BHP BILLITON PLC - Global Debt Investor Marketing Announcement

Global Debt Investor Marketing Announcement

BHP Billiton Plc
Registration number 3196209
Registered in England and Wales
Share code: BIL
ISIN: GB0000566504




NEWS RELEASE
Release Time IMMEDIATE
Date            22 September 2015
Number          19/15



            GLOBAL DEBT INVESTOR MARKETING ANNOUNCEMENT


BHP Billiton has today announced that it will undertake a global debt investor marketing
effort across Europe, Asia and the United States commencing 28 September 2015. Subject
to market conditions, it may then consider the issuance of multi-currency hybrid capital
instruments to institutional debt investors.

BHP Billiton is contemplating additional funding for general corporate purposes, including
refinancing existing near-term debt maturities. The increasing interest in hybrid capital by
global debt investors combined with the relatively low interest rate environment make this an
opportune time for BHP Billiton to consider hybrid capital instruments.

The additional advantages of hybrid capital instruments for BHP Billiton include:
   • further diversification of BHP Billiton’s debt investor base;
   • an expected 50 per cent equity : 50 per cent debt treatment by the rating agencies,
      consistent with recent corporate issuances; and
   • valuable flexibility to support growth and a solid A credit rating through the cycle.

BHP Billiton is not considering a hybrid that contains any rights to convert the security into
BHP Billiton shares.

BHP Billiton is rated A1 (outlook stable) by Moody’s and A+ (outlook negative) by Standard
& Poors.


The securities described in this announcement have not been, and will not be, registered
under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or any state
securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent an effective
registration statement covering such securities or an applicable exemption from such
registration requirements. This announcement is being issued in accordance with Rule 135c
under the Securities Act.




Sponsor: Merrill Lynch South Africa Proprietary Limited


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

Paul Hitchins                                                          Andrew Gunn
Tel: + 61 3 9609 2592 Mobile: + 61 419 315 001                         Tel: +61 3 9609 3575 Mobile: +61 402 087 354
email: Paul.Hitchins@bhpbilliton.com                                   email: Andrew.Gunn@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 and Americas                                            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
                                                                       email: James.Agar@bhpbilliton.com

                                                                       Joseph Suarez
                                                                       Tel: +1 212 310 1422 Mobile: +1 646 400 3803
                                                                       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



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