Tianqi called for shareholders, not only the board of directors, to also vote on the final deal to ensure transparency and full participation. SQM did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Tianqi bought its share in SQM in 2018 for $4.1 billion, becoming the company's second-largest shareholder, amid concerns from regulators, competitors and consumer groups that the deal could give Tianqi a near monopoly over the global lithium market. A Chilean antitrust court eventually approved the transaction but set conditions that limited Tianqi's access to SQM business secrets. (Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon and Alexander Villegas; Editing by Anthony Esposito, Leslie Adler and Nick Macfie)