Shareholder FAQs

It is shown in most UK newspapers usually under “Mining”. If there are 2 Rio Tinto companies shown, one of these will be Rio Tinto Limited, the Australian company. The letters A$ may also appear after the name. Share prices are often quoted alongside a unique code known as a stock exchange ticker. The London Stock Exchange ticker for Rio Tinto plc is RIO.L and the Australian Securities Exchange ticker for Rio Tinto Limited is RIO.AX.

In addition, information on the recent movements in the share price is available from the Rio Tinto website.

Information about historical Rio Tinto share prices is available on the Share price and tools page.

The dividend is the amount that directors of a company propose to pay out of the profits to its shareholders. Dividends can be thought of as the income that shareholders receive from their investment. Dividends are quoted on a per share basis.

We pay dividends twice a year, as an “interim dividend” and a “final dividend”. When the financial results for the half year and full year are announced, the level of dividend to be paid to shareholders is also announced. The dividend is usually paid in April and September and is paid to everyone who holds shares on the “record date”. Upcoming record dates, once published, can be found in the financial calendar.

Rio Tinto plc is a Mandatory Direct Credit company. This means Rio Tinto plc pays cash dividends by direct credit only. To receive payments directly to your UK bank or building society account, please go to Investor Centre where you can update your payment instruction, amend your address and check share balances and dividend payments. For Shareholders who do not have a UK Bank Account, dividends can be received in your local currency by registering for the International Funds Transfer Service. Investor Centre is available 24 hours a day and is free to all Rio Tinto shareholders.

The ex-dividend date is a specific date, occurring after the dividend has been declared after which buyers are no longer entitled to receive the last declared dividend. This is known as going “ex-dividend” and before this date the shares are said to be “cum-dividend”. If you buy shares before the ex-dividend date, you are entitled to the recently announced dividend. If you purchase shares on or after that date, the previous owner of the shares (and not you) is entitled to the dividend. The ex-dividend date for the latest dividend, once published, can be found in the financial calendar.

This is the date the registrars view the register to prepare the dividend payment. A shareholding must be recorded on the register on this date to receive the dividend. The record date normally falls about 3 weeks before the dividend is paid. The record date for the latest dividend, once published, can be found in the financial calendar.

The dividend is determined in US$ (our main reporting currency) and shareholders may choose to receive their dividend in US dollars, pounds sterling, Australian dollars, or New Zealand dollars. Currency conversions will be based on the pound sterling, Australian dollar and New Zealand dollar exchange rates 7 business days before the dividend payment date.

Shareholders on Rio Tinto plc's share register will receive their dividends in pounds sterling unless they make an election to receive them in an alternate currency.

Shareholders may make an election to receive US dollars, Australian dollars or New Zealand dollars by making a currency election via the Investor Centre. Alternatively shareholders may obtain a currency election form from our registrars, Computershare Investor Services PLC, at the Investor Centre or by calling 0800 435 021 (UK shareholders) or +44 (0) 370 703 6364 (overseas shareholders). You will also need to register your bank account details via Investor Centre to receive payment.

Computershare Investor Services PLC offers payment services in other currencies which are subject to a fee. Please contact Computershare via the Investor Centre or by calling 0800 435 021 (UK shareholders) or +44 (0) 370 703 6364 (overseas shareholders).

A Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRP) is available to give shareholders the opportunity to elect for their cash dividend to be used to purchase Rio Tinto ordinary shares in the market. A commission charge of 0.5 per cent of the value of the shares purchased will be charged. Purchases will also be liable to stamp duty at a rate of 0.5 per cent of the value of the shares purchased. As the shares will be purchased in the market, there will be no increase in the Company's issued share capital.

The plan is administered by Computershare Investor Services PLC which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority

We recommend you obtain independent financial advice.

Paper copies of all shareholder documents can be obtained free of charge by contacting the registrar.

Go to the Investor Centre and register your email address. Investor Centre is Rio Tinto's secure shareholder self-service website. It's available 24 hours a day and is free to all Rio Tinto shareholders. By going online, you can amend your address, check share balances, check payment and tax information and also update payment instructions.

