Bidder's Statement lodged

BHP Billiton Limited
21 March 2005

BHP Billiton Limited is issuing this announcement to fulfil disclosure 
obligations arising from its secondary listing on the London Stock Exchange.

The text of this release is identical to that issued by BHP Billiton Plc 
earlier.



Date 21 March 2005
Number 12/05

BHP Billiton Lodges Bidder's Statement For WMC Resources Ltd

BHP Billiton today lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments
Commission the Bidder's Statement for its cash offer of A$7.85 per share 
for the entire issued capital of WMC Resources Ltd (WMC).

BHP Billiton intends to mail both the Bidder's Statement and WMC's Target's
Statement to WMC shareholders from 29 March 2005.

Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our 
Internet site: http://www.bhpbilliton.com

Australia                                       
Jane Belcher, Investor Relations                
Tel: [phone] Mobile: [phone]    
email: [e-mail]          
Tania Price, Media Relations                    
Tel: [phone] Mobile: [phone]    
email: [e-mail]              
United States                                   
Tel: [phone] or [phone]             
email: [e-mail]     
United Kingdom
Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: [phone]
email: [e-mail]
Ariane Gentil, Media Relations
Tel: [phone]
email: [e-mail]
South Africa
Michael Campbell, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: [phone]  Mobile: [phone]
email: [e-mail]           
                                                        

Further Information for U.S. holders
BHP Billiton will file the Bidder's Statement with the U.S. Securities and 
Exchange Commission (SEC) under cover of Form CB.  Investors and holders of 
WMC securities are strongly advised to read the Bidder's Statement and any 
other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments and 
supplements to those documents, because they will contain important 
information.  Investors and holders of WMC securities may obtain 
free copies of the informational document (when available), 
as well as other relevant documents filed with the SEC, at the SEC's website 
at www.sec.gov.  WMC will issue a target's statement in connection with the 
offer which investors and holders of WMC securities are strongly advised to read.

This communication is for information purposes only. It shall not constitute 
an offer to purchase, sell or exchange or the solicitation of an offer to 
purchase, sell or exchange any securities of WMC.  The distribution of this 
communication may, in some countries, be restricted by law or regulation.  
Accordingly, persons who come into possession of this document should
inform themselves of and observe these restrictions.  


BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077       
Registered in Australia                             
Registered Office: 180 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne  Victoria 3000   Australia                                           
Telephone [phone] Facsimile [phone]

BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209
Registered in England and Wales
Neathouse Place 
London SW1V 1BH United Kingdom
Telephone [phone] Facsimile [phone]


A member of the The BHP Billiton Group which is headquartered in Australia


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange