Response to German FCO announ

RNS Number : 4274U

Rio Tinto PLC

14 October 2010

 



Response to German Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) announcement

14 October 2010

BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto have noted with disappointment the statement today by the German Federal Cartel Office (FCO) that its current intention is to prohibit the companies' proposed iron ore production joint venture in Western Australia.

The German regulatory process continues and the parties are expecting to receive a formal notification next week.

The parties continue to believe that the joint venture is pro-competitive and will increase the supply of iron ore.  However, both BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto acknowledge the concerns expressed by some regulators and the obstacles to achieving clearance for the joint venture.  

No decisions about next steps have been taken at this stage while regulatory discussions continue.

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 contact:

Rio Tinto Media & Investor Relations	BHP Billiton Media & Investor Relations
Media Relations, Australia / Asia David Luff Office:  [phone] Mobile: [phone] Karen Halbert Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone] Bruce Tobin Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone] Media Relations, EMEA / Americas 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] Investor Relations, North America Jason Combes Office:  [phone]  Mobile: [phone] Media Relations, Canada Bryan Tucker Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone]	Australia Amanda Buckley, Media Relations Tel: [phone]  Mobile: [phone] email: [e-mail] Kelly Quirke, Media Relations Tel: [phone]  Mobile: [phone] Email: [e-mail] Fiona Martin, Media Relations Tel: [phone] email: [e-mail] Brendan Harris, Investor Relations Tel: [phone]  Mobile: [phone] email: [e-mail] Leng Lau, Investor Relations Tel: [phone]  Mobile: [phone] email: [e-mail] United Kingdom & South Africa Andre Liebenberg, Investor Relations Tel: [phone]  Mobile: [phone] email: [e-mail] United Kingdom & United States Ruban Yogarajah, Media Relations Tel: US [phone] or UK [phone] Mobile: UK [phone] email: [e-mail] United States Scott Espenshade, Investor Relations Tel: [phone]   Mobile: [phone] email: [e-mail]
Rio Tinto plc 2 Eastbourne Terrace London W2 6LG United Kingdom T [phone] F [phone] Rio Tinto Limited 120 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 Australia T [phone] F [phone] Registered in Australia ABN 96 004 458 404  Email:  [e-mail] Website:  www.riotinto.com	BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077 Registered in Australia Registered Office: 180 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia Tel [phone] Fax [phone] BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209 Registered in England and Wales Registered Office: Neathouse Place London SW1V 1BH United Kingdom Tel [phone] Fax [phone] Members of the BHP Billiton group which is headquartered in Australia Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site: www.bhpbilliton.com

 

 

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