Earlier today, the mining heavyweight announced that around 94.8% of eligible shareholders participated in the Australian portion of the rights issue.
The mining heavyweight received valid acceptances in respect of 142 million new Rio Tinto shares, raising just over $A4 billion.
This afternoon, the group confirmed that underwriters Credit Suisse, JPMorgan and Macquarie had secured buyers for the remaining 7.9 million new Rio shares that were not taken up.
The 21-for-40 rights issue comprised 150 million new Rio shares at $A28.29 per share.
The Australian arm of the issue closed for acceptances on Wednesday.
The news comes after the United Kingdom portion of the rights issue closed with 96.97% of eligible shareholders participating.
The miner announced the rights issue last month after calling off a $US19 billion deal with Chinalco.
Rio currently has around $US42 billion of debt, and the new deal will reduce this to around $23.2 billion – more than double the $10 billion debt reduction the company had committed to by the end of 2009.
Shares in Rio closed the day at $A49.62, down $2.13.
