370.1 — — 370.1 
SOP— 228.7 — 228.7 
Eliminations & Other— (6.4)11.5 5.1 
Sales to external customers$1,011.4 $222.3 $11.5 $1,245.2 
(a)Corporate and Other includes corporate entities, records management operations, the Fortress fire retardant business, equity method investments, lithium costs and other incidental operations and eliminations. Operating earnings (loss) for corporate and other includes indirect corporate overhead, including costs for general corporate governance and oversight, lithium-related expenses, as well as costs for the human resources, information technology, legal and finance functions.
(b)The Company recognized impairments of $193.4 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, which impacted operating results. Refer to Note 2 for additional information regarding the Plant Nutrition and Fortress impairments and Note 8 for additional information about the impairment of lithium development assets.
(c)Corporate operating results were impacted by net gains of $22.1 million and $0.8 million related to the decline in the valuation of the Fortress contingent consideration for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Corporate operating results also include a reserve for estimated costs related to a product recall of $0.8 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, and net reimbursements related to the settled SEC investigation of $0.3 million for the fiscal year ended September 30 2023. Corporate operating results for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022 include a contingent loss accrual and costs related to the SEC investigation of $17.1 million. Refer to Note 17 for information regarding the Fortress contingent consideration and to Note 13 for more information regarding the product recall and the SEC investigation and settlement.
(d)The Company continued to take steps to align its cost structure to its current business needs. These initiatives impacted Corporate operating results and resulted in net severance and related charges for reductions in workforce, changes to executive leadership and additional restructuring costs related to the termination of the Company’s lithium development project of $15.8 million, $5.5 million and $3.8 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Schedule of Revenue and Long-Lived Assets by Geographic Area
Financial information relating to the Company’s operations by geographic area is as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended
SalesSeptember 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
September 30,
2022
United States(a)
$825.0 $860.4 $896.0 
Canada234.7 269.7 278.0 
United Kingdom50.7 66.1 57.7 
Other7.0 8.5 13.5 
Total sales$1,117.4 $1,204.7 $1,245.2 
(a)United States sales exclude product sold to foreign customers at U.S. ports.

Financial information relating to the Company’s long-lived assets, excluding the investments related to the nonqualified retirement plan and pension plan assets, by geographic area (in millions):
Long-Lived AssetsSeptember 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
September 30,
2022
United States$580.9 $741.7 $612.0 
Canada392.6 398.0 394.8 
United Kingdom67.5 64.2 58.1 
Other6.5 7.7 8.8 
Total long-lived assets$1,047.5 $1,211.6 $1,073.7 
v3.24.4
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND EQUITY INSTRUMENTS (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Equity [Abstract]  
Schedule of Weighted Average Assumptions and Fair Value for Options Granted The weighted average assumptions and fair values for options granted in fiscal 2022 are included in the following table.
Fiscal Year Ended
 September 30,
2022
Fair value of options granted$16.84 
Expected term (years)4.8
Expected volatility37.9 %
Dividend yield3.9 %
Risk-free interest rates1.1 %
Schedule of Stock Option, RSU and PSU Activity and Related Information
The following is a summary of the Company’s stock option, RSU and PSU activity and related information for the following periods:
 Stock OptionsRSUsPSUs
 NumberWeighted-average exercise priceNumberWeighted-average fair valueNumberWeighted-average fair value
Outstanding at
September 30, 2021
828,706 $61.56 223,499 $59.00 279,907 $64.90 
Granted
73,290 73.77 103,363 66.36 178,052 73.86 
Exercised(a)
(3,861)67.76 — — — — 
Released from restriction(a)
— — (85,849)56.88 (28,666)55.98 
Cancelled/Expired(123,555)74.15 (32,278)62.23 (97,934)61.44 
Outstanding at
September 30, 2022
774,580 $60.68 208,735 $63.02 331,359 $71.51 
Granted
— — 354,694 37.17 183,794 68.33 
Exercised(a)
— — — — — — 
Released from restriction(a)
— — (132,827)60.34 — — 
Cancelled/Expired
(131,585)66.60 (37,362)43.11 (121,574)67.15 
Outstanding at
September 30, 2023
642,995 $59.46 393,240 $42.50 393,579 $71.37 
Granted
— — 545,528 25.24 276,916 24.69 
Exercised(a)
— — — — — — 
Released from restriction(a)
— — (266,335)40.01 — — 
Cancelled/Expired
(455,972)58.08 (221,342)32.65 (441,026)58.27 
Outstanding at
September 30, 2024
187,023 $62.85 451,091 $27.93 229,469 $40.26 
(a)Common stock issued for exercised options, vested RSUs and vested and earned PSUs were issued from treasury shares.
Schedule of Options Outstanding and Exercisable The following table summarizes information about options outstanding and exercisable at September 30, 2024.
Options OutstandingOptions Exercisable
Range of exercise pricesOptions outstandingWeighted-average remaining contractual life (years)Weighted-average exercise price of options outstandingOptions exercisableWeighted-average remaining contractual life (years)Weighted-average exercise price of exercisable options
$54.44 - $56.96
32,1761.5$55.00 31,9301.5$55.01 
$56.97 - $59.21
35,2862.358.91 35,2862.358.91 
$59.22 - $61.32
26,4770.559.50 26,4770.559.50 
$61.33 - $67.81
52,9443.363.14 40,2163.363.14 
$67.82 - $74.49
40,1404.074.44 20,9894.074.44 
Totals187,0232.6$62.85 154,8982.3$61.41 
Schedule of Components and Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income The components of and changes in AOCL are as follows (in millions):
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2024(a)
(Losses) and Gains on Cash Flow HedgesDefined Benefit PensionOther Post-Employment BenefitsForeign CurrencyTotal
Beginning balance$(1.4)$(6.6)$1.7 $(98.4)$(104.7)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications(b)
(4.6)(0.6)(0.2)8.1 2.7 
Amounts reclassified from AOCL4.7 1.0 (0.1)— 5.6 
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)
0.1 0.4 (0.3)8.1 8.3 
Ending balance$(1.3)$(6.2)$1.4 $(90.3)$(96.4)
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2023(a)
(Losses) and Gains on Cash Flow HedgesDefined Benefit PensionOther Post-Employment BenefitsForeign CurrencyTotal
Beginning balance$(1.6)$(2.7)$1.3 $(112.3)$(115.3)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications(b)
(3.3)(4.0)0.5 13.9 7.1 
Amounts reclassified from AOCL3.5 0.1 (0.1)— 3.5 
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)
0.2 (3.9)0.4 13.9 10.6 
Ending balance$(1.4)$(6.6)$1.7 $(98.4)$(104.7)
(a)With the exception of the CTA, for which no tax effect is recorded, the changes in the components of AOCL presented in the table are reflected net of applicable income taxes.
(b)The Company recorded foreign exchange loss of $0.2 million and $1.6 million in the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, in AOCL related to intercompany notes which were deemed to be of a long-term investment nature.
Schedule of Changes in the Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Gain (Loss)
Amount Reclassified from AOCLLine Item Impacted in the Consolidated Statement of Operations
Fiscal Year Ended
September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Natural gas instruments$4.7 $4.7 Product cost
Foreign currency contracts— — Interest expense
Income tax expense— (1.2)
 Reclassifications, net of income taxes4.7 3.5 
Amortization of defined benefit pension: 
Amortization of loss$1.3 $0.1 Product cost
Income tax benefit(0.3)— 
 Reclassifications, net of income taxes1.0 0.1 
Amortization of other post-employment benefits
Amortization of loss$(0.1)$(0.1)Product cost
Income tax benefit— — 
Reclassifications, net of income taxes(0.1)(0.1)
 Reclassifications, CTA due to sale of foreign entity— — 
Total reclassifications, net of income taxes$5.6 $3.5 
v3.24.4
DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]  
Schedule of Fair Value of Derivatives
The following tables present the fair value of the Company’s derivatives (in millions):

 Asset DerivativesLiability Derivatives
Consolidated Balance Sheet LocationSeptember 30, 2024Consolidated Balance Sheet LocationSeptember 30, 2024
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contractsOther current assets$0.5 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities$1.7 
Commodity contractsOther assets0.1 Other noncurrent liabilities0.2 
Total derivatives(a)
$0.6 $1.9 
(a)The Company has master netting agreements with its commodity hedge counterparties and accordingly has netted in its Consolidated Balance Sheets $0.6 million of its commodity contracts that are in receivable positions against its contracts in payable positions.
Asset DerivativesLiability Derivatives
Consolidated Balance Sheet LocationSeptember 30, 2023Consolidated Balance Sheet LocationSeptember 30, 2023
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contractsOther current assets$0.9 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities$2.3 
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments0.9 2.3 
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contractsOther current assets0.1 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities— 
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments0.1 — 
Total derivatives(a)
$1.0 $2.3 
(a)The Company has master netting agreements with its commodity hedge counterparties and accordingly has netted in its Consolidated Balance Sheets $1.0 million of its commodity contracts that are in receivable positions against its contracts in payable positions.
Schedule of Activity Related to Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income Before Taxes
The following tables present activity related to other comprehensive (loss) income before taxes (in millions):
 
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2024
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging RelationshipsLocation of Change Reclassified from Accumulated OCI Into Income (Effective Portion)Amount Recognized in OCI on Derivative (Effective Portion)Amount Reclassified from Accumulated OCI Into Income (Effective Portion)
Commodity contractsProduct cost$(4.6)$4.7 
Total $(4.6)$4.7 


 
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2023
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging RelationshipsLocation of Change Reclassified from Accumulated OCI Into Income Effective Portion)Amount Recognized in OCI on Derivative (Effective Portion)Amount Reclassified from Accumulated OCI Into Income (Effective Portion)
Commodity contractsProduct cost$(4.9)$4.7 
Total $(4.9)$4.7 
v3.24.4
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Schedule of Estimated Fair Values for Each Type of Instrument
The estimated fair values for each type of instrument are presented below (in millions).

