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BIL - BHP Billiton Plc - BHP Billiton to acquire HWE Mining subsidiaries BHP Billiton Plc Share code: BIL ISIN: GB0000566504 NEWS RELEASE Release IMMEDIATE Time Date 9 August 2011 Number 23/11 BHP BILLITON TO ACQUIRE HWE MINING SUBSIDIARIES BHP Billiton has signed a Heads of Agreement with Leighton Holdings to acquire the HWE Mining subsidiaries that provide contract mining services to its Western Australia Iron Ore operations. The Heads of Agreement relates to the mining equipment, people and related assets that service the Area C, Yandi and Orebody 23/25 operations. These operations collectively account for almost 70 per cent of Western Australia Iron Ore`s total material movement. The purchase price is US$735 million (A$705 million), subject to working capital adjustments. BHP Billiton President Iron Ore, Ian Ashby said: "While this move to an owner-operator model will remove a layer of complexity and costs from our business, the real focus of this proposed transaction is the work force. Transitioning to owner operator in this way, rather than by replacing contractors through direct recruitment, is a lower risk strategy as it would be challenging to replace the highly skilled and long serving HWE employees in the current environment." The proposed acquisition is consistent with BHP Billiton`s previously stated intention to move the Western Australia Iron Ore business from contract mining to owner-operator mining. Subject to due diligence, definitive agreements and relevant internal and regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter of calendar year 2011. Further information on BHP Billiton can be found at: www.bhpbilliton.com Sponsor: Absa Capital (the investment banking division of Absa Bank Limited, affiliated with Barclays Capital) Media Relations Investor Relations Australia Australia Samantha Stevens Andrew Gunn Tel: +61 3 9609 2898 Tel: +61 3 9609 3575 Mobile: +61 400 693 915 Mobile: +61 439 558 454 email: Samantha.Stevens@bhpbilliton.com email: Andrew.Gunn@bhpbilliton.com United Kingdom and South Africa Kelly Quirke Tel: +61 3 9609 2896 Brendan Harris Mobile: +61 429 966 312 Tel: +44 20 7802 4131 email: Kelly.Quirke@bhpbilliton.com Mobile: +44 7990 527 726 email:
Fiona Martin Brendan.Harris@bhpbilliton.com Tel: +61 3 9609 2211 Mobile: +61 427 777 908 Americas email: Fiona.Martin2@bhpbilliton.com United Kingdom and Americas Scott Espenshade Tel: +1 713 599 6431 Ruban Yogarajah Mobile: +1 713 208 8565 Tel: US +1 713 966 2907 email: or UK +44 20 7802 4033 Scott.Espenshade@bhpbilliton.com Mobile: UK +44 7827 082 022 email: Ruban.Yogarajah@bhpbilliton.com BHP Billiton Limited BHP Billiton Plc Registration ABN 49 004 028 077 number 3196209 Registered in Australia Registered in England and Wales Registered Office: 180 Lonsdale Street Registered Office: Neathouse Place Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia London SW1V 1BH United Kingdom Tel +61 1300 55 4757 Tel +44 20 7802 4000 Fax +61 3 9609 3015 Fax +44 20 7802 4111 Members of the BHP Billiton Group which is headquartered in Australia Date: 10/08/2011 07:05:04 Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited (`JSE`). The JSE does not, whether expressly, tacitly or implicitly, represent, warrant or in any way guarantee the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information published on SENS. The JSE, their officers, employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature, howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on, information disseminated through SENS.
