Petra Diamonds sells its Kimberley Ekapa Mining stake for R300m
Bengaluru/London — Petra Diamonds has sold its stake in the Kimberley Ekapa Mining joint venture for about R300m, the miner said on Thursday. London-listed shares in the miner, which have more than halved in the past two years, rose 2.8% to 55p by 11.35am GMT. Petra Diamonds said it would sell its 75.9% stake in the business, which focuses on mining in Kimberley, to its joint venture partner Ekapa Mining. The sale would allow Petra to focus on its Finsch and Cullinan diamond mines, reduce operational risk for the group, and shore up its finances. The company, which operates five mines in Tanzania and SA, said it expected the stake sale to be recorded as a non-cash impairment charge in the region of $35m to $45m in its 2018 results.
About 600 workers downed tools in September last year in a protest over pay at the Kimberley Ekapa Mining joint venture and Finsch mine. The labour strike contributed to Petra’s stretched financial position, forcing it to renegotiate its loan agreem...
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