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Wed 24 Aug 2011, 8:35 BIL - BHP Billiton plc - BHP Billiton results for the year ended 30 June 2011
BIL
BIBLT                                                                           
BIL - BHP Billiton plc - BHP Billiton results for the year ended 30 June 2011   
BHP Billiton Plc                                                                
Share code:    BIL                                                              
ISIN:          GB0000566504                                                     
News Release                                                                    
24 August 2011                                                                  
26/11                                                                           
BHP BILLITON RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2011                            
* Record financial results including Underlying EBITDA(1) up 51% to US$37.1     
billion, Underlying EBIT(1)(2) up 62% to US$32.0 billion and Attributable       
profit (excluding exceptional items) up 74% to US$21.7 billion.                 
* Strong margins and returns illustrated by increase in Underlying EBIT         
margin(3) to 47% and Underlying return on capital to 39%.                       
* Record production across four commodities and ten operations.                 
* Record operating cash flow(4) of US$30.1 billion and gearing of 9% confirms   
capacity to comfortably fund the Group`s US$15.1 billion(5) acquisition of      
Petrohawk Energy Corporation and extensive organic growth program.              
* Completion of expanded US$10 billion capital management program highlights    
commitment to maintain an appropriate capital structure through all points of   
the economic cycle.                                                             
* 22% rebasing of final dividend for full year dividend payout of 101 US cents  
per share.                                                                      
Year ended 30 June                          2011        2010        Change      
US$M        US$M        %            
Revenue                                     71,739      52,798      35.9%       
Underlying EBITDA(1)                        37,093      24,513      51.3%       
Underlying EBIT(1)(2)                       31,980      19,719      62.2%       
Profit from operations                      31,816      20,031      58.8%       
Attributable profit - excluding             21,684      12,469      73.9%       
exceptional items                                                               
Attributable profit                         23,648      12,722      85.9%       
Net operating cash flow(4)                  30,080      16,890      78.1%       
Basic earnings per share - excluding        393.5       224.1       75.6%       
exceptional items (US cents)                                                    
Basic earnings per share (US cents)         429.1       228.6       87.7%       
Underlying EBITDA interest coverage         102.8       64.4        59.6%       
(times)(1)(6)                                                                   
Dividend per share (US cents)               101.0       87.0        16.1%       
Refer to page 15 for footnotes, including explanations of the non-GAAP          
measures used in this announcement. The financial results are prepared in       
accordance with IFRS and are unaudited. All references to the prior period are  
to the year ended 30 June 2010 unless otherwise stated.                         
RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2011                                         
Record results and superior return on capital                                   
BHP Billiton`s strategic focus on large, low cost and expandable assets once    
again delivered record financial performance and returns. Underlying EBITDA     
and Attributable profit (excluding exceptional items) increased by 51 per cent  
and 74 per cent respectively, while Underlying return on capital, excluding     
investment associated with projects not yet in production, increased to 50 per  
cent. The strong increase in the Group`s Underlying EBIT margin to 47 per cent  
emphasises the quality of BHP Billiton`s diversified portfolio.                 
An ongoing commitment to invest through all points of the economic cycle        
delivered record annual production across four commodities and ten operations.  
Our decision to invest in our Western Australia Iron Ore business during the    
depths of the global financial crisis facilitated an eleventh consecutive       
annual increase in iron ore production, as prices continued to test new highs.  
Three major projects delivered first production in the 2011 financial year      
including the New South Wales Energy Coal MAC20 Project (Australia), which was  
completed ahead of schedule.                                                    
Robust demand, industry wide cost pressures and persistent supply side          
constraints continued to support the fundamentals for the majority of BHP       
Billiton`s core commodities. In that context, another strong year of growth in  
Chinese crude steel production ensured steelmaking material prices were the     
major contributing factor to the US$17.2 billion price related increase in      
Underlying EBIT.                                                                
However, BHP Billiton has regularly highlighted its belief that costs tend to   
lag the commodity price cycle as consumable, labour and contractor costs are    
broadly correlated with the mining industry`s level of activity. In the         
current environment, tight labour and raw material markets are presenting a     
challenge for all operators, and BHP Billiton is not immune from that trend.    
The devaluation of the US dollar and inflation reduced Underlying EBIT by a     
further US$3.2 billion.                                                         
Record cash flow and substantial investment in tier 1 growth                    
Record operating cash flow of US$30.1 billion continues to create substantial   
flexibility for the Group. In the twelve month period alone, BHP Billiton       
invested US$12.4 billion across its tier 1 portfolio of minerals and energy     
assets, completed a US$10 billion capital management program, and finalised     
the acquisition of Chesapeake Energy Corporation`s interests in the             
Fayetteville shale (USA). Notwithstanding those achievements, net gearing of    
nine per cent at the end of the 2011 financial year ensures BHP Billiton has    
the capacity to comfortably fund its extensive organic growth program and the   
US$15.1 billion acquisition of Petrohawk Energy Corporation that was announced  
on 14 July 2011. Importantly, the Group remains committed to a solid A credit   
rating.                                                                         
Rebasing the progressive dividend and completion of expanded capital            
management program                                                              
The consistent and disciplined manner in which BHP Billiton returns excess      
capital to shareholders was further illustrated by the completion of its        
expanded, US$10 billion capital management program on 29 June 2011, six months  
ahead of schedule. Completion of the substantial program in such a timely       
manner highlights BHP Billiton`s commitment to maintain an appropriate capital  
structure, irrespective of the economic cycle. Since 2004, BHP Billiton has     
repurchased a cumulative US$22.6 billion of Limited (Ltd) and Plc shares,       
representing 15 per cent of then issued capital.                                
Confidence in the long term outlook for our core commodity markets and the      
accelerated purchase and cancellation of four per cent of issued capital        
during the 2011 financial year, has enabled the BHP Billiton Board to declare   
a 22 per cent rebasing of the final dividend. The increase in the full year     
payout to 101 US cents per share is consistent with the Group`s commitment to   
its progressive dividend policy.                                                
Outlook                                                                         
Economic outlook                                                                
Global economic growth slowed during the second half of the 2011 financial      
year as emerging economies tightened monetary policy, the Japanese tsunami      
disrupted trade flows and fiscal austerity measures adversely affected demand.  
Global imbalances and high levels of sovereign debt continue to create          
uncertainty and a protracted recovery remains our base case assumption for the  
developed world. However, a coordinated policy response has the potential to    
engender confidence and ease the volatility that has been the dominant theme    
of recent years.                                                                
Across the important growth economies of China and India, recent economic data  
suggests monetary policy is having the intended effect. That said, growth in    
fixed asset investment in China has remained resilient and is yet to fully      
reflect the recent policy response.                                             
Despite these near term challenges, we remain positive on the longer term       
outlook for the global economy. Over the past decade, emerging economies have   
contributed more to global growth than the developed world and we expect their  
share to expand as the process of urbanisation and industrialisation            
continues.                                                                      
Commodities outlook                                                             
Commodities remained an asset of choice in the 2011 financial year as strong    
underlying fundamentals supported prices for a number of BHP Billiton`s core    
products. Robust demand driven by the emerging economies, a general elevation   
and steepening of global (commodity) cost curves, and the persistent theme of   
supply side constraint, were all catalysts for generally higher prices.         
However, we should highlight that several commodities, including metallurgical  
coal, iron ore, copper and crude oil, experienced supply side disruptions in    
the second half of the 2011 financial year that are not expected to persist     
beyond the short term.                                                          
We expect robust demand in the short and medium term, supported by commodities  
intensive emerging economic growth. A more positive demand dynamic remains a    
distinct possibility should policy be enacted to further stimulate growth in    
the developed world.                                                            
The strong pace of growth in demand for steelmaking raw materials,              
particularly in China, is expected to slow in the longer term, as underlying    
growth reverts to a more sustainable level and resource intensity per unit of   
GDP declines. However, the fundamentals for iron ore and metallurgical coal     
remain compelling as the supply response is expected to remain constrained and  
capital costs are expected to rise.                                             
Over the longer term, we expect strong demand for our core commodities to be    
underpinned by the industrialisation and urbanisation of China, India and       
other emerging economies. Progressively higher cost sources of new supply will  
be required, supporting long run commodity prices and operating margins for     
the low cost producers.                                                         
Development projects                                                            
BHP Billiton approved 11 major projects for a total investment commitment of    
US$12.9 billion (BHP Billiton share) during the 2011 financial year. Following  
the progression of the Jansen Potash Project into feasibility during the March  
2011 quarter, BHP Billiton also announced an additional US$488 million of pre-  
commitment funding to support development of the project in Saskatchewan,       
Canada. The progression of these projects forms a meaningful component of the   
Group`s anticipated organic growth program that is expected to exceed US$80     
billion over the five years to the end of the 2015 financial year.              
Industry wide cost pressures remain a feature of the development landscape and  
reflect stronger producer currencies as well as underlying inflation on raw     
material and labour costs. BHP Billiton approved revised capital budgets and    
schedules during the 2011 financial year for the Esso Australia Resources Pty   
Ltd operated Kipper (US$900 million, BHP Billiton share) and Turrum (US$1.4     
billion, BHP Billiton share) Petroleum projects and the BHP Billiton operated   
Worsley Efficiency and Growth (US$3.0 billion, BHP Billiton share) alumina      
refinery expansion (all Australia).                                             
Three major projects delivered first production in the twelve month period:     
namely the New South Wales Energy Coal MAC20 Project, the Douglas Middelburg    
Optimisation Project in South Africa Coal and Angostura Gas Phase II (Trinidad  
and Tobago).                                                                    
Projects completed during the 2011 financial year                               
Customer   Project         Capacity(i)     Capital            Date of initial   
Sector                                     expenditure        production(ii)    
Group                                      (US$M)(i)                            
                                          Budget   Actual    Target   Actual    
Petroleum  Angostura Gas   280 million     180      157(iii)  H1 2011  H1 2011  
Phase II        cubic feet of                                         
          (Trinidad and   gas per day.                                          
          Tobago)                                                               
          BHP Billiton                                                          
- 45%                                                                 
Energy     Douglas         10 million      975      760(iii)  Mid      July     
Coal       Middelburg      tonnes per                         2010     2010     
          Optimisation    annum export                                          
(South          thermal coal                                          
          Africa)         and 8.5                                               
          BHP Billiton    million tonnes                                        
          - 100%          per annum                                             
domestic                                              
                          thermal coal                                          
                          (sustains                                             
                          current                                               
output).                                              
          MAC20 Project   Increases       260      285(iii)  H1 2011  H1 2011   
          (Australia)     saleable                                              
          BHP Billiton    thermal coal                                          
- 100%          production by                                         
                          approximately                                         
                          3.5 million                                           
                          tonnes per                                            
annum.                                                
                                          1,415    1,202                        
(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.                                           
Projects currently under development (approved in prior years)                  
Customer  Project          Capacity(i)              Budgeted    Target date     
Sector                                              capital     for initial     
Group                                               expenditure production(ii)  
                                                   (US$M)(i)                    
Petroleum Bass Strait      10,000 barrels of        900(iii)    2012(iii)(iv)   
         Kipper           condensate per day and                                
         (Australia)      processing capacity of                                
         BHP Billiton -   80 million cubic feet                                 
32.5% - 50%      of gas per day.                                       
         Bass Strait      11,000 barrels of        1,350(iii)  2013(iii)        
         Turrum           condensate per day and                                
         (Australia)      processing capacity of                                
BHP Billiton -   200 million cubic feet                                
         50%              of gas per day.                                       
         North West       Replacement vessel with  245         2011             
         Shelf CWLH Life  capacity of 60,000                                    
Extension        barrels of oil per day.                               
         (Australia)                                                            
         BHP Billiton -                                                         
         16.67%                                                                 
North West       2,500 million cubic      850         2013             
         Shelf            feet of gas per day.                                  
         North Rankin B                                                         
         Gas Compression                                                        
(Australia)                                                            
         BHP Billiton -                                                         
         16.67%                                                                 
Aluminium Worsley          1.1 million tonnes per   2,995(iii)  Q1 2012(iii)    
Efficiency and   annum of additional                                   
         Growth           alumina capacity.                                     
