New thread started as Epic changed from LAF to LONR - May 07.





Epic : LONR

Web Site : http://www.lonrho.com/


Its something different, and something exciting imo.



Nice recent Telegraph write up to (April 2007) :

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/04/04/cnlonrho04.xml


.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/money/investment/article1874661.ece

From The Sunday Times
June 3, 2007

Go off the beaten track

"..........and if you want exposure to Africa, you can buy shares in Lonrho, a pan-African investment company........."

The Times comment was brief. Good spot PP. We should get more UK press coverage from now on. Be interesting to see what the sp does today.

Lonrho PLC 07 June 2007

LONRHO Plc
('Lonrho' or 'the Company')

LONRHO BYTES INTO THE AFRICAN IT INDUSTRY

Lonrho is pleased to announce that it has exchanged contracts to acquire 65% of one of Mozambique's largest commercial Information Technology Solution Providers, Sociedade Comercial Bytes & Pieces, Limitada ('Bytes & Pieces'), which provides turnkey network solutions and maintenance and support to Mozambique businesses, NGO's and Government organisations. Bytes & Pieces featured at 53 in the KPMG 'Top 100 Companies in Mozambique' survey in 2004.

Bytes & Pieces is an authorized distributor of Dell equipment in Mozambique, providing Enterprise Solutions on a Dell hardware platform.

The IT company is a Microsoft Certified Partner and was awarded the System Builder Partner of the Year 2006 for East and Southern Africa. Bytes & Pieces is also an authorized distributor or value added reseller for CISCO Systems, MGE UPS Systems and Legrand networking products.

Lonrho is buying the stake in the Bytes & Pieces for $2.34m and will take up two thirds of the board positions. The two founders of Bytes & Pieces, Vijay Thadani and Veronica Miller, will together retain 35%. Bytes & Pieces recorded profits before tax of US$854,000 in 2006, on revenue of US$8.6 m.

The company now plans to expand into the region using the Bytes & Pieces model with a distribution division for high quality networking products and also with an Enterprise Solutions implementation division based upon the Dell hardware platform. The first countries in which the company will expand include South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Swaziland, Lesotho, Botswana, Namibia, Malawi and the
Democratic Republic of Congo.

Lonrho Chairman and CEO David Lenigas commented:
'As the majority shareholder in Bytes & Pieces, Lonrho intends to further build on the IT company's success and replicate the business model built up in Mozambique to the rest of Africa.'

'This acquisition is another example of Lonrho's strategy of investing in African infrastructure. We are entering into this field as it services African business with high quality IT solutions, an essential tool for helping them to
grow and prosper while keeping up with the rest of the world'

The Bytes & Pieces deal seems cheap enough. A company on the face of it worth US$3.6m earning a PBT of US$854,000 in 2006 and producing Gross profit margin of around 10%. Good to see the founders staying on board with a 35% stake. Should be some attractive growth potential given the Microsoft, Dell, Cisco etc. connections. sp 33.75p

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/06/07/cnlonrho107.xml

"Lonrho to gamble 100m in Zimbabwe fund"
By Tom Stevenson


Lonrho is to double the size of a planned Zimbabwe investment fund to meet strong demand from around the world, according to chairman David Lenigas. LonZim is now looking to raise 100m, twice the 50m it indicated earlier this week.

The company has courted controversy by offering investors a way to back economic recovery in the pariah state, where 80pc of the population is out of work and personal wealth has been destroyed by hyperinflation and social unrest.

David Lenigas, the Australian deal-maker who is engineering a renaissance at the Aim-listed rump of Tiny Rowland's former business empire, is unapologetic about the move into Zimbabwe.

"My vision is that Lonrho puts hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans back to work with reasonable pay and a future for their families. Up until a few years ago, Lonrho was the biggest employer in Zimbabwe and my job is to make Lonrho as big again as it was, as quickly as possible."
Since the arrival of Mr Lenigas, Lonrho has grown rapidly through the acquisition of stakes in water bottling, air cargo and low-cost passenger airline services. The company will today announce the acquisition of a 65pc stake in Mozambique's biggest commercial IT distributor. "This is another example of Lonrho's strategy of investing in Africa's infrastructure," Mr Lenigas said. "It's an essential tool for helping them to grow and prosper while keeping up with the rest of the world."

