26th Mar 2008 12:54
Merrill Lynch International26 March 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 25/03/2008 2. DEALINGS (Note 2) (a) Purchases and sales Total number of securities purchased Highest price paid (Note 3) Lowest price paid (Note 3) 13,000 AUD 35.53 AUD 35.53 (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 25/03/2007 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 25/03/2008 2. DEALINGS (Note 2) (a) Purchases and sales Total number of securities purchased Highest price paid (Note 3) Lowest price paid (Note 3) Total number of securities sold Highest price received (Note 3) Lowest price received (Note 3) AUD 119.13 AUD 119.11 5,000 (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. None Date of disclosure 25/03/2008 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