9th May 2008 11:45
Merrill Lynch International09 May 2008 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 Equities (Australia)Company dealt in BHP Billiton LimitedClass of relevant security to which the Commondealings being disclosed relate (Note 1) Date of dealing 09/05/2008 2. DEALINGS (Note 2) (a) Purchases and sales Total number of securities purchased Highest price paid (Note 3) Lowest price paid (Note 3) 45,083 AUD 46.03 AUD 45.71 Total number of securities sold Highest price received (Note 3) Lowest price received (Note 3) 90,000 AUD 46.30 AUD 46.07 (b) Derivatives transactions (other than options) Product name, Long/short (Note 4) Number of securities (Note 5) Price per unit (Note 3) e.g. CFD (c) Options transactions in respect of existing securities (i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying Product name, Writing, selling, Number of securities Exercise Type, e.g. Expiry Option money purchasing, to which the option American,e.g. call option varying etc. relates (Note 5) price European date paid/received etc. per unit (Note 3) (ii) Exercising Product name, e.g. call option Number of securities Exercise price per unit (Note 3) 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 relatingto the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option referred to on this form or relating to the votingrights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative referred to on this form isreferenced. If none, this should be stated. Date of disclosure 09/05/2008 Contact name Louise Howard Telephone number +44 20 7996 2121 Name of offeree/offeror with which connected BHP Billiton PlcNature of connection (Note 6) Advisor 1. KEY INFORMATION Name of exempt principal trader Merrill Lynch Equities (Australia)Company dealt in Rio Tinto LimitedClass of relevant security to which the Commondealings being disclosed relate (Note 1) Date of dealing 09/05/2008 2. DEALINGS (Note 2) (a) Purchases and sales Total number of securities purchased Highest price paid (Note 3) Lowest price paid (Note 3) 4,805 AUD 147.00 AUD 146.70 Total number of securities sold Highest price received (Note 3) Lowest price received (Note 3) AUD AUD Nil (b) Derivatives transactions (other than options) Product name, Long/short (Note 4) Number of securities (Note 5) Price per unit (Note 3) e.g. CFD (c) Options transactions in respect of existing securities (i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying Product name, Writing, selling, Number of securities Exercise Type, e.g. Expiry Option money purchasing, to which the option American,e.g. call option varying etc. relates (Note 5) price European date paid/received etc. per unit (Note 3) (ii) Exercising Product name, e.g. call option Number of securities Exercise price per unit (Note 3) 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 relatingto the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option referred to on this form or relating to the votingrights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative referred to on this form isreferenced. If none, this should be stated. Date of disclosure 09/05/2008 Contact name Louise Howard Telephone number +44 20 7996 2121 Name of offeree/offeror with which connected BHP Billiton PlcNature of connection (Note 6) Advisor This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
Rio Tinto