Issued by:
 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 6-K

 REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

March 10, 2006

BHP Billiton Limited
-----------------------------------
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
 
180 Lonsdale Street Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia
-----------------------------------
(Address of principal executive office)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:  [x] Form 20-F   [  ] Form 40-F
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):  [ ]
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):  [ ]
 
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    [x] No
 
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):    n/a 
 

Issued by: BHP Billiton Plc

To:
Company Announcements Office
The London Stock Exchange

Company Announcements Office
The Australian Stock Exchange

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

Date: 10 March 2006

For Release: Immediately

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

 

Notification of Major Interests in Shares

 

The following notification was received on 9 March 2006 by BHP Billiton Plc in a letter from HSBC Bank plc, dated 3 March 2006, relating to major interests in shares of BHP Billiton Plc as at 1 March 2006:

"Part VI Companies Act 1985 ("the Act")

We hereby notify you in accordance with Part VI Companies Act 1985 ("the Act") that HSBC Bank plc, as at close of business on 1 March 2006, was interested in 79,642,055 ordinary shares of BHP Billiton plc ("the Shares").

The interests are as follows:

  • HSBC Bank plc was interested in 78,668,422 shares, of which 682,413 shares were an interest of a kind described in section 208(5) of the Act by virtue of the right to redelivery of equivalent securities under stock lending arrangements.
  • HSBC Financial Products (France) SNC was interested in 973,633 shares, of which 620,000 of these shares were an interest of a kind described in section 208(5) of the Act by virtue of the right to redelivery of equivalent securities under stock lending arrangements. HSBC Bank plc is also deemed to be interested in these shares by virtue of section 203 of the Act, being an interest of a subsidiary company.

The schedule hereto details, where known, the names of the registered holders of these shares.

HSBC Holdings plc as HSBC Bank plc's parent company was also interested, by virtue of section 203 of the Act, in all of the above mentioned shares.

Details of Registered Holders

Firm name: BHP Billiton Plc

Date: 1 March 2006

Registered Holder and shares held

James Capel (Nominees) Limited a/c COL   78,606,009

HSBC Financial Products (France) SNC            353,633

Unknown                                                         682,413

Total                                                         79,642,055"

 

BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077
Registered in Australia
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 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

 

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
     
Date: 10 March 2006 By:

Karen Wood
  Name:  Karen Wood
  Title: Company Secretary