BHP Billiton Plc has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange (UK) and a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (South Africa). In addition, American Depositary Shares (each representing two ordinary BHP Billiton Plc shares) evidenced by American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), trade on the New York Stock Exchange.

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.

Shareholder Administration

Who is BHP Billiton Plc's Share Registrar?

Computershare Investor Services (CIS) is BHP Billiton Plc's Registrar and maintains the Principal Register in the United Kingdom and the Branch Register in South Africa. Any enquiries regarding your shareholding can be directed to CIS - see Shareholder Services for shareholders registered on the Principal Register in the United Kingdom and for shareholders registered on the Branch Register in South Africa.

Can I check the contact details you have registered for me online? How do I change them if they are incorrect?

Yes. Any enquiries regarding your shareholding can be directed to CIS - see Investor Information for the UK Register (if you are a shareholder registered on the Principal Register in the United Kingdom) and Investor Information for the SA Register (if you are a shareholder registered on the Branch Register in South Africa). You will need your Shareholder Reference Number (SRN) to view the contact details registered for you.

If any of the contact details we hold for you are incorrect, follow the instructions to obtain the appropriate form, complete and return it to CIS.

Can I check the balance of my holding online?

Yes. Go to Investor Information for the UK Register (if you are a shareholder registered on the Principal Register in the United Kingdom) or Investor Information for the SA Register (if you are a shareholder registered on the Branch Register in South Africa). You will need your SRN to check the details of your holding.

How do I transfer shares?

Although this can be a simple process, there could be certain local requirements that need to be determined. Therefore it is suggested you contact the relevant Registrar's office quoting your SRN. Their contact details may be obtained by following the link provided under "Who is BHP Billiton's Share Registrar?" above.

How can I check BHP Billiton's current share price?

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

I have more than one share certificate. Is it possible to combine them into one certificate?

Yes, if the shares are of the same class. Please write to CIS with details of the holdings you wish to consolidate. Their contact details may be obtained by following the links provided under "Who is BHP Billiton's Share Registrar?" above.

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.

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, BHP Billiton will provide a payment advice and tax voucher with details of the dividend. These documents should also be retained.

Where do I find information regarding tax implications of my shareholding?

BHP Billiton does not provide tax commentary on the holding or trading of shares. You should contact your financial adviser for advice.

My share certificate has been lost/stolen. How do I obtain a replacement share certificate?

You will need to complete a letter of indemnity which can be obtained from CIS. Once the form has been completed it should be returned to CIS who will issue a new certificate. A fee may be charged for this service.

Dividends

What is BHP Billiton's dividend policy?

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

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.

Why does BHP Billiton declare its dividends in US Dollars?

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 Plc dividends are mainly paid in Pounds Sterling to shareholders on the Principal Register and South African Rand to shareholders on the Branch Register. The foreign currency rates applicable two business days before the declaration of the dividend are used for conversion of currencies.

Can my dividend be paid directly to my bank or building society account?

Direct crediting is encouraged for shareholders who are able to take advantage of this facility. By receiving your dividend this way you avoid:

the risk of a cheque being lost or delayed in the post;
the inconvenience of having to take or send your cheque to your bank or building society; or
the risk of your cheque being mislaid or accidentally destroyed.

Additionally, you will help us to reduce costs associated with producing cheques, which is to the benefit of all shareholders.

The tax vouchers confirming your dividend payment will continue to be sent to your registered address.

You will need to complete and return a dividend mandate form which can be obtained from CIS or, in the case of shareholders on the Principal Register in the United Kingdom, by completing the dividend mandate form available at Downloadable Forms.

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

If you are a shareholder on the Principal Register in the United Kingdom you will receive your dividends in Pounds Sterling unless you make an election to receive them in US Dollars. Shareholders on the South African Branch Register will receive their dividends in South African Rand only.

Dividends paid in US Dollars can only be paid direct to a US Dollar bank account held within the United States of America. Alternatively, if you do not have a bank account in the United States you may still elect to receive your dividend in US Dollars by way of a US Dollar cheque to your registered address.

