3rd Jun 2005 12:36
BHP Billiton PLC03 June 2005 NEWS RELEASE Release Time IMMEDIATE Date 3 June 2005 Number 25/05 BHP BILLITON ANNOUNCES HOLDING OF 76.25% IN WMC BHP Billiton announces that, as at 7:30pm (Melbourne time) today, it hadachieved acceptances under its offer for WMC Resources (WMC) (includinginstructions under the Acceptance Facility) for 72.99% of WMC's issued shares.BHP Billiton has also acquired a further 3.26% of WMC's issued shares as aresult of on-market purchases today. Accordingly, BHP Billiton has an aggregate interest of 76.25% in WMC's issuedshares (including instructions under the Acceptance Facility). This does notinclude BHP Billiton's 4.31% economic exposure to WMC shares under its cashsettled swap contracts with Deutsche Bank AG. BHP Billiton's offer is now scheduled to close at 7:30pm (Melbourne time) onFriday, 17 June 2005. Further information If shareholders have any questions in relation to the offer or accepting it,they should contact the offer information line on 1300 365 849 (from withinAustralia) or +61 3 9415 4254 (if calling from outside Australia) or, if callingfrom the United States of America, MacKenzie Partners at (212) 929 5500 (callcollect) or (800) 322 2885 (toll free) or by email [email protected], or consult their financial or other professionaladviser. **** Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site: http://www.bhpbilliton.com Australia United KingdomJane Belcher, Investor Relations Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media RelationsTel: +61 3 9609 3952 Tel: +44 20 7802 4156 Mobile: +61 417 031 653 Mobile: +44 7769 934 942email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Tania Price, Media Relations Ariane Gentil, Media RelationsTel: +61 3 9609 3815 Tel: +44 20 7802 4177 Mobile: +61 419 152 780 Mobile: +44 7881 518 715email: [email protected] email: [email protected] United States South AfricaMark Lidiard, Investor & Media Michael Campbell, Investor & MediaRelations RelationsTel: USA +1 713 599 6100 or Tel: +27 11 376 3360UK +44 20 7802 4031 Mobile: +27 82 458 2587email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Further Information for U.S. Holders BHP Billiton has filed the Bidder's Statement, as supplemented from time totime, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under cover of FormCB. Investors and holders of WMC Resources securities are strongly advised toread the Bidder's Statement and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC,as well as any amendments and supplements to those documents, because they willcontain important information. Investors and holders of WMC Resources securitiesmay obtain free copies of the informational document (when available) as well asother relevant documents filed with the SEC, at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. WMC Resources has issued a target's statement in connection with the offerwhich investors and holders of WMC Resources securities are strongly advised toread. This communication is for information purposes only. It shall not constitute anoffer to purchase, sell or exchange or the solicitation of any offer topurchase, sell or exchange any securities of WMC Resources. The distribution ofthis communication may, in some countries, be restricted by law or regulation.Accordingly, persons who come into possession of this document should informthemselves of and observe these restrictions. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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