Re: Luksic Family Interest

20 Jun 2006 15:00

Antofagasta PLC20 June 2006 Antofagasta plc Luksic Family Interests London, 20 June 2006 Antofagasta plc ("Antofagasta") has been informed of certain changes in thestructure of the Luksic family interests in shares of Antofagasta and ofincreases to the number of shares held as a result of yesterday's 4-for-1 bonusissue (the "Bonus Issue"). These changes do not alter the combined overallpercentage interest that the Luksic family controls in Antofagasta. Previously, Sandypoint Establishment ("Sandypoint") held 27,975,408 ordinaryshares in the capital of Antofagasta ("ordinary shares") and MetalinvestEstablishment ("Metalinvest") held 100,000,000 ordinary shares and 1,882,396 5%cumulative preference shares in the capital of Antofagasta ("preference shares"). Each of Sandypoint and Metalinvest was controlled by the E. AbaroaFoundation ("Abaroa") and their combined interests represented 64.91% of theordinary shares and 94.12% of the preference shares of Antofagasta. AurebergEstablishment ("Aureberg"), which is controlled by Antofagasta's chairman, MrJ-P Luksic, held a minority interest in Sandypoint. On 24 April 2006, as part of a reorganisation, Kupferberg Establishment ("Kupferberg"), which is controlled by Abaroa, acquired Abaroa's interests inSandypoint and thereby acquired control of Sandypoint and became interested inthe 27,975,408 ordinary shares which continued to be held by Sandypoint. Thisreorganisation did not affect the interests of Abaroa or Sandypoint inAntofagasta. Then, on 15 June 2006, Sandypoint distributed in kind 19,582,786 ordinary sharesto Kupferberg and 8,392,622 ordinary shares to Aureberg, and therefore ceased tobe interested in any shares of Antofagasta. Subsequently, the Bonus Issue resulted in a further 400,000,000 ordinary sharesbeing issued to Metalinvest, a further 78,331,144 ordinary shares being issuedto Kupferberg and a further 33,570,488 ordinary shares being issued to Aureberg. Accordingly, following this reorganisation and the Bonus Issue (and taking intoaccount the new ordinary shares issued pursuant to the Bonus Issue): (a) Abaroa has ceased to be interested in the ordinary shares now held byAureberg and is now interested in 597,913,930 ordinary shares and 1,882,396preference shares (approximately 60.65% of the ordinary shares and 94.12% of thepreference shares). Abaroa's interest comprises: (i) the interest of Kupferberg in 97,913,930 ordinary shares (approximately9.93% of the ordinary shares); and (ii) the interest of Metalinvest in 500,000,000 ordinary shares and 1,882,396preference shares (approximately 50.72% of the ordinary shares and 94.12% of thepreference shares); and (b) Aureberg is interested in 41,963,110 ordinary shares (approximately 4.26% ofthe ordinary shares). Mr J-P Luksic is therefore also interested in theseordinary shares through his control of Aureberg. Various members of the Luksic family including Mr J-P Luksic and Mr G A Luksic,both directors of Antofagasta, are interested in Abaroa; however, no individualLuksic family member holds a controlling interest. On 19 June 2006, Antofagasta received all notifications resulting from thisreorganisation and the Bonus Issue under: (a) sections 198-202 of the Companies Act 1985 (the "Act") in relation to thechange of notifiable interests; (b) section 324 of the Act in relation to the interest of Mr J-P Luksic; and (c) Disclosure Rule 3 in relation to the distribution of the Antofagasta sharesfrom Sandypoint to Aureberg. Enquiries Issued by Antofagasta plc Bankside ConsultantsTel: +44 20 7808 0988 Tel: +44 20 7367 8873www.antofagasta.co.uk Keith IronsDesmond O'Conor Email: keith@bankside.comEmail: doconor@antofagasta.co.uk Oliver WintersHussein Barma Email: oliver.winters@bankside.comEmail: hbarma@antofagasta.co.uk This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange