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Wed 25 Aug 2010, 8:59 BIL - BHP Billiton results for the year ended 30 June 2010
BIL
BIBLT                                                                           
BIL - BHP Billiton results for the year ended 30 June 2010                      
BHP Billiton Plc                                                                
Share code: BIL                                                                 
ISIN: GB0000566504                                                              
News Release                                                                    
25 August 2010                                                                  
22/10                                                                           
BHP BILLITON RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2010                            
* Another strong set of financial results, with growth in Underlying EBITDA     
and Attributable profit (excluding exceptional items) of 10% and 16%            
respectively.                                                                   
* Record sales volumes achieved in iron ore, metallurgical coal and             
petroleum with local currency costs well controlled across the Group.           
* Underlying EBIT margin(1) of 41% and Underlying return on capital of 26%      
demonstrates the strength of our uniquely diversified business model.           
* Continued investment in our business successfully delivered another five      
growth projects.                                                                
* Cash flow for the year remained strong and resulted in net debt declining     
further to US$3.3 billion while net gearing declined to 6%.                     
* Final dividend of 45 US cents per share, resulting in a dividend for the      
full year of 87 US cents per share.                                             
Year ended 30 June                                 2010US$M  2009US$M Change    
                                                                          %     
Revenue                                              52,798    50,211   5.2%    
Underlying EBITDA (2)                                24,513    22,275  10.0%    
Underlying EBIT (2) (3)                              19,719    18,214   8.3%    
Profit from operations                               20,031    12,160  64.7%    
Attributable profit - excluding exceptional items    12,469    10,722  16.3%    
Attributable profit                                  12,722     5,877 116.5%    
Net operating cash flow (4)                          17,920    18,863 (5.0)%    
Basic earnings per share - excluding exceptional      224.1     192.7  16.3%    
items (US cents)                                                                
Basic earnings per share (US cents)                   228.6     105.6 116.5%    
Underlying EBITDA interest coverage (times)(2) (5)     64.4      56.8  13.4%    
Dividend per share (US cents)                            87        82   6.1%    
Refer to page 14 for footnotes, including explanations of the non-GAAP          
measures used in this announcement.                                             
The above financial results are prepared in accordance with IFRS and are        
unaudited. All references to the prior period are to the year ended 30 June     
2009 unless otherwise stated.                                                   
RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2010                                         
Commentary on the Group Results                                                 
BHP Billiton delivered another strong set of results despite significant        
volatility in the macro economic environment with growth in Underlying          
EBITDA and Attributable profit (excluding exceptional items) of 10 per cent     
and 16 per cent, respectively. Record sales volumes were achieved in three      
of our major commodities as our focus on efficiency and productivity at all     
points in the cycle ensured we were well positioned to capitalise on the        
recovery in demand and prices. Local currency costs were well controlled        
across the Group, however the weaker US dollar had a negative exchange rate     
impact of US$2,150 million.                                                     
The combination of these factors underpinned strong margins and returns. For    
the sixth consecutive year, BHP Billiton recorded an Underlying EBIT margin     
of around 40 per cent, while Underlying return on capital for the past          
financial year was 26 per cent. Excluding capital investment associated with    
projects not yet in production, Underlying return on capital was 30 per         
cent.                                                                           
Operating cash flow for the year remained strong at US$17,920 million and       
resulted in net debt declining further to US$3,308 million, with net gearing    
falling to six per cent. These results continue to demonstrate the strength     
of our uniquely diversified business model and world class, low cost asset      
portfolio.                                                                      
We invested heavily in our business and successfully delivered another five     
growth projects including those in petroleum and iron ore. We approved two      
major growth projects (with a combined budget of US$695 million) and made       
pre-commitments totalling US$2,237 million (BHP Billiton share) to              
accelerate early works for another four. To underline the depth of our          
project pipeline, we have 20 projects in various stages of execution and        
definition with an estimated budget in excess of US$25 billion.                 
In the Pilbara (Australia), we continued to progress the proposed Iron Ore      
Production Joint Venture with Rio Tinto with a key focus on gaining             
regulatory approval. We also bolstered our upstream resource base with the      
acquisition of Athabasca Potash Inc. (Canada) and United Minerals               
Corporation NL (Australia, iron ore).                                           
On 18 August 2010, BHP Billiton announced its intention to make an all-cash     
offer to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Potash      
Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. (PotashCorp), at a price of US$130 in cash     
per PotashCorp common share.                                                    
Outlook                                                                         
Economic Outlook                                                                
BHP Billiton remains cautious on the short term outlook for the global          
economy. After a period of rapid recovery in the developing world, economies    
such as Brazil and India have returned to full output and the focus has now     
shifted away from supporting growth, towards controlling inflation. In          
China, the government has implemented meaningful measures aimed at              
controlling rapid economic expansion and asset inflation. Fiscal policy has     
been adjusted with renewed focus on the economy`s inevitable transition away    
from a dependence on investment, towards more balanced, consumption led         
growth.  With this recent policy tightening, property sales volumes and         
prices have started to decline in Tier 1 cities over the last quarter. While    
BHP Billiton sees these measures as the normal continuation of China`s          
economic management, we do expect Chinese Gross Domestic Product (GDP)          
growth to slow towards the more sustainable level of circa eight per cent in    
the first half of fiscal year 2011.                                             
Uncertainty continues to surround the developed world as governments adjust     
fiscal policies following a period of significant stimulus and subsequent       
increase in sovereign debt levels. Significant public spending cuts and         
higher taxes have been announced in Europe, however are yet to be fully         
implemented, implying the inevitable negative impact on growth from fiscal      
consolidation remains ahead. Industrial output, a core measure of economic      
activity, remains well below previous peaks despite the positive impact         
attributable to re-stocking that now appears largely complete. In the           
absence of any additional inventory adjustment, improvement in end demand is    
essential to drive overall economic growth. Some positive signs have            
emerged, with strong private investment in equipment and software seen in       
some parts of the United States economy, although ongoing de-leveraging and     
weak confidence are hampering efforts to revive demand.                         
Despite our short term caution, we remain positive on the longer term           
prospects for the global economy, driven by the continuing urbanisation and     
industrialisation of emerging economies. This path, however, will not be        
without volatility, reflecting normal business cycles.                          
Commodities Outlook                                                             
Following a broad recovery in prices for the majority of BHP Billiton`s         
products, the short term outlook for commodities is mixed. There is strong      
physical demand for some commodities, such as copper, where consumers are       
restocking and premiums continue to rise. Elsewhere, there is weaker demand     
for those commodities where short term demand is likely to be satisfied by      
inventory rather than primary supply.                                           
With global steel production running ahead of real demand in the quarter        
ended June 2010, we expect output to soften from the record highs achieved      
in April this year. This will impact near term demand for steel making raw      
materials, however the fundamentals remain strong in those commodities,         
particularly iron ore, where there is a lack of low cost supply response        
expected over the next one to two years.                                        
In the medium term, we expect commodity demand to remain heavily dependent      
on emerging market demand as the gradual withdrawal of government stimulus      
is expected to constrain growth in the developed world. While China`s rapid     
growth is expected to slow from recent highs, domestic consumption is           
expected to remain strong and investment spending is likely to remain           
commodity intensive.                                                            
There is no change to our expectation of strong growth in demand for our        
commodities in the longer term. With long run prices determined by the          
marginal cost of supply, our position at the lower end of the cost curve is     
expected to underpin strong margins and investment returns.                     
Growth Projects                                                                 
During the period, we completed five major growth projects (oil and gas,        
iron ore, alumina and energy coal). Highlighting our commitment to re-invest    
through the cycle, we approved two major growth projects (base metals and       
energy coal) and made pre-commitments of US$2,237 million for another four      
(iron ore, metallurgical coal and potash).                                      
Completed projects                                                              
Customer  Project         Capacity                  Capital  Date of initial    
Sector                    (i)             expenditure(US$M)  production (ii)    
Group                                                   (i)                     
                                        Budget      Actual    Target Actual     
Petroleum Pyrenees        96,000          1,200       1,247   H1 2010     H1    
         (Australia)     barrels of                                    2010     
BHP Billiton -  oil and 60                                             
         71.43%          million                                                
                         cubic feet                                             
                         gas per                                                
day                                                    
Aluminium Alumar          2 million     900(iv)         851        Q2     Q3    
         Refinery        tonnes per                         2009(iv)   2009     
         Expansion       annum of                                               
(Brazil)BHP     additional                                             
         Billiton - 36%  alumina                                                
                         capacity                                               
Iron Ore  WA Iron Ore     26 million      1,850  1,850(iii)   H1 2010     H2    
Rapid Growth    tonnes per                                    2009     
         Project 4       annum of                                               
         (Australia)BHP  additional                                             
         Billiton -      iron ore                                               
86.2%           system                                                 
                         capacity                                               
Energy    Klipspruit      1.8               450    400(iii)   H2 2009     H2    
Coal      (South          million                                       2009    
Africa)BHP      tonnes per                                             
         Billiton -      annum                                                  
         100%            export and                                             
                         2.1                                                    
million                                                
                         tonnes per                                             
                         annum                                                  
                         domestic                                               
thermal                                                
                         coal                                                   
         Newcastle       30 million        390    390(iii)      2010     H1     
         Third Port      tonnes per                                    2010     
Project         annum                                                  
         (Australia)BHP  export                                                 
         Billiton -      coal                                                   
         35.5%           loading                                                
facility                                               
                                         4,790       4,738                      
(i) All references to capital expenditure are BHP Billiton`s share unless       
noted otherwise. All references to capacity are 100 per cent unless noted       
otherwise.                                                                      
(ii) References are based on calendar years.                                    
(iii) Number subject to finalisation.                                           
(iv) As per revised budget and schedule.                                        
Projects currently under development (approved in prior years)                  
Customer   Project           Capacity(i)            Budgeted Target date for    
Sector                                               capital         initial    
Group                                            expenditure  production(ii)    
(US$M)(i)                     
Petroleum  Angostura Gas     280 million                 180         H1 2011    
          Phase II          cubic feet of                                       
          (Trinidad and     gas per day                                         
Tobago)BHP                                                            
          Billiton - 45%                                                        
          Bass Strait       10,000 barrels              500            2011     
          Kipper(iii)       of condensate                                       
(Australia)BHP    per day and                                         
          Billiton - 32.5%  processing                                          
          - 50%             capacity of 80                                      
                            million cubic                                       
feet gas per day                                    
          Bass Strait       11,000 barrels              625            2011     
          Turrum(iii)       of condensate                                       
          (Australia)BHP    per day and                                         
Billiton - 50%    processing                                          
                            capacity of 200                                     
                            million cubic                                       
                            feet of gas per                                     
day                                                 
          North West Shelf  Replacement                 245            2011     
          CWLH Extension    vessel with                                         
          (Australia)BHP    capacity of                                         
Billiton - 16.67% 60,000 barrels                                      
                            of oil per day                                      
          North West Shelf  2,500 million               850            2012     
          North Rankin B    cubic feet of                                       
Gas Compression   gas per day                                         
          (Australia)BHP                                                        
          Billiton - 16.67%                                                     
Aluminium  Worsley           1.1 million               1,900         H1 2011    
Efficiency and    tonnes per annum                                    
          Growth            of additional                                       
          (Australia)BHP    alumina capacity                                    
          Billiton - 86%                                                        
Iron Ore   WA Iron Ore Rapid 50 million                4,800         H2 2011    
          Growth Project 5  tonnes per annum                                    
          (Australia)BHP    additional iron                                     
          Billiton - 85%    ore system                                          
capacity                                            
Energy     Douglas-          10 million                  975        Mid 2010    
Coal       Middelburg        tonnes per annum                                   
          Optimisation      export thermal                                      
(South Africa)BHP coal and 8.5                                        
          Billiton - 100%   million tonnes                                      
                            per annum                                           
                            domestic thermal                                    
coal (sustains                                      
                            current output)                                     
                                                     10,075                     
(i) All references to capital expenditure are BHP Billiton`s share unless       
noted otherwise. All references to capacity are 100 per cent unless noted       
otherwise.                                                                      
(ii) References are based on calendar years.                                    
(iii) Schedule and budget under review following advice from operator.          
Projects approved during the June 2010 financial year                           
Customer  Project          Capacity(i)             Budgeted   Target datefor    
Sector                                              capital          initial    
Group                                           expenditure   production(ii)    
(US$M)(i)                      
Base      Antamina         Increases ore                435          Q4 2011    
Metals    Expansion        processing                                           
         (Peru)           capacity to                                           
BHP Billiton -   130,000 tonnes                                        
         33.75%           per day                                               
Energy    MAC20 Project    Increases                    260          H1 2011    
Coal      (Australia)BHP   saleable thermal                                     
Billiton - 100%  coal production                                       
                          by approximately                                      
                          3.5 million                                           
                          tonnes per annum                                      
695                      
(i) All references to capital expenditure are BHP Billiton`s share unless       
noted otherwise. All references to capacity are 100 per cent unless noted       
otherwise.                                                                      
(ii) References are based on calendar years.                                    