         (Australia)                                                            
         BHP Billiton -                                                         
86%                                                                    
Base      Antamina         Increases ore            435         Q4 2011         
Metals    Expansion        processing capacity to                               
         (Peru)           130,000 tonnes per day.                               
BHP Billiton -                                                         
         33.75%                                                                 
Iron Ore  WAIO Rapid       Project integrated into  4,800       H2 2011         
         Growth Project   subsequent expansion                                  
5 (Australia)    approvals that will                                   
         BHP Billiton -   increase WAIO capacity                                
         85%              to 220 million tonnes                                 
                          per annum(v).                                         
11,575                       
(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) As per revised budget and schedule.                                       
(iv) Facilities ready for first production pending resolution of mercury        
content.                                                                        
(v) Consistent with the revised scope of the iron ore development sequence.     
Projects approved during the 2011 financial year                                
Customer      Project        Capacity(i)         Budgeted       Target date     
Sector Group                                     capital        for initial     
expenditure    production(ii)   
                                                (US$M)(i)                       
Petroleum     Macedon        200 million cubic   1,050          2013            
             (Australia)    feet of gas per                                     
BHP Billiton   day.                                                
             - 71.43%                                                           
Base Metals   Escondida Ore  The relocation of   319            Q2 2012         
             Access         the in-pit                                          
(Chile)        crushing and                                        
             BHP Billiton   conveyor                                            
             - 57.5%        infrastructure                                      
                            provides access to                                  
higher grade ore.                                   
Diamonds &    EKATI Misery   Project consists    323            2015            
Specialty     Open Pit       of a pushback of                                   
Products      Project        the existing                                       
(Canada)       Misery open pit                                     
             BHP Billiton   which was mined                                     
             - 80%          from 2001 to 2005.                                  
Iron Ore      WAIO           Increases mining    3,300(iii)     Q1 2014         
Jimblebar      and processing                                      
             Mine           capacity to 35                                      
             Expansion      million tonnes per                                  
             (Australia)    annum.                                              
BHP Billiton                                                       
             - 96%                                                              
             WAIO Port      Increases total     1,900(iii)     H2 2012          
             Hedland Inner  inner harbour                                       
Harbour        capacity to 220                                     
             Expansion      million tonnes per                                  
             (Australia)    annum with                                          
             BHP Billiton   debottlenecking                                     
- 85%          opportunities to                                    
                            240 million tonnes                                  
                            per annum.                                          
             WAIO Port      Optimises resource  1,400(iii)     H2 2014          
Blending and   and enhances                                        
             Rail Yard      efficiency across                                   
             Facilities     the WAIO supply                                     
             (Australia)    chain.                                              
BHP Billiton                                                       
             - 85%                                                              
             Samarco        Increases iron ore  1,750          H1 2014          
             Fourth Pellet  pellet production                                   
Plant          capacity by 8.3                                     
             (Brazil)       million tonnes per                                  
             BHP Billiton   annum to 30.5                                       
             - 50%          million tonnes per                                  
annum.                                              
Metallurgical Daunia         Greenfield mine     800            2013            
Coal          (Australia)    development with                                   
             BHP Billiton   capacity to                                         
- 50%          produce 4.5                                         
                            million tonnes per                                  
                            annum of export                                     
                            metallurgical                                       
coal.                                               
             Broadmeadow    Increases           450            2013             
             Life           productive                                          
             Extension      capacity by 0.4                                     
(Australia)    million tonnes per                                  
             BHP Billiton   annum and extends                                   
             - 50%          the life of the                                     
                            mine by 21 years.                                   
Hay Point      Increases port      1,250(iii)     2014             
             Stage Three    capacity from 44                                    
             Expansion      million tonnes per                                  
             (Australia)    annum to 55                                         
BHP Billiton   million tonnes per                                  
             - 50%          annum and reduces                                   
                            storm                                               
                            vulnerability.                                      
Energy Coal   RX1 Project    Increases run-of-   400            H2 2013         
             (Australia)    mine thermal coal                                   
             BHP Billiton   production by                                       
             - 100%         approximately 4                                     
million tonnes per                                  
                            annum.                                              
                                                12,942                          
(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) Excludes announced pre-commitment funding.                                
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 difference   
between Underlying EBIT and Profit from operations is set out in the following  
table:                                                                          
Year ended 30 June                          2011              2010              
                                           US$M              US$M               
Underlying EBIT                             31,980            19,719            
Exceptional items (before taxation)         (164)             312               
Profit from operations                      31,816            20,031            
Refer to page 9 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 2011 financial year     
compared with the 2010 financial year:                                          
US$M              US$M               
Underlying EBIT for the year ended 30 June                    19,719            
2010                                                                            
Change in volumes:                                                              
Increase in volumes                         841                                 
Decrease in volumes                         (1,422)                             
                                                             (581)              
Net price impact:                                                               
Change in sales prices                      18,648                              
Price-linked costs                          (1,420)                             
                                                             17,228             
Change in costs:                                                                
Costs (rate and usage)                      (1,412)                             
Exchange rates                              (2,526)                             
Inflation on costs                          (635)                               
                                                             (4,573)            
Asset sales                                                   (85)              
Ceased and sold operations                                    (140)             
New and acquired operations                                   1,153             
Exploration and business development                          (328)             
Other                                                         (413)             
Underlying EBIT for the year ended 30 June                    31,980            
2011                                                                            
Volumes                                                                         
BHP Billiton achieved production records across four commodities and ten        
operations during the 2011 financial year. Western Australia Iron Ore           
shipments rose to a record annualised rate of 155 million tonnes per annum      
(mtpa) in the June 2011 quarter and, when combined with strong operating        
performance at Samarco (Brazil), enabled iron ore volumes to contribute an      
additional US$572 million to Underlying EBIT.                                   
The completion and successful ramp up of the MAC20 Project ahead of schedule    
underpinned record production at New South Wales Energy Coal in the period.     
When considered in conjunction with a 13 per cent increase in South Africa      
Coal production, Energy Coal volumes increased Underlying EBIT by US$177        
million in the 2011 financial year.                                             
However, broader challenges continued to delay the supply response of the       
industry over the twelve month period. For example, metallurgical coal supply   
was significantly affected by persistent wet weather in the Bowen Basin         
(Australia) while ongoing permitting delays in the Gulf of Mexico (USA)         
continued to impact drilling activity. In aggregate, volumes reduced BHP        
Billiton Underlying EBIT by US$581 million in the 2011 financial year despite   
generally strong operating performance.                                         
Prices                                                                          
Robust demand driven by the emerging economies, a general elevation and         
steepening of global (commodity) cost curves and the persistent theme of        
supply side constraint, were all catalysts for higher commodity prices that     
increased Underlying EBIT by US$18.6 billion in the period. Another strong      
year of growth in Chinese crude steel production ensured steelmaking material   
prices were the major contributing factor, as they alone increased Underlying   
EBIT by US$11.1 billion. Price linked costs (including royalties) reduced       
Underlying EBIT by US$1.4 billion.                                              
Costs                                                                           
BHP Billiton has regularly highlighted its belief that costs tend to lag the    
commodity price cycle as consumable, labour and contractor costs are broadly    
correlated with the mining industry`s level of activity. In the current         
environment of elevated commodity prices, tight labour and raw material         
markets are presenting a challenge for all operators. Excluding the impact of   
a weaker US dollar, inflation and an increase in non-cash items, costs          
decreased Underlying EBIT by US$1.2 billion.                                    
Higher fuel and energy prices (of which BHP Billiton is a net beneficiary),     
together with increased maintenance, labour and contractor costs, accounted     
for the majority of the impact and reduced Underlying EBIT by US$878 million.   
Cost performance in the large, bulk commodity businesses is heavily influenced  
by the ability to leverage infrastructure and maximise volumes. In this         
regard, the weather related disruption at our Queensland Coal (Australia)       
business had a negative impact on unit costs in the period. The major cost      
offset was related to the recovery in operating performance that followed last  
year`s Clark Shaft outage at Olympic Dam (Australia).                           
Non-cash items, predominantly depreciation, reduced Underlying EBIT by a        
further US$255 million and reflected the ongoing delivery of our organic        
growth program.                                                                 
Exchange rates                                                                  
A weaker US dollar against producer currencies reduced Underlying EBIT by       
US$2.5 billion, which included a US$735 million variance related to the         
restatement of monetary items in the balance sheet. The Australian operations   
were the most heavily impacted. The strong Australian dollar reduced            
Underlying EBIT by US$2.1 billion, which included a US$640 million variance     
related to the restatement of monetary items in the balance sheet. The          
absolute impact on costs as a result of the restatement of monetary items in    
the balance sheet was a loss of US$807 million in the 2011 financial year.      
The following exchange rates against the US dollar have been applied:           
             Average      Average                                               
             Year ended   Year ended   As at        As at         As at         
             30 June      30 June      30 June      30 June       30 June       
2011         2010         2011         2010          2009          
Australian    0.99         0.88         1.07         0.85          0.81         
dollar(i)                                                                       
Chilean peso  486          529          470          545           530          
Colombian     1,843        1,970        1,779        1,920         2,159        
peso                                                                            
Brazilian     1.68         1.80         1.57         1.81          1.95         
real                                                                            
South         7.01         7.59         6.80         7.68          7.82         
African rand                                                                    
(i) Displayed as US$ to A$1 based on common convention.                         
Inflation on costs                                                              
Inflationary pressure on costs across all businesses had an unfavourable        
impact on Underlying EBIT of US$635 million. The pressure was most evident in   
Australia and South Africa, which accounted for over two thirds of the total    
impact.                                                                         
Asset sales                                                                     
The profit on the sale of assets was US$85 million lower than the               
corresponding period largely due to the dissolution of the Douglas Tavistock    
Joint Venture (South Africa), which increased Underlying EBIT in the prior      
period.                                                                         
Ceased and sold operations                                                      
The currency revaluation of rehabilitation and closure provisions for ceased    
operations was the major driver of the US$140 million reduction in Underlying   
EBIT.                                                                           
New and acquired operations                                                     
Assets are reported as new and acquired operations until there is a full year   
comparison. New operations increased Underlying EBIT by US$1.2 billion          
primarily due to strong performance at the BHP Billiton operated Pyrenees oil   
facility (Australia) and the inaugural contribution from the recently acquired  
Fayetteville shale assets.                                                      
Exploration and business development                                            
Group exploration expense increased marginally in the 2011 financial year to    
US$1.1 billion. Within Minerals (US$577 million expense) the focus centred      
upon copper targets in South America, Mongolia and Zambia; nickel and copper    
targets in Australia; and diamond targets in Canada. Exploration for iron ore,  
potash, uranium and manganese was undertaken in a number of regions including   
Australia, Asia, Africa and the Americas.                                       
Petroleum exploration expense was US$477 million and included a US$73 million   
impairment of exploration previously capitalised. Exploration drilling          
activity was delayed in the Gulf of Mexico due to new regulatory permitting     
processes but was partially offset by an increase in the acquisition and        
processing of geophysical data. BHP Billiton`s proven operating capability in   
the deepwater remains an important competitive advantage and the Group will     
continue to invest in an extensive exploration program that is focused on the   
Gulf of Mexico, South China Sea and Australia.                                  
Expenditure on business development reduced Underlying EBIT by an additional    
US$303 million compared with the prior period as Base Metals progressed a       
number of its development options, including the Olympic Dam Project (ODP1)     
and the Spence Hypogene project (Chile). Increased activity on the Scarborough  
and Browse liquefied natural gas projects (both Australia) in the 2011          
financial year also contributed to the rise in the business development         
expense.                                                                        
Other                                                                           
Other items decreased Underlying EBIT by US$413 million and included            
provisions totalling US$189 million related to indirect taxes in the Aluminium  
and Iron Ore businesses, and the Colombian net worth tax in Stainless Steel     
Materials and Energy Coal.                                                      
Net finance costs                                                               
Net finance costs increased to US$561 million from US$459 million in the        
corresponding period. This was primarily driven by exchange rate variations on  
net debt and lower amounts of interest capitalised.                             
