Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs
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We operate in 35 countries where our 57,000 employees are working to find better ways to provide the materials the world needs
Our purpose in action
Continuous improvement and innovation are part of our DNA
Innovation
The need for innovation is greater than ever
We supply the metals and minerals used to help the world grow and decarbonise
Iron Ore
The primary raw material used to make steel, which is strong, long-lasting and cost-efficient
Lithium
The lightest of all metals, it is a key element needed for low-carbon technologies
Copper
Tough but malleable, corrosion-resistant and recyclable, and an excellent conductor of heat and transmitter of electricity
Bringing to market materials critical to urbanisation and the transition to a low-carbon economy
Oyu Tolgoi
One of the most modern, safe and sustainable operations in the world
Rincon Project
A long-life, low-cost and low-carbon lithium source
Simandou Project
The world’s largest untapped high-grade iron ore deposit
Providing materials the world needs in a responsible way
Climate Change
We’re targeting net zero emissions by 2050
Nature solutions
Our nature-based solutions projects complement the work we're doing to reduce our Scope 1 and 2 emissions
Decarbonisation progress update
We have a clear plan on decarbonisation - find out more about our progress in 2024
We aim to deliver superior returns to our shareholders while safeguarding the environment and meeting our obligations to wider society
Investor seminars
Our Investor seminar will be held in London on 4 December, and our Decarbonisation update on 5 December
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Things you can't live without
Our podcast discussing what needs to happen to create a sustainable future for the everyday items we have come to rely on
The 'f' word of innovation
How unlocking innovation requires a change of mindset
Reducing titanium oxide's carbon footprint
Our BlueSmelting technology could drastically reduce carbon emissions during ore processing
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On 20 September 2018, we unveiled details of how we intended to return approximately $3.2 billion of post-tax coal disposal proceeds to shareholders. We returned $2.1 billion through a Rio Tinto Limited off-market buy-back in November 2018 and the remaining $1.1 billion through an on-market Rio Tinto plc share buy-back, which commenced on 28 February 2020 and was completed by 29 February 2020.
Following the completion of the off-market buy-back of Rio Tinto Limited shares, the aggregate maximum consideration available for the on-market Rio Tinto plc share buy-back portion of the $3.2 billion coal disposal share buy-back programme was US$1,119 million. This part of the programme ran from 28 February 2019 through to 28 February 2020.
During 2018, we purchased $5.4 billion of shares through a combination of on-market purchases of Rio Tinto plc shares and an off-market buy-back of Rio Tinto Limited shares.
The on-market purchases of $3.3 billion Rio Tinto plc shares comprised the return of $1.904 billion of the Coal & Allied proceeds announced on 21 September 2017 (relating to US$1.925 billion of the $2.5 billion share buy-back programme attributed to the Rio Tinto plc on-market share buy-back), the US$1 billion programme announced on 7 February 2018 and $0.4 billion of the US$1 billion programme announced on 1 August 2018. The remaining purchases under this programme were completed by 27 February 2019.
In addition, we returned $2.1 billion through a Rio Tinto Limited off-market buy-back as part of the return of approximately $3.2 billion of post-tax coal disposal proceeds announced in September 2018. The remaining $1.1 billion of post-tax coal disposal proceeds were returned through an on-market Rio Tinto plc share buy-back which commenced on 28 February 2019 and was completed by 28 February 2020. Please refer to the 2019 share buy-back programme.
On 20 September 2018, we unveiled the details of how we intend to return approximately $3.2 billion of post-tax coal disposal proceeds to our shareholders.
Following the completion of the off-market buy-back of Rio Tinto Limited shares (see below), the aggregate maximum consideration now available for the on-market Rio Tinto plc share buy-back portion of the additional $3.2 billion share buy-back programme was US$1,119 million. This part of the programme was from 28 February 2019 and was completed by 28 February 2020. Please refer to 2019 share buy-back programme.
This is in addition to the ongoing Rio Tinto plc buy-back programmes detailed below. On 1 August 2018, we announced an on-market share buyback programme to repurchase Rio Tinto plc's ordinary shares for a maximum aggregate consideration of US$1 billion, which was completed by 27 February 2019.
On 7 February 2018, we announced an on-market share buyback programme to repurchase Rio Tinto plc's ordinary shares for a maximum aggregate consideration of US$1 billion, which was completed by 31 December 2018.
On 21 September 2017, we announced an on-market share buy-back programme to repurchase Rio Tinto plc's ordinary shares for a maximum aggregate consideration of US$1.925 billion, which was completed by 31 December 2018. This formed part of the $2.5 billion share buy-back programme, returning the proceeds from the sale of Coal & Allied. Please refer to 2017 share buy-back programme.
We have successfully completed our off-market buy-back of Rio Tinto Limited shares, with the purchase of 41,198,134 million shares, at an aggregated cost of A$2,871 million (US$2,081 million). The Buy-Back Price was A$69.69 per share which represented a discount to the Market Price of 14 per cent.
