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Glencore
Annual Report 2012

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FY2012 Annual Report · Glencore
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AnnuAl RepoRt 

2012

AnnuAl RepoRt 2012

Prodeco, Colombia

tABLE OF 
cONtENts

1 | Overview

  1.1 | Performance highlights 
  1.2 | Chairman’s statement  
  1.3 | Chief Executive Officer’s review 
  1.4 | Business overview 
  1.5 | Sustainability 
  1.6 | Key performance indicators 
  1.7 | Principal risks and uncertainties 

2 | Business review 

  2.1 | Financial review 
  2.2 | Metals and minerals  
  2.3 | Energy products 
  2.4 | Agricultural products 
  2.5 | Reserves and resources 

3 | Corporate Governance 

  3.1 | Chairman’s introduction  
  3.2 | Officers 
  3.3 | Corporate governance report 
  3.4 | Directors’ remuneration report 
  3.5 | Directors’ report 

4 | Financial Statements

  Confirmation of directors’ responsibilities 

Independent auditors’ report 

  Consolidated statement of income 
  Consolidated statement of comprehensive income 
  Consolidated statement of financial position 
  Consolidated statement of cash flows 
  Consolidated statement of changes in equity 
  Notes to the financial statements 

5 | Additional information

  5.1 | Glossary 
  5.2 | Shareholder information 

9
12
13
14
18
20
22

36
46
54 
60
64

82
83
86
93
101

108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115

166
167

 
Kamoto Copper Company, DRC

OvErviEw

1 | Overview

  1.1 | Performance highlights 
  1.2 | Chairman’s statement  
  1.3 | Chief Executive Officer’s review 
  1.4 | Business overview 
  1.5 | Sustainability 
  1.6 | Key performance indicators 
  1.7 | Principal risks and uncertainties 

9
12
13
14
18
20
22

1.1 | Performance highlights

•  Resilient  Adjusted  EBITDA / EBIT 1  performance  driven  by 
Glencore’s marketing business and volume growth in indus-
trials.

•  Adjusted EBIT down 17% to $ 4.5 billion; marketing Adjust-

ed EBIT up 11%, industrial Adjusted EBIT down 27%.

•  Continued growth of operating cash flow (FFO 2), up 17% to 

$ 4.1 billion.

•  Strong balance sheet with $ 9 billion of committed liquidity.
•  Completed the acquisition of Viterra, a transformational deal 
for our agricultural business, providing access to the grain 
markets in Canada and reinforcing our position in Australia.
•  Industrial growth projects continue to deliver overall volume 
increase; sector leading growth pipeline remains on budget.

•  Continuation of bolt-on acquisition strategy:
  –  increased  interest  in  Kazzinc  to  69.6%,  Optimum  to  67% 

and Mutanda to 60%.

  –  acquisition  of  Vale’s  European  manganese  ferroalloy  

operations.

•  Kazzinc  own  gold  production  up  22%  with  recovery  rates  
continuing  to  improve;  successful  ramp-up  of  new  copper 
smelter  resulting  in  increased  copper  cathode  production 
of 25,800 tonnes.

•  Katanga copper metal up 2%, with cathode production up 
7%, in spite of significant disruption from power shortage. 
New power converter and synchronous condenser commis-
sioned in December 2012. 

•  Mutanda copper production up 37%. Following completion 
of  the  cobalt  plant,  Mutanda  now  has  capacity  in  place  to 
produce up to 110,000 tonnes of copper and 23,000 tonnes 
of cobalt.

•  Murrin Murrin own sourced production was 33,400 tonnes 

of nickel, a record production year.

•  Prodeco  own  production  up  1%  despite  the  three  month 

strike at La Jagua.

•  Significant growth in South African coal production, up 104%,  

following the acquisitions of Optimum and Umcebo.

•  Aseng  oil  field  ahead  of  initial  schedule  producing  61.7k 
bbls/day, with Alen field on schedule to start producing in 
Q3 2013.

•  The  Directors  propose  a  final  dividend  of  $  0.1035  per 
share, bringing the total dividend for the year to $ 0.1575 
per share, up 5% compared to 2011.

1 Refer to glossary on page 166 for definitions and calculations.
2 Refer to page 42.
3 Refer to page 41.

Adjusted EBIT

n
o

i
l
l
i

m
$
S
U

6 000

5 000

4 000

3 000

2 000

1 000

0

2010

2011

2012

Marketing activities
Industrial activities

2010 2011 2012
2 337 1 911 2 130
2 953 3 487 2 340

Copper equivalent volume growth

0
1
0
2
n

i

1
o
t
d
e
s
a
b
e
R

1.5

1.4

1.3

1.2

1.1

1.0

2010

2011

2012

Marketing activities
Industrial activities

2011 2012
7% 28%
16% 20%

Net debt and FFO 2 to net debt 3

60

50

40

30

%

20

10

0

n
o

i
l
l
i

m
$
S
U

15 000

12 500

10 000

7 500

5 000

2 500

0

2010

2011

2012 1

Net debt (US $ million)
FFO to net debt (%)

1 Adjusted for Viterra acquisition

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Glencore’s business segments are responsible for  
managing the marketing, sourcing, hedging,  
logistics and industrial investment and production 
activities for their respective commodities.

Glencore’s key strengths are its global scale,  
strong growth platform, diversity of products, 
ability to add value, extensive and well  
established customer and  
supplier base and  
industrial and market- 
ing information flows. 

Metals and minerals 

Key commodities: zinc, copper, lead, 
alumina, aluminium, ferro alloys, nickel, 
cobalt and iron ore, including smelting, 
refining, mining, processing and storage  
related operations of the relevant  
commodities.

Energy products

Key commodities: crude oil, oil 
products, steam coal and metallurgical 
coal supported by investments in coal 
mining and oil production operations, 
ports, vessels and storage facilities.

Agricultural products

Key commodities: wheat, corn, barley, 
rice, oil seeds, meals, edible oils, bio­
fuels, cotton and sugar supported by  
investments in farming, storage,  
handling, processing and port facilities.

Adjusted EBIT by segment 2012

6 000

5 000

n 4 000
o

i
l
l
i

m
$
S
U

3 000

2 000

1 000

0

5 290

5 398

4 470

2010

2011

2012

Metals and minerals
Energy products
Agricultural products
Corporate and other

10  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

Main office

Office

Independent agent

Metals and minerals asset

Energy products asset

Agricultural products asset

 
 
oveRview  |  BuSineSS Review  |  CoRpoRAte GoveRnAnCe  |  FinAnCiAl StAteMentS  |  AdditionAl inFoRMAtion

Glencore is a leading globally integrated producer and marketer 
of commodities with worldwide activities in the production,  
refinement, processing, storage, transport and marketing of 
metals and minerals, energy and agricultural products.

Revenue 1 by region 2012

Non current assets by region 2012

8%

1%

20%

13%

25%

$ 214 bn

$ 45 bn

7%

40%

15%

21%

50%

Africa
Oceania
The Americas
Europe
Asia

1  Revenue by geographical destination is based on the country of incorporation of the sales 
counterparty however this may not necessarily be the country of the counterpart’s ultimate 
parent and/or final destination of product. 

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  11

1.2 | Chairman’s statement

2012 was marked by a number of historic milestones for Glencore. The Company celebrated its first full year 
as a listed business on the London and Hong Kong Exchanges. It completed the acquisition of Viterra. Most 
notably, it also announced its merger with Xstrata. 

Looking  beyond  transactions,  Glencore  further  proved  the  merits  of  its  integrated  model  by  delivering  
robust results for its shareholders. Despite the industry continuing to be impacted by low economic growth 
globally, Glencore successfully expanded its industrial business, producing strong performances in mining 
and a record performance in the oil division. 

With  the  merger  of  Xstrata,  the  Board  of  Directors  remains  confident  that  the  expanded  industrial  base, 
coupled with Glencore’s proven marketing capability will create a group with the expertise and scale to play 
a leading role in meeting the growing global demand for commodities. Furthermore, the combined Group 
will enable the countries possessing key natural resources to generate value from their natural endowments.

On 17 December Glencore completed its acquisition of Viterra. With this transaction, Glencore solidified its 
position as one of the leading participants in the global agricultural commodities industry. The expanded 
footprint in agriculture reflects Glencore’s strong belief in the future potential of the Canadian and Austra­
lian grain and seeds markets.

Sustainability  is  a  core  tenet  of  Glencore.  Be  it  through  providing  support  to  local  communities  where  it 
operates or safeguarding the well­being of its employees, we are determined that our investments will be 
environmentally and socially, as well as financially, rewarding for all our stakeholders. This year Glencore’s 
commitment to sustainability was underscored when Glencore Corporate Practice was extended to include 
a full programme of sustainability targets which will measure the Company’s progress over the coming years.

These achievements and ongoing focus on improvement across the Group leave Glencore well positioned 
to continue to deliver value to its customers, partners, employees and shareholders in the years to come. 

Simon Murray
Chairman

12  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

oveRview  |  BuSineSS Review  |  CoRpoRAte GoveRnAnCe  |  FinAnCiAl StAteMentS  |  AdditionAl inFoRMAtion

1.3 | Chief Executive Officer’s review

2012 was a year in which the health of the global economy began to improve slowly albeit against a familiar 
backdrop established during the global financial crisis. It was also a year of major political change, which in 
itself brings greater uncertainty over future policy. Although too early to tell definitively, the regime transition 
in China and the election result in the US have so far been reasonably smooth and predictable. China looks 
well positioned to continue the substantial progress it has made since WTO entry in 2001. The US meanwhile 
has begun to show signs of underlying economic improvement notwithstanding the on­going debate about 
long term fiscal balance. The pick­up in construction of new houses is particularly noteworthy in the context 
of what appears to be a clear and growing energy advantage versus the rest of the world. The fact that the 
world’s largest economy is regaining its feet is good news for everyone. 

Against this background and despite highly accommodative global monetary policy, commodities experi­
enced a relatively lacklustre year with average prices down 10 – 20% year on year. We are therefore particu­
larly pleased that Glencore’s results proved to be far more robust than the sector. Our marketing operations’  
performance and the growth delivered within our industrial energy business were especially pleasing.

The performance of the marketing business reinforces the strength and resilience of Glencore’s business 
model and the diversification benefits associated with combining and integrating a portfolio of industrial  
assets  with  large  scale  physical  sourcing,  marketing  and  logistics  capabilities.  We  continued  to  main­
tain  a  clear  focus  on  organic  growth  across  the  industrial  business  through  our  key  industrial  expansion  
projects, which remain broadly on track and on budget. Both the marketing and industrial operations are 
underpinned by the highly diversified nature of our business across commodity, geography and operation. 
This provides a natural hedge in times of economic uncertainty as well as enabling the Group to be at the  
forefront of spotting emerging trends and opportunities.

We believe 2012 will also prove to have been a turning point in the history of the mining industry in respect of 
capital allocation. It has been evident for some time that capital discipline in the sector had been eroded by 
the period of higher commodity prices. The result has been a material misallocation of capital across the sector 
in respect of organic capex and acquisitions. This year investors called time with results for all to see. This de­
velopment augurs well for long term returns in the sector though investors are likely to have to remain vigilant. 

Outside of our robust financial performance, 2012 also saw some major strategic landmarks for Glencore. 
Most importantly, we commenced the process to reunite Xstrata with Glencore following a decade in the 
public markets. We continue to work on closing the merger with Xstrata. Completion of the merger remains 
conditional upon the receipt of the outstanding regulatory approval in China and completion of the Xstrata 
court process as further set out in the New Scheme Document in connection with the merger published by 
Xstrata on 25 October 2012 and Glencore giving effect to the commitments required by the European Com­
mission. Accordingly, Glencore and Xstrata have agreed, with the consent of the Panel, to extend further the 
long stop date for the merger to 16 April 2013. When completed it will provide Glencore with full access to 
Xstrata’s production flows and allow optimisation of the combined capex pipeline and operating structure. 
Our approach to integration will be to incorporate the best of both businesses and plans to this effect are 
well advanced. The benefits of this process will accrue to all stakeholders in the combined business.

Our second major step during 2012 was to acquire Viterra. This acquisition transforms our agricultural busi­
ness  into  a  global  operation  through  entry  into  the  Canadian  grain  market  and  significant  expansion  of 
our Australian operations. This materially strengthens our ability to assist in ensuring that the world’s grain 
and oilseeds production flows to those areas where it is most needed. This is likely to become increasingly  
important given the shift towards more energy intensive diets globally.

The Board of Directors proposes a final dividend of $ 0.1035 per share resulting in a total dividend of $ 0.1575 
per share for 2012, up 5% on 2011, reflecting our confidence in our business and the continued ramp­up of 
our brownfield industrial assets.

Looking forward we will continue to take nothing for granted whether it be economic circumstances or the good­
will of our stakeholders. We continue to see a healthy long term outlook for our commodities based on the contin­
uing growth within emerging market economies and sustained levels of consumption within developed markets.

Ivan Glasenberg
Chief Executive Officer

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  13

  
1.4 | Business overview

Glencore’s  marketing  and  industrial  investment  activities  are 
supported by a global network of more than 50 offices located 
in  more  than  40  countries  throughout  Europe,  North,  Central 
and  South  America,  the  CIS,  Asia,  Australia,  Africa  and  the 
Middle East. Glencore’s main offices are located in Baar (Swit­
zerland),  Stamford  (Connecticut),  London,  Rotterdam,  Beijing, 
Moscow  and  Singapore.  This  network  provides  Glencore  with 
significant  worldwide  sourcing  and  distribution  capabilities. 
Glencore’s marketing operations employ close to 3,000 people 
worldwide, while industrial operations directly or indirectly em­
ploy  over  58,000  people  in  33  countries.  Refer  to  the  map  on 
page 10 and 11 for more details on the locations of offices and 
operations.

Glencore  has  an  established  record  of  successful  strategic  in­
vestments in industrial assets which have become an important 
component  of  its  physical  marketing  activities.  Glencore  in­
tends to continue to pursue selective strategic acquisitions and 
alliances to support and strengthen its core physical marketing 
activities as and when opportunities arise. Glencore evaluates 
each industrial asset investment opportunity on a stand­alone  
basis,  however,  also  recognising  its  potential  to  support 
and  strengthen  Glencore’s  physical  marketing  activities  or  its  
existing industrial operations. Similarly, Glencore evaluates dis­
posals of industrial assets when they are no longer deemed to 
support its marketing activities and/or when compelling selling 
opportunities arise.

Glencore’s  three  business  segments  focus  on  the  following 
commodity segments:
•  The metals and minerals business segment focuses on: zinc/
copper/lead,  alumina/aluminium  and 
ferroalloys/nickel/co­
balt/iron ore. The activities of Glencore’s metals and minerals  
business  segment  are  supported  by  ownership  interests 
in  controlled  and  non­controlled  industrial  assets  such  as  
mining, smelting, refining and warehousing operations;

•  The  energy  products  business  segment  focuses  on:  oil/oil 
products and coal/coke. The activities of Glencore’s energy 
products  business  segment  are  supported  by  ownership  in­
terests  in  controlled  and  non­controlled  coal  mining  and  oil 
production operations as well as investments in strategic han­
dling, storage and freight equipment and facilities; and

•  The agricultural products business segment focuses on: grains 
(including wheat, maize and barley), oils/oilseeds, cotton and 
sugar. The activities of Glencore’s agricultural products busi­
ness  group  are  supported  by  investments  in  controlled  and 
non­controlled storage, handling and processing facilities in 
strategic locations.

OuR BusinEss

Overview
Glencore is a leading integrated producer and marketer of met­
als  and  minerals,  energy  and  agricultural  products.  Glencore 
operates  globally,  marketing  and  distributing  physical  com­
modities sourced from third party producers and its own pro­
duction. Glencore’s customers and suppliers number in excess 
of 8,000 and span the automotive, steel, power generation, oil 
and food processing industries. Glencore also provides financ­
ing,  logistics  and  other  essential  services  to  producers  and 
consumers.

Glencore’s  long  experience  as  a  commodity  marketer  has  
allowed it to develop its expertise in the commodities which it 
markets.  Glencore  has  also  cultivated  long­term  relationships 
with a broad supplier and customer base across diverse indus­
tries  and  geographic  regions.  Glencore’s  marketing  activities 
are supported by investments in industrial assets operating in 
Glencore’s core commodities. Glencore’s marketing operations 
are believed to be less correlated to commodity prices than its 
industrial operations, due to commodity price risk being sub­
stantially hedged. 

As a marketer, Glencore is able to differentiate itself from other 
production  entities  as,  in  addition  to  focusing  on  minimising 
costs and delivering operational efficiencies, Glencore focuses 
on maximising the efficiency of the entire supply chain, taking 
into account its extensive and global third party supply base, its 
logistics, risk management and working capital financing capa­
bilities, extensive market insight, business optionality, extensive 
customer base, competitive market position in most commodi­
ties  and  economies  of  scale.  In  contrast,  this  is  not  the  busi­
ness model of Glencore’s mainly industrial competitors who are 
generally  not  set  up  to  exploit  the  full  range  of  value  added 
margin and arbitrage opportunities which exist throughout the 
commodity supply chain.

Businesses
Glencore conducts its operations in three business segments: 
Metals and minerals, Energy products and Agricultural products. 
Glencore’s business segments are responsible for managing the 
marketing, sourcing, hedging, logistics and industrial investment 
activities relating to the commodities which they cover.

Glencore

Metals and minerals

Energy products

Agricultural products

Zinc/copper/lead 

Oil

Alumina/aluminium

Coal/coke

Ferroalloys/nickel/
cobalt/iron ore

Grains

Oils/oilseeds

Cotton/sugar

14  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

oveRview  |  BuSineSS Review  |  CoRpoRAte GoveRnAnCe  |  FinAnCiAl StAteMentS  |  AdditionAl inFoRMAtion

OuR stRAtEgy

MARKEting ACtiVitiEs

Glencore’s strategy is to maintain and strengthen its position as 
one of the world’s leading diversified natural resources groups.

Strategic objectives for 2013
•  Focus  on  capital  efficient  growth  to  maintain  sector  lead-
ing return on equity: Glencore’s objective is to generate and 
sustain market leading shareholder returns by harnessing the 
potential of its marketing platform and industrial asset base.

•  Integration of Xstrata and Viterra (leading grain handler in 
Canada  and  Australia):  Glencore  will  seek  to  optimise  the  
operational and development potential of these major acqui­
sitions.

•  Continue to leverage geographic scope and diversification 
of operations: Glencore intends to extend product and geo­
graphical  range  offered  to  suppliers  and  customers  where  
appropriate.

•  Capitalise  on  strategic  investments  in  industrial  assets: 
Glencore’s  strategic  investments  in  industrial  assets  are  an 
important  component  of  its  physical  sourcing  strategy  for 
its marketing activities. Glencore believes these investments  
underpin Glencore as a reliable supplier for its customers.

•  Use  additional  capital  and  liquidity  to  grow  the  business 

when compelling opportunities present themselves.

•  Focus on cost management and further enhancing logistical 
capabilities:  Glencore  intends  to  continue  its  focus  on  cost 
control and operational efficiencies at its industrial assets and 
on the sourcing of competitively priced physical commodities 
from reliable third party suppliers.

•  Maintain conservative financial profile and investment grade 
ratings:  Glencore’s  conservative  financial  profile  and  invest­
ment  grade  credit  ratings  have  enabled  it  to  consistently  
access the required funding on competitive terms and main­
tain healthy levels of liquidity. Glencore intends to maintain its 
investment grade credit ratings.

•  Disciplined  risk  management: Glencore intends to continue 
its focus in this key area by maintaining and expanding its risk 
management resources, information systems and culture.

•  Place highest priority on employees, the environment and 
local  communities: Glencore places the highest priority on 
its  employees,  the  environment  and  the  local  communities 
where it operates.

Function of marketing activities
Glencore’s  marketing  activities  source  a  diversified  range  of 
physical  commodities  from  third  party  suppliers  and  from  
industrial  assets  in  which  Glencore  has  full  or  part  ownership 
interests. These commodities are sold, often with value added 
services  such  as  freight,  insurance,  financing  and/or  storage, 
to a broad range of consumers and industrial commodity end  
users, with many of whom Glencore enjoys long­term commer­
cial relationships.

Types of arbitrage strategies
Many  of  the  physical  commodity  markets  in  which  Glencore 
operates  are  fragmented  or  periodically  volatile.  As  a  result, 
discrepancies often arise in respect of the prices at which the 
commodities  can  be  bought  or  sold  in  different  geographic 
locations  or  time  periods,  taking  into  account  the  numerous 
relevant pricing factors, including freight and product quality. 
These  pricing  discrepancies  can  present  Glencore  with  arbi­
trage opportunities whereby Glencore is able to deploy capital 
to generate profit by sourcing, transporting, blending, storing 
or  otherwise  processing  the  relevant  commodities.  Whilst  the 
strategies used by Glencore’s business segments to generate 
such margin vary from commodity to commodity, the main arbi­
trage strategies can be generally described as follows:
•  Geographic: where Glencore leverages its relationships and 
production, processing and logistical capabilities in order to 
source physical commodities from one location and deliver 
them to another location where such commodities can com­
mand a higher price (net of transport and/or other transac­
tion costs);

•  Product related: where it is possible to exploit the blending 
or  multi­use  characteristics  of  the  particular  commodities  
being marketed, such as the various crude oil products, coal 
or  metal  concentrates,  in  order  to  supply  products  which  
attract  higher  prices  than  their  base  constituents,  or  exploit 
existing and/or expected price differentials; and

•  Time­related:  where  it  is  possible  to  exploit  a  difference  be­
tween the price of a commodity to be delivered at a future date 
and  the  price  of  a  commodity  to  be  delivered  immediately, 
where  the  available  storage,  financing  and  other  related 
costs  until  the  future  date  are  less  than  the  forward  pricing 
difference.

Arbitrage ensures markets function more efficiently by deliver­
ing  supply  to  where  it  is  most  needed,  in  time,  geography  or 
product.

Glencore  uses  market  information  made  available  by  its  mar­
keting and industrial teams across its many locations to identify 
arbitrage  opportunities.  Glencore’s  marketing  and  investment 
activities and relationships with producers and consumers of raw 
materials are supported by a global network providing Glencore 
with  visibility  over  shifting  supply  and  demand  dynamics  in  
respect of sizeable volumes of physical commodities across the 
globe.  The  detailed  information  from  Glencore’s  widespread  
operations  and  close  relationships  with  producers,  consumers 
and logistics providers often enables Glencore to identify oppor­
tunities, taking into account its extensive logistics capabilities, to 
source and supply physical commodities at attractive margins.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  15

Logistics
Glencore’s logistics operations are a key part of its marketing 
operations. They enable Glencore to fulfil its marketing obliga­
tions  and  to  maximise  arbitrage  opportunities  created  by  de­
mand and supply imbalances. Physical sourcing and marketing 
of commodities requires highly professional handling and ship­
ment of such goods from the supplier to the customer, including 
storage activities, as required. Typically, the staff handling the 
physical movement of goods (the “traffic team”) account for a 
significant proportion of the headcount of a business segment. 
Glencore’s dedicated chartering teams actively trade freight to 
gain  market  knowledge  and  volume  benefits.  The  freight  ele­
ment of transactions is furthermore used to maintain maximum 
physical  optionality  so  that  full  value  can  be  extracted  from 
the underlying commodity positions of each department. This 
complements Glencore’s overall ability to seize geographic and 
time spread arbitrage opportunities as they arise.

inDustRiAL ACtiVitiEs

Glencore’s  ownership  of  controlled  and  non­controlled  indus­
trial  assets  is  designed  to  generate  attractive  stand­alone  
returns and overall business diversification. They also serve as 
a  way  to  source  physical  supply  for  Glencore’s  marketing  arm 
and  provide  further  market  insight  and  technical  know­how. 
Glencore  believes  that  its  corresponding  reduced  reliance  on 
third parties helps to ensure that suppliers and customers alike 
see Glencore as a more reliable counterparty.

Glencore  capitalises  on  investment  opportunities  created  by, 
among  other  things,  (i)  the  privatisation  of  natural  resources 
producers primarily in emerging markets, (ii) the rebalancing of 
asset portfolios by other players in the natural resources indus­
try and (iii) further industry consolidation as smaller producers 
sell out and/or seek capital to fund growth.

Any  decision  to  acquire  or  dispose  of  an  industrial  asset  is 
based on the stand alone potential of the asset and its poten­
tial contribution to Glencore’s marketing activities and requires 
group  level  approval.  Once  acquired,  an  asset  is  held  within 
one  of  the  business  segments.  The  business  segments  man­
age  the  controlled  and  non­controlled  industrial  assets  via 
hands­on  “asset  controllers”  to  interface  between  the  asset 
and Glencore in respect of day to day operating, financial and 
commercial matters. Glencore’s approach to the management 
of its industrial assets differs from some of its key competitors 
in  that  Glencore  encourages  its  industrial  assets  to  focus  on 
the elements of operating performance, which businesses can 
directly control.

MARKEt REViEw

Markets started 2012 on a more positive footing after the sover­
eign  debt­related  headwinds  of  2011.  However,  the  initial  opti­
mism faded as the year progressed, with the key constraints for 
economic recovery that we have seen since the global financial 
crisis  remaining  in  place  for  the  remainder  of  2012.  The  major  
factors have been:

•   Very  weak  Eurozone  growth,  including  a  mild  contraction  in 
Q2  2012,  driven  by  limited  consumer  demand  and  industrial 
output.  Despite  numerous  crisis  meetings,  decisive  consen­
sual  action  was  impossible  to  sustain  with  key  issues  simply 
deferred;

•   A loss of growth momentum in Asia, particularly in China as a 
result of their tightening of monetary and fiscal policy in 2011. 
Although both started an easing process over the course of the 
year, these actions have a reasonably extended lead time and 
as  such  the  effects  will  not  immediately  be  felt.  The  planned 
political  transition  in  China  also  hindered  any  stimulative  ef­
fects. China’s manufacturing sector, while still generally buoy­
ant, is starting to feel the pressure of falling profitability; and
•   the US Federal Reserve’s further stimulus packages. However, 
with interest rates already low, the scope to impact consumer 
behaviour  was  limited.  Separately,  the  US  started  to  feel  the 
benefits  of  sustainable  lower  power  prices  and  the  housing 
market showed the first signs of improvements as household 
formation rate improved.

The pattern for commodity prices during 2012 was to generally 
trend downwards, albeit with frequent spikes around key policy 
events. Volatility also continued the downward trend it has been 
on  since  the  end  of  the  financial  crisis,  and  finished  the  year  
appreciably  lower  than  the  levels  experienced  in  the  second  
half of 2011.

Going  forward,  growth  in  China  is  expected  to  continue  to  be 
sufficiently  strong  to  create  a  favourable  environment  in  com­
modity markets in general. However, the rate of growth is clearly 
slowing and signs of variability across different regions and sec­
tors are starting to emerge. Prior to the current political transi­
tion, it was clear that the Chinese government was comfortable 
with a slower rate of growth as it still had concerns over inflation 
potential (mainly housing and food). Under the new generation 
of leaders in China, led by President Xi Jinping, the precise future 
growth path of China is still to be clarified.

The  movement  in  commodity  prices  generally  mirrored  the 
poor  performance  of  financial  markets  as  a  mark  of  investors’ 
lower  global  risk  appetite.  Compared  to  2011,  base  metals  were 
broadly down 10­20% in 2012 reflecting global growth concerns.  
Energy  commodities,  with  the  exception  of  US  natural  gas  (in­
creased by 24%) and coal (sizeable declines for many origins), es­
sentially returned to the levels they were at the beginning of the 
year. In agriculture, prices were generally up during Q3 2012 with a 
particularly strong performance from corn, wheat and soya beans.

Looking forward, we anticipate further modest improvements in 
global economic growth, in the absence of any major unantici­
pated policy decisions. 

The US looks increasingly well positioned for the medium to long 
term with their abundance of competitively priced power a key 
positive  factor.  Meanwhile,  we  expect  China  and  other  major 
emerging economies to remain committed to their stated plans 
to  improve  the  living  standards  of  their  people.  The  key  chal­
lenge  for  all  markets  remains  to  balance  required  social  spend 
with growth in economic activity required to sustain this spend 
over the long term.

16  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

oveRview  |  BuSineSS Review  |  CoRpoRAte GoveRnAnCe  |  FinAnCiAl StAteMentS  |  AdditionAl inFoRMAtion

New capital investment
Glencore is focused on delivering industry­leading organic pro­
duction  growth  which  in  turn  will  help  drive  growth  within  its 
marketing business. In this regard, Glencore is very focused on 
delivering this growth in a capital efficient manner.

In  addition,  the  West  African  oil  portfolio  will  further  contrib­
ute  to  the  Energy  Products  industrial  asset’s  growth.  After 
Aseng  (Block  I)  commenced  first  oil  production  in  November 
2011 ahead of schedule, the development of the Alen gas/con­
densate field (Block O) remains on track for first production in 
Q3 2013 with a target flow rate of 37,500 bbl per day. 

Glencore’s first operated exploration well on the Oak prospect 
in  the  Bolongo  Block,  offshore  Cameroon,  was  successfully 
drilled and declared an oil discovery in July 2012. The appraisal 
programme is planned for H2 2013.

In  the  Agricultural  products  business  unit,  sugar  crushing  ca­
pacity  will  further  increase  due  to  the  on­going  expansion  at 
Rio Vermelho.

During  2012  industrial  growth  projects  continued  to  deliver 
overall volume improvement and expansion is on track to de­
liver growth in the next few years.

The African Copper assets continued their expansion plans, with  
Mutanda / Kansuki expected to have a combined installed capac­
ity  of  200,000  tonnes  of  copper  and  23,000  tonnes  of  cobalt 
by 2013. In addition the feasibility study for the construction of 
a 100,000 tonnes (of copper contained) sulphide concentrator 
remains on track to be completed shortly.

Katanga  produced  its  first  copper  cathode  from  the  new  sol­
vent  extraction  plants  and  converted  electro­winning  facil­
ity during December 2012 as part of the Phase 4 project. The 
completion of this project will enable Katanga to increase total 
capacity. The Phase 4 project remains on target for mechanical 
completion in Q3 2013, which should allow Katanga to increase 
its  annualised  copper  production  capacity  to  200,000  tonnes 
and thereafter to 300,000 tonnes per annum, by Q4 2014.

Mutanda,  Katanga  and  Kansuki  are  collectively  undertaking   
a  project  to  secure  power  for  all  three  operations  via  the  
refurbishment of two turbines at the Inga dam. This project is  
expected  to  provide  450  megawatts  of  power  by  the  end  of 
2015 (the “Power Project”). The project has started and is be­
ing executed in partnership with Société Naturale d’Electricité 
(‘SNEL’)  and  EGMF,  the  project  contractor.  The  estimated 
cost  of  $  284  million  will  be  paid  by  Mutanda,  Katanga  and  
Kansuki,  the  investment  in  which  will  be  recovered  via  lower 
future energy tariffs.

At  Mopani  the  $  323  million  Synclinorium  shaft  project  to  in­
crease mine production, which is expected to come online dur­
ing 2015, and the associated project to improve and modernise 
the  smelter  remain  on  track.  In  2012,  Mopani  announced  that 
the smelter upgrade project (including improving SO2 emission 
capture to above 97%) is expected to be completed by Decem­
ber 2013, 18 months ahead of the schedule initially agreed with 
the Zambian authorities.

Prodeco’s expansion project is progressing to plan and remains 
on track to deliver annualised production of 20 million tonnes 
by  2014.  The  construction  of  the  new  direct  loading  port,  
Puerto Nuevo, is also on track and to budget, with commission­
ing expected in H1 2013. 

The  South  African  Coal  portfolio  including  Shanduka  Coal,  
Umcebo Mining and Optimum Coal is currently focusing on a 
number  of  expansion  and  development  projects;  at  Umcebo  
the Wonderfontein project railed its first coal during December 
2012, at Optimum, construction has started at the Pullenshope 
underground  brownfield  project  with  first  coal  expected  in 
Q2 2013 and licensing for the Koornfontein project is expected 
shortly, with construction scheduled to start in Q2 2013.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  17

1.5 | sustainability

Glencore  Corporate  Practice  (GCP)  is  designed  to  ensure  ro­
bust business practice for sustainability and other non­financial 
business areas, throughout all Glencore business segments and 
commodity  departments,  at  both  corporate  and  local  levels. 
It  meets  internationally­accepted  best  practice  standards  for  
corporate  governance  and  the  management  of  non­financial 
activities.  We  use  it  to  continuously  improve  performance  in 
these areas, and to develop internal and external understand­
ing and acceptance of how we manage sustainability.

International law
Best practice standards

GCP principles

GCP management

Group and local 
policies

Local law

tHE sCOPE OF gCP

The GCP requirements are mandatory for everyone at Glencore. 
This applies throughout our marketing activities, and in all indus­
trial activities where we have operational control. 

gCP gOVERnAnCE

Responsibility  for  GCP  development  and  implementation  lies 
with our management and the Health, Safety, Environment and 
Communities  (HSEC)  committee,  established  by  Glencore’s 
Board in 2011. Chaired by an independent Board member, this 
committee provides the leadership, control and guidance that 
seeks to ensure group­wide GCP adherence.

The committee evaluates how effectively we identify and man­
age environmental and health and safety risks, and assesses our 
compliance with the relevant regulations. It assesses the impact 
of Glencore sustainability programmes on our employees, local 
communities and other third parties, as well as the impact on 
our reputation. 

The  committee  receives  management  reports  on  all  fatalities 
and serious accidents (and the resulting actions), and evaluates 
and oversees all sustainability reporting to external stakehold­
ers, on behalf of the Board. It reviews the results of any inde­

18  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

pendent  audits  of  Glencore’s  sustainability  performance,  and 
any  management  strategies  and  action  plans  created  in  re­
sponse to issues raised, making recommendations to the Board 
as appropriate and providing guidance to management.

PROgREss OVERViEw FOR 2012

Health and safety
We regret to report 22 fatalities at our operations in 2012 (com­
pared to 18 in both 2011 and 2010). It is quite clear that we must 
continue  with  our  unwavering  focus  on  improving  health  and 
safety practices. Despite the unacceptably high level of fatali­
ties, we were able to reduce our lost time injury frequency rate 
to 2.84 (per million hours worked), down from 3.58 in 2011.

In  2012  we  conducted  independent  health  and  safety  assess­
ments,  combined  with  baseline  studies  of  our  environmental 
activities, at almost all our major assets. We used this compre­
hensive data to create and introduce a systematic improvement 
plan, in conjunction with our external assessor DuPont. Among 
a range of initiatives, the plan includes stringent fatality inves­
tigation  procedures.  The  essence  of  our  learning  from  these  
assessments  is  summarised  in  the  new  GCP  programme’s 
health  and  safety  section.  This  was  made  public  in  our  2011  
sustainability report, published in November 2012.

Environment
We  experienced  no  serious  environmental  incidents  (classified 
as “Class A: Major” within our environmental incident reporting 
system) in 2012, as in 2011 and 2010. We believe that this posi­
tive result demonstrates the robust nature of our procedures and 
policies, which enable us to effectively manage our extensive and 
complex business activities with minimal environmental impact. 

The  GCP  programme  also  commits  us  to  a  path  of  continuous 
improvement in our environmental performance. 2012 saw a num­
ber  of  initiatives  commenced,  implemented  or  completed.  One 
of the most important is the upgrade to our smelter in Mufulira, 
Zambia.  In  this  final  stage  of  work,  we  are  installing  further  gas 
capturing equipment and a second acid plant. The upgrade will 
be completed by the end of 2013, allowing the plant to capture 
over 97% of its sulphur dioxide emissions. This is approximately 18 
months ahead of the timetable set by the Zambian government in 
the environmental management plan agreed during privatisation.

Another achievement in 2012 was the agreement in April to re­
sume operations at our Mufulira heap leach facilities. While op­
erations at this plant were within prescribed environmental limits, 
residents of the nearby Butondo township had raised objections. 
This  led  to  the  temporary  suspension  of  operations  while  con­
ducting an investigation into the community’s concerns. An all­
inclusive stakeholder consultation process, including local repre­
sentatives, NGOs and the Zambian environmental management 
agency, facilitated an amicable resolution of the situation and led 
to enhanced safety and environmental measures.

oveRview  |  BuSineSS Review  |  CoRpoRAte GoveRnAnCe  |  FinAnCiAl StAteMentS  |  AdditionAl inFoRMAtion

Reporting
We  issued  our  second  public  sustainability  report  (cover­
ing  2011)  in  the  last  quarter  of  2012.  This  is  available  to  read  
online  or  download  at  www.glencore.com/sustainability.  
Annual  reporting  will  continue  this  year  with  the  publication 
covering progress and changes in 2012.

tHE gCP PROgRAMME

2012 also saw the enhancement of our GCP programme (pub­
lished  in  our  2011  sustainability  report),  incorporating  Board­
approved group­wide sustainability targets and objectives into 
the existing GCP framework. Progress is monitored closely by 
the HSEC Board committee on a regular basis.

The programme has two elements: strategic objectives, which 
are  updated  as  they  are  achieved,  and  ongoing  projects.  
Together,  these  address  our  key  sustainability  goals  and  set 
out our strategy for the next three to five years, allowing us to 
measure and report on our progress towards fulfilling our GCP 
commitments. 

Communities
Our Calenturitas coal project in Cesar province, Colombia, con­
tinues with the previously reported resettlement project initiat­
ed due to air quality concerns. Prodeco is working together with 
three other mining companies and an external team of local and 
international resettlement experts appointed in 2011. Together, 
the stakeholders have formed the negotiation committees that 
are now working to agree a resettlement action plan. 

We also continued our established programme of social devel­
opment projects; the representative examples below are taken 
from  our  activities  in  the  DRC.  The  operations  involved  are  
Katanga and Mutanda and the main areas of focus are infrastruc­
ture, health and education. 

Infrastructure: Katanga has paved over 19 kilometres of roads 
in  Kolwezi  and  maintains  a  further  30  kilometres  between 
nearby  villages.  It  has  also  refurbished  roads  in  Lubumbashi 
and  contributed  to  the  commissioning  of  a  new  ferry  for  the 
Lualaba  river.  Separately,  Mutanda  has  funded  the  construc­
tion of a new bridge over the Lualaba as well as maintaining 
roads.  Both  operations  have  also  provided  infrastructure  to 
supply drinking water for several villages. They have donated 
farming supplies to the Provincial Ministry of Agriculture, and 
Katanga  has  assisted  individual  farmers  with  seed,  tools  and 
fertilisers, while Mutanda provides ongoing funding for a fish 
farm in Kando.

A  joint  programme  with  the  DRC’s  national  electricity  utility 
will see us fund a major $ 284 million power refurbishment pro­
gramme. Funding started in the second quarter of 2012 and will 
continue  until  the  end  of  2015.  The  programme  will  increase 
capacity  to  the  public  power  grid  and  improve  the  general  
reliability and stability of supplies for the region.

Health:  both  operations  have  built  state­of­the­art  on­site 
hospitals and  run comprehensive HIV/AIDS  training and  treat­
ment  programmes.  Katanga  donates  pharmaceuticals  for  ma­
laria  and  other  common  diseases,  such  as  diarrhoea,  coughs 
and fever. Mutanda’s two clinics in neighbouring communities 
offer  weekly  open  clinics.  Katanga’s  malaria  programme  in­
cludes vector control spraying for nearly ten thousand house­
holds,  while  both  operations’  programmes  include  spraying 
of homes, plants, mines, offices and local government offices. 
Mutanda has worked with the government to open a vaccina­
tion  clinic  for  children  under  five,  as  well  as  an  independent 
mother and baby programme to help eliminate infant malnutri­
tion.  These  programmes  have  helped  reduce  infant  mortality 
rates  to  a  third  of  previous  levels.  Katanga  has  also  built  two 
new  hospitals  in  Kisangani  (Orientale  province)  and  Pweto  
(Katanga province). 

Education:  Katanga  and  Mutanda  have  assisted  in  renovating 
and  supporting  local  schools,  benefitting  9,500  pupils  with 
desks, books, computers and buildings. Both have made finan­
cial  contributions  and  supplied  raw  materials,  engineers  and 
labour  to  a  number  of  schools,  colleges  and  universities.  This 
includes  UNIKOL  (University  of  Kolwezi),  Matendo  school  in 
Kolwezi, Nyumba ya Heri school and ISTA (Institut Supérieur de 
Techniques Appliquées).

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  19

1.6 | Key performance indicators

Glencore’s financial and sustainable development key performance indicators (KPIs) provide some measure of our performance 
against key drivers of our strategy.

Adjusted EBIT

6 000

5 000
n 4 000

o

i
l
l
i

m
$
S
U

3 000

2 000

1 000

0

2010

2011

2012

Funds from operations (FFO)

n
o

i
l
l
i

m
$
S
U

4 000

3 000

2 000

1 000

0

Adjusted  EBIT  is  a  measure  that  provides  insight  into  Glencore’s  overall  business 
performance (a combination of cost management, seizing market opportunities and 
growth)  and  the  corresponding  flow  driver  towards  achieving  an  industry  leading  
return on equity. Adjusted EBIT as defined in the glossary on page 166 consists of rev­
enue less cost of goods sold and selling and administrative expenses plus share of in­
come from associates and jointly controlled entities and dividend income as disclosed 
on the face of the consolidated statement of income, excluding significant items. 

2012 Adjusted EBIT was down 17% to $ 4,470 million compared to 2011 due to lower 
contributions  from  our  industrial  activities  which  were  affected  by  generally  lower  
year  on  year  average  commodity  prices  for  the  key  commodities  which  we  and  our 
associates (primarily Xstrata) produce.

FFO is a measure that reflects Glencore’s ability to generate cash for investment, debt 
servicing and distributions to shareholders as well as an indication of Glencore’s ability 
to  deliver  against  its  growth  and  financial  flexibility  objectives.  FFO  comprises  cash 
provided by operating activities before working capital changes less tax and net inter­
est payments plus dividends received and adding back listing related expenses in 2011.

2010

2011

2012

2012 FFO was up 17% to $ 4,115 million compared to $ 3,522 million in 2011, reflecting 
the higher Adjusted EBITDA from marketing activities.

60

50

40

30

%

20

10

0

Net debt is an absolute measure of how we are managing our balance sheet and capi­
tal structure, while of equal or greater importance, the relationship of FFO to net debt 
is  an  indication  of  our  financial  flexibility  and  strength,  a  key  driver  of  our  strategy. 
Net debt is defined as total current and non­current borrowings less cash and cash 
equivalents, marketable securities and readily marketable inventory. 

Net debt as at 31 December 2012 increased to $ 15,416 million from $ 12,938 million 
as at 31 December 2011. $ 359 million of net debt was assumed in the Viterra acquisi­
tion and $ 3.6 billion of net debt was incurred to finance Glencore’s effective share 
of the equity purchase consideration. Adjusting for the increase in net debt attribut­
able to the Viterra acquisition (completed mid­December 2012), net debt would be  
$ 11,457 million, a decrease of $ 1,481 million compared to 2011. The ratio FFO to Net 
debt  (adjusted  for  the  Viterra  acquisition)  improved  from  27.2%  in  2011  to  35.9%  in 
2012. A healthy positive free cash flow generation/FFO is expected from the Viterra 
asset base going forward, which is expected to offer support to debt coverage ratios 
and deleveraging initiatives into the future. 

We  deeply  regret  the  22  fatalities  at  our  managed  operations  in  2012.  This  was  an 
increase compared to 2011 and 2010 (both of which saw 18 fatalities) and included a 
tragic car accident in Argentina where four people lost their lives.

Net debt/FFO to net debt 

n
o

i
l
l
i

m
$
S
U

15 000

12 500

10 000

7 500

5 000

2 500

0

2010

2011

2012 1

1 Adjusted for Viterra acquisition

Fatalities

25

r 20
e
b
m
u
n

15

10

5

0

2010

2011

2012

20  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

 
 
 
 
 
 
oveRview  |  BuSineSS Review  |  CoRpoRAte GoveRnAnCe  |  FinAnCiAl StAteMentS  |  AdditionAl inFoRMAtion

Lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR)

R
 F
T
L

I

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

2010

2011

2012

Metals and minerals
Energy products
Agricultural products

The  lost  time  injury  frequency  rate  (LTIFR)  is  a  key  measure  of  how  we  are  deliver­
ing against our commitment to the health and safety of our employees. The LTIFR is 
calculated  based  on  the  total  number  of  injuries  per  million  hours  worked  (by  both 
employees and contractors)

In 2012, our group LTIFR fell from 3.58 to 2.84. This improvement primarily came from 
our metals and minerals and agricultural product segments, while the energy prod­
ucts segment saw a slight increase (however, this was from a much lower original rate). 
Metals and minerals (representing 70% of our industrial workforce) reduced its LTIFR 
from  3.06  to  2.37,  agriculture  (representing  10%)  from  12.61  to  10.78,  while  energy 
products (representing 20%) increased from 0.81 to 0.86. 

Number of Class A environmental incidents 

We  undertake  an  extensive  and  complex  range  of  activities,  which  are  not  limited  to 
the  extraction  of  natural  resources  but  also  include  significant  logistical  operations 
such  as  maritime  transportation.  One  way  in  which  we  measure  the  robustness  of  our 
procedures  and  policies  is  the  frequency  of  Class  A  environmental  incidents  in  the 
group.  This  is  our  classification  for  disastrous  or  close­to  disastrous  incidents  and  
involves  accidents  or  spills  with  a  major  environmental  impact  and  a  long­term  effect, 
reversible only by long­term remediation with aftercare. 

No Class A environmental incidents were reported in 2012 (as in 2011 and 2010).

Community investments are Glencore’s contributions to, and financial support of, the 
broader communities in the regions where we operate.

In  2012  Glencore’s  community  investments  amounted  to  $  95  million,  compared  to 
$ 140 million in 2011 and $ 71 million in 2010. A large part of the difference between 
2012 and 2011 was due to the conclusion of an extensive investment project at Kazzinc.

Water withdrawal is a measure of our operational resource efficiency.

In  2012,  we  used  484  million  m3  of  water,  representing  a  3.3%  reduction  in  water  
withdrawal compared to 500 million m3 in 2011 (in 2010 the figure was 413 million m3), 
despite the acquisition of additional operations, largely due to the implementation of 
technical improvements.

Community investments

n
o

i
l
l
i

m
$
S
U

160

120

80

40

0

2010

2011

2012

Water withdrawal

 3
m
n
o

i
l
l
i

m

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

2010

2011

2012

Greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2)

s
e
n
n
o
t
n
o

i
l
l
i

m

18

15

12

9

6

3

0

Our GHG emission reporting is separated into Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. Scope 1 
includes  emissions  from  combustion  in  owned  or  controlled  boilers,  furnaces  and  
vehicles/vessels,  and  Scope  2  consists  of  those  generated  in  creating  the  electricity 
(the majority of contributions), steam, heat, etc, provided to the organisation by exter­
nal utility companies.

2010

2011

2012

In 2012, Glencore accounted for 15.7 million tonnes of CO2e, compared to 12.8 million 
tonnes in 2011 and 11.2 million tonnes in 2010. This increase is primarily due to newly ac­
quired assets (especially coal assets) and continued refinement of our GHG reporting.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  21

 
 
 
 
 
1.7 |  Principal risks and uncertainties

The Group’s business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially and adversely affected by competitive, eco­
nomic, political, legal, regulatory, social, business and financial risks and uncertainties. The risks described below are those that the 
Group currently believes may materially affect it (including following completion of the merger with Xstrata) although this is not an 
exhaustive list. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to the Group, or those which are currently deemed to be im­
material, may become material and adversely affect the Group’s business, results of operations, financial condition and/or prospects. 

The results may differ significantly from those previously projected as a result of certain factors, including the risks which it faces, 
as described below. The order in which the following is presented does not necessarily reflect the likelihood of their occurrence or 
the relative magnitude of their potential material adverse effect on the Group’s business, results of operations, financial condition 
and/or prospects. These principal risks and uncertainties should be considered in connection with any forward looking statements 
in this document and the cautionary statement.

EXTERNAL

Fluctuation in expected volumes of supply or demand for the commodities in which the Group markets

The  Group  is  dependent  on  the  ex­
pected volumes of supply or demand for 
commodities  in  which  the  Group  is  ac­
tive,  which  can  vary  over  time  based  on 
changes  in  resource  availability,  govern­
ment  policies  and  regulation,  costs  of 
production, global and regional econom­
ic conditions, demand in end markets for 
products  in  which  the  commodities  are 
used,  technological  developments,  in­
cluding  commodity  substitutions,  fluc­
tuations  in  global  production  capacity, 
global and regional weather conditions, 
natural  disasters  and  diseases,  all  of 
which  impact  global  markets  and  de­
mand for commodities.

Fluctuation of commodity prices 

The revenue and earnings of the Group’s 
industrial asset activities and, to a lesser 
extent,  its  marketing  activities  are  de­
pendent  upon  prevailing  commodity 
prices. Commodity prices are influenced 
by a number of external factors, including 
the supply of and demand for commodi­
ties, speculative activities by market par­
ticipants,  global  political  and  economic 
conditions  and  related  industry  cycles 
and production costs in major producing 
countries.

22  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

Impact: Fluctuations in the volume of each commodity produced or marketed by the 
Group could materially impact the Group’s business, results of operations and earn­
ings. These fluctuations could result in a reduction or increase in the income generated 
in respect of the volumes handled by the Group’s marketing activities, or a reduction 
or increase in the volume and/or margin in respect of commodities produced by the 
Group’s industrial assets. 

mItIgatIon: The risk of fluctuations in demand for the commodities in which the Group 
markets is managed by maintaining a diversified portfolio of commodities to market, 
reducing the impact of movement in any one commodity market. Individual commodi­
ties, even apparently closely linked products such as barley and wheat, have their own 
demand cycles reducing over­reliance on any single product. 

Impact: Fluctuations in the price of commodities produced or marketed could materi­
ally impact the Group’s business, results of operations and earnings. The impacts that 
fluctuating commodity prices have on the Group’s business differ between its market­
ing activities and industrial activities.

Marketing  activities:  In  a  market  environment  in  which  prices  for  a  particular  com­
modity are higher on average, the premiums/margins that the Group generates in its 
physical marketing operations relating to such commodity as a result of geographical, 
time  and  quality  imbalances  tend  to  be  higher.  The  Group  also  generally  benefits 
from fluctuating market prices, rather than long periods of stable prices, as it seeks to 
physically arbitrage such resulting price differentials. As prices of commodities rise, 
the Group generally has higher working capital financing requirements over the same 
quantity of commodities in question. During periods of falling commodity prices, the 
opposite applies in that the Group will require less working capital financing for its 
marketing activities.

Industrial activities: Higher prices will be particularly favourable to the profitability of 
the Group in respect of those commodities which the Group produces at its industrial 
assets or are produced by its associated companies and other investees. Similarly, low 
prices will negatively impact the Group’s industrial activities and could result in such 
activities incurring losses. 

oveRview  |  BuSineSS Review  |  CoRpoRAte GoveRnAnCe  |  FinAnCiAl StAteMentS  |  AdditionAl inFoRMAtion

Fluctuation in currency exchange rates

The  vast  majority  of  the  Group’s  trans­
actions are denominated in U.S. Dollars, 
while  operating  costs  are  spread  across 
several different countries the currencies 
of which fluctuate against the U.S. Dollar. 

A significant downturn in the price of commodities generally results in a decline in the 
Group’s profitability during such a period and could potentially result in a devaluation 
of inventories and impairments. Although the  impact  of  a  downturn on commodity 
prices affects the Group’s marketing and industrial activities differently, the negative 
impact on its industrial activities is generally greater, as the profitability in the industri­
al activities is more directly exposed to price risk due to its higher level of fixed costs, 
while the Group’s marketing activities are ordinarily substantially hedged in respect of 
price risk and principally operate a service­like margin­based model.

mItIgatIon: The risk of fluctuations in commodity prices is managed by maintaining 
a diversified portfolio of commodities, reducing the impact of movement to any in­
dividual commodity price. In addition, the Group continuously reviews and looks to 
optimise its asset portfolio to ensure it is sufficiently cost effective and efficient and 
a substantial portion of our inventory is either under contract for sale at a predeter­
mined price or hedged through futures and options on commodity exchanges or with 
highly rated counterparties. Therefore, at any one time, the commodity price risk is 
restricted to a small proportion of the working capital balance. Financial expense risk 
during periods of low commodities prices is mitigated by maintaining an investment 
grade rating and a mix of floating and fixed rate funding options, the former generally 
passed on via the transactional terms in marketing arrangements. 

Impact: The vast majority of transactions undertaken by both the Group’s marketing 
and  industrial  activities  are  denominated  in  U.S.  Dollars.  However,  the  Group  is  ex­
posed to fluctuations in currency exchange rates:

•  through its industrial activities, because a large proportion of the operating costs 
of these assets are denominated in the currency of the country in which each asset 
is located, the largest of such currency exposures being to the Australian Dollar, the 
Kazakhstan Tenge, the Colombian Peso, the Euro, the Chilean Peso, the Norwegian 
Kroner, the South African Rand, the Argentine Peso, the Peruvian Sol and the Cana­
dian Dollar (including via Glencore’s stake in Xstrata);

•  through  the  costs  of  the  Group’s  global  office  network,  which  are  denominated 
largely  in  the  currency  of  the  country  in  which  each  office  is  located,  the  largest 
of such currency exposures being to the Swiss Franc, the Pound Sterling and the 
Euro; and

•  through its marketing activities, although only a small minority of purchase or sale 

transactions are denominated in currencies other than U.S. Dollars.

Foreign exchange rates have seen significant fluctuation in recent years and a depre­
ciation in the value of the U.S. Dollar against one or more of the currencies in which 
the Group incurs significant costs will therefore, to the extent it has not been hedged, 
result in an increase in the cost of these operations in U.S. Dollar terms and could ad­
versely affect the Group’s financial results.

mItIgatIon: The Group manages the risk of fluctuating currency exchanges rates by 
operating in a number of different geographies and by hedging specific future non 
U.S. Dollar denominated commodity purchase or sale commitments. 

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  23

Impact: The geopolitical risks associated with operating in a large number of regions 
and countries, if realised, could affect the Group’s ability to manage or retain interests 
in its industrial activities and could have a material adverse effect on the profitability, 
ability to finance or, in extreme cases, viability of one or more of its industrial assets. 
Although the Group’s industrial assets are geographically diversified across various 
countries,  disruptions  in  certain  of  its  industrial  operations  at  any  given  time  could 
have a material adverse effect on the Group’s marketing business. 

mItIgatIon:  Geopolitical  risk  is  managed  through  geographical  diversification  of 
commodities and operations, continuous monitoring and dialogue through and with 
the Group’s network of field offices and a commitment to engage proactively with em­
ployees and the communities in which it operates, in order to maintain and improve 
its licence to operate.

Geopolitical risk

The Group operates and owns assets in a 
large number of geographic regions and 
countries some of which are categorised 
as developing, complex and having un­
stable political or social climates and, as  
a  result,  is  exposed  to  a  wide  range  of 
political,  economic,  regulatory  and  tax 
environments.  These  environments  are 
subject to change in a manner that may be 
materially adverse for the Group, includ­
ing changes to government policies and 
regulations governing industrial produc­
tion,  foreign  investment,  price  controls, 
import and export controls, tariffs, subsi­
dies, income and other forms of taxation 
(including policies relating to the granting 
of  advance  rulings  on  taxation  matters), 
nationalisation  or  expropriation  of  prop­
erty, repatriation of income, royalties, the 
environment and health and safety.

Compliance with a significant number of laws and regulations

As  a  diversified  production,  sourcing, 
marketing  and  distribution  company 
conducting complex transactions global­
ly, the Group is exposed to and subject to 
extensive laws and regulations governing 
various  matters.  These  include  laws  and  
regulations  relating  to  bribery  and  cor­
ruption, taxation, anti­trust, financial mar­
kets regulation, environmental protection, 
management and use of hazardous sub­
stances and explosives, management of  
natural resources, licences over resources 
owned by various governments, explora­
tion,  development  of  projects,  produc­
tion  and  post­closure  reclamation,  the 
employment  of  expatriates,  labour  and 
occupational health and safety standards, 
and historic and cultural preservation.

Liquidity risk

The Group’s failure to obtain funds could 
limit  its  ability  to  engage  in  desired  ac­
tivities and grow its business.

24  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

Impact: These laws and regulations may allow governmental authorities and private 
parties to bring lawsuits based upon damages to property and injury to persons re­
sulting from the environmental, health and safety and other impacts of the Group’s 
past and current operations, and could lead to the imposition of substantial fines, 
penalties,  other  civil  or  criminal  sanctions,  the  curtailment  or  cessation  of  opera­
tions, orders to pay compensation, orders to remedy the effects of violations and/
or  orders  to  take  preventative  steps  against  possible  future  violations.  Moreover, 
the  costs  associated  with  compliance  with  these  laws  and  regulations  are  sub­
stantial.  Any  changes  to  these  laws  or  regulations  or  more  stringent  enforcement 
or restrictive interpretation of current laws and regulations could cause additional 
expenditure  (including  capital  expenditure)  to  be  incurred  or  impose  restrictions 
on or suspensions of the Group’s operations and delays in the development of its 
properties. In addition, obtaining the necessary governmental permits can be a par­
ticularly complex and time­consuming process and may involve costly undertakings. 
The  duration  and  success  of  permit  applications  are  contingent  on  many  factors, 
including  those  outside  the  Group’s  control.  Failure  to  obtain  or  renew  a  neces­
sary permit could mean that such companies would be unable to proceed with the 
development or continued operation of a mine or project, which, in turn, may have 
a  material  adverse  effect  on  the  Group’s  business,  results  of  operations,  financial 
condition and prospects.

mItIgatIon: The Group is committed to complying with or exceeding the laws, regu­
lations and best practice guidelines applicable to its operations and products in the 
jurisdictions  in  which  it  operates  and  through  continuous  monitoring  of  legislative 
requirements  and  engagement  with  government  and  regulators  it  strives  to  ensure 
full compliance.

Liquidity,  or  ready  access  to  funds,  is  essential  to  the  Group’s  businesses.  Liquidity 
risk is the risk that the Group is unable to meet its payment obligations when due, or 
that it is unable, on an ongoing basis, to borrow funds in the market on an unsecured 
or  secured  basis  at  an  acceptable  price  to  fund  actual  or  proposed  commitments. 
While the Group adjusts its minimum internal liquidity targets in response to changes 
in market conditions, these minimum internal liquidity targets may be breached due 
to  circumstances  it  is  unable  to  control,  such  as  general  market  disruptions,  sharp 

oveRview  |  BuSineSS Review  |  CoRpoRAte GoveRnAnCe  |  FinAnCiAl StAteMentS  |  AdditionAl inFoRMAtion

increases in the prices of commodities or an operational problem that affects its sup­
pliers or customers or itself.

Impact: A lack of liquidity may mean that the Group will not have funds available to 
maintain or increase its marketing activities and industrial activities.

Marketing activities: The Group’s marketing activities employ significant amounts of 
working capital to fund purchases of commodities for future delivery to its end cus­
tomers, to meet margin requirements under derivative contracts and to fund the ac­
quisition and maintenance of certain transport and storage assets which complement 
its  marketing  activities.  Any  inability  to  fund  these  amounts  of  working  capital  may 
prevent  the  Group  from  maintaining  its  historic  levels  of  marketing  activity  or  from 
increasing such levels in the future.