Taxation expense                                                                
Excluding the impacts of royalty related taxation, exceptional items and        
exchange rate movements, taxation expense was US$10.1 billion representing an   
underlying effective tax rate of 32.1 per cent (2010: 30.9 per cent; 2009:      
31.4 per cent).                                                                 
Government imposed royalty arrangements calculated by reference to profits      
after adjustment for temporary differences are reported as royalty related      
taxation. Royalty related taxation contributed US$828 million to taxation       
expense representing an effective rate of 2.6 per cent (2010: US$451 million    
and 2.3 per cent; 2009: US$495 million and 4.3 per cent).                       
Other royalty and excise arrangements which do not have these characteristics   
are recognised as operating costs within profit before taxation. These          
amounted to US$2.9 billion during the period (2010: US$1.7 billion; 2009:       
US$1.9 billion).                                                                
Exceptional items decreased taxation expense by US$2.1 billion (2010: increase  
of US$59 million; 2009: decrease of US$1.2 billion) predominantly due to the    
reversal of deferred tax liabilities of US$1.5 billion following the election   
of eligible Australian entities to adopt a US dollar tax functional currency,   
as well as the release of tax provisions of US$718 million following the        
Group`s position being confirmed with respect to ATO amended assessments.       
Exchange rate movements decreased taxation expense by US$1.5 billion (2010:     
increase of US$106 million; 2009: increase of US$444 million) predominantly     
due to the revaluation of local currency deferred tax assets arising from       
future tax depreciation of US$2.5 billion, partly offset by the revaluation of  
local currency tax liabilities and deferred tax balances arising from other     
monetary items and temporary differences which amounted to US$1.0 billion.      
Total taxation expense including royalty related taxation and the               
predominantly non-cash exceptional items and exchange rate movements described  
above, was US$7.3 billion, representing an effective rate of 23.4 per cent      
(2010: 33.5 per cent; 2009: 45.4 per cent).                                     
Exceptional items                                                               
The Group withdrew its offer for Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan             
(PotashCorp) on 15 November 2010 following the Board`s conclusion that the      
condition of the offer relating to receipt of a net benefit as determined by    
the Minister of Industry under the Investment Canada Act could not be           
satisfied. The Group incurred fees associated with the US$45 billion debt       
facility (US$240 million), investment bankers`, lawyers` and accountants`       
fees, printing expenses and other charges (US$74 million) in progressing this   
matter during the period up to the withdrawal of the offer, which were          
expensed as operating costs in the 2011 financial year.                         
The Group recognised a decrease of US$150 million (US$45 million tax charge)    
to rehabilitation obligations in respect of former operations at the Newcastle  
steelworks (Australia) following a full review of the progress of the Hunter    
River Remediation Project (Australia) and estimated costs to completion.        
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) issued amended assessments in prior years  
denying bad debt deductions arising from the investments in Beenup and          
Boodarie Iron and the denial of capital allowance claims made on the Boodarie   
Iron project. The Group challenged the assessments and was successful on all    
counts before the Full Federal Court. The ATO obtained special leave in         
September 2010 to appeal to the High Court in respect of the denial of capital  
allowance claims made on the Boodarie Iron project. The Group`s position in     
respect of the capital allowance claims on the Boodarie Iron project was        
confirmed by the High Court in June 2011. As a result of these appeals, US$138  
million was released from the Group`s income tax provision in September 2010    
and US$580 million in June 2011.                                                
Consistent with the functional currency of the Group`s operations, eligible     
Australian entities elected to adopt a US dollar tax functional currency from   
1 July 2011. As a result, the deferred tax liability relating to certain US     
dollar denominated financial arrangements has been derecognised, resulting in   
a credit to income tax expense of US$1.5 billion.                               
Year ended 30 June 2011              Gross US$M    Tax US$M      Net US$M       
Exceptional items by category                                                   
Withdrawn offer for PotashCorp       (314)         -             (314)          
Newcastle steelworks rehabilitation  150           (45)          105            
Release of income tax provisions     -             718           718            
Reversal of deferred tax             -             1,455         1,455          
liabilities                                                                     
                                    (164)         2,128         1,964           
Cash flows                                                                      
Net operating cash flows after interest and tax increased by 78 per cent to     
US$30.1 billion. This was primarily driven by an increase in cash generated     
from operations (before changes in working capital balances) of US$12.3         
billion and changes in working capital balances having a positive year on year  
impact on operating cash flow of US$2.6 billion.                                
In accordance with IFRS, exploration expenditure incurred which has not been    
capitalised is now classified within net operating cash flows, which has        
resulted in the classification of US$981 million in net operating cash flows    
for the 2011 financial year and US$1.0 billion for the 2010 financial year.     
Capital and exploration expenditure totalled US$12.4 billion for the year.      
Expenditure on major growth projects was US$9.2 billion, including US$1.8       
billion on Petroleum projects and US$7.4 billion on Minerals projects. Capital  
expenditure on sustaining and other items was US$2.0 billion. Exploration       
expenditure was US$1.2 billion, including US$981 million classified within net  
operating cash flows.                                                           
Financing cash flows include payments related to the US$10 billion capital      
management program, dividend payments of US$5.1 billion and net debt            
repayments of US$577 million.                                                   
Net debt, comprising interest bearing liabilities less cash, was US$5.8         
billion which is an increase of US$2.5 billion compared to the net debt         
position at 30 June 2010.                                                       
Dividend                                                                        
BHP Billiton has a commitment to its progressive dividend policy, irrespective  
of the economic climate and the Group`s growth aspirations. In that context,    
our Board today declared a final dividend of 55 US cents per share, which       
represents a 22 per cent increase on last year`s equivalent payout. Together    
with the interim dividend of 46 US cents per share paid to shareholders on 31   
March 2011, this brings the total dividend for the year to 101 US cents per     
share.                                                                          
The dividend to be paid by BHP Billiton Ltd will be fully franked for           
Australian taxation purposes. Dividends for the BHP Billiton Group are          
determined and declared in US dollars. However, BHP Billiton Ltd 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 2 September 2011. Please note    
that all currency conversion elections must be registered by the Record Date,   
being 9 September 2011. 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 - 2 September 2011                                                         
Ex-dividend Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and JSE Limited (JSE) - 5      
September 2011                                                                  
Ex-dividend London Stock Exchange (LSE) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) - 7  
September 2011                                                                  
Record Date (including currency conversion and currency election dates, except  
for rand) - 9 September 2011                                                    
Payment date - 29 September 2011                                                
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 5 and 9 September 2011, nor will transfers   
between the UK register and the South African register be permitted between     
the dates of 2 and 9 September 2011.                                            
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.                                                         
Capital management                                                              
Notwithstanding BHP Billiton`s commitment to invest more than US$80 billion in  
the growth of its tier 1 portfolio, the Group reactivated the remaining US$4.2  
billion component of a previously suspended US$13 billion buy-back program on   
15 November 2010. BHP Billiton subsequently expanded that capital management    
initiative to US$10 billion and committed to complete the program by the end    
of the 2011 calendar year.                                                      
The subsequent completion of a US$6.3 billion off-market tender buy-back of     
BHP Billiton Ltd shares during the period enabled the Group to successfully     
complete its US$10 billion capital management program on 29 June 2011, six      
months ahead of schedule.                                                       
During the 2011 financial year, the combination of on-market purchases of Plc   
shares and the off-market purchase of Ltd shares enabled BHP Billiton to buy    
(and cancel) 241.8 million shares, representing four per cent of total issued   
capital.                                                                        
Completion of this substantial program in such a timely manner highlighted BHP  
Billiton`s commitment to maintain an appropriate capital structure through all  
points of the economic cycle. Since 2004, BHP Billiton has repurchased a        
cumulative US$22.6 billion of Ltd and Plc shares, representing 15 per cent of   
then issued capital. Total returns to shareholders, including dividends paid    
and share buy-backs, have exceeded US$48 billion since the formation of BHP     
Billiton in 2001.                                                               
Debt management and liquidity                                                   
No long term debt securities were issued in the debt capital markets by the     
Group during the 2011 financial year. The Group has access to an undrawn US$4   
billion Revolving Credit Facility, which expires in December 2015. We have      
maintained a strong liquidity position and at 30 June 2011, had US$10.1         
billion of cash on hand. Surplus cash will be absorbed by the US$15.1 billion   
Petrohawk acquisition and our net gearing position will increase accordingly.   
Our commitment to retain a solid A credit rating remains unchanged.             
Corporate governance                                                            
On 13 December 2010, the Board announced the appointment of Baroness Shriti     
Vadera as a Non-executive Director with effect from 1 January 2011.             
On 23 March 2011, the Board announced the resignation of Mr Alan Boeckmann as   
a Non-executive Director and the appointment of Mr Lindsay Maxsted as a Non-    
executive Director, both with effect from that date.                            
CUSTOMER SECTOR GROUP SUMMARY                                                   
The following table provides a summary of the performance of the Customer       
Sector Groups for the 2011 financial year and the corresponding period.         
Year ended 30 June     Revenue                     Underlying EBIT(i)           
(US$M)                 2011     2010      Change   2011      2010     Change    
                                         %                           %          
Petroleum              10,737   8,782     22.3%    6,330     4,573    38.4%     
Aluminium              5,221    4,353     19.9%    266       406      (34.5%)   
Base Metals            14,152   10,409    36.0%    6,790     4,632    46.6%     
Diamonds and           1,517    1,272     19.3%    587       485      21.0%     
Specialty Products                                                              
Stainless Steel        3,861    3,617     6.7%     588       668      (12.0%)   
Materials                                                                       
Iron Ore               20,412   11,139    83.2%    13,328    6,001    122.1%    
Manganese              2,423    2,150     12.7%    697       712      (2.1%)    
Metallurgical Coal     7,573    6,059     25.0%    2,670     2,053    30.1%     
Energy Coal            5,507    4,265     29.1%    1,129     730      54.7%     
Group and unallocated  385      802       N/A      (405)     (541)    N/A       
items(ii)                                                                       
Less: inter-segment    (49)     (50)      N/A      -         -        N/A       
revenue                                                                         
BHP Billiton Group     71,739   52,798    35.9%    31,980    19,719   62.2%     
(i) Underlying EBIT includes trading activities comprising the sale of third    
party product. Underlying EBIT for the Group 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                                                                       
The successful integration of the Fayetteville shale gas assets, the start-up   
of the Angostura Gas Phase II project on schedule, and strong underlying        
performance from existing assets, delivered 159.4 million barrels of oil        
equivalent for the 2011 financial year, the fourth consecutive increase in      
annual petroleum production. BHP Billiton brought the first new deepwater well  
into production since the Gulf of Mexico moratorium was enacted in May 2010     
and this important milestone, achieved at the BHP Billiton operated Shenzi      
field (USA), followed previous regulatory approvals for water injection and     
production well drilling.                                                       
Underlying EBIT of US$6.3 billion represented an increase of US$1.8 billion or  
38 per cent when compared with the prior period. Higher average realised        
prices were a major contributor to the increase in Underlying EBIT (US$1.5      
billion, net of price linked costs) and reflected a 28 per cent increase in     
oil prices to US$93.29 per barrel, a 22 per cent increase in realised           
liquefied natural gas prices to US$11.03 per thousand standard cubic feet, and  
a 17 per cent increase in natural gas prices to US$4.00 per thousand standard   
cubic feet. BHP Billiton`s operating capability was further underscored by the  
success of Pyrenees although natural field decline worldwide was further        
impacted by the deferral of high volume wells in the Gulf of Mexico. Gross      
exploration spend of US$557 million was similarly impacted, although an         
increase in seismic acquisition and processing partially offset the decrease    
in drilling activity. Recommencement of development drilling at Atlantis (USA)  
is still pending although a step out exploration well at Mad Dog (USA) is       
currently underway.                                                             
From a longer term perspective, the growth potential of the Petroleum business  
has been significantly enhanced by the acquisition of onshore US shale gas      
resources while organic growth projects, such as the Macedon gas project        
(Australia), continue to move through the execution phase.                      
Aluminium                                                                       
The ongoing ramp up of the Alumar refinery (Brazil) contributed to a seven per  
cent increase in total alumina production for the 2011 financial year. Metal    
production remained largely unchanged with all operations running at or close   
to technical capacity.                                                          
Underlying EBIT was US$266 million, a decrease of US$140 million or 34 per      
cent when compared with the corresponding period. Higher prices and premia for  
aluminium had a favourable impact of US$559 million (net of price linked        
costs) but were offset by a US$519 million increase in costs largely            
associated with the devaluation of the US dollar, inflation and rising raw      
material and energy costs. The average realised aluminium price increased by    
19 per cent to US$2,515 per tonne while the average realised alumina price      
rose 21 per cent to US$342 per tonne. Underlying EBIT was unfavourably          
impacted by a provision related to indirect taxes in the 2011 financial year.   
