Alcan, 90% threshold reached

RNS Number:9879G
Rio Tinto PLC
04 November 2007



Date: 2 November 2007





Rio Tinto Offer for Alcan - 90% threshold reached



Rio Tinto today announces that approximately 90.2% (339,339,000 shares) of the
outstanding common shares of Alcan Inc. ("Alcan") have been validly deposited
and taken up under the offer by Rio Tinto Canada Holding Inc. ("RTCH") to
acquire all of the shares of Alcan (the "Offer").

RTCH is now entitled to acquire all the remaining Alcan shares by way of
compulsory acquisition under the Canada Business Corporations Act.  RTCH will
exercise these rights promptly after the expiry of the Offer.

All additional validly deposited shares during the balance of the Offer period
will be taken up daily and payment for such shares will be made to the
depositary within two business days of take-up. Shares covered by notices of
guaranteed delivery will be taken up when the certificates representing them are
delivered to the depositary.  The Offer expires at 6:00 p.m. (Canadian Eastern
Time) on November 8, 2007.



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, 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 or a copy of reports filed under Canadian securities
legislation, please contact:



Rio Tinto Canada Holding Inc.
770 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1800
Montreal, Quebec  H3A1G1

Or please contact:
Media Relations, London                        Media Relations, Australia

Christina Mills                                Ian Head
Office: [phone]                   Office:  [phone]
Mobile: [phone]                   Mobile: [phone]


Nick Cobban                                    Amanda Buckley
Office:  [phone]                  Office:  [phone]
Mobile: [phone]                   Mobile: [phone]
Investor Relations, London                     Investor Relations, Australia

Nigel Jones                                    Dave Skinner
Office: [phone]                   Office:  [phone]
Mobile: [phone]                   Mobile: [phone]
                                               Investor Relations, North America

David Ovington                                 Jason Combes
Office:  [phone]                  Office:  [phone]
Mobile: [phone]                   Mobile: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Website: www.riotinto.com

High resolution photographs available at: www.newscast.co.uk





Additional information


The offer to purchase all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Alcan
for 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 indirect
wholly-owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto. The address of the Offeror is 770
Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1800, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1.


The Offer represents a total consideration for Alcan common shares of
approximately US$38.1 billion.


The subsequent offering period has commenced and the Offer is open for
acceptance until 6.00 p.m., Canadian Eastern Time, on November 8, 2007, unless
extended.


This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute or
form part of any offer or invitation to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe
for, sell, otherwise dispose of or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to
sell, otherwise dispose of, issue, purchase, otherwise acquire or subscribe for,
any security. The Offer (as the same may be varied or extended in accordance
with applicable law) is being made exclusively by means of, and subject to the
terms and conditions set out in, the offer and takeover bid circular delivered
to Alcan and filed with Canadian provincial securities regulators and the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and mailed to Alcan
shareholders.


The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in certain
jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such
jurisdictions into which this announcement is released, published or distributed
should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions.


In connection with the Offer, an offer and takeover bid circular as well as
ancillary documents such as a letter of transmittal and a notice of guaranteed
delivery have been filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and
the SEC and an Alcan directors' circular with respect to the Offer has also been
filed. A Tender Offer statement on Schedule TO (the "Schedule TO") and a
Solicitation/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), THE
SCHEDULE TO (INCLUDING THE OFFER AND TAKEOVER BID CIRCULAR, LETTER OF
TRANSMITTAL AND RELATED TENDER OFFER DOCUMENTS) AND THE SCHEDULE 14D-9 AS THEY
CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE OFFER.


The offer and takeover bid circular as well as other materials filed with the
Canadian securities regulatory authorities are available electronically without
charge at www.sedar.com. The Schedule TO and the Schedule 14D-9 are available
electronically without charge at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. Materials filed
with the SEC or the Canadian securities regulatory authorities may also be
obtained without charge at Rio Tinto's website, www.riotinto.com.


While the Offer is being made to all holders of Alcan common shares, this
announcement does not constitute an offer or a solicitation in any jurisdiction
in 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 or
acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the laws of such
jurisdiction. However, the Offeror may, in its sole discretion, take such action
as 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 to
trading on Euronext-Paris. An announcement including the main information
relating to the Offer documents has been prepared and released pursuant to
article 231-24 of the AMF General Regulation and contains information relating
to how and in which time limit Alcan shareholders residing in France can accept
this Offer. The offer document and the announcement prepared pursuant to article
231-24 of the AMF General Regulation, as amended on 17 September 2007, 23 and 24
October 2007 are available free of charge to the holders of Alcan Shares
registered with Euroclear France who request it from Citi France, Global
Transaction Services, Operations department, 19 le Parvis la Defense 7, 92073
Paris la Defense. They are 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/or
certificates admitted to trading on Euronext Brussels (the "IDRs"). A Belgian
supplement, addressing issues specific to holders of Alcan common shares and/or
IDRs in Belgium (the "Belgian Supplement") was approved by the Belgian Banking,
Finance and Insurance Commission (the "BFIC") on 2 August 2007. A notice of
extension of the Offer was approved by the BFIC on 18 September 2007 (the "First
Supplement"). A second notice of extension of the Offer was approved by the BFIC
on 23 October 2007 (the "Second Supplement").  The offer document, the Belgian
Supplement , the First Supplement and the Second Supplement are available free
of charge to the investors in Belgium who request it from the Belgian branch of
Citibank International plc, Department GTS Operations, 4th floor, boulevard
General Jacques 263G, 1050 Brussels. They are also available on the internet at
the following address: www.computershare.com/Rio-AlcanBelgianofferdocument




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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