Number: 41/02

BHP Billiton today announces that holders of ordinary shares in BHP Billiton Plc will receive a bonus issue of 1 new BHP Billiton Plc share for each 15.5648 BHP Billiton Plc shares held.  Fractional entitlements will be rounded up (to the nearest whole new BHP Billiton Plc share) if the fractional entitlement would represent half or more than half of a BHP Billiton Plc share, or otherwise rounded down.  The shares will be issued on 22 July 2002 to holders of BHP Billiton Plc shares on the register as at Friday, 19 July 2002 (except for shareholders registered in the South African section of the register, where the bonus shares will be issued on 29 July 2002 to holders on the register as at Friday, 26 July 2002).

As previously advised, this bonus issue in favour of  BHP Billiton Plc shareholders is being made to reflect the value distributed to BHP Billiton Limited shareholders as a result of the demerger of BHP Steel.  The size of the bonus issue has been determined using the formula set out in the documents sent to shareholders in May 2002, and will result in the issue of approximately 148,999,530 new BHP Billiton Plc shares (subject to rounding of fractional entitlements).  

For further information, please contact:

Australia
Andrew Nairn, Investor Relations
Tel: + 61 3 9609 3952 Mobile: +61 408 313 259
E-Mail: Andrew.W.Nairn@bhpbilliton.com


Mandy Frostick, Media Relations
Tel: + 61 3 9609 4157 Mobile: +61 419 546 245
E-Mail: Mandy.J.Frostick@bhpbilliton.com


United Kingdom
Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: +44 20 7747 3956
E-Mail: Mark.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com

South Africa
Michael Campbell, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: + 27 11 376 3360  Mobile: + 27 82 458 2587
E-Mail: Michael.J.Campbell@bhpbilliton.com

United States
Francis McAllister, Investor Relations
Tel: +1 713 961 8625 Mobile: +1 713 480 3699
E-Mail: Francis.R.McAllister@bhpbilliton.com