Launches US$850M Global Bond

BHP Billiton Limited
15 April 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.


Date                 15 April 2003
Number               12/03

         BHP BILLITON SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES US$850 MILLION GLOBAL BOND

BHP Billiton, the world's largest diversified natural resources company,
announced today the successful launch of its 10 year Global Bond. The proceeds
from the issue, which was expanded from US$750 million to US$850 million due to
strong demand, will be used to repay existing debt and for general corporate
purposes.

BHP Billiton's Chief Financial Officer, Chris Lynch, commented, 'The success of
this issue in terms of the expanded size, the quality of the book and the
pricing achieved again illustrates the strength of the BHP Billiton credit
story. This is the first issue in the US market for the combined BHP Billiton
Group, and following on from the success of our inaugural Eurobond in October
2002, will further our objective of diversifying funding sources.'

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of
an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any
jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful under
the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. A written prospectus meeting the
requirements of section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 may be obtained
from the joint book runners, Citigroup at 390 Greenwich Street, 4th Floor, New
York, NY 10013 or J.P. Morgan at 270 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017.


Australia
Andrew Nairn, Investor Relations                          United Kingdom
Tel: [phone] Mobile: [phone]              Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media Relations
email: [e-mail]                     Tel: [phone]
                                                          email: [e-mail]

Tracey Whitehead, Media Relations                         South Africa
Tel: [phone] Mobile: [phone]              Michael Campbell, Investor & Media Relations
email: [e-mail]                   Tel: [phone] Mobile: [phone]
                                                          email: [e-mail]
United States
Francis McAllister, Investor Relations
Tel: [phone] Mobile: [phone]
email: [e-mail]


BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077                 BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209
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Registered Office: 600 Bourke Street Melbourne Victoria Registered Office: Neathouse Place London SW1V 1BH United
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              The BHP Billiton Group is headquartered in Australia


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