Frequently asked questions on K+S share

Essentially, you can buy K+S shares on Germany's stock exchanges through any bank or through your custodian bank. K+S American Depositary Receipts can be purchased or sold via your U.S. broker, the relevant OTC code is KPLUY. For further information, please follow this link.

The shares of K+S Aktiengesellschaft are traded on all seven German stock exchanges (i.e. in Frankfurt am Main, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich and Stuttgart), and in the XETRA electronic trading system. They are not listed on foreign stock exchanges. K+S American Depositary Receipts are listed on the OTCQX, a listing service that provides ADR issuers with an efficient platform to enhance liquidity in their ADRs. The OTC market is not an organized marketplace or exchange, but rather it is a network of securities dealers that make markets in many different securities.

The Wertpapierkennnummer (WKN) is KSAG88; the International Securities Identification Number (ISIN) is DE000KSAG888.

According to the stock exchange ranking of February 2011, we are currently in 21st place on the DAX in terms of market capitalisation and, in terms of trading volume, in 18th place.

Furthermore, the K+S share is quoted on the following stock market indices:

• DAX 
• DJ STOXX 600
• DJ  Euro STOXX 
• HDAX
• CDAX Gesamtindex
• Prime Sector Chemicals
• Industry Group Chemicals/Commodity
• MSCI World Standard
• MSCI Europe Standard
• MSCI Germany Standard 
• ECPI Ethical Index Global

K+S shares are no par value bearer shares.

The nominal capital of K+S AG amounts to € 191.4 million and is currently divided into 191,400,000 no par value bearer shares. Each share carries one vote.

The Board of Executive Directors is authorised to acquire own shares representing no more than 10 % of the total number of no-par value shares comprising the share capital of K+S Aktiengesellschaft until 10 Mai 2015. At no time may the Company hold more than 10 % of the total number of no-par value shares comprising its share capital. Purchases may be made on a stock exchange or by means of a public purchase offer directed to all shareholders. The Board of Executive Directors has not exercised this authorisation thus far.

Dividend payment for financial year 2010

As a result of the strong increase in the adjusted earnings of the K+S Group and in line with our long-term dividend policy, the Board of Executive Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting that a dividend of € 1.00 per share (previous year: € 0.20 per share) be paid. This resulted in a total dividend payment of € 191.4 million which was paid from the accumulated profit of € 225.7 million available at the end of 2010 and in a dividend payout rate of 43% which is within the payout corridor of 40 % to 50 % of the adjusted K+S Group earnings that we are in principle seeking to achieve.

Future dividend policy

We pursue an essentially earnings-based dividend policy. According to this, a dividend payout rate of 40 to 50 % of the adjusted Group earnings forms the basis for future dividend recommendations  to be determined by the Board of Executive Directors and the Supervisory Board. The significant increase of the adjusted Group earnings after taxes expected for 2011 should have a corresponding impact on the future dividend payment.

For 2012, due to the anticipated improvement in the earnings level, an appropriate increase in the dividend is possible.