BHP - ALCOA AND BHP BILLITON ANNOUNCE FILING OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR IPO  
      OF INTEGRIS METALS                                                        
BHP Billiton Plc                                                                
Registration Number 3196209                                                     
Registered in England and Wales                                                 
Jse Share Code: BIL                                                             
Isin:  GB0000566504                                                             
Alcoa Investor Contact             Media Contact                                
William F. Oplinger                Kevin G. Lowery                              
(212) 836-2674 (412) 553-1424                                                   
BHP Billiton Investor/Media                                                     
Francis McAllister                                                              
713 961 8625                                                                    
ALCOA AND BHP BILLITON ANNOUNCE FILING OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR IPO OF     
INTEGRIS METALS                                                                 
New York, NY - August 23, 2004 -- Alcoa Inc. and BHP Billiton today announced   
that Integris Metals Corporation has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for an initial public offering 
(IPO) of its common stock.   Alcoa and BHP Billiton each own 50% of Integris    
Metals and plan to sell Integris Metals shares in the IPO as selling            
stockholders.  The underwriters will also have an option to purchase additional 
shares of common stock from Integris Metals to cover over-allotments.           
Integris Metals, a metals service center company engaged in the processing and  
distribution of metals, predominantly aluminum and stainless steel, was formed  
in November 2001 through the combination of Reynolds Aluminum Supply Company    
(RASCO) and NAMD, Inc., the metals distribution businesses of Alcoa and BHP     
Billiton, respectively.                                                         
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., will act as the 
joint book-running managers of the offering.  When available, copies of the     
preliminary prospectus may be obtained from Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Attn:
Syndicate Operations, 1251 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10005; or 
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Prospectus Department, One Chase Manhattan Plaza,  
Floor 5B, New York, NY 10081                                                    
A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the   
Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective. These      
securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time  
the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not      
constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall   
there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such
offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or          
qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.      
Ends