 September 30, 2024Level OneLevel TwoLevel Three
Asset Class:
Mutual fund investments in a non-qualified savings plan(a)
$3.1 $3.1 $— $— 
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments - natural gas instruments, net
0.6 — 0.6 — 
Total Assets$3.7 $3.1 $0.6 $— 
Liability Class:    
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments - natural gas instruments, net
$(1.9)$— $(1.9)$— 
Liabilities related to non-qualified savings plan(3.1)(3.1)— — 
Total Liabilities$(5.0)$(3.1)$(1.9)$— 
(a)Includes mutual fund investments of approximately 35% in the common stock of large-cap U.S. companies, 5% in the common stock of small to mid-cap U.S. companies, 5% in the common stock of international companies, 10% in bond funds, 5% in short-term investments and 40% in blended funds.

September 30, 2023Level OneLevel TwoLevel Three
Asset Class:
Mutual fund investments in a non-qualified savings plan(a)
$2.6 $2.6 $— $— 
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments - natural gas instruments, net
0.1 — 0.1 — 
Total Assets$2.7 $2.6 $0.1 $— 
Liability Class:
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments - natural gas instruments, net
$(1.4)$— $(1.4)$— 
Liabilities related to non-qualified savings plan(2.6)(2.6)— — 
Total Liabilities$(4.0)$(2.6)$(1.4)$— 
(a)Includes mutual fund investments of approximately 25% in the common stock of large-cap U.S. companies, 5% in the common stock of small to mid-cap U.S. companies, 10% in the common stock of international companies, 10% in bond funds, 5% in short-term investments and 45% in blended funds.
Schedule of Fair Value of Total Contingent Consideration Arrangement
The following table presents the fair value of the Company’s total contingent consideration arrangement (in millions):
Consolidated Balance Sheet LocationSeptember 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities$— $7.3 
Other noncurrent liabilities7.9 31.8 
Total contingent consideration(a)
$7.9 $39.1 
(a)The decrease in total contingent consideration was related to a net $22.1 million decrease in the fair value of the remaining contingent consideration, discussed further above, and $9.1 million of payments made during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024.
v3.24.4
EARNINGS PER SHARE (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]  
Schedule of Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share (in millions, except for share and per-share data):
Fiscal Year Ended
September 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
September 30,
2022
Numerator:
Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations$(206.1)$10.5 $(33.3)
Less: Net earnings allocated to participating securities(a)
(0.2)(0.3)(0.3)
Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations available to common stockholders(206.3)10.2 (33.6)
Net earnings from discontinued operations available to common stockholders— — 12.2 
Net (loss) earnings available to common stockholders$(206.3)$10.2 $(21.4)
Denominator (in thousands):
Weighted average common shares outstanding, shares for basic earnings per share(b)
41,306 40,786 34,120 
Weighted average equity awards outstanding— — — 
Shares for diluted earnings per share41,306 40,786 34,120 
Basic net (loss) earnings from continuing operations per common share$(4.99)$0.25 $(0.98)
Basic net earnings from discontinued operations per common share— — 0.36 
Basic net (loss) earnings per common share$(4.99)$0.25 $(0.63)
Diluted net (loss) earnings from continuing operations per common share$(4.99)$0.25 $(0.98)
Diluted net earnings from discontinued operations per common share— — 0.36 
Diluted net (loss) earnings per common share$(4.99)$0.25 $(0.63)
(a)Participating securities include PSUs and RSUs that receive non-forfeitable dividends. Net earnings were allocated to participating securities of 667,000, 476,000 and 407,000 for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
(b)For the calculation of diluted earnings per share, the Company uses the more dilutive of either the treasury stock method or the two-class method to determine the weighted average number of outstanding common shares. In addition, the Company had 1,286,000, 1,264,000 and 1,106,000 weighted options outstanding for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, which were anti-dilutive and therefore not included in the diluted earnings per share calculation.
v3.24.4
ORGANIZATION AND FORMATION (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]      
Decrease to selling, general and administrative expenses $ (137.8) $ (150.2) $ (133.5)
Other operating (income) expense (17.0) $ 4.4 20.9
Restructuring Charges, Statement of Income or Comprehensive Income [Extensible Enumeration]   Other operating (income) expense  
Reduction to contingent consideration liability $ 22.1 $ 0.0 0.0
Revision of Prior Period, Reclassification, Adjustment      
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]      
Decrease to selling, general and administrative expenses   4.4 20.9
Other operating (income) expense   4.4 20.9
Revision of Prior Period, Reclassification, Adjustment | Reclassification Of Employee Termination Costs      
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]      
Other operating (income) expense   5.5 3.8
Decrease to restructuring charges   5.5 3.8
Revision of Prior Period, Reclassification, Adjustment | Reclassification Of Investigation And Related Legal Costs, Net Of Reimbursements      
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]      
Other operating (income) expense   (0.3) 17.1
Decrease to loss contingency accrual, payments   (0.3) $ 17.1
Revision of Prior Period, Reclassification, Adjustment | Reclassification Of Changes In Fair Value Of Contingent Consideration      
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]      
Other operating (income) expense   (0.8)  
Reduction to contingent consideration liability   $ (0.8)  
v3.24.4
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Narrative (Details)
$ / shares in Units, acre in Thousands, $ in Millions
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 03, 2024
USD ($)
acre
Mar. 31, 2024
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2024
USD ($)
extension_period
$ / shares
Sep. 30, 2023
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2022
USD ($)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]          
Loss on impairment of long-lived assets     $ 193.4    
Goodwill, impairment loss   $ 83.0 83.0    
Number of acres utilized for production, conservation and preservation | acre 201        
Foreign exchange gains (losses)     (0.2) $ (1.6) $ 6.7
Foreign currency transaction, realized gain (loss)     0.7 2.3 (14.9)
Capitalized computer software costs     $ 3.0 3.7  
Period of amortization of capitalized computer software costs (in years)     5 years    
Amortization of capitalized computer software costs     $ 1.6 3.3 $ 7.6
Inventories of spare parts related to long term assets     42.2 35.8  
Operating lease assets     50.0 54.7  
Investments in marketable securities relating to deferred compensation arrangement     $ 3.1 2.6  
Contingent consideration liability (in dollars per share) | $ / shares     $ 32    
Lithium long-lived assets, net          
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]          
Loss on impairment of long-lived assets     $ 74.8    
Lithium Long-Lived Assets, Future Commitments          
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]          
Loss on impairment of long-lived assets     $ 7.6    
Fortress          
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]          
Goodwill, impairment loss   32.0      
Water Rights          
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]          
Impairment of intangible asset indefinite lived excluding goodwill statement of income or comprehensive income extensible enumeration not disclosed flag impairment        
Impairment of indefinite lived intangible assets $ 17.6        
Minimum          
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]          
Estimated lives (in years)     5 years    
Maximum          
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]          
Estimated lives (in years)     50 years    
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets          
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]          
Assets held-for-sale     $ 26.9 $ 33.3  
Plant Nutrition          
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]          
Goodwill, impairment loss   $ 51.0 51.0    
Inventories          
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]          
Tangible asset impairment charges     $ 2.4    
Cote Blanche          
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]          
Number of renewal periods (in extension periods) | extension_period     2    
Lease renewal period (in years)     25 years    
Leased Mineral Interests          
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]          
Estimated useful life (in years)     85 years    
Owned Mineral Properties          
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]          
Estimated useful life (in years)     33 years    
Buildings and structures | Minimum          
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]          
Estimated useful life (in years)     10 years    
Buildings and structures | Maximum          
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]          
Estimated useful life (in years)     30 years    
Typical Maximum Life Leasehold and Building Improvements | Minimum          
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]          
Estimated useful life (in years)     5 years    
Typical Maximum Life Leasehold and Building Improvements | Maximum          
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]          
Estimated useful life (in years)     40 years    
Developed Technology          
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]          
Impairment of intangible asset finite lived statement of income or comprehensive income extensible enumeration not disclosed flag     impairment    
Impairment of intangible assets     $ 15.6    
v3.24.4
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Schedule of Impairments Incurred (Details)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
USD ($)
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]  
Impairment $ 193.4
Lithium long-lived assets, net  
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]  
Impairment 74.8
Plant Nutrition goodwill | Plant Nutrition  
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]  
Impairment 51.0
Fortress goodwill  
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]  
Impairment 32.0
Fortress long-lived assets, net  
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]  
Impairment 15.6
Fortress inventory  
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]  
Impairment 2.4
Water rights | Plant Nutrition  
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]  
Impairment $ 17.6
v3.24.4
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES- Schedule of Estimated Useful Lives of Property, Plant and Equipment (Details)
Sep. 30, 2024
Minimum | Land improvements  
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]  
Estimated useful life (in years) 10 years
Minimum | Buildings and structures  
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]  
Estimated useful life (in years) 10 years
Minimum | Leasehold and building improvements  
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]  
Estimated useful life (in years) 5 years
Minimum | Machinery and equipment – vehicles  
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]  
Estimated useful life (in years) 2 years
Minimum | Machinery and equipment – other mining and production  
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]  
Estimated useful life (in years) 1 year
Minimum | Office furniture and equipment  
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]  
Estimated useful life (in years) 2 years
Minimum | Mineral interests  
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]  
Estimated useful life (in years) 20 years
Maximum | Land improvements  
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]  
Estimated useful life (in years) 25 years
Maximum | Buildings and structures  
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]  
Estimated useful life (in years) 30 years
Maximum | Leasehold and building improvements  
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]  
Estimated useful life (in years) 40 years
Maximum | Machinery and equipment – vehicles  
