_________________________________________________________________________________
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
13 November 2003BHP 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):
13 November 2003
To: Company Announcements Office
The Australian Stock Exchange
4th Floor, 20 Bridge Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
Australia
Company Announcements Office
The London Stock Exchange
Old Broad Street
London EC2N 1HP
United Kingdom
cc: New York Stock Exchange
Swiss Stock Exchange
New Zealand Stock Exchange
Johannesburg Stock Exchange
Paris Bourse (Euronext)
Deutsche Bank
For Announcement to the Market
I advise the following results of the business conducted at the meetings of shareholders of BHP Billiton Limited ("Limited") held on 13 November 2003 and BHP Billiton Plc ("Plc") held on 24 October 2003.
The final proxy position for each company (excluding the proxy votes carried from one meeting to the other meeting by the Special Voting Shares) is detailed in Appendix 1. As required by the Dual Listed Companies Structure, a poll was conducted on each of the proposed resolutions. Because of the nature of that Structure, the poll results for each company on Joint Electorate Actions are identical.
The poll results were:
Business |
Votes For |
Votes Against |
Votes Abstained |
Result |
|
1. Receipt of Financial Statements and Reports of BHP Billiton Limited (an ordinary resolution and Joint Electorate Action) |
3,183,646,317 |
4,639,261 |
93,685,782 |
Carried |
| 2. Receipt of Financial Statements and Reports of BHP Billiton Plc (an ordinary resolution and Joint Electorate Action) |
3,177,527,469 |
3,110,867 |
101,278,054 |
Carried |
|
3. Re-election of Dr D C Brink as a director of BHP Billiton Limited (an ordinary resolution and Joint Electorate Action) |
3,130,753,356 |
131,002,046 |
18,322,814 |
Carried |
| 4. Re-election of Dr D C Brink as a director of BHP Billiton Plc (an ordinary resolution and Joint Electorate Action) |
3,122,987,042 |
130,565,041 |
26,580,409 |
Carried |
| 5. Re-election of Mr M A Chaney as a director of BHP Billiton Limited (an ordinary resolution and Joint Electorate Action) |
3,123,830,210 |
129,486,986 |
18,231,783 |
Carried |
| 6. Re-election of Mr M A Chaney as a director of BHP Billiton Plc (an ordinary resolution and Joint Electorate Action) |
3,116,270,481 |
129,410,130 |
18,231,783 |
Carried |
| 7. Re-election of Lord Renwick of Clifton as a director of BHP Billiton Limited (an ordinary resolution and Joint Electorate Action) |
3,101,677,708 |
139,457,173 |
39,036,555 |
Carried |
| 8. Re-election of Lord Renwick of Clifton as a director of BHP Billiton Plc (an ordinary resolution and Joint Electorate Action) |
3,093,911,532 |
139,680,405 |
46,502,911 |
Carried |
|
9. Election of Mr M Salamon as a director of BHP Billiton Limited (an ordinary resolution and Joint Electorate Action) |
3,118,324,103 |
134,205,439 |
27,610,534 |
Carried |
|
10. Election of Mr M Salamon as a director of BHP Billiton Plc (an ordinary resolution and Joint Electorate Action) |
3,107,995,840 |
134,286,578 |
35,120,576 |
Carried |
| 11. Election of Dr J G Buchanan as a Director of BHP Billiton Limited (an ordinary resolution and Joint Electorate Action) |
3,135,810,305 |
124,034,809 |
20,257,907 |
Carried |
|
12. Election of Dr J G Buchanan as a Director of BHP Billiton Plc (an ordinary resolution and Joint Electorate Action) |
3,128,219,207 |
123,876,172 |
28,003,282 |
Carried |
| 13. To re-appoint the auditors of BHP Billiton Plc (a special resolution and Joint Electorate Action) |
3,222,320,634 |
18,959,923 |
37,130,465 |
Carried |
| 14. To renew the Directors' authority to allot shares in BHP Billiton Plc (a special resolution and Joint Electorate Action) |
3,060,684,627 |
195,636,337 |
21,691,492 |
Carried |
| 15. To renew the disapplication of pre-emption rights in BHP Billiton Plc (an ordinary resolution and Joint Electorate Action) |
3,207,381,218 |
48,953,422 |
22,395,307 |
Carried |
| 16. To authorise BHP Billiton Plc to make market purchases of its own shares (an ordinary resolution and Joint Electorate Action) |
3,196,956,996 |
68,884,997 |
19,859,545 |
Carried |
| 17. To approve the Remuneration Report (an ordinary resolution and Joint Electorate Action) |
3,165,112,039 |
62,084,084 |
50,771,769 |
Carried |
| 18. To approve the issue of awards to Mr C W Goodyear under BHP Billiton Limited's Group Incentive Scheme (an ordinary resolution and Joint Electorate Action) |
3,182,675,236 |
83,517,088 |
39,865,626 |
Carried |
| 19. To approve the issue of awards to Mr M Salamon under BHP Billiton Plc's Group Incentive Scheme (an ordinary resolution and Joint Electorate Action) |
3,142,339,658 |
84,904,035 |
47,598,648 |
Carried |
K J Wood
Company Secretary
BHP Billiton Limited & BHP Billiton Plc
Final Proxy Position
|
Limited |
Plc |
|
