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BIL
BIBLT
BIL - BHP Billiton Plc - Announces assessment by Australian taxation office
BHP Billiton Plc
Share code: BIL
ISIN: GB0000566504
NEWS RELEASE
Date 4 April 2008
Number 12/08
BHP BILLITON ANNOUNCES ASSESSMENT BY AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has issued assessments and is in dispute
with BHP Billiton Limited (BHP Billiton) in respect of the 2001 to 2003 income
years. BHP Billiton maintains that it is entitled to the tax relief claimed.
The dispute is in respect of payments made pursuant to a plant completion
guarantee which had been granted by BHP in 1997 to third party financiers of the
Orinoco Project in Venezuela.
The dispute involves primary tax and interest (net of tax) of US$289.6 million
(A$316.9 million). The ATO is still considering whether or not to apply any
penalty.
The Company is confident of its position. It intends to vigorously defend the
assessment.
The outcome of this dispute is unlikely to be known for some time. In the
meantime BHP Billiton believes that the matter is adequately provided for in the
accounts.
Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site:
www.bhpbilliton.com
Australia United Kingdom
Samantha Evans, Media Relations Andre Liebenberg, Investor Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 2898 Tel: +44 20 7802 4131
Mobile: +61 400 693 915 Mobile: +44 7920 236 974
Email: Samantha.Evans@bhpbilliton.com Email:Andre.Liebenberg@bhpbilliton.com
Don Carroll, Investor Relations Illtud Harri, Media Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 2686 Tel: +44 20 7802 4195
Mobile: +61 417 591 938 Mobile: +44 7920 237 246
Email: Don.A.Carroll@bhpbilliton.com Email: Illtud.Harri@bhpbilliton.com
United States South Africa
Tracey Whitehead, Investor & Media Alison Gilbert, Investor Relations
Relations Tel: SA +27 11 376 2121 or
Tel: US +1 713 599 6100 or UK +44 20 7802 4183
UK +44 20 7802 4031 Mobile: +44 7769 936 227
Mobile: +44 7917 648 093 Email: Alison.Gilbert@bhpbilliton.com
Email:Tracey.Whitehead@bhpbilliton.com
Date: 04/04/2008 07:05:01 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.
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