French Fin Minister: Watching Rio Tinto Asset Sale Plans

PARIS -(Dow Jones)- French finance minister Christine Lagarde Monday said she is watching with "extreme vigilance" Anglo-Australian mining company Rio Tinto PLC’s (RTP) plans to dispose of assets related to its French activities.

In a statement, Lagarde said she has informed Rio Tinto she will closely follow the case in the coming months.

Lagarde also said Rio Tinto told the French government in October that it was committed to sustaining its research and development activities and securing supply to aerospace and defense industries from its French sites.

Rio Tinto recently rejected an all-share takeover proposal from rival BHP Billiton PLC’s (BHP).