Diamondcorp Plc Corporate Update (2781B)

TIDMDCP

RNS Number : 2781B

Diamondcorp Plc

03 April 2017

3 April 2017

DiamondCorp plc

AIM share code: DCP & JSE share code: DMC

ISIN: GB00B183ZC46

(Incorporated in England and Wales)

(Registration number 05400982)

(SA company registration number 2007/031444/10)

("DiamondCorp", "the Company" or "the Group")

Corporate Update

DiamondCorp, the Southern African diamond mining, development and exploration company, announces the following update in respect of discussions with the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa ("IDC") and the Association of Mining & Construction Union ("AMCU").

Further to the announcement of 28 February 2017, discussions between AMCU and the Business Rescue Practitioner ("BRP") under the supervision of the South African Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration have terminated without a settlement being reached on a collective agreement to allow care and maintenance to commence. Consequently, effective April 3(rd) all employees will be retrenched.

As a further consequence of the retrenchment, the senior secured status necessary for the effectiveness of the post commencement finance pursuant to the IDC Agreement (as announced on 28 February 2017) is no longer available for new funding, as in a liquidation priority is given to amounts due relating to employment.

Following discussions with the major affected parties, LDM has appointed Lebogang Mpakati of Independent Advisory (Pty) Ltd (www.corprecover.co.za) as joint Business Rescue Practitioner, alongside Daniel Terblanche of Deloitte & Touche.

The Board of DiamondCorp has advised the BRP and the IDC that unless there is an accelerated plan and route for funding in place which can be completed by mid-May 2017, including a significant restructuring of all debt, and successful exit from the Business Rescue process, then it is likely that the Group would need to be placed into administration.

Capitalised terms in this announcement, unless otherwise defined, have the same meaning given to them in the announcements issued by the Company on 28 February 2017, as appropriate.

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No 596/2014.

Contact details:

DiamondCorp plc

Chris Ellis, Interim Non-Executive Chairman

Tel: [phone]

Paul Loudon, Chief Executive

Tel: [phone]

UK Broker& Nominated Adviser

Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited

Adam James / Atholl Tweedie

Tel: [phone]

JSE Designated Adviser

Sasfin Capital (a division of Sasfin Bank Limited)

Megan Young

Tel: [phone]

Important Information

This announcement contains (or may contain) certain forward-looking statements with respect to certain of the Company's plans and its current goals and expectations relating to its future financial condition and performance and which involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The Company cautions readers that no forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance and that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements sometimes use words such as "aim", "anticipate", "target", "expect", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "goal", "believe", or other words of similar meaning. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances, including, but not limited to, economic and business conditions, the effects of continued volatility in credit markets, market-related risks such as changes in the price of commodities or changes in interest rates and foreign exchange rates, the policies and actions of governmental and regulatory authorities, changes in legislation, the further development of standards and interpretations under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") applicable to past, current and future periods, evolving practices with regard to the interpretation and application of standards under IFRS, the outcome of pending and future litigation or regulatory investigations, the success of future explorations, acquisitions and other strategic transactions and the impact of competition. A number of these factors are beyond the Company's control. As a result, the Company's actual future results may differ materially from the plans, goals, and expectations set forth in the Company's forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements made in this announcement by or on behalf of the Company speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required by the Financial Conduct Authority (the "FCA"), the London Stock Exchange or applicable law, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement to reflect any changes in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

This announcement is for information purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to buy, sell, issue, or subscribe for, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, sell, issue, or subscribe for any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

This announcement does not contain an offer or constitute any part of an offer to the public within the meaning of Sections 85 and 102B of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended ("FSMA") or otherwise. This announcement is not an "approved prospectus" within the meaning of Section 85(7) of FSMA and a copy of it has not been, and will not be, delivered to the FCA in accordance with the Prospectus Rules or delivered to any other authority which could be a competent authority for the purpose of the Prospectus Directive. Its contents have not been examined or approved by the London Stock Exchange plc, nor has it been approved by an "authorised person" for the purposes of Section 21 of FSMA.

This announcement has been issued by and is the sole responsibility of the Company. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by Panmure Gordon or by any of its respective affiliates or agents as to, or in relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or its advisers, and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed.

Panmure Gordon, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA, is acting as placing agent for the Company and for no-one else in connection with the Placing, and Panmure Gordon will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to its customers or for providing advice to any other person in relation to the Placing or any other matter referred to herein.

The distribution of this announcement and the offering of the Placing Shares with Warrants in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been taken by the Company or Panmure Gordon that would permit an offering of such shares or possession or distribution of this announcement or any other offering or publicity material relating to such shares in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes are required to inform themselves about, and to observe such restrictions.

This announcement is not for distribution or dissemination, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any jurisdiction into which the same would be unlawful. No public offering of securities of the Company will be made in connection with the Placing in the United Kingdom, the United States, the EEA, Switzerland or elsewhere.

This announcement is not intended to constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in the Placing Shares.

Persons (including, without limitation, nominees and trustees) who have a contractual or other legal obligation to forward a copy of this announcement should seek appropriate advice before taking any action.

The Placing Shares to which this announcement relates may be illiquid and / or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the Placing Shares should conduct their own due diligence on the Placing Shares. If you do not understand the contents of this announcement you should consult an authorised financial adviser.

The information in this announcement may not be forwarded or distributed to any other person and may not be reproduced in any manner whatsoever. Any forwarding, distribution, dissemination, reproduction, or disclosure of this information in whole or in part is unauthorised. Failure to comply with this directive may result in a violation of the United States Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) ("US Securities Act") or the applicable laws of other jurisdictions.

Neither the content of the Company's website nor any website accessible by hyperlinks on the Company's website is incorporated in, or forms part of, this announcement.

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

MSCUURURBNASRUR

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 03, 2017 02:01 ET (06:01 GMT)