Offer for Kimberley Diamond

Gem Diamonds Limited 19 July 2007 The information contained herein is restricted and is not for publication, release or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Canada or Japan or to residents or citizens of Canada or Japan. 19 July 2007 RECOMMENDED CASH OFFER OF A$300M BY GEM DIAMONDS LIMITED FOR KIMBERLEY DIAMOND COMPANY NL Introduction Gem Diamonds Limited (LSE: GEMD) ('Gem Diamonds') and Kimberley Diamond Company NL (ASX: KIM/AIM: KDC) ('Kimberley') are pleased to announce that they have reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash offer by Gem Diamonds for all the issued and to be issued share capital of Kimberley. Gem Diamonds is pursuing an accelerated growth strategy both through acquisitions and the development of existing assets which include a portfolio of a producing kimberlite mine an alluvial mine, numerous development projects and a number of exploration assets with long-term prospects. Established in July 2005, as at 18 July 2007 (being the last business day before this announcement) Gem Diamonds had an equity market capitalisation of approximately US$1.4 billion. Kimberley is an independent ASX listed diamond producer operating the Ellendale Diamond Mine in Western Australia. The Ellendale mine produces gem and near gem quality diamonds including Kimberley's signature stone, the rare and highly valuable fancy yellow diamond. Highlights • Cash offer of A$0.70 for each Kimberley share, representing a premium of approximately 33% to Kimberley's closing share price on 16 July 2007. • Offer values Kimberley at A$300 million (circa US$263 million). • The offer is unanimously recommended by Kimberley's directors who, in the absence of a superior offer, have agreed to accept the offer in respect of their own holdings. • Gem Diamonds has entered into arrangements to acquire approximately 14.9% of Kimberley from a range of Kimberley shareholders at the offer price of A$0.70. • Gem Diamonds will provide Kimberley with a A$10 million short term loan facility for working capital purposes. • Gem Diamonds intends to leverage its financial strength and technical expertise to deliver on the full potential of Kimberley's assets. • Production of high value fancy diamonds from Ellendale, Kimberley's primary mine, is strategically attractive to Gem Diamonds. • Following Gem Diamonds' acquisition of Cempaka, the acquisition of Ellendale further enhances Gem Diamonds' global diversity. Commenting on the offer, Clifford Elphick, Chairman and CEO of Gem Diamonds, said: 'Gem Diamonds is pleased to announce this offer for Kimberley which enjoys the full support of the boards of both companies. Whilst the Ellendale operation has faced challenges, I have no doubt that Gem Diamonds' technical expertise combined with its ongoing support of the current operational and technical management will ensure these challenges are overcome. Gem Diamonds' management is committed to the Ellendale staff and look forward to working with them to develop the mine to its full potential. Kimberley presents a strong strategic fit within Gem Diamonds; both with the geographic diversification it contributes to the Group as well as with its high value fancy diamond production. Over time I am confident that these fancy diamonds will achieve higher prices when sold in combination with the high value Letseng diamonds. This will be Gem Diamonds' third acquisition since it floated on the LSE in February, and its largest to date. Ellendale brings a third producing asset to the Gem Diamonds portfolio and takes Gem Diamonds a step closer to its ambition of becoming one of the world's leading diamond producers.' Commenting on the offer, Miles Kennedy, Executive Chairman of Kimberley, said: 'This recommended cash offer will reposition Kimberley's Ellendale Project within the broader portfolio of international diamond assets assembled by Gem Diamonds. Gem Diamonds brings the required balance sheet strength to complete the production ramp-up at Ellendale and optimize production and marketing strategies to ensure the longevity of the operation.' Bid Conditions The offer is subject the conditions which are set out in Appendix I to this announcement. The acquisition of Kimberley may constitute a Class 1 Transaction (as defined in the Listing Rules of the United Kingdom Financial Services Authority) for Gem Diamonds. If so, Gem Diamonds will be required to seek the approval of its shareholders at an extraordinary general meeting ('EGM') of Gem Diamonds. In this event, a circular containing the time, date and venue of the Gem Diamonds EGM will be sent to Gem Diamonds shareholders as soon as is reasonably practicable. Implementation Agreement Gem Diamonds and Kimberley have entered into an Implementation Agreement in connection with the offer. Key terms of the Implementation Agreement include: Gem Diamonds to provide working capital facility Gem Diamonds has agreed to