EX-99 2 prap20.txt EXHIBIT 99 - NEWS RELEASE [LOGO] BHPBILLITON NEWS RELEASE RELEASE TIME IMMEDIATE DATE 19 April 2005 NUMBER 16/05 BHP BILLITON ANNOUNCES AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION (ACCC) APPROVAL OF BID FOR WMC RESOURCES LTD BHP Billiton advises that the ACCC has notified BHP Billiton that it does not propose to intervene in BHP Billiton's acquisition of WMC Resources Ltd. Accordingly, the condition set out in clause 5.1(e) of the Bidder's Statement has been fulfilled. This is the third condition of the offer that has been satisfied. The offer is $7.85 for each WMC Resources Ltd share and the closing date* of the offer is 7.30 pm (Melbourne time) on 6 May 2005. *This date is indicative only and may change as permitted by the Australian Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site: HTTP://WWW.BHPBILLITON.COM AUSTRALIA UNITED KINGDOM Jane Belcher, Investor Relations Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media Tel: +61 3 9609 3952 Mobile: +61 Relations 417 031 653 Tel: +44 20 7802 4156 email: email: JANE.H.BELCHER@BHPBILLITON.COM MARK.LIDIARD@BHPBILLITON.COM Tania Price, Media Relations Ariane Gentil, Media Relations Tel: +61 3 9609 3815 Mobile: +61 Tel: +44 20 7802 4177 419 152 780 email: EMAIL: TANIA.PRICE@BHPBILLITON.COM ARIANE.GENTIL@BHPBILLITON.COM UNITED STATES SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +1 713 599 6100 or +44 20 Michael Campbell, Investor & 7802 4031 Media Relations email: Tel: +27 11 376 3360 Mobile: MARK.LIDIARD@BHPBILLITON.COM +27 82 458 2587 email: MICHAEL.J.CAMPBELL@BHPBILLITON.COM BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077 BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209 Registered in Australia Registered in England and Wales Registered Office: 180 Lonsdale Street Neathouse Place Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia London SW1V 1BH United Kingdom Tel +61 1300 55 4757 Fax +61 3 9609 3015 Tel +44 20 7802 4000 Fax +44 20 7802 4111 A member of the BHP Billiton group which is headquartered in Australia FURTHER INFORMATION FOR U.S. HOLDERS BHP Billiton has filed the Bidder's Statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under cover of Form CB. Investors and holders of WMC Resources securities are strongly advised to read 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 will contain important information. Investors and holders of WMC Resources securities may obtain free copies of the informational document (when available), as well as other 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 offer which investors and holders of WMC Recourses securities are strongly advised to read. This communication is for information purposes only. It shall not constitute an offer to purchase, sell or exchange or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, sell or exchange any securities of WMC Resources. The distribution of this communication may, in some countries, be restricted by law or regulation. Accordingly, persons who come into possession of this document should inform themselves of and observe these restrictions.