The Income Statement                                                            
To provide clarity into the underlying performance of our operations, we        
present Underlying EBIT which is a measure used internally and in our           
Supplementary Information that excludes any exceptional items. The              
differences between Underlying EBIT and Profit from operations are set out      
in the following table:                                                         
Year ended 30 June                                      2010US$M    2009US$M    
Underlying EBIT                                           19,719      18,214    
Exceptional items (before taxation)                          312     (6,054)    
Profit from operations                                    20,031      12,160    
Refer to page 8 for details of the Exceptional items.                           
Underlying EBIT                                                                 
The following table and commentary describes the approximate impact of the      
principal factors that affected Underlying EBIT                                 
for the year ended June 2010 compared with the year ended June 2009:            
US$M      US$M     
Underlying EBIT for the year ended 30 June 2009                       18,214    
Change in volumes:                                                              
Increase in volumes                                          2,142              
Decrease in volumes                                          (206)              
                                                                      1,936     
Net price impact:                                                               
Change in sales prices                                         778              
Price-linked costs                                             241              
                                                                      1,019     
Change in costs:                                                                
Costs (rate and usage)                                         (2)              
Exchange rates                                             (2,150)              
Inflation on costs                                           (400)              
                                                                    (2,552)     
Asset sales                                                               82    
Ceased and sold operations                                               526    
New and acquired operations                                              966    
Exploration and business development                                     239    
Other                                                                  (711)    
Underlying EBIT for the year ended 30 June 2010                       19,719    
Volumes                                                                         
Strong performance from steelmaking raw materials was the major contributor     
to the volume related increase in Underlying EBIT of US$1,936 million. In       
that context, our strategy to maximise production from our low cost assets      
at all points in the cycle ideally positioned our Metallurgical Coal and        
Manganese businesses to capitalise on the improvement in market demand. In      
Western Australia`s Pilbara region, ongoing commitment to growth delivered      
the tenth consecutive record in iron ore sales while a recovery in pellet       
demand enabled Samarco (Brazil) to return to full capacity.                     
Solid operating performance was recorded across the remaining Customer          
Sector Groups (CSGs). In Base Metals, Escondida (Chile) and Cannington          
(Australia) both benefited from higher throughput and grade whilst Olympic      
Dam (Australia) and Spence (Chile) were impacted by unplanned interruptions.    
Escondida production is expected to decline by five to 10 per cent in the       
2011 financial year, mainly due to lower grade.                                 
Prices                                                                          
Prices (including the impact of linked costs) increased Underlying EBIT by      
US$1,019 million with iron ore and the base and precious metals complex         
contributing US$5,265 million of the benefit. Lower prices for coal (both       
forms) and manganese were the offsetting factors and reduced Underlying EBIT    
by US$4,401 million.                                                            
Price-linked costs were US$241 million lower than the corresponding period.     
During the second half of the financial year, the old benchmark pricing         
system for iron ore and metallurgical coal was substantially replaced by        
shorter term market based pricing. The transformation ensures the majority      
of BHP Billiton`s bulk commodities (iron ore, manganese, metallurgical coal     
and energy coal) are now linked to market based prices.                         
Costs                                                                           
Excluding the significant impact of a weaker US dollar and an increase in       
non-cash items (US$219 million), costs were well controlled across the          
Group, adding US$217 million to Underlying EBIT in the period.                  
Raw materials, including fuel and energy, generated the greatest benefit and    
increased Underlying EBIT by US$576 million although the majority of the        
benefit was non structural in nature.                                           
In contrast, higher labour and contractor rates continued to negatively         
impact the cost base, particularly in South America and Australia. At           
Spence, Escondida and Cerro Colorado (Chile), one-off wage negotiations,        
bonuses and contractor payments reduced Underlying EBIT by US$145 million.      
Similarly, Western Australia`s higher labour costs associated with the tight    
labour market reduced Western Australia Iron Ore Underlying EBIT by US$45       
million.                                                                        
Non-cash and other items reduced Underlying EBIT by a combined US$537           
million. The major negative factors were higher depreciation in Western         
Australia Iron Ore and a provision for a payment to the West Australian         
(State) Government that is expected to follow the recently announced            
amendments to the State Agreements.                                             
Exchange rates                                                                  
A weaker US dollar against all producer currencies reduced Underlying EBIT      
by US$2,150 million. The Australian operations were the most impacted with      
the strong Australian dollar decreasing Underlying EBIT by US$1,779 million.    
The following exchange rates against the US dollar have been applied:           
Year ended  Year ended                                         
                    30 June     30 June     30 June     30 June     30 June     
                       2010        2009        2010        2009        2008     
                    Average     Average     Closing     Closing     Closing     
Australian              0.88        0.75        0.85        0.81        0.96    
dollar(i)                                                                       
Chilean peso             529         582         545         530         522    
Colombian peso         1,970       2,205       1,920       2,159       1,899    
Brazilian real          1.80        2.08        1.81        1.95        1.60    
South African           7.59        9.01        7.68        7.82        7.91    
rand                                                                            
(i) Displayed as US$ to A$1 based on common convention.                         
Inflation on costs                                                              
Inflationary pressure on input costs across all businesses had an               
unfavourable impact on Underlying EBIT of US$400 million. The effect was        
most evident in Australia and South Africa.                                     
Asset Sales                                                                     
The profit on the sale of assets increased Underlying EBIT by US$82 million.    
This was mainly due to the profit that followed dissolution of the Douglas      
Tavistock Joint Venture arrangement (South Africa).                             
Ceased and sold operations                                                      
Lower operational losses for Yabulu and Ravensthorpe (both Australia) and       
the Suriname alumina refinery, which were sold during the year ended June       
2010, resulted in a favourable impact on Underlying EBIT of US$526 million.     
New and acquired operations                                                     
New greenfield assets are reported in new and acquired operations variance      
until there is a full year comparison. BHP Billiton operated oil and gas        
facilities, Shenzi (USA) and Pyrenees (Australia), contributed an additional    
US$966 million to Underlying EBIT in the period.                                
Exploration and business development                                            
Exploration expense was broadly flat for the year at US$1,030 million.          
Within minerals (US$467 million expense) the focus centred upon copper in       
Chile and Zambia, nickel in Australia, manganese in Gabon, and diamonds in      
Canada. Exploration for iron ore, coal, bauxite, potash and manganese was       
also undertaken in a number of regions including Australia, Canada, South       
America, Russia and Africa.                                                     
The Petroleum CSG`s exploration expense increased to US$563 million as the      
business commenced a multi year drilling campaign.                              
Expenditure on business development was US$195 million lower than the           
corresponding period. This was mainly due to reduced activity in the Base       
Metals and Stainless Steel Materials CSGs.                                      
Other                                                                           
Other items decreased Underlying EBIT by US$711 million, predominantly due      
to the influence of third party product sales and the fair value adjustment     
of derivative contracts.                                                        
Net finance costs                                                               
Net finance costs decreased to US$459 million from US$543 million in the        
corresponding period. This was primarily driven by higher levels of             
capitalised interest.                                                           
Taxation expense                                                                
The taxation expense including royalty-related taxation and tax on              
exceptional items was US$6,563 million. This represented an effective rate      
of 34 per cent on profit before tax including exceptional items of US$59        
million. Excluding the impacts of exceptional items, the taxation expense       
was US$6,504 million.                                                           
Exchange rate movements increased the taxation expense by US$106 million        
predominantly due to the revaluation of local currency tax liabilities and      
other monetary items which amounted to US$502 million. This was offset by       
the increase in the US dollar value of future tax depreciation of US$396        
million.                                                                        
Royalty-related taxation represents an effective rate of two per cent for       
the current period. Excluding the impacts of royalty-related taxation, the      
impact of exchange rate movements included in taxation expense and tax on       
exceptional items, the underlying effective rate was 31 per cent.               
Government imposed royalty arrangements which are calculated by reference to    
profits (revenue net of allowable deductions) after the adjustment for items    
comprising temporary differences, is reported as royalty-related taxation.      
Other royalty and excise arrangements which do not have these                   
characteristics are recognised as operating costs (US$1,653 million).           
Exceptional Items                                                               
On 22 February 2010 a settlement was reached in relation to the Pinal Creek     
(US) groundwater contamination which resulted in other parties taking on        
full responsibility for ground water remediation and partly funding the         
Group for past and future rehabilitation costs. As a result, a gain of          
US$186 million (US$53 million tax expense) has been recognised reflecting       
the release of rehabilitation provisions and cash received.                     
On 9 December 2009, the Group announced it had signed an agreement to sell      
the Ravensthorpe nickel operations. The sale was completed on 10 February       
2010. As a result of the sale, impairment charges recognised as exceptional     
items in the financial year ended 30 June 2009 have been partially reversed     
totalling US$611 million (US$183 million tax expense). In addition, certain     
obligations that remained with the Group were mitigated and related             
provisions released; together with minor net operating costs this resulted      
in a gain of US$42 million (US$13 million tax expense).                         
Continuing power supply constraints impacting the Group`s three Aluminium       
smelters in southern Africa, and temporary delays with the Guinea Alumina       
project, have given rise to charges for the impairment of property, plant       
and equipment and restructuring provisions. A total charge of US$298 million    
(US$12 million tax benefit) was recognised by the Group in the year ended 30    
June 2010.                                                                      
Renegotiation of long term power supply arrangements in southern Africa have    
impacted the value of embedded derivatives contained within those               
arrangements. A total charge of US$229 million (US$50 million tax benefit)      
was recognised by the Group in the year ended 30 June 2010.                     
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) issued amended assessments in prior        
years denying bad debt deductions arising from the investments in Hartley       
(Zimbabwe), Beenup and Boodarie Iron (both Australia) and the denial of         
capital allowance claims made on the Boodarie Iron project. BHP Billiton        
lodged objections and has been successful on all counts in the Federal Court    
and the Full Federal Court. The ATO has not sought to appeal the Boodarie       
Iron bad debt disallowance but has sought special leave to appeal to the        
High Court in relation to the Beenup bad debt disallowance and the denial of    
the capital allowance claims on the Boodarie Iron project. These outcomes       
have resulted in a release of US$128 million from the Group`s income tax        
provision. The special leave to appeal to the High Court is scheduled to be     
heard on 3 September 2010. The decision of the High Court at that time may      
result in an additional adjustment to the Group`s income tax provision.         
Year ended 30 June 2010                           GrossUS$M  TaxUS$M NetUS$M    
Exceptional items by category                                                   
Pinal Creek rehabilitation                              186     (53)     133    
Disposal of the Ravensthorpe nickel operation           653    (196)     457    
Restructuring of operations and deferral of           (298)       12   (286)    
projects                                                                        
Renegotiation of power supply agreements              (229)       50   (179)    
Release of income tax provisions                          -      128     128    
                                                       312     (59)     253     
Cash Flows                                                                      
Net operating cash flow after interest and tax decreased by five per cent to    
US$17,920 million. This was primarily driven by changes in working capital      
balances having a negative year on year impact on operating cash flow of        
US$4,780 million; offset by higher levels of cash generated from operations     
(before changes in working capital balances) of US$2,874 million, lower net     
tax and royalty-related tax payments of US$528 million and a tax refund of      
US$552 million.                                                                 
Capital and exploration expenditure totalled US$10,656 million for the          
period. Expenditure on major growth projects was US$7,655 million, including    
US$1,902 million on Petroleum projects and US$5,753 million on Minerals         
projects. Capital expenditure on sustaining and other items was US$1,668        
million. Exploration expenditure was US$1,333 million, including US$303         
million which has been capitalised.                                             
Cash flows from investing activities included acquisitions of US$508 million    
relating to Athabasca Potash Inc. of US$323 million and United Minerals         
Corporation NL of US$185 million.                                               
Financing cash flows include net debt repayments of US$485 million and          
dividend payments of US$4,618 million.                                          
Net debt, comprising cash and interest-bearing liabilities, was US$3,308        
million, a decrease of US$2,278 million, or 41 per cent, compared to 30 June    
2009. Net gearing, which is the ratio of net debt to net debt plus net          
assets, was six per cent at 30 June 2010, compared with 12 per cent at 30       
June 2009.                                                                      
Dividend                                                                        
BHP Billiton maintains a progressive dividend policy and our Board today        
declared a final dividend of 45 US cents per share. Together with the           
interim dividend of 42 US cents per share paid to shareholders on 23 March      
2010, this brings the total dividend for the year to 87 US cents per share.     
