FAQs Limited

• How can I have a change of address noted on the share register?
• How can I have a change of name noted on the share register?
• How can I transfer shares to another member of my family, or any other person?
• What happens if a shareholder dies?
• I have Rio Tinto Limited shares. Can I exchange them for Rio Tinto plc shares?
• What is CHESS?
• What is a Holder Identification Number (HIN)?
• What is a Shareholder Registration Number (SRN)?
• Can I view details of my Rio Tinto shareholding online?
• Can I receive shareholder documents electronically?
• I am receiving multiple copies of shareholder circulars. How can I stop this?
• Where can I find the current share price?
• What are dividends?
• Rio Tinto has a progressive dividend policy. What does this mean for shareholders?
• When are Rio Tinto dividends paid?
• In what currency are Rio Tinto dividends paid?
• How can I have my dividends paid directly into my bank account?
• Does Rio Tinto have a Dividend Reinvestment Plan?
• What is the 'ex dividend date'?
• What is the dividend 'record date'?
• Do I have to pay tax on my dividends?

How can I have a change of address noted on the share register?

If you are an individual Issuer Sponsored shareholder you can change your address details by writing to or phoning Computershare. If you wish to change your address details by phone, you will need to provide your SRN and confirm your full name and old address. Computershare will confirm these details with you and provide a confirmation number. If you wish to change your address details in writing, you should complete the 'Change of Address Notification' form which you can download from Computershare's website.

 

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How can I have a change of name noted on the share register?

You must tell Computershare of the change in writing. If you wish to change your registered name on an Issuer Sponsored holding, you should provide Computershare with the following information - your SRN, old name and registered address, your new name in full, your signature in your new name and an original certified copy of any supporting documentation, such as your marriage certificate.

If your shares are maintained by a broker (Broker Sponsored) please return the name change letter and supporting documentation to your broker for processing. Find out more on the Computershare website.    

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How can I transfer shares to another member of my family, or any other person?

Please contact Computershare for a 'Standard Transfer' form, or you can download a form from this website.

When you have completed the transfer form, send it to Computershare. There is no charge for this service.

 

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What happens if a shareholder dies?

Please advise Computershare in writing or by telephone as soon as possible and they will explain what has to be done.

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I have Rio Tinto Limited shares. Can I exchange them for Rio Tinto plc shares?

Whilst unified under a dual listed companies structure, Rio Tinto Limited and Rio Tinto plc remain separate legal entities. As Rio Tinto Limited and Rio Tinto plc have separate share registers, there is no facility to transfer shares between the companies. If a shareholder in Rio Tinto Limited wanted their shares to be part of the Rio Tinto plc register, they would have to sell their Rio Tinto Limited shares and purchase Rio Tinto plc shares.

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What is CHESS?

Since 1998, when paper share certificates were eventually phased out, ownership of shares has been recorded electronically. Shareholders can choose to have their holdings registered in one of two ways on the Rio Tinto share register - on an Issuer Sponsored Subregister or on the CHESS (Broker Sponsored) Subregister. 'CHESS' means the Clearing House Electronic Subregister System. The two types of subregister provide alternative forms of registration for shareholders and the shares they own.

 

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What is a Holder Identification Number (HIN)?

The Holder Identification Number (HIN) identifies your registration on the CHESS Subregister. This form of registration, also known as Broker Sponsored, allows brokers to manage their sponsored client's shareholdings. A HIN is made up of the letter X followed by ten numbers, ie X0001234567. The one HIN can register a client's shareholding in multiple companies. Find out more from Computershare.

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What is a Shareholder Registration Number (SRN)?

Your Shareholder Registration Number (SRN) is a unique number allocated to identify your registered holding on a company's Issuer Sponsored Subregister. It is made up of the letter I followed by ten numbers, ie I0001234567.

The SRN is important information to be used in confirming or amending shareholder details retained by Computershare. If you hold shares in more than one company and choose to be Issuer Sponsored, you will have a different SRN for each shareholding.

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Can I view details of my Rio Tinto shareholding online?

You can view details of your Rio Tinto shareholding online through Computershare's Registry Service.

You will need to enter your SRN or HIN and your registered postcode or country (if outside Australia). This service provides read only access to your Rio Tinto shareholding information.

You can view details of all your holdings for companies registered with Computershare online through Computershare's Investor Centre, if you register with Computershare.

Once you have registered you will be able to view all your holdings and update your details online.

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Can I receive shareholder documents electronically?

Rio Tinto shareholders are able to receive Annual Reports, Notice of Meetings and other company mail outs online via email. Please register with eTree to do so.

