De Beers has drawn fresh interest from business groups and African governments as parent company Anglo American prepares to offload its controlling stake.
Chief executive Al Cook told Reuters that several parties are exploring equity in the diamond giant, reflecting shifting currents in the global gemstone trade.
Botswana, Angola and Namibia, all major diamond producers, have expressed interest alongside what Cook described as several business-led investment groups.
He declined to discuss specific negotiations, saying the company’s focus rests on long-term alignment rather than the identity of any future owner.
Reuters previously reported that Indian diamond groups, billionaire Anil Agarwal and Qatari investment funds were among those circling De Beers.
Anglo American, which owns 85 percent of De Beers, has valued the storied producer at about $4.9 billion.
Cook said any new shareholder must support De Beers’ emphasis on natural diamonds, partnerships with producer nations and growth in key markets.
India now stands at the heart of that vision, which Cook called a tremendously important market with powerful long-term demand.
He expects Indian demand for natural diamonds to double, lifting the market to 1.5 trillion rupees by 2030.
De Beers this week opened its fifth Forevermark store in Mumbai, its largest worldwide, and plans rapid expansion across the country.
The group aims to reach 25 Indian outlets by year’s end, with a longer-term ambition of surpassing 100 stores nationwide.
Revenue fell 13 percent to $1.95 billion in the first half of 2025, partly reflecting weak global diamond prices.
The company is betting on rising self-purchases in India as global demand drifts away from a gifting-led tradition.
De Beers is also expanding its Element Six business, which supplies synthetic diamond wafers to data centres as high-performance heat conductors.
That unit generated about $300 million last year, underscoring a strategic turn toward industrial applications and advanced technologies.