MELBOURNE, March 2 (Reuters) - Australia's corporatewatchdog said on Friday it has launched court action againstglobal miner Rio Tinto RIO.AX RIO.L and two former executivesfor misleading and deceiving investors about the coal reservesit reported in a $4 billion acquisition in Mozambique.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission saidthe company and its former Chief Executive Tom Albanese andformer Chief Financial Officer Guy Elliott had made misleadingstatements in their 2011 annual report, published in 2012.
"ASIC alleges that RTL (Rio Tinto Ltd) engaged in misleadingor deceptive conduct by publishing statements in the 2011 annualreport, signed by Mr Albanese and Mr Elliott, misrepresentingthe reserves and resources of RTCM (Rio Tinto Coal Mozambique),"the commission said in a statement.