Anglo American : DeBeers signs diamond sales agreement with Namibia

Anglo American plc draws attention to an announcement issued today by De Beers, the text of which is set out below:

The Government of the Republic of Namibia and The De Beers Group of Companies today signed a new 10-year sales agreement for the sorting, valuing and sales of Namdeb Holdings' diamonds. The sales agreement is the longest ever signed between the two partners.

Namibia will see a significant increase in rough diamonds made available for beneficiation as a result of the agreement, with US$430 million of rough diamonds being offered annually to Namibia Diamond Trading Company (NDTC) customers. As part of the agreement, all Namdeb Holdings' Special Stones will be made available for sale in Namibia.

In addition, the agreement provides for 15 per cent of Namdeb Holdings' run-of-mine production per annum to be made available to a Government-owned independent sales company called Namib Desert Diamonds Pty Ltd.

The agreement builds on the socio-economic contribution the partnership has made to Namibia since it was formally established in 1994. Namdeb Holdings is one of Namibia's largest taxpayers and the country's biggest foreign exchange generator, contributing more than one in every five Namibian dollars of foreign earnings.

Obeth Kandjoze, Namibia's Minister of Mines and Energy, said: 'This new agreement cements Namibia's position as an important international diamond player and will provide further stimulus to advance our downstream industry. De Beers and Namibia have a longstanding and successful partnership and I am pleased we will continue working together for the benefit of Namibia and the diamond industry.'

Philippe Mellier, CEO, De Beers Group, said: 'This sales agreement - the longest ever between Namibia and De Beers - not only secures long-term supply for De Beers, but also ensures that Namibia's diamonds will continue to play a key role in national socio-economic development long into the future. Diamonds can have a powerful and transformative effect on a country's prospects when effectively managed and I commend our partners in Government for their vision regarding the role of diamonds in national development.'

Namdeb Holdings is a 50:50 joint venture between the Government of the Republic of Namibia and De Beers and is the parent company for Namdeb (land) and Debmarine Namibia (marine) production

This figure is index-linked to price so that volumes do not decrease relative to any price increases

NDTC is a 50:50 joint venture between the Government of the Republic of Namibia and De Beers to sort and value production from Namdeb Holdings

Typically, very large or unusual stones

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Notes to editors:

Anglo American is a globally diversified mining business. Our portfolio of world-class competitive mining operations and undeveloped resources provides the raw materials to meet the growing consumer-driven demands of the world's developed and maturing economies. Our people are at the heart of our business. It is our people who use the latest technologies to find new resources, plan and build our mines and who mine, process and move and market our products - from diamonds (through De Beers) to platinum and other precious metals and copper - to our customers around the world.

As a responsible miner, we are the custodians of those precious resources. We work together with our key partners and stakeholders to unlock the long-term value that those resources represent for our shareholders, but also for the communities and countries in which we operate - creating sustainable value and making a real difference.

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