 Industrial activities: The Group’s industrial activities may be capital intensive and the 
continued funding of such activities is critical to maintain its ownership interests in its 
industrial  assets,  to  maintain  production  levels  in  periods  when  net  operating  cash 
flow is negative or insufficient to cover capital expenditures, to increase production 
levels  in  the  future  in  accordance  with  its  business  plans  and  to  grow  its  industrial 
activities through the acquisition of new assets. Any inability to fund these operating 
and  capital  expenditure  requirements  may  prevent  the  Group  from  maintaining  or 
growing its industrial activities’ production output.

mItIgatIon:  The  Group  operates  a  policy  of  liquidity  risk  management,  whereby  it 
seeks to maintain  (via  a  minimum  prescribed  level)  sufficient  cash  and  cash  equiva­
lents  and  other  sources  of  committed  funding  available  to  meet  anticipated  and  
unanticipated funding needs. 

Impact:  Many  of  the  physical  commodity  markets  in  which  the  Group  operates  are  
fragmented  or  periodically  volatile.  As  a  result,  discrepancies  generally  arise  in  
respect  of  the  prices  at  which  the  commodities  can  be  bought  or  sold  in  different 
forms,  geographic  locations  or  time  periods,  taking  into  account  the  numerous  
relevant pricing factors, including freight and product quality. These pricing discrep­
ancies can present the Group with arbitrage opportunities whereby the Group is able 
to generate profit by sourcing, transporting, blending, storing or otherwise processing 
the relevant commodities. Profitability of the Group’s marketing activities is, in large 
part, dependent on its ability to identify and exploit such arbitrage opportunities. A 
lack of such opportunities, for example due to a prolonged period of pricing stability 
in a particular market, or an inability to take advantage of such opportunities when 
they present themselves, because of, for example, a shortage of liquidity or an inabil­
ity to access required logistics assets or other operational constraints, could adversely  
impact the Group’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

mItIgatIon: The Group mitigates the risk of an inability to take advantage of arbitrage 
opportunities or lack thereof by maintaining a diversified portfolio of products and 
through  informational  advantages  the  Group  enjoys  via  its  global  network,  its  size­
able market share and logistics capabilities in many commodities enabling it to move 
quickly in response to arbitrage opportunities afforded by fluctuations and disequi­
librium in commodity markets.

MARKETING ACTIVITIES

Arbitrage opportunities

The Group’s marketing activities are de­
pendent, in part, on its ability to identify 
and  take  advantage  of  arbitrage  oppor­
tunities.

Hedging strategy

The  Group’s  hedging  strategy  may  not 
always  be  effective,  does  not  require  all 
risks to be hedged and may leave an ex­
posure to basis risk.

Impact: The Group’s marketing activities involve a significant number of purchase and 
sale transactions across multiple commodities. To the extent the Group purchases a 
commodity from a supplier and does not immediately have a matching contract to sell 
the commodity to a customer, a downturn in the price of the commodity could result 

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  25

in losses to the Group. Conversely, to the extent the Group agrees to sell a commodity 
to a customer and does not immediately have a matching contract to acquire the com­
modity from a supplier, an increase in the price of the commodity could result in losses 
to the Group, as it then seeks to acquire the underlying commodity in a rising market.
In  the  event  of  disruptions  in  the  commodity  exchanges  or  markets  on  which  the 
Group  engages  in  hedging  transactions,  the  Group’s  ability  to  manage  commodity 
price risk may be adversely affected and this could in turn materially adversely affect 
its business, financial condition and results of operations.

In addition, there are no traded or bilateral derivative markets for certain commodities 
that the Group purchases and sells, which limits the Group’s ability to fully hedge its 
exposure to price fluctuations for these commodities. 

mItIgatIon: In order to mitigate the risks in its marketing activities related to commod­
ity price fluctuations and potential losses, the Group has a policy, at any given time, 
of hedging substantially all of its marketing inventory not already contracted for sale 
at pre­determined prices through futures and swap commodity derivative contracts, 
either on commodities’ exchanges or in the over the counter market.

In instances where there are no traded or bilateral derivative markets for certain com­
modities, the Group’s ability to hedge its commodity exposure is limited to forward 
contracts for the physical delivery of a commodity or futures and swap contracts for a 
different, but seemingly related, commodity.

Impact: Non­performance by the Group’s suppliers, customers and hedging counter­
parties may occur in a range of situations, such as: 

•  a significant increase in commodity prices could result in suppliers being unwilling 
to honour their contractual commitments to sell commodities to the Group at pre­
agreed prices;

•  a significant reduction in commodity prices could result in customers being unwilling 
or unable to honour their contractual commitments to purchase commodities from 
the Group at pre­agreed prices;

•  customers may take delivery of commodities from the Group and then find them­
selves unable to honour their payment obligations due to financial distress or any 
other reasons; and

•  hedging  counterparties  may  find  themselves  unable  to  honour  their  contractual 

commitment due to financial distress or other reasons.

Non­performance by a counterparty could have an adverse impact on its business, 
results  of  operations  and  financial  condition,  including  by  creating  an  unintended, 
unmatched commodity price exposure.

In  addition,  financial  assets  consisting  principally  of  cash  and  cash  equivalents,  
marketable  securities,  receivables  and  advances,  derivative  instruments  and  long­
term  advances  and  loans  could  potentially  expose  the  Group  to  concentrations  of 
credit risk.

mItIgatIon:  The  Group  seeks  to  reduce  the  risk  of  customer  non­performance  by  
requiring  credit  support  from  creditworthy  financial  institutions  including  making 
extensive  use  of  credit  enhancement  products,  such  as  letters  of  credit,  insurance 
policies  and  bank  guarantees,  where  appropriate,  and  by  imposing  limits  on  open 
accounts  extended.  Whilst  these  limits  are  believed  appropriate  based  on  current 
levels of perceived risk, there is a possibility that a protracted difficult economic en­
vironment would negatively impact the quality of these exposures. In addition, mark­
to­market exposures in relation to hedging contracts are regularly and substantially 
collateralised (primarily with cash) pursuant to margin arrangements put in place with 
such hedge counterparties.

Counterparty credit and performance risk 

The Group, in particular via its marketing 
activities, is subject to non performance 
risk by its suppliers, customers and hedg­
ing counterparties. 

26  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

oveRview  |  BuSineSS Review  |  CoRpoRAte GoveRnAnCe  |  FinAnCiAl StAteMentS  |  AdditionAl inFoRMAtion

Risk management policies and procedures

Identifying,  quantifying  and  managing 
risk  is  complex  and  challenging  and  al­
though it is the Group’s policy and prac­
tice  to  identify  and,  where  appropriate 
and practical, actively manage such risks 
to  support  its  objectives  in  managing 
its  capital  and  future  financial  security 
and  flexibility,  the  Group’s  policies  and 
procedures may not adequately identify, 
monitor and quantify risk.

Supply of commodities from third parties

The  Group  purchases  a  portion  of  the 
physical commodities sold by its market­
ing  activities  from  its  controlled  indus­
trial operations and associates, including 
Xstrata. The remainder of the commodi­
ties sourced by its marketing operations 
are  purchased  from  third  party  suppli­
ers  and  entities  in  which  the  Group  has 
a  minority  stake  (excluding  associates). 
The Group expects to continue to source 
commodities  from  such  third  parties  in 
the  future.  The  Group  is  potentially  ex­
posed to both price and supply risks with 
respect  to  commodities  sourced  from 
third parties and entities in which it holds 
a minority stake. The Group is reliant on 
third parties to source the majority of the 
commodities purchased by its marketing 
operations.

The  Group  actively  monitors  the  credit  quality  of  its  counterparties,  including  the 
risk of non­performance by suppliers and customers alike, through internal reviews, 
strong relationships and industry experience and a credit scoring process which in­
cludes, where available, public credit ratings.

Impact:  The  Group’s  marketing  activities  are  exposed  to  commodity  price,  foreign 
exchange,  interest  rate,  counterparty  (including  credit),  operational,  regulatory  and 
other  risks.  The  Group  has  devoted  significant  resources  to  developing  and  imple­
menting policies and procedures to manage these risks and expects to continue to do 
so in the future. Nonetheless, the Group’s policies and procedures to identify, monitor 
and manage risks have not been fully effective in the past and may not be fully effec­
tive in the future. Some of the Group’s methods of monitoring and managing risk are 
based on historical market behaviour that may not be an accurate predictor of future 
market  behaviour.  Other  risk  management  methods  depend  on  evaluation  of  infor­
mation relating to markets, suppliers, customers and other matters that are publicly 
available or otherwise accessible by the Group. This information may not in all cases 
be accurate, complete, up to date or properly evaluated. Management of operational, 
legal  and  regulatory  risk  requires,  among  other  things,  policies  and  procedures  to 
properly record and verify a large number of transactions and events, and these poli­
cies and procedures may not be fully effective in doing so.

Failure to mitigate all risks associated with the Group’s business could have a material 
adverse effect on the Group’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

mItIgatIon: The Group uses, among other techniques, Value­at­Risk, or VaR, as a key 
market risk measurement technique for its marketing activities. VaR does not purport 
to  represent  actual  gains  or  losses  in  fair  value  on  earnings  to  be  incurred  by  the 
Group,  nor  does  the  Group  expect  that  VaR  results  are  indicative  of  future  market 
movements or representative of any actual impact on its future results. VaR has certain 
limitations; notably, the use of historical data as a proxy for estimating future events, 
market illiquidity risks and tail risks. While the Group recognises these limitations and 
continuously  refines  its  VaR  analysis,  there  can  be  no  assurance  that  its  VaR  analy­
sis will be an effective risk management methodology. Management of counterparty 
non­payment risk is mitigated by substantial use of credit enhancement products, in­
cluding letters of credit, insurance and bank guarantees. Please refer to section 2.1 Fi­
nancial review for further explanation on the use of VaR.

Impact: Any disruptions in the supply of product by factors such as weather and other 
natural disasters, unexpected maintenance problems, collapse or damage to mines, 
labour  disruptions  and  changes  in  laws  and  regulations  could  adversely  affect  the 
Group’s margins. The Group’s business, results of operations, financial condition and 
prospects could be materially adversely impacted if it is unable to continue to source 
required volumes of commodities from its suppliers on reasonable terms or at all.

mItIgatIon: The Group sources product from a large range of suppliers (industrial as­
sets and third parties) and is not reliant on any one supplier to satisfy its performance. 
This enables the Group to source alternative product in the event of supply disruption. 
The Group benefits from investments in numerous communities and shared owner­
ship with local entities that helps to mitigate against some country specific risks.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  27

Freight, storage, infrastructure and logistics support

The  Group’s marketing activities require 
access  to  significant  amounts  of  freight, 
storage, infrastructure and logistics sup­
port and it is exposed to increases in the 
costs thereof. In addition, the Group of­
ten competes with other producers, pur­
chasers  or  marketers  of  commodities  or 
other  products  for  limited  storage  and 
berthing  facilities  at  ports  and  freight 
terminals,  which  can  result  in  delays  in 
loading  or  unloading  the  Group’s  prod­
ucts and expose the Group to significant 
delivery interruptions.

INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES

Impact: Increases in the costs of freight, storage, infrastructure and logistics support 
or limitations or interruptions in the supply chain which impedes the Group’s ability 
to deliver its products on time, could adversely affect the Group’s business, results of 
operations or financial condition.

mItIgatIon: The risk of disruptions to or limitations of freight, storage, infrastructure 
and logistics support is mitigated through the Group’s market position, global reach 
and its longstanding relationships with third party suppliers of freight. These give the 
Group an advantage in ensuring its commodity transport needs are met along with its 
investments in storage and logistic assets such as vessels, oil terminals and tank farms, 
metals and other warehouses and grain silos.

Non-controlling stakes, joint ventures and strategic, partnership arrangements

Some of the Group’s industrial assets are 
held  through  non­controlling  stakes  or 
joint  ventures  and  strategic  partnership 
arrangements.

Impact: The Group does not control a number of its industrial investments. Although 
the Group has various structures in place which seek to protect its position where it 
does not exercise control, the boards of these companies may:

•  have economic or business interests or goals that are inconsistent with or are opposed 

to those of the Group;

•  exercise  veto  rights  or  take  shareholders’  decisions  so  as  to  block  actions  that  the 
Group believes to be in its best interests and/or in the best interests of all shareholders;
•  take action contrary to the Group’s policies or objectives with respect to its invest­

ments or commercial arrangements; or

•  as a result of financial or other difficulties, be unable or unwilling to fulfil their obli­
gations under any joint venture or other agreement, such as contributing capital to 
expansion or maintenance projects.

Improper management or ineffective policies, procedures or controls of a non­con­
trolled entity could adversely affect the business, results of operations and financial 
condition of the relevant investment and, therefore, of the Group.

mItIgatIon:  Where  projects  and  operations  are  controlled  and  managed  by  the 
Group’s  co­investors  or  where  control  is  shared  on  an  equal  basis,  the  Group  may 
provide expertise and advice, but it has limited or restricted ability to mandate com­
pliance with the Group’s policies and/or objectives.

Project development

The  Group  has  a  number  of  significant 
expansions  planned  for  its  existing  op­
erations  and  plans  for  certain  new  pro­
jects,  the  development  of  which  is  ex­
posed to a number of risks outside of its 
control  such  as  technical  uncertainties, 
availability  of  suitable  financing,  infra­
structure  constraints,  cost  overruns,  in­
sufficient  labour  skills  or  resources  and 
delays  in  permitting  or  other  regulatory 
matters.

Impact: Any future upward revisions in estimated project costs, delays in completing 
planned expansions, cost overruns, suspension of current projects or other operation­
al difficulties after commissioning, may have a material adverse effect on the Group’s 
business, results of operations, financial condition or prospects, in turn requiring the 
Group  to  consider  delaying  discretionary  expenditures,  including  capital  expendi­
tures, or suspending or altering the scope of one or more of its development projects.

mItIgatIon: Project development risks are mitigated and managed through the Group’s 
continuous project status evaluation and reporting processes, the significant focus of 
such being appropriate approval processes and transparent and timely reporting of 
costs and progress relative to plan. Significant projects are regularly audited against 
the project plan and reporting processes. 

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Operating risks and hazards

The  Group’s  industrial  activities  are  sub­
ject to numerous operating risks and haz­
ards  normally  associated  with  the  devel­
opment and operation of natural resource 
projects,  many  of  which  are  beyond  the 
Group’s control. 

These operating risks and hazards include 
unanticipated  variations  in  grade  and 
other  geological  problems,  seismic  ac­
tivity,  climatic  conditions  such  as  flood­
ing  or  drought,  metallurgical  and  other 
processing  problems,  technical  failures, 
unavailability  of  materials  and  equip­
ment,  interruptions  to  power  supplies, 
industrial  actions  or  disputes,  industrial 
accidents,  labour  force  disruptions,  un­
anticipated logistical and transportation 
constraints, tribal action or political pro­
tests, force majeure factors, environmen­
tal  hazards,  fire,  explosions,  vandalism 
and crime. 

Impact: These risks and hazards could result in damage to, or destruction of, proper­
ties or production facilities, may cause production to be reduced or to cease at those 
properties or production facilities, may result in a decrease in the quality of the prod­
ucts, personal injury or death, environmental damage, business interruption and legal 
liability and may result in actual production differing from estimates of production.

The realisation of such operating risks and hazards and the costs associated with them 
could materially adversely affect the Group’s business, results of operations and finan­
cial condition, including by requiring significant capital and operating expenditures to 
abate the risk or hazard, restore the Group or third party property, compensate third 
parties for any loss and/or pay fines or damages.

mItIgatIon: Operating risks and hazards are managed through the Group’s continuous 
assessment, reporting and communication of the risks that affect its business through 
its annual risk review processes and updates to its risk register. In addition, risk is miti­
gated somewhat through geographic and multiple project diversification.

Title to the land, resource tenure and extraction rights

The  Group  has  industrial  activities  in­
vestments  in  certain  countries  where  ti­
tle  to  land  and  rights  in  respect  of  land 
and  resources  (including  indigenous  ti­
tle) has not been and may not always be 
clear,  creating  the  potential  for  disputes 
over  resource  development.  Title  to  the 
Group’s  mining  and  hydrocarbon  rights 
may  be  challenged  or  impugned,  and  
title insurance may not generally be avail­
able.  In  many  cases,  the  government  of 
the country in which a particular asset is 
located is the sole authority able to grant 
such rights and, in some cases, may have 
limited 
limited  re­
sources which may constrain the Group’s 
ability to ensure that it has obtained se­
cure title to individual exploration licenc­
es or extraction rights.

infrastructure  and 

Availability of infrastructure

The production, processing and product 
delivery  capabilities  of  the  Group’s  in­
dustrial assets rely on their infrastructure 
being adequate and remaining available. 

Impact:  Any  dispute,  relating  to  a  material  industrial  asset,  could  disrupt  or  delay 
relevant  mining,  processing  or  other  projects  and/or  impede  the  Group’s  ability  to 
develop new industrial properties, which may have a material adverse effect on the 
Group’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

mItIgatIon: Title and tenure risks are managed through geographical diversification 
of  commodities  and  operations,  continuous  monitoring  and  dialogue  through  and 
with  the  Group’s  network  of  local  offices  and  a  commitment  to  engage  proactively 
with employees, governments and the communities in which the Group operates to 
maintain and better its licence to operate.

Impact:  The  mining,  drilling,  processing,  development  and  exploration  activities  of 
the industrial assets in which the Group holds an interest depend on adequate infra­
structure. Certain of these assets are located in areas that are sparsely populated and 
difficult to access. Reliable roads, power sources, transport infrastructure and water 
supplies are essential for the conduct of these operations and the availability and cost 
of these utilities and infrastructure affect capital and operating costs and therefore 
the  Group’s  ability  to  maintain  expected  levels  of  production  and  results  of  opera­
tions. Unusual weather or other natural phenomena, sabotage or other interference 
in the maintenance or provision of such infrastructure could impact the development 
of a project, reduce production volumes, increase extraction or exploration costs or 
delay the transportation of raw materials to the mines and projects and commodities 
to end customers. Any such issues arising in respect of the infrastructure supporting 

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  29

or on the Group’s sites could have a material adverse effect on the Group’s business, 
results of operations, financial condition and prospects. 

mItIgatIon: Availability of infrastructure risk is mitigated through the continuous moni­
toring  and  dialogue  through  and  with  the  Group’s  network  of  local  offices,  a  com­
mitment to engage proactively with governments and the communities in which the 
Group operates to maintain and improve its licence to operate, and where appropri­
ate, the establishment of back­up sources of power.

Impact:  Production  costs  are  heavily  influenced  by  the  extent  of  ongoing  develop­
ment required, ore grades, mine planning, processing technology, logistics, energy 
and  supply  costs  and  the  impact  of  exchange  rate  fluctuations  on  costs  of  opera­
tions. All of the Group’s industrial assets are, to varying degrees, affected by increas­
es  in  costs  for  labour  and  fuel.  Unit  production  costs  are  also  significantly  affected 
by  production  volumes  and  therefore  production  levels  are  frequently  a  key  factor 
in  determining  the  overall  cost  competitiveness  of  the  Group’s  industrial  activities. 
Any increase in input costs will adversely affect the Group’s results of operations and  
financial condition.

mItIgatIon: Maintaining costs and where appropriate lowering them is supported by the 
Group’s continuous reporting on these measures, coupled with the inclusion of certain 
cost  control  evaluation  measures  in  assessing  management  performance.  In  addition, 
risk is mitigated somewhat through geographic and multiple project diversification.

Impact: Actual reserves, resources or mineralised potential may not conform to ge­
ological,  metallurgical  or  other  expectations,  and  the  volume  and  grade  of  ore  or 
product recovered may be below the estimated levels. Lower market prices, increased 
production costs, reduced recovery rates and other factors may render the Group’s 
reserves, resources or mineralised potential uneconomical to exploit and may result 
in  revision  of  its  reserve  estimates  from  time  to  time.  If  the  Group’s  actual  mineral, 
coal and hydrocarbon reserves and resources are less than current estimates or if the 
Group fails to develop its resource base through the realisation of identified or new 
mineral potential, the Group’s business, results of operations and financial condition 
may be materially and adversely affected.

mItIgatIon:  The  Group  updates  annually  the  quantity  and  quality  of  the  estimated 
proven and probable reserves to reflect extraction, additional drilling and other avail­
able data in accordance with internationally recognised reporting frameworks, includ­
ing JORC, SAMREC and PRMS. For the major deposits, the estimates are prepared and 
signed off by independent competent persons.

Impact: Where the Group holds or has interests in industrial activities, these assets are 
generally subject to environmental hazards as a result of the processes and chemicals 
used in traditional extraction, production, storage, disposal and transportation meth­
ods. Environmental hazards may exist on the Group’s owned or leased properties or 
at those of the industrial activities in which it holds an interest, or may be encountered 
while its products are in transit. The storage of tailings at the Group’s industrial assets 
may present a risk to the environment, property and persons, where there remains a 
risk of leakage from or failure of the Group’s tailings dams, as well as theft and vandal­
ism during the operating life of the assets or after closure.

Additionally, the Group conducts oil exploration and drilling activities and also stores 
and transports crude oil and oil products around the world. Damage to exploration or 
drilling equipment, a vessel carrying oil or a facility where oil is stored could lead to a 
spill, causing environmental damage with significant clean­up or remediation costs.

Cost control

As  commodity  prices  themselves  are 
outside of the Group’s control, the com­
petitiveness  and  sustainable  long­term  
profitability  of  its  industrial  asset  port­
folio depends significantly on its ability 
to  closely  manage  costs  and  maintain 
a  broad  spectrum  of  low­cost,  efficient 
operations.  Costs  associated  with  the 
operation  of  the  Group’s  industrial  as­
sets can be broadly categorised into la­
bour costs and other on­site expenses, 
including power and equipment costs. 

Resources and reserves

The Group’s stated mineral, coal and hy­
drocarbon  reserves,  resources  and  min­
eralised potential are only estimates and 
the  anticipated  volumes  or  grades  may 
not be achieved. 

Environmental hazards

The  processes  and  chemicals  used  in 
the  Group’s  extraction  and  production 
methods,  as  well  as  its  shipping  and 
storage activities, are subject to environ­
mental hazards. 

30  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

oveRview  |  BuSineSS Review  |  CoRpoRAte GoveRnAnCe  |  FinAnCiAl StAteMentS  |  AdditionAl inFoRMAtion

The Group may be liable for losses associated with environmental hazards, have its 
licences and permits withdrawn or suspended or may be forced to undertake exten­
sive  remedial  clean­up  action  or  to  pay  for  government­ordered  remedial  clean­up 
actions, even in cases where such hazards have been caused by any previous or subse­
quent owners or operators of the property, by any past or present owners of adjacent 
properties, by independent third party contractors providing services to the Group 
or by acts of vandalism by trespassers. Any such losses, withdrawals, suspensions, ac­
tions or payments may have a material adverse effect on the Group’s business, results 
of operations and financial condition.

mItIgatIon: Compliance with international and local regulations and standards, pro­
tecting our people, communities and the environment from harm and our operations 
from  business  interruptions  are  top  priorities  for  the  Group.  The  Group  operating 
procedures and those of its partners in relation to owned tankers conform to industry 
best  practise  working  under  the  guidelines  of  the  International  Maritime  Organisa­
tion (“IMO”), relevant Flag States and top tier Classification societies. Tankers char­
tered from third parties are required to meet strict vetting inspection requirements 
in  line  with  OCIMF  (Oil  Companies  International  Marine  Forum)  and  the  Group’s 
own standards. The Group’s oil exploration activities engage best industry practises 
and procedures and utilise first class drilling contractors  with proven expertise and 
experience. Additionally, wide­spread and comprehensive insurance cover is actively 
procured, to reduce the financial impact of operational risks, property damage, busi­
ness interruption and environmental liabilities to the extent possible.

Impact: Increasing regulation of greenhouse gas emissions, including the progressive 
introduction of carbon emissions trading mechanisms and tighter emission reduction 
targets is likely to raise production, transportation and administrative costs. In addi­
tion, regulation of greenhouse gas emissions in the jurisdictions of the Group’s major 
customers and in relation to international shipping could also have a material adverse 
effect on the demand for some of the Group’s products.

mItIgatIon: The Group, through its sustainability program, strives to ensure emissions 
and climate change issues are identified, understood and effectively managed and  
monitored in order to meet international best practice standards and ensure regulatory 
compliance.

Impact: If it is perceived that the Group is not respecting or advancing the economic and 
social progress and safety of the communities in which it operates, the Group’s reputa­
tion and shareholder value could be damaged, which could have a negative impact on 
its ‘‘social licence to operate’’, its ability to secure new resources and its financial perfor­
mance. The consequences of negative community reaction could also have a material 
adverse impact on the cost, profitability, ability to finance or even the viability of an oper­
ation. Such events could lead to disputes with national or local governments or with local 
communities or any other stakeholders and give rise to material reputational damage. If 
the Group’s operations are delayed or shut down as a result of political and community 
instability, its earnings may be constrained and the long­term value of its business could 
be adversely impacted. Even in cases where no action adverse to the Group is actually 
taken, the uncertainty associated with such political or community instability could nega­
tively impact the perceived value of the Group’s assets and industrial investments and, 
consequently, have a material adverse effect on the Group’s financial condition.

mItIgatIon: The Group believes that the best way to manage these vital relationships 
is to adhere to the principles of open dialogue and co­operation and in doing so it 
engages with local communities to present and demonstrate the positive communal 

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  31

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Emissions and climate change regulation

The  Group’s  global  presence  exposes 
it  to  a  number  of  jurisdictions  in  which 
regulations or laws have been or are be­
ing  considered  to  limit  or  reduce  emis­
sions.  The  likely  effect  of  these  changes 
will  be  to  increase  the  cost  for  fossil  fu­
els, impose levies for emissions in excess 
certain  permitted  levels  and  increase 
administrative  costs  for  monitoring  and 
reporting. 

Community relations

The continued success of the Group’s ex­
isting  operations  and  its  future  projects 
are  in  part  dependent  upon  broad  sup­
port  and  a  healthy  relationship  with  the 
respective local communities. 

Employees

The  maintenance  of  positive  employee 
and union relations and the ability to at­
tract and retain skilled workers are key to 
the success of the Group. 

Health, safety and environment 

The  Group’s  operations  are  subject  to 
health,  safety  and  environmental  regula­
tions and legislation along with complying 
with the Group’s corporate sustainability 
framework. 

attributes of the Group’s local operations and ensure that appropriate measures are 
taken to prevent or mitigate possible adverse effects on them, along with the regular 
reporting of such.

Impact:  Some  of  the  Group’s  employees,  as  well  as  employees  in  non­controlled  
industrial  investments,  are  represented  by  labour  unions  under  various  collective  
labour agreements. The Group or the industrial investments in which it holds an inter­
est may not be able to satisfactorily renegotiate its collective labour agreements when 
they expire and may face tougher negotiations or higher wage demands than would 
be the case for non­unionised labour. In addition, existing labour agreements may not 
prevent a strike or work stoppage at its facilities in the future, and any strike or other 
work stoppage could have a material adverse effect on the Group’s business, results of 
operations and financial condition. 

The  success  of  the  Group’s  business  is  also  dependent  on  its  ability  to  attract  and 
retain  highly  effective  marketing  and  logistics  personnel  as  well  as  highly  qualified 
and skilled engineers and other industrial, technical and project experts to operate its 
industrial activities in locations experiencing political or civil unrest, or in which they 
may be exposed to other hazardous conditions. The Group may not be able to attract 
and retain such qualified personnel and this could have a material adverse effect on 
the Group’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

mItIgatIon: The Group understands that one of the key factors in its success is a good 
and trustworthy relationship with its people. This priority is reflected in the principles 
of its corporate practice and its related guidance, which require regular, open, fair and 
respectful communication, zero tolerance for human rights violations, fair remunera­
tion and, above all, a safe working environment.

Impact:  New  or  amended  environmental,  health  and  safety  legislation  or  regula­
tions  may  result  in  increased  operating  costs  or,  in  the  event  of  non  compliance  or 
accidents or incidents causing personal injury or death or property or environmental 
damage at or to the Group’s mines, smelters, refineries, concentrators, drill rigs or re­
lated facilities (such as logistics and storage facilities) or surrounding areas may result 
in  significant  losses,  interruptions  in  production,  expensive  litigation,  imposition  of 
penalties and sanctions or suspension or revocation of permits and licences, even in 
cases where such hazards have been caused by any previous or subsequent owners 
or operators of the property, by any past or present owners of adjacent properties, by 
independent third party contractors providing services to the Group or by acts of van­
dalism by trespassers. Any such losses, withdrawals, suspensions, actions or payments 
may have a material adverse effect on the Group’s business, results of operations and 
financial condition.

mItIgatIon: The Group is committed to comply with or exceed the laws, regulations 
and best practice guidelines applicable to its operations and products in the jurisdic­
tions in which it operates and through its extensive compliance program, including 
continuous monitoring of legislative requirements and engagement with government 
and regulators, it strives to ensure full compliance.

32  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

 
oveRview  |  BuSineSS Review  |  CoRpoRAte GoveRnAnCe  |  FinAnCiAl StAteMentS  |  AdditionAl inFoRMAtion

OTHER RISKS

Mergers and acquisitions

The Group may fail to integrate mergers 
or  acquisitions  effectively,  including  in 
connection with the merger with Xstrata, 
or fail to realise the anticipated business 
growth  opportunities  or  other  synergies 
in  connection  with  such  mergers  or  ac­
quisitions.

Impact:  Business  combinations  entail  a  number  of  risks,  including  the  ability  of  the 
Group  to  integrate  effectively  the  businesses  acquired  with  its  existing  operations 
such  as  the  realisation  of  anticipated  synergies,  significant  one­time  write­offs  or 
restructuring  charges,  difficulties  in  achieving  optimal  tax  structures,  unanticipated 
costs, addressing possible differences in business culture, processes, controls, proce­
dures and systems and failing to integrate and motivate key employees and/or retain 
certain  individuals  during  the  integration  period.  For  example,  the  performance  of 
the Group in the future will, amongst other things, depend on its ability to integrate 
Xstrata successfully without disruption to the existing business.

Failure to successfully integrate a business, including in connection with the merger 
with Xstrata, could have a material adverse effect on the Group’s business, financial 
condition, results of operations and/or prospects. All of these may be exacerbated by 
the diversion of management’s attention away from other ongoing business concerns. 
The Group may also be liable for the past acts, omissions or liabilities of companies 
or businesses it has acquired, which may be unforeseen or greater than anticipated 
at the time of the relevant acquisition. In addition, various factors could impact the 
estimated synergies for potential acquisitions and have a material adverse impact on 
the Group’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

mItIgatIon: The Group understands that businesses combinations, whether as a re­
sult of a merger or an acquisition, entail a number of risks. Such risks are mitigated 
through  detailed  integration  planning  and  by  establishing  dedicated  integration 
teams to ensure effective integration of businesses. In particular, the Group believes 
that, in the case of the merger with Xstrata, integration risks are reduced by bringing 
two highly complementary businesses with a long­standing relationship. 

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  33

FPSO Aseng sailaway, Singapore

Business  
review

2 | Business review 

  2.1 | Financial review 
  2.2 | Metals and minerals  
  2.3 | Energy products 
  2.4 | Agricultural products 
  2.5 | Reserves and resources 

36
46
54 
60
64

2.1 | Financial review

BASIS OF PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The financial information has been prepared on a basis as outlined in note 1 of the financial statements. It 
is  presented  in  the  Overview  and  the  Financial  review  sections  before  significant  items  unless  otherwise 
stated  to  provide  an  enhanced  understanding  and  comparative  basis  of  the  underlying  financial  perfor-
mance. Significant items are items of income and expense which, due to their financial impact and nature or 
the expected infrequency of the events giving rise to them, are separated for internal reporting and analysis 
of Glencore’s results.

PERFORMANCE HIgHLIgHTS

US $ million

2012

2011

Change

Key statement of income and cash flows highlights:
Revenue 
Adjusted EBITDA 1
Adjusted EBIT 1
Net income attributable to equity holders pre significant items 2
Net income attributable to equity holders

Earnings per share (Basic) pre significant items (US $)

Earnings per share (Basic) (US $)
Funds from operations (FFO) 3

214 436

186 152

5 943

4 470

3 060

1 004

0.44

0.14

4 115

6 464

5 398

4 060

4 048

0.72

0.72

3 522

15%

– 8%

– 17%

– 25%

– 75%

– 39%

– 81%

17%

US $ million

2012

2011

Change

Key financial position highlights:
Total assets

Equity attributable to equity holders 

Current capital employed (CCE) ¹
Net debt 3
Net debt, adjusted for the Viterra acquisition 

Ratios:
FFO to Net debt

FFO to Net debt, adjusted for the Viterra acquisition

Net debt to Adjusted EBITDA

Net debt, adjusted for the Viterra acquisition, to Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA to net interest

¹  Refer to glossary on page 166 for definitions and calculations.
2  Refer to page 39.
³ Refer to page 42.

105 537

31 266

23 945

15 416

11 457

26.7%

35.9%

2.59x

1.93x

6.13x

86 165

29 265

22 479

12 938

12 938

27.2%

27.2%

2.00x

2.00x

7.63x

22%

7%

7%

19%

– 11%

– 2%

32%

30%

– 4%

– 20%

36  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

 
overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

RESuLTS

Adjusted EBIT decreased by 17% to $ 4,470 million in 2012 compared to 2011 due to lower contributions from 
our industrial activities which were affected by generally lower year on year average commodity prices for 
the key commodities which we and our associates (primarily Xstrata) produce. Given the largely fixed cost 
nature of ‘depreciation and amortisation’ (non-cash) over a certain level of production, Adjusted EBITDA 
was only 8% lower in 2012, compared to 2011. Adjusted EBIT contribution from marketing was $ 2,130 million 
(2011: $ 1,911 million) representing 48% of Adjusted EBIT for the year, an increase from 35% in the prior year. 
These results highlight the reinforcing the strength and resilience of Glencore’s business model and the di-
versification benefits associated with combining and integrating, across a broad spectrum of commodities, 
a portfolio of industrial assets with large scale physical sourcing, marketing and logistics capabilities. 

Adjusted EBIT
Adjusted EBIT by business segment is as follows: 

US $ million

Metals and minerals

Energy products

Agricultural products

Corporate and other ¹

Total

Marketing 
activities

Industrial 
activities

2012
 Adjusted  
EBIT

Marketing 
activities

Industrial 
activities

2011
 Adjusted  
EBIT

1 363

435

371

– 39

2 130

708

594

– 10

1 048

2 340

2 071

1 029

361

1 009

46%

23%

8%

23%

1 242

697

– 8

– 20

4 470 100%

1 911

1 357

375

– 39

1 794

3 487

2 599

1 072

– 47

1 774

48%

20%

– 1%

33%

5 398 100%

¹  Corporate industrial activities include $ 1,174 million (2011: $ 1,893 million) of Glencore’s equity accounted share of 

Xstrata’s income. 

Marketing Adjusted EBIT was $ 2,130 million up 11% over 2011. 2012 saw an improved performance by met-
als and minerals, with generally good volume growth e.g. copper and nickel and healthy physical premia 
for many of Glencore’s core products. The energy result was weaker due to fewer arbitrage opportunities, 
against a backdrop of relatively low volatility and the continuing weak freight markets. Agricultural products 
showed  a  marked  improvement  over  2011,  with  the  events  surrounding  cotton  now  behind  us  and  on  an 
adjusted comparable basis, its performance was relatively stable year over year.

Industrial Adjusted EBIT declined by 33% to $ 2,340 million in 2012, primarily due to weaker average com-
modity prices, including nickel, coal (API 2), zinc and copper, down 23%, 24%, 11% and 10% respectively. 
These  lower  prices  impact  our  own  controlled  operations  as  well  as  our  share  of  Xstrata’s  earnings.  The 
commencement of oil production at the Aseng field in Q4 2011 was largely accountable for the increase in 
energy products’ industrial performance.

Corporate  and  other  primarily  relates  to  the  equity  accounted  interest  in  Xstrata  and  also  includes  the  
variable pool bonus cost, the net result of which was down 43% to $ 1,009 million in 2012 compared to 2011. 

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  37

 
Revenue
Revenue  for  the  year  ended  31  December  2012  was  $  214,436  million,  a  15%  increase  compared  to 
$ 186,152 million in 2011. The increase was primarily due to higher oil volumes handled (+39%), partially offset 
by lower period-on-period metals prices as noted above. 

Cost of goods sold
Cost  of  goods  sold  for  the  year  ended  31  December  2012  was  $ 210,435 million,  a  16%  increase  from 
$ 181,938 million in 2011 primarily due to the higher oil volumes noted above.

Selling and administrative expenses 
Selling and administrative expenses for the year ended 31 December 2012 were $ 997 million, a 16% increase 
from $ 857 million in 2011, due to somewhat higher employee compensation charges, commensurate with an 
expansion of business activities and performance.

Share of income from associates and jointly controlled entities 
Share of income from associates and jointly controlled entities for the year ended 31 December 2012 was 
$ 367  million,  a  81%  decrease  from  $ 1,972 million  in  2011.  The  decrease  reflects  reduced  earnings  flow-
through from Xstrata primarily due to the lower commodity prices and various impairment charges which it 
took ($ 299 million equity earnings, including $ 875 million of significant items; 2011: $ 1,868 million, including 
$ 25 million of significant items). 

(Loss)/gain on disposal of investments
Loss on disposal of investments for the year ended 2012 was $ 128 million, compared to a gain of $ 9 million 
in 2011. The amount in 2012 primarily comprised an accounting dilution loss following an Xstrata share issu-
ance in March 2012 (part of its employee stock ownership plan), which saw Glencore’s effective ownership 
reduce from 34.5% to 34.2%.

Other expense – net 
Net other expense for 2012 was $ 1,214 million, compared to $ 511 million in 2011. 2012 primarily comprised 
impairments of $ 1,650 million, $ 120 million acquisition related expenses and $ 109 million of expense re-
lated to phantom equity awards granted upon Glencore’s listing, offset by a net $ 497 million accounting 
gain mainly related to the revaluation of Glencore’s initial 40% interest in Mutanda upon acquisition of an 
additional 20% interest in April 2012. There were also $ 179 million of positive mark to market adjustments 
related to certain fixed priced forward coal sales contracts in respect of Prodeco’s future production.

The impairment amount mainly comprises $ 1.2 billion of previously recognised negative fair value adjust-
ments reclassified from ‘other comprehensive income’ to the statement of income in respect of Glencore’s 
interest in UC Rusal. This reclassification had no impact on Glencore’s net asset/equity position which has 
consistently, for many years, reflected the mark-to-market fair value of this holding. Evidence of this ‘lack 
of  impact’  is  clear  on  page  111,  where  ‘total  comprehensive  income  attributable  to  equity  holders’  was 
lower by a mere 10% in 2012 compared to 2011, contributing to a 7% increase in total equity, excluding non-
controlling interests. 

The net amount in 2011 primarily comprised $ 344 million of expenses related to Glencore’s listing, a $ 92 mil-
lion of mark-to-market loss in respect of various minority holdings in listed companies, $ 63 million related 
to final costs associated with the settlement of the Prodeco option and $ 32 million of asset impairments. 

See notes 4 and 5 to the consolidated financial statements for further explanations.

Interest income
Interest income for the year ended 31 December 2012 was $ 401 million, an 18% increase over 2011 due to 
higher average advance balances outstanding. Interest income includes interest earned on various loans 
extended, including to OAO Russneft.

Interest expense
Interest expense for the year ended 31 December 2012 was $ 1,371 million, a 16% increase from $ 1,186 mil-
lion in 2011. The increase was mainly due to higher average debt levels.

38  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

Income taxes
A net income tax credit of $ 76 million was recognised during the year ended 31 December 2012 compared 
to a tax credit of $ 264 million in 2011. The 2012 credit resulted primarily from the recognition of crystallised 
tax benefits (resulting in losses carried forward), following an internal reorganisation of our existing owner-
ship interest in Xstrata. The 2011 credit resulted primarily from the recognition of tax deductions associated 
with the conversion of the Glencore Group from private to public ownership as part of its listing. It has been 
Glencore’s historical experience that its effective tax rate pre significant items on pre-tax income, excluding 
share  of  income  from  associates  and  jointly  controlled  entities  and  dividend  income,  has  been  approxi-
mately 10%, particularly in years where the marketing to industrial profit contribution mix is higher. This rate 
has been reflected in the table below. It is likely that the future effective tax rate will increase relative to the 
past, however, as noted above, this will largely be a function of Glencore’s profit mix (marketing vs industrial). 

Earnings
A summary of the differences between Adjusted EBIT and income attributable to equity holders, including 
significant items, is set out below:

US $ million

Adjusted EBIT 
Net finance costs

Foreign exchange loss ¹

Income tax expense 

Non controlling interests 

Income attributable to equity holders pre significant items
Earnings per share (Basic) pre significant items (US $)

2012

2011

4 470
– 970

– 4

– 224

– 212

3 060
0.44

5 398
– 847

– 5

– 250

– 236

4 060
0.72

Other expense – net, excluding foreign exchange loss ¹

– 1 210

– 506

Net (loss)/gain on disposal on investments

Mark to market valuation of certain natural gas forward contracts ²

Unrealised intergroup profit elimination ²

Share of Associates’ exceptional items ³

Net deferred tax asset recorded – mainly restructuring benefits  
(2011 – Listing/Restructuring benefits) 4
Non controlling interest portion of significant items 5

Total significant items

Income attributable to equity holders
Earnings per share (Basic) (US $)

– 128

– 123

– 84

– 875

300

64

– 2 056

1 004
0.14

9

0

0

– 45

514

16

– 12

4 048
0.72

¹  Recognised within other expense – net, see note 4 of the financial statements.
²  Recognised within cost of goods sold, see note 2 of the financial statements. 
3  Recognised within share of income from associates and jointly controlled entities, see note 2 of the financial statements.
4  Recognised within income tax credit, see note 6 of the financial statements.
5  Recognised within non controlling interests.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  39

 
SIgNIFICANT ITEMS

Significant items are items of income and expense which, due to their financial impact and nature or the 
expected infrequency of the events giving rise to them, are separated for internal reporting and analysis 
of Glencore’s results to provide a better understanding and comparative basis of the underlying financial 
performance. 

In  2012,  Glencore  recognised  $  2,056 million  of  significant  expenses  on  a  net  basis  which  comprised  
primarily impairment charges of $ 1,650 million (2011: $ 32 million) and our share of Xstrata’s exceptional 
items (2012: $ 875 million, 2011: $ 25 million), offset by a $ 497 million accounting gain on the revaluation of 
previously held interests in subsidiaries acquired during the year.

In 2011, Glencore recognised $ 12 million of significant expenses on a net basis which comprised primarily 
$ 344 million of expenses related to Glencore’s listing, a $ 92 million of mark-to-market loss in respect of 
various minority holdings in listed companies, $ 63 million related to final costs associated with the settle-
ment of the Prodeco option and $ 32 million of asset impairments. These expenses were largely offset by the 
recognition of $ 514 million of net tax credits relating primarily to certain income tax deductions that were 
crystallised, following the reorganisation of Glencore prior to Listing.

See comments in other expense – net above and notes 2, 4 and 5 of the financial statements for additional 
details.

LIquIdITy ANd CAPITAL RESOuRCES – CASH FLOw

Cash generated by operating activities before working capital changes
Cash generated by operating activities before working capital changes for the year ended 31 December 2012 
was  $ 4,782 million,  an  increase  of  $ 681 million  (17%)  compared  to  2011,  reflecting  the  higher  Adjusted  
EBITDA from marketing activities. On a more comparable basis, the increase is 8%, taking into account 
$ 325 million of listing related cash expenses in the 2011 period (see movement in net debt table below).

Working capital changes
Cash net working capital decreased by $ 727 million during the year ended 31 December 2012 compared to an 
increase of $ 3,174 million in 2011. Much of the 2011 increase occurred in Q4 2011, as Glencore was presented 
with highly attractive ‘funded’ commodity sourcing opportunities. 2012 saw a partial release of this increase, 
via the movement in receivables and payables, however marketing related inventory balances increased dur-
ing the year. Inventory levels were higher in metals and naturally in the agricultural division, which took on 
substantial levels of working capital towards the end of 2012, in no small part due to the mid-December ac-
quisition of Viterra – see note 24 of the financial statements. In 2013, we are focused on working capital levels  
associated with the 2012 acquisitions, including a natural release of working capital once various ‘earmarked’ 
non-core components of Viterra have been sold.   

Net cash used by investing activities
Net cash used by investing activities was $ 9,539 million in 2012 compared to $ 3,690 million in 2011. The net 
outflow in 2012 primarily related to the acquisition of Viterra, an additional 32% interest in Optimum, an ad-
ditional 20% interest in Mutanda, two European manganese operations and an 80% interest in Rosh Pinah 
(see note 24 of the financial statements), along with continued capital expenditure programs in respect of 
the various E&P upstream oil development projects, the development of the Mutanda and Kansuki copper/
cobalt operations and the production expansions at Katanga, Cobar and Prodeco.

Net cash generated by financing activities
During 2012, Glencore issued $ 2,951 million bonds – 6 year 4.125% EUR 1,250 million bonds, 10 year 5.5% 
GBP 500 million bonds and 6.5 year 2.625% CHF 450 million bonds.

40  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

ASSETS, LEVERAgE ANd wORKINg CAPITAL

Total assets were $ 105,537 million as at 31 December 2012 compared to $ 86,165 million as at 31 Decem-
ber 2011. Over the same time period current assets increased from $ 45,731 million to $ 54,059 million. The 
adjusted  current  ratio  at  31 December  2012  reduced  to  1.16x,  as  the  Xstrata  secured  bank  loans  and  the 
October  2013  Eurobonds  moved  from  non  current  to  current  borrowings.  Adjusting  for  these  two  move-
ments (given our c. $ 9 billion of long term committed liquidity could have been drawn to repay short term 
debt), the Adjusted current ratio improves to 1.27x. Non current assets increased from $ 40,434 million as at 
31 December 2011 to $ 51,478 million as at 31 December 2012, primarily due to the acquisitions and capital 
expenditure programs noted above, including large non controlling interest asset gross-ups in relation to 
Mutanda and Optimum, where Glencore moved from equity to consolidated accounting during the year. 

Consistent with 31 December 2011, 99% ($ 17,290 million) of total marketing inventories were readily market-
able inventories at 31 December 2012. These inventories are readily convertible into cash due to their liquid 
nature, widely available markets, and the fact that any associated price risk is or could be covered either by 
a physical sale transaction or a hedge transaction on a commodity exchange or with a highly rated coun-
terparty. Given the highly liquid nature of these inventories, which represent a significant share of current 
assets,  Glencore  believes  it  is  appropriate  to  consider  them  together  with  cash  equivalents  in  analysing 
Group net debt levels and computing certain debt coverage ratios and credit trends. Balance sheet liquidity 
remains very healthy such that current capital employed plus investments in listed associates (at book carry-
ing value) covers 115% of Glencore’s total gross debt as at 31 December 2012. 

Net debt

US $ million

Gross debt
Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities

Net funding
Readily marketable inventories

Net debt

2012

2011

35 526
– 2 820

32 706
– 17 290

15 416

28 068
– 1 345

26 723
– 13 785

12 938

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  41

Movement in net debt

US $ million

Cash generated by operating activities before working capital changes

Listing related cash expenses included in number above (via statement of income)

Net interest paid

Tax paid

Dividends received from associates

Funds from operations

2012

2011

4 782

0

– 784

– 344

461

4 115

4 101

325

– 798

– 472

366

3 522

Working capital changes, excluding readily marketable inventory movements 
and other

2 776

– 3 741

Non current advances and loans

Acquisition and disposal of subsidiaries, net of asset acquirer loans

Purchase and sale of investments

Purchase and sale of property, plant and equipment

Margin receipts in respect of financing related activities

Acquisition and disposal of additional interest in subsidiaries

Dividends paid

Share issuance, net of issue costs and Listing related cash expenses included in 
the statement of income (see above)

Cash movement in net debt
Net debt assumed in business combinations

Foreign currency revaluation of non current borrowings and other non cash items

Profit participation certificates redemptions

Non cash movement in net debt

Total movement in net debt
Net debt, beginning of period

Net debt, end of period

– 203

– 3 602

– 610

– 3 005

176

– 624

– 1 066

0

– 2 043
– 359

– 76

0

– 435

– 2 478
– 12 938

– 15 416

– 320

– 346

– 764

– 2 626

21

– 315

– 364

7 291

2 358
– 204

– 68

– 268

– 540

1 818
– 14 756

– 12 938

Net debt as at 31 December 2012 increased to $ 15,416 million from $ 12,938 million as at 31 December 2011. 
$ 359 million of net debt was assumed in the Viterra acquisition and $ 3.6 billion of net debt was incurred to 
finance Glencore’s effective share of the equity purchase consideration. Adjusting for the increase in net debt 
attributable to the Viterra acquisition (completed mid-December 2012), net debt would be $ 11,457 million, 
a decrease of $ 1,481 million compared to 2011. The ratio of Net debt (adjusted for the Viterra acquisition) to 
Adjusted EBITDA improved from 2.00 times in 2011 to 1.93 times as at 31 December 2012, while the ratio of 
FFO to Net debt (adjusted for the Viterra acquisition) improved from 27.2% in 2011 to 35.9% in 2012. A healthy 
positive  free  cash  flow  generation/FFO  is  expected  from  the  Viterra  asset  base  going  forward,  which  is  
expected to offer support to debt coverage ratios and deleveraging initiatives into the future.

42  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

CAPITAL RESOuRCES ANd FINANCINg

During the year ended 31 December 2012, the following notable financing activities took place:

•  In April 2012, Glencore issued EUR 1,250 million 4.125% bonds maturing in 2018 and GBP 300 million 5.5% 

bonds maturing in 2022, totalling $ 2.15 billion equivalent;

•  In April 2012, Glencore updated its revolving credit facilities totalling $ 12.8 billion. The facilities comprise: 
1) a $ 4,435 million 14 month revolving credit facility with a 10 month term-out option and 10 month ex-
tension option, that refinanced Glencore’s existing $ 3,535 million 364-day revolving credit facility, i.e. an 
increase of $ 900 million and 2) an amount of $ 8,030 million of the existing $ 8,370 million 3-year revolving 
credit facility was extended for a further year to May 2015;

•  In April 2012, Glencore signed a $ 3.1 billion syndicated loan backing the proposed merger with Xstrata, 

after raising $ 11 billion in syndication from 31 banks, a scale-back exceeding 70%; 

•  In June 2012, Glencore concluded a 1 year syndicated term loan facility with a 1 year term out option at 
Glencore’s discretion of some $ 1.5 billion in support of the announced acquisition of Viterra, once again 
scaling back an oversubscribed syndication process; 

•  In July 2012, Glencore issued CHF 450 million 2.625% bonds maturing in 2018;
•  In October 2012, Glencore signed a new 364 day committed $ 2.2 billion secured inventory and receivables 

borrowing base facility, which renewed the existing $ 1.7 billion facility; and

•  In November 2012, Glencore issued GBP 200 million 5.5% bonds maturing in 2022.

As at 31 December 2012, Glencore had available committed undrawn credit facilities and cash amounting to 
$ 9 billion (as an internal financial policy, Glencore has a $ 3 billion minimum threshold requirement). 

Value at risk (VaR)
One of the tools used by Glencore to monitor and limit its primary market risk exposure, namely commodity 
price risk related to its physical marketing activities, is the use of a VaR computation. VaR is a risk measure-
ment technique which estimates the potential loss that could occur on risk positions as a result of move-
ments in risk factors over a specified time horizon, given a specific level of confidence. The VaR methodology 
is a statistically defined, probability based approach that takes into account market volatilities, as well as risk 
diversification by recognising offsetting positions and correlations between commodities and markets. In 
this way, risks can be measured consistently across all markets and commodities and risk measures can be 
aggregated to derive a single risk value. Glencore has set a consolidated VaR limit (1 day 95%) of $ 100 million 
representing less than 0.3% of equity.

Glencore uses a VaR approach based on Monte Carlo simulations and is computed at a 95% confidence level 
with a weighted data history using a combination of a one day and one week time horizon.

Average market risk VaR (1 day 95%) during the year ended 31 December 2012 was $ 40 million (2011: $ 39 mil-
lion), representing a modest 0.1% of shareholders’ equity.

Whilst it is Glencore’s policy to substantially hedge its commodity price risks, there remains the possibility 
that the hedging instruments chosen may not always provide effective mitigation of the underlying price 
risk.  The  hedging  instruments  available  to  the  marketing  businesses  may  differ  in  specific  characteristics 
to the risk exposure to be hedged, resulting in an ongoing and unavoidable basis risk exposure. Residual 
basis risk exposures represent a key focus point for Glencore’s commodity department teams who actively 
engage in the management of such. 

Credit ratings
In light of our extensive funding activities, investment grade ratings are of utmost importance to us. Follow-
ing the Viterra acquisition, the Xstrata merger shareholder approval and assumed completion thereof, the 
enlarged Group’s credit ratings were confirmed as Baa2 (stable) from Moody’s and BBB (stable) from S&P. 
Glencore’s current ratings are Baa2 (review with direction uncertain) from Moody’s and BBB (stable) from 
S&P.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  43

Dividend
The  Directors  have  proposed  a  2012  final  dividend  of  $  0.1035  per  share,  amounting  to  $  735  million.  An  
interim dividend of $ 0.054 per share, amounting to $ 374 million, was paid on 13 September 2012.

Dividend dates

Annual General Meeting

Ex-dividend date (UK and Hong Kong)

Last time for lodging transfers in Hong Kong

Record date in Hong Kong

Record date in UK

Deadline for return of currency election form (Jersey shareholders)

Applicable exchange rate date

Payment date

2013

16 May

22 May

4:30 pm (HK) 23 May

Opening of business (HK) 24 May

Close of business (UK) 24 May

28 May

31 May

7 June

Shareholders on the Jersey register, may elect to receive the dividend in Sterling, Euro or Swiss Franc. The 
Sterling,  Euro  or  Swiss  Franc  amount  will  be  determined  by  reference  to  the  exchange  rates  applicable  to 
the U.S. Dollar seven days prior to the dividend payment date. Shareholders on the Hong Kong branch reg-
ister will receive their dividends in Hong Kong Dollars. Further details on dividend payments, together with 
currency  election  and  dividend  mandate  forms,  are  available  from  Glencore’s  website  (www.glencore.com) 
or from the Company’s Registrars. The Directors have proposed that the final dividend will be paid out of 
capital contribution reserves. As such, the final dividend would be exempt from Swiss withholding tax.   
As at 31 December 2012, Glencore International plc had CHF 13.4 billion of such capital contribution reserves 
in its statutory accounts.

44  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

Notional allocation of debt and interest expense
Glencore’s indebtedness is primarily arranged centrally, with the proceeds then applied to marketing and 
industrial activities as required. 

Glencore does not allocate borrowings or interest to its three operating segments. However, to assist inves-
tors in the assessment of overall performance and underlying value contributors of its integrated business 
model, Glencore notionally allocates its  borrowings and interest expense between its marketing and indus-
trial activities as follows:

•  At a particular point in time, Glencore estimates the borrowings attributable to funding key working capital 
items within the marketing activities, including inventories, net cash margining and other accounts receiv-
able/payable, through the application of an appropriate loan to value ratio for each item. The balance of 
Group borrowings is allocated to industrial activities (including Glencore’s stake in Xstrata).

•  Once the average amount of borrowings notionally allocated to marketing activities for the relevant period 
has been estimated, the corresponding interest expense on those borrowings is estimated by applying the 
Group’s average variable rate cost of funds during the relevant period to the average borrowing amount. 
The balance of Group interest expense and all interest income is allocated to industrial activities. The al-
location is a company estimate only and is unaudited. The table below summarises the notional allocation 
of borrowings and interest and corresponding implied earnings before tax of the marketing and industrial 
activities for the year ended 31 December 2012.

US $ million

Adjusted EBIT

Interest expense allocation

Interest income allocation

Allocated profit before tax
Allocated borrowings – 31 December 2012

Allocated borrowings – quarterly average

Marketing
 activities

Industrial
 activities

2 130

– 342

–

1 788
16 668

14 765

2 340

– 1 029

401

1 712
18 858

15 714

Total

4 470

– 1 371

401

3 500
35 526

30 479

Based on the implied equity funding for the marketing activities’ working capital requirements, as well as 
the relatively modest level of non current assets employed in the marketing activities (assumed to be equity 
funded), the return on notional equity for the marketing activities continued to be very healthy in 2012. The 
industrial activities’ return on notional equity, although respectable, is being held back by mostly mid stage 
oil, copper, coal and gold development and expansion projects, where significant investments have been 
made to date, however the projects did not contribute to earnings in the year at anywhere near where their 
full production potential is expected to be and given the timing of certain acquisitions, noteably Viterra, the 
full effect of the earnings is yet to be reflected as allocated profits.

SuBSEquENT EVENTS AFFECTINg OuR FINANCIAL POSITION

On  26  February  2013,  Glencore-controlled  Kazzinc  purchased  an  89.5%  interest  in  two  gold  deposits  in 
northern Kazakhstan with combined resources of 75,727 tonnes of gold for $ 179 million. The transaction was 
accomplished via the purchase of Kazakh company Orion Minerals which owns subsoil rights at the Raigoro-
dok field in the Akmola Region and the Komarovskoye field in the Kostanai region. 

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  45

2.2 | Metals and minerals

“during 2012, the metals and minerals division exhibited a 
solid performance despite lower average metal prices in the 
period impacting our industrial activities. Of particular note 
were the respective performances of Mutanda and Murrin 
Murrin  which  increased  production  by  37%  and  reached  
record production levels respectively. Marketing continued 
its  strong  track  record  capitalising  on  increased  volumes. 
with continued demand expected from emerging markets, 
we remain confident about future prospects.”

Daniel Maté, Telis Mistakidis 

Highlights
Metal and minerals’ total Adjusted EBIT in 2012 was $ 2,071 million, 20% lower than in 
2011. This was driven by the performance of the industrial activities which was impact-
ed by lower average metal prices. Marketing activities delivered a strong performance 
during 2012. Adjusted EBIT was $ 1,363 million, 10% higher than in 2011 as volumes 
increased and physical premia remained strong. Metals and minerals’ industrial activi-
ties generated Adjusted EBIT of $ 708 million, a decrease of 48% compared to 2011. 
The reduction in EBIT was driven by lower metal prices and production setbacks at 
Katanga and Cobar. However Mutanda delivered an excellent performance, with own 
sourced  copper  production  up  37%  and  Murrin  Murrin  registered  a  record  year  of 
nickel production. 

Outlook
Significant production ramp-ups are expected at Mutanda and Katanga, underpinned 
by further power supply improvements and the installation of new processing equip-
ment.  We  expect  demand  in  the  markets  where  we  operate  to  remain  healthy  with 
emerging market demand increasing with economic development and improving liv-
ing standards. 

Adjusted EBIT

3 000

2 500

n 2 000
o

i
l
l
i

m
$
S
U

1 500

1 000

500

0

2010

2011

2012

Marketing activities
Industrial activities

2010 2011 2012
1 401  1 242  1 363 
708 
1 160  1 357 

Marketing activities

T
M
k

l

,
t
n
e
a
v
i
u
q
e
u
C

6 000

5 000

4 000

3 000

2 000

1 000

0

2010

2011

2012

Volumes

2010 2011 2012
5 986 5 864 6 217

Industrial activities

1 000

T 800
M
k

l

,
t
n
e
a
v
i
u
q
e
u
C

600

400

200

0

2010

2011

2012

Volumes

2010 2011 2012
805
783

692

46  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

US $ million

Revenue

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBIT

Adjusted EBITDA margin (%)
Allocated average CE 1
Adjusted EBIT return on average CE 

Marketing 
activities

Industrial 
activities

48 254

1 379

1 363

3%

8 083

17%

8 420

1 625

708

19%

18 535

4%

2012

56 674

3 004

2 071

–

26 618

8%

Marketing 
activities

Industrial 
activities

43 317

1 247

1 242

3%

7 746

16%

8 667

2 122

1 357

24%

15 108

9%

2011

51 984

3 369

2 599

–

22 854

11%

1  The simple average of segment current and non current capital employed (see note 2 of the financial statements), adjusted for production 

related inventories, is applied as a proxy for marketing and industrial activities respectively.

