rio tinto ltd (RIO) Snapshot

Electricite de France SA (ENXTPA:EDF) is seeking to acquire up to a 40% stake in the aluminum plant of Rio Tinto Ltd. (ASX:RIO), Les Echos said citing unnamed sources in the know. EDF will acquire Rio's southeastern France in exchange for lower prices of the electricity it supplies to the facility. Rio Tinto is negotiating with Trimet Aluminium AG over a sale of the 148,812 ton Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne plant in the French Alps. A Rio Tinto official told Reuters earlier this week that Trimet has made a firm offer, but if no deal is reached by the end of June, the closure of the plant remains an option. A key element in the deal will be the price at which the new owner can buy electricity from EDF, as power makes up 20 to 40 percent of the production cost of aluminium. EDF and Rio Tinto both denied comment to Reuters.

Marubeni Corporation (TSE:8002) reportedly is planning to acquire 29% stake in Rio Tinto Ltd. (ASX:RIO) Coal & Allied unit, valued at an estimated $2 billion, two sources familiar with the process said.

Rio Tinto Ltd. (ASX:RIO) and Glencore Xstrata plc (LSE:GLEN) is in talks to consider a plan that could combine thermal coal assets in Australia as they battle low prices and high costs, two sources familiar with the plan said. "It makes a lot of sense. Both parties think the intermediate outlook looks challenging," one of the sources said on June 11, cautioning talks were at a very early stage. "It is something that has logic, but organizationally, Rio may not quite be ready." Both Rio and Glencore declined to comment for this story.