make available to Kimberley a facility for an amount of up to A$10 million for working capital purposes. Break fee Kimberley and Gem Diamonds have agreed that Kimberley will pay to Gem Diamonds a fee of A$2 million on the occurrence of certain agreed events at any time following this announcement, including if: • any Kimberley director fails to recommend the offer or makes a public statement which withdraws, revises revokes or qualifies any recommendation made previously; or • any Kimberley director recommends, promotes or otherwise endorses any proposal which competes with or would materially prejudice the prospects of success of the offer; or • a person other than Gem Diamonds or an associate of Gem Diamonds directly or indirectly acquires a legal or beneficial interest in, or control of, 50% or more of the Kimberley shares or (from Kimberley) the share capital of any of Kimberley's subsidiaries or acquires an interest in all or part of the assets of Kimberley and its subsidiaries. Exclusivity and Non-Solicitation Subject to its fiduciary duties to its shareholders, Kimberley has also agreed that, until the end of the offer period or the date which is six months after the date of the Implementation Agreement (whichever is earlier), not to solicit or initiate any other competing transaction. Financing The funds required to complete the offer will come from Gem Diamonds' existing cash reserves. Timetable Gem Diamonds expects to send its offer documentation (known as the Bidder's Statement) to Kimberley shareholders by 16 August 2007. Enquiries: Gem Diamond Technical Services (Pty) Ltd Stephen Wetherall +27 82 418 8735 Angela Parr +27 83 578 3885 Kimberley Diamond Company NL Miles Kennedy, Karl Simich or Arran Gracie +61 8 9321 5887 Pelham PR (Public Relations Adviser to Gem Diamonds Limited) Candice Sgroi +44 207 743 6376 +44 7894 462 114 Read Corporate (incorporating Jan Hope & Partners) (Public Relations Advisers to Kimberley Diamond Company NL) Nicholas Read +61 8 9388 1474 +61 419 929 046 Gresham Advisory Partners Limited (Financial Adviser to Gem Diamonds Limited) Michael Ashforth +61 8 9486 7077 JPMorgan Cazenove (Corporate Broker to Gem Diamonds Limited) Ian Hannam + 44 207 588 2828 Neil Passmore Argonaut and CIBC World Markets (Joint Financial Advisers to Kimberley Diamond Company NL) Charles Fear (Argonaut) +61 8 9224 6888 Neil Johnson (CIBC World Markets) +61 2 9275 1306 Notes to Editors: 1. Information relating to Gem Diamonds Gem Diamonds is a diamond mining company with a balanced portfolio of a producing kimberlite mine, a producing alluvial mine, development projects and long-term prospects. Established in July 2005, Gem Diamonds is pursuing an accelerated growth strategy and aims to become one of the world's leading diamond producers. Gem Diamonds currently has one producing kimberlite mine, Let seng, in Lesotho, a producing alluvial mine Cempaka in Indonesia, a kimberlite development project in Botswana, four development projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo, one in the Central African Republic and an option to develop the Chiri kimberlite concession in Angola. Gem Diamonds has a specific focus towards higher value diamonds, a segment of the market that its management believes will deliver superior long-term returns. Gem Diamonds listed on the London Stock Exchange in February 2007, raising over US$600 million (net of expenses) to fund development of its existing assets as well as to pursue acquisitive growth opportunities. 2. Information relating to Kimberley Kimberley is an independent diamond producer listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: KIM) and the AIM of the London Stock Exchange (AIM: KDC). With its corporate headquarters based in Perth, Western Australia, Kimberley supplies high quality, conflict-free rough diamonds to world markets from its 100%-owned Ellendale Project, located some 2,000km north of Perth in Western Australia's Kimberley region. During the first half of calendar 2007, the Ellendale Project continued its production ramp-up with the objective of achieving long-term, steady-state production levels. This represented the culmination of five years of infrastructure and mining development - amounting to a total investment of approximately A$150 million. This timeframe to full-scale production is well below the industry average for major diamond operations of approximately 8 years. Ellendale produces predominantly gem and near-gem quality diamonds with a 'signature stone' of the rare and highly valuable fancy yellow diamond. During its ramp-up phase from the commencement of mining in mid-2002 through to the end of financial year 2007, the Ellendale mining operations processed more than 11 million tonnes of ore, resulting in the recovery of over 700,000 carats and generating sales revenue of A$165 million. Following the completion of several staged expansions, the Project now comprises two separate