SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
December 30, 2010
|
Commission File Number
|
Translation of registrant's name into English; Address of principal executive offices
|
|
|
BHP Billiton Limited (ABN 49 004 028 077)
180 LONSDALE STREET, MELBOURNE, VICTORIA 3000 AUSTRALIA |
|
-
|
BHP Billiton Plc (REG. NO. 3196209)
NEATHOUSE PLACE, VICTORIA, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will
file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F X Form 40-F
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the
information contained in this form is also thereby furnishing the
information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes No X
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-.
BHP BILLITON PLC – CONTINUATION OF PURCHASES OF SHARES IN CLOSE PERIOD BHP Billiton announces that BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc have entered into an irrevocable arrangement with an independent third party which makes trading decisions in relation to the securities of BHP Billiton Plc independently of, and uninfluenced by, BHP Billiton Limited or BHP Billiton Plc. The arrangement allows the independent third party to purchase on BHP Billiton Limited’s behalf and within certain pre-set parameters, ordinary shares in BHP Billiton Plc during the period commencing on 1 January 2011 and ending upon 15 February 2011, a day prior to the announcement of BHP Billiton’s interim results for the half year ended 31 December 2010. These share purchases will be made on BHP Billiton Limited’s behalf and in accordance with the irrevocable arrangement during a so-called “Close Period”; a period in which BHP Billiton and its directors, officers and employees would normally otherwise be prohibited from dealing in BHP Billiton shares. In line with other recent transactions, BHP Billiton Limited’s interest in the shares purchased will then be transferred to BHP Billiton Plc for nil consideration and cancellation by BHP Billiton Plc. Any share purchases effected pursuant to the irrevocable arrangement will be subject to the terms of the mandate and in any case will be effected in a manner consistent with both the general authority vested in BHP Billiton Plc to repurchase shares and Chapter 12 of the United Kingdom Listing Rules, which require that the maximum price paid be limited to no more than 105 per cent of the average middle market closing price of BHP Billiton Plc’s Ordinary Shares for the five dealing days preceding the date of purchase. Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site: www.bhpbilliton.com Leng Lau, Investor Relations Amanda Buckley, Media Relations Kelly Quirke, Media Relations Fiona Martin, Media Relations United Kingdom & South Africa United Kingdom & Americas Americas Members of the BHP Billiton group which is headquartered in Australia
NEWS RELEASE
Release Time: IMMEDIATE
Date: 23 December 2010
Number: 34/10
Australia
Brendan Harris, Investor Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 4323 Mobile: +61 437 134 814
email: Brendan.Harris@bhpbilliton.com
Tel: +61 3 9609 4202 Mobile: +61 403 533 796
email: Leng.Y.Lau@bhpbilliton.com
Tel: +61 3 9609 2209 Mobile: +61 419 801 349
email: Amanda.Buckley@bhpbilliton.com
Tel: +61 3 9609 2896 Mobile: +61 429 966 312
email: Kelly.Quirke@bhpbilliton.com
Tel: +61 3 9609 2211 Mobile: +61 427 777 908
email: Fiona.Martin2@bhpbilliton.com
Andre Liebenberg, Investor Relations
Tel: +44 20 7802 4131 Mobile: +44 7920 236 974
email: Andre.Liebenberg@bhpbilliton.com
Ruban Yogarajah, Media Relations
Tel: US +1 713 966 2907 or UK +44 20 7802 4033
Mobile: UK +44 7827 082 022
email: Ruban.Yogarajah@bhpbilliton.com
Scott Espenshade, Investor Relations
Tel: +1 713 599 6431 Mobile: +1 713 208 8565
email: Scott.Espenshade@bhpbilliton.com
BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077
Registered in Australia
Registered Office: 180 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia
Tel +61 1300 55 4757 Fax +61 3 9609 3015
BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209
Registered in England and Wales
Registered Office: Neathouse Place
London SW1V 1BH United Kingdom
Tel +44 20 7802 4000 Fax +44 20 7802 4111
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
|
|
BHP Billiton Limited (ABN 49 004 028 077) | ||
| Date : December 30, 2010 | By: | /s/ Jane McAloon | |
| Name: | Jane McAloon | ||
| Title: | Group Company Secretary | ||