ORION EQUITIES LIMITED — Capital/Financing Update 2003

Oct 5, 2003

Monday, 6 October 2003

JOINT MARKET ANNOUNCEMENT

Update On Anaconda Settlement Deed Payment

Queste Communications Ltd ("Queste") and its 48.817% controlled entity Central Exchange Ltd ("Central Exchange") are pleased to provide this weekly update on the status of the possible payment by Anaconda Nickel Ltd ("Anaconda") to Central Exchange of the sum of \$19,009,823 (as indexed by United States Consumer Price Index ("US CPI"))- pursuant to a settlement deed (the "Settlement Deed") between Anaconda and Central Exchange.

Settlement Deed Payment Calculations		Current. $(10.3$ Oct 2003)	Last Announcement (to 26 Sept) 2003)	Change since Last Announcement
	$(1)$ Current LME nickel price - 3 October 2003	US\$4.786/Ib	US\$4.604/lb	\$0.182 higher
		\$10,550/tonne	\$10,150/tonne	\$400 higher
	(2) Current US CPI indexed LME nickel Trigger Price	US\$4.094/lb	US\$4.094/lb	Same
	(3) 12 month average LME nickel price to 3 October 2003	USS3 787/1b	US\$3.753/lb	\$0.034 higher
(4)	Shortfall/Gap between LME nickel Trigger Price and 12 month Average LME nickel price	US\$0.307/1b	US\$0.341/lb	\$0.034 less
(5)	Current 5 day average LME nickel -29 price September to 3 October 2003	US\$4.687/lb	US\$4.652/lb	\$0.035 higher
(6)	Estimated date when Trigger Price is attained (i.e. the date when the 12 month Average LME nickel price would exceed the Trigger Price) if (5) is sustained and US CPI remains at 184.6	18 December 1 2008	19 December 2003	One day earlier

Please also refer to Annexure A for a chart showing a comparison between (2) and (3) above and the forecast (4) if (5) is sustained and US CPI remains at 184.6.

The above table and chart in Annexure A are based upon calculations made by Central Exchange and Queste consistent with the terms of the Settlement Deed. The projected date when the Trigger Date is attained in (6) assumes that the LME nickel price in the 5 days prior to the date of this announcement is sustained and the latest published August 2003 US CPI remains unchanged.

The \$19m Settlement Deed amount will become due and payable to Central Exchange if at a relevant "Review Date" the 12 month average LME nickel price exceeds the US CPI indexed LME nickel Trigger Price. Under the terms of the Settlement Deed, Anaconda is required to provide an audited "Review Date Notice" within 14 business days of a "Review Date" and if the Trigger Price on such date is attained, to effect payment within a further 14 business days after service of such notice (if neither party disputes any matter in such notice).

www.queste.com.au

On 8 October 2002, Anaconda formally advised Central Exchange in writing that it considered a Review Date fell on 28 September 2002. Anaconda did not provide any explanation as to the basis for this determination. However, Central Exchange notes that in its 2001 and 2000 annual reports, Anaconda stated that the Review Date was triggered with the mining of 250,000 tonnes of ore on 12 September 1999 and that the Review Date was therefore 12 September 2002. However, Anaconda's 2002 and 2003 annual reports state this trigger event occurred on 28 September 1999 with an associated Review Date being 28 September 2002. Central Exchange have asked Anaconda to reconcile this inconsistent pronouncement of Review Dates - as at the date of this announcement, no response has been received from Anaconda.

Therefore, Anaconda's view, based on its annual report statements and the monthly formal Review Date Notices to Central Exchange since October 2002, is that the \$19m Settlement Deed amount would be payable to Central Exchange at the Review Date of the 12/28^th of a relevant month if the average LME nickel price in the 12 months prior to the 12/28^th of such month exceeded the Trigger Price on such date. Anaconda is required to confirm this in a Review Date Notice within 14 business days after the relevant Review Date and effect payment of the \$19m amount within a further 14 business days after service of such notice.

For further information, please contact Victor Ho on telephone (08) 9214 9797.

LME Nickel Price US\$/Ib