mining and production centres within a 124 sq km mining lease. Pipe 9 (47 hectares) has two processing facilities, the 3.3mtpa East Plant and 0.6mtpa West Plant, while Pipe 4 (76 hectares), located approximately 15km to the south east, has the 4.4mtpa South Plant. This amounts to a combined 8.3mtpa processing name plate capacity when in steady state production, which should underpin annual carat production of more than 600,000. Kimberley is also actively exploring the 124 km2 Ellendale Mining Lease which contains some 46 lamproite pipes and over 100 exploration targets with the potential to deliver future production and cash flow opportunities in addition to currently identified resources (78 million tonnes at 6.4 carats per hundred tonnes for approximately 5 million contained carats at 30 June 2006). Kimberley also holds a 40% interest in the ASX-listed diamond explorer and emerging producer Blina Diamonds NL, which controls a high-quality 1,800 km2 tenement package covering and surrounding the central core of the Ellendale Project, including 50 identified lamproite pipes and a number of diamondiferous alluvial channels. For the year ended 30 June 2006, Kimberley reported revenue of A$35.9 million, loss before tax of A$16.0 million, and as at 30 June 2006 had net assets of A$125.1 million and gross assets of A$193.0 million. In the six months to 31 December 2006, Kimberley reported revenue of A$19.8 million, loss before tax of A$10.8 million and as at 31 December 2006 had net assets of A$182.9 million and gross assets of A$260.9 million. _____________________________________________ Gresham Advisory Partners Limited, is acting exclusively for Gem Diamonds and no one else in connection with the offer and this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Gem Diamonds for providing the protections afforded to clients of Gresham Advisory Partners Limited for providing advice in connection with the offer or this announcement or any matter referred to herein. JPMorgan Cazenove Limited, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for Gem Diamonds and no one else in connection with the offer and this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Gem Diamonds for providing the protections afforded to clients of JPMorgan Cazenove Limited or for providing advice in connection with the offer or this announcement or any matter referred to herein. Argonaut, is acting exclusively for Kimberley and no one else in connection with the offer and this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Kimberley for providing the protections afforded to clients of Argonaut for providing advice in connection with the offer or this announcement or any matter referred to herein. CIBC World Markets, is acting exclusively for Kimberley and no one else in connection with the offer and this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Kimberley for providing the protections afforded to clients of CIBC World Markets for providing advice in connection with the offer or this announcement or any matter referred to herein. This announcement is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or invitation to purchase any securities or the solicitation of any vote for approval in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, issue or transfer of the securities referred to in this announcement in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. The Bidders Statement to be issued by Gem Diamonds will contain the full terms and conditions of the offer, including details of how the offer may be accepted. This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with English law and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom. The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law (a 'Restricted Jurisdiction'). Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom or who are subject to other jurisdictions should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable requirements. The offer will not be made, directly or indirectly, in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction, and the offer is not capable of acceptance from or within a Restricted Jurisdiction. Accordingly, copies of this announcement and all documents relating to the offer are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction, and persons receiving this announcement and all documents relating to the offer (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise distribute or send them in, into or from such jurisdictions as doing so may invalidate any purported acceptance of the offer. The availability of the offer to the Kimberley Shareholders may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are resident. Persons who are not resident in Australia or the United Kingdom should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable requirements. This announcement includes certain 'forward-looking statements'. These statements are based on the current expectations of the management of Gem Diamonds and Kimberley and are naturally subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. The forward-looking statements contained herein may include statements about the expected effects on Gem Diamonds or Kimberley of the offer, the expected timing and scope of the offer, strategic options and all other statements in this announcement other than historical facts. