Rio Tinto Offer for Alcan: Rio Tinto plc Extraordinary General Meeting

14 September 2007

Rio Tinto announces that the extraordinary general meeting of Rio Tinto plc to approve the acquisition of Alcan was held in London on 14 September 2007.

The resolution to approve the acquisition was proposed as an ordinary resolution under the joint electorate procedure. The result will be announced shortly after the extraordinary general meeting of Rio Tinto Limited which will be held in Australia on 28 September 2007.

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London 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.

The Sharing Agreement (the agreement relating to the regulation of the relationship between Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited following the dual listed companies merger) provides for the public shareholders of Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited to vote as a joint electorate on all matters which affect shareholders of both companies in similar ways. These are referred to as Joint Decisions. Joint Decisions are voted on a poll. To facilitate the joint voting arrangements, each company has entered into shareholder voting agreements. Each company has issued a Special Voting Share to a special purpose company held in trust by a common trustee. Rio Tinto plc has issued its Special Voting Share (RTP Special Voting Share) to RTL Shareholder SVC and Rio Tinto Limited has issued its Special Voting Share (RTL Special Voting Share) to RTP Shareholder SVC. The total number of votes cast on Joint Decisions by the public shareholders of one company are voted at the parallel meeting of the other company.