Rio Tinto to revise funding arrangements with Turquoise Hill Resources
LONDON – Rio Tinto has agreed to amend the previously agreed funding plan with Turquoise Hill Resources (TRQ) (9 April, 2021) in order to provide liquidity of up to $400 million in short-term early advances, while the Special Committee of TRQ evaluates Rio Tinto’s C$34 per share all-cash proposal to acquire the approximately 49% of the issued and outstanding shares of TRQ that Rio Tinto does not currently own.
Subject to the satisfaction of certain minimum liquidity and other conditions, the early advances will be available at any time up to their maturity on 31 December, 2022, and enable TRQ to fund the ongoing development of the Oyu Tolgoi (OT) Underground Project in Mongolia. The deadline in the previously agreed funding plan for Turquoise Hill to conduct an initial equity offering of at least $650 million has also been extended from the end of August 2022 to the end of 2022.
RIO TINTO CANADIAN EARLY WARNING DISCLOSURE
Rio Tinto currently beneficially owns 102,196,643 common shares of Turquoise Hill, representing approximately 51% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Turquoise Hill. Rio Tinto also has anti-dilution rights that permit it to acquire additional securities of Turquoise Hill so as to maintain its proportionate equity interest in Turquoise Hill from time to time.
This announcement is authorised for release to the market by, and a copy of the related early warning report may be obtained from, Rio Tinto’s Group Company Secretary.
The head office of Turquoise Hill is located at 1 Place Ville-Marie, Suite 3680, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3B 3P2.
