Northern News Services
Yellowknife (July 09/01) - BHP Billiton's offer of $21 for all Dia Met's Class A subordinate voting shares and Class B multiple voting shares and B voting shares expired last week.

At that time, 98.6 per cent of class A shares and 88.7 per cent of class B shares had been deposited.

The company said it would also seek a meeting of Dia Met shareholders to consider a subsequent acquisition transaction where BHP Billiton would offer $21 per share for remaining class B shares.

BHP said the acquisition of Dia Met, and the additional interest in the Ekati diamond mine, is important to the company's supply of rough diamonds, supporting its polished diamond branding initiative.

Dia Met is a publicly traded Canadian mineral exploration and development company with a primary interest in diamonds. The company's principal asset is a 29 per cent joint venture interest in Ekati Mine.