3 May 2002 Number: 28/02 BHP BILLITON ANNOUNCES EXTERNAL AUDITORS At the time of the merger, BHP Billiton announced it would put its external audit to tender and would confine the tendering parties to those of its current auditors - KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers (previously joint auditors for Billiton) and Andersen (previously BHP's auditor). The Board today announced the appointment of KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers as joint auditors from the commencement of the 2003 financial year. The Risk Management & Audit Committee of the Company will work with all three existing auditors to ensure a smooth transition from Andersen. Membership of that Committee will, along with all other Committees of the Board, be reconstituted following the re-structure of the Board that was announced yesterday. Details of Committee membership will be announced at a later time. In announcing the appointment of the auditors the Board reiterated current company policy relating to the performance of non-audit work by the statutory audit firms. The policy was implemented in 2001. Non-audit work is prohibited where independence may be compromised or conflicts arise. The Board expressed its appreciation to Andersen for that firm's commitment and service to BHP and its shareholders over more than 60 years. Further information can be found on our Internet site: http://www.bhpbilliton.com Australia Dr Robert Porter, Investor Relations Tel: +61 3 9609 3540 Mobile: +61 419 587 456 mailto:Robert.Porter@bhpbilliton.com Mandy Frostick, Media Relations Tel: +61 3 9609 4157 Mobile: +61 419 546 245 mailto:Mandy.J.Frostick@bhpbilliton.com United States Francis McAllister, Investor Relations Tel: +1 713 961 8625 Mobile: +1 713 480 3699 mailto:Francis.R.McAllister@bhpbilliton.com United Kingdom/South Africa Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media Relations Tel: +44 20 7747 3956 mailto:Mark.T.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com Ariane Gentil, Manager Communications Tel: +44 20 7747 3977 Mobile: +44 7881 518 715 mailto:Ariane.Gentil@bhpbilliton.com 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: 1-3 Strand London WC2N 5HA United Kingdom Telephone +44 20 7747 3800 Facsimile +44 20 7747 3900 A member of the BHP Billiton group which is headquartered in Australia