ALCOA INVESTOR/BHP BILLITON PLC - ALCOA, BHP BILLITON TO SELL INTEGRIS METALS TO
RYERSON TULL FOR US$660 MILLION                                                 
Alcoa Investor Contact                  Media Contact                           
William F. Oplinger                     Kevin G. Lowery                         
(212) 836-2674                          (412) 553-1424                          
                                        mobile 724-422-7844                     
BHP Billiton Investor/Media                                                     
Francis McAllister                                                              
713 961 8625                                                                    
ALCOA, BHP BILLITON TO SELL INTEGRIS METALS TO RYERSON TULL FOR US$660 MILLION  
New York, NY - October 26, 2004 -- Alcoa Inc. and BHP Billiton today announced  
they have agreed to sell 100% of their respective equity interests in Integris  
Metals to Ryerson Tull for US$410 million in cash plus assumption of Integris`  
debt, which was approximately US$250 million as of October 1, 2004.  Alcoa and  
BHP Billiton each own 50% of Integris Metals.   The transaction is expected to  
be completed by early 2005.                                                     
Integris Metals, a metals service center company engaged in the processing and  
distribution of metals, was formed in November 2001 through the combination of  
Reynolds Aluminum Supply Company (RASCO) and North America Metals Distribution  
(NAMD), Inc., the metals distribution businesses of Alcoa and BHP Billiton,     
respectively.   Integris Metals has approximately 2400 employees.   The         
shareholders` stated strategic intent was to create value through the           
combination of RASCO and NAMD and then exit the business when appropriate, as   
the metals distribution business was not core to either shareholder.            
In August, Alcoa and BHP Billiton announced that Integris Metals had filed a    
registration statement with the SEC for an initial public offering (IPO) of its 
stock.  Ryerson Tull approached the companies after the IPO filing and, as a    
result, a sale to Ryerson Tull is now agreed.                                   
Alcoa and BHP Billiton were advised in the transaction by Deutsche Bank         
Securities Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.  The sale of Integris to Ryerson
Tull will be subject to normal regulatory approvals.                            
Date: 27/10/2004 08:03:03 AM                   
Produced by the JSE SENS Department