__________________________________________________________________________________

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 16 February 2004

BHP Billiton Limited

ABN 49 004 028 077

180 Lonsdale Street

Melbourne Victoria 3000

Australia

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):


For the information of the local market, please find following notification of major interests in shares filed by BHP Billiton Plc with the London Stock Exchange.


SCHEDULE 10

NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES

All relevant boxes should be completed in block capital letters.

1.

Name of company

BHP BILLITON PLC

2.

Name of shareholder having a major interest

THE CAPITAL GROUP COMPANIES, INC.

3.

Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of holding of the shareholder named in 2 above or in respect of a non-beneficial interest or in the case of an individual holder if it is a holding of that person's spouse or children under the age of 18

NOTIFICATION BY THE CAPITAL GROUP COMPANIES, INC. ON BEHALF OF ITS AFFILIATES

4.

Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the number of shares held by each of them

 

SEE SCHEDULE B ANNEXED HERETO

5.

Number of shares/amount of stock acquired

26,361,569

6.

Percentage of issued class

1.068%

7.

Number of shares/amount of stock disposed

 

8.

Percentage of issued class

 

 

 

 

9.

Class of security

 

ORDINARY US$0.50

 

10.

Date of transaction

 

11 FEBRUARY 2004

11.

Date company informed

 

13 FEBRUARY 2004

12.

Total holding following this notification


199,804,042

13.

Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

8.095%

 

14.

Any additional information

ANNOUNCEMENT TRIGGERED BY AFFILIATES ATTAINING AN INCREASED INTEREST (SEE SCHEDULE A ANNEXED HERETO)

 

 

15.

Name of contact and telephone number for queries

INES WATSON +44 (0)20 7802 4176

 

 

16.

Name and signature of authorised company official

responsible for making this notification

 

INeS WATSON, ASSISTANT SECRETARY, BHP BILLITON PLC

Date of notification 16 FEBRUARY 2004

Company Announcements Office, Old Broad Street, London EC2N 1HP

 

Schedule of holdings in BHP Billiton Plc as of 11 February 2004

 

BHP Billiton Plc

Schedule A

                                                                                                            Number of     Percent of

                                                                                                            Shares          Outstanding

The Capital Group Companies, Inc. ("CG") holdings                            199,804             8.095%

Holdings by CG Management Companies and Funds:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule of holdings in BHP Billiton Plc as of 11 February 2004

BHP Billiton plc

Schedule B

 

Capital Guardian Trust Company

 

Capital Guardian Trust Company

Registered Name                                                                                                       Local Shares

Bank of New York Nominees

2,053,369

Bank of New York

3 Birchin Lane

London EC3V 9BY

UK

Bankers Trust

2,812,682

59 1/2 Southmark Street

2nd Floor

London SEI 0HH

UK

Barclays Bank

1,803,968

Barclays Global Securities Services

8 Angel Court

London EC2R 7HT

UK

BT Globenet Nominees Ltd.

795,085

1 Appold Street

Broadgate

London EC2A 2HE

UK

Chase Nominees Limited

36,868,033

Woolgate House

Coleman Street

London EC2P 2HD

UK

Citibank London

39,502

11 Old Jewry

London EC2R 8D8

UK

 

 

HSBC Bank plc

34,872

Securities Services, Mariner House

Pepys Street

London EC3N 4DA

Investors Bank & Trust Co

629,100

Mellon Bank N.A.

280,400

London Branch

London

United Kingdom

Mellon Nominees (UK) Limited

2,734,911

150 Buchanan Street

Glasgow G1 2DY

United Kingdom

Midland Bank plc

12,521,818

5 Laurence

Poutney Hill

EC4R 0E, United Kingdom

 

MSS Nominees Limited

43,610

Midland Bank plc

Mariner House, Pepys

London EC3N 4DA

Nortrust Nominees Limited

9,673,313

155 Bishopsgate

London EC2M 3XS

UK

 

 

Royal Bank of Scotland

123,105

Regents House, 42 Islington High Street

London N1 8XL

UK

 

ROY Nominees Limited

65,996

71N Queen Victoria Street

London Ec4V 4DE

UK

State Street Bank & Trust Co

133,957

State Street Nominees Limited

12,471,753

Canary Wharf

27th Floor, 1 Canada Square

London E14 5AF

Total

83,085,474

 

Schedule of holdings in BHP Billiton Plc as of 11 February 2004

 

Capital International Limited

Registered Name                                                                                                      Local Shares

Bank of New York Nominees

13,440,962

Bank of New York

3 Birchin Lane

London EC3V 9BY

Barclays Bank

820,336

Barclays Global Securities Services

8 Angel Court

London EC2R 7HT

Bankers Trust

709,263

59 1/2 Southwark Street

2nd Floor

London SE1 0HH

Bank One London

982,973

Clydesdale Bank plc

568,615

Deutsche Bank AG

826,920

Great Winchester Street

London EC2P 2AX

UK

Chase Nominees Limited

10,748,267

Woolgate House

Coleman Street

London EC2P 2HD

 

Citibank London

1,330,800

11 Old Jewry

London EC2R 8D8

UK

HSBC Bank plc

1,157,317

Securities Services, Mariner House

Pepys Street

London EC3N 4DA

JP Morgan Chase Bank

268,900

Lloyds Bank

171,712

Central Settlement Section

Branches Stock Office

34 Threadneedle Street

London

Mellon Bank N.A.

