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Wed 12 Aug 2009, 8:55 BIL - BHP Billiton Plc - Preliminary Results for the Year Ended 30 June 2009
BIL
BIBLT                                                                           
BIL - BHP Billiton Plc - Preliminary Results for the Year Ended 30 June 2009    
BHP Billiton Plc                                                                
Share code: BIL                                                                 
ISIN: GB0000566504                                                              
12 August 2009                                                                  
Announcement to the Market                                                      
Name of Companies: BHP Billiton Limited (ABN 49 004 028 077) and BHP Billiton   
Plc (Registration No. 3196209)                                                  
Report for the year ended 30 June 2009                                          
This statement includes the combined results of the BHP Billiton Group,         
comprising BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc, for the year ended 30     
June 2009 compared with the year ended 30 June 2008.                            
The results are prepared in accordance with IFRS and are presented in US        
dollars.                                                                        
Headline Earnings                                                               
In accordance with the JSE Listing Requirements, Headline Earnings is           
presented below.                                                                
                       Year ended   Year ended   Year ended                     
                       30 June      30 June      30 June 2007                   
2009         2008                                        
                       US$M         US$M         US$M                           
Earnings attributable   5,877        15,390       13,416                        
to ordinary                                                                     
shareholders                                                                    
Adjusted for:                                                                   
Cost relating to the    450          -            -                             
lapsed offers for Rio                                                           
Tinto                                                                           
Gain on sale of PP&E,   (38)         (129)        (101)                         
Investments and                                                                 
Operations                                                                      
Impairments             4,640        274          305                           
Recycling of re-        (26)         -            6                             
measurements from                                                               
equity to the income                                                            
statement                                                                       
Tax effect of above     (1,044)      (5)          (57)                          
adjustments                                                                     
Recognition of tax      -            (159)        -                             
losses in respect of                                                            
business                                                                        
Subtotal of             3,982        (19)         153                           
Adjustments                                                                     
Headline Earnings       9,859        15,371       13,569                        
Diluted Headline        9,881        15,383       13,583                        
Earnings                                                                        
Basic earnings per      5,565        5,590        5,846                         
share denominator                                                               
(millions)                                                                      
Diluted earnings per    5,598        5,605        5,866                         
share denominator                                                               
(millions)                                                                      
Headlines Earnings per  177.2        275.0        232.1                         
share (US cents)                                                                
Diluted Headline        176.5        274.4        231.6                         
Earnings per share (US                                                          
cents)                                                                          
BHP BILLITON RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2009                            
* A strong financial result, despite very challenging market conditions.        
* Record net operating cash flow(1) of US$18.9 billion.                         
* Underlying EBIT margin(2) of 40.1% and Underlying return on capital of        
24.6%.                                                                          
* Maintained our strong balance sheet, with net debt of US$5.6 billion,         
gearing of 12.1% and Underlying EBITDA interest cover of 57 times.              
* Full year dividend of 82 US cents per share, an increase of 17.1%.            
* Capital and exploration expenditure of US$10.7 billion.                       
* Four projects approved and formation of the Western Australia Iron Ore        
production joint venture with Rio Tinto announced.                              
Year ended 30 June                   2009     2008      Change                  
                                    US$M     US$M      %                        
Revenue                              50,211   59,473    (15.6)                  
Underlying EBITDA(3)                 22,275   28,031    (20.5)                  
Underlying EBIT(3) (4)               18,214   24,282    (25.0)                  
Profit from operations               12,160   24,145    (49.6)                  
Attributable profit - excluding      10,722   15,368    (30.2)                  
exceptional items                                                               
Attributable profit                  5,877    15,390    (61.8)                  
Net operating cash flow(1)           18,863   17,817    5.9                     
Basic earnings per share -           192.7    274.9     (29.9)                  
excluding exceptional items (US                                                 
cents)                                                                          
Basic earnings per share (US         105.6    275.3     (61.6)                  
cents)                                                                          
Underlying EBITDA interest           56.8     49.4      15.0                    
coverage (times)(3) (5)                                                         
Dividend per share (US cents)        82.0     70.0      17.1                    
Refer to page 15 for footnotes, including explanations of the non-GAAP          
measures used in this announcement.                                             
The above financial results are prepared in accordance with IFRS and are        
unaudited. All references to the prior period are to the year ended 30 June     
2008 unless otherwise stated.                                                   
RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2009                                         
Commentary on the Group Results                                                 
BHP Billiton`s 2009 financial year results demonstrate the success of our       
strategy in delivering a consistently strong performance throughout the         
cycle. Our portfolio of long-life, low-cost and diversified assets continued    
to yield strong margins and cash flows, despite the pressures of the current    
economic environment. Our low financial and operational leverage and a strong   
balance sheet enabled us to continue to invest in future growth.                
The past year encompassed both record commodity prices in many products and a   
collapse in demand, exacerbated by dramatic movements in inventory levels.      
While the impact of weaker commodity prices and collapsing demand presented a   
major challenge to many companies, our Underlying EBIT margin and return on     
capital remained very healthy at 40.1 per cent and 24.6 per cent                
respectively.                                                                   
While Underlying EBIT decreased by 25.0 per cent to US$18,214 million, we       
generated record net operating cash flows (up six per cent to US$18,863         
million). The outstanding cash flow result has allowed us to reduce our net     
debt to US$5,586 million and continue to invest strongly in our capital and     
exploration programs (US$10,735 million).                                       
The Group`s financial strength has been a clear competitive advantage during    
the severe economic downturn.  It leaves us well positioned to invest in        
growth and participate in opportunistic mergers and acquisitions. The Western   
Australia iron ore production joint venture with Rio Tinto is an example of     
our focused pursuit of capacity growth in Tier One assets. More importantly     
for our shareholders, our balance sheet strength has allowed us to maintain     
our progressive dividend policy, increasing our full year dividend by 17.1      
per cent to US 82 cents per share.                                              
Nevertheless, we were not insulated from the swift and dramatic economic        
downturn and took decisive actions in response to changing market conditions.   
This included the decision not to proceed with the Rio Tinto takeover offers,   
production adjustments to match decreased demand, the suspension and sale of    
cash negative operations, and deferral of lower priority capital                
expenditures.                                                                   
Outlook                                                                         
Economic Outlook                                                                
Over the past financial year the global economy deteriorated rapidly as a       
result of a significant decline in consumer demand stemming from the            
financial crisis.  This impacted all countries through lower levels of trade,   
compounded by falls in private investment.  Although economic data over         
recent months indicates a stabilisation across many key indicators, in          
general economic indicators remain weak by past standards and any assumption    
of a quick return to historical trend growth may be premature.                  
Governments initiated economic stimulus packages have steadied the financial    
markets in the developed and developing economies.  Bank funding costs          
dropped from recent highs in October 2008 to more normal levels by the end of   
June 2009. However, credit growth across developed economies remains weak as    
households and businesses attempt to take the risk out of their balance         
sheets.  Unemployment is still rising in many economies, albeit at a slower     
rate.                                                                           
As with all economic stimulus policies, the degree of support will be           
difficult to measure and there remains uncertainty about economic growth        
beyond the period of each specific program.  In China, the response has been    
a sharp increase in investment that has accelerated a range of existing         
infrastructure and construction projects.  This has provided strong support     
to short-term economic growth.                                                  
If the recent stabilisation in the key indicators persists, many economies      
will improve economic output over the short term to rebuild inventory.          
However, structural economic problems will take time to correct and may hold    
back growth over the medium term.                                               
Commodities Outlook                                                             
The 2009 financial year was a year of two distinct periods. The first period    
was typified by steep falls in prices, essentially across all commodity         
markets in which BHP Billiton operates. Spot prices for our commodities fell    
between 50 to 90 per cent over this period as an aggressive de-stocking         
occurred in all regions. Lower prices led to supply-side cuts of five to 25     
per cent year on year across the commodity suite.                               
While demand in developed markets remains constrained, a brighter outlook has   
emerged recently from some of the developing markets.  China and India demand   
returned earlier than many expected, as those economies began to re-stock. In   
China in particular, re-stocking coupled with stimulus package spending,        
fuelled strong real demand in key commodity-intensive industries such as        
infrastructure, construction and real estate. In the second half of the         
financial year, spot prices for our commodities increased by up to 90 per       
cent from the December 2008 lows.  However, despite the recent price rally,     
commodity prices at the end of the 2009 financial year were generally 20 to     
60 per cent lower than at the start of the year.                                
The commodity re-stocking in China now appears largely complete with            
substantial inventory build in specific commodities over the last three         
months at end-user level and in strategic stockpiles.  Chinese demand has       
been exceptionally strong in cases in which imports have replaced higher cost   
domestic production (such as in iron ore) or where commodities have             
substituted unavailable products (such as copper cathode for copper scrap).     
We expect Chinese demand to more accurately reflect real end-user purchasing    
in the near term.  After intensive de-stocking, there is emerging evidence of   
demand improving in North America, Europe and Japan. It is too early to tell    
whether this improvement is driven only by a re-stocking or a combination of    
re-stocking and real demand. Real demand following the stimulus spending will   
be the key to a sustainable price recovery. However, further improvements in    
commodity prices in the short term should be viewed in the context of the       
likely supply responses from latent capacity across the industry.               
In the long term we continue to expect strong growth in demand for our          
commodities.  As we have consistently stated, long term prices will continue    
to be driven by the long-run marginal cost of supply.  With reduced capital     
investment over the past year, supply may struggle to keep pace with demand     
in the medium term when growth recovers.                                        
Growth Projects                                                                 
During the period, we completed six major projects (one manganese and five      
oil and gas projects). In addition, the Alumar Refinery Expansion (alumina)     
delivered first production on 9 July 2009. Highlighting our commitment to       
long term growth, we sanctioned a total of US$5,850 million of investments in   
one iron ore and three oil and gas projects. Subsequent to the financial year   
end on 24 July 2009, we announced the approval of the MAC 20 (energy coal)      
project at Hunter Valley Coal (Australia) operations.                           
