BHP Billiton declines to comment on reports of interest in Alcan

LONDON - BHP Billiton PLC declined to comment on press reports that it is considering a offer for Canadian aluminium maker Alcan Inc that would rival a hostile bid from Alcoa Inc.

"We don't comment on market rumours," said London-based Billiton spokesman Illtud Harri.

Billiton, which has been linked to a number of acquisitions recently, had also previously declined to comment on a May 23 report in Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper, citing "people familiar", that it had entered early-stage discussions with Alcan.

Analysts see Billiton as more likely to take part in the merger and acquisition activity gripping the sector after it named internal candidate Marius Kloppers, president of Billiton's non-ferrous materials group, as a successor to outgoing chief executive Chip Goodyear. Kloppers was behind Billiton's last major acquisition: The 2005 purchase of WMC. Billiton yesterday declined to comment on a report in The Times of London that it had revived its interest in Alcoa and was looking at a potential offer. It considered a bid in February but dropped the idea, the newspaper said.

Last month, Alcan rejected a hostile bid from US aluminium producer Alcoa calling the 73.25 usd cash and share offer "inadequate". Alcoa first revealed the hostile bid on May 7 after pursuing Alcan through private talks for almost two years. A number of other companies have also been rumoured to be interested in Alcan including Rio Tinto PLC, Russia's Rusal, Norway's Norsk Hydro ASA, and Anglo American PLC.

Billiton announced today that Chief Legal Counsel and Head of External Affairs, John Fast, would retire from the company early in the new financial year. An announcement about Fast's replacement will be made in due course but until then Peter De Zwart, Regional Counsel Americas, will assume Fast's responsibilities.