We have a progressive dividend policy that seeks to steadily increase, or at least maintain the dividend in US dollars at each half-yearly payment.
Our dividend declaration dates coincide with the announcements of our interim and full year results.
On 8 February 2012, BHP Billiton declared an interim dividend of 55 US cents per share.
The proposed datesi for the 2012 Interim Dividend of BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc are as follows:
2012 Interim Dividend
| Half Yearly Results Announcement and Dividend Declaration |
8 February 2012 |
| Last day to trade on JSE Limited and currency conversion into RAND |
24 February 2012 |
| Ex-Dividend Date (Australian & Johannesburg stock exchanges) |
27 February 2012 |
| Ex-Dividend Date (London & New York stock exchanges ii) |
29 February 2012 |
| Record Date (including currency conversion and currency election, except for Rand) |
2 March 2012 |
| Payment Date |
22 March 2012 |
The exchange rates applicable to the dividend being paid in currencies other than Rand will be based on the foreign currency exchange rates on the Record Date and announced to the market on 5 March 2012.
Currency exchange rate for the dividend payable to shareholders on the BHP Billiton Plc South African branch register, calculated on 24 February 2012: 7.617500 (dividend per ordinary share in local currency – 418.962500 South African cents per share).
Please note that BHP Billiton Plc shareholders registered on the South African section of the register will not be able to dematerialise or rematerialise their shareholdings between the dates of 27 February and 2 March 2012 (both dates inclusive), nor will transfers between the UK register and the South African register be permitted, between the dates of 24 February and 2 March 2012 (both dates inclusive).
i Dates are subject to change.
ii BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc shares are listed on the NYSE in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs).
Summary of previous dividends
Limited: Summary of previous dividends (PDF 143kb)
Plc: Summary of previous dividends (PDF 56kb)
