Rio de Janeiro, June 19, 2002 - Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD) informs that it concluded the agreement for the purchase of the stake that Anglo American Brasil Ltda (Anglo), an Anglo American plc controlled company, holds in Salobo Metais S/A (Salobo), represented by 44,172,369 common shares, which is equivalent to 50% of Salobo’s equity capital. This transaction, totaling R$ 136,158,830.88, was performed through Caulim do Brasil Investimentos S/A, a CVRD subsidiary. After this acquisition, CVRD will hold directly, or indirectly through its controlled companies, one hundred percent (100%) of Salobo’s equity capital.

Salobo’s mineral resources are estimated to have 784 million tons of ore with a 0.96% copper content and 0.6 grams of gold per ton. The exploration of the existing synergies in the Carajás mineral province, state of Pará, Brazil — derived from an efficient logistics and electrical energy infrastructure — provides an additional incentive for developing Salobo. The availability of these synergies contributes to make CVRD’s copper projects to be among the best in the world, in terms of capex cost per ton and operational costs as well.

CVRD will give priority to the pre-feasibility study of the Salobo project. One of the key issues is to confirm the technological route to be applied to the copper production process. This will allow some decisions to be made until yearend in order to meet the goal of starting production in 2007.

CVRD Carajás copper projects will consolidate the Company’s position as one of the largest and most competitive global producers of this metal. They are world class assets and are included in its strategy to create shareholder value through the exploitation of profitable organic growth opportunities. In this regard, CVRD has already begun the construction works for the development of the Sossego copper project, which is expected to be commissioned in 2004.