The Australian mining giant BHP (turnover $12.4 billion in 2000 with 28,000 employed) has acquired the Anglo-South African group BILLITON (turnover $6.2 billion in 2000 with 30,000 employed). The acquisition will create the world's second largest company in this sector with a turnover of $18.6 billion and a stock exchange value of $28 billion, behind ALCOA. The acquisition will be on the basis of 1 BILLITON share for 0.4842 BHP shares. The bHP shareholders will hold 58% of the new entity and...