Rio Tinto refers Ivanhoe's Shareholder Rights Plan to arbitration

Rio Tinto announced today that it has given notice to Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. that it has referred to arbitration Ivanhoe's breaches of the Private Placement Agreement caused by its adoption of the Shareholders Rights Plan. Before its adoption, Rio Tinto advised Ivanhoe that the Rights Plan would breach Rio Tinto's contractual rights. However, the board of Ivanhoe nonetheless adopted the Plan on April 6, 2010 over Rio Tinto's strong objection.

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE 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
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Christina Mills
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David Luff
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Media Relations, Americas / Canada
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Mark Shannon
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David Ovington
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Investor Relations, North America
Jason Combes
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Investor Relations, Australia

Dave Skinner
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Simon Ellinor
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Website: www.riotinto.com
Email: media.enquiries@riotinto.com / enquiries.mediaaustralia@riotinto.com

High resolution photographs and media pack available at: http://www.riotinto.com/media

Rio Tinto refers Ivanhoe's Shareholder Rights Plan to arbitration [PDF: 26 KB]