EX-99.21 22 rio-ex9921_27.htm EX-99.21

| Media release

Exhibit 99.21

Rio Tinto successfully completes $1.5 billion on-market share buy-back

27 December 2017

Rio Tinto has successfully completed its $1.5 billion buy-back of Rio Tinto plc shares, comprised of the $500 million and $1 billion on-market share buy-back programmes announced on 8 February 2017 and 2 August 2017 respectively.

Rio Tinto will today commence a further $1.925 billion1 on-market buy-back of Rio Tinto plc shares, to be completed no later than 31 December 2018.

During 2017 Rio Tinto has announced cash returns to shareholders of $8.2 billion, comprising $4.2 billion of dividends and $4 billion of share buy-backs.

Rio Tinto chief executive J-S Jacques said “We are continuing to demonstrate our commitment to deliver superior returns for our shareholders. Our world-class assets, complemented by a strong balance sheet and disciplined capital allocation process, have provided the base for these cash returns. Just as importantly, the business is positioned for continued superior shareholder returns in the short, medium and long term.”

Notes to editors:

1 This represents the remaining portion of the $2.5 billion share buy-back pro gramme announced on 21 September 2017, returning the Coal & Allied sale proceeds to shareholders. Please refer to the announcement by Rio Tinto on 21 September 2017 for further information on this buy-back. It follows the successful completion of the A$750 million ($575 million at transacted rate) off-market buy-back of Rio Tinto Limited shares on 13 November 2017.

Page 1 of 2

Contacts

media.enquiries@riotinto.com

riotinto.com

Follow @RioTinto on Twitter

Media Relations, United Kingdom Illtud Harri T +44 20 7781 1152 M +44 7920 503 600 David Outhwaite T +44 20 7781 1623 M +44 7787 597 493 David Luff T +44 20 7781 1177 M +44 7780 226 422 Investor Relations, United Kingdom John Smelt T +44 20 7781 1654 M +44 7879 642 675 David Ovington T +44 20 7781 2051 M +44 7920 010 978 Nick Parkinson T +44 20 7781 1552 M +44 7810 657 556 | Media Relations, Australia Jonathan Rose T +61 3 9283 3088 M +61 447 028 913 Investor Relations, Australia Natalie Worley T +61 3 9283 3063 M +61 409 210 462 Rachel Storrs T +61 3 9283 3628 M +61 417 401 018
Rio Tinto plc 6 St James’s Square London SW1Y 4AD United Kingdom T +44 20 7781 2000 Registered in England No. 719885 | Rio Tinto Limited Level 7, 360 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 Australia T +61 3 9283 3333 Registered in Australia ABN 96 004 458 404

Page 2 of 2