MARKET CONdITIONS

Selected average commodity prices

S&P GSCI Industrial Metals Index

LME (cash) zinc price ($/t)

LME (cash) copper price ($/t)

LME (cash) lead price ($/t)

Gold price ($/oz)

Metal Bulletin alumina price ($/t)

LME (cash) aluminium price ($/t)

LME (cash) nickel price ($/t)

Metal Bulletin cobalt price 99.3% ($/lb)

Iron ore (Platts 62% CFR North China) price ($/DMT)

Currency table

AUD : USD

USD : COP

EUR : USD

GBP : USD

GBP : CHF

USD : CHF

USD : KZT

USD : ZAR

2012

382

1 948

7 958

2 062

1 669

319

2 022

17 530

13

130

2011

Change

440

2 193

8 813

2 397

1 573

374

2 398

22 843

16

169

– 13%

– 11%

– 10%

– 14%

6%

– 15%

– 16%

– 23%

– 19%

– 23%

Average
2012

Spot
31 Dec 2012

Average 
2011 

Spot
31 Dec 2011

Change in  
average prices

1.04

1 797

1.29

1.59

1.49

0.94

149

8.21

1.04

1 767

1.32

1.63

1.49

0.92

150

8.47

1.03

1 848

1.39

1.60

1.42

0.89

147

7.26

1.02

1 939

1.30

1.55

1.46

0.94

148

8.09

1%

– 3%

– 7%

– 1%

5%

6%

1%

13%

Metals prices generally decreased over 2012 compared to 2011 with the GSCI Industrial Metal Index lower by 13%. The main excep-
tion was gold which increased by 6%. 

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  47

Zinc/Copper/Lead
Global copper markets continued to be impacted by a combination of declining ore grades and delays in new projects which were 
expected to replace lost production from mines that are currently in decline. It is expected that rising costs, on-going production 
disruptions, project delays and declining grades will remain a feature of the copper industry for the foreseeable future despite the 
material scheduled expansions in global mined production.

On the demand side, underlying Chinese copper consumption continued to increase although headline statistics remain subject 
to the inventory cycle. 2012 also saw the first tentative signs of life from the US housing market.

Zinc markets experienced another tough year with demand from Europe and US remaining weak through most of the year. Chinese 
refined zinc metal imports increased during 2012, reaching some 600,000 tonnes.

Looking forward, there are a number of major scheduled zinc mine closures in the next several years which can be expected to 
bring the market closer to balance. This should in turn create an incentive price which better matches the need for sustained invest-
ment in new mines in the longer term.

Alumina/Aluminium
The average LME aluminium prices during 2012 were below the averages for 2011. Although premium levels increased significantly 
compared to 2011, pressure on producers remains with many no longer able to cover their production costs. Indications for alu-
minium premiums for duty unpaid, in-warehouse material at the beginning of 2012 were $ 100 to $ 125 per tonne, with an average 
2012 range of approximately $ 140 to $ 165 per tonne and a more recent level of $ 200 to $ 230 per tonne.

Ferroalloys/Nickel/Cobalt/Iron Ore
Global stainless steel production increased by 3% in 2012, thanks largely to increased output in China. However, macroeconomic  
uncertainty  and  subdued  end  user  demand,  especially  during  Q2  and  Q3  2012,  ensured  that  destocking  activity  continued 
throughout the distribution chain in most stainless steel markets. By contrast, speciality steel markets catering for the oil, gas and 
aerospace industries continued to enjoy robust demand conditions.

Cobalt  prices  continued  to  decrease  in  2012,  losing  19%  compared  to  2011.  This  trend  was  due  to  lower  economic  activity  in  
Europe, a drop in Japanese metal demand and a Chinese destocking cycle, all of which contributed to an oversupply of cobalt 
metal during the year.

Iron ore prices were in the $ 135 to $ 150 range for the first four months of the year; however the Chinese crude steel industry 
then went through a difficult period during Q3 2012 and aggressively destocked. Iron ore prices fell to a level of $ 86 per DMT in  
September 2012, the lowest in the past three years. From this point, the market recovered quickly to reach $ 140 per DMT by the 
end of the year, fuelled by aggressive restocking and a pick-up in crude steel production.

MARKETINg

Highlights
Adjusted marketing EBITDA and EBIT for 2012 were $ 1,379 million and $ 1,363 million respectively, an increase of 11% and 10% 
compared to 2011. 2012 was characterised by lower prices across all base metals, however volumes and physical premia remained 
strong which enabled the generation of higher profits compared to 2011.

Financial information

US $ million

Revenue

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBIT

48  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

2012

2011

Change 

48 254

1 379

1 363

43 317

1 247

1 242

11%

11%

10%

 
overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

Selected marketing volumes sold

Zinc metal and concentrates 1
Copper metal and concentrates 1
Lead metal and concentrates 1
Gold

Silver

Alumina/aluminium

Ferroalloys (incl. agency)

Nickel

Cobalt

Iron ore

1 Estimated metal unit contained.

Units

2012

2011

Change 

million MT

million MT

million MT

thousand toz

thousand toz

million MT

million MT

thousand MT

thousand MT

million MT

2.8

2.3

0.7

746

2.7

1.9

0.7

756

22 544

11 128

11.5

3.0

232.3

16.1

19.8

11.4

2.7

191.4

22.9

10.3

4%

21%

– 

– 1%

103%

1%

11%

21%

– 30%

92%

Zinc/Copper/Lead
While zinc and lead volumes were relatively consistent between 2012 and 2011, copper volumes increased by 21%. The increase was 
partly a timing difference, reflecting Chinese restocking with large shipments arriving Q1 2012 for material contracted in Q4 2011 
when prices were considered low.

Alumina/Aluminium
In 2012, the marketed volumes for alumina/aluminium remained at a strong level with a small increase to 11.5 million tonnes, from 
11.4 million tonnes in 2011.

Ferroalloys/Nickel/Cobalt/Iron Ore
Overall nickel volumes were 21% higher than 2011. For nickel metal, record production at Murrin Murrin and a full year’s production 
from Xstrata’s Falcondo ferronickel operation aided volumes. Nickel ore almost doubled during 2012, attributable to Glencore’s 
continued growth in this particular market segment.

China destocking and a decrease of concentrate production in the DRC, impacted volumes of cobalt in intermediates during the 
year.

In iron ore, spot units offered by the majors have increased substantially enabling us to increase our overall tonnage by 9.5 mil-
lion tonnes to 19.8 million tonnes.

INduSTRIAL ACTIVITIES

Highlights
Metals and minerals’ industrial activities performance was down in 2012, driven primarily by lower average metal prices, including 
nickel, aluminium (impacting alumina), zinc and copper. The production scorecard was mixed with some excellent performances 
including own sourced copper production up 37% at Mutanda and a record year of nickel production at Murrin Murrin. Overall 
volume growth was however lower than expected, particularly due to lost production/power disruption issues in the DRC, (mainly 
impacting Katanga), temporary operational issues at Cobar and nationalisation of the Colquiri tin mine in Bolivia in June 2012. 

Total industrial revenues for metals and minerals were $ 8,420 million, down 3% from $ 8,667 million in 2011. Adjusted EBITDA and 
Adjusted EBIT for 2012 were $ 1,625 million and $ 708 million, down 23% and 48% compared to $ 2,122 million and $ 1,357 million 
in 2011. The higher EBIT % reduction reflects the largely fixed cost nature of ‘depreciation and amortisation’ (non-cash) over a 
constant level of production.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  49

Financial information 

US $ million

Revenue
Kazzinc

Other Zinc

Zinc 
Katanga

Mutanda

Mopani

Other Copper

Copper

Alumina/Aluminium

Ferroalloys/Nickel/Cobalt/Iron ore

Total

Adjusted EBITDA 
Kazzinc

Other Zinc

Zinc 
Katanga

Mutanda

Mopani

Other Copper

Copper

Alumina/Aluminium

Ferroalloys/Nickel/Cobalt/Iron ore
Share of income from associates and dividends (includes Mutanda)

Total 

Adjusted EBITDA margin (%)

Adjusted EBIT
Kazzinc

Other Zinc

Zinc 
Katanga

Mutanda

Mopani

Other Copper

Copper

Alumina/Aluminium

Ferroalloys/Nickel/Cobalt/Iron ore
Share of income from associates and dividends (includes Mutanda)

Total 

Capex
Kazzinc

Other Zinc

Zinc 
Katanga

Mutanda

Mopani

Other Copper

Copper

Alumina/Aluminium

Ferroalloys/Nickel/Cobalt/Iron ore

Total 

50  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

2012

2011

Change 

2 839

970

3 809
497

511

990

1 475

3 473

426

712

8 420

890

167

1 057
46

161

182

150

539

8

19
2

1 625

19%

537

46

583
– 47

100

83

87

223

– 4

– 96
2

708

341

306

647
586

76

197

204

1 063

25

74

1 809

2 262

1 029

3 291
528

–

1 155

2 493

4 176

520

680

8 667

862

297

1 159
198

–

328

219

745

60

83
75

2 122

24%

561

191

752
141

–

207

161

509

50

– 29
75

1 357

439

131

570
325

–

163

116

604

20

76

1 270

26%
– 6%
16%
– 6%

–

– 14%

– 41%

– 17%

– 18%

5%

– 3%

3%

– 44%

– 9%
– 77%

–

– 45%

– 32%

– 28%

– 87%

– 77%
– 97%

 – 23%

–

– 4%

– 76%

– 22%
n.m.

–

– 60%

– 46%

– 56%

n.m.

n.m.
– 97%

– 48%

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

Production data

thousand ¹

Using feed 
from own 
sources

Using 
feed from 
third party 
sources 

 Using feed 
from own 
sources

2012 
Total

Using 
feed from 
third party 
sources

2011 
Total

Own feed 
change

 74.0 
 55.7 
 3.0 
 87 
 15 031 

MT
MT

MT
MT

MT
MT

 93.0 
 2.13 

 99.0 
 0.07 

 87.0 
 8.50 

MT
MT
MT
toz
toz

 227.3 
 26.8 
 49.6 
 474 
 4 777 

Kazzinc
Zinc metal
Lead metal ²
Copper metal ³
Gold
Silver
Katanga
Copper metal ³
Cobalt
Mutanda
Copper metal ³
Cobalt 4
Mopani
Copper metal ³
Cobalt 4
Other Zinc (Los Quenuales, Sinchi Wayra, AR Zinc, Portovesme,  
Rosh Pinah)
Zinc metal
Zinc oxide
Zinc concentrates
Lead metal
Lead concentrates
Tin concentrates
Silver metal
Silver in concentrates
Other Copper (Cobar, Pasar, Punitaqui, Sable)
Copper metal
Copper concentrates
Cobalt
Silver in concentrates
Alumina/Aluminium (Sherwin)
Alumina
Ferroalloys/Nickel/Cobalt (Glencore Manganese, Murrin Murrin)
Ferro manganese
Silicon manganese
Nickel metal
Cobalt

 53.0 
 52.5 
 425.0 
 11.8 
 67.2 
 2.35 
 783 
 7 279 

MT
DMT
DMT
MT
DMT
DMT
toz
toz

 – 
 179.2 
 – 
 941 

 – 
 – 
 33.41 
 2.39 

MT
DMT
MT
toz

MT
MT
MT
MT

MT

 – 

 –
 – 

 – 
 – 

 88.1 
 0.16 

 81.7 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 98.4 
 0.1 
 0.71 
 – 

 1 379 

 17.34 
 15.91 
 3.02 
 0.10 

Total Zinc contained
Total Copper contained
Total Lead contained
Total Tin contained
Total Gold (incl. Gold equivalents) 5
Total Alumina
Total Ferro manganese
Total Silicon manganese
Total Nickel
Total Cobalt

MT
MT
MT
MT
toz
MT
MT
MT
MT
MT

 534.4 
 376.7 
 76.3 
 1.15 
 731 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 33.41 
 13.09 

 155.7 
 189.6 
 55.7 
 – 
 367 
 1 379 
 17.34 
 15.91 
 3.02 
 0.97 

 301.3 
 82.5 
 52.6 
 561 
 19 808 

 93.0 
 2.13 

 87.0 
 8.50 

 246.0 
 35.6 
 51.2 
 390 
 4 299 

 91.2 
 2.43 

 63.7 
 7.87 

 54.8 
 66.2 
 1.8 
 39 
 5 571 

 –
 – 

 – 
 – 

 300.8 
 101.8 
 53.0 
 429 
 9 870 

 91.2 
 2.43 

 63.7 
 7.87 

 187.1 
 0.23 

 101.4 
 0.56 

 103.0 
 0.33 

 204.4 
 0.89 

 134.7 
 52.5 
 425.0 
 11.8 
 67.2 
 2.35 
 783 
 7 279 

 98.4 
 179.3 
 0.71 
 941 

 1 379 

 17.34 
 15.91 
 36.43 
 2.49 

 690.1 
 566.3 
 132.0 
 1.15 
 1 098 
 1 379 
 17.34 
 15.91 
 36.43 
 14.06 

 61.0 
 30.9 
 461.2 
 11.9 
 61.0 
 4.74 
 754 
 7 978 

 – 
 204.9 
 – 
 1 035 

 92.7 
 –
 – 
 – 
 – 
–
– 
 – 

 164.1 
 – 
 0.16 
 – 

 153.7 
 30.9 
 461.2 
 11.9 
 61.0 
 4.74 
 754 
 7 978 

 164.1 
 204.9 
 0.16 
 1 035 

 – 

 1 460 

 1 460 

 – 
 – 
 28.50 
 2.02 

 563.1 
 362.6 
 82.5 
 2.23 
 706 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 28.50 
 12.88 

 – 
 – 
 1.50 
 0.07 

 147.5 
 268.9 
 66.2 
 – 
 164 
 1 460 
 – 
 – 
 1.50 
 0.56 

 – 
 – 
 30.00 
 2.09 

 710.6 
 631.5 
 148.7 
 2.23 
 870 
 1 460 
 – 
 – 
 30.00 
 13.44 

– 8%
– 25%
– 3%
22%
11%

2%
– 12%

37%
8%

– 2%
– 88%

– 13%
70%
– 8%
– 1%
10%
– 50%
4%
– 9%

n.m.
– 13%
n.m.
– 9%

n.m.

n.m.
n.m.
17%
18%

– 5%
4%
– 8%
– 48%
4%
n.m.
n.m.
n.m.
17%
2%

1  Controlled industrial assets only (with the exception in 2011 of Mutanda, which was 40% owned). Production is included on a 100% basis.
2  Lead metal includes lead contained in lead concentrates.
3  Copper metal includes copper contained in copper concentrates and blister copper.
4  Cobalt contained in concentrates and hydroxide.
5  Gold/Silver conversion ratios of 1/53.54 and 1/44.53 for 2012 and 2011 respectively based on average prices. 

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  51

 
OPERATIONAL HIgHLIgHTS

Kazzinc (Glencore interest: 69.6%)
2012 gold production from own sources was 474,000 toz, an increase of 22% compared to 2011. This higher production reflects the 
continued  growth  at  Altyntau  as  well  as  the  benefits  from  gold  recovered  from  the  copper  smelter.  Silver  production  from  own 
sources was 4.8 million toz, an increase of 11% compared to the prior year, reflecting an increase in the level of own silver-bearing 
copper concentrates processed. Total silver production also increased significantly during 2012 as a result of processing more high 
silver content concentrates from third parties.

Copper production from own sources in 2012 was 49,600 tonnes, a reduction of 3% compared to 2011. However, copper cathode 
production increased by 25,800 tonnes to 47,300 tonnes, following the ramp-up at Kazzinc’s new copper smelter which was commis-
sioned in 2011.

2012 lead production from own sources was 26,800 tonnes, a decrease of 25% compared to 2011. This reflects the ramp-up at the 
new lead smelter which was commissioned in August 2012 and the processing of gold rich concentrates at the old lead smelter prior 
to its decommissioning.

Zinc  production  from  own  sources  was  227,300  tonnes,  a  decrease  of  8%,  resulting  from  the  expected  small  reduction  in  grade  
during 2012.

Katanga (Glencore interest: 75.2%)
Katanga produced 93,000 tonnes of copper in metal and in concentrate from own sources during 2012, a 2% increase compared 
to 2011. Cobalt production in 2012 was 2,100 tonnes, a 12% decrease compared to 2011. Production during the year was severely 
disrupted by the recurrent general power disruptions in the DRC which resulted in 67 days of lost production.

The new power converter (part of the World Bank power project) and new synchronous condenser (under Katanga’s agreement with  
La Société Naturale d’Electricité (‘SNEL’), DRC’s national power operator) were commissioned in December 2012 and have subse-
quently resulted in a decrease in power disruption. Further improvements in the reliability and availability of the electricity supply 
are expected in the medium term as a result of the joint Power Project (announced in March 2012, see below) currently underway 
and being undertaken by Katanga, Mutanda and Kansuki in partnership with SNEL.

Katanga produced its first copper cathode from the new solvent extraction plants and converted electro-winning facility during 
December 2012 as part of the Phase 4 project. The completion of this project will enable Katanga to increase total processing 
capacity  and  upgrade  the  quality  of  copper  produced  through  the  application  of  modern  technologies.  The  Phase  4  project  
remains on target for mechanical completion in Q3 2013.

For further information please visit www.katangamining.com

Mutanda (Glencore interest: 60.0%)
In 2012, Mutanda produced 87,000 tonnes of copper in metal and concentrate from own sources, a 37% increase compared to 2011. 
2012 copper cathodes production increased 90% to 83,500 tonnes.

2012 cobalt production was 8,500 tonnes, an 8% increase from 2011. Mutanda continues to increase cobalt production through the 
use of SO2 from its sulphuric acid and SO2 plant. A new power generation plant, dedicated to providing reliable power to the acid 
and SO2 plant, was commissioned in December 2012. Following completion of the cobalt circuit in Q4 2012, Mutanda has installed 
cobalt in hydroxide capacity of 23,000 tonnes per annum.

The feasibility study for the construction of a 100,000 tonnes (of copper contained) sulphide concentrator remains on track to be 
completed in Q1 2013.

In May 2012, Glencore acquired an additional 20% of Mutanda for a cash consideration of $ 420 million plus acquired shareholder 
debts of approximately $ 60 million. Glencore also has the right, subject to the terms of a put and call option agreement exercis-
able in December 2013, to acquire a further 20% in Mutanda for a cash consideration of $ 430 million.

As  previously  announced,  the  above  transaction  was  the  first  step  to  achieve  the  merger  of  Mutanda  and  Kansuki,  which  
is expected to form a combined entity having an installed capacity of 200,000 tonnes per annum of copper by the end of 2013. It 
is anticipated that the merger will be completed during H1 2013.

52  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

Kansuki (Glencore interest: 37.5%) 
Glencore holds a 50% interest in Kansuki Investments Sprl which in turn holds a 75% interest in the owner of the Kansuki conces-
sion, thereby giving Glencore an effective interest of 37.5%. Kansuki is a 185 square kilometre copper and cobalt pre-development 
project which borders the Mutanda concession. A total of $ 507 million of capital expenditure for mine and plant development 
has been committed to, of which $ 413 million had been spent as at 31 December 2012. Exploration of the Kansuki concession is 
on-going.

Katanga, Mutanda and Kansuki – Power Project
Mutanda, Katanga and Kansuki are collectively undertaking a project to secure power for all three operations via the refurbish-
ment of two turbines at the Inga dam. This project is expected to provide 450 megawatts of power by the end of 2015 (the ‘Power 
Project‘). The project has started and is being executed in partnership with SNEL and EGMF, the project contractor. The estimated 
cost of $ 284 million will be paid by Mutanda, Katanga and Kansuki. This investment will be recovered via lower future energy tariffs.

Mopani (Glencore interest: 73.1%) 
Mopani produced 99,000 tonnes of own copper in 2012 and 187,100 tonnes of total copper including third party sourced and toll 
material, reflecting a 2% and 8% decline respectively compared to 2011.
The reduction in total finished copper production primarily resulted from the planned biennial smelter shutdown. The small reduc-
tion in Mopani’s own copper production was due to the temporary suspension of the heap leach process earlier in the year.

The $ 323 million Synclinorium shaft project to increase mine production, which is expected to come online during 2015, and the 
associated project to improve and modernise the smelter remain on track. In 2012, Mopani announced that the smelter upgrade 
project (including improving SO2 emission capture to above 97%) is expected to be completed by December 2013, 18 months 
ahead of the schedule initially agreed with the Zambian authorities.

Other Zinc (Los Quenuales, Sinchi Wayra, AR Zinc, Portovesme, Rosh Pinah)
The acquisition of Rosh Pinah (from 1 June 2012) and a strong performance by AR Zinc resulted in higher production of silver metal 
and lead concentrates in 2012. This was offset by lower production at Los Quenuales and Sinchi Wayra, as a result of the planned 
shift towards lower grade ore bodies, union issues at Los Quenuales and the nationalisation of the Colquiri mine at Sinchi Wayra.
The nationalisation of the Colquiri mine resulted in no tin being produced post June 2012.

Los Quenuales recently received community approval to develop a new ore area at Iscaycruz (Santa Este), which has estimated ore 
resources of five to seven million tonnes. The mine is expected to be operational in Q4 2013 and will reach an annual production 
of 20,000 tonnes of zinc contained in concentrates in 2014.

Other Copper (Cobar, Pasar, Punitaqui, Sable)
Metal production in 2012 was 40% lower than in 2011, due to a fire at Pasar that stopped production for approximately six months. 
Since the restart in July 2012, production has been in line or above levels achieved during 2011.

2012 copper concentrate and silver contained in concentrate production were lower than 2011 levels by 13% and 9% respectively, 
primarily due to temporary operational issues at Cobar resulting from electrical failures and delays in underground development 
activities. Completion of the new mine shaft at Cobar has been delayed due to poor ground conditions and is now expected in 
2015.

Alumina/Aluminium
Sherwin Alumina (Glencore interest: 100%)
2012 production was 1.4 million tonnes, a 6% reduction compared to 2011. This reduction primarily relates to the overhaul of the 
calciner which was completed in Q1 2012. Production since then has been as expected.

Ferroalloys/Nickel/Cobalt 
Glencore Manganese (Glencore interest: 100%)
Glencore acquired 100% of Vale’s European manganese ferroalloys operations on 1 November 2012. The operations, located in 
Dunkirk, France and Mo I Rana, Norway, currently have the capacity to produce 150,000 tonnes and 110,000 tonnes of manganese 
ferroalloys per annum respectively.

Murrin Murrin (Glencore interest: 100%) 
Own sourced production in 2012 was 33,400 tonnes of nickel and 2,400 tonnes of cobalt, an increase of 17% and 18% respectively 
compared to 2011, reflecting a record year of production for Murrin Murrin based on best ever throughput levels and plant avail-
ability.
Murrin Murrin has also successfully contained costs as part of its on-going ‘Margin Improvement Plan’ (in response to the lower 
nickel price and high Australian dollar environment) with further cost savings targeted in 2013.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  53

2.3 | Energy products

“The  energy  products  segment  delivered  a  solid  perfor-
mance  in  2012  despite  the  challenging  environment  faced 
in  marketing.  The  significant  increase  in  production  from 
the  Aseng  oil  field  and  the  acquisitions  of  Optimum  and 
umbeco drove the strong industrial performance and leave 
the division well placed heading into 2013.”

Alex Beard, Tor Peterson 

Highlights
Energy products’ total Adjusted EBIT in 2012 was $ 1,029 million, 4% lower than in 2011. 
Marketing activities delivered Adjusted EBIT of $ 435 million, 38% lower than in 2011. 
The decrease was driven by a combination of low volatility and weak freight markets, 
which  limited  arbitrage  opportunities,  and  our  residual  direct  long  wet  freight  ex-
posure. This wet freight exposure will decline materially in 2013. Industrial activities  
delivered a strong performance generating Adjusted EBIT of $ 594 million, an increase 
of 58% compared to 2011. The strong performance was driven by the significant in-
crease of oil production from the Aseng oil field, representing its first full year of pro-
duction, and the acquisitions of Optimum and Umcebo.

Outlook 
Looking forward, the oil price is likely to continue to be driven by the interaction of 
economics and geo-politics. We expect the US to continue to drive maximum domes-
tic  benefit  from  its  burgeoning  energy  advantage,  rather  than  export  energy.  Coal 
markets appear to have stabilised following the shale gas related displacements seen 
in 2012. With the economics of coal remaining compelling globally relative to other 
fuels we would expect demand to continue to increase. At the same time, current spot 
coal prices mean that many of the world’s producers are unable to make a reasonable 
return on their assets. 

Adjusted EBIT

1 400

1 200

1 000

n 800
o

i
l
l
i

m
$
S
U

600

400

200

0

2010

2011

2012

Marketing activities
Industrial activities

2010 2011 2012
435
697
594
375

450
235

Marketing activities

120 000

100 000

80 000

T
M
k

60 000

40 000

20 000

0

1 100 000

1 000 000

900 000

800 000

700 000

600 000

500 000

s
l
b
b
k

400 000

300 000

200 000

100 000

0

2010

2011

2012

Coal (k MT)
Oil (k bbls)

2012
2011
2010
100 900
82 560
95 400
897 849 849 271 1 163 655

Industrial activities

44 000

40 000

36 000

32 000

28 000

T
M
k

24 000

20 000

16 000

4 500

4 000

3 500

3 000

2 500

2 000

1 500

1 000

500

s
l
b
b
k

2010

2011

2012

Coal (k MT)
Oil (k bbls)

2010
17 433
–

2011
20 506
595

2012
41 835
4 770

54  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

 
 
 
 
 
 
overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

US $ million

Revenue

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBIT

Adjusted EBITDA margin (%)
Allocated average CE 1
Adjusted EBIT return on average CE 

Marketing 
activities

Industrial 
activities

133 296

494

435

0.4%
5 065 2
9%

3 641

983

594

27%
6 764 2
9%

2012

136 937

1 477

1 029

–
11 829 2
9%

Marketing 
activities

Industrial 
activities

114 756

724

697

1%

5 168

13%

2 309

571

375

25%
4 762 2
8%

2011

117 065

1 295

1 072

–
9 930 2
11%

1  The simple average of segment current and non current capital employed (see note 2 of the financial statements), adjusted for production 

related inventories, is applied as a proxy for marketing and industrial activities respectively.

2  For the purposes of this calculation, capital employed has been adjusted to exclude various long-term loans (primarily Russneft and Atlas – see 

note 10 of the financial statements), which generate interest income and do not contribute to Adjusted EBIT.

MARKET CONdITIONS

Selected average commodity prices

S&P GSCI Energy Index

Coal API2 ($/t)

Coal API4 ($/t)
Prodeco realised price ($/t) 1
South African Coal average realised export price ($/t)

South African Coal average realised domestic price ($/t)

Oil price – Brent ($/bbl)

2012

2011

Change

330

93

93

85

90

31

112

333

122

116

95

108

43

111

– 1%

– 24%

– 20%

– 11%

– 17%

– 28%

1%

1 As of 31 December 2012, 24 million tonnes had been sold forward at an average price of $ 89 per tonne.

Coal
Atlantic markets
Increased US exports, displaced in a low domestic natural gas price environment, manifestly contributed to significant thermal 
coal price declines during H1 2012. The situation stabilised during H2 2012 with a modest recovery on the back of healthy coal 
consumption across most European markets, due to positive coal versus natural gas spreads and limited availability of hydro and 
other renewables alternatives.
End of year API2 and API4 prices were down 20% and 15% respectively in 2012, compared to 2011.

Pacific markets
Increased exports from Australia and Indonesia, coupled with some customer non-performance, induced downward pressure on 
prices at the beginning of 2012. However, strong overall demand from the traditional Chinese and Indian markets, together with 
improved economic expectations, allowed markets to recover in H2 2012, with Australia’s Newcastle index making significant gains 
towards the end of the year.
Metallurgical  markets  were  relatively  depressed  throughout  the  year  due  to  the  macroeconomic  concerns  and  slowing  steel  
demand in most markets. Signs of a recovery appeared towards the end of the year, with significant increases in spot prices.

Oil
Nearby Brent started 2012 at $ 107 per barrel and finished at $ 111 per barrel, but this belied a yearly range of $ 89 to $ 126, slightly 
wider than the equivalent range for 2011. In particular, H1 2012 saw significant price volatility, wide day ranges and fast price moves, 
reminiscent of the darker days of the financial crisis. Uncertainty over Greece and the Eurozone, combined with unclear fiscal and 
monetary policy backdrops were all contributory factors. At the same time, reasonable refining margins and a renewed focus on 
emerging market demand provided trading opportunities. H2 2012 experienced less volatility, reflecting the broad trend in capital 
markets and seemingly more market optimism in a managed outcome for the economic crisis. 

The growing supply of domestic crude oil in the US, the visible manifestation of the shale oil revolution, provoked an increasing 
dislocation of WTI from other global benchmarks. The WTI/Brent spread started the year at $ 9 per barrel and closed at $ 19 per 
barrel. Brent term structure tended to backwardation during the year.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  55

MARKETINg

Highlights
Generally low volatility across the oil and coal markets in H2 2012 and the protracted weak freight environment provided fewer 
arbitrage opportunities, contributing to a reduced performance from energy marketing compared to 2011. A direct, but declining, 
long wet freight (tanker) exposure continued to provide headwinds during 2012, however, as we look at 2013, light can be seen at 
the end of this tunnel.

Adjusted marketing EBITDA and EBIT for 2012 were $ 494 million and $ 435 million respectively, a decrease, compared to 2011, of 
32% and 38%. 

Financial information

US $ million

Revenue

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBIT

Selected marketing volumes sold

million

Thermal coal (MT)

Metallurgical coal (MT)

Coke (MT)

Crude oil (bbls)

Oil products (bbls)

2012

2011

Change 

133 296

114 756

494

435

724

697

16%

– 32%

– 38%

2012

78.3

4.1

0.2

421.4

742.2

2011

Change 

91.0

4.1

0.3

271.4

577.8

– 14%

– 

– 33%

55%

28%

Coal
Thermal  coal  volumes  were  lower  year  on  year  due  to  reduced  price  volatility  and  lower  freight  rates,  thereby  limiting  price 
and  geographical  arbitrage  opportunities  between  markets  and  accordingly  third  party  volumes  sold.  Volumes  for  the  more  
specialised metallurgical products were stable year-on-year with a focus on maintaining existing relationships.

Oil
Traded volumes, on an overall basis, increased significantly (by 39%) from 2.3 million barrels per day in 2011 to 3.2 million barrels per 
day in 2012. Higher volumes of crude oil, with Russian origin barrels amongst others a key driving factor, contributed half the gain. 
The remainder of the gain was derived from our marine bunker fuels affiliate Chemoil, into the Oil group figures.

56  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

INduSTRIAL ACTIVITIES

Highlights
Energy products’ industrial performance delivered a significantly stronger performance during 2012 mainly driven by the growth 
in oil production volumes and the associated strong profit margins from the Aseng oil field.

Own sourced coal production volumes were also up significantly during 2012, following the acquisitions of Optimum and Umcebo 
in South Africa, and a modest increase at Prodeco, despite a three month strike at its La Jagua mine. Notwithstanding the volume 
growth, realised coal prices were substantially lower in 2012, resulting in a decline in overall coal EBITDA of 5%.

Total  industrial  revenues  for  energy  products  were  $  3,641  million,  up  58%  from  $  2,309  million  in  2011.  Adjusted  EBITDA  and 
Adjusted EBIT for 2012 were $ 983 million and $ 594 million, up 72% and 58% compared to $ 571 million and $ 375 million in 2011.

Financial information 

US $ million

Revenue
Prodeco

South African Coal

Coal

Oil

Total

Adjusted EBITDA 
Prodeco

South African Coal

Coal

Oil
Share of income from associates and dividends

Total 

Adjusted EBITDA margin (%)

Adjusted EBIT
Prodeco

South African Coal

Coal

Oil
Share of income from associates and dividends

Total 

Capex
Prodeco

South African Coal

Coal
Oil

Total 

 2012

2011

Change 

1 216

1 123

2 339

1 302

3 641

150

316

466

488
29

983

27%

– 4

162

158

407
29

594

295

279

574
311

885

1 344

323

1 667

642

2 309

418

75

493

23
55

571

25%

281

49

330

– 10
55

375

510

29

539
706

1 245

– 10%

248%

40%

103%

58%

– 64%

321%

– 5%

2 022%
– 47%

72%

–

n.m.

231%

– 52%

n.m.
– 47%

58%

–

–

–
–

–

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  57

Production data

thousand MT 1

Thermal coal
Prodeco

Shanduka (Export)

Shanduka (Domestic)

Umcebo (Export)

Umcebo (Domestic)

Optimum (Export)

Optimum (Domestic)

Total

Own 

Buy-in
Coal 

2012 
Total

Own 

Buy-in 
Coal

2011 
Total

Own  
production  
change

14 762

440

6 017

205

6 798

7 347

6 266

41 835

142

–

1 084

–

31

–

495

1 752

14 904

440

 7 101 

 205 

 6 829 

 7 347 

 6 761 

14 586

498

5 422

–

–

–

–

195

–

802

–

–

–

–

14 781

 498 

 6 224 

– 

– 

– 

– 

1%

– 12%

11%

n.m.

n.m.

n.m.

n.m.

43 587

20 506

997

21 503

104%

1 Controlled industrial assets only. Production on a 100% basis.

thousand bbls 1

Oil
Block I

Total

1  On a 100% basis. Glencore’s ownership interest in the Aseng field is 23.75%.

 2012 
Total

2011 
Total

Change 

22 570

22 570

 2 785 

 2 785 

710%

710%

58  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

 
overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

OPERATIONAL HIgHLIgHTS

Prodeco (Glencore interest: 100%)
Own production for 2012 was 14.8 million tonnes, up 1% on 2011. The significant growth at Calenturitas was offset by lower produc-
tion at the La Jagua mine, due to a three month strike that concluded in October 2012.
Prodeco’s expansion project is progressing to plan, excluding the short term impact of the La Jagua strike, and remains on track 
to deliver annualised production of 20 million tonnes by 2014.

The construction of the new direct loading port, Puerto Nuevo, is also on track and to budget, with commissioning expected in 
H1 2013. Puerto Nuevo will provide substantially higher annual throughput capacity with a lower operating cost per tonne.

South African Coal (Glencore interest: Shanduka Coal: 49.99%, Umcebo Mining: 43.66% and Optimum Coal: 67.01%)
2012 own production was 27.1 million tonnes, reflecting a significant increase compared to 2011. This increase largely resulted from 
the consolidation of production from Optimum and Umcebo from 1 January 2012. 

South  African  Coal  is  currently  focused  on  a  number  of  expansion  and  development  projects  which  are  progressing  well.  At  
Umcebo,  the  Wonderfontein  project  started  production  and  railed  its  first  coal  during  December  2012.  At  Shanduka  and  
Umcebo, the definitive feasibility studies relating to the Springboklaagte and Argent projects remain on track to be completed 
in April 2013. At Optimum, construction has started at the Pullenshope underground brownfield project with first coal expected 
in Q2 2013, while licensing for the Koornfontein project has been delayed slightly to Q1 2013, with construction expected to start  
in Q2 2013. In addition, South African Coal, along with the other shareholders, has recently taken an active role in the management 
of the Kusipongo project at Kangra Coal (30% owned by Shanduka Coal).

Oil Exploration & Production (Glencore interest: Block I: 23.75%/Block O: 25.0%) 
The  Aseng  field  (Block  I)  in  Equatorial  Guinea  has  continued  to  perform  well  during  2012,  producing  22.57  million  barrels  of  
cumulative gross production at an average gross rate of approximately 61,700 barrels per day.

Development of the Alen field (Block O) in Equatorial Guinea remains on budget with first production scheduled for Q3 2013.  
All of the development wells have been drilled and completed and construction of the production platform continues as planned.
Glencore’s first operated exploration well on the Oak prospect in the Bolongo Block, offshore Cameroon, was successfully drilled 
and declared an oil discovery in July 2012. The appraisal programme is planned for H2 2013.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  59

2.4 | Agricultural products

“2012  saw  the  division  produce  a  resilient  performance 
with  a  healthy  recovery  in  marketing  supported  by  an 
increase  in  the  profitability  of  industrial  due  to  higher 
processing  volumes.  Looking  ahead,  the  integration  of  
Viterra’s  Canadian  and  Australian  operations  in  2013 
should  significantly  enhance  the  division.  Furthermore, 
the  recent  softseed  oilseed  crushing  acquisitions,  new-
build  activities  in  Central  Europe,  and  the  newly  con-
structed soyabean facility at Timbues in Argentina should 
also begin to contribute to the division.”

Chris Mahoney 

Highlights
Grain  and  oilseed  marketing  performed  satisfactorily  in  2012.  Cotton’s  contribution 
was a small positive following the challenges of 2011. The acquisition of Viterra closed 
on 17 December 2012 and Glencore has since moved rapidly to streamline and fully 
integrate Viterra operations.

Outlook 
Crop  production  recoveries  are  expected  in  2013,  led  by  a  record  Brazilian  crop.  
Baring weather problems in the Northern Hemisphere, prices and trade patterns are 
likely  to  normalise.  2013  results  are  expected  to  benefit  from  the  incorporation  of  
Viterra’s Canadian and Australian operations. Drought in South Australia reduced the 
2012 crop which will adversely impact the 2013 grain handling business in that region. 
2013 will also see a full year contribution from our recent softseed oilseed crushing  
acquisitions  and  newbuild  in  Central  Europe  and  the  newly  constructed  soyabean  
facility at Timbues in Argentina. Activity in Russia, including at the recently acquired 
port of Taman, will be limited until the new crop is harvested in July 2013.

Adjusted EBIT

n
o

i
l
l
i

m
$
S
U

800

600

400

200

0

– 200

2010

2011

2012

2010 2011 2012
371
– 10

– 8
– 39

659
58

Marketing activities
Industrial activities

Marketing activities

50 000

45 000

40 000

T 35 000
M
k

30 000

25 000

20 000

15 000

2010

2011

2012

Volumes

2010
31 042

2011
37 214

2012
45 875

Industrial activities

8 000

7 000

6 000

5 000

4 000

3 000

2 000

1 000

T
M
k

2010

2011

2012

Volumes

2010
4 312

2011
6 563

2012
7 428

60  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

 
 
 
 
overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

US $ million

Revenue

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBIT

Adjusted EBITDA margin (%)
Allocated average CE 1
Adjusted EBIT return on average CE 

Marketing 
activities

Industrial 
activities

17 751

394

371

2%
6 046 2
6% 3

3 074

59

– 10

2%
2 188 2
0%

2012

20 825

453

361

–
8 234 2
4%

Marketing 
activities

Industrial 
activities

13 744

– 8

– 8

n.m.

3 323

0%

3 359

23

– 39

1%

1 631

– 2%

2011

17 103

15

– 47

– 

4 954

– 1%

1  The simple average of segment current and non current capital employed (see note 2 of the financial statements), adjusted for production 

related inventories, is applied as a proxy for marketing and industrial activities respectively.

2  For the purposes of this calculation, capital employed has been adjusted to move the Viterra related property, plant and equipment from 

industrial activities into marketing activities.

3  Adjusted EBIT return on average capital employed includes the relevant elements of Viterra’s balance sheet, but given the mid-December 
acquisition date, negligible Viterra EBIT has been recorded. This distorts the return ratio in 2012, which otherwise would have exceeded 10%.

MARKET CONdITIONS

Selected average commodity prices

S&P GSCI Agriculture Index

CBOT corn no.2 price (US¢/bu)

ICE cotton price (US¢/lb)

CBOT soya beans (US¢/bu)

NYMEX sugar # 11 price (US¢/lb)

CBOT wheat price (US¢/bu)

2012

459

695

80

1 466

22

751

2011

Change

490

680

137

1 317

27

709

– 6%

2%

– 42%

11%

– 19%

6%

The  year  was  characterised  by  severe  drought  in  the  US  in  the  May  to  July  2012  period  which  resulted  in  a  more  than  20%  
decline  in  the  US  corn  crop  from  initial  expectations.  US  soyabean  production  also  suffered  but  not  to  the  extent  of  corn  or 
to  the  extent  initially  feared.  The  drought,  combined  with  poor  growing  conditions  in  the  FSU  and  Central  Europe,  led  a  sig-
nificant  price  rally  of  more  than  30%,  with  grain  markets  reaching  their  peak  in  mid-August  2012  and  oilseeds  in  early  
September 2012. Between September and mid-December 2012, prices consolidated before weakening towards year-end on the 
prospect of record South American new crop production.

Cotton prices, which fell sharply early in 2012, were particularly subdued compared to 2011 and tightly range bound in the second 
half of the year.

MARKETINg/INduSTRIAL

Highlights
Grain and oilseed volumes all exceeded 2011 by more than 20%, in part due to the overall increase in non-US seaborne trade as 
US exports, a market in which Glencore only has a small presence, were particularly curtailed by the drought. Marketing Adjusted 
EBIT/EBITDA for 2012 saw a healthy recovery compared to 2011, a year significantly impacted by the exceptional cotton market 
disruptions.

2012 Industrial EBITDA, admittedly off a low base, was sharply up on 2011, reflecting higher processing volumes, on the back of 
the three recent plant acquisitions and organic expansion initiatives. 2013 should benefit from a full year of crushing at Timbues, 
following its start-up in Q4 2012, increased sugarcane processing in Brazil and the addition of various industrial facilities emanating 
from the Viterra acquisition.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  61

2012

2011

Change 

17 751

394

      371  

13 744

– 8

      – 8

29%

n.m.

     n.m.

2012

2011

Change 

30.9

13.6

0.5

0.9

2012

3 074

59

– 10

2%

260

2012 
Total

674

2 779

876

534

248

1 061

1 256

7 428

25.3

10.8

0.5

0.7

22%

26%

– 

29%

2011

Change 

3 359

23

     – 39

1%

221

– 8%

157%

n.m.

–

–

 2011 
Total

827

2 008

948

569

304

1 001

906

6 563

Change 

– 19%

38%

– 8%

– 6%

– 18%

6%

39%

13%

Financial information

US $ million

Revenue

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBIT

Selected marketing volumes sold

million MT

Grains

Oil/oilseeds

Cotton

Sugar

INduSTRIAL ACTIVITIES

Financial information 

US $ million

Revenue
Adjusted EBITDA 1
Adjusted EBIT 1
Adjusted EBITDA margin (%)

Capex

1 Includes share of income from associates and dividends of $ 15 million (2011: $ 18 million).

Production data

thousand MT

Farming

Oilseed crushing

Oilseed crushing long term toll agreement

Biodiesel

Rice milling

Wheat milling

Sugarcane processing

Total

62  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

OPERATIONAL HIgHLIgHTS

Viterra (Glencore interest: 100%) 
On 17 December 2012, Glencore completed the acquisition of Viterra, bringing immediate critical mass in the key grain markets 
of North America, via Viterra’s Canadian operations, as well as materially expanding Glencore’s existing operations in Australia.

Rio Vermelho (Glencore interest: 100%) 
1.3 million tonnes of sugarcane were crushed in 2012, a 39% increase compared to 2011, which in turn produced 108,400 tonnes of 
Very High Pol (‘VHP’) sugar and 34,000 cubic metres of hydrous ethanol. The on-going expansion plan at Rio Vermelho continues 
to progress on schedule. The first phase of the cogeneration plant, eventually capable of supplying 200,000 megawatt hours per 
annum of surplus electricity to the power grid at maturity of the project in 2015, will become operational during H2 2013.

Other Agricultural Products
Oilseed crushing
In 2012, oilseed crushing volumes increased 38%, reflecting the additional volumes crushed at the three acquired plants (Czech 
Republic, Poland and Ukraine) and the completion of the new plant constructed in Hungary.
Following the successful commissioning of Timbues (Argentina) in October 2012, the plant commenced crushing in December 2012.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  63

2.5 | Reserves and resources

The reserves and resources data in the following tables is presented on a 100% asset basis, unless otherwise stated. All tonnage 
and volume information has been rounded to reflect the relative uncertainty in the estimates; there may therefore be small differ-
ences in the totals. The Measured and Indicated Mineral and Coal Resources are reported inclusive of those resources modified 
to produce reserves.

Ore  reserves  and  mineral  resources  are  reported  in  accordance  with  the  2004  edition  of  the  Australian  Code  for  Reporting  of  
Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (the ‘JORC Code’) or the 2007 edition (as amended 2009) of the South 
African Code for Reporting of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (the ‘SAMREC Code’).

METALS ANd MINERALS

KAZZINC 1, 2

Mining method Attributable  

interest to 
Glencore

OPERATING MINES
Vasilkovskoye 3
Open Cut (‘OC’) 69.6%

Maleevsky 4
Underground 
(‘UG’)

69.6%

Ore

Gold

Gold

Ore

Gold

Silver

'000 MT

Content, g/t

Content, g/t

Copper

Content, %

Lead

Zinc

Ore

Gold 

Silver

Content, %

Content, %

'000 MT

Content, g/t

Content, g/t

Copper

Content, %

Lead

Zinc

Ore

Gold

Silver

Content, %

Content, %

'000 MT

Content, g/t

Content, g/t

Copper

Content, %

Lead

Zinc

Content, %

Content, %

Ore
Gold
Silver
Copper
Lead
Zinc

'000 MT
Content, g/t
Content, g/t
Content, %
Content, %
Content, %

Ridder-Sokolny 5
UG

69.6%

Tishinsky 6
UG

69.6%

Shubinsky 7
UG

69.6%

64  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

Ore reserves

Proved Probable

Mineral resources

Total Measured Indicated Measured 
and  
indicated

Inferred

'000 MT

Content, g/t

Amount, '000 toz

 124 740 

 28 960 

 153 700 

 163 600 

 100 630 

 264 230 

 40 820 

 1.88 

 7 540 

 1.48 

 1 378 

 1.80 

 8 918 

 1.78 

 9 363 

 1.33 

 1.61 

 4 303 

 13 666 

 1.72 

 2 257 

 11 710 

 4 950 

 16 660 

 14 430 

 5 240 

 19 670 

 0.54 

 69.55 

 2.10 

 1.00 

 6.04 

 0.42 

 49.53 

 1.43 

 0.97 

 5.71 

 0.51 

 63.53 

 1.90 

 0.99 

 5.94 

 0.64 

 81.51 

 2.46 

 1.16 

 6.86 

 0.56 

 65.14 

 1.79 

 1.23 

 7.08 

 0.62 

 77.15 

 2.28 

 1.18 

 6.92 

 5 170 

 0.25 

 50.11 

 1.16 

 1.79 

 5.82 

 9 070 

 27 850 

 36 920 

 24 450 

 67 780 

 92 230 

 32 940 

 1.25 

 5.96 

 0.64 

 0.24 

 0.60 

 2.15 

 8.80 

 0.52 

 0.25 

 0.52 

 1.93 

 8.22 

 0.55 

 0.25 

 0.54 

 1.58 

 10.23 

 0.72 

 0.37 

 0.87 

 2.16 

 9.27 

 0.64 

 0.33 

 0.68 

 2.01 

 9.52 

 0.66 

 0.34 

 0.73 

 1.56 

 9.26 

 0.47 

 0.32 

 0.72 

 18 200 

 4 900 

 23 100 

 19 920 

 7 900 

 27 820 

 5 010 

 0.53 

 7.99 

 0.52 

 0.91 

 4.19 

 1 452 
 0.22 
 9.71 
 0.83 
 0.24 
 1.44 

 0.47 

 9.36

 0.40 

 0.88 

 4.13 

 523 
 0.22 
 8.30 
 0.80 
 0.23 
 1.29 

 0.52 

 8.28 

 0.49 

 0.91 

 4.18 

 1 975 
 0.22 
 9.34 
 0.82 
 0.24 
 1.40 

 0.48 

 7.65 

 0.48 

 0.83 

 3.72 

 1 980 
 0.52 
 18.19 
 1.51 
 0.42 
 2.44 

 0.42 

 6.92 

 0.40 

 0.72 

 3.66 

 870 
 0.41 
 12.87 
 1.05 
 0.37 
 2.07 

 0.46 

 7.44 

 0.46 

 0.80 

 3.70 

 2 850 
 0.49 
 16.57 
 1.37 
 0.40 
 2.33 

 0.27 

 8.45 

 0.50 

 1.41 

 3.77 

 1 310 
 0.41 
 11.59 
 0.95 
 0.36 
 1.77 

overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

Mining method Attributable  

interest to 
Glencore

Ore reserves

Proved Probable

Mineral resources

Total Measured Indicated Measured 
and  
indicated

Inferred

Staroye Tailings Dam
OC

69.6%

Shaimerden Stockpiles
69.6%
OC

KAZZINC 1, 2

Ore

Gold

Silver

'000 MT

Content, g/t

Content, g/t

Copper

Content, %

Lead

Zinc

Ore

Zinc

Content, %

Content, %

'000 MT

Content, %

– 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

– 

 – 

 2 950 

 1.13 

 11.83 

 0.04 

 0.34 

 0.74 

 2 950 

 1.13 

 11.83 

 0.04 

 0.34 

 0.74 

 2 180 

 21.60 

 2 180 

 21.60 

– 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

– 

 – 

 3 790 

 1.14 

 12.36 

 0.04 

 0.34 

 0.74 

 3 790 

 1.14 

 12.36 

 0.04 

 0.34 

 0.74 

 2 790 

 0.96 

 10.96 

 0.04 

 0.29 

 0.62 

 2 270 

 21.71 

 2 270 

 21.71 

– 

 – 

Mining method Attributable  

interest to 
Glencore

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

Dolinnoye
UG

69.6%

Obruchevskoye
UG

69.6%

Chashinskoye Tailings Dam
OC

69.6%

Tishinsky Tailings Dam
69.6%
OC

Novo-Leninogorsky
OC

34.8%

Ore reserves

Proved Probable

Mineral resources

Total Measured Indicated Measured 
and  
indicated

Inferred

Ore

Gold

Silver

Copper

Lead

Zinc

Ore

Gold

Silver

Copper

Lead

Zinc

Ore

Gold

Silver

Copper

Lead

Zinc

Ore

Gold

Silver

Copper

Lead

Zinc

Ore

Gold

Silver

Copper

Lead

Zinc

'000 MT
Content, g/t
Content, g/t
Content, %
Content, %
Content, %

'000 MT
Content, g/t
Content, g/t
Content, %
Content, %
Content, %

'000 MT
Content, g/t
Content, g/t
Content, %
Content, %
Content, %

'000 MT
Content, g/t
Content, g/t
Content, %
Content, %
Content, %

'000 MT
Content, g/t
Content, g/t
Content, %
Content, %
Content, %

 3 660 

 3.93 

 53.76 

 0.20 

 0.75 

 1.41 

 890 

 1.73 

 42.80 

 0.81 

 4.27 

 8.98 

 960 

 2.38 

 29.82 

 0.14 

 0.50 

 1.02 

 3 250 

 0.90 

 33.21 

 0.83 

 2.66 

 6.50 

 4 620 

 3.61 

 48.77 

 0.19 

 0.70 

 1.33 

 4 140 

 1.08 

 35.26 

 0.82 

 3.01 

 7.03 

 4 010 

4.47 

61.83 

 0.24 

 0.92 

 1.76 

 1 150 

 1.62 

 40.68 

 0.88 

 4.02 

 8.87 

– 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

– 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

– 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 55 500 

 55 500 

 0.67 

 5.13 

 0.05 

 0.15 

 0.38 

 0.67 

 5.13 

 0.05 

 0.15 

 0.38 

 1 100 

 1 100 

 0.38 

 5.10 

 0.23 

 0.44 

 2.25 

– 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 0.38 

 5.10 

 0.23 

 0.44 

 2.25 

– 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

– 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

– 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

– 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 3 040

2.51 

34.03 

 0.14 

 0.51

 1.01

 7 780 

 0.67 

 25.36 

 0.73 

 1.78 

 4.64 

 7 050 

 3.62 

 49.84 

 0.20 

 0.74 

 1.44 

 8 930

 0.79 

 27.34 

 0.75 

 2.07 

 5.19 

 3 830

 2.11

 29.54

 0.20 

 0.68 

 1.26 

 5 500 

 0.50 

 24.97 

 0.41 

 0.64 

 1.75 

 57 800 

 57 800 

 30 000 

 0.67 

 5.16 

 0.05 

 0.15 

 0.38 

 0.67 

 5.16 

 0.05 

 0.15 

 0.38 

 1 150 

 1 150 

 0.38 

 5.13 

 0.23 

 0.44 

 2.26 

 0.38 

 5.13 

 0.23 

 0.44 

 2.26 

– 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 0.50 

 4.57 

 0.06 

 0.19 

 0.45 

– 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

– 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 38 900 

 1.70 

 33.39 

 0.19 

 1.29 

 3.78 

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  65

¹  The information in the table above, in relation to mineral resources and ore reserves, has been estimated in accordance with the guidelines of 

the JORC Code and is dated as of 31 December 2012.

²  Remaining mine life: different for each mine, ranging from seven to 21 years. Expiry date of relevant mining/concession licences: different for 
each mine, ranging from 19 June 2013 to 7 July 2028. There is a routine licence extension procedure in Kazakhstan which Kazzinc undertakes 
as required.
3  Vasilkovskoye 

Vasilkovskoye is a gold deposit of epigenetic (stockwork) type and beresite subtype of deposits hosting ores of gold-quartz formation. Gold 
ore mineralisation is confined to a steeply dipping zone of beresite alteration (quartz-potassium feldspar metasomatosis) which forms a conic 
stockwork thinning out with depth and located in the near-contact part of granodiorite and gabbro-diorite intrusions.

4  Maleevsky 

Maleevsky is a typical syngenetic VMS deposit hosting ores of sulphide-polymetallic formation (with associated gold and silver). Maleevsky 
comprises  seven  major  (10-150m  thick,  80-400m  wide  and  500-1,750m  long)  gently  dipping  stratified  massive  sulphides  of  lenticular  and 
tabular morphology occurring in volcanogenic-sedimentary deposits changing with depth into steeply dipping linear zones with vein-dissem-
inated ore mineralisation in underlying sequences of brecciated quartzites. In terms of mineral composition the ores express the following 
vertical zoning: in the hanging wall pyrite impregnation is consecutively underlain by massive barite-galena-sphalerite, sphalerite and pyrite-
galena with barite, pyrite-chalcopyrite-sphalerite and chalcopyrite-pyrite ores in the lower part; the footwall contains pyrite vein-disseminated 
mineralisation. 
5  Ridder-Sokolny 

Ridder-Sokolny gold-polymetallic deposit is also VMS type of syngenetic deposits hosting ores of gold bearing sulphide-polymetallic formation. 
Ridder-Sokolny comprises over thirty ore bodies of lenticular, vein-stockwork and veined morphology confined to three stratigraphic levels of 
volcanogenic-sedimentary deposits. Gently dipping massive sulphide ores of the upper stratigraphic layer are mostly mined out with the main 
part of Ridder-Sokolny unmined ore bodies being small pitching and steeply dipping veins and vein-stockwork zones. The ores of the upper 
stratigraphic level are mainly gold-barite-galena-sphalerites, with gold-galena-pyrite, chalcopyrite-sphalerite-pyrite and chalcopyrite within the 
middle level and gold-quartz, pyrite and pyrite-chalcopyrite-vein-disseminated mineralisation within the lower level. 

6  Tishinsky 

The Tishinsky deposit is a syngenetic VMS deposit of Au- and Ag-bearing sulfide polymetallic ores. Tishinsky resources mainly occur in the 
Main ore shoot, which extends in EW direction over a strike length of 1,250m with almost vertical dip to the north. Originally the stratified ore 
body was flat but eventually became steep dipping due to intensive dynamic metamorphism and shearing. The mineralisation was deline-
ated by drilling along the stratified mineralised formation of strongly fissile volcanogenic carbonate-sericite-quartz shale rock to the depth 
of 1,460m. The vein-disseminated polymetallic mineralisation prevails at the deposit though the central part of the Main Orebody contains 
three  subvertical  lenses  of  massive  sulfides  with  60m  width,  500m  length  and  thickness  varying  from  6.5  to  17m.  There  are  two  prevalent 
mineral associations: A polymetallic (chalcopyrite-galena-pyrite-sphalerite) association, and (2) A copper-zinc (chalcopyrite-sphalerite-pyrite) 
association. Pb content decreases with the depth while Cu content gradually increases eastward and Au content significantly decreases at the 
western flank of the deposit. 

7  Shubinsky 

Shubinsky polymetallic deposit is a syngenetic VMS deposit hosting ores of sulphide-polymetallic formation (with associated gold and silver). 
Stratified vein-disseminated polymetallic ores in the near-contact part of volcanomictous chlorite-sericite-quartz shales with clayey siltstones 
underwent folded dislocation and occur at 65-80 dip extending down to the 580-725m depth as thin boudinaged lenses changing into sub-
vertical ore shoots. Primary sulphide mineralisation includes four associations: pyrite, chalcopyrite-pyrite, chalcopyrite-sphalerite-pyrite and 
pyrite-galena-sphalerite. Oxidised copper, lead and zinc in the form of chalcosine, covelline, bornite, goslarite and chalcanthite are found 
down to the depth of 90m. 

Competent Persons: the mineral resource and ore reserve estimates set out above were reviewed and approved by Phil Newall of Wardell Armstrong  
International. The mineral resource and ore reserve estimates have been prepared in accordance with the JORC Code. Mr Newall is a Competent Person 
as defined by the JORC Code and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and 
to the activity which he is undertaking.

66  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

 
 
 
 
 
overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

interest to 
Glencore 3

56.4%

Ore

Copper

Cobalt

Ore reserves

Proved Probable

Mineral resources

Total Measured Indicated Measured 
and  
indicated

Inferred

’000 MT
%
%

11 200 

19 400 

30 600 

30 400 

32 900 

63 300 

11 000 

3.40 

0.50 

3.70 

0.53 

3.59 

0.52 

4.36 

0.58 

4.78 

0.58 

4.58 

0.58 

5.00 

0.59 

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2 500 

2 500 

4 500 

9 400 

13 900 

5 200 

3.51 

0.56 

3.51 

0.56 

2.71 

0.54 

4.44 

0.65 

3.88 

0.61 

4.21 

0.98 

5 900 

5 900 

3.00 

0.36 

3.00 

0.36 

–

–

–

75 000 

75 000 

65 300 

1.80 

0.38 

1.80 

0.38 

0.76 

0.10 

51 900 

51 900 

2 200 

114 600 

116 800 

69 700 

4.76 

0.42 

4.76 

0.42 

4.07 

0.22 

5.42 

0.42 

5.39 

0.42 

3.58 

0.32 

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

4 100 

4 100 

4 000 

1.61 

0.79 

1.61 

0.79 

2.00 

0.98 

9 500 

9 500 

13 800 

1.89 

0.60 

1.89 

0.60 

1.75 

0.60 

KATANGA 1, 2

Mining method Attributable  

Kamoto
UG

T17
OC and UG

56.4%

Ore

’000 MT

Copper

Cobalt

%

%

Mashamba East
OC

56.4%

Ore

’000 MT

Copper

Cobalt

%

%

KOV
OC

Kananga

Tilwezembe

56.4%

Ore

’000 MT

Copper

Cobalt

%

%

56.4%

Ore

’000 MT

Copper

Cobalt

%

%

56.4%

Ore

’000 MT

Copper

Cobalt

%

%

1  As at December 31 2012. The information in the table above, in relation to mineral reserves and resources, is in compliance with the JORC 

Code and has been extracted without material adjustment from the Competent Person’s Report compiled for Katanga.

