December 1, 2016 (Shareholders Foundation) - An investigation on behalf of investors of Rio Tinto plc (ADR) (NYSE:RIO) shares over potential securities laws violations by Rio Tinto plc and certain of its directors and officers in connection certain financial statements was announced.

The investigation by a law firm focuses on possible claims on behalf of purchasers of the securities of Rio Tinto plc (ADR) (NYSE:RIO) concerning whether a series of statements by Rio Tinto plc regarding its business, its prospects and its operations were materially false and misleading at the time they were made.

Rio Tinto plc reported that its annual Total Revenue declined from over $47.66 billion in 2014 to over $34.82 billion in 2015 and that its Net Income of over $6.52 billion declined to a Net Loss of $866 million in 2015.

On November 9, 2016, Rio Tinto plc announced that on August 29, 2016, the Company 'became aware of email correspondence from 2011 relating to contractual payments totaling US$10.5 million made to a consultant providing advisory services on the Simandou project in Guinea.' Rio Tinto plc launched an investigation led by external counsel, contacted U.K. and U.S. authorities, and suspended its Energy and Minerals chief executive Alan Davies. The Company's Legal & Regulatory Affairs group executive Debra Valentine also stepped down from her role.

On November 15, 2016, an article was published alleging that external counsel for Rio Tinto plc learned about these emails through external counsel approximately one year ago, and that external counsel had reported the emails to Debra Valentine.