5.2 Shareholder engagement

The Board represents the Group’s shareholders and is accountable to them for creating and delivering value through the effective governance of the business. Shareholders vote on important matters affecting the business, including the election of Directors, changes to our constitutional documents, the receipt of annual financial statements and incentive arrangements for executive Directors.

Shareholders are encouraged to make their views known to us and to raise directly any matters of concern. The Chairman has regular meetings with institutional shareholders and investor representatives to discuss governance matters and keeps the Board informed of the views and concerns that have been raised. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and investor relations team meet regularly with institutional shareholders to discuss our strategy, financial and operating performance.

The Dual Listed Company structure means that Annual General Meetings of BHP Billiton Plc and BHP Billiton Limited are held in the United Kingdom and Australia around late October and November, respectively, each year. Shareholders are encouraged to attend the Annual General Meetings and to use these opportunities to ask questions. Questions can be registered prior to the meeting by completing the relevant form accompanying the Notice of Meeting or by emailing the Group at investor.relations@bhpbilliton.com. Questions that have been lodged ahead of the meeting, and the answers to them, are posted to our website. The External Auditor attends the Annual General Meetings and is available to answer questions. Shareholders may appoint proxies electronically through our website. The Notice of Meeting describes how this can be done.

Proceedings at shareholder meetings and important briefings are broadcast live from our website. Copies of the speeches delivered by the Chairman and CEO to the Annual General Meetings, a summary of the proceedings and the outcome of voting on the items of business are posted to our website following both meetings.