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BIL
BIBLT
BHP - A$1.5 billion off market buy-back of BHP Billiton Limited shares
BHP Billiton Plc
Registration number 3196209
Registered in England and Wales
Share code: BIL
ISIN: GB0000566504
15 February 2006
BHP BILLITON ANNOUNCES A$1.5 BILLION OFF MARKET BUY-BACK OF BHP BILLITON LIMITED
SHARES
Today BHP Billiton announced that it will return US$2 billion to its
shareholders under a capital management programme to be completed within an 18
month period. This programme continues BHP Billiton"s outstanding track record
of delivering value to shareholders, and is in addition to the US 3 cents per
share increase in the interim dividend also announced today.
The programme will commence immediately with an off-market buy-back of A$1.5
billion (US$1.1 billion) of BHP Billiton Limited shares, with the balance being
returned via on-market purchases, most likely of BHP Billiton Plc shares. Final
timing and execution of the on-market program will be dependent on an ongoing
assessment of market conditions.
BHP Billiton"s Chairman, Don Argus, said "the Board of BHP Billiton has an
absolute commitment to capital discipline, and our confidence in the Company"s
outlook and strong cash generative capability has underpinned our decision to
make this sizable return. This is now the second consecutive year in which we
will have undertaken a $2 billion capital management initiative."
"Given the Company"s financial strength we are well positioned to fund our
US$14.4 billion pipeline of projects and other value enhancing opportunities as
they arise, maintain BHP Billiton"s robust capital structure and continue with
our progressive dividend policy, as well as make this $2 billion return, in line
with our stated priorities for use of the Company"s cash flow."
Mr Argus said, "Undertaking both an off-market and on-market buy-back, coupled
with the significant increase in our interim dividend, also announced today,
provides a variety of means for our entire global shareholder base to
participate, both directly and indirectly, in this initiative. The largest
component, being the off-market buy-back, provides an optimal means for
maximising economic value for all of our shareholders. All shareholders in BHP
Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc, including those not participating in the
buy-back process, regardless of location and tax status, benefit from an off-
market buy-back. Purchase of shares at a discount of at least 8% to the market
price allows us to buy back a greater number of shares than is possible in an
on-market buy-back for the same total cost. The value of the remaining shares
will therefore be enhanced through the increased earnings, cash flow and return
on equity attributable to each share."
The capital management programme will be funded from cash and borrowings, most
likely from the Company"s existing commercial paper programmes. Given the
strength of BHP Billiton"s financial position, it will remain strongly
capitalised after completion of the programme, and the capital return will not
compromise the Company"s solid "A" credit rating or its ability to fund the
strong pipeline of organic growth projects.
The Board of BHP Billiton has concluded that the proposed off-market buy-back
can be completed without negatively affecting the ability of BHP Billiton
Limited to pay fully franked dividends for the foreseeable future.
Off-market buy-back details
BHP Billiton will not proceed with the off-market buy-back unless the discount
at which the shares can be repurchased represents at least an 8% discount to the
volume weighted average price of BHP Billiton Limited shares over the 5 trading
days up to and including the closing date of the buy-back ("Market Price").
Eligible shareholders may choose to participate in the off-market buy-back for
various reasons and in so doing may take account of the tax benefits that only
arise under the Australian taxation regime. BHP Billiton does not anticipate
that shareholders who are resident outside Australia will participate, as they
are likely to obtain a better outcome by selling their shares on-market.
Excluded foreign persons, including shareholders in the US, US persons and
residents of Canada will not be eligible to participate in the buy-back. ADRs
and restricted employee shares may not be tendered into the buy-back.
Eligible shareholders of BHP Billiton Limited may tender some or all of their
shares at discounts of between 8% and 14% inclusive (at 1% intervals) to the
Market Price, or as a final price tender (which is simply an election to receive
the final buy-back price). The final buy-back price will be determined according
to the tenders lodged by eligible shareholders and the Market Price.
