4th Oct 2007 11:15
Rio Tinto PLC04 October 2007 Rio Tinto offer for Alcan: French Government approval received Rio Tinto has received approval from the French Government under the Frenchforeign investment regulations for the proposed acquisition of Alcan by asubsidiary of Rio Tinto. The approval was confirmed following a meeting between Christine Lagarde, FrenchMinister of the Economy, Finance and Employment and Paul Skinner, chairman ofRio Tinto. Receipt of this, and other regulatory clearances, is a condition to Rio Tinto'soffer to acquire the outstanding shares in Alcan. Following the meeting Paul Skinner said, "We have had a very constructive andpositive dialogue with the French Government over the past two months. Duringour discussions we underlined our strong, long-term commitment to France, whichprovides an attractive environment in which to invest, conduct business andengage in world leading R&D. The approval by the French government brings us astep closer to completion of the transaction, which we are aiming to achieve inthe fourth quarter". Rio Tinto announced on 28 September 2007 that it had received approval for thetransaction from its shareholders. 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. For further information, please contact:Media Relations, London Media Relations, AustraliaChristina Mills Ian HeadOffice: +44 (0) 20 8080 1306 Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3620Mobile: +44 (0) 7825 275 605 Mobile: +61 (0) 408 360 101 Nick Cobban Amanda BuckleyOffice: +44 (0) 20 8080 1305 Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3627Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 041 003 Mobile: +61 (0) 419 801 349 Investor Relations, London Investor Relations, AustraliaNigel Jones Dave SkinnerOffice: +44 (0) 20 7753 2401 Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3628Mobile: +44 (0) 7917 227 365 Mobile: +61 (0) 408 335 309 Investor Relations, North AmericaDavid Ovington Jason CombesOffice: +44 (0) 20 7753 2326 Office: +1 (0) 801 685 4535Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 010 978 Mobile: +1 (0) 801 558 2645 Email: [email protected] Website: www.riotinto.comHigh resolution photographs available at: www.newscast.co.uk Additional information The offer to purchase all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Alcanfor US$101 per common share in a recommended, all cash transaction (the "Offer")is being made by Rio Tinto Canada Holding Inc. (the "Offeror"), an indirectwholly-owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto. The Offer represents a total considerationfor Alcan common shares of approximately US$38.1 billion. The Offer is open for acceptance until 6.00 p.m., Canadian Eastern Time, onOctober 23, 2007, unless extended. The Offer is subject to a number ofconditions including valid acceptances by holders of not less than 66 2/3 percent of Alcan shares on a fully diluted basis and the receipt of variousgovernmental and regulatory approvals. The board of Rio Tinto has approved thetransaction. The Offer is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2007. This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute orform part of any offer or invitation to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribefor, sell, otherwise dispose of or issue, or any solicitation of any offer tosell, otherwise dispose of, issue, purchase, otherwise acquire or subscribe for,any security. The Offer (as the same may be varied or extended in accordancewith applicable law) is being made exclusively by means of, and subject to theterms and conditions set out in, the offer and takeover bid circular deliveredto Alcan and filed with Canadian provincial securities regulators and the UnitedStates Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and mailed to Alcanshareholders. The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in certainjurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in suchjurisdictions into which this announcement is released, published or distributedshould inform themselves about and observe such restrictions. In connection with the Offer, an offer and takeover bid circular as well asancillary documents such as a letter of transmittal and a notice of guaranteeddelivery have been filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities andthe SEC and an Alcan directors' circular with respect to the Offer has also beenfiled. A Tender Offer statement on Schedule TO (the "Schedule TO") and aSolicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (the "Schedule 14D-9")has also been filed with the SEC. SHAREHOLDERS OF ALCAN ARE URGED TO READ THE OFFER AND TAKEOVER BID CIRCULAR(INCLUDING THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY), THESCHEDULE TO (INCLUDING THE OFFER AND TAKEOVER BID CIRCULAR, LETTER OFTRANSMITTAL AND RELATED TENDER OFFER DOCUMENTS) AND THE SCHEDULE 14D-9 AS THEYCONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE OFFER. The offer and takeover bid circular as well as other materials filed with theCanadian securities regulatory authorities are available electronically withoutcharge at www.sedar.com. The Schedule TO and the Schedule 14D-9 are availableelectronically without charge at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. Materials filedwith the SEC or the Canadian securities regulatory authorities may also beobtained without charge at Rio Tinto's website, www.riotinto.com. While the Offer is being made to all holders of Alcan common shares, thisannouncement does not constitute an offer or a solicitation in any jurisdictionin which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. The Offer is not being made in,nor will deposits be accepted in, any jurisdiction in which the making oracceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the laws of suchjurisdiction. However, the Offeror may, in its sole discretion, take such actionas it may deem necessary to extend the Offer in any such jurisdiction. The Offer is made to holders in France of Alcan common shares admitted totrading on Euronext-Paris. An announcement including the main informationrelating to the Offer documents has been prepared and released pursuant toarticle 231-24 of the AMF General Regulation and contains information relatingto how and in which time limit Alcan shareholders residing in France can acceptthis Offer. The offer document and the announcement prepared pursuant to article231-24 of the AMF General Regulation, as amended on 17 September 2007, areavailable free of charge to the holders of Alcan Shares registered withEuroclear France who request it from Citi France, Global Transaction Services,Operations department, 19 le Parvis la Defense 7, 92073 Paris la Defense. Theyare also available on the internet at the following address:www.computershare.com/Rio-AlcanFrenchofferdocument. The Offer is made to holders in Belgium of Alcan common shares and/orcertificates admitted to trading on Euronext Brussels (the "IDRs"). A Belgiansupplement, addressing issues specific to holders of Alcan common shares and/orIDRs in Belgium (the "Belgian Supplement") was approved by the Belgian Banking,Finance and Insurance Commission (the "BFIC") on 2 August 2007. A notice ofextension of the Offer was approved by the BFIC on 18 September 2007. The offerdocument, the Belgian Supplement and the notice of extension are available freeof charge to the investors in Belgium who request it from the Belgian branch ofCitibank International plc, Department GTS Operations, 4th floor, boulevardGeneral Jacques 263G, 1050 Brussels. They are also available on the internet atthe following address: www.computershare.com/RioAlcanBelgianofferdocument This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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