Copper Update - Additional interest in SolGold BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209 Registered in England and Wales Share code: BIL ISIN: GB0000566504 NEWS RELEASE Release Time IMMEDIATE Date 15 October 2018 Release Number 18/18 Copper Update – Additional interest in SolGold BHP has entered into a share subscription agreement with SolGold Plc (SolGold) under which SolGold will issue 100 million shares to BHP. SolGold is the majority owner and operator of the Cascabel porphyry copper-gold project in Ecuador. BHP President Minerals Americas, Danny Malchuk said “Ecuador is a highly prospective region for the next generation of copper supply. This additional investment in SolGold strengthens our strategic position in the Cascabel copper exploration project, and is consistent with BHP’s strategy to replenish our copper resource base and grow the business.” Following completion of the private placement by SolGold, which is expected to occur on 19 October 2018, BHP’s interest in SolGold would increase from 6.0 (1) per cent to 11.2 per cent. BHP has agreed to pay 45 pence per SolGold share, which represents a 32 per cent premium to the 20 day volume-weighted average London Stock Exchange price of 34 pence per share as determined on 15 October 2018. Further Information – Share subscription agreement Under the share subscription agreement, BHP has the right to nominate one director to the SolGold board. BHP also has anti-dilution rights for a two year period to allow it to preserve its shareholding at 10 per cent. Subject to certain exceptions, BHP has agreed not to acquire further shares in SolGold for a period of two years without SolGold’s consent. For a period of two years, BHP has agreed to support proposed change of control transactions relating to, and capital raising up to a limit by SolGold, provided these actions have the support of 60 per cent of SolGold’s shareholders. During this period, BHP will also support proposals by the SolGold board to appoint or remove a director. (1) As at 4 September 2018, BHP held a 6.1 per cent interest in SolGold, which has been diluted to 6.0 per cent as at 12 October 2018 as a result of the exercise of options by third parties. Further information on BHP can be found at bhp.com Sponsor: UBS South Africa (Pty) Limited Media Relations Investor Relations Email: media.relations@bhpbilliton.com Email: investor.relations@bhpbilliton.com Australia and Asia Australia and Asia Gabrielle Notley Tara Dines Tel: +61 3 9609 3830 Mobile: +61 4 1107 1715 Tel: +61 3 9609 2222 Mobile: + 61 499 249 005 United Kingdom and South Africa United Kingdom and South Africa Neil Burrows Elisa Morniroli Tel: +44 20 7802 7484 Mobile: +44 7786 661 683 Tel: +44 20 7802 7611 Mobile: +44 7825 926 646 North America Americas Judy Dane James Wear Tel: +1 713 961 8283 Mobile: +1 713 299 5342 Tel: +1 713 993 3737 Mobile: +1 347 882 3011 BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077 BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209 LEI WZE1WSENV6JSZFK0JC28 LEI 549300C116EOWV835768 Registered in Australia Registered in England and Wales Registered Office: Level 18, 171 Collins Street Registered Office: Nova South, 160 Victoria Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia London SW1E 5LB 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 Group which is headquartered in Australia Follow us on social media Date: 16/10/2018 07:05:00 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.