Re: Luksic Family Interest

Antofagasta PLC
20 June 2006



                                Antofagasta plc


                            Luksic Family Interests


London, 20 June 2006


Antofagasta plc ('Antofagasta') has been informed of certain changes in the
structure of the Luksic family interests in shares of Antofagasta and of
increases to the number of shares held as a result of yesterday's 4-for-1 bonus
issue (the 'Bonus Issue'). These changes do not alter the combined overall
percentage interest that the Luksic family controls in Antofagasta.

Previously, Sandypoint Establishment ('Sandypoint') held 27,975,408 ordinary
shares in the capital of Antofagasta ('ordinary shares') and Metalinvest
Establishment ('Metalinvest') held 100,000,000 ordinary shares and 1,882,396 5%
cumulative preference shares in the capital of Antofagasta ('preference shares
'). Each of Sandypoint and Metalinvest was controlled by the E. Abaroa
Foundation ('Abaroa') and their combined interests represented 64.91% of the
ordinary shares and 94.12% of the preference shares of Antofagasta. Aureberg
Establishment ('Aureberg'), which is controlled by Antofagasta's chairman, Mr
J-P Luksic, held a minority interest in Sandypoint.

On 24 April 2006, as part of a reorganisation, Kupferberg Establishment ('
Kupferberg'), which is controlled by Abaroa, acquired Abaroa's interests in
Sandypoint and thereby acquired control of Sandypoint and became interested in
the 27,975,408 ordinary shares which continued to be held by Sandypoint. This
reorganisation did not affect the interests of Abaroa or Sandypoint in
Antofagasta.

Then, on 15 June 2006, Sandypoint distributed in kind 19,582,786 ordinary shares
to Kupferberg and 8,392,622 ordinary shares to Aureberg, and therefore ceased to
be interested in any shares of Antofagasta.

Subsequently, the Bonus Issue resulted in a further 400,000,000 ordinary shares
being issued to Metalinvest, a further 78,331,144 ordinary shares being issued
to Kupferberg and a further 33,570,488 ordinary shares being issued to Aureberg.


Accordingly, following this reorganisation and the Bonus Issue (and taking into
account the new ordinary shares issued pursuant to the Bonus Issue):

(a) Abaroa has ceased to be interested in the ordinary shares now held by
Aureberg and is now interested in 597,913,930 ordinary shares and 1,882,396
preference shares (approximately 60.65% of the ordinary shares and 94.12% of the
preference shares). Abaroa's interest comprises:

(i) the interest of Kupferberg in 97,913,930 ordinary shares (approximately
9.93% of the ordinary shares); and

(ii) the interest of Metalinvest in 500,000,000 ordinary shares and 1,882,396
preference shares (approximately 50.72% of the ordinary shares and 94.12% of the
preference shares); and

(b) Aureberg is interested in 41,963,110 ordinary shares (approximately 4.26% of
the ordinary shares). Mr J-P Luksic is therefore also interested in these
ordinary shares through his control of Aureberg.


Various members of the Luksic family including Mr J-P Luksic and Mr G A Luksic,
both directors of Antofagasta, are interested in Abaroa; however, no individual
Luksic family member holds a controlling interest.

On 19 June 2006, Antofagasta received all notifications resulting from this
reorganisation and the Bonus Issue under:

(a) sections 198-202 of the Companies Act 1985 (the 'Act') in relation to the
change of notifiable interests;

(b) section 324 of the Act in relation to the interest of Mr J-P Luksic; and

(c) Disclosure Rule 3 in relation to the distribution of the Antofagasta shares
from Sandypoint to Aureberg.




Enquiries                                                              Issued by

Antofagasta plc                                             Bankside Consultants
Tel: [phone]                                      Tel: [phone]
www.antofagasta.co.uk                                                Keith Irons
Desmond O'Conor                                        Email: [e-mail]
Email: [e-mail]                                  Oliver Winters
Hussein Barma                                 Email: [e-mail]
Email: [e-mail]






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