Rio Tinto Receives Offer for Aluminum Assets

Rio Tinto has received a binding offer from Hydro of $345 million, subject to final adjustments, to acquire Rio Tinto’s ISAL smelter in Iceland, its 53.3% share in the Aluchemie anode plant in the Netherlands, and its 50% share in the Aluminum fluoride plant in Sweden. Based in Norway, Hydro is a fully integrated aluminum company that also extracts bauxite, refines alumina and generates energy.

Rio Tinto will launch a consultation process with employees, relevant European works councils and other stakeholders. Subject to satisfactory completion of these consultations and certain other conditions, Rio Tinto expects to conclude the sale in the second quarter of 2018.

“The binding offer for the sale of these assets provides further evidence of Rio Tinto’s commitment to strengthen our business and deliver value by streamlining our portfolio,” said Rio Tinto Aluminum Chief Executive Alf Barrios. “Hydro has a solid track record in the aluminum industry and is a partner to Rio Tinto in other ventures.

As featured in Womp 2018 Vol 03 - www.womp-int.com