Finance

Rio Tinto to raise $9 billion in debt for Arcadium Lithium buyout

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on March 12, 2025

1 min read

· Last updated: January 24, 2026

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Rio Tinto to raise $9 billion in debt for Arcadium Lithium buyout
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(Reuters) -The world's biggest iron ore producer Rio Tinto will raise $9 billion in U.S. investment-grade bonds as it seeks to fund its recently-closed buyout of Arcadium Lithium, the miner said on

Rio Tinto Secures $9 Billion in Debt for Arcadium Lithium Acquisition

(Reuters) -The world's biggest iron ore producer Rio Tinto will raise $9 billion in U.S. investment-grade bonds as it seeks to fund its recently-closed buyout of Arcadium Lithium, the miner said on Wednesday.

Rio is offering the fixed and floating rate debt in eight tranches with terms varying from two years to 40 years.

The Anglo-Australian mining giant last week completed its $6.7 billion acquisition of the U.S.-based Arcadium Lithium, as it looks to diversify away from iron ore towards critical minerals and battery metals such as lithium.

The miner intends to use proceeds from the bond offer for general corporate purposes, including repaying a bridge loan that it had incurred to fund its buyout of Arcadium.

The bond offer was reported by Bloomberg News late on Tuesday. Bloomberg News reported last week that Rio had dropped plans to raise as much as $5 billion in a share sale following pushback from investors.

(Reporting by Aaditya Govind Rao and Nichiket Sunil in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona)

Key Takeaways

  • Rio Tinto raises $9 billion in debt for Arcadium buyout.
  • The debt is offered in eight tranches with varying terms.
  • Rio Tinto completed a $6.7 billion acquisition of Arcadium.
  • The miner aims to diversify into critical minerals like lithium.
  • Proceeds will repay a bridge loan and fund corporate purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much debt is Rio Tinto planning to raise?
Rio Tinto plans to raise $9 billion through U.S. investment-grade bonds.
What is the purpose of the bond offering?
The proceeds from the bond offering will be used for general corporate purposes, including repaying a bridge loan for the Arcadium Lithium buyout.
What was the acquisition cost of Arcadium Lithium?
Rio Tinto completed its acquisition of Arcadium Lithium for $6.7 billion.
What types of debt is Rio offering?
Rio is offering fixed and floating rate debt in eight tranches, with terms ranging from two years to 40 years.
What was the initial plan for raising funds?
Initially, Rio Tinto planned to raise as much as $5 billion through a share sale but dropped those plans due to investor pushback.

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