BHP Billiton Plc - Assessment by Australian tax office
BHP Billiton Plc
Share code: BILIsin: GB0000566504
NEWS RELEASE
23 June 2005
BHP BILLITON ANNOUNCES ASSESSMENT BY AUSTRALIAN TAX OFFICEThe Australian Taxation Office has today issued assessments against BHP
Billiton subsidiary BHP Billiton Finance Ltd in respect of the 2000, 2001 and
2002 financial years.
The assessments relate to the deductibility of bad debts in respect of fundingAustralian subsidiary company operations.
The assessments are for primary tax of US$443.8 million (A$570.5 million) and
interest (net of tax) and penalties of US$283.9 million (A$365 million).
BHP Billiton disputes the assessments. The Company has taken legal advice andremains confident of its position. It intends to vigorously defend the claims.
The Company believes that the matter is adequately provided for in the
accounts.
Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site:http://www.bhpbilliton.com
Australia United Kingdom
Jane Belcher, Investor Relations Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 3952 Tel: +44 20 7802 4156Mobile: +61 417 031 653 Mobile: +44 7769 934 942
email: email: Mark.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com
Jane.H.Belcher@bhpbilliton.com
Tania Price, Media Relations Ariane Gentil, Media RelationsTel: +61 3 9609 3815 Tel: +44 20 7802 4177
Mobile: +61 419 152 780 Mobile: +44 78 81 51 8715
email: Tania.Price@bhpbilliton.com email: Ariane.Gentil@bhpbilliton.com
United States South AfricaMark Lidiard, Investor & Media Michael Campbell, Investor & Media
Relations Relations
Tel: USA +1 713 599 6100 or UK +44 Tel: +27 11 376 3360
20 7802 4031 Mobile: +27 82 458 2587email: Mark.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com email: Michael.J.Campbell@bhpbilliton.comDate: 23/06/2005 11:28:05 AM Produced by the JSE SENS Department
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 has taken care in preparing all information on this website, but does not accept any liability for errors or out-of-date information.