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]  
Estimated useful life (in years) 10 years
Maximum | Machinery and equipment – other mining and production  
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]  
Estimated useful life (in years) 50 years
Maximum | Office furniture and equipment  
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]  
Estimated useful life (in years) 10 years
Maximum | Mineral interests  
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]  
Estimated useful life (in years) 99 years
v3.24.4
BUSINESS ACQUISITION (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
May 05, 2023
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Business Acquisition [Line Items]        
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired   $ 0.0 $ 18.9 $ 0.0
Contingent consideration, liability   $ 7.9 $ 39.1  
Fortress        
Business Acquisition [Line Items]        
Fair value of equity method investment (as a apercent) 45.00%      
Fortress        
Business Acquisition [Line Items]        
Remaining interest acquired (as a percent) 55.00%      
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired $ 18.9      
Cash held by acquiree 6.5      
Contingent consideration, liability $ 28.0      
Performance period (in years) 5 years      
Contingent consideration period (in years) 10 years      
v3.24.4
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS - Narrative (Details)
R$ in Millions, $ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Apr. 20, 2022
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2024
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2024
BRL (R$)
Sep. 30, 2023
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2022
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2021
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2021
BRL (R$)
Apr. 07, 2022
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2021
BRL (R$)
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]                  
Proceeds from sale of businesses   $ 0.0   $ 0.0 $ 61.2        
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal, Statement of Income or Comprehensive Income [Extensible Enumeration]         Net earnings from discontinued operations        
Fermavi                  
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]                  
Potential proceeds from sale of investments           $ 2.9 R$ 45.0    
Deferred purchase price | R$     R$ 7.5       R$ 30.0    
Discounted deferred proceeds receivable           4.8      
Discontinued Operations, Held-for-Sale or Disposed of by Sale                  
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]                  
Release of accumulated currency translation adjustment         $ 17.5        
Discontinued Operations, Held-for-Sale or Disposed of by Sale | Plant Nutrition, South America                  
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]                  
Proceeds from sale of businesses           318.4      
Additional earn out payment               $ 18.5 R$ 88.0
Discontinued Operations, Held-for-Sale or Disposed of by Sale | North America Micronutrient Assets                  
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]                  
Gross proceeds received           $ 56.7      
Discontinued Operations, Held-for-Sale or Disposed of by Sale | South America Chemicals Business                  
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]                  
Gross proceeds received $ 51.5                
Cash on hand 6.4                
Selling costs $ 2.4                
Incremental loss from sale         23.1        
Release of accumulated currency translation adjustment         $ 49.5        
v3.24.4
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS - Schedule of Significant Components of Discontinued Operations (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract]      
Net loss on sale of business $ 0.0 $ 4.5 $ 3.7
Net earnings from discontinued operations $ 0.0 $ 0.0 12.2
Discontinued Operations, Held-for-Sale or Disposed of by Sale      
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract]      
Sales     53.6
Gross profit     22.4
Selling, general and administrative expenses     3.5
Operating earnings     18.9
Interest expense     0.1
Gain on foreign exchange     (17.5)
Net loss on sale of business     23.1
Other income, net     (0.6)
Earnings from discontinued operations before income taxes     13.8
Income tax expense     1.6
Net earnings from discontinued operations     12.2
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]      
Deferred income taxes     0.5
Unrealized foreign exchange gain     (3.1)
Loss on impairment of long-lived assets     23.1
Capital expenditures     (1.6)
Changes in receivables     (4.8)
Changes in inventories     (2.0)
Changes in other assets     (4.7)
Changes in accounts payable and accrued expenses and other current liabilities     (11.5)
Proceeds from sale of businesses     61.2
Discontinued Operations, Held-for-Sale or Disposed of by Sale | Shipping and handling cost      
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract]      
Cost of goods and services sold     2.8
Discontinued Operations, Held-for-Sale or Disposed of by Sale | Product cost      
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract]      
Cost of goods and services sold     $ 28.4
v3.24.4
REVENUES (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Oct. 25, 2024
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Capitalized Contract Cost [Line Items]      
Payment terms   30 days  
Deferred revenue   $ 3.6 $ 8.5
Subsequent Event      
Capitalized Contract Cost [Line Items]      
Estimated cost $ 0.8    
v3.24.4
LEASES - Schedule of Lease Assets and Lease Liabilities (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
ASSETS    
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List] Other noncurrent assets Other noncurrent assets
Operating lease assets $ 50.0 $ 54.7
Finance Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List] Property, Plant, and Equipment and Finance Lease Right-of-Use Asset, after Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization Property, Plant, and Equipment and Finance Lease Right-of-Use Asset, after Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization
Finance lease assets $ 15.7 $ 6.9
Total lease assets $ 65.7 $ 61.6
Current liabilities:    
Operating Lease, Liability, Current, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List] Accrued expenses and other current liabilities Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
Operating $ 13.3 $ 16.5
Finance Lease, Liability, Current, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List] Accrued expenses and other current liabilities Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
Finance $ 5.2 $ 1.7
Noncurrent liabilities:    
Operating Lease, Liability, Noncurrent, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List] Other noncurrent liabilities Other noncurrent liabilities
Operating $ 38.6 $ 40.2
Finance Lease, Liability, Noncurrent, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List] Other noncurrent liabilities Other noncurrent liabilities
Finance $ 11.2 $ 5.5
Total lease liabilities $ 68.3 $ 63.9
v3.24.4
LEASES - Schedule of Components of Lease Cost (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Leases [Abstract]      
Amortization of lease assets $ 2.8 $ 1.5 $ 1.2
Interest on lease liabilities 0.5 0.2 0.1
Operating lease cost 20.9 20.9 18.0
Variable lease cost 15.9 16.7 15.6
Total lease cost $ 40.1 $ 39.3 $ 34.9
v3.24.4
LEASES - Schedule of Maturities of Operating and Financing Lease Liabilities (Details)
$ in Millions
Sep. 30, 2024
USD ($)
Operating Leases  
2025 $ 15.6
2026 12.7
2027 9.6
2028 6.9
2029 5.5
After 2029 8.8
Total lease payments 59.1
Less: Interest (7.2)
Present value of lease liabilities 51.9
Finance Leases  
2025 6.1
2026 5.0
2027 2.5
2028 1.8
2029 0.4
After 2029 4.8
Total lease payments 20.6
Less: Interest (4.2)
Present value of lease liabilities 16.4
Total  
2025 21.7
2026 17.7
2027 12.1
2028 8.7
2029 5.9
After 2029 13.6
Total lease payments 79.7
Less: Interest (11.4)
Present value of lease liabilities $ 68.3
v3.24.4
LEASES - Schedule of Supplemental Lease Term and Discount Rate (Details)
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years)      
Operating leases (in years) 5 years 1 month 6 days 5 years 1 month 6 days 5 years 6 months
Finance leases (in years) 7 years 9 months 18 days 13 years 2 months 12 days 20 years 8 months 12 days
Weighted-average discount rate      
Operating leases (as a percent) 5.20% 4.60% 4.00%
Finance leases (as a percent) 6.20% 5.00% 3.20%
v3.24.4
LEASES - Schedule of Supplemental Cash Flow Information Related to Leases (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:      
Operating cash flows from operating leases $ 20.9 $ 21.1 $ 18.2
Operating cash flows from finance leases 0.5 0.2 0.1
Financing cash flows from finance leases 2.7 1.5 1.3
Leased assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities 13.0 14.5 26.4
Leased assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities $ 12.0 $ 5.3 $ 0.0
v3.24.4
INVENTORIES (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]    
Finished goods $ 336.5 $ 319.3
Work in process 6.4 7.3
Raw materials and supplies 71.2 72.9
Total inventories 414.1 399.5
Raw materials and supplies, noncurrent $ 42.2 $ 35.8
v3.24.4
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT - Schedule of Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property plant and equipment, gross $ 1,959.8 $ 1,953.9
Less accumulated depreciation and depletion (1,153.3) (1,101.4)
Property, plant and equipment, net 806.5 852.5
Land, buildings and structures and leasehold improvements    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property plant and equipment, gross 559.8 547.9
Machinery and equipment    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property plant and equipment, gross 1,149.5 1,102.0
Office furniture and equipment    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property plant and equipment, gross 24.1 21.6
Mineral interests    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property plant and equipment, gross 170.4 169.1
Construction in progress    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property plant and equipment, gross $ 56.0 $ 113.3
v3.24.4
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property plant and equipment under finance leases $ 18.7 $ 9.9
Property plant and equipment under finance leases, accumulated depreciation 3.0 $ 3.0
Net change to property, plant and equipment 12.9  
Loss on impairment of long-lived assets 193.4  
Lithium Salt Resource    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property, plant and equipment 72.7  
Property, plant and equipment remaining 4.8  
Lithium long-lived assets, net    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Loss on impairment of long-lived assets 74.8  
Lithium Long-Lived Assets, Future Commitments    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Loss on impairment of long-lived assets $ 7.6  
v3.24.4
GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Schedule of Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Goodwill [Roll Forward]      
Goodwill, beginning balance   $ 88.8 $ 56.4
Acquisition of business     32.0
Foreign currency translation adjustment   0.2 0.4
Impairments $ (83.0) (83.0)  
Goodwill, ending balance   6.0 88.8
Corporate Nonsegment      
Goodwill [Roll Forward]      
Goodwill, beginning balance   37.7 5.5
Acquisition of business     32.0
Foreign currency translation adjustment   0.3 0.2
Impairments   (32.0)  
Goodwill, ending balance   6.0 37.7
Plant Nutrition      
Goodwill [Roll Forward]      
Goodwill, beginning balance   51.1 50.9
Acquisition of business     0.0
Foreign currency translation adjustment   (0.1) 0.2
Impairments $ (51.0) (51.0)  
Goodwill, ending balance   $ 0.0 $ 51.1
v3.24.4
GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Narrative (Details)
acre in Thousands, $ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Sep. 03, 2024
USD ($)
acre
Sep. 30, 2024
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2023
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2022
USD ($)
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]        
Accumulated amortization   $ 31.9 $ 27.9  
Finite-lived intangible assets, net   79.6 99.5  
Amortization expense   4.3 2.7 $ 1.6
Projected amortization expense, minimum   3.0    
Projected amortization expense, maximum   $ 5.0    
