Kimberley Diamonds to Acquire Mantle Diamonds

Kimberley Diamonds Ltd. agreed to acquire full equity in Mantle Diamonds Ltd. for almost 13.6 million new ordinary shares. The agreement is dependent upon its own due diligence and Mantle Diamonds' capital restructuring, according to the junior miners.
Mantle Diamonds owns the Lerala diamond mine,  situated 50 kilometers  west of the Martin’s Drift Border Post with South Africa in eastern Botswana. The mine hosts   five diamondiferous kimberlite pipes that were discovered by De Beers in the early 1990s. Indicated resource estimates were about 3.1 million carats and probable reserves were nearly 2.5 million carats. 
Reportedly, Mantle and partner DiamonEx Ltd. undertook a substantial refurbishment of the plant and equipment, focusing on critical engineering modifications to optimize processing and security. Kimberley Diamonds stated that even though Lerala stands ready to be recommissioned, it requires engineering improvements that must  further enhance recovery and reduce operating costs since it hopes to restart mining in 2014 with a production target of 400,000 carats per year. Upgrades that will receive priority, subsequent to the completion of the transaction, are estimated to cost $10 million and include:
<> Purchasing a new diamond sorter to replace outdated technology and improve recovery;
<> Purchasing an optical waste sorter to improve the throughput capacity of the plant; and
<> Replacing the diesel power generators with a link to Botswana’s national power grid.
Once this transaction is completed,  Kimberley Diamonds expects to acquire Mantle's 34 percent stake in a joint venture with Firestone Diamonds at the diamondiferous Lahtojoki kimberlite project in Finland along with the Slave and Superior projects near the Ekati diamond mine in Canada.
Alex Alexander, Kimberley Diamonds' chairman, said, “The acquisition provides Kimberley Diamonds with a strong foundation for the company’s growth ambitions, including its objective to become a world class diamond producer – with multiple operating mines, supported by longer term life extension opportunities. We aim to consistently acquire projects with promising prospects at attractive valuations, with significant upside potential that can be realized quickly and cost effectively. Lerala has all of these qualities and represents an important incremental step in the company’s growth.”

Source: Diamonds.net