MONTREAL, Oct. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- All regulatory approvals required for the global closing of the proposed acquisition of Alcan by a subsidiary of Rio Tinto have now been received. The Offer is scheduled to expire at 6:00 p.m. Canadian Eastern Time on October 23, 2007, and Alcan Inc. shareholders are encouraged to tender their shares to the Offer as soon as possible. Shareholders requiring assistance to tender their shares or who have questions regarding the Offer should contact their broker or Georgeson, the Information Agent for the Offer, at the following numbers: North American toll free: 1 (888) 605-7629 European Union free call: 00 800 6540 6540 Australia free call: 1 (800) 216 071 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. About Alcan Alcan Inc. (NYSE, TSX: AL) is a leading global materials company, delivering high quality products and services worldwide. With world-class technology and operations in bauxite mining, alumina processing, primary metal smelting, power generation, aluminum fabrication, engineered solutions as well as flexible and specialty packaging, today's Alcan is well positioned to meet and exceed its customers' needs. Alcan is represented by 68,000 employees, including its joint ventures, in 61 countries and regions, and posted revenues of US$23.6 billion in 2006. The Company has featured on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes consecutively since 2002. For more information, please visit: http://www.alcan.com/. Additional information The offer to purchase all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Alcan for US$101 per common share in a recommended, all cash transaction (the "Offer") is being made by Rio Tinto Canada Holding Inc. (the "Offeror"), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto. The Offer represents a total consideration for Alcan common shares of approximately US$38.1 billion. The Offer is open for acceptance until 6.00 p.m., Canadian Eastern Time, on October 23, 2007, unless extended. The Offer is subject to a number of conditions, including valid acceptances by holders of not less than 66 2/3 per cent of Alcan shares on a fully diluted basis. This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell, otherwise dispose of or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to sell, otherwise dispose of, issue, purchase, otherwise acquire or subscribe for, any security. The Offer (as the same may be varied or extended in accordance with applicable law) is being made exclusively by means of, and subject to the terms and conditions set out in, the offer and takeover bid circular delivered to Alcan and filed with Canadian provincial securities regulators and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and mailed to Alcan shareholders. The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such jurisdictions into which this announcement is released, published or distributed should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions. In connection with the Offer, an offer and takeover bid circular as well as ancillary documents such as a letter of transmittal and a notice of guaranteed delivery have been filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the SEC and an Alcan directors' circular with respect to the Offer has also been filed. A Tender Offer statement on Schedule TO (the "Schedule TO") and a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (the "Schedule 14D-9") has also been filed with the SEC. SHAREHOLDERS OF ALCAN ARE URGED TO READ THE OFFER AND TAKEOVER BID CIRCULAR (INCLUDING THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY), THE SCHEDULE TO (INCLUDING THE OFFER AND TAKEOVER BID CIRCULAR, LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND RELATED TENDER OFFER DOCUMENTS) AND THE SCHEDULE 14D-9 AS THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE OFFER. The offer and takeover bid circular as well as other materials filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities are available electronically without charge at http://www.sedar.com/. The Schedule TO and the Schedule 14D-9 are available electronically without charge at the SEC's website, http://www.sec.gov/. Materials filed with the SEC or the Canadian securities regulatory authorities may also be obtained without charge at Rio Tinto's website, http://www.riotinto.com/. While the Offer is being made to all holders of Alcan common shares, this announcement does not constitute an offer or a solicitation in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. The Offer is not being made in, nor will deposits be accepted in, any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction. However, the Offeror may, in its sole discretion, take such action as it may deem necessary to extend the Offer in any such jurisdiction. The Offer is made to holders in France of Alcan common shares admitted to trading on Euronext-Paris. An announcement including the main information relating to the Offer documents has been prepared and released pursuant to article 231-24 of the AMF General Regulation and contains information relating to how and in which time limit Alcan shareholders residing in France can accept this Offer. The offer document and the announcement prepared pursuant to article 231-24 of the AMF General Regulation, as amended on 17 September 2007, are available free of charge to the holders of Alcan Shares registered with Euroclear France who request it from Citi France, Global Transaction Services, Operations department, 19 le Parvis la Defense 7, 92073 Paris la Defense. They are also available on the internet at the following address: http://www.computershare.com/Rio-AlcanFrenchofferdocument. The Offer is made to holders in Belgium of Alcan common shares and/or certificates admitted to trading on Euronext Brussels (the "IDRs"). A Belgian supplement, addressing issues specific to holders of Alcan common shares and/or IDRs in Belgium (the "Belgian Supplement") was approved by the Belgian Banking, Finance and Insurance Commission (the "BFIC") on 2 August 2007. A notice of extension of the Offer was approved by the BFIC on 18 September 2007. The offer document, the Belgian Supplement and the notice of extension are available free of charge to the investors in Belgium who request it from the Belgian branch of Citibank International plc, Department GTS Operations, 4th floor, boulevard General Jacques 263G, 1050 Brussels. They are also available on the internet at the following address: http://www.computershare.com/Rio-AlcanBelgianofferdocument %B NM %C 1,17,18,20,23 %D Alcan Shareholders Encouraged DATASOURCE: ALCAN - EN CONTACT: Rio Tinto: Media Relations, London: Christina Mills, +44 (0) 20 8080 1306, Mobile: +44 (0) 7825 275 605; Nick Cobban, +44 (0) 20 8080 1305, Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 041 003; Media Relations, Australia: Ian Head, +61 (0) 3 9283 3620, Mobile: +61 (0) 408 360 101; Amanda Buckley, +61 (0) 3 9283 3627, Mobile: +61 (0) 419 801 349; Investor Relations, London: Nigel Jones, +44 (0) 20 7753 2401, Mobile: +44 (0) 7917 227 365; David Ovington, +44 (0) 20 7753 2326, Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 010 978; Investor Relations, Australia: Dave Skinner, +61 (0) 3 9283 3628, Mobile: +61 (0) 408 335 309; Investor Relations, North America: Jason Combes, +1 (0) 801 685 4535, Mobile: +1 (0) 801 558 2645; ; http://www.riotinto.com/; High resolution photographs available at: http://www.newscast.co.uk/; Alcan: Media Relations: Anik Michaud, +1-514-848-8151; ; Investor Relations: Ulf Quellmann, +1-514-848-8368,

Copyright