Glencore and Xstrata announce $90bn merger deal

Mining firm Xstrata has formally announced plans to merge with Glencore, the world's biggest commodity trader.

The deal would value the combined new business at $90bn (£56bn), of which Xstrata would comprise $39bn.

The announcement came as Xstrata revealed a 20% increase in profits for 2011, to $5.9bn (£3.8bn).

The deal was described by the two firms as a "merger of equals" with the new company to be named "Glencore Xstrata International PLC".

Xstrata chief executive Mick Davis will head up the new firm, with Glencore's boss Ivan Glasenberg becoming deputy chief executive. The Xstrata finance head will likewise take the senior role in the combined firm.

The valuation of Xstrata translates to a share price of 1,290p - compared with the 1,100p at which shares were trading before news of the deal emerged last week.

Xstrata's shareholders - other than Glencore - would have a 45% stake in the new firm.

Mr Glasenberg said the merger would create "a new powerhouse in the global commodities business".

Glencore only floated on the stock exchange in April last year in a record share offering in London.

The traditionally secretive Swiss firm buys and sells metals, crops and fuels in the financial market and invests in mining companies, but - unlike Xstrata - Glencore does not typically itself extract the stuff out of the ground.

For its part, Xstrata owns vast reserves of coal, copper and nickel across Africa, South America and central Asia.

About half of its revenues came from its copper business in 2011, while coal contributed the most to its profit growth.