Tharisa PLC Tharisa to transition to owner mining model (4227B)

TIDMTHS

RNS Number : 4227B

Tharisa PLC

04 April 2017

Tharisa plc

(Incorporated in the Republic of Cyprus with limited liability)

(Registration number HE223412)

JSE share code: THA

LSE share code: THS

ISIN: CY0103562118

('Tharisa')

Tharisa to transition to owner mining model

Tharisa, a profitable low cost producer of PGMs and chrome, owns a large scale open pit operation with an open pit life of 18 years and a further 40 years of underground mine extension. With the long life of the open pit Tharisa has been evaluating the benefits of transitioning from contract mining to an owner mining model at its Tharisa Mine in South Africa.

Tharisa currently contracts its mining operations to MCC Contracts Proprietary Limited (MCC). MCC's parent company Extract has announced a strategic decision to align its capital allocations with the current mining environment and to review its business model. As a result, Tharisa has the opportunity to purchase MCC's existing on-site plant and equipment, as well as employ skilled employees currently in service at the Tharisa Mine.

Tharisa has accordingly engaged with MCC in an orderly manner, to purchase a requisite portion of the existing mining fleet as a going concern. Tharisa, in the normal course of managing its mining operations, has developed engineering and geological skills that are integral to in-house mining, and the successful conclusion of this process will ensure that the Tharisa Mine transitions to an owner mining model without interruption.

The Company believes that with the long life of the open pit, the transition to an owner mining model is a logical progression in its development. The change in the operating model is expected to have both cost and operational benefits as well as providing financial flexibility, thereby cementing Tharisa's low-cost high margin position. Further details on this transaction will be published in due course.

"Tharisa has spent the last two years building up its mining expertise and we are now happy that we have the necessary skills to make a smooth transition. We are excited to have the opportunity to directly control our own mining," said Tharisa CEO Phoevos Pouroulis.

Tharisa will be releasing its production update for the second quarter and first half of its 2017 financial year on Monday, 10 April, 2017.

Paphos, Cyprus

4 April 2017

JSE Sponsor

Investec Bank Limited

Investor Relations contact:

Tharisa plc

Sherilee Lakmidas

[phone]

[phone]

[e-mail]

Broker contacts:

Peel Hunt LLP (Joint Broker)

Matthew Armitt / Ross Allister

[phone]

BMO Capital Markets Limited (Joint Broker)

Jeffrey Couch/Neil Haycock/Thomas Rider

[phone]

Financial PR contacts:

Bobby Morse/Anna Michniewicz

[phone]

[e-mail]

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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April 04, 2017 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)