6th Feb 2008 11:44
Merrill Lynch International06 February 2008 FORM 38.5 (SUMMARY) Lodge with Company Announcements Office and the Panel. Use a separate form for each class of securities in which dealings have been made. CONNECTED EXEMPT PRINCIPLE TRADER: DISCLOSURE UNDER RULE 38.5 OF THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS Name of EPT Merrill Lynch International Date of disclosure 06 February 2008 Date of dealing 05 February 2008 Telephone number 020 7996 2121 Please see attached disclosure of dealings under Rule 38.5 in the securities of the following companies:BHP Billiton PlcNorthern Rock PlcPunch Taverns PlcRio Tinto Plc AMENDMENT state which element(s) of previous disclosure was incorrect: In the case of option business or dealings in derivatives full details should be given on a separate sheet so that the nature of the dealings can be fully understood. For options this should include the number of securities under option, the exercise period (or in the case of exercise, the exercise date), the exercise price and any option money paid or received. For derivatives this should include, at least, the number of reference securities to which they relate (when relevant), the maturity date (or if applicable the closing out date) and the reference price. For full details of disclosure requirements see Rules 8 and 38 of the Code. If in doubt contact the Monitoring Section of the Panel, Tel. No:0207 638 0129 FORM 38.5 DEALINGS BY CONNECTED EXEMPT PRINCIPAL TRADERS (Rule 38.5 of The City Code on Takeovers and Mergers) 1. KEY INFORMATION Name of exempt principal trader Merrill Lynch International Company dealt in BHP Billiton Plc Class of relevant security to which the dealings Common being disclosed relate Date of dealing 05/02/2008 2. DEALINGS (a) Purchases and sales Total number of securities Highest price paid Lowest price paid purchased 4,400,775 GBP 16.38 GBP 15.83 Total number of securities sold Highest price received Lowest price received 3,933,980 GBP 16.26 GBP 15.81 (b) Derivatives transactions (other than options) Product name, Short/Long Number of securities Price per unit eg. CFD Long Swap LONG 3,018 GBP 15.96 Long Swap LONG 3,615 GBP 16.06 Long Swap LONG 4,090 GBP 16.06 Long Swap LONG 5,000 GBP 15.95 Long Swap LONG 6,995 GBP 15.92 Long Swap LONG 14,846 GBP 15.96 Long Swap LONG 25,000 GBP 16.38 Long Swap LONG 32,406 GBP 0.00 Long Swap LONG 1,900 GBP 15.96 Product name, Short/Long Number of securities Price per unit eg. CFD Short Swap SHORT 32,406 GBP 15.92 Short Swap SHORT 100,000 GBP 15.91 Short Swap SHORT 718 GBP 16.01 Short Swap SHORT 25,000 GBP 15.86 Short Swap SHORT 20,270 GBP 16.00 Short Swap SHORT 14,846 GBP 15.93 Short Swap SHORT 7,247 GBP 15.92 Short Swap SHORT 6,763 GBP 15.97 Short Swap SHORT 5,000 GBP 15.92 Short Swap SHORT 4,090 GBP 16.01 Short Swap SHORT 4,000 GBP 15.80 Short Swap SHORT 315,500 GBP 16.02 (c) Options transactions in respect of existing securities Product name Writing, Number of Exercise Type, e.g. Expiry Option money selling, price eg call option purchasing, securities under American, date paid/received varying etc. option European etc per unit (ii) Exercising Product name Number of securities under Exercise price option eg call option 3. OTHER INFORMATION Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives Full details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding between the person disclosing and any other person relating to the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option referred to on this form or relating to the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative referred to on this form is referenced. If none, this should be stated. NONE Date of disclosure 06/02/2008 Contact name Louise Howard Telephone number +44 20 7996 2121 Name of offeree/offeror with whom connected BHP Billiton Plc Nature of connection # Advisor FORM 38.5(a) DEALINGS BY CONNECTED EXEMPT PRINCIPAL TRADERS WITH RECOGNISED INTERMEDIARY STATUS DEALING IN CLIENT-SERVICING CAPACITY (Rule 38.5(a) of The City Code on Takeovers and Mergers) 1. KEY INFORMATION Name of exempt principal trader Merrill Lynch International Company dealt in Northern Rock Plc Class of relevant security to which the dealings Common being disclosed relate Date of dealing 05/02/2008 2. DEALINGS (a) Purchases and sales Total number of securities Highest price paid Lowest price paid purchased 199,372 GBP 0.96 GBP 0.85 Total number of securities sold Highest price received Lowest price received 186,270 GBP 0.95 GBP 0.82 (b) Derivatives transactions (other than options) Product name, Short/Long Number of securities Price per unit eg. CFD (c) Options transactions in respect of existing securities Product name Writing, Number of Exercise Type, e.g. Expiry Option money selling, price eg call option purchasing, securities under American, date paid/received per varying etc. option European etc unit (ii) Exercising Product name Number of securities under Exercise price option eg call