English (Change)
Français05 May 2008
Rio Tinto Alcan awards three Habitat for Humanity homes and announces "Rio Tinto Alcan Sustainable Homes Program"
Rio Tinto Alcan is pleased to announce that through its Alcan Builds on Recycling program, CAN$60,000 has been awarded to each of the top three recyclers of used aluminum beverage cans (UBC) to fund the construction of new Habitat for Humanity homes in their communities.
The Habitat for Humanity Canada (HFHC) affiliates of Greater Vancouver (B.C.), Kamloops (B.C.) and Kingston & Frontenac (Ontario) collected over 5 million UBCs for the 2008 award. The winners were announced at HFHC'S Annual General Meeting in Mississauga, Ontario, on May 3.
"As a long-time supporter of Habitat for Humanity International, we are delighted to help communities across Canada in their efforts to provide affordable housing to families in need," said Corey Copeland, senior vice president, Communications and External relations, Rio Tinto Alcan. "We are also proud to continue our support of Habitat for Humanity Canada with today's announcement of the new Rio Tinto Alcan Sustainable Homes Program."
This initiative, which replaces the Alcan Builds on Recycling Program, focuses on the promotion of safer and more sustainable building practices and will award a total of CAN$200,000 in financial donations each year. More information on the program will be available following the official launch in June 2008, at www.riotintoalcansustainablehomes.com.
"Our affiliates never cease to amaze us with their continued dedication and accomplishments," said David Hughes, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada. "There are so many ways to help build a Habitat home other than picking up a hammer or raising a wall. Rio Tinto Alcan and its Alcan Builds on Recycling Program provides an avenue for any person, at any age, to help build simple, decent homes in partnership with families in need."
Habitat for Humanity Canada (HFHC) is a national, non-profit, faith-based organization working for a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. The mission of the organization is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty.
The organization was founded in 1985, consists of 35,000 volunteers, 72 affiliate organizations from coast to coast, and is a member of Habitat for Humanity International. For more information, please visit: www.habitat.ca.
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
Habitat for Humanity Canada
Stephanie Nadalin
Tel: +1-416-306-6561
stephanie.nadalin@cossette.com