2  Remaining  life  of  mine:  expected  to  be  in  excess  of  20  years.  Expiry  date  of  relevant  permits:  7  May  2022  for  the  Kananga  Extension  and 
3 April 2024 for all remaining permits (KTO and Mashamba East Open Pit, T-17 Open Pit, KOV Open Pit, Kananga Mine), renewable in accord-
ance with the DRC mining code for a period of 15 years.

3  Glencore owns 75.2% of Katanga, which in turn owns 75% of Kamoto Copper Company SARL (‘KCC’). KCC owns the material assets, including 
the mining and exploration rights related to the mining assets. La Generale des Carrieres et des Mines and La Société Immobilière du Congo, 
which are state-owned mining companies in the DRC, own the other 25% of KCC.

With the exception of Tilwezembe, primary mineralisation, in the form of sulphides, within the Lower Roan is associated with the Stratified 
Dolomite and Silicified Rocks for the Ore Body Inferior and the Basal Schists and Upper Dolomitic Shales for the Ore Body Superior and 
is thought to be sys-sedimentary in origin. Typical primary copper sulphide minerals are bornite, chalcopyrite, chalcocite and occasional 
native  copper  while  cobalt  is  in  the  form  of  carrolite.  The  mineralisation  occurs  as  disseminations  or  in  association  with  hydrothermal  
carbonate alteration and silicification.

The  mineralisation  at  Tilwezembe  Mine  is  atypical  being  hosted  by  the  Mwashya  or  R4  Formation.  The  mineralisation  generally  occurs 
as infilling of fissures and open fractures associated with the brecciation. The typical copper minerals are mainly chalcopyrite, malachite 
and pseudomalachite while cobalt is in the form of heterogenite, carrolite and spherocobaltite. Manganese minerals are psilomelane and 
manganite.

Competent Persons: the mineral resources and ore reserve estimates set out above were reviewed and approved by Cornelius Willem Ries 
and Jacobus Lotheringen of Golder Associates. The mineral resources and ore reserve estimates have been prepared in accordance with the 
JORC Code. Mr Ries and Mr Lotheringen are Competent Persons as defined by JORC and have sufficient experience which is relevant to the 
style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  67

 
MUTANDA 1, 2

Mining method Attributable  

interest to 
Glencore

Mutanda pits
OC

60%

Stockpiles

60%

Ore reserves

Proved Probable

Mineral resources

Total Measured Indicated Measured 
and  
indicated

Inferred

Ore

Copper

Cobalt

Ore

Copper

Cobalt

’000 MT

39 100 

6 800 

45 900 

96 500 

28 400 

124 900 

166 600 

%

%

’000 MT

%

%

3.30 

0.82 

7 100 

2.30 

1.76 

3.06 

1.20 

–

–

–

3.27 

0.88 

7 100 

2.30 

1.76 

2.05 

0.64 

1.52 

0.77 

1.93 

0.67 

1.00 

0.47 

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1  As at 31 December 2012. The information in the table above, in relation to mineral reserves and resources, is in compliance with the JORC 

Code and has been extracted without material adjustment from the Competent Person’s Report compiled for Mutanda.

2  Remaining mine life: estimated in excess of 15 years. Expiry date of relevant permits: 26 May 2022 for Mutanda and 6 April 2022 for Ki-kolwezi, 

renewable in accordance with the DRC mining code for periods of 15 years.

The main copper oxide minerals present are malachite and pseudomalachite and the main cobalt mineral is heterogenite. Carollite is the main 
Cobalt Sulphide mineral.

Competent Persons: the mineral resources and ore reserve estimates set out above were reviewed and approved by Cornelius Willem Ries and 
Jacobus Lotheringen of Golder Associates. The mineral resources and ore reserve estimates have been prepared in accordance with the JORC 
Code. Mr Ries and Mr Lotheringen are Competent Persons as defined by JORC and have sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of 
mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration.

KANSUKI 1, 2

Mining method Attributable  

interest to 
Glencore

Area 3

Area 1

Area 2 East

Area 2 West

Kabwimia

37.5%

Ore

’000 MT

Copper

Cobalt

%

%

37.5%

Ore

’000 MT

Copper

Cobalt

%

%

37.5%

Ore

’000 MT

Copper

Cobalt

%

%

37.5%

Ore

’000 MT

Copper

Cobalt

%

%

37.5%

Ore

’000 MT

Copper

Cobalt

%

%

Ore reserves

Proved Probable

Mineral resources

Total Measured Indicated Measured 
and  
indicated

Inferred

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

16 700 

1.72 

0.17 

400 

0.93 

0.14 

17 100 

1.70 

0.17 

63 900 

63 900 

1.13 

0.37 

1.13 

0.37 

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

38 800 

0.44 

0.08 

48 100 

29 100 

77 200 

13 900 

0.73 

0.34 

0.51 

0.14 

0.64 

0.27 

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

0.47 

0.11 

6 200 

0.75 

0.02 

1  As at 31 December 2012. The information in the table above, in relation to mineral resources and ore reserves, is in compliance with the JORC 

Code and has been extracted without material adjustment from the Competent Person’s Report compiled for Kansuki.

2  Expiry date of relevant permit: 1 July 2022 for Kansuki, renewable in accordance with the DRC mining code for periods of 15 years.

68  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

 
overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

Drilling undertaken in Area 2 West during 2012 provided an increased level of geological knowledge and confidence in the resource, resulting 
in both an increase in the resource and a movement between resource categories.

Similar to Mutanda, the main copper oxide minerals present are malachite and pseudomalachite and the main cobalt mineral is heterogenite. 
Carollite is the main Cobalt Sulphide mineral.

Competent Person: the mineral resources estimates set out above were reviewed and approved by Cornelius Willem Ries of Golder Associates. 
The mineral resources estimates have been prepared in accordance with the JORC Code. Mr Ries is a Competent Person as defined by JORC 
and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration.

MOPANI 1, 2

Mining method Attributable  

interest to 
Glencore

Ore reserves

Proved Probable

Mineral resources

Total Measured Indicated Measured 
and  
indicated

Inferred

Nkana Sulphides
UG

Nkana Oxides
OC and UG

73.1%

Ore

’000 MT

94 400 

17 800 

112 200 

140 100 

42 200 

182 300 

38 200 

Copper

Cobalt

%

%

1.88 

0.09 

1.84 

0.11 

1.88 

0.09 

2.01 

0.11 

1.79 

0.12 

1.96 

0.11 

1.66 

0.11 

73.1%

Ore

’000 MT

2 200 

5 400 

7 600 

8 600 

7 400 

16 000 

1 100 

Total copper %

Acid soluble 
copper

Cobalt

%

%

3.30 

2.27 

0.73 

0.49 

1.46 

0.99 

2.85 

1.95 

1.00 

0.66 

1.99 

1.35 

1.26 

0.86 

0.14 

0.07 

0.09 

0.12 

0.07 

0.10 

0.07 

Mufulira Sulphides
UG

73.1%

Ore

’000 MT

Copper

%

12 800 

2.15 

3 600 

2.21 

16 400 

21 500 

2.16 

2.48 

8 700 

2.62 

30 200 

35 700 

2.52 

2.52 

Mufulira Oxides
UG

73.1%

Ore

’000 MT

Total copper %

Acid soluble 
copper

%

Mufulira Surface
OC

73.1%

Ore

’000 MT

Total copper %

Acid soluble 
copper

%

2 000 

1.38 

0.90 

300 

1.25 

0.65 

2 300 

1.36 

0.87 

4 500 

2 000 

6 500 

1 200 

1.58 

1.01 

1.37 

0.79 

1.52 

0.94 

1.53 

0.93 

–

– 

– 

– 

–

– 

– 

– 

– 

3 000 

1 800 

4 800 

1 300 

1.81 

0.50

1.80 

0.48 

1.81 

0.49 

1.76 

0.39 

1  As at 31 December 2012. The information in the table above, in relation to mineral reserves and resources, is in compliance with the JORC 

Code and has been extracted without material adjustment from the Competent Person’s Report compiled for Mopani.

2  Remaining life of mine: 26 years for Nkana and twelve years for Mufulira. Expiry date of relevant mining/concession licences: 31 March 2025 

for both of these mines.

Within the Nkana mining area there are four underground mines and a series of open pits with only one being operational (Area J). All open pits 
and Mindola Mines operations are situated on the eastern limb of the Nkana Syncline. Central and SOB operations are in other structures within 
the Nkana Syncline. Cupriferous Oxide zones are present in the nose and southwest limb of the syncline. The ore bodies are stratiform and are 
mainly confined to a recognisable ore formation, which occurs near the base of the Katangan sequence within the Lower Roan Group of the 
Mine Series. In the underground workings, the principal copper ore minerals are chalcopyrite and bornite with subordinate chalcocite. There is 
a zoning in the geographical distribution of these minerals. Cobalt occurs as carrollite and cobaltiferious pyrite. In the open pits, the principal 
ore minerals are malachite, pseudomalchite, chrysocolla, native copper, cuprite and libethenite in the zone of oxidation closer to the surface. In 
some places however, vermiculite, malachite pseudomalachite and accessory wad are more important. At deeper levels chalcopyrite, bornite 
and chalcocite are predominantly present.

In the Mufulira mining area, the Basement Complex topography appears to have exerted a significant structural control during deformation. 
The distribution of ore minerals in all three ore bodies is stratigraphically controlled, occurring dominantly as disseminations, blebs and irregu-
lar masses. The principal copper minerals are chalcopyrite (60%), bornite (40%), and minor/trace chalcocite. Oxide minerals are confined to near 
surface occurrences, and supergene enrichment zones. Generally the deposit is structurally simple being characterised by three main folds that 
are in part overturned with a plunge and dip approximately 10º the northeast. The basin is open and untested at depth.

Competent Persons: the mineral resources and ore reserve estimates set out above were reviewed and approved by Cornelius Willem Ries 
and Jacobus Lotheringen of Golder Associates. The reserve and resources estimates have been prepared in accordance with the JORC Code.  
Mr  Ries  and  Mr  Lotheringen  are  Competent  Persons  as  defined  by  JORC  and  have  sufficient  experience  which  is  relevant  to  the  style  of 
mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which they are undertaking. 

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  69

 
 
LOS QUENUALES 1, 2

Mining method Attributable  

interest to 
Glencore

Iscaycruz 3
UG/OC

97.6%

Yauliyacu 4
UG

97.6%

Ore reserves

Proved Probable

Mineral resources

Total Measured Indicated Measured 
and  
indicated

Inferred

Ore

Zinc

Lead

Copper

Silver

Ore

Zinc

Lead

Copper

Silver

’000 MT

 1 449 

 4 165 

 5 614 

%

%

%

g/t

9.21

0.44

0.24

5.83

0.53

0.25

6.70

0.51

0.24

14.34

27.76

24.29

 1 663 

10.80

0.50

0.29

16.58

 4 682 

 6 345 

 9 710 

6.18

0.55

0.36

7.39

0.54

0.34

4.44

0.35

0.62

30.01

26.49

22.75

’000 MT

 1 066 

 2 917 

 3 983 

 1 727 

 8 062 

 9 789 

 12 754 

%

%

%

g/t

2.12

0.89

0.22

2.14

0.90

0.20

2.13

0.90

0.20

3.57

1.24

0.37

3.61

1.48

0.39

3.60

1.44

0.39

3.52

1.33

0.36

96.04

99.96

98.91

145.52

204.50

194.10

178.23

1  As at 31 December 2012.
2  Remaining mine life: the expected life of Iscaycruz is four years based on reserves and twelve years based on resources. The expected life of 
Yauliyacu is three years based on reserves and 17 years based on resources. Expiry date of relevant mining/concession licences: permanent. 
Iscaycruz shows a +100% increase in the reserve year on year due to the approval of the community surface access agreement for Santa Este 
and the conversion of the indicated resource to a probable reserve.

3  Iscaycruz 

Zinc, lead and copper mineralisation are exposed as subvertical massive sulphide ore bodies; described as skarn, breccias and carbonate 
replacement type along 12km corridor hosted in clay-rich limestone and dolomite rocks. Hydrothermal mineralisation assemblages are mainly 
composed of sphalerite, galena, pyrite, chalcopyrite distributed in five production zones named Limpe Centro, Chupa, Tinyag II, Tinyag I and 
Santa Este from North to South. 

4  Yauliyacu  

Main mineralisation occurs as sphalerite, galena, tetrahedrite and chalcopyrite in 60° to 80° northwest dipping narrow veins, stockwork and 
minor  replacement  massive  ore  bodies  exposed  in  about  five  kilometers  length  extension  and  +2  km  depth  extension.  This  hydrothermal 
mineralisation is strongly structurally controlled and hosted in folded rock units as calcareous sandstones (red beds), conglomerates, volcanic 
tuffs, andesites and limestones.

Competent Person: the mineral resources and ore reserve estimates set out above were reviewed and approved by Glencore Competent Person, 
Chris Emerson, and have been prepared in accordance with the JORC Code. Mr Emerson is a Competent Person as defined by the JORC Code.  
Mr Emerson is a fellow of the Geological Society of London and a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and has more 
than ten years experience in underground polymetallic deposits, predominantly in Latin America.

70  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

SINCHI WAYRA 1, 2

Ore reserves

Mineral resources

Mining method Attributable  

Commodity Unit

Proved Probable

Total Measured Indicated Measured 
and  
indicated

Inferred

interest to 
Glencore

50%

100%

100%

Bolivar
UG

Porco
UG

Poopo
UG

Caballo Blanco
UG

100%

Ore
Zinc
Lead
Silver

Ore
Zinc
Lead
Silver

Ore
Zinc
Lead
Silver

Ore
Zinc
Lead
Silver

’000 MT
%
%
g/t

’000 MT
%
%
g/t

’000 MT
%
%
g/t

’000 MT
%
%
g/t

 194 
7.78
1.10
204.07

 109 
7.06
0.40
123.61

 48 
5.18
0.14
77.76

 32 
9.00
0.39
61.45

 423 
7.44
1.05
230.32

 658 
6.60
0.43
95.53

 173 
6.15
0.39
137.51

 378 
7.12
2.01
151.79

 617 
7.54
1.07
222.07

 767 
6.66
0.42
99.52

 221 
5.94
0.33
124.53

 410 
7.27
1.88
144.74

 815 
9.52
1.27
290.15

 682 
8.53
0.51
108.52

 251 
6.86
0.35
138.60

 423 
8.81
2.28
176.06

 677 
9.49
0.84
301.34

 438 
9.15
0.74
120.67

 400 
5.93
0.49
213.32

 446 
8.55
2.29
189.65

 1 492 
9.51
1.07
295.23

 1 120 
8.77
0.60
113.27

 651 
6.29
0.44
184.51

 869 
8.68
2.29
183.03

 2 306 
8.12
0.69
274.37

 1 218 
8.53
0.80
84.54

 1 730 
5.21
0.49
217.12

 1 339 
7.24
1.78
156.16

1 As at 31 December 2012.
2  Remaining mine life: the expected life of the mines as a group, considering current production capacities, is an average of two years based on 
reserves and ten years based on resources. Expiry date of relevant mining concessions/authorisations or contracts is different for each mine: 
Porco – June 2014 (lease agreement entered into in 1999), Poopo – January 2027 (lease agreement with a local co-operative entered into in 
2002), Bolivar – May 2023 (joint venture agreement entered into in 1993) and permanent in respect of Caballo Blanco. Exploration drilling in 
the Poopo mine has resulted in the addition of 0.9 million metric tonnes of additional inferred resource base over 2011. The Colquiri mine was 
nationalised on 22 June 2012 and is no longer reported in Sinchi Wayra’s reserves and resources.

According to the new Bolivian Constitution enacted in 2009, natural resources belong to the Bolivian people. The Bolivian State can enter into 
mining contracts with private investors to operate them. As with all private investors in Bolivia, Sinchi Wayra does not hold property rights over 
mining resources in the country, but holds the right to exploit them pursuant to Bolivian legislation. 

The majority of the deposits within the Sinichi Wayra portfolio are epigenetic-hydrothermal base metal type vein and fault filled mineralisation 
hosted within a variety of lithologies from volcanic tuffs to sedimentary packages. The main mineral assemblages are composed of sphalerite, 
marmatite, galena, silver rich galena and silver sulfosalts. The resources are usually based on multiple structures with Porco containing over 
100 different veins. The typical dimensions of these structures is +500m in length and +450m depth profile with mineralisation open at depth; 
average vein widths from 0.2-4.0m.

Competent Person: the mineral resources and ore reserve estimates set out above were reviewed and approved by Glencore Competent Person, 
Chris Emerson, and have been prepared in accordance with the JORC Code. Mr Emerson is a Competent Person as defined by the JORC Code.  
Mr Emerson is a fellow of the Geological Society of London and a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and has more 
than ten years experience in underground polymetallic deposits, predominantly in Latin America.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  71

 
AR ZINC 1, 2

Mining method Attributable  

interest to 
Glencore

100%

Aguilar
UG/OC

Ore reserves

Proved Probable

Mineral resources

Total Measured Indicated Measured 
and  
indicated

Inferred

Ore

Zinc

Lead

Silver

’000 MT
%
%
g/t

 2 741 

6.61

7.95

 982 

6.77

8.23

 3 723 

 4 281 

 1 070 

 5 351 

 1 072 

6.65

8.02

5.79

6.53

7.32

8.73

6.10

6.97

8.61

9.74

169.78

174.40

171.00

149.05

186.51

156.54

197.79

1  As at 31 December 2012. 
2  Remaining mine life: approximately six years based on reserves and nine years based on resources. AR Zinc plans to continue exploration with 
the aim of extending the life of mine. Expiry date of relevant mining/concession licences: permanent. The resource tonnage has remained at 
the same levels with continued exploration replacing the 2012 production. An extensive sampling programme has enabled a large portion of 
indicated resource to be converted to measured and subsequently increase the proved reserve.

Mineralisation is classified as sedex type with sulphide layers in between siliciclastic and shale rocks with a post secondary metasomatic over 
print  between  two  intrusive  stocks.  Galena-rich,  sphalerite,  marmatite  pyrite  ore  bodies  as  lenses  shape,  locally  brittle-style  hydrothermal 
breccias, minor veinlets-stockworks and dissemination defines the economic portion of mineral inventories. Strike length extension of mineral 
geometries is variable and reaches up to 300m on North-South extension, about 55m width and reaches up to 160m in depth.  

Competent Person: the mineral resources and ore reserve estimates set out above were reviewed and approved by Glencore Competent Person, 
Chris Emerson, and have been prepared in accordance with the JORC Code. Mr Emerson is a Competent Person as defined by the JORC Code.  
Mr Emerson is a fellow of the Geological Society of London and a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and has more 
than ten years experience in underground polymetallic deposits, predominantly in Latin America.

COBAR 1, 2

Mining method Attributable  

interest to 
Glencore

100%

Cobar
UG

Ore reserves

Proved Probable

Mineral resources

Total Measured Indicated Measured 
and  
indicated

Inferred

Ore

Copper

Silver

’000 MT

 2 606 

 3 395 

 6 001 

 2 257 

 3 181 

 5 438 

 5 974 

%

g/t

4.78

 17.8 

4.40

 18.4 

4.56

 18.1 

6.11

 22.0 

5.87

 26.0 

5.97

24.3

5.79

 21.0 

1  As at 31 December 2012.
2  Remaining  mine  life:  current  expected  life  of  mine  is  approximately  five  years  based  on  reserves  and  approximately  10  years  based  on  
resources, although Cobar has previously been able to extend its expected life of mine through exploratory drilling in the area covered by its 
concession. Expiry date of relevant mining/concession licences: 5 December 2028.

Economic mineralisation at Cobar occurs mostly as narrow lenses with short strike lengths that are depth extensive. Lenses consist of vein or 
semi massive to massive chalcopyrite hosted by sub-vertical quartz-chlorite shear zones within a siltstone unit. The Cobar mineral resource is 
reported within four ‘systems’: Western, Eastern, QTS North and QTS South. 

Competent  Person:  the  ore  reserves  estimates  set  out  above  were  reviewed  and  approved  by  Glencore  Competent  Person,  Aaron  
Nankivell. The mineral resources estimates set out above were reviewed and approved by Glencore Competent Person, Jason Hosken. The  
ore reserves and mineral resources estimates have been prepared in accordance with the JORC Code. Mr Nankivell has been a member of the  
Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy since 2011 and has more than seven years of experience in underground polymetallic deposits 
in Australia. Mr Hosken has been a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy for more than 13 years and has more than 
17 years of experience in underground polymetallic deposits in Australia.

72  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

PUNITAQUI 1, 2

Mining method Attributable  

interest to 
Glencore

Punitaqui
UG

100%

Ore reserves

Proved Probable

Mineral resources

Total Measured Indicated Measured 
and  
indicated

Inferred

Ore

Copper

Silver

’000 MT

 1 891 

 1 510 

 3 401 

 3 734 

 3 311 

 7 045 

 2 081 

%

g/t

1.47

8.85

1.37

5.78

1.43

7.49

1.41

6.05

1.24

4.05

1.33

5.11

1.42

3.03

1  As at 31 December 2012.
2  Remaining mine life: approximately three and a half years based on reserves and nine years based on resources. Punitaqui plans to continue 
exploration with the aim of extending the life of mine. Expiry date of relevant mining/concession licences: permanent. The total resource for 
the Punitaqui mine has increased by two million metric tonnes due to the inclusion of the Dalmacia satellite deposit.

Several epigenetic stratabound copper mineralisation (manto type) bodies with variable thicknesses between 20 to 40m are distributed along 
900m strike length mineralised corridor named Cinabrio zone. Mineralisation is composed of crisocole, brochantite and malaquite in upper  
oxide levels turning into a mixed zone composed of malaquite, crisocole and chalcopyrite. Main sulphide zones are composed of pyrite, bornite 
and chalcopyrite. All mineralisation is distributed in calcareous shales also within minor pre-existing faults. 

Competent Person: the mineral resources and ore reserve estimates set out above were reviewed and approved by Glencore Competent Person, 
Chris Emerson, and have been prepared in accordance with the JORC Code. Mr Emerson is a Competent Person as defined by the JORC Code.  
Mr Emerson is a fellow of the Geological Society of London and a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and has more 
than ten years experience in underground polymetallic deposits, predominantly in Latin America.

PERKOA 1, 2

Mining method Attributable  

interest to 
Glencore

50.1%

Perkoa
UG/OC

Ore reserves

Proved Probable

Mineral resources

Total Measured Indicated Measured 
and  
indicated

Inferred

Ore

Zinc

Lead

Silver

’000 MT

%

%

g/t

–

–

–

–

 6 300 

13.90

 6 300 

13.90

–

–

–

–

 1 400 

13.08

0.09

 38.4 

 5 660 

10.48

0.18

 57.9 

 7 060 

11.00

0.16

54.0

 5 010 

 9.14 

 0.17 

 54.2 

1  As at 31 December 2012 for 100% of the Perkoa Project. Reserve information produced July 2009, Resource information produced June 2012.
2  Remaining  mine  life:  current  expected  life  of  mine  is  approximately  9.5  years  based  on  reserves  and  approximately  12.1  years  based  on  

resources. Expiry date of relevant mining/concession licences: 20 March 2027.

The information in the table above in relation to resources and reserves is in compliance with the JORC Code.

Economic mineralisation at Perkoa occurs mainly as volcanic massive sulfide lenses of sphalerite, galena, pyrite, and pyrrhotite. These massive 
sulphide lenses vary in width from 1m to 30m thick in places. These massive sulfide lenses dip at an average of 75°, striking NorthEast – South-
West and consist of two main ore bodies. Igneous intrusives have also caused endothermic and exothermic skarn like disseminated mineralisa-
tion of remobilised galena, pyrite, and to a lesser extent pyrrhotite and sphalerite. 

Competent Person: The ore reserves estimates set out above were reviewed and approved by Mr John Miles. The mineral resources estimates 
set out above were reviewed and approved by Mr Danny Kentwell. Both Mr Miles and Mr Kentwell are Members of the Institute of Materials, 
Minerals and Mining which is a ‘Recognised Overseas Professional Organisation’ (‘ROPO’), and both have sufficient experience which is relevant 
to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which they are undertaking to qualify as Competent 
Persons as defined in the JORC Code. Mr Kentwell is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and is a Principal Consultant 
of SRK Consulting (Australasia) Pty Ltd. Mr Miles is a Principal Associate of SRK Consulting (UK).

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  73

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ROSH PINAH 1, 2

Mining method Attributable  

interest to 
Glencore

80.08%

Rosh Pinah
UG

Ore reserves

Proved Probable

Mineral resources

Total Measured Indicated Measured 
and  
indicated

Inferred

Ore

Zinc

Lead

Silver

’000 MT

 2 268 

 1 962 

 4 230 

 3 711 

 4 488 

 8 199 

 7 707 

%

%

g/t

8.46

1.89

 34.1 

7.29

2.43

 34.3 

7.91

2.14

 34.2 

8.44

1.95

 52.2 

6.73

2.33

 45.4 

7.50

2.16

48.5

7.92

1.12

 32.1 

1  As at 31 December 2012.
2  Remaining mine life: expected life of mine is 6.2 years based on reserves. Rosh Pinah has previously been able to extend its expected life of 
mine through exploratory drilling in the area covered by its concession. Potential Life of Mine based on resources and expected continuity of 
mineralisation is 20.2 years. The expiry date of ML 39+AW (Mining Licence and Accessory Works) is 11 February 2020.

Mineralisation style: Sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX) type Zinc and lead sulphide ores are contained within the so-called Ore Equivalent Hori-
zon, a stratiform horizon that is extensively folded, resulting in discreet, subvertical ore bodies that vary in size from 0.4– 2.0 million tonnes. 

Competent Persons: The mineral resources estimates have been reviewed and approved by Eric Mouton, Technical Service Manager, employed 
on a full time basis by Rosh Pinah Zinc Corporation, a Professional Natural Scientist affiliated to the South African Council for Natural Scientific 
Professions (‘SACNASP’). Eric Mouton has twelve years of experience in the style of mineralisation of the Rosh Pinah deposit. The ore reserve 
estimates were compiled by Phil Crowther, Long term Planning Consultant employed on a part-time basis with Rosh Pinah Zinc Corporation and 
a South African Council for Professional Land Surveyors and Technical Surveyors (‘PLATO’) affiliated professional. Phil Crowther has 21 years 
of experience in the type of deposit being mined as well as the mining method. The resources and reserve estimates have been prepared in 
accordance with the SAMREC Code.

MURRIN MURRIN 1, 2

Mining method Attributable  

Proved3 Probable

Total Measured3

Ore reserves

Mineral resources

Indicated Measured 
and  
indicated

Inferred

interest to 
Glencore

Murrin Murrin
OC

100%

Ore

Nickel

Cobalt

Nickel Cut 
Off Grade

’000 MT
Content, % 4
Content, % 4
%

 153 814 

 34 378 

 188 192 

 183 448 

 73 932 

 257 380 

 10 827 

 0.98 

 0.069 

 0.98 

 0.071 

 0.98 

0.069

 0.99 

 0.070 

 0.8 

 0.99 

 0.078 

 0.8 

 0.99 

 0.072

 0.94 

 0.057 

 0.8 

1  As at 31 December 2012. The position has been determined using survey information as at 31 October 2012 with adjustments applied for  
November  actuals  and  December  forecast  performance.  The  above  Resources  and  Reserves  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with  the 
JORC Code.

2  Remaining mine life: at the forecast throughput capacity of 4.0 million tonnes per annum, the project’s operating life is in excess of 30 years. 
Expiry dates for relevant tenements differ for each tenement and range from 2013 to 2032. The Murrin Murrin 31 December 2012 Ore Reserve 
estimate is based on the optimised Base Case pit shells for Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources. 

3  Includes scats and stockpiles.
4  Ore Reserve grades have been subject to the application of grade modifying factors. These have been derived from analysis of the previous 
two years mine-to-mill grade performance and result in grade modifying factors of 94% and 88% for nickel and cobalt respectively. The estimated 
Ore Reserve tonnage has had the depletion of 0.6 Mt taken out of the Proved category for Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources.

Competent  Persons:  The  information  in  this  report  relating  to  mineral  resources  is  based  on  information  compiled  by  Mr  Rob  Embry  (drill  
design, drilling, assay compilation and assay QA/QC) and Mr Stephen King (geostatistical analysis, modelling/estimation and resource clas-
sification), the information relating to ore reserves is based on information compiled by Ms Kellie Gill and the information relating to Metal-
lurgical Results is based on information compiled by Mr Bradley Adamson. Mr Embry, Mr King, Ms Gill and Mr Adamson are all Members of the  
Australasian  Institute  of  Mining  and  Metallurgy  and  are  all  full  time  employees  of  Minara  Resources  Ltd.  Mr  Embry,  Mr  King,  Ms  Gill  and  
Mr Adamson all have sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the 
activity which they are undertaking in order to qualify as Competent Persons as defined in the JORC Code and all consent to the inclusion in 
this report of the matters based on their information in the form and context in which it appears.

74  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

 
 
 
overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

ENERgy PROduCTS

EQUATORIAL GUINEA

Aseng field 3, 4
Alen field 5

Reserves (MMstb)

Gross field 1
2P

1P

75

47

84

72

Glencore working interest 2

1P

18

12

2P

20

18

3P

23

25

3P

98

101

1  As at 31 December 2012. The reserves information set out above were reviewed and approved by Gaffney, Cline & Associates (‘GCA’), has 
been prepared in accordance with the Petroleum Resources Management System (PRMS) and has been extracted without material adjustment 
from the GCA Report.

2  Glencore working interest in Block O is 25 per cent and Glencore working interest in Block I is 23.75 per cent.
3  Includes oil and condensate.
4 Aseng is in Block I. 
5 Alen is 95% in Block O and 5% in Block I. 

EQUATORIAL GUINEA

Liquids (MMstb) 3
Gas (Bscf)

Contingent Resources 1

Gross field

Glencore working interest 2

1C

39

2C

65

1 707

2 469

3C

99

3 376

1C

10

415

2C

16

601

3C

24

820

1  As at 31 December 2012. The resources information set out above were reviewed and approved by Gaffney, Cline & Associates (‘GCA’), has 
been prepared in accordance with PRMS and has been extracted without material adjustment from the GCA Report, save for the aggregation, 
which has been performed by Glencore.

2  Glencore working interest in Block O is 25 per cent and Glencore working interest in Block I is 23.75 per cent.
3  Includes oil and condensate.

EQUATORIAL GUINEA

Liquids (MMstb) 3
Gas (Bscf)

Prospective Resources (Unrisked) 1

Gross

Glencore working interest 2

P90

P50

P10

P90

P50

P10

65

451

176

1 039

338

1 767

16

111

42

254

81

432

1  As at 31 December 2012. The resources information set out above were reviewed and approved by Gaffney, Cline & Associates (‘GCA’), has 
been prepared in accordance with PRMS and has been extracted without material adjustment from the GCA Report, save for the aggregation, 
which has been performed by Glencore.

2  Glencore working interest in Block O is 25 per cent and Glencore working interest in Block I is 23.75 per cent.
³ Includes oil and condensate.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  75

 
 
 
PRODECO 1

Mining 
method

Attributable  
interest to 
Glencore

Calenturitas 2
OC

100%

Commodity Unit

Measured Indicated Inferred

Proved Probable

Proved Probable

Total 

Coal resources

Coal reserves

Marketable coal reserves 

Thermal coal

’000 MT

 160 000 

 190 000 

 60 000 

 107 100 

 101 000 

 107 000 

 101 000 

 208 000 

CV

kcal/kg

 6 400 

 6 300 

 6 200 

 6 250 

 6 150 

 6 250 

 6 150 

6 200

La Jagua 3
OC

100%

Thermal coal

’000 MT

 100 000 

 20 000 

CV

kcal/kg

 7 100 

 7 100 

– 

– 

 92 000 

 22 000 

 92 000 

 22 000 

 114 000 

 6 750 

 6 650 

 6 750 

 6 650 

 6 700 

1  As at 31 December 2012.
2 Remaining mine life: expected to be 20 years. Expiry date of relevant mining/concession licenses: 2035.
3  Remaining mine life: expected to be 18 years. Expiry date of relevant mining/concession licenses: Carbones El Tesoro and Carbones de La 
Jagua expiring between 2027 and 2038, and Consorcio Minero Unido expiring in 2014 with renewal considered probable due to the fact that 
the integrated La Jagua mine plan has already been approved.

Coal  reserves  and  resources  reported  in  accordance  with  the  JORC  Code.  Tonnes  and  quality  are  reported  at  in  situ  moisture  basis  for  coal  
resources and as received basis for coal reserves. Coal resource tonnages were estimated within a ‘geoshell’ defined by the limits of geological 
information within the geological model. As a result, there is minimal extrapolation of resources beyond the areal and vertical limits of the data.

Competent  Persons:  Mr  Grant  Walker  of  Xenith  Consulting  and  Mr  Kerry  Whitby  of  McElroy  Bryan  Geological  Services  are  each  Competent  
Persons as defined by JORC and have sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to 
the activity which they are undertaking. The coal reserve and coal resource estimates set out above were reviewed and approved for publication 
by Mr Walker and Mr Whitby respectively.

SHANDUKA 1, 2

Coal resources

Extractable coal
reserves

Saleable coal reserves 

Commodity Unit

Measured Indicated Inferred

Proved Probable

Proved Probable

Attributable  
interest to 
Glencore

Mining 
method

Graspan
OC

Townlands
OC

Steelcoal
OC

49.99%

Thermal coal

’000 MT

CV

kcal/kg

49.99%

Thermal coal

’000 MT

CV

kcal/kg

49.99%

Thermal coal

’000 MT

CV

kcal/kg

Lakeside Opencut
49.99%
OC

Lakeside Underground
UG

49.99%

Leeuwfontein
OC

49.99%

Springlake Opencut
OC

49.99%

Springlake Underground
UG

49.99%

Thermal coal

’000 MT

CV

kcal/kg

Thermal coal

’000 MT

CV

kcal/kg

Thermal coal

’000 MT

CV

kcal/kg

Thermal coal

’000 MT

CV

kcal/kg

76  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

 16 477 

 5 340 

 19 419 

 4 860 

 10 542 

 4 637 

 1 680 

 4 652 

 3 470 

 4 430 

 5 260 

 4 621 

 1 151 

 6 091 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 13 683 

 5 340 

 17 355 

 4 860 

 9 866 

 4 637 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 982 

 6 091 

Total 
saleable

 9 966 

6 300

 12 051 

5 600

 6 995 

5 600

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

656 

6 800

 8 277 

6 800

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 9 966 

6 300

 12 051

5 600

 6 995 

5 600

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

656 

6 800

 8 277 

6 800

 – 

–

 – 

–

 – 

–

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

–

–

–

–

Thermal coal

’000 MT

 17 562 

 10 196 

CV

kcal/kg

 6 306 

 6 306 

 6 419 

 6 306 

 16 916 

 6 306 

 
Mining 
method

Argent
OC

overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

Coal resources

Extractable coal
reserves

Saleable coal reserves 

Commodity Unit

Measured Indicated Inferred

Proved Probable

Proved Probable

Total 
saleable

Attributable  
interest to 
Glencore

49.99%

Thermal coal

’000 MT

kcal/kg

 29 125 

 6 056 

CV
Springboklaagte Opencut 3
OC

49.99%

Thermal coal

CV

Springboklaagte Underground 3
49.99%
UG

Thermal coal

CV

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

’000 MT

kcal/kg

 13 249 

 5 182 

’000 MT

kcal/kg

 66 561 

 103 930 

 4 886 

 4 886 

 5 530 

 4 886 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 24 830 

 6 056 

 3 350 

 5 182 

 44 608 

 4 886 

–

–

–

–

–

–

 24 830 

 24 830 

6 000

6 000

 2 445 

 2 445 

6 000

6 000

 32 563 

 32 563 

6 000

6 000

1  As at 31 December 2012.
2  Remaining mine life: individual mining operations have expected lives ranging from three to twelve years, based on their reserves. However, 
the Springboklaagte deposit extends Shanduka’s expected life by approximately 20 to 25 years. Expiry date of relevant mining/concession 
licenses: different for each mine, ranging from October 2015 to March 2027 in respect of Graspan, Townlands, Steelcoal reserve, Lakeside 
and Springlake. Leeuwfontein is still what is known as an ‘old order right’ or mining license, with applications pending for conversion into a 
‘new order right’ or mining license (only upon conversion will the expiry date be known). Springboklaagte is still a prospecting right, which 
are granted for five year periods and are renewable for a further three year period. The main prospecting right expired on 3 August 2011 and 
an application for the renewal of the prospecting right was lodged on 3 June 2011. Further to this an application for a mining right was also 
lodged in April 2011. Argent has a prospecting right valid until 29 June 2013.

3  Springboklaagte is held as a Joint Venture between Shanduka and Umcebo, 100% of the Springboklaagte reserves and resources is included 

in the table above and also presented in the Umcebo table.

Competent Persons: the mineral resource estimates set out above were compiled and approved by Karin van der Merwe (MSc Geochemistry; 
GSSA 965 295) and the mineral reserve estimates set out above were compiled and approved by Mark Cunney (BEng Hons Mining Engineering, 
MCC; Pr Cert ENg 2007 0114), both of whom are employed by Shanduka Coal (Pty) Ltd. The reserves and resources estimates have been prepared 
in accordance with the SAMREC Code. Both are Competent Persons as defined by SAMREC and each have sufficient experience (16 years each 
respectively) which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which they are undertaking.

Commodity Unit

Measured Indicated Inferred

Proved Probable

Proved Probable

Coal resources

Extractable coal
reserves

Saleable coal reserves 

UMCEBO 1, 2

Mining 
method

Attributable  
interest to 
Glencore

Middelkraal
OC

43.66%

Kleinfontein
OC

43.66%

Klippan Opencut
OC

43.66%

Klippan Underground
UG

43.66%

Kleinfontein Jicama
43.66%
OC

Thermal coal

’000 MT

CV

kcal/kg

 13 265 

 4 544 

Thermal coal

’000 MT

CV

kcal/kg

 1 583 

 5 230 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

Thermal coal

’000 MT

CV

kcal/kg

 3 071 

 5 815 

 600 

 5 815 

Thermal coal

’000 MT

CV

kcal/kg

 1 198 

 5 803 

Thermal coal

’000 MT

CV

kcal/kg

 12 700 

 5 182 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 5 638 

 5 182 

 11 093 

 4 544 

 1 145 

 5 230 

 694 

 5 815 

 531 

 5 803 

 1 908 

 5 182 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 45 788 

 5 571 

 544 

 5 571 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 9 756 

5 000

 686 

5 600

 486 

6 300

 385 

6 300

 1 427 

6 300

 35 155 

6 300

 423 

6 300

 – 

–

 – 

–

 – 

–

 – 

–

 – 

–

 – 

–

 – 

–

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

Wonderfontein Opencast
OC

43.66%

Thermal coal

CV

Wonderfontein Underground
43.66%
UG

Thermal coal

CV

’000 MT

kcal/kg

 63 118 

 5 571 

’000 MT

kcal/kg

 35 180 

 5 571 

Total 
saleable

 9 756 

5 000

 686 

5 600

 486 

6 300

 385 

6 300

 1 427 

6 300

 35 155 

6 300

 423 

6 300

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  77

 
Commodity Unit

Measured Indicated Inferred

Proved Probable

Proved Probable

Attributable  
interest to 
Glencore

Coal resources

Extractable coal
reserves

Saleable coal reserves 

Mining 
method

Norwesco
OC

Doornrug
OC

Hendrina
UG

Belfast
UG

43.66%

Thermal coal

’000 MT

CV

kcal/kg

43.66%

Thermal coal

’000 MT

CV

kcal/kg

 792 

 4 991 

 4 000 

 5 015 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

43.66%

Thermal coal

’000 MT

 177 000 

 181 600 

CV

kcal/kg

 4 239 

 4 239 

21.83%

Thermal coal

’000 MT

 107 710 

kcal/kg

 5 110 

’000 MT

kcal/kg

 13 249 

 5 182 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 8 500 

 4 239 

 6 640 

 5 110 

 – 

 – 

’000 MT

kcal/kg

 66 561 

 103 930 

 4 886 

 4 886 

 5 530 

 4 886 

CV
Springboklaagte Opencut 3
OC

43.66%

Thermal coal

CV

Springboklaagte Underground 3
43.66%
UG

Thermal coal

CV

 300 

 4 991 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 3 350 

 5 182 

 44 608 

 4 886 

 195 

5 600

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

–

 – 

–

Total 
saleable

 195 

5 600

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

–

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 2 445 

 6 000

 2 445 

 6 000

 32 563 

 32 563 

 6 000

 6 000

1  As at 31 December 2012.
2  Remaining mine life: individual mining operations have expected lives ranging up to ten years, based on their reserves. However, the Spring-
boklaagte deposit extends Umcebo’s expected life by approximately 20 to 25 years. Expiry date of relevant mining/concession licenses: dif-
ferent for each mine, ranging from October 2015 to December 2021 in respect of Middelkraal, Kleinfontein, Klippan and Doornrug. Norwesco 
mining right lapsed on 28 September 2011, however a renewal has been lodged. Springboklaagte is still a prospecting right, which are granted 
for five year periods and are renewable for a further three year period. The main prospecting right expired on 3 August 2011 and an applica-
tion for the renewal of the prospecting right was lodged on 3 June 2011. Further to this an application for a mining right was also lodged 
in April 2011. Wonderfontein prospecting right lapsed on 17 November 2011 however a renewal was lodged on 28 July 2011. A mining right  
application has been submitted and was granted in February 2012, but is not yet executed.

3  Springboklaagte is held as a Joint Venture between Shanduka and Umcebo. 100% of the Springboklaagte reserves and resources is included 

in the table above and also presented in the Shanduka table.

Competent Persons: the mineral resource estimates set out above were compiled and approved by Gerrit Cronjé (BSc Hons Geology; Pr Sc Nat 
400128/86) and the mineral reserve estimates set out above were compiled and approved by Thys de Bruin (BEng Mining Engineering, MCC; Pr 
Cert Eng 2008 900 31), both of whom are employed by Shanduka Coal (Pty) Ltd. The reserves and resources estimates have been prepared in 
accordance with the SAMREC Code. Both are Competent Persons as defined by SAMREC and each have sufficient experience (34 and 17 years re-
spectively) which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which they are undertaking.

OPTIMUM 1, 2

Mining 
method

Overvaal
UG

Vlakfontein
OC

Coal resources

Extractable coal
reserves

Saleable coal reserves 

Commodity Unit

Measured Indicated Inferred

Proved Probable

Proved Probable

Total 
saleable

Attributable  
interest to 
Glencore

67.01%

Thermal coal

’000 MT

 23 490 

 21 120 

 28 470 

 3 980 

 15 730 

 2 360 

 8 736 

11 096 

CV

kcal/kg

 6 272 

 6 272 

 6 272 

 6 272 

 6 272 

6 500

6 500

6 500

67.01%

Thermal coal

’000 MT

CV

kcal/kg

 35 500 

 5 087 

 4 200 

 5 087 

 1 400 

 5 087 

 24 741 

 5 087 

 1 150 

 5 087 

 15 339 

 713 

16 052

5 900

5 900

5 900

Koornfontein mines
67.01%
UG

Thermal coal

’000 MT

 182 730

 25 390 

CV

kcal/kg

 4 653 

 4 653 

TNC
OC

67.01%

Thermal coal

’000 MT

 29 320 

 41 110 

CV

kcal/kg

 5 331 

 5 331 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

53 543

7 237

 4 653 

 4 653 

28 795 

5 400

3 986

5 400

32 781

5 400

 – 

 – 

 40 981 

 5 331 

–

–

 23 475 

23 475

5 900

5 900

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overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

Coal resources

Extractable coal
reserves

Saleable coal reserves 

Commodity Unit

Measured Indicated Inferred

Proved Probable

Proved Probable

Total 
saleable

Thermal coal

’000 MT

 158 170 

 47 281 

CV

kcal/kg

 5 237 

 5 237 

 – 

 – 

 88 122 

 5 237 

 2 099 

 5 237 

 53 716 

 1 256 

54 972

6 020

6 020

6 020

Thermal coal

’000 MT

 11 704 

 39 576 

CV

kcal/kg

 4 641 

 4 641 

Thermal coal

’000 MT

 21 587 

 12 370 

CV

kcal/kg

 3 939 

 3 939 

 3 037 

 4 641 

 9 241 

 3 939 

 2 296 

 4 641 

 3 167 

 3 939 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 1 217 

6 020

 1 708 

6 020

–

–

–

–

1 217

6 020

1 708

6 020

Mining 
method

Attributable  
interest to 
Glencore

Kwagga Opencast
67.01%
OC

Pullenshope Opencast
OC

67.01%

Zevenfontein Opencast
OC

67.01%

Kromdraai Opencast
OC

67.01%

Thermal coal

’000 MT

 11 815 

 55 170 

CV

kcal/kg

 4 378 

 4 378 

Eikeboom
OC

67.01%

Thermal coal

’000 MT

 3 419 

 18 238 

CV

kcal/kg

 5 485 

 5 485 

Boschmanspoort Underground
67.01%
UG

Thermal coal

CV

’000 MT

kcal/kg

 45 389 

 50 739 

 4 729 

 4 729 

Pullenshope Underground
UG

67.01%

Thermal coal

CV

’000 MT

kcal/kg

 61 928 

 40 037 

 4 775 

 4 775 

Schoonoord
UG/OC

67.01%

Thermal coal

’000 MT

 19 179 

 34 667 

CV

kcal/kg

 4 738 

 4 738 

BMP Expl.
UG

67.01%

Thermal coal

’000 MT

CV

kcal/kg

 – 

 – 

 25 910 

 4 527 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

–

–

 – 

 – 

–

–

 13 642 

 17 420 

 7 761 

 11 730 

19 491

 4 378 

 4 378 

6 020

6 020

6 020

 1 905 

 5 485 

 6 665 

 5 485 

 1 005 

 3 955 

6 020

6 020

4 960

6 020

 12 643 

 20 538 

 6 783 

 11 018 

17 801

 4 729 

 4 729 

6 020

6 020

6 020

 14 847 

 15 977 

 9 869 

 10 620 

20 489

 4 775 

 4 775 

6 020

6 020

6 020

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

–

–

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

–
–

–
–

1  As at 31 December 2012.
2  Remaining mine life. Individual mining operations have expected lives ranging from one to 17 years, based on their reserves. The Kwagga  
reserve is made up of different sub areas which includes Kwagga North, Kwagga Central, Kwagga Rail and Kwagga Mini Pits. The various number 
of years available to mine in the mentioned sub-areas range from two to twelve years. Pullenshope, Zevenfontein and Kromdraai reserves have 
an estimated nine years of mining left combined, as several overlapping of the reserves are done during the life of mine – in other words the 
reserves are at some points mined simultaneously. The Eikeboom reserve is planned to be mined over a total period (mining years) of 15 years –  
not in one continuous period though. The reserve is divided up into a portion of in situ coal and a portion of pillar areas. There is a planned  
period  in-between  when  dewatering  of  the  old  underground  mining  areas  will  be  done,  prior  to  commencing  with  pillar  mining.  The 
Boschmanspoort  Underground  reserve  has  got  eleven  years  remaining  to  be  mined,  and  the  Pullenshope  Underground  reserve  is  cur-
rently  plan  to  be  mined  out  in  17  years  (at  the  current  rates).  The  BMP  Expl.  reserve  block  serves  as  an  extension  to  the  Boschmanspoort  
Underground reserve and more detailed work needs to be done around the block prior to inclusion in the life of mine. The Schoonoord reserve 
currently has not been included in the life of mine due to marginal economics associated with the specific project. Expiry date of relevant 
mining/concession licences: June 2028 for Optimum and October 2032 for Koornfontein. 

Competent  Persons  (Koornfontein  Mines  and  TNC):  the  mineral  resource  estimates  set  out  above  were  compiled  and  approved  by  Kobus 
Dippenaar (BSc Hons Geology; Pr Sc Nat 400079/94) and the mineral reserve estimates set out above were compiled and approved by Willem 
Heyneke (B Tech Mining Engineering, MCC; Pr Cert Eng 2008 900 44), both of whom are employed by subsidiary company of Optimum Coal 
(Pty) Ltd. The reserves and resources estimates have been prepared in accordance with SAMREC. Both are Competent Persons as defined by 
SAMREC and each have sufficient experience (22 and 30 years respectively) which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit 
under consideration and to the activity which they are undertaking.

Competent Persons (all other mines): the mineral reserve and resource estimates set out above were compiled and approved by Victor Nkam-
bule (MSc Geology; Pr Sc Nat 400110/91) with support from Theunis van der Linde (B Tech Mining Engineering; MCC) and Hlayiseka Chauke  
(B Tech Mining Engineering; MCC), all of whom are employed by Optimum Coal (Pty) Ltd. The reserve and resource estimates have been pre-
pared in accordance with the SAMREC Code. All are Competent Persons as defined by SAMREC and each have sufficient experience (33, eight 
and twelve years respectively) which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which 
they are undertaking.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  79

 
Kazzinc, Kazakhstan

Corporate 
GovernanCe

3 | Corporate Governance 

  3.1 | Chairman’s introduction  
  3.2 | Officers 
  3.3 | Corporate governance report 
  3.4 | Directors’ remuneration report 
  3.5 | Directors’ report 

82
83
86
93
101

3.1 | Chairman’s introduction

Welcome to our second Corporate Governance report.

In preparing this report we have been mindful of the conflicting challenges of governance reporting – the 
objective on the one hand of keeping the report concise and the aim on the other of providing a full and 
complete report.

Throughout 2012 the Company believes that it has been fully compliant with the UK Corporate Governance 
Code (as published in June 2010) (the ‘Code’) except in respect of board evaluation as stated below.

We have sought to report on our governance in a user friendly and direct a manner as possible, giving a 
clear summary of the considered leadership which the Board and its Committees provides to the Group.  

We would welcome feedback on this report.

Simon Murray
Chairman

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3.2 | Officers

BOARd Of diReCtORs

All of the Directors were appointed in March or April 2011, shortly before the Company’s IPO.

siMON MURRAY 4
Chairman (age 72)

Appointed to the Board as Non-Executive Chairman in April 2011. He is the founder and current chairman 
of GEMS Limited, a private equity investment group operating across Asia. Previously, Mr Murray led Jar-
dine Matheson’s engineering and trading operations from 1966 to 1980, after which he set up Davenham 
Investments, a project advisory company. From 1984 until 1993, Mr Murray was group managing director of 
Hutchison Whampoa, leading its entry into the mobile telecommunication business, developing its energy 
business and expanding its container and port operations. Mr Murray served as a member of the Hutchison 
Whampoa Board until May 2007. From 1994 to 1997, Mr Murray was the executive chairman of Deutsche Bank 
group for the Asia Pacific region. 

Mr Murray is currently a member of the Board of Directors of a number of public companies including IRC, 
Essar  Energy,  Orient  Overseas,  Wing  Tai  Properties,  Greenheart  and  Compagnie  Financiere  Richemont.  
Mr Murray was a non-executive director of Vodafone between July 2007 and July 2010. In 1993, Mr Murray was 
appointed a CBE in honour of his contribution to the Hong Kong community. Mr Murray has also been award-
ed the Order of Merit of the French Republic and is a Chevalier de la Legion d’honneur. He holds an honorary 
B.A. degree in law from Bath University and has attended the Stanford Executive Programme (SEP) in the U.S.

iVAN GLAseNBeRG 2, 4
Chief Executive Officer (age 56)

Ivan Glasenberg joined Glencore in April 1984 and has been Chief Executive Officer since January 2002. 
Mr Glasenberg initially spent three years working in the coal/coke commodity department in South Africa 
as a marketer, before spending two years in Australia as head of the Asian coal/coke commodity division.  
Between 1988 and 1989, he was based in Hong Kong as head of Glencore’s Hong Kong and Beijing offices, as 
well as head of coal marketing in Asia, where his responsibilities included overseeing the Asian coal market-
ing business of Glencore and managing the administrative functions of the Hong Kong and Beijing offices. 
In January 1990, he was made responsible for the worldwide coal business of Glencore for both marketing 
and industrial assets, and remained in this role until he became Chief Executive Officer in January 2002.

Mr Glasenberg is a Chartered Accountant of South Africa and holds a Bachelor of Accountancy from the 
University of Witwatersrand. Mr Glasenberg also holds an M.B.A. from the University of Southern California. 
He is currently a director of Xstrata plc, United Company Rusal plc and JSC Zarubezhneft. Before joining 
Glencore, Mr Glasenberg worked for five years at Levitt Kirson Chartered Accountants in South Africa.

steVeN KALMiN
Chief Financial Officer (age 42)

Steven  Kalmin  joined  Glencore  in  September  1999  as  general  manager  of  finance  and  treasury  functions  at 
Glencore’s coal industrial unit (now part of Xstrata). Mr Kalmin moved to Glencore’s Baar head office in October 
2003 to oversee Glencore’s accounting and reporting functions, becoming Chief Financial Officer in June 2005.

Mr Kalmin holds a Bachelor of Business (with distinction) from the University of Technology, Sydney and is 
a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia and the Financial Services Institute of Aus-
tralasia. He is currently a director of Century Aluminum Co. Before joining Glencore, Mr Kalmin worked for 
nine years at Horwath Chartered Accountants in Sydney, leaving the firm as a director.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  83

ANtHONY HAYWARd 2, 3, 4*
Senior Independent Director (age 55)

He is CEO of Genel Energy plc, a partner and member of the European advisory Board of AEA Capital and 
a Member of the Advisory Board of Numis Corporation plc. He was group chief executive of BP plc from 
2007 to 2010, having joined BP in 1982 as a rig geologist in the North Sea. Following a series of technical 
and commercial roles in Europe, Asia and South America, he returned to London in 1997 as a member of 
the upstream executive committee. He became group treasurer in 2000, chief executive for BP upstream 
activities and member of the main Board of BP in 2003. Dr. Hayward studied geology at Aston University in 
Birmingham and completed a PhD at Edinburgh University. He is also a fellow of the Royal Society of Edin-
burgh and holds honorary doctorates from the University of Edinburgh, Aston University and the University 
of Birmingham.

Li NiNG 4
Non-Executive Director (age 56)

Li Ning has been an executive director of Henderson Land Development Company Limited since 1992. He 
was also an executive director of Henderson Investment Company Limited from 1990 to 2010. He has also 
been an executive director of Hong Kong (Ferry) Holdings Company Limited since 1989. Prior to joining the 
Henderson group, he began his career in the banking industry with Chekiang First Bank Limited.

Mr Li holds a B.Sc. degree from Babson College. Mr Li also graduated in 1983 from the University of South-
ern California with an M.B.A. degree.

PeteR COAtes 1, 2*
Non-Executive Director (age 67)

Currently a non-executive director and chairman of Santos Ltd., and a non-executive director of Amalga-
mated Holdings. Until April 2011, he was a non-executive director and chairman of Minara Resources Ltd, a 
position he had held since May 2008. Mr Coates has occupied many senior positions in a diverse range of  
resource companies, including those mining silver, lead, zinc, nickel, iron ore, bauxite and coal. Mr Coates 
was  previously  the  chief  executive  of  Xstrata’s  coal  business,  having  joined  the  company  in  2002  when 
Glencore sold its Australian and South African coal assets to Xstrata. Mr Coates is a past chairman of the 
Minerals Council of Australia, the NSW Minerals Council and the Australian Coal Association.

He was appointed to the Office of the Order of Australia in June 2009 and awarded the Australasian Institute 
of Mining and Metallurgy Medal for 2010. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering from 
the University of New South Wales.

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LeONHARd fisCHeR 1*, 3
Non-Executive Director (age 50)

Leonhard Fischer was appointed chief executive officer of RHJ International S.A. in January 2009, having 
been  co-chief  executive  officer  from  May  2007.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  RHJ 
International S.A. since 18 September, 2007. He is also chief executive officer of Kleinwort Benson Group 
and chairman of the board of directors at Kleinwort Benson Bank Ltd. He is also a member of the board of 
directors at Julius Baer Gruppe AG (formerly Julius Bär Holding AG). 

Mr Fischer was chief executive officer of Winterthur Group from 2003 to 2006 and a member of the execu-
tive board of Credit Suisse Group from 2003 to March 2007. He joined Credit Suisse Group from Allianz AG, 
where he had been a member of the management board and head of the Corporates and Markets Division. 
Prior to this, he had been a member of the executive boards of Dresdner Bank AG in Frankfurt.

Mr Fischer holds an M.A. in Finance from the University of Georgia.

WiLLiAM MACAULAY 1, 3*
Non-Executive Director (age 67)

He is the chairman and chief executive officer of First Reserve Corporation, a private equity investment firm 
focused on the energy industry, and has been with the company since its founding in 1983. Prior to joining 
First Reserve he was a co-founder of Meridien Capital Company, a private equity buyout firm. From 1972 to 
1982, he was with Oppenheimer & Co., where he served as director of corporate finance with direct respon-
sibility for the firm’s buyout business. He also served as president of Oppenheimer Energy Corporation. 

Mr Macaulay is chairman of the Board of Dresser-Rand and is a director of Weatherford International. He 
also serves on numerous private energy company Boards. In addition, he is chairman of the advisory Board 
of the City University of New York.

Mr Macaulay holds a B.B.A. degree (with honours) in Economics from City College of New York, and an 
M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He has also received an Honorary Doctor 
of Humane Letters degree from Baruch College.

Committee membership for 2012 is designated as follows: 
1 Audit 
2 Health, Safety, Environment and Communities (HSEC)
3 Remuneration 
4 Nomination
* denotes Committee chair

COMPANY seCRetARY

JOHN BURtON
Company Secretary (age 48) 

John Burton was appointed Company Secretary in September 2011. He was formerly Company Secretary 
and General Counsel of Informa plc and before that a partner at CMS Cameron McKenna in London special-
ising in corporate law. Mr Burton holds a B.A. degree in Law from Durham University. He was admitted as a 
Solicitor in England and Wales in 1990.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  85

 
3.3 | Corporate governance report

BOARd GOVeRNANCe

Overview
The Board believes that the Company has throughout the year 
complied  with  all  relevant  provisions  contained  in  the  Code  
except  with  regard  to  the  implementation  of  an  evaluation  
process as described below. The governance section sets out 
how  Glencore  has  applied  the  main  principles  of  the  Code  in 
a  manner  which  enables  shareholders  to  evaluate  how  these  
principles have been applied.

The  disclosures  in  this  report  relate  to  our  responsibilities  for 
preparing  the  annual  report  (including  compliance  with  the 
Code  to  the  extent  required),  our  report  on  the  effectiveness 
of the Group’s risk management and internal control systems, 

the functioning of our Audit Committee and our going concern 
statement.

Details of the Company’s significant shareholders, voting rights, 
Directors’  powers  and  rules  concerning  the  appointment  and 
replacement of Directors and amendments to the articles of as-
sociation are either contained in this section 3.3 or section 3.4. 
Glencore’s  Board  comprises  six  Non-Executive  Directors  (in-
cluding the Chairman) and two Executive Directors. A list of the 
Directors, with brief biographical details, is provided in section 
3.2. For the Chairman, those details include his other significant 
commitments.