Remaining amortization period   5 years    
Weighted-average amortization period (in years)   30 years    
Number of acres utilized for production, conservation and preservation | acre 201      
Trade Name        
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]        
Indefinite-lived intangible assets   $ 0.5 0.5  
In Process Research and Development        
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]        
Indefinite-lived intangible assets   2.2 2.2  
In Process Research and Development | Fortress        
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]        
Indefinite-lived intangible assets   2.2    
Water Rights        
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]        
Indefinite-lived intangible assets   0.2 17.8  
Impairment of indefinite lived intangible assets $ 17.6      
Developed Technology        
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]        
Impairment of intangible assets   15.6    
Accumulated amortization     0.1  
Finite-lived intangible assets, net     16.0  
Developed Technology | Fortress        
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]        
Impairment of intangible assets   15.6    
Accumulated amortization   0.4    
Customer Relationships        
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]        
Accumulated amortization   3.4 1.0  
Finite-lived intangible assets, net   55.1 57.4  
Customer Relationships | Fortress        
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]        
Finite-lived intangible assets, net   54.1    
Trade Name        
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]        
Accumulated amortization   0.1 0.0  
Finite-lived intangible assets, net   0.1 $ 0.2  
Trade Name | Fortress        
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]        
Finite-lived intangible assets, net   $ 0.1    
v3.24.4
GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Schedule of Asset Values and Accumulated Amortization for Finite-Lived Intangibles Assets (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Gross intangible asset $ 111.5 $ 127.4
Accumulated amortization (31.9) (27.9)
Net intangible assets 79.6 99.5
Customer Relationships    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Gross intangible asset 58.5 58.4
Accumulated amortization (3.4) (1.0)
Net intangible assets 55.1 57.4
Developed Technology    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Gross intangible asset   16.1
Accumulated amortization   (0.1)
Net intangible assets   16.0
Trade Name    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Gross intangible asset 0.2 0.2
Accumulated amortization (0.1) 0.0
Net intangible assets 0.1 0.2
Supply Agreement    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Gross intangible asset 26.8 26.8
Accumulated amortization (7.4) (6.8)
Net intangible assets 19.4 20.0
SOP Production Rights    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Gross intangible asset 24.3 24.3
Accumulated amortization (20.2) (19.3)
Net intangible assets 4.1 5.0
Lease Rights    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Gross intangible asset 1.7 1.6
Accumulated amortization (0.8) (0.7)
Net intangible assets $ 0.9 $ 0.9
v3.24.4
GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Schedule of Weighted Average Estimated Lives of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets (Details)
Sep. 30, 2024
Customer Relationships  
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]  
Estimated lives (in years) 25 years
Trade Name  
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]  
Estimated lives (in years) 5 years
Supply Agreement  
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]  
Estimated lives (in years) 50 years
SOP Production Rights  
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]  
Estimated lives (in years) 25 years
Lease Rights  
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]  
Estimated lives (in years) 25 years
v3.24.4
INCOME TAXES - Schedule of Income Tax Provision (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Current:      
Federal $ (0.3) $ (1.4) $ 8.7
State (0.4) 0.9 (2.0)
Foreign 21.3 22.6 8.8
Total current 20.6 22.1 15.5
Deferred:      
Federal 6.8 (0.8) 16.0
State (8.8) (2.0) (1.8)
Foreign (0.7) (2.2) 3.8
Total deferred (2.7) (5.0) 18.0
Total provision for income taxes $ 17.9 $ 17.1 $ 33.5
v3.24.4
INCOME TAXES - Schedule of Components of Earnings Before Income Taxes, Provision for Income Taxes and Effective Tax Rate (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Dec. 31, 2020
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]          
U.S. loss   $ (226.2) $ (22.7) $ (65.5)  
Foreign income   38.0 50.3 65.7  
(Loss) earnings before income taxes from continuing operations   (188.2) 27.6 0.2  
Computed tax at the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21%   (39.5) 5.8 0.0  
Foreign income rate differential, mining, and withholding taxes, net of U.S. federal deduction   11.3 9.6 4.3  
Benefit recognized on Canadian law change   0.0 (6.2) 0.0  
Percentage depletion in excess of basis   (2.4) (2.7) (5.7)  
Non-deductible compensation   2.0 3.1 3.3  
Other domestic tax reserves, net of reversals   0.2 (2.6) (1.1)  
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit   (8.4) (1.3) (2.4)  
Change in valuation allowance on deferred tax asset   46.9 11.1 35.4  
Interest expense recognition differences   0.0 0.0 (2.8)  
Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income and Base Erosion and Anti-Abuse Tax   0.0 1.1 0.0  
Goodwill impairment $ 0.0 8.5     $ 0.0
Tax on repatriated amounts   0.0 (0.7) (0.3)  
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) Settlement   0.0 0.0 2.5  
Other (income) expense, net   (0.7) (0.1) 0.3  
Total provision for income taxes   $ 17.9 $ 17.1 $ 33.5  
Effective tax rate   (10.00%) 62.00% 16750.00%  
v3.24.4
INCOME TAXES - Schedule of Significant Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Deferred tax assets to be netted with deferred tax liabilities:    
U.S. intangible asset $ 3.9 $ 0.0
Net operating loss carryforwards 22.3 16.8
Excess interest expense 63.0 45.6
Foreign tax credit 39.4 39.4
Stock-based compensation 2.1 2.4
Research and development costs 4.3 2.2
Federal and state capital losses 3.6 3.6
Right of use lease liability 12.7 13.8
State tax credits 8.9 8.3
Inventory 7.3 0.0
Other, net 18.1 16.2
Total deferred tax assets before valuation allowance 185.6 148.3
Valuation allowance (167.3) (121.2)
Total deferred tax assets to be netted with deferred tax liabilities 18.3 27.1
Deferred tax liabilities:    
Property, plant and equipment 53.9 55.2
U.S. intangible asset 0.0 2.8
Foreign intangible asset 4.3 8.9
Right of use lease asset 12.7 13.8
Unrealized foreign exchange gain 1.2 1.3
Other, net 2.7 3.5
Total deferred tax liabilities 74.8 85.5
Net deferred tax liabilities $ 56.5 $ 58.4
v3.24.4
INCOME TAXES - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2023
Dec. 31, 2022
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Sep. 30, 2021
Sep. 30, 2018
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]              
Valuation allowance     $ 167.3 $ 121.2      
Unrecognized tax benefits that would impact effective tax rate     28.7        
Decrease in unrecognized tax benefits reasonably possible     0.3        
Reductions related to release of uncertain tax positions due to expiration of statutes of limitations     0.2        
Accrued interest and penalties, net of reversals     5.1 (3.0) $ 0.9    
Interest and penalties     27.8 22.7      
Expected repatriation of foreign earnings       6.0 10.0   $ 150.0
Repatriation of foreign earnings $ 15.6 $ 89.2          
Income tax expense (benefit)     17.9 17.1 33.5    
Outside basis difference     213.5        
Foreign Tax Authority              
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]              
Operating loss carryforwards     76.4 65.4      
State and Local Jurisdiction              
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]              
Tax on repatriated amounts       3.8      
Income tax expense (benefit)     0.0 (0.7) $ (0.2) $ 4.7  
State and Local Jurisdiction | NOL Carryforwards Expire Beginning In 2035              
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]              
Operating loss carryforwards     6.1 2.9      
State and Local Jurisdiction | NOL Carryforwards Expire Beginning In 2027              
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]              
Operating loss carryforwards     2.0 2.0      
State and Local Jurisdiction | NOL Carryforwards Expire Beginning in 2025              
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]              
Operating loss carryforwards     1.6 $ 1.6      
U.S. Taxing Authorities              
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]              
Valuation allowance     46.0        
Canadian Provincial              
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]              
Total reassessment amount including interest     201.0        
Amount of security posted in the form of a performance bond     162.2        
Amount of security posted in the form of cash     $ 36.9        
v3.24.4
INCOME TAXES - Schedule of Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Unrecognized tax benefits:      
Balance at beginning of period $ 35.4 $ 33.6 $ 38.0
Additions resulting from current year tax positions 1.7 3.8 0.0
Additions relating to tax positions taken in prior years 0.2 0.5 0.0
Reductions relating to tax positions taken in prior years 0.0 0.0 (3.2)
Reductions due to expiration of tax years (0.2) (2.5) (1.2)
Balance at end of period $ 37.1 $ 35.4 $ 33.6
v3.24.4
PENSION PLANS AND OTHER BENEFITS - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2025
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax [Abstract]        
Other comprehensive income (loss) related to actuarial gains (losses), net of tax   $ 0.4 $ (3.9) $ 2.7
Amounts recognized in balance sheet [Abstract]        
Period of amortization of pension benefit obligations (in years)   5 years    
Investments in marketable securities relating to deferred compensation arrangement   $ 3.1 2.6  
Pension Plan        
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax [Abstract]        
Actuarial net losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax   6.3 6.7  
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) before adjustment of prior service costs   6.9 7.3  
Accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss related to prior service cost net of tax   0.7 0.7  
Other comprehensive income (loss) related to actuarial gains (losses), net of tax   0.1 (3.7) 1.6
Other comprehensive income (loss) related to amortization of loss, net of tax   1.0 0.2 0.4
Other comprehensive (income) loss related to prior service cost, net of tax   (0.1) (0.1) (0.1)
Other comprehensive income (loss) related to foreign exchange   (0.7) (0.3) 1.3
Amounts recognized in balance sheet [Abstract]        
Underfunded plan status recorded in noncurrent assets   2.2    
Noncurrent asset (liability)   2.2 1.8  
Defined benefit pension plan   45.0 39.7 36.7
Expense attributable to all Savings Plans   12.1 10.7 9.7
Pension Plan | Forecast        
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax [Abstract]        
Actuarial net losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax $ 1.0      
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) before adjustment of prior service costs 1.1      
Accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss related to prior service cost net of tax 0.1      
Net periodic (benefit) cost expected in next fiscal year $ 0.9      
Other Postretirement Benefits Plan        
Amounts recognized in balance sheet [Abstract]        
Defined benefit pension plan   $ 9.4 $ 8.8 $ 8.9
Discount rate (as a percent)   4.60% 5.70%  
Ultimate trend rate (as a percent)   4.00% 4.00%  
Equity Funds | Pension Plan        
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]        
Target allocation (as a percent)   30.00%    
Bond funds | Pension Plan        
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]        
Target allocation (as a percent)   70.00%    
v3.24.4
PENSION PLANS AND OTHER BENEFITS - Schedule of Weighted-Average Asset Allocations and Fair Value of Pension Plan Assets (Details) - Pension Plan - USD ($)
$ in Millions
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Weighted-average asset allocation (as a percent) 100.00% 100.00%  
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]      
Total Pension Assets $ 47.2 $ 41.5 $ 42.7
Level One      
