Share buy-back programme for Rio

The company has revealed details of how it intends to return approximately US$3.2B of post-tax coal disposal proceeds to its shareholders.

The proceeds will be returned through a US$3.2B share buy-back programme, combining an off-market buy-back tender targeting up to 41.2M Rio Tinto Limited shares (approximately A$2.7B/US$1.9B) and further on-market purchases of Rio Tinto plc shares. The mining giant said that the programme is subject to market conditions and compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

Rio Tinto CEO J-S Jacques said “Returning US$3.2B of coal disposal proceeds demonstrates our commitment to capital discipline and providing sector leading shareholder returns.

“We continue to focus our portfolio on those assets which provide the highest returns and growth, which will ensure that we continue to deliver superior value to our shareholders in the short, medium and long term.”

The company added that it will target the completion of the off-market purchase of up to 41.2M of its shares in 2018, being the maximum number of shares that may be repurchased by Rio Tinto Limited under the buy-back in accordance with the terms of the shareholder approval granted at Rio Tinto Limited’s 2018 annual general meeting.

The aggregate maximum consideration and timing of the new on-market purchases by Rio Tinto plc under the programme will be announced following the completion of the off-market buy-back tender for Rio Tinto Limited shares, which is expected to be on 12 November 2018.

This is in addition to the existing Rio Tinto plc buy-back programmes, of which US$1.7B in shares remain to be purchased and which will be completed no later than 27 February 2019.

All shares purchased will be cancelled.

The US$3.2 billion of net disposal proceeds is derived from the completed sales of Hail Creek and Valeria (pre-tax US$1.7B), Winchester South (pre-tax US$0.2B) and Kestrel (pre-tax US$2.25B).

The sale of Rio Tinto’s Aluminium Dunkerque smelter in northern France for US$500M, subject to final adjustments, is yet to be completed.

As announced on 14 September, Hydro has withdrawn its offer to acquire the ISAL smelter in Iceland (US$345M) following initial feedback from the European Commission. The timing and form of shareholder returns in respect of further proceeds arising from disposals still to be completed will be announced with the 2018 full year results, the firm added.