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements typically containing words such as 'intends', 'expects', 'anticipates', 'targets', 'estimates' and words of similar import. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the satisfaction of the conditions to the offer, as well as additional factors, such as changes in economic conditions, changes in the level of capital investment, success of business and operating initiatives and restructuring objectives, customers' strategies and stability, changes in the regulatory environment, fluctuations in interest and exchange rates, the outcome of litigation, government actions and natural phenomena such as floods, earthquakes and hurricanes. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Neither Gem Diamonds nor Kimberley undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent legally required. APPENDIX I CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER The offer, which will be made by Gem Diamonds, will comply with the City Code and will be governed by Australian law and subject to the jurisdiction of the Australian courts. In addition, the offer will be subject to the terms and conditions to be set out in the offer Document. The offer will be subject to the following conditions: (a) Foreign Investment Review Board approval One of the following occurring: (1) the Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Australia (Treasurer) advising Gem Diamonds before the end of the Offer Period to the effect that there are no objections to the Takeover Bid constituted by the dispatch of the Offer in terms of the Federal Government's foreign investment policy; or (2) no order being made in relation to the Takeover Bid constituted by the dispatch of the Offer under section 22 of the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (Cth) within a period of 40 days after Gem Diamonds has notified the Treasurer that it proposes to acquire Shares under that Takeover Bid, and no notice being given by the Treasurer to Gem Diamonds during that period to the effect that there are any such objections; or (3) where an order is made under section 22 of the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (Cth), a period of 90 days having expired after the order comes into operation and no notice having been given by the Treasurer to Gem Diamonds during that period to the effect that there are any such objections. (b) Other regulatory approvals Before the end of the Offer Period, all approvals or consents that are required by law, or by any public authority, as are necessary to permit: (1) the Offer to be lawfully made to and accepted by Kimberley shareholders; and (2) the transaction contemplated by this Bidder's Statement to be completed (including, without limitation, full, lawful and effectual implementation of the intentions set out in Gem Diamonds' Bidder's Statement), are granted, given, made or obtained on an unconditional basis, remain in full force and effect in all respects, and do not become subject to any notice, intimation or indication of intention to revoke, suspend, restrict, modify or not renew the same and Gem Diamonds must use its best endeavours to obtain same as soon as practicable. (c) No regulatory action Between the Announcement Date and the end of the Offer Period (each inclusive): (1) there is not in effect any preliminary or final decision, order or decree issued by any Public Authority; (2) no action or investigation is announced, commenced or threatened by any Public Authority; and (3) no application is made to any Public Authority (other than by Gem Diamonds or any associate of Gem Diamonds), in consequence of or in connection with the Offer (other than an application to, or a decision or order of, ASIC or the Takeovers Panel in exercise of the powers and discretions conferred by the Corporations Act) which restrains, prohibits or impedes, or materially impacts upon, or threatens to restrain, prohibit or impede, or materially impact upon, the making of the Offers and the completion of any transaction contemplated by the Bidder's Statement (including, without limitation, full, lawful, timely and effectual implementation of the intentions set out in Gem Diamonds' Bidder's Statement) or which requires the divestiture by Gem Diamonds of any Shares or any material assets of Kimberley or any subsidiary of Kimberley. (d) Gem Diamonds shareholder approval To the extent required by Chapter 10 of the United Kingdom Listing Rules, the prior approval to the transaction contemplated