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]      
Total Pension Assets 1.0 0.5  
Level Two      
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]      
Total Pension Assets 46.2 41.0  
Level Three      
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]      
Total Pension Assets $ 0.0 $ 0.0  
Cash and cash equivalents      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Weighted-average asset allocation (as a percent) 2.00% 1.00%  
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]      
Total Pension Assets $ 1.0 $ 0.5  
Cash and cash equivalents | Level One      
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]      
Total Pension Assets 1.0 0.5  
Cash and cash equivalents | Level Two      
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]      
Total Pension Assets 0.0 0.0  
Cash and cash equivalents | Level Three      
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]      
Total Pension Assets $ 0.0 $ 0.0  
Blended funds      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Weighted-average asset allocation (as a percent) 43.00% 39.00%  
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]      
Total Pension Assets $ 20.2 $ 16.2  
Blended funds | Level One      
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]      
Total Pension Assets 0.0 0.0  
Blended funds | Level Two      
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]      
Total Pension Assets 20.2 16.2  
Blended funds | Level Three      
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]      
Total Pension Assets $ 0.0 $ 0.0  
Bond funds      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Weighted-average asset allocation (as a percent) 55.00% 60.00%  
Treasuries      
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]      
Total Pension Assets $ 26.0 $ 24.8  
Treasuries | Level One      
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]      
Total Pension Assets 0.0 0.0  
Treasuries | Level Two      
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]      
Total Pension Assets 26.0 24.8  
Treasuries | Level Three      
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]      
Total Pension Assets $ 0.0 $ 0.0  
v3.24.4
PENSION PLANS AND OTHER BENEFITS - Schedule of Assumptions Used in Determining Pension Information (Details) - Pension Plan
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Discount rate 4.90% 5.55% 5.45%
Expected return on plan assets 5.00% 5.40% 5.05%
v3.24.4
PENSION PLANS AND OTHER BENEFITS - Schedule of Future Expected Benefit Payments (Details)
$ in Millions
Sep. 30, 2024
USD ($)
Pension Plan  
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]  
2025 $ 3.1
2026 3.2
2027 3.2
2028 3.3
2029 3.4
2030-2034 18.1
Other Postretirement Benefits Plan  
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]  
2025 0.6
2026 0.5
2027 0.5
2028 0.6
2029 0.6
2030-2034 $ 3.2
v3.24.4
PENSION PLANS AND OTHER BENEFITS - Schedule of Pension Obligations and Plan Assets and Benefit Obligations (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Pension Plan      
Change in benefit obligation:      
Benefit obligation at beginning of period $ 39.7 $ 36.7  
Interest cost 2.2 2.1 $ 1.2
Actuarial loss (gain) 2.0 0.1  
Benefits paid (2.9) (2.7)  
Currency fluctuation adjustment 4.0 3.5  
Benefit obligation at end of period 45.0 39.7 36.7
Change in plan assets:      
Fair value at beginning of period 41.5 42.7  
Actual return 4.3 (2.5)  
Company contributions 0.0 0.0  
Currency fluctuation adjustment 4.3 4.0  
Benefits paid (2.9) (2.7)  
Fair value of plan assets at end of period 47.2 41.5 42.7
Overfunded status of the plan 2.2 1.8  
Other Postretirement Benefits Plan      
Change in benefit obligation:      
Benefit obligation at beginning of period 8.8 8.9  
Service cost 0.2 0.3  
Interest cost 0.5 0.5  
Actuarial loss (gain) 0.3 (0.7)  
Benefits paid (0.4) (0.3)  
Currency fluctuation adjustment 0.0 0.1  
Benefit obligation at end of period $ 9.4 $ 8.8 $ 8.9
v3.24.4
PENSION PLANS AND OTHER BENEFITS - Schedule of Components of Net Periodic Pension Cost (Benefit) (Details) - Pension Plan - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation $ 2.2 $ 2.1 $ 1.2
Prior service cost (0.1) (0.1) (0.1)
Expected return on plan assets (2.2) (2.3) (2.0)
Net amortization 1.4 0.3 0.5
Net periodic pension cost (benefit) $ 1.3 $ 0.0 $ (0.4)
v3.24.4
LONG TERM DEBT - Schedule of Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total debt, gross $ 922.8 $ 811.2
Less unamortized debt issuance costs (5.3) (5.9)
Total debt 917.5 805.3
Less current portion (7.5) (5.0)
Long-term debt $ 910.0 $ 800.3
6.75% Senior Notes due December 2027    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Stated interest rate (as a percent) 6.75% 6.75%
6.75% Senior Notes due December 2027 | Senior Notes    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Stated interest rate (as a percent) 6.75% 6.75%
Total debt, gross $ 500.0 $ 500.0
Term Loan due May 2028 | Line of Credit    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total debt, gross 193.8 198.8
Revolving Credit Facility due May 2028 | Line of Credit    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total debt, gross 190.1 81.5
AR Securitization Facility expires March 2027 | Line of Credit    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total debt, gross $ 38.9 $ 30.9
v3.24.4
LONG TERM DEBT - Narrative (Details)
1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
May 05, 2023
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2020
USD ($)
subsidiary
Apr. 30, 2022
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2024
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2023
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2022
USD ($)
Jul. 01, 2026
USD ($)
Dec. 12, 2024
USD ($)
Sep. 18, 2024
Sep. 13, 2024
Aug. 12, 2024
Mar. 27, 2024
USD ($)
Nov. 30, 2019
USD ($)
Nov. 26, 2019
USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Refinancing of long-term debt       $ 0 $ 1,000,000 $ 0                
Compliance certification, period due                 90 days          
Number of subsidiaries | subsidiary   1                        
Account Receivable Financing Receivable                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Deferred financing costs                       $ 400,000    
Account Receivable Financing Receivable | Unallocated Financing Receivables                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Financing receivable, term   3 years                        
Revolving accounts receivable financing facility   $ 100,000,000                        
Minimum | Account Receivable Financing Receivable                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Compliance certification, period due                     45 days      
Maximum | Account Receivable Financing Receivable                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Compliance certification, period due                     75 days      
2023 Credit Agreement                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Compliance certification, period due                   152 days        
2023 Credit Agreement | Minimum                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Compliance certification, period due                     45 days      
2023 Credit Agreement | Maximum                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Compliance certification, period due                     75 days      
2019 Credit Agreement                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Weighted average interest rate on all borrowings outstanding (as a percent)       7.70% 7.80%                  
Term Loan Due January 2025                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Repayments of secured debt     $ 60,600,000                      
Line of Credit | 2023 Credit Agreement                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Long-term debt, revolving credit facility $ 575,000,000                          
Capitalized deferred financing costs as result of amendment                       $ 1,700,000    
Legal fees       $ 900,000                    
Line of Credit | 2023 Credit Agreement | Fiscal Quarter Ended December 31, 2024                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Debt instrument covenant maximum consolidated total net leverage ratio                       650.00%    
Line of Credit | 2023 Credit Agreement | Fiscal Quarter Ended March 31, 2026 and Thereafter                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Debt instrument covenant maximum consolidated total net leverage ratio                       475.00%    
Line of Credit | 2023 Credit Agreement | Fiscal Quarter Ended September 30, 2025 | Subsequent Event                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Debt instrument covenant maximum consolidated total net leverage ratio               650.00%            
Line of Credit | 2023 Credit Agreement | Fiscal Quarter Ended December 31, 2026 and Thereafter | Subsequent Event                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Debt instrument covenant maximum consolidated total net leverage ratio               450.00%            
Line of Credit | 2023 Credit Agreement | Minimum                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Line of credit facility, commitment fee amount 300,000,000                          
Line of Credit | 2023 Credit Agreement | Maximum                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Line of credit facility, commitment fee amount 375,000,000                          
Line of Credit | 2023 Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Debt issuance costs, line of credit arrangements, gross         $ 4,300,000                  
Debt issuance costs, line of credit arrangements, net         3,900,000                  
Accumulated amortization of debt issuance costs, line of credit arrangements         $ 400,000                  
Line of Credit | Revolving Credit Facility Due January 2025 | Minimum                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Weighted average interest rate       7.30% 7.70%                  
Line of Credit | Revolving Credit Facility Due January 2025 | Maximum                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Weighted average interest rate       9.50% 9.80%                  
Line of Credit | Revolving Credit Facility Due January 2025 | Revolving Credit Facility                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Long-term debt, revolving credit facility       $ 190,100,000                   $ 375,000,000
Maximum unrestricted cash         $ 75,000,000                  
Amount of facility that may be drawn in Canadian dollars         40,000,000                  
Amount of facility that may be drawn in British pounds sterling         10,000,000                  
Remaining borrowing capacity       169,700,000                    
Line of Credit | Revolving Credit Facility Due January 2025 | Revolving Credit Facility | Forecast                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Long-term debt, revolving credit facility             $ 250,000,000              
Line of Credit | Revolving Credit Facility Due January 2025 | Revolving Credit Facility | Subsequent Event                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Long-term debt, revolving credit facility               $ 325,000,000            
Line of Credit | Revolving Credit Facility Due January 2025 | Letter of Credit                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Long-term debt, revolving credit facility         $ 50,000,000                  
Outstanding letters of credit       $ 15,200,000                    
Revolving Credit Facility | Term Loan due May 2028                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Long-term debt, revolving credit facility $ 200,000,000                          
Secured Debt | Term Loan Due January 2025                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Face amount                           $ 200,000,000
Senior Notes | 2023 Credit Agreement                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Interest spread over base rate 0.25%                          
Debt instrument, convertible, conversion ratio 4                          
Senior Notes | Senior Notes Due 2027                            
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                            
Face amount                         $ 500,000,000  