But its Zimbabwean venture is its biggest gamble yet. Because of the high risks, it is setting up LonZim as a separate business in which it will probably take a stake of only about 20pc plus a management contract.
"Do I want to give Lonrho shareholders 100 cents to the dollar risky exposure to Zimbabwe? No. Because you don't know how long the money's going to be locked up," he warned. "It's buyer beware. You give us 100m and you have to trust that we have enough business acumen to put those funds to work in a proper fashion."

Under the catastrophic rule of Robert Mugabe, inflation has soared to 3,700pc and four in five Zimbabweans live on less than $1 a day. According to economic and political analysts Global Insight, "the economic and social meltdown is expected to continue over the short term and GDP is expected to contract by around 5pc in 2007".

Despite the scale of the crisis, foreign investors are queuing up to take a position ahead of any post-Mugabe regime. Mr Lenigas believes he could raise much more than 100m but would struggle to deploy the funds. "Collins Stewart [Lonrho's broker] said it had never seen such a response to a concept. The phones are running hot," he said.

Initially, investment will mainly be in property. "Commercial property is cheap as chips, the infrastructure in Harare is fantastic but it's fire-sale prices," he added. "We also see a big market in residential property and resorts and game parks too. As the economy in Zimbabwe grows, and it will do, the tourists will come back. Tourism is going to be one of the first areas that opens up in a revitalised Zimbabwe."

Recovery is not imminent. This week the Zimbabwean government signed a wage and price protocol with business and labour groups designed to bring the monthly rise in inflation down to 25pc from the current 100pc. But as Global Insight said: "It remains to be seen if all parties that signed the agreement will adhere to the conditions, not least the government."

If Mr Lenigas makes a success of Lonrho's re-entry to Zimbabwe, it will mark a return to the company's roots. Originally the London and Rhodesia Mining and Land Company, Lonrho remains a household name in Africa and Tiny Rowland is still revered.

Mr Lenigas hopes many of Lonrho's former staff will return. "There aren't many people living or working in Africa who haven't either worked for Lonrho in the past, or their father or uncle worked for us."

There will be some tricky negotiations going on in order to protect any investment in a post Magabe regime. Very interesting to see the amount of demand for the LonZim idea so if you follow the money you come to the conclusion that there is every incentive for government change. Personally, I would be more inclined to buy Lonhro rather than Lonzim given the former's diverse interests.

Mackenzie Cundill Inv Man (first referred to in previous old LAF thread) has increased stake from 9.38% to 11.11%. sp up 1p to 34.5p

Keeps on moving up :)

Lonrho PLC 19 June 2007
LONRHO PLC
('Lonrho' or 'the Company')

Lonrho plans to develop new airline in Angola

Lonrho (AIM: LONR) has signed an exclusive Memorandum of Understanding ('MOU') with Sociedade De Gestate E Participacoes Financieras SARL ('GEFI'), one of the largest internal investment companies in Angola.

Lonrho plans to develop a new airline in Angola for the passenger, freight, leasing and charter markets with GEFI, through their wholly owned subsidiary Planar, an aircraft operating agency, that currently owns warehousing and office facilities at Luanda airport. GEFI also owns further facilities throughout the country, including the required flight permissions and licences to operate the new airline.

Lonrho's exposure within the aviation sector puts it in a strong position to manage the new airline. Subsidiaries include the Budget airline Fly 540 operating in East Africa and Norse Air, an aviation logistics company operating across a number of countries.

The MOU provides a three month exclusive period for the parties to review the opportunities in the Angolan aviation market and structure and commence the development of the new airline.

David Lenigas, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lonrho, commented:

'Today's announcement is another example of Lonrho's strategy of investing into African infrastructure. The MOU with GEFI should allow Lonrho to develop a new airline to support Angola's strong economy, which is being aided by accelerated growth from oil and diamond revenues.

By partnering with GEFI, and its established infrastructure, we envisage that Lonrho will utilise its expertise and build on its aviation network. We believe that the new airline can rapidly become a significant part of an expanding domestic market in Angola and a buoyant natural resources market across Africa.

Finally, Lonrho believes that good aviation services provide one of the fundamental legs of the infrastructure that Africa requires to grow.'

