BHP Billiton confirms that it has made an approach to Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (PotashCorp) regarding a possible acquisition of PotashCorp at a price of US $130 per common share. To date the Board of PotashCorp has not agreed to engage in discussions.

BHP Billiton continues to review its options and will make a further announcement in due course.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This document may contain, in addition to historical information, certain forward-looking statements.  Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “expected”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements of BHP Billiton to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond BHP Billiton’s ability to control or estimate precisely, such as future market conditions, changes in regulatory environment and the behaviour of other market participants. BHP Billiton cannot give any assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to have been correct. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this document. BHP Billiton disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to be a forecast, projection or estimate of the future financial performance of any member of the BHP Billiton Group.