Capitalized deferred financing costs as result of amendment                         $ 8,200,000  
Stated interest rate (as a percent)                 6.75%       6.75%  
v3.24.4
LONG TERM DEBT - Schedule of Future Maturities of Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Future maturities of long-term debt [Abstract]    
2025 $ 7.5  
2026 10.0  
2027 48.9  
2028 856.4  
2029 0.0  
Thereafter 0.0  
Total $ 922.8 $ 811.2
v3.24.4
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Oct. 25, 2024
USD ($)
productionLot
Sep. 23, 2022
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2024
USD ($)
agreement
Sep. 30, 2023
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2022
USD ($)
Unions [Abstract]          
Percentage of company's global workforce represented by labor unions     50.00%    
Number of collective bargaining agreements | agreement     12    
Number of collective bargaining agreements expiring next year | agreement     6    
Number of collective bargaining agreements expiring, current | agreement     4    
Number of collective bargaining agreements expiring in two years | agreement     2    
Additional reserves     $ 6.7    
Estimated insurance recoveries     6.7    
Royalties [Abstract]          
Royalty expense     16.2 $ 18.7 $ 20.0
Sales contracts [Abstract]          
Guarantor obligations, performance bonds outstanding     242.4    
Purchase commitments [Abstract]          
Purchase commitments for next year     32.0    
Purchase commitments in year two     28.1    
Purchase commitments in year three     28.0    
Purchase commitments in year four     9.9    
Purchase commitments in year five     3.6    
Purchase commitments after year five     $ 2.7    
Subsequent Event          
Unions [Abstract]          
Number of production lots | productionLot 9        
Estimated cost $ 0.8        
S E C Investigation          
Unions [Abstract]          
Loss contingency, damages sought, value   $ 12.0      
Loss contingency accrual       $ 10.0  
v3.24.4
OPERATING SEGMENTS - Schedule of Segment Information (Details)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
USD ($)
segment
Sep. 30, 2023
USD ($)
segment
Sep. 30, 2022
USD ($)
segment
Segment Reporting [Abstract]      
Number of reportable segments | segment 2 2 2
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Sales $ 1,117.4 $ 1,204.7 $ 1,245.2
Operating earnings (loss)(c)(d) (116.8) 77.4 45.4
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 105.0 98.6 112.8
Total assets 1,640.1 1,816.9 1,652.4
Capital expenditures 114.2 154.3 95.0
Shipping and handling cost      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Shipping and handling cost 305.3 346.1 379.8
Reportable Segments | Salt      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Sales 907.8 1,010.8 1,011.4
Operating earnings (loss)(c)(d) 163.6 170.5 115.6
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 63.4 58.5 66.1
Total assets 1,084.5 1,050.4 1,020.6
Capital expenditures 77.2 71.9 63.6
Reportable Segments | Salt | Shipping and handling cost      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Shipping and handling cost 280.1 324.5 353.6
Reportable Segments | Plant Nutrition      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Sales 181.0 172.1 222.3
Operating earnings (loss)(c)(d) (86.4) 9.5 40.2
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 34.1 32.9 35.6
Total assets 388.1 473.4 484.0
Capital expenditures 9.9 29.5 25.7
Reportable Segments | Plant Nutrition | Shipping and handling cost      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Shipping and handling cost 24.6 21.4 26.2
Corporate Nonsegment      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Sales 28.6 21.8 11.5
Operating earnings (loss)(c)(d) (194.0) (102.6) (110.4)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 7.5 7.2 11.1
Total assets 167.5 293.1 147.8
Capital expenditures 27.1 52.9 5.7
Corporate Nonsegment | Shipping and handling cost      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Shipping and handling cost 0.6 0.2 0.0
Intersegment sales      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Sales (8.0) (9.7) (6.4)
Intersegment sales | Salt      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Sales 0.0 0.0 0.0
Intersegment sales | Plant Nutrition      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Sales $ 8.0 $ 9.7 $ 6.4
v3.24.4
OPERATING SEGMENTS - Schedule of Disaggregated Revenue by Product Type (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Oct. 25, 2024
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Sales   $ 1,117.4 $ 1,204.7 $ 1,245.2
Loss on impairment of long-lived assets   193.4    
Reduction to contingent consideration liability   22.1 0.0 0.0
Costs related to ongoing SEC investigation     0.3  
Accrued loss reserve       17.1
Severance costs   15.8 5.5 3.8
Subsequent Event        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Production recall costs $ 0.8      
Fortress        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Reduction to contingent consideration liability   22.1 0.8  
Corporate Nonsegment        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Sales   28.6 21.8 11.5
Salt | Reportable Segments        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Sales   907.8 1,010.8 1,011.4
Plant Nutrition | Reportable Segments        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Sales   181.0 172.1 222.3
Highway Deicing Salt        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Sales   546.4 641.7 641.3
Highway Deicing Salt | Corporate Nonsegment        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Sales   0.0 0.0 0.0
Highway Deicing Salt | Salt | Reportable Segments        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Sales   546.4 641.7 641.3
Highway Deicing Salt | Plant Nutrition | Reportable Segments        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Sales   0.0 0.0 0.0
Consumer & Industrial Salt        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Sales   361.4 369.1 370.1
Consumer & Industrial Salt | Corporate Nonsegment        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Sales   0.0 0.0 0.0
Consumer & Industrial Salt | Salt | Reportable Segments        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Sales   361.4 369.1 370.1
Consumer & Industrial Salt | Plant Nutrition | Reportable Segments        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Sales   0.0 0.0 0.0
SOP        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Sales   189.0 181.8 228.7
SOP | Corporate Nonsegment        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Sales   0.0 0.0 0.0
SOP | Salt | Reportable Segments        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Sales   0.0 0.0 0.0
SOP | Plant Nutrition | Reportable Segments        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Sales   189.0 181.8 228.7
Fire Retardant Products        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Sales   14.2 8.6  
Fire Retardant Products | Corporate Nonsegment        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Sales   14.2 8.6  
Fire Retardant Products | Salt | Reportable Segments        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Sales   0.0 0.0  
Fire Retardant Products | Plant Nutrition | Reportable Segments        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Sales   0.0 0.0  
Revenue from Services        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Sales   0.5 1.8  
Revenue from Services | Corporate Nonsegment        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Sales   0.5 1.8  
Revenue from Services | Salt | Reportable Segments        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Sales   0.0 0.0  
Revenue from Services | Plant Nutrition | Reportable Segments        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Sales   0.0 0.0  
Eliminations & Other        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Sales   5.9 1.7 5.1
Eliminations & Other | Corporate Nonsegment        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Sales   13.9 11.4 11.5
Eliminations & Other | Salt | Reportable Segments        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Sales   0.0 0.0 0.0
Eliminations & Other | Plant Nutrition | Reportable Segments        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Sales   $ (8.0) $ (9.7) $ (6.4)
v3.24.4
OPERATING SEGMENTS - Schedule of Revenue and Long-Lived Assets by Geographic Area (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]      
Total sales $ 1,117.4 $ 1,204.7 $ 1,245.2
Total long-lived assets 1,047.5 1,211.6 1,073.7
United States      
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]      
Total sales 825.0 860.4 896.0
Total long-lived assets 580.9 741.7 612.0
Canada      
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]      
Total sales 234.7 269.7 278.0
Total long-lived assets 392.6 398.0 394.8
United Kingdom      
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]      
Total sales 50.7 66.1 57.7
Total long-lived assets 67.5 64.2 58.1
Other      
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]      
Total sales 7.0 8.5 13.5
Total long-lived assets $ 6.5 $ 7.7 $ 8.8
v3.24.4
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND EQUITY INSTRUMENTS - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)
1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Oct. 18, 2022
Sep. 14, 2022
Mar. 31, 2024
Feb. 28, 2022
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
May 31, 2020
May 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2005
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                    
Dividends paid (in dollars per share)         $ 0.30          
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)         10,000,000          
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)         0          
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)         0          
Options outstanding (in shares)         187,023 642,995        
Options exercisable (in shares)         154,898 562,997        
Compensation expense related to stock-based compensation awards         $ 10,100,000 $ 21,100,000 $ 17,200,000      
Compensation expense paid in cash         2,000,000 500,000 1,500,000      
Unrecorded compensation cost related to non-vested awards         $ 7,100,000          
Unrecorded compensation cost, weighted average period of recognition         1 year 7 months 6 days          
Koch Minerals & Trading, LLC                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                    
Ownership by noncontrolling interest (as a percent) 17.00%                  
Private Placement                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                    
Number of shares issued   6,830,700                
Sale of stock, price (in dollars per share)   $ 36.87                
Aggregate gross proceeds   $ 240,700,000                
Advancement of development project $ 78,000,000                  
RSUs                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                    
Number of shares available from conversion (in shares)         1          
Series A preferred stock                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                    
Shares designated as series A junior participating preferred stock (in shares)         200,000          
Stock Options                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                    
Service period         4 years          
Award expiration period         7 years          
Number of shares available from conversion (in shares)         1          
Fair value of options vested         $ 500,000 800,000 1,600,000      
Intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the period         100,000 $ 100,000 $ 100,000      
Intrinsic value of options outstanding         0          
Intrinsic value of options exercisable         $ 0          
2005 Plan                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                    
Authorized shares (in shares)                   3,240,000
2015 Plan                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                    
Authorized shares (in shares)                 3,000,000  
2020 Incentive Award Plan                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                    
Authorized shares (in shares)               2,977,933    
Share of common stock (in shares)     3,000,000 750,000            
Deferred Compensation Agreement                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                    
