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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 22 March 2005
BHP Billiton Limited
ABN 49 004 028 077
180 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne Victoria 3000
Australia
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):
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[BHP Billiton Logo]
NEWS RELEASE
RELEASE TIME IMMEDIATE
DATE 21 March 2005
NUMBER 12/05
BHP BILLITON LODGES BIDDER'S STATEMENT FOR WMC RESOURCES LTD
BHP Billiton today lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments
Commission the Bidder's Statement for its cash offer of A$7.85 per share for the
entire issued capital of WMC Resources Ltd (WMC).
BHP Billiton intends to mail both the Bidder's Statement and WMC's Target's
Statement to WMC shareholders from 29 March 2005.
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
FURTHER INFORMATION FOR U.S. HOLDERS
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BHP Billiton will file the Bidder's Statement with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) under cover of Form CB. Investors and holders of WMC
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 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 will issue a target's statement in
connection with the offer which investors and holders of WMC 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. 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.
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
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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 LIMITED
/s/ KAREN WOOD
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Karen Wood
Title: Company Secretary
Date:22 March 2005