Completed projects                                                              
Customer   Project     Capacity(i)  Capital             Date of initial         
Sector                              expenditure         production (ii)         
Group                               (US$M) (i)                                  
                                   Budget  Actual      Target Actual            
Petroleum  Neptune     50,000       405(iv) 418         Q1     Q3 2008          
          (USA)       barrels of                       2008                     
          BHP         oil and 50                                                
          Billiton -  million                                                   
35%         cubic feet                                                
                      of gas per                                                
                      day (100%)                                                
          North West  LNG          350     357         H2     H2 2008           
Shelf 5th   processing                       2008                     
          Train       capacity                                                  
          (Australia) 4.4 million                                               
          BHP         tonnes per                                                
Billiton -  annum                                                     
          6.67%       (100%)                                                    
          North West  800 million  200     168         H2     H2 2008           
          Shelf       cubic feet                       2008                     
Angel       of gas per                                                
          (Australia) day and                                                   
          BHP         50,000                                                    
          Billiton -  barrels of                                                
6.67%       condensate                                                
                      per day                                                   
                      (100%)                                                    
          Shenzi      100,000      1,940   1,940(iii)  Mid    Q1 2009           
(USA)       barrels of                       2009                     
          BHP         oil and 50                                                
          Billiton -  million                                                   
          44%         cubic feet                                                
gas per day                                               
                      (100%)                                                    
          Atlantis    Tie back to  185     185(iii)    H2     H1 2009           
          North (USA) Atlantis                         2009                     
BHP         South                                                     
          Billiton -                                                            
          44%                                                                   
Aluminium  Alumar      2 million    900(iv) 900(iii)    Q2     Q3               
Refinery    tonnes per                       2009   2009(iv)          
          Expansion   annum of                                                  
          (Brazil)    alumina                                                   
          BHP         (100%)                                                    
Billiton -                                                            
          36%                                                                   
Manganese  Gemco       1 million    110     93          H1     H1 2009          
          (Australia) tonnes per                       2009                     
BHP         annum                                                     
          Billiton -  manganese                                                 
          60%         concentrate                                               
                      (100%)                                                    
4,090   4,061                                
(i)  All references to capital expenditure and capacity are BHP Billiton`s      
share unless noted otherwise.                                                   
(ii) References are based on calendar years.                                    
(iii) Number subject to finalisation. For projects where capital expenditure    
is required after initial production, the costs represent the estimated total   
capital expenditure.                                                            
(iv) As per revised budget and schedule.                                        
Projects currently under development (approved in prior years)                  
Customer   Project          Capacity (i)           Budgeted    Target           
Sector                                             capital     date for         
Group                                              expenditure initial          
(US$M) (i)  production        
                                                              (ii)              
Petroleum  Pyrenees         96,000 barrels of oil  1,200       H1 2010          
          (Australia)      and 60 million cubic                                 
BHP Billiton -   feet of gas per day                                  
          71.43%           (100%)                                               
          Bass Strait      10,000 barrels of      500         2011              
          Kipper           condensate per day                                   
(Australia)      and processing                                       
          BHP Billiton -   capacity of 80                                       
          32.5% - 50%      million cubic feet                                   
                           gas per day (100%)                                   
North West Shelf 2,500 million cubic    850         2012              
          North Rankin B   feet of gas per day                                  
          (Australia)      (100%)                                               
          BHP Billiton -                                                        
16.67%                                                                
Aluminium  Worsley          1.1 million tonnes     1,900       H1 2011          
          Efficiency and   per annum (100%)                                     
          Growth                                                                
(Australia)                                                           
          BHP Billiton -                                                        
          86%                                                                   
Iron Ore   WA Iron Ore      26 million tonnes per  1,850       H1 2010          
Rapid Growth     annum of additional                                  
          Project 4        iron ore system                                      
          (Australia)      capacity (100%)                                      
          BHP Billiton -                                                        
86.2%                                                                 
Energy     Klipspruit       1.8 million tonnes     450         H2 2009          
Coal       (South Africa)   per annum export and                                
          BHP Billiton -   2.1 million tonnes                                   
100%             per annum domestic                                   
                           thermal coal                                         
          Douglas-         10 million tonnes per  975         Mid 2010          
          Middelburg       annum export thermal                                 
Optimisation     coal and 8.5 million                                 
          (South Africa)   tonnes per annum                                     
          BHP Billiton -   domestic thermal coal                                
          100%             (sustains current                                    
output)                                              
          Newcastle Third  30 million tonnes per  390         2010              
          Port Project     annum export coal                                    
          (Australia)      loading facility                                     
BHP Billiton -   (100%)                                               
          35.5%                                                                 
                                                  8,115                         
(i)  All references to capital expenditure and capacity are BHP Billiton`s      
share unless noted otherwise.                                                   
(ii) References are based on calendar years.                                    
Projects approved since June 2008                                               
Customer  Project           Capacity (i)        Budgeted     Target             
Sector                                          capital      date               
Group                                           expenditure  for                
                                               (US$M) (i)   initial             
                                                            production          
(ii)                
Petroleum Bass Strait       11,000 barrels of   625          2011               
         Turrum            condensate per day                                   
         (Australia)       and processing                                       
BHP Billiton -    capacity of 200                                      
         50%               million cubic feet                                   
                           of gas per day                                       
                           (100%)                                               
North West Shelf  Replacement vessel  245          2011                
         CWLH Extension    with capacity of                                     
         (Australia)       60,000 barrels of                                    
         BHP Billiton -    oil per day (100%)                                   
16.67%                                                                 
         Angostura Gas     280 million cubic   180          H1 2011             
         Phase II          feet of gas per                                      
         (Trinidad and     day (100%)                                           
Tobago)                                                                
         BHP Billiton -                                                         
         45%                                                                    
Iron Ore  WA Iron Ore       50 million tonnes   4,800        H2 2011            
Rapid Growth      per annum                                            
         Project 5         additional iron                                      
         (Australia)       ore system                                           
         BHP Billiton -    capacity (100%)                                      
85%                                                                    
                                               5,850                            
(i)  All references to capital expenditure and capacity are BHP Billiton`s      
share unless noted otherwise.                                                   
(ii) References are based on calendar years.                                    
The Income Statement                                                            
To provide clarity into the underlying performance of our operations, we        
present Underlying EBIT which is a measure used internally and in our           
Supplementary Information that excludes any exceptional items. The              
differences between Underlying EBIT and Profit from operations are set out in   
the following table:                                                            
Year ended 30 June                     2009         2008                        
US$M         US$M                         
Underlying EBIT                        18,214       24,282                      
Exceptional items (before taxation)    (6,054)      (137)                       
Profit from operations                 12,160       24,145                      
Refer to page 9 for further details of the Exceptional items.                   
Underlying EBIT                                                                 
The following table and commentary describes the approximate impact of the      
principal factors that affected Underlying EBIT for the year ended June 2009    
compared with the year ended June 2008:                                         
                                          US$M         US$M                     
Underlying EBIT for the year ended 30                   24,282                  
June 2008                                                                       
Change in volumes:                                                              
Increase in volumes                        158                                  
Decrease in volumes                        (2,523)                              
                                                       (2,365)                  
Net price impact:                                                               
Change in sales prices                     (3,994)                              
Price-linked costs                         12                                   
                                                       (3,982)                  
Change in costs:                                                                
Costs (rate and usage)                     (2,528)                              
Exchange rates                             2,456                                
Inflation on costs                         (601)                                
(673)                    
Asset sales                                             (81)                    
Ceased and sold operations                              15                      
New and acquired operations                             (158)                   
Exploration and business development                    (104)                   
Other                                                   1,280                   
Underlying EBIT for the year ended 30                   18,214                  
June 2009                                                                       
Volumes                                                                         
Lower sales volumes (predominantly in Base Metals and Manganese) reduced        
Underlying EBIT by US$2,523 million. Copper sales volumes were impacted by      
lower ore grade and reduced output from milling operations at Escondida         
(Chile). Manganese sales volumes decreased significantly due to weaker          
demand.                                                                         
This was partially offset by stronger volumes, predominantly in Iron Ore,       
which increased Underlying EBIT by US$158 million.                              
Prices                                                                          
Underlying EBIT decreased by US$3,994 million (excluding the impact of newly    
commissioned projects) due to changes in commodity prices. Lower average        
realised prices for commodities such as crude oil, copper, nickel, aluminium,   
alumina and diamonds reduced Underlying EBIT by US$10,193 million. Despite      
the prices rallying in the second half of the financial year, spot commodity    
prices as at 30 June 2009 were generally 20 to 60 per cent lower than at the    
start of the financial year. This was partially offset by higher average        
realised prices for metallurgical coal, iron ore, manganese and thermal coal    
which increased Underlying EBIT by US$6,199 million.                            
Price-linked costs were largely in line with the corresponding period.          
Decreased charges for third party nickel ore and more favourable rates for      
copper treatment and refining charges (TCRCs) were offset by higher royalty     
costs.                                                                          
Costs                                                                           
Costs increased by US$2,528 million compared to the corresponding period.       
This included the impact of higher non-cash costs of US$153 million. The bulk   
of the cost increases took place in the first half of the financial year.       
Production costs were well controlled despite the inefficiency of lower         
volumes. Discretionary costs previously incurred to maximise production to      
realise high prices in the first half of the financial year were successfully   
reduced. We have also successfully negotiated lower contract prices for some    
of our key supply contracts.                                                    
While we continue to focus on cost containment, the benefits of falling input   
prices will have a lagged effect on reducing costs. Approximately US$601        
million of the increase was due to higher costs for fuel and energy, and raw    
materials such as coke, sulphuric acid, pitch and explosives. In addition,      
labour and contractor costs have increased by US$578 million.                   
One-off costs such as the severe weather interruptions in Queensland and the    
furnace rebuild at the Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter (Australia) had an adverse     
impact of US$561 million.                                                       
Operating costs were largely flat in real terms, including the benefit of       
lower exchange rates.                                                           
Exchange rates                                                                  
Despite the recent strength in the Australian dollar and South African rand     
versus the US dollar, exchange rate movements positively impacted Underlying    
EBIT by US$2,456 million. The Australian operations` Underlying EBIT            
increased by US$2,085 million due to a generally weaker Australian dollar.      
The depreciation of the South African rand also positively impacted             
Underlying EBIT by US$225 million.                                              
The following exchange rates against the US dollar have been applied:           
                       Year ended  Year ended                                   
                       30 June     30 June    30 June     30 June               
                       2009        2008       2009        2008                  
Average     Average    Closing     Closing               
Australian dollar (i)   0.75        0.90       0.81        0.96                 
Chilean peso            582         489        530         522                  
Colombian peso          2,205       1,935      2,159       1,899                
Brazilian real          2.08        1.78       1.95        1.60                 
South African rand      9.01        7.29       7.82        7.91                 
(i)   Displayed as US$ to A$1 based on common convention.                       