by the Bidder's Statement of Gem Diamonds' shareholders in general meeting which Gem Diamonds must procure as soon as practicable. (e) Minimum acceptance At the end of the Offer Period, Gem Diamonds has relevant interests in at least 90% of the Shares (on a fully diluted basis calculated assuming that all outstanding options are exercised). (f) No material adverse change (1) Between 19 July 2007 and the end of the Offer Period (each inclusive) none of the following occurs: • an act, omission, event, change, condition, matter or thing occurs or it is announced that it will occur or, as a result of any announcement, is reasonably likely to occur; • information is disclosed or announced by Kimberley or any of its subsidiaries concerning any event, change, condition, matter or thing; or • information concerning any event, change, condition, matter or thing becomes known to Gem Diamonds (whether or not the information also becomes public), which will have, could reasonably be expected to have or which evidences that there has been a material adverse effect on the business, value of assets, the amount of liabilities, financial position and performance, material contracts (taken as a whole), profitability or prospects of, or terms of approvals from any Public Authority applicable to, Kimberley or any of its subsidiaries. (2) For the purposes of clause (f)(1) without limitation, a diminution or reasonably likely prospective diminution in value of Kimberley assets (including, without limitation, the assets, liabilities, financial position, financial performance, financial position, profitability or prospects of Kimberley but excluding movements as a consequence of movements in Australian dollar-US dollar currency exchange rates) in aggregate of $10 million or an increase or prospective increase in actual or contingent liabilities in aggregate of $10 million will be deemed to be a material adverse effect. (3) Clause (f)(1) does not apply in relation to particular information, if that information was previously disclosed before 19 July 2007 by Kimberley in a public filing with the ASX or ASIC or disclosed by Kimberley to Gem Diamonds in writing before 19 July 2007 provided that any disclosure was full and fair (including, without limitation, in relation to the extent and magnitude of the event, change, condition, matter or thing, as the case may be) and was not, and is not likely to be, incomplete, incorrect, untrue, misleading or deceptive. (4) For the purposes of clause (f)(1), without limitation, if the A$ increases by at least 5% relative to the US$ that shall be deemed a material adverse effect. (g) Capital expenditures Between the Announcement Date and the end of the Offer Period (each inclusive), Kimberley does not incur or commit to incur any amount of capital expenditure in excess, in aggregate, of $13 million before the end of the Offer Period other than: (1) capital expenditure that has been announced by Kimberley before the Announcement Date as intended to be incurred or committed; and (2) minor capital expenditure in the day to day operating activities of the business of Kimberley and its subsidiaries conducted in the same manner as before the Announcement Date. (h) No persons entitled to exercise or exercising rights under certain agreements or instruments Between the Announcement Date and the end of the Offer Period (each inclusive), there is no person entitled to exercise, exercising or purporting to exercise, stating an intention to exercise (whether or not that intention is stated to be a final or determined decision of that person), or asserting a right to exercise, any rights under any provision of any agreement or other instrument to which Kimberley or any Kimberley subsidiary is a party, or by or to which Kimberley or any Kimberley subsidiary or any of its assets or businesses may be bound or be subject, which results, or could result, to an extent to which is material in the context of Kimberley Group taken as a whole, in: (1) any moneys borrowed by Kimberley or any Kimberley subsidiary being or becoming repayable or being capable of being declared repayable immediately or earlier than the repayment date stated in such agreement or other instrument; or (2) any such agreement or other such instrument being terminated or modified or any action being taken or arising thereunder; (3) the interest of Kimberley or any Kimberley subsidiary in any firm, joint venture, trust corporation or other entity (or any arrangements relating to such interest) being terminated or modified; (4) the assets of Kimberley or any Kimberley subsidiary being sold transferred or offered for sale or transfer, including under any pre- emptive rights or similar provisions; or (5) the business of Kimberley or any Kimberley subsidiary with any other person being materially adversely affected; PROVIDED THAT nothing in this clause has any application to any of the matters listed above to