Number:  13/05

Bidder's Statement

BHP Billiton commenced mailing the Bidder’s Statement, together with WMC Resources Ltd’s Target's Statement, to WMC Resources Ltd’s shareholders today. The key dates for the offer are as follows:

Date of Offer 29 March 2005
Closing Date of Offer*  7.30 pm (Melbourne time) on 6 May 2005

*This date is indicative only and may change as permitted by the Australian Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)

A copy of the Bidder's Statement as sent to WMC Resources Ltd’s shareholders is attached.

BHP Billiton also advises that all filings required under the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 have been made and all applicable waiting periods under that Act have expired. Accordingly, the condition set out in clause 5.1(c) of the Bidder’s Statement has been fulfilled.

Australia
Jane Belcher, Investor Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 3952
Mobile: +61 417 031 653
email: Jane.H.Belcher@bhpbilliton.com

Tania Price, Media Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 3815
Mobile: +61 419 152 780
email: Tania.Price@bhpbilliton.com

United Kingdom
Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: +44 20 7802 4156
email: Mark.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com

Ariane Gentil, Media Relations
Tel: +44 20 7802 4177
email: Ariane.Gentil@bhpbilliton.com

United States
Tel: +1 713 599 6100 or +44 20 7802 4031
email: Mark.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com

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

Further Information for U.S. holders

BHP Billiton has filed the Bidder’s Statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under cover of Form CB.  Investors and holders of WMC Resources securities are strongly advised to read the Bidder’s Statement and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments and supplements to those documents, because they will contain important information.  Investors and holders of WMC Resources securities may obtain free copies of the informational document (when available), as well as other relevant documents filed with the SEC, at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.  WMC Resources has issued a target’s statement in connection with the offer which investors and holders of WMC Recourses securities are strongly advised to read.

This communication is for information purposes only.  It shall not constitute an offer to purchase, sell or exchange or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, sell or exchange any securities of WMC Resources.  The distribution of this communication may, in some countries, be restricted by law or regulation.  Accordingly, persons who come into possession of this document should inform themselves of and observe these restrictions.