Inflation on costs                                                              
Inflationary pressures on input costs across all our businesses had an          
unfavourable impact on Underlying EBIT of US$601 million. The inflationary      
pressures were most evident in Australia, South Africa and South America.       
Asset Sales                                                                     
The sale of assets reduced Underlying EBIT by US$81 million. This was mainly    
due to the sale of the Elouera mine (Illawarra Coal, Australia) and other       
Queensland Coal mining leases in the corresponding period. However, this was    
in part offset by the profit on sale of Petroleum leases located offshore of    
Western Australia.                                                              
Ceased and sold operations                                                      
The favourable impact of US$15 million was mainly due to higher insurance       
recoveries for closed operations.                                               
New and acquired operations                                                     
New greenfield operations will remain in new and acquired variance until        
there is a full year comparison. Atlantis and Stybarrow operations (both        
USA), which were commissioned in the prior year, contributed to a negative      
variance of US$258 million. This was due to lower realised prices, partially    
offset by higher sales volumes. Shenzi and Neptune (both USA) operations        
which were commissioned during the financial year generated US$100 million      
Underlying EBIT during the 2009 financial year.                                 
Exploration and business development                                            
Exploration expense for the year was US$1,074 million, an increase of US$168    
million. The main expenditure for Petroleum was on targets in the Gulf of       
Mexico (USA), Malaysia and Australia. We are also progressing with minerals     
exploration activities in Western Australia Iron Ore and potash in              
Saskatchewan, Canada. During the financial year, we incurred US$94 million of   
exploration expense for potash.                                                 
Expenditure on business development was US$64 million lower than last year.     
This was mainly due to lower spending on the pre-feasibility study for the      
Olympic Dam expansion project and business development activities for           
diamonds projects.  The draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the      
Olympic Dam expansion has been submitted to the Federal, South Australian and   
Northern Territory Governments for review.  Project activities have been        
modified to that necessary to support the approvals process and the study of    
a number of mining and processing technology options.                           
Other                                                                           
Other items increased Underlying EBIT by US$1,280 million, predominantly due    
to the contribution of third party product sales and the reversal of            
unrealised losses on derivative contracts.                                      
Net finance costs                                                               
Net finance costs decreased to US$543 million, from US$662 million in the       
corresponding period. This was driven predominantly by lower interest rates     
and foreign exchange impacts, partly offset by lower capitalised interest.      
Taxation expense                                                                
The taxation expense including tax on exceptional items was US$5,279 million.   
This represents an effective rate of 45.4 per cent on profit before tax         
including exceptional items of US$11,617 million. Excluding the impacts of      
exceptional items the taxation expense was US$6,488 million.                    
Exchange rate movements increased the taxation expense by US$444 million. The   
weaker Australian dollar against the US dollar has significantly reduced the    
Australian deferred tax assets for future tax depreciation since 30 June        
2008. This was partly offset by the devaluation of local currency tax           
liabilities due to the stronger US dollar. Royalty-related taxation             
represents an effective rate of 4.3 per cent for the current period.            
Excluding the impacts of royalty-related taxation, the impact of exchange       
rate movements included in taxation expense and tax on exceptional items, the   
underlying effective rate was 31.4 per cent.                                    
Exceptional Items                                                               
On 21 January 2009 the Group announced the suspension of operations at the      
Ravensthorpe nickel operations (Australia) and as a consequence stopped the     
processing of the mixed nickel cobalt hydroxide product at Yabulu               
(Australia).  As a result, charges relating to impairment, increased            
provisions for contract cancellation, redundancy and other closure costs of     
US$3,615 million (US$1,076 million tax benefit) were recognised. This           
exceptional item does not include the loss from operations of Ravensthorpe      
nickel operations of US$173 million.                                            
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 are 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 have been classified as held for sale as   
at 30 June 2009.                                                                
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 have been classified as held for sale    
as at 30 June 2009.                                                             
A further 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).                                                                        
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 relate to    
changes in the estimated volume of sediment in the Hunter River requiring       
remediation and treatment, and increases in estimated treatment costs.          
The Group`s offers for Rio Tinto lapsed on 27 November 2008 following the       
Board`s decision that it believed that completion of the offers was no longer   
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$62 million tax     
benefit) up to the lapsing of the offers which have been expensed in the year   
ended 30 June 2009.                                                             
Year ended 30 June 2009       Gross         Tax          Net                    
                             US$M          US$M         US$M                    
Exceptional items by                                                            
category                                                                        
Suspension of Ravensthorpe    (3,615)       1,076        (2,539)                
nickel operations                                                               
Announced sale of Yabulu      (510)         (175)        (685)                  
refinery                                                                        
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)                 
Exceptional items by segment                                                    
Aluminium                     (313)         14           (299)                  
Base Metals                   (295)         (14)         (309)                  
Diamonds and Specialty        (70)          -            (70)                   
Products                                                                        
Stainless Steel Materials     (4,332)       964          (3,368)                
Metallurgical Coal            (86)          -            (86)                   
Group and unallocated         (958)         245          (713)                  
(6,054)       1,209        (4,845)                 
Cash Flows                                                                      
Net operating cash flow after interest and tax increased by 5.9 per cent to     
US$18,863 million. This was primarily attributable to higher cash generated     
from operating activities and a decrease in receivables, partly offset by       
increases in other working capital items.                                       
Capital and exploration expenditure totalled US$10,735 million for the          
period. Expenditure on major growth projects was US$7,464 million, including    
US$1,851 million on Petroleum projects and US$5,613 million on Minerals         
projects. Capital expenditure on sustaining and other items was US$2,028        
million. Exploration expenditure was US$1,243 million, including US$234         
million which has been capitalised.                                             
Financing cash flows include net debt proceeds of US$3,929 million and          
increased dividend payments of US$4,563 million.                                
Net debt, comprising cash and interest-bearing liabilities, was US$5,586        
million, a decrease of US$2,872 million, or 34.0 per cent, compared to 30       
June 2008. Gearing, which is the ratio of net debt to net debt plus net         
assets, was 12.1 per cent at 30 June 2009, compared with 17.8 per cent at 30    
June 2008.                                                                      
Dividend                                                                        
BHP Billiton maintains a progressive dividend policy and our Board today        
declared a final dividend for the year of 41 US cents per share. Together       
with the interim dividend of 41 US cents per share paid to shareholders on 17   
March 2009, this brings the total dividend for the year to 82 US cents per      
share.                                                                          
The dividend to be paid by BHP Billiton Limited will be fully franked for       
Australian taxation purposes. Dividends for the BHP Billiton Group are          
determined and declared in US dollars. However, BHP Billiton Limited            
dividends are mainly paid in Australian dollars, and BHP Billiton Plc           
dividends are mainly paid in pounds sterling and South African rand to          
shareholders on the UK section and the South African section of the register,   
respectively. Currency conversions will be based on the foreign currency        
exchange rates on the Record Date, except for the conversion into South         
African rand, which will take place on the last day to trade on JSE Limited,    
being 28 August 2009. Please note that all currency conversion elections must   
be registered by the Record Date, being 4 September 2009. 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    28 August 2009             
currency conversion into Rand                                                   
Ex-dividend Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)     31 August 2009             
Ex-dividend Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE)        31 August 2009             
Ex-dividend London Stock Exchange (LSE)              2 September 2009           
Ex-dividend New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)           2 September 2009           
Record date (including currency conversion and       4 September 2009           
currency election dates, except for Rand)                                       
Payment date                                         25 September 2009          
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 31 August and 4 September 2009, both dates   
inclusive.  Transfers between the UK and South African sections of the          
register will not be permitted between the dates of 28 August and 4 September   
2009, both dates inclusive.                                                     
Details of the currency exchange rates applicable for the dividend will be      
announced to the relevant stock exchanges following conversion and will         
appear on the Group`s website.                                                  
Debt Management and Liquidity                                                   
Despite the challenging market environment, our strong credit rating has        
enabled us to access the debt capital markets in order to diversify our         
funding sources and maturity profiles. These funds were raised on very          
attractive terms.                                                               
In March 2009, we issued a two tranche Global Bond under a debt shelf           
registration statement, which had been previously filed with the US             
Securities and Exchange Commission. The Global Bond comprises US$1,500          
million 5.5 per cent Senior Notes due 2014 and US$1,750 million 6.5 per cent    
Senior Notes due 2019.                                                          
In the same month we issued a two tranche Euro Bond. This comprises of _1,250   
million of 4.75 per cent Euro Bonds due April 2012 and _1,000 million of        
6.375 per cent Euro Bonds due April 2016.                                       
The proceeds for both were used for general corporate purposes.                 
The Group currently has access to the US commercial paper market and a          
committed and undrawn US$3.0 billion Revolving Credit Facility, which expires   
in October 2011.                                                                
Corporate Governance                                                            
On 14 August 2008, the Board announced the appointment of non-executive         
Directors Mr Alan Boeckmann and Mr Keith Rumble to the BHP Billiton Board       
with effect from 1 September 2008.                                              
On 18 June 2009, the Board announced the appointment of non-executive           
Director Mr Wayne Murdy to the BHP Billiton Board with effect from 18 June      
2009.                                                                           
On 4 August 2009, the Board announced that Mr Jac Nasser will succeed Mr Don    
Argus as Chairman when Mr Argus retires as Chairman and a Non-executive         
Director in early 2010.                                                         
CUSTOMER SECTOR GROUP SUMMARY                                                   
The following table provides a summary of the performance of the Customer       
Sector Groups for the year ended 30 June 2009 and the corresponding prior       
year.                                                                           
Year ended 30 June   Revenue                   Underlying EBIT (i)              
(US$M)               2009     2008    Change   2009    2008     Change          
                                     %                         %                
Petroleum            7,211    8,382   (14.0)   4,085   5,485    (25.5)          
Aluminium            4,151    5,746   (27.8)   192     1,465    (86.9)          
Base Metals          7,105    14,774  (51.9)   1,292   7,989    (83.8)          
Diamonds and         896      969     (7.5)    145     189      (23.3)          
Specialty Products                                                              
Stainless Steel      2,355    5,088   (53.7)   (854)   1,275    (167.0)         
Materials                                                                       
Iron Ore             10,048   9,455   6.3      6,229   4,631    34.5            
Manganese            2,536    2,912   (12.9)   1,349   1,644    (17.9)          
Metallurgical Coal   8,087    3,941   105.2    4,711   937      402.8           
Energy Coal          6,524    6,560   (0.5)    1,460   1,057    38.1            
Group and            1,469    1,805   N/A      (395)   (390)    N/A             
unallocated                                                                     
items(ii)                                                                       
Less: inter-segment  (171)    (159)   N/A      -       -        -               
revenue                                                                         
BHP Billiton Group   50,211   59,473  (15.6)   18,214  24,282   (25.0)          
(i)  Underlying EBIT includes trading activities comprising the sale of third   
party product. Underlying EBIT is reconciled to Profit from operations on       
page 6.                                                                         
(ii)  Includes consolidation adjustments, unallocated items and external        
sales from the Group`s freight, transport and logistics operations.             
