Xstrata

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Xstrata plc

Type	Public (LSE: XTA)
Founded
Headquarters	Zug, Switzerland
Key people	Willy Strothotte, Chairman Mick Davies, CEO
Industry	Mining
Revenue	$17,632 million (2006)
Operating income	$4,514 million (2006)
Net income	$2,352 million (2006)
Website	www.xstrata.com

Xstrata plc is an international mining company, listed on both the London Stock Exchange (LSE: XTA) and the Zürich Stock Exchange. Its headquarters are in Zug in Switzerland and it is a member of the FTSE 100 Index. It has major operations/projects in eighteen countries (Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Germany, Jamaica, New Caledonia, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, South Africa, Spain, Tanzania, the United States and the United Kingdom) and it is a major producer of copper, coking coal, thermal coal, nickel, ferrochrome, vanadium and zinc. It has smaller scale involvement in aluminum, gold, lead and silver.

Xstrata reports its results in U.S. Dollars. Turnover for the year to 31 December 2005 was $8,049.8 million. Profit before tax was $2,461.9 million and attributable profit (ie after tax and minority interests) was $1,706.4 million. Xstrata has grown from a market capitalisation of just over US$2 billion, at its listing in March 2002, to around US$40 billion in August 2006, after its successful acquisition of Falconbridge Limited, a Canadian diversified mining company. Its largest shareholder (with a 14% shareholding) is Glencore International AG (Glencore website).

In 2003, it doubled in size with the A$4.9 billion takeover of Australian copper, zinc and coal miner MIM Holdings. But it failed in a 2005 bid for another Australian miner, WMC Resources, which was captured by BHP Billiton, the world's biggest mining company. In August 2005, Xstrata purchased a 19.9% stake in Falconbridge Limited, a diversified Canadian mining company producing copper, nickel, aluminum and zinc. Following a contested take-over battle with Inco Limited, Xstrata successfully acquired the remaining 80% of Falconbridge in August 2006.

Xstrata is also noted for its association with the commodity trader Glencore, whom media reports accuse of having done illegal deals with rogue states.^[1] Glencore is reported to serve as a marketing partner for Xstrata.^[2]^[3] As of 2006, Glencore leaders Willy Strothotte and Ivan Glasenberg are on the board of Xstrata, which Strothotte chairs.^[4] According to The Sunday Times, Glencore controls 40% of Xstrata stock and has appointed the Xstrata CEO, Mick Davis.^[2]^[5]

In 2006, The Northern Territory (NT) and Australian Governments approved the expansion of the McArthur River Mine, near the popular fishing destination of Borrooloola. The expansion involves diversion of the river to a new 5.5km channel, to allow construction of a massive open-cut pit in the existing river. ^[6] On behalf of the Traditional Owners of the region - the Yanyuwa, Mara, Garrawa and Gurdanji peoples - the Northern Land Council have launched a legal challenge to the Northern Territory Government’s decision to approve the mining of and diversion of the McArthur River. The case is expected to be heard in late March 2007. ^[7]