Board of Directors

Independent Non-Executive Chairman

Executive Directors

Independent Non-Executive Directors

CEO

CFO

Audit
Committee

Remuneration
Committee

Nomination
Committee

HSEC 
Committee

Business segment heads

Metals and minerals

Energy products

Agricultural products

Zinc/copper/lead 
Alumina/aluminium
Ferroalloys/nickel/cobalt/iron ore

Oil
Coal/coke

Grains
Oils/oilseeds
Cotton/sugar

NB: All board committees are chaired by Independent Non-Executive Directors

Risk management

Internal audit

Corporate finance

Legal & compliance

Sustainability

Treasury, accounting 
& tax

IT

Human resources

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Glencore has established a clear division between the respec-
tive  responsibilities  of  the  Non-Executive  Chairman  of  the 
Board,  and  the  Chief  Executive  Officer,  which  are  set  out  in 
a  schedule  of  responsibilities  that  has  been  approved  by  the 
Board.  While  the  Non-Executive  Chairman  is  responsible  for 
leading the Board’s discussions and decision-making, the Chief 
Executive Officer is responsible for leading Glencore’s operat-
ing  performance  and  day-to-day  management.  This,  coupled 
with  the  schedule  of  reserved  matters  described  below,  en-
sures that no individual has unfettered powers of decision.

Non-Executive Directors
The Company’s Non-Executive Directors provide a broad range 
of skills and experience to the Board which assists in their roles 
in  formulating  the  Company’s  strategy  and  in  providing  con-

structive challenge to the Executive Directors. All of them are 
regarded by the Company as independent Non-Executive Di-
rectors within the meaning of ‘‘independent’’ as defined in the 
Code  and  free  from  any  business  or  other  relationship  which 
could materially interfere with the exercise of their independent 
judgment. This view has been taken having regard to all facts 
including the following: 

William  Macaulay  is  chairman  and  chief  executive  of  First  Re-
serve Corporation (First Reserve). First Reserve was, on Mr Ma-
caulay’s appointment to the Board, the holder of a tranche of 
$  2.3  billion  Convertible  Bonds  due  2014  issued  by  Glencore 
Finance  (Europe)  S.A.  (First  Reserve  subsequently  sold  these 
bonds and now holds shares, or economic interests in respect 
of shares, totalling 160,909,810 in number, as further detailed in 
section 3.5).

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Peter Coates was until April 2011 the independent non-execu-
tive chairman of Minara Resources Ltd., while that company was 
70.6% owned by Glencore, and was until August 2009 a non-ex-
ecutive chairman of Xstrata Australia and a former chief execu-
tive of Xstrata Coal, part of Xstrata plc, a listed entity in which 
Glencore then held a 34.5% interest. Mr Coates joined Xstrata 
in 2002 with Glencore’s coal assets in Australia and South Africa 
when they were sold to Xstrata, simultaneous with its primary 
listing and capital raising in London.

Board Committees
There are in place the following Committees to assist the Board 
in  exercising  its  functions:  Audit,  Nomination,  Remuneration 
and Health, Safety, Environmental and Communities (HSEC). A 
report from each Committee is set out in section 3.3.

Each  Committee  reports  to,  and  has  its  terms  of  reference  
approved  by,  the  Board  and  the  minutes  of  the  Committee 
meetings are reviewed by the Board. These terms of reference 
are available at www.glencore.com/corporate-governance.php.

Board Meetings
The Board has approved a formal schedule which sets out those 
matters which are reserved for its decision making alone such 
as  strategy,  the  annual  budget  and  material  acquisitions  and 
disposals.

The Board held 5 scheduled meetings during the year togeth-
er  with  numerous  additional  meetings  as  required.  All  of  the 
Board’s scheduled meetings were held at the Company’s head-
quarters in Baar, Switzerland.

The Board and its Committees have standing agenda items to 
cover their proposed business at their scheduled meetings. The 
Chairman seeks to ensure that the very significant work of the 
Committees feeds into, and benefits as to feedback from, the 
full Board. Most Board meetings also benefit from a presenta-
tion by the head of a division and some technical and investor 
relations updates.

The  Chairman  holds  meetings  with  the  Non-Executive  Direc-
tors without the Executive Directors present, and at least once a 
year the Senior Non-Executive Director chairs a meeting of the 
Non-Executive Directors without the Chairman present.

Attendance during the year for all scheduled Board and Board Committee meetings is given in the table below:

Simon Murray

Ivan Glasenberg

Steven Kalmin

Peter Coates

Leonhard Fischer

Anthony Hayward

William Macaulay

Li Ning

Board
of 5

Audit
of 4

Nomination
of 1

Remuneration 
of 3

HSEC
of 5

5

5

5

5

4

5

5

5

–

–

–

4

4

–

4

–

1

1

–

–

–

1

–

1

–

–

–

–

3

3

3

–

–

5

–

5

–

5

–

–

In addition, two unscheduled meetings of the Audit Committee took place and numerous unscheduled meetings of the Board took place, 
mainly concerning the Xstrata Merger.

Appointment and re-election of Directors
The  work  of  the  Nomination  Committee  in  respect  of  the  ap-
pointment and reappointment of Directors is contained in the 
Committee’s report below.

any subsidiary undertaking of the Company in which any Direc-
tor was materially interested subsisted during or at the end of 
the financial year. 

As  previously  announced,  changes  to  the  composition  of  the 
Board and its Committes are due to take place upon comple-
tion of the Merger with Xstrata. Specific details will be set out in 
the Notice of the 2013 Annual General Meeting (AGM). All con-
tinuing  members  of  the  Board  as  described  above  (including 
the Xstrata appointees) will be offering themselves for election 
or re-election at the 2013 AGM. 

All  of  the  Directors  have  service  agreements  or  letters  of  
appointment  and  the  details  of  their  terms  are  set  out  in  the 
Remuneration Report. No other contract with the Company or 

Information and professional development
It  is  considered  of  great  importance  that  the  Non-Executive 
Directors  (1)  attain  a  good  knowledge  of  the  Company  and 
its business and (2) allocate sufficient time to Glencore to dis-
charge those responsibilities effectively. New Directors receive 
a  full,  formal  and  tailored  induction  on  joining  the  Board,  in-
cluding  meetings  with  senior  management  and  advisers  and 
visits to the Group’s operational locations. The Board calendar 
is planned to ensure that Directors are briefed on a wide range 
of topics. Directors are also given the opportunity to visit the 
Group’s  industrial  assets  and  discuss  aspects  of  the  business 
with employees, and regularly meet the heads of the Group’s 

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  87

 
 
main  departments.  As  well  as  internal  briefings,  Directors  at-
tend appropriate external seminars and briefings.

ACCOUNtABiLitY ANd AUdit

All Directors have access to the advice and services of the Com-
pany  Secretary,  who  is  responsible  to  the  Board  for  ensuring 
the  Board  procedures  are  complied  with,  and  have  access  to 
independent  and  professional  advice  at  the  Company’s  ex-
pense, where they judge this to be necessary to discharge their 
responsibilities as Directors.

Board performance evaluation
We have reviewed the interests declared by the Directors which 
could  conflict  with  those  of  the  Company,  and  we  are  satisfied 
that the Board’s powers to authorise potential conflicts is operat-
ing effectively.

Given that a majority of new Directors has been proposed to be 
appointed  as  part  of  the  Xstrata  Merger,  the  Board  concluded 
that a full evaluation process should not be carried out in respect 
of 2012.

Remuneration
Remuneration is covered in the Remuneration report in section 
3.4 which includes a description of the work of the Remunera-
tion Committee.

Financial reporting
The Group has in place a comprehensive financial review cycle, 
which includes a detailed annual budgeting process where busi-
ness units prepare budgets for approval by the Board. The Group 
uses a large number of performance indicators to measure both 
operational and financial activity in the business. Depending on 
the measure these are reported and reviewed on a daily, weekly 
or  monthly  basis.  In  addition,  management  in  the  business  re-
ceive  weekly  and  monthly  reports  of  indicators  which  are  the 
basis  of  regular  operational  meetings,  where  corrective  action 
is  taken  if  necessary.  At  a  Group  level  a  well-developed  man-
agement  accounts  pack,  including  income  statement,  balance 
sheet, cash flow statement as well as key ratios is prepared and 
reviewed  monthly  by  management.  As  part  of  the  monthly  re-
porting process a forecast of the current year numbers is carried 
out. To ensure consistency of reporting, the Group has a global 
consolidation system as well as a common accounting policies 
and procedures manual. Management monitors the publication 
of new reporting standards and work closely with their external 
auditors in evaluating the impact of these standards.

Risk management and internal control
The Board has applied Principle C.2 of the Code by establishing 
a continuous process for identifying, evaluating and managing 
the risks that are considered significant by the Group in accord-
ance  with  the  revised  Turnbull  Guidance  on  Internal  Control 
published by the Financial Reporting Council. This process has 
been in place for the period under review and up to the date 
of  approval  of  the  Annual  Report  and  Accounts.  The  process 
is designed to manage rather than eliminate risk, and can only 
provide reasonable and not absolute assurance against mate-
rial misstatement or loss. The Directors confirm that they have 
reviewed the effectiveness of the risk management and internal 
control systems. This review excludes associates of the Group 
as Glencore does not have the ability to dictate or modify the 
internal  controls  of  these  entities.  This  report  describes  how 
the  effectiveness  of  the  Group’s  structure  of  internal  controls 
including  financial,  operational  and  compliance  controls  and 
risk management systems is reviewed.

1) Approach to risk management
Effective  risk  management  is  crucial  in  helping  the  Group  to 
achieve its objectives of preserving its overall financial strength 
for the benefit of all shareholders and other stakeholders and 
safeguarding  its  ability  to  continue  as  a  going  concern  while 
generating sustainable long term profitability. Spanning the or-
ganisational structure, Glencore’s disciplined approach to risk 
management and control originates with strategic responsibil-
ity in the hands of the Board, which also retains operational au-
thority on matters exceeding agreed thresholds of materiality. 
The  Board  retains  final  authority  for  assessing  and  approving 
the  Group’s  overall  risk  appetite  and  sets  overall  limits  which 
are subject for review annually. Through delegation to the Audit 
Committee for oversight and to senior management for day-to-
day  operational  issues,  an  effective  risk  management  govern-
ance apparatus has been established for the Group. 

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The  Audit  Committee  retains  responsibility  for  reviewing  the 
overall effectiveness of Glencore’s risk management approach 
and systems.

As a primary oversight and control, the CEO engages in a regu-
lar and ongoing interrogatory exchange with the management 
team. He is supported in this challenge process by the Group’s 
organisational structure with its concentration of major decision 
making, as well as by the alignment of the economic interest of 
key senior staff with the medium term performance of the com-
pany  through  shareholdings.  The  significant  dilution  of  these 
shareholdings upon completion of the likely merger with Xstrata, 
implying  a  meaningful  reduction  in  the  proportionality  of  the 
existing senior management’s alignment (although no change 
to the dollar size of stakes) and the addition of new senior fig-
ures from outside the existing shareholder model, look set to, 
over time, render the existing operational governance structure 
of  the  combined  Group  more  generically  that  of  a  PLC.  The 
CRO, the Group Risk Management Team and the multi-sourced 
reporting available to them, help to equip the CEO and senior 
management with appropriate analysis in order to allow them to 
conduct appropriate risk management of the group.

The CRO and Group Risk Management Team act as facilitators 
of the control process with elements of consolidated reporting 
including  counterparty  credit  exposure,  the  co-ordination  of 
Group and departmental Value at Risk (“VaR”), stress and sce-
nario testing amongst others. The departments and Group risk 
team are engaged in an ongoing dialogue concerning general 
aspects of risk management policy and the central team pro-
vide oversight and input on those aspects of risk management 
and risk mitigation that remain the functional responsibility of 
the Group’s individual departments. The internal audit, compli-
ance and business ethics committees also play key roles in man-
aging Group operational risk and verifying process controls.

Glencore recognises the need for continuous focus on this key 
area in the context of both the evolution of its business risks, and 
the  unpredictable  and  volatile  global  economic  environment. 
The Group continues to maintain and expand the resources and 
information  systems  used  in  its  centralised  risk  management, 
whilst also adopting and following policies which are intended 
to mitigate and manage market price and credit risks.

2) Risk assessment and control tools
Glencore’s finance and risk professionals, working in coordina-
tion with the Group’s departments, monitor and report regularly 
to management on the financial risks and exposures Glencore is 
facing. The Group monitors its commodity price risk exposure 
by using a VaR computation assessing open commodity posi-
tions which are subject to price risk. The credit quality of its coun-
terparties is actively and continuously monitored by the Group 
through  internal  reviews  and  a  credit  scoring  process  which  
includes, where available, public credit ratings. The Group makes 
active and widespread use of credit enhancement through the 
use  of  products  such  as  letters  of  credit  and  credit  insurance  
to help manage and mitigate credit risk exposures.

VaR  is  a  risk  measurement  technique  which  Glencore  uses  to 
monitor  and  limit  its  primary  market  exposure  related  to  its 

physical marketing exposures and related derivative positions. 
VaR estimates the potential loss in value of open positions that 
could  occur  as  a  result  of  adverse  market  movements  over  a 
defined time horizon, given a specific level of confidence. The 
methodology  is  a  statistically  defined,  probability  based  ap-
proach that takes into account market volatilities, as well as risk 
diversification benefits by recognising offsetting positions and 
correlations  between  commodities  and  markets.  In  this  way, 
risks can be compared across all markets and commodities and 
risk exposures can be aggregated to derive a single risk value. 

The Board has maintained a one day, 95% VaR limit of $ 100 mil-
lion which is typically subject to review and approval on an an-
nual basis, and will be reviewed again following the proposed 
Xstrata  Merger.  The  purpose  of  this  Group  limit  is  to  assist 
senior management in controlling the Group’s overall risk pro-
file.  During  2012  Glencore’s  average  VaR  was  approximately 
$ 40 million, a similar amount to 2011.

Glencore’s VaR computation covers the key base metals, coal, 
oil/natural  gas  and  the  main  risks  in  the  Agricultural  products 
department  (grain,  oil  seeds,  sugar  and  cotton).  It  assesses 
open priced positions and those which are subject to price risk, 
but due to a lack of liquid terminal market, Glencore does not 
extend its VaR calculation to a number of business lines where 
price  transparency  is  less  dependable.  Glencore  reports  VaR 
across the Group and also by commodity department, as well 
as at a variety of more detailed levels.

VaR  does  not  purport  to  represent  actual  gains  or  losses  in 
fair  value  on  earnings  to  be  incurred  by  Glencore,  nor  does 
Glencore  claim  that  these  VaR  results  are  indicative  of  future 
market  movements  or  representative  of  any  actual  impact  on 
its future results. VaR should always be viewed in the context of 
its limitations; notably, the use of historical data as a proxy for 
estimating future events, market illiquidity risks and risks asso-
ciated with longer time horizons as well as tail risks. The Group 
recognises  these  limitations  and  so  complements  and  refines 
its risk analysis through the use of stress and scenario analysis. 
Glencore  regularly  backtests  its  VaR  to  establish  adequacy  of 
accuracy and to facilitate analysis of breaks.

Whilst  it  is  Glencore’s  policy  to  actively  make  use  of  hedging 
strategies  to  manage  unwanted  commodity  price  risk  associ-
ated with its marketing businesses, there remains the possibility 
that  the  hedging  instruments  chosen  may  not  always  provide 
effective  mitigation  of  the  underlying  price  risk.  The  hedging 
instruments  available  to  the  marketing  businesses  may  differ 
in  specific  characteristics  to  the  risk  exposure  to  the  hedged, 
resulting  in  an  ongoing  and  unavoidable  basis  risk  exposure. 
Residual  basis  risk  exposures  represent  a  key  focus  point  for 
Glencore’s commodity department teams who actively engage 
in the management of such.

Internal and External Audit
Glencore  has  a  dedicated  Internal  Audit  function  reporting  
directly  to  the  Audit  Committee.  The  role  of  Internal  Audit  is 
to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, 
control, and governance processes. 

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  89

The  Company’s  next  AGM  is  due  to  be  held  in  Zug  on  16  May 
2013. Full details of the meeting are set out in the letter from the 
Chairman and Notice of Meeting. Shareholders unable to attend 
are  encouraged  to  vote  using  the  proxy  card  mailed  to  them  or 
electronically as detailed in the Notice of Meeting. All documents 
relating to the AGM are available on the Company’s website at: 
www.glencore.com. 

Internal Audit reviews areas of potential risk within the business 
and  suggests  control  solutions  to  mitigate  exposures  iden-
tified.  The  Audit  Committee  is  regularly  informed  on  audits 
performed  and  relevant  findings,  as  well  as  the  progress  on  
implementing the actions agreed with management.

During  each  financial  year  the  Audit  Committee  reviews  the  
external  and  internal  audit  work  programmes  and  considers  
reports  from  internal  and  external  auditors  on  the  system  of 
internal  control  and  any  material  control  weaknesses.  It  also 
receives  responses  from  management  regarding  the  actions 
taken on issues identified in audit reports.

The  Group’s  policy  on  non-audit  services  provided  by  the  
external  auditors  is  designed  to  ensure  the  external  auditor’s 
independence and objectivity is safeguarded. A specified wide 
range of services may not be provided as they have the poten-
tial  to  impair  the  external  auditor’s  independence  (Excluded 
Services).  The  Audit  Committee’s  approval  is  required  for  (1) 
any  Excluded  Service  (2)  and  other  engagement  where  either 
(i)  the  fee  is  contingent,  (ii)  the  fee  may  exceed  $  500,000,  or 
(iii)  where  the  fees  for  all  non-audit  work  may  exceed  $  15  mil-
lion.  The  external  auditors  are  requested  to  provide  certain 
non-audit  services  when  it  is  concluded  that  they  are  the  most 
appropriate  supplier  due  to  efficiency  and  status  as  a  lead-
ing firm for the specific services being requested. For 2012 the  
total  non-audit  fees  paid  to  the  auditors  were  $  15  million,  
$ 4 million of which related to the auditors’ role as Reporting Ac-
countant in connection with the pending Xstrata merger; further 
details are contained in note 27 to the financial statements.

Relationships with shareholders
The Board aims to present a balanced and clear view of the Group 
in  communications  with  shareholders  and  believes  that  being 
transparent  in  describing  how  we  see  the  market  and  the  pros-
pects for the business is extremely important. 

We communicate with shareholders in a number of different ways. 
The formal reporting of our full and half year results and interim 
management  statements  are  a  combination  of  presentations, 
group  calls  and  one  on  one  meetings.  The  full  and  half  year  re-
porting is then followed by investor meetings in a variety of loca-
tions where we have institutional shareholders. We also regularly 
meet with existing and prospective shareholders to update or to 
introduce  them  to  the  Company  and  periodically  arrange  visits 
to the business to give analysts and major shareholders a better  
understanding of how we manage our operations. These visits and 
meetings are principally undertaken by the CEO, CFO and Head 
of Investor Relations. In addition, many major shareholders have 
meetings with the Chairman and appropriate senior personnel of 
the Group including other Non-Executive Directors, the Company 
Secretary and Head of Sustainability.

The Board receives regular updates on the views of shareholders  
through a briefing, which is a standing agenda item for all Board 
meetings, from the Company’s Head of Investor Relations, which 
is supplemented by input from the Chairman, CEO and CFO. In 
addition,  the  Senior  Independent  Director  is  available  to  meet 
shareholders  if  they  wish  to  raise  issues  separately  from  the  
arrangements as described above.

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Main Activities
During  the  year,  the  Committee’s  principal  work  included  the 
following:
•  reviewed the Company’s policy for the provision of non-audit 

services by the external auditors;

•  reviewed material engagements with the auditors in respect of 

non-audit services;

•  reviewed  the  policies  detecting,  reporting  and  preventing 
fraud and serious breaches of business conduct and whistle-
blowing procedures;

•  reviewed  the  Internal  Audit  Department’s  annual  audit  plan 
and the performance assessment of the Internal Audit function; 

•  evaluated the effectivness of the external auditors;  
•  reviewed and agreed the global audit plan, scope and fees of 

the audit work to be undertaken by the external auditors;

•  considered the output from the Group-wide process used to 

identify, evaluate and mitigate risks;

•  monitored and reviewed the effectiveness of Glencore’s inter-

nal controls;

•  reviewed  and  discussed  the  full  year  (audited),  and  half-year 
(unaudited),  financial  statements  with  management  and  the 
external auditors;

•  discussed  various  material  accounting  issues  with  manage-
ment  and  the  external  auditors,  particularly  those  involving 
key judgements and estimates primarily in relation to business 
combinations,  fair  value  measurements,  taxation  and  impair-
ment considerations; and

•  reviewed and agreed the preparation and scope of the year-

end reporting process.

Reappointment of external Auditor
The  Committee  has  recommended  to  the  Board  that  a  pro-
posal  be  put  to  shareholders  at  the  2013  AGM  for  the  reap-
pointment  of  Deloitte  LLP  as  external  auditor.  There  are  no 
contractual restrictions on the Company’s choice of external 
auditor, and in making our recommendation we took into ac-
count,  amongst  other  matters,  the  objectivity  and  indepen-
dence of Deloitte LLP and their continuing effectiveness and 
cost. 

Leonhard Fischer
Chairman of the Audit Committee
22 March 2013

AUdit COMMittee RePORt

Chairman
Leonhard Fischer  

Other members
Peter Coates
William Macaulay

is  considered  to  be  an 

All  members  of  the  Committee  served  throughout  the  year. 
independent  Non-Executive  
Each 
Director  and  deemed  to  be  financially  literate  by  virtue  of  their 
business experience. Each of Leonhard Fischer and William Ma-
caulay is considered by the Board to have recent and relevant fi-
nancial experience and has competence in accounting. The Com-
mittee met five times (two meetings being unscheduled) during 
the  year  and  all  the  Committee  members  attended  all  of  the 
scheduled meetings. John Burton is Secretary to the Committee.

Role and responsibilities
The  primary  function  of  the  Audit  Committee  is  to  assist  the 
Board  in  fulfilling  its  responsibilities  with  regard  to  financial  
reporting,  external  and  internal  audit,  risk  management  and 
controls. This includes:
•  monitoring and reviewing the Group’s financial and account-

ing policies and practices;

•  monitoring  the  integrity  of  the  annual  and  half  yearly  finan-
cial statements and any formal announcements relating to the 
Group’s financial performance and reviewing significant finan-
cial reporting judgments relating to them;

•  considering the reappointment of the external auditors;
•  considering  the  scope  of  the  annual  external  audit  and  the 

work undertaken by external auditors;

•  reviewing  and  monitoring  the  independence  of the  external 

auditor and the provision of additional services by it;

•  monitoring matters that influence or could distort the presen-

tation of accounts and key figures;

•  reviewing Glencore’s internal financial, operational and com-
pliance  controls  and  internal  controls  and  risk  management 
systems;

•  monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of Glencore’s in-

ternal audit function;

•  overseeing  the  Group’s  procedures  for  detecting  fraud  and 

handling allegations from whistleblowers; and

•  making recommendations to the Board for a resolution to be 
put to the shareholders for their approval on the appointment 
of the external auditors and to authorise the Board to fix the 
remuneration and terms of engagement of the external audi-
tors.

Governance processes
The  Audit  Committee  usually  invites  the  CEO,  CFO,  Group 
Financial  Controller,  Head  of  Risk  and  Head  of  Internal  Audit 
and the lead partner from the external auditors to attend each 
meeting.  Other  members  of  management  may  attend  as  and 
when required. The Committee also holds private sessions with 
the  external  auditors  and  the  Head  of  Internal  Audit  without 
members  of  management  being  present.  The  Committee  has 
adopted guidelines allowing non-audit services to be contract-
ed with the external auditors on the basis as set out above.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  91

NOMiNAtiON COMMittee

HeALtH, sAfetY, eNViRONMeNt & COMMUNities 
(HseC) COMMittee

Chairman
Anthony Hayward

Other members
Simon Murray
Ivan Glasenberg
Li Ning

As part of the deliberations concerning the Xstrata Merger, the 
Board  agreed  with  the  Xstrata  Board  the  composition  of  the 
enlarged  Board  upon  the  Merger  taking  effect.  Accordingly, 
there  were  no  meetings  of  the  Committee  during  2012  other 
than to consider the composition of the Board prior to the 2012 
AGM. It was agreed that the Board operated in a satisfactory  
manner  and  the  Board  agreed  with  the  Committee’s  view 
that  all  current  serving  Directors  be  recommended  to  share-
holders  for  re-election  at  that  following  meeting,  subject  to 
the  changes  contemplated  in  connection  with  the  proposed  
Xstrata Merger.

Anthony Hayward
Chairman of the Nomination Committee
22 March 2013

Chairman
Peter Coates

Other members
Ivan Glasenberg
Anthony Hayward
Michael Fahrbach

The Committee met five times during the year and each Com-
mittee  member  attended  all  of  the  meetings.  Every  meeting 
had a substantial agenda, reflecting the Committee’s objective 
of providing leadership for the Group to achieve higher HSEC 
standards over time. 

Role and responsibilities
The  main  responsibilities  of  the  Committee  are,  in  respect  of 
the Group, to:
•  Evaluate the effectiveness of policies and systems for identi-
fying  and  managing  environmental,  health,  safety  and  com-
munity risks;

•  Assess the policies and systems for ensuring compliance with 
environmental, health and safety regulatory requirements;
•  Assess performance with regard to the impact of HSEC relat-
ed decisions and actions upon employees, communities and 
other third parties;

•  Receive reports concerning all fatalities and serious accidents 

and actions taken as a result of such incidents;

•  Evaluate and oversee the quality and integrity of any report-
ing to external stakeholders concerning HSEC matters; and
•  Review the results of any independent reviews of performance 
in  regard  to  HSEC  matters  and  strategies  and  action  plans  
developed by management in response to issues raised.

Main Activities
During the year, the Committee
•  Reviewed  the  current  corporate  practice  framework  for  the 
Group, approved ongoing changes and reviewed their imple-
mentation and practice;

•  Reviewed  and  oversaw  the  Group’s  sustainability  report  for 

2011;

•  Undertook site visits;
•  Set  a  clear  objective  to  reduce  fatalities.  For  this  purpose  it 
received a report on, reviewed and made recommendations 
in respect of, each fatality;

•  Received and considered baseline assessments of the Group’s 
health, safety and environmental standards for the Group’s main 
zinc/copper  assets  in  South  America,  Africa  and  Kazakhstan; 
and

•  Considered  a  variety  of  other  material  HSEC  issues  such  as 
resettlement programmes, incident reporting and emergency 
response preparedness.

Peter Coates
Chairman of the Health, Safety, Environmental and Communi-
ties Committee
22 March 2013

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3.4 | directors’ remuneration report

ReMUNeRAtiON COMMittee

OUR PHiLOsOPHY ON ReMUNeRAtiON

Chairman
William Macaulay

Other members
Anthony Hayward
Leonhard Fischer

Secretary
John Burton

LetteR fROM tHe CHAiRMAN 
Of tHe ReMUNeRAtiON COMMittee

Dear Shareholder

On behalf of the Remuneration Committee, I am providing an 
introduction to our Directors’ Remuneration Report for the year 
ending  31  December  2012.  As  with  last  year,  we  have  sought  
to  make  this  report  as  short,  simple  and  straightforward  as  
possible. 

I would like to highlight the following:
•  We received strong shareholder support for our remuneration 
arrangements for 2011, reflected in a 99% vote in favour of the 
2011 Directors’ Remuneration Report at the 2012 AGM.

•  There was no change to the structure of executive remunera-
tion  for  2012  and  no  change  to  base  salaries.  In  addition,  in 
2012  the  CEO  again  waived  entitlement  to  both  bonus  and 
long  term  incentive  awards  (LTIs).  The  CFO  also  waived  any 
entitlement to any LTIs.

•  In recognition of his performance against a number of criteria 
in  2012  the  Committee  determined  that  the  CFO  should  be 
awarded a bonus of 200% of salary, half of which will be de-
ferred into shares for three years.

•  There was also no increase during 2012 in the fees paid to the 
Chairman  and  the  other  Non-Executive  Directors  over  their 
fees paid for 2011.

•  We have prepared this 2012 Directors’ Remuneration Report 
taking into account the UK Government’s proposals on exec-
utive remuneration disclosure. Given, however, that the final 
regulations were not published at the time that this report was 
compiled, it was not considered feasible to reflect all of the 
UK Government’s current proposals.

A resolution to approve this report will be put to shareholders at 
the Company’s 2013 AGM 

William Macaulay
Chairman of Remuneration Committee

We have the same philosophy as any other Remuneration Com-
mittee,  namely  to  set  the  Company’s  remuneration  policies  
and practices so that they facilitate the attraction, retention and 
motivation of the Executive Directors and other senior executives 
of  appropriately  high  calibre  to  implement  the  Group’s  strat-
egy while aligning the interests of the Executive Directors and  
executives  with  those  of  shareholders  generally.  This  policy  
has consistently underpinned our entire approach to executive 
remuneration at Glencore.

One  exceptional  aspect  of  our  Executive  Directors’  remunera-
tion is that, with their agreement and reflecting their status as 
major  shareholders,  the  Executive  Directors  do  not  currently 
participate in our long term incentive arrangements, while the 
CEO  has  also  agreed  not  to  participate  in  our  bonus  arrange-
ments. As a result, we are currently able to set overall remunera-
tion for our Executive Directors at significantly lower levels than 
in  comparable  companies  and  for  comparable  performance. 
The Committee believes that the Executive Directors’ significant 
personal  shareholdings  create  sufficient  alignment  of  interest 
with shareholders in the absence of participation in a long term 
incentive arrangement. 

Since 2012 there have been no changes to the structure of the 
Executive Directors’ remuneration or any increase in base salary. 
Similarly, there have been no changes to the fees payable to the 
Chairman and the other Non-Executive Directors.  

GOVeRNANCe

This Remuneration Report has been prepared on behalf of the 
Board by the Remuneration Committee. The Committee adopts 
the  principles  of  good  governance  as  set  out  in  the  UK  Cor-
porate Governance  Code and complies with  the Listing Rules 
of the Financial Services Authority and the relevant schedules 
of  the  UK  Companies  Act  2006  and  the  UK  Directors’  Remu-
neration  Report  Regulations  in  Schedule  8  to  the  Large  and 
Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) 
Regulations  2008.  These  regulations  require  the  Company’s  
auditors to report on the ‘Audited Information’ in the report and 
to state that this section has been properly prepared in accord-
ance with these regulations. As such, the report is divided into 
audited and unaudited information.

Membership and experience of the Remuneration Committee
We believe that the members of the Committee provide a use-
ful balance of abilities, experience and perspectives to provide 
the  critical  analysis  required  in  carrying  out  the  Committee’s 
function. In particular: 
•  William  Macaulay  has  had  a  long  tenure  in  private  equity 
which  has  involved  exposure  to  compensation  issues  many 
times and in a variety of situations;

•  Leonhard Fischer is a career banker who similarly has had con-

siderable exposure to issues of pay and incentives; and

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  93

 
Company’s retained auditor and also provided other services to 
the  Company.  The  Committee  considers  Deloitte  to  be  inde-
pendent. The Remuneration Committee adviser’s terms of refer-
ence are in accordance with APB Ethical Standard 5 and restrict 
the provision of certain services in order to maintain auditor in-
dependence.  The  scope  and  value  of  services  to  the  Company 
is kept under review. Advice is provided with use of established 
methodologies and the advisers are not involved in the decision 
making process. Advisory partners and staff have no involvement 
in audit, and are not involved in the preparation of audited infor-
mation. 

sHAReHOLdeR VOtiNG

The table below shows the percentage and number of votes for, 
against  and  abstentions  for  the  2011  Directors’  Remuneration 
Report at the 2012 AGM:

Votes “For”

Votes “Against”

Votes “Abstentions”

99.0%
(5,027,476,872)

0.2%
(12,038,368)

0.8%
(41,185,667)

•  Tony Hayward has for many years been a senior employee and 
executive in the resources industry, most notably as CEO of 
BP, and therefore brings considerable experience as a senior 
executive to the Committee’s deliberations. 

All  members  of  the  Remuneration  Committee  are  considered 
to be independent.

Role of the Remuneration Committee 
The terms of reference of the Committee set out its role. They 
are available on the Company’s website at www.glencore.com/
corporate-governance.php.

Its principal responsibilities are, on behalf of the Board, to:
•  Set the Company’s executive remuneration policy (and review 

its ongoing relevance and appropriateness);

•  Establish the remuneration packages for the Executive Direc-

tors including the scope of pension payments;

•  Determine  the  remuneration  package  for  the  Chairman,  in 

consultation with the Chief Executive;

•  Have  responsibility  for  overseeing  schemes  of  performance 
related remuneration (including share incentive plans) for, and 
determine awards for, the Executive Directors;

•  Ensure  that  the  contractual  terms  on  termination  for  the  

Executive Directors are fair and not excessive; and 

•  Monitor senior management remuneration.

The Committee considers corporate performance on HSEC and 
governance issues when setting remuneration for the Executive 
Directors.  The  Committee  seeks  to  ensure  that  the  incentive 
structure  for  the  Group’s  senior  management  does  not  raise 
HSEC or governance risks by inadvertently motivating irrespon-
sible behaviour. 

Remuneration Committee activities in 2012
The  Committee  met  three  times  and  considered,  amongst  
other matters, the following:
•  The remuneration policy applicable to the Executive Directors; 
•  Senior  management  remuneration  policy,  including  its  level 

and structure;

•  The form and structure of the inaugural grants to employees 
under the Company’s Deferred Bonus Plan and Performance 
Share Plan;

•  The  amount  of  bonus  payable  to  the  CFO  in  respect  of  his 

performance in 2011; and

•  Monitoring the CFO’s bonus plan for 2012.

Internal advisers to the Remuneration Committee
The Chairman, CEO and CFO are usually invited to attend some 
or  all  of  the  proceedings  of  Remuneration  Committee  meet-
ings. They do not participate in any decisions concerning their 
own remuneration. In addition, the Committee received advice 
from John Burton, the Company Secretary. 

External advisers to the Remuneration Committee
The remuneration consultancy practice of Deloitte LLP remained 
the  provider  of  independent  advice  to  the  Committee  during 
2012. Deloitte LLP is a member of the Remuneration Consultants 
Group and as such, voluntarily operates the Code of Conduct in 
relation to executive remuneration in the UK. Deloitte LLP is the 

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eXeCUtiVe diReCtORs’ ReMUNeRAtiON

All emoluments to the Directors are paid in UK Pounds Sterling except for pension contributions and insurance benefits provided to 
the Executive Directors. As noted in the emoluments table below, these are presented in UK Pounds Sterling. In addition, as the finan-
cial statements are denominated in U.S. Dollars, we have also provided the total remuneration figures for each Director in U.S. Dollars. 

Remuneration Framework
The key elements of the current Executive Directors’ remuneration framework are shown in the table below. Each component is 
discussed in more detail on the pages that follow.

Executive Directors

Component

Purpose and link to strategy Overview

Policy for 2013

Fixed

Base salary

•  Provides market competi-

tive fixed remuneration that 
rewards individual skills, 
responsibilities and contri-
bution

•  Salaries are positioned within a market 
competitive range for companies of a  
similar size and complexity

•  Reviewed annually with the next review  
due to take place in December 2013

• CEO: £ 925,000 1 ($ 1,470,750)
• CFO: £ 700,00 1 ($ 1,113,000)
• No changes for 2013

Pension

•  Provides basic retirement 

•  Defined contribution scheme for all Swiss 

•  Annual contribution of  

benefits which reflects local 
market practice

employees

• Contributions are based on age
• Both Executive Directors participate

15 – 19% of up to  
$ 296,170  
(CHF 278,400)

• No change for 2013

Other Benefits

Variable

Annual bonus

•  Provides appropriate insur-
ance cover benefits which 
contribute to a market 
competitive package

•  Supports delivery of short 
term operational, financial  
& strategic goals

Deferred Bonus 
Plan

•  Incentivises the creation of 
shareholder value over the 
longer-term

Performance 
Share Plan

•  Incentivises the creation of 
shareholder value over the 
longer-term

•  Provision of standard company Swiss  

• No change for 2013

insurances

•  Award of maximum of 200% of salary
•  Performance criteria described below

•  The CEO continues not to 

participate in the plan
•  The CFO continues to  
participate in the plan

•  Applicable to CFO and certain senior 

•  No changes for 2013 –  

employees

•  Provides for deferral of annual bonus  
into Glencore shares above an agreed 
amount for a period of up to 3 years

• Malus clauses apply

half of CFO bonus for 2012 
was deferred into shares

•  Overall plan limit of 500% of salary
•  Executive Directors do not participate  

•  Both Executive Directors will 
continue not to participate

in the plan; accordingly, no performance 
conditions have yet been established for 
Executive Directors
• Malus clauses apply

Significant Personal 
 Shareholdings

•  Aligns the interests of execu-

tives and shareholders

•  No formal shareholding requirements are 
needed given the size of shareholdings

•  The CEO has a beneficial 

ownership of c.15.5% 

•  The CFO has a beneficial 

ownership of c.1%

¹  These amounts are set in UK Pounds Sterling and have been converted to U.S. Dollars using the exchange rates stated in the currency table 

on page 47.

Non-Executive Directors

Component

Purpose and link to strategy Overview

Policy for 2013

Fees

•  Reflects time commitment, 
experience and size of the 
Company

•  Non-Executive Directors and the Senior 

Independent Director receive a base fee. 

•  Refer to Audited section 
below for details of fees.

•  Additional fees are paid for chairing or 

membership to a Board committee

•  Chairman receives a single inclusive fee  

for the role

•  Non-Executive Directors are not eligible  
to participate in the Company’s share 
incentive or pension scheme and do not 
receive any other remuneration or benefits
•  Reviewed every year with the next review 

due to take place in December 2013

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  95

The Role of Variable Pay at Glencore
Throughout the organisation, a significant proportion of the re-
muneration of our senior employees is based on performance 
during  the  year  and,  through  partial  deferral,  including  into 
shares, to incentivise the creation of shareholder value over the 
long term. These principles have served the Company well over 
a number of years and remain firmly in place. 

Annual bonus
The  maximum  bonus  opportunity  for  Executive  Directors  in 
2012  was  200%  of  base  salary  and  will  remain  unchanged  for 
2013.  This  opportunity  is  conservatively  positioned  against 
market  practice  in  UK-listed  resources  companies  of  a  similar 
size,  which  the  Committee  believes  is  appropriate  at  the  cur-
rent time. 

Our  Executive  Directors  have  significant  personal  sharehold-
ings. They, and the Committee, believe that this currently pro-
vides  sufficient  alignment  between  their  interests  and  those 
of  shareholders,  regarding  long  term  Company  performance  
and shareholder value. As a result, the CEO does not currently 
participate in the annual or long term incentive arrangements 
and receives just a base salary and pension/benefits which are 
set at a lower level than for comparable companies. The CFO 
participates  in  the  annual  bonus  plan  but  does  not  currently 
participate in any long term incentive arrangements.

Although this results in a higher proportion of fixed remunera-
tion (as a percentage of total remuneration) than would be the 
case in comparable companies the Committee believes this is 
appropriate  given  the  current  alignment  created  through  the 
significant share ownership described above. 

The Committee also notes that it results in a lower level of over-
all remuneration for the Executive Directors than would be the 
case in similar companies, which is beneficial to shareholders.

Base Salary
In  2012,  the  annual  base  salaries  for  the  Executive  Directors 
remained  unchanged  from  the  prior  year  at  £  925,000  and 
£ 700,000 for the CEO and CFO respectively, which the Com-
mittee considers to be within the market competitive range and 
appropriate. 

When  the  Committee  originally  set  the  remuneration  for  the  
Executive  Directors  in  early  2011,  it  took  into  account  market 
data  from  listed  companies  of  a  similar  financial  size,  and  pay 
and conditions in the wider Glencore group to ensure that pay 
for our most senior employees is consistent with, and aligned 
to, the rest of the organisation.

When reviewed in December 2012 for the following year, it was 
decided that the base salaries for the Executive Directors would 
also remain unchanged for 2013.

As described above, the CEO did not participate in the annual 
bonus arrangements in 2012 while the CFO did. This will remain 
the case for 2013. 

In respect of 2012, the Committee considered the performance 
of the CFO against a number of performance criteria including 
refinancing of the Group’s sizeable borrowings, management of 
the Group’s credit ratings/capital structure, ongoing input into 
development and improvement of the Group’s risk systems and 
having a pivotal role in the execution of major transactions. On 
this basis, the Committee determined that the CFO should be 
awarded a bonus of £ 1.4m, 200% of salary (the maximum op-
portunity) for the 2012 financial year. Half of this will be deferred 
into shares over a three year period under the Deferred Bonus 
Plan (discussed below). 

The Glencore Deferred Bonus Plan (DBP)
Under the DBP, all or part of a participant’s bonus is deferred as 
an award of ordinary shares (Bonus Awards) which vests at the 
end of a specified period subject to continued employment (for 
an Executive Director) and forfeiture for malus events. The use 
of  a  deferral  plan  strengthens  the  link  between  executive  re-
ward and long-term shareholder value. The award period of de-
ferral may be up to three years depending on quantum. There 
will be no change in the structure of the plan for 2013. 

Half of the CFO’s 2012 bonus payment was deferred into shares 
which  shall  vest  in  three  equal  tranches  on  each  of  the  three  
anniversaries following grant.

Long term incentives
As  described  above,  the  Executive  Directors  do  not  currently 
participate  in  any  long  term  incentive  arrangements,  reflect-
ing the significant alignment achieved through large personal 
shareholdings. 

The Committee will keep this under review to ensure it remains 
appropriate.  In  the  event  that  long  term  incentive  awards  are 
made  to  Executive  Directors,  they  would  normally  be  made 
under the Glencore Performance Share Plan (described below) 
and  would  include  performance  targets  measured  over  a  pe-
riod of at least three years. 

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The Glencore Performance Share Plan (PSP)
The PSP was adopted on Admission. The table below sets out 
the key features of the plan, which the Committee believes to 
be aligned with UK best practice. 

Shareholding
The Remuneration Committee believes that a significant share-
holding by Executive Directors aligns their long-term economic 
interests with those of our shareholders and demonstrates their 
commitment to the business.

Key features

Details

Form of award

•  Conditional shares or nil-cost options

Individual limits

•  500% of base salary

Aggregate limits

•  The Company’s share plans include best 

Malus clauses

Change of control

practice dilution limits: 10% in ten years under 
all share plans and 5% in ten years under 
discretionary plans.

•  Awards can be reduced or extinguished in the 
event that a participant’s actions or behaviour 
results in a material loss, or detriment, to the 
Company.

•  Participants may be required or permitted to 
exchange awards for equivalent awards over 
shares in the acquiring company; and

•  Alternatively, the Committee has discretion to 

determine that awards vest immediately,  
subject to time and (if applicable) perfor-
mance proration.

Leaver conditions •  Awards generally lapse except for death,  

disability and when the Committee exercises 
its discretion otherwise;

•  On death, awards generally vest in full, unless 

the Committee decides otherwise; and

•  In other circumstances the terms of vesting 

will be determined by the Committee.

Given  the  status  of  our  current  Executive  Directors  as  major 
shareholders (see the Directors’ share interests table in section 
3.5),  the  Committee  considers  formal  shareholding  require-
ments  unnecessary  at  this  time.  However,  the  Committee  will 
keep  this  under  review  and  may  introduce  a  shareholding  re-
quirement if it becomes appropriate to do so in the future.

Pensions
The  Executive  Directors  participate  in  the  Group’s  defined 
contribution  pension  scheme  which  is  operated  for  all  staff  at 
its  Baar  office.  Contributions  are  paid  in  CHF  and  represented 
amounts equivalent to c.15 – 19% (contributions are age related) 
of CHF 278,400 for each Executive Director. 

Other benefits
The  Executive  Directors  benefit  from  the  same  insurance  ar-
rangements  provided  to  all  its  Swiss  employees  being  salary 
loss (long term sickness) and accident insurance cover.

Total shareholder return relative performance
The graph below shows the Company’s performance, measured 
by total shareholder return, compared with the performance of 
the FTSE Mining Sector index. The Company is a constituent of 
this index and it has been chosen as it is the widely recognised 
performance comparison for large UK-listed mining companies. 
The time line on the graph starts on 24 May 2011, the date of 
Admission. In drawing up this graph it has been assumed that 
all  dividends  paid  have  been  reinvested,  which  the  Company 
believes is a fair method of calculation.

110

100

90

80

70

60

50

5/11

8/11

11/11

2/12

5/12

8/12

11/12

FTSE 350 Mining 
Glencore

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  97

Executive Directors’ Contracts 
The table below summarises the key features of the Executive Directors’ service contracts.

Provision

Service contract terms

Notice period

Contract date

•  12 months’ notice by either party

•  Employment contracts for the CEO and CFO are dated 28 April 2011

Expiry date
Termination payment •  No special arrangements or entitlements on termination
Change in control

•  Rolling service contract

•  In the event of a change of control of the Company, the contracts of the Executive Directors do not provide for any 

enhanced payments, nor for any liquidated damages 

External appointments
The Executive Directors each held external appointments (being directorships of non-subsidiary companies) during 2012. These 
are referred to at the end of their respective biographical summaries in section 3.2. The Executive Directors assign to the Group 
any compensation which they receive from such external Board directorships. 

AUdited seCtiON

Directors’ emoluments
The total emoluments, including contributions made in respect of pension plans, for the Directors for the 2012 financial year were:

GBP thousand

Base salary/fees

Annual bonus

Pension and 
 other benefits 1

2012 Total 

2011 Total  2

Total US $
thousand  3

Executive Directors
Ivan Glasenberg

Steven Kalmin

Non-Executive Directors
Simon Murray

Peter Coates

Leonhard Fischer

Anthony Hayward

William Macaulay

Li Ning

Total

925

700

1 625

675

179

129

159

127

91

1 360

2 985

–

1 400

1 400

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

39

30

69

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

964
2 130
3 094

675

179

129

159

127

91

1 360

964
1 431 4

2 395

456

128

92

113

90

65

944

1 400

69

4 454

3 339

1 533
3 387
4 920

1 073

285

205

253

202

145

2 163

7 083

¹  This constitutes the cost to the Company of the provision of the benefits referred to under Pension and Other Benefits above. These costs have 
been borne in Swiss Francs and have been converted to UK Pounds Sterling using the exchange rates stated in the currency table on page 47.

2  For the period from incorporation of Glencore International plc to 31 December 2011. The same methodology applies in the next table.
3  These amounts are paid in a foreign currency and have been converted to U.S. Dollars using the exchange rates stated in the currency table 

on page 47.

4  For the 2011 financial year, Mr Kalmin was awarded the same bonus as 2012, however he chose to waive half the award, which explains the 

difference between 2012 and 2011.

Directors’ contracts
All Directors’ contracts will be available for inspection on the terms to be specified in the Notice of the 2013 AGM.

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Single number for total remuneration
This table presents a single figure of remuneration earned by the Executive Directors in respect of 2012, taking into account the 
draft UK government remuneration regulations. 

GBP thousand

Executive Directors
Ivan Glasenberg

Steven Kalmin

Base salary/ 
fees ¹

Benefits 2 

Pension 2

Annual 
bonus 3

Long term 
incentives 4

2012 
Total 

2011 
Total

2012 
Total US $ 5

925

700

2

2

36

28

–
1 400

–

–

964

2 130

964
1 431

1 533

3 387

¹  Base salary/fees paid during the year. 
2  This constitutes the cost to the Company of the provision of the benefits referred to under Pension and Other Benefits above. These costs have 
been borne in Swiss Francs and have been converted to UK Pounds Sterling using the exchange rates stated in the currency table on page 47.
3  Value of annual bonus awarded to the CFO, including any deferral amounts, in respect of 2012. For the 2011 financial year, Mr Kalmin was 
awarded the same bonus as 2012, however he chose to waive half the award, which explains the difference between 2012 and 2011. The CEO 
did not participate in the annual bonus plan in 2011 on 2012. 

4  Executive Directors did not participate in the Company’s Performance Share Plan or in any other form of LTI. 
5  These amounts are paid in a foreign currency and have been converted to U.S. Dollars using the exchange rates stated in the currency table 

on page 47. 

Non-Executive Directors
Letters  of  appointment  and  re-election  –  all  Non-Executive  
Directors  have  letters  of  appointment  with  the  Company  for 
an initial period of three years from their date of appointment, 
subject  to  reappointment  at  each  AGM.  Each  letter  is  dated 
28 April 2011. The Company may terminate each appointment 
by immediate notice and there are no special arrangements or 
entitlements on termination.

Policy  for  determining  Non-Executive  Directors  (NED)  fees  – 
the  initial  remuneration  of  the  NEDs  was  determined  by  the 
Board prior to the IPO in 2011 within the limits set by the Arti-
cles of Association. NEDs are only remunerated through fees. 
No  increases  in  fees  were  made  in  respect  of  2012  and  none 
have been made for 2013. Further details are provided below. 
In  particular,  they  are  not  eligible  to  participate  in  any  of  the 
Company’s share incentive schemes or join any Company pen-
sion scheme.

The Board’s policy is to review NED remuneration levels peri-
odically to ensure that they remain aligned with those of other 
major listed companies.

Annual fees for 2012 were paid in accordance with a Non-Exec-
utive Director’s role and responsibilities as follows:

2012

Directors
Chairman

Senior Independent Director

Non-Executive Director 

Remuneration Committee
Chairman

Member
Audit Committee
Chairman

Member
Nomination Committee
Chairman

Member
HSEC Committee
Chairman 

Member

GBP 
thousand

US $
thousand 1

675

109

79

28

15

35

20

23

12

80

12

1 073

173

126

44

24

56

32

37

19

127

19

¹  These  amounts  are  set  in  UK  Pounds  Sterling  and  have  been  con-
verted to U.S. Dollars using the exchange rates stated in the currency 
table on page 47. 

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  99

 
diReCtORs’ PeNsiON eNtitLeMeNts

Non-Executive Directors have no entitlement in respect of any 
pension  arrangements.  The  Executive  Directors  have  never 
been  members  of  defined  benefit  schemes  provided  by  the 
Group and accordingly they have no accrued entitlements un-
der these schemes. 

For  the  Executive  Directors,  the  following  contributions  have 
been made in 2012 to the Group’s defined contribution pension 
scheme which it operates for its Swiss based employees (which 
amounts have been included in the third numeric column in the 
table above):

2012

Ivan Glasenberg

Steven Kalmin

GBP 
thousand

US $
thousand

36 ¹

28 ¹

51

39

¹  These  payments  have  been  converted  from  Swiss  Francs  to  UK 
Pounds  Sterling  and  US  dollars  using  the  exchange  rates  stated  in 
the Currency table on page 47.

diReCtORs’ sHARe iNteRests

The  Directors  who  held  office  at  31  December  2012  have  the 
beneficial interests in the issued share capital of the Company 
shown in the Directors’ share interests table in section 3.5.

Approval
Approved by the Board of Directors and signed on its behalf by:

William Macaulay
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee

22 March 2013

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overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

3.5 | directors’ report

Introduction
This Annual Report is presented by the Directors on the affairs 
of Glencore International plc (the Company) and its subsidiaries 
(the Group or Glencore), together with the financial statements 
and auditors’ report, for the year ended 31 December 2012. The 
Directors’ Report including details of the business, the develop-
ment  of  the  Group  and  likely  future  developments  as  set  out 
in  the  Overview  and  Business  review  section,  which  together 
forms the management report for the purposes of the UK Finan-
cial Services Authority’s Disclosure and Transparency Rule (DTR) 
4.1.8R. The notice concerning forward looking statements is set 
out at the end of the Annual Report. References to the Company 
may also include references to the Group or part of the Group.

Corporate Governance
A report on corporate governance and compliance with the UK 
Corporate Governance Code is set out in sections 3.1 to 3.4 and 
forms part of this report by reference.

Creditor payment policy and practice
In  view  of  the  international  nature  of  the  Group’s  operations 
there is no specific Group-wide policy in respect of payments 
to  suppliers.  Individual  operating  entities  are  responsible  for 
agreeing  terms  and  conditions  for  their  business  transactions 
and ensuring that suppliers are aware of the terms of payment. 
It is Group policy that payments are made in accordance with 
those  terms,  provided  that  all  trading  terms  and  conditions 
have been met by the supplier.

Corporate structure
Glencore International plc is a public company limited by shares, 
incorporated in Jersey and domiciled in Baar, Switzerland and its 
shares are listed on the London and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges.

Glencore International plc is a holding company with no busi-
ness activity other than the holding of investments in the Group 
and therefore had no trade creditors at 31 December 2012.

Principal activities 
Glencore is one of the world’s leading integrated producers 
and marketers of commodities. It has worldwide activities in  
the  production,  sourcing,  processing,  refining,  transporting, 
storage,  financing  and  supply  of  metals  and  minerals,  energy 
products and agricultural products. 

Financial results and dividends
The Group’s financial results are set out in the financial state-
ments and in the Financial review section of this annual report.

The Board recommends a final dividend of $ 0.1035 per share; 
including the interim dividend of $ 0.054 per share which has  
already been paid, this provides for a total dividend for the 2012 
financial year of $ 0.1575 per share. Shareholders will be asked to 
approve the final dividend at the Annual General Meeting due to 
be held on 16 May 2013, for payment on 7 June 2013 to ordinary 
shareholders whose names are on the register on 24 May 2013.

Review  of  business,  future  developments  and  post  balance 
sheet events
A  review  of  the  business  and  the  future  developments  of  the 
Group is presented in the Overview and the Business review.

A full description of acquisitions, disposals, and material chang-
es to Group companies undertaken during the year, including 
post  balance  sheet  events,  is  included  in  the  Financial  review 
and in note 24 of the financial statements.

Financial instruments
Descriptions  of  the  use  of  financial  instruments  and  Glencore 
financial  risk  management  objectives  and  policies,  including 
hedging activities and exposure to price risk, credit risk, liquid-
ity  risk  and  cash  flow  risk  are  included  in  section  1.7  Principal 
risks  and  uncertainties  and  in  notes  25  and  26  of  the  financial 
statements.

Health, safety, environment & communities (HSEC)
An overview of health, safety and environmental performance and 
community participation is provided in section 1.5 Sustainability.

Exploration and research and development
The  Group  business  units  carry  out  exploration  and  research 
and development activities that are necessary to support and 
expand their operations.

Charitable donations
In addition to our large-scale community programmes, Glencore 
makes donations and provides sponsorship to various causes. 
Guidance  on  Glencore’s  policy  towards  charitable  contribu-
tions is set out in the Glencore Corporate Practice programme. 
For the year ended 31 December 2012, the Group spent a total  
of $ 95 million (2011: $ 140 million), a large part of this difference 
due  to  the  conclusion  of  an  extensive  investment  project  at  
Kazzinc  on  both  purely  philanthropic  and  community  invest-
ment initiatives.

Employee policies and involvement
Glencore  operates  an  equal  opportunities  policy  that  aims  to 
treat  individuals  fairly  and  not  to  discriminate  on  the  basis  of 
sex, race, ethnic origin, disability or on any other basis. Applica-
tions  for  employment  and  promotion  are  fully  considered  on 
their merits, and employees are given appropriate training and 
equal opportunities for career development and promotion.

Where  disability  occurs  during  employment,  the  Group  seeks 
to accommodate that disability where reasonably possible, in-
cluding with appropriate training. 

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  101

 
The  Group  places  considerable  value  on  the  involvement  of 
its  employees  which  is  reflected  in  the  principles  of  Glencore  
Corporate  Practice  and  its  related  guidance,  which  requires 
regular,  open,  fair  and  respectful  communication,  zero  toler-
ance for  human rights violations, fair remuneration and, above 
all, a safe working environment. 

Employee communication is mainly provided by the Group’s in-
tranet and corporate website. A range of information is made 
available to employees including all policies applicable to them 
as  well  as  information  on  the  Group’s  financial  performance 
and the main drivers of its business. Employee consultation de-
pends upon the type and location of operation or office. The 
Group  made  its  first  grants  under  its  Performance  Share  Plan 
in 2012. 

Directors’ conflicts of interest
Under  Jersey  law  and  the  Company’s  Articles  of  Association 
(which mirror section 175 of the UK Companies Act 2006), a Direc-
tor must avoid a situation in which he has, or can have, a direct or 
indirect interest that conflicts, or possibly may conflict, with the 
interests  of  the  Company.  The  duty  is  not  infringed  if  the  mat-
ter has been authorised by the Directors. Under the Articles, the 
Board has the power to authorise potential or actual conflict situ-
ations.  The  Board  maintains  effective  procedures  to  enable  the 
Directors to notify the Company of any actual or potential conflict 
situations and for those situations to be reviewed and, if appropri-
ate, to be authorised by the Board. Directors’ conflict situations 
are reviewed annually. A register of authorisations is maintained.

Directors’ liabilities and indemnities
The Company has granted third party indemnities to each of its 
Directors against any liability that attaches to them in defend-
ing  proceedings  brought  against  them,  to  the  extent  permit-
ted by the Jersey Law. In addition, Directors and Officers of the 
Company and its subsidiaries are covered by Directors & Offic-
ers liability insurance.

Directors
The names of the Company’s Directors who served during the 
year, together with their biographical details and other informa-
tion, are shown in section 3.2.

Directors’ interests
Details of interests in the ordinary shares of the Company of those 
Directors who held office at 31 December 2012 are given below:

Anthony Hayward
William Macaulay ¹
Li Ning

0

139 996 976

123 000

0.0%

1.97%

0.0%

¹  Of these shares, 129,372,165 ordinary shares are held by FR Galaxy Hold-
ings  S.a.r.l.  (FR)  and  10,624,811  by  ECP  Galaxy  Holdings  S.a.r.l.  (ECP). 
The  Company  has  been  notified  that  (1)  FR  is  a  connected  person  of 
William Macaulay and (2) ECP is an affiliate of FR. In addition, FR has an 
economic interest under swap arrangements in 19,787,834 shares and 
ECP in 1,125,000 shares (being an aggregate 20,912,834 shares, which is 
approximately 0.3% of the issued share capital of the Company).

No  Director  has  any  other  interest  in  the  share  capital  of  the 
Company whether pursuant to any share plan or otherwise.

No  changes  in  Directors’  interests  have  occurred  between 
31 December 2012 and 22 March 2013.

Each of Mr Glasenberg and Mr Kalmin has executed a Lock-Up 
Deed, pursuant to  which they  have agreed, subject  to certain 
customary exceptions, that during the period from 24 May 2011 
to 24 May 2016 they will not dispose of the ordinary shares held 
by them at 24 May 2011. The percentage of Executive Director’s 
Ordinary Shares held at 24 May 2011 that is subject to restric-
tions on disposal decreases on each anniversary date by 20 per 
cent of the original holding.

Share capital and shareholder rights
At  the  date  of  this  report,  the  ordinary  share  capital  of  the  
Company was $ 70,994,560.31 represented by 7,099,456,031 or-
dinary shares of $ 0.01 each. 

Major interests in shares
As at 22 March 2013 Glencore had been notified of the following 
interests representing 3% or more of the issued ordinary share 
capital of the Company:

Name of holder

Number 
of shares

Percentage 
of issued 
share capital

Ivan Glasenberg

1 101 848 752

15.52%

Daniel Francisco Maté Badenes

Aristotelis Mistakidis
Tor Peterson 

Alex Beard

417 468 330

414 730 597
366 074 885

320 260 410

5.88%

5.84%
5.16%

4.51%

Name of Director

Executive
Ivan Glasenberg

Steven Kalmin

Non executive
Simon Murray

Peter Coates

Leonhard Fischer

Ordinary shares 
held as at 
31 December 2012

Percentage 
of issued 
share capital

1 101 848 752

70 523 154

0

82 700

0

15.52%

1.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

Share capital
The  rights  attaching  to  the  Company’s  ordinary  shares,  being 
the  only  share  class  of  the  Company,  are  set  out  in  the  Com-
pany’s  Articles  of  Association  (the  ‘Articles’),  which  can  be 
found  at  www.glencore.com.  Subject  to  Jersey  law,  any  share 
may be issued with or have attached to it such preferred, de-
ferred or other special rights and restrictions as the Company 
may by special resolution decide or, if no such resolution is in 
effect, or so far as the resolution does not make specific provi-
sion, as the Board may decide. No such resolution is currently 
in effect. Subject to the recommendation of the Board, holders 
of ordinary shares may receive a dividend. On liquidation, hold-
ers of ordinary shares may share in the assets of the Company. 

