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GEMFIELDS GROUP LIMITED - Lusaka Emerald Auction Results

Release Date: 21/02/2019 09:00
Code(s): GML     PDF:  
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Lusaka Emerald Auction Results

GEMFIELDS GROUP LIMITED
(formerly Pallinghurst Resources Limited)
(Incorporated in Guernsey)
(Guernsey registration Number: 47656)
(South African external company registration number 2009/012636/10)
Share code on the BSX: GML.BH ISIN: GG00BG0KTL52
Share code on the JSE: GML
("Gemfields" or the "Company")



                                    Lusaka Emerald Auction Results

Gemfields is pleased to announce the result of an auction of predominantly commercial quality rough emerald held
in Lusaka, Zambia from 18–20 February 2019. The emeralds were extracted by Kagem Mining Ltd in Zambia (“Kagem”,
which is 75% owned by Gemfields and 25% by the Industrial Development Corporation of Zambia). The proceeds of
this auction will be fully repatriated to Kagem in Zambia, with all royalties due to the Government of the Republic of
Zambia being paid on the full sales prices achieved at the auction.

Highlights – Emerald Auction

   •    Auction revenues of USD 10.8 million
   •    Of the 23 lots offered, 16 were sold (70%)
   •    Average price of USD 4.39 per carat
   •    59% of the carats offered were sold
   •    The 31 auctions of Kagem gemstones held since July 2009 have generated USD 567 million in total revenues

The auction saw 24 companies placing bids, generating total revenues of USD 10.8 million with an overall average
value of USD 4.39 per carat. The auction saw 59% of the offered carats being sold (or 70% of the number of lots
offered).

Gemfields’ 31 auctions of emeralds and beryl mined at Kagem since July 2009 have generated USD 567 million in
total revenues. The results of the five most recent commercial quality Kagem auctions are summarised in the table
below:


        AUCTION RESULTS                  Sep ‘16            May ‘17              Feb ‘18           Jul-Aug ‘18          Feb ‘19
     (COMMERCIAL QUALITY)               AUCTION             AUCTION             AUCTION             AUCTION            AUCTION

                                        26-29 Sep          15-18 May           19-22 Feb         30 Jul – 2 Aug        18-20 Feb
Dates                                      2016               2017                2018               2018                2019
Location                               Jaipur, India      Jaipur, India       Jaipur, India     Lusaka, Zambia      Lusaka, Zambia
                                       Commercial         Commercial          Commercial          Commercial          Commercial
Type                                      Quality            Quality             Quality            Quality             Quality
Carats offered                         4.05 million       3.10 million        3.73 million        2.89 million        4.15 million
Carats sold                            3.27 million       3.10 million        3.55 million        2.59 million        2.46 million
No. of companies placing bids               30                 33                  31                  22                  24
Average no. of bids per lot                  7                  9                  5                    6                   5
No. of lots offered                         19                 23                  21                  21                  23
No. of lots sold                            15                 23                  19                  17                  16
Percentage of lots sold                    79%                100%                90%                 81%                 70%
Percentage of lots sold by weight          81%                100%                95%                 90%                 59%
Total sales realised at auction      USD 10.7 million   USD 14.5 million    USD 10.8 million    USD 10.9 million    USD 10.8 million
Average per carat sales value        USD 3.28/carat     USD 4.68/carat      USD 3.05/carat      USD 4.21/carat      USD 4.39/carat

The specific auction mix and the exact quality of the lots offered at each auction vary in characteristics such as size,
colour and clarity on account of variations in mined production and market demand. Therefore the results of each
auction are not always directly comparable.

Adrian Banks, Gemfields’ Managing Director of Product & Sales, commented:

“While the overall revenue and price per carat realised at our most recent auction in Lusaka has remained stable, it is
clear that our client base - who hail predominantly from Jaipur in India - are still navigating challenging conditions in
their home market. The Indian market is particularly important when it comes to commercial quality emeralds. In
addition, it is clear that a fierce shareholder dispute at the principal alternative source of supply of Zambian emeralds,
GemCanton, is resulting in Zambian emeralds entering the market at artificially low prices. Given our long-term vision
and our understanding of the true value of Zambian emeralds, we have elected to retain auction lots that we believe
command higher prices than those presently offered by the market”.

Additional information on Gemfields

Gemfields is a world leading supplier of responsibly sourced coloured gemstones. Gemfields is the operator and 75%
owner of both the Kagem emerald mine in Zambia (believed to be the world’s single largest producing emerald mine)
and the Montepuez ruby mine in Mozambique (one of the most significant recently discovered ruby deposits in the
world). In addition, Gemfields also holds controlling interests in various other gemstone mining and prospecting
licenses in Zambia, Mozambique, Ethiopia and Madagascar.

Gemfields’ outright ownership of Fabergé - an iconic and prestigious brand of exceptional heritage - enables
Gemfields to optimise positioning, perception and consumer awareness of coloured gemstones, advancing the wider
group’s “mine and market” vision.

Gemfields has developed a proprietary grading system and a pioneering auction and trading platform to provide a
consistent supply of coloured gemstones to downstream markets, a key component of Gemfields’ business model
and has played an important role in the growth of the global coloured gemstone sector.

Further information on Gemfields Group Limited can be found at www.gemfieldsgroup.com.

For any press enquiries please contact us on investor.relations@gemfields.com.



Guernsey
21 February 2019

Sponsor
Investec Bank Limited

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