Rio Tinto Investment Opportunity in Afghanistan

Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited (collectively known as Rio Tinto), operating as a single business organization, is engaged in international mining group which encompasses exploring for, mining, and processing the earth's mineral resources. The group offers products which include aluminum, copper, diamonds, energy products (coal and uranium), gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, and talc), and iron ore. The group has global operations with significant businesses in Australia, North America, South America, Asia, Europe, and South Africa. Rio Tinto operates through six business groups: aluminum; copper; diamonds and minerals; energy; iron ore; and other operations. The company recorded revenues of $41,825 million during the financial year ended December 2009 (FY2009), a decrease of 22.9% compared with FY2008. The operating profit of the company was $5,920 million during FY2009, a decrease of 20.8% compared with FY2008. The net profit was $4,872 million in FY2009, an increase of 32.5% over FY2008. Though it is said to be successful in most of the parts of world, it required a big change in the cultural environment and strategic approach. Several questions bothered the Rio Tinto such as: Whether the company should look at opportunity in Afghanistan ? Would exploration of copper in china beneficial with chinalco's strategic partnership? as a consultant out of U21G I have been assigned with the task of working out the strategic approaches of Rio Tinto weather to enter in to Afghanistan with challenges or enter in China with JV of Chinalco.

Mineral endowments provide opportunities for economic development and poverty alleviation in the counties where they are located. Supply of minerals is essential for economic development; no modern economy can function without adequate, affordable and secure access to these raw materials. The cost of exploiting new mineral deposits are likely to rise, which might keep prices at relatively high levels in the coming years The high prices have spurred an investment boom in mineral exploration and extraction. Challenges Global mineral markets are characterized by an uneven geographical distribution of reserves, production and consumption. Developing and transition economies are among main producers and net exporters of various minerals, these imbalances can create concerns among importing countries over the security of supply, and concerns among exporting countries over market access. Extractive activities, regardless of who undertakes them, involve environmental costs. The quality of government policies and institutions is a determining factor for ensuring sustainable development gains from resource extraction. Source : UNCTAD

Technology Seismic prospecting and remote-sensing satellites are the new technologies to search for the potential minerals. New technology such as nanotechnology is introduced to detect gases. Research Mining equipment and its automation. Material & man transport related research. Mine Design , speacially focusing deep , high-wall and long-wall mines Methods on Innovative mining. Development Mine heating and cooling & ventilation. Fire suppression and prevention. Machine Safety and Ergonomics. Emission monitoring and control on diesel engines.

1. According to the Afghan constitution, article nine, the government of Afghanistan owns mines and other natural resources.
2. Ministry of Mines as a key sectoral ministry is currently Involved in the research, exploration, development, exploitation, and processing of minerals and hydrocarbons,
3. Ministry is also responsible for protection of ownership, transportation and marketing of those resources in accordance to the countries new Laws (Minerals and Hydrocarbons).
4. The long term vision of the Ministry is the creation of an effective administration, utilization of natural resources, creation of jobs, the encouragement of private investment in the mining and hydrocarbon sectors, and increasing government revenue.
5. Holders of Mineral Rights have rights to foreign exchange and international banking provisions, provided that they have paid all applicable taxes, duties and other charges.
6. State guarantees provide for companies to organize their operations as they see fit, and to have access to raw materials, markets for goods and services, and sale of products
7.  The Ministry of Mines provides assurances of protection against financial consequences of legislation which becomes effective after issuance of the Mineral Right.
8. The Ministry of Mines will adhere to standards regarding transparency within the extractive industries.

SWOT Analysis with strategies in China

Strengths

Extensive global presence : Rio Tinto has a geographically diversified its revenue base. Over a period of time the company has developed diverse revenue streams and is not dependent on any one market. Extensive global presence coupled with geographically diversified revenue base protects the group from fall in demand of any one country or region and reduces its business risk. Extensive business lines : Rio Tinto group is organized into five geographically based teams in North America, South America, Australia, Asia, and Africa/Europe; and a sixth project generation team that searches the world for new opportunities and provides geological, geophysical, and commercial expertise to the regional teams. Rio Tinto's extensive business line helps the company in diversifying its business risk.

Weaknesses

High debt: Rio Tinto has a significant amount of debt. Net debt at the end of FY2009 stood at $18.9 billion. Although the group has reduced its net debt from $38.7 billion in FY2008, it is still substantial. This substantial debt could limit its ability to obtain additional financing to operate its business. Further, it would make it difficult for the group to satisfy its obligations including making interest payments on debt obligations. High debt could also limit Rio Tinto's capital expenditure. The group requires substantial capital to invest in greenfield and brownfield projects, and to extend the life and capacity of its existing operations ,high debt, the group could be forced to reduce its capital expenditure further, which may negatively impact the timing of its growth and future prospects. Pension obligations: Certain of Rio Tinto's businesses sponsor defined benefit pension plans. As at 31 December 2009, the group had estimated pension liabilities of $16.2 billion and assets of $12.4 billion. After excluding those pension arrangements deliberately operated as unfunded arrangements, representing liabilities of $1.1 billion, the global funding level for pension liabilities was approximately 82%. If the funding level materially deteriorates further, cash contributions from the group may be needed, pressurizing the liquidity position of Rio Tinto.

