A consortium lead by the South African family Oppenheimer and the group ANGLO-AMERICAN launched a USD 17.6 billion offer (or USD 43.17 per share) for the South African group DE BEERS (net profit of USD 1.707 billion in 2000), which controls 60% of the world market for raw diamonds. This operation will be carried out through a complex financial deal that will enable ANGLO-AMERICAN and DE BEERS to free their crossed shares.