You may only elect to receive US Dollars on the entirety of your holding and elections will remain in force until you cancel them.

Should you wish to receive your dividend in US Dollars, or cancel a current US Dollar election, you should complete and return a Currency Election Form, which may be obtained from our Registrars CIS by telephoning 0870 889 3148.

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 will be paid to the seller, not to the buyer. The market price will reflect whether the shares are "cum" or "ex" the dividend entitlement.

The shareholders on the register at the "record date" are entitled to receive the dividend on the number of shares held by them at that date. The record date is announced to BHP Billiton's stock exchanges and on our website.

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?

Your dividend details are available online from CIS. Go to Plc (UK Register) or Plc (SA Register) and have your SRN handy to gain access.

Where can I find information on BHP Billiton dividends that have been paid in the past?

Details of dividends paid in the past 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.

I have lost my dividend cheque. How do I obtain a replacement cheque?

You need to advise CIS immediately and confirm by post that the cheque has been lost/stolen after which a stop will be placed on the cheque and a new cheque issued.

What happens to cheques that are not cashed?

In accordance with the Articles of Association of BHP Billiton, all unclaimed dividends are held until claimed for a period of twelve years from the date on which the dividend was due for payment. Thereafter the payment is forfeited and reverts to BHP Billiton.

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

You can provide the details to our Registrar quoting your SRN, name and address, new banking details and signed by all of the registered shareholders. Alternatively, in the case of shareholders on the Principal Register in the United Kingdom, you may access the relevant form via Downloadable Forms.

Additionally, shareholders on the Branch Register in South Africa must submit a bank statement certified by their bank, and an original certified copy of their identity document. The additional documentation is required under the provisions of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, 2001 (Act No.38 of 2001) (FICA) policy in South Africa.

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 the share registrar immediately if incorrect.

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

Shareholders on the Principal Register in the United Kingdom can pay their dividend into another person's account as long as they have completed and sent the Registrar a signed notification of the third party's banking details. You should also quote your SRN.

Shareholders on the Branch Register in South Africa may not have their dividends/distributions credited to a third party except where:

shares are placed under curatorship;
the shareholder is a company which has been liquidated; or
the shareholder has deceased.

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. As part of this programme BHP Billiton has continued to purchase BHP Billiton Plc shares on-market. See: BHP Billiton Announces Increased Capital Management Programme Including An Off-Market Buy-Back Of BHP Billiton Limited Shares

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

BHP Billiton also repurchased a total of 18.82 million BHP Billiton Plc shares in a series of on-market transactions throughout April and May 2006 see: BHP Billiton Completes US$2 Billion Capital Return.

Key Dates

When are your next financial results announced?

See our Calendar.

AGM

What is an AGM?

Every year BHP Billiton conducts 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 BHP Billiton's website to allow them to vote in a variety of ways if they cannot or do not wish to attend the meeting in person.

What are the dates for the next AGM?

See our Calendar.

What if I am unable to attend the AGM?

If you cannot attend, you can express your views by appointing a proxy or proxies 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(s) you choose. They need not be a shareholder of BHP Billiton Plc.

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

If you have provided the Registrar with the appropriate documentation appointing you to act on behalf of the company then you can attend the AGM as the corporate representative. Please contact the company in whose name the shares are registered and ask them to appoint you as a corporate representative.

Electronic Communication

Can I receive company communications electronically rather than in paper form?

Yes. You can elect to receive electronic communications by registering online. Go to Shareholder Services. Under Provide Your Email Address go to either Plc – UK Principal Register or Plc – SA Branch Register then select 'Provide email address for electronic communication' and follow the prompts. You will need to have your SRN handy.

Once registered, an email will be sent to you each time documents are published on our website to alert you to their availability. A link will be provided in the email to the site where you can access and download the documents.

Which documents will be made available electronically?

Annual Report and Accounts
Interim Report
Notices of shareholders' meetings

Please note that large documents are made available in small sections for ease of downloading.

