| Mon 4 Feb 2008, 13:33 | | LAF - Lonrho Aquires Rights To Aquamine Natural Spring Water And Announces |
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LAF
LOLAF
LAF - Lonrho Aquires Rights To Aquamine Natural Spring Water And Announces
Development Of A Substantial South African Water Company
Lonrho Plc
(Formerly Lonrho Africa Plc)
(Incorporated and registered in England and Wales)
(Registration number 2805337)
(Share code: LAF; ISIN number: GB0002568813)
("Lonrho" or "the Company")
LONRHO AQUIRES RIGHTS TO AQUAMINE NATURAL SPRING WATER AND ANNOUNCES DEVELOPMENT
OF A SUBSTANTIAL SOUTH AFRICAN WATER COMPANY
Lonrho plc (AIM: LONR) today announces that it will establish a new water
company in South Africa to meet the growing demand for premium quality, glass
bottled water in Johannesburg.
The new company, Lonrho Springs SA Pty Ltd (Lonrho Springs) has acquired the
existing water use rights from the Aquamine (Propriety) Limited. The water is
sourced from a natural spring in the UNESCO nature reserve, The Cradle of Human
Kind in Gauteng Province, South Africa.
Aquamine has been producing small amounts of premium bottled water from its
natural spring for the Gauteng and Johannesburg market since 1988. The Aquamine
brand has established a strong reputation for being an exceptional, quality,
water and has had excellent reviews in competitive taste comparisons with
international waters, winning a place in the top three natural spring waters
globally.
Lonrho Springs is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lonrho Springs BVI, the Lonrho
Plc holding company for its water interests, which is operating and developing
water bottling projects in Africa.
Lonrho Springs will acquire the exclusive rights to the Aquamine brand, the
water source and a lease on the land.for a payment of approximately GBP 70,000.
The project will cost US$ 5.3 million and take twelve months to complete. Lonrho
Springs BVI will invest US$ 2.0 million over the twelve month period, with the
balance of the funding coming via project finance from South African banks.
Lonrho Springs will build a new international standard processing unit and state
of the art water bottling plant to produce up to 800,000 litres per month.
Mr Gunnar Shillings, the founder of Aquamine, will remain with the company.
The quality of the Aquamine natural spring water is such that the company will
focus its distribution on restaurants and COS (consume on site) customers such
as high net worth individuals, corporate accounts and hotels. The product will
be distributed in environmentally friendly, returnable glass bottles.
The Gauteng / Johannesburg market is responsible for over 50% of South Africa`s
bottled water consumption, and it is believed that the quality of the water
combined with Aquamine`s presence and reputation in the market since 1988 are a
strong basis on which the company can take a significant share in this premium
market in the region.
David Lenigas, Executive Chairman of Lonrho stated:
"This water is one of the finest available anywhere, with a perfect balance of
ph and minerals. It is sourced from a natural spring in the UNESCO world
heritage site the `Cradle of Humankind` which is a protected and beautiful
environment.
The water is bottled in eco-friendly recyclable glass bottles. Aquamine will be
a significant addition to the rapidly expanding Lonrho Springs water business
and the quality of this natural spring water will ensure that it will become the
flagship water of the Lonrho range."
ENQUIRIES
Lonrho Plc +44 (0)20 7016 5105
David Lenigas, Executive Chairman +44 (0)7881 825 378
Geoffrey White, Chief Executive +44 (0)7717 307 308
Officer
Emma Priestley, Executive Director +44 (0)7867 785 177
Pelham PR
Charles Vivian +44 (0) 20 7743 6672
+44 (0) 7977 297903
Alisdair Haythornthwaite +44 (0) 20 7743 6676
+44 (0) 7714 721379
Collins Stewart Europe : NOMAD to
Lonrho
Hugh Field / Jonny Sloan +44 (0) 20 7523 8350
NOTES TO EDITORS
About LONRHO:
Lonrho Plc is an expanding conglomerate that is rapidly growing a successful
business throughout Africa. The Company is listed on the London AIM stock
exchange (LONR). Lonrho is strategically focused on the development of business
opportunities in infrastructure, transportation, support services and natural
resources. The Company has over 20,000 shareholders and substantial
institutional backing to support its mandate to build a profitable business that
plays a fundamental role in the development of the African economy.
Since 2006, the Company has invested in or acquired control of:
- Hotel Cardoso - www.hotelcardoso.co.mz
- Lonrho Mining - www.lonrhomining.com
- Luba Freeport - www.lubafreeport.com
- Fly540 - www.fly540.com
- Norse Air - www.norseair.co.za
- Swissta Holdings - www.swissta.com
- SA Independent Liner Services - www.saliners.com
- Bytes and Pieces
- Celsys Limited - www.celsys.co.zw
- Kwikbuild - www.kwikbuild.co.za
4 February 2008
South African sponsor to Lonrho Africa Plc
Java Capital (Proprietary) Limited
Date: 04/02/2008 13:33:20 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.
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