| 1. Receipt of Financial Statements and Reports of BHP Billiton Limited | ||
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed |
1,701,716,552 |
1,584,667,026 |
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy - |
||
|
¨ was to vote for the resolution |
1,498,955,997 |
1,532,475,603 |
|
¨ was to vote against the resolution |
3,983,098 |
707,602 |
|
¨ was to abstain on the resolution |
51,769,633 |
41,916,149 |
|
¨ may vote at the proxy's discretion |
147,007,824 |
9,567,672 |
| 2. Receipt of Financial Statements and Reports of BHP Billiton Plc | ||
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed |
1,701,710,052 |
1,584,667,026 |
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy - |
||
|
¨ was to vote for the resolution |
1,491,903,528 |
1,532,481,523 |
|
¨ was to vote against the resolution |
2,465,712 |
698,801 |
|
¨ was to abstain on the resolution |
59,362,969 |
41,915,085 |
|
¨ may vote at the proxy's discretion |
147,977,843 |
9,571,617 |
| 3. Re-election of Dr D C Brink as a director of BHP Billiton Limited | ||
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed |
1,699,862,772 |
1,584,667,026 |
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy - |
||
|
¨ was to vote for the resolution |
1,504,116,029 |
1,472,998,616 |
|
¨ was to vote against the resolution |
38,470,870 |
92,575,599 |
|
¨ was to abstain on the resolution |
8,787,885 |
9,534,929 |
|
¨ may vote at the proxy's discretion |
148,487,988 |
9,557,882 |
| 4. Re-election of Dr D C Brink as a director of BHP Billiton Plc | ||
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed |
1,699,952,840 |
1,584,667,026 |
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy - |
||
|
¨ was to vote for the resolution |
1,495,492,294 |
1,473,000,884 |
|
¨ was to vote against the resolution |
37,953,039 |
92,661,569 |
|
¨ was to abstain on the resolution |
17,131,152 |
9,449,257 |
|
¨ may vote at the proxy's discretion |
149,376,355 |
9,555,316 |
| 5. Re-election of Mr M A Chaney as a director of BHP Billiton Limited | ||
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed |
1,699,952,840 |
1,584,667,026 |
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy - |
||
|
¨ was to vote for the resolution |
1,506,147,325 |
1,464,213,761 |
|
¨ was to vote against the resolution |
36,976,111 |
92,662,229 |
|
¨ was to abstain on the resolution |
8,623,345 |
18,231,783 |
|
¨ may vote at the proxy's discretion |
148,206,059 |
9,559,253 |
| 6. Re-election of Mr M A Chaney as a director of BHP Billiton Plc | ||
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed |
1,698,951,065 |
1,584,667,026 |
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy - |
||
|
¨ was to vote for the resolution |
1,497,563,880 |
1,464,217,494 |
|
¨ was to vote against the resolution |
36,898,238 |
92,661,463 |
|
¨ was to abstain on the resolution |
16,218,817 |
18,231,783 |
|
¨ may vote at the proxy's discretion |
148,270,130 |
9,556,286 |
|
|
||
| 7. Re-election of Lord Renwick of Clifton as a director of BHP Billiton Limited | ||
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed |
1,699,944,255 |
1,584,667,026 |
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy - |
||
|
¨ was to vote for the resolution |
1,492,636,768 |
1,454,921,125 |
|
¨ was to vote against the resolution |
41,632,880 |
98,492,132 |
|
¨ was to abstain on the resolution |
17,340,668 |
21,695,887 |
|
¨ may vote at the proxy's discretion |
148,333,939 |
9,557,882 |
| 8. Re-election of Lord Renwick of Clifton as a director of BHP Billiton Plc | ||
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed |
1,699,941,355 |
1,584,667,026 |
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy - |
||
|
¨ was to vote for the resolution |
1,484,013,685 |
1,454,921,207 |
|
¨ was to vote against the resolution |
41,781,130 |
98,495,680 |
|
¨ was to abstain on the resolution |
24,808,088 |
21,694,823 |
|
¨ may vote at the proxy's discretion |
149,338,452 |
9,555,316 |
| 9. Election of Mr M Salamon as a director of BHP Billiton Limited | ||
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed |
1,699,951,989 |
1,584,667,026 |
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy - |
||
|
¨ was to vote for the resolution |
1,501,060,776 |
1,463,113,801 |
|
¨ was to vote against the resolution |
40,658,655 |
93,722,484 |
|
¨ was to abstain on the resolution |
9,339,152 |
18,271,382 |
|
¨ may vote at the proxy's discretion |
148,893,406 |
9,559,359 |
|
|
||
| 10. Election of Mr M Salamon as a director of BHP Billiton Plc | ||
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed |
1,697,251,989 |
1,584,667,026 |
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy - |
||
|
¨ was to vote for the resolution |
1,489,711,279 |
1,463,112,572 |
|
¨ was to vote against the resolution |
40,735,862 |
93,726,416 |
|
¨ was to abstain on the resolution |
16,852,822 |
