French Gov approval received

RNS Number:1382F
Rio Tinto PLC
04 October 2007

Rio Tinto offer for Alcan: French Government approval received


Rio Tinto has received approval from the French Government under the French
foreign investment regulations for the proposed acquisition of Alcan by a
subsidiary of Rio Tinto.



The approval was confirmed following a meeting between Christine Lagarde, French
Minister of the Economy, Finance and Employment and Paul Skinner, chairman of
Rio Tinto.



Receipt of this, and other regulatory clearances, is a condition to Rio Tinto's
offer to acquire the outstanding shares in Alcan.

Following the meeting Paul Skinner said, "We have had a very constructive and
positive dialogue with the French Government over the past two months.  During
our discussions we underlined our strong, long-term commitment to France, which
provides an attractive environment in which to invest, conduct business and
engage in world leading R&D. The approval by the French government brings us a
step closer to completion of the transaction, which we are aiming to achieve in
the fourth quarter".



Rio Tinto announced on 28 September 2007 that it had received approval for the
transaction 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, 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, 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 Offer represents a total consideration
for Alcan common shares of approximately US$38.1 billion.



The Offer is open for acceptance until 6.00 p.m., Canadian Eastern Time, on
October 23, 2007, unless extended. The Offer is subject to a number of
conditions including valid acceptances by holders of not less than 66 2/3 per
cent of Alcan shares on a fully diluted basis and the receipt of various
governmental and regulatory approvals. The board of Rio Tinto has approved the
transaction.  The Offer is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2007.



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, 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 offer
document, the Belgian Supplement and the notice of extension 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/RioAlcanBelgianofferdocument


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