Operations & financial report

Off balance sheet arrangements

In the ordinary course of business, to manage the Group's operations and financing, Rio Tinto enters into certain performance guarantees and commitments for capital and other expenditure.

The aggregate amount of indemnities and other performance guarantees, on which no material loss is expected, including those related to joint ventures and associates, was US$739 million at 31 December 2007.

Other commitments include capital expenditure, operating leases and unconditional purchase obligations as set out in the table of contractual cash obligations, included in the liquidity and capital resources section.