Lovely moves today :)

The tie up with GEFI looks interesting with the latter owning various aviation assets in Angola. The Memo of Understanding will give the two parties time to evaluate the business before commiting further. sp is up 9% to 38.5p. Given the 1.5million share turnover, can only assume mms are a bit short of stock.

sp 39.25p. May be felt in some quarters that sp begining to get ahead of itself but, more institutions will wish to get on board as the situation develops.

Just for the record:- 22 June 2007
LONRHO PLC
('Lonrho' or the 'Company')

Increase in Nare Diamonds Shareholding


Lonrho (AIM: LONR), the African conglomerate with a diverse portfolio of
investments ranging from infrastructure, transportation, support services and
natural resources, announces today that it has increased its shareholding in
Nare Diamonds Limited ('Nare') to 23,194,352 Ordinary Shares which represents
20.26% of the issued share capital of Nare. This is an increase in Lonrho's
shareholding from 19.05%.

RIO is the best managed.

Reported on Reuters 27/6/07 that Magabe is threatening to seize foreign businesses and assets that he says have raised prices and cut output in order to oust his government.He accuses Britain of trying to overthrow him. Full article on reuters.com and then type "Zimbabwe" in search section.

Seems to me to be a deparate statement from a desparate man. He is bringing his own downfall. sp has ticked up to 40p.

LONRHO PLC

('Lonrho' or the 'Company')

Nare Diamonds Sale Sparkles





02 July, 2007

Lonrho (AIM: LONR), is pleased to announce outstanding results from a recent
sale of a parcel of diamonds by Nare Diamonds in which it holds a 20.26% stake.

Nare, which operates the Schmidtsdrift mine in South Africa, sold 2,394 carats
for a total of US$2,893,656.

The sale, by public tender in South Africa was Nare's second largest since it
re-commissioned the Schmidtsdrift mine in April 2006. It achieved the second
highest average price of US$1,209 per carat.

Lonrho announced on the 21st June, 2007 it has increased its shareholding in
Nare Diamonds from 19.06% to 20.26%. sp 40.5p

RNS Number:9869Z Lonrho PLC 10 July 2007

LONRHO PLC
("Lonrho" or the "Company")

ACQUIRES 45%
OF SOUTH AFRICAN SHIPPING LINE

Lonrho (AIM: LONR), the African conglomerate with a diverse portfolio of
investments ranging from infrastructure, transportation, support services and
natural resources, announces that it has acquired a 45% stake in SA Independent
Liner Services (PTY) LTD ("SAILS") for a total sum of US$6.0m. Lonrho also has
an option to acquire a further 6% stake in the company from existing
shareholders over the next 5 years.

The SAILS Operations

SAILS is a ship operator and shipping line currently based in Cape Town, which
focuses on shipping freight from South Africa to West Africa, Belgium, Germany,
Holland and the UK. SAILS concentrates on containerised shipping and works
closely with four strategic South African industries; motor manufacturing,
chemicals, mining and agriculture. Each of these industries are large
water-based transport users.

Current clients include world leading companies focusing on chemical
manufacturing, food retailing, and transportation, Some of SAILS's larger
clients are:

* Sasol
* Tesco
* ZIM Line

The SAILS fleet

The SAILS fleet currently operate two sister ships, namely the 8,300 tonne MV
Berta and 8,300 tonne MV Emilia. Both vessels have a carrying capacity of 650
twenty foot containers (TEU) and onboard cranes suitable for small ports.
Lonrho's investment will be used to expand the fleet to five vessels over the
next nine months.

SAILS has been operating since March 2006 and has already secured US$20 million
worth of shipping contracts for the next twelve months for its two existing
vessels. The additional vessels scheduled to join the fleet over the coming
months will allow SAILS to add additional contracts and customers to next year's order book.

The SAILS shipping routes

The focus is to provide a regular, reliable scheduled service to West Africa,
and Europe calling at - Durban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Tema; Lagos,
Rotterdam, Felixstowe, Bremerhaven and Antwerp. In the medium term SAILS is
constantly monitoring and assessing alternative trade routes, including
potentially East Africa, looking to expand rapidly to support the needs of its
already strong client base.

South Africa has no commercially navigable rivers, but, capitalising on the
country's two-ocean frontage, ocean shipping has long been a feature of its
transportation network. Approximately 98% of the country's exports are conveyed by sea. Containerised freight movements into and out of South Africa have been growing at more than 6% per annum for the past 10 years. The average annual growth rate from 2003 to 2006 was 12%. With West African connections developing steadily and with the World Cup Football being hosted in South Africa in 2010, volumes are set to increase on a consistent basis. Container shipping remains the most efficient, viable and eco-friendly mode of transport for international freight shipments.