Deferred stock units credited in period (in shares)         60,337 35,577 12,643      
Deferred Compensation Agreement | Director                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                    
Shares reissued from treasury stock (in shares)         67,563 75,919 41,225      
Deferred Compensation Agreement | Director | RSUs                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                    
Restricted stock units granted to directors (in shares)         22,740 14,945 11,933      
Minimum | RSUs                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                    
Service period         1 year          
Minimum | TSR PSUs                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                    
Performance period of PSUs         2 years          
Percentage of shares earned         0.00%          
Minimum | Growth PSUs                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                    
Percentage of shares earned         0.00%          
Maximum | RSUs                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                    
Service period         3 years          
Maximum | TSR PSUs                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                    
Performance period of PSUs         3 years          
Maximum | Target Number of Shares                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                    
Percentage of shares earned         300.00%          
Maximum | Growth PSUs                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                    
Percentage of shares earned         300.00%          
v3.24.4
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND EQUITY INSTRUMENTS - Schedule of Weighted Average Assumptions and Fair Value for Options Granted (Details) - Stock Options
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2022
$ / shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]  
Fair value of options granted (in dollars per share) $ 16.84
Expected term (years) 4 years 9 months 18 days
Expected volatility 37.90%
Dividend yield 3.90%
Risk-free interest rates 1.10%
v3.24.4
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND EQUITY INSTRUMENTS - Schedule of Stock Option, RSU and PSU Activity and Related Information (Details) - $ / shares
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Stock Options      
Number      
Outstanding at beginning of period (in shares) 642,995 774,580 828,706
Granted (in shares) 0 0 73,290
Exercised (in shares) 0 0 (3,861)
Cancelled/expired (in shares) (455,972) (131,585) (123,555)
Outstanding at end of period (in shares) 187,023 642,995 774,580
Weighted-average exercise price      
Outstanding at beginning of period (in dollars per share) $ 59.46 $ 60.68 $ 61.56
Granted (in dollars per share) 0 0 73.77
Exercised (in dollars per share) 0 0 67.76
Cancelled/expired (in dollars per share) 58.08 66.60 74.15
Outstanding at end of period (in dollars per share) $ 62.85 $ 59.46 $ 60.68
RSUs      
Number      
Outstanding at beginning of period (in shares) 393,240 208,735 223,499
Granted (in shares) 545,528 354,694 103,363
Released from restriction (in shares) (266,335) (132,827) (85,849)
Cancelled/expired (in shares) (221,342) (37,362) (32,278)
Outstanding at end of period (in shares) 451,091 393,240 208,735
Weighted-average fair value      
Outstanding at beginning of period (in dollars per share) $ 42.50 $ 63.02 $ 59.00
Granted (in dollars per share) 25.24 37.17 66.36
Released from restriction (in dollars per share) 40.01 60.34 56.88
Cancelled/expired (in dollars per share) 32.65 43.11 62.23
Outstanding at end of period (in dollars per share) $ 27.93 $ 42.50 $ 63.02
PSUs      
Number      
Outstanding at beginning of period (in shares) 393,579 331,359 279,907
Granted (in shares) 276,916 183,794 178,052
Released from restriction (in shares) 0 0 (28,666)
Cancelled/expired (in shares) (441,026) (121,574) (97,934)
Outstanding at end of period (in shares) 229,469 393,579 331,359
Weighted-average fair value      
Outstanding at beginning of period (in dollars per share) $ 71.37 $ 71.51 $ 64.90
Granted (in dollars per share) 24.69 68.33 73.86
Released from restriction (in dollars per share) 0 0 55.98
Cancelled/expired (in dollars per share) 58.27 67.15 61.44
Outstanding at end of period (in dollars per share) $ 40.26 $ 71.37 $ 71.51
v3.24.4
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND EQUITY INSTRUMENTS - Schedule of Options Outstanding and Exercisable (Details) - $ / shares
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]    
Options outstanding (in shares) 187,023 642,995
Weighted-average remaining contractual life (years) 2 years 7 months 6 days  
Weighted-average exercise price of options outstanding (in dollars per share) $ 62.85  
Options exercisable (in shares) 154,898  
Weighted-average remaining contractual life, options exercisable 2 years 3 months 18 days  
Weighted-average exercise price of exercisable options (in dollars per share) $ 61.41  
$54.44 - $56.96    
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]    
Exercise price range, lower range limit (in dollars per share) 54.44  
Exercise price range, upper range limit (in dollars per share) $ 56.96  
Options outstanding (in shares) 32,176  
Weighted-average remaining contractual life (years) 1 year 6 months  
Weighted-average exercise price of options outstanding (in dollars per share) $ 55.00  
Options exercisable (in shares) 31,930  
Weighted-average remaining contractual life, options exercisable 1 year 6 months  
Weighted-average exercise price of exercisable options (in dollars per share) $ 55.01  
$56.97 - $59.21    
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]    
Exercise price range, lower range limit (in dollars per share) 56.97  
Exercise price range, upper range limit (in dollars per share) $ 59.21  
Options outstanding (in shares) 35,286  
Weighted-average remaining contractual life (years) 2 years 3 months 18 days  
Weighted-average exercise price of options outstanding (in dollars per share) $ 58.91  
Options exercisable (in shares) 35,286  
Weighted-average remaining contractual life, options exercisable 2 years 3 months 18 days  
Weighted-average exercise price of exercisable options (in dollars per share) $ 58.91  
$59.22 - $61.32    
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]    
Exercise price range, lower range limit (in dollars per share) 59.22  
Exercise price range, upper range limit (in dollars per share) $ 61.32  
Options outstanding (in shares) 26,477  
Weighted-average remaining contractual life (years) 6 months  
Weighted-average exercise price of options outstanding (in dollars per share) $ 59.50  
Options exercisable (in shares) 26,477  
Weighted-average remaining contractual life, options exercisable 6 months  
Weighted-average exercise price of exercisable options (in dollars per share) $ 59.50  
$61.33 - $67.81    
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]    
Exercise price range, lower range limit (in dollars per share) 61.33  
Exercise price range, upper range limit (in dollars per share) $ 67.81  
Options outstanding (in shares) 52,944  
Weighted-average remaining contractual life (years) 3 years 3 months 18 days  
Weighted-average exercise price of options outstanding (in dollars per share) $ 63.14  
Options exercisable (in shares) 40,216  
Weighted-average remaining contractual life, options exercisable 3 years 3 months 18 days  
Weighted-average exercise price of exercisable options (in dollars per share) $ 63.14  
$67.82 - $74.49    
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]    
Exercise price range, lower range limit (in dollars per share) 67.82  
Exercise price range, upper range limit (in dollars per share) $ 74.49  
Options outstanding (in shares) 40,140  
Weighted-average remaining contractual life (years) 4 years  
Weighted-average exercise price of options outstanding (in dollars per share) $ 74.44  
Options exercisable (in shares) 20,989  
Weighted-average remaining contractual life, options exercisable 4 years  
Weighted-average exercise price of exercisable options (in dollars per share) $ 74.44  
v3.24.4
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND EQUITY INSTRUMENTS - Schedule of Components and Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]      
Beginning balance $ 521.0 $ 265.2 $ 297.9
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications 2.7 7.1  
Amounts reclassified from AOCL 5.6 3.5  
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) 8.3 10.6  
Ending balance 316.6 521.0 265.2
Foreign exchange losses (0.2) (1.6) 6.7
Total      
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]      
Beginning balance (104.7) (115.3) (110.5)
Ending balance (96.4) (104.7) (115.3)
(Losses) and Gains on Cash Flow Hedges      
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]      
Beginning balance (1.4) (1.6)  
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications (4.6) (3.3)  
Amounts reclassified from AOCL 4.7 3.5  
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) 0.1 0.2  
Ending balance (1.3) (1.4) (1.6)
Defined Benefit Pension | Defined Benefit Pension      
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]      
Beginning balance (6.6) (2.7)  
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications (0.6) (4.0)  
Amounts reclassified from AOCL 1.0 0.1  
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) 0.4 (3.9)  
Ending balance (6.2) (6.6) (2.7)
Defined Benefit Pension | Other Post-Employment Benefits      
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]      
Beginning balance 1.7 1.3  
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications (0.2) 0.5  
Amounts reclassified from AOCL (0.1) (0.1)  
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) (0.3) 0.4  
Ending balance 1.4 1.7 1.3
Foreign Currency      
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]      
Beginning balance (98.4) (112.3)  
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications 8.1 13.9  
Amounts reclassified from AOCL 0.0 0.0  
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) 8.1 13.9  
Ending balance $ (90.3) $ (98.4) $ (112.3)
v3.24.4
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND EQUITY INSTRUMENTS - Schedule of Changes in the Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Gain (Loss) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]      
Income tax expense (benefit) $ 17.9 $ 17.1 $ 33.5
 Reclassifications, net of income taxes (206.1) 10.5 (21.1)
Product cost      
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]      
Product cost (617.1) (626.6) $ (665.6)
Amount Reclassified from AOCL      
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]      
 Reclassifications, net of income taxes 5.6 3.5  
Amount Reclassified from AOCL | (Losses) and Gains on Cash Flow Hedges      
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]      
Income tax expense (benefit) 0.0 (1.2)  
 Reclassifications, net of income taxes 4.7 3.5  
Amount Reclassified from AOCL | (Losses) and Gains on Cash Flow Hedges | Commodity contracts | Product cost      
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]      
Product cost 4.7 4.7  
Amount Reclassified from AOCL | (Losses) and Gains on Cash Flow Hedges | Foreign currency contracts      
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]      
Interest expense 0.0 0.0  
Amount Reclassified from AOCL | Defined Benefit Pension      
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]      
Income tax expense (benefit) (0.3) 0.0  
 Reclassifications, net of income taxes 1.0 0.1  
Amount Reclassified from AOCL | Defined Benefit Pension | Product cost      
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]      
Product cost 1.3 0.1  
Amount Reclassified from AOCL | Other Post-Employment Benefits      
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]      
Income tax expense (benefit) 0.0 0.0  
 Reclassifications, net of income taxes (0.1) (0.1)  
Amount Reclassified from AOCL | Other Post-Employment Benefits | Product cost      
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]      
Product cost (0.1) (0.1)  
Amount Reclassified from AOCL | Reclassifications, CTA due to sale of foreign entity      
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]      
 Reclassifications, net of income taxes $ 0.0 $ 0.0  
v3.24.4
DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - Narrative (Details)
