BHP Billiton Reports Strong Financial Results BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209 Registered in England and Wales Share code: BIL ISIN: GB0000566504 NEWS RELEASE Release Time IMMEDIATE Date 18 February 2014 Number 05/14 BHP BILLITON REPORTS STRONG FINANCIAL RESULTS BHP Billiton today announced its financial results for the December 2013 half year, with Underlying EBIT increasing by 15 per cent to US$12.4 billion and Underlying attributable profit increasing by 31 per cent to US$7.8 billion. BHP Billiton CEO Andrew Mackenzie said the strong performance was driven by a substantial improvement in productivity and additional volume from the Company’s low-risk, largely brownfield investment program. “The commitment we made 18 months ago to deliver more tonnes and more barrels from our existing infrastructure at a lower unit cost is delivering tangible results,” he said. “Annualised productivity led volume and cost efficiencies totalling US$4.9 billion are now embedded and this is expected to increase to US$5.5 billion by the end of the 2014 financial year. “This sustainable increase in productivity supported a 9 per cent increase in the Group’s Underlying EBIT margin to 38 per cent and a strong improvement in the Group’s Underlying return on capital to 22 per cent.” A 65 per cent increase in net operating cash flow and a 25 per cent reduction in cash outflows from investing activities have driven a US$7.8 billion increase in free cash flow during the period. “The Group’s opportunity rich portfolio remains a key point of differentiation. By maintaining strict financial discipline and increasing internal competition for capital we intend to further differentiate ourselves by creating a more capital efficient organisation. “On this basis, we believe an average rate of return of greater than 20 per cent is achievable for our portfolio of major development options,” he said. The Group’s interim dividend of 59 US cents per share was unchanged from last year’s final dividend, consistent with recent practice. The resultant 3.5 per cent increase in the interim distribution highlights the power of the Company’s progressive dividend policy. With strong free cash flow projected, net debt of US$27.1 billion is expected to approach US$25 billion by the end of the 2014 financial year. “With strong free cash flow, selective investment and continued simplification, we are well placed to extend our strong track record of capital management,” Mr Mackenzie said. “I want to acknowledge the hard work of BHP Billiton employees and their contribution to these strong results. Together we are improving the productivity and competitiveness of the Company and the countries in which we operate. “I also want to thank our people for their unwavering commitment to health and safety. “We are pleased to report improved safety performance in the first half, reducing our Total Recordable Injury Frequency to a record low of 4.4 per million hours worked.” BHP Billiton’s financial results for the December 2013 half year, and further information on the Company, can be found at: www.bhpbilliton.com. Media Relations Investor Relations Australia Australia Emily Perry Tara Dines Tel: +61 3 9609 2800 Mobile: +61 477 325 803 Tel: +61 3 9609 2222 Mobile: +61 499 249 005 email: Emily.Perry@bhpbilliton.com email: Tara.Dines@bhpbilliton.com Fiona Hadley Jodie Phillips Tel: +61 3 9609 2211 Mobile: +61 427 777 908 Tel: +61 3 9609 2069 Mobile: +61 418 710 516 email: Fiona.Hadley@bhpbilliton.com email: Jodie.Phillips@bhpbilliton.com Eleanor Nichols United Kingdom and South Africa Tel: +61 3 9609 2360 Mobile: +61 407 064 748 email: Eleanor.Nichols@bhpbilliton.com Jonathan Price Tel: +44 20 7802 4131 Mobile: +44 7990 527 726 United Kingdom email: Jonathan.H.Price@bhpbilliton.com Ruban Yogarajah Dean Simon Tel: +44 20 7802 4033 Mobile: +44 7827 082 022 Tel: +44 20 7802 7461 Mobile: +44 7717 511 193 email: Ruban.Yogarajah@bhpbilliton.com email: Dean.Simon@bhpbilliton.com Jennifer White Americas Tel: +44 20 7802 7462 Mobile: +44 7827 253 764 email: Jennifer.White@bhpbilliton.com James Agar Tel: +1 212 310 1421 Mobile: +1 347 882 3011 Americas email: James.Agar@bhpbilliton.com Ruban Yogarajah Joseph Suarez Tel: +44 20 7802 4033 Mobile: +44 7827 082 022 Tel: +1 212 310 1422 Mobile: +1 646 400 3803 email: Ruban.Yogarajah@bhpbilliton.com email: Joseph.Suarez@bhpbilliton.com BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077 BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209 Registered in Australia Registered in England and Wales Registered Office: Level 16, 171 Collins Street Registered Office: Neathouse Place Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia London SW1V 1LH United Kingdom Tel +61 1300 55 4757 Fax +61 3 9609 3015 Tel +44 20 7802 4000 Fax +44 20 7802 4111 Members of the BHP Billiton Group which is headquartered in Australia Sponsor: Absa Capital (the investment banking division of Absa Bank Limited, affiliated with Barclays) Date: 18/02/2014 07:07:00 Produced by the JSE SENS Department. 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