TORONTO, ONTARIO AND ZUG, SWITZERLAND -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 06/07/07 -- Xstrata plc (LSE: XTA) (ZSE: XTA) ("Xstrata") announces that it has received approval from the South African Competition Tribunal for Xstrata's proposed acquisition of LionOre Mining International Ltd. ("LionOre"). No further regulatory approvals are required for Xstrata's offer (the "Offer") for all of the issued and outstanding LionOre shares.

Xstrata's Offer will remain open for acceptance until midnight (Vancouver time) on 15 June 2007. All of the terms and conditions of Xstrata's Offer described in its offer and offering circular dated 5 April 2007, as varied, amended and supplemented by Xstrata's notice of variation dated 15 May 2007, Xstrata's notice of extension dated 28 May 2007 and Xstrata's notice of extension dated 5 June 2007, remain unchanged.

LionOre shareholders with questions or requests for copies of documents relating to Xstrata's Offer should contact Kingsdale Shareholder Services Inc. at 1-866-879-7650. Banks and brokers should call at +1-416-867-2272.

About Xstrata

Xstrata is a global diversified mining group, listed on the London and Swiss Stock Exchanges, with its headquarters in Zug, Switzerland. Xstrata's businesses maintain a meaningful position in seven major international commodity markets: copper, coking coal, thermal coal, ferrochrome, nickel, vanadium and zinc, with recycling facilities, additional exposures to gold, cobalt, lead and silver and a suite of global technology products, many of which are industry leaders. Xstrata Group's operations and projects span 18 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Germany, New Caledonia, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, South Africa, Spain, Tanzania, the USA and the UK. Xstrata employs approximately 43,000 people, including contractors.

Xstrata Nickel, headquartered in Toronto, Canada, is one of Xstrata Group's global commodity businesses, comprising five mines and processing facilities in Ontario and Quebec, Canada; a ferronickel mine and processing facility in Bonao, Dominican Republic; and a refinery in Kristiansand, Norway. Xstrata Nickel has a significant portfolio of growth projects, including Nickel Rim South in Canada, Kabanga in Tanzania, and Koniambo in New Caledonia. Xstrata Nickel is the world's fourth largest nickel producer, with annual managed production of more than 110,000 tonnes of refined nickel.

Legal Notice

The Offer is being made by Xstrata Canada Acquisition Corp. (the "Offeror"), a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Xstrata.

This announcement is for informational purposes only and does not constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell, otherwise dispose of or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to sell, otherwise dispose of, issue, purchase, otherwise acquire or subscribe for, any security. The Offer (as the same may be varied or extended in accordance with applicable law) is being made exclusively by means of, and subject to the terms and conditions set out in, the offer and offering circular dated 5 April 2007, as varied, amended and supplemented by the notice of variation dated 15 May 2007, the notice of extension dated 28 May 2007 and the notice of extension dated 5 June 2007, each delivered to LionOre and filed with Canadian provincial securities regulators and mailed to LionOre shareholders by Xstrata and the Offeror. LionOre shareholders should read these materials carefully because they contain important information, including the terms and conditions of the Offer.

The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such jurisdictions into which this announcement is released, published or distributed should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions.

No statement in this announcement is intended as a profit forecast and no statement in this announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings per Xstrata ordinary share for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings per Xstrata ordinary share.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains statements which are, or may be deemed to be, "forward looking statements" which are prospective in nature. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "is subject to", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations.

Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Xstrata to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements of Xstrata to differ materially from the expectations of Xstrata include, among other things, general business and economic conditions globally, commodity price volatility, industry trends, competition, changes in government and other regulation, including in relation to the environment, health and safety and taxation, labor relations and work stoppages, changes in political and economic stability, the failure to meet certain conditions of the Offer, the inability to successfully integrate LionOre's operations and programs with those of Xstrata, incurring and/or experiencing unanticipated costs and/or delays or difficulties relating to integration of LionOre, disruptions in business operations due to reorganization activities and interest rate and currency fluctuations. Such forward-looking statements should therefore be construed in light of such factors.

Neither Xstrata nor the Offeror, nor any of their associates or respective directors, officers or advisers, provides any representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements in this announcement will actually occur. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

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), Xstrata is not under any obligation and Xstrata expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts:
Xstrata
Ian Hamilton
(416) 982-7161
Mobile: (416) 902-0986
Email: ihamilton@Xstratanickel.ca

Xstrata
Claire Divver
+44 20 7968 2871
Mobile: +44 7785 964 340
Email: cdivver@Xstrata.com