The dividend to be paid by BHP Billiton Limited will be fully franked for       
Australian taxation purposes. Dividends for the BHP Billiton Group are          
determined and declared in US dollars. However, BHP Billiton Limited            
dividends are mainly paid in Australian dollars, and BHP Billiton Plc           
dividends are mainly paid in pounds sterling and South African rand to          
shareholders on the UK section and the South African section of the             
register, respectively. Currency conversions will be based on the foreign       
currency exchange rates on the Record Date, except for the conversion into      
South African rand, which will take place on the last day to trade on JSE       
Limited, being 3 September 2010. Please note that all currency conversion       
elections must be registered by the Record Date, being 10 September 2010.       
Any currency conversion elections made after this date will not apply to        
this dividend.                                                                  
The timetable in respect of this dividend will be:                              
Last day to trade cum dividend on JSE Limited and currency conversion into      
rand - 3 September 2010                                                         
Ex-dividend Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and JSE Limited (JSE) - 6      
September 2010                                                                  
Ex-dividend London Stock Exchange (LSE) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) -    
8 September 2010                                                                
Record date (including currency conversion and currency election dates,         
except for rand) - 10 September 2010                                            
Payment date - 30 September 2010                                                
American Depositary Shares (ADSs) each represent two fully paid ordinary        
shares and receive dividends accordingly.                                       
BHP Billiton Plc shareholders registered on the South African section of the    
register will not be able to dematerialise or rematerialise their               
shareholdings between the dates of 6 and 10 September 2010, nor will            
transfers between the UK register and the South African register be             
permitted between the dates of 3 and 10 September 2010.                         
Details of the currency exchange rates applicable for the dividend will be      
announced to the relevant stock exchanges following conversion and will         
appear on the Group`s website.                                                  
Debt Management and Liquidity                                                   
No long term debt securities were issued in the debt capital markets during     
the year ended 30 June 2010. The Group has access to the US commercial paper    
market and an undrawn US$3.0 billion Revolving Credit Facility, which           
expires in October 2011. We have a strong liquidity position with US$12.5       
billion of cash on hand, and have maintained our solid A credit rating          
throughout the year.                                                            
Corporate Governance                                                            
On 4 August 2009, the Board announced that Mr Jac Nasser would succeed Mr       
Don Argus as Chairman when Mr Argus retires as Chairman and a Non-executive     
Director in early 2010. On 24 February 2010, the Board announced that Mr        
Argus would retire as Chairman and a Non-executive Director on 30 March 2010    
and Mr Nasser would assume the role of Chairman from that date.                 
Dr David Jenkins retired as a Non-executive Director with effect from the       
conclusion of the Annual General Meeting of BHP Billiton Limited on 26          
November 2009.                                                                  
On 24 November 2009, the Board announced the resignation of Dr David Morgan     
as a Non-executive Director with effect from that date.                         
On 29 January 2010, the Board announced the resignations of Mr Paul Anderson    
and Dr E Gail de Planque as Non-executive Directors with effect from 31         
January 2010 and the appointments of Mr Malcolm Broomhead and Ms Carolyn        
Hewson as Non-executive Directors with effect from 31 March 2010.               
CUSTOMER SECTOR GROUP SUMMARY                                                   
The following table provides a summary of the performance of the Customer       
Sector Groups for the year ended 30 June 2010 and the corresponding prior       
year.                                                                           
Year ended 30 June                      Revenue           Underlying EBIT(i)    
(US$M)                   2010   2009   Change %       2010   2009   Change %    
Petroleum                      7,211                        4,085               
                       8,782                22      4,573                12     
Aluminium                      4,151                          192               
                       4,353                 5        406               111     
Base Metals                    7,105                        1,292               
                      10,409                47      4,632               259     
Diamonds and                     896                          145               
Specialty Products      1,272                42        485               234    
Stainless Steel                2,355                        (854)        N/A    
Materials               3,617                54        668                      
Iron Ore                      10,048                        6,229               
                      11,139                11      6,001               (4)     
Manganese                      2,536                        1,349               
                       2,150              (15)        712              (47)     
Metallurgical Coal             8,087                        4,711               
                       6,059              (25)      2,053              (56)     
Energy Coal                    6,524                        1,460               
                       4,265              (35)        730              (50)     
Group and                      1,469        N/A             (395)        N/A    
unallocated               802                        (541)                      
items(ii)                                                                       
Less: inter-                   (171)        N/A          -      -        N/A    
segment revenue          (50)                                                   
BHP Billiton Group            50,211                       18,214               
                      52,798                 5     19,719                 8     
(i) Underlying EBIT includes trading activities comprising the sale of third    
party product. Underlying EBIT is reconciled to Profit from operations on       
page 5.                                                                         
(ii) Includes consolidation adjustments, unallocated items and external         
sales from the Group`s freight, transport and logistics operations.             
Petroleum                                                                       
Underlying EBIT was US$4,573 million, an increase of US$488 million, or 12      
per cent, compared to the prior year. The increase in underlying EBIT was       
primarily attributable to the growth in high margin crude volumes.              
Total production of 159 million barrels of oil equivalent was a record and      
an increase of 21 million barrels of oil equivalent compared to the previous    
year. The 15 per cent increase in production reflected strong performance       
from BHP Billiton operated Shenzi and Pyrenees, the latter being delivered      
on schedule during the period. In addition, improved reservoir performance      
from Atlantis (USA) and an absence of weather related interruptions             
supported the strong production result.                                         
Underlying EBIT also benefited from higher realised oil prices, which           
averaged US$73.05 per barrel for the year (compared with US$66.18 per           
barrel). The major offsetting factors were a lower average realised natural     
gas price of US$3.43 per thousand standard cubic feet (compared with US$3.57    
per thousand standard cubic feet) and a lower average realised liquefied        
natural gas price of US$9.07 per thousand standard cubic feet (compared with    
$12.07 per thousand standard cubic feet).                                       
Gross exploration expenditure was US$817 million, an increase of US$269         
million compared to last year (US$548 million), primarily from increased        
drilling activity in the Gulf of Mexico (USA), Canada, Malaysia, the            
Falklands and the Philippines. Several exploration wells were not commercial    
and resulted in an increase in exploration expense of US$163 million (US$563    
million compared to US$400 million in the prior year).                          
Drilling activities at Atlantis and Shenzi ceased during the June 2010          
quarter due to the drilling moratorium currently in place in the deepwater      
Gulf of Mexico. BHP Billiton continues to monitor and assess the impact of      
the six month suspension of certain permitting and drilling activities. All     
other drilling operations outside of the Gulf of Mexico progressed as           
planned. Underlying EBIT was impacted by a $59 million charge related to        
idle rig time in the Gulf of Mexico for operated rigs. This is part of BHP      
Billiton`s ongoing management of rig contracts which included negotiating       
revised terms for the rigs during the moratorium and will provide BHP           
Billiton with continued access to the rigs and experienced crews when the       
moratorium ceases.                                                              
Aluminium                                                                       
Underlying EBIT was US$406 million, an increase of US$214 million or 111 per    
cent over the prior financial year. Higher prices and premiums for aluminium    
had a favourable impact of US$253 million, which was partially offset by a      
US$19 million unfavourable impact of price-linked costs. The average LME        
aluminium price increased to US$2,018 per tonne (compared with US$1,862 per     
tonne). The average realised alumina price was US$291 per tonne for the year    
ended June 2010 (compared with US$286 per tonne).                               
Overall, operating costs were lower, mainly due to reduced raw material and     
energy costs. This was partially offset by a weaker US dollar against the       
Australian dollar and South African rand, and inflationary pressures in         
Australia, South Africa and Brazil.                                             
Lower operational losses from Suriname in the year ended June 2010 increased    
Underlying EBIT by US$68 million.                                               
Base Metals                                                                     
Underlying EBIT was US$4,632 million, an increase of US$3,340 million or 259    
per cent from the corresponding period. Higher average realised prices          
favourably impacted Underlying EBIT by US$3,977 million. Average realised       
prices for all of the key commodities in Base Metals, except uranium, were      
higher compared to last year.                                                   
Stronger production from Escondida following the successful repair of the       
Laguna Seca SAG mill contributed to higher earnings. However, that benefit      
was more than offset by lower copper sales due to the Clark Shaft incident      
at Olympic Dam and industrial disruptions at Spence.                            
The Clark Shaft accounts for approximately 75 per cent of Olympic Dam`s ore     
hoisting capacity. The incident impacted earnings by US$455 million but was     
partially offset by self insurance recoveries of US$297 million. The            
recommissioning of Olympic Dam`s Clark Shaft occurred during the final          
quarter of the year and has returned to full production.                        
Cost efficiency was favourably impacted by lower prices for key consumables     
including fuel and energy. This was offset by higher labour costs, including    
one-off bonus payments from collective labour negotiations completed during     
the year in the South American operations. Costs were also negatively           
impacted by the devaluation of the US dollar and inflation in Chile and         
Australia.                                                                      
At 30 June 2010 the Group had 236,584 tonnes of outstanding copper sales        
that were revalued at a weighted average price of US$2.96 per pound. The        
final price of these sales will be determined in the 2011 financial year. In    
addition, 234,871 tonnes of copper sales from the 2009 financial year were      
subject to a finalisation adjustment in 2010. The finalisation adjustment       
and provisional pricing impact as at 30 June 2010 increased earnings by         
US$303 million for the year (compared to a loss of US$936 million in the        
year ended June 2009).                                                          
Diamonds and Specialty Products                                                 
Underlying EBIT was US$485 million, an increase of US$340 million or 234 per    
cent over the corresponding period. Strong operating earnings at EKATI          
(Canada) resulted from higher volumes and realised diamond prices and lower     
unit costs, due to the continued emphasis on cost control. There was also a     
decrease in exploration expense of US$43 million mainly due to reduced          
diamonds exploration activity. Potash exploration expenditure of US$73          
million in Saskatchewan, Canada, was US$21 million lower for the year as the    
exploration work program for Jansen was completed in the corresponding          
period. Higher diamonds earnings were partially offset by a reduction in        
operating earnings in Titanium Minerals (South Africa) due to lower realised    
prices and higher energy costs.                                                 
Stainless Steel Materials                                                       
Underlying EBIT was US$668 million, an increase of US$1,522 million compared    
with the corresponding period. Higher average LME prices for nickel of          
US$8.81/lb (compared to US$6.03/lb) had a favourable impact on Underlying       
EBIT of US$1,171 million that was partly offset by a US$305 million             
unfavourable impact of price-linked costs.                                      
Proactive portfolio restructuring and ongoing improvements at the operating     
level also contributed to the strong result. Lower operational losses from      
Yabulu and Ravensthorpe in the year ended June 2010 increased Underlying        
EBIT by US$458 million.                                                         
The Nickel West Kalgoorlie Smelter furnace rebuild and concurrent               
maintenance at the Nickel West Kwinana Refinery (both Australia) in the         
prior period set the platform for record total production at Nickel West in     
the year ended June 2010. Ongoing cost saving initiatives and lower labour      
costs were offset by the devaluation in the US dollar and inflation.            
Underlying EBIT also benefited from lower exploration and business              
development expenditure.                                                        
Iron Ore                                                                        
Underlying EBIT was US$6,001 million, a decrease of US$228 million or four      
per cent compared with the corresponding period. Record production and sales    
were the major positive contributors, adding US$546 million to Underlying       
EBIT.                                                                           
Overall operating costs were unfavourably impacted by a weaker US dollar,       
general inflationary pressure and the ongoing ramp-up of Western Australia      
RGP4, reducing Underlying EBIT by US$759 million. In addition, a provision      
that relates to proposed amendments to the Western Australian State             
Agreements reduced Underlying EBIT by US$126 million.                           
For the 2010 financial year, 39 per cent of Western Australia Iron Ore          
shipments on a wet metric tonne basis were priced on annually agreed terms,     
with the remainder sold on a shorter term basis. During the second half of      
the financial year, the old benchmark pricing system was substantially          
replaced by shorter term market based, landed pricing. Our expectation is       
that future Western Australia Iron Ore shipments will be priced on this         
basis.                                                                          
Manganese                                                                       
Underlying EBIT was US$712 million, a decrease of US$637 million or 47 per      
cent compared with the corresponding period. The decline was directly           
attributable to lower realised prices which reduced Underlying EBIT by          
US$1,680 million. In comparison to the year ended June 2009, average            
realised prices for ore fell by 46 per cent and alloy prices fell by 43 per     
cent. Offsetting this was the positive impact of price-linked costs of          
US$261 million.                                                                 
The decrease in realised prices was partially offset by a demand driven rise    
in sales volumes that increased Underlying EBIT by US$799 million. Local        
operating costs were well controlled throughout the year although the           
impacts of inflation and a weaker US dollar mitigated any benefit.              