The US$3.0 billion (BHP Billiton share) Worsley Efficiency and Growth project   
will confirm Worsley as one of the world`s leading alumina refineries. The      
investment will raise capacity at the refinery by 1.1 mtpa to 4.6 mtpa (100     
per cent basis) and first production is now scheduled for the first quarter of  
calendar year 2012.                                                             
Base Metals                                                                     
Copper production increased during the 2011 financial year as Olympic Dam       
reported annual material mined and milling records. Strong operating            
performance was similarly reported at Pampa Norte (Chile) and Antamina (Peru),  
where record annual milling rates mitigated the impact of lower grades. Total   
copper cathode production represented another record for the period.            
Underlying EBIT for the 2011 financial year increased by US$2.2 billion or 47   
per cent, to US$6.8 billion. Higher average realised prices for all of our      
core products favourably impacted Underlying EBIT by US$3.3 billion (net of     
price linked costs). The supportive pricing environment was similarly           
reflected in a number of our key input costs with higher energy, fuel and       
contractor costs the major offset. The devaluation of the US dollar and         
inflation reduced Underlying EBIT by US$418 million. In addition, BHP Billiton  
refined the basis on which the metal content of its leach pads is estimated at  
Escondida (Chile) and Pampa Norte, which resulted in a non-cash reduction in    
Underlying EBIT of US$168 million.                                              
At 30 June 2011, the Group had 239,156 tonnes of outstanding copper sales that  
were revalued at a weighted average price of US$4.25 per pound. The final       
price of these sales will be determined in the 2012 financial year. In          
addition, 236,584 tonnes of copper sales from the 2010 financial year were      
subject to a finalisation adjustment in 2011. The finalisation adjustment and   
provisional pricing impact increased Underlying EBIT by US$650 million for the  
period.                                                                         
BHP Billiton`s Base Metals business is characterised by its large, tier 1       
resource position and its numerous options for growth. In that context, a       
combined investment of US$492 million (BHP Billiton share) was approved during  
the period for the Escondida Ore Access and Laguna Seca Debottlenecking         
projects (Chile). The quality of the Base Metals investment pipeline was        
further emphasised by the progression of both the Escondida Organic Growth      
Project (OGP1) and the Olympic Dam Project (ODP1) development options into      
feasibility. A 129 per cent increase in the Escondida district Mineral          
Resource tonnage(7) solidifies Escondida`s position as the world`s leading      
copper operation for decades to come.                                           
Diamonds and Specialty Products                                                 
EKATI (Canada) diamond production for the 2011 financial year was 2.5 million   
carats, an 18 per cent decrease from the prior period. BHP Billiton expects     
lower average ore grades to impact EKATI production in the medium term,         
consistent with the mine plan.                                                  
Underlying EBIT for the Diamonds and Specialty Products business increased by   
21 per cent to US$587 million. Strong demand and a shortage of rough diamonds   
resulted in higher prices, which increased Underlying EBIT by US$254 million.   
A 28 per cent increase in titanium prices added a further US$112 million to     
Underlying EBIT. Gross exploration expenditure was US$81 million, a decrease    
of US$14 million from the prior period. BHP Billiton continues to accelerate    
its potash exploration program in Saskatchewan, with a significant increase in  
activity planned at the Melville prospect in the 2012 financial year.           
BHP Billiton`s goal of becoming a significant producer in the potash market     
took another important step forward in the 2011 financial year. The approval    
of a further US$488 million of pre-commitment funding during the Jansen Potash  
Project feasibility study phase will fund site preparation, the procurement of  
long lead time items and the sinking of the first 350 metres of the production  
and service shafts.                                                             
Stainless Steel Materials                                                       
The Nickel West Kalgoorlie smelter (Australia) achieved record matte            
production during the 2011 financial year while Cerro Matoso (Colombia)         
successfully progressed its planned furnace replacement into the commissioning  
phase.                                                                          
Underlying EBIT decreased by US$80 million or 12 per cent, to US$588 million    
for the 2011 financial year as a weaker US dollar impacted both operating       
costs and year end balance sheet revaluations. In total, the weaker US dollar   
and inflation reduced Underlying EBIT by US$227 million. The planned loss of    
production at Cerro Matoso and the absence of stockpiled concentrate sales at   
Nickel West that benefited the 2010 financial year decreased Underlying EBIT    
by a combined US$122 million. Underlying EBIT at Cerro Matoso was impacted by   
a further US$53 million due to a provision related to the Colombian net worth   
tax and additional royalty charges. In contrast, a 24 per cent rise in the LME  
nickel price for the period increased Underlying EBIT by approximately US$435   
million (net of price linked costs).                                            
During the second half of the financial year, the Cerro Matoso Heap Leach       
project progressed into feasibility. The Nickel West Talc re-design project     
remains on schedule for expected commissioning in the 2012 financial year.      
Iron Ore                                                                        
BHP Billiton`s commitment to invest through all phases of the economic cycle    
delivered an eleventh consecutive annual production record in iron ore.         
Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) benefited from the dual tracking of the       
company`s rail infrastructure, which has substantially increased overall        
system capability. WAIO shipments rose to a record annualised rate of 155 mtpa  
(100 per cent basis) in the June 2011 quarter, confirming the successful ramp   
up of recently expanded capacity.                                               
Underlying EBIT increased by 122 per cent to US$13.3 billion for the 2011       
financial year driven by record production and a significant improvement in     
iron ore prices. For the period, average realised iron ore prices increased     
Underlying EBIT by US$8.5 billion following the important transition to         
shorter term, landed, market based pricing. The significant appreciation in     
product prices and the adjustment of WAIO royalty rates contributed to a        
significant increase in price linked costs, which reduced Underlying EBIT by    
US$648 million. Broader inflationary pressures and the devaluation of the US    
dollar reduced Underlying EBIT by a further US$813 million while non-cash       
depreciation also increased with the ramp up of expanded iron ore capacity.     
The investment approval for major projects totalling US$8.4 billion(8) (BHP     
Billiton share) in the 2011 financial year highlighted the company`s            
commitment to accelerate the development of its tier 1, low cost and            
expandable iron ore operations. BHP Billiton also continued to lay the          
foundations for longer term growth in the WAIO business with the release of     
its Public Environmental Review/Draft Environmental Impact Statement that       
seeks Commonwealth and Western Australian Government approvals for the          
proposed development of an Outer Harbour facility in Port Hedland (Australia).  
Manganese                                                                       
Record annual ore production and sales reflected a full year contribution from  
the GEMCO Expansion Phase 1 (GEEP1) project (Australia). Record annual sales    
were also achieved for manganese alloy as the business intensified its volume   
maximising strategy.                                                            
Underlying EBIT remained largely unchanged at US$697 million as stronger        
volumes and prices were offset by higher costs. Notably, controllable costs     
remained largely unchanged during the period, although the combined impact of   
a weaker US dollar and inflation reduced Underlying EBIT by US$186 million.     
Average realised ore and alloy prices increased by 9 per cent and 7 per cent    
respectively during the 2011 financial year.                                    
After the successful commissioning of the GEEP1 project, the partners have      
approved the next phase of expansion that will confirm GEMCO`s status as the    
world`s largest and lowest cost producer of manganese ore. The US$167 million   
(BHP Billiton share) GEEP2 project will increase GEMCO`s beneficiated product   
capacity from 4.2 mtpa to 4.8 mtpa (100 per cent basis). In addition, road and  
port capacity will increase to 5.9 mtpa, creating 1.1 mtpa of latent capacity   
for future expansion.                                                           
Metallurgical Coal                                                              
The remnant effects of wet weather that persisted for much of the 2011          
financial year continued to restrict our Queensland Coal business, despite an   
unrelenting focus on recovery efforts. Although Queensland Coal production did  
recover strongly in the June 2011 quarter, total metallurgical coal production  
declined by 13 per cent in the 2011 financial year.                             
Underlying EBIT was US$2.7 billion, an increase of US$617 million or 30 per     
cent from the corresponding period. The increase was mainly attributable to     
the 48 per cent and 45 per cent improvement in average realised prices for      
hard coking coal and weak coking coal, respectively. In total, stronger prices  
increased Underlying EBIT by US$2.1 billion, net of price linked costs.         
Uncontrollable factors were the major contributor to a significant increase in  
operating costs. In that context, inflation and the weaker US dollar reduced    
Underlying EBIT by US$664 million, while the weather related disruption to      
production at Queensland Coal placed additional pressure on unit costs. We      
continue to expect production, sales and unit costs to be impacted, to some     
extent, for the remainder of the 2011 calendar year.                            
In March 2011, BHP Billiton approved three major metallurgical coal projects    
located in the Bowen Basin. The projects are expected to add 4.9 million        
tonnes of annual capacity (100 per cent basis) through development of the       
Daunia operation and a new mining area at Broadmeadow (both Australia). In      
addition, 11 million tonnes of valuable port capacity (100 per cent basis)      
will be developed at the Hay Point Coal Terminal (Australia). The cumulative    
US$2.5 billion(8) (BHP Billiton share) investment establishes the platform for  
strong and sustainable metallurgical coal production growth that will be        
required to meet the growing needs of our customers.                            
Energy Coal                                                                     
Annual production and sales records for New South Wales Energy Coal followed    
the successful commissioning and ramp up of the MAC20 Project, while strong     
performance at South Africa Coal delivered a 13 per cent increase in annual     
production.                                                                     
Underlying EBIT increased by 55 per cent to US$1.1 billion in the 2011          
financial year. The 31 per cent rise in average realised prices, which          
increased Underlying EBIT by US$917 million for the period, reflected a higher  
proportion of export sales as BHP Billiton continued to optimise its product    
mix in response to evolving market demand. Broad cost pressures were            
accentuated by an increase in cash and non-cash costs associated with the ramp  
up of growth projects in Australia and South Africa. The weaker US dollar and   
inflation reduced Underlying EBIT by US$298 million, while a non recurring      
charge related to the recognition of the Colombian net worth tax reduced        
Underlying EBIT by a further US$32 million. The dissolution of the Douglas      
Tavistock Joint Venture arrangement increased Underlying EBIT in the            
corresponding period by US$69 million.                                          
The MAC20 Project was successfully completed during the 2011 financial year,    
ahead of schedule. The company`s confidence in the outlook for demand in the    
Asia Pacific Basin was subsequently illustrated by the approval of the US$400   
million RX1 Project (Australia) that is designed to get product to market       
rapidly, ahead of further coal preparation plant expansions. Further expansion  
of our world class Cerrejon Coal operation (Colombia) to 40 mtpa (100 per cent  
basis) was approved by the partners in August 2011 and highlights the strong    
growth outlook for BHP Billiton`s Energy Coal business.                         
Group and Unallocated items                                                     
The Underlying EBIT expense for Group and Unallocated decreased by US$136       
million in the 2011 financial year, to US$405 million. The weaker US dollar     
and inflation had an unfavourable impact on Underlying EBIT of US$105 million.  
Self insurance claims related to the Clark Shaft incident at Olympic Dam        
reduced Underlying EBIT in the prior period by US$297 million.                  
The following notes explain the terms used throughout this profit release:      
(1) 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$5,113 million for the year ended 30 June     
2011 and US$4,794 million for the year ended 30 June 2010 (excluding            
exceptional items of US$319 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.                                                                      
(2) 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.                                                                      
(3) Underlying EBIT margin excludes the impact of third party product           
activities.                                                                     
(4) Net operating cash flows are after net interest and taxation.               
(5) Represents total enterprise value of approximately US$15.1 billion.         
