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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Date of 5 April 2005
BHP Billiton Plc
Registration number 3196209
Neathouse Place
London SW1V 1BH
United Kingdom
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
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Form 20-F [ X ] Form 40-F [ ]
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Yes [ ] No [ X ]
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If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
[BHP BILLITON LOGO]
NEWS RELEASE
Release Time IMMEDIATE
Date 4 April 2005
Number 14/05
BHP BILLITON ANNNOUNCES FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD
APPROVAL OF BID FOR WMC RESOURCES LTD
BHP Billiton advises that the Australian Treasurer has confirmed that there are
no objections under the Australian Government's foreign investment policy to BHP
Billiton's acquisition of WMC Resources Ltd. A copy of the Treasurer's
announcement is attached.
The Treasurer's confirmation is subject to certain conditions which BHP Billiton
has agreed to observe. As the conditions are acceptable to BHP Billiton, BHP
Billiton will free its offer of the condition set out in clause 5.1(b) of the
Bidder's Statement. This is the second condition to have been removed.
BHP Billiton Chief Executive Officer, Chip Goodyear, welcomed the announcement
by the Treasurer of the Government's approval of its bid.
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 Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 3952 Mobile: +61 417 031 653 Tel: +44 20 7802 4156
email: Jane.H.Belcher@bhpbilliton.com email: Mark.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com
Tania Price, Media Relations Ariane Gentil, Media Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 3815 Mobile: +61 419 152 780 Tel: +44 20 7802 4177
email: Tania.Price@bhpbilliton.com email: Ariane.Gentil@bhpbilliton.com
UNITED STATES SOUTH AFRICA
Tel: +1 713 599 6100 or +44 20 7802 4031 Michael Campbell, Investor & Media Relations
email: Mark.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com Tel: +27 11 376 3360 Mobile: +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.
[TREASURER GRAPHIC] [PRESS RELEASE GRAPHIC]
TREASURER NO. 025
www.treasurer.gov.au
w
FIRB: BHP BILLITON GROUP/WMC
Exercising powers under the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (the
Act), I have decided that the Australian Government has no objection to the BHP
Billiton Group's (BHPB) proposed acquisition of all the issued shares of WMC
Resources Limited (WMC) provided that BHPB complies with the conditions set out
in Attachment A.
These conditions are in addition to previous conditions imposed under the Act,
all of which remain in place.
CANBERRA
4 April 2005
Contact: David Alexander
02 6277 7340
ATTACHMENT A
BHPB's undertakings, observance of which is a condition under Section 25 (1A) of
the FOREIGN ACQUISITIONS AND TAKEOVERS ACT 1975 (the Act):
1. BHPB will abide by all Australian federal and state laws and regulations
relating to the mining and export of uranium;
2. BHPB will undertake prior consultations with the Department of Industry,
Tourism and Resources on the terms of any and all marketing arrangements
it enters into with third parties in respect of uranium, which will be
subject to all regulatory requirements imposed as part of the Australian
Government's regulations and disclosure rules relating to uranium sales
out of Australia.
This condition will have effect indefinitely, subject to amendment of the Act or
any revocation or amendment by the Treasurer.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
BHP BILLITON PLC
/s/ Karen Wood
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Karen Wood
Title: Company Secretary
Date: 5 April 2005