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Holders of ordinary shares are also entitled to receive the Com-
pany’s Annual Report and Accounts (or a summarised version) 
and,  subject  to  certain  thresholds  being  met,  may  requisition 
the Board to convene a general meeting (‘GM’) or the proposal 
of resolutions at AGMs. None of the ordinary shares carry any 
special rights with regard to control of the Company.

Holders of ordinary shares are entitled to attend and speak at 
GMs of the Company and to appoint one or more proxies or, if 
the holder of shares is a corporation, a corporate representa-
tive. On a show of hands, each holder of ordinary shares who 
(being an individual) is present in person or (being a corpora-
tion) is present by a duly appointed corporate representative, 
not being himself a member, shall have one vote and on a poll, 
every holder of ordinary shares present in person or by proxy 
shall  have  one  vote  for  every  share  of  which  he  is  the  holder. 
Electronic  and  paper  proxy  appointments  and  voting  instruc-
tions  must  be  received  not  later  than  48  hours  before  a  GM. 
A holder of ordinary shares can lose the entitlement to vote at 
GMs where that holder has been served with a disclosure no-
tice  and  has  failed  to  provide  the  Company  with  information 
concerning interests held in those shares. Except as (1) set out 
above and (2) permitted under applicable statutes, there are no 
limitations  on  voting  rights  of  holders  of  a  given  percentage, 
number of votes or deadlines for exercising voting rights.

The Directors may refuse to register a transfer of a certificated 
share which is not fully paid, provided that the refusal does not 
prevent dealings in shares in the Company from taking place on 
an open and proper basis or where the Company has a lien over 
that share. The Directors may also refuse to register a transfer 
of  a  certificated  share  unless  the  instrument  of  transfer  is:  (i) 
lodged, duly stamped (if necessary), at the registered office of 
the Company or any other place as the Board may decide ac-
companied by the certificate for the share(s) to be transferred 
and/or  such  other  evidence  as  the  Directors  may  reasonably 
require  as  proof  of  title;  or  (ii)  in  respect  of  only  one  class  of 
shares.

Transfers  of  uncertificated  shares  must  be  carried  out  using 
CREST and the Directors can refuse to register a transfer of an 
uncertificated share in accordance with the regulations govern-
ing the operation of CREST.

The Directors may decide to suspend the registration of trans-
fers, for up to 30 days a year, by closing the register of share-
holders. The Directors cannot suspend the registration of trans-
fers of any uncertificated shares without obtaining consent from 
CREST.

There are no other restrictions on the transfer of ordinary shares 
in the Company except: (1) certain restrictions may from time to 
time be imposed by laws and regulations (for example insider 
trading laws); (2) pursuant to the Company’s share dealing code 
whereby the Directors and certain employees of the Company 
require approval to deal in the Company’s shares; and (3) where 
a shareholder with at least a 0.25% interest in the Company’s is-
sued share capital has been served with a disclosure notice and 
has  failed  to  provide  the  Company  with  information  concern-
ing interests in those shares. There are no agreements between 

holders  of  ordinary  shares  that  are  known  to  the  Company 
which may result in restrictions on the transfer of securities or 
on voting rights.

The  rules  for  appointment  and  replacement  of  the  Directors 
are set out in the Articles. Directors can be appointed by the 
Company by ordinary resolution at a GM or by the Board upon 
the recommendation of the Nomination Committee. The Com-
pany  can  remove  a  Director  from  office,  including  by  passing 
an ordinary resolution or by notice being given by all the other 
Directors. 

The powers of the Directors are set out in the Articles and pro-
vide  that  the  Board  may  exercise  all  the  powers  of  the  Com-
pany including to borrow money. The Company may by ordinary 
resolution  authorise  the  Board  to  issue  shares,  and  increase, 
consolidate,  sub-divide  and  cancel  shares  in  accordance  with 
its Articles and Jersey law. 

The Company may amend its Articles by special resolution ap-
proved at a GM.

Purchase of Own Shares
At  the  end  of  the  year,  the  Directors  had  authority,  under  a 
shareholders’  resolution  passed  on  9  May  2012,  to  purchase 
through the market up to 10% of the Company’s issued ordinary 
shares immediately following the IPO. This authority expires at 
the conclusion of the AGM of the Company to be held in 2013. 
No  shares have been purchased by the Company since its IPO.

Going concern
The financial position of the Group, its cash flows, liquidity posi-
tion and borrowing facilities are set out in the Overview and the 
Business  review  sections.  Furthermore,  note  25  of  the  consoli-
dated financial statements includes the Group’s objectives and 
policies  for  managing  its  capital,  its  financial  risk  management 
objectives,  details  of  its  financial  instruments  and  hedging  ac-
tivities  and  its  exposure  to  credit  and  liquidity  risk.  Significant 
financing activities that took place during the year are detailed in 
the Business review section. As a consequence, the Directors be-
lieve that the Group is well placed to manage its business despite 
the current highly uncertain economic environment.

The  Directors  believe,  having  made  appropriate  enquiries  that 
the  Group  has  adequate  resources  to  continue  its  operational 
existence  for  the  foreseeable  future.  For  this  reason  they  con-
tinue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial 
statements. The Directors have made this assessment after con-
sideration  of  the  Group’s  budgeted  cash  flows  and  related  as-
sumptions, which incorporate the acquired operations of Viterra 
Inc.  (see  note  24),  including  appropriate  stress  testing  thereof, 
key risks and uncertainties, undrawn debt facilities, debt maturity 
review, the likely impact on the Group of the proposed merger 
with Xstrata plc (see Note 28) and in accordance with the Going 
Concern and Liquidity Guidance for Directors of UK Companies 
2009 published by the UK Financial Reporting Council. 

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  103

The  Directors  are  responsible  for  keeping  proper  accounting 
records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the 
financial position of the Company and enable them to ensure 
that the financial statements comply with the Companies (Jer-
sey)  Law  1991.  They  are  also  responsible  for  safeguarding  the 
assets of the Company and hence for taking reasonable steps 
for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregulari-
ties.  The  Directors  are  responsible  for  the  maintenance  and  
integrity  of  the  corporate  and  financial  information  included 
on  the  Company’s  website.  Legislation  in  the  UK  governing  
the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may 
differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Signed on behalf of the board:

John Burton
Company Secretary
22 March 2013

AUditORs

Each of the persons who is a Director at the date of approval of 
this annual report confirms that:
(a)   so far as the Director is aware, there is no relevant audit infor-
mation of which the Company’s auditors are unaware; and
(b)  the  Director  has  taken  all  the  steps  that  he  ought  to  have 
taken as a director in order to make himself aware of any rel-
evant audit information and to establish that the Company’s 
auditors are aware of that information.

Deloitte LLP have expressed their willingness to continue in of-
fice as auditors and a resolution to reappoint them will be pro-
posed at the forthcoming AGM.

stAteMeNt Of diReCtORs’ ResPONsiBiLities

The Directors are responsible for preparing the annual report 
and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and 
regulations.  Company  law  requires  the  Directors  to  prepare  
financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the 
Directors  have  elected  to  prepare  the  financial  statements  in 
accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as 
issued  by  the  International  Accounting  Standards  Board  and 
International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted for use 
in  the  European  Union  (together  ‘IFRS’).  The  financial  state-
ments are required by law to be properly prepared in accord-
ance with the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991. International Ac-
counting Standard 1 requires that financial statements present 
fairly for each financial year the Company’s financial position, 
financial performance and cash flows. This requires the faithful 
representation of the effects of transactions, other events and 
conditions in accordance with the definitions and recognition 
criteria  for  assets,  liabilities,  income  and  expenses  set  out  in 
the International Accounting Standards Board’s ‘Framework for 
the preparation and presentation of financial statements’. 

In virtually all circumstances, a fair presentation will be achieved 
by compliance with all applicable IFRSs. However, the Directors 
are also required to:
•   properly select and apply accounting policies; 
•   present information, including accounting policies, in a man-
ner  that  provides  relevant,  reliable,  comparable  and  under-
standable information; 

•   provide  additional  disclosures  when  compliance  with  the 
specific  requirements  in  IFRSs  are  insufficient  to  enable  us-
ers to understand the impact of particular transactions, other 
events  and  conditions  on  the  entity’s  financial  position  and 
financial performance; and

•   make an assessment of the Company’s ability to continue as 

a going concern. 

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  |  Annual Report 2012  |  105

Viterra, outer harbour, South Australia

financial 
StatementS

4 | Financial Statements

  Confirmation of directors’ responsibilities 

Independent auditors’ report 

  Consolidated statement of income 
  Consolidated statement of comprehensive income 
  Consolidated statement of financial position 
  Consolidated statement of cash flows 
  Consolidated statement of changes in equity 
  Notes to the financial statements 

108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115

 
Financial StatementS

ConfiRmAtion of diReCtoRs’ Responsibilities

We confirm that to the best of our knowledge: 

•  the financial statements, prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and interpretations as adopted 
by the European Union, International Financial Reporting Standards and interpretations as issued by the International Account-
ing Standards Board and the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and 
profit of the Group and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole; and 

•  the  management  report,  which  is  incorporated  in  the  Overview  and  Business  review  sections,  includes  a  fair  review  of  the  
development and performance of the business and the position of the Group and the undertakings included in the consolidation 
taken as a whole, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties they face.

Ivan Glasenberg 
Chief Executive Officer 

Steven Kalmin
Chief Financial officer

22 March 2013

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Financial StatementS
overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

independent AUditoR’s RepoRt to tHe membeRs of GlenCoRe inteRnAtionAl plC

We have audited the group financial statements (the “financial 
statements”)  of  Glencore  International  plc  for  the  year  ended 
31  December  2012  which  comprise  the  Consolidated  State-
ment  of  Income,  the  Consolidated  Statement  of  Comprehen-
sive Income, the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, 
the  Consolidated  Statement  of  Cash  Flows,  the  Consolidated 
Statement of Changes in Equity and the related notes 1 to 32. 
The  financial  reporting  framework  that  has  been  applied  in 
their  preparation  is  applicable  law  and  International  Financial 
Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by European Union.

Separate opinion in relation to iFRS as issued by the iaSB
As  explained  in  the  accounting  policies  to  the  financial  state-
ments, the Group, in addition to complying with its legal obliga-
tion to comply with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union, 
has also applied IFRSs as issued by the International Account-
ing Standards Board (IASB). In our opinion the Group financial 
statements comply with IFRSs as issued by the IASB.

matters on which we are required to report by exception
We have nothing to report in respect of the following:

This  report  is  made  solely  to  the  company’s  members,  as  a 
body, in accordance with Article 113A of the Companies (Jersey) 
Law 1991. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might 
state to the company’s members those matters we are required 
to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. 
To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or as-
sume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the 
company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this re-
port, or for the opinions we have formed.

Under  the  Companies  (Jersey)  Law  1991  we  are  required  to  
report to you if, in our opinion:
•  proper accounting records have not been kept by the parent 
company, or proper returns adequate for our audit have not 
been received from branches not visited by us; or

•  the  financial  statements  are  not  in  agreement  with  the  ac-

counting records and returns; or

•  we have not received all the information and explanations we 

require for our audit.

Under the Listing Rules we are required to review the part of the 
Corporate  Governance  Statement  relating  to  the  company’s 
compliance with the nine provisions of the UK Corporate Gov-
ernance Code specified for our review.

Other matters
In our opinion the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report 
to be audited has been properly prepared in accordance with 
the provisions of the UK Companies Act 2006 as if that Act had 
applied to the company.

We  have  reviewed  the  directors’  statement,  contained  within 
the  Directors’  Report,  in  relation  to  going  concern  as  if  the 
company  had  been  incorporated  in  the  UK  and  have  nothing  
to report to you in that respect.

David Quinlin
for and on behalf of Deloitte LLP
Chartered Accountants and Recognized Auditor
London, UK

22 March 2013

Respective responsibilities of directors and auditor
As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors’ Responsi-
bilities, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the 
financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true 
and fair view. Our responsibility is to audit and express an opin-
ion  on  the  financial  statements  in  accordance  with  applicable 
law  and  International  Standards  on  Auditing  (UK  and  Ireland). 
Those standards require us to comply with the Auditing Prac-
tices Board’s Ethical Standards for Auditors.

Scope of the audit of the financial statements
An  audit  involves  obtaining  evidence  about  the  amounts  and 
disclosures  in  the  financial  statements  sufficient  to  give  rea-
sonable  assurance  that  the  financial  statements  are  free  from 
material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error. This 
includes an assessment of: whether the accounting policies are 
appropriate to the group’s circumstances and have been con-
sistently applied and adequately disclosed; the reasonableness 
of significant accounting estimates made by the directors; and 
the overall presentation of the financial statements. In addition, 
we read all the financial and non-financial information in the an-
nual report to identify material inconsistencies with the audited 
financial statements. If we become aware of any apparent mate-
rial misstatements or inconsistencies we consider the implica-
tions for our report. 

Opinion on financial statements
In our opinion the financial statements: 
•  give a true and fair view of the state of the group’s affairs as at 
31 December 2012 and of the group’s profit for the year then 
ended;

•  have  been  properly  prepared  in  accordance  with  IFRS  as 

adopted by European Union; 

•  have been properly prepared in accordance with the Compa-

nies (Jersey) Law 1991.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  109
  |  Annual Report 2010  |  109

Financial StatementS

ConsolidAted stAtement of inCome 
foR tHe yeARs ended 31 deCembeR

US $ million

Revenue

Cost of goods sold

Selling and administrative expenses

Share of income from associates and jointly controlled entities

(Loss) /gain on sale of investments

Other expense – net

Dividend income

Interest income

Interest expense

income before income taxes

Income tax credit

income for the year

attributable to:

Non controlling interests

Equity holders

earnings per share 

Basic (US $)

Diluted (US $)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Notes

2012

2011

214 436

– 210 435

186 152

– 181 938

– 997

367

– 128

– 1 214

17

401

– 1 371

1 076

76

1 152

148

1 004

0.14

0.14

– 857

1 972

9

– 511

24

339

– 1 186

4 004

264

4 268

220

4 048

0.72

0.69

3

4

6

16

16

110  |  Annual Report 2012  |  
110  |  Annual Report 2010  |  

Financial StatementS
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ConsolidAted stAtement of CompReHensive inCome 
foR tHe yeARs ended 31 deCembeR

US $ million

Income for the year

Exchange loss on translation of foreign operations

Loss on cash flow hedges

Loss on available for sale financial instruments

Notes

Share of other comprehensive income /(loss) from associates and jointly controlled entities

Income tax relating to components of other comprehensive income

net loss recognised directly in equity

Loss on available for sale financial instruments transferred to the statement of income

5

Cash flow hedges transferred to the statement of income

Effect of foreign currency exchange differences transferred to the statement of income

Other comprehensive income /(loss)

total comprehensive income

attributable to:

Non controlling interests

Equity holders

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

2012

1 152

– 170

– 93

0

221

0

– 42
1 181

297

– 23

1 413

2 565

94

2 471

2011

4 268

– 59

– 15

– 1 206
– 25

– 2

– 1 307

0

6

0

– 1 301

2 967

214

2 753

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  111
  |  Annual Report 2010  |  111

Financial StatementS

ConsolidAted stAtement of finAnCiAl position
As At 31 deCembeR

US $ million

assets

non current assets

Property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets

Investments in associates and jointly controlled entities

Other investments

Advances and loans

Deferred tax assets

current assets

Inventories

Accounts receivable

Other financial assets

Prepaid expenses and other assets

Marketable securities

Cash and cash equivalents

Assets held for sale

total assets

equity and liabilities

capital and reserves – attributable to equity holders

Share capital

Reserves and retained earnings

Non controlling interests

total equity

non current liabilities

Borrowings

Deferred income

Deferred tax liabilities

Provisions

current liabilities

Borrowings

Viterra asset acquirer loans

Accounts payable

Deferred income

Provisions

Other financial liabilities

Income tax payable

Liabilities held for sale

total equity and liabilities

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

112  |  Annual Report 2012  |  
112  |  Annual Report 2010  |  

Notes

2012

2011

7

8

9

9

10

6

11

12

26

13

14

15

19

20

6

21

19

14

23

20

21

26

14

23 238

2 664

18 767

1 589

3 758

1 462

51 478

20 682

24 882

2 650

235

38

2 782

51 269

2 790

54 059

105 537

71

31 195

31 266

3 034

34 300

19 028

601

2 955

1 504

24 088

16 498

2 580

23 501

116

62

3 388

257

46 402

747

47 149

105 537

14 639

210

18 858

1 547

4 141

1 039

40 434

17 129

21 895

5 065

297

40

1 305

45 731

0

45 731

86 165

69

29 196

29 265

3 070

32 335

19 844

158

1 399

953

22 354

8 224

0

18 136

24

98

4 804

190

31 476

0

31 476

86 165

 
Financial StatementS
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ConsolidAted stAtement of CAsH flows 
foR tHe yeARs ended 31 deCembeR

US $ million

Operating activities

Income before income taxes
adjustments for:
Depreciation and amortisation
Share of income from associates and jointly controlled entities
Loss/(gain) on sale of investments
Impairments 
Other non cash items – net
Interest expense – net
cash generated by operating activities before working capital changes

Working capital changes
Decrease /(increase) in accounts receivable 1
(Increase) /decrease in inventories
Increase /(decrease) in accounts payable 2
total working capital changes

Income tax paid
Interest received
Interest paid
net cash generated/(used) by operating activities
investing activities
Payments of non current advances and loans
Acquisition of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired
Disposal of subsidiaries
Purchase of investments
Proceeds from sale of investments
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Payments for exploration and evaluation
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
Dividends received from associates
net cash (used) by investing activities
Financing activities
Share issuance, net of issue costs
Repayment of Perpetual bonds
Repayment of Euro bonds
Proceeds from Xstrata secured bank loans
Proceeds from issuance of Sterling, Swiss Franc and Euro bonds
Proceeds from other non current borrowings
Repayment of other non current borrowings
Margin receipts in respect of financing related hedging activities
Viterra asset acquirer loans
Net proceeds from/(repayment of) current borrowings 
Acquisition of additional interest in subsidiaries
Disposal of interest in subsidiaries
Payment of profit participation certificates
Dividend paid to non controlling interests
Dividend paid to equity holders of the parent
net cash generated by financing activities
Increase /(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
cash and cash equivalents, end of year

Notes

2012

2011

1 076

4 004

3
5

24
24

15
19
19
19
19
19
19

24
19

19

17

1 473
– 367
128
 1 650
– 148
970
4 782

720
– 1 611
1 618
727

– 344
206
– 990
4 381

– 203
– 6 463
281
– 633
23
– 2 970
– 147
112
461
– 9 539

0
0
0
0
2 951
303
– 594
176
2 580
3 463
– 669
45
– 554
0
– 1 066
6 635
1 477
1 305
2 782

1 066
– 1 972
– 9
32
133
847
4 101

– 1 797
239
– 1 616
– 3 174

– 472
121
– 919
– 343

– 320
– 350
4
– 919
155
– 2 606
– 204
184
366
– 3 690

7 616
– 681
– 700
384
237
200
– 169
21
0
– 1 493
– 315
0
– 861
– 18
– 346
3 875
– 158
1 463
1 305

1  Includes movements in other financial assets, prepaid expenses, other assets and other non cash current assets.
2   Includes movements in other financial liabilities, liabilities held for sale and current provisions.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  113
  |  Annual Report 2010  |  113

 
 
Financial StatementS

ConsolidAted stAtement of CHAnGes in eqUity
foR tHe yeARs ended 31 deCembeR

Total  
reserves 
and   
retained 
earnings

Share 
capital

Total 
equity 
attribut-
able to 
equity 
holders

Non 
control-
ling 
interests

Retained 
earnings

Share 
premium 1 

Other 
reserves 1 

5 659

4 048

– 25

4 023

0

0

0

0

5 694

7 607

21

0

0

0

– 346

0

0

58

0

0

0

– 272

0

5 387

4 048

– 1 270

– 1 295

– 1 270

0

0

0

0

0

– 98

0

0

2 753

13 821

– 7

7 607

21

58

– 98

0

– 346

37

0

0

0

5 424

4 048

– 1 295

2 753

16

13 837

7

9

0

0

0

0

0

0

7 616

21

58

– 98

0

– 346

2 894

220

– 6

214

0

0

0

0

0

– 235

215

– 18

Total 
equity

8 318

4 268

– 1 301

2 967

13 837

0

7 616

21

58

– 333

215

– 364

4 039

26 797

– 1 640

29 196

69

29 265

3 070

32 335

4 039

1 004

221

1 225

0

111

0

0

0

0

5 375

26 797

– 1 640

29 196

69

29 265

3 070

32 335

0

0

0

957

0

0

0

0

– 1 066

26 688

0

1 246

1 246

0

0

0

1 004

1 467

2 471

957

111

0

– 474

– 474

0

0

0

– 1 066

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

1 004

1 467

2 471

959

111

0

– 474

0

– 1 066

148

– 54

94

0

0

– 419

– 971

1 260

1 152

1 413

2 565

959

111

– 419

– 1 445

1 260

0

– 1 066

– 868

31 195

71

31 266

3 034

34 300

Conversion of HPPS and PPS profit participation plans ¹ 

0

13 821

Conversion of LTS and LTPPS profit participation plans ¹

– 5 701

US $ million

at 1 January 2011

Income for the year

Other comprehensive loss

total comprehensive income

Issue of share capital 1

Tax on Listing related expenses 2

Equity settled share-based payments 3

Change in ownership interest in subsidiaries 

Acquisition of subsidiaries 4

Dividends paid 5

at 31 December 2011

at 1 January 2012

Income for the year

Other comprehensive income

total comprehensive income
Issue of share capital 1

Equity settled share-based payments 3

Put option relating to additional interest in subsidiary 4

Change in ownership interest in subsidiaries

Acquisition of subsidiaries 4

Dividends paid 5

at 31 December 2012

1  See note 15.
²  See note 6.
³  See note 18.
4  See note 24.
5  See note 17.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

114  |  Annual Report 2012  |  
114  |  Annual Report 2010  |  

 
 
Financial StatementS
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notes to tHe finAnCiAl stAtements

1. ACCoUntinG poliCies

corporate information
The Glencore Group (Glencore) is a leading integrated marketer  
and  producer  of  natural  resources,  with  worldwide  activities 
in the marketing of metals and minerals, energy products and  
agricultural products and the production, refinement, process-
ing, storage and transport of these products. Glencore operates 
on a global scale, marketing and distributing physical commod-
ities  sourced  from  third  party  producers  and  own  production 
to industrial consumers, such as those in the automotive, steel, 
power generation, oil and food processing industries. Glencore 
also provides financing, logistics and other services to produ-
cers  and  consumers  of  commodities.  Glencore’s  long  experi-
ence as a commodity merchant has allowed it to develop and 
build  upon  its  expertise  in  the  commodities  which  it  markets 
and cultivate long-term relationships with a broad supplier and 
customer  base  across  diverse  industries  and  in  multiple  geo-
graphic regions. Glencore’s marketing activities are supported 
by investments in industrial assets operating in Glencore’s core 
commodities. 

These consolidated financial statements were authorised for 
issue in accordance with a Directors’ resolution on 22 March 2013. 

listing/Restructuring of the Group
On  24  May  2011,  Glencore  International  plc  (the  “Company”) 
was admitted to the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and 
commenced trading on the London Stock Exchange’s premium 
listed market and on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 25 May 
2011  via  a  secondary  listing  (the  “Listing”).  The  Company  is  
incorporated  in  Jersey,  domiciled  in  Switzerland,  and  is  the  
ultimate  parent  company  of  Glencore  and  owner  of  100%  of  
the issued share capital of Glencore International AG, following 
a restructuring of the ownership interests in Glencore Interna-
tional AG immediately prior to admission (the “Restructuring”) 
(see note 15). The Company’s registered office is at Queensway 
House, Hilgrove Street, St Helier, Jersey, JE1 1ES.

The following accounting treatment was applied to account for 
the Restructuring in 2011:

•  the  consolidated  assets  and  liabilities  of  the  subsidiary 
Glencore International AG were recognised and measured at 
the pre-Restructuring carrying amounts, without restatement 
to fair value; and

•  the retained earnings and other equity balances recognised 
in the consolidated statement of financial position reflect the 
consolidated retained earnings and other equity balances of 
Glencore  International  AG,  as  at  24  May  2011,  immediately 
prior to the Restructuring, and the results of the period from 
1  January  2011  to  24  May  2011,  the  date  of  the  Restructur-
ing, are those of Glencore International AG as the Company 
was not active prior to the Restructuring. Subsequent to the  
Restructuring,  the  equity  structure  reflects  the  applicable 
movements in equity of Glencore International plc, including 
the equity instruments issued to effect the Restructuring and 
the Listing.

Statement of compliance
The accounting policies adopted are in accordance with:
•  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  (IFRS)  and  inter-
pretations as adopted by the European Union (EU) effective 
as of 31 December 2012; and

•  IFRS  and  interpretations  as  issued  by  the  International  
Accounting Standards Board (IASB) effective as of 31 Decem-
ber 2012.

Basis of preparation
The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost 
convention  except  for  the  revaluation  to  fair  value  of  certain 
financial  assets,  liabilities  and  marketing  inventories  and  have 
been  prepared  on  a  going  concern  basis.  The  Directors  have 
made this assessment after consideration of the Group’s budg-
eted  cash  flows  and  related  assumptions,  which  incorporate 
the acquired operations of Viterra Inc. (see note 24), including  
appropriate  stress  testing  thereof,  key  risks  and  uncertain-
ties,  undrawn  debt  facilities,  debt  maturity  review,  the  likely 
impact  on  the  Group  of  the  proposed  merger  with  Xstrata 
plc  (see  Note  28)  and  in  accordance  with  the  Going  Con-
cern  and  Liquidity  Guidance  for  Directors  of  UK  Companies 
2009  published  by  the  Financial  Reporting  Council.  Further  
information on Glencore’s business activities, cash flows, liquid-
ity and performance are set out in the Business review and its 
objectives, policies and processes for managing its capital and 
financial risks are detailed in note 25.

All amounts are expressed in millions of United States Dollars, 
unless other wise stated, consistent with the predominant func-
tional currency of Glencore’s operations.

Under  Article  105(11)  of  the  Companies  (Jersey)  Law  1991  the 
directors of a holding company need not prepare separate ac-
counts  (i.e.  company  only  accounts)  if  consolidated  accounts 
for the company are prepared, unless required to do so by the 
members of the company by ordinary resolution. The members 
of the Company have not passed a resolution requiring separate 
accounts and, in the Directors’ opinion, the Company meets the 
definition of a holding company. As permitted by the law, the 
Directors have elected not to prepare separate accounts.

changes in accounting policies and comparability
The  following  relevant  amendments  to  the  existing  standards 
and interpretations were adopted as of 1 January 2012:
•  Amendments to IFRS 7 – Financial Instruments: Disclosures;
•  Amendments to IAS 12 – Deferred Tax: Recovery of Underly-

ing Assets. 

The  adoption  of  these  revised  standards  and  interpretations 
did  not  have  a  material  impact  on  the  recognition,  measure-
ment or disclosure of reported amounts.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  115
  |  Annual Report 2010  |  115

Financial StatementS

At the date of authorisation of these financial statements, the 
following standards and interpretations applicable to Glencore 
were issued but not yet effective:
•  IFRS 9 – Financial Instruments 
•  IFRS 10 – Consolidated Financial Statements
•  IFRS 11 – Joint Arrangements
•  IFRS 12 – Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities
•  IFRS 13 – Fair Value Measurement
•  IAS 19 – Employee Benefits (2011)
•  IAS 27 – Separate Financial Statements (2011)
•  IAS 28 – Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures (2011)
•  Amendments to IAS 1 – Presentation of Items of Other Com-

prehensive Income

•  Amendments  to  IAS  32  –  Offsetting  Financial  Assets  and  

Financial Liabilities

•  Amendments  to  IFRS  7  –  Disclosures  –  Offsetting  Financial 

Assets and Financial Liabilities

•  IFRIC 20 – Stripping Costs in the Production Phase of a Surface 

Mine

The  Directors  are  currently  evaluating  the  impact  these  new 
standards  and  interpretations  will  have  on  the  financial  state-
ments of Glencore. An outline of the significant impacts identi-
fied to date is set out below.

IFRS 10, IFRS 11 and IFRS 12 (the “Consolidation Standards”)
Glencore will adopt the Consolidation Standards on 1 Janu-
ary 2013 with retrospective application. IFRS 10 provides a single 
basis for consolidation with a new definition of control based on 
having the power to direct the relevant activities of the investee. 
IFRS 11 impacts the accounting for joint arrangements, defined 
as investments or arrangements which are subject to joint con-
trol through contractual agreed sharing of control between two 
or more parties. A joint arrangement is classified as either a joint 
operation or a joint venture, and the option to proportionately 
consolidate  joint  ventures  has  been  removed,  consistent  with 
current Group policy under which joint ventures are accounted 
for using the equity method. IFRS 12 combines the disclosure 
requirements  previously  covered  by  existing  standards  and  
includes additional disclosure requirements. To date, Glencore 
has not identified any material changes in the accounting that 
is  currently  being  applied  to  the  Group’s  subsidiaries,  invest-
ments  or  joint  arrangements  as  a  result  of  the  Consolidation 
Standards.

IAS 19 (2011)
Glencore will adopt the amendments to IAS 19 on 1 January 2013 
with  modified  retrospective  application.  The  amendments 
require  all  actuarial  gains  and  losses  to  be  recognised  imme-
diately  in  other  comprehensive  income  (which  differs  from 
Glencore’s  current  policy  which  applies  the  corridor  method) 
and require the expected return on plan assets (recognised in 
the  statement  of  income)  to  be  calculated  based  on  the  rate 
used  to  discount  the  defined  benefit  obligation.  Upon  adop-
tion, Glencore will recognise $ 164 million of unrecognised actu-
arial losses as at 1 January 2012, increasing the post retirement 
benefits provision (Note 21) with a corresponding adjustment to 
shareholders’ equity and associated deferred tax impact. 

116  |  Annual Report 2012  |  
116  |  Annual Report 2010  |  

Amendments to IAS 1
Glencore  will  adopt  the  amendments  to  IAS  1  on  1  Janu-
ary  2013  with  retrospective  application.  The  amendments  to 
IAS  1  will  not  impact  Glencore’s  financial  statement  balances 
however they will impact the presentation within the Statement 
of Comprehensive Income as Glencore will classify components 
of  other  comprehensive  income  based  on  whether  they  may 
eventually  be  recycled  into  income  (e.g.  currency  translation 
adjustments) versus those items that will never be recycled into 
income (e.g. actuarial gains and losses on pension plans).

IFRIC 20
Glencore will adopt IFRIC 20 on 1 January 2013 with retrospec-
tive application. IFRIC 20 provides a model for accounting for 
costs associated with the removal of waste during the produc-
tion phase of a surface mine, including guidance on the appor-
tionment of the costs incurred for obtaining a current and future 
benefit and how capitalised costs are depreciated. 

Principles of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements of Glencore include the 
accounts  of  the  Company  and  its  subsidiaries.  A  subsidiary  is 
an entity that is ultimately controlled by the Company. Control 
is  the  power  to  govern  the  financial  and  operating  policies  of 
an entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities. Control is 
usually  assumed  where  Glencore  ultimately  owns  or  controls 
more  than  50%  of  the  voting  rights,  unless  evidence  exists  to 
the  contrary.  The  results  of  subsidiaries  acquired  or  disposed 
of during the year are consolidated from the effective date of  
acquisition  or  up  to  the  effective  date  of  disposal,  as  appro-
priate. All intercompany balances, transactions and unrealised 
profits are eliminated.

Non  controlling  interests  in  subsidiaries  are  identified  sepa-
rately from Glencore’s equity and are initially measured either 
at  fair  value  or  at  the  non  controlling  interests’  proportionate 
share of the fair value of the acquiree’s identifiable net assets. 
Subsequent to acquisition, the carrying amount of non control-
ling  interests  is  the  amount  of  those  interests  at  initial  recog-
nition  plus  the  non  controlling  interests’  share  of  subsequent 
changes in equity. Total comprehensive income is attributed to 
non controlling interests even if this results in the non controlling 
interests having a deficit balance.

Changes in Glencore’s interests in subsidiaries that do not result  
in a loss of control are accounted for as equity transactions with 
any difference between the amount by which the non control-
ling interests are adjusted and the fair value of the considera-
tion  paid  or  received  being  recognised  directly  in  equity  and 
attributed to equity holders of Glencore.

investments in associates, jointly controlled entities and joint 
venture operations
Associates and jointly controlled entities (together Associates) 
in which Glencore exercises significant influence or joint control 
are  accounted  for  using  the  equity  method.  Significant  influ-
ence is the power to participate in the financial and operating 
policy  decisions  of  the  investee  but  is  not  control  over  those 
policies. Significant influence is presumed if Glencore holds be-
tween 20% and 50% of the voting rights, unless evidence exists 
to the contrary. Joint control is the contractually agreed sharing 

 
Financial StatementS
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of control over an economic entity where strategic and/or key 
operating decisions require unanimous decision making.

Equity accounting involves Glencore recording its share of the 
Associate’s  net  income  and  equity.  Glencore’s  interest  in  an  
Associate  is  initially  recorded  at  cost  and  is  subsequently  
adjusted  for  Glencore’s  share  of  changes  in  net  assets  of  the 
Associate, less any impairment in the value of individual invest-
ments. Where Glencore transacts with an Associate, unrealised 
profits  and  losses  are  eliminated  to  the  extent  of  Glencore’s  
interest in that Associate.

Changes in Glencore’s interests in Associates are accounted for 
as a gain or loss on disposal with any difference between the 
amount by which the carrying value of the Associate is adjusted 
and  the  fair  value  of  the  consideration  received  being  recog-
nised directly in the statement of income.

Where  Glencore  undertakes  activities  under  joint  venture  op-
eration or asset arrangements, Glencore reports such interests 
using  the  proportionate  consolidation  method.  Glencore’s 
share of the assets, liabilities, income, expenses and cash flows 
of jointly controlled operations or asset arrangements are con-
solidated with the equivalent items in the consolidated financial 
statements on a line by line basis.

Business combinations
Acquisitions  of  subsidiaries  and  businesses  are  accounted  for 
using the acquisition method of accounting, whereby the iden-
tifiable  assets,  liabilities  and  contingent  liabilities  (identifiable 
net assets) are measured on the basis of fair value at the date 
of  acquisition.  Acquisition  related  costs  are  recognised  in  the 
statement of income as incurred. 

non current assets held for sale and disposal groups
Non current assets and assets and liabilities included in dispos-
al groups are classified as held for sale if their carrying amount 
will  be  recovered  principally  through  a  sale  transaction  rather 
than through continuing use, they are available for immediate  
disposal  and  the  sale  is  highly  probable.  Non  current  assets 
held for sale are measured at the lower of their carrying amount 
or fair value less costs to sell.

Revenue recognition
Revenue  is  recognised  when  the  seller  has  transferred  to  the 
buyer  all  significant  risks  and  rewards  of  ownership  of  the  
assets  sold.  Revenue  excludes  any  applicable  sales  taxes  and 
is recognised at the fair value of the consideration received or  
receivable to the extent that it is probable that economic ben-
efits  will  flow  to  Glencore  and  the  revenues  and  costs  can  be  
reliably measured. In most instances sales revenue is recognised 
when the product is delivered to the destination specified by the  
customer, which is typically the vessel on which it is shipped, the 
destination port or the customer’s premises.

For  certain  commodities,  the  sales  price  is  determined  on  a 
provisional basis at the date of sale as the final selling price is 
subject to movements in market prices up to the date of final 
pricing, normally ranging from 30 to 90 days after initial book-
ing. Revenue on provisionally priced sales is recognised based 
on the estimated fair value of the total consideration receivable. 
The  revenue  adjustment  mechanism  embedded  within  provi-
sionally priced sales arrangements has the character of a com-
modity derivative. Accordingly, the fair value of the final sales 
price adjustment is re-estimated  continuously and changes in 
fair value are recognised as an adjustment to revenue. In all cas-
es, fair value is estimated by reference to forward market prices.

Where a business combination is achieved in stages, Glencore’s 
previously held interests in the acquired entity are remeasured 
to  fair  value  at  the  acquisition  date  (i.e.  the  date  Glencore  
attains control) and the resulting gain or loss, if any, is recog-
nised in the statement of income. 

Interest  and  dividend  income  is  recognised  when  the  right  to 
receive payment has been established, it is probable that the 
economic  benefits  will  flow  to  Glencore  and  the  amount  of  
income can be measured reliably. Interest income is accrued on 
a time basis, by reference to the principal outstanding and at 
the applicable effective interest rate.

Where the fair value of consideration transferred for a business 
combination exceeds the fair values attributable to Glencore’s 
share  of  the  identifiable  net  assets,  the  difference  is  treated 
as purchased goodwill, which is not amortised but is reviewed  
annually  for  impairment  and  when  there  is  an  indication  of 
impairment.  Any  impairment  identified  is  immediately  recog-
nised in the statement of income. If the fair value attributable 
to  Glencore’s  share  of  the  identifiable  net  assets  exceeds  the 
consideration transferred, the difference is immediately recog-
nised in the statement of income.

Similar procedures are applied in accounting for the purchases 
of interests in Associates. Any goodwill arising from such pur-
chases  is  included  within  the  carrying  amount  of  the  invest-
ment in Associates, but not amortised thereafter. Any excess of 
Glencore’s share of the net fair value of the Associate’s identifi-
able net assets over the cost of the investment is included in the 
statement of income in the period of the purchase.

The main operating and finance subsidiaries and investments of 
Glencore are listed in note 32.

Foreign currency translation
Glencore’s  reporting  currency  and  the  functional  currency  of 
the majority of its operations is the U.S. Dollar as this is assessed 
to  be  the  principal  currency  of  the  economic  environment  in 
which they operate.

Foreign currency transactions
Transactions in foreign currencies are converted into the func-
tional  currency  of  each  entity  using  the  exchange  rate  pre-
vailing  at  the  transaction  date.  Monetary  assets  and  liabilities 
outstanding  at  year  end  are  converted  at  year  end  rates.  The  
resulting exchange differences are recorded in the consolidat-
ed statement of income.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  117
  |  Annual Report 2010  |  117

Financial StatementS

Translation of financial statements
For the purposes of consolidation, assets and liabilities of group 
companies whose functional currency is in a currency other than 
the  U.S.  Dollar  are  translated  into  U.S.  Dollars  using  year  end 
exchange rates, while their statements of income are translat-
ed using average rates of exchange for the year. Goodwill and 
fair value adjustments arising from the acquisition of a foreign 
 operation  are  treated  as  assets  and  liabilities  of  the  foreign 
 operation  and  are  translated  at  the  closing  rate.  Translation 
adjustments  are  included  as  a  separate  component  of  share-
holders’ equity and have no statement of income impact to the 
extent that no disposal of the foreign operation has occurred.

Borrowing costs
Borrowing  costs  are  expensed  as  incurred  except  where  they 
relate to the financing of construction or development of quali-
fying  assets  in  which  case  they  are  capitalised  up  to  the  date 
when the qualifying asset is ready for its intended use.

Retirement benefits
Glencore  operates  various  pension  schemes  in  accordance 
with local requirements and practices of the respective coun-
tries.  The  annual  costs  for  defined  contribution  plans  that  are 
funded by payments to separate trustee administered funds or 
insurance companies equal the contributions that are required  
under the plans and are accounted for as an expense. Glencore 
uses  the  projected  unit  credit  actuarial  method  to  determine 
the  present  value  of  its  defined  benefit  obligations  and  the  
related current service cost and, where applicable, past service 
cost. 

Actuarial gains and losses are accounted for using the corridor 
method. Under this method, to the extent that any cumulative 
unrecognised actuarial gain or loss exceeds 10% of the greater 
of the present value of the defined benefit obligation and the 
fair  value  of  plan  assets,  that  excess  is  recognised  in  income 
over  the  expected  average  remaining  working  lives  of  the  
employees participating in the plan. Past service cost is recog-
nised  immediately  to  the  extent  that  the  benefits  are  already 
vested, and otherwise is amortised on a straight line basis over 
the average period until the benefits become vested.

Share-based payments
Equity-settled share-based payments
Equity-settled share-based payments are measured at the fair 
value of the awards based on the market value of the shares at 
the  grant  date.  Fair  value  excludes  the  effect  of  non  market-
based vesting conditions. The fair value is charged to the state-
ment of income and credited to retained earnings on a straight-
line basis over the period the estimated number of awards are 
expected to vest. 

At each balance sheet date, Glencore revises its estimate of the 
number  of  equity  instruments  expected  to  vest  as  a  result  of 
the effect of non market-based vesting conditions. The impact 
of  the  revision  of  the  original  estimates,  if  any,  is  recognised 
in  profit  or loss such that the cumulative  expense  reflects  the 
revised estimate, with a corresponding adjustment to retained 
earnings.

Cash-settled share-based payments
For cash-settled share-based payments, a liability is initially rec-
ognised at fair value based on the estimated number of awards 
that are expected to vest, adjusting for market and non market 
based  performance  conditions.  Subsequently,  at  each  report-
ing period until the liability is settled, the liability is remeasured 
to  fair  value  with  any  changes  in  fair  value  recognised  in  the 
statement of income.

income taxes
Income  taxes  consist  of  current  and  deferred  income  taxes. 
Current taxes represent income taxes expected to be payable 
based  on  enacted  or  substantively  enacted  tax  rates  at  the  
period  end  and  expected  current  taxable  income,  and  any  
adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous years. Deferred 
taxes  are  recognised  for  temporary  differences  between  the 
carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial state-
ments and the corresponding tax bases used in the computa-
tion of taxable income, using enacted or substantively enacted 
income tax rates which will be effective at the time of reversal 
of the underlying temporary difference. Deferred tax assets and 
unused tax losses are only recognised to the extent that their 
recoverability is probable. Deferred tax assets are reviewed at 
reporting period end and amended to the extent that it is no 
longer probable that the related benefit will be realised. To the 
extent that a deferred tax asset not previously recognised fulfils 
the criteria for recognition, an asset is recognised. 

Deferred  tax  assets  and  liabilities  are  offset  when  they  relate 
to income taxes levied by the same authority and Glencore has 
both the right and the intention to settle its current tax assets 
and liabilities on a net or simultaneous basis. The tax effect of 
certain temporary differences is not recognised principally with 
respect  to  the  initial  recognition  of  an  asset  or  liability  (other 
than  those  arising  in  a  business  combination  or  in  a  manner 
that  initially  impacted  accounting  or  taxable  profit)  and  tem-
porary  differences  relating  to  investments  in  subsidiaries  and 
associates to the extent that Glencore can control the timing of 
the reversal of the temporary difference and it is probable the 
temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future. 
Deferred  tax  is  provided  in  respect  of  fair  value  adjustments 
on  acquisitions.  These  adjustments  may  relate  to  assets  such 
as extraction rights that, in general, are not eligible for income 
tax allowances.

Royalties,  extraction  taxes  and  other  levies/taxes  are  treated 
as  taxation  arrangements  when  they  have  the  characteristics 
of  an  income  tax  including  being  imposed  and  determined 
in  accordance  with  regulations  established  by  the  respective  
government’s taxation authority.

Current  and  deferred  tax  are  recognised  as  an  expense  or  
income  in  the  statement  of  income,  except  when  they  relate 
to items that are recognised outside the statement of income 
(whether in other comprehensive income or directly in equity) 
or  where  they  arise  from  the  initial  accounting  for  a  business 
combination.

118  |  Annual Report 2012  |  
118  |  Annual Report 2010  |  

Financial StatementS
overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

exploration and evaluation expenditure
Exploration  and  evaluation  expenditure  relates  to  costs  in-
curred  on  the  exploration  and  evaluation  of  potential  mineral 
and petroleum resources and includes costs such as research-
ing and analysing historical exploration data, exploratory drill-
ing, trenching, sampling and the costs of pre-feasibility studies. 
Exploration and evaluation expenditure for each area of inter-
est, other than that acquired from the purchase of another com-
pany, is charged to the statement of income as incurred except 
when the expenditure is expected to be recouped from future 
exploitation or sale of the area of interest and it is planned to 
continue  with  active  and  significant  operations  in  relation  to 
the  area,  or  at  the  reporting  period  end,  the  activity  has  not 
reached a stage which permits a reasonable assessment of the 
existence of commercially recoverable reserves, in which case 
the expenditure is capitalised. Purchased exploration and eval-
uation assets are recognised at their fair value at acquisition. 

Capitalised exploration and evaluation expenditure is recorded 
as  a  component  of  mineral  and  petroleum  rights  in  property, 
plant and equipment.

All capitalised exploration and evaluation expenditure is moni-
tored for indications of impairment. Where a potential impair-
ment is indicated, an assessment is performed for each area of 
interest or at the cash generating unit level. To the extent that 
capitalised  expenditure  is  not  expected  to  be  recovered  it  is 
charged to the statement of income.

Development expenditure
When  commercially  recoverable  reserves  are  determined  and 
such development receives the appropriate approvals, capital-
ised  exploration  and  evaluation  expenditure  is  transferred  to 
construction  in  progress.  Upon  completion  of  development 
and  commencement  of  production,  capitalised  development 
costs  are  transferred  as  required  to  either  mineral  and  petro-
leum rights or deferred mining costs and depreciated using the 
unit of production method (UOP).

Property, plant and equipment and intangible assets
Property,  plant  and  equipment,  port  allocation  rights  and  
intangible assets are stated at cost, being the fair value of the 
consideration  given  to  acquire  or  construct  the  asset,  includ-
ing directly attributable costs required to bring the asset to the  
location or to a condition necessary for operation and the direct 
cost of dismantling and removing the asset, less accumulated 
depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. Intangi-
ble assets include goodwill, future warehousing fees and trade-
marks.

Property, plant and equipment are depreciated to their estimat-
ed residual value over the estimated useful life of the specific 
asset concerned, or the estimated remaining life of the associ-
ated  mine,  field  or  lease.  Depreciation  commences  when  the 
asset  is  available  for  use.  Identifiable  intangible  assets  with  a 
finite life are amortised on a straight-line basis and/or UOP ba-
sis over their expected useful life. Goodwill is not depreciated.

The  major  categories  of  property,  plant  and  equipment  and 
intangible assets are depreciated/amortised on a UOP and/or 
straight-line basis as follows:

Buildings

Land

Plant and equipment

Mineral rights and development costs

Deferred mining costs

Port allocation rights

10 – 45 years

not depreciated

3 – 30 years/UOP

UOP

UOP

25 – 40 years

Assets  under  finance  leases,  where  substantially  all  the  risks 
and rewards of ownership transfer to the Group as lessee, are 
capitalised  and  amortised  over  their  expected  useful  lives  on 
the same basis as owned assets or, where shorter, the term of 
the  relevant  lease.  All  other  leases  are  classified  as  operating 
leases, the expenditures for which, are charged against income 
over the accounting periods covered by the lease term.

Biological assets
Biological  assets  are  carried  at  their  fair  value  less  estimated 
selling  costs.  Any  changes  in  fair  value  less  estimated  selling 
costs are included in the statement of income in the period in 
which they arise.

Deferred stripping costs
Stripping costs incurred in the development of a mine (or pit) 
before  production  commences  are  capitalised  as  part  of  the 
cost of constructing the mine (or pit) and subsequently amor-
tised  over  the  life  of  the  mine  (or  pit)  on  a  unit  of  production 
basis. Production stripping costs are deferred when the actual 
stripping ratio incurred significantly exceeds the expected long 
term  average  stripping  ratio  and  are  subsequently  amortised 
when the actual stripping ratio falls below the long term aver-
age stripping ratio. Where the ore is expected to be evenly dis-
tributed, waste removal is expensed as incurred.

mineral and petroleum rights
Mineral and petroleum reserves, resources and rights (together 
Mineral Rights) which can be reasonably valued, are recognised 
in the assessment of fair values on acquisition. Mineral Rights 
for which values cannot be reasonably determined are not rec-
ognised.  Exploitable  Mineral  Rights  are  amortised  using  the 
UOP  over  the  commercially  recoverable  reserves  and,  in  cer-
tain circumstances, other mineral resources. Mineral resources 
are included in amortisation calculations where there is a high  
degree of confidence that they will be extracted in an economic 
manner.

Restoration, rehabilitation and decommissioning
Restoration,  rehabilitation  and  decommissioning  costs   arising 
from  the  installation  of  plant  and  other  site  preparation  work, 
discounted  to  their  net  present  value,  are  provided  for  and 
capitalised at the time such an obligation arises. The costs are 
charged to the statement of income over the life of the opera-
tion through depreciation of the asset and the unwinding of the 
discount on the provision.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  119
  |  Annual Report 2010  |  119

Financial StatementS

Costs  for  restoration  of  subsequent  site  disturbance,  which  is 
created on an ongoing basis during production, are provided 
for at their net present values and charged to the statement of 
income as extraction progresses.

Other investments
Equity  investments,  other  than  investments  in  Associates,  are 
recorded at fair value unless such fair value is not reliably de-
terminable  in  which  case  they  are  carried  at  cost.  Changes  in 
fair value are recorded in the statement of income unless they 
are classified as available for sale, in which case fair value move-
ments are recognised in other comprehensive income and are 
subsequently recognised in the statement of income when real-
ised by sale or redemption, or when a reduction in fair value is 
judged to be a significant or prolonged decline.

impairment
Glencore  conducts,  at  least  annually,  an  internal  review  of  as-
set  values  which  is  used  as  a  source  of  information  to  assess 
for any indications of impairment. Formal impairment tests are 
carried out, at least annually, for cash generating units contain-
ing goodwill and for all other non current assets when events or 
changes  in  circumstances  indicate  the  carrying  value  may  not 
be recoverable. 

A formal impairment test involves determining whether the car-
rying amounts are in excess of their recoverable amounts. An 
asset’s  recoverable  amount  is  determined  as  the  higher  of  its 
fair value less costs to sell and its value in use. Such reviews are 
undertaken on an asset-by-asset basis, except where assets do 
not generate cash flows independent of other assets, in which 
case the review is undertaken at the cash generating unit level.

If  the  carrying  amount  of  an  asset  exceeds  its  recoverable 
amount, an impairment loss is recorded in the income statement 
to reflect the asset at the lower amount. 

An  impairment  loss  is  reversed  in  the  statement  of  income  if 
there is a change in the estimates used to determine the recover-
able amount since the prior impairment loss was recognised. The 
carrying amount is increased to the recoverable amount but not 
beyond the carrying amount net of depreciation or amortisation 
which would have arisen if the prior impairment loss had not been 
recognised. Goodwill impairments and impairments of available 
for sale equity investments are not subsequently reversed.

Provisions
Provisions are recognised when Glencore has a present obliga-
tion, as a result of past events, and it is probable that an outflow 
of resources embodying economic benefits that can be reliably 
estimated will be required to settle the liability.

inventories
The  majority  of  marketing  inventories  are  valued  at  fair  value 
less costs to sell with the remainder valued at the lower of cost 
or net realisable value. Unrealised gains and losses from chang-
es in fair value are reported in cost of goods sold.

120  |  Annual Report 2012  |  
120  |  Annual Report 2010  |  

Production inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net real-
isable value. Cost is determined using the first in first out (FIFO) 
or the weighted average method and comprises material costs, 
labour costs and allocated production related overhead costs. 
Financing and storage costs related to inventory are  expensed 
as incurred.

cash and cash equivalents
Cash  and  cash  equivalents  comprise  cash  held  at  bank,  cash 
in hand and short-term bank deposits with an original maturity 
of  three  months  or  less.  The  carrying  amount  of  these  assets  
approximates their fair value.

Financial instruments
Financial  assets  are  classified  as  either  financial  assets  at  fair 
value  through  profit  or  loss,  loans  and  receivables,  held-to-
maturity  investments  or  available  for  sale  financial  assets  
depending  upon  the  purpose  for  which  the  financial  assets 
were  acquired.  Financial  assets  are  initially  recognised  at  fair 
value  on  the  trade  date,  including,  in  the  case  of  instruments 
not recorded at fair value through profit or loss, directly attrib-
utable transaction costs. Subsequently, financial assets are car-
ried at fair value (other investments, derivatives and marketable 
secur ities) or amortised cost less impairment (accounts receiv-
able  and   advances  and  loans).  Financial  liabilities  other  than 
derivatives are initially recognised at fair value of consideration 
received  net  of  transaction  costs  as  appropriate  and  subse-
quently carried at amortised cost.

convertible bonds
At  the  date  of  issue,  the  fair  value  of  the  liability  component 
is determined by discounting the contractual future cash flows 
using a market rate for a similar non convertible instrument. The 
liability  component  is  recorded  as  a  liability  on  an  amortised 
cost basis using the effective interest method. The equity com-
ponent is recognised as the difference between the fair value of 
the proceeds as a whole and the fair value of the liability com-
ponent and it is not subsequently remeasured. On conversion, 
the liability is reclassified to equity and no gain or loss is recog-
nised in the statement of income and upon expiry of the conver-
sion rights, any remaining equity portion will be transferred to 
retained earnings.

Derivatives and hedging activities
Derivative instruments, which include physical contracts to sell 
or purchase commodities that do not meet the own use exemp-
tion,  are  initially  recognised  at  fair  value  when  Glencore  be-
comes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument 
and  are  subsequently  remeasured  to  fair  value  at  the  end  of 
each reporting period. Fair values are determined using quoted 
market prices, dealer price quotations or using models and oth-
er valuation techniques, the key inputs for which include current 
market  and  contractual  prices  for  the  underlying  instrument, 
time  to  expiry,  yield  curves,  volatility  of  the  underlying  instru-
ment and counterparty risk.

Gains  and  losses  on  derivative  instruments  for  which  hedge 
 accounting is not applied, other than the revenue adjustment 
mechanism  embedded  within  provisionally  priced  sales,  are 
recognised in cost of goods sold.

Financial StatementS
overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

Those  derivatives  qualifying  and  designated  as  hedges  are 
 either  (i)  a  Fair  Value  Hedge  of  the  change  in  fair  value  of  a 
recognised  asset  or  liability  or  an  unrecognised  firm  commit-
ment, or (ii) a Cash Flow Hedge of the change in cashflows to 
be received or paid relating to a recognised asset or liability or 
a highly probable transaction.

A  change  in  the  fair  value  of  derivatives  designated  as  a  Fair 
Value  Hedge  is  reflected  together  with  the  change  in  the  fair 
value of the hedged item in the statement of income. 

A change in the fair value of derivatives designated as a Cash 
Flow Hedge is initially recognised as a cash flow hedge  reserve 
in shareholders’ equity. The deferred amount is then released 
to the statement of income in the same periods during which 
the  hedged  transaction  affects  the  statement  of  income. 
Hedge ineffectiveness is recorded in the statement of income 
when it occurs.

When a hedging instrument expires or is sold, or when a hedge 
no longer meets the criteria for hedge accounting, any cumula-
tive gain or loss existing in equity at that time remains in share-
holders’  equity  and  is  recognised  in  the  statement  of  income 
when  the  committed  or  forecast  transaction  is  ultimately  rec-
ognised  in  the statement of income.  However,  if a  forecast  or  
committed  transaction  is  no  longer  expected  to  occur,  the  
cumulative gain or loss that was recognised in equity is immedi-
ately transferred to the statement of income.

A derivative may be embedded in a “host contract”. Such com-
binations  are  known  as  hybrid  instruments  and  at  the  date  of 
issuance, the embedded derivative is separated from the host 
contract  and  accounted  for  as  a  stand  alone  derivative  if  the 
criteria for separation are met. The host contract is accounted 
for in accordance with its relevant accounting policy.

critical accounting policies, key judgments and estimates
The  preparation  of  the  consolidated  financial  statements  re-
quires  management  to  make  estimates  and  assumptions  that 
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as well as 
the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of 
the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues 
and expenses during the reporting period. 

The  estimates  and  associated  assumptions  are  based  on  his-
torical experience and other factors that are considered to be 
relevant. Actual outcomes could differ from those estimates.

Glencore  has  identified  the  following  areas  as  being  critical 
to understanding Glencore’s financial position as they require 
management  to  make  complex  and/or  subjective  judgments 
and estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain:

Valuation of derivative instruments (Note 26)
Derivative  instruments  are  carried  at  fair  value  and  Glencore 
evaluates the quality and reliability of the assumptions and data 
used to measure fair value in the three hierarchy levels, Level 1, 
2 and 3, as prescribed by IFRS 7. Fair values are determined in 
the following ways: externally verified via comparison to quoted 
market prices in active markets (Level 1); by using models with 
externally verifiable inputs (Level 2); or by using alternative pro-
cedures  such  as  comparison  to  comparable  instruments  and/
or  using  models  with  unobservable  market  inputs  requiring 
Glencore to make market based assumptions (Level 3). 

Depreciation and amortisation of mineral and petroleum rights, 
project development costs and plant and equipment (Note 7)
Mineral and petroleum rights, project development costs and 
certain plant and equipment are depreciated/amortised using 
UOP. The calculation of the UOP rate of depreciation/amortisa-
tion, and therefore the annual charge to operations, can fluctu-
ate from initial estimates. This could generally result when there 
are significant changes in any of the factors or assumptions used 
in estimating mineral or petroleum reserves, notably changes in 
the geology of the reserves and assumptions used in determin-
ing  the  economic  feasibility  of  the  reserves.  Such  changes  in 
reserves could similarly impact the useful lives of assets depre-
ciated on a straight line basis, where those lives are limited to 
the life of the project, which in turn is limited to the life of the 
proven and probable mineral or petroleum reserves. Estimates 
of  proven  and  probable  reserves  are  prepared  by  experts  in  
extraction, geology and reserve determination. Assessments of 
UOP rates against the estimated reserve and resource base and 
the operating and development plan are performed regularly.

Impairments (Notes 5, 7, 8 and 9)
Investments in Associates and other investments, advances and 
loans and property, plant and equipment and intangible assets 
are  reviewed  for  impairment  whenever  events  or  changes  in  
circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be fully 
recoverable or at least annually for goodwill and other indefi-
nite  life  intangible  assets.  If  an  asset’s  recoverable  amount  is 
less than the asset’s carrying amount, an impairment loss is rec-
ognised. Future cash flow estimates which are used to calculate 
the  asset’s  fair  value  are  based  on  expectations  about  future 
operations  primarily  comprising  estimates  about  production 
and  sales  volumes,  commodity  prices,  reserves  and  resourc-
es,  operating,  rehabilitation  and  restoration  costs  and  capital  
expenditures. Changes in such estimates could impact recover-
able values of these assets. Estimates are reviewed regularly by 
management.

Provisions (Note 21)
The amount recognised as a provision, including tax, legal, res-
toration and rehabilitation, contractual and other exposures or 
obligations, is the best estimate of the consideration required 
to  settle  the  related  liability,  including  any  related  interest 
charges,  taking  into  account  the  risks  and  uncertainties  sur-
rounding the obligation. The Group assesses its liabilities and 
contingencies  based  upon  the  best  information  available,  rel-
evant tax laws and other appropriate requirements.

