Notice of Dividend Currency Exchange Rate -SA rand

Notice of Dividend Currency Exchange Rate (South African Rand)

- 2012 FINAL DIVIDEND

On 22 August 2012 we declared a final dividend for the year ended 30 June 2012 of 57 US cents per share.

The currency exchange rate applicable for the dividend payable in South African cents to shareholders on the BHP Billiton Plc branch register is set out below:

The exchange rates applicable to the BHP Billiton dividend being paid in other currencies will be based on the foreign currency exchange rates on the Record Date, being 7 September 2012, and announced to the market on 10 September 2012.

BHP Billiton Plc shareholders registered on the South African section of the register will not be able to dematerialise or rematerialise their shareholdings between the dates of 3 and 7 September 2012, both dates inclusive, nor will transfers between the UK register and the South African register be permitted between the dates of 31 August and 7 September 2012, both dates inclusive.

The dividend will be paid on 28 September 2012.

Jane McAloon

Group Company Secretary

Sponsor: Absa Capital (the investment banking division of Absa Bank Limited, affiliated with Barclays)

NOTE: Impact of change in tax legislation on dividends paid to South African Shareholders

The new Dividend Tax has been introduced in South Africa and the JSE Listing Requirements were amended with effect from 1 April 2012 to require the disclosure of additional information in relation to the dividend payment. The purpose of this note is to provide that additional information.

1. Dividend Tax will be withheld from the amount of the gross final dividend of 72.17226 South African cents per ordinary share paid to shareholders on the South African branch register at the rate of 15 per cent, unless a shareholder qualifies for an exemption.

2. After the Dividend Tax has been withheld, the net dividend will be 408.97614 South African cents per ordinary share.

3. BHP Billiton Plc had a total of 2,112,071,796 ordinary shares in issue (excluding 24,113,658 treasury shares) at the dividend declaration date of 22 August 2012.

4. With specific reference to South Africa, BHP Billiton Plc, as a non-resident, was not subject to the secondary tax on companies (STC) regime which used to be applicable and therefore no STC credits are available for set-off against the Dividend Tax liability on the final dividend. The dividend will be paid out of retained earnings.

5. For the avoidance of doubt, Dividend Tax, and therefore the information provided in this announcement, is of only direct application to shareholders on the South African branch register.

Shareholders on the South African branch register should direct any questions regarding the application of the Dividend Tax to:

BHP Billiton Plc Branch Registrar and Transfer Secretary

Computershare Investor Services (Pty) Limited

70 Marshall Street

Johannesburg 2001

Postal Address - PO Box 61051

Marshalltown 2107

Telephone +27 11 373 0033

Facsimile +27 11 688 5218

Email enquiries: [email protected]

Holders of shares dematerialised into STRATE should contact their CSDP or stockbroker.