Limited Q&As

General

Shareholder Administration

Dividends

Key Dates

Annual General Meeting

General

On which stock exchanges is BHP Billiton Limited listed?

BHP Billiton Limited has a primary listing on the Australian Stock Exchange, and secondary listings in Germany (Frankfurt) and Switzerland (Zurich). In addition, American Depositary Shares (each representing two ordinary BHP Billiton Limited shares) evidenced by American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), trade on the New York Stock Exchange.

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What is the difference between BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc?

BHP Billiton was formed in June 2001 from the merger of BHP Limited (an Australian listed company) and Billiton Plc (a UK listed company). The merger was effected by way of a dual listed companies (DLC) structure, meaning that although the companies technically continue to be separate legal entities (now renamed BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc) with separate share listings and share registers, they are managed and run as a single economic entity. The companies have a common Board of Directors and management team. Shareholders in BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc have equal economic and voting rights, as if they held shares in a single company.

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Shareholder Administration

Who is BHP Billiton Limited's Share Registrar?

Computershare Investor Services (CIS) maintains the share register in Australia. Any enquiries regarding your shareholding can be directed to CIS. See our Shareholder Services page for contact details.

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What are 'broker sponsored' and 'issuer sponsored' holdings?

You are 'broker sponsored' after you have entered into an agreement with a stockbroker and have been allocated a Holder Identification Number (HIN) beginning with an X. If your shares are held under a broker sponsored agreement you need to notify the broker of any change of name or address, not the company or the registrar. Holding statements will be issued to you by the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX).

Shareholders who do not have a broker agreement are automatically sponsored by the company and hold their shares in an uncertificated form. This is called 'issuer sponsored' and you will have been given a unique Securityholder Reference Number (SRN) starting with an I.

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Does BHP Billiton offer issuer sponsorship?

Yes, issuer sponsorship is available to shareholders of BHP Billiton.

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How do I check my shareholding details online?

Go to the Investor Information page. You will need your SRN or HIN to access your shareholding details.

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What is the balance of my holding?

Go to the Investor Information page. You will need your SRN or HIN to access details about the balance of your holding.

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How do I change my account details?

Go to the CIS website where you can select the best option for you to effect the change to your account details.

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How do I transfer shares?

You have two choices in transferring shares. You can transfer on market, via a stockbroker who will find a buyer for your shares. Alternatively, if you already have a buyer, you can transfer off market using a Standard Transfer Form. Contact CIS to arrange for a Standard Transfer Form to be sent to you. Alternatively you can download the form (located under "Holder Amendments").

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How can I check the current share price?

The share price is available on our Home page and our Shareholder Services page - it is updated every 20 minutes.

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Is it possible to merge two BHP Billiton shareholdings into one?

Yes, provided the registration details of both shareholdings are identical. Go to the CIS website. Download and complete the form (located under Holder Amendments - Request to Consolidate Holdings) and return to CIS using the address on the form.

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Can children hold shares in BHP Billiton?

A shareholder relationship with any company is essentially contractual in nature. Minors (children under 18) cannot be bound contractually. Shareholders may therefore consider it is more appropriate that the shares are held by an adult on behalf of the child. For example, the holding can be designated 'Mr John M Smith ((Miss Elizabeth Smith Account)'. There are other factors to be considered when investing on behalf of a child and we recommend you seek further advice from your accountant or financial adviser.

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What records should I keep for tax purposes?

All shareholders, wherever they are based, should maintain records of purchases and sales (broker Contract Notes, etc). At the time of payment of each dividend, the company will provide a payment advice with all the details you require.

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Where do I find information regarding tax implications?

BHP Billiton does not provide tax commentary on the trading of shares, please seek assistance from your tax or financial adviser.

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Dividends

What is BHP Billiton's dividend policy?

BHP Billiton has a progressive dividend policy. This means that the Company seeks to steadily increase or at least maintain the dividend in US dollar terms at each half yearly payment.

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Does BHP Billiton have a dividend reinvestment plan?

BHP Billiton does not have a dividend reinvestment plan and has no present intention of introducing one.

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Why does BHP Billiton declare its dividends in US$?

The US dollar, in which the majority of the Group's sales are made, most reliably records the Group's global business performance and is BHP Billiton's main reporting currency. It is, therefore, the currency in which dividends are determined. However, BHP Billiton Limited dividends are mainly paid in Australian dollars and BHP Billiton Plc dividends are mainly paid in pounds sterling to shareholders on the UK section of the register and South African rand to shareholders on the South African section of the register. The foreign currency rates applicable two business days before the declaration of the dividend are used for conversion of currencies.

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Can I elect to receive my dividends in currencies other than my local currency?

Shareholders can elect to receive their dividends in either AUD, NZD, GBP or USD. For the currency election to be valid, the payment instruction must be for the credit of an eligible financial institution in the country of issue of the currency. For example, Australian bank account for AUD, United Kingdom bank account for GBP, New Zealand bank account for NZD and United States bank account for USD. It is not necessary for the holding to have a registered address in the country of the chosen currency.

