UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
6-K
REPORT OF
FOREIGN ISSUER
PURSUANT
TO RULE 13A-16 OR 15D-16
OF THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Includes
the news release that is being distributed to the markets by Sociedad Química y
Minera de Chile S.A. on January 07, 2009.
SOCIEDAD QUIMICA Y MINERA DE
CHILE S.A.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
CHEMICAL AND MINING COMPANY
OF CHILE INC.
(Translation
of registrant's name into English)
El Trovador 4285, Santiago,
Chile (562) 425-2000
(Address
and phone number of principal executive offices)
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 o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in
this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant
to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes o
No x
If "Yes"
is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82___________
 |
For Immediate
Release
SOQUIMICH
COMERCIAL AGREES MERGER WITH ANAGRA
S.A.
|
Santiago, Chile, January 07, 2009.-
Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM) (NYSE: SQM; Santiago
Stock Exchange: SQM-B, SQM-A) announced today that its Chilean subsidiary
Soquimich Comercial S.A. (SQMC) (Santiago Stock Exchange: SOQUICOM) and Anagra
S.A., a Chilean fertilizer distribution company, signed a memorandum of
understanding (“MOU”) oriented to implement the merger of the two
companies. SQMC imports, blends and distributes specialty and commodity
fertilizers in the Chilean market. The merger would result in the creation
of a new fertilizer distribution company in Chile that would benefit from cost
synergies and efficiency gains, enabling the company to better serve customers
in this market.
The
merger must be approved by the Chilean Antitrust Commission in order for it to
go into effect. SQM will continue to be the majority shareholder of the new
company.
SQMC
reported profits of approximately US$16.5 million as of September 31, 2008,
representing approximately 4% of SQM’s consolidated profits.
SQM is an
integrated producer and distributor of specialty plant nutrients, iodine and
lithium. Its products are based on the development of high quality natural
resources that allow the Company to be leader in costs, supported by a
specialized international network with sales in over 100 countries. SQM’s
development strategy aims to maintain and strengthen the Company’s world
leadership in its three core businesses: Specialty Plant Nutrition, Iodine and
Lithium.
The
leadership strategy is based on the Company’s competitive advantages and on the
sustainable growth of the different markets in which it participates. SQM’s main
competitive advantages in its different businesses are:
|
·
|
Low
production costs based on vast and high quality natural
resources.
|
|
·
|
Know-how
and its own technological developments in its various production
processes.
|
|
·
|
Logistics
infrastructure and high production levels that allow SQM to have low
distribution costs.
|
|
·
|
High
market share in all its core
products
|
|
·
|
International
sales network with offices in more than 20 countries and sales in over 100
countries.
|
|
·
|
Synergies
from the production of multiple products that are obtained from the same
two natural resources.
|
|
·
|
Continuous
new product development according to the specific needs of its different
customers.
|
|
·
|
Conservative
and solid financial position
|
|
For
further information, contact:
|
Patricio
Vargas, 56-2-4252485 / patricio.vargas@sqm.com
|
| Carolina Rojas, 56-2-4252250 / carolina.rojas@sqm.com |
Statements
in this press release concerning the Company’s business outlook, future economic
performances, anticipated profitability, revenues, expenses, or other financial
items, anticipated cost synergies and product or service line growth, together
with other statements that are not historical facts, are “forward-looking
statements” as that term is defined under Federal Securities Laws.
Any
forward-looking statements are estimates, reflecting the best judgment of SQM
based on currently available information and involve a number of risks,
uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those stated in such statements. Risks, uncertainties, and
factors that could affect the accuracy of such forward-looking statements are
identified in the public filing made with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, and forward-looking statements should be considered in light of
those factors.
|
SQM
Los
Militares 4290 Piso 6,
Las
Condes, Santiago, Chile
Tel:
(56 2) 425 2485
Fax:
(56 2) 425 2493
www.sqm.com
|
 |
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.
SOCIEDAD
QUIMICA Y MINERA DE CHILE S.A.
Conf: /s/ Ricardo Ramos
R.
Ricardo
Ramos R.
Chief
Financial Officer
Date:
January 07, 2009