All Manganese assets were running at full supply chain capacity at the end      
of the June 2010 quarter.                                                       
Metallurgical Coal                                                              
Underlying EBIT was US$2,053 million, a decrease of US$2,658 million or 56      
per cent from the corresponding period. The decrease was mainly due to lower    
realised prices for hard coking coal (34 per cent), weak coking coal (33 per    
cent), and thermal coal (11 per cent). This was partly offset by a reduction    
in price-linked costs.                                                          
Record annual sales volumes were delivered despite wet weather disruptions      
in Queensland in the March 2010 quarter. Production for the year was higher     
due to improved operational and supply chain performance, supported by          
strong demand.                                                                  
Operating costs were well controlled. However a weaker US dollar and            
inflationary pressure had an unfavourable impact of US$632 million on           
Underlying EBIT.                                                                
As with iron ore, the old benchmark system was substantially replaced by        
shorter term market based pricing. For the year ended June 2010, 34 per cent    
of metallurgical coal shipments were priced on a shorter term basis. The        
majority of product sold in the June 2010 quarter was priced in this manner.    
Energy Coal                                                                     
Underlying EBIT was US$730 million, a decrease of US$730 million or 50 per      
cent from the corresponding period. This was mainly due to lower average        
export prices which decreased earnings by US$535 million, offset by a US$76     
million benefit related to price-linked costs. Dissolution of the Douglas       
Tavistock Joint Venture arrangement favourably impacted Underlying EBIT in      
the period.                                                                     
Production was in line with the previous year with a 10 per cent increase in    
export sales attributable to the continued ramp up of the Klipspruit (South     
Africa) expansion and record production at Mt Arthur (Australia). Weaker        
production at New Mexico Coal (USA) reflected a downturn in demand from the     
dedicated power generators. Operating costs were well controlled despite the    
adverse impacts of a weaker US dollar and inflation.                            
Group and Unallocated items                                                     
Underlying EBIT was a loss of US$541 million. Self insurance claims related     
to the Clark Shaft incident at Olympic Dam decreased Underlying EBIT by         
US$297 million. A weaker US dollar had an unfavourable impact on Underlying     
EBIT of US$140 million.                                                         
The following notes explain the terms used throughout this profit release:      
(1) Underlying EBIT margin excludes the impact of third party product           
activities.                                                                     
(2) Underlying EBIT is earnings before net finance costs and taxation and       
any exceptional items. Underlying EBITDA is Underlying EBIT before              
depreciation, impairments and amortisation of US$4,794 million (excluding       
exceptional items of US$319 million) for the year ended 30 June 2010 and        
US$4,061 million for the year ended 30 June 2009 (excluding exceptional         
items of US$4,450 million). We believe that Underlying EBIT and Underlying      
EBITDA provide useful information, but should not be considered as an           
indication of, or alternative to, Attributable profit as an indicator of        
operating performance or as an alternative to cash flow as a measure of         
liquidity.                                                                      
(3) Underlying EBIT is used to reflect the underlying performance of BHP        
Billiton`s operations. Underlying EBIT is reconciled to Profit from             
operations on page 5.                                                           
(4) Net operating cash flows are after net interest and taxation.               
(5) Net interest includes interest capitalised and excludes the effect of       
discounting on provisions and other liabilities, fair value change on hedged    
loans, fair value change on hedging derivatives, exchange variations on net     
debt and expected return on pension scheme assets.                              
(6) Unless otherwise stated, production volumes exclude suspended and sold      
operations.                                                                     
Forward-looking statements: Certain statements in this release are forward-     
looking statements within the meaning of the US Private Securities              
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the cost and      
timing of development projects, future production volumes, increases in         
production and infrastructure capacity, the identification of additional        
mineral Reserves and Resources and project lives and, without limitation,       
other statements typically containing words such as "intends," "expects,"       
"anticipates," "targets," plans," "estimates" and words of similar import.      
These statements are based on current expectations and beliefs and numerous     
assumptions regarding BHP Billiton`s present and future business strategies     
and the environments in which BHP Billiton will operate in the future and       
such assumptions, expectations and beliefs may or may not prove to be           
correct and by their nature, are subject to a number of known and unknown       
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance and        
achievements to differ materially.                                              
Factors that could cause actual results or performance to differ materially     
from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements include,      
but are not limited to, the risk factors discussed in BHP Billiton`s filings    
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") (including in          
Annual Reports on Form 20-F) which are available at the SEC`s website           
(http://www.sec.gov). BHP Billiton undertakes no duty to update any forward-    
looking statements in this release.                                             
This release is for information purposes only and should not be construed as    
either an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell            
securities in any jurisdiction.                                                 
The offer to purchase all of the issued and outstanding common shares of        
PotashCorp (the "Offer") is being made by BHP Billiton Development 2            
(Canada) Limited (the "Offeror"), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of BHP    
Billiton Plc. This document is for information purposes only and does not       
constitute or form part of any offer to purchase or any solicitation of any     
offer to sell PotashCorp`s common shares. The Offer (as the same may be         
varied or extended in accordance with applicable law) is being made             
exclusively by means of, and subject to the terms and conditions set out in,    
the offer and the circular, the letter of transmittal, the notice of            
guaranteed delivery and other related tender offer materials (the "Offer        
Materials"). In connection with the Offer, the Offeror, BHP Billiton Limited    
and BHP Billiton Plc have filed with the Canadian securities regulatory         
authorities the Offer Materials and have filed with the U.S. Securities and     
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO (the    
"Schedule TO"), including the Offer Materials.                                  
THE OFFER MATERIALS AND THE SCHEDULE TO, AS THEY MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO    
TIME, CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION, INCLUDING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF      
THE OFFER, THAT SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE ANY DECISION IS MADE WITH       
RESPECT TO THE OFFER. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS MAY OBTAIN A FREE COPY     
OF THE OFFER MATERIALS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED BY THE OFFEROR, BHP            
BILLITON LIMITED AND BHP BILLITON PLC WITH THE SEC AT THE WEBSITE MAINTAINED    
BY THE SEC AT WWW.SEC.GOV AND WITH THE CANADIAN SECURITIES REGULATORY           
AUTHORITIES AT WWW.SEDAR.COM. MATERIALS FILED WITH THE SEC OR THE CANADIAN      
SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITIES MAY BE OBTAINED WITHOUT CHARGE AT BHP         
BILLITON`S WEBSITE, WWW.BHPBILLITON.COM, OR BY CONTACTING THE INFORMATION       
AGENTS FOR THE OFFER, MACKENZIE PARTNERS, INC. AND KINGSDALE SHAREHOLDER        
SERVICES INC., BY PHONE AT 1-800-322-2885 AND 1-866-851-3215, RESPECTIVELY,     
OR BY EMAIL AT potash@mackenziepartners.com, AND                                
contactus@kingsdaleshareholder.com, RESPECTIVELY.                               
While the Offer is being made to all holders of PotashCorp common shares,       
the Offer is not being made or directed to, nor will deposits of PotashCorp     
common shares be accepted from or on behalf of, holders of PotashCorp common    
shares in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance of the Offer       
would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction. However, the     
Offeror may, in its sole discretion, take such action as it may deem            
necessary to extend the Offer in any such jurisdiction.                         
****                                                                            
Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site:          
www.bhpbilliton.com                                                             
Australia                                                                       
Brendan Harris, Investor Relations                                              
Tel: +61 3 9609 4323  Mobile: +61 437 134 814                                   
email: Brendan.Harris@bhpbilliton.com                                           
Leng Lau, Investor Relations                                                    
Tel: +61 3 9609 4202  Mobile: +61 403 533 706                                   
email: Leng.Y.Lau@bhpbilliton.com                                               
Amanda Buckley, Media Relations                                                 
Tel: +61 3 9609 2209  Mobile: +61 419 801 349                                   
email: Amanda.Buckley@bhpbilliton.com                                           
Kelly Quirke, Media Relations                                                   
Tel: +61 3 9609 2896  Mobile: +61 429 966 312                                   
email: Kelly.Quirke@bhpbilliton.com                                             
Fiona Martin, Media Relations                                                   
Tel: +61 3 9609 2211  Mobile: +61 427 777 908                                   
email: Fiona.Martin2@bhpbilliton.com                                            
United Kingdom & South Africa                                                   
Andre Liebenberg, Investor Relations                                            
Tel: +44 20 7802 4131  Mobile: +44 7920 236 974                                 
email: Andre.Liebenberg@bhpbilliton.com                                         
Illtud Harri, Media Relations                                                   
Tel: +44 20 7802 4195  Mobile: +44 7920 237 246                                 
email: Illtud.Harri@bhpbilliton.com                                             
Americas                                                                        
Scott Espenshade, Investor Relations                                            
Tel: +1 713 599 6431   Mobile: +1 713 208 8565                                  
email: Scott.Espenshade@bhpbilliton.com                                         
Ruban Yogarajah, Media Relations                                                
Tel: US +1 713 966 2907 or UK +44 20 7802 4033                                  
Mobile: UK +44 7827 082 022                                                     
email: Ruban.Yogarajah@bhpbilliton.com                                          
BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077                                         
Registered in Australia                                                         
Registered Office: 180 Lonsdale Street                                          
Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia                                               
Tel +61 1300 55 4757 Fax +61 3 9609 3015                                        
BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209                                    
Registered in England and Wales                                                 
Registered Office: Neathouse Place                                              
London SW1V 1BH United Kingdom                                                  
Tel +44 20 7802 4000 Fax +44 20 7802 4111                                       
Members of the BHP Billiton group which is headquartered in Australia           
BHP BILLITON GROUP                                                              
FINANCIAL INFORMATION                                                           
For the year ended 30 June 2010                                                 
Contents                                                                        
Financial Information                                                           
Consolidated Income Statement                                                   
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income                                  
Consolidated Balance Sheet                                                      
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement                                                
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity                                     
Notes to the Financial Information                                              
The financial information included in this document for the year ended 30       
June 2010 is unaudited and has been derived from the draft financial report     
of the BHP Billiton Group for the year ended 30 June 2010. The financial        
information does not constitute the Group`s full financial statements for       
the year ended 30 June 2010, which will be approved by the Board, reported      
on by the auditors, and subsequently filed with the UK Registrar of             
Companies and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.             
The financial information set out on pages 19 to 35 for the year end 30 June    
2010 has been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies consistent       
with those applied in the 30 June 2009 financial statements contained within    
the Annual Report of the BHP Billiton Group, except for the following           
standards and interpretations which have been adopted for the year ended 30     
June 2010:                                                                      
* Amendment to IFRS 2/AASB 2 `Share-based Payment` which modifies the           
definition of vesting conditions and broadens the scope of accounting for       
cancellations of share-based payment arrangements.                              
* Amendment to IFRS 3/AASB 3 `Business Combinations`. This amendment            
modifies the application of acquisition accounting for business                 
combinations. Associated amendments to IAS 27/AASB 127 `Consolidated and        
Separate Financial Statements` change the accounting for non-controlling        
interests.                                                                      
* IFRS 8/AASB 8 `Operating Segments` which requires segment information to      
be determined on the same basis used for reporting to senior management.        
Segment results are therefore presented exclusive of exceptional items.         
* `Improvements to IFRSs 2008`/AASB 2008-5 `Amendments to Australian            
Accounting Standards arising from the Annual Improvements Project` and AASB     
2008-6 `Further Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from      
the Annual Improvements Project` include a collection of minor amendments to    
IFRS.                                                                           
*IFRIC 18 `Transfers of Assets from Customers` which provides guidance on       
how to account for items of property, plant and equipment received from         
customers, or cash received from customers to acquire/construct specific        
assets that will be used to supply goods or services.                           
The adoption of these standards did not have a material impact on the           
financial statements of the Group.                                              
As a result of the Group applying IAS 1/AASB 101 `Presentation of Financial     
Statements` (revised from 1 July 2009), the financial information includes a    
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (which replaces the              
Consolidated Statement of Recognised Income and Expenses) and a Consolidated    
Statement of Changes in Equity.                                                 
The comparative figures for the financial years ended 30 June 2009 and 30       
June 2008 are not the statutory accounts of the BHP Billiton Group for those    
financial years. Those accounts have been reported on by the company`s          
auditors and delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The reports of the        
auditors were (i) unqualified, (ii) did not include a reference to any          
matters to which the auditors drew attention by way of emphasis without         
qualifying their report and (iii) did not contain a statement under Section     
498(2) or (3) of the UK Companies Act 2006.                                     