1,008,439

London Branch

London

UK

Mellon Nominees (UK) Limited

898,969

150 Buchanan Street

Glasgow G1 2DY

UK

Midland Bank plc

117,059

5 Laurence

Poutney Hill

EC4R 0E

UK

Morgan Guaranty

239,032

83 Pall Mall

London SW1Y 5ES

UK

 

MSS Nominees Limited

242,700

Midland Bank plc

Mariner House, Pepys

London EC3N 4DA

Northern Trust

2,637,947

c/o NorTrust Nominees Limited

155 Bishopsgate

London EC2M3XS

Northern Trust AVFC

485,932

South Africa

Nortrust Nominees

7,326,724

155 Bishopsgate

London ECM 3XS

UK

Royal Bank of Scotland

15,600

Regents House, 42 Islington High St

London N1 8XL

UK

State Street Australia Limited

27,300

Australia

State Street Bank & Trust Co

7,179,987

State Street Nominees Limited

1,020,289

Canary Wharf

27th Floor, 1 Canada Square

London E14 5AF

Total

52,226,043

 

Schedule of holdings in BHP Billiton Plc as of 11 February 2004

 

Capital International S.A.

Registered Name                                                                                                        Local Shares

Bank of New York Nominees

694,712

Bank of New York

3 Birchin Lane

London EC3V 9BY

Barclays Bank

2,055,947

Barclays Global Securities Services

8 Angel Court

London EC2R 7HT

Brown Bros

162,046

One Mellon Bank Center

Pittsburg, PA 15258

Chase Nominees Limited

6,058,395

Woolgate House

Coleman Street

London EC2P 2HD

Citibank London

135,524

11 Old Jewry

London EC2R 8D8

UK

Citibank NA

59,333

Toronto

Credit Suisse London Branch

147,555

24 Bishopsgate

London EC2N 4BQ

UK

 

 

 

Deutsche Bank AG

1,391,949

23 Great Winchester Street

London EC2P 2AX

UK

HSBC Bank plc

979,206

Securities Services, Mariner House

Pepys Street

London EC3N 4DA

JP Morgan

8,722,782

Lloyds Bank

28,300

Central Settlement Section

Branches Stock Office

34 Threadneedle Street

London

Midland Bank plc

1,481,611

5 Laurence

Poutney Hill

EC4R 0E

UK

Morgan Stanley

172,205

MSS Nominees Limited

170,700

Midland Bank plc

Mariner House, Pepys

London EC3N 4DA

National Westminster Bank

615,922

 

Nortrust Nominees Limited

178,786

155 Bishopsgate

London EC2M3XS

Pictet & Cie

89,000

Geneva

Royal Bank of Scotland

5,506,090

Regents House, 42 Islington High St

London N1 8XL

UK

RBSTB Nominees Ltd

273,085

67 Lombard Street

London EC3 3DL

UK

State Street Bank & Trust Co

140,481

State Street Nominees Limited

67,600

Canary Wharf

27th Floor, 1 Canada Square

London E14 5AF

Total

29,131,229

 

Schedule of holdings in BHP Billiton Plc as of 11 February 2004

 

Capital International, Inc.

Registered Name                                                                                                       Local Shares

Bank of New York Nominees

876,038

Bank of New York

3 Birchin Lane

London EC3V 9BY

Bankers Trust

32,991

59 1/2 Southwark Street

2nd Floor

London SE1 0HH

Chase Nominees Limited

3,682,128

Woolgate House

Coleman Street

London EC2P 2HD

Citibank London

115,752

11 Old Jewry

London EC2R 8D8

UK

Citibank NA

358,917

Toronto

Deutsche Bank AG

35,869

23 Great Winchester Street

London EC2P 2AX

UK

Deutsche Bank Mannheim

160,788

 

HSBC Bank plc

529,451

Securities Services, Mariner House

Pepys Street

London EC3N 4DA

Midland Bank plc

517,714

5 Laurence

Poutney Hill

EC4R 0E

UK

Northern Trust

119,789

C/o NorTrust Nominees Limited

155 Bishopsgate

London EC2M 3XS

Nortrust Nominees Limited

312,198

155 Bishopsgate

London EC2M3XS

Royal Bank of Scotland

464,169

Regents House, 42 Islington High St

London N1 8XL

UK

RBSTB Nominees Ltd

95,995

67 Lombard Street

London EC3 3DL

UK

State Street Bank & Trust Co

496,588

State Street Nominees Limited

5,391,882

Canary Wharf

27th Floor, 1 Canada Square

London E14 5AF

Total

13,190,269

 

Schedule of holdings in BHP Billiton Plc as of 11 February 2004

 

Capital Research and Management Company

Registered Name                                                                                                        Local Shares

Chase Nominees Limited

20,671,027

Woolgate House

Coleman Street

London EC2P 2HD

State Street Nominees Limited

1,500,000

Canary Wharf

27th Floor, 1 Canada Square

London E14 5AF

Total

22,171,027

 

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
/s/ KAREN WOOD
_____________________

Karen Wood
Title: Company Secretary
Date:
16 February 2004