Rio Tinto media release Web versionhttp://riotinto.msgfocus.com/q/1MtPh8cLI4Csj7/wv If you have problems viewing images in Outlook, please add us to your safe list 28 Mar 2012 Rio Tinto receives binding offer for its specialty aluminas business Rio Tinto has received a binding offer for its specialty aluminas business from H.I.G.

A period of exclusivity has been agreed to with H.I.G.

and Rio Tinto will respond to the binding offer following consultation with the relevant European works councils.

The terms of the binding offer are confidential. Guy Elliott, chief financial officer of Rio Tinto said, "The potential sale is in line with our strategy of continuing to streamline our aluminium group through the divestment of non-core assets." The specialty aluminas business is the largest integrated supplier of non-metallurgical grade aluminas with 4 production sites: Gardanne, La Bâthie, Beyrède in France, and Teutschenthal in Germany.

It employs 730 people. About Rio Tinto Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and New York Stock Exchange listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. Rio Tintos business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources.

Major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, thermal and metallurgical coal, uranium, gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide and salt) and iron ore.

Activities span the world and are strongly represented in Australia and North America with significant businesses in Asia, Europe, Africa and South America. Contacts: Media Relations, EMEA / Americas Illtud Harri Office: +44 (0) 20 7781 1152 Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 503 600 Tony Shaffer Office: +44 (0) 20 7781 1138 Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 041 003 Christina Mills Office: +44 (0) 20 7781 1154 Mobile: +44 (0) 7825 275 605 Media Relations, Australia / Asia David Luff Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3620 Mobile: +61 (0) 419 850 205 Karen Halbert Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3627 Mobile: +61 (0) 412 119 389 Bruce Tobin Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3612 Mobile: +61 (0) 419 103 454 Media Relations, Canada Bryan Tucker Office: +1 (0) 514 848 8151 Mobile: +1 (0) 514 825 8319 Investor Relations, London Mark Shannon Office: +44 (0) 20 7781 1178 Mobile: +44 (0) 7917 576 597 David Ovington Office: +44 (0) 20 7781 2051 Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 010 978 Investor Relations, North America Jason Combes Office: +1 (0) 801 204 2919 Mobile: +1 (0) 801 558 2645 Investor Relations, Australia Dave Skinner Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3628 Mobile: +61 (0) 408 335 309 Christopher Maitland Office +61 (0) 3 9283 3063 Mobile +61 (0) 459 800 131 Further information: If you have been forwarded this email, you may wish to click here to signup for our media releases Follow us on Twitter Website: www.riotinto.com LEGAL INFORMATION - Copyright © 2012 Rio Tinto.

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