Ian Wicks will continue as the Managing Director of SAILS. Ian has 30 years
experience in the freight shipping and logistics industries.

This deal builds on and strengthens Lonrho's interest in transport in Africa and taps into an industry that will benefit greatly from increasing trade between Africa and the rest of the world.

David Lenigas, Lonrho's Executive Chairman and Chief Executive, commented:

"We are delighted to announce this subscription for a substantial interest in
SAILS. The company's operations connect Europe to Africa providing the
opportunity to strengthen trade connections between the two continents. The
company has an experienced management team and a blue chip client base and we
are excited at the future growth prospects of the company. Amongst others, the
ZIM Line contracts (the world's 10th largest shipping line), demonstrates the
confidence that the market has in the future of SAILS"

"SAILS joins Fly 540, Norse Air and Lonrho Air, as part of Lonrho's
transportation division and this acquisition is another example of Lonrho's
strategy of supporting African infrastructure. We believe that by investing in
transportation and related companies, international and national trade will
grow, living standards will improve, and a substantial difference will be made
in Africa."

Ian Wicks, SAILS Managing Director, commented:

"The subscription by Lonhro signals a new chapter in the development of SAILS.
This is an age old industry and the links and support that SAILS has developed
in its first year of operation will definitely grow and expand in the next two
to three years. As a regular independent operator we have already made huge
strides towards achieving our goals."

11 July 2007

LONRHO Plc
("Lonrho" or the "Company")

Accelerates expansion plans at Luba Freeport
to meet increasing demand

Lonrho (AIM: LONR) is pleased to announce that the phase 1 development of the
deepwater quay at Luba Freeport ( "Freeport"), owned 63% by Lonrho Plc and 37%
by the Government of Equatorial Guinea, is progressing ahead of schedule and on
completion will almost double the handling capacity of the Freeport. The
development of a further 70 metres of the deepwater quay is being built by
Danish contractor E. Pihl & Son A.S., the Danish marine infrastructure
specialists, who expect the expansion to be completed and operational by October
2007.

Additional 110 metre quay extension by Q2 '08

Lonrho has further agreed to immediately proceed with orders for the long lead
materials (piles and structural items) for a further 110 metres deepwater quay
extension to fast track the continued growth of the Freeport. It is envisaged
that this extension will commence in December 2007 and be completed during the
first half of 2008. This will take the deepwater quay facilities to 290 metres,
allowing larger shipping vessels to utilise the Freeport's facilities.

Since acquiring the Freeport last year, Lonrho has made a significant investment
of more than US$30 million to develop it as the central logistics, maintenance
and support base for the rapidly expanding oil and gas sector in the Gulf of
Guinea.

Completed Facilities

New facilities have been built and are now operational at the Freeport,
including a 10,000 square metre specialist transit area, new catering and
accommodation facilities and a 10,000 square metre logistics development for
Baker Hughes, one of the world's largest oilfield service companies. Companies
now operating from the Freeport include Amerada Hess, Schlumberger and Baker
Hughes.

New Facilities

A 60,000 square metre logistics facility is currently under construction for
ExxonMobil and a 3,200 square metre warehouse facility which is being built for
MI Swaco is expected to be completed by the end of September 2007.

Lonrho Hotels

Lonrho Hotels, a division of Lonrho, has agreed in principle to develop a
residential based hotel with 220 rooms at the Freeport to accommodate the
increased demand from the oil and gas service industry.

Lonrho Hotels is also considering building a number of apartments at the
Freeport to accommodate the requirements of long stay expatriate workers.

David Lenigas, Chairman and CEO of Lonrho commented:

"In partnership with the Government of Equatorial Guinea, Lonrho is confident
that the Luba Freeport is now fulfilling its potential as the regional hub for
the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Guinea. It is clear that our growth
estimates for the sector were conservative and we can accelerate the Freeport's
development to meet market demand. Luba is going from strength to strength."

"The Gulf of Guinea opportunities continue to grow with major new gas finds
being announced last week strengthening Luba's geographical position in a region
which now produces more than half a million barrels of oil per day (ExxonMobil
producing 250,000 bpd). The US Government has announced that it expects to
source 25% of its annual oil requirements from the Gulf of Guinea within the
next five years."

