19 June 2010, an airplane crash in the Republic of Congo killed many of the company's executives including the entire board of directors, consisting of the following people: Geoff Wedlock, Non Executive Chairman Don Lewis, Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer Ken Talbot, Non Executive Director Craig Oliver, Non Executive Director John Carr-Gregg, Company Secretary / General Manager Corporate Services John Jones, Non Executive Director Additionally, a further five people were killed in the accident: two pilots, a consultant for Sundance and a British and a French citizen. The company halted its African operations and ordered staff to help find the plane. Trading of its shares was also halted and Peter Canterbury was named acting chief executive. Former chairman George Jones said that the disappearance of the entire board would not spell the end for the company. Aftermath Strictly speaking, if there are no surviving board members, then there is no-one to appoint new members to a new board. However, ASIC, the corporate regulator, has approved the co-option of a former chairman to co-opt other members to a new board, which will be put before a shareholder's meeting at the earliest practical opportunity. Hanlong takeover attempt In October 2011, the Chinese Hanlong Group launched a takeover attempt for Sundance. Although an agreement was reached to purchase the company, the deal fell through in April 2013 when Hanlong was unable to meet its funding obligations. See also Iron ore in Africa Railway stations in Cameroon References External links Mining companies of Australia Iron ore mining companies of Australia Companies based in Perth, Western Australia Companies formerly listed on the Australian Securities Exchange Mining companies of the Republic of the Congo Mining companies of Cameroon