First, download a change of name form. Once completed, this form should be sent to Computershare Investor Services PLC at the address given on the form, together with your share certificate and a copy of the relevant document (eg marriage certificate)

Please download a Standard Transfer form and send it to Computershare. Stamp duty may be payable on the transfer. You should refer to the guidance notes on the transfer form for more information.

If the value of the shareholding represented by the lost or misplaced share certificate is more than £100, the indemnity must be countersigned by a bank or insurance company, which may also charge a fee. Alternatively Computershare offers a countersignature service where the value of the shareholding is between £100 and £50,000 upon the payment of an insurance premium. A sliding scale of charges applies, depending on the value of the lost certificate to reflect the greater risk to the insurer.

If the value of the shareholding is greater than £50,000, the broker Portsoken Ltd, 4th Floor, Davis House, Robert Street, Croydon, CR0 1QQ (T: 020 8667 2107) may provide a countersignature service for a fee. They can deal with shareholders domiciled outside the UK subject to normal identity and sanction checks.

Please check to ensure that the certificate has been lost before informing Computershare in order to avoid incurring any fees (as outlined above).

To request an indemnity please contact Computershare advising them of your full name, address, the company in which you hold shares, the certificate number and amount of any share certificate(s) still in your possession.

This is probably because Computershare is holding 2 (or more) accounts for you on the share register. If you would like to merge shareholdings registered in your name into a single holding, please provide Computershare with a written request, signed by all the registered holders or legally appointed representatives.

You may have a preference as to which holding you would like the shares to be merged. If so, please inform Computershare by confirming the relevant Shareholder Reference Number (SRN). There is no need to send Computershare your share certificates, as these will remain valid.

Yes. To register to receive the Company's shareholder publications electronically by email you need to register your email address with Computershare. For every shareholder who registers, a donation will be made to Woodland Trust's. All funds donated go towards their many tree planting programmes.

Shareholders who choose to receive electronic copies can change their election at any time by contacting Computershare.

Yes, if your certificated holding in Rio Tinto plc is represented by several share certificates you may wish to have these replaced by one consolidated share certificate. There is no charge for this service. You should send your certificates with a letter of instruction to Computershare.

Please advise Computershare in writing as soon as possible and they will explain what has to be done.

Whilst unified under a dual listed companies structure, Rio Tinto Limited and Rio Tinto plc remain separate legal entities. As Rio Tinto Limited and Rio Tinto plc have separate share registers, there is no facility to transfer shares between the companies. If a shareholder in Rio Tinto plc wanted their shares to be part of the Rio Tinto Limited register, they would have to sell their Rio Tinto plc shares and purchase Rio Tinto Limited shares.

You can view details of all your holdings for companies registered with Computershare online through the Investor Centre, as soon as you register with Computershare.

Once you have registered you will be able to view all your holdings and update your details online.

Yes. Share certificates in the name of The RTZ Corporation PLC remain valid and now apply to shares in Rio Tinto plc. When the Company changed its name in June 1997 it did not issue replacement certificates. If you would like your existing share certificates in the name of The RTZ Corporation PLC to be replaced, please contact Computershare.

Former Alcan Inc. shareholders can communicate directly with the transfer agent, Computershare Investor Services Inc.

All outstanding share warrants to bearer were converted into registered ordinary shares under the terms of a Scheme of Arrangement sanctioned by the UK High Court on 30 April 2001. Under the terms of the Scheme of Arrangement, registered shares representing the outstanding share warrants as at 31 May 2013 were sold on 14 June 2013.Upon submission of any outstanding share warrants, the holders are no longer entitled to receive Ordinary Shares but are entitled to receive a pro rata share of the net sale proceeds, accrued dividends and other monies subject to the terms of a Trust Deed dated 4 June 2001 entered into in connection with the Scheme of Arrangement.

Holders of outstanding share warrants to bearer should complete an application form and send it to Company Secretariat in order to obtain their entitlement to a pro rata share of the net sale proceeds, accrued dividends and other monies.

“A” and “B” preference shares were cancelled and repaid on 30 June 1999 and share certificates are no longer valid. If you are still holding share warrants to bearer for “B” preference shares please contact the Company Secretarial department at Rio Tinto for further information.