Petroleum                                                                       
Underlying EBIT was US$4,085 million, a decrease of US$1,400 million, or 25.5   
per cent, compared to last year. The decrease in Underlying EBIT was mainly     
due to lower average realised oil prices per barrel of US$66.18 (compared       
with US$96.27), lower average realised natural gas prices of US$3.68 per        
thousand standard cubic feet (compared with US$3.87) partially offset by        
higher average realised prices for liquefied natural gas (LNG) of US$12.07      
per thousand standard cubic feet (compared with US$8.95).  LNG prices for the   
year were favourably impacted by the recognition of pricing settlements         
related to prior periods.                                                       
Production was a record of 137.2 million barrels of oil equivalent, which was   
six per cent higher than the prior year. We have achieved a nine per cent       
compound annual growth rate for production between the 2007 to 2009 financial   
year. This was due to a series of growth projects in the Gulf of Mexico (USA)   
and Western Australia, and excellent uptime performance from operated           
facilities.  This strong growth was achieved despite the impact of hurricanes   
and natural field declines.                                                     
Gross exploration expenditure was US$548 million, of which US$400 million was   
expensed.  We have continued to replenish our exploration inventory and         
acquired exploration rights to seven deepwater blocks offshore Western India    
and were awarded an additional 28 leases in the Gulf of Mexico lease sale       
process. Evaluation work has commenced, or continues, on the significant        
acreage position we have acquired over recent years.                            
Aluminium                                                                       
Underlying EBIT was US$192 million, a decrease of US$1,273 million or 86.9      
per cent from the corresponding period. Lower LME prices and premiums for       
aluminium had an unfavourable impact of US$1,293 million. This was partially    
offset by a US$131 million positive impact of price-linked costs. The average   
LME aluminium price decreased to US$1,862 per tonne (compared with US$2,668     
per tonne).                                                                     
Higher operating costs also had an adverse impact. This was due to higher       
charges for raw materials, mainly as a result of increased coke and caustic     
prices and higher energy costs. Underlying EBIT was also adversely impacted     
by the closure of the B and C potlines at Bayside Aluminium. However, the       
benefit of a stronger US dollar and a strong focus on business improvement      
initiatives reduced the full impact of cost increases.                          
Favourable embedded derivatives revaluation increased Underlying EBIT by        
US$170 million.                                                                 
Base Metals                                                                     
Underlying EBIT was US$1,292 million, a decrease of US$6,697 million or 83.8    
per cent from the corresponding period.                                         
A significant reduction in average realised prices decreased Underlying EBIT    
by US$5,532 million. This includes the impact of Escondida forward contracts    
losses which decreased Underlying EBIT by US$269 million. With the exception    
of gold, average realised prices for all the commodities in Base Metals were    
lower compared to last year.                                                    
Lower sales volumes reduced Underlying EBIT by US$1,211 million. Copper sales   
volumes were impacted by lower ore grade and reduced output from milling        
operations at Escondida. This was partially offset by the continued ramp up     
of Spence and Escondida Sulphide Leach (both Chile).                            
Also impacting Underlying EBIT were higher costs in the period, mostly due to   
the impact of lower grades at Escondida and higher energy, acid and labour      
charges. The effect of inflation in Chile and Australia also impacted costs     
negatively. Cost increases were partially mitigated by continued cost           
reduction programs particularly in unwinding discretionary costs previously     
incurred to take advantage of high prices. This has resulted in unit cost       
improvements, especially in the second half of the year. A stronger US dollar   
and lower purchases of third party uranium from the spot market also reduced    
costs.                                                                          
Provisional pricing of outstanding copper shipments, including the impact of    
finalisations, resulted in the average realised price for the reporting         
period being US$1.92/lb versus an average LME price of US$2.23/lb.  The         
average realised price was US$3.62/lb for the corresponding period last year.   
The negative impact of provisional pricing and finalisations for the period     
was US$936 million.  Outstanding copper volumes, subject to the fair value      
measurement, amounted to 234,871 tonnes at 30 June 2009.  These were re-        
valued at a weighted average price of US$4,946 per tonne, or US$2.24/lb.        
Diamonds and Specialty Products                                                 
Underlying EBIT was US$145 million, a decrease of $44 million compared with     
last year. Underlying EBIT at EKATI (Canada) was impacted by lower diamonds     
sales volumes and a reduction in average realised prices. This was offset by    
a stronger US dollar, higher value per carat of production and improved plant   
recoveries. There was also an increase in exploration costs due to increased    
spending on potash in Canada which was offset by lower diamonds exploration.    
Stainless Steel Materials                                                       
Underlying EBIT was a loss of US$854 million, a decrease of US$2,129 million    
compared with the corresponding period. This was mainly due to lower average    
LME prices for nickel of US$6.03/lb (compared to US$13.00/lb) reducing          
Underlying EBIT (net of price linked costs) by US$1,995 million. The positive   
impact of price-linked costs was US$496 million.                                
The furnace rebuild at the Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter and concurrent             
maintenance at the Kwinana Nickel Refinery (both Australia) adversely           
impacted Underlying EBIT by US$338 million.                                     
Operational costs were largely flat, as increased mining costs and              
inflationary pressures in Australia, were offset by a favourable impact of      
the weaker Australian dollar against the US dollar.                             
Underlying EBIT was higher due to increased production at Cerro Matoso          
(Colombia), which had been impacted by an industrial stoppage in the 2008       
financial year. Underlying EBIT was also positively impacted by US$46 million   
following the indefinite suspension of operations at Ravensthorpe and the       
Yabulu Extension Project in January 2009. Total operating loss for the year     
from these operations was US$267 million.                                       
Iron Ore                                                                        
Underlying EBIT of US$6,229 million increased significantly by US$1,598         
million or 34.5 per cent. This was mainly driven by higher average realised     
prices, which increased the Underlying EBIT by US$939 million.                  
Our Western Australian Iron Ore operations achieved record production and       
sales due to the full ramp up of Rapid Growth Project 3.  However, our          
operations were interrupted by safety incidents, maintenance and tie-in         
activities associated with Rapid Growth Project 4. During the period, 68 per    
cent of Western Australia Iron Ore shipments on a wet metric tonne basis were   
based on annually agreed pricing.                                               
Samarco (Brazil) production and sales were adversely impacted by weaker         
pellets demand.                                                                 
Overall operating costs were lower than last year and increased Underlying      
EBIT. The favourable impact of the stronger US dollar was partially offset by   
higher costs associated with the uncommissioned projects and safety             
initiatives.                                                                    
Manganese                                                                       
Underlying EBIT was US$1,349 million, a decrease of US$295 million or 17.9      
per cent.                                                                       
The 2009 financial year was a year of two distinct periods for manganese. The   
year started with record demand and sales prices for alloy and ore. As such,    
the Underlying EBIT for the first half of the financial year was US$1,245       
million. However, as a result of the sharp contraction in demand exacerbated    
by dramatic de-stocking activities, average realised ore prices fell by 63      
per cent and alloy prices by 48 per cent in the second half of the 2009         
financial year.                                                                 
In addition, production and sales decreased in line with weaker demand.         
Manganese ore sales were 37.9 per cent lower and alloy sales were 37.1 per      
cent lower than the comparative period. Production costs were well controlled   
despite the inefficiency of reduced volumes. Discretionary costs previously     
incurred to maximise production to realise record prices were successfully      
unwound.                                                                        
Metallurgical Coal                                                              
Underlying EBIT was US$4,711 million, an increase of US$3,774 million, or       
402.8 per cent from the corresponding period. This increase was mainly due to   
the higher realised prices for hard coking coal (125 per cent), weak coking     
coal (121 per cent) and thermal coal (17 per cent). This was partly offset by   
a negative impact of price-linked royalty costs. Higher royalty costs           
associated with the introduction of a new royalty structure in Queensland and   
New South Wales reduced Underlying EBIT by US$144 million.                      
The cost impact attributable to the recovery from the rainfall events at        
Queensland Coal had an unfavourable impact of US$122 million in the period.     
Other operating costs were higher due to inflationary pressures, and            
increased labour and contractor charges. This was offset by a favourable        
impact of the weaker Australian dollar against the US dollar.                   
In addition, in the corresponding period, profit on the sales of Elouera mine   
(Australia) and Queensland coal mining leases were realised.                    
Energy Coal                                                                     
Underlying EBIT was US$1,460 million, an increase of US$403 million, or 38.1    
per cent from the corresponding period. This was mainly due to higher average   
export prices in the first half of the financial year. In addition,             
favourable exchange rate movements, earnings on trading activities and record   
sales volumes from Hunter Valley Coal (Australia) and Cerrejon Coal             
(Colombia) also increased Underlying EBIT.                                      
These gains were partially offset by lower production at BECSA (South           
Africa), higher costs due to inflationary pressures, increased raw materials    
and labour and contractor costs.                                                
Group and Unallocated items                                                     
Underlying EBIT was a loss of US$395 million, which was in line with the        
corresponding period. This was due to higher insurance costs, offset by         
favourable exchange rate movements.                                             
The following notes explain the terms used throughout this profit release:      
(1) Net operating cash flows are after net interest and taxation.               
