Xstrata Coal, the commodities arm of the Swiss-based mining group, has made an unsolicited A$960m cash offer for Resource Pacific, trumping a rival bid for the Australian coal miner from New Hope Corporation.

London-listed Xstrata said its unconditional offer of A$2.85 a share represented an 85 per cent premium to the 30-day average price of Resource Pacific shares to September 25, the day before the announcement of New Hope’s takeover offer.