__________________________________________________________________________________
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_______________
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Date of 27 March 2003
BHP Billiton Limited
ABN 49 004 028 077
600 Bourke Street
Melbourne Victoria 3000
Australia
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
| Form 20-F | X | Form 40-F |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
| Yes | No | X |
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
Issued by: BHP Billiton Plc
|
To: Company Announcements Office Company Announcements Office |
cc: New York Stock Exchange |
Date: 27 March 2003
For Release: Immediately
Contact: Ines Watson +44 (0)20 7802 4176
Notification of Major Interests in Shares
The following notification was received on 26 March 2003 by BHP Billiton Plc in a letter from Old Mutual plc dated 26 March 2003 relating to major interests in shares of BHP Billiton Plc as at 21 March 2003:
"Disclosure under s 198 - 212 Companies Act
Please find notification pursuant to Section 198 of the Companies Act 1985, that as at 21st March 2003, Old Mutual Plc and its direct and indirect subsidiaries had a material interest in 120,425,765 ordinary shares of BHP Billiton plc, representing 4.88% of the issued share capital. The shares are registered as per the attached schedule.
Although the disclosure concerns the position as at close of business on Friday 21st March, please note that a net increase in holdings by Old Mutual Asset Managers (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd (on behalf of its clients) of 23,270,300 on 17th March 2003 took Old Mutual Plc's aggregate holdings above 4%."
Registered holdings of BHP Billiton Plc share capital by Old Mutual Companies at 21 March 2003
|
Total Shares issued |
Number of Shares |
Company |
Registered Holder |
|
2,468,147,002 |
62,108,585 |
Old Mutual Asset Managers (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd |
Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (South Africa) Ltd |
|
0 |
Old Mutual Asset Managers (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd |
Rodina Investments (Pty) Ltd |
|
|
0 |
PeregrineQuant (Pty) Ltd (Not an Old Mutual Company) |
Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (South Africa) Ltd |
|
|
0 |
Coronation Fund Managers Ltd (Not an Old Mutual Company) |
Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (South Africa) Ltd |
|
|
1,151,547 |
Old Mutual Asset Managers (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd |
Old Mutual Unit Trusts (SA) Limited |
|
|
25,555,504 |
Old Mutual Asset Managers (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd |
Old Mutual Asset Managers (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd (Managed Fund Client Assets) |
|
|
86,000 |
Old Mutual Asset Managers (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd |
Omnibon No 13 (Pty) Limited |
|
|
354,183 |
Old Mutual Asset Managers (Namibia) (Pty) Ltd |
Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (Namibia) Ltd |
|
|
232,849 |
Old Mutual Asset Managers (Namibia) (Pty) Ltd |
Old Mutual Holdings (Namibia) (Pty) Ltd |
|
|
112,125 |
Old Mutual Asset Managers (Namibia) (Pty) Ltd |
Old Mutual Asset Managers (Namibia) (Pty) Ltd (Managed Fund Client Assets) |
|
|
6,089 |
Old Mutual Asset Managers (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd |
Old Mutual Unit Trusts (Namibia) Limited |
|
|
3,705,874 |
Old Mutual Asset Managers (Bermuda) Ltd |
Old Mutual Global Asset Fund |
|
|
10,409,248 |
Old Mutual Asset Managers (Bermuda) Ltd |
Old Mutual South Africa Equity Trust Limited |
|
|
871,406 |
Old Mutual Asset Managers (Bermuda) Ltd |
Old Mutual South African Trust Plc |
|
|
5,373,054 |
Quantitive Asset Management |
Nedbank Nominees Ltd |
|
|
82,845 |
Quantitive Asset Management |
Standard Bank Nominees Ltd |
|
|
204,707 |
Syfrets Securities |
Syfrets Securities Nominees (Pty) Ltd |
|
|
5,235,100 |
Franklin Templeton/NIB Investments |
Nedcor Bank Nominees Ltd and Standard Bank Nominees (Pty) Ltd |
|
|
481,879 |
Nedcor Investment Bank Multi Manager |
Standard Bank Nominees (Pty) Limited |
|
|
5,101 |
Nedcor Investment Bank Securities |
Marser Nominees (Pty) Limited |
|
|
1,091,288 |
Mutual & Federal Limited |
Mutual & Federal Limited |
|
|
114,634 |
Mutual & Federal Namibia Limited |
Mutual & Federal Namibia Limited |
|
|
411,651 |
CGU Insurance |
CGU Insurance |
|
|
212,850 |
CGU Holdings |
CGU Holdings |
|
|
106,425 |
Sentrasure |
Sentrasure |
|
|
292,199 |
Quaystone Ltd |
ABSA Nominees Ltd |
|
|
360,131 |
Quaystone Ltd |
Nedcor Bank Nominees Ltd |
|
|
1,860,491 |
Quaystone Ltd |
Standard Bank Nominees (Transvaal) (Pty) Limited |
|
|
|
|||
|
120,425,765 |
4.88% |
|
BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077 Registered Office: 600 Bourke Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 Telephone +61 3 9609 3333 Facsimile +61 3 9609 3015 |
BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209 Registered Office: Neathouse Place London SW1V 1BH United Kingdom Telephone +44 20 7802 4000 Facsimile +44 20 7802 4111 |
|
The BHP Billiton Group is headquartered in Australia
__________________________________________________________________
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
BHP BILLITON LIMITED
/s/ KAREN WOOD
________________________________
Karen Wood
Title: Company Secretary
Date: 27 March 2003