All amounts are expressed in US dollars unless otherwise stated. The BHP        
Billiton Group`s presentation currency and the functional currency of the       
majority of its operations is US dollars as this is the principal currency      
of the economic environment in which it operates.                               
Where applicable, comparative figures have been adjusted to disclose them on    
the same basis as the current period figures. Amounts in this financial         
information have, unless otherwise indicated, been rounded to the nearest       
million dollars.                                                                
Consolidated Income Statement                                                   
for the year ended 30 June 2010                                                 
                                    Notes        Year       Year       Year     
ended30      ended      ended     
                                                 June    30 June    30 June     
                                             2010US$M   2009US$M   2008US$M     
Revenue                                                                         
Group production                                48,193     44,113     51,918    
Third party products                 1           4,605      6,098      7,555    
Revenue                              1          52,798     50,211     59,473    
Other income                                       528        589        648    
Expenses excluding net finance costs          (33,295)   (38,640)   (35,976)    
Profit from operations                          20,031     12,160     24,145    
Comprising:                                                                     
Group production                                19,920     11,657     24,529    
Third party products                               111        503      (384)    
                                               20,031     12,160     24,145     
Financial income                     4             215        309        293    
Financial expenses                   4           (674)      (852)      (955)    
Net finance costs                    4           (459)      (543)      (662)    
Profit before taxation                          19,572     11,617     23,483    
Income tax expense                             (6,112)    (4,784)    (6,798)    
Royalty-related taxation (net of                 (451)      (495)      (723)    
income tax benefit)                                                             
Total taxation expense               5         (6,563)    (5,279)    (7,521)    
Profit after taxation                           13,009      6,338     15,962    
Profit attributable to non-                        287        461        572    
controlling interests                                                           
Profit attributable to members of               12,722      5,877     15,390    
BHP Billiton Group                                                              
Earnings per ordinary share (basic)  6           228.6      105.6      275.3    
(US cents)                                                                      
Earnings per ordinary share          6           227.8      105.4      274.8    
(diluted) (US cents)                                                            
Dividends per ordinary share - paid  7            83.0       82.0       56.0    
during the period (US cents)                                                    
Dividends per ordinary share -       7            87.0       82.0       70.0    
declared in respect of the period                                               
(US cents)                                                                      
The accompanying notes form part of this financial information.                 
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income                                  
for the year ended 30 June 2010                                                 
                                          Year ended  Year ended       Year     
30 June     30 June      ended     
                                            2010US$M    2009US$M    30 June     
                                                                   2008US$M     
Profit after taxation                          13,009       6,338     15,962    
Other comprehensive income                                                      
Actuarial losses on pension and medical          (38)       (227)       (96)    
schemes                                                                         
Available for sale investments:                                                 
Net valuation gains/(losses) taken to             167           3       (76)    
equity                                                                          
Net valuation losses transferred to the             2          58          -    
income statement                                                                
Cash flow hedges:                                                               
(Losses)/gains taken to equity                   (15)         710      (383)    
Realised losses transferred to the income           2          22         73    
statement                                                                       
Unrealised gain transferred to the income           -        (48)          -    
statement                                                                       
Gains transferred to the initial carrying           -        (26)      (190)    
amount of hedged items                                                          
Exchange fluctuations on translation of             1          27       (21)    
foreign operations taken to equity                                              
Exchange fluctuations on translation of          (10)           -          -    
foreign operations transferred to the                                           
income statement                                                                
Tax recognised within other comprehensive         111       (253)        306    
income                                                                          
Other comprehensive income for the year           220         266      (387)    

Total comprehensive income                     13,229       6,604     15,575    
Attributable to non-controlling interests         294         458        571    
Attributable to members of BHP Billiton        12,935       6,146     15,004    
Group                                                                           
The accompanying notes form part of this financial information.                 
Consolidated Balance Sheet                                                      
as at 30 June 2010                                                              
30 June        30 June     
                                                        2010       2009US$M     
                                                        US$M                    
ASSETS                                                                          
Current assets                                                                  
Cash and cash equivalents                              12,456         10,833    
Trade and other receivables                             6,543          5,153    
Other financial assets                                    292            763    
Inventories                                             5,334          4,821    
Assets held for sale                                        -            213    
Current tax assets                                        189            424    
Other                                                     320            279    
Total current assets                                   25,134         22,486    
Non-current assets                                                              
Trade and other receivables                             1,381            762    
Other financial assets                                  1,510          1,543    
Inventories                                               343            200    
Property, plant and equipment                          55,576         49,032    
Intangible assets                                         687            661    
Deferred tax assets                                     4,053          3,910    
Other                                                     168            176    
Total non-current assets                               63,718         56,284    
Total assets                                           88,852         78,770    
LIABILITIES                                                                     
Current liabilities                                                             
Trade and other payables                                6,467          5,619    
Interest bearing liabilities                            2,191          1,094    
Liabilities held for sale                                   -            363    
Other financial liabilities                               511            705    
Current tax payable                                     1,685          1,931    
Provisions                                              1,899          1,887    
Deferred income                                           289            251    
Total current liabilities                              13,042         11,850    
Non-current liabilities                                                         
Trade and other payables                                  469            187    
Interest bearing liabilities                           13,573         15,325    
Other financial liabilities                               266            142    
Deferred tax liabilities                                4,320          3,038    
Provisions                                              7,433          7,032    
Deferred income                                           420            485    
Total non-current liabilities                          26,481         26,209    
Total liabilities                                      39,523         38,059    
Net assets                                             49,329         40,711    
EQUITY                                                                          
Share capital - BHP Billiton Limited                    1,227          1,227    
Share capital - BHP Billiton Plc                        1,116          1,116    
Treasury shares                                         (525)          (525)    
Reserves                                                1,906          1,305    
Retained earnings                                      44,801         36,831    
Total equity attributable to members of BHP            48,525         39,954    
Billiton Group                                                                  
Non-controlling interests                                 804            757    
Total equity                                           49,329         40,711    
The accompanying notes form part of this financial information.                 
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement                                                
for the year ended 30 June 2010                                                 
Year      Year      Year     
                                               ended 30  ended 30  ended 30     
                                                   June      June      June     
                                               2010US$M  2009US$M  2008US$M     
Operating activities                                                            
Profit before taxation                            19,572    11,617    23,483    
Adjustments for:                                                                
Non-cash exceptional items                         (255)     5,460       137    
Depreciation and amortisation expense              4,759     3,871     3,612    
Exploration and evaluation expense (excluding      1,030     1,009       859    
impairment)                                                                     
Net gain on sale of non-current assets             (114)      (38)     (129)    
Impairments of property, plant and equipment,         35       190       137    
financial assets and intangibles                                                
Employee share awards expense                        170       185        97    
Financial income and expenses                        459       543       662    
Other                                              (265)     (320)     (629)    
Changes in assets and liabilities:                                              
Trade and other receivables                      (1,713)     4,894   (4,255)    
Inventories                                        (571)     (116)   (1,313)    
Trade and other payables                             565     (847)     1,824    
Net other financial assets and liabilities          (90)     (769)       526    
Provisions and other liabilities                   (306)     (497)       137    
Cash generated from operations                    23,276    25,182    25,148    
Dividends received                                    20        30        51    
Interest received                                     99       205       169    
Interest paid                                      (520)     (519)     (799)    
Income tax refunded                                  552         -         -    
Income tax paid                                  (4,931)   (5,129)   (5,867)    
Royalty related taxation paid                      (576)     (906)     (885)    
Net operating cash flows                          17,920    18,863    17,817    
Investing activities                                                            
Purchases of property, plant and equipment       (9,323)   (9,492)   (7,558)    
Exploration expenditure (including amounts       (1,333)   (1,243)   (1,350)    
expensed)                                                                       
Purchase of intangibles                             (85)     (141)      (16)    
Investment in financial assets                     (152)      (40)     (166)    
Investment in subsidiaries, operations and         (508)     (286)     (154)    
jointly controlled entities, net of their                                       
cash                                                                            
Payment on sale of operations                      (156)     (126)         -    
Cash outflows from investing activities         (11,557)  (11,328)   (9,244)    
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and            132       164        43    
equipment                                                                       
Proceeds from sale of financial assets                34        96        59    
Proceeds from sale or partial sale of                376        17        78    
subsidiaries, operations and jointly                                            
controlled entities, net of their cash                                          
Net investing cash flows                        (11,015)  (11,051)   (9,064)    
Financing activities                                                            
Proceeds from interest bearing liabilities           567     7,323     7,201    
Proceeds from debt related instruments               103       354       342    
Repayment of interest bearing liabilities        (1,155)   (3,748)   (7,951)    
Proceeds from ordinary shares                         12        29        24    
Contributions from non-controlling interests         335         -         -    
Purchase of shares by Employee Share               (274)     (169)     (250)    
Ownership Plan Trusts                                                           
Share buy-back - BHP Billiton Plc                      -         -   (3,115)    
Dividends paid                                   (4,618)   (4,563)   (3,135)    
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests        (277)     (406)     (115)    
Net financing cash flows                         (5,307)   (1,180)   (6,999)    
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents          1,598     6,632     1,754    
Cash and cash equivalents, net of overdrafts,     10,831     4,173     2,398    
at beginning of year                                                            
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate              26        26        21    
changes on cash and cash equivalents                                            
Cash and cash equivalents, net of overdrafts,     12,455    10,831     4,173    
at end of year                                                                  
The accompanying notes form part of this financial information.                 
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity                                     
for the year ended 30 June 2010                                                 
For the year ended 30 June   Attributable to members of the BHP Billiton        
2010                         Group                                              
US$M                         Share capital         Share   Treasury Reserves    
                                    - BHP     capital -     shares              
                                 Billiton  BHP Billiton                         
Limited           Plc                         
Balance as at 1 July 2009            1,227         1,116      (525)    1,305    
Profit after taxation                    -             -          -        -    
Other comprehensive income:                                                     
Actuarial losses on pension              -             -          -        -    
and medical schemes                                                             
Net valuation gains on                   -             -          -      160    
available for sale                                                              
investments taken to equity                                                     
Net valuation gains on                   -             -          -        2    
available for sale                                                              
investments transferred to                                                      
the income statement                                                            
Losses on cash flow hedges               -             -          -     (15)    
taken to equity                                                                 
Realised losses on cash                  -             -          -        2    
flow hedges transferred to                                                      
the income statement                                                            
Exchange fluctuations on                 -             -          -        1    
translation of foreign                                                          
operations taken to equity                                                      
Exchange fluctuations on                 -             -          -     (10)    
translation of foreign                                                          
operations transferred to                                                       
the income statement                                                            
Tax recognised with other                -             -          -       57    
comprehensive income                                                            
Total comprehensive income               -             -          -      197    
Purchase of shares by ESOP               -             -      (274)        -    
Trusts net of employee                                                          
contributions                                                                   
Employee share awards                    -             -        274     (88)    
exercised following vesting                                                     
net of employee                                                                 
contributions                                                                   
Employee share awards                    -             -          -     (28)    
lapsed                                                                          
Accrued employee                         -             -          -      170    
entitlement for unvested                                                        
awards                                                                          
Issue of share options to                -             -          -       43    
non-controlling interests                                                       
Distribution to option                   -             -          -     (10)    
holders                                                                         
Dividends paid                           -             -          -        -    
Transactions with owners -               -             -          -      317    
contributed equity                                                              
Balance as at 30 June 2010           1,227         1,116      (525)    1,906    
For the year ended 30   Attributable to members of                              
June 2010               the BHP Billiton Group                                  
US$M                     Retained        Total equity          Non-    Total    
                        earnings     attributable to   controlling   equity     
members of BHP     interests              
                                      Billiton Group                            
Balance as at 1 July       36,831              39,954           757   40,711    
2009                                                                            
Profit after taxation      12,722              12,722           287   13,009    
Other comprehensive                                                             
income:                                                                         
Actuarial losses on          (38)                (38)             -     (38)    
pension and medical                                                             
schemes                                                                         
Net valuation gains on          -                 160             7      167    
available for sale                                                              
investments taken to                                                            
equity                                                                          
Net valuation gains on          -                   2             -        2    
available for sale                                                              
investments transferred                                                         
to the income statement                                                         
Losses on cash flow             -                (15)             -     (15)    
hedges taken to equity                                                          
Realised losses on cash         -                   2             -        2    
flow hedges transferred                                                         
to the income statement                                                         
Exchange fluctuations           -                   1             -        1    
on translation of                                                               
foreign operations                                                              
taken to equity                                                                 
Exchange fluctuations           -                (10)             -     (10)    
on translation of                                                               
foreign operations                                                              
transferred to the                                                              
income statement                                                                
Tax recognised with            54                 111             -      111    
other comprehensive                                                             
income                                                                          
Total comprehensive        12,738              12,935           294   13,229    
income                                                                          
Purchase of shares by           -               (274)             -    (274)    
ESOP Trusts net of                                                              
employee contributions                                                          
Employee share awards       (178)                   8             -        8    
exercised following                                                             
vesting net of employee                                                         
contributions                                                                   
Employee share awards          28                   -             -        -    
lapsed                                                                          
Accrued employee                -                 170             -      170    
entitlement for                                                                 
unvested awards                                                                 
Issue of share options          -                  43            16       59    
to non-controlling                                                              
interests                                                                       
Distribution to option          -                (10)           (6)     (16)    
holders                                                                         
Dividends paid            (4,618)             (4,618)         (277)  (4,895)    
Transactions with               -                 317            20      337    
owners - contributed                                                            
equity                                                                          
Balance as at 30 June      44,801              48,525           804   49,329    
2010                                                                            
The accompanying notes form part of this financial information.                 