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Financial StatementS

Restoration, rehabilitation and decommissioning costs (Note 21)
A provision for future restoration, rehabilitation and decommis-
sioning costs requires estimates and assumptions to be made 
around  the  relevant  regulatory  framework,  the  magnitude  of 
the  possible  disturbance  and  the  timing,  extent  and  costs  of 
the required closure and rehabilitation activities. To the extent 
that the actual future costs differ from these estimates, adjust-
ments will be recorded and the statement of income could be 
impacted. The provisions including the estimates and assump-
tions contained therein are reviewed regularly by management.

Recognition of deferred tax assets (Note 6)
Deferred tax assets are recognised only to the extent it is con-
sidered  probable  that  those  assets  will  be  recoverable.  This 
involves an assessment of when those deferred tax assets are 
likely  to  reverse,  and  a  judgement  as  to  whether  or  not  there 
will  be  sufficient  taxable  income  available  to  offset  the  tax  
assets  when  they  do  reverse.  These  judgements  are  subject 
to  risk  and  uncertainty  and  hence,  to  the  extent  assumptions  
regarding future profitability change, there can be an increase 
or  decrease  in  the  amounts  recognised  in  income  in  the  pe-
riod in which the change occurs. The recoverability of deferred 
tax assets including the estimates and assumptions contained 
therein are reviewed regularly by management.

Fair value measurements (Notes 9, 11, 18, 24, 25 and 26)
In  addition to recognising derivative  instruments  at  fair value, 
as discussed above, an assessment of fair value of assets and 
liabilities is also required in accounting for other transactions, 
most notably, business combinations and disclosures related to 
fair values of marketing inventories, financial assets and liabili-
ties. In such instances, fair value measurements are estimated 
based on the amounts for which the assets and liabilities could 
be  exchanged  at  the  relevant  transaction  date  or  reporting  
period  end,  and  are  therefore  not  necessarily  reflective  of 
the  likely  cashflow  upon  actual  settlements.  Where  fair  value 
measurements cannot be derived from publicly available infor-
mation,  they  are  estimated  using  models  and  other  valuation 
methods.  To  the  extent  possible,  the   assumptions  and  inputs 
used  take  into  account  externally  verifiable  inputs.  However, 
such information is by nature subject to uncertainty, particularly 
where comparable market based transactions rarely exist.

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Financial StatementS
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2. seGment infoRmAtion

Glencore is organised and operates on a worldwide basis in three core business segments – metals and minerals, energy products 
and agricultural products, with each business segment responsible for the marketing, sourcing, hedging, logistics and industrial 
investment activities of their respective products and reflecting the structure used by Glencore’s management to assess the 
 performance of Glencore.

The business segments’ contributions to the Group are primarily derived from the net margin or premium earned from physical 
marketing activities (net sale and purchase of physical commodities), provision of marketing and related value-add services and 
the margin earned from industrial asset activities (net resulting from the sale of physical commodities over the cost of production 
and/or cost of sales) and comprise the following underlying key commodities: 

•  Metals and minerals: Zinc, copper, lead, alumina, aluminium, ferro alloys, nickel, cobalt and iron ore, including smelting, refining,  

mining, processing and storage related operations of the relevant commodities; 

•  Energy products: Crude oil, oil products, steam coal and metallurgical coal supported by investments in coal mining and oil 

production operations, ports, vessels and storage facilities; 

•  Agriculture products: Wheat, corn, canola, barley, rice, oil seeds, meals, edible oils, biofuels, cotton and sugar supported by  

investments in farming, storage, handling, processing and port facilities. 

Corporate and other: statement of income amounts represent Glencore’s share of income related to Xstrata and other unallocated 
Group related expenses (including variable pool bonus accrual). Statement of financial position amounts represent Group related 
balances. 

The financial performance of the segments is principally evaluated with reference to Adjusted EBIT/EBITDA which is the net result 
of revenue less cost of goods sold and selling and administrative expenses plus share of income from associates and jointly con-
trolled entities and dividend income as disclosed on the face of the consolidated statement of income. 

The  accounting policies of the operating  segments  are the same as  those described in the summary of significant accounting 
 policies. Glencore accounts for inter-segment sales and transfers where applicable as if the sales or transfers were to third parties, 
i.e. at arm’s length commercial terms.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  123
  |  Annual Report 2010  |  123

 
 
Financial StatementS

2012
US $ million

Metals and 
minerals

Energy
products

Agricultural
products

Corporate 
and other

Total

Revenue from third parties

56 674

136 937

20 825

0

214 436

marketing activities

Adjusted EBIT

Depreciation and amortisation

adjusted eBitDa

industrial activities

Adjusted EBIT

Depreciation and amortisation

adjusted eBitDa

total adjusted eBitDa 

Depreciation and amortisation

total adjusted eBit 

Significant items ¹

  Other expense – net ²

  Share of Associates’ exceptional items ³

  Mark to market loss on certain natural gas contracts 4

  Unrealised intergroup profit elimination adjustments 5

Interest expense – net 

Loss on sale of investments

Income tax credit

income for the year

1 363

16

1 379

708

917

1 625

3 004

– 933

2 071

435

59

494

594

389

983

1 477

– 448

1 029

371

23

394

– 10

69

59

453

– 92

361

– 39

0

– 39

1 048

0

1 048

1 009

0

1 009

2 130

98

2 228

2 340

1 375

3 715

5 943

– 1 473

4 470

– 1 214

 – 875

– 123

– 84

– 970

– 128

76

1 152

¹  Significant items of income and expense which, due to their financial impacts, nature or the expected infrequency of the events giving rise to 

them, have been separated for internal reporting and analysis of Glencore’s results. 

²  See note 4.
³  Share of Associates’ exceptional items comprise Glencore’s share of exceptional charges booked directly by Xstrata relating mainly to various 
impairment charges including that associated with its platinum investments and operations in South Africa and nickel operations in Australia 
which were impacted by the challenging market environments and costs incurred by Xstrata in connection with the proposed merger with 
Glencore (see note 28).

4  Represents  movements  in  fair  value  of  certain  fixed  price  forward  natural  gas  purchase  contracts  entered  into  to  hedge  the  price  risk  of 
this  cost  exposure  in  our  alumina  production  activities.  These  contracts  were  initially  concluded  in  2008  with  mark  to  market  movements  
accounted for in equity  (cash flow  hedge  reserves). Consistent with Glencore’s current policy not to hedge future operating expenditures 
there are no such contracts covering periods beyond 2012.

5  Represents the required adjustment to eliminate unrealised profit or losses arising on intergroup transactions. For Glencore, such adjustments 
arise on the sale of product, in the ordinary course of business, from its Industrial operations to its Marketing arm and management assesses 
segment performance prior to any such adjustments, as if the sales were to third parties.

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overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

2012
US $ million

Current assets 

Current liabilities

allocatable current capital employed

Property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets

Investments in Associates and other investments

Non current advances and loans

allocatable non current capital employed

Other assets 1

Other liabilities 2

total net assets

Metals and 
minerals

Energy
products

Agricultural
products

Corporate 
and other

20 024

– 9 500

10 524

14 134

180

2 881

921

18 116

18 256

– 13 941

4 315

5 347

1 098

799

2 688

9 932

9 520

– 3 746

5 774

3 757

1 386

461

149

5 753

28 640

14 247

11 527

649

– 137

512

0

0

16 215

0

16 215

7 072

– 43 913

– 20 114

Total 

48 449

– 27 324

21 125

23 238

2 664

20 356

3 758

50 016

7 072

– 43 913

34 300

Additions to non current assets

5 761

3 311

4 262

0

13 334

1  Other assets include deferred tax assets, marketable securities, cash and cash equivalents and assets held for sale.
2  Other liabilities include borrowings, non current deferred income, deferred tax liabilities, non current provisions, Viterra asset acquirer loans 

and liabilities held for sale.

2011
US $ million

Metals and 
minerals

Energy
products

Agricultural
products

Corporate 
and other

Total

Revenue from third parties

51 984

117 065

17 103

0

186 152

marketing activities

Adjusted EBIT

Depreciation and amortisation

adjusted eBitDa

industrial activities

Adjusted EBIT

Depreciation and amortisation

adjusted eBitDa

total adjusted eBitDa 

Depreciation and amortisation

total adjusted eBit 

Significant items ¹

  Other expense – net ²

  Share of Associates’ exceptional items ³

Interest expense – net 

Gain on sale of investments

Income tax credit

income for the year

1 242

5

1 247

1 357

765

2 122

3 369

– 770

2 599

697

27

724

375

196

571

1 295

– 223

1 072

– 8

0

– 8

– 39

62

23

15

– 62

– 47

– 20

11

– 9

1 794

0

1 794

1 785

– 11

1 774

1 911

43

1 954

3 487

1 023

4 510

6 464

– 1 066

5 398

– 511

– 45

– 847

9

264

4 268

¹  Significant items of income and expense which, due to their financial impacts, nature or the expected infrequency of the events giving rise to 

them, have been separated for internal reporting and analysis of Glencore’s results. 

²  See note 4.
³  Share of Associates’ exceptional items comprise Glencore’s share of exceptional charges booked directly by Xstrata ($ 25 million) and Century 

($ 20 million).

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  125
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Financial StatementS

2011
US $ million

Current assets 

Current liabilities

allocatable current capital employed

Property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets

Investments in Associates and other investments

Non current advances and loans

allocatable non current capital employed

Other assets 1

Other liabilities 2

total net assets

Metals and 
minerals

Energy
products

Agricultural
products

Corporate 
and other

18 506

– 7 676

10 830

9 367

169

2 950

1 280

13 766

17 605

– 11 312

6 293

4 210

29

1 060

2 723

8 022

5 110

– 1 589

3 521

1 062

12

206

138

1 418

24 596

14 315

4 939

3 165

– 2 675

 490

0

0

16 189

0

16 189

2 384

– 30 578

– 11 515

Total 

44 386

– 23 252

21 134

14 639

210

20 405

4 141

39 395

2 384

– 30 578

32 335

Additions to non current assets

1 508

1 921

406

0

3 835

1  Other assets include deferred tax assets, marketable securities and cash and cash equivalents.
2  Other liabilities include borrowings, non current deferred income, deferred tax liabilities and non current provisions.

Geographical information

US $ million

Revenue from third parties 1
The Americas

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

non current assets 2
The Americas

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

2012

2011

42 295

108 904

44 274

16 910

2 053

45 836

70 323

47 759

20 538

1 696

214 436

186 152

6 918

17 707

5 652

11 255

3 137

44 669

4 535

17 293

5 838

4 555

1 486

33 707

1  Revenue by geographical destination is based on the country of incorporation of the sales counterparty however this may not necessarily be 

the country of the counterpart’s ultimate parent and/or final destination of product.

²  Non current assets are non current operating assets other than other investments, advances and loans, and deferred tax assets.

3. (loss)/GAin on sAle of investments – net

US $ million

Loss on sale on investment in associates – net 

Gain on sale of subsidiaries – net

total

2012 

– 133

5

– 128

2011

– 10

19

9

The net loss on sale of investments in 2012 comprised primarily an accounting dilution loss of $ 121 million following Xstrata’s share 
issuance in March 2012, which saw Glencore’s effective ownership reduce from 34.5% to 34.2%.

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4. otHeR expense – net

US $ million

Changes in mark to market valuations on investments held for trading – net 

Changes in mark to market valuation of certain coal forward contracts ¹

Changes in mark to market valuation of certain foreign currency forward contracts 

Revaluation of previously held interest in newly acquired businesses

Acquisition related expenses

Impairments

Phantom equity awards granted on Listing

Listing related expenses

Foreign exchange loss

Other ²

total

Notes

2012

5

18

2

179

65

497

– 120

– 1 650

– 109

0

– 4

– 74

– 1 214

2011

– 92

25

0

0

– 2

– 32

– 58

– 286

– 5

– 61

– 511

¹  This  item,  if  classified  by  function  of  expense  would  be  recognised  in  cost  of  goods  sold.  All  other  amounts  in  Other   expense –  net  are  

classified by function.

² Includes $ 7 million loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment (2011: $ nil million).

Together with foreign exchange gains /(losses) and mark to market movements on investments held for trading, other expense – 
net includes other significant items of income and expense which due to their non operational nature or expected infrequency of 
the events giving rise to them are reported separately from operating segment results. Other expense – net includes, but is not 
limited to, impairment charges, revaluation of previously held interests in business combinations, restructuring and closure costs.

changes in mark to market valuation of certain coal forward contracts
Represents  movements  in  fair  value  of  certain  fixed  price  forward  coal  sales  contracts  relating  to  Prodeco  Group’s  (Prodeco) 
future production, into which it plans to physically deliver. Following the legal reacquisition of Prodeco in March 2010, from an 
 accounting perspective, these forward sales contracts could not technically be classified as ‘own use’ or as cashflow hedges, which 
would have deferred the income statement effect until performance of the underlying future sale transactions. As at year end, 
 approximately 4.6 million tonnes (2011: 8.4 million tonnes) of such coal had been sold forward at a fixed price in respect of quarterly 
periods to the end of 2013. 

changes in mark to market valuation of certain foreign currency forward contracts
Represents the realised gain on the settlement of CAD 2.7 billion forward foreign currency purchase contracts entered into to 
partially hedge foreign currency price risk associated with the Viterra transaction (see note 24). 

Revaluation of previously held interest in newly acquired businesses
In March 2012, Glencore purchased an additional 31.8% interest in Optimum Coal Holdings Limited (“Optimum”) and in April 2012, 
acquired an additional 20% interest in Mutanda Group (Mutanda) (see note 24). At the date of the acquisitions, the previously held 
interests were revalued to their fair value and as a result, a $ 20 million loss and $ 517 million gain, respectively, were recognised.

acquisition related expenses
Professional advisor and other costs relating mainly to the Viterra (see note 24) and Xstrata (see note 28) transactions.

listing related expenses
Expenses incurred in connection with the Listing including the Restructuring and/or change in the employee shareholder profit 
attribution model, rather than the costs incurred solely in relation to the issuance of the new (primary) equity (see note 15), compris-
ing $ 91 million of stamp duty costs, $ 42 million of professional advisors’ costs and $ 153 million of compensation related costs.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  127
  |  Annual Report 2010  |  127

 
Financial StatementS

5. impAiRments

US $ million

Available for sale instruments previously recognised in other comprehensive income

Non current loans

Property, plant and equipment

Non current inventory and other ¹

total impairments ²

Notes

2012

10

– 1 181

– 213

– 210

– 46

– 1 650

2011

0

0

– 6

– 26

– 32

¹  These items, if classified by function of expense would be recognised in cost of goods sold. 
²  The  impairment  charges  incurred  during  the  year  are  allocated  to  the  operating  segments  as  follows:  Metals  and  minerals  $  1,337  (2011:  

$ 32 million), Energy products $ 248 million (2011: $ nil million) and Agricultural products $ 65 million (2011: $ nil million).

available for sale instruments
Glencore accounts for its interest in United Company Rusal plc (“UC Rusal”) as an available for sale investment at fair value with 
mark to market movements recognised in other comprehensive income (“OCI”). IAS 39 requires an entity to assess whether the  
cumulative loss recognised in OCI is of a significant and prolonged nature and if so, it shall be reclassified from OCI to the state-
ment of income. As a result of the continuing challenging macro economic environment impacting the global aluminium market, 
UC Rusal’s share price has remained below Glencore’s acquisition fair value for what has now been determined to be of a pro-
longed nature and therefore, as at 31 December 2012, $ 1.2 billion of previously recognised negative fair value adjustments have 
been reclassified from OCI to the statement of income. This reclassification had no impact on the balance sheet value which con-
tinues to be carried at fair value (see note 9).

Property, plant and equipment
During the regular assessment of whether there is an indication of an asset impairment or whether a previously recorded impair-
ment may no longer be required (as part of our regular portfolio review), the continuing challenging European biodiesel margin 
environment, the change in legal status of certain of our operations, particularly in Bolivia, and evaluation of below expectation  
exploration programs, resulted in impairment charges (none of which were individually material) of $ 110 million, $ 35 million and 
$ 65 million being recognised in our Metals and minerals, Energy and Agricultural products segments respectively. The recover-
able amounts, where applicable, of the underlying assets were determined based on the fair value less costs to sell using dis-
counted cash flow techniques.

6. inCome tAxes

Income taxes consist of the following:

US $ million

Current income tax expense

Deferred income tax credit

total tax credit

2012

– 295

371

76

2011

– 417

681

264

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Financial StatementS
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The effective Group tax rate is different from the statutory Swiss income tax rate applicable to the Company for the following 
reasons:

US $ million

2012

2011

income before income tax and attribution

Less: Share of income from associates

Parent company’s and subsidiaries’ income before income tax and attribution

Income tax expense calculated a the Swiss income tax rate

Effect of different tax rates from the standard Swiss income tax rate

Tax exempt income, net of non-deductible expenses and other permanent differences

Tax implications of restructuring, including deductions/losses triggered¹

Effect of available tax losses not recognised, and other changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets

Effect of change in tax rate on deferred tax balances

Other

income credit

1 076

– 367

 709

– 106

– 233

– 50

544

– 76

– 4

1

76

4 004

– 1 972

2 032

– 312

– 102

14

687

– 19

– 2

– 2

264

¹  The 2012 credit amounting to $ 544 million resulted primarily from recognition of crystallised tax benefits (resulting in losses carried forward), 
following an internal reorganisation of our existing ownership interest in Xstrata. All of the resulting tax losses have been brought to account 
as a deferred tax asset. The 2011 tax benefit of $ 687 million resulted from income tax deductions and losses arising in Switzerland and other 
countries following settlement of various profit participation plans. $ 305 million (2011: $ 381 million) of deferred tax assets related to future 
deductible amounts and tax losses from the settlement have not been brought to account.

The tax credit/(expense) relating to components of other comprehensive income/(loss) and share premium is as follows:

US $ million

Cash flow hedges ¹

Listing related expenses ²

income tax relating to components of other comprehensive loss and share premium

¹ Recognised in other comprehensive income.
² Recognised in share premium.

2012

2011

0

0

0

– 2

21

19

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  129
  |  Annual Report 2010  |  129

 
Financial StatementS

Deferred taxes as at 31 December 2012 and 2011, are attributable to the items detailed in the table below:

US $ million

Deferred tax assets 1
Tax losses carried forward

Mark to market valuations

Other

total 

Deferred tax liabilities 1
Depreciation and amortisation

Mark to market valuations

Other

total

Deferred tax – net

Reconciliation of deferred tax – net

Opening balance

Recognised in income for the year

Recognised in other comprehensive loss and share premium

Business combination

Disposal of subsidiaries

Other

closing balance

Notes

2012

2011

1 345

27

90

1 462

– 2 606

– 29

– 320

– 2 955

– 1 493

– 360

371

0

– 1 571

7

60

892

12

135

1 039

– 1 217

– 19

– 163

– 1 399

– 360

– 939

681

19

– 121

0

0

– 1 493

– 360

24

24

1  Asset and liability positions in the same category reflect the impact of tax assets and liabilities arising in local tax jurisdictions that cannot be 

offset against tax assets and liabilities arising in other tax jurisdictions.

Deferred tax assets are recognised for tax losses carried forward only to the extent that realisation of the related tax benefit 
is probable. As at 31 December 2012, $ 1,816 million (2011: $ 1,445 million) of deferred tax assets related to available loss carry  
forwards have been brought to account, of which $ 1,345 million (2011: $ 892 million) are disclosed as deferred tax assets with the  
remaining  balance  being  offset  against  deferred  tax  liabilities  arising  in  the  same  respective  entity.  $  1,373  million  (2011: 
$  889  million  ($  861  million  relating  to  tax  losses  and  $  28  million  relating  to  temporary  differences))  of  net  deferred  tax  
assets  arise  in  entities  that  have  been  loss  making  for  tax  purposes  in  2012  and/or  2011.  In  evaluating  whether  it  is  prob-
able  that  taxable  profits  will  be  earned  in  future  accounting  periods,  all  available  evidence  was  considered,  including  
approved budgets, forecasts and business plans and, in certain cases, analysis of historical operating results. These forecasts 
are consistent with those prepared and used internally for business planning and impairment testing purposes. Following this 
evaluation,  it  was  determined  there  would  be  sufficient  taxable  income  generated  to  realise  the  benefit  of  the  deferred  tax  
assets. 

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Available gross tax losses carried forward and deductible temporary differences, for which no deferred tax assets have been rec-
ognised in the consolidated financial statements are detailed below and will expire as follows:

US $ million

1 year

2 years

3 years

Thereafter

Unlimited 

total

2012

2011

114

165

253

1 786

590

2 908

11

28

127

956

978

2 100

As at 31 December 2012, unremitted earnings of $ 19,952 million (2011: $ 18,573 million) have been retained by subsidiaries and 
associates for reinvestment. No provision is made for income taxes that would be payable upon the distribution of such earnings. 

7. pRopeRty, plAnt And eqUipment

US $ million

Gross carrying amount:

1 January 2012

Business combination

Disposal of subsidiaries

Additions

Disposals

Effect of foreign currency exchange movements

Other movements

31 December 2012

accumulated depreciation and impairment:

1 January 2012

Depreciation

Disposal of subsidiaries

Disposals

Impairments 

Effect of foreign currency exchange movements

Other movements

31 December 2012

net book value 31 December 2012

Land
and
buildings

Plant
and 
equipment

Mineral and
petroleum
rights

Deferred
mining
costs

Notes

Total

24

24

24

5

1 521

12 045

953

0

92

– 21

– 5

69

3 429

– 301

2 054

– 200

– 65

2

4 617

3 284

– 7

866

0

– 92

6

2 609

16 964

8 674

323

87

0

– 10

0

0

– 3

397

2 212

 2 997

1 087

– 29

– 74

151

– 4

– 98

4 030

12 934

770

233

0

1

59

– 5

119

1 177

7 497

675

18 858

48

0

89

0

0

– 69

743

129

31

0

– 19

0

0

 7

148

595

7 714

– 308

3 101

– 221

– 162

8

28 990

4 219

1 438

– 29

– 102

210

– 9

25

5 752

23 238

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  131
  |  Annual Report 2010  |  131

 
Financial StatementS

US $ million

Gross carrying amount:

1 January 2011

Business combination

Additions

Disposals

Other movements

31 December 2011

accumulated depreciation and impairment:

1 January 2011

Depreciation

Disposals

Impairments 

Other movements

31 December 2011

net book value 31 December 2011

Land
and
buildings

Plant
and 
equipment

Mineral and
petroleum
rights

Deferred
mining
costs

Notes

24

5

1 281

108

36

– 17

113

9 187

591

2 411

– 431

287

1 521

12 045

239

36 

– 6

7

47

323

1 198

2 556

710

– 263

15

– 21

 2 997

9 048

4 484

76

416

0

– 359

4 617

548

260

2

0

– 40

770

3 847

542

0

148

– 2

– 13

675

63

56

0

10

0

129

546

Total

15 494

775

3 011

– 450

28

18 858

3 406

1 062

– 267

32

– 14

4 219

14 639

Plant and equipment includes expenditure for construction in progress of $ 2,294 million (2011: $ 1,389 million) and a net book 
value  of  $ 281  million  (2011:  $ 317  million)  of  obligations  recognised  under  finance  lease  agreements.  Mineral  and  petroleum 
rights include expenditures for exploration and evaluation of $ 277 million (2011: $ 306 million) and biological assets of $ 66 million  
(2011: $ 3 million). Depreciation expenses included in cost of goods sold are $ 1,421 million (2011: $ 1,049 million) and in selling and  
administrative expenses $ 17 million (2011: $ 13 million).

During 2012, $ 37 million (2011: $ 44 million) of interest was capitalised within property, plant and equipment. With the exception of 
project specific borrowings, the rate used to determine the amount of borrowing costs eligible for capitalisation was 4% (2011: 4%).

8. intAnGible Assets

US $ million

cost:

1 January 2012

Business combination

Addition

Effect of foreign exchange differences

31 December 2012

accumulated amortisation and impairment:

1 January 2012

Amortisation expense ¹

31 December 2012

Port
 allocation 
rights

Notes

Goodwill

Other

Total

24

0
1 182

21

– 102

1 101

0
16

16

169
1 251

0

0

1 420

0
0

0

45
104

33

0

182

4
19

23

159

214
2 537

54

– 102

2 703

4
35

39

2 664

net carrying amount 31 December 2012

1 085

1 420

¹ Recognised in cost of goods sold.

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US $ million

Notes

Goodwill

Other

Total

cost:

1 January 2011

Business combination

Reclassified from held for sale

31 December 2011

accumulated amortisation and impairment:

1 January 2011

Amortisation expense ¹

31 December 2011

net carrying amount 31 December 2011

¹ Recognised in cost of goods sold.

24

0
36

133

169

0
0

0

169

0
13

32

45

0
4

4

41

0
49

165

214

0
4

4

210

Port allocation rights
Port allocation rights represent contractual entitlements to export certain amounts of coal on an annual basis from Richard Bay 
Coal Terminal in South Africa and have been recognised as part of the acquisitions of Optimum and Umcebo, see note 24. The 
rights are being amortised on a straight line basis over the estimated economic life of the port of 40 years.

impairment testing of goodwill
For the purpose of impairment testing, goodwill has been allocated to the CGUs, or groups of CGUs, that are expected to benefit 
from the synergies of the business combination and which represent the level at which management will monitor and manage the 
goodwill.

Goodwill is tested annually for impairment for all CGUs containing goodwill with exception of goodwill acquired in a business 
combination in the current year which is tested at the date of acquisition, and when there is an indicator that the goodwill may be 
impaired.

The carrying amount of goodwill has been allocated to cash generating units (CGUs), or groups of CGUs as follows:

US $ million

Grain marketing business

Metals warehousing business

Other

total

2012

2011

1 251

133

36

1 420

0

133

36

169

Grain marketing business
Goodwill of $ 1,251 million has been recognised as part of the acquisition of Viterra, see note 24. The goodwill is primarily related 
to the Viterra grain marketing and merchandising business and is substantively attributable to synergies which are expected to 
arise in conjunction with the grain marketing division’s increased geographic coverage and scale of activities. As at 31 Decem-
ber 2012, the purchase price allocation, including the allocation of the goodwill to CGUs, has not been finalised, as the acquisition 
completed close to year end.

Metals warehousing business
Goodwill of $ 133 million relates to the Pacorini metals warehousing business and is attributable to synergies which arise in con-
junction with the metals marketing division’s expected increased activities. In assessing whether goodwill has been impaired, the 
carrying amount of the cash generating unit was compared with its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount was determined 
by reference to the value in use which utilises pre-tax cash flow projections based on the approved financial budgets for 5 years 
which includes factors, such as inventory levels, volumes and operating costs (key assumptions are based on past experience and, 
where available, observable market data), discounted to present value at a rate of 10%. The cash flows beyond the 5 year period 
have been extrapolated using a declining growth rate of 10% per annum which is the projected long term reduction in average 
inventory  levels  for  the  warehousing  business.  Glencore  believes  that  no  reasonably  possible  change  in  any  of  the  above  key  
assumptions would cause the carrying value of the CGU to exceed the recoverable amount.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  133
  |  Annual Report 2010  |  133

 
Financial StatementS

Other goodwill
Goodwill held by other CGUs is $ 36 million (2011: $ 36 million), representing less than 1% of net assets at 31 December 2012 (2011: 
less than 1%). The goodwill has been allocated across a number of CGUs in the Energy products segment, with no CGU account-
ing for more than $ 30 million of total goodwill. This goodwill has been tested for impairment and concluded to be recoverable.

Other intangible assets
Other intangible assets primarily consist of trademarks, licences, software and future warehousing fees. 

9. investments in AssoCiAtes And otHeR investments

A list of the principal operating, finance and industrial subsidiaries and Associates and other investments is included in note 32. 

US $ million

Xstrata plc

Other listed Associates 

listed associates

Non listed Associates

investments in associates

2012

2011

16 215

888

17 103

1 664 

18 767

16 187

1 337

17 524

1 334

18 858

listed associates
As at 31 December 2012, the fair value of listed Associates using published price quotations was $ 17,876 million (2011: $ 16,157 mil-
lion).  Following  the  recognition  of  Glencore’s  share  of  impairments  booked  by  its  Associates,  Glencore  completed  a  detailed 
assessment  of  the  recoverable  amount  of  investments  where  indicators  of  impairment  were  identified  and  concluded  that  the 
recoverable value supports the carrying value of these investments and that no further impairment is required.

During the year, Glencore acquired controlling interests in two companies which had been accounted for as Associates, Mutanda  
and Optimum. Refer to note 24 for further details.

US $ million

available for sale

United Company Rusal (“UCR”)

Fair value through profit and loss

Volcan Compania Minera S.A.A.

Nyrstar N.V.

Century Aluminum Company cash settled equity swaps

Jurong Aromatics Corporation Pte Ltd

Blackthorn Resources Ltd

Other

Other investments

2012

2011

840

840

410

78

80

55

34

92

749

1 589

842

842

359

105

78

55

8

100

705

1 547

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Summarised financial information in respect of Glencore’s Associates, reflecting 100% of the underlying Associate’s relevant 
 figures, are set out below. 

US $ million

Current assets

Non current assets

Current liabilities

Non current liabilities

net assets

Revenue

Net profit

2012

2011

15 979

77 226

– 10 109

– 32 401

50 695

42 647

1 491

12 129

69 884

– 8 919

– 24 620

48 474

39 940

6 194

The amount of corporate guarantees in favour of joint venture entities as at 31 December 2012 was $ 22 million (2011: $ 50 million). 
Glencore’s share of joint venture entities’ capital commitments amounts to $ 34 million (2011: $ 301 million).

10. AdvAnCes And loAns

US $ million

Loans to Associates

Other non current receivables and loans

total

2012

2011

347

3 411

3 758

840

3 301

4 141

Loans to Associates generally bear interest at applicable floating market rates plus a premium. The decrease in loans to Associ-
ates during the year is due to the acquisition of Mutanda (see note 24) which, at the time of acquisition, had outstanding loans to 
Glencore of $ 698 million (2011: $ 653 million).

Other non current receivables and loans comprise the following:

US $ million

counterparty

OAO Russneft 
Interest bearing loan at 7.75% per annum (see note below)

Atlas Petroleum International Limited (“Atlas”)
Interest bearing loans at LIBOR plus 3% 1

Secured marketing related financing arrangements 2

PT Bakrie & Brothers Tbk
Interest bearing secured loans at LIBOR plus 9% 

Funds deposited in respect of rehabilitation and restoration obligations

Other 

total

2012

2011

2 080

2 211

0

549

200

248

334

246

451

80

74

239

3 411

3 301

1  Primarily relates to carried interest loans associated with the development of the Aseng oil project in Equatorial Guinea, where Atlas is one of the  
equity partners. The operator of the field and project is Noble Energy, based in Houston. The Aseng project commenced oil production in Q4 2011, and  
loans are being repaid from oil proceeds.

2  Various marketing related financing facilities, generally secured against certain assets and/or payable from the future sale of production of the 

counterparty. The weighted average interest rate of the loans is 10% and on average are to be repaid over a 3 year period.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  135
  |  Annual Report 2010  |  135

 
Financial StatementS

Russneft loans
In November 2012, as part of a comprehensive agreement between OAO Russneft (“Russneft”), Glencore and Russneft’s other 
major creditor, Sberbank, Glencore agreed to amend the terms of its $ 2,080 million, 9% per annum loan. The revised terms lower 
the interest rate to 7.75% interest per annum and extend the expected maturity of the loan from 2020 to 2024. In exchange for this 
amendment, Glencore will receive additional annual payments of $ 50 million until substantial repayments of the loan will then 
commence, once Russneft’s debt reduces to certain thresholds and/or existing debt is refinanced. The loan is accounted for at 
amortised cost using the effective rate method with an effective interest rate of 8.4%.

The new carrying amount of the loan was required to be recalculated as the present value of the estimated future cash flows under 
the revised terms using the loan’s original effective interest rate. In estimating the expected cash flows to be received over the 
life of the loan, a comprehensive cash flow forecast was prepared utilising Russneft’s current budget and strategic plan and an 
economic analysis of Russneft’s oil fields prepared by an independent petroleum engineering firm. The difference between the 
recalculated carrying value of $ 2,093 million and the pre-amendment carrying value of $ 2,306 million resulted in an income state-
ment charge of $ 213 million (see note 5).

11. inventoRies

US $ million

Production inventories

Marketing inventories

total

2012

2011

3 153

17 529

20 682

3 150

13 979

17 129

Production inventories consist of materials, spare parts and work in process. Marketing inventories are saleable commodities held 
primarily  by the marketing entities  as  well  as finished goods  and certain other  readily saleable materials  held by the industrial  
assets. Marketing inventories of $ 16,027 million (2011: $ 13,785 million) are carried at fair value less costs to sell.

Glencore has a number of dedicated financing facilities, which finance a portion of its marketing inventories. In each case, the 
inventory has not been derecognised as the Group retains the principal risks and rewards of ownership. The proceeds received 
are recognised as current borrowings (see note 19). As at 31 December 2012, the total amount of inventory secured under such 
facilities was $ 2,946 million (2011: $ 1,834 million). The proceeds received and recognised as current borrowings were $ 2,248 mil-
lion (2011: $ 1,670 million). 

12. ACCoUnts ReCeivAble

US $ million

Trade receivables 1

Trade advances and deposits 1

Associated companies 1

Other receivables

total

1  Collectively referred to as receivables presented net of allowance for doubtful debts.

The average credit period on sales of goods is 29 days (2011: 28 days). 

2012

2011

18 386

3 270

1 031

2 195

24 882

15 903

3 022

643

2 327

21 895

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As at 31 December 2012, 8% (2011: 8%) of receivables were between 1–  60 days overdue, and 5% (2011: 3%) were greater than 
60 days overdue. Such receivables, although contractually past their due dates, are not considered impaired as there has not been 
a significant change in credit quality of the relevant counterparty, and the amounts are still considered recoverable taking into  
account customary payment patterns and in many cases, offsetting accounts payable balances. 

The movement in allowance for doubtful accounts is detailed in the table below:

US $ million

Opening balance 

Released during the year

Charged during the year

Utilised during the year 

closing balance

2012

2011

129

– 7

112

– 22

212

155

– 28

43

– 41

129

Glencore has a number of dedicated financing facilities, which finance a portion of its receivables. In each case, the receivables have 
not been derecognised, as the Group retains the principal risks and rewards of ownership. The proceeds received are recognised 
as current borrowings (see note 19). As at 31 December 2012, the total amount of trade receivables secured was $ 4,398 million 
(2011: $ 2,934 million) and proceeds received and classified as current borrowings amounted to $ 3,146 million (2011: $ 2,265 million).

13. CAsH And CAsH eqUivAlents

US $ million

Bank and cash on hand

Deposits and treasury bills

total

2012

2011

2 496

286

2 782

981

324

1 305

As at 31 December 2012, $ 4 million (2011: $ 80 million) was restricted. As at 31 December 2011, $ 47 million was placed in escrow 
for the acquisition of Rosh Pinah (see note 24).

14. Assets And liAbilities Held foR sAle

As part of Glencore’s acquisition of Viterra, Glencore entered into agreements with Agrium Inc (“Agrium”) and Richardson Inter-
national Limited (“Richardson”) which provide for the ’back-to-back’ sale of certain operations of Viterra. Upon closing, Agrium 
and Richardson advanced the agreed consideration for these operations amounting to CAD 1,775 million ($ 1,781 million) and CAD 
796  million  ($  799  million)  respectively  (the  “Asset  Acquirer  Loans”).  Upon  future  closing  of  these  divestitures,  the  relevant  net  
assets will be transferred to Agrium and Richardson in satisfaction of the Asset Acquirer Loans advanced. See note 24. 

As a result of these agreed disposals, the corresponding assets of $ 2,790 million and liabilities of $ 747 million as at 31 Decem-
ber 2012 have been classified as held for sale. 

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  137
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Financial StatementS

15. sHARe CApitAl And ReseRves

Number of 
shares 
(thousand)

Share 
capital 
(US $ million)

Share 
premium
(US $ million)

authorised:

31 December 2012 Ordinary shares with a par value of $ 0.01 each

50 000 000

issued and fully paid up:

1 January 2011 – Ordinary shares

Ordinary shares issued in exchange for HPPS and PPS profit participation obligations

Ordinary shares issued in exchange for LTS and LTPPS profit participation obligations

Ordinary shares issued at Listing (“primary issuance”)

Share issue costs associated with the primary issuance

Tax on Listing related expenses

Dividends paid

31 December 2011 – Ordinary shares

Ordinary shares issued on acquisition of an 18.91% interest in Kazzinc

Dividends paid

31 December 2012 – Ordinary shares

3 716 495

1 617 268

666 237

922 714

– 

– 

– 

6 922 714

176 742

– 

7 099 456

–

37 

16

7 

9

–

–

– 

69

2

– 

71

–

0

13 821

5 694

7 887

– 280

21

– 346

26 797

957

 – 1 066

26 688

Restructuring
Prior  to  the  Listing,  Glencore’s  articles  of  incorporation  authorised  the  issuance  of  non  voting  profit  participation  certificates 
(“PPC”) with no nominal value to its employees enabling them to participate in four profit sharing arrangements: Hybrid Profit 
Participation Shareholders (HPPS), Ordinary Profit Participation Shareholders (PPS), Glencore L.T.E. Profit Participation Sharehold-
ers (LTS) and Long Term Profit Participation Shareholders (LTPPS). The profit sharing arrangements entitled the employees to a 
portion of Glencore shareholders’ funds accumulated during the period that such employees held the PPCs. The PPCs attributed 
Glencore International AG’s consolidated net income pro rata based on the 150,000 Class B shares issued as at 31 December 2010. 

Immediately prior to the Listing, Glencore implemented a Restructuring whereby amounts owing to the then shareholder employ-
ees under the various active profit participation plans were settled in exchange for new ordinary shares and the ultimate ownership 
interests in Glencore International AG were assumed via Glencore International plc. The accounting outcome of these transactions 
is outlined below:

Settlement of the profit participation plans
The accounting for the settlement of the four profit participation plans was similar, whereby the outstanding balances under each
plan prior to Listing were exchanged for an equivalent number of ordinary shares at the Listing price of 530 pence ($ 8.56) per 
share. The difference between the nominal and fair value of the new ordinary shares issued was recognised as a share premium.

listing
On 24 May 2011, Glencore International plc issued 922,713,511 ordinary shares which comprised 891,463,511 shares to institutional
investors (the “International Offer”) at a price of 530 pence ($ 8.56) per share on the London Stock Exchange, and 31,250,000 shares
to  professional  and  retail  investors  in  Hong  Kong  (the  “Hong  Kong  Offer”)  at  a  price  of  HK$ 66.53  ($ 8.56)  per  ordinary  share. 
The gross proceeds raised were $ 7,896 million and total transaction (Restructuring and Listing) and related expenses incurred 
were  $ 566  million.  $ 280  million  of  the  transaction  costs  were  attributable  to  the  issue  of  new  (primary)  equity  and  have  been  
deducted  against  share  premium  while  $ 286  million  were  attributable  to  stamp  duty  and  other  expenses  associated  with  the 
above noted Restructuring as well as an allocation of transaction costs that jointly related to the issuing of the new (primary) equity 
and the listing of the Company and as such have been charged to income during the year (see note 4). Joint transaction costs were 
allocated based on the ratio of new shares issued, in relation to total shares outstanding.

Ordinary shares issued on acquisition of an 18.91% interest in Kazzinc
In October 2012, Glencore completed the acquisition of an additional 18.91% interest in Kazzinc from Verny Investments, for a cash 
consideration of $ 400 million and the issue of 176,742,520 new ordinary shares of the Company (closing transaction date value of 
$ 959 million), thereby increasing its ultimate ownership in Kazzinc to 69.61%. 

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Acquiring an additional interest in a subsidiary is considered to be a transaction between owners rather than an acquisition of 
a business. Therefore, this was accounted for as an equity transaction with the resulting difference of $ 506 million between the 
change in the Kazzinc non-controlling interest and the consideration paid charged to equity as a reserve. 

Other reserves

US $ million

at 1 January 2011 

Exchange gain on translation of foreign operations

Loss on cash flow hedges, net of tax

Loss on available for sale financial instruments

Cash flow hedges transferred to the statement of 
income, net of tax

Change in ownership interest in subsidiaries

Transla-
tion 
adjust-
ment

Equity 
portion 
of Con-
vertible 
bonds

Cash 
flow 
hedge 
reserve

Net  
unre-
alised 
gain/ 
(loss)

Net 
ownership 
changes in  
subsidiaries

Other 
reserves 

Total

1

– 53

0

0

0

0

89

– 263

0

0

0

0

0

0

– 17

0

6

0

25

0

0

– 1 206

0

0

– 134

10

– 272

0

0

0

0

– 98

– 232

0

0

0

0

0

– 53

– 17

– 1 206

6

– 98

10

– 1 640

89

– 274

– 1 181

– 232

10

– 1 640

at 31 December 2011 

– 52

89

– 274

– 1 181

at 1 January 2012

Exchange loss on translation of foreign operations

Loss on cash flow hedges, net of tax

Cash flow hedges transferred to the statement of 
income, net of tax

Change in ownership interest in subsidiaries

Loss on available for sale financial instruments trans-
ferred to the statement of income, net of tax

Effect of foreign currency differences transferred to the 
statement of income

at 31 December 2012

– 52

– 116

0

0

0

0

– 23

– 191

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

– 93

297

0

0

0

89

– 70

0

0

0

0

1 181

0

0

0

0

0

– 474

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

– 706

10

16. eARninGs peR sHARe

US $ million

Notes

Profit attributable to equity holders for basic earnings per share

Interest in respect of Convertible bonds ¹

Profit attributable to equity holders for diluted earnings per share

2012

1 004

0

1 004

Weighted average number of shares for the purposes of basic earnings per share (thousand)

6 961 936

5 657 794

effect of dilution:

Equity settled share-based payments

Convertible bonds ¹

18

19

26 847

0

22 790

406 738

Weighted average number of shares for the purposes of diluted earnings per share (thousand)

6 988 783

6 087 322

Basic earnings per share (US $)

Diluted earnings per share (US $)

0.14

0.14

0.72

0.69

¹ In 2012, the convertible bonds have been anti-dilutive and therefore have been excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation. 

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  139
  |  Annual Report 2010  |  139

– 116

– 93

297

– 474

1 181

– 23

– 868

2011

4 048

135

4 183

Financial StatementS

17. dividends

US $ million

Paid during the year:
Final dividend for 2011 – $ 0.10 per ordinary share (2010 – $ nil per class B share)
Interim dividend for 2012 – $ 0.054 per ordinary share (2011 – $ 0.05 per ordinary share)

total

Proposed final dividend for 2012 – $ 0.1035 per ordinary share (2011 – $ 0.10 per ordinary share)

2012

2011

692

374

1 066

735

0

 346

 346

 692

The proposed final dividend is subject to approval by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting and has not been included 
as a liability in these financial statements. Dividends declared in respect of the year ended 31 December 2012 will be paid on 
7 June 2013. The 2012 interim dividend was paid on 13 September 2012.

18. sHARe-bAsed pAyments

2011 Phantom equity awards
In April and May 2011 in connection with the Listing, 24,024,765 phantom equity awards were made to certain employees in lieu 
of  interests  in  Glencore’s  existing  equity  ownership  schemes.  At  grant  date,  each  phantom  equity  award  is  equivalent  to  one  
ordinary share of Glencore. The phantom equity awards vest on or before 31 December 2013, subject to the continued employ-
ment of the award holder. Phantom equity awards may be satisfied, at Glencore’s option, in shares by the issue of new ordinary 
shares, by the transfer of ordinary shares held in treasury or by the transfer of ordinary shares purchased in the market or in cash 
(with a value equal to the market value of the award at vesting, including dividends paid between Listing and vesting). Glencore 
currently intends to settle these awards in shares. The aggregate number of ordinary shares underlying the awards was 24,024,765. 
The fair value of the awards at the issue date was $ 8.56 per award for an aggregate fair value of $ 206 million determined by refer-
ence to the Listing price at the grant date. As at 31 December 2012, the number of shares underlying the awards was 20,141,592 
(2011: 22,789,924). The total expense recognised in the period was $ 109 million (2011: $ 58 million).

2012 Deferred Bonus Plan
Under the Glencore Deferred Bonus Plan (DBP), the payment of a portion of a participant’s annual bonus is deferred for a period 
of one to two years as an award of either ordinary shares (a ‘‘Bonus Share Award’’) or cash (a “Bonus Cash Award”). The awards 
are vested at grant date with no further service condition however they are subject to forfeiture for malus events. In May 2012, 
awards were made under Glencore’s annual bonus arrangements. Bonus Cash Awards amounted to $ 15 million and will be paid on 
30 June 2013. Bonus Share Awards equivalent to 3,710,652 ordinary shares will be settled on either 30 June 2013 or 30 June 2014. 
The share price at the issue date of the Bonus Share Awards settling on 30 June 2013 was $ 4.82 per award for an aggregate fair 
value of $ 9 million and the share price at the issue date of the Bonus Share Awards settling on 30 June 2014 was $ 5.40 per award 
for an aggregate fair value of $ 11 million. The Bonus Share Awards may be satisfied, at Glencore’s option, in shares by the issue of 
new ordinary shares, by the transfer of ordinary shares held in treasury or by the transfer of ordinary shares purchased in the market 
or in cash, with a value equal to the market value of the award at settling, including dividends paid between award and settling. 
Glencore currently intends to settle these awards in shares. 

As at 31 December 2012, the number of shares underlying the awards was 3,442,057 (2011: nil). The associated expense was  
recorded in the statement of income as part of the regular accrual for performance bonuses.

2012 Performance share plan
Under the Glencore Performance Share Plan (PSP), participants are awarded PSP awards which vest in annual tranches over a speci-
fied period, subject to continued employment and forfeiture for malus events. At grant date, each PSP award is equivalent to one 
ordinary share of Glencore.

In 2012, 3,262,938 awards were granted that will vest in three equal tranches on 30 June 2013, 30 June 2014 and 30 June 2015  
respectively. The fair value of the awards (determined by reference to the market price of Glencore’s ordinary shares at grant date) 
was $ 5.40 per award for an aggregate fair value of $ 18 million. The PSP awards may be satisfied, at Glencore’s option, in shares by 
the issue of new ordinary shares, by the transfer of ordinary shares held in treasury or by the transfer of ordinary shares purchased 
in the market or in cash, with a value equal to the market value of the award at vesting, including dividends paid between award 
and vesting. Glencore currently intends to settle these awards in shares. 

As at 31 December 2012, the number of shares underlying the awards was 3,262,938 (2011: nil). The expense recognised in the 
period was $ 2 million (2011: $ nil million).

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Financial StatementS
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19. boRRowinGs

US $ million

non current borrowings

144A Notes

Xstrata secured bank loans

Convertible bonds

Euro, Sterling and Swiss Franc bonds

Perpetual notes

Ordinary profit participation certificates

Committed syndicated revolving credit facilities

Viterra senior unsecured notes

Finance lease obligations

Other bank loans 

total non current borrowings

current borrowings

Committed secured inventory/receivables facilities

Uncommitted secured inventory/receivables facilities

U.S. commercial paper

Xstrata secured bank loans

Eurobonds

Viterra acquisition financing facility

Ordinary profit participation certificates

Finance lease obligations
Other bank loans 1

total current borrowings

Notes

2012

2011

948

0

2 172

7 530

348

332

5 881

592

233

992

19 028

3 702

1 692

726

2 696

1 061

1 503

418

48

4 652

16 498

947

2 688

2 152

5 490

347

750

5 907

0

278

1 285

19 844

2 640

1 295

512

0

0

0

533

39

3 205

8 224

24

28

28

¹  Comprises various uncommitted bilateral bank credit facilities and other financings.

144a notes
$ 950 million 6% coupon Notes due April 2014. The Notes are recognised at amortised cost at an effective interest rate of 6.15% 
per annum. 

Xstrata secured bank loans
In June 2011, Glencore refinanced the $ 2.8 billion facilities with 2 year $ 2.7 billion equivalent facilities. The facilities have been 
accounted for as secured bank loans which bear interest at a rate of U.S. $ LIBOR plus 95 basis points per annum. As at 31 Decem-
ber 2012, shares representing $ 5,397 million (2011: $ 5,343 million) of the carrying value of Glencore’s  investment in Xstrata were 
pledged as security.

convertible bonds
$ 2,300 million 5% coupon convertible bonds due December 2014. The bonds are convertible at the option of the investors into 
417,491,096 ordinary shares of Glencore International plc. The bonds consist of a liability component and an equity component. 
The  fair  values  of  the  liability  component  ($ 2,211  million)  and  the  equity  component  ($ 89  million)  were  determined,  using  the 
residual method, at issuance of the bonds. The liability component is measured at amortised cost at an effective interest rate of 
5.90% per annum. 

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  141
  |  Annual Report 2010  |  141

 
Financial StatementS

euro, Sterling and Swiss Franc bonds
The Group has issued bonds denominated in Euro, Sterling and Swiss Franc where upon issuance, the principal amounts and the 
future interest payments were swapped (using instruments which qualify as cash flow hedges) into their U.S. Dollar equivalent. The 
details of amounts issued and outstanding are as follows:

US $ million

Euro 850 million 5.250% coupon bonds

Euro 750 million 7.125% coupon bonds

Euro 1 250 million 5.250% coupon bonds

Euro 1 250 million 4.125% coupon bonds

eurobonds

GBP 650 million 6.50% coupon bonds

GBP 500 million 5.50% coupon bonds

Sterling bonds

CHF 825 million 3.625% coupon bonds

CHF 450 million 2.625% coupon bonds

Swiss Franc bonds

total non current

Maturity

Initial US $ 
equivalent

US $ fixed 
interest 
rate in %

2012

2011

Oct 2013

April 2015

March 2017

April 2018

Feb 2019

April 2022

April 2016

Dec 2018

–

1 200

1 708

1 667

4 575

1 266

800

2 066

828

492

1 320

7 961

1 078

1 078

–

6.86

6.07

4.46

6.58

5.50

4.87

4.33

6.60

0

982

1 648

1 626

4 256

1 045

837

1 882

903

489

1 392

7 530

1 061

1 061

1 045

944

1 623

0

3 612

996

0

996

882

0

882

5 490

0

0

Euro 850 million 5.250% coupon bonds

Oct 2013

total current

In April 2012, Glencore issued EUR 1,250 million ($ 1,667 million) 4.125% interest bearing bonds due April 2018 and GBP 300 million 
($ 480 million) 5.5% interest bearing bonds due April 2022. In November 2012, Glencore issued a further GBP 200 million ($ 320 mil-
lion) bonds under the same terms as the April issuance.

In July 2012, Glencore issued CHF 450 million ($ 492 million) 2.625% interest bearing bonds due December 2018.

Perpetual notes
$ 350 million of 7.5% Perpetual bonds outstanding. The bonds are callable at par every quarter starting October 2015. 

Ordinary profit participation certificates
Profit participation certificates bear interest at 6 month U.S. $ LIBOR, are repayable over 5 years (with final payments due in 2016) 
and in the event of certain triggering events, which include any breach of a financial covenant, would be subordinated 
to unsecured lenders.

committed syndicated revolving credit facility
In April 2012 Glencore signed new committed revolving credit facilities, which renewed existing revolving credit facilities. Funding 
terms are essentially unchanged in comparison to the previous facilities. The facilities comprise a $ 4,435 million 14 month revolving 
credit facility with a borrower’s 10 month term-out option and a 10 month extension option, that refinanced Glencore’s existing 
$ 3,535 million 364-day revolving credit facility. The facility has two tranches of $ 3,725 million and $ 710 million respectively. In  
addition, the maturity of $ 8,030 million of the existing $ 8,370 million 3-year revolving credit facility has been extended for a further 
year to May 2015.

Viterra senior unsecured notes
As part of the acquisition of Viterra, Glencore assumed $ 596 million senior unsecured notes, of which $ 400 million mature in  
August 2020 and CAD 200 million ($ 196 million) in February 2021. The notes bear interest at 6.19% and 7.45% respectively. 

142  |  Annual Report 2012  |  
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Financial StatementS
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committed secured inventory/receivables facilities

US $ million

Maturity

Borrowing 
base

Interest 

2012

Metals inventory/receivables facility

Oct 2013

2 220

U.S. $ LIBOR + 120 bpa 

2 220

Agricultural products inventory/receivables 
facility

Oil receivables facilities

total 

Nov 2013

Jun/Aug 
2013

300

U.S. $ LIBOR + 130 bpa

U.S. $ LIBOR/EURIBOR +
105 to 115 bpa

1 250

3 770

232

1 250

3 702

2011

1 700

–

940

2 640

U.S. commercial paper
Glencore has in place a stand alone U.S. commercial paper program for $ 1,000 million rated A2 and P2 respectively by S&P’s and 
Moody’s rating agencies. The notes issued under this program carry interest at floating market rates and mature not more than 
270 days from the date of issue.

Viterra acquisition financing facility
In June 2012, Glencore signed a $ 1.5 billion multi-currency committed one year credit facility with a one year term-out option at 
Glencore’s discretion. Funds drawn under the facility bear interest at U.S. $ LIBOR plus 200 basis points per annum.

20. defeRRed inCome

US $ million

1 January 2011

Utilised in the year

31 December 2011

1 January 2012

Assumed in business combination

Utilised in the year

Effect of foreign currency exchange difference

31 December 2012 ¹

Notes

Unfavourable 
contract

Prepayment

Total

–

–

–

–

688

– 72

– 62

554

190

– 8

182

182

0

– 19

0

163

190

– 8

182

182

688

– 91

– 62

717

24

¹ Includes the current portion of $ 92 million in respect of the unfavourable contract and $ 24 million in respect of the prepayment.

Unfavourable contract
Upon acquisition of Optimum in March 2012 (see note 24), Glencore recognised a liability of $ 688 million related to an acquired 
contractual agreement to deliver 44 million tonnes of coal over a period ending 31 December 2018 at fixed prices lower than the 
prevailing market price for coal of equivalent quality. This amount will be released to revenue as the underlying tonnes of coal are 
delivered to the buyer over the life of the contract at the rate consistent with the implied forward price curve at the time of the 
acquisition. As at year end, approximately 39 million tonnes of coal remain to be delivered.

Prepayment
During 2006, Glencore entered into an agreement to deliver, depending on mine production, up to 4.75 million ounces per year of 
silver, a by-product from its mining operations, for a period of 15 years at a fixed price for which Glencore received a partial upfront 
payment of $ 285 million. The outstanding balance represents the remaining portion of the upfront payment. The upfront payment 
is released to revenue at a rate consistent with the implied forward price curve at the time of the transaction and the actual quanti-
ties delivered. As at 31 December 2012, 17.9 million ounces (2011: 15 million ounces) have been delivered.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  143
  |  Annual Report 2010  |  143

 
Financial StatementS

21. pRovisions

US $ million

Notes

1 January 2011

Provision utilised in the year

Accretion in the year

Assumed in business combination

24

Additional provision in the year

31 December 2011

1 January 2012

Provision utilised in the year

Accretion in the year

Assumed in business combination

24

Additional provision in the year

Effect of foreign currency 
exchange difference

31 December 2012 ³

Post
retirement 
benefits ¹

Employee
entitlement

Rehabilita-
tion
costs 

Onerous 
contracts

Demurrage 
and related 
claims

Other ²

Total

60

– 1

0

0

2

61

61

– 1

0

19

14

0

93

98

– 17

0

0

35

116

116

– 2

0

19

14

0

147

379

– 14

24

43

142

574

574

– 41

33

325

83

– 23

951

93

– 89

0

0

0

4

4

– 4

0

0

0

0

0

61

– 10

0

0

23

74

74

– 60

0

0

0

0

14

200

– 64

0

14

72

222

222

– 80

0

49

170

0

361

891

– 195

24

57

274

1 051

1 051

– 188

33

412

281

– 23

1 566

¹  See note 22.
2  Other  includes  provisions  in  respect  of  mine  concession  obligations  of  $ 54  million  (2011:  $ 52  million),  construction  related  contractual  provi-
sions  of  $ 79  million  (2011:  $ 27  million),  export  levies  of  $  37  million  (2011:  $  45  million)  and  deferred  purchase  consideration  of  $ 8  million 
(2011: $ 33 million).

³  Includes $ nil million (2011: $ 4 million) in respect of onerous contracts, $ 14 million (2011: $ 74 million) in respect of demurrage and related 

claims and $ 48 million (2011: $ 20 million) in respect of other disclosed as current.

employee entitlement
The employee entitlement provision represents the value of governed employee entitlements due to employees upon their  
termination of employment. The associated expenditure will occur in a pattern consistent with when employees choose to exercise 
their entitlements.

Rehabilitation costs
Rehabilitation provision represents the accrued cost required to provide adequate restoration and rehabilitation upon the comple-
tion of extraction activities. These amounts will be settled when rehabilitation is undertaken, generally at the end of a project’s life, 
which ranges from 2 to 50 years. 

22. peRsonnel Costs And employee benefits

Total personnel costs, which includes salaries, wages, social security, other personnel costs and share-based payments, incurred 
for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, were $ 2,013 million and $ 1,723 million, respectively. Personnel costs related to 
consolidated industrial subsidiaries of $ 1,368 million (2011: $ 1,203 million) are included in cost of goods sold. Other personnel 
costs, including the 2012 deferred bonus and performance share plans, are included in selling and administrative expenses and 
the 2011 phantom equity awards are included in other expense.

The  Company  and  certain  subsidiaries  sponsor  various  pension  schemes  in  accordance  with  local  regulations  and  practices.  
Eligibility for participation in the various plans is either based on completion of a specified period of continuous service, or date of 
hire. The plans provide for certain employee and employer contributions, ranging from 5% to 16% of annual salaries, depending on 
the employee’s years of service. Among these schemes are defined contribution plans as well as defined benefit plans. The main 
locations with defined benefit plans are Switzerland, the UK, Canada and the US.

Defined contribution plans
Glencore’s contributions under these plans amounted to $ 28 million in 2012 and $ 21 million in 2011.

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Defined benefit plans
The amounts recognised in the statement of income are as follows:

US $ million

Current service cost

Interest cost

Expected return on plan assets

Net actuarial losses recognised in the year

Past service cost

Exchange differences

total 

The actual return on plan assets amounted to a gain of $ 40 million (2011: gain of $ 4 million).

The amounts recognised in the statement of financial position are determined as follows:

US $ million

Present value of defined benefit obligations

Less: fair value of plan assets

Unrecognised actuarial losses

Restrictions of assets recognised

liability in the statement of financial position

Notes

21

Movement in the present value of the defined benefit obligation is as follows:

2012

2011

24

22

– 15

15

5

1

52

2012

617

– 347

– 176

– 1

93

19

19

– 15

13

2

– 2

36

2011

513

– 284

– 164

– 4

61

US $ million

Opening defined benefit obligation

Current service cost

Interest cost

Past service cost

Benefits paid

Actuarial loss

Exchange differences on foreign plans

Business combination

Other movements

closing defined benefit obligation

Movement in the present value of the plan assets is as  follows:

US $ million

Opening fair value of plan assets

Expected return on plan assets

Contribution from the employer

Actuarial gain /(loss)

Exchange differences on foreign plans

Other movements

closing fair value of plan assets

Notes

2012

2011

21

513

24

22

5

– 15

32

– 1

19

18

617

422

19

19

2

– 26

67

 1

0

9

513

2012

2011

284

15

24

17

– 3

10

347

267

15

26

– 20

 3

– 7

284

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  145
  |  Annual Report 2010  |  145

Financial StatementS

The plan assets consist of the following:

US $ million

Cash and short term investments

Fixed income

Equities

Other

total

2012

2011

4

161

132

50

347

10

109

120

45

284

The overall expected rate of return is a weighted average of the expected returns of the various categories of plan assets held. 
Glencore’s assessment of the expected returns is based on historical return trends and analysts’ predictions of the market for the 
asset class in the next twelve months. 

