Assmang Ltd, which is one of major mining companies in South Africa and which has Ore & Metal Co. Ltd, a subsidiary of Assore Ltd, as their worldwide agent for sales, which in turn has now appointed Sumitomo Corp. as the agent for sales of manganese ore to China, and this agency has been effective for shipments in August of 2010 and afterwards. In the course of the procedure to transfer this agency for China from Asia Minerals Ltd, which has been based on Hong Kong and was so far the agent for China, to Sumitomo Corp., the cargoes of manganese ore ex. Assmang for shipments to China in July to August have been handled jointly by these two companies. On the other hand, Sumitomo Corp. has been already appointed by Ore & Metal Co Ltd as the agent for sales of manganese ore and iron ore in Japan for many years. Also, Sumitomo Corp. has acquired 49% of the shares in Oresteel, which is a major shareholder of Assore. Sumitomo Corp. also owns 10% of the shares in Cato Ridge Alloys (Pty) Ltd in South Africa as a JV company with Assmang and Mizushima Ferroalloy Co. Ltd to produce refined ferromanganese. In addition, Sumitomo Corp. has been closely connected with Assmang on sales of ferrochrome.
