Summary cash flow statement

Years ended 31 December

  2006
US$m
2005
US$m
Cash flow from consolidated operations 9,469 7,657
Dividends from equity accounted units 1,727 600
Cash flows from operations 11,196 8,257
Net interest paid (128) (128)
Dividends paid to outside shareholders (193) (169)
Tax paid (2,799) (1,017)
Cash flow from operating activities 8,076 6,943
Cash used in investing activities
Acquisitions/(disposals) of subsidiaries, joint ventures & associates (279) 321
Purchase of property, plant & equipment and intangible assets (3,920) (2,552)
Exploration and evaluation expenditure (345) (264)
Sales of other investments 293 133
Purchases of other financial assets (167) (231)
Other investing cash flows 56 110
Cash used in investing activities (4,362) (2,483)
Cash flow before financing activities 3,714 4,460
Financing activities
Equity dividends paid to Rio Tinto shareholders (2,573) (1,141)
Own shares purchased from Rio Tinto shareholders (2,370) (877)
Proceeds from issue of ordinary shares in Rio Tinto 31 100
Proceeds from issue of ordinary shares in subsidiaries to outside shareholders 52 4
Change in net debt 1,146 (2,546)
  (3,714) (4,460)