Petra Diamonds Ld
25 May 2005
25th May 2005
Petra Diamonds Limited ('Petra' or 'the Company')
Proposed merger with Crown Diamonds NL ('Crown') ('the Merger')
and admission to trading on the AIM Market of London Stock Exchange plc
(' AIM') and to the official list of the Australian Stock Exchange (' ASX')
Petra Diamonds Limited (LSE: PDL), the AIM-quoted diamond mining group, is
pleased to announce that at the Extraordinary General Meeting held earlier today
all the resolutions to effect the Merger were duly passed.
Completion of the Merger remains conditional, inter alia, on the following
principal conditions:
• there having been, immediately prior to completion of the Merger, no
material adverse change in the financial position of Petra or Crown;
• approval of the Crown shareholder and loan note holder Schemes of
Arrangement by the Supreme Court of Western Australia. The court date to
consider such approval is set for 31 May 2005; and
• admission of Petra's share capital to trading on AIM and the official
list of the ASX, expected to be 17 June 2005.
The Merger represents a significant step in Petra's long-term growth strategy of
becoming a significant player in the diamond industry. On completion of the
Merger, Petra will have:
• an impressive exploration and asset base, coupled with successful
income-producing and cash flow positive diamond mines;
• a well balanced portfolio of diamond assets in various phases of
development, ranging from green field exploration to production;
• an enhanced geographical spread of diamond assets on the African
continent (Angola, South Africa and Sierra Leone);
• an experienced management team and workforce; and
• a solid business capable of further expansion.
Adonis Pouroulis, Chairman of Petra, comments, 'We are delighted that
shareholders have voted in favour of the merger with Crown. This is a momentous
day for Petra and the merger provides an excellent opportunity to grow the
business into a mid tier diamond producer.
'We have tremendous respect for the Crown team and we look forward to a
sparkling future together as an enlarged group with both producing diamond mines
and high quality exploration assets.'
Subject to completion of the Merger, two members of the current Crown board,
Johan Dippenaar and James Davidson, will join the Petra board. Johan Dippenaar
will be appointed Chief Executive Officer and James Davidson will be appointed
Technical Director of the Enlarged Group. Kevin Dabinett, currently Petra's
Chief Executive Officer, will become Chief Operating Officer of the Enlarged
Group.
For further information, please contact:
David Abery Cathy Malins/Annabel Leather
Petra Diamonds, South African office Parkgreen Communications, London
Tel: +27 11 467 6710 Tel: +44 20 7493 3713
Frank H. Moxon Karl Paganin / Michael Soucik
Williams de Broe Plc, London Euroz Securities, Perth
Tel: +44 20 7588 7511 Tel: +61 8 9488 1430
In South Africa: In Australia:
Johan Dippenaar John Baillie
CEO and Director Director
Crown Diamonds NL Crown Diamonds NL
Tel: +27 14544 6116 Tel: +61 8 9381 8888
Fax: +27 14 544 6124 Fax: +61 8 9381 8333
Duncan Gordon
Baker Young Stockbrokers
Adelaide
Tel: +61 882 368 888
Kevin Skinner
Field Public Relations
Tele: +61 8 8234 9555
Mobile: +61 414 822 631
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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