HSBC Bank Plc; EPT Disclosure - BHP Billiton Ltd

FORM 38.5(a)

DEALINGS BY CONNECTED EXEMPT PRINCIPAL TRADERS WITH RECOGNISED INTERMEDIARY STATUS DEALING IN A CLIENT-SERVING CAPACITY (Rule 38.5(a) of the Takeover Code)

1. KEY INFORMATION

+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Name of exempt principal trader | HSBC Bank Plc | |------------------------------------------------+------------------| | Company dealt in | BHP Billiton Ltd | |------------------------------------------------+------------------| | Class of relevant security to which the | Ordinary Shares | | dealings being disclosed relate (Note 1) | | |------------------------------------------------+------------------| | Date of dealing | 14th Aug 2008 | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+



2. DEALINGS (Note 2)

(a) Purchases and sales

+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Total number of | Highest price paid | Lowest price | | securities | (Note 3) | paid | | purchased | | (Note 3) | |---------------------------+--------------------+------------------| | 50,000 | AUD 38.02 | AUD 38.02 | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+



+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Total number of | Highest price | Lowest price | | securities | received | received | | sold | (Note 3) | (Note 3) | |-------------------------+--------------------+--------------------| | 50,000 | AUD 38.02 | AUD 38.02 | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+

(b) Derivatives transactions (other than options)

+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Product name, | Long/short | Number of | Price per | | e.g. CFD | (Note 4) | securities | unit | | | | (Note 5) | (Note 3) | |----------------+------------+---------------------+---------------| | | | | | |----------------+------------+---------------------+---------------| | | | | | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+



(c) Options transactions in respect of existing securities (i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Product |Writing, |Number of securities to|Exercise|Type, e.g.|Expiry|Option | |name,e.g|selling, |which the option |price |American, |date |moneypaid/received| |call |purchasing,|relates (Note 5) | |European | |per unit (Note 3) | |option |varying etc| | |etc. | | | |--------+-----------+-----------------------+--------+----------+------+------------------| | | | | | | | | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+



(ii) Exercising

+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Product name, e.g. | Number of securities | Exercise price per | | call option | | unit | | | | (Note 3) | |-----------------------+----------------------+--------------------| | | | | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+



3. OTHER INFORMATION

Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

Full details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding between the person disclosing and any other person relating to the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option referred to on this form or relating to the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative referred to on this form is referenced. If none, this should be stated.

..................................................

..................................................



+------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Date of disclosure | 15th August 2008 | |----------------------------------------------+-------------------| | Contact name | Frances Davies | |----------------------------------------------+-------------------| | Telephone number | 0207 991 6661 | |----------------------------------------------+-------------------| | Name of offeree/offeror with which connected | BHP Billiton Plc | |----------------------------------------------+-------------------| | Nature of connection (Note 6) | Connected Advisor | +------------------------------------------------------------------+



Notes

The Notes on Form 38.5(a) can be viewed on the Takeover Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk

---END OF MESSAGE---

HSBC Bank Plc

http://www.hsbc.co.uk/1/2/

Stock Identifier: XLON.