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
free translation of a material event sent to Chilean SVS regarding 2009
dividend.
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
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Form
40-F o
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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
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If "Yes"
is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82_______
Santiago,
March 16, 2010
Mr.
Fernando Coloma C.
Superintendent
Securities
and Insurance Superintendency
Avda.
Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins 1449
Santiago
MATERIAL
EVENT
We hereby
inform you that the Board of Directors of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile
S.A. (SQM) in an ordinary session held March 16, 2010 unanimously agreed to
partially modify the current “2009 Dividend Policy” that was informed at the
Annual Shareholders Meeting held April 29, 2009. The modification
proposed is to lower the percentage of distributable income from 65% to 50% that
SQM will pay as a definitive dividend based on the net profits obtained by SQM
during the 2009 business period.
Therefore,
and subject to the approval of SQM’s shareholders at the next Annual
Shareholders Meeting to be held on April 29, 2010, SQM will pay a definitive
dividend in the amount of US$0.62131 per share. From this definitive dividend,
the interim dividend amount of US$0.37994 per share will be deducted, and
therefore, the outstanding amount of US$0.24137 per share will be paid to those
shareholders registered in the Company’s Book of Shareholders during the fifth
working day prior to the day of such payment. The pertinent amount will be paid
in its equivalent in Chilean pesos based on the “Observed Dollar” rate published
by the Official Gazette on April 29, 2010. According to the above, the payments
will be made in favor of the corresponding shareholders, personally or through a
duly authorized representative, beginning on Wednesday, May 12, 2010, at
09:00am.
We hereby
inform the above as a material event in compliance with articles 9 and 10 of Law
N°18.045 and additionally, in compliance with “SQM’s Dividend Policy for the
Year 2009” and with the Forms 660, 687 and 1062 and in the Rule of General
Character Nº30 in compliance with the indications that the Superintendency set
forth.
We remain
at your disposal to clarify any additional aspects that you may deem relevant in
relation to the above.
Sincerely,
Sociedad
Química y Minera de Chile S.A.
Patricio
Contesse G.
Chief
Executive Officer
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SQM
Los Militares
4290, Piso 6
Las Condes,
Santiago, Chile
Tel: (56
2) 425 2485
Fax: (56 2)
425 2493
www.sqm.com
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CC:
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Santiago
Stock Exchange
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Brokers
Stock Exchange
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Electronic
Stock Exchange
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New
York Stock Exchange
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Securities
and Exchange Commission
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The
Bank of New York
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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:
March 16, 2010