https://www.miningweekly.com

Shareholders in Chilean lithium firm SQM move to shake up governance

3rd April 2018

By: Reuters

  

Font size: - +

SANTIAGO – Two major shareholders in Chilean lithium giant SQM proposed in a regulatory filing on Monday to change the company's governing statutes in a way that could block other shareholders from gaining control of the firm.

Pampa Calichera and Potasios de Chile, both controlled by Chilean businessman Julio Ponce, called for an "extraordinary meeting" of shareholders to approve the proposal, according to the filing with securities regulator SVS.

Ponce, the former son-in-law of ex-dictator Augusto Pinochet, has long controlled SQM but was forced to cede power following an agreement struck with Chilean development agency Corfo in January.

The new proposal, which is due to be voted upon within 30 days, would create an exception to an existing company statute that regulates the voting power of SQM's shareholders.

The exception could allow Ponce-controlled firms to match the voting power of new or existing shareholders looking to purchase, or increase, their stakes in the miner, analysts said.

"The controlling (shareholders) are seeking to protect their political power within the firm," said brokerage firm Banchile in a note to clients.

It was not immediately clear whether this change would satisfy the terms of the company's January agreement with Corfo.

The proposed governance changes come as Canadian fertilizer company Nutrien – formerly Potash Corp of Saskatchewan – is seeking to offload its 32% interest in SQM to meet regulatory requirements after its merger with a rival fertiliser company to create Nutrien. SQM is also a significant fertiliser producer.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

Comments

The content you are trying to access is only available to subscribers.

If you are already a subscriber, you can Login Here.

If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe now, by selecting one of the below options.

For more information or assistance, please contact us at subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za.

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION