Compulsory Acqn of Shares

Rio Tinto PLC
22 January 2001



             Rio Tinto completes compulsory acquisition of Ashton             

 
Rio Tinto's compulsory acquisition of the outstanding 3.04 per cent of Ashton
Mining Limited was completed on 17 January 2001.
 
Consequent upon the offer, Rio Tinto has issued 817,212 ordinary shares and
has paid A$668.7 million in cash for the Ashton shares it has acquired, as
detailed in the table below.
 

Composition of Acceptances

                                                                              
                                Number of Ashton shares    Cash paid or shares
  Consideration                               accepted     issued by Rio Tinto

  Cash                               312,461,667 shares        A$668.7 million
  Rio Tinto Limited shares             5,482,623 shares         376,725 shares
  Rio Tinto plc shares                 6,750,586 shares         440,487 shares
 
 
 
 
For further information, please contact:
 
LONDON 
 
Media Relations                     Investor Relations 
Lisa Cullimore                      Peter Jarvis
+ 44 (0) 20 7753 2305               + 44 (0) 20 7753 2401
                                   
                                    Jonathan Murrin
                                    + 44 (0) 20 7753 2326
 
AUSTRALIA 
 
Media Relations                     Investor Relations 
Ian Head                            Dave Skinner
[phone]                 [phone]                        
     
                                    Daphne Morros
                                    [phone]
 
Website: www.riotinto.com