In 2007, Gemfields Group Limited (formerly Pallinghurst Resources Limited) (“GGL”) identified three shallow platinum group metals (“PGM” or “PGMs”) deposits north of the Pilanesberg on the Western Limb of the Bushveld Complex (“BC”), which, while individually attractive, could benefit significantly from economies of scale and synergies if combined into a consolidated entity. Pallinghurst assembled a consortium of investors (the “Investors”), including the Group, to invest in this PGM strategy. The Bakgatla Ba Kgafela Tribe (the “Bakgatla”), which already held interests in the deposits, joined the consortium as its Black Economic Empowerment (“BEE”) partner.

Over a period of six years, the Investors, including the Group, acquired the Pilanesberg Platinum Mine (“PPM”), Sedibelo and Magazynskraal and in 2012 consolidated them into a single contiguous operation with shallow resources of approximately 70 million 4E PGM (platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold) ounces. Together with its other assets, Sedibelo Platinum Mines Limited (“Sedibelo Platinum Mines”, “Sedibelo” or “SPM”, formerly Platmin Limited) has a total resources base of some 100 million ounces, making it one of the world’s significant PGM asset owners which can extract its shallow resources in a safe and sustainable manner. 

Following the consolidation, the Industrial Development Corporation (“IDC”) invested the South African rand equivalent of US$400 million in the newly created Sedibelo Platinum Mines. These funds, together with an additional US$65 million invested by international investors, were used to develop the consolidated operations into a “PGM producer for the 21st Century”, with its generally shallow orebodies offering safety and cost benefits.