(2) Underlying EBIT margin is calculated net of third party product             
activities.                                                                     
(3) Underlying EBIT is earnings before net finance costs and taxation and any   
exceptional items. Underlying EBITDA is Underlying EBIT before depreciation,    
impairments and amortisation of US$4,061 million (excluding exceptional items   
of US$4,450 million) for the year ended 30 June 2009 and US$3,749 million for   
year ended 30 June 2008 (excluding exceptional items of US$137 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.                             
(4) Underlying EBIT is used to reflect the underlying performance of BHP        
Billiton`s operations. Underlying EBIT is reconciled to Profit from             
operations on page 6.                                                           
(5) Net interest includes capitalised interest and excludes the effect of       
discounting on provisions and other liabilities, net fair value change on       
hedged loans, net of hedging derivatives, exchange differences arising on net   
debt and return on pension plan assets.                                         
(6) Unless otherwise stated, production volumes exclude suspended and sold      
operations.                                                                     
Forward-looking statements: Certain statements in this release are forward-     
looking statements within the meaning of the US Private Securities Litigation   
Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the cost and timing of       
development projects, future production volumes, increases in production and    
infrastructure capacity, the identification of additional mineral Reserves      
and Resources and project lives and, without limitation, other statements       
typically containing words such as "intends," "expects," "anticipates,"         
"targets," plans," "estimates" and words of similar import. These statements    
are based on current expectations and beliefs and numerous assumptions          
regarding BHP Billiton`s present and future business strategies and the         
environments in which BHP Billiton will operate in the future and such          
assumptions, expectations and beliefs may or may not prove to be correct and    
by their nature, are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and         
uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance and achievements     
to differ materially.                                                           
Factors that could cause actual results or performance to differ materially     
from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements include,      
but are not limited to, the risk factors discussed in BHP Billiton`s filings    
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") (including in Annual   
Reports on Form 20-F) which are available at the SEC`s website                  
(http://www.sec.gov). BHP Billiton undertakes no duty to update any forward-    
looking statements in this release.                                             
This release is for information purposes only and should not be construed as    
either an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell            
securities in any jurisdiction.                                                 
****                                                                            
Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our website:                
www.bhpbilliton.com                                                             
Australia                                                                       
Samantha Evans, Media Relations                                                 
Tel: +61 3 9609 2898 Mobile: +61 400 693 915                                    
email: Samantha.Evans@bhpbilliton.com                                           
Peter Ogden, Media Relations                                                    
Tel: +61 3 9609 2812 Mobile: +61 428 599 190                                    
email: Peter.Ogden@bhpbilliton.com                                              
Kelly Quirke, Media Relations                                                   
Tel: +61 3 9609 2896 Mobile: +61 429 966 312                                    
email: Kelly.Quirke@bhpbilliton.com                                             
Leng Lau, Investor Relations                                                    
Tel: +61 3 9609 4202 Mobile: +61 403 533 706                                    
email: Leng.Y.Lau@bhpbilliton.com                                               
South Africa                                                                    
Bronwyn Wilkinson, Investor and Media Relations                                 
Tel: +44 20 7802 4015 Mobile: +44 7500 785 892                                  
email: Bronwyn.Wilkinson@bhpbilliton.com                                        
United Kingdom                                                                  
Andre Liebenberg, Investor Relations                                            
Tel: +44 20 7802 4131 Mobile: +44 7920 236 974                                  
email: Andre.Liebenberg@bhpbilliton.com                                         
Louise Campbell, Investor Relations                                             
Tel: +44 20 7802 4195  Mobile: +44 7920 237 246                                 
email: Louise.Campbell@bhpbilliton.com                                          
Illtud Harri, Media Relations                                                   
Tel: +44 20 7802 4195 Mobile: +44 7920 237 246                                  
email: Illtud.Harri@bhpbilliton.com                                             
United States                                                                   
Scott Espenshade, Investor Relations                                            
Tel: +1 713 599 6431 Mobile: +1 713 208 8565                                    
email: Scott.Espenshade@bhpbilliton.com                                         
Ruban Yogarajah, Media Relations                                                
Tel: US +1 713 966 2907 or UK +44 20 7802 4033                                  
Mobile: UK +44 7827 082 022                                                     
email: Ruban.Yogarajah@bhpbilliton.com                                          
BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077                                         
Registered in Australia                                                         
Registered Office: 180 Lonsdale Street                                          
Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia                                               
Tel +61 1300 55 4757 Fax +61 3 9609 3015                                        
BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209                                    
Registered in England and Wales                                                 
Registered Office: Neathouse Place                                              
London SW1V 1BH United Kingdom                                                  
Tel +44 20 7802 4000 Fax +44 20 7802 4111                                       
A member of the BHP Billiton group which is headquartered in Australia          
BHP BILLITON GROUP                                                              
FINANCIAL INFORMATION                                                           
For the year ended 30 June 2009                                                 
Contents                                                                        
Financial Information                                                           
Consolidated Income Statement                                                   
Consolidated Statement of Recognised Income and Expense                         
Consolidated Balance Sheet                                                      
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement                                                
Notes to the Financial Information                                              
The financial information included in this document for the year ended 30       
June 2009 is unaudited and has been derived from the draft financial report     
of the BHP Billiton Group for the year ended 30 June 2009. The financial        
information does not constitute the Group`s full financial statements for the   
year ended 30 June 2009, 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 20 to 34 for the year ended 30       
June 2009 has been prepared on the basis of accounting policies consistent      
with those applied in the 30 June 2008 financial statements contained within    
the Annual Report of the BHP Billiton Group, except for the following           
standards and interpretations which have been adopted for the year ended 30     
June 2009:                                                                      
* Amendments to IAS 27/AASB 127 `Consolidated and Separate Financial            
Statements` which have been early adopted remove the definition of the cost     
method resulting in all dividends being recognised as income as well as         
prescribing accounting for the insertion of new parent entities into a group.   
* IFRIC 12/AASB Interpretation 12 `Service Concession Arrangements` addresses   
accounting for obligations undertaken and the rights received in service        
concession arrangements by service concession operators.                        
* IFRIC 14/AASB Interpretation 14 `IAS 19 - The Limit on a Defined Benefit      
Asset, Minimum Funding Requirements and their Interaction` explains how to      
assess the limit on the amount of the surplus that can be recognised as an      
asset for defined benefit funds in IAS 19/AASB 119 `Employee Benefits`.         
The comparative figures for the financial years ended 30 June 2008 and 30       
June 2007 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     
237(2) or (3) of the UK Companies Act 1985.                                     
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, comparatives have been adjusted to disclose them on the       
same basis as 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 2009                                                 
                                  Notes    Year       Year      Year            
ended      ended     ended           
                                           30 June    30 June   30 June         
                                           2009       2008      2007            
                                           US$M       US$M      US$M            
Revenue                                                                         
Group production                            44,113     51,918    41,271         
Third party product                1        6,098      7,555     6,202          
Revenue                            1        50,211     59,473    47,473         
Other income                                589        648       621            
Expenses excluding net finance              (38,640)   (35,976)  (28,370)       
costs                                                                           
Profit from operations             1        12,160     24,145    19,724         
Comprising:                                                                     
Group production                            11,657     24,529    19,650         
Third party product                         503        (384)     74             
                                           12,160     24,145    19,724          
Financial income                   4        309        293       264            
Financial expenses                 4        (852)      (955)     (776)          
Net finance costs                  4        (543)      (662)     (512)          
Profit before taxation                      11,617     23,483    19,212         
Income tax expense                          (4,784)    (6,798)   (5,305)        
Royalty related taxation (net of            (495)      (723)     (411)          
income tax benefit)                                                             
Total taxation expense             5        (5,279)    (7,521)   (5,716)        
Profit after taxation                       6,338      15,962    13,496         
Profit attributable to minority             461        572       80             
interests                                                                       
Profit attributable to members of           5,877      15,390    13,416         
BHP Billiton Group                                                              
Earnings per ordinary share        6        105.6      275.3     229.5          
(basic) (US cents)                                                              
Earnings per ordinary share        6        105.4      274.8     228.9          
(diluted) (US cents)                                                            
Dividends per ordinary share -     7        82.0       56.0      38.5           
paid during the period (US cents)                                               
Dividends per ordinary share -     7        82.0       70.0      47.0           
declared in respect of the period                                               
(US cents)                                                                      
The accompanying notes form part of this financial information.                 
Consolidated Statement of Recognised Income and Expense                         
for the year ended 30 June 2009                                                 
                                    Notes   Year      Year     Year             
                                            ended     ended    ended            
                                            30 June   30 June  30 June          
2009      2008     2007             
                                            US$M      US$M     US$M             
Profit after taxation                        6,338     15,962   13,496          
Amounts recognised directly in                                                  
equity                                                                          
Actuarial (losses)/gains on                  (227)     (96)     79              
pension and medical schemes                                                     
Available for sale investments:                                                 
Net valuation gains/(losses) taken           3         (76)     147             
to equity                                                                       
Net valuation losses transferred             58        -        -               
to the income statement                                                         
Cash flow hedges:                                                               
Gains/(losses) taken to equity               710       (383)    (50)            
Realised losses transferred to the           22        73       -               
income statement                                                                
Unrealised gain transferred to the           (48)      -        -               
income statement                                                                
Gains transferred to the initial             (26)      (190)    (88)            
carrying amount of hedged items                                                 
Exchange fluctuations on                     27        (21)     12              
translation of foreign operations                                               
Tax on items recognised directly             (253)     306      82              
in, or transferred from, equity                                                 
Total amounts recognised directly            266       (387)    182             
in equity                                                                       
Total recognised income and                  6,604     15,575   13,678          
expense                                                                         
Attributable to minority interests   8       458       571      82              
Attributable to members of BHP       8       6,146     15,004   13,596          
Billiton Group                                                                  
The accompanying notes form part of this financial information.                 