option 3. OTHER INFORMATION Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives Full details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding between the person disclosing and any other person relating to the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option referred to on this form or relating to the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative referred to on this form is referenced. If none, this should be stated. NONE Date of disclosure 06/02/2008 Contact name Louise Howard Telephone number +44 20 7996 2121 Name of offeree/offeror with whom connected Northern Rock Plc Nature of connection # Advisor FORM 38.5 DEALINGS BY CONNECTED EXEMPT PRINCIPAL TRADERS (Rule 38.5 of The City Code on Takeovers and Mergers) 1. KEY INFORMATION Name of exempt principal trader Merrill Lynch International Company dealt in Rio Tinto Plc Class of relevant security to which the dealings Common being disclosed relate Date of dealing 05/02/2008 2. DEALINGS (a) Purchases and sales Total number of securities Highest price paid Lowest price paid purchased 973,938 GBP 56.54 GBP 0.01 Total number of securities sold Highest price received Lowest price received 985,196 GBP 55.09 GBP 53.80 (b) Derivatives transactions (other than options) Product name, Short/Long Number of securities Price per unit eg. CFD Long Swap LONG 40,000 GBP 54.38 Long Swap LONG 549 GBP 54.64 Long Swap LONG 893 GBP 54.64 Long Swap LONG 2,000 GBP 54.39 Long Swap LONG 7,250 GBP 55.00 Long Swap LONG 10,000 GBP 54.38 Long Swap LONG 33,322 GBP 54.41 Long Swap LONG 120,000 GBP 53.97 Long Swap LONG 30,000 GBP 54.21 Product name, Short/Long Number of securities Price per unit eg. CFD Short Swap SHORT 817 GBP 54.44 Short Swap SHORT 46,000 AUD 117.73 Short Swap SHORT 1,737,900 GBP 57.93 Short Swap SHORT 1,046,568 GBP 52.33 Short Swap SHORT 125,365 GBP 54.30 Short Swap SHORT 36,065 GBP 54.40 Short Swap SHORT 1,500 GBP 54.29 (c) Options transactions in respect of existing securities Product name Writing, Number of Exercise Type, e.g. Expiry Option money selling, price eg call option purchasing, securities under American, date paid/received varying etc. option European etc per unit (ii) Exercising Product name Number of securities under Exercise price option eg call option 3. OTHER INFORMATION Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives Full details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding between the person disclosing and any other person relating to the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option referred to on this form or relating to the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative referred to on this form is referenced. If none, this should be stated. NONE Date of disclosure 06/02/2008 Contact name Louise Howard Telephone number +44 20 7996 2121 Name of offeree/offeror with whom connected BHP Billiton Plc Nature of connection # Advisor FORM 38.5 DEALINGS BY CONNECTED EXEMPT PRINCIPAL TRADERS (Rule 38.5 of The City Code on Takeovers and Mergers) 1. KEY INFORMATION Name of exempt principal trader Merrill Lynch International Company dealt in Punch Taverns Plc Class of relevant security to which the dealings Common being disclosed relate Date of dealing 05/02/2008 2. DEALINGS (a) Purchases and sales Total number of securities Highest price paid Lowest price paid purchased 1,596,419 GBP 6.66 GBP 6.28 Total number of securities sold Highest price received Lowest price received 1,225,721 GBP 6.67 GBP 6.34 (b) Derivatives transactions (other than options) Product name, Short/Long Number of securities Price per unit eg. CFD Long Swap LONG 200,000 GBP 6.57 Long Swap LONG 200,000 GBP 6.32 Long Swap LONG 102,269 GBP 6.49 Long Swap LONG 42,307 GBP 6.53 Long Swap LONG 15,033 GBP 6.53 Long Swap LONG 6,779 GBP 6.49 Long Swap LONG 6,548 GBP 6.53 Long Swap LONG 4,701 GBP 6.53 Long Swap LONG 1,764 GBP 6.53 Long Swap LONG 1,034 GBP 6.53 (c) Options transactions in respect of existing securities Product name Writing, Number of Exercise Type, e.g. Expiry Option money selling, price eg call option purchasing, securities under American, date paid/received varying etc. option European etc per unit (ii) Exercising Product name Number of securities under Exercise price option eg call option 3. OTHER INFORMATION Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives Full details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding between the person disclosing and any other person relating to the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option referred to on this form or relating to the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative referred to on this form is referenced. If none, this should be stated. NONE Date of disclosure 06/02/2008 Contact name Louise Howard Telephone number +44 20 7996 2121 Name of offeree/offeror with whom connected Punch Taverns Plc Nature of connection # Advisor This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
BHP GroupPunch Taverns PLCRio Tinto