Share capital - Rio Tinto plc

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Disclosure of classes of share capital [abstract]

34 Share capital

Recognition and measurement

Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issuance of new shares are shown in equity as a deduction,

net of tax, from the proceeds.

Where any Group company purchases the Group’s equity share capital (treasury shares), the consideration paid, including any directly attributable

incremental costs (net of income taxes) is deducted from equity attributable to owners of Rio Tinto. Where such shares are subsequently reissued,

any consideration received, net of any directly attributable incremental costs and the related income tax effects, is included in equity attributable to

owners of Rio Tinto. If purchased Rio Tinto plc shares are cancelled, an amount equal to the nominal value of the cancelled share is credited to the

capital redemption reserve.

Rio Tinto plc


	2023 Number (million)	2022 Number (million)	2021 Number (million)	2023 US$m	2022 US$m	2021 US$m
Issued and fully paid up share capital of 10p each
At 1 January	1,255.845	1,255.795	1,255.756	207	207	207
Ordinary shares issued under the Global Employee Share plan (GESP)	0.047	0.050	0.039	—	—	—
Shares purchased and cancelled(a)	—	—	—	—	—	—
At 31 December	1,255.892	1,255.845	1,255.795	207	207	207
Shares held by public
At 1 January	1,249.655	1,248.141	1,246.904
Shares reissued from treasury under the GESP	1.619	1.464	1.198
Ordinary shares issued under the GESP	0.047	0.050	0.039
Shares purchased and cancelled(a)	—	—	—
At 31 December	1,251.321	1,249.655	1,248.141
Shares held in treasury	4.571	6.190	7.654
Shares held by public	1,251.321	1,249.655	1,248.141
Total share capital	1,255.892	1,255.845	1,255.795
Other share classes
Special Voting Share of 10p each(b)	1 only	1 only	1 only
DLC Dividend Share of 10p each(b)	1 only	1 only	1 only

(a)The authority for the company to buy back its ordinary shares was renewed at the 2021 annual general meeting. No shares were bought back and cancelled in 2023, 2022 or 2021 under the on-

market buy-back programme.

(b)The Special Voting Share was issued to facilitate the joint voting by shareholders of Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited on Joint Decisions, following the DLC Merger. The DLC Dividend Share

was issued to a subsidiary of Rio Tinto Limited to facilitate the efficient management of funds within the DLC structure. In addition, an Equalisation Share is authorised but not issued and is

governed by the terms of the DLC Merger Sharing Agreement.

During 2023, US$17 million of shares and ADRs (2022: US$16 million; 2021: US$18 million) were purchased by employee share ownership trusts

on behalf of Rio Tinto plc to satisfy employee share awards on vesting. At 31 December 2023, 253,371 shares (2022: 232,621; 2021: 259,583) and

45,694 ADRs (2022: 49,777; 2021: 46,977) shares were held in the employee share ownership trusts on behalf of Rio Tinto plc.