Director Shareholding

RNS Number:8089T
BHP Billiton PLC
04 January 2004

Issued by:      BHP Billiton Plc

To:
London Stock Exchange
Euronext
Johannesburg Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange

Date:      5 January 2004

For Release:      Immediately

Contact:      Ines Watson - [phone]


                     Notification of interests of directors


BHP Billiton Plc announces the following transaction made by Billiton ESOP
Trustee Limited, as trustee of the Billiton Employee Share Ownership Trust, in
Ordinary shares of US$0.50 in BHP Billiton Plc. BHP Billiton Plc was notified of
this transaction on 2 January 2004.


        Date of                Type of             Number of       Price per
      Transaction            Transaction            Shares           Share

    31 December 2003            Sale                10,536          #4.8836


This transaction was made on behalf of a beneficiary of the Company's Restricted
Share Scheme (not any director of BHP Billiton Plc subject to the Company's
Securities Dealing Code).

Following the above transaction Messrs C W Goodyear and M Salamon have an
interest in the balance held by the Trust of 129,268 shares as potential
beneficiaries of the Trust.


BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077                       BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209
Registered in Australia                                       Registered in England and Wales
Registered Office: Level 27, 180 Lonsdale Street Melbourne    Registered Office: Neathouse Place London SW1V 1BH United
Victoria 3000                                                 Kingdom
Telephone [phone] Facsimile [phone]          Telephone [phone] Facsimile [phone]

                   The BHP Billiton Group is headquartered in Australia


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END

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