Merrill Lynch (EPT) - EPT Disclosure

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Thu Apr 17, 2008 5:44am EDT

RNS Number:5449S
Merrill Lynch International
17 April 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 Limited
Class of relevant security to which the        Common
dealings being disclosed relate (Note 1)

Date of dealing                                16/04/2008




2.             DEALINGS (Note 2)



(a)           Purchases and sales


Total number of securities purchased   Highest price paid (Note 3)           Lowest price paid (Note 3)




                 Nil                                    Nil                                    Nil




Total number of securities sold        Highest price received (Note 3)       Lowest price received (Note 3)


                                                     AUS 43.30                              AUS 42.80

               202,475



 (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 relating
to the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option referred to on this form or relating to the voting
rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative referred to on this form is
referenced.  If none, this should be stated.






7
Date of disclosure                                                17/04/2008

Contact name                                                      Louise Howard

Telephone number                                                  +44 20 7996 2121

Name of offeree/offeror with which connected                      BHP Billiton Plc
Nature of connection (Note 6)                                     Advisor




                                                                       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                               Rio Tinto Limited
Class of relevant security to which the        Common
dealings being disclosed relate (Note 1)

Date of dealing                                16/04/2008




2.             DEALINGS (Note 2)



(a)           Purchases and sales


Total number of securities purchased   Highest price paid (Note 3)           Lowest price paid (Note 3)


                                                        Nil                                    Nil

                 Nil




Total number of securities sold        Highest price received (Note 3)       Lowest price received (Note 3)


                                                    AUS 141.70                             AUS 141.41

                17,500



(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 relating
to the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option referred to on this form or relating to the voting
rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative referred to on this form is
referenced.  If none, this should be stated.







Date of disclosure                                                17/04/2008

Contact name                                                      Louise Howard

Telephone number                                                  +44 20 7996 2121

Name of offeree/offeror with which connected                      BHP Billiton Plc
Nature of connection (Note 6)                                     Advisor





                                                                       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 Limited
Class of relevant security to which the        Common
dealings being disclosed relate (Note 1)

Date of dealing                                17/04/2008




2.             DEALINGS (Note 2)



(a)           Purchases and sales


Total number of securities purchased   Highest price paid (Note 3)           Lowest price paid (Note 3)


                                                                                            AUS 43.29

               452,409                               AUS 44.14




Total number of securities sold        Highest price received (Note 3)       Lowest price received (Note 3)


                                                     AUS 43.94                              AUS 43.88

                20,000



 (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 relating
to the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option referred to on this form or relating to the voting
rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative referred to on this form is
referenced.  If none, this should be stated.






7
Date of disclosure                                                17/04/2008

Contact name                                                      Louise Howard

Telephone number                                                  +44 20 7996 2121

Name of offeree/offeror with which connected                      BHP Billiton Plc
Nature of connection (Note 6)                                     Advisor




                                                                       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                               Rio Tinto Limited
Class of relevant security to which the        Common
dealings being disclosed relate (Note 1)

Date of dealing                                17/04/2008




2.             DEALINGS (Note 2)



(a)           Purchases and sales


Total number of securities purchased   Highest price paid (Note 3)           Lowest price paid (Note 3)


                                                    AUS 147.00                             AUS 147.00

                7,453




Total number of securities sold        Highest price received (Note 3)       Lowest price received (Note 3)


                                                    AUS 145.45                             AUS 145.45

                2,000



(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 relating
to the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option referred to on this form or relating to the voting
rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative referred to on this form is
referenced.  If none, this should be stated.







Date of disclosure                                                17/04/2008

Contact name                                                      Louise Howard

Telephone number                                                  +44 20 7996 2121

Name of offeree/offeror with which connected                      BHP Billiton Plc
Nature of connection (Note 6)                                     Advisor







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            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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