(6) Net interest includes interest capitalised and excludes the effect of       
discounting on provisions and other liabilities, discounting on post-           
retirement employee benefits, fair value change on hedged loans, fair value     
change on hedging derivatives, exchange variations on net debt and expected     
return on pension scheme assets.                                                
(7) This BHP Billiton Mineral Resource information was sourced from and should  
be read together with and subject to the notes set out in the June 2011         
Exploration and Development Report. This document can be viewed at              
www.bhpbilliton.com. The Mineral Resource information is compiled by Richard    
Preece (FAusIMM) who is a full time employee of BHP Billiton and who has the    
required qualifications and experience to qualify as a Competent Person under   
the JORC Code and consents to the form and context in which it appears above.   
Mineral Resources are stated on a 100% basis. The detailed breakdown of         
Mineral Resources is 3.1bt @0.75%Cu Measured, 4.7bt @0.59%Cu Indicated, 11.7bt  
@0.49%Cu Inferred.                                                              
(8) Excludes announced pre-commitment funding.                                  
(9) Unless otherwise stated, production volumes exclude suspended and sold      
operations.                                                                     
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements                       
This communication may contain, in addition to historical information, certain  
forward-looking statements regarding future events, conditions, circumstances   
or the future financial performance of BHP Billiton Plc and BHP Billiton        
Limited and their affiliates, including North America Holdings II Inc. and BHP  
Billiton Petroleum (North America) Inc. (collectively, the "BHP Billiton        
Group"), Petrohawk Energy Corporation ("Petrohawk") or the enlarged BHP         
Billiton Group following completion of the tender offer, the merger and other   
related transactions in respect of Petrohawk (the "Transactions"). Often, but   
not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words    
such as "plans," "expects," "expected," "scheduled," "estimates," "intends,"    
"anticipates" or "believes," or variations of such words and phrases or state   
that certain actions, events, conditions, circumstances or results "may,"       
"could," "would," "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such        
forward-looking statements are not guarantees or predictions of future          
performance, and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and      
other factors, many of which are beyond our control, that could cause actual    
results, performance or achievements of any member of the BHP Billiton Group    
or the enlarged BHP Billiton Group following completion of the Transactions to  
differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements          
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and         
uncertainties include: (i) the risk that not all conditions of the merger will  
be satisfied or waived, (ii) beliefs and assumptions relating to available      
borrowing capacity and capital resources generally, (iii) expectations          
regarding environmental matters, including costs of compliance and the impact   
of potential regulations or changes to current regulations to which Petrohawk   
or any member of the BHP Billiton Group is or could become subject, (iv)        
beliefs about oil and gas reserves, (v) anticipated liquidity in the markets    
in which BHP Billiton or any member of the BHP Billiton Group transacts,        
including the extent to which such liquidity could be affected by poor          
economic and financial market conditions or new regulations and any resulting   
impacts on financial institutions and other current and potential               
counterparties, (vi) beliefs and assumptions about market competition and the   
behaviour of other participants in the oil and gas exploration, development or  
production industries, (vii) the effectiveness of Petrohawk`s or any member of  
the BHP Billiton Group`s strategies to capture opportunities presented by       
changes in prices and to manage its exposure to price volatility, (viii)        
beliefs and assumptions about weather and general economic conditions, (ix)     
beliefs regarding the U.S. economy, its trajectory and its impacts, as well as  
the stock price of each of Petrohawk, BHP Billiton Plc and BHP Billiton         
Limited, (x) projected operating or financial results, including anticipated    
cash flows from operations, revenues and profitability, (xi) expectations       
regarding Petrohawk`s or any member of the BHP Billiton Group`s revolver        
capacity, credit facility compliance, collateral demands, capital               
expenditures, interest expense and other payments, (xii) Petrohawk`s or any     
member of the BHP Billiton Group`s ability to efficiently operate its assets    
so as to maximize its revenue generating opportunities and operating margins,   
(xiii) beliefs about the outcome of legal, regulatory, administrative and       
legislative matters, (xiv) expectations and estimates regarding capital and     
maintenance expenditures and its associated costs and (xv) uncertainties        
associated with any aspect of the Transactions, including uncertainties         
relating to the anticipated timing of filings and approvals relating to the     
Transactions, the outcome of legal proceedings that may be instituted against   
Petrohawk and/or others relating to the Transactions, the expected timing of    
completion of the Transactions, the satisfaction of the conditions to the       
consummation of the Transactions and the ability to complete the Transactions.  
Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond the     
BHP Billiton Group`s ability to control or estimate precisely, and any or all   
of the BHP Billiton Group`s forward-looking statements may turn out to be       
wrong. The BHP Billiton Group cannot give any assurance that such forward-      
looking statements will prove to have been correct. The reader is cautioned     
not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak    
only as of the date of this communication. The BHP Billiton Group disclaims     
any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking             
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, conditions,  
circumstances or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.               
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to be a forecast, projection or        
estimate of the future financial performance of any member of the BHP Billiton  
Group, Petrohawk or the enlarged BHP Billiton Group following completion of     
the Transactions.                                                               
****                                                                            
Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our website:                
www.bhpbilliton.com                                                             
Sponsor Absa Capital (the investment banking division of Absa Bank Limited,     
affiliated with Barclays Capital)                                               
Media Relations                                                                 
Australia                                                                       
Samantha Stevens                                                                
Tel: +61 3 9609 2898  Mobile: +61 400 693 915                                   
email: Samantha.Stevens@bhpbilliton.com                                         
Kelly Quirke                                                                    
Tel: +61 3 9609 2896  Mobile: +61 429 966 312                                   
email: Kelly.Quirke@bhpbilliton.com                                             
Fiona Martin                                                                    
Tel: +61 3 9609 2211  Mobile: +61 427 777 908                                   
email: Fiona.Martin2@bhpbilliton.com                                            
United Kingdom and Americas                                                     
Ruban Yogarajah                                                                 
Tel: US +1 713 966 2907 or UK +44 20 7802 4033                                  
Mobile: UK +44 7827 082 022                                                     
email: Ruban.Yogarajah@bhpbilliton.com                                          
Investor Relations                                                              
Australia                                                                       
Andrew Gunn                                                                     
Tel: +61 3 9609 3575  Mobile: +61 439 558 454                                   
email: Andrew.Gunn@bhpbilliton.com                                              
United Kingdom and South Africa                                                 
Brendan Harris                                                                  
Tel: +44 20 7802 4131  Mobile: +44 7990 527 726                                 
email: Brendan.Harris@bhpbilliton.com                                           
Americas                                                                        
Scott Espenshade                                                                
Tel: +1 713 599 6431  Mobile: +1 713 208 8565                                   
email: Scott.Espenshade@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 2011                                                 
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  
2011 is unaudited and has been derived from the draft financial report of the   
BHP Billiton Group for the year ended 30 June 2011. The financial information   
does not constitute the Group`s full financial statements for the year ended    
30 June 2011, 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 21 to 39 for the year ended 30 June  
2011 has been prepared on the basis of accounting policies consistent with      
those applied in the 30 June 2010 financial statements contained within the     
Annual Report of the BHP Billiton Group, except for the following standards     
which have been adopted for the year ended 30 June 2011:                        
*`Improvements to IFRSs 2009`/AASB 2009-4 `Amendments to Australian Accounting  
Standards arising from the Annual Improvements Project` and AASB 2009-5         
`Further Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from the Annual  
Improvements Project` include a collection of minor amendments to IFRS.  These  
amendments include a requirement to classify expenditures which do not result   
in a recognised asset as a cash flow from operating activities. This has        
resulted in exploration cash flows of US$1,030 million for the year ended 30    
June 2010 (2009: US$1,009 million), which were not recognised as assets, being  
reclassified from net investing cash flows to net operating cash flows in the   
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement.                                               
The comparative figures for the financial years ended 30 June 2010 and 30 June  
2009 are not the statutory accounts of the BHP Billiton Group for those         
financial years. Those accounts have been reported on by the company`s          
auditors and delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The reports of the        
auditors were (i) unqualified, (ii) did not include a reference to any matters  
to which the auditors drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying      
their report and (iii) did not contain a statement under Section 498(2) or (3)  
of the UK Companies Act 2006.                                                   
All amounts are expressed in US dollars unless otherwise stated. The BHP        
Billiton Group`s presentation currency and the functional currency of the       
majority of its operations is US dollars as this is the principal currency of   
the economic environment in which it operates.                                  
Where applicable, comparative figures have been adjusted to disclose them on    
the same basis as the current period figures. Amounts in this financial         
information have, unless otherwise indicated, been rounded to the nearest       
million dollars.                                                                
Consolidated Income Statement                                                   
for the year ended 30 June 2011                                                 
Year ended   Year ended    Year ended    
                                Notes  30 June      30 June       30 June       
                                       2011         2010          2009          
                                       US$M         US$M          US$M          
Revenue                                                                         
Group production                        67,903       48,193        44,113       
Third party products             1      3,836        4,605         6,098        
Revenue                          1      71,739       52,798        50,211       
Other income                            531          528           589          
Expenses excluding net finance          (40,454)     (33,295)      (38,640)     
costs                                                                           
Profit from operations                  31,816       20,031        12,160       
Comprising:                                                                     
Group production                        31,718       19,920        11,657       
Third party products                    98           111           503          
                                       31,816       20,031        12,160        
Financial income                 4      245          215           309          
Financial expenses               4      (806)        (674)         (852)        
Net finance costs                4      (561)        (459)         (543)        
Profit before taxation                  31,255       19,572        11,617       
Income tax expense                      (6,481)      (6,112)       (4,784)      
Royalty related taxation (net           (828)        (451)         (495)        
of income tax benefit)                                                          
Total taxation expense           5      (7,309)      (6,563)       (5,279)      
Profit after taxation                   23,946       13,009        6,338        
Attributable to non-controlling         298          287           461          
interests                                                                       
Attributable to members of BHP          23,648       12,722        5,877        
Billiton Group                                                                  
Earnings per ordinary share      6      429.1        228.6         105.6        
(basic) (US cents)                                                              
Earnings per ordinary share      6      426.9        227.8         105.4        
(diluted) (US cents)                                                            
Dividends per ordinary share -   7      91.0         83.0          82.0         
paid during the period (US                                                      
cents)                                                                          
Dividends per ordinary share -   7      101.0        87.0          82.0         
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 2011                                                 
                                         Year ended   Year ended  Year ended    
                                         30 June      30 June     30 June       
2011         2010        2009          
                                         US$M         US$M        US$M          
Profit after taxation                     23,946       13,009      6,338        
Other comprehensive income                                                      
Actuarial losses on pension and medical   (113)        (38)        (227)        
schemes                                                                         
Available for sale investments:                                                 
Net valuation (losses)/gains taken to     (70)         167         3            
equity                                                                          
Net valuation (gains)/losses transferred  (47)         2           58           
to the income statement                                                         
Cash flow hedges:                                                               
(Losses)/gains taken to equity            -            (15)        710          
Realised losses transferred to the income -            2           22           
statement                                                                       
Unrealised gains transferred to the       -            -           (48)         
income statement                                                                
Gains transferred to the initial carrying -            -           (26)         
amount of hedged items                                                          
Exchange fluctuations on translation of   19           1           27           
foreign operations taken to equity                                              
Exchange fluctuations on translation of   -            (10)        -            
foreign operations transferred to the                                           
income statement                                                                
Tax recognised within other comprehensive 120          111         (253)        
income                                                                          
Total other comprehensive income for the  (91)         220         266          
year                                                                            
Total comprehensive income                23,855       13,229      6,604        
Attributable to non-controlling interests 284          294         458          
Attributable to members of BHP Billiton   23,571       12,935      6,146        
Group                                                                           
The accompanying notes form part of this financial information.                 
