17th Feb 2005 08:03
BHP Billiton PLC17 February 2005 NEWS RELEASE Release Time IMMEDIATE Date 17 February 2005 Number 07/05 SALE OF SAMANCOR CHROME BHP Billiton and Anglo American plc ("Anglo American") announced today that theyhave reached agreement for the sale of Samancor Chrome to the Kermas Group foran enterprise value of US$469 million. The sale will be effective 1 April 2005,subject to obtaining regulatory approvals. The Kermas Group is a producer of and trader in ferrochrome and chromechemicals, with activities in Russia, Germany and Turkey. The Wonderkop joint venture and Palmiet Ferrochrome plant are excluded from thistransaction. Samancor Chrome operates entirely in South Africa, and includesEastern Chrome Mines in Mpumalanga and Western Chrome Mines in NorthwestProvinces. It also has alloy plants in Gauteng and Mpumalanga Provinces. Itmarkets product across the globe and in total employs some 5 500 people. Samancor Chrome is a wholly owned subsidiary of Samancor, owned 60% by BHPBilliton, also the operator and 40% by Anglo American. For further information contact: BHP Billiton: http://www.bhpbilliton.com Australia United KingdomJane Belcher, Investor Relations Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media RelationsTel: +61 3 9609 3952 Mobile: +61 417 Tel: +44 20 7802 4156031 653email: email: [email protected]@bhpbilliton.comTania Price, Media Relations Ariane Gentil, Media RelationsTel: +61 3 9609 3815 Mobile: +61 419 Tel: +44 20 7802 4177 Mobile: +44 78 81152 780 51 8715email: [email protected] email: [email protected] States South Africa Michael Campbell, Investor & Media RelationsFrancis McAllister, Investor Tel: +27 11 376 3360 Mobile: +27 82 458Relations 2587Tel: +1 713 961 8625 Mobile: +1 713 email:480 3699 [email protected]:[email protected] Anglo American:United KingdomCharlie Gordon, Investor RelationsTel: +44 20 7698 8933 Kate Aindow, Media RelationsTel: +44 20 7698 8619 South AfricaAnne Dunn, Investor RelationsTel: +27 11 638 4730 Marion Dixon, Media RelationsTel: +27 11 638 3001 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
BHP GroupAnglo American