RNS Number:1792L
BHP Billiton PLC
16 May 2003



                     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 15 May 2003 Nelson purchased, through J. P. Morgan Securities Ltd., 340,000
ordinary shares of US$0.50 each in BHP Billiton at a price of #3.04926 per
share.

The purchase represents approximately 0.013776 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 2,690,000, representing approximately
0.108989 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 +61 3 9609 3333 Facsimile +61 3 9609 3015

BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209
Registered in England and Wales
Registered Office: Neathouse Place, London SW1V 1BH United Kingdom
Telephone +44 20 7802 4000 Facsimile +44 20 7802 4111

              The BHP Billiton Group is headquartered in Australia


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