Malleable?

Is Rio Tinto’s new management going soft on its deal with Chinalco? A recent public comment from the Anglo-Australian miner’s finance boss might give that impression. Addressing a conference in Singapore, he said Rio has a “Plan B” should the regulator or its own shareholders block the $19.5bn tie-up with the Chinese miner, Rio’s largest shareholder. In fairness, Rio’s chief financial officer Guy Elliott gave a reasonable answer to a reasonable question: what would happen if the Chinalco deal wa...