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
The following are excerpts from a presentation given at BHP Billiton Plcs Annual General Meeting held October 23, 2008.
23 October
2008 BHP Billiton Plc Annual General Meeting |
BHP
Billiton 2008 AGM 23 October 2008 Slide 8 Disclaimer By viewing this presentation you agree to be bound by the following conditions. The directors of BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc ("BHP Billiton")
accept responsibility for the information contained in this presentation. Having taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case, the information contained in this presentation 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. Subject to the above, neither BHP Billiton nor any of its directors, officers, employees or
advisers nor any other person makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to, and accordingly no reliance should be placed on, the fairness, accuracy or completeness of the information contained in the presentation or of the views given or implied. To the extent permitted by law, neither BHP Billiton nor any of its
directors, officers, employees or advisers nor any other person shall have any liability whatsoever for any errors or omissions or any loss howsoever arising, directly or
indirectly, from any use of this information or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith. Information about Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited ("Rio
Tinto") is based on public information which has not been independently verified. This presentation is for information purposes only and does not constitute or form part of
any offer for sale or issue of any securities or an offer or invitation to purchase or subscribe for any such securities, nor shall it or any part of it be relied on in
connection with, any contract or investment decision, nor does it constitute a proposal to make a takeover bid or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor shall
there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any
such jurisdiction (or under an exemption from such requirements). No offering of securities shall be made into the United States except pursuant to registration under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom. Neither this presentation nor any copy of it may be taken or transmitted or distributed or redistributed (directly or indirectly) in Japan or Malaysia. The distribution of this presentation in other jurisdictions may be restricted by law and persons into whose possession this
document comes should inform themselves about, and observe, any such restrictions. Certain statements in this presentation are forward-looking statements (including
statements regarding contribution synergies, future cost savings, the cost and timing of development projects, future production volumes, increases in production and infrastructure
capacity, the identification of additional mineral Reserves and Resources and project lives and, without limitation, other statements typically containing words such as
"intends," "expects," "anticipates," "targets," plans," "estimates" and words of similar import.) These statements are based on current expectations and beliefs and numerous assumptions regarding BHP Billiton's present and future business
strategies and the environments in which BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto will
operate in the future and such assumptions, expectations and beliefs may or may not prove to be correct and by their nature, are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance and achievements to differ
materially. Factors that could cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, BHP Billiton's ability to successfully combine the businesses of BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto and to realise expected synergies from that combination, the presence of a competitive proposal in relation to Rio Tinto, satisfaction of any conditions to any proposed transaction, including the receipt of required regulatory and anti-trust approvals, Rio Tintos willingness to enter into any proposed transaction, the successful
completion of any transaction, and the risk factors discussed in BHP Billiton's and Rio Tintos filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") (including in Annual Reports on Form 20-F) which are available at the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov). Save as required by law or the rules of the UK Listing Authority and the London Stock Exchange, the UK Takeover Panel, or the listing rules of ASX Limited, BHP Billiton undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements in this presentation.
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BHP
Billiton 2008 AGM 23 October 2008 Slide 9 Disclaimer continued No statement concerning expected cost savings, revenue benefits (and resulting incremental
EBITDA) and EPS accretion in this presentation should be interpreted to mean
that the future earnings per share of the enlarged BHP Billiton group for current and future financial years will necessarily match or exceed the historical or published earnings per share of BHP Billiton, and the actual estimated cost savings and revenue
benefits (and resulting EBITDA enhancement) may be materially greater or less than estimated. Information Relating to the US Offer for Rio Tinto plc In connection with the offer and sale of securities BHP Billiton would issue to Rio Tinto
plc US shareholders and Rio Tinto plc ADS holders, BHP Billiton has filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form F-4 (the Registration
Statement), which contains a preliminary prospectus (the Prospectus), and will file additional relevant materials with the SEC. This communication is not a substitute for the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus that BHP Billiton has filed, or any amendments or supplements to those documents BHP Billiton may file, with the SEC. US INVESTORS AND US HOLDERS OF RIO TINTO PLC SECURITIES AND ALL HOLDERS OF RIO TINTO PLC
ADSs ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, THE PROSPECTUS
AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS MADE AVAILABLE TO THEM AND/OR FILED WITH THE SEC REGARDING THE POTENTIAL TRANSACTION, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, WHEN THEY BECOME
AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and security holders are able to obtain a free copy of the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus as well as other relevant documents filed with the SEC at the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov). Copies of such documents may also be obtained
from BHP Billiton without charge. Information for US Holders of Rio Tinto
Limited Shares BHP Billiton Limited is not required to, and does not plan
to, prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement in respect of the Rio Tinto Limited Offer. Accordingly, Rio Tinto Limited shareholders should carefully consider the following: The Rio Tinto Limited Offer will be an exchange offer made for the securities of a foreign
company. Such offer is subject to disclosure requirements of a foreign country that are different from those of the United States. Financial statements included in the
document will be prepared in accordance with foreign accounting standards that may not be comparable to the financial statements of United States companies. Information Relating to the US Offer for Rio Tinto plc and the Rio Tinto Limited Offer for
Rio Tinto shareholders located in the US It may be difficult for you to enforce
your rights and any claim you may have arising under the US federal securities laws, since the issuers are located in a foreign country, and some or all of their officers and directors may be residents of foreign countries. You
may not be able to sue a foreign company or its officers or directors in a foreign court for violations of the US securities laws. It may be difficult to compel a foreign
company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a US court's judgment. You
should be aware that BHP Billiton may purchase securities of either Rio Tinto plc or Rio Tinto Limited otherwise than under the exchange offer, such as in open market or privately negotiated purchases. BHP Billiton results are reported under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
References to Underlying EBIT and Underlying EBITDA exclude any exceptional
items. A reconciliation to profit from operations is contained within the profit announcement References in this presentation to $ are to United States dollars unless
otherwise specified. |
BHP
Billiton 2008 AGM 23 October 2008 Slide 35 Shareholder benefits We believe a combined BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto would provide the ability to lower cost by optimising the use of assets and infrastructure a more diversified asset portfolio the ability to deliver volumes on an accelerated basis a management team drawn from the best of both companies that will have exceptional experience and depth a commitment to continue with progressive dividend policy strong cash flows and a strong balance sheet that will allow re-investment throughout the cycle |