Gus comment:- last para particularly interesting.

Lonrho PLC
20 July 2007

LONRHO PLC
('Lonrho' or 'The Company')

Lonrho's LonZim banks 32.3 million

Lonrho Plc ('Lonrho'), the African conglomerate with a diverse portfolio of
investments, ranging from infrastructure, transportation, support services and
natural resources, announces today that its newly established subsidiary LonZim
Plc ('LonZim') has raised an initial 32.326 million (US$66.234 million) from a
number of existing institutional shareholders of Lonrho by issuing 46,180,958
LonZim shares.

Lonrho holds 30,000,001 shares in LonZim as the founding shareholder (cost
3,001) representing 39.4% of that company and currently holds all board
positions.

LonZim intends to raise additional funds and seek a listing on a major stock
exchange over the coming months.

On listing, Lonrho's arrangements with LonZim will be:

Lonrho's initial shareholding will be escrowed for a period of
5 years.

Lonrho will hold a management contract with LonZim whereby it will
receive 1% of gross assets under management and 21/2 % of gross
turnover of LonZim per annum.

Lonrho will not compete with LonZim in Zimbabwe whilst Lonrho manages
LonZim.

LonZim funds will be escrowed until successful admission to trading on
a stock exchange.

LonZim's principal focus will be to acquire and invest in key assets in the
property, infrastructure, hotel and commercial sectors in Zimbabwe and
neighbouring countries including the important access corridor to the coast at
Beira in Mozambique.

Lonrho's management team and consultants offer an in-depth understanding of
business and investment in Africa, including Zimbabwe. The team brings
significant experience in successfully brokering and completing transactions and
developing companies in challenging parts of the continent.

LonZim will adhere to all international and national laws applying to foreign
investment in Zimbabwe and plans to implement and adhere to best practice in
corporate governance.

David Lenigas, Lonrho's Executive Chairman and Chief Executive, commented:

'There are clearly risks associated with investing in Zimbabwe and this
financial commitment from Lonrho's existing institutional investors by
subscribing for LonZim shares, prior to a listing, demonstrates their belief
that the opportunities for economic growth in the country are enormous.'

'Lonrho believes that there is a substantial commercial opportunity in the
Zimbabwean market, which has deteriorated due to severe underinvestment. This
potentially offers significant upside. As such I believe that cautious and well
informed investment in Zimbabwe and the coastal access corridor will ultimately
offer excellent returns for LonZim shareholders as well as Zimbabwean businesses
and the Zimbabwean economy.

'I strongly believe that the best way to encourage economic growth within a
country and nurture the development of a strong infrastructure and thriving
business culture is through private, foreign direct investment and LonZim fits
with that principle.'

Guscavalier comment: Investors would certainly be buying into Zimbabwe at rock bottom prices. This will need considerable negotiation skill given the situation. Nice earner for Lonhro if things pan out well.sp 39.5p. Query figure of 3001 re cost of 30,000,001 shares in LonZim.

Lonrho PLC
23 July 2007


23 July 2007
LONRHO PLC

GRANT OF SHARE OPTIONS


The Board of Lonrho Plc (the 'Company') announces today the grant by the Company
on 20 July 2007 of options over, in aggregate, 5,195,000 ordinary shares of 1p
each in the share capital of the Company ('Shares') to directors, employees and
consultants as follows:


David Lenigas (Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer) 1,615,000

Emma Priestley (Executive Director) 1,065,000

Jean Ellis (Finance Director) 350,000

Martin Horgan (Non-Executive Director) 200,000

Donald Strang (Non-Executive Director) 200,000

Senior Employees and Consultants other than Board members 1,765,000


TOTAL 5,195,000



The grant of the options was made under the Company's Unapproved Share Option
Plan other than those to the non-executive directors and a consultant (whose
options were granted under stand-alone option agreements on similar terms to
those under the Unapproved Company Share Option Plan).

The exercise price will be 44 pence per share, exercisable until 20 July 2012.

A further 1,500,000 Shares are to be allotted to a consultant by way of bonus
award, the Company paying the subscription price of the shares.

Guscavalier comment: sp well supported at 41.25p today. The option grant gives good incentive and exercise price stands at a reasonable premium to current share price.