Rio Tinto receives strong support for rights offer

SYDNEY, July 2 (Reuters) - Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO.AX) (RIO.L) has received 96.97 percent valid acceptances from investors in its London shares for its $15.2 billion rights offer, Rio said in a statement on Thursday.

The offer for its London-listed shares closed at 11:00 a.m. UK time on Wednesday.

Rio had announced 21-for-40 fully underwritten rights offer last month after scrapping a $19.5 billion cash infusion deal with China's Chinalco. ($1=A$1.25) (Reporting by Denny Thomas;)