VALE SAYS THAT IS A "MERE SHAREHOLDER" OF SAMARCO

Vale said that is a "mere shareholder" of Samarco, with no influence in the operational work of the company.

The company gave this information to "The Wall Street Journal" in answer to questions about the action of Vale related to the disaster of a Samarco mine in Mariana, located in the Brazilian State of Minas Gerais.

Vale informed that has no operational participation in the management of Samarco "directy or indirectly, close or at a distance".

In the statement the company also said that has "no responsibility by the unfortunate and sad accident that happened in Mariana".

Samarco is a join-venture of Vale and BHP Billiton, with a 50% share of each company.