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 July, 2016.

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.

 

SQM Los Militares 4290 Piso 6, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile Tel: (56 2) 2425 2485 Fax: (56 2) 2425 2493 www.sqm.com

  

  

For Immediate Release   Sustainability of the Salar de Atacama will be safeguard by a joint effort between SQM and Rockwood Lithium.

 

 

Santiago, Chile. July 21, 2016.- Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB) announced today that it’s wholly owned subsidiary, Rockwood Lithium Ltda., and Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM) (NYSE: SQM; Santiago Stock Exchange: SQM-B, SQM-A) have reached an agreement to work together to safeguard the ecosystem in the Salar de Atacama.

 

Specifically, this joint effort will involve the development of a coordinated and informed environmental administration with the goal to protect the sensitive systems in the Salar de Atacama. These efforts will be executed through the implementation of common technical tools to further enrich the knowledge of this ecosystem. As part of this agreement, SQM has agreed that it will not pursue its complaints against Rockwood Lithium Ltda.’s environmental approval RCA 21/2016, which approved the increase in brine extraction rates for expansion of Battery Grade Lithium Carbonate production.

 

“At Rockwood Lithium we have always stated that the future of local business should be based on a collaborative model among the Government, private entities and local communities. This agreement focuses on a sustainable operation of the Salar de Atacama that considers the highest standards while looking towards the future,” said Stephen Elgueta, Country Manager of Rockwood Lithium Ltda.

 

Patricio de Solminihac, CEO of SQM also commented: “We have always strived to achieve the highest standards in our operations in order to protect the surrounding areas from an environment standpoint. This agreement with Rockwood Lithium Ltda. will enable us to be more effective in our ongoing efforts to achieve these high standards at the Salar de Atacama operations and, at the same time, to be confident that these operations are being developed with the necessary care for the environment.”

 

 

 

 

SQM Los Militares 4290 Piso 6, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile Tel: (56 2) 2425 2485 Fax: (56 2) 2425 2493 www.sqm.com

 

 

About SQM

 

SQM is an integrated producer and distributor of specialty plant nutrients, iodine, lithium, potassium-related fertilizers and industrial chemicals. Its products are based on the development of high quality natural resources that allow the Company to be a leader in costs, supported by a specialized international network with sales in over 110 countries. SQM’s development strategy aims to maintain and strengthen the Company’s position in each of its businesses.

 

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 include:

·

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 20 countries and sales in over 110 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:

 

Gerardo Illanes 56-2-24252022 / gerardo.illanes@sqm.com

Kelly O’Brien 56-2-24252074 / kelly.obrien@sqm.com

Carolyn McKenzie 56-2-24252280 / carolyn.mckenzie@sqm.com

 

For media inquiries, contact:

 

Carolina García Huidobro / carolina.g.huidobro@sqm.com

Alvaro Cifuentes / alvaro.ciufuentes@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: July 21, 2016	/s/ Ricardo Ramos
	By: Ricardo Ramos
	CFO & Vice President of Corporate Services

 

 

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