Rio Tinto to retain borates b

RNS Number : 7371S

Rio Tinto PLC

22 May 2009

 

Rio Tinto to retain borates business 

22 May 2009

Rio Tinto has taken its borates business off the market after the sales process did not achieve values acceptable to the company in the prevailing economic conditions. The sales process is continuing for other businesses slated for divestment, including talc.

Rio Tinto believes the borates business is a good fit within its overall portfolio, based on its asset base, share of global supply and presence in Asian markets. Rio Tinto has also decided not to sell its Jadar lithium-borate deposit in Serbia, which will now be transferred from its Exploration group to be managed within the borate business.

This year Rio Tinto has announced agreed sales totalling US$2.5 billion, including US$850 million for the undeveloped potash assets in Argentina and Canada, US$750 million for the Corumbá iron ore operation in Brazil, US$761 million for the Jacobs Ranch coal mine in the United States and US$125 million for the Ningxia aluminium smelter in China. 

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.

 For further information, please contact:

Media Relations, London  Nick Cobban Office:  [phone] Mobile: [phone] Christina Mills Office:  [phone] Mobile: [phone]	Media Relations, Australia  Amanda Buckley Office:  [phone] Mobile: [phone] Ian Head Office:  [phone] Mobile: [phone]
Media Relations, Americas  Tony Shaffer Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone]
Investor Relations, London Nigel Jones Office:   [phone]  Mobile: [phone] David Ovington Office:  [phone] Mobile: [phone]	Investor Relations, Australia Dave Skinner Office:  [phone] Mobile: [phone] Simon Ellinor Office:  [phone] Mobile: [phone]
Investor Relations, North America Jason Combes Office:  [phone] Mobile: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Website: www.riotinto.com

High resolution photographs available at: www.newscast.co.uk

 

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