Important notice
This announcement, and any other documents related to the Buy-Back, are not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States (including its territories and possessions, any State of the United States and the District of Columbia) or Canada.
We have committed an additional $2.5 billion to its ongoing share buy-back programme, returning the proceeds of the sale of Coal & Allied to our shareholders.
This is in addition to the US$500 million and US$1 billion on-market share buy-back programmes of Rio Tinto plc shares that were announced this year on 8 February and 2 August. It brings the total share buy-backs announced during 2017 to US$4 billion.
We commenced our on-market share buy-back programme effective from 1 March 2017 to repurchase Rio Tinto plc's ordinary shares for a maximum aggregate consideration of US$500 million, which was completed by 31 December 2017. A further on-market share buy-back programme commenced effective from 2 August 2017 to repurchase Rio Tinto plc’s ordinary shares for a maximum aggregate consideration of US$1.0 billion, which was completed by 31 December 2017.
We have committed an additional $2.5 billion to our ongoing share buy-back programme, returning the proceeds of the sale of Coal & Allied to our shareholders.
Following the completion of the off-market buy-back of Rio Tinto Limited shares (see below), the aggregate maximum consideration available for the on-market Rio Tinto plc share buy-back portion of the additional $2.5 billion share buy-back programme was US$1,925 million. This part of the programme commenced on 27 December 2017 and was completed by 31 December 2018.
We successfully completed our off-market buy-back of Rio Tinto Limited shares, which was increased to A$750 million from the indicative A$700 million announced due to strong demand. The Buy-Back Price was A$63.67 per share which represented a discount of 14 per cent to the Market Price.
Rio Tinto Limited bought back approximately 11.8 million shares, at an aggregate cost of A$750 million (US$575 million).
In 2015, Rio Tinto completed $2.0 billion of share buy-backs, comprising $0.4 billion off-market in Rio Tinto Limited and $1.6 billion on-market in Rio Tinto plc.
Further details of the Rio Tinto plc on-market buy-back completed on 18 December 2015 can be accessed via the link below.
Rio Tinto announced on 7 April 2015 the successful completion of its off-market buy-back tender of shares in Rio Tinto Limited, which was increased to A$560 million from the indicative A$500 million announced due to strong demand.
Under the off-market buy-back, Rio Tinto Limited bought back around 11.6 million shares at the buy-back price of A$48.44 per share, for an aggregate cost of approximately A$560 million (US$425 million).
How we process personal data provided or obtained through this website.
With the exception of the use of cookies, Rio Tinto generally does not seek to collect personal data through this website. However if you choose to provide personal data to Rio Tinto through this website (for example, by sending us an email), we will process that personal data to answer your query and if relevant, to manage our business relationship with you or your company. We won't process that personal data for other purposes except where required to meet our legal obligations or otherwise as authorised by law and notified to you.
If you choose to subscribe to our media releases or other communications, you can unsubscribe at any time (by following the instructions in the email or by contacting us).
With your consent, our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our site. A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we store on your browser or the hard drive of your computer if you agree. Cookies contain information that is transferred to your computer's hard drive.
As some data privacy laws regulate IP addresses and other information collected through the use of cookies as personal data, Rio Tinto’s processing of such personal data needs to comply with its Data Privacy Standard (see Part 1 of our Privacy Policy), and also applicable data privacy laws.
With the exception of the use of cookies (explained below), Rio Tinto generally does not seek to collect personal data through this website. However if you choose to provide personal data to Rio Tinto through this website (for example, by sending us an email), we will process that personal data to answer your query and if relevant, to manage our business relationship with you or your company. We won't process that personal data for other purposes except where required to meet our legal obligations or otherwise as authorised by law and notified to you.
Part 1 of this Privacy Policy contains the Rio Tinto Data Privacy Standard, which provides an overview of Rio Tinto’s approach to personal data processing. There is additional information in the appendices to the Data Privacy Standard, including information about disclosures, trans-border data transfers, the exercise of data subject rights and how to make complaints or obtain further information relating to Rio Tinto’s processing of your personal data.
If you choose to subscribe to our media releases or other communications, you can unsubscribe at any time (by following the instructions in the email or by contacting us at digital.comms@riotinto.com).
With your consent, our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our site.
A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we store on your browser or the hard drive of your computer if you agree. Cookies contain information that is transferred to your computer's hard drive.
As some data privacy laws regulate IP addresses and other information collected through the use of cookies as personal data, Rio Tinto’s processing of such personal data needs to comply with its Data Privacy Standard (see Part 1 of this Privacy Policy), and also applicable data privacy laws.
These Cookies are used to provide a better user experience on the site, such as by measuring interactions with particular content or remembering your settings such as language or video playback preferences.
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