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity                                     
for the year ended 30 June 2010 (continued)                                     
For the year ended 30 June  Attributable to members of the BHP Billiton         
2009                        Group                                               
US$M                         Share capital         Share   Treasury Reserves    
                                    - BHP     capital -     shares              
                                 Billiton  BHP Billiton                         
Limited           Plc                         
Balance as at 1 July 2008            1,227         1,116      (514)      750    
Profit after taxation                    -             -          -        -    
Other comprehensive income:                                                     
Actuarial losses on pension              -             -          -        -    
and medical schemes                                                             
Net valuation gains on                   -             -          -        3    
available for sale                                                              
investments taken to equity                                                     
Net valuation gains on                   -             -          -       58    
available for sale                                                              
investments transferred to                                                      
the income statement                                                            
Gains on cash flow hedges                -             -          -      710    
taken to equity                                                                 
Realised losses on cash                  -             -          -       22    
flow hedges transferred to                                                      
the income statement                                                            
Unrealised gain on cash                  -             -          -     (48)    
flow hedges transferred to                                                      
the income statement                                                            
Gains on cash flow hedges                -             -          -     (26)    
transferred to initial                                                          
carrying amount of hedged                                                       
items                                                                           
Exchange fluctuations on                 -             -          -       27    
translation of foreign                                                          
operations taken to equity                                                      
Tax recognised within other              -             -          -    (342)    
comprehensive income                                                            
Total comprehensive income               -             -          -      404    
Purchase of shares by ESOP               -             -      (169)        -    
Trusts net of employee                                                          
contributions                                                                   
Employee share awards                    -             -        158     (34)    
exercised following vesting                                                     
net of employee                                                                 
contributions                                                                   
Accrued employee                         -             -          -      185    
entitlement for unvested                                                        
awards                                                                          
Dividends paid                           -             -          -        -    
Transactions with owners -               -             -          -        -    
contributed equity                                                              
Balance as at 30 June 2009           1,227         1,116      (525)    1,305    
For the year ended 30    Attributable to members of                             
June 2009                  the BHP Billiton Group                               
US$M                     Retained        Total equity          Non-    Total    
earnings     attributable to   controlling   equity     
                                      members of BHP     interests              
                                      Billiton Group                            
Balance as at 1 July       35,756              38,335           708   39,043    
2008                                                                            
Profit after taxation       5,877               5,877           461    6,338    
Other comprehensive                                                             
income:                                                                         
Actuarial losses on         (224)               (224)           (3)    (227)    
pension and medical                                                             
schemes                                                                         
Net valuation gains on          -                   3             -        3    
available for sale                                                              
investments taken to                                                            
equity                                                                          
Net valuation gains on          -                  58             -       58    
available for sale                                                              
investments                                                                     
transferred to the                                                              
income statement                                                                
Gains on cash flow              -                 710             -      710    
hedges taken to equity                                                          
Realised losses on              -                  22             -       22    
cash flow hedges                                                                
transferred to the                                                              
income statement                                                                
Unrealised gain on              -                (48)             -     (48)    
cash flow hedges                                                                
transferred to the                                                              
income statement                                                                
Gains on cash flow              -                (26)             -     (26)    
hedges transferred to                                                           
initial carrying                                                                
amount of hedged items                                                          
Exchange fluctuations           -                  27             -       27    
on translation of                                                               
foreign operations                                                              
taken to equity                                                                 
Tax recognised within          89               (253)             -    (253)    
other comprehensive                                                             
income                                                                          
Total comprehensive         5,742               6,146           458    6,604    
income                                                                          
Purchase of shares by           -               (169)             -    (169)    
ESOP Trusts net of                                                              
employee contributions                                                          
Employee share awards       (104)                  20             -       20    
exercised following                                                             
vesting net of                                                                  
employee contributions                                                          
Accrued employee                -                 185             -      185    
entitlement for                                                                 
unvested awards                                                                 
Dividends paid            (4,563)             (4,563)         (406)  (4,969)    
Transactions with               -                   -           (3)      (3)    
owners - contributed                                                            
equity                                                                          
Balance as at 30 June      36,831              39,954           757   40,711    
2009                                                                            
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity                                     
for the year ended 30 June 2010 (continued)                                     
For the year ended 30 June  Attributable to members of the BHP Billiton         
2008                        Group                                               
US$M                        Share capital          Share   Treasury Reserves    
- BHP      capital -     shares              
                                Billiton   BHP Billiton                         
                                 Limited            Plc                         
Balance as at 1 July 2007           1,221          1,183    (1,457)      991    
Profit after taxation                   -              -          -        -    
Other comprehensive                                                             
income:                                                                         
Actuarial losses on                     -              -          -        -    
pension and medical                                                             
schemes                                                                         
Net valuation losses on                 -              -          -     (76)    
available for sale                                                              
investments taken to                                                            
equity                                                                          
Losses on cash flow hedges              -              -          -    (383)    
taken to equity                                                                 
Realised losses on cash                 -              -          -       73    
flow hedges transferred to                                                      
the income statement                                                            
Gains on cash flow hedges               -              -          -    (190)    
transferred to initial                                                          
carrying amount of hedged                                                       
items                                                                           
Exchange fluctuations on                -              -          -     (21)    
translation of foreign                                                          
operations taken to equity                                                      
Tax recognised within                   -              -          -      229    
other comprehensive income                                                      
Total comprehensive income              -              -          -    (368)    
Exercise of Employee Share              6              -          -        -    
Plan Options                                                                    
BHP Billiton Plc shares                 -           (67)          -       67    
bought back and cancelled                                                       
Purchase of shares by ESOP              -              -      (250)        -    
Trusts net of employee                                                          
contributions                                                                   
Employee share awards                   -              -        260     (37)    
exercised following                                                             
vesting net of employee                                                         
contributions                                                                   
Shares bought back                      -              -    (3,075)        -    
Shares cancelled                        -              -      4,008        -    
Accrued employee                        -              -          -       97    
entitlement for unvested                                                        
awards                                                                          
Dividends paid                          -              -          -        -    
Transactions with owners -              -              -          -        -    
contributed equity                                                              
Balance as at 30 June 2008          1,227          1,116      (514)      750    
For the year ended 30  Attributable to members of                               
June 2008              the BHP Billiton Group                                   
US$M                     Retained        Total equity          Non-    Total    
earnings     attributable to   controlling   equity     
                                      members of BHP     interests              
                                      Billiton Group                            
Balance as at 1 July       27,729              29,667           251   29,918    
2007                                                                            
Profit after taxation      15,390              15,390           572   15,962    
Other comprehensive                                                             
income:                                                                         
Actuarial losses on          (95)                (95)           (1)     (96)    
pension and medical                                                             
schemes                                                                         
Net valuation losses            -                (76)             -     (76)    
on available for sale                                                           
investments taken to                                                            
equity                                                                          
Losses on cash flow             -               (383)             -    (383)    
hedges taken to equity                                                          
Realised losses on              -                  73             -       73    
cash flow hedges                                                                
transferred to the                                                              
income statement                                                                
Gains on cash flow              -               (190)             -    (190)    
hedges transferred to                                                           
initial carrying                                                                
amount of hedged items                                                          
Exchange fluctuations           -                (21)             -     (21)    
on translation of                                                               
foreign operations                                                              
taken to equity                                                                 
Tax recognised within          77                 306             -      306    
other comprehensive                                                             
income                                                                          
Total comprehensive        15,372              15,004           571   15,575    
income                                                                          
Exercise of Employee            -                   6             -        6    
Share Plan Options                                                              
BHP Billiton Plc                -                   -             -        -    
shares bought back and                                                          
cancelled                                                                       
Purchase of shares by           -               (250)             -    (250)    
ESOP Trusts net of                                                              
employee contributions                                                          
Employee share awards       (204)                  19             -       19    
exercised following                                                             
vesting net of                                                                  
employee contributions                                                          
Shares bought back              -             (3,075)             -  (3,075)    
Shares cancelled          (4,008)                   -             -        -    
Accrued employee                -                  97             -       97    
entitlement for                                                                 
unvested awards                                                                 
Dividends paid            (3,133)             (3,133)         (113)  (3,246)    
Transactions with               -                   -           (1)      (1)    
owners - contributed                                                            
equity                                                                          
Balance as at 30 June      35,756              38,335           708   39,043    
2008                                                                            
Notes to the Financial Information                                              
1.Segment reporting                                                             
Business segments                                                               
The Group operates nine Customer Sector Groups aligned with the commodities     
which we extract and market, reflecting the structure used by the Group`s       
management to assess the performance of the Group:                              
Customer Sector Group  Principal activities                                     
Petroleum              Exploration, development and production of oil and       
                      gas                                                       
Aluminium              Mining of bauxite, refining of bauxite into alumina      
                      and smelting of alumina into aluminium metal              
Base Metals            Mining of copper, silver, lead, zinc, molybdenum,        
                      uranium and gold                                          
Diamonds and           Mining of diamonds and titanium minerals; potash         
Specialty Products     development                                              
Stainless Steel        Mining and production of nickel products                 
Materials                                                                       
Iron Ore               Mining of iron ore                                       
Manganese              Mining of manganese ore and production of manganese      
metal and alloys                                          
Metallurgical Coal     Mining of metallurgical coal                             
Energy Coal            Mining of thermal (energy) coal                          
Group and unallocated items represent Group centre functions and certain        
comparative data for divested assets and investments. Exploration and           
technology activities are recognised within relevant segments.                  
It is the Group`s policy that inter-segment sales are made on a commercial      
basis.                                                                          
1.Segment reporting (continued)                                                 
US$M                Petroleum Aluminium    Base   Diamonds  Stainless   Iron    
                                        Metals        and      Steel    Ore     
                                                Specialty  Materials            
Products                       
Year ended 30 June                                                              
2010                                                                            
Revenue                                                                         
Group production        8,682     2,948   9,528      1,272      3,311 10,964    
Third party                86     1,405     881          -        306     67    
products                                                                        
Rendering of                3         -       -          -          -     69    
services                                                                        
Inter-segment              11         -       -          -          -     39    
revenue                                                                         
Total revenue (a)       8,782     4,353  10,409      1,272      3,617 11,139    
Underlying EBITDA       6,571       684   5,393        648      1,085  6,496    
(b)                                                                             
Depreciation and      (1,998)     (278)   (729)      (163)      (427)  (495)    
amortisation                                                                    
Impairment                                                                      
(losses)/reversals          -         -    (32)          -         10      -    
recognised                                                                      
Underlying EBIT         4,573       406   4,632        485        668  6,001    
(b)                                                                             
Comprising:                                                                     
Group production        4,570       393   4,639        485        646  6,003    
Third party                 3        13     (7)          -         22    (2)    
products                                                                        
Underlying EBIT         4,573       406   4,632        485        668  6,001    
(b)                                                                             
Net finance costs                                                               
Exceptional items                                                               
Profit before                                                                   
taxation                                                                        
Capital                 1,951     1,019     763        127        265  3,838    
expenditure                                                                     
Total assets           12,733     8,078  14,970      2,588      4,507 13,592    
Total liabilities       3,175     1,318   2,621        527      1,154  2,526    
US$M                Manganese  Metallurgical Energy      Group and       BHP    
Coal   Coal    unallocated  Billiton     
                                                           items/     Group     
                                                     eliminations               
Year ended 30 June                                                              
2010                                                                            
Revenue                                                                         
Group production        2,143          6,019  3,214              -    48,081    
Third party                 7              -  1,051            802     4,605    
products                                                                        
Rendering of                -             40      -              -       112    
services                                                                        
Inter-segment               -              -      -           (50)         -    
revenue                                                                         
Total revenue (a)       2,150          6,059  4,265            752    52,798    
Underlying EBITDA         784          2,363    971          (482)    24,513    
(b)                                                                             
Depreciation and         (72)          (309)  (228)           (60)   (4,759)    
amortisation                                                                    
Impairment                                                                      
(losses)/reversals          -            (1)   (13)              1      (35)    
recognised                                                                      
Underlying EBIT           712          2,053    730          (541)    19,719    
(b)                                                                             
Comprising:                                                                     
Group production          717          2,053    642          (540)    19,608    
Third party               (5)              -     88            (1)       111    
products                                                                        
Underlying EBIT           712          2,053    730          (541)    19,719    
(b)                                                                             
Net finance costs                                                      (459)    
Exceptional items                                                        312    
Profit before                                                         19,572    
taxation                                                                        
Capital                   182            653    881             87     9,766    
expenditure                                                                     
Total assets            2,082          5,597  5,425         19,280    88,852    
Total liabilities         794          1,475  1,965         23,968    39,523    
(a) Revenue not attributable to reportable segments reflects sales of           
freight and fuel to third parties.                                              
(b) Underlying EBIT is earnings before net finance costs and taxation and       
any exceptional items. Underlying EBITDA is Underlying EBIT before              
depreciation, amortisation and impairments.                                     
