MINING FINANCE / INVESTMENT

Xstrata posts H1 profit drop, defers $1bn of spending

The miner posted a smaller-than-expected drop in H1 profit despite the impact of weaker prices and reduced copper production, and revealed plans to cut spending for the year.

LONDON (Reuters)  - 

Anglo-Swiss miner Xstrata (XTA:LSE), in the throes of a $26 billion takeover bid, posted a smaller-than-expected drop in profit despite the impact of weaker prices and reduced copper production, and announced plans to cut spending for the year.

Xstrata's earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for the first six months of 2012 totalled just over $4 billion. That compares with $5.8 billion a year ago and a consensus of analyst forecasts of $3.87 billion.

Its operating profit for the first six months of the year dropped 42 percent to $2.45 billion.

Xstrata, one of the world's largest producers of thermal coal and copper, agreed earlier this year to be taken over by commodities trader Glencore (GLEN.LSE), its largest shareholder. But the deal hit trouble in June after the miner's second-largest shareholder, Qatar Holdings, demanded an improved offer.

Xstrata's results had been keenly anticipated for signs of worsening profitability or a deteriorating outlook that could strengthen Glencore's case for keeping the offer as it is - 2.8 new shares for every share.

The miner, which cut real unit costs by $105 million, said it had reduced its planned spending for 2012 by $1 billion, with $400 million of that deferred into next year.

(Reporting by Clara Ferreira-Marques; Editing by Sinead Cruise)