Consolidated Balance Sheet                                                      
as at 30 June 2011                                                              
                                            30 June           30 June           
2011              2010              
                                            US$M              US$M              
ASSETS                                                                          
Current assets                                                                  
Cash and cash equivalents                    10,084            12,456           
Trade and other receivables                  8,197             6,543            
Other financial assets                       264               292              
Inventories                                  6,154             5,334            
Current tax assets                           273               189              
Other                                        308               320              
Total current assets                         25,280            25,134           
Non-current assets                                                              
Trade and other receivables                  2,093             1,381            
Other financial assets                       1,602             1,510            
Inventories                                  363               343              
Property, plant and equipment                68,468            55,576           
Intangible assets                            904               687              
Deferred tax assets                          3,993             4,053            
Other                                        188               168              
Total non-current assets                     77,611            63,718           
Total assets                                 102,891           88,852           
LIABILITIES                                                                     
Current liabilities                                                             
Trade and other payables                     9,718             6,467            
Interest bearing liabilities                 3,519             2,191            
Other financial liabilities                  288               511              
Current tax payable                          3,693             1,685            
Provisions                                   2,256             1,899            
Deferred income                              259               289              
Total current liabilities                    19,733            13,042           
Non-current liabilities                                                         
Trade and other payables                     555               469              
Interest bearing liabilities                 12,388            13,573           
Other financial liabilities                  79                266              
Deferred tax liabilities                     2,683             4,320            
Provisions                                   9,269             7,433            
Deferred income                              429               420              
Total non-current liabilities                25,403            26,481           
Total liabilities                            45,136            39,523           
Net assets                                   57,755            49,329           
EQUITY                                                                          
Share capital - BHP Billiton Limited         1,183             1,227            
Share capital - BHP Billiton Plc             1,070             1,116            
Treasury shares                              (623)             (525)            
Reserves                                     2,001             1,906            
Retained earnings                            53,131            44,801           
Total equity attributable to members of BHP  56,762            48,525           
Billiton Group                                                                  
Non-controlling interests                    993               804              
Total equity                                 57,755            49,329           
The accompanying notes form part of this financial information.                 
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement                                                
for the year ended 30 June 2011                                                 
                                              Year ended  Year       Year       
                                              30 June     ended      ended 30   
                                              2011        30 June    June       
US$M        2010       2009       
                                                          US$M       US$M       
Operating activities                                                            
Profit before taxation                         31,255      19,572     11,617    
Adjustments for:                                                                
Non-cash exceptional items                     (150)       (255)      5,460     
Depreciation and amortisation expense          5,039       4,759      3,871     
Net gain on sale of non-current assets         (41)        (114)      (38)      
Impairments of property, plant and equipment,  74          35         190       
financial assets and intangibles                                                
Employee share awards expense                  266         170        185       
Financial income and expenses                  561         459        543       
Other                                          (384)       (265)      (320)     
Changes in assets and liabilities:                                              
Trade and other receivables                    (1,960)     (1,713)    4,894     
Inventories                                    (792)       (571)      (116)     
Trade and other payables                       2,780       565        (847)     
Net other financial assets and liabilities     46          (90)       (769)     
Provisions and other liabilities               387         (306)      (497)     
Cash generated from operations                 37,081      22,246     24,173    
Dividends received                             12          20         30        
Interest received                              107         99         205       
Interest paid                                  (562)       (520)      (519)     
Income tax refunded                            74          552        -         
Income tax paid                                (6,025)     (4,931)    (5,129)   
Royalty related taxation paid                  (607)       (576)      (906)     
Net operating cash flows                       30,080      16,890     17,854    
Investing activities                                                            
Purchases of property, plant and equipment     (11,147)    (9,323)    (9,492)   
Exploration expenditure                        (1,240)     (1,333)    (1,243)   
Exploration expenditure expensed and included  981         1,030      1,009     
in operating cash flows                                                         
Purchase of intangibles                        (211)       (85)       (141)     
Investment in financial assets                 (238)       (152)      (40)      
Investment in subsidiaries, operations and     (4,807)     (508)      (286)     
jointly controlled entities, net of their                                       
cash                                                                            
Payment on sale of operations                  -           (156)      (126)     
Cash outflows from investing activities        (16,662)    (10,527)   (10,319)  
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and      80          132        164       
equipment                                                                       
Proceeds from financial assets                 118         34         96        
Proceeds from sale or partial sale of          -           376        17        
subsidiaries, operations and jointly                                            
controlled entities, net of their cash                                          
Net investing cash flows                       (16,464)    (9,985)    (10,042)  
Financing activities                                                            
Proceeds from interest bearing liabilities     1,374       567        7,323     
Proceeds from debt related instruments         222         103        354       
Repayment of interest bearing liabilities      (2,173)     (1,155)    (3,748)   
Proceeds from ordinary shares                  32          12         29        
Contributions from non-controlling interests   -           335        -         
Purchase of shares by Employee Share           (469)       (274)      (169)     
Ownership Plan ("ESOP") trusts                                                  
Share buy-back - BHP Billiton Limited          (6,265)     -          -         
Share buy-back - BHP Billiton Plc              (3,595)     -          -         
Dividends paid                                 (5,054)     (4,618)    (4,563)   
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests    (90)        (277)      (406)     
Net financing cash flows                       (16,018)    (5,307)    (1,180)   
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash       (2,402)     1,598      6,632     
equivalents                                                                     
Cash and cash equivalents, net of overdrafts,  12,455      10,831     4,173     
at beginning of period                                                          
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate       27          26         26        
changes on cash and cash equivalents                                            
Cash and cash equivalents, net of overdrafts,  10,080      12,455     10,831    
at end of period                                                                
The accompanying notes form part of this financial information.                 
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity                                     
for the year ended 30 June 2011                                                 
For the year ended 30 June 2011          Attributable to members of the BHP     
                                        Billiton Group                          
US$M                                     Share    Share     Treasury  Reserves  
                                        capital  capital   shares               
                                        - BHP    - BHP                          
                                        Billiton Billiton                       
Limited  Plc                            
Balance as at 1 July 2010                1,227    1,116     (525)     1,906     
Profit after taxation                    -        -         -         -         
Other comprehensive income:                                                     
Actuarial losses on pension and medical  -        -         -         -         
schemes                                                                         
Net valuation (losses)/gains on          -        -         -         (71)      
available for sale investments taken to                                         
equity                                                                          
Net valuation gains on available for     -        -         -         (38)      
sale investments transferred to the                                             
income statement                                                                
Exchange fluctuations on translation of  -        -         -         19        
foreign operations taken to equity                                              
Tax recognised within other              -        -         -         24        
comprehensive income                                                            
Total comprehensive income               -        -         -         (66)      
Transactions with owners:                                                       
Purchase of shares by ESOP trusts        -        -         (469)     -         
Employee share awards exercised net of   -        -         454       (121)     
employee contributions                                                          
Employee share awards forfeited          -        -         -         (9)       
Accrued employee entitlement for         -        -         -         266       
unvested awards                                                                 
BHP Billiton Limited shares bought back  (44)     -         -         -         
and cancelled                                                                   
BHP Billiton Plc shares bought back      -        -         (3,678)   -         
BHP Billiton Plc shares cancelled        -        (46)      3,595     46        
Distribution to option holders           -        -         -         (21)      
Dividends                                -        -         -         -         
Equity contributed                       -        -         -         -         
Balance as at 30 June 2011               1,183    1,070     (623)     2,001     
For the year ended 30 June 2011    Attributable to                              
                                  members of the BHP                            
                                  Billiton Group                                
US$M                               Retained Total equity  Non-         Total    
earnings attributable  controlling  equity    
                                           to members    interests              
                                           of BHP                               
                                           Billiton                             
Group                                
                                                                                
Balance as at 1 July 2010          44,801   48,525        804          49,329   
Profit after taxation              23,648   23,648        298          23,946   
Other comprehensive income:                                                     
Actuarial losses on pension and    (105)    (105)         (8)          (113)    
medical schemes                                                                 
Net valuation (losses)/gains on    -        (71)          1            (70)     
available for sale investments                                                  
taken to equity                                                                 
Net valuation gains on available   -        (38)          (9)          (47)     
for sale investments transferred                                                
to the income statement                                                         
Exchange fluctuations on           -        19            -            19       
translation of foreign operations                                               
taken to equity                                                                 
Tax recognised within other        94       118           2            120      
comprehensive income                                                            
Total comprehensive income         23,637   23,571        284          23,855   
Transactions with owners:                                                       
Purchase of shares by ESOP trusts  -        (469)         -            (469)    
Employee share awards exercised    (294)    39            -            39       
net of employee contributions                                                   
Employee share awards forfeited    9        -             -            -        
Accrued employee entitlement for   -        266           -            266      
unvested awards                                                                 
BHP Billiton Limited shares        (6,301)  (6,345)       -            (6,345)  
bought back and cancelled                                                       
BHP Billiton Plc shares bought     -        (3,678)       -            (3,678)  
back                                                                            
BHP Billiton Plc shares cancelled  (3,595)  -             -            -        
Distribution to option holders     -        (21)          (17)         (38)     
Dividends                          (5,126)  (5,126)       (90)         (5,216)  
Equity contributed                 -        -             12           12       
Balance as at 30 June 2011         53,131   56,762        993          57,755   
The accompanying notes form part of this financial information.                 
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity                                     
for the year ended 30 June 2011 (continued)                                     
For the year ended 30 June 2010          Attributable to members of the BHP     
                                        Billiton Group                          
US$M                                     Share     Share    Treasury  Reserves  
                                        capital   capital  shares               
                                        - BHP     - BHP                         
                                        Billiton  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 available for     -         -        -         160       
sale investments taken to equity                                                
Net valuation losses on available for    -         -        -         2         
sale investments transferred to the                                             
income statement                                                                
Losses on cash flow hedges taken to      -         -        -         (15)      
equity                                                                          
Realised losses on cash flow hedges      -         -        -         2         
transferred to the income statement                                             
Exchange fluctuations on translation of  -         -        -         1         
foreign operations taken to equity                                              
Exchange fluctuations on translation of  -         -        -         (10)      
foreign operations transferred to the                                           
income statement                                                                
Tax recognised within other              -         -        -         57        
comprehensive income                                                            
Total comprehensive income               -         -        -         197       
Transactions with owners:                                                       
Purchase of shares by ESOP Trusts        -         -        (274)     -         
Employee share awards exercised net of   -         -        274       (88)      
employee contributions                                                          
Employee share awards forfeited          -         -        -         (28)      
Accrued employee entitlement for         -         -        -         170       
unvested awards                                                                 
Issue of share options to non-           -         -        -         43        
controlling interests                                                           
Distribution to option holders           -         -        -         (10)      
Dividends                                -         -        -         -         
Equity contributed                       -         -        -         317       
Balance as at 30 June 2010               1,227     1,116    (525)     1,906     
For the year ended 30 June 2010    Attributable to                              
                                  members of the BHP                            
                                  Billiton Group                                
US$M                               Retained Total equity  Non-         Total    
earnings attributable  controlling  equity    
                                           to members    interests              
                                           of BHP                               
                                           Billiton                             
Group                                
Balance as at 1 July 2009          36,831   39,954        757          40,711   
Profit after taxation              12,722   12,722        287          13,009   
Other comprehensive income:                                                     
Actuarial losses on pension and    (38)     (38)          -            (38)     
medical schemes                                                                 
Net valuation gains on available   -        160           7            167      
for sale investments taken to                                                   
equity                                                                          
Net valuation losses on available  -        2             -            2        
for sale investments transferred                                                
to the income statement                                                         
Losses on cash flow hedges taken   -        (15)          -            (15)     
to equity                                                                       
Realised losses on cash flow       -        2             -            2        
hedges transferred to the income                                                
statement                                                                       
Exchange fluctuations on           -        1             -            1        
translation of foreign operations                                               
taken to equity                                                                 
Exchange fluctuations on           -        (10)          -            (10)     
translation of foreign operations                                               
transferred to the income                                                       
statement                                                                       
Tax recognised within other        54       111           -            111      
comprehensive income                                                            
Total comprehensive income         12,738   12,935        294          13,229   
Transactions with owners:                                                       
Purchase of shares by ESOP Trusts  -        (274)         -            (274)    
Employee share awards exercised    (178)    8             -            8        
net of employee contributions                                                   
Employee share awards forfeited    28       -             -            -        
Accrued employee entitlement for   -        170           -            170      
unvested awards                                                                 
Issue of share options to non-     -        43            16           59       
controlling interests                                                           