Consolidated Balance Sheet                                                      
as at 30 June 2009                                                              
                                        Notes    30 June    30 June             
                                                 2009       2008                
US$M       US$M                
ASSETS                                                                          
Current assets                                                                  
Cash and cash equivalents                         10,833     4,237              
Trade and other receivables                       5,153      9,801              
Other financial assets                            763        2,054              
Inventories                                       4,821      4,971              
Assets held for sale                              213        -                  
Current tax assets                                424        119                
Other                                             279        498                
Total current assets                              22,486     21,680             
Non-current assets                                                              
Trade and other receivables                       762        720                
Other financial assets                            1,543      1,448              
Inventories                                       200        232                
Property, plant and equipment                     49,032     47,332             
Intangible assets                                 661        625                
Deferred tax assets                               3,910      3,486              
Other                                             176        485                
Total non-current assets                          56,284     54,328             
Total assets                                      78,770     76,008             
LIABILITIES                                                                     
Current liabilities                                                             
Trade and other payables                          5,619      6,774              
Interest bearing liabilities                      1,094      3,461              
Liabilities held for sale                         363        -                  
Other financial liabilities                       705        2,088              
Current tax payable                               1,931      2,141              
Provisions                                        1,887      1,596              
Deferred income                                   251        418                
Total current liabilities                         11,850     16,478             
Non-current liabilities                                                         
Trade and other payables                          187        138                
Interest bearing liabilities                      15,325     9,234              
Other financial liabilities                       142        1,260              
Deferred tax liabilities                          3,038      3,116              
Provisions                                        7,032      6,251              
Deferred income                                   485        488                
Total non-current liabilities                     26,209     20,487             
Total liabilities                                 38,059     36,965             
Net assets                                        40,711     39,043             
EQUITY                                                                          
Share capital - BHP Billiton Limited              1,227      1,227              
Share capital - BHP Billiton Plc                  1,116      1,116              
Treasury shares held                              (525)      (514)              
Reserves                                          1,305      750                
Retained earnings                                 36,831     35,756             
Total equity attributable to members of  8        39,954     38,335             
BHP Billiton Group                                                              
Minority interests                       8        757        708                
Total equity                                      40,711     39,043             
The accompanying notes form part of this financial information.                 
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement                                                
for the year ended 30 June 2009                                                 
                                          Year      Year       Year             
                                          ended     ended      ended            
30 June   30 June    30 June          
                                          2009      2008       2007             
                                          US$M      US$M       US$M             
Operating activities                                                            
Profit before taxation                     11,617    23,483     19,212          
Adjustments for:                                                                
Exceptional items                          5,460     137        343             
Depreciation and amortisation expense      3,871     3,612      2,754           
Exploration and evaluation expense         1,009     859        539             
(excluding impairment)                                                          
Net gain on sale of non-current assets     (38)      (129)      (101)           
Impairments of property, plant and         190       137        129             
equipment, investments and intangibles                                          
Employee share awards expense              185       97         72              
Financial income and expenses              543       662        512             
Other                                      (320)     (629)      (382)           
Changes in assets and liabilities:                                              
Trade and other receivables                4,894     (4,255)    (1,118)         
Inventories                                (116)     (1,313)    (732)           
Net financial assets and liabilities       (769)     526        224             
Trade and other payables                   (847)     1,824      561             
Provisions and other liabilities           (497)     137        (39)            
Cash generated from operations             25,182    25,148     21,974          
Dividends received                         30        51         38              
Interest received                          205       169        139             
Interest paid                              (519)     (799)      (633)           
Income tax paid                            (5,129)   (5,867)    (5,007)         
Royalty related taxation paid              (906)     (885)      (554)           
Net operating cash flows                   18,863    17,817     15,957          
Investing activities                                                            
Purchases of property, plant and           (9,492)   (7,558)    (7,129)         
equipment                                                                       
Exploration expenditure (including         (1,243)   (1,350)    (805)           
amounts expensed)                                                               
Purchase of intangibles                    (141)     (16)       (18)            
Purchases of financial assets              (40)      (166)      (38)            
Purchases of, or increased investment      (286)     (154)      (701)           
in, subsidiaries, operations and jointly                                        
controlled entities, net of their cash                                          
Deferred payment on sale of operations     (126)     -          -               
Cash outflows from investing activities    (11,328)  (9,244)    (8,691)         
Proceeds from sale of property, plant      164       43         77              
and equipment                                                                   
Proceeds from sale of financial assets     96        59         98              
Proceeds from sale or partial sale of      17        78         203             
subsidiaries, operations and jointly                                            
controlled entities, net of their cash                                          
Net investing cash flows                   (11,051)  (9,064)    (8,313)         
Financing activities                                                            
Proceeds from ordinary shares              29        24         22              
Proceeds from interest bearing             7,323     7,201      2,811           
liabilities                                                                     
Proceeds from debt related swaps           354       342        -               
Repayment of interest bearing              (3,748)   (7,951)    (1,197)         
liabilities                                                                     
Purchase of shares by Employee Share       (169)     (250)      (165)           
Ownership Plan Trusts                                                           
Share buy-back - BHP Billiton Limited      -         -          (2,824)         
Share buy-back - BHP Billiton Plc          -         (3,115)    (2,917)         
Dividends paid                             (4,563)   (3,135)    (2,271)         
Dividends paid to minority interests       (406)     (115)      (68)            
Net financing cash flows                   (1,180)   (6,999)    (6,609)         
Net increase in cash and cash              6,632     1,754      1,035           
equivalents                                                                     
Cash and cash equivalents, net of          4,173     2,398      1,351           
overdrafts, at beginning of period                                              
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate   26        21         12              
changes on cash and cash equivalents                                            
Cash and cash equivalents, net of          10,831    4,173      2,398           
overdrafts, at end of period                                                    
The accompanying notes form part of this financial information                  
Notes to the Financial Information                                              
1 Business segments                                                             
The Group operates nine Customer Sector Groups aligned with the commodities     
which we extract and market:                                                    
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             
Products                                                                        
Stainless Steel            Mining and production of nickel products             
Materials                                                                       
Iron Ore                   Mining of iron ore                                   
Manganese                  Mining of manganese ore and production of            
                          manganese metal and alloys                            
Metallurgical Coal         Mining of metallurgical coal                         
Energy Coal                Mining of thermal (energy) coal                      
Group and unallocated items represent Group centre functions and certain        
comparative data for divested assets and investments. Exploration and           
technology activities are recognised within relevant segments.                  
It is the Group`s policy that inter-segment sales are made on a commercial      
basis.                                                                          
1.  Business segments (continued)                                               
US$M             Petroleum Aluminium  Base   Diamonds   Stainless  Iron         
                                     Metals and        Steel      Ore           
Specialty  Materials                
                                            Products                            
Year ended 30                                                                   
June 2009                                                                       
Revenue                                                                         
Group            6,924     3,219      6,616  896        2,202      9,815        
production                                                                      
Third party      192       932        488    -          112        132          
product                                                                         
Rendering of     6         -          -      -          -          61           
services                                                                        
Inter-segment    89        -          1      -          41         40           
revenue                                                                         
Segment revenue  7,211     4,151      7,105  896        2,355      10,048       
(a)                                                                             
Segment result   4,085     (121)      997    75         (5,186)    6,229        
Net finance                                                                     
costs                                                                           
Income tax                                                                      
expense                                                                         
Royalty related                                                                 
taxation                                                                        
Profit after                                                                    
taxation                                                                        
Adjusted EBITDA  5,428     311        1,915  372        (456)      6,520        
Other                                                                           
significant non- 28        123        (64)   (2)        (317)      111          
cash items                                                                      
EBITDA (b)       5,456     434        1,851  370        (773)      6,631        
Depreciation                                                                    
and              (1,288)   (298)      (663)  (222)      (439)      (384)        
amortisation                                                                    
Impairment       (83)      (257)      (191)  (73)       (3,974)    (18)         
(losses) /                                                                      
reversals                                                                       
recognised                                                                      
Profit from      4,085     (121)      997    75         (5,186)    6,229        
operations                                                                      
Profit from      4,081     (111)      1,031  75         (5,237)    6,022        
group                                                                           
production                                                                      
Profit from      4         (10)       (34)   -          51         207          
third party                                                                     
production                                                                      
Capital          1,905     863        1,018  112        685        1,922        
expenditure                                                                     
Segment assets   12,444    7,575      14,812 2,073      4,767      8,735        
Segment          3,388     1,242      2,995  292        1,482      1,501        
liabilities                                                                     
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 product  63         18            2,694    1,467        6,098       
Rendering of         -          81            -        2            150         
services                                                                        
Inter-segment        -          -             -        (171)        -           
revenue                                                                         
Segment revenue (a)  2,536      8,087         6,524    1,298        50,211      
Segment result       1,349      4,625         1,460    (1,353)      12,160      
Net finance costs                                                   (543)       
Income tax expense                                                  (4,784)     
Royalty related                                                     (495)       
taxation                                                                        
Profit after                                                        6,338       
taxation                                                                        
Adjusted EBITDA      1,399      4,961         1,722    (396)        21,776      
Other significant                                                               
non-cash items       (2)        (28)          (46)     (908)        (1,105)     
EBITDA (b)           1,397      4,933         1,676    (1,304)      20,671      
Depreciation and                                                                
amortisation         (48)       (277)         (210)    (42)         (3,871)     
Impairment (losses)                                                             
/ reversals          -          (31)          (6)      (7)          (4,640)     
recognised                                                                      
Profit from          1,349      4,625         1,460    (1,353)      12,160      
operations                                                                      
Profit from group    1,358      4,618         1,174    (1,354)      11,657      
production                                                                      
Profit from third                                                               
party production     (9)        7             286      1            503         
Capital expenditure  279        1,562         876      114          9,336       
Segment assets       1,454      4,929         4,555    17,426       78,770      
Segment liabilities  571        1,249         2,004    23,335       38,059      
(a)  Revenue not reported in business segments reflects sales of freight and    
fuel to third parties. Sales of fuel were previously reported as part of        
Petroleum. This change better reflects management responsibilities for these    
activities. Comparatives have been restated for all periods presented. The      
change in presentation results in revenues of US$994 million for the year       
ended 30 June 2009 (2008: US$1,165 million; 2007: US$744 million), being        
reported in Group and unallocated items rather than Petroleum. The impact on    
profit from operations for Petroleum was immaterial.                            
