BHP Rivals Bid for Alcan

Australian-listed mining company BHP Billiton is rumoured to be hiring Merrill Lynch to explore the possibility of making a rival offer for Alcan – the Canadian take-over company.

Reuters reports suggest BHP is considering whether to make a white knight bid for Alcan – which is the target of a $28.8bn hostile takeover bid by US company Alcoa.

A spokesperson for BHP Billiton said the company would not comment on rumours.