Distribution to option holders     -        (10)          (6)          (16)     
Dividends                          (4,618)  (4,618)       (277)        (4,895)  
Equity contributed                 -        317           20           337      
Balance as at 30 June 2010         44,801   48,525        804          49,329   
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity                                     
for the year ended 30 June 2011 (continued)                                     
For the year ended 30 June 2009          Attributable to members of the BHP     
                                        Billiton Group                          
US$M                                     Share     Share    Treasury  Reserves  
                                        capital   capital  shares               
                                        - BHP     - BHP                         
                                        Billiton  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 available for     -         -        -         3         
sale investments taken to equity                                                
Net valuation losses on available for    -         -        -         58        
sale investments transferred to the                                             
income statement                                                                
Gains on cash flow hedges taken to       -         -        -         710       
equity                                                                          
Realised losses on cash flow hedges      -         -        -         22        
transferred to the income statement                                             
Unrealised gains on cash flow hedges     -         -        -         (48)      
transferred to the income statement                                             
Gains on cash flow hedges transferred    -         -        -         (26)      
to initial carrying amount of hedged                                            
items                                                                           
Exchange fluctuations on translation of  -         -        -         27        
foreign operations taken to equity                                              
Tax recognised within other              -         -        -         (342)     
comprehensive income                                                            
Total comprehensive income               -         -        -         404       
Transactions with owners:                                                       
Purchase of shares by ESOP Trusts        -         -        (169)     -         
Employee share awards exercised net of   -         -        158       (34)      
employee contributions                                                          
Accrued employee entitlement for         -         -        -         185       
unvested awards                                                                 
Dividends                                -         -        -         -         
Equity contributed                       -         -        -         -         
Balance as at 30 June 2009               1,227     1,116    (525)     1,305     
For the year ended 30 June 2009    Attributable to                              
                                  members of the BHP                            
Billiton Group                                
US$M                               Retained Total equity  Non-         Total    
                                  earnings attributable  controlling  equity    
                                           to members    interests              
of BHP                               
                                           Billiton                             
                                           Group                                
Balance as at 1 July 2008          35,756   38,335        708          39,043   
Profit after taxation              5,877    5,877         461          6,338    
Other comprehensive income:                                                     
Actuarial losses on pension and    (224)    (224)         (3)          (227)    
medical schemes                                                                 
Net valuation gains on available   -        3             -            3        
for sale investments taken to                                                   
equity                                                                          
Net valuation losses on available  -        58            -            58       
for sale investments transferred                                                
to the income statement                                                         
Gains on cash flow hedges taken    -        710           -            710      
to equity                                                                       
Realised losses on cash flow       -        22            -            22       
hedges transferred to the income                                                
statement                                                                       
Unrealised gains on cash flow      -        (48)          -            (48)     
hedges transferred to the income                                                
statement                                                                       
Gains on cash flow hedges          -        (26)          -            (26)     
transferred to initial carrying                                                 
amount of hedged items                                                          
Exchange fluctuations on           -        27            -            27       
translation of foreign operations                                               
taken to equity                                                                 
Tax recognised within other        89       (253)         -            (253)    
comprehensive income                                                            
Total comprehensive income         5,742    6,146         458          6,604    
Transactions with owners:                                                       
Purchase of shares by ESOP Trusts  -        (169)         -            (169)    
Employee share awards exercised    (104)    20            -            20       
net of employee contributions                                                   
Accrued employee entitlement for   -        185           -            185      
unvested awards                                                                 
Dividends                          (4,563)  (4,563)       (406)        (4,969)  
Equity contributed                 -        -             (3)          (3)      
Balance as at 30 June 2009         36,831   39,954        757          40,711   
Notes to the Financial Information                                              
1.Segment reporting                                                             
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 Specialty     Mining of diamonds and titanium minerals; potash     
Products                   development                                          
Stainless Steel Materials  Mining and production of nickel products             
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. 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                                                              
2011                                                                            
Revenue                                                                         
Group production     10,603     3,601      13,550 1,517      3,698      20,182  
Third party products 127        1,620      602    -          158        93      
Rendering of         2          -          -      -          -          98      
services                                                                        
Inter-segment        5          -          -      -          5          39      
revenue                                                                         
Total revenue (a)    10,737     5,221      14,152 1,517      3,861      20,412  
Underlying EBITDA    8,319      596        7,525  779        990        13,946  
(b)                                                                             
Depreciation and     (1,913)    (330)      (735)  (192)      (404)      (618)   
amortisation                                                                    
Impairment           (76)       -          -      -          2          -       
(losses)/reversals                                                              
recognised                                                                      
Underlying EBIT (b)  6,330      266        6,790  587        588        13,328  
Comprising:                                                                     
Group production     6,325      275        6,796  587        583        13,296  
Third party products 5          (9)        (6)    -          5          32      
Underlying EBIT (b)  6,330      266        6,790  587        588        13,328  
Net finance costs                                                               
Exceptional items                                                               
Profit before                                                                   
taxation                                                                        
Capital expenditure  1,984      1,329      1,404  319        651        3,627   
Total assets         18,645     9,602      15,973 2,833      4,912      17,585  
Total liabilities    4,500      1,606      3,118  664        1,579      3,652   
US$M                  Manganese  Metallurgical Energy   Group and     BHP       
                                Coal          Coal     unallocated   Billiton   
items/        Group      
                                                       eliminations             
Year ended 30 June                                                              
2011                                                                            
Revenue                                                                         
Group production      2,423      7,565         4,651    -             67,790    
Third party products  -          -             851      385           3,836     
Rendering of          -          8             5        -             113       
services                                                                        
Inter-segment         -          -             -        (49)          -         
revenue                                                                         
Total revenue (a)     2,423      7,573         5,507    336           71,739    
Underlying EBITDA     780        3,027         1,469    (338)         37,093    
(b)                                                                             
Depreciation and      (83)       (357)         (340)    (67)          (5,039)   
amortisation                                                                    
Impairment            -          -             -        -             (74)      
(losses)/reversals                                                              
recognised                                                                      
Underlying EBIT (b)   697        2,670         1,129    (405)         31,980    
Comprising:                                                                     
Group production      697        2,670         1,058    (405)         31,882    
Third party products  -          -             71       -             98        
Underlying EBIT (b)   697        2,670         1,129    (405)         31,980    
Net finance costs                                                     (561)     
Exceptional items                                                     (164)     
Profit before                                                         31,255    
taxation                                                                        
Capital expenditure   276        1,172         754      94            11,610    
Total assets          2,439      6,731         6,176    17,995        102,891   
Total liabilities     1,049      2,088         2,386    24,494        45,136    
(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                                                              
2010                                                                            
Revenue                                                                         
Group production     8,682      2,948      9,528  1,272      3,311      10,964  
Third party products 86         1,405      881    -          306        67      
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 (b)  4,573      406        4,632  485        668        6,001   
Comprising:                                                                     
Group production     4,570      393        4,639  485        646        6,003   
Third party products 3          13         (7)    -          22         (2)     
Underlying EBIT (b)  4,573      406        4,632  485        668        6,001   
Net finance costs                                                               
Exceptional items                                                               
Profit before                                                                   
taxation                                                                        
Capital expenditure  1,951      1,019      763    127        265        3,838   
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 products  7          -             1,051    802           4,605     
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 (b)   712        2,053         730      (541)         19,719    
Comprising:                                                                     
Group production      717        2,053         642      (540)         19,608    
Third party products  (5)        -             88       (1)           111       
Underlying EBIT (b)   712        2,053         730      (541)         19,719    
Net finance costs                                                     (459)     
Exceptional items                                                     312       
Profit before                                                         19,572    
taxation                                                                        
Capital expenditure   182        653           881      87            9,766     
Total assets          2,082      5,597         5,425    19,280        88,852    
Total liabilities     794        1,475         1,965    23,968        39,523    
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 products 192        932        488    -          112        132     
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 (b)  4,085      192        1,292  145        (854)      6,229   
Comprising:                                                                     
Group production     4,081      202        1,326  145        (905)      6,022   
Third party products 4          (10)       (34)   -          51         207     
Underlying EBIT (b)  4,085      192        1,292  145        (854)      6,229   
Net finance costs                                                               
Exceptional items                                                               
Profit before                                                                   
taxation                                                                        
Capital expenditure  1,905      863        1,018  112        685        1,922   
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 products  63        18             2,694    1,467         6,098     
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 (b)   1,349     4,711          1,460    (395)         18,214    
Comprising:                                                                     
Group production      1,358     4,704          1,174    (396)         17,711    
Third party products  (9)       7              286      1             503       
Underlying EBIT (b)   1,349     4,711          1,460    (395)         18,214    
Net finance costs                                                     (543)     
Exceptional items                                                     (6,054)   
Profit before                                                         11,617    
taxation                                                                        
Capital expenditure   279       1,562          876      114           9,336     
Total assets          1,454     4,929          4,555    17,426        78,770    
Total liabilities     571       1,249          2,004    23,335        38,059    
2.Exceptional items                                                             
Exceptional items are those items where their nature and amount is considered   
material to the financial report.  Such items included within the Group`s       
profit for the year are detailed below.                                         
Year ended 30 June 2011            Gross           Tax           Net            
                                  US$M            US$M          US$M            
Exceptional items by category                                                   
Withdrawn offer for PotashCorp     (314)           -             (314)          
Newcastle steelworks               150             (45)          105            
rehabilitation                                                                  
Release of income tax provisions   -               718           718            
Reversal of deferred tax           -               1,455         1,455          
liabilities                                                                     
                                  (164)           2,128         1,964           
Withdrawn offer for PotashCorp:                                                 
The Group withdrew its offer for PotashCorp on 15 November 2010 following the   
Board`s conclusion that the condition of the offer relating to receipt of a     
net benefit as determined by the Minister of Industry under the Investment      
Canada Act could not be satisfied. The Group incurred fees associated with the  
US$45 billion debt facility (US$240 million), investment bankers`, lawyers`     
and accountants` fees, printing expenses and other charges (US$74 million) in   
progressing this matter during the period up to the withdrawal of the offer,    
which were expensed as operating costs in the year ended 30 June 2011.          
Newcastle steelworks rehabilitation:                                            
The Group recognised a decrease of US$150 million (US$45 million tax charge)    
to rehabilitation obligations in respect of former operations at the Newcastle  
steelworks (Australia) following a full review of the progress of the Hunter    
River Remediation Project and estimated costs to completion.                    
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 Beenup and          
Boodarie Iron and the denial of capital allowance claims made on the Boodarie   
Iron project. The Group challenged the assessments and was successful on all    
counts before the Full Federal Court. The ATO obtained special leave in         
September 2010 to appeal to the High Court in respect of the denial of capital  
allowance claims made on the Boodarie Iron project. The Group`s position in     
respect of the capital allowance claims on the Boodarie Iron project was        
confirmed by the High Court in June 2011. As a result of these appeals, US$138  
million was released from the Group`s income tax provision in September 2010    
and US$580 million in June 2011.                                                
Reversal of deferred tax liabilities:                                           
Consistent with the functional currency of the Group`s operations, eligible     
Australian entities elected to adopt a US dollar tax functional currency from   
1 July 2011. As a result, the deferred tax liability relating to certain US     
dollar denominated financial arrangements has been derecognised, resulting in   
a credit to income tax expense of US$1,455 million.                             
2.Exceptional items (continued)                                                 
Year ended 30 June 2010             Gross          Tax            Net           
                                   US$M           US$M           US$M           
Exceptional items by category                                                   
Pinal Creek rehabilitation          186            (53)           133           
Disposal of Ravensthorpe nickel     653            (196)          457           
operations                                                                      
Restructuring of operations and     (298)          12             (286)         
deferral of projects                                                            
Renegotiation of power supply       (229)          50             (179)         
agreements                                                                      
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) was 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 were 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       
smelter operations in southern Africa, and temporary delays with the Guinea     
Alumina project, gave 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         
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 was 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 to the High Court      
which resulted in a release of US$128 million from the Group`s income tax       
provisions. The ATO sought special leave to appeal to the High Court in         
relation to the Beenup bad debt disallowance and the denial of the capital      
allowance claims on the Boodarie Iron project and was granted special leave     
only in relation to the denial of the capital allowance claims on the Boodarie  
Iron project.                                                                   
2.Exceptional items (continued)                                                 
Year ended 30 June 2009             Gross         Tax            Net            
US$M          US$M           US$M            
Exceptional items by category                                                   
Suspension of Ravensthorpe nickel   (3,615)       1,076          (2,539)        
operations                                                                      
Announced sale of Yabulu refinery   (510)         (175)          (685)          
Withdrawal or sale of other         (665)         (23)           (688)          
operations                                                                      
Deferral of projects and            (306)         86             (220)          
restructuring of operations                                                     
Newcastle steelworks                (508)         152            (356)          
rehabilitation                                                                  
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 (Australia) and as a consequence stopped the     
processing of the mixed nickel cobalt hydroxide product at Yabulu (Australia).  
