BHP Group Limited — Transaction in Own Shares 2007

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Issued by: BHP Billiton Plc BHP Billiton Limited

To: London Stock Exchange Australian Securities Exchange

Cc: New York Stock Exchange JSE Limited Swiss Stock Exchange Deutsche Bank UBS Zurich

Date: 13 December 2007

For Release: Immediately

BHP BILLITON PLC - TRANSACTION IN SHARES

BHP Billiton Limited announces that on 13 December 2007 it purchased 1,600,000 ordinary shares of BHP Billiton Plc at an average price of 1,591.93 pence per ordinary share. The highest price paid was 1,650 pence per ordinary share and the lowest price paid was 1,570 pence per ordinary share.

Following the above transaction, BHP Billiton Plc holds 24,165,516 of its ordinary shares as treasury shares and BHP Billiton Limited holds 24,015,350 of the ordinary shares in BHP Billiton Plc, forming a total of 48,180,866 shares. The total number of BHP Billiton Plc ordinary shares in issue (excluding shares held as treasury shares and shares held by BHP Billiton Limited) is 2,208,455,686.

Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site: www.bhpbilliton.com

Australia

Samantha Evans, Media Relations Tel: +61 3 9609 2898 Mobile: +61 400 693 915 Email: [email protected]

Don Carroll, Investor Relations Tel: +61 3 9609 2686 Mobile: +61 417 591 938 Email: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

United Kingdom

Andre Liebenberg, Investor Relations Tel: +44 20 7802 4131 Mobile: +44 7920 236 974 Email: [email protected]

Illtud Harri, Media Relations Tel: +44 20 7802 4195 Mobile: +44 7920 237 246 Email: [email protected]

South Africa

Alison GIlbert, Investor Relations Tel: SA +27 11 376 2121 or UK +44 20 7802 4183 Mobile: +44 7769 936 227 Email: [email protected]