MMBTU in Millions, $ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
USD ($)
MMBTU
Sep. 30, 2023
USD ($)
MMBTU
Sep. 30, 2022
USD ($)
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]      
Other expense (income), net $ (2.2) $ (4.3) $ (0.5)
Commodity contracts      
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]      
Other expense (income), net 0.8 $ 2.9  
Net gain (loss) to be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to earnings during the next 12 months $ (1.2)    
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments | Commodity contracts      
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]      
Percent of forecasted usage to be hedged 90.00%    
Maximum length of time hedge in cash flow hedge 36 months    
Notional amount (in MMBtus) | MMBTU 2.3 2.3  
v3.24.4
DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - Schedule of Fair Value of Derivatives (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Asset Derivatives $ 0.6 $ 1.0
Liability Derivatives 1.9 2.3
Commodity contracts    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Netting of contracts in a receivable position against contracts in payable position 0.6 1.0
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Asset Derivatives   0.9
Liability Derivatives   2.3
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments | Commodity contracts | Other current assets    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Asset Derivatives 0.5 0.9
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments | Commodity contracts | Accrued expenses and other current liabilities    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Liability Derivatives 1.7 2.3
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments | Commodity contracts | Other assets    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Asset Derivatives 0.1  
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments | Commodity contracts | Other noncurrent liabilities    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Liability Derivatives $ 0.2  
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Asset Derivatives   0.1
Liability Derivatives   0.0
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments | Commodity contracts | Other current assets    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Asset Derivatives   0.1
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments | Commodity contracts | Accrued expenses and other current liabilities    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Liability Derivatives   $ 0.0
v3.24.4
DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - Schedule of Activity Related to Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income Before Taxes (Details) - Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]    
Amount Recognized in OCI on Derivative (Effective Portion) $ (4.6) $ (4.9)
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated OCI Into Income (Effective Portion) 4.7 4.7
Commodity contracts | Product cost    
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]    
Amount Recognized in OCI on Derivative (Effective Portion) (4.6) (4.9)
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated OCI Into Income (Effective Portion) $ 4.7 $ 4.7
v3.24.4
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS - Schedule of Estimated Fair Values for Each Type of Instrument (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Asset Class:    
Mutual fund investments in a non-qualified savings plan $ 3.1 $ 2.6
Total Assets 3.7 2.7
Liability Class:    
Liabilities related to non-qualified savings plan (3.1) (2.6)
Total Liabilities $ (5.0) $ (4.0)
Common Stock of Large-Cap U.S. Companies | Mutual Fund Investments | Investment Benchmark    
Liability Class:    
Percentage of concentration risk 35.00% 25.00%
Common Stock of Small to Mid-Cap U.S. Companies | Mutual Fund Investments | Investment Benchmark    
Liability Class:    
Percentage of concentration risk 5.00% 5.00%
Common Stock of International Companies | Mutual Fund Investments | Investment Benchmark    
Liability Class:    
Percentage of concentration risk 5.00% 10.00%
Bond Funds | Mutual Fund Investments | Investment Benchmark    
Liability Class:    
Percentage of concentration risk 10.00% 10.00%
Short-Term Investments | Mutual Fund Investments | Investment Benchmark    
Liability Class:    
Percentage of concentration risk 5.00% 5.00%
Blended funds | Mutual Fund Investments | Investment Benchmark    
Liability Class:    
Percentage of concentration risk 40.00% 45.00%
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments - natural gas instruments, net    
Asset Class:    
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments - natural gas instruments, net $ (0.6)  
Liability Class:    
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments - natural gas instruments, net (1.9) $ (1.4)
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments - natural gas instruments, net    
Asset Class:    
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments - natural gas instruments, net   0.1
Level One    
Asset Class:    
Mutual fund investments in a non-qualified savings plan 3.1 2.6
Total Assets 3.1 2.6
Liability Class:    
Liabilities related to non-qualified savings plan (3.1) (2.6)
Total Liabilities (3.1) (2.6)
Level One | Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments - natural gas instruments, net    
Asset Class:    
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments - natural gas instruments, net 0.0  
Liability Class:    
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments - natural gas instruments, net 0.0 0.0
Level One | Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments - natural gas instruments, net    
Asset Class:    
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments - natural gas instruments, net   0.0
Level Two    
Asset Class:    
Mutual fund investments in a non-qualified savings plan 0.0 0.0
Total Assets 0.6 0.1
Liability Class:    
Liabilities related to non-qualified savings plan 0.0 0.0
Total Liabilities (1.9) (1.4)
Level Two | Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments - natural gas instruments, net    
Asset Class:    
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments - natural gas instruments, net (0.6)  
Liability Class:    
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments - natural gas instruments, net (1.9) (1.4)
Level Two | Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments - natural gas instruments, net    
Asset Class:    
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments - natural gas instruments, net   0.1
Level Three    
Asset Class:    
Mutual fund investments in a non-qualified savings plan 0.0 0.0
Total Assets 0.0 0.0
Liability Class:    
Liabilities related to non-qualified savings plan 0.0 0.0
Total Liabilities 0.0 0.0
Level Three | Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments - natural gas instruments, net    
Asset Class:    
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments - natural gas instruments, net 0.0  
Liability Class:    
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments - natural gas instruments, net $ 0.0 0.0
Level Three | Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments - natural gas instruments, net    
Asset Class:    
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments - natural gas instruments, net   $ 0.0
v3.24.4
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Sep. 18, 2024
Nov. 30, 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Mutual fund investments in a non-qualified savings plan $ 3,100,000 $ 2,600,000      
Decrease in contingent consideration liability 22,100,000 0 $ 0    
Fair Value, Recurring          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Mutual fund investments in a non-qualified savings plan 3,100,000 2,600,000      
Fortress          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Decrease in contingent consideration liability $ 22,100,000 $ 800,000      
6.75% Senior Notes due December 2027          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Stated interest rate (as a percent) 6.75% 6.75%      
Senior Notes | 6.75% Senior Notes due December 2027          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Stated interest rate (as a percent) 6.75% 6.75%      
Senior notes $ 497,000,000.0 $ 472,500,000      
Senior Notes | Senior Notes Due 2027          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Stated interest rate (as a percent)       6.75% 6.75%
Face amount         $ 500,000,000
Senior Notes Due 2027          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt instrument 500,000,000.0 500,000,000.0      
Credit Agreement          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Fair value of long-term debt 379,100,000 277,100,000      
Face amount $ 383,900,000 $ 280,300,000      
v3.24.4
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS - Schedule of Fair Value of Total Contingent Consideration Arrangement (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
May 05, 2023
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]        
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities $ 0.0 $ 7.3    
Other noncurrent liabilities 7.9 31.8    
Total contingent consideration 7.9 39.1    
Business Acquisition [Line Items]        
Decrease in contingent consideration liability 22.1 0.0 $ 0.0  
Payment for contingent consideration 9.1 0.0 $ 0.0  
Fortress        
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]        
Total contingent consideration       $ 28.0
Business Acquisition [Line Items]        
Decrease in contingent consideration liability 22.1 $ 0.8    
Payment for contingent consideration $ 9.1      
v3.24.4
EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Sep. 30, 2022
Numerator:      
Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations $ (206.1) $ 10.5 $ (33.3)
Less: Net earnings allocated to participating securities (0.2) (0.3) (0.3)
Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations available to common stockholders (206.3) 10.2 (33.6)
Net earnings from discontinued operations available to common stockholders 0.0 0.0 12.2
Net (loss) earnings available to common stockholders $ (206.3) $ 10.2 $ (21.4)
Denominator (in thousands):      
Weighted average common shares outstanding, shares for basic earnings per share (in shares) 41,306,000 40,786,000 34,120,000
Weighted average equity awards outstanding (in shares) 0 0 0
Shares for diluted earnings per share (in shares) 41,306,000 40,786,000 34,120,000
Basic net (loss) earnings from continuing operations per common share (in dollars per share) $ (4.99) $ 0.25 $ (0.98)
Basic net earnings from discontinued operations per common share (in dollars per share) 0 0 0.36
Basic net (loss) earnings per common share (in dollars per share) (4.99) 0.25 (0.63)
Diluted net (loss) earnings from continuing operations per common share (in dollars per share) (4.99) 0.25 (0.98)
Diluted net earnings from discontinued operations per common share (in dollars per share) 0 0 0.36
Diluted net (loss) earnings per common share (in dollars per share) $ (4.99) $ 0.25 $ (0.63)
Net earnings allocated to participating securities (in shares) 667,000 476,000 407,000
Stock Options      
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]      
Anti-dilutive weighted options outstanding (in shares) 1,286,000 1,264,000 1,106,000
v3.24.4
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Details)
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
$ / shares
Dec. 31, 2023
$ / shares
Sep. 30, 2024
USD ($)
$ / shares
Sep. 30, 2023
USD ($)
$ / shares
Sep. 30, 2022
USD ($)
$ / shares
Nov. 13, 2022
board_member
Oct. 18, 2022
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]              
Number of board members | board_member           2  
Sales     $ 1,117,400,000 $ 1,204,700,000 $ 1,245,200,000    
Receivables     126,100,000 129,300,000      
Accounts payable     $ 82,100,000 $ 116,800,000      
Dividends declared (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 0.15 $ 0.15 $ 0.30 $ 0.60 $ 0.60    
Payments of dividends     $ 12,600,000 $ 24,900,000 $ 20,800,000    
Related Party              
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]              
Sales     3,400,000 4,300,000      
Receivables     300,000 400,000      
Accounts payable     0 $ 0      
Payments of dividends     $ 2,100,000        
Koch Minerals & Trading, LLC              
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]              
Ownership by noncontrolling interest (as a percent)             17.00%