Alcan expires with over 98%

Rio Tinto PLC
09 November 2007



Rio Tinto Offer for Alcan expires with over 98 per cent of shares tendered


Rio Tinto today announces that the offer (the 'Offer') by Rio Tinto Canada
Holding Inc. ('RTCH') to acquire all of the shares of Alcan Inc. ('Alcan') is
now closed for acceptance.

As at the expiry time of the Offer (6:00pm Eastern Time (Canada) on November 8,
2007), approximately 8,585,000 additional common shares of Alcan have either
been validly deposited and taken up or are covered by notices of guaranteed
delivery. These additional shares (which represent approximately 2.28 per cent
of the outstanding shares), together with approximately 360,431,000 shares
already beneficially owned by RTCH, represent approximately 98.10 per cent of
the outstanding shares of Alcan.

RTCH will promptly exercise its right to acquire all the remaining Alcan shares
by way of compulsory acquisition under the Canada Business Corporations Act.
Notices of compulsory acquisition will be mailed to remaining shareholders as
soon as practicable.



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.

For further information or a copy of reports filed under Canadian securities
legislation, please contact:



Rio Tinto Canada Holding Inc.
770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1800
Montreal, Quebec  H3A1G1



Or please contact:
Media Relations, London                            Media Relations, Australia

Nick Cobban                                        Ian Head
Office:  [phone]                      Office:  [phone]
Mobile: [phone]                       Mobile: [phone]



                                                   Amanda Buckley
                                                   Office:  [phone]
                                                   Mobile: [phone]
Investor Relations, London                         Investor Relations, Australia

Nigel Jones                                        Dave Skinner
Office: [phone]                       Office:  [phone]
Mobile: [phone]                       Mobile: [phone]

                                                   Investor Relations, North America

David Ovington                                     Jason Combes
Office:  [phone]                      Office:  [phone]
Mobile: [phone]                       Mobile: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]


Website: www.riotinto.com

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








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