Rockwell Diamonds Inc. has acquired a 20% stake in Flawless Diamond Trading House (Proprietary) Limited (“FDTH”).
Effective June 1, 2010, the Company has purchased a 20% stake in FDTH that was previously held by Mr Hennie van Wyk for a consideration of South African Rand (“ZAR”) 700,000 (approximately $97,000).
FDTH was established in 2006 to provide a professional marketing and sales facility to market and sell Rockwell’s diamond production. Rockwell had no prior experience of marketing high quality alluvial gemstone production and with new diamond legislation in the process of being implemented at the time that Rockwell was establishing a foothold in South Africa, it was deemed prudent to ensure that Rockwell had access to a strong and secure dedicated marketing facility to maximize revenue from the sale of its unique diamond production.
FDTH was established in the premises of South Africa’s internationally recognized high security diamond trading and manufacturing hub known as Jewel City, located on Commissioner Street in Johannesburg. FDTH was established and is still run by experienced and internationally recognized diamantaire, Jeffry Brenner.
The facility is operated by a small and highly experienced marketing and valuation team which collectively has over 100 years of rough diamond valuation, marketing and sales experience. FDTH follows rigorous diamond handling, security, and Kimberley Process protocols, and all marketing and sales procedures are monitored and facilitated by a proprietary computer based system. This system provides independent and transparent verification of results for sellers and buyers, and is acknowledged in the industry as a leading standard for transacting diamond sales.
Aside from providing a unique marketing and sales arm for Rockwell at a fee which is well below the market norm for provision of such services, FDTH also conducts sales on behalf of other small South African producers. In addition to providing a marketing and sales arm for Rockwell, FDTH has also facilitated the successful marketing and sales agreement that Rockwell entered into with the Steinmetz Diamond Group. This agreement allows Rockwell to share in profits generated from the manufacture and sales of large and unique stones mined at Rockwell’s operations.
The recently acquired 20% stake in FDTH will provide Rockwell with access to additional revenue, allowing the Company to gain insight into diamond sales trends which will assist with its short and long term production and growth plans.
John Bristow, CEO commented “Our investment in FDTH provides us with additional revenue flow and will assist the Company to better understand the demand from, and penetration into, an international diamond market which is undergoing progressive change with the emergence of strong new players in India and China. Rockwell will remain focussed on being a successful mining company, but every opportunity to monitor and understand its markets and buyers will assist us with short and long term plans for growth and development.”
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