Lonmin announces intention to buyout Messina minorities

Lonmin announces intention to buyout Messina minorities                         
Lonmin Plc                                                                      
(Incorporated in England)                                                       
(Registered in the Republic of South Africa under registration                  
number 1969/000015/10)                                                          
ISIN code: GB0031192486                                                         
JSE code: LON                                                                   
Issuer code: LOLMI                                                              
("Lonmin")                                                                      
16 September 2005                                                               
Lonmin announces intention to buyout Messina minorities                         
Following completion of the acquisition of Southern Platinum Corp. (Southern    
Platinum), on 15 September 2005 Lonmin informed the board of Messina Limited    
("Messina") of its firm intention to proceed with a cash offer of Rand 33.00 per
share for the outstanding shares in Messina not currently owned by the Lonmin   
Group.  Through its acquisition of Southern Platinum, the Lonmin Group currently
owns 91.5% of Messina.  The cash offer is conditional only upon the obtaining of
the requisite regulatory approvals. This offer is required under the terms of   
the South African Securities Regulation Panel Code on Takeovers and Mergers and 
the Rules of the SRP.                                                           
The offer price of Rand 33.00 per share represents the see through value of     
Messina based on the offer price Lonmin paid for 100% of Southern Platinum and  
is a:                                                                           
-    premium of 84% to the closing market value of Messina shares on the        
     Johannesburg Stock Exchange ("JSE") on 18 March 2005, the last trading day 
     before Lonmin announced its offer for Southern Platinum; and               
-    discount of 20% to the closing market value of Messina shares of Rand 41.47
on the JSE on 14 September 2005.                                           
The offer price values the total outstanding Messina shares at Rand 56.3 million
(US$8.9 million).                                                               
Messina has appointed an independent sub committee of the board to consider the 
offer proposal.   A circular setting out full details of the offer will be sent 
to Messina shareholders shortly.                                                
Enquiries:                                                                      
Alex Shorland-Ball                      +44 20 7201 6060                        
Vice President, Investor Relations & Communications                             
ENDS                                                                            
Date: 16/09/2005 08:00:17 AM Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za                     
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