10 January 2018

Rio Tinto has received a binding offer from Liberty House to acquire Rio Tinto's Aluminium Dunkerque smelter in northern France for $500 million, subject to final adjustments. In accordance with French law, Rio Tinto will launch a consultation process with employees, relevant European works councils and other stakeholders in relation to the bid. Subject to satisfactory completion of these consultations, Rio Tinto expects to complete the sale of Aluminium Dunkerque in the second quarter of 2018.

The proposal received from Liberty House, which acquired Rio Tinto's Lochaber Smelter and assets in Scotland in December 2016, includes plans for the modernisation of the site.

Rio Tinto Aluminium chief executive Alf Barrios said 'The binding offer for the sale of Aluminium Dunkerque represents the best option for the future development of the site while also delivering value for Rio Tinto as we continue to streamline our portfolio.

'Liberty House has a track record of investing in similar assets, which should secure a long-term sustainable future for Aluminium Dunkerque and continued economic benefit for the wider community'.

Contacts

media.enquiries@riotinto.com

riotinto.com

Follow @RioTinto on Twitter

Media Relations, United Kingdom

Illtud Harri

T +44 20 7781 1152

M +44 7920 503 600

David Outhwaite

T +44 20 7781 1623

M +44 7787 597 493

David Luff

T +44 20 7781 1177
M +44 7780 226 422

Investor Relations, United Kingdom

John Smelt

T +44 20 7781 1654

M +44 7879 642 675

David Ovington

T +44 20 7781 2051

M +44 7920 010 978

Nick Parkinson

T +44 20 7781 1552

M +44 7810 657 556

Media Relations, Australia

Jonathan Rose

T +61 3 9283 3088

M +61 447 028 913

Investor Relations, Australia

Natalie Worley

T +61 3 9283 3063

M +61 409 210 462

Rachel Storrs

T +61 3 9283 3628

M +61 417 401 018

Rio Tinto plc

6 St James's Square

London SW1Y 4AD

United Kingdom

T +44 20 7781 2000
Registered in England

No. 719885

Rio Tinto Limited

Level 7, 360 Collins Street

Melbourne 3000

Australia

T +61 3 9283 3333

Registered in Australia

ABN 96 004 458 404

Rio Tinto plc published this content on 10 January 2018 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 10 January 2018 13:09:06 UTC.

Original documenthttp://otp.investis.com/clients/uk/rio_tinto1/rns/regulatory-story.aspx?cid=507&newsid=965333

Public permalinkhttp://www.publicnow.com/view/8C9A23C8B8BD6CCE3FB49652103974F20CF05073