Rio Alto to Commence Trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire -02/22/12)- Rio Alto Mining Limited ("Rio Alto" or the "Company") (TSX-V: RIO.V - News)(OTCQX: RIOAF.PK - News)(Lisbon: RIO.V - News)(DBFrankfurt: MS2.F - News) is pleased to announce that its common shares will commence trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX"), effective at market opening, on Friday, February 24, 2012 under the trading symbol "RIO". As a consequence, Rio Alto's common shares will be de-listed from the TSX Venture Exchange upon the commencement of trading on the TSX. To learn more about Rio Alto Mining Limited, please visit: www.rioaltomining.com or Rio Alto's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF RIO ALTO MINING LIMITED

Alex Black, President & CEO

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts the responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.