For Australian tax purposes, the buy-back price received by participating
shareholders will comprise the following:
a) capital component of A$2.10 per share; and
b) fully franked deemed dividend equal to the buy-back price less A$2.10.
For the purpose of Capital Gains Tax calculations, the capital proceeds will be
the A$2.10 capital component plus an amount equal to the excess of the Tax Value
(1) over the buy-back price.
Under the off-market process, BHP Billiton Limited will buy all shares tendered
by eligible shareholders who elect to receive the final buy-back price or who
tender their shares at a discount greater than or equal to the final buy-back
discount determined under the tender process, subject to any required scale
back. The operation of the scale back has been structured to ensure that
registered shareholders with small holdings are not disadvantaged. All shares
that are accepted by BHP Billiton Limited will be bought back at the final buy-
back price, even if they are tendered at a discount that represents a price
below the final buy-back price.
BHP Billiton Limited will not buy back any shares tendered by shareholders at a
price above the final buy-back price. Although the target buy-back size is
around A$1.5 billion (approximately US$1.1 billion), the Company may
significantly increase the size of the buy-back if there is excess demand at an
attractive price.
Eligible shareholders will be sent the buy-back booklet containing the terms and
conditions of the off-market buy-back by 8 March 2006. The booklet cannot be
sent into the United States or Canada.
(1) Tax Value will be calculated pursuant to the ATO guidelines (detailed in Tax
Determination TD 2004/22) which effectively provide that the Tax Value will be
the 5-day VWAP of BHP Billiton Limited shares on the ASX up to and including 14
February 2006 and will be adjusted for the movement in the BHP Billiton Plc
share price from the closing price on the London Stock Exchange on 14 February
2006 to the opening price on the London Stock Exchange on the closing date of
the Buy-Back (31 March 2006)
Off-Market Buy-Back Timetable(2)
The indicative timetable for the off-market buy-back is outlined below.
Event Date
Buy-back announcement 15 February 2006
Cut-off date for franking entitlement under 45-day 16 February 2006
rule(3)
Shares quoted ex-entitlement to participate in the buy- 20 February 2006
back on the ASX (shares acquired on the ASX on or after
this date will not typically confer an entitlement to
participate in the buy-back)
Determination of eligible shareholders entitled to 24 February 2006
participate in the buy-back (record date)
Completion of mail out of buy-back documents to eligible 8 March 2006
shareholders
Buy-back tender period opens 13 March 2006
Buy-back tender period closes - tenders must be received 31 March 2006
by 7.00pm (AEST)
Announcement of the buy-back price and any scale back 3 April 2006
Buy-back proceeds dispatched/credited to participating No later than 10
shareholders completed April 2006
Shareholders who have any enquiries in relation to the off-market buy-back may
contact BHP Billiton"s buy-back enquiry line on 1300 781 469 toll free within
Australia or +61 3 9415 4254 if calling from outside Australia, or visit our
website www.bhpbilliton.com. Shareholders should seek their own professional
advice (including tax advice) about the implications of participating in the
buy-back in their own individual circumstances.
Contacts:
Australia
Jane Belcher, Investor Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 3952
Mobile: +61 417 031 653
email: Jane.H.Belcher@bhpbilliton.com
Samantha Evans, Media Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 2898
Mobile: 61 400 693 915
email: Samantha.Evans@bhpbilliton.com
United Kingdom
Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: +44 20 7802 4156
Mobile: +44 7769 934 942
email: Mark.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com
Ariane Gentil, Media Relations
Tel: +44 20 7802 4177
Mobile: +44 78 81 51 8715
email: Ariane.Gentil@bhpbilliton.com
United States
Tracey Whitehead, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: US +1 713 599 6100 or UK +44 20 7802 4031
Mobile: +44 7917 648 093
email: Tracey.Whitehead@bhpbilliton.com
South Africa
Alison Gilbert, Investor Relations
Tel: +27 11 376 2121 UK +44 20 7802 4183
email: Alison.Gilbert@bhpbilliton.com
Important notice:
Not for distribution or release in or into the United States or Canada.
