was5449.htm
Filed
by:
BHP Billiton Plc
and
BHP
Billiton Limited
Pursuant
to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
Subject
Company: Rio Tinto Plc
Commission
File No.: 001-10533
And
Rio
Tinto
Limited
Commission
file No.: 000-20122
The
following is an e-mail message sent to all BHP Billiton petroleum employees
on
November 21, 2007.
Subject: Media
Reports about BHP Billiton Petroleum
A
message
to all Petroleum employees:
I
know by
now you are all aware that BHP Billiton has announced that is has recently
written to the Board of Rio Tinto proposing a combination with Rio Tinto,
another prominent global mining company. This is a great opportunity for
our company, for you our employees, and our shareholders and we certainly hope
this proposal can be accomplished.
However,
you may also be aware that various media have run stories speculating that
BHP
Billiton Petroleum might be sold as a part of this transaction. These
rumours have mentioned specific possible buyers, and even a sales price
range.
I
personally want you to know that these stories are not true. As a member
of the Group Management Committee, I have been actively involved in the
development of the proposal, and the sale has not been contemplated as part
of
this proposal. The Board of Directors consider BHP Billiton Petroleum to
be a key part of the BHP Billiton Group; they greatly value our current
performance and want more of it in the future.
We
are
busier now than ever before and the role you play is critical to the company
as
a whole, not just to BHP Billiton Petroleum. The commitment to BHP
Billiton Petroleum from the wider company is strong, therefore the commitment
to
each of you is strong.
I
know
rumours of this nature can be distractions that can interrupt the critical
work
you perform, and for that reason I wanted to get this message to you. Do
your best to ignore this and any future media speculation, be safe, and deliver
on your personal role in and commitment to our company.
Thank
you
for all you do.
Mike
Yeager
Chief
Executive Petroleum
Important
Information:
The
directors of BHP Billiton accept responsibility for the information contained
in
this document. Having taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the
case,
the information contained in this document is, to the best of the knowledge
and
belief of the directors of BHP Billiton, in accordance with the facts and
contains no omission likely to affect its import.
Under
certain circumstances, BHP
Billiton may be required to file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC") certain documents (including possibly a registration statement
and
prospectus)relating to its securities and the transaction and, in such event,
US
investors and security holders are strongly urged to read such
documents because they will contain important information. If and
when filed, investors and security holders will be able to obtain a free copy
of
relevant documents filed with the SEC at the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov<http://www.sec.gov/>
).
Copies
of such documents
may also be obtained from BHP Billiton without charge.