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I am receiving multiple copies of shareholder circulars. How can I stop this?

If you receive more than one copy of company information, it is because Computershare is holding two or more accounts for you on the share register. If you would like to have the accounts combined into one, you should contact Computershare for a form to request consolidation of your holdings. You can download a 'Request to Consolidate Holdings' form from Computershare's website. There is no charge for doing this.

If you wish to consolidate separate Issuer Sponsored and CHESS holdings, you should contact your broker and they will explain what has to be done.

 

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Where can I find the current share price?

The Rio Tinto Limited share price is reported in most Australian daily newspapers. In addition, information on the recent movements in the share price is available from the Rio Tinto website.

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What are dividends?

The dividend is the amount that directors of a company propose to pay out of the profits to its shareholders. Dividends can be thought of as the income that shareholders receive from their investment. Dividends are quoted on a per share basis.

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Rio Tinto has a progressive dividend policy. What does this mean for shareholders?

The aim of Rio Tinto's progressive dividend policy is to increase the US dollar value of dividends over time. The rate of the total dividend, in US dollars, is reviewed by directors when determining the final dividend in the light of the company's results for the past year and the outlook for the current year.

The interim dividend is set at one half of the total dividend for the previous year. Under the progressive dividend policy the final dividend for each year is expected to be at least equal to the previous interim dividend.

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When are Rio Tinto dividends paid?

Rio Tinto pays dividends twice a year, an interim dividend and a final dividend, usually in April and September. When the financial results for the half-year and full year are announced, the level of dividend to be paid to shareholders is also announced. The dividend is paid to everyone who holds shares on 'the record date'. The directors set the amount of dividend payable on each share. You can chose to either receive the dividend in cash or use it to buy more Rio Tinto shares by way of our Dividend Reinvestment Plan.

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In what currency are Rio Tinto dividends paid?

The US dollar, in which the majority of sales are made, most reliably records the Group's global business performance and is Rio Tinto's main reporting currency. It is, therefore, the natural currency in which to determine dividends.

Dividends determined in US dollars are converted at exchange rates applicable two days prior to the announcement of dividends and then declared and paid in Australian dollars for Rio Tinto Limited and in pounds sterling for Rio Tinto plc. UK shareholders of Rio Tinto Limited can elect to receive dividends in pounds sterling.

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How can I have my dividends paid directly into my bank account?

Please contact Computershare for a 'Direct Credit Instruction' form, or you can download a Direct Credit Instruction form from Computershare's website.

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Does Rio Tinto have a Dividend Reinvestment Plan?

A Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRP) is available to give shareholders the opportunity to elect for their cash dividend to be used to purchase Rio Tinto ordinary shares in the market, free of commission. As the shares will be purchased in the market, there will be no increase in the company's issued share capital.

Find out how to participate in the DRP. 

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What is the 'ex dividend date'?

The ex-dividend date is a specific date, occurring after the dividend has been announced, after which buyers are no longer entitled to receive the last declared dividend. This is known as going 'ex-dividend' and before this date the shares are said to be 'cum-dividend'. If you buy shares before the ex-dividend date, you are entitled to the recently declared dividend. If you purchase shares on or after that date, the previous owner of the shares is entitled to the dividend. According to Australian Stock Exchange Listing Rules, shares are quoted on an ex-dividend basis four clear business days before the 'record date'. The ex-dividend date for the latest dividend can be found on the Investor calendar.

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What is the dividend 'record date'?

This is the date the Registrars close the register to prepare for the dividend payment. A person's shareholding must be recorded on the register on this date to receive the last declared dividend. The record date normally falls about three weeks before the dividend is paid. The record date for the latest dividend can be found on the Investor calendar.

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Do I have to pay tax on my dividends?

The basis of the Australian dividend imputation system is that when Australian resident shareholders receive dividends from Rio Tinto Limited, they may be entitled to a credit for the tax paid by the company in respect of that income, depending on the tax status of the shareholder.

The application of the system results in the tax paid by the Company being allocated to shareholders by way of imputation credits attaching to the dividends they receive. Such dividends are known are franked dividends. A dividend may be partly or fully franked. The current Rio Tinto Limited dividend is fully franked and the imputation credits attached to the dividend are shown in the Dividend Statement provided to shareholders.

Non-Australian shareholders

The effect of the dividend imputation system on non-resident shareholders is that, to the extent that the dividend is franked, no Australian tax will be payable and there is an exemption from dividend withholding tax. A withholding tax is normally levied at the rate of 15 per cent when unfranked dividends are paid to residents of countries with which Australia has a tax treaty. A rate of 30 per cent applies to countries where there is no tax treaty.

 

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