Rio Tinto Limited
(ASX:RIO) will appeal a court decision that may force it to pay around $200 million in royalties to Gina Rinehart's companies Hancock Prospecting and Wright Prospecting, according to media reports.
The appeal over an NSW Supreme Court decision reportedly concerns royalties not paid to Hancock and Wright Prospecting for production of part of the Channar and Eastern Range mines.
The miner has made a pre-tax provision for the claim.
It has been previously reported that damages had been agreed to between the parties.
Rio Tinto booked a net loss of $2.9 billion in the 2012 financial year.
