UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN
PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of June, 2018.
Commission File Number 33-65728
CHEMICAL AND MINING COMPANY OF CHILE INC.
(Translation of registrant’s name into English)
El Trovador 4285, Santiago, Chile (562) 2425-2000
(Address of principal executive office)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F: x Form 40-F ¨
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ____
Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ____
Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the registrant’s “home country”), or under the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrant’s securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrant’s security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.
Santiago, Chile. June 6, 2018.- Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM) (NYSE: SQM; Santiago Stock Exchange: SQM-B, SQM-A) informs that in relation to the diverse information circulating in the media, SQM considers it necessary to clarify the following:
The agreements reached between SQM and CORFO are significantly more demanding than the agreements that CORFO previously reached with the other lithium producer in Chile: Albemarle. SQM did not have, and has not had, privileges of any kind in its negotiations with CORFO.
The payments that SQM makes to CORFO, as a consequence of the agreements, are based on the prices and sales volumes of the different products. The costs and expenses of SQM do not affect payments to CORFO.
If we consider the prices of the first quarter of 2018, the payments that SQM must make, as a consequence of the agreement with CORFO, for the production and sale of the various lithium products during the second quarter of this year, more than quadruple the previous payments and will represent more than 50% of the gross profit that SQM expects to obtain for these products. The foregoing without considering the taxes that both SQM and its employees and contractors must pay to the State of Chile.
All lithium chemical products produced in Chile are, in percentage terms, one of the natural resources (taking into consideration all natural resources) that provides the most taxes and royalties to the State worldwide.
As a result of the new agreements, SQM has announced investments in Chile for more than US$500 million that will increase sales volumes of chemical products derived from lithium, adding value to the extraction of brines from the Salar de Atacama. Consequently, the foregoing will result in significant increases in payments to the State of Chile, for leases and taxes. At the same time, this investment will involve an increase in the number of highly qualified personnel, both for the construction and subsequent operation of the new processing plants.
SQM has been developing this industry since 1994, with significant investments in infrastructure, production plants and technology. The efforts in research and development, supported by a qualified team of employees, have allowed us to occupy a leading position worldwide, producing chemical products with high added value, and to look with optimism towards the development in the coming years.
About SQM
SQM´s business strategy is to be a global company, with people committed to excellence, dedicated to the extraction of minerals and selectively integrated in the production and sale of products for the industries essential for human development (e.g. food, health, technology). This strategy was built on the following five principles:
| • | ensure availability of key resources required to support current goals and medium and long-term growth of the business; |
| • | consolidate a culture of lean operations (M1 excellence) through the entire organization, including operations, sales and support areas; |
| • | significantly increase nitrate sales in all its applications and ensure consistency with iodine commercial strategy; |
| • | maximize the margins of each business line through appropriate pricing strategy; |
| • | successfully develop and implement all lithium expansion projects of the Company, acquire more lithium and potassium assets to generate a competitive portfolio. |
These principles are based on the following key concepts:
| • | strengthen the organizational structure to supports the development of the Company's strategic plan, focusing on the development of critical capabilities and the application of the corporate values of Excellence, Integrity and Safety; |
| • | develop a robust risk control and mitigation process to actively manage business risk; |
| • | improve our stakeholder management to establish links with the community and communicate to Chile and worldwide our contribution to industries essential for human development. |
For further information, contact:
Gerardo Illanes 56-2-24252022 / gerardo.illanes@sqm.com
Kelly O’Brien 56-2-24252074 / kelly.obrien@sqm.com
Irina Axenova 56-2-24252280 / irina.axenova@sqm.com
For media inquiries, contact:
Carolina García Huidobro / carolina.g.huidobro@sqm.com
Alvaro Cifuentes / alvaro.cifuentes@sqm.com
Tamara Rebolledo / tamara.rebolledo@sqm.com (Northern Region)
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: “anticipate,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “strategy,” “should,” “will” and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make concerning the Company’s business outlook, future economic performance, anticipated profitability, revenues, expenses, or other financial items, anticipated cost synergies and product or service line growth.
Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are estimates that reflect the best judgment of SQM management based on currently available information. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that are outside of our control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated in such statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Readers are referred to the documents filed by SQM with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the most recent annual report on Form 20-F, which identifies important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on information available to SQM on the date hereof and SQM assumes no obligation to update such statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
CHEMICAL AND MINING COMPANY OF CHILE INC.
(Registrant)
| Date: June 6, 2018 | /s/ Ricardo Ramos |
By: Ricardo Ramos
CFO & Vice-President of Development
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