TRANS HEX OFFERS LARGE DIAMOND ON TENDER

NEWS RELEASE

VIEWING OF TRANS HEX'S LATEST TENDER - WHICH INCLUDES A 73-CARAT STONE - HAS
COMMENCED AT THE DIAMOND BOURSE IN JOHANNESBURG.

THE STONE - ONE OF 61 DIAMONDS ON OFFER EACH WEIGHING IN EXCESS OF TEN CARATS -
WAS RECOVERED FROM THE COMPANY'S SAXENDRIFT MINING OPERATION, AN AREA RENOWNED
FOR ITS LARGE SIZE STONES.

"TRANS HEX HAS ESTABLISHED A GLOBAL REPUTATION FOR PRODUCING DIAMONDS THE
MARKETPLACE FINDS HIGHLY DESIRABLE BECAUSE OF THEIR SIZE AND QUALITY. THIS
OFTEN TRANSLATES INTO PREMIUMS FOR OUR PRODUCTION AND, TO-DATE, SAXENDRIFT'S
RUN-OF-MINE PRICE AVERAGES OVER US$1 000 PER CARAT," EXPLAINS PETER DANCHIN,
MANAGING DIRECTOR: OPERATIONS.

THIS PARTICULAR TENDER COMPRISES 39 PARCELS TOTALLING 20 600-CARATS AND IS
TRANS HEX'S FIRST DIAMOND SALE OF THE YEAR. TENDERS ARE HELD REGULARLY AT TWO
TO THREE MONTH INTERVALS AND ATTRACT BUYERS FROM THE LOCAL CUTTING INDUSTRY IN
ADDITION TO THE WORLD'S MAJOR DIAMOND CENTRES.

THE COMPANY MARKETS ITS ENTIRE PRODUCTION THROUGH THE IN-HOUSE TENDER SYSTEM
UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN DIAMOND BOARD. THIS APPROACH ENABLES
TRANS HEX TO OFFER ONLY 'CONFLICT-FREE' GOODS FOR SALE - AN ATTRACTIVE SELLING
POINT IN TODAY'S DIAMOND MARKET.

"IN SPITE OF REFERENCES TO US JEWELLERY SALES BEING SLIGHTLY OFF OVER THE
CHRISTMAS PERIOD WE ARE CONFIDENT OUR PRICES WILL REMAIN FIRM BECAUSE OF THE
QUALITY NICHE WE OCCUPY," SAID DANCHIN. "THIS TOGETHER WITH INCREASED

PRODUCTION FROM THE SOON-TO-BE-COMPLETED BAKEN CENTRAL PLANT BODES WELL FOR THE
COMING YEAR."

THE CURRENT TENDER WILL CLOSE ON 5 FEBRUARY AT 10H30.
ENDS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION : PETER DANCHIN
TRANS HEX GROUP
TEL: (021) 939-1105
ISSUED BY : CULLUM JOHNSTON
BHA COMMUNICATIONS
TEL: (021) 683-2685
DATE : 24 JANUARY 2001