Berezniki — OAO Uralkali said Oct. 23 that it was cutting its first-half dividend by 53 percent to 2.21 rubles per share, down from the year-ago 4.71 rubles. This is in line with Uralkali’s 53 percent drop in profits during the first half (GM Sept. 16, p. 1). And while Russia has indicated that it will charge Uralkali CEO Vladislav Baumgertner and seek his extradition from Belarus (GM Oct. 21, p. 11), this may not be enough to gain his release. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has since indicated that the country should be compensated prior to the release. In addition, Belarus may also be waiting for Uralkali’s main shareholders, led by Suleiman Kerimov, to sell their stake prior to a release. While there has been much speculation surrounding a possible sale, nothing firm has been announced. In other news last week, the new Belarus-controlled Belarusian Potash Co. announced that it has appointed Dmitry Artiomenko as its new official representative in Singapore.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain