EC Approval of WMC Bid

BHP Billiton Limited
26 April 2005


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

NEWS RELEASE
  Release      IMMEDIATE
  Time
  Date         26 April 2005
  Number       17/05

BHP BILLITON ANNOUNCES EUROPEAN COMMISSION (COMMISSION) APPROVAL OF BID FOR WMC
                                 RESOURCES LTD

BHP Billiton advises that the Commission has issued a decision under Article 6
(1)(b) of the EC Merger Regulation approving BHP Billiton's acquisition of WMC
Resources Ltd.

Accordingly, the condition set out in clause 5.1(d) of the Bidder's Statement
has been fulfilled. This is the fourth condition of the offer that has been
satisfied.

The offer is $7.85 for each WMC Resources Ltd share and the closing date* of the
offer is 7.30 pm (Melbourne time) on 6 May 2005.

*This date is indicative only and may change as permitted by the Australian
Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).

Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site: http://
www.bhpbilliton.com

Australia                               United Kingdom
Jane Belcher, Investor Relations        Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media
Tel: [phone] Mobile: +61 417    Relations
031 653                                 Tel: [phone] Mobile: +44 7769
email: [e-mail]   934 942
                                        email: [e-mail]

Tania Price, Media Relations            Ariane Gentil, Media Relations
Tel: [phone] Mobile: +61 419    Tel: [phone]
152 780
email: [e-mail]      email: [e-mail]

United States                           South Africa
Tel: [phone] or [phone]     Michael Campbell, Investor & Media
4031                                    Relations
email: [e-mail]     Tel: [phone] Mobile: [phone]
                                        2587
                                        [e-mail]

Further Information for U.S. holders
BHP Billiton has filed the Bidder's Statement with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) under cover of Form CB. Investors and holders of WMC
Resources securities are strongly advised to read the Bidder's Statement and any
other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments and
supplements to those documents, because they will contain important information.
Investors and holders of WMC Resources securities may obtain free copies of the
informational document (when available), as well as other relevant documents
filed with the SEC, at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. WMC Resources has
issued a target's statement in connection with the offer which investors and
holders of WMC Recourses securities are strongly advised to read.
This communication is for information purposes only. It shall not constitute an
offer to purchase, sell or exchange or the solicitation of an offer to purchase,
sell or exchange any securities of WMC Resources. The distribution of this
communication may, in some countries, be restricted by law or regulation.
Accordingly, persons who come into possession of this document should inform
themselves of and observe these restrictions.




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