Rule 8.3 - BHP BILLITON PLC

FORM 8.3

    DEALINGS BY PERSONS WITH INTERESTS IN SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
              (Rule 8.3 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers)


1.   KEY INFORMATION

Name of person dealing        BARCLAYS PLC
(Note 1)
Company dealt in              BHP BILLITON PLC
Class of relevant security    USD0.50
to which the dealings being
disclosed relate (Note 2)
Date of dealing               15 August 2008

2.   INTERESTS, SHORT POSITIONS AND RIGHTS TO SUBSCRIBE

(a)  Interests and short positions (following dealing) in the class of relevant
security dealt in (Note 3)

                            Long                     Short

                      Number       (%)         Number       (%)

(1) Relevant     107,774,617     4.88%      2,317,074     0.10%
securities
(2) Derivatives    2,455,395     0.11%     10,305,089     0.47%
(other than
options)
(3) Options and      502,700     0.02%        751,000     0.03%
agreements to
purchase/sell
Total            110,732,712     5.02%      13,373,163    0.61%


(b)  Interests and short positions in relevant securities of the company, other
     than the class dealt in (Note 3)

Class of                    Long                     Short
relevant
security:

                  Number              (%)   Number              (%)

(1) Relevant
securities

(2) Derivatives
(other than
options)

(3) Options and
agreements to
purchase/sell

Total


  (c)  Rights to subscribe (Note 3)

Class of relevant security:   Details



3.   DEALINGS (Note 4)

  (a)  Purchases and sales

Purchase/sale           Number of           Price per unit
                        Securities          (GBP)
Purchase                70,425              15.3595
Purchase                345,000             15.2949
Purchase                30,604              15.2546
Purchase                58,019              15.4124
Purchase                180,000             Transfer
Purchase                6,500               15.4100
Purchase                17,841              15.3715
Purchase                1,100               15.3591
Purchase                630                 Transfer
Purchase                5,800               15.4100
Purchase                13,333              15.3346
Purchase                33,000              15.4419
Purchase                6,482               15.5069
Purchase                488,534             15.3913
Purchase                58,133              15.3804
Purchase                12,403              15.2900
Purchase                39,803              15.2900
Sale                    180,000             Transfer
Sale                    131,386             15.2958
Sale                    6,596               15.2742
Sale                    170                 16.0324
Sale                    2,261               15.2250
Sale                    25,052              15.2258
Sale                    922                 15.2875
Sale                    65,540              15.8200
Sale                    105                 15.1915
Sale                    2,915               15.2777
Sale                    60,809              15.3717
Sale                    248                 15.9821
Sale                    6,347               15.3766
Sale                    95,788              15.2425
Sale                    67                  15.6015
Sale                    861                 15.2900
Sale                    2,000               15.2700
Sale                    25,044              15.2900
Sale                    20,870              15.2900
Sale                    37,566              15.2900
Sale                    39,803              15.2900
Sale                    8,716               15.2900
Sale                    5,098               15.3047
Sale                    1,351               15.2900
Sale                    69,692              15.3360
Sale                    735                 15.2029
Sale                    594,730             15.3909
Sale                    20,285              15.2740
Sale                    103,600             15.2633
Sale                    152                 15.2900
Sale                    180,000             Transfer
Sale                    44,664              15.8200
Sale                    120                 15.4003
Sale                    1,100               15.3591

(b)  Derivatives transactions (other than options)
Product name,  Long/Short    Number of     Price per
(e.g. CFD)     (Note 6)      Securities    unit (GBP)
CFD            Long          735           15.2028
CFD            Long          25052         15.2258
CFD            Long          95788         15.2425
CFD            Long          103600        15.2633
CFD            Long          20285         15.2739
CFD            Long          2915          15.2776
CFD            Long          922           15.2875
CFD            Long          131386        15.2958
CFD            Long          9414          15.299
CFD            Long          5098          15.3046
CFD            Long          69692         15.336
CFD            Long          1100          15.359
CFD            Long          6347          15.3766
CFD            Long          51395         15.3849
CFD            Long          594730        15.3908
CFD            Short         30604         15.2546
CFD            Short         5354          15.2931
CFD            Short         13333         15.3346
CFD            Short         1100          15.359
CFD            Short         70425         15.3594
CFD            Short         17841         15.3715
CFD            Short         58133         15.3803
CFD            Short         488534        15.3912
CFD            Short         58019         15.4123
CFD            Short         33000         15.4418
CFD            Short         6482          15.5069

(c)  Options transactions in respect of existing securities

(i)  Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

Product name,   Writing,          Number of          Exercise  Type, e.g.      Expiry   Option money
e.g. call       selling,          securities to      price     American,       date     paid/received
option          purchasing,       which the option             European etc.            per unit (GBP)
                varying etc.      relates (GBP)


(ii) Exercising

Product name, e.g.  Number of           Exercise price per
call option         securities          unit (Note 5)




(d)  Other dealings (including new securities) (Note 4)


Nature of transaction Details           Price per unit
(Note 8)                                (if applicable)
                                        (Note 5)




4.   OTHER INFORMATION
None

Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives


Full details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding between the
person disclosing and any other person relating to the voting rights of
any relevant securities under any option referred to on this form or
relating to the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any
relevant securities to which any derivative referred to on this form is
referenced.  If none, this should be stated.




Is a Supplemental Form 8 attached? (Note 9)                 YES


Date of disclosure                         18 August 2008
Contact name                               Geoff Smith
Telephone number                           020 7116 2913
If a connected EFM, name of
offeree/offeror with which connected
If a connected EFM, state nature of
connection (Note 10)


Notes

The Notes on Form 8.3 can be viewed on the Takeover Panel's website at
www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk

SUPPLEMENTAL FORM 8

DETAILS OF OPEN POSITIONS
(This form should be attached to Form 8.1, Form 8.1(b)(ii) or Form 8.3, as appropriate)

OPEN POSITIONS (Note 1)
Product name,     Written or  Number of securities   Exercise price   Type, e.g.     Expiry date
e.g. call option  purchased   to which the option    (Note 2)         American,
                              or derivative relates                   European etc.
Option            Purchased   500,000                9.5000           EURO           19/12/2008
Option            Purchased   -250,000               16.0000          AMER           19/09/2008
Option            Purchased   -500,000               9.5000           EURO           19/12/2008
Option            Purchased   750                    2,200.0000       EURO           19/12/2008
Option            Purchased   350                    1,450.0000       EURO           18/12/2009
Option            Purchased   350                    1,450.0000       EURO           18/12/2009
Option            Purchased   250                    1,900.0000       EURO           18/12/2009
Option            Purchased   250                    1,900.0000       EURO           18/12/2009
Option            Purchased   250                    1,700.0000       EURO           19/12/2008
Option            Purchased   250                    1,500.0000       EURO           18/12/2009
Option            Purchased   250                    1,500.0000       EURO           18/12/2009
Option            Purchased   -500                   950.0000         EURO           19/12/2008
Option            Purchased   -500                   950.0000         EURO           19/12/2008

Notes

1. Where there are open option positions or open derivative positions (except for CFDs), full details should be given.
Full details of any  existing agreements to purchase or to sell  should also be given on this form.

2. For all prices and other monetary amounts, the currency must be stated.

For details of the Code's dealing disclosure requirements, see Rule 8 and its Notes which can be viewed on the Takeover
Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk