Rio Tinto offer for Riversdale extended by 2 wks

RNS Number : 9919G

Rio Tinto PLC

20 May 2011

 

Rio Tinto offer for Riversdale extended by two weeks

20 May 2011

Rio Tinto Jersey Holdings 2010 Limited (RTJ), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Rio Tinto Group, has extended its takeover offer (Offer) for Riversdale Mining Limited (Riversdale) by two weeks to end at 7.00pm (Sydney time) on Friday, 3 June 2011, unless further extended.

Following recent acceptances to the Offer, Rio Tinto now holds a relevant interest in approximately 73.39 per cent of Riversdale shares. The free-float of Riversdale shares not controlled by either Rio Tinto or Tata Steel has continued to fall and is now only 0.33 per cent of all shares on issue.

The handling fee described in RTJ's Third Supplementary Bidder's Statement will apply throughout the extended Offer period. RTJ may extend the period during which the handling fee will apply by further announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).

The following documents have been lodged with the ASX:

·             a notice under section 650D of the Corporations Act extending the Offer period;

·             RTJ's Sixth Supplementary Bidder's Statement dated 20 May 2011; and

·             a letter to Riversdale shareholders.

The Offer will close at 7.00pm (Sydney time) on 3 June 2011, unless extended.

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE 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.

Cont…/

For further information, please contact:

Media Relations, EMEA / Americas Illtud Harri Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone] Tony Shaffer Office:  [phone] Mobile: [phone] Christina Mills Office:  [phone] Mobile: [phone]	Investor Relations, London Mark Shannon Office:  [phone] Mobile: [phone] David Ovington Office:  [phone] Mobile: [phone]
Media Relations, Australia / Asia David Luff Office:  [phone] Mobile: [phone] Karen Halbert Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone] Bruce Tobin Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone]	Investor Relations, Australia Dave Skinner Office:  [phone] Mobile: [phone] Christopher Maitland Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone]
Media Relations, Canada Bryan Tucker Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone]	Investor Relations, North America Jason Combes Office:  [phone] Mobile: [phone]

Website:	www.riotinto.com
Email:	[e-mail] [e-mail]
Twitter:	Follow @riotinto on Twitter

High resolution photographs and media pack available at: www.riotinto.com/media 

 

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