the extent they have an aggregate value of less than $5,000,000. (i) Acquisitions and disposals Unless otherwise agreed between Gem Diamonds and Kimberley, between 19 July 2007 and the end of the Offer Period (each inclusive), neither Kimberley nor any of its subsidiaries: (1) acquires or disposes of; (2) enters into or announces any agreement or intention or proposal for the acquisition or disposal of; (3) discloses (without having disclosed to ASX prior to 19 July 2007) the existence of; or (4) incurs, becomes subject to, or brings forward the time for performance of (or is reasonably likely to incur, become subject to or bring forward the time for performance of), any obligation or arrangement in relation to any asset or business, or enters into any corporate transaction, which would or would be likely to involve a significant, substantial or material change in: (5) the manner in which Kimberley conducts its business; (6) the nature (including balance sheet classification), extent or value of the assets of Kimberley; or (7) the nature (including balance sheet classification), extent or value of the liabilities of Kimberley, including, without limitation, any transaction which would or (subject to one or more conditions) may involve: (8) any new processing or diamond marketing arrangements or variations to existing arrangements; (9) Kimberley or any subsidiary of Kimberley acquiring, or agreeing to acquire, one or more companies, businesses or assets for an amount or value in aggregate greater than $10 million; (10) Kimberley or any subsidiary of Kimberley disposing, or agreeing to dispose of, one or more companies, businesses or assets (or any interest therein) for an amount or value in aggregate greater than $10 million; (j) No litigation on foot or pending Between the Announcement Date and the end of the Offer Period (each inclusive), no litigation against or investigation by a Government Authority in relation to Kimberley or its directors which involves any allegation that Kimberley or its directors (in the case of directors in their capacity as directors of Kimberley) may be liable to any civil or criminal penalty, relating to a financial or corporate matter or may reasonably result in a judgement of $5 million or more is commenced, is threatened to be commenced, is announced, or is made known to Gem Diamonds (whether or not becoming public) or Kimberley, other than that which is in the public domain as at the Announcement Date. (k) No prescribed occurrences Between the Announcement Date and the date 3 business days after the end of the Offer Period (each inclusive), none of the following prescribed occurrences (being the occurrences listed in section 652C of the Corporations Act) happen: (1) Kimberley converting all or any of the Shares into a larger or smaller number of shares under section 254H of the Corporations Act; (2) Kimberley or a subsidiary of Kimberley resolving to reduce its share capital in any way; (3) Kimberley or a subsidiary of Kimberley entering into a buyback agreement or resolving to approve the terms of a buyback agreement under subsections 257C(1) or 257D(1) of the Corporations Act; (4) Kimberley or any company in which Kimberley holds more than 50% of the issued shares making an issue of Shares (other than Shares issued as a result of the exercise of Options into Shares) or granting an option over the Shares or agreeing to make such an issue or grant such an option; (5) Kimberley or a subsidiary of Kimberley issuing, or agreeing to issue, convertible notes; (6) Kimberley or a subsidiary of Kimberley disposing or agreeing to dispose, of the whole, or a substantial part, of its business or property; (7) Kimberley or a subsidiary of Kimberley charging, or agreeing to charge, the whole, or a substantial part, of its business or property; (8) Kimberley or a subsidiary of Kimberley resolving that it be wound up; (9) the appointment of a liquidator or provisional liquidator of Kimberley or of a subsidiary of Kimberley; (10) the making of an order by a court for the winding up of Kimberley or of a subsidiary of Kimberley; (11) an administrator of Kimberley or of a subsidiary of Kimberley being appointed under section 436A, 436B or 436C of the Corporations Act; (12) Kimberley or a subsidiary of Kimberley executing a deed of company arrangement; (13) the appointment of a receiver, receiver and manager, other controller (as defined in the Corporations Act) or similar official in relation to the whole, or a substantial part, of the property of Kimberley or of a subsidiary of Kimberley. (l) No distributions Between the Announcement Date and the end of the Offer Period (each inclusive), Kimberley does not announce, make, declare or pay any distribution (whether by way of dividend, capital reduction or otherwise and whether in cash or in specie). This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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