Latin American Economy & Business - February 2018 (ISSN 1741-7430)

SQM settles in Chile: SQM, Chile’s leading lithium and fertiliser producer, said at the end of January that it had reached an out-of-court settlement with state prosecutors investigating its involvement in making alleged illicit campaign contributions in 2008-2015. The investigation lasted three years. SQM has not admitted guilt, but did agree to pay CLP900m (US$150m) to the authorities and to make CLP1,650 (US$275m) worth of donations to various charities.