BlackRock Group - Rule 8.3- BHP Billiton PLC

RNS Number:1746R
BlackRock Group
31 March 2008

FORM 8.3

DEALINGS BY PERSONS WITH INTERESTS IN SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE

(Rule 8.3 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers)

1. KEY INFORMATION

Name of person dealing (Note 1) BlackRock Group
Company dealt in BHP Billiton Plc
Class of relevant security to which the USD 0.50 Ordinary shares
dealings being disclosed relate (Note 2)
Date of dealing 28th March 2008

2. INTERESTS, SHORT POSITIONS AND RIGHTS TO SUBSCRIBE

(a) Interests and short positions (following dealing) in the class of relevant security dealt in (Note 3)

Long Short
Number (%) Number (%)
(1) Relevant securities 96,855,529 4.38%
(2) Derivatives (other than options) 1,035,800 0.04%
(3) Options and agreements to purchase/sell -309,000 -0.01%
Total 97,891,329 4.43% -309,000 -0.01%

(b) Interests and short positions in relevant securities of the company, other than the class dealt in (Note 3)

Class of relevant security: Long Short
Number (%) Number (%)
(1) Relevant securities
(2) Derivatives (other than options)
(3) Options and agreements to purchase/sell
Total

(c) Rights to subscribe (Note 3)

Class of relevant security: Details

3. DEALINGS (Note 4)

(a) Purchases and sales

Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit (Note 5)

Purchase 10,512 GBP 14.76
Purchase 25 ADR = 50 ord shares USD 58.48
Purchase 8 ADR = 16 ord shares USD 58.55
Purchase 6 ADR = 12 ord shares USD 58.62
Purchase 81 ADR = 162 ord shares USD 58.63
Purchase 87 ADR = 174 ord shares USD 58.64
Purchase 57 ADR = 114 ord shares USD 58.94
Purchase 16 ADR = 32 ord shares USD 58.96
Purchase 560 ADR = 1120 ord shares USD 59.07
Purchase 31 ADR = 62 ord shares USD 59.09
Purchase 5 ADR = 10 ord shares USD 59.20
Purchase 1,900 ADR = 3,800 ord shares USD 59.23
Purchase 9 ADR = 18 ord shares USD 59.33
Purchase 51 ADR = 102 ord shares USD 59.43
Sale 3,029 GBP 14.76
Sale 18 ADR = 36 ord shares USD 58.44
Sale 11 ADR = 22 ord shares USD 58.45
Sale 156 ADR = 312 ord shares USD 58.48
Sale 1 ADR = 2 ord shares USD 58.61
Sale 1 ADR = 2 ord shares USD 58.67
Sale 9 ADR = 18 ord shares USD 58.68
Sale 2 ADR = 4 ord shares USD 58.73
Sale 9 ADR = 18 ord shares USD 58.74
Sale 173 ADR = 346 ord shares USD 58.86
Sale 1 ADR = 2 ord shares USD 58.98
Sale 392 ADR = 784 ord shares USD 59.09
Sale 1 ADR = 2 ord shares USD 59.10
Sale 17 ADR = 34 ord shares USD 59.11
Sale 2 ADR = 4 ord shares USD 59.17

NB There was a net transfer out of 212 ADRs representing 424 ordinary shares

(b) Derivatives transactions (other than options)

Product name, e.g. Long/short (Note 6) Number of securities (Note 7) Price per unit (Note 5)
CFD

(c) Options transactions in respect of existing securities

(i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

Product name Writing, Number of Exercise Type, e.g. Expiry date Option money paid
e.g. call selling, securities to price American, /received per
option purchasing, which the option European etc. unit (Note 5)
varying etc. relates (Note 7)

(ii) Exercising

Product name, e.g. call option Number of securities Exercise price per unit (Note 5)

(d) Other dealings (including new securities) (Note 4)

Nature of transaction (Note 8) Details Price per unit (if applicable) (Note
5)

4. OTHER INFORMATION

Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

Full details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding between the person
disclosing and any other person relating to the voting rights of any relevant
securities under any option referred to on this form or relating to the voting
rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any
derivative referred to on this form is referenced. If none, this should be
stated.

None...........................................................................
...

..............................................................................

Is a Supplemental Form 8 attached? (Note 9)
YES

Date of disclosure 31st March 2008

Contact name Thomas Hone
Telephone number 020 7743 2098
If a connected EFM, name of offeree/offeror with which BHP Billiton
connected
If a connected EFM, state nature of connection (Note 10) Category 2

Notes

The Notes on Form 8.3 can be viewed on the Takeover Panel's website at
www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk

SUPPLEMENTAL FORM 8

DETAILS OF OPEN POSITIONS

(This form should be attached to Form 8.1, Form 8.1(b)(ii) or Form 8.3, as
appropriate)

OPEN POSITIONS (Note 1)

Product name, Written or Number of securities Exercise price Type, e.g. Expiry date
purchased to which the option or (Note 2) American,
e.g. call option derivative relates European etc.

Call Option Sold -153,000 GBP 15.976 European 23rd April 2008
Call Option Sold -156,000 GBP 17.01 European 8th May 2008

Notes

1. Where there are open option positions or open derivative positions (except
for CFDs), full details should be given. Full details of any existing
agreements to purchase or to sell should also be given on this form.

2. For all prices and other monetary amounts, the currency must be stated.

For details of the Code's dealing disclosure requirements, see Rule 8 and its
Notes which can be viewed on the Takeover Panel's website at
www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END

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