Gemfields Grou. Regulatory News (GEM)

Gemfields plc

("Gemfields" or the "Company")

Grant of Share Options 

10 November 2016  

Gemfields (AIM: GEM) announces that it has granted to certain directors and employees a total of 6,715,000 options over ordinary shares of 1 pence each in the Company (the "Options"). These Options were granted under the Share Option Scheme 2010 approved at the AGM on 21 December 2010 (the "Scheme").

The awarding of the Options was approved by the Board on 8 November 2016 and carry a grant date of 8 November 2016 with the exercise price being the volume-weighted average traded price per ordinary share in the capital of the Company during the 30 days ending on 7 November 2016. As such, the Options have an exercise price of 49.49 pence per share, calculated over the 30 days ending on 7 November 2016.

The Directors who have been awarded Options are as follows:

The 920,000 Options granted to the Directors represent approximately 0.17% of the current issued share capital of the Company. The remaining 5,795,000 Options awarded to employees also carry an exercise price of 49.49 pence per share and a grant date of 8 November 2016.

Following the grant of the Options, the total number of ordinary shares covered by option arrangements is 41,060,000 ordinary shares representing 7.48% of the Company's issued share capital (and of which the number of options held by directors of the Company is 9,345,000 ordinary shares representing 1.70% of the Company's issued share capital).

ENQUIRIES:

Notes to Editors:

Gemfields plc is a leading supplier of responsibly sourced coloured gemstones and is quoted on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange (ticker: GEM).

Gemfields is the operator and 75 per cent. owner of both the Kagem emerald mine in Zambia (believed to be the world's single largest producing emerald mine) and the Montepuez ruby deposit in Mozambique (one of the most significant recently discovered ruby deposits in the world). In addition, Gemfields also holds a 50 per cent. interest in the Kariba amethyst mine in Zambia, as well as controlling interests in various other gemstone mining and prospecting licenses in Zambia, Mozambique, Colombia, Ethiopia, Madagascar and Sri Lanka.

Gemfields' outright ownership of the Fabergé brand - an iconic and prestigious brand of exceptional heritage - enables Gemfields to optimise positioning, perception and consumer awareness of coloured gemstones, advancing the Group's "mine and market" vision.

Gemfields has developed a proprietary grading system and a pioneering auction and trading platform to provide a consistent supply of quality coloured gemstones to the global downstream markets. This is a key component of the Company's business model which the Directors believe has played an important role in the appropriate distribution and associated resurgence of the global coloured gemstone sector.

www.gemfields.co.uk

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014.

NOTIFICATION AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF TRANSACTIONS BY PERSONS DISCHARGING MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND PERSONS CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THEM

NOTIFICATION AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF TRANSACTIONS BY PERSONS DISCHARGING MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND PERSONS CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THEM