Shareholding accounts can only elect one currency for payment of dividends.

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What is meant by 'cum-dividend', 'ex-dividend' and 'record date'?

You will see or hear these terms when a company declares a dividend. 'Cum-dividend' means the shares carry the entitlement to the dividend and if purchased 'cum-dividend', the buyer will receive the dividend.

'Ex-dividend' means without the dividend. Therefore if you see BHP Billiton's share price quoted 'ex-dividend', the dividend is earmarked for the seller, not the buyer. The market price will reflect whether the shares are 'cum' or 'ex' the dividend entitlement.

'Record date' is the date used to determine the shareholders on the register who are entitled to receive the dividend and the number of shares on which it will be paid. Record date is the date where all changes to registration or banking details must be made for them to apply to the relevant payment.

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What are the key dates for future dividends?

BHP Billiton declares its interim dividends with its interim results announcement, usually in February each year, and its final dividend with its full year results announcement, usually in August each year. For an indication of prospective record dates, ex-dividend and payment dates, please see Dividend Dates.

What dividends have I been paid?

Go to the Investor Information page. You will need your SRN or HIN to access your dividend details.

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How can I receive my dividend payment?

Direct crediting is encouraged for those shareholders who have the facility available (shareholders with a bank account in Australia, New Zealand, the United States or the United Kingdom). Those shareholders who do not take advantage of the direct credit facility or reside outside these countries will be paid their dividend by cheque in Australian dollars.

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Where can I find information on past BHP Billiton dividends?

Details of dividends paid are available on our Shareholder Services page.

Can you tell me if I have any unpresented dividend/distribution cheques?

You will need to contact CIS who can check your account for any unpresented dividend cheques. They will also notify you how to claim these dividend payments.

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Can I receive replacement payment by cheque?

Yes, however there is a A$20.00 replacement cheque fee (this fee does not apply to shareholders where direct crediting is not available). Alternatively your replacement payment can be credited to your nominated banking institution without a fee.

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What happens to cheques that are not cashed?

Those cheques issued by BHP Billiton Ltd are advertised and paid to the State Government during the third year from the dividend date.

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How do I change my banking instructions for dividends/distribution payments?

You can either provide the details to CIS quoting your SRN or HIN, name and address, new banking details and signed by all of the registered shareholders. Alternatively, you can download a Direct Credit Instruction Form (under Holder Amendments), complete and mail or fax to CIS.

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What if I provide incorrect direct credit details?

All direct credit authorities received are confirmed back to the shareholder. Please ensure you check this confirmation carefully and contact CIS immediately if incorrect.

Can I have dividends/distributions credited to someone else's bank account?

Shareholders can pay their dividend into another person's account as long as they have correctly completed the notification of the banking details to the Registrar including quotation of their SRN or HIN and the registered shareholder has signed.

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Does BHP Billiton have an active share buy-back program?

On 7 February 2007, BHP Billiton announced an increase to its capital management programme of US$10 billion to be executed through a series of buy-backs in both BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc. On the same day BHP Billiton Limited announced an off-market buy-back of BHP Billiton Limited shares with a targeted maximum of A$3.25 billion. See: BHP Billiton Announces Increased Capital Management Programme Including An Off-Market Buy-Back Of BHP Billiton Limited Shares

BHP Billiton Limited has also repurchased shares via off-market share buy-back programs in the past.  See: BHP Billiton Successfully Completes A$2.25 Billion (US$1.6 Billion) Off-Market Share Buy-Back (April 2006) and BHP Billiton Successfully Completes A$2.272 Billion (US$1.780 Billion) Off-Market Share Buy-Back (November 2004)

For a summary of capital management activity see: Share Buy-Back Summary

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Key Dates

When are your next financial results announced?

See our Calendar.

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Annual General Meeting

What is an Annual General Meeting?

Every year we conduct an Annual General Meeting (AGM). All shareholders are invited to attend the AGM and are provided with a notice describing the business to be conducted, a proxy form and a link to this website to allow them to vote in a variety of ways if they cannot or do not wish to attend the meeting in person.

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What are the dates for the next AGM?

See our Calendar.

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What if I am unable to attend the AGM?

If you cannot attend, you can express your views by appointing a proxy to act on your behalf. This person will be able to attend the meeting, to speak and to vote on your behalf. Your proxy can be the Chairman of the meeting, or any other person you choose. That person need not be a shareholder of BHP Billiton. The registry prior to the meeting will send proxy forms.

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My registered holding is in the name of a company. Can I still attend the AGM and vote?

If you have provided the appropriate documentation appointing you to act on behalf of the company to the share registrar then you can attend the AGM as the company representative. If you have not provided the appropriate appointment documents, then contact our share registrar and request them to send you an Appointment of a Corporate Representative form. Alternatively you can download the form.

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see Dividend Dates.