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               19 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     107,511,884     4.87%      2,228,865     0.10%
securities
(2) Derivatives    2,651,686     0.12%      9,927,631     0.45%
(other than
options)
(3) Options and      502,700     0.02%        751,000     0.03%
agreements to
purchase/sell
Total            110,666,270     5.01%     12,907,496     0.58%


(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                13,057              15.0900
Purchase                92,538              15.3600
Purchase                122                 15.0524
Purchase                4,209               15.2117
Purchase                16,015              15.3151
Purchase                31                  15.4185
Purchase                560                 15.0900
Purchase                185,075             15.3600
Purchase                32                  15.5270
Purchase                13,057              15.2000
Purchase                122                 Transfer
Purchase                71,315              15.1216
Purchase                182,901             15.1608
Purchase                90,072              15.1891
Purchase                150,701             15.1095
Purchase                67,656              15.1570
Purchase                151                 Transfer
Purchase                325                 15.3885
Purchase                8,709               15.3556
Purchase                24,508              15.2000
Purchase                325                 15.3770
Purchase                1,300               15.4097
Purchase                2,900               15.1098
Purchase                17,048              15.2218
Purchase                13,057              15.0900
Purchase                1,500               15.3447
Sale                    13,057              15.2000
Sale                    1,383               Transfer
Sale                    260                 Transfer
Sale                    50,000              15.3997
Sale                    392                 15.5330
Sale                    186                 15.2715
Sale                    137,565             15.2263
Sale                    103,028             15.1895
Sale                    887,052             15.2486
Sale                    122                 Transfer
Sale                    254                 Transfer
Sale                    95                  15.7130
Sale                    25                  15.5315
Sale                    5,000               15.2400
Sale                    71                  15.5415
Sale                    10,000              15.2536
Sale                    1,198               Transfer
Sale                    600                 15.0175
Sale                    151                 Transfer
Sale                    360                 15.1803
Sale                    1,500               15.3447
Sale                    94,886              15.1908
Sale                    13,057              15.0900
Sale                    3,287               15.2000
Sale                    143,054             15.2648
Sale                    13,057              15.2000
Sale                    1,644               15.1976
Sale                    203,643             15.1819

(b)  Derivatives transactions (other than options)
Product name,  Long/Short    Number of     Price per
(e.g. CFD)     (Note 6)      Securities    unit (GBP)
CFD            Long          600           15.0175
CFD            Long          23414         15.1276
CFD            Long          203643        15.1818
CFD            Long          103028        15.1894
CFD            Long          94886         15.1907
CFD            Long          1644          15.1975
CFD            Long          11122         15.2319
CFD            Long          5000          15.24
CFD            Long          114151        15.2465
CFD            Long          887052        15.2485
CFD            Long          10000         15.2536
CFD            Long          143054        15.2648
CFD            Long          1500          15.3446
CFD            Long          50000         15.3997
CFD            Short         122           15.0523
CFD            Short         150701        15.1095
CFD            Short         2900          15.1098
CFD            Short         71315         15.1216
CFD            Short         67656         15.1569
CFD            Short         182901        15.1608
CFD            Short         90072         15.189
CFD            Short         4000          15.2013
CFD            Short         4209          15.2116
CFD            Short         17048         15.2217
CFD            Short         1500          15.3446
CFD            Short         12015         15.3529

(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                         20 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