The principal actuarial assumptions used were as follows:

Discount rate

Expected return on plan assets

Future salary increases

Future pension increases

2012

2011

3 – 6%

3 – 7%

2 – 5%

3 – 4%

3 – 7%

3 – 8%

2 – 5%

3 – 4%

Mortality  assumptions  are  based  on  the  latest  available  standard  mortality  tables  for  the  individual  countries  concerned. 
These tables imply expected future lifetimes (in years) for employees aged 65 as at the 31 December 2012 of 18 to 24 for males  
(2011: 18 to 24) and 20 to 25 (2011: 20 to 25) for females. The assumptions for each country are reviewed each year and are adjusted 
where necessary to reflect changes in fund experience and actuarial recommendations.

The Group expects to make a contribution of $ 24 million (2011: $ 26 million) to the defined benefit plans during the next financial 
year.

Summary historical information:

US $ million

2010

2009

2008

23. ACCoUnts pAyAble

US $ million

Trade payables

Trade advances from buyers

Associated companies

Other payables and accrued liabilities

total

146  |  Annual Report 2012  |  
146  |  Annual Report 2010  |  

Present value of 
defined benefit 
obligation

Fair value of 
plan assets

422

363

324

267

232

190

2012

2011

19 890

546

1 552

1 513

23 501

14 523

828

1 511

1 274

18 136

Financial StatementS
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24. ACqUisition And disposAl of sUbsidiARies

2012
Acquisitions

US $ million

Viterra ¹ Mutanda ¹ Optimum ¹ Rosh Pinah ¹

European
Manganese ¹ 

Other ¹

Total

non current assets

Property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets

Investments in Associates

Loans and advances ²

Deferred tax asset

current assets

Inventories

Accounts receivable ²

Cash and cash equivalents

Assets held for sale

2 505

102

76

6

1

3 496

0

0

11

0

1 311

1 096

0

175

0

231

0

1

0 

0

2 690

3 507

2 582

232

1 572

1 063

1 097

2 677

6 409

223

99

38

0

360

50

57

25

0

132

13

8

8

0

29

non controlling interest

0

– 807

– 460

– 28

non current liabilities

Non current borrowings

Other non current liabilities

Non current deferred income

Non current provisions

Deferred tax liabilities

current liabilities

Current borrowings

Accounts payable

Current deferred income

Current provision

Liabilities held for sale

total fair value of net assets acquired

Goodwill arising on acquisition ³ 

Less: Amounts previously recognised 
through investments and loans

Less: cash and cash equivalents acquired

Acquisition related costs 4

net cash used in acquisition of subsidiaries

Less: Asset acquirer loans

net cash outflow

– 592

0

0

– 114

– 279

– 985

– 1 222

– 1 496

0

– 6

– 461

– 3 185

4 929

1 251

0

1 097

5 083

2 580

2 503

– 5

– 6

0

– 7

– 882

– 900

0

– 152

0

0

0

– 152

2 008

0

1 528

38

442

0

442

– 99

– 9

– 591

– 235

– 335

– 1 269

– 6

 – 100

– 97

0

0

– 203

782

0

381

25

376

0

376

– 1

0

0

– 10

– 56

– 67

0

– 16

0

0

0

– 16

150

0

0

8

142

0

142

72

0

0

0

5

77

127

85

16

0

228

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

– 2

– 113

0

0

0

– 115

190

0

0

16

174

0

174

259

0

0

0

0

7 874

1 198

77

192

6

259

9 347

44

11

11

0

66

2 029

1 323

1 195

2 677

7 224

– 28

– 1 323 

– 1

0

0

– 40

– 25

– 66

0

 – 43

0

0

0

– 43

188

0

51

11

126

0

126

– 698 

– 15

– 591

– 406

– 1 577

– 3 287

– 1 230

– 1 920

– 97

– 6

– 461

– 3 714 

8 247

1 251

1 960

1 195

120

6 463

2 580

3 883

1  The  fair  values  are  provisional  due  to  the  complexity  of  the  valuation  process.  The  finalisation  of  the  fair  value  of  the  assets  and  liabilities  

acquired will be completed within 12 months of the acquisition.

²  There is no material difference between the gross contractual amounts for loans and advances and accounts receivable and their fair value.
3 The goodwill arising on acquisition is not deductible for tax purposes.
4 Includes $ 58 million related to the Xstrata acquisition, see note 28.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  147
  |  Annual Report 2010  |  147

Financial StatementS

Viterra
On 17 December 2012, Glencore completed the acquisition of a 100% interest in Viterra Inc., a leading global agricultural commod-
ity business for a cash consideration of $ 6.2 billion ($ 3.6 billion net of asset acquirer loans).

As part of the acquisition, Glencore entered into agreements with Agrium and Richardson which provide for the on-sale of certain 
assets of Viterra.

Agrium has agreed to acquire assets which comprise a majority of Viterra’s retail agri-products business including its 34% interest 
in Canadian Fertilizer Limited (“CFL”) for CAD 1,775 million ($ 1,781 million) in cash, subject to any final specified purchase price 
adjustments such as payment for working capital and required regulatory approvals. Richardson has agreed to acquire 23% of 
Viterra’s Canadian grain handling assets, certain agri-centres and certain processing assets in North America for CAD 796 million 
($ 799 million) in cash, subject to any final specified purchase price adjustments such as payment for working capital. Upon clos-
ing of the Viterra acquisition, Agrium and Richardson advanced the agreed consideration. The businesses which they will acquire 
have been presented in single line items as assets and liabilities held for sale (see note 14). Upon closing of these divestitures, the 
relevant net assets will be transferred to Agrium and Richardson and set off against the asset acquirer loans.

The acquisition of Viterra brings Glencore critical mass in the key grain markets of North America through Viterra’s substantial 
Canadian operations and greatly expands Glencore’s existing operations in Australia. This acquisition is consistent with Glencore’s 
strategy to enhance its position as a leading participant in the global grain and oil seeds markets. It has been accounted for as a 
business combination.

If the acquisition had taken place effective 1 January 2012, the operation would have contributed additional revenue of $ 12,816 mil-
lion and an increase in attributable income of $ 264 million. From the date of acquisition the operation contributed $ 5 million and 
$ 898 million to Glencore’s attributable income and revenue, respectively.

Glencore incurred acquisition related costs of $ 54 million and a realised foreign currency gain of $ 65 million on Canadian dollar 
hedges entered into in May in expectation of the acquisition (both items included within other expense – net, see note 4).

Optimum
In March 2012, Glencore acquired an additional 31.8% interest in Optimum, a South African coal mining company, for a total con-
sideration of $ 401 million thereby increasing its ultimate ownership in Optimum from 31.2% to 63.0% and enhancing its existing 
South African coal market presence. Prior to acquisition, Glencore owned a 31.2% interest in Optimum which, in accordance with 
IFRS 3, at the date of acquisition was revalued to its fair value of $ 381 million and as a result, a loss of $ 20 million was recognised 
in other expense – net (see note 4). The acquisition has been accounted for as a business combination with the non controlling 
interest being measured at its percentage of net assets acquired.

If the acquisition had taken place effective 1 January 2012, the operation would have contributed additional revenue of $ 196 mil-
lion and additional attributable income of $ 19 million. From the date of acquisition the operation contributed $ 27 million and 
$ 541 million to Glencore’s attributable income and revenue, respectively.

mutanda
In April 2012, Glencore concluded its agreement to acquire an additional 20% interest in Mutanda, a copper and cobalt mining 
company located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for a total cash consideration of $ 480 million (equity of $ 420 million 
and shareholder debt of $ 60 million) thereby increasing its ultimate ownership in Mutanda from 40% to 60% and enhancing its 
attributable copper production base. Prior to acquisition, Glencore owned a 40% interest in Mutanda which, in accordance with 
IFRS 3, at the date of acquisition was revalued to its fair value of $ 837 million and as a result, a gain of $ 517 million was recognised 
in other expense – net (see note 4). The acquisition has been accounted for as a business combination with the non controlling 
interest being measured at its percentage of net assets acquired.

If the acquisition had taken place effective 1 January 2012, the operation would have contributed additional revenue of $ 236 mil-
lion and additional attributable income of $ 9 million. From the date of acquisition the operation contributed $ 23 million and 
$ 533 million to Glencore’s attributable income and revenue, respectively.

In addition to the acquisition of the 20% interest in Mutanda noted above, Glencore concurrently entered into a put and call option 
arrangement, whereby Glencore has the right to acquire and the seller has the ability to force Glencore to acquire an additional 
20%  interest  in  Mutanda  for  a  total  cash  consideration  of  $  430  million.  The  put  and  call  options  are  exercisable  in  the  period  
between 15 December 2013 and 31 December 2013. The present value of the put option ($ 419 million) has been accounted for as 
an other financial liability with the corresponding amount recognised against non controlling interest.

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Financial StatementS
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Rosh Pinah
In June 2012, Glencore completed the acquisition of an 80.1% interest in Rosh Pinah, a Namibian zinc and lead mining operation, 
for a cash consideration of $ 150 million increasing our zinc and lead production footprint. The acquisition has been accounted for 
as a business combination with the non controlling interest being measured at its percentage of net assets acquired.

If the acquisition had taken place effective 1 January 2012, the operation would have contributed additional revenue of $ 78 million 
and a decrease in attributable income of $ 2 million. From the date of acquisition the operation contributed $ 1 million and $ 51 mil-
lion to Glencore’s attributable income and revenue, respectively.

european manganese
In November 2012, Glencore completed the acquisition of a 100% interest in Vale’s European manganese ferro alloys operations, 
located in Dunkirk, France and Mo I Rana, Norway, for a cash consideration of $ 190 million. This is the first time that Glencore has 
expanded into manganese production, strengthening its marketing offer and complementing existing production of steel-making 
products. The acquisition has been accounted for as a business combination.

If the acquisition had taken place effective 1 January 2012, the operation would have contributed additional revenue of $ 303 mil-
lion and a decrease in attributable income of $ 18 million. From the date of acquisition the operation contributed $ 49 million to 
revenue and a reduction in attributable income of $ 7 million.

Other
Other comprises primarily an acquisition of a 100% interest in a sunseed crushing operation in Ukraine for a cash consideration of 
$ 80 million. If the acquisitions had taken place effective 1 January 2012, the operations would have contributed additional revenue 
of $ 2 million and a decrease in attributable income of $ 1 million. From the date of acquisition the operation contributed $ 1 million 
and $ 16 million to Glencore’s attributable income and revenue, respectively.

2012 
Disposals
In December 2012, Glencore disposed of its 100% interest in Chemoil Storage Limited (part of Chemoil Group), which owned and 
operated the Helios Terminal, for a cash consideration of $ 287 million.

US $ million

Property, plant and equipment

Accounts receivable 

Cash and cash equivalents

Non current borrowings

Deferred tax liabilities

Current borrowings

total net assets disposed

Net gain on disposal

net cash proceeds

Less: cash and cash equivalents disposed of 

net cash received on disposal of subsidiary

Total

279

1

2

– 7

– 7

– 1

267

20

287

– 2

285

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  149
  |  Annual Report 2010  |  149

Financial StatementS

2011
Acquisitions
During 2011, Glencore acquired interests in various businesses, the most significant being Umcebo Mining (Pty) Ltd (“Umcebo”). 
The net cash used in the acquisition of subsidiaries and the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of 
acquisition are detailed below:

US $ million

Umcebo

Other 

Total

Provisional 
as previously 
reported

Fair value 
adjustments¹

Final fair value 
at acquisition

Fair value at 
acquisition

Property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets

Investments in Associates

Loans and advances ²

Inventories

Accounts receivable ²

Cash and cash equivalents

Non controlling interest

Non current borrowings

Deferred tax liabilities

Provisions

Accounts payable

Current borrowings

total fair value of net assets acquired

Goodwill arising on acquisition ³

Less: cash and cash equivalents acquired

Less: contingent consideration 4

net cash used in acquisition of subsidiaries

555

0

10

30

10

34

4

– 208

– 57

– 118

– 53

– 84

0

123

0

4

0

119

– 160

88

0

0

0

0

0

63

0

9

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

395

88

10

30

10

34

4

– 145

– 57

– 109

– 53

– 84

0

123

0

4

0

119

220

13

0

6

13

19

14

– 7

– 12

– 3

– 4

 – 28

– 7

224

36

14

15

231

615

101

10

36

23

53

18

– 152

– 69

– 112

– 57

– 112

– 7

347

36

 18

15

350

1  The accounting was provisional at 31 December 2011 due to the timing and complexity of the transaction. These adjustments arose due to the 
revisions to the valuations of property, plant and equipment, the recognition of port allocation rights, the recognition of tax liabilities and the 
resulting impact on minority interests. In 2012, the acquisition accounting was finalised.
2  Represents the gross contractual amount for loans and advances and accounts receivable.
3   None of the goodwill arising on acquisition is deductible for tax purposes.
4  The contingent consideration of $ 15 million related to the purchase of assets of OceanConnect has been settled in 2012 for $ 10 million and 

a gain of $ 5 million has been realised.

Umcebo
In December 2011, in order to increase its South African coal market presence, Glencore completed the acquisition of a 43.7% stake 
in Umcebo, an unlisted South African coal mining company, for $ 123 million cash consideration. Although Glencore holds less than 
50% of the voting rights, it has the ability to exercise control over Umcebo as the shareholder agreements allow Glencore to control 
the Board of Directors through the ability to appoint half of the Directors and the CEO, who has the casting vote in respect of the 
financial and operating policies of Umcebo. The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination with the non controlling 
interest being measured at its percentage of net assets acquired. 

If the acquisition had taken place effective 1 January 2011, the operation would have contributed additional revenue of $ 309 mil-
lion and a decrease in attributable income of $ 3 million. From the date of acquisition the operation contributed $ nil million and 
$ nil million to Glencore’s income and revenue, respectively, due to the fact that the acquisition was completed in late Decem-
ber 2011.

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Other
Other comprises primarily acquisitions of crushing operations in the Czech Republic and a 90.7% interest of crushing operations in 
Poland for cash consideration of $ 82 million and $ 71 million, respectively, a 100% interest in Sable Zinc Kabwe Limited, a Zambian 
metal-processing operation for cash consideration of $ 29 million and certain assets related to the business of OceanConnect  
for total consideration of $ 30 million. The goodwill recognised in connection with these acquisitions principally related to Ocean-
Connect.

If  these  acquisitions  had  taken  place  effective  1  January  2011,  the  operations  would  have  contributed  revenue  of  $ 104  million 
and  a  decrease  in  attributable  income  of  $ 19  million.  From  the  date  of  acquisition  the  operations  contributed  $  1,321  million 
and –  $ 9 million to Glencore’s revenue and income, respectively.

Disposals
In 2011, there were no material disposals of subsidiaries.

25. finAnCiAl And CApitAl Risk mAnAGement

Financial risks arising in the normal course of business from Glencore’s operations comprise market risk (including commodity 
price risk, interest rate risk and currency risk), credit risk (including performance risk) and liquidity risk. It is Glencore’s policy and 
practice to  identify and, where appropriate and  practical,  actively manage such risks to support its objectives in managing its 
capital and future financial security and flexibility. Glencore’s overall risk management program focuses on the unpredictability of 
financial markets and seeks to protect its financial security and flexibility by using derivative financial instruments where possible 
to substantially hedge these financial risks. Glencore’s finance and risk professionals, working in coordination with the commodity 
departments,  monitor,  manage  and  report  regularly  to  senior  management,  the  Audit  Committee  and  ultimately  the  Board  of 
 Directors on the approach and effectiveness in managing financial risks along with the financial exposures facing the Group.

Glencore’s objectives in managing capital attributable to equity holders include preserving its overall financial health and strength 
for the benefit of all stakeholders, maintaining an optimal capital structure in order to provide a high degree of financial flexibility 
at an attractive cost of capital and safeguarding its ability to continue as a going concern, while generating sustainable long term 
profitability. Paramount in meeting these objectives is Glencore’s policy to maintain an investment grade rating status. Following 
the Xstrata merger and Viterra acquisition announcements, Glencore’s current credit ratings are Baa2 (stable) from Moody’s and 
BBB (stable) from S&P.

Dividend policy
The Company intends to pursue a progressive dividend policy with the intention of maintaining or increasing its total ordinary divi-
dend each year. Dividends are expected to be declared by the Board semi-annually (with the half-year results and the preliminary 
full year results). Interim dividends are expected to represent approximately one-third of the total dividend for any year. Dividends 
will be declared and paid in U.S. dollars, although Shareholders will be able to elect to receive their dividend payments in pounds 
sterling, Euros or Swiss Francs based on the exchange rates in effect around the date of payment. Shareholders on the Hong Kong 
branch register will receive their dividends in Hong Kong dollars.

commodity price risk
Glencore is exposed to price movements for the inventory it holds and the products it produces which are not held to meet priced 
forward contract obligations and forward priced purchase or sale contracts. Glencore manages a significant portion of this expo-
sure through futures and options transactions on worldwide commodity exchanges or in over the counter (OTC) markets, to the 
extent available. Commodity price risk management activities are considered an integral part of Glencore’s physical commodity 
marketing activities and the related assets and liabilities are included in other financial assets from and other financial liabilities to 
derivative counterparties, including clearing brokers and exchanges. Whilst it is Glencore’s policy to substantially hedge its com-
modity price risks, there remains the possibility that the hedging instruments chosen may not always provide effective mitigation 
of the underlying price risk. The hedging instruments available to the marketing businesses may differ in specific characteristics to 
the risk exposure to be hedged, resulting in an ongoing and unavoidable basis risk exposure. Residual basis risk exposures repre-
sent a key focus point for Glencore’s commodity department teams who actively engage in the management of such. 

In previous years Glencore entered into futures transactions (designated as cash flow hedges) to hedge the price risk of specific 
future operating expenditure with a notional sell amount of $ 181 million and a recognised fair value liability of $ 101 million as at 
31 December 2011. These cash flow hedges matured and were closed in 2012. As at 31 December 2012, there were no open cash 
flow hedge positions related to future operating expenditure.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  151
  |  Annual Report 2010  |  151

Financial StatementS

Value at risk
One of the tools used by Glencore to monitor and limit its primary market risk exposure, namely commodity price risk related to its 
physical marketing activities, is the use of a value at risk (VaR) computation. VaR is a risk measurement technique which estimates 
the potential loss that could occur on risk positions as a result of movements in risk factors over a specified time horizon, given a 
specific level of confidence. The VaR methodology is a statistically defined, probability based approach that takes into account 
market volatil ities, as well as risk diversification by recognising offsetting positions and correlations between commodities and 
markets. In this way, risks can be measured consistently across all markets and commodities and risk measures can be aggregated 
to derive a single risk value. Glencore’s Board has set a consolidated VaR limit (1 day 95%) of $ 100 million representing less than 
0.5% of total equity.

Glencore uses a VaR approach based on Monte Carlo simulations and is computed at a 95% confidence level with a weighted data 
history using a combination of a one day and one week time horizon.

Position sheets are regularly distributed and monitored and weekly Monte Carlo simulations are applied to the various business groups’ 
net marketing positions to determine potential future exposures. As at 31 December 2012, Glencore’s 95%, one day market risk VaR was 
$ 49 million (2011: $ 28 million). Average market risk VaR (1 day 95%) during 2012 was $ 40 million compared to $ 39 million during 2011.

VaR does not purport to represent actual gains or losses in fair value on earnings to be incurred by Glencore, nor does Glencore 
claim that these VaR results are indicative of future market movements or representative of any actual impact on its future results. 
VaR should always be viewed in the context of its limitations; notably, the use of historical data as a proxy for estimating future 
events, market illiquidity risks and tail risks. Glencore recognises these limitations, and thus complements and continuously refines 
its VaR analysis by ana lysing forward looking stress scenarios and back testing calculated VaR against actual movements arising in 
the next business day and week.

Glencore’s VaR computation currently covers its business in the key base metals (aluminium, nickel, zinc, copper, lead, etc), coal, 
iron ore, oil/natural gas and the main risks in the Agricultural products business segment (grain, oil seeds, sugar and cotton) and 
assesses the open-priced positions which are those subject to price risk, including inventories of these commodities. Due to the 
lack of a liquid terminal market, Glencore does not include a VaR calculation for products such as alumina or certain ferro alloy com-
modities as it does not consider the nature of these markets, nor the Group’s underlying exposures to these products to be suited 
to this type of analysis. Alternative tools have been implemented and are used to monitor exposures related to these products.

net present value at risk
Glencore’s  future  cash  flows  related  to  its  forecast  energy,  metals  and  minerals  and  agricultural  production  activities  are  also 
exposed to  commodity price movements. Glencore manages this exposure through a combination of portfolio diversification, 
occasional  shorter  term  hedging  via  futures  and  options  transactions,  insurance  products  and  continuous  internal  monitoring, 
reporting and quantification of the underlying operations’ estimated cashflows and valuations.

interest rate risk
Glencore is exposed to various risks associated with the effects of fluctuations in the prevailing levels of market interest rates on 
its assets and liabilities and cash flows. Matching of assets and liabilities is utilised as the dominant method to hedge interest rate 
risks. Floating rate debt which is predominantly used to fund fast turning working capital (interest is internally charged on the fund-
ing of this working capital) is primarily based on U.S. $ LIBOR plus an appropriate premium. Accordingly, prevailing market interest 
rates are continuously factored into transactional pricing and terms.

Assuming the amount of floating rate liabilities at the reporting period end were outstanding for the whole year, interest rates were 
50 basis points higher/lower and all other variables held constant, Glencore’s income and equity for the year ended 31 Decem-
ber 2012 would decrease/increase by $ 109 million (2011: $ 98 million).

currency risk
The U.S. Dollar is the predominant functional currency of the Group. Currency risk is the risk of loss from movements in exchange 
rates related to transactions and balances in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar. Such transactions include operating expendi-
ture, capital expenditure and to a lesser extent purchases and sales in currencies other than the functional currency. Purchases 
or sales of commodities concluded in currencies other than the functional currency, apart from certain limited domestic sales at 
industrial operations which act as a hedge against local operating costs, are hedged through forward exchange contracts. Con-
sequently, foreign exchange movements against the U.S. Dollar on recognised transactions would have an immaterial financial 
impact. Glencore enters into currency hedging transactions with leading financial institutions.

Glencore’s debt related payments (both principal and interest) are denominated in or swapped using hedging instruments into 
U.S. Dollars. Glencore’s operating expenses, being a small portion of its revenue base, are incurred in a mix of currencies of which 
the U.S. Dollar, Swiss Franc, Pound Sterling, Canadian Dollar, Australian Dollar, Euro, Kazakhstan Tenge, Colombian Peso and South 
African Rand are the predominant currencies.

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Glencore has issued Euro, Swiss Franc and Sterling denominated bonds (see note 19). Cross currency swaps were concluded to 
hedge the currency risk on the principal and related interest payments of these bonds. These contracts were designated as cash 
flow hedges of the foreign currency risks associated with the bonds. The fair value of these derivatives is as follows:

US $ million

Notional amounts

Recognised fair values

Buy

Sell

Assets

Liabilities

Average 

maturity ¹

Cross currency swap agreements – 2012

Cross currency swap agreements – 2011

0

0

9 039

6 080

0

0

82

174

2017

2015

¹ Refer to note 19 for details.

credit risk
Credit risk arises from the possibility that counterparties may not be able to settle obligations due to Glencore within their agreed 
payment terms. Financial assets which potentially expose Glencore to credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, 
receivables and advances, derivative instruments and non current advances and loans. Glencore’s credit management process 
includes the assessment, monitoring and reporting of counterparty exposure on a regular basis. Glencore’s cash and cash equiva-
lents are placed overnight with a diverse group of highly credit rated financial institutions. Credit risk with respect to receivables 
and advances is mitigated by the large number of customers comprising Glencore’s customer base, their diversity across various 
industries and geographical areas, as well as Glencore’s policy to mitigate these risks through letters of credit, netting, collateral 
and insurance arrangements where appropriate. Additionally, it is Glencore’s policy that transactions and activities in trade related 
financial instruments be concluded under master netting agreements or long form confirmations to enable offsetting of balances 
due to/from a common counterparty in the event of default by the counterparty. Glencore actively and continuously monitors 
the  credit  quality  of  its  counterparties  through  internal  reviews  and  a  credit  scoring  process,  which  includes,  where  available, 
public credit ratings. Balances with counterparties not having a public investment grade or equivalent internal rating are typically 
enhanced to investment grade through the extensive use of credit enhancement products, such as letters of credit or insurance 
products. Glencore has a diverse customer base, with no customer representing more than 3% (2011: 3%) of its trade receivables 
(on a gross basis taking into account credit enhancements) or accounting for more than 2% of its revenues over the year ended 
2012 (2011: 2%).

The maximum exposure to credit risk, without considering netting agreements or without taking account of any collateral held or 
other credit enhancements, is equal to the carrying amount of Glencore’s financial assets plus the guarantees to third parties and 
Associates (see note 29).

Performance risk
Performance risk arises from the possibility that counterparties may not be willing or able to meet their future contractual physical 
sale or purchase obligations to/from Glencore. Glencore undertakes the assessment, monitoring and reporting of performance 
risk within its overall credit management process. Glencore’s market breadth, diversified supplier and customer base as well as the 
standard pricing mechanism in the majority of Glencore’s commodity portfolio which does not fix prices beyond three months, 
with the main exceptions being coal and cotton where longer term fixed price contracts are common, ensure that performance 
risk is adequately mitigated. The commodity industry has trended towards shorter fixed price contract periods, in part to mitigate 
against such potential performance risk, but also due to the development of more transparent and liquid spot markets, e.g. coal 
and iron ore and associated derivative products and indexes.

liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that Glencore is unable to meet its payment obligations when due, or that it is unable, on an ongoing basis, 
to borrow funds in the market on an unsecured or secured basis at an acceptable price to fund actual or proposed commitments. 
Prudent liquidity risk management implies maintaining sufficient cash and cash equivalents through the availability of adequate 
committed funding facilities. Glencore has set itself an internal minimum liquidity target to maintain at all times, available commit-
ted undrawn credit facilities of $ 3 billion (2011: $ 3 billion). Glencore’s credit profile, diversified funding sources and committed 
credit facilities, ensure that sufficient liquid funds are maintained to meet its liquidity requirements. As part of its liquidity manage-
ment, Glencore closely monitors and plans for its future capital expenditure and proposed investments, as well as credit facility 
refinancing/extension requirements, well ahead of time.

Certain borrowing arrangements require compliance with specific financial covenants related to working capital, minimum cur-
rent ratio and a maximum long term debt to tangible net worth ratio. During the period, the Company has complied with these 
requirements.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  153
  |  Annual Report 2010  |  153

 
Financial StatementS

As at 31 December 2012, Glencore had available committed undrawn credit facilities, cash and marketable securities amounting to 
$ 9,018 million (2011: $ 6,831 million). The maturity profile of Glencore’s financial liabilities based on the contractual terms is as follows:

2012
US $ million

Borrowings

Expected future interest payments

Viterra assets acquirer loans

Accounts payable

Other financial liabilities

total

Current assets

2011
US $ million

Borrowings

Expected future interest payments

Accounts payable

Other financial liabilities

total

Current assets

After
 5 years

Due 
3 – 5 years

Due 
2 – 3 years

Due
 1 – 2 years

Due
 0 –1 year

4 680

417

0

0

0

2 757

684

0

0

0

2 312

662

0

0

0

9 279

927

0

0

0

5 097

3 441

2 974

10 206

16 498

1 067

2 580

23 501

3 388

47 034

Total

35 526

3 757

2 580

23 501

3 388

68 752

54 059

54 059

After
 5 years

Due 
3 – 5 years

Due 
2 – 3 years

Due
 1 – 2 years

Due
 0 –1 year

3 285

270

0

0

2 178

547

0

820

9 985

768

0

39

4 396

849

0

394

3 555

3 545

10 792

5 639

8 224

942

18 136

3 551

30 853

Total

28 068

3 376

18 136

4 804

54 384

45 731

45 731

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26. finAnCiAl instRUments

Fair value of financial instruments
The following table presents the carrying values and fair values of Glencore’s financial instruments. Fair value is the amount at 
which a financial instrument could be exchanged in an arm’s length transaction between informed and willing parties, other than 
in a forced or liquidated sale. Where available, market values have been used to determine fair values. When market values are 
not available, fair values have been calculated by discounting expected cash flows at prevailing interest and exchange rates. The 
estimated  fair  values  have  been  determined  using  market  information  and  appropriate  valuation  methodologies,  but  are  not  
necessarily indicative of the amounts that Glencore could realise in the normal course of business.

The financial assets and liabilities are presented by class in the tables below at their carrying values, which generally approxi-
mate to the fair values. In the case of $ 35,526 million (2011: $ 28,029 million) of borrowings, the fair value at 31 December 2012 
is $ 36,371 million (2011: $ 28,247 million).

2012 
US $ million

assets
Other investments 3

Advances and loans

Accounts receivable

Other financial assets

Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities

total financial assets

liabilities

Borrowings

Viterra asset acquirer loans

Accounts payable

Other financial liabilities

total financial liabilities

Carrying
value 1

Available
for sale

FVtPL 2

Total

0

3 758

24 882

0

0

840

0

0

0

0

28 640

840

35 526

2 580

23 501

0

61 607

0

0

0

0

0

749

0

0

2 650

2 820

6 219

0

0

0

3 388

3 388

1 589

3 758

24 882

2 650

2 820

35 699

35 526

2 580

23 501

3 388

64 995

1  Carrying value comprises investments, loans, accounts receivable, accounts payable and other liabilities measured at amortised cost.
2  FVtPL – Fair value through profit and loss – held for trading.
3  Other investments of $ 1,414 million are classified as Level 1 with the remaining balance of $ 175 million classified as Level 3. The change in the 

Level 3 other investments is a result of purchases made during the year.

2011 
US $ million

assets
Other investments 3

Advances and loans

Accounts receivable

Other financial assets

Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities

total financial assets

liabilities

Borrowings

Accounts payable

Other financial liabilities

total financial liabilities

Carrying
value 1

Available
for sale

FVtPL 2

Total

0

4 141

21 895

0

0

842

0

0

0

0

26 036

842

28 068

18 160

0

46 228

0

0

0

0

705

0

0

5 065

1 345

7 115

0

0

4 804

4 804

1 547

4 141

21 895

5 065

1 345

33 993

28 068

18 160

4 804

51 032

1  Carrying value comprises investments, loans, accounts receivable, accounts payable and other liabilities measured at amortised cost.
2  FVtPL – Fair value through profit and loss – held for trading.
3  Other investments of $ 1,429 million are classified as Level 1 with the remaining balance of $ 118 million classified as Level 3.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  155
  |  Annual Report 2010  |  155

 
 
 
 
Financial StatementS

The following tables show the fair values of the derivative financial instruments including trade related financial and physical for-
ward purchase and sale commitments by type of contract as at 31 December 2012 and 2011. Fair values are primarily determined 
using  quoted  market  prices  or  standard  pricing  models  using  observable  market  inputs  where  available  and  are  presented  to 
reflect the expected gross future cash in/outflows. Glencore classifies the fair values of its financial instruments into a three level 
hierarchy based on the degree of the source and observability of the inputs that are used to derive the fair value of the financial 
asset or liability as follows:

Level 1   unadjusted quoted inputs in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; or
Level 2  
inputs other than quoted inputs included in Level 1 that are directly or indirectly observable in the market; or
Level 3   unobservable market inputs or observable but can not be market corroborated, requiring Glencore to make market 

based assumptions.

Level 1 classifications primarily include futures with a tenor of less than one year and options that are exchange traded. Level 2 
classi fications primarily include futures with a tenor greater than one year, over the counter options, swaps and physical forward 
transactions which derive their fair value primarily from exchange quotes and readily observable broker quotes. Level 3 classifica-
tions primarily include physical forward transactions which derive their fair value predominately from models that use broker quotes 
and applicable market based estimates surrounding location, quality and credit differentials. In circumstances where Glencore 
cannot  verify  fair  value  with  observable  market  inputs  (Level  3  fair  values),  it  is  possible  that  a  different  valuation  model  could  
produce a materially different estimate of fair value.

It is Glencore’s policy that transactions and activities in trade related financial instruments be concluded under master netting 
agreements or long form confirmations to enable balances due to/from a common counterparty to be offset in the event of default 
by the counterparty. 

Other financial assets

2012
US $ million

commodity related contracts

Futures

Options

Swaps

Physical forwards

Financial contracts

Cross currency swaps

Foreign currency and interest rate contracts

total

2011
US $ million

commodity related contracts

Futures

Options

Swaps

Physical forwards

Financial contracts

Cross currency swaps

Foreign currency and interest rate contracts

total

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Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

564

27

75

12

5

63

141

0

304

778

147

45

746

1 415

0

4

0

485

0

0

489

705

31

379

1 275

152

108

2 650

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

2 521

50

67

0

0

61

528

0

239

1 015

76

50

2 699

1 908

0

0

0

458

0

0

458

3 049

50

306

1 473

76

111

5 065

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Notes

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

Other financial liabilities

2012
US $ million

commodity related contracts

Futures

Options

Swaps

Physical forwards

Financial contracts

Cross currency swaps

Foreign currency and interest rate contracts

Put option over non controlling interest

total

24

2011
US $ million

commodity related contracts

Futures

Options

Swaps

Physical forwards

Financial contracts

Cross currency swaps

Foreign currency and interest rate contracts

total

The following table shows the net changes in fair value of Level 3 other financial assets and other financial liabilities:

US $ million

1 January 2011

Total gain /(loss) recognised in cost of goods sold

Realised

31 December 2011

1 January 2012

Total gain /(loss) recognised in cost of goods sold

Put option over non controlling interest

24

Realised

31 December 2012

712

96

25

14

0

48

0

283

1

267

439

633

21

0

895

1 644

0

37

0

393

0

0

419

849

995

134

292

846

633

69

419

3 388

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

1 643

61

31

0

0

76

758

51

372

590

766

15

1 811

2 552

0

25

0

416

0

0

441

2 401

137

403

1 006

766

91

4 804

Notes

Physical
forwards

Options

Total 
Level 3

355

– 269

– 44

42

42

10

0

44

96

– 99

1

73

– 25

– 25

– 33

– 419

21

– 456

256

– 268

29

17

17

– 23

– 419

65

– 360

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  157

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial StatementS

27. AUditoRs’ RemUneRAtion

US $ million

2012

2011

Remuneration in respect of the audit of Glencore’s consolidated financial statements

Other audit fees, primarily in respect of audits of accounts of subsidiaries

total audit fees

Audit-related assurance services

Corporate finance services ¹

Taxation compliance services

Other taxation advisory services

Other services 

total non-audit fees

total professional fees

4

13

17

2

6

3

2

2

15

32

3

13

16

2

12

2

1

1

18

34

1  Included within corporate finance services for the year ended 31 December 2012 is $ 4 million (2011 – $ nil million) of professional fees related 
directly to the auditors role as Reporting Accountant in connection with the merger with Xstrata plc (see note 28). Within corporate finance 
services for the year ended 31 December 2011 is $ 9 million of professional fees related directly to the auditors role as Reporting Accountant 
in connection with the Listing.

28. fUtURe Commitments

Capital expenditure for the acquisition of property, plant and equipment is generally funded through the cash flow generated by 
the respective industrial entities. As at 31 December 2012, $ 756 million (2011: $ 884 million), of which 63% (2011: 92%) relates to 
expenditure to be incurred over the next year, was contractually committed for the acquisition of property, plant and equipment.

Certain  of  Glencore’s  exploration  tenements  and  licenses  require  it  to  spend  a  minimum  amount  per  year  on  development  
activities, a significant portion of which would have been incurred in the ordinary course of operations. As at 31 December 2012, 
$ 343 million (2011: $ 549 million) of such development expenditures are to be incurred, of which 41% (2011: 57%) are for commit-
ments to be settled over the next year.

Glencore procures seagoing vessels/chartering services to meet its overall marketing objectives and commitments. At year end, 
Glencore has committed to future hire costs to meet future physical delivery and sale obligations and expectations of $ 1,419 mil-
lion (2011: $ 2,171 million) of which $ 596 million (2011: $ 570 million) are with associated companies. 55% (2011: 50%) of the total 
charters are for services to be received over the next 2 years. 

As part of Glencore’s ordinary sourcing and procurement of physical commodities and other ordinary marketing obligations, the 
selling party may request that a financial institution act as either a) the paying party upon the delivery of product and qualifying 
documents through the issuance of a letter of credit or b) the guarantor by way of issuing a bank guarantee accepting responsibility 
for Glencore’s contractual obligations. As at 31 December 2012, $ 10,509 million (2011: $ 8,642 million) of such commitments have 
been issued on behalf of Glencore, which will generally be settled simultaneously with the payment for such commodity.

Glencore has entered into various operating leases mainly as lessee for office and warehouse/storage facilities. Rental expenses 
for these leases totalled respectively $ 99 million and $ 77 million for the years ended 31 December 2012 and 2011. Future net  
minimum lease payments under non cancellable operating leases are as follows:

US $ million

Within 1 year

Between 2 and 5 years

After 5 years

total

158  |  Annual Report 2012  |  
158  |  Annual Report 2010  |  

2012

2011

110

213

160

483

76

147

120

343

 
Financial StatementS
overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

Glencore has entered into finance leases for various plant and equipment items, primarily vessels and machinery. Future net mini-
mum lease payments under finance leases together with the future finance charges are as follows:

US $ million

Within 1 year

Between 2 and 5 years

After 5 years

total minimum lease payments

Less: amounts representing finance lease charges

Present value of minimum lease payments

Future development and related commitments

Undiscounted minimum
lease payments

Present value of minimum
lease payments

2012

2011

2012

2011

62

188

109

359

78

281

50

197

136

383

 66

317

48

146

87

281

281

39

164

114

317

317

Xstrata
On 7 February 2012, the Glencore Directors and the Independent Xstrata Directors announced that they had reached an agree-
ment on the terms of a recommended all-share merger (the “Merger”) between Glencore and Xstrata to create a unique $ 90 bil-
lion natural resources group. The final terms of the Merger provide Xstrata shareholders with 3.05 newly issued shares in Glencore 
for each Xstrata share held. The Merger, which received shareholder approval in November 2012, is to be effected by way of a court 
sanctioned scheme of arrangement of Xstrata under Part 26 of the UK Companies Act, pursuant to which Glencore will acquire 
the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Xstrata not already owned by the Glencore Group. Completion of the 
Merger remains conditional upon the receipt of the outstanding regulatory approval in China and completion of the Xstrata court 
process as further set out in the New Scheme Document in connection with the Merger published by Xstrata on 25 October 2012 
and Glencore giving effect to the commitments required by the European Commission. Glencore will be required to repay the 
Xstrata secured bank loans (see note 19) prior to completion of the Merger. Costs of $ 58 million (included within other expense – 
net, see note 4 ) have been expensed to date.

Kansuki 
In August 2010, Glencore acquired an ultimate 37.5% interest in the Kansuki concession (Kansuki), a 185 square kilometre cop-
per and cobalt pre-development project which borders Glencore’s partly owned Mutanda concession in the DRC. In exchange, 
Glencore has a) an obligation to finance the first $ 400 million of development related expenditures, b) the right to operate the  
operations and c) a life of mine off-take agreement for all copper and cobalt produced by Kansuki. In addition, one of the part-
ners in Kansuki has the right to sell an additional 18.75% ultimate interest to Glencore at the then calculated equity value of the 
operation, at the earlier of the date the operation produces a minimum annual 70,000 tonnes of copper and August 2013. A total 
of $ 507 million of capital expenditure for mine and plant development has been committed of which $ 413 million has been spent. 
Exploration of the Kansuki concession is ongoing. Discussions with respect to a potential combination of the Mutanda and Kansuki 
operations are ongoing, with a view to ultimately obtaining a majority stake in the merged entity.

Prodeco
Prodeco currently exports the majority of its coal through Puerto Prodeco which operates under a private concession awarded by 
the Colombian government. This concession expired in March 2009, however the Colombian government has continued to grant 
Prodeco the right to use the port under annual lease agreements, currently expiring around the time of the expected commission-
ing of Puerto Nuevo in the first half of 2013 as discussed below. To comply with new government regulations on loading methods, 
which became effective from July 2010, Prodeco commenced construction of a new, wholly owned, port facility (Puerto Nuevo) 
which is estimated to cost $ 553 million and be commissioned over the first half of 2013. As at 31 December 2012, $ 449 million of 
the estimated initial investment has been incurred and $ 38 million has been contractually committed and is included in the capital 
expenditure commitments disclosure above.

Snel power project
In  early  2012,  a  joint  programme  with  Société  Nationale  d’Electricité  (SNEL),  the  DRC’s  national  electricity  utility,  was  signed. 
Glencore’s operations will contribute $ 284 million to a major electricity infrastructure refurbishment programme of transmission 
and distribution systems. This will facilitate a progressive increase in power availability to 450 megawatts by the end of 2015. Fund-
ing started in the second quarter of 2012 and will continue until the end of 2015. As at 31 December 2012, $ 13 million has been 
advanced under this joint agreement.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  159
  |  Annual Report 2010  |  159

Financial StatementS

chad oil investments
In December 2012, Glencore signed a farm-in agreement (the “FIA”) with Griffiths Energy International Inc. and its subsidiaries 
(“Griffiths”) to acquire a 33.3% participating interest stake in each of Griffiths’ three production sharing contracts in the Republic 
of Chad (the “PSCs”). In addition, under the terms of the FIA, Glencore will acquire a 25% participating interest in the Mangara and 
Badila Exclusive Exploitation Authorizations (the “EXA’s”) from Griffiths.

In consideration for the 33.3% participating interests in Mangara and Badila, in addition to its own share of expenditure, Glencore 
will fund $ 300 million of Griffiths’ share of joint venture expenditures in the Mangara and Badila oil fields up to a maximum of 
$ 100 million per year, starting from 1 July 2012 (“Effective Date”). 

In consideration for the assignment of the participating interests in the PSC’s, Glencore will pay Griffiths approximately $ 31 mil-
lion on closing of the FIA, representing 33.3% of Griffiths’ unrecoverable costs related to the three PSCs as of the Effective Date.

The above transaction is subject to approval by the Government of Chad and waiver of certain pre-emption rights.

Rosneft
On 21 December 2012, Glencore and Vitol agreed heads of terms for long term crude and oil products offtake contracts with  
Rosneft under which Rosneft will deliver up to 67 million metric tonnes of crude oil and oil products (by mutual agreement) over a 
period of 5 years split 70/30 between Glencore and Vitol. This long term supply contract was finalised and signed on 4 March 2013. 
Additionally, Glencore and Vitol will jointly arrange up to a $ 10 billion prepayment facility in favor of Rosneft, in which Glencore 
expects to hold a participation of up to $ 500 million alongside a broad syndicate of banks. The closing of such facility is expected 
by the end of Q1 2013.  

29. ContinGent liAbilities

The  amount  of  corporate  guarantees  in  favour  of  associated  and  third  parties  as  at  31  December  2012,  was  $ 46  million  (2011: 
$ 53 million). Also see note 9.

litigation
Certain legal actions, other claims and unresolved disputes are pending against Glencore. Whilst Glencore cannot predict the 
results of any litigation, it believes that it has meritorious defenses against those actions or claims. Glencore believes the likelihood 
of any material liability arising from these claims to be remote and that the liability, if any, resulting from any litigation will not have 
a material adverse effect on its consolidated income, financial position or cashflows.

environmental contingencies
Glencore’s  operations,  mainly  those  arising  from  the  ownership  in  industrial  investments,  are  subject  to  various  environmental 
laws  and  regulations.  Glencore  is  in  material  compliance  with  those  laws  and  regulations.  Glencore  accrues  for  environmental 
contingencies when such contingencies are probable and reasonably estimable. Such accruals are adjusted as new information 
develops or circumstances change. Recoveries of environmental remediation costs from insurance companies and other parties 
are recorded as assets when the recoveries are virtually certain. At this time, Glencore is unaware of any material environmental 
incidents at its locations.

Bolivian constitution
In 2009 the Government of Bolivia enacted a new constitution. One of the principles of the constitution requires mining entities 
to form joint ventures with the government. Glencore, through its subsidiary Sinchi Wayra, has, in good faith, entered into negoti-
ations with the Bolivian government regarding this requirement. Whilst progress was being made, in June 2012 the Government 
of Bolivia nationalised Sinchi Wayra’s Colquiri mine. Sinchi Wayra continues to negotiate joint venture arrangements for its other 
mines along with restitution in respect of its nationalised mine, the final outcome and the timing thereof cannot be determined at 
this stage. 

tax audits
Glencore assesses its liabilities and contingencies for all tax years open to audit based upon the latest information available. For 
those matters where it is probable that an adjustment will be made, the Group records its best estimate of these tax liabilities, 
including related interest charges. Inherent uncertainties exist in estimates of tax contingencies due to complexities of interpreta-
tion and changes in tax laws. Whilst Glencore believes it has adequately provided for the outcome of these matters, future results 
may include favourable or unfavourable adjustments to these estimated tax liabilities in the period the assessments are made, or 
resolved. The final outcome of tax examinations may result in a materially different outcome than assumed in the tax liabilities.

160  |  Annual Report 2012  |  
160  |  Annual Report 2010  |  

 
Financial StatementS
overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

30. RelAted pARty tRAnsACtions

In the normal course of business, Glencore enters into various arm’s length transactions with related parties (including Xstrata and 
Century), including fixed price commitments to sell and to purchase commodities, forward sale and purchase contracts, agency 
agreements  and  management  service  agreements.  Outstanding  balances  at  period  end  are  unsecured  and  settlement  occurs  
in cash (see notes 10, 12, 15 and 23). There have been no guarantees provided or received for any related party receivables or 
payables.

All transactions between Glencore and its subsidiaries are eliminated on consolidation along with any unrealised profits and losses
between its subsidiaries and Associates. Glencore entered into the following transactions with its Associates:

US $ million

Sales

Purchases

Interest income

Interest expense

Agency income

2012

2011

1 661

– 10 244

1 666

– 10 414

24

– 1

95

42

– 1

69

Information on post employment benefits that are classified as funded defined benefit plans in accordance with IAS 19 is included 
in note 22. There were no further material transactions with the defined benefit plans.

Note  15  provides  details  of  the  acquisition  of  an  18.91%  further  stake  in  Kazzinc.  The  seller  of  that  interest,  JSC  Verny  Capital 
(“Verny”), is a substantial shareholder in Kazzinc, which is a subsidiary undertaking of Glencore. Accordingly, the acquisition from 
Verny constitutes a “related party transaction” for the purposes of the UK FSA Listing Rules. Due to the amount of the considera-
tion  payable  by  Glencore  pursuant  to  the  transaction  (being  the  issue  of  176,742,520  new  ordinary  shares  in  Glencore  and  the 
payment of $ 400 million in cash), the UK Listing Authority confirmed on 24 September 2012 that the transaction falls within the 
modified requirements for a “smaller related party transaction” set out in Listing Rule 11.1.10.

Remuneration of key management personnel
The remuneration of Directors and other members of key management personnel recognised in the statement of income includ-
ing salaries and other current employee benefits amounted to $ 7 million (2011: $ 175 million). Immediately prior to the Listing, 
Glencore implemented a Restructuring whereby $ 6,130 million of PPS and HPPS amounts owing to the Directors and other mem-
bers of key management personnel were settled in exchange for new ordinary shares (see note 15). Further details on remuneration 
of Directors is set out in the Directors’ Remuneration report in section 3.4.

31. sUbseqUent events

On 26 February 2013, Glencore-controlled Kazzinc purchased an 89.5% interest in two gold deposits in northern Kazakhstan with 
combined resources of 75,727 tonnes of gold for $ 179 million. The transaction was accomplished via the purchase of Kazakh com-
pany Orion Minerals which owns subsoil rights at the Raigorodok field in the Akmola Region and the Komarovskoye field in the 
Kostanai region. Due to the timing of the transaction, management is in the preliminary stages of determining the nature of the op-
erations, the associated values of the assets and liabilities acquired and the accounting for the acquisition. Accordingly, certain dis-
closures relating to the business combination such as the provisional fair value of the net assets acquired have not been presented.

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  161
  |  Annual Report 2010  |  161

  
Financial StatementS

32. list of pRinCipAl opeRAtinG, finAnCe And indUstRiAl sUbsidiARies And investments

Method of 
consolidation
in 2012 1 

Country of
incorporation

% 
interest 2012

% 
interest 2011

Main activity

Glencore International plc

 Glencore International AG

  Glencore AG

   Allied Alumina Inc. (Sherwin)

   Century Aluminum Company 2

   Glencore Funding LLC

  Glencore UK Ltd

   Glencore Commodities Ltd

   Glencore Energy UK Ltd

  Glencore Group Funding Limited

   Glencore Finance (Bermuda) Ltd

    AR Zinc Group

    Perkoa Group

    Empresa Minera Los Quenuales S.A.

    Glencore Exploration (EG) Ltd.

    Glencore Finance (Europe) S.A.

    Kansuki Group 

    Minera Altos de Punitaqui

    Mopani Copper Mines plc

    Mutanda Group

    Prodeco Group 

    Recylex S.A.

    Rosh Pinah Zinc Corporation

    Sinchi Wayra Group

    United Company Rusal Limited

  Finges Investment B.V.
   Biopetrol Industries AG 3

   Glencore Grain B.V.

   Nyrstar N.V.

   Optimum Coal Holdings Limited

   Pannon Vegetable Oil Manufacturing

   Rio Vermelho

   Sable Zinc Kabwe Limited

   Umcebo Mining (Pty) Ltd 4

   Usti Oilseed Group

   Xstrata plc

   Zaklady Tluszczowe w Bodaczowie 

  Chemoil Energy Limited 5

  Cobar Group

  Glencore Manganese Group

  Glencore Singapore Pte Ltd

  Kazzinc Ltd.

   Vasilkovskoye Gold

P

F

F

F

E

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

E

F

F

F

F

E

F

F

O

F

F

F

O

F

F

F

F

F

F

E

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

Jersey

Switzerland

Switzerland

100.0

100.0

United States

100.0

United States

46.6

United States

100.0

U.K.

U.K.

U.K.

UAE

Bermuda

Argentina

Burkina Faso

Peru

Bermuda

Luxembourg

DRC

Chile

Zambia

DRC

Colombia

France

Namibia

Bolivia

Jersey

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

55.7

97.6

100.0

100.0

37.5

100.0

73.1

60.0

100.0

32.2

80.1

100.0

8.8

Netherlands

100.0

Switzerland

67.5

Netherlands

100.0

Belgium

South Africa

Hungary

Brazil

Zambia

7.8

67.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

South Africa

43.7

Czech Republic 100.0

U.K.

Poland

Hong Kong

34.2

99.9

89.2

Australia

100.0

France/Norway 100.0

Singapore

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan

100.0

69.6

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

46.4

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

55.7

97.5

100.0

100.0

37.5

100.0

73.1

40.0

100.0

32.2

0.0

100.0

8.8

100.0

60.3

100.0

7.8

31.2

100.0

100.0

100.0

43.7

100.0

34.5

90.7

51.5

100.0

0.0

100.0

50.7

100.0

Operating

Operating

Alumina production

Aluminium production

Finance

Operating

Operating

Operating

Finance

Finance

Zinc/Lead production

Zinc development

Zinc/Lead production

Oil production

Finance

Copper production

Copper production

Copper production

Copper production

Coal production

Zinc/Lead production

Zinc/Lead production

Zinc/Tin production

Aluminium production

Finance

Biodiesel production

Operating

Zinc/Lead production

Coal production

Vegetable oil production

Sugar cane/ethanol production

Copper production

Coal production

Edible oil production

Diversified production

Edible oil production

Oil storage and bunkering

Copper production

Manganese furnace

Operating

Zinc/Lead/Copper production

Gold production

1  P = Parent; F = Full consolidation; E = Equity method; O = Other investment
2  Represents Glencore’s economic interest in Century, comprising 41.8% (2011: 41.6%) voting interest and 4.8% (2011: 4.8%) non voting interest.
3    Publicly traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol A0HNQ5. Glencore owns 52,329,946 shares.
4  Although Glencore holds less than 50% of the voting rights, it has the ability to exercise control over Umcebo as a result of shareholder agree-

ments which provide Glencore the ability to control the Board of Directors.

5   Publicly traded on the Singapore Exchange under the symbol CHEL.SI. Glencore owns 1,150,933,594 shares.

162  |  Annual Report 2012  |  
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Financial StatementS
overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

Method of 
consolidation
in 2012

Country of
incorporation

% 
interest 2012

% 
interest 2011

Main activity

  Katanga Mining Limited 6

  Murrin Murrin Group

  Correcta Industria e Comercio Ltdo.

  Moreno Group

  Pacorini Group 

  Pasar Group

  Polymet Mining Corp.

  Portovesme S.r.L.

  Renova S.A.

  Russneft Group (various companies) 7

  Shanduka Coal (Pty) Ltd 8

  ST Shipping & Transport Pte Ltd

  Topley Corporation

  Viterra Group 

  Volcan Compania Minera S.A.A. 

F

F

F

F

F

F

E

F

E

O

F

F

F

F

O

Canada

Australia

Brazil

Argentina

Switzerland

Philippines

Canada

Italy

Argentina

Russia

75.2

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

78.2

25.7

100.0

33.3

75.2

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

78.2

24.1

100.0

33.5

Copper production

Nickel production

Wheat flour milling

Edible oils production

Metals warehousing

Copper production

Copper production

Zinc/Lead production

Vegetable oil production

40.0 – 49.0

40.0 – 49.0

Oil production

South Africa

49.9

Singapore

B.V.I.

Canada

Peru

100.0

100.0

100.0

7.3

70.0

100.0

100.0

0.0

6.9

Coal production

Operating

Ship owner

Grain handling

Zinc production

6  Publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol KAT.TO. Glencore owns 1,433,702,634 shares.
7  Although Glencore holds more than 20% of the voting rights, it has limited management influence and thus does not exercise significant influ-

ence.

8  Although Glencore holds less than 50% of the voting rights, it has the ability to exercise control over Shanduka as a result of shareholder agree-

ments. 

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  163
  |  Annual Report 2010  |  163

 
 
Murrin Murrin, Australia

AdditionAl 
 informAtion

5 | Additional information 

  5.1 | Glossary 
  5.2 | Shareholder information 

166
167

5.1 | Glossary

AvAilAble committed liquidity

US $ million

Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities

Headline committed syndicated revolving credit facilities

Amount drawn under syndicated revolving credit facilities

Amount drawn under U.S. commercial paper program

Total

2012

2011

2 820

12 805

– 5 881

– 726

9 018

1 345

11 905

– 5 907

– 512

6 831

AdJuSted cuRReNt RAtio
Current assets over current liabilities, both adjusted to exclude other financial liabilities.

AdJuSted ebit/ebitdA 

US $ million

Revenue

Cost of goods sold

Selling and administrative expenses

Share of income from associates and jointly controlled entities

Share of Associates’ exceptional items

Dividend income

Mark to market valuation of certain natural gas forward contracts

Unrealised intergroup profit elimination adjustments

Adjusted EBIT 
Depreciation and amortisation

Adjusted EBITDA

2012

2011

214 436

– 210 435

– 997

367

875

17

123

84

4 470
1 473

5 943

186 152

– 181 938

– 857

1 972

45

24

0

0

5 398
1 066

6 464

cuRReNt cAPitAl emPloyed
Current capital employed is current assets, presented before assets held for sale, less accounts payable, 
deferred income, provisions, other financial liabilities and income tax payable.

coPPeR equivAleNt
Glencore has adopted a copper equivalent measure to assist in analysing and evaluating across its varied 
commodity portfolio. The copper equivalent measure is determined by multiplying the volumes of the re-
spective commodity produced or marketed by the ratio of the respective commodity’s average price over 
the average copper price in the prevailing period.

ReAdily mARketAble iNveNtoRieS
Readily  marketable  inventories  are  readily  convertible  into  cash  due  to  their  very  liquid  nature,  widely  
available markets and the fact that the price risk is or could be covered either by a physical sale transaction 
or hedge transaction on a commodity exchange or with a highly rated counterparty.

166  |  Annual Report 2012  |  

overview  |  BUSiNeSS review  |  CorPorATe GoverNANCe  |  FiNANCiAL STATeMeNTS  |  AddiTioNAL iNForMATioN

5.2 | Shareholder information

Glencore International plc is registered in Jersey, with headquarters in Switzerland 
and operations around the world.

Headquarters

Registered Office

Baarermattstrasse 3
P.O. Box 777
CH-6341 Baar
Switzerland

Queensway House
Hilgrove Street
St Helier
Jersey
JE1 1ES

The Company has a primary quote on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and a secondary quote 
on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEx).

London Stock Exchange (LSE)
Reuters Code: GLEN.L
Bloomberg Code: GLEN LN
ISIN: JE00B4T3BW64
Sedol Number: LON B4T3BW6

Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEx)
Reuters Code: 0805.HK
Bloomberg Code: 805
ISIN: JE00B4T3BW64
Sedol Number: XHKG B3NFYS8 

Share registrar

Enquiries

Computershare Investor Services (Jersey) Limited
Queensway House
Hilgrove Street
St Helier, Jersey
JE1 1ES
Channel Islands
Tel.: +44 (0) 870 707 4040

Computershare Hong Kong Investor Services Limited
Hopewell Centre 46th Floor
183 Queen’s Road East
Wan Chai
Hong Kong
Tel.: +852 2862 8628

Company Secretary
John Burton
john.burton@glencore.com 

Assistant Company Secretary
Ivy Chan
ivy.chan@glencore.com

Glencore International plc
Baarermattstrasse 3
CH-6340 Baar
Switzerland 
Tel.: +41 41 709 2000
Fax: +41 41 709 3000
E-mail: info@glencore.com

  |  Annual Report 2012  |  167

Forward looking statements

This document contains statements that are, or may be deemed to be, “forward looking statements”. These forward looking statements may 
be identified by the use of forward looking terminology, including the terms “believes”, “estimates“, “plans“, “projects”, “anticipates“, “will“, 
“could“, or “should“ or in each case, their negative or other variations thereon or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, plans, 
objectives, goals, future events or intentions. These forward looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts and include, but 
are not limited to, statements regarding Glencore’s beliefs, opinions or current expectations concerning, among other things, the business, 
financial condition, results of operations, prospects, strategies and plans of Glencore.

By their nature, forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Glencore’s control. 
Forward looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and may and often do differ materially from actual results. Important  
factors that could cause these uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed under “Principal risks and uncertainties” in section 
1.7 of this document. 

No assurance can be given that such future results will be achieved; actual events or results may differ materially as a result of risks and uncer-
tainties facing Glencore. Such risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to vary materially from the future results indicated, expressed 
or implied in such forward looking statements.

Forward  looking  statements  speak  only  as  of  the  date  of  this  document.  Other  than  in  accordance  with  its  legal  or  regulatory  obligations  
(including under the UK Listing Rules and the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Services Authority and the Rules Governing 
the Listing of Securities on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited), Glencore is not under any obligation and Glencore and its affiliates 
expressly disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future 
events or otherwise.

No statement in this document is intended as a profit forecast or a profit estimate and no statement in this document should be interpreted 
to mean that earnings per Glencore share for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published 
earnings per Glencore share.

This document does not constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to purchase or subscribe 
for any securities. The making of this document does not constitute a recommendation regarding any securities.

168  |  Annual Report 2012  |