EC Approves Merger

BHP Limited
15 June 2001

BHP LIMITED                                         BILLITON PLC

JOINT STOCK EXCHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT AND NEWS RELEASE

Melbourne, 1000, Friday, 15 June 2001


EUROPEAN COMMISSION APPROVES MERGER OF BHP AND BILLITON


BHP Limited and Billiton Plc announce that the European Commission has
provided the necessary regulatory approvals for the merger of the two
companies to proceed. The companies are confident that the remaining
non-Australian regulatory approvals will be obtained shortly.

Information on the effective implementation date for the merger, as well as
the record date and timing of the issue of bonus shares to BHP shareholders
will be announced within a short period of time.


Following completion of the merger, BHP Billiton will issue further
information to the investment market, relating to the timing and nature of
financial reporting, as well as additional information on the organisational
structure.

ENQUIRIES:


BHP

Australia (media)
Mandy Frostick, Manager Media Relations, BHP Limited
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Mobile: [phone]
email: [e-mail]

Australia (investor relations)
Robert Porter, Vice President Investor Relations, BHP Limited
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Mobile: [phone]

United States (investor relations)
Francis McAllister, Vice President Investor Relations, BHP Limited
Tel: [phone]
Mobile: [phone]
email: [e-mail]

Billiton

London (media and investor relations)
Marc Gonsalves, General Manager , Billiton
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Mobile: [phone]
email: [e-mail]

Johannesburg (media and investor relations)
Michael Campbell, Manager Corporate Affairs, Billiton
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Mobile: [phone]
email: [e-mail]