The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday, March 21, edition that Dominion Diamond is expected to attract interest from the world's largest diamond miners after being put in play Sunday by a $1.1-billion (U.S.) hostile takeover proposal from conglomerate The Washington Companies. The Globe's Andrew Willis writes that Dominion owns interests in the Ekati and Diavik diamond mines in the Northwest Territories, and caught the eye of the private Montana-based company controlled by billionaire Dennis Washington. Washington held takeover talks with Dominion that stretched over three weeks, but broke down earlier this month. Washington went public Sunday with a plan to buy the diamond miner for $13.50 (U.S.) a share, a 36-per-cent premium on Dominion's Friday closing price. Dominion stock jumped $3.06 (Canadian) on Monday to $16.27 (Canadian) on news of the offer. Washington president Lawrence Simkins says his company plans to install new leadership at Dominion. Dominion is currently searching for a chief executive officer. Mr. Simkins says Washington believes Dominion's mines have "intriguing" growth potential under private ownership and "it does not make sense for this company to be public."