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
a press release announcing the fact that SQM’s series B ADR began trading under
a new ratio of 1 ordinary share to 1 ADR.
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.
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.
If
"Yes"
is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82_________
For
Immediate Release
SQM
ADR BEGINS TRADING UNDER NEW RATIO
Santiago,
Chile, March 31, 2008.- Sociedad
Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM) (NYSE: SQM; Santiago Stock Exchange: SQM-B,
SQM-A) announced today that its series B ADR has begun trading under the
new 1:1
ratio of ordinary shares to ADRs. As announced earlier this month, by modifying
the previous ratio of 10 ordinary shares to 1 ADR, the Company aims to improve
liquidity and make its shares accessible to the broadest investment community.
The Company’s underlying ordinary shares traded on the Santiago Stock Exchange
are not affected by the change in ADR ratio.
The
ratio
change had the same effect as a ten-for-one share split and was reflected
in
SQM’s share price, which changed from its closing price of US$232.49 on Friday,
March 28th
to an
opening price of US$23.50 today.
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.
For
further information, contact: Patricio Vargas, 56-2-4252274 /
patricio.vargas@sqm.com
Carolyn
McKenzie, 56-2-4252074 / carolyn.mckenzie@sqm.com
Statements
in this press release 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, 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.
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:
April
1,
2008