6th Feb 2008 07:01
Rio Tinto PLC06 February 2008 Rio Tinto notes BHP Billiton's pre-conditional offer 6 February 2008 Rio Tinto notes the announcement by BHP Billiton of its intention to make offersto acquire the whole of the issued share capital of Rio Tinto plc at an exchangeratio of 3.4 BHP Billiton shares per Rio Tinto plc share, consisting of 80% BHPBilliton plc shares and 20% BHP Billiton Limited shares, and the whole of theissued share capital of Rio Tinto Limited at an exchange ratio of 3.4 BHPBilliton Limited shares per Rio Tinto Limited share. The offers are subject to pre-conditions relating to merger control andregulatory approvals in a number of jurisdictions. Rio Tinto's chairman Paul Skinner said: "The Boards of Rio Tinto will considerthe terms of the proposal carefully in the light of all circumstances and willmake a further statement once they have completed this assessment. In themeantime, the Boards encourage shareholders not to take any action." 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, whichis listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Majorproducts 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 NorthAmerica with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southernAfrica. A further announcement will be made as and when appropriate. There can be nocertainty that any offer will be made nor as to the terms on which any offer maybe made. In the United States, Rio Tinto will file a Solicitation/RecommendationStatement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on Schedule14D-9 following commencement of a tender offer within the meaning of Rule 14d-2under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and holders of Ordinary Shares andAmerican Depositary Shares are advised to read it when it becomes available asit will contain important information. Copies of the Schedule 14D-9 and otherrelated documents filed by Rio Tinto will be available free of charge on theSEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, documents filed with the SECby Rio Tinto may be obtained free of charge by contacting Rio Tinto's media orinvestor relations departments or on Rio Tinto's website at www.riotinto.com.Any documents filed by BHP Billiton, including any registration statement onForm F-4 (which will include a preliminary prospectus) and related exchangeoffer materials as well as any Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO, will alsobe available free of charge on the SEC's website. For further information, please contact: Media Relations, London Media Relations, Australia Christina Mills Ian HeadOffice: +44 (0) 20 7781 1154 Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3620Mobile: +44 (0) 7825 275 605 Mobile: +61 (0) 408 360 101 Nick Cobban Amanda BuckleyOffice: +44 (0) 20 7781 1138 Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3627Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 041 003 Mobile: +61 (0) 419 801 349 Media Relations, US Nancy IvesMobile: +1 619 540 3751Investor Relations, London Investor Relations, Australia Nigel Jones Dave SkinnerOffice: +44 (0) 20 7781 2049 Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3628Mobile: +44 (0) 7917 227 365 Mobile: +61 (0) 408 335 309 David Ovington Simon EllinorOffice: +44 (0) 20 7781 2051 Office:+ 61 (0) 7 3867 1068Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 010 978 Investor Relations, North America Jason CombesOffice: +1 (0) 801 685 4535Mobile: +1 (0) 801 558 2645 Email: [email protected] Website: www.riotinto.comHigh resolution photographs available at: www.newscast.co.uk This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
Rio TintoBHP Group