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 free translation of a material event sent by Sociedad Química y Minera de
Chile S.A. to the Chilean Superintendency of Securities and Insurance
(Superintendencia de Valores y Seguros de Chile) on November 17,
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________
Santiago,
November 17, 2009
Mr.
Guillermo
Larraín R.
Superintendent
Securities
and Insurance Superintendency
Avda.
Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins 1449
Santiago
MATERIAL
EVENT
Dear Mr.
Superintendent:
We hereby inform you that on November
17, 2009, the Board of Directors of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A.
(SQM) unanimously agreed to pay and distribute an interim dividend, as outlined
in the “2009 Dividend Policy” approved at the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting held
on April 29, 2009. The interim dividend, equal to US$0.37994 per share
(approximately US$100 million or 40% of net income for the first nine months of
2009) will be paid and distributed December 16, 2009. The interim dividend,
which will be charged to 2009 net income, will be paid in favor of those
shareholders registered in the Company’s Book of Shareholders 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
that published by the Official Gazette on December 10, 2009
We
hereby inform you of the above as a material event in compliance with Articles 9
and 10 of Law No. 18.045, SQM’s Dividend Policy for the 2009 Business Year, and
Circular Letters Nos. 660 and 687 and General Standard No. 30 issued by the
Superintendency of Securities and Insurance on October 22, 1986, February 13,
1987, and November 10, 1989, respectively.
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.
Conf:
/s/
Patricio Contesse G.
Patricio
Contesse G.
Chief
Executive Officer
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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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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
Ricardo
Ramos
Chief
Financial Officer & Business Development SVP
Date:
November 18, 2009