Rio Tinto confirms US probe into Mozambique coal deal

Rio Tinto confirmed on Thursday that it is cooperating with inquiries from the relevant authorities relating to the impairment included in the company's 2012 accounts in respect of Rio Tinto Coal Mozambique.

The statement followed a report in earlier in the week in the Financial Times stating that the company was facing an investigation by the US Securities & Exchange Commission on the timing of $3bn of impairment charges it booked on a Mozambique coal deal.

Rio said the SEC investigation, which began in April 2013, remains ongoing so “it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time".