Wrap Text
Record auction result – US$55 million generated
PALLINGHURST RESOURCES LIMITED
(Incorporated in Guernsey)
(Guernsey registration Number: 47656)
(South African external company registration number 2009/012636/10)
Share code on the BSX: PALLRES ISIN: GG00B27Y8Z93
Share code on the JSE: PGL
("Pallinghurst" or the "Company")
Record auction result – US$55 million generated
Pallinghurst is pleased to announce the results of an auction of rough rubies held by its 100% subsidiary,
Gemfields plc (“Gemfields”), in Singapore from 6 - 10 November 2017. The rough rubies were extracted by
Montepuez Ruby Mining Limitada (“MRM”, which is 75% owned by Gemfields and 25% by local partner Mwiriti
Limitada) from the licence held by MRM in the Montepuez district of Mozambique.
Highlights – Ruby Auction
- Auction revenues of US$54.96 million, the highest figure attained at any Gemfields auction;
- Of the 76 lots offered, 71 were sold (93%);
- Average price of US$90.81 per carat, a 49% premium to the last auction of similar qualities in June 2017;
- 605,229 carats sold out of the 682,508 carats offered (89%); and
- The nine Montepuez auctions held since June 2014 have generated US$335 million in aggregate
revenues.
Gemfields’ ninth auction of rough rubies from Montepuez saw 54 companies placing bids. The auction offered
high, medium and commercial grade rough rubies in both untreated and treated form. All treated lots were
offered using industry-accepted treatment and on a fully disclosed basis.
The consistency of supply and the reliability of the Gemfields grading system continues to be well received by
buyers as it reduces risk, improves manufacturing efficiencies and increases ability to meet consumer demand.
The auction generated total revenues of US$54.96 million at an average realised price of US$90.81 per carat.
The proceeds of this auction will be repatriated to MRM in Mozambique, with the production tax due to the
Government of Mozambique being paid on the full sales price achieved at the auction.
Given that the quality mix offered at this auction comprised a blend of varying qualities and sizes of material, a
direct top-line comparison with the results of previous auctions is not feasible. On a quality-for-quality basis
however, the per carat prices demonstrated strong demand, and reflected Gemfields’ experiences at recent
industry events, including the first ever World Ruby Forum which took place in Bangkok, Thailand on the 4th of
November 2017.
The auction results, which saw 71 of the 76 lots offered being sold, provided a high level of comfort in respect
of Gemfields’ understanding of the current market demand profile, which was further supported by customer
feedback received during the auction.
The results of the five most recent Montepuez auctions are summarised in the table below:
AUCTION RESULTS
Dec ‘15 Jun ‘16 Dec ‘16 Jun ‘17 Nov ‘17
(RUBY &
CORUNDUM) AUCTION AUCTION AUCTION AUCTION AUCTION
14-18 Dec 13-19 Jun 12-16 Dec 10-14 Jun 6-10 Nov
Dates 2015 2016 2016 2017 2017
Location Singapore Singapore Singapore Singapore Singapore
Rough Ruby & Rough Ruby Rough Ruby
Rough Ruby &
Rough Ruby Corundum (Higher, (Higher,
Corundum
(Higher and (Higher, Medium and Medium and
(Higher, Medium
Type Medium Medium and Commercial Commercial
and Commercial
Quality) Commercial Quality), no Quality), no
Quality)
Quality) Corundum Corundum
Carats offered 92,136 1,601,145 1,372,145 1,048,687 682,508
Carats sold 90,642 1,516,459 1,094,673(a) 895,849 605,229
No. of lots offered 49 75 71(a) 83 76
No. of lots sold 45 71 59(a) 78 71
Percentage of lots 92% 95% 83%(a) 94% 93%
sold
Percentage of lots 98% 95% 80% 85% 89%
sold by weight
Total sales realised US$28.8 million US$44.3 US$30.5 US$54.8 US$55.0
at auction million million(a) million million
Average per carat US$317.92/carat US$29.21/carat US$27.88/carat(a) US$61.13/carat US$90.81/carat
sales value
(a) Please note that the December 2016 ruby and corundum auction results have been amended to include a lot that was not previously
included in the original announcement made by Gemfields on 19 December 2016. Revenues have increased by US$0.1 million.
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. Each auction naturally
contains a degree of variation in overall quality composition and therefore the results of each auction are not
always directly comparable.
Sean Gilbertson, CEO of Gemfields, commented:
“The strong revenues from this auction provide a solid boost to the Gemfields cash position and underscore the
fact that market demand for responsibly sourced rubies from Mozambique remains in fine fettle.
We pay tribute to the teamwork at Gemfields, covering all the disciplines involved in delivering successful
auctions: exploration, mining, processing, grading & sorting, auction composition & logistics, marketing & public
relations and of course its Corporate Social Responsibility programme. It is a distinct privilege to work with a
team of this calibre.
As always, we extend our thanks to our loyal customers, to Mwiriti Limitada - our partners in MRM - and to the
Government of the Republic of Mozambique for their collective efforts and support in making this auction and
the outcome possible.”
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 and Pallinghurst can be found at www.gemfields.com and
www.pallinghurst.com.
Guernsey
13 November 2017
Sponsor
Investec Bank Limited
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