This press release does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation
to sell, or any solicitation of any offer to purchase any securities in any
jurisdiction, nor shall it or the fact of its distribution be relied on in
connection with any contract therefor. No indications of interest in the buy-
back are sought by this press release, which relates to the BHP Billiton capital
management programme. Shareholders who are (or nominees who hold BHP Billiton
Limited shares on behalf of or for the account of persons who are) in the United
States US persons, (within the meaning of Regulation S under the United States
Securities Act 1933,) residents of Canada or who are otherwise excluded foreign
persons will not be eligible to participate in the off-market buy-back described
in this press release. ADRs and restricted employee shares may not be tendered
into the buy-back. Buy-back documents, including the booklet describing the
terms of the buy-back and tender forms, when issued, will not to be distributed
or sent into the United States or Canada.
(2) While BHP Billiton does not anticipate any changes to these times and dates,
it reserves the right to vary them without notification
(3) Shares acquired after this date will generally not satisfy the 45-day rule
for the purposes ofcalculating an Australian taxpayer"s tax credits.
Background
An off-market buy-back tender is a commonly adopted capital management mechanism
employed by Australian companies. In essence, it allows a company to buy back
its shares from shareholders at a price which is less than the prevailing price
on the open market/stock exchange. In recent comparable Australian off-market
buy-backs for example, the final buy-back price has been set at a discount
within a range of approximately 9.2% to 15.6% to the market price at close of
the buy-back. Australian companies have the opportunity to buy back shares at a
discount to market price because, among other things, the buy-back proceeds are
treated in a manner that has Australian tax outcomes which are valued by some
Australian resident shareholders.
Under Australian taxation law, a portion of the buy-back price will be deemed to
be a dividend for Australian tax purposes. The deemed dividend portion of the
buy-back price will be "fully franked", which means that Australian tax
residents will be entitled to an income tax credit representing the Australian
corporate income tax that BHP Billiton Limited has paid in respect of the
profits from which the deemed dividend is derived. In the case of some
Australian shareholders, depending on the shareholder"s marginal tax rate, this
credit may be larger than the amount of tax which will be assessed on the deemed
dividend.
To qualify for the tax credits, shareholders must generally have held their
shares "at risk" for a minimum of 45 days prior to the date on which the Company
determines the buy-back price and buy-back allocations. Under the BHP Billiton
Limited off-market buy-back timetable, the 45-day rule cut off date is 16
February 2006, as shares acquired after this date will not, under the timetable,
be held at risk for 45 clear days.
The ex-date for buy-back entitlements on the ASX is 20 February 2006. Shares
acquired on or after this date will not typically confer an entitlement to
participate in the off-market buy-back. BHP Billiton has received advice from
the ATO that shares purchased on or after the buy-back ex-date (20 February
2006), on an ex-entitlement basis, will not be allocated on a Last In First Out
(LIFO) basis for the purposes of the 45-day rule. Accordingly, if shareholders
purchase shares on or after the buy-back ex-date this should not, of itself,
result in them failing the 45 day rule in respect of other shares sold into the
buy-back.
In addition to the deemed dividend portion, the buy-back price will include a
capital component of A$2.10 per share. For Australian tax purposes, the proceeds
from selling the share will be taken to be the aggregate of A$2.10 per share,
plus any excess of the Tax Value of each share over and above the buy-back
price. This may result in some Australian residents realising a capital loss
which can be used to offset that holder"s other capital gains. An off-market
buy-back however will have different tax consequences for each shareholder
depending on their residency for tax purposes, the price at which they
originally purchased their shares and their individual tax position.
Shareholders should seek advice as to the taxation consequences of participating
in the buy-back in their own circumstances.
* * * *
Date: 15/02/2006 08:59:23 AM Produced by the JSE SENS Department
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