Opportunities

Growth prospect of the Chinese economy: The effect of the Chinese Government's monetary stimulus package recovery has resulted in China's gross domestic product (GDP) recording strong growth in the second half of 2009. Actual growth during the period surpassed 8%. The improvements that the company recorded in its financial performance during the second half of FY2009 were primarily driven by this stronger Chinese GDP growth and its attendant effects on Chinese construction and infrastructure development. It is expected that strong growth of the Chinese GDP will continue through 2010 as the country continues to urbanize and industrialize. China is expected to be the key driver for the mining industry in the future, with exponential growth of China's demand for iron ore, copper, coal, and aluminum to continue over the next 15 years as the average wealth of many millions of people increases. An important objective of Rio Tinto for FY2010 is to strengthen its relationship with China, the most important destination for the group's products and the largest contributor to its total revenues (China is Rio Tinto's largest geographical market, accounting for 24.3% of the total revenues in FY2009). Continued improvement of the Chinese economy provides Rio Tinto with the largest source of short term demand growth. Strategic divestitures to reduce debt: Rio Tinto has made several strategic divestitures. For instance, in February 2009, Rio Tinto completed the sale of its undeveloped potash assets to Vale, the Brazilian mining company, for a cash consideration of $850 million. Additionally, in March 2009, Rio Tinto signed a sale and purchase agreement to sell its Jacobs Ranch coal mine to Arch Coal (a coal producer) for a total cash consideration of $761 million. In September 2009, Rio Tinto completed the sale of its Corumba iron ore mine in Brazil and the associated river logistics operations to Vale for a $750 million. In December 2009, Rio Tinto completed the sale of Alcan Composites, part of the Alcan engineered products division, to Schweiter Technologies for $349 million. Such strategic divestitures made by Rio Tinto could help the group to reduce its substantial debt.

Threats

Uncertainty regarding commodity prices and global demand: Commodity prices and demand for Rio Tinto's products are cyclical and strongly influenced by world economic growth. This is particularly so for the group's key customers, especially in the US and Asia. There is potential volatility in short to medium term commodity prices as various national stimulus packages are reduced. Muted consumer spending may result from concerns over unemployment. The group's normal policy is to sell its products at prevailing market prices and not to enter into price hedging arrangements. The recent improvement in commodity prices and demand for the group's products may not remain as strong, which would have an adverse impact on Rio Tinto's revenues, earnings, cash flows, and growth. Regulations:Rio Tinto operates in an industry that is subject to numerous health, safety, and environmental laws, regulations, and standards. The group is subject to extensive governmental regulations in all jurisdictions in which it operates. Operations are subject to general and specific regulations governing mining and processing, land tenure and use, environmental requirements (including site specific environmental licenses, permits, and statutory authorizations), workplace health and safety, social impacts, trade and export, corporations, competition, access to infrastructure, foreign investment, and taxation.

Some operations are conducted under specific agreements with respective governments and associated acts of parliament but unilateral variations could diminish or even remove such rights. Evolving regulatory standards can result in increased litigation and/or increased costs, all of which can have an adverse effect on Rio Tinto's earnings and cash flows. Risk associated with fluctuations in exchange rates:Rio Tinto is exposed to fluctuations in exchange rates. The majority of the group's sales are denominated in US dollars. The group also finances its operations and holds surplus cash primarily in US dollars. Given the dominant role of the US dollar in the group's operations, it is the currency in which its results are presented both internally and externally. The group also incurs costs in US dollars but significant costs are influenced by the local currencies of the territories in which its ore reserves and other assets are located. These currencies are principally the Australian dollar, Canadian dollar, and Euro. The group's normal policy is not to enter into hedging arrangements relating to changes or fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. As a result, if there is an appreciation in the value of these currencies against the US dollar or prolonged periods of exchange rate volatility, these changes may have a negative impact on the group's results of operations.

Conclusion & Action Plan:

With all its experiences in the field of exploration Rio Tinto is capable of expanding its business in Afghanistan and China . It needs to carry out proper CAGE analysis and SWOT analysis to decide about the right strategies to be adopted. With proper understanding on the cultural environment and adopting the right product marketing strategies Grupo Bimbo can grow in Brazil and China to strengthen its global presence. In this case analysis we presented how the challenges in Brazil and US can be addressed by the Grupo Bimbo using the analytical tools. Based on the analysis, we recommend that GB can enter in to both China and Brazilian market with different strategic approaches given in the case analysis.

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