The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Sept. 25 announced that the former CEO of Chilean-based chemical and mining company SQM has agreed to pay $125,000 to resolve charges that he violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

According to the SEC’s order, over the course of seven years, SQM’s then-CEO Patricio Contesse González caused SQM to make nearly $15 million in improper payments to Chilean political figures and others connected to them. Last year, SQM paid $30 million to settle parallel civil and criminal charges against the company.

The SEC’s order against Contesse found that he directed and authorized these improper payments through a discretionary CEO account. The payments were supported by fake documentation submitted to SQM by individuals and entities posing as legitimate vendors. Contesse caused the related false accounting entries in SQM’s books and records and also lied to SQM’s independent auditor and signed false certifications in SQM’s filings.

Contesse agreed to the settlement without admitting or denying the findings in the SEC’s order.

OCP Group, Casablanca, and Hubei Forbon Group, a Chinese company specializing in fertilizer additives, signed a framework agreement to establish a global partnership in the new generation of fertilizers. Both partners are also discussing the creation of a joint R&D center in China.

Yara International ASA, Oslo, said Sept. 24 that it is evaluating strategic options for the Yara Marine Technologies (YMT) business, including a potential sale. Yara noted that it has a long history of adjusting its portfolio when the conditions are right.

Yara is currently evaluating different options for YMT, and no decisions have yet been made regarding its future ownership. It said the YMT business is performing strongly, and will continue to operate and invest according to its current plans. Yara says YMT business offers a complete SO_X and NO_X abatement solution portfolio to the marine segment, and is among the world’s top three scrubber suppliers, well positioned for growth as the new IMO marine sulfur emission regulations come into force in 2020. YMT sales are set to triple compared with 2017, to reach more than NOK 700 million in 2018, and are expected to double from 2018 to 2019.

Yara updated the revenues figures from the earlier release to NOK 700 million in 2018 from NOK 450 million.

Yara International ASA, Oslo, said Sept. 24 that it is evaluating strategic options for the Yara Marine Technologies (YMT) business, including a potential sale. Yara noted that it has a long history of adjusting its portfolio when the conditions are right.

Yara is currently evaluating different options for YMT, and no decisions have yet been made regarding its future ownership. It said the YMT business is performing strongly, and will continue to operate and invest according to its current plans. Yara says YMT business offers a complete SO_X and NO_X abatement solution portfolio to the marine segment, and is among the world’s top three scrubber suppliers, well positioned for growth as the new IMO marine sulfur emission regulations come into force in 2020. YMT sales are set to triple compared with 2017, to reach more than NOK 450 million in 2018, and are expected to double from 2018 to 2019.

Nutrien Ltd., Saskatoon, announced Sept. 24 that Jochen Tilk will be stepping down as executive chair and as a director of the company, effective Sept. 30, 2018, to pursue other opportunities. Nutrien said Tilk’s key objectives are well on track and he and the board have decided that it would be the right time to hand over the leadership of the board to an independent chair.

Tilk was the president and CEO of Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc., prior to its merger with Agrium Inc. to form Nutrien.

Effective Sept. 30, Nutrien’s current Lead Director Derek Pannell will assume the role of non-executive chair of the board through the 2019 annual general meeting (AGM). It is expected that the plans regarding the new independent chair, post the 2019 AGM, will be contained in the proxy circular for that meeting.

The Belarusian Potash Co. (BPC) has reached a potash supply agreement with Chinese companies, according to the BelTa news agency. The deal with Chinese customers Sinochem, CNAMPGC and CNOOC, is reported to be at $290/mt CFR, some $60/mt higher than the year-ago conclusion. It is also the same price that BPC inked with a major Indian buyer. The price is for product to be supplied until June 2019.

Sirius Minerals, Scarborough, England, reported Sept. 17 that it has signed it largest ever offtake agreement. It is with Brazil’s sixth largest fertilizer distributor, OFD Supply Inc., a Cibra Group company. The offtake will increase to 2.5 million mt/y in the seventh year of production.

As a result, Sirius says its take-or-pay sales volume has now increased to 8.2 million mt/y, surpassing the 6-7 million mt/y target required to underpin Stage 2 financing.

In addition, Sirius says it has simultaneously acquired 30 percent of certain Cibra Group companies in return for 95 million ordinary shares in Sirius, providing Sirius with established infrastructure and direct access into the fertilizer distribution business.

K+S Group, Kassel, reported Sept. 11 that to due persistent severe drought, the water level in the Werra River remains at an exceptionally low level and the company has opted to temporarily interrupt production at the Hattorf site. K+S had already shut down the Wintershall site Aug. 27. K+S said based on current forecasts, the Unterbreizbach site can continue to produce.

K+S said it continues to make every effort to increase production at the Werra plant as soon as possible. Additional measures for saline water disposal, like an increase in remote disposal are already in place. Additional disposal options are currently being examined.