1.Segment reporting (continued)                                                 
US$M                Petroleum Aluminium    Base   Diamonds  Stainless   Iron    
Metals        and      Steel    Ore     
                                                Specialty  Materials            
                                                 Products                       
Year ended 30 June                                                              
2009                                                                            
Revenue                                                                         
Group production        6,924     3,219   6,616        896      2,202  9,815    
Third party               192       932     488          -        112    132    
products                                                                        
Rendering of                6         -       -          -          -     61    
services                                                                        
Inter-segment              89         -       1          -         41     40    
revenue                                                                         
Total revenue (a)       7,211     4,151   7,105        896      2,355 10,048    
Underlying EBITDA       5,456       476   1,994        370      (366)  6,631    
(b)                                                                             
Depreciation and      (1,288)     (298)   (663)      (222)      (439)  (384)    
amortisation                                                                    
Impairment                                                                      
(losses)/reversals       (83)        14    (39)        (3)       (49)   (18)    
recognised                                                                      
Underlying EBIT         4,085       192   1,292        145      (854)  6,229    
(b)                                                                             
Comprising:                                                                     
Group production        4,081       202   1,326        145      (905)  6,022    
Third party                 4      (10)    (34)          -         51    207    
products                                                                        
Underlying EBIT         4,085       192   1,292        145      (854)  6,229    
(b)                                                                             
Net finance costs                                                               
Exceptional items                                                               
Profit before                                                                   
taxation                                                                        
Capital                 1,905       863   1,018        112        685  1,922    
expenditure                                                                     
Total assets           12,444     7,575  14,812      2,073      4,767  8,735    
Total liabilities       3,388     1,242   2,995        292      1,482  1,501    
US$M                Manganese  Metallurgical Energy      Group and       BHP    
                                       Coal   Coal    unallocated  Billiton     
                                                           items/     Group     
eliminations               
Year ended 30 June                                                              
2009                                                                            
Revenue                                                                         
Group production        2,473          7,988  3,830              -    43,963    
Third party                63             18  2,694          1,467     6,098    
products                                                                        
Rendering of                -             81      -              2       150    
services                                                                        
Inter-segment               -              -      -          (171)         -    
revenue                                                                         
Total revenue (a)       2,536          8,087  6,524          1,298    50,211    
Underlying EBITDA       1,397          4,988  1,676          (347)    22,275    
(b)                                                                             
Depreciation and         (48)          (277)  (210)           (42)   (3,871)    
amortisation                                                                    
Impairment                                                                      
(losses)/reversals          -              -    (6)            (6)     (190)    
recognised                                                                      
Underlying EBIT         1,349          4,711  1,460          (395)    18,214    
(b)                                                                             
Comprising:                                                                     
Group production        1,358          4,704  1,174          (396)    17,711    
Third party               (9)              7    286              1       503    
products                                                                        
Underlying EBIT         1,349          4,711  1,460          (395)    18,214    
(b)                                                                             
Net finance costs                                                      (543)    
Exceptional items                                                    (6,054)    
Profit before                                                         11,617    
taxation                                                                        
Capital                   279          1,562    876            114     9,336    
expenditure                                                                     
Total assets            1,454          4,929  4,555         17,426    78,770    
Total liabilities         571          1,249  2,004         23,335    38,059    
1.Segment reporting (continued)                                                 
US$M                Petroleum Aluminium    Base   Diamonds   Stainless  Iron    
                                        Metals        and       Steel   Ore     
                                                Specialty   Materials           
                                                 Products                       
Year ended 30 June                                                              
2008                                                                            
Revenue                                                                         
Group production        7,997     4,675  13,231        969       5,040 9,246    
Third party               254     1,071   1,543          -          48   108    
products                                                                        
Rendering of               10         -       -          -           -    63    
services                                                                        
Inter-segment             121         -       -          -           -    38    
revenue                                                                         
Total revenue (a)       8,382     5,746  14,774        969       5,088 9,455    
Underlying EBITDA       6,653     1,775   8,657        364       1,739 4,962    
(b)                                                                             
Depreciation and      (1,113)     (309)   (658)      (142)       (450) (331)    
amortisation                                                                    
Impairment                                                                      
(losses)/reversals       (55)       (1)    (10)       (33)        (14)     -    
recognised                                                                      
Underlying EBIT         5,485     1,465   7,989        189       1,275 4,631    
(b)                                                                             
Comprising:                                                                     
Group production        5,483     1,445   8,190        189       1,275 4,748    
Third party                 2        20   (201)          -           - (117)    
products                                                                        
Underlying EBIT         5,485     1,465   7,989        189       1,275 4,631    
(b)                                                                             
Net finance costs                                                               
Exceptional items                                                               
Profit before                                                                   
taxation                                                                        
Capital                 2,116       556     989        123       1,191 1,832    
expenditure                                                                     
Total assets           11,874     7,672  15,356      1,964       8,477 8,656    
Total liabilities       2,980     1,308   4,197        270       1,202 1,862    
US$M                Manganese  Metallurgical Energy      Group and       BHP    
                                       Coal   Coal    unallocated  Billiton     
items/     Group     
                                                     eliminations               
Year ended 30 June                                                              
2008                                                                            
Revenue                                                                         
Group production        2,844          3,818  3,921              -    51,741    
Third party                68             61  2,639          1,763     7,555    
products                                                                        
Rendering of                -             62      -             42       177    
services                                                                        
Inter-segment               -              -      -          (159)         -    
revenue                                                                         
Total revenue (a)       2,912          3,941  6,560          1,646    59,473    
Underlying EBITDA       1,692          1,209  1,326          (346)    28,031    
(b)                                                                             
Depreciation and         (48)          (272)  (241)           (48)   (3,612)    
amortisation                                                                    
Impairment                                                                      
(losses)/reversals          -              -   (28)              4     (137)    
recognised                                                                      
Underlying EBIT         1,644            937  1,057          (390)    24,282    
(b)                                                                             
Comprising:                                                                     
Group production        1,644            941  1,146          (395)    24,666    
Third party                 -            (4)   (89)              5     (384)    
products                                                                        
Underlying EBIT         1,644            937  1,057          (390)    24,282    
(b)                                                                             
Net finance costs                                                      (662)    
Exceptional items                                                      (137)    
Profit before                                                         23,483    
taxation                                                                        
Capital                   155            500    438             29     7,929    
expenditure                                                                     
Total assets            1,688          3,916  5,173         11,232    76,008    
Total liabilities         534          1,269  3,174         20,169    36,965    
1.Segment reporting (continued)                                                 
Geographical information                                                        
Revenue by location of customer                    2010       2009      2008    
                                                  US$M       US$M      US$M     
Australia                                         4,515      4,621     5,841    
United Kingdom                                    1,289      3,042     3,091    
Rest of Europe                                    8,554      7,764    11,258    
China                                            13,236      9,873    11,670    
Japan                                             5,336      7,138     6,885    
Other Asia                                        9,840      9,280    10,111    
North America                                     5,547      4,020     4,771    
South America                                     2,013      1,652     2,640    
Southern Africa                                   1,227      1,374     2,003    
Rest of world                                     1,241      1,447     1,203    
                                                52,798     50,211    59,473     
Non-current assets by location of assets (a)           2010     2009    2008    
US$M     US$M    US$M     
Australia                                            35,267   28,779  28,166    
United Kingdom                                          316      245     388    
North America                                         7,143    7,382   7,050    
South America                                         9,230    9,163   8,823    
Southern Africa                                       5,466    4,286   3,883    
Rest of world                                           733      976   1,084    
Unallocated assets                                    5,563    5,453   4,934    
63,718   56,284  54,328     
(a) Non-current assets attributed to geographical locations exclude deferred    
tax assets and other financial assets.                                          
2.Exceptional items                                                             
Exceptional items are those items where their nature or amount is considered    
material to the financial report.  Such items included within the Group         
profit for the period are detailed below.                                       
Year ended 30 June 2010                           GrossUS$M  TaxUS$M NetUS$M    
Exceptional items by category                                                   
Pinal Creek rehabilitation                              186     (53)     133    
Disposal of Ravensthorpe nickel operations              653    (196)     457    
Restructuring of operations and deferral of           (298)       12   (286)    
projects                                                                        
Renegotiation of power supply agreements              (229)       50   (179)    
Release of income tax provisions                          -      128     128    
                                                       312     (59)     253     
Pinal Creek rehabilitation:                                                     
On 22 February 2010 a settlement was reached in relation to the Pinal Creek     
(US) groundwater contamination which resulted in other parties taking on        
full responsibility for ground water remediation and partly funding the         
Group for past and future rehabilitation costs. As a result, a gain of          
US$186 million (US$53 million tax expense) has been recognised reflecting       
the release of rehabilitation provisions and cash received.                     
Disposal of Ravensthorpe nickel operations:                                     
On 9 December 2009, the Group announced it had signed an agreement to sell      
the Ravensthorpe nickel operations (Australia). The sale was completed on 10    
February 2010. As a result of the sale, impairment charges recognised as        
exceptional items in the financial year ended 30 June 2009 have been            
partially reversed totalling US$611 million (US$183 million tax expense). In    
addition, certain obligations that remained with the Group were mitigated       
and related provisions released; together with minor net operating costs        
this resulted in a gain of US$42 million (US$13 million tax expense).           
Restructuring of operations and deferral of projects:                           
Continuing power supply constraints impacting the Group`s three Aluminium       
smelters in southern Africa, and temporary delays with the Guinea Alumina       
project, have given rise to charges for the impairment of property, plant       
and equipment and restructuring provisions. A total charge of US$298 million    
(US$12 million tax benefit) was recognised by the Group in the year ended 30    
June 2010.                                                                      
Renegotiation of power supply arrangements:                                     
Renegotiation of long term power supply arrangements in southern Africa have    
impacted the value of embedded derivatives contained within those               
arrangements. A total charge of US$229 million (US$50 million tax benefit)      
was recognised by the Group in the year ended 30 June 2010.                     
Release of income tax provisions:                                               
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) issued amended assessments in prior        
years denying bad debt deductions arising from the investments in Hartley,      
Beenup and Boodarie Iron and the denial of capital allowance claims made on     
the Boodarie Iron project. BHP Billiton lodged objections and has been          
successful on all counts in the Federal Court and the Full Federal Court.       
The ATO has not sought to appeal the Boodarie Iron bad debt disallowance but    
has sought special leave to appeal to the High Court in relation to the         
Beenup bad debt disallowance and the denial of the capital allowance claims     
on the Boodarie Iron project. These outcomes have resulted in a release of      
US$128 million from the Group`s income tax provision. The special leave to      
appeal to the High Court is scheduled to be heard on 3 September 2010. The      
decision of the High Court at that time may result in an additional             
adjustment to the Group`s income tax provision.                                 