As a result, an impairment charge and 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.          
2.Exceptional items (continued)                                                 
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$62 million tax     
benefit) in progressing this matter over the 18 months up to the lapsing of     
the offers, which were expensed in the year ended 30 June 2009.                 
3.Interests in jointly controlled entities                                      
Major shareholdings  Ownership interest at BHP    Contribution to profit after  
in jointly           Billiton Group reporting     taxation                      
controlled entities  date (a)                                                   
                    2011      2010      2009      2011      2010      2009      
                    %         %         %         US$M      US$M      US$M      
Mozal SARL           47.1      47.1      47.1      66        4         84       
Compania Minera      33.75     33.75     33.75     602       438       185      
Antamina SA                                                                     
Minera Escondida     57.5      57.5      57.5      2,694     2,175     422      
Limitada                                                                        
Samarco Mineracao SA 50        50        50        906       430       340      
Carbones del         33.33     33.33     33.33     231       172       243      
Cerrej?n LLC                                                                    
Other (b)                                          (172)     (145)     159      
Total                                              4,327     3,074     1,433    
(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 Group`s effective interest in the Richards Bay Minerals joint  
venture of 37.76 per cent (2010: 37.76 per cent; 2009: 50 per cent), the        
Guinea Alumina project (ownership interest 33.3 per cent; 2010: 33.3 per cent;  
2009: 33.3 per cent), the Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group Pty Ltd           
(ownership interest 35.5 per cent; 2010: 35.5 per cent; 2009: 35.5 per cent)    
and other immaterial jointly controlled entities.                               
4.Net finance costs                                                             
                                 2011           2010           2009             
                                 US$M           US$M           US$M             
Financial expenses                                                              
Interest on bank loans and        19             24             47              
overdrafts                                                                      
Interest on all other borrowings  471            460            527             
Finance lease and hire purchase   12             14             15              
interest                                                                        
Dividends on redeemable           -              -              1               
preference shares                                                               
Discounting on provisions and     411            359            315             
other liabilities                                                               
Discounting on post-retirement    128            130            132             
employee benefits                                                               
Interest capitalised (a)          (256)          (301)          (149)           
Fair value change on hedged       (140)          131            390             
loans                                                                           
Fair value change on hedging      110            (138)          (377)           
derivatives                                                                     
Exchange variations on net debt   51             (5)            (49)            
                                 806            674            852              
Financial income                                                                
Interest income                   (141)          (117)          (198)           
Expected return on pension        (104)          (98)           (111)           
scheme assets                                                                   
                                 (245)          (215)          (309)            
Net finance costs                 561            459            543             
(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 2011 the           
capitalisation rate was 2.87 per cent (2010: 3.5 per cent; 2009: 4.25 per       
cent).                                                                          
5.Taxation                                                                      
                                 2011           2010           2009             
US$M           US$M           US$M             
Taxation expense including                                                      
royalty related taxation                                                        
UK taxation expense               21             178            319             
Australian taxation expense       3,503          3,798          3,158           
Overseas taxation expense         3,785          2,587          1,802           
Total taxation expense            7,309          6,563          5,279           
Excluding the impacts of royalty related taxation, exceptional items and        
exchange rate movements, taxation expense was US$10,082 million representing    
an underlying effective tax rate of 32.1 per cent (2010: 30.9 per cent; 2009:   
31.4 per cent).                                                                 
Government imposed royalty arrangements calculated by reference to profits      
after adjustment for temporary differences are reported as royalty related      
taxation.  Royalty related taxation contributed US$828 million to taxation      
expense representing an effective rate of 2.6 per cent (2010: US$451 million    
and 2.3 per cent; 2009: US$495 million and 4.3 per cent).                       
Exceptional items decreased taxation expense by US$2,128 million (2010:         
increase of US$59 million; 2009: decrease of US$1,209 million) predominantly    
due to the reversal of deferred tax liabilities of US$1,455 million following   
the election of eligible Australian entities to adopt a US dollar tax           
functional currency, as well as the release of tax provisions of US$718         
million following the Group`s position being confirmed with respect to ATO      
amended assessments.                                                            
Exchange rate movements decreased taxation expense by US$1,473 million (2010:   
increase of US$106 million; 2009: increase of US$444 million) predominantly     
due to the revaluation of local currency deferred tax assets arising from       
future tax depreciation of US$2,481 million, partly offset by the revaluation   
of local currency tax liabilities and deferred tax balances arising from other  
monetary items and temporary differences which amounted to US$1,008 million.    
Total taxation expense including royalty related taxation and the               
predominantly non-cash exceptional items and exchange rate movements described  
above, was US$7,309 million, representing an effective rate of 23.4 per cent    
(2010: 33.5 per cent; 2009: 45.4 per cent).                                     
6.Earnings per share                                                            
                                2011            2010           2009             
Basic earnings per ordinary      429.1           228.6          105.6           
share (US cents)                                                                
Diluted earnings per ordinary    426.9           227.8          105.4           
share (US cents)                                                                
Basic earnings per American      858.2           457.2          211.2           
Depositary Share (ADS) (US                                                      
cents) (a)                                                                      
Diluted earnings per American    853.8           455.6          210.8           
Depositary Share (ADS) (US                                                      
cents) (a)                                                                      
Basic earnings (US$M)            23,648          12,722         5,877           
Diluted earnings (US$M)          23,648          12,743         5,899           
The weighted average number of shares used for the purposes of calculating      
diluted earnings per share reconciles to the number used to calculate basic     
earnings per share as follows:                                                  
Weighted average number of       2011            2010           2009            
shares                           Million         Million        Million         
Basic earnings per ordinary      5,511           5,565          5,565           
share denominator                                                               
Shares and options contingently  29              30             33              
issuable under employee share                                                   
ownership plans                                                                 
Diluted earnings per ordinary    5,540           5,595          5,598           
share denominator                                                               
(a) Each American Depositary Share (ADS) represents two ordinary shares.        
7.Dividends                                                                     
                                2011            2010           2009             
                                US$M            US$M           US$M             
Dividends paid/payable during                                                   
the period                                                                      
BHP Billiton Limited             3,076           2,787          2,754           
BHP Billiton Plc - Ordinary      2,003           1,831          1,809           
shares                                                                          
- Preference shares (a)         -               -              -                
                                5,079           4,618          4,563            
Dividends declared in respect                                                   
of the period                                                                   
BHP Billiton Limited             3,331           2,921          2,754           
BHP Billiton Plc - Ordinary      2,183           1,920          1,809           
shares                                                                          
- Preference shares (a)         -               -              -                
5,514           4,841          4,563            
                                2011            2010           2009             
                                US cents        US cents       US cents         
Dividends paid during the                                                       
period (per share)                                                              
Prior year final dividend        45.0            41.0           41.0            
Interim dividend                 46.0            42.0           41.0            
                                91.0            83.0           82.0             
Dividends declared in respect of the period                                     
(per share)                                                                     
Interim dividend                 46.0            42.0           41.0            
Final dividend                   55.0            45.0           41.0            
101.0           87.0           82.0             
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 24 August 2011, BHP Billiton declared   
a final dividend of 55.0 US cents per share (US$2,943 million), which will be   
paid on 29 September 2011 (2010: 45.0 US cents per share - US$2,504 million;    
2009: 41.0 US cents per share - US$2,281 million).                              
BHP Billiton Limited dividends for all periods presented are, or will be,       
fully franked based on a tax rate of 30 per cent.                               
                                2011            2010           2009             
US$M            US$M           US$M             
Franking credits as at 30 June   3,971           3,861          2,506           
Franking credits arising from    3,218                                          
the payment of current tax                       818            1,265           
payable                                                                         
Total franking credits           7,189           4,679          3,771           
available (b)                                                                   
(a) 5.5 per cent dividend on 50,000 preference shares of GBP1 each declared     
and paid annually (2010: 5.5 per cent; 2009: 5.5 per cent).                     
(b) The payment of the final 2011 dividend declared after 30 June 2011 will     
reduce the franking account balance by US$757 million.                          
8.Share capital                                                                 
On 15 November 2010, BHP Billiton announced the reactivation of the remaining   
US$4.2 billion component of its previously suspended US$13 billion buy-back     
program and subsequently announced an expanded US$10 billion capital            
management program on 16 February 2011. This expanded program was completed on  
29 June 2011 through a combination of on-market and off-market buy-backs as     
described below.                                                                
In accordance with the UK Companies Act 2006 and with the resolutions passed    
at the 2010 Annual General Meetings, BHP Billiton Limited purchased fully paid  
shares in BHP Billiton Plc on-market and then transferred those shares to BHP   
Billiton Plc for nil consideration and cancellation.                            
An off-market tender buy-back of BHP Billiton Limited shares was completed on   
11 April 2011. In accordance with the structure of the buy-back, US$44 million  
was allocated to the share capital of BHP Billiton Limited and US$6,301         
million was allocated to retained earnings. These shares were then cancelled.   
Details of the purchases are shown in the table below.                          
Year   Shares     Number       Cost per  Total Purchased by:                    
ended  purchased               share     cost                                   
                                        US$M                                    
                                              BHP Billiton        BHP           
                                              Limited             Billiton      
Plc           
                                              Shares       US$M   Shares US$M   
30     BHP        94,935,748   GBP23.96  3,678 94,935,748   3,678  -      -     
June   Billiton   (a)          (b)       6,345 146,899,809  6,345  -      -     
2011   Plc        146,899,809  A$40.85                                          
      BHP                                                                       
      Billiton                                                                  
      Limited                                                                   
(a) Includes 2,181,737 shares in BHP Billiton Plc bought back as part of the    
above program but not cancelled as at 30 June 2011.                             
(b) Cost per share represents the average cost per share paid on-market by BHP  
Billiton Limited for BHP Billiton Plc shares in 2011. Since the commencement    
of the buy-back in 2006 the average cost per share was GBP15.67.                
9.Subsequent events                                                             
On 14 July 2011, the Group announced it had entered into a definitive           
agreement to acquire Petrohawk Energy Corporation by means of an all-cash       
tender offer for all of the issued and outstanding shares of Petrohawk to be    
followed by a second-step merger, representing a total equity value of          
approximately US$12.1 billion and a total enterprise value of approximately     
US$15.1 billion, including the assumption of net debt. On 21 August 2011, the   
Group announced that all conditions to the closing of the tender offer to       
acquire all outstanding shares of common stock of Petrohawk for US$38.75 per    
share net to the seller in cash, without interest, less any applicable          
withholding taxes, have been satisfied. The offer expired at 12:00 midnight,    
New York City time, at the end of Friday, 19 August 2011, at which time         
approximately 293.9 million shares had been validly tendered and not withdrawn  
pursuant to the offer, representing approximately 97.4% of the total            
outstanding shares. Following payment for the tendered shares and a short-form  
merger being effected, the Group will own 100% of the total outstanding         
shares. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of calendar   
year 2011.                                                                      
On 9 August 2011, the Group signed a Heads of Agreement with Leighton Holdings  
to acquire the HWE Mining subsidiaries that provide contract mining services    
to its Western Australia Iron Ore operations.  The Heads of Agreement relates   
to the mining equipment, people and related assets that service the Area C,     
Yandi and Orebody 23/25 operations.  These operations collectively account for  
almost 70 per cent of Western Australia Iron Ore`s total material movement.     
The purchase price is US$735 million (A$705 million), subject to working        
capital adjustments.  Subject to due diligence, definitive agreements and       
relevant internal and regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to      
close during the fourth quarter of calendar year 2011.                          
On 18 August 2011, the Group arranged a new unsecured 364-day multicurrency     
term and revolving credit facility for an amount of US$7.5 billion consisting   
of two tranches: a US$5 billion term loan and US$2.5 billion revolving credit   
facility.                                                                       
Other than the matters outlined above, elsewhere in this financial information  
or in the accompanying 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.                          
Date: 24/08/2011 08:35:01 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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