Rio Tinto offer for Alcan: European competition clearance received

02 October 2007

Rio Tinto is pleased to announce that on 2 October 2007 it received antitrust approval from the European Commission for the proposed acquisition of Alcan Inc by a subsidiary of Rio Tinto.

Receipt of this, and other regulatory clearances, is a condition to Rio Tinto's offer to acquire the outstanding shares in Alcan Inc.

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and uranium), gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc) and iron ore. Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southern Africa.