(b)  EBITDA is profit from operations, before depreciation, amortisation and    
impairments.                                                                    
1  Business segments (continued)                                                
US$M               Petroleum Aluminium  Base   Diamonds   Stainless Iron        
Metals and        Steel     Ore          
                                              Specialty  Materials              
                                              Products                          
Year ended 30                                                                   
June 2008                                                                       
Revenue                                                                         
Group production   7,997     4,675      13,231 969        5,040     9,246       
Third party        254       1,071      1,543  -          48        108         
product                                                                         
Rendering of       10        -          -      -          -         63          
services                                                                        
Inter-segment      121       -          -      -          -         38          
revenue                                                                         
Segment revenue    8,382     5,746      14,774 969        5,088     9,455       
(a)                                                                             
Segment result     5,485     1,465      7,890  189        1,237     4,631       
Net finance costs                                                               
Income tax                                                                      
expense                                                                         
Royalty related                                                                 
taxation                                                                        
Profit after                                                                    
taxation                                                                        
Adjusted EBITDA    6,651     1,774      8,557  367        1,743     5,086       
Other significant  2         1          100    (3)        (4)       (124)       
non-cash items                                                                  
EBITDA (b)         6,653     1,775      8,657  364        1,739     4,962       
Depreciation and   (1,113)   (309)      (658)  (142)      (450)     (331)       
amortisation                                                                    
Impairment         (55)      (1)        (109)  (33)       (52)      -           
(losses) /                                                                      
reversals                                                                       
recognised                                                                      
Profit from        5,485     1,465      7,890  189        1,237     4,631       
operations                                                                      
Profit from group  5,483     1,445      8,091  189        1,237     4,748       
production                                                                      
Profit from third  2         20         (201)  -          -         (117)       
party production                                                                
Capital            2,116     556        989    123        1,191     1,832       
expenditure                                                                     
Segment assets     11,874    7,672      15,356 1,964      8,477     8,656       
Segment            2,980     1,308      4,197  270        1,202     1,862       
liabilities                                                                     
US$M               Manganese  Metallurgical Energy  Group and     BHP           
                             Coal          Coal    unallocated   Billiton       
                                                   items/        Group          
                                                   eliminations                 
Year ended 30                                                                   
June 2008                                                                       
Revenue                                                                         
Group production   2,844      3,818         3,921   -             51,741        
Third party        68         61            2,639   1,763         7,555         
product                                                                         
Rendering of       -          62            -       42            177           
services                                                                        
Inter-segment      -          -             -       (159)         -             
revenue                                                                         
Segment revenue    2,912      3,941         6,560   1,646         59,473        
(a)                                                                             
Segment result     1,644      937           1,057   (390)         24,145        
Net finance costs                                                 (662)         
Income tax                                                        (6,798)       
expense                                                                         
Royalty related                                                   (723)         
taxation                                                                        
Profit after                                                      15,962        
taxation                                                                        
Adjusted EBITDA    1,694      1,236         1,306   (214)         28,200        
Other significant  (2)        (27)          20      (132)         (169)         
non-cash items                                                                  
EBITDA (b)         1,692      1,209         1,326   (346)         28,031        
Depreciation and   (48)       (272)         (241)   (48)          (3,612)       
amortisation                                                                    
Impairment         -          -             (28)    4             (274)         
(losses) /                                                                      
reversals                                                                       
recognised                                                                      
Profit from        1,644      937           1,057   (390)         24,145        
operations                                                                      
Profit from group  1,644      941           1,146   (395)         24,529        
production                                                                      
Profit from third  -          (4)           (89)    5             (384)         
party production                                                                
Capital            155        500           438     29            7,929         
expenditure                                                                     
Segment assets     1,688      3,916         5,173   11,232        76,008        
Segment            534        1,269         3,174   20,169        36,965        
liabilities                                                                     
1  Business segments (continued)                                                
US$M                Petroleum  Aluminium Base    Diamonds  Stainless  Iron      
                                        Metals  and       Steel      Ore        
Specialty Materials             
                                                Products                        
Year ended 30 June                                                              
2007                                                                            
Revenue                                                                         
Group production    4,846      4,564     10,756  893       6,800      5,421     
Third party product 177        1,315     1,879   -         101        29        
Rendering of        7          -         -       -         -          55        
services                                                                        
Inter-segment       111        -         -       -         -          19        
revenue                                                                         
Segment revenue (a) 5,141      5,879     12,635  893       6,901      5,524     
Segment result      3,010      1,856     6,875   197       3,675      2,728     
Net finance costs                                                               
Income tax expense                                                              
Royalty related                                                                 
taxation                                                                        
Profit after                                                                    
taxation                                                                        
Adjusted EBITDA     3,789      2,111     7,309   317       3,946      2,972     
Other significant   (3)        28        139     (2)       4          (24)      
non-cash items                                                                  
EBITDA (b)          3,786      2,139     7,448   315       3,950      2,948     
Depreciation and    (694)      (268)     (565)   (118)     (275)      (220)     
amortisation                                                                    
Impairment (losses) (82)       (15)      (8)     -         -          -         
/ reversals                                                                     
recognised                                                                      
Profit from         3,010      1,856     6,875   197       3,675      2,728     
operations                                                                      
Profit from group   3,010      1,830     6,963   197       3,675      2,729     
production                                                                      
Profit from third   -          26        (88)    -         -          (1)       
party production                                                                
Capital expenditure 1,703      369       868     164       1,509      1,517     
Segment assets      9,554      7,184     14,459  1,979     7,745      5,467     
Segment liabilities 2,504      1,006     3,505   220       1,150      1,211     
US$M                Manganese Metallurgical  Energy  Group and     BHP          
                             Coal           Coal    unallocated   Billiton      
                                                    items         Group         
/eliminations               
Year ended 30 June                                                              
2007                                                                            
Revenue                                                                         
Group production    1,149     3,712          2,980   14            41,135       
Third party         95        10             1,595   1,001         6,202        
product                                                                         
Rendering of        -         41             1       32            136          
services                                                                        
Inter-segment       -         6              -       (136)         -            
revenue                                                                         
Segment revenue     1,244     3,769          4,576   911           47,473       
(a)                                                                             
Segment result      253       1,247          305     (422)         19,724       
Net finance costs                                                  (512)        
Income tax expense                                                 (5,305)      
Royalty related                                                    (411)        
taxation                                                                        
Profit after                                                       13,496       
taxation                                                                        
Adjusted EBITDA     294       1,510          761     (313)         22,696       
Other significant   (1)       (3)            10      (61)          87           
non-cash items                                                                  
EBITDA (b)          293       1,507          771     (374)         22,783       
Depreciation and    (40)      (238)          (290)   (46)          (2,754)      
amortisation                                                                    
Impairment          -         (22)           (176)   (2)           (305)        
(losses) /                                                                      
reversals                                                                       
recognised                                                                      
Profit from         253       1,247          305     (422)         19,724       
operations                                                                      
Profit from group   251       1,246          175     (426)         19,650       
production                                                                      
Profit from third   2         1              130     4             74           
party production                                                                
Capital             72        557            316     41            7,116        
expenditure                                                                     
Segment assets      971       3,083          4,122   6,840         61,404       
Segment             381       910            2,276   18,323        31,486       
liabilities                                                                     
2  Exceptional items                                                            
Exceptional items are those items where their nature or amount is considered    
material to the financial report.  Such items included within the Group         
profit for the period are detailed below.                                       
Year ended 30 June 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)            
Exceptional items by segment                                                    
Aluminium                           (313)         14          (299)             
Base Metals                         (295)         (14)        (309)             
Diamonds and Specialty Products     (70)          -           (70)              
Stainless Steel Materials           (4,332)       964         (3,368)           
Metallurgical Coal                  (86)          -           (86)              
Group and unallocated               (958)         245         (713)             
                                   (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, charges relating to impairment, increased            
provisions for contract cancellation, redundancy and other closure costs of     
US$3,615 million (US$1,076 million tax benefit) were recognised. This           
exceptional item does 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 are 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 have been 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 have been 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 relate to    
changes in the estimated volume of sediment in the Hunter River requiring       
remediation and treatment, and increases in estimated treatment costs.          
Lapsed offers for Rio Tinto:                                                    
The Group`s offers for Rio Tinto lapsed on 27 November 2008 following the       
Board`s decision that it no longer believed that completion of the offers was   
in the best interests of BHP Billiton shareholders.  The Group incurred fees    
associated with the US$55 billion debt facility (US$156 million cost, US$31     
million tax benefit), investment bankers`, lawyers` and accountants fees,       
printing expenses and other charges (US$294 million cost, US$62 million tax     
benefit) in progressing this matter over the eighteen months up to the          
lapsing of the offers which have been expensed in the year ended 30 June        
2009.                                                                           
Exceptional items are classified by nature of expense as follows:               
Year ended    Impairment  Closure  Contract    Impairment     Rio    Gross      
30 June 2009  of          and      cancellatio of             Tinto             
US$M          Property,   Rehabil  n,          inventories    Offer             
             Plant and   itation  redundancy                 costs              
             Equipment   provisi  and other                                     
                         ons      closure                                       
costs                                         
Suspension of (3,260)     -        (228)       (127)          -      (3,615)    
Ravensthorpe                                                                    
nickel                                                                          
operations                                                                      
Announced     (510)       -        -           -              -      (510)      
sale                                                                            
of                                                                              
Yabulu                                                                          
refinery                                                                        
Withdrawal or (463)       (34)     (137)       (31)           -      (665)      
sale of                                                                         
other                                                                           
operations                                                                      
Deferral of   (217)       -        (80)        (9)            -      (306)      
projects and                                                                    
restructuring                                                                   
of                                                                              
operations                                                                      
Newcastle     -           (508)    -           -              -      (508)      
steelworks                                                                      
rehabilitatio                                                                   
n                                                                               
Lapsed offers -           -        -           -              (450)  (450)      
for Rio                                                                         
Tinto                                                                           
             (4,450)     (542)    (445)       (167)          (450)  (6,054)     
Assets held for sale:                                                           
The remaining assets and liabilities of Yabulu and Suriname comprising          
inventory of US$131 million, property, plant and equipment of US$55 million,    
closure and rehabilitation provisions of US$305 million and working capital     
and tax balances of US$31 million have been classified as held for sale at 30   
June 2009.                                                                      
Year ended 30 June 2008          Gross        Tax           Net                 
                                US$M         US$M          US$M                 
Exceptional items by category                                                   
Recognition of benefit of tax    (137)        159           22                  
losses in respect of the                                                        
acquisition of WMC and                                                          
consequent reduction in                                                         
goodwill                                                                        
                                (137)        159           22                   
Exceptional items by segment                                                    
Base Metals                      (99)         (34)          (133)               
Stainless Steel Materials        (38)         (4)           (42)                
Group and unallocated            -            197           197                 
                                (137)        159           22                   
Recognition of benefit of tax losses in respect of the acquisition of WMC and   
consequent reduction in goodwill:                                               
Tax losses incurred by WMC Resources Ltd (WMC) were not recognised as a         
deferred tax asset at acquisition pending a ruling application to the           
Australian Taxation Office.  The ruling has now been issued confirming the      
availability of those losses.  This resulted in the recognition of a deferred   
tax asset (US$197 million) and consequential adjustment to deferred tax         
liabilities (US$38 million) through income tax expense at current exchange      
rates.  As a further consequence the Group recognised an expense for a          
corresponding reduction in goodwill measured at the exchange rate at the date   
of acquisition.                                                                 
Year ended 30 June 2007          Gross         Tax          Net                 
                                US$M          US$M         US$M                 
Exceptional items by category                                                   
Impairment of South African      (176)         34           (142)               
coal operations                                                                 
Newcastle steelworks             (167)         50           (117)               
rehabilitation                                                                  
                                (343)         84           (259)                
Exceptional items by segment                                                    
Energy Coal                      (176)         34           (142)               
Group and unallocated            (167)         50           (117)               
                                (343)         84           (259)                
Impairment of South African coal operations:                                    
As part of the Group`s regular review of assets whose value may be impaired,    
a charge of US$176 million (US$34 million tax benefit) was recorded in 2007     
in relation to coal operations in South Africa.                                 