What equipment do I need to receive electronic communications from BHP Billiton?

You will need a computer with internet access and web browser software (Netscape 4, Internet Explorer 4 or later versions). BHP Billiton does not charge you for this facility, although under the agreement with your internet provider you may incur costs for the time you are on line.

Who will have access to my email address?

BHP Billiton is required to make certain information from its share register available for public inspection but this does not include email addresses made available for electronic communications. Email addresses will not be used for any purpose other than communicating with you as a shareholder.

What happens if you cannot contact me by email?

Please note that BHP Billiton cannot be held responsible for a failure in transmission beyond its control and that its obligation to you is satisfied when it transmits an electronic message. However, when a notice of transmission failure is received, the Registrar will make two more attempts to contact you by email. If these attempts fail, then the Registrar will contact you at your last known postal address to let you know that the emails have failed. You will be asked to confirm your contact details.

What about viruses?

Every reasonable precaution will be taken to ensure that our communications with you are virus-free. It is possible, however, that email communications may nevertheless contain a computer virus (for example, through email messages being tampered with by a third party). Neither BHP Billiton nor the Registrar accept liability for any loss or damage arising from the opening or use of any email or attachment we send to you. Any electronic communications received by BHP Billiton, including the filing of electronic proxy forms, which contain a virus will not be accepted.

What if I change my email address?

If you change your email address please remember to inform the Registrar. Their contact details may be obtained by following the link provided under "Who is BHP Billiton's Share Registrar?"

South African shareholders who hold shares through STRATE should liaise directly with their CSDP or broker.

Can I revert to receiving paper documents?

Yes. Your election to receive electronic communications stands until revoked. You may change your election to receive electronic communications at any time by accessing our website and registering the change following the link provided under "Can I receive company communications electronically rather than in paper form?"

American Depositary Receipt Program

How many BHP Billiton Plc Ordinary shares represent an American Depositary Share (ADS)?

BHP Billiton Plc has an American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program under which each American Depositary Share (ADS) represents two underlying BHP Billiton US$0.50 ordinary shares held by the Depositary.

Who is the Depositary for the ADR program and how do I contact them?

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. acts as Depositary for the BHP Billiton ADR Program. For more information please contact:

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
P O Box 43013
Providence
RI 02940 3013
USA
Tel: (800) 990 1135 (toll-free within the United States)
(1 781) 575 4328 (outside the United States)
Fax: (1 781) 575 4088
Email: adr@jpmorgan.com
Website: http://www.adr.com

On which exchange are the BHP Billiton ADRs traded and under what ticker symbol?

The BHP Billiton ADRs are traded on New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the ticker symbol is BBL.

Specific Questions for the South African Branch Register

My shares are held on the South African register. What do I need to do to transfer shares from the South African register to the United Kingdom register?

Please note that South African exchange control approval will be required prior to any transfer taking place. A request to transfer your shares together with your share certificate should be sent to CIS. If your shares are held through a nominee, you should request the registered holder to provide CIS with the required documentation.

Who/what are STRATE and CSDPs?

STRATE is the authorised Central Securities Depository (CSD) for the electronic settlement of all financial instruments in South Africa.

CSDP stands for Central Securities Depository Participant. CSDPs are the only market players who can liaise directly with STRATE. The following are authorised CSDPs:

ABSA (ABSA Securities)
First National Bank
Nedbank - SCS Private Clients
Société Générale
Standard Bank
Computershare

How do I contact STRATE?

Contact details for STRATE are set out below:

STRATE Limited
PO Box 78608
Sandton
South Africa
2196
Tel: (27 11) 759 5300
Fax: (27 11) 759 5500
Email: queries@strate.co.za
Website: http://www.strate.co.za

What is dematerialisation?

Dematerialisation is a term referring to the process whereby paper share certificates are replaced with electronic records of ownership.

What does last date to trade mean?

This is a date which is applicable within the dematerialised STRATE environment in South Africa. It is the last date on which a dematerialised holder can trade on STRATE and the buyer would qualify for the dividend.