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Singapore 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")
Singapore Emerald Auction Results
Gemfields is pleased to announce the results of an auction of higher quality rough emeralds held in Singapore
from 14 – 17 May 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 22.4 million
• Average price of USD 71.85 per carat
• The top lot set an all-time price per carat record for Gemfields emerald auctions
• Of the 35 lots offered, 28 were sold (80%)
• 72% of the carats offered were sold
• The 32 Kagem auctions held since July 2009 have generated USD 589 million in total revenues
The auction saw 45 companies placing bids and generating total revenues of USD 22.4 million with an overall
average value of USD 71.85 per carat, an all-time record for any Gemfields emerald auction. The auction saw
72% of the offered carats being sold (or 80% of the number of lots offered).
Gemfields’ 32 auctions of emeralds and beryl mined at Kagem since July 2009 have generated USD 589 million
in total revenues. The results of the five most recent higher quality Kagem auctions are summarised in the table
below (and earlier results are available at www.gemfieldsgroup.com):
AUCTION RESULTS Feb ‘17 Oct ‘17 May ‘18 Nov ‘18 May ‘19
(HIGHER QUALITY) AUCTION AUCTION AUCTION AUCTION AUCTION
13-17 Feb 2-5 Oct 15-18 May 14-17 Nov 14-17 May
Dates 2017 2017 2018 2018 2019
Location Lusaka Lusaka Lusaka Singapore Singapore
Type Higher Quality Higher Quality Higher Quality Higher Quality Higher Quality
Carats offered 0.42 million 0.32 million 0.31 million 0.57 million 0.43 million
Carats sold 0.35 million 0.32 million 0.17 million 0.42 million 0.31 million
No. of companies placing bids 33 36 31 40 45
Average no. of bids per lot 7 11 8 8 8
No. of lots offered 19 18 17 26 35
No. of lots sold 17 18 10 20 28
Percentage of lots sold 89% 100% 59% 77% 80%
Percentage of lots sold by weight 84% 100% 56% 74% 72%
Total sales realised at auction USD 22.3 million USD 21.5 million USD 10.3 million USD 28.4 million USD 22.4 million
Average per carat sales value USD 63.61/carat USD 66.21/carat USD 59.55/carat USD 68.03/carat USD 71.85/carat
The specific auction mix and 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:
“As the results of this auction show, we continue to see encouraging signs of recovery in the emerald sector.
We congratulate Chatree Gems of Thailand – one of our firmly established ruby auction customers - on their
participation in their first Gemfields emerald auction. They won three lots of fine quality emeralds, including
the top lot comprising two exceptional gems weighing a total of 62 carats, and which set a new record price
per carat for Zambian rough emeralds at a Gemfields auction. The two gemstones have been named ‘Green’
and ‘Ice’ in homage to the 1981 movie starring Omar Sharif and Ryan O’Neal.
The biggest issue Kagem presently faces is the 15% Zambian export duty imposed on emeralds since 1 January
2019. When combined with the pre-existing 6% mineral royalty tax, Zambian emerald exporters must now pay
an effective 21% turnover tax on their revenues.
By contrast, the world’s second and third largest emerald exporters, Colombia and Brazil, levy 2.5% and 2.0%
respectively, bringing about a watershed shift in tactical advantage. While the 15% export duty shuts the door
on foreign investors and new entrants interested in the Zambian emerald sector, the financial impact is being
acutely felt by incumbent producers like Kagem. We continue to liaise with the key government departments in
seeking resolution and remain hopeful that a solution will be found.”
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.
To join our press release mailing list, click here: gemfields@gemfields.com.
For any press enquiries please contact us on investor.relations@gemfields.com.
London
20 May 2019
Sponsor
Investec Bank Limited
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