Year ended 30 June 2009                           GrossUS$M  TaxUS$M NetUS$M    
Exceptional items by category                                                   
Suspension of Ravensthorpe nickel operations        (3,615)    1,076 (2,539)    
Announced sale of Yabulu refinery                     (510)    (175)   (685)    
Withdrawal or sale of other operations                (665)     (23)   (688)    
Deferral of projects and restructuring of             (306)       86   (220)    
operations                                                                      
Newcastle steelworks rehabilitation                   (508)      152   (356)    
Lapsed offers for Rio Tinto                           (450)       93   (357)    
                                                   (6,054)    1,209 (4,845)     
Suspension of Ravensthorpe nickel operations:                                   
On 21 January 2009 the Group announced the suspension of operations at          
Ravensthorpe nickel operations and as a consequence stopped the processing      
of the mixed nickel cobalt hydroxide product at Yabulu (Australia). As a        
result, charges relating to impairment, increased provisions for contract       
cancellation, redundancy and other closure costs of US$3,615 million            
(US$1,076 million tax benefit) were recognised. This exceptional item did       
not include the loss from operations of Ravensthorpe nickel operations of       
US$173 million.                                                                 
Announced sale of Yabulu refinery:                                              
On 3 July 2009 the Group announced the sale of the Yabulu nickel operations.    
As a result, impairment charges of US$510 million (US$nil tax benefit) were     
recognised in addition to those recognised on suspension of the Ravensthorpe    
nickel operations. As a result of the sale, deferred tax assets of US$175       
million were no longer expected to be realised by the Group and were            
recognised as a charge to income tax expense. The remaining assets and          
liabilities of the Yabulu operations were classified as held for sale as at     
30 June 2009.                                                                   
Withdrawal or sale of other operations:                                         
As part of the Group`s regular review of the long term viability of             
operations, a total charge of US$665 million (US$23 million tax expense) was    
recognised primarily in relation to the decisions to cease development of       
the Maruwai Haju trial mine (Indonesia), sell the Suriname operations,          
suspend copper sulphide mining operations at Pinto Valley (US) and cease the    
pre-feasibility study at Corridor Sands (Mozambique). The remaining assets      
and liabilities of the Suriname operations were classified as held for sale     
as at 30 June 2009.                                                             
Deferral of projects and restructuring of operations:                           
As part of the Group`s regular review of the long term viability of             
continuing operations, a total charge of US$306 million (US$86 million tax      
benefit) was recognised primarily in relation to the deferral of expansions     
at the Nickel West operations (Australia), deferral of the Guinea Alumina       
project (Guinea) and the restructuring of the Bayside Aluminium Casthouse       
operations (South Africa).                                                      
Newcastle steelworks rehabilitation:                                            
The Group recognised a charge of US$508 million (US$152 million tax benefit)    
for additional rehabilitation obligations in respect of former operations at    
the Newcastle steelworks (Australia).  The increase in obligations related      
to changes in the estimated volume of sediment in the Hunter River requiring    
remediation and treatment, and increases in estimated treatment costs.          
Lapsed offers for Rio Tinto:                                                    
The Group`s offers for Rio Tinto lapsed on 27 November 2008 following the       
Board`s decision that it no longer believed that completion of the offers       
was in the best interests of BHP Billiton shareholders.  The Group incurred     
fees associated with the US$55 billion debt facility (US$156 million cost,      
US$31 million tax benefit), investment bankers`, lawyers` and accountants       
fees, printing expenses and other charges (US$294 million cost, US$62           
million tax benefit) in progressing this matter over the eighteen months up     
to the lapsing of the offers which were expensed in the year ended 30 June      
2009.                                                                           
Year ended 30 June 2008                            GrossUS$M TaxUS$M  NetUS$M   
Exceptional items by category                                                   
Recognition of benefit of tax losses in respect                                 
of the acquisition of WMC and consequent               (137)     159       22   
reduction in goodwill                                                           
                                                      (137)     159       22    
Recognition of benefit of tax losses in respect of the acquisition of WMC       
and consequent reduction in goodwill:                                           
Tax losses incurred by WMC Resources Ltd (WMC) were not recognised as a         
deferred tax asset on acquisition pending a ruling application to the           
Australian Taxation Office. The ruling was issued confirming the                
availability of those losses. This resulted in the recognition of a deferred    
tax asset (US$197 million) and consequential adjustment to deferred tax         
liabilities (US$38 million) through income tax expense at current exchange      
rates. As a further consequence, the Group recognised an expense for a          
corresponding reduction in goodwill measured at the exchange rate at the        
date of acquisition.                                                            
3.Interests in jointly controlled entities                                      
Major shareholdings  Ownership interest at BHP  Contribution to profit after    
in jointly            Billiton Group reporting                      taxation    
controlled entities                   date (a)                                  
                      2010%    2009%    2008%  2010US$M  2009US$M  2008US$M     
Mozal SARL              47.1     47.1     47.1         4        84       207    
Compania Minera        33.75    33.75    33.75       438       185       615    
Antamina SA                                                                     
Minera Escondida        57.5     57.5     57.5     2,175       422     3,930    
Limitada                                                                        
Samarco Mineracao         50       50       50       430       340       279    
SA                                                                              
Carbones del           33.33    33.33    33.33       172       243       183    
Cerrej?n LLC                                                                    
Other (b)                                          (145)       159        90    
Total                                              3,074     1,433     5,304    
(a) The ownership interest at the Group`s and the jointly controlled            
entity`s reporting date are the same. When the annual financial reporting       
date is different to the Group`s, financial information is obtained as at 30    
June in order to report on a basis consistent with the Group`s reporting        
date.                                                                           
(b) Includes the impairment of property, plant and equipment at the Guinea      
Alumina project (ownership interest 33.3 per cent, 2009: 33.3 per cent,         
2008: 33.3 per cent), the Group`s interest in the earnings of Richards Bay      
Minerals joint venture (ownership interest 37.76 per cent, 2009: 50 per         
cent; 2008: 50 per cent) and the results of other immaterial jointly            
controlled entities.                                                            
4.Net finance costs                                                             
                                                2010US$M  2009US$M 2008US$M     
Financial expenses                                                              
Interest on bank loans and overdrafts                  24        47       52    
Interest on all other borrowings                      460       527      670    
Finance lease and hire purchase interest               14        15       14    
Dividends on redeemable preference shares               -         1        1    
Discounting on provisions and other liabilities       359       315      310    
Discounting on post-retirement employee benefits      130       132      138    
Interest capitalised (a)                            (301)     (149)    (204)    
Fair value change on hedged loans                     131       390      259    
Fair value change on hedging derivatives            (138)     (377)    (257)    
Exchange variations on net debt                       (5)      (49)     (28)    
                                                     674       852      955     
Financial income                                                                
Interest income                                     (117)     (198)    (168)    
Expected return on pension scheme assets             (98)     (111)    (125)    
                                                   (215)     (309)    (293)     
Net finance costs                                     459       543      662    
(a) Interest has been capitalised at the rate of interest applicable to the     
specific borrowings financing the assets under construction or, where           
financed through general borrowings, at a capitalisation rate representing      
the average interest rate on such borrowings. For the year ended 30 June        
2010 the capitalisation rate was 3.5 per cent (2009: 4.25 per cent; 2008:       
5.0 per cent).                                                                  
5.Taxation                                                                      
2010US$M  2009US$M 2008US$M     
Taxation expense including royalty related                                      
taxation                                                                        
UK taxation expense                                   178       319      217    
Australian taxation expense                         3,798     3,158    3,397    
Overseas taxation expense                           2,587     1,802    3,907    
Total taxation expense                              6,563     5,279    7,521    
Total taxation expense including royalty related taxation and tax on            
exceptional items was US$6,563 million, representing an effective rate of       
33.5 per cent (2009: 45.4 per cent, 2008: 32.0 per cent). Excluding the         
impacts of exceptional items the taxation expense was US$6,504 million          
(2009: US$6,488 million; 2008: US$7,680 million).                               
Exchange rate movements increased taxation expense by US$106 million (2009:     
increase of US$444 million, 2008: decrease of US$229 million) predominantly     
due to the revaluation of local currency tax liabilities and other monetary     
items which amounted to US$502 million. This was offset by the increase in      
the US dollar value of future tax depreciation of US$396 million.               
Royalty-related taxation represents an effective rate of 2.3 per cent (2009:    
4.3 per cent, 2008: 3.1 per cent). Excluding the impacts of royalty-related     
taxation, the impact of exchange rate movements and tax on exceptional items    
the underlying effective rate was 30.9 per cent (2009: 31.4 per cent, 2008:     
30.4 per cent).                                                                 
6.Earnings per share                                                            
                                                         2010   2009   2008     
Basic earnings per ordinary share (US cents)             228.6  105.6  275.3    
Diluted earnings per ordinary share (US cents)           227.8  105.4  274.8    
Basic earnings per American Depositary Share (ADS) (US   457.2  211.2  550.6    
cents) (a)                                                                      
Diluted earnings per American Depositary Share (ADS)     455.6  210.8  549.6    
(US cents) (a)                                                                  
Basic earnings (US$M)                                   12,722  5,877 15,390    
Diluted earnings (US$M) (b)                             12,743  5,899 15,402    
The weighted average number of shares used for the purposes of calculating      
diluted earnings per share reconciles to the number used to calculate basic     
earnings per share as follows:                                                  
Weighted average number of shares           2010Million  2009Million    2008    
Million     
Basic earnings per ordinary share                 5,565        5,565   5,590    
denominator                                                                     
Shares and options contingently issuable             30           33      15    
under employee share ownership plans                                            
Diluted earnings per ordinary share               5,595        5,598   5,605    
denominator                                                                     
(a) Each American Depositary Share (ADS) represents two ordinary shares.        
(b) Diluted earnings are calculated after adding back dividend equivalent       
payments of US$21 million (2009: US$22 million; 2008: US$12 million) that       
would not be made if potential ordinary shares were converted to fully paid.    
7.Dividends                                                                     
2010US$M  2009US$M 2008US$M     
Dividends paid during the period                                                
BHP Billiton Limited                                2,787     2,754    1,881    
BHP Billiton Plc - Ordinary shares                  1,831     1,809    1,252    
- Preference shares (a)                                 -         -        -    
                                                   4,618     4,563    3,133     
Dividends declared in respect of the period                                     
BHP Billiton Limited                                2,921     2,754    2,351    
BHP Billiton Plc - Ordinary shares                  1,920     1,809    1,545    
- Preference shares (a)                                 -         -        -    
                                                   4,841     4,563    3,896     
                                              2010US     2009US      2008US     
cents      cents       cents     
Dividends paid during the period (per                                           
share)                                                                          
Prior year final dividend                        41.0       41.0        27.0    
Interim dividend                                 42.0       41.0        29.0    
                                                83.0       82.0        56.0     
Dividends declared in respect of the                                            
period (per share)                                                              
Interim dividend                                 42.0       41.0        29.0    
Final dividend                                   45.0       41.0        41.0    
                                                87.0       82.0        70.0     
Dividends are declared after period end in the announcement of the results      
for the period. Interim dividends are declared in February and paid in          
March. Final dividends are declared in August and paid in September.            
Dividends declared are not recorded as a liability at the end of the period     
to which they relate. Subsequent to year end, on 25 August 2010, BHP            
Billiton declared a final dividend of 45.0 US cents per share (US$2,504         
million), which will be paid on 30 September 2010 (2009: 41.0 US cents per      
share - US$2,281 million; 2008: 41.0 US cents per shares - US$2,282             
million).                                                                       
BHP Billiton Limited dividends for all periods presented are, or will be,       
fully franked based on a tax rate of 30 per cent.                               
                                                2010US$M  2009US$M 2008US$M     
Franking credits as at 30 June                      3,861     2,506    1,623    
Franking credits arising from the payment of                                    
current tax payable                                   818     1,265      818    
Total franking credits available (b)                4,679     3,771    2,441    
(a) 5.5 per cent dividend on 50,000 preference shares of GBP1 each declared     
and paid annually (2009: 5.5 per cent; 30 2008: 5.5 per cent).                  
(b) The payment of the final 2010 dividend declared after 30 June 2010 will     
reduce the franking account balance by US$648 million.                          
8.Subsequent events                                                             
Other than the matters outlined elsewhere in this news release, no matters      
or circumstances have arisen since the end of the financial year that have      
significantly affected, or may significantly affect, the operations, results    
of operations or state of affairs of the Group in subsequent accounting         
periods.                                                                        
25 August 2010                                                                  
Date: 25/08/2010 08:59:01 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.                  
The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the    
JSE Limited (`JSE`). The JSE does not, whether expressly, tacitly or            
implicitly, represent, warrant or in any way guarantee the truth, accuracy or   
completeness of the information published on SENS. The JSE, their officers,     
employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct,     
indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature,     
howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on,          
information disseminated through SENS.
Profile Group (Pty) Ltd. has taken care in preparing all information on this website, but does not accept any liability for errors or out-of-date information.
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