18,267,754 |
|
¨ may vote at the proxy's discretion |
149,952,026 |
9,560,284 |
| 11. To elect Dr J G Buchanan as a Director of BHP Billiton Limited | ||
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed |
1,699,918,362 |
1,584,667,026 |
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy - |
||
|
¨ was to vote for the resolution |
1,508,864,993 |
1,472,181,357 |
|
¨ was to vote against the resolution |
30,701,165 |
93,476,214 |
|
¨ was to abstain on the resolution |
10,810,382 |
9,447,525 |
|
¨ may vote at the proxy's discretion |
149,541,822 |
9,561,930 |
| 12. To elect Dr J G Buchanan as a Director of BHP Billiton Plc | ||
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed |
1,699,952,840 |
1,584,667,026 |
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy - |
|
|
|
¨ was to vote for the resolution |
1,500,495,451 |
1,472,183,273 |
|
¨ was to vote against the resolution |
30,536,062 |
93,478,842 |
|
¨ was to abstain on the resolution |
18,556,257 |
9,447,025 |
|
¨ may vote at the proxy's discretion |
150,365,070 |
9,557,886 |
|
|
||
| 13. To re-appont the auditors of BHP Billiton Plc | ||
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed |
1,698,205,125 |
1,584,665,945 |
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy - |
||
|
¨ was to vote for the resolution |
1,523,308,248 |
1,544,946,192 |
|
¨ was to vote against the resolution |
9,934,325 |
9,061,839 |
|
¨ was to abstain on the resolution |
16,036,622 |
21,093,843 |
|
¨ may vote at the proxy's discretion |
148,925,930 |
9,564,071 |
| 14. To renew the Directors' authority to allot shares in BHP Billiton Plc | ||
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed |
1,697,827,445 |
1,584,667,026 |
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy - |
||
|
¨ was to vote for the resolution |
1,480,828,156 |
1,424,825,605 |
|
¨ was to vote against the resolution |
47,846,954 |
147,898,999 |
|
¨ was to abstain on the resolution |
19,310,480 |
2,381,012 |
|
¨ may vote at the proxy's discretion |
149,841,855 |
9,561,410 |
| 15. To renew the disapplication of pre-emption rights in BHP Billiton plc | ||
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed |
1,699,609,238 |
1,583,667,026 |
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy - |
||
|
¨ was to vote for the resolution |
1,485,396,005 |
1,566,361,138 |
|
¨ was to vote against the resolution |
43,656,111 |
5,368,215 |
|
¨ was to abstain on the resolution |
20,018,755 |
2,376,552 |
|
¨ may vote at the proxy's discretion |
150,538,367 |
9,561,121 |
|
|
||
| 16. To authorise BHP Billiton Plc to make market purchases of is own shares | ||
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed |
1,705,526,003 |
1,584,666,760 |
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy - |
||
|
¨ was to vote for the resolution |
1,468,247,526 |
1,573,147,652 |
|
¨ was to vote against the resolution |
68,278,010 |
652,227 |
|
¨ was to abstain on the resolution |
18,554,171 |
1,305,374 |
|
¨ may vote at the proxy's discretion |
150,446,296 |
9,561,507 |
| 17. To approve the Remuneration Report | ||
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed |
1,697,875,617 |
1,584,667,026 |
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy - |
||
|
¨ was to vote for the resolution |
1,495,883,341 |
1,515,373,289 |
|
¨ was to vote against the resolution |
31,064,578 |
31,141,091 |
|
¨ was to abstain on the resolution |
22,189,889 |
28,581,880 |
|
¨ may vote at the proxy's discretion |
148,737,809 |
9,570,766 |
| 18. To approve the issue of awards to Mr C W Goodyear under BHP Billiton Limited's Group Incentive Scheme | ||
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed |
1,727,874,074 |
1,582,919,985 |
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy - |
||
|
¨ was to vote for the resolution |
1,469,161,214 |
1,533,204,140 |
|
¨ was to vote against the resolution |
69,660,357 |
13,713,663 |
|
¨ was to abstain on the resolution |
13,435,259 |
26,430,367 |
|
¨ may vote at the proxy's discretion |
175,617,244 |
9,571,815 |
|
|
||
| 19. To approve the issue of awards to Mr M Salamon under BHP Billiton Plc's Group Incentive Scheme | ||
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed |
1,694,908,043 |
1,584,667,028 |
|
Þ Total number of proxy votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy - |
||
|
¨ was to vote for the resolution |
1,456,327,639 |
1,534,952,409 |
|
¨ was to vote against the resolution |
71,062,696 |
13,715,919 |
|
¨ was to abstain on the resolution |
21,167,823 |
26,430,825 |
|
¨ may vote at the proxy's discretion |
146,349,885 |
9,567,875 |
|
BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077 Registered Office: Level 27, 180 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 Telephone +61 1300 554 757 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
PlcKaren Wood
Title: Company Secretary
Date: