Issued by: BHP Billiton Plc

_________________________________________________________________________________

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 1 September 2003

BHP Billiton Plc

Registration Number 3196209

Neathouse Place

London SW1V 1BH

United Kingdom

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
The London Stock Exchange
Old Broad Street
London EC2N 1HP
United Kingdom

Company Announcements Office
The Australian Stock Exchange
4th Floor, 20 Bridge Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia

cc:
New York Stock Exchange
Swiss Stock Exchange
NZX
Johannesburg Stock Exchange
Euronext
Deutsche Bank


Date: 1 September 2003

Contact: Ines Watson +44 (0)20 7802 4176

Notification of Major Interests in Shares

The following notification was received on 29 August 2003 by BHP Billiton Plc in a letter from Old Mutual plc dated 29 August 2003 relating to major interests in shares of BHP Billiton Plc as at 26 August 2003:

"Disclosure under s 198 - 212 Companies Act

Please find notification pursuant to Section 198 of the Companies Act 1985, that as at 26 August 2003, Old Mutual Plc and its direct and indirect subsidiaries had a material interest in 152,656,921 ordinary shares of BHP Billiton Plc, representing 6.19% of the issued share capital. The shares are registered as per the attached schedule."

Registered holdings of BHP Billiton Plc share capital by Old Mutual Companies at 26 August 2003

Total Shares issued

Number of Shares

Company

Registered Holder

2,468,144,000

79,417,870

Old Mutual Asset Managers (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd

Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (South Africa) Ltd

3.22%

786,085

Stanlib Asset Management Ltd (not an Old Mutual Company)

Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (South Africa) Ltd

0.03%

402,631

Prudential Portfolio Managers SA (Pty) Ltd (not an Old Mutual Company

Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (South Africa) Ltd

0.02%

282,484

PeregrineQuant (Pty) Ltd (Not an Old Mutual Company)

Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (South Africa) Ltd

0.01%

212,209

Coronation Fund Managers Ltd (Not an Old Mutual Company)

Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (South Africa) Ltd

0.01%

2,075,973

Old Mutual Asset Managers (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd

Old Mutual Unit Trusts (SA) Limited

0.08%

35,595,131

Old Mutual Asset Managers (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd

Old Mutual Asset Managers (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd (Managed Fund Client Assets)

1.44%

74,800

Old Mutual Asset Managers (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd

Omnibon No 13 (Pty) Limited

0.00%

1,414,383

Old Mutual Asset Managers (Namibia) (Pty) Ltd

Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (Namibia) Ltd

0.06%

232,849

Old Mutual Asset Managers (Namibia) (Pty) Ltd

Old Mutual Holdings (Namibia) (Pty) Ltd

0.01%

789,091

Old Mutual Asset Managers (Namibia) (Pty) Ltd

Old Mutual Asset Managers (Namibia) (Pty) Ltd (Managed Fund Client Assets)

0.03%

34,126

Old Mutual Asset Managers (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd

Old Mutual Unit Trusts (Namibia) Limited

0.00%

3,705,874

Old Mutual Asset Managers (Bermuda) Ltd

Old Mutual Global Asset Fund

0.15%

11,717,248

Old Mutual Asset Managers (Bermuda) Ltd

Old Mutual South Africa Equity Trust Limited

0.47%

920,406

Old Mutual Asset Managers (Bermuda) Ltd

Old Mutual South African Trust Plc

0.04%

6,098,054

Quantitive Asset Management

Nedbank Nominees Ltd

0.25%

60,966

Quantitive Asset Management

Standard Bank Nominees Ltd

0.00%

22,332

Syfrets Securities

Syfrets Securities Nominees (Pty) Ltd

0.00%

583,736

Franklin Templeton/NIB Investments

Nedcor Bank Nominees Ltd

0.02%

2,277

Old Mutual

Nedcor Bank Nominees

0.00%

2,042,903

BOE Private Clients

Standard Bank Nominees

0.08%

43,439

BOE Private Clients

Registered Own Name

0.00%

1,377,215

BOE Private Clients (NTRAC)

Nedcor Bank Nominees

0.06%

79,123

BOE Fiduciary

Nedcor Bank Nominees

0.00%

1,936,848

Mutual & Federal Limited

Mutual & Federal Limited

0.08%

2,023,868

Quaystone Ltd

Standard Bank Nominees (Transvaal) (Pty) Limited

0.08%

356,800

Quaystone Ltd

Nedcor Bank Nominees Ltd

0.01%

368,200

Quaystone Ltd

ABSA

0.01%

152,656,921

6.19%


BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077
Registered in Australia
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 in England and Wales
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

 

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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 Plc
/s/ KAREN WOOD
_____________________

Karen Wood
Title: Company Secretary
Date: 1 September 2003