Capitalism is becoming increasingly global, with the dominance of multinational companies creating a large-scale reliance on subsidiaries. Scholarly attention has tended to focus on the owners and management of the multinationals, but when the focus is changed to that of subsidiaries, different aspects of business development and international capitalism come to light. Sandvik’s study looks at the Falconbridge nickel refinery in Kristiansand, Norway – a subsidiary of Canadian company Falconbridge Mines. The duration of ownership makes this an ideal case study and provides an insight into how local strategies can influence the dynamics of multinational companies the world over.