Rio Tinto (RIO) Share Price

RIO - Rio Tinto PLC Investor Summary

RIO – a multinational mineral company that mines and processes the earth's resources to make a difference to life in all its diversity. An acknowledged world leader in developing industrial minerals, this mining giant is the world's third largest coal mining company, supplying almost half the world's demand of refined borates that are used in a multiple of products including glass, ceramics, fertilizers and fibreglass, and is the world's largest salt exporter contributing to the manufacture of automotive and electronic products in addition to the food and health care sectors. It also supplies 25% of the world's talc consumption as utilised in agricultural and pharmaceutical products and in the performance of paper, paints and plastics.

Principally of Anglo-Australian origins, RIO was originally founded in 1962 when the Rio Tinto Zinc Corporation (RTZ) was created through a merger between UK owned Rio Tinto Company and The Consolidated Zinc Corporation (CRA). In 1995 RTZ Plc merged with CRA Limited to become a dual listed company. In 1997 it changed its name to Rio Tinto Plc.

It has continued to strengthen its impressive mineral resource base and acquired Canadian aluminium producer Alcan Inc in 2007 and the Peabody Group of coal businesses in Australia in 2008.

Despite the recent fall in share price of European stock, the newly appointed chairman, Jim Leng, faces the challenge of the present economic climate with confidence. Whilst all that glitters is not gold this global and environmentally conscious company, with its commitment to sustainable development that aims to minimise any adverse effects of RIO's activities within the local community whilst improving overall performance, continues to develop its stronghold in the world of minerals.