Newcastle steelworks rehabilitation:                                            
The Group recognised a charge against profits of US$167 million (US$50          
million tax benefit) for additional rehabilitation obligations in respect of    
former operations at the Newcastle steelworks (Australia). The increase in      
obligations relate to changes in the estimated volume of sediment in the        
Hunter River requiring remediation and treatment, and increases in treatment    
costs.                                                                          
3.  Interests in jointly controlled entities                                    
Major                Ownership interest at     Contribution to profit           
shareholdings in     BHP Billiton              after taxation                   
jointly controlled   Group reporting date(a)                                    
entities                                                                        
                    2009    2008     2007     2009     2008    2007             
                    %       %        %        US$M     US$M    US$M             
Mozal SARL           47.1    47.1     47.1     84       207     259             
Compa?ia Minera      33.75   33.75    33.75    185      615     506             
Antamina SA                                                                     
Minera Escondida     57.5    57.5     57.5     422      3,930   3,442           
Limitada                                                                        
Samarco Mineracao    50      50       50       340      279     239             
SA                                                                              
Carbones del         33.3    33.3     33.3     243      183     112             
Cerrej?n LLC                                                                    
Other(b)                                       159      90      109             
Total                                          1,433    5,304   4,667           
(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 immaterial jointly controlled entities and the Richards Bay       
Minerals joint venture owned 50 per cent (2008: 50 per cent; 2007: 50 per       
cent).                                                                          
4.  Net finance costs                                                           
2009         2008        2007                  
                                 US$M         US$M        US$M                  
Financial expenses                                                              
Interest on bank loans and        47           52          62                   
overdrafts                                                                      
Interest on all other borrowings  527          670         613                  
Finance lease and hire purchase   15           14          5                    
interest                                                                        
Dividends on redeemable           1            1           1                    
preference shares                                                               
Discounting on provisions and     315          310         255                  
other liabilities                                                               
Discounting on pension and        132          138         127                  
medical benefit entitlements                                                    
Interest capitalised (a)          (149)        (204)       (353)                
Net fair value change on hedged   13           2           27                   
loans and related hedging                                                       
derivatives                                                                     
Exchange variations on net debt   (49)         (28)        39                   
                                 852          955         776                   
Financial income                                                                
Interest income                   (198)        (168)       (155)                
Expected return on pension        (111)        (125)       (109)                
scheme assets                                                                   
(309)        (293)       (264)                 
Net finance costs                 543          662         512                  
(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 2009   
the capitalisation rate was 4.25 per cent (2008: 5.0 per cent; 2007: 5.7 per    
cent).                                                                          
5.  Taxation                                                                    
                                  2009        2008        2007                  
                                  US$M        US$M        US$M                  
Taxation expense including                                                      
royalty related taxation                                                        
UK taxation expense                319         217         85                   
Australian taxation expense        3,158       3,397       2,768                
Overseas taxation expense          1,802       3,907       2,863                
Total taxation expense             5,279       7,521       5,716                
Total taxation expense including exceptional items was US$5,279 million,        
representing an effective rate of 45.4 per cent (2008: 32.0 per cent, 2007:     
29.8 per cent). Excluding the impacts of exceptional items the taxation         
expense was US$6,488 million (2008: US$7,680 million; 2007:  US$5,800           
million).                                                                       
Exchange rate movements increased taxation expense by US$444 million (2008:     
decreased taxation expense by US$229 million, 2007: decreased taxation          
expense by US$395 million).  The weaker Australian dollar against the US        
dollar has significantly reduced the Australian deferred tax assets for         
future tax depreciation since 30 June 2008. This was partly offset by the       
devaluation of local currency tax liabilities due to the stronger US dollar.    
Royalty-related taxation represents an effective rate of 4.3 per cent for the   
current period (2008: 3.1 per cent, 2007: 2.1 per cent).                        
Excluding the impacts of royalty-related taxation, the impact of exchange       
rate movements and tax on exceptional items the underlying effective rate was   
31.4 per cent (2008: 30.4 per cent, 2007: 29.6 per cent).                       
6.  Earnings per share                                                          
                                  2009        2008        2007                  
Basic earnings per ordinary        105.6       275.3       229.5                
share (US cents)                                                                
Diluted earnings per ordinary      105.4       274.8       228.9                
share (US cents)                                                                
Basic earnings per American        211.2       550.6       459.0                
Depositary Share (ADS) (US                                                      
cents) (a)                                                                      
Diluted earnings per American      210.8       549.6       457.8                
Depositary Share (ADS) (US                                                      
cents) (a)                                                                      
Basic earnings (US$M)              5,877       15,390      13,416               
Diluted earnings (US$M) (b)        5,899       15,402      13,430               
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         2009        2008        2007                 
shares                             Million     Million     Million              
Basic earnings per ordinary        5,565       5,590       5,846                
share denominator                                                               
Shares and options contingently    33          15          20                   
issuable under employee share                                                   
ownership plans                                                                 
Diluted earnings per ordinary      5,598       5,605       5,866                
share denominator                                                               
(a)  Each American Depository Share (ADS) represents two ordinary shares.       
(b)  Diluted earnings are calculated after adding back dividend equivalent      
payments of US$22 million (2008: US$12 million; 2007: US$14 million) that       
would not be made if potential ordinary shares were converted to fully paid.    
7.  Dividends                                                                   
2009        2008        2007                  
                                  US$M        US$M        US$M                  
Dividends paid during the period                                                
BHP Billiton Limited               2,754       1,881       1,346                
BHP Billiton Plc                   1,809       1,252       923                  
- Ordinary shares                                                               
- Preference shares(a)             -           -           -                    
                                  4,563       3,133       2,269                 
Dividends declared in respect of                                                
the period                                                                      
BHP Billiton Limited               2,754       2,351       1,605                
BHP Billiton Plc                   1,809       1,545       1,097                
- Ordinary shares                                                               
- Preference shares(a)             -           -           -                    
                                  4,563       3,896       2,702                 
                                  2009        2008        2007                  
US cents    US cents    US cents              
Dividends paid during the period                                                
(per share)                                                                     
Prior year final dividend          41.0        27.0        18.5                 
Interim dividend                   41.0        29.0        20.0                 
                                  82.0        56.0        38.5                  
Dividends declared in respect of                                                
the period (per share)                                                          
Interim dividend                   41.0        29.0        20.0                 
Final dividend                     41.0        41.0        27.0                 
                                  82.0        70.0        47.0                  
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 12 August 2009, BHP Billiton declared   
a final dividend of 41.0 US cents per share (US$2,281 million), which will be   
paid on 25 September 2009 (2008: 41.0 US cents per share - US$2,282 million;    
2007: 27.0 US cents per share - US $1,528 million).                             
BHP Billiton Limited dividends for all periods presented are, or will be,       
fully franked based on a tax rate of 30 per cent.                               
                                  2009        2008        2007                  
                                  US$M        US$M        US$M                  
Franking credits as at 30 June     2,506       1,623       144                  
Franking credits arising from                  818         923                  
the payment of current tax         1,265                                        
payable                                                                         
Total franking credits             3,771       2,441       1,067                
available(b)                                                                    
(a)  5.5 per cent dividend on 50,000 preference shares of ?1 each declared      
and paid annually (2008: 5.5 per cent; 2007: 5.5 per cent).                     
(b)  The payment of the final 2009 dividend declared after 30 June 2009 will    
reduce the franking account balance by US$590 million.                          
8  Total equity                                                                 
              Attributable to members of BHP     Minority interests             
              Billiton Group                                                    
2009         2008       2007       2009      2008     2007        
              US$M         US$M       US$M       US$M      US$M     US$M        
Total equity   38,335       29,667     24,218     708       251      237        
opening                                                                         
balance                                                                         
Total          6,146        15,004     13,596     458       571      82         
recognised                                                                      
income and                                                                      
expense for                                                                     
the period                                                                      
Transactions   -            6          17         (3)       (1)      -          
with owners -                                                                   
contributed                                                                     
equity                                                                          
Dividends      (4,563)      (3,133)    (2,269)    (406)     (113)    (68)       
Accrued        185          97         72         -         -        -          
employee                                                                        
entitlement                                                                     
to share                                                                        
awards                                                                          
Purchases of   (149)        (231)      (165)      -         -        -          
shares made                                                                     
by ESOP                                                                         
Trusts                                                                          
BHP Billiton   -            (3,075)    (2,957)    -         -        -          
Plc share buy-                                                                  
back                                                                            
BHP Billiton   -            -          (2,845)    -         -        -          
Limited share                                                                   
buy-back                                                                        
Total equity   39,954       38,335     29,667     757       708      251        
closing                                                                         
balance                                                                         
9.  Subsequent events                                                           
Other than the matters outlined above, 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 BHP Billiton Group in subsequent accounting periods.          
Date: 12/08/2009 08:55:24 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   
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employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct,     
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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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