English (Change)
Français02 April 2008
Rio Tinto Alcan applies to have its reporting issuer status revoked in Canada
Rio Tinto Alcan Inc., successor to Alcan Inc. following the completion of Rio Tinto Canada Holding Inc.'s purchase of all outstanding common shares of Alcan Inc., announced that it has filed applications with securities commissions across Canada to have its status as a reporting issuer under relevant Canadian securities legislation revoked.
The company's common shares are privately held, and its only outstanding publicly held securities consist of ten series of notes and debentures originally offered and sold outside of Canada under the company's United States registered shelf debt program. Following the delisting of the company's 4.875% notes due 2012 from the New York Stock Exchange in December 2007, there are no public markets for any of the company's securities in Canada or elsewhere. The company's investigations indicate that less than two percent of its outstanding notes and debentures are held by residents of Canada.
If released from its obligations as a reporting issuer, the company will not be required to file financial statements and other disclosure material in Canada. As stated in its 16 January 2008 press release, Rio Tinto plc intends to report the company's contribution to its consolidated financial results by business unit - Bauxite & Alumina, Primary Metal and Engineered Products. The company's Packaging business unit will be classified for accounting purposes as an asset held for sale. In addition, the company expects that its notes and debentures will continue to be rated by one or more recognized credit rating agencies.
Canadian investors in notes and debentures may address queries to the contact identified below.
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.
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this announcement, including, without limitation, those regarding Rio Tinto's financial position, business strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations (including development plans and objectives relating to Rio Tinto's products, production forecasts and reserve and resource positions), are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Rio Tinto, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding Rio Tinto's present and future business strategies and the environment in which Rio Tinto will operate in the future. Among the important factors that could cause Rio Tinto's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others, levels of actual production during any period, levels of demand and market prices, the ability to produce and transport products profitably, the impact of foreign currency exchange rates on market prices and operating costs, operational problems, political uncertainty and economic conditions in relevant areas of the world, the actions of competitors, activities by governmental authorities such as changes in taxation or regulation and such other risk factors identified in Rio Tinto's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") or Form 6-Ks furnished to the SEC. Forward-looking statements should, therefore, be construed in light of such risk factors and undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this announcement. Rio Tinto expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking (except as required by applicable law, the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the "Takeover Code"), the UK Listing Rules, the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Services Authority and the Listing Rules of the Australian Securities Exchange) to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Rio Tinto's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
Nothing in this announcement should be interpreted to mean that future earnings per share of Rio Tinto plc or Rio Tinto Limited will necessarily match or exceed its historical published earnings per share.
Subject to the requirements of the Takeover Code, none of Rio Tinto, any of its officers or any person named in this announcement with their consent or any person involved in the preparation of this announcement makes any representation or warranty (either express or implied) or gives any assurance that the implied values, anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in forward-looking statements contained in this announcement will be achieved.
For further information, please contact:
Rio Tinto Alcan Media Relations
Stefano Bertolli
Tel.: +1-514-848-8151
stefano.bertolli@riotinto.com