Share Purchase

BHP Billiton Limited
21 May 2003

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.



                     Purchase of Shares in BHP Billiton Plc



In connection with the proposed repurchase of shares approved by shareholders at
the annual general meeting on 4 November 2002, BHP Billiton Plc ('BHP Billiton')
announces that it has been notified by Nelson Investment Limited ('Nelson') that
on 20 May 2003 Nelson purchased, through J. P. Morgan Securities Ltd., 450,000
ordinary shares of US$0.50 each in BHP Billiton at a price of £2.996667 per
share.

The purchase represents approximately 0.018232 per cent of BHP Billiton's issued
ordinary share capital and brings the aggregate number of shares purchased to
date by Nelson Investment Limited to 3,890,000, representing approximately
0.157608 per cent of BHP Billiton's issued ordinary share capital.

BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077
Registered in Australia
Registered Office: 600 Bourke Street Melbourne Victoria 3000
Telephone [phone] Facsimile [phone]

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

              The BHP Billiton Group is headquartered in Australia


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