The sale of sandwich composite technology specialist Alcan Composites, headquartered in Sins, Switzerland, to Schweiter Technologies, a Swiss company focusing on the manufacture of textile and semiconductor machinery, was announced on 22 September.
During 2008, Rio Tinto completed divestments totalling US$3.1 billion. During 2009, Rio Tinto has agreed asset sales of US$5.2 billion. As well as Alcan Composites, these transactions include Ningxia (aluminium), Potasio Rio Colorado (potash), Corumbá (iron ore), Jacobs Ranch (coal), Alcan Packaging Food Americas, Maules Creek (Coal & Allied) and the Cloud Peak IPO (coal). Rio Tinto is an international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE listed company, and Rio Tinto Ltd, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.