__________________________________________________________________________________

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 21 October 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" 

Ines Watson - Assistant Secretary
Tel + 44 (0)20 7802 4176

 

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

6.

Percentage of issued class


 

7.

Number of shares/amount of stock disposed

27,469,624

8.

Percentage of issued class

1.113%

 

9.

Class of security

 

ORDINARY US$0.50

 

10.

Date of transaction

 

15 OCTOBER 2004

11.

Date company informed

 

19 OCTOBER 2004

12.

Total holding following this notification


144,748,094

13.

Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

5.865%

 

14.

Any additional information

ANNOUNCEMENT TRIGGERED BY AFFILIATES DECREASING THEIR 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 20 OCTOBER 2004

 

Schedule of holdings in BHP Billiton Plc as of 15 October 2004

 

 

BHP Billiton Plc

Schedule A

 

                                                                                                   Number of        Percent of

                                                                                                       Shares            Outstanding

The Capital Group Companies, Inc. ("CG") holdings                    144,748,094            5.865%

Holdings by CG Management Companies and Funds:

 

 

 

Schedule of holdings in BHP Billiton Plc as of 15 October 2004

BHP Billiton Plc

Schedule B

 

Capital Guardian Trust Company

Registered Name                                                                                                       Local Shares

Bank of New York Nominees

1,297,778

Bank of New York

3 Birchin Lane

London EC3V 9BY

UK

Bankers Trust

1,244,307

59 1/2 Southmark Street

2nd Floor

London SEI 0HH

UK

Barclays Bank

376,859

Barclays Global Securities Services

8 Angel Court

London EC2R 7HT

UK

BT Globenet Nominees Ltd.

350,085

1 Appold Street

Broadgate

London EC2A 2HE

UK

Chase Nominees Limited

19,373,604

Woolgate House

Coleman Street

London EC2P 2HD

UK

Citibank

35,300

Citibank London

23,502

11 Old Jewry

London EC2R 8D8

UK

Registered Name                                                                                                       Local Shares

HSBC Bank plc

27,772

Securities Services, Mariner House

Pepys Street

London EC3N 4DA

JP Morgan Chase Bank

622,000

Mellon Bank N.A.

157,100

London Branch

London

United Kingdom

Mellon Nominees (UK) Limited

2,171,300

150 Buchanan Street

Glasgow G1 2DY

United Kingdom

Midland Bank plc

7,168,294

5 Laurence

Poutney Hill

EC4R 0E, United Kingdom

MSS Nominees Limited

16,310

Midland Bank plc

Mariner House, Pepys

London EC3N 4DA

Nortrust Nominees Limited

5,641,687

155 Bishopsgate

London EC2M 3XS

UK

 

Registered Name                                                                                                       Local Shares

Northern Trust

257,698

c/o NorTrust Nominees Limited

155 Bishopsgate

London EC2M 3XS

UK

Royal Trust

31,600

Royal Bank of Scotland

88,405

Regents House, 42 Islington High Street

London N1 8XL

UK

 

ROY Nominees Limited

32,596

71N Queen Victoria Street

London Ec4V 4DE

UK

State Street Bank & Trust Co

110,738

State Street Nominees Limited

6,046,641

Canary Wharf

27th Floor, 1 Canada Square

London E14 5AF

 

Total

 

45,073,576

 

Schedule of holdings in BHP Billiton Plc as of 15 October 2004

 

Capital International Limited

Registered Name                                                                                                       Local Shares

Bank of New York Nominees

12,476,587

Bank of New York

3 Birchin Lane

London EC3V 9BY

Bank One London

542,673

Barclays Bank

721,236

Barclays Global Securities Services

8 Angel Court

London EC2R 7HT

Bankers Trust

386,263

59 1/2 Southwark Street

2nd Floor

London SE1 0HH

Chase Nominees Limited

7,673,772

Woolgate House

Coleman Street

London EC2P 2HD

Citibank London

794,406

11 Old Jewry

London EC2R 8D8

UK

Citibank NA

253,894

Toronto

Clydesdale Bank plc

567,780

Registered Name                                                                                                       Local Shares

Deutsche Bank AG

1,688,279

23 Great Winchester Street

London EC2P 2AX

UK

HSBC Bank plc

1,106,617

Securities Services, Mariner House

Pepys Street

London EC3N 4DA

JP Morgan Chase Bank

444,900

KAS UK

257,800

Kass Associate

P O Box 178

1000 AD Amsterdam

Lloyds Bank

141,712

Central Settlement Section

Branches Stock Office

34 Threadneedle Street

London

Mellon Bank N.A.

704,239

London Branch

London

UK

Mellon Nominees (UK) Limited

724,769

150 Buchanan Street

Glasgow G1 2DY

UK

Midland Bank plc

313,159

5 Laurence

Poutney Hill

EC4R 0E

UK

 

Registered Name                                                                                                       Local Shares

Morgan Guaranty

239,032

83 Pall Mall

London SW1Y 5ES

UK

MSS Nominees Limited

380,400

Midland Bank plc

Mariner House, Pepys

London EC3N 4DA

National Westminster Bank

476,122

Northern Trust AVFC

388,632

South Africa

Northern Trust

2,466,947

c/o NorTrust Nominees Limited

155 Bishopsgate

London EC2M3XS

Nortrust Nominees

6,315,237

155 Bishopsgate

London ECM 3XS

UK

Royal Bank of Scotland

3,738,469

Regents House, 42 Islington High St

London N1 8XL

UK

State Street Australia Limited

27,300

Australia

 

 

 

Registered Name                                                                                                       Local Shares

State Street Bank & Trust Co

4,541,487

State Street Nominees Limited

1,427,727

Canary Wharf

27th Floor, 1 Canada Square

London E14 5AF

 

Total

 

48,799,439

 

Schedule of holdings in BHP Billiton Plc as of 15 October 2004

 

Capital International S.A.

Registered Name                                                                                                       Local Shares

Barclays Bank

1,515,247

Barclays Global Securities Services

8 Angel Court

London EC2R 7HT

Bank of New York Nominees

19,700

Bank of New York

3 Birchin Lane

London EC3V 9BY

 

 

Brown Bros

169,046

One Mellon Bank Center

Pittsburg, PA 15258

Chase Nominees Limited

2,867,295

Woolgate House

Coleman Street

London EC2P 2HD

Citibank London

91,124

11 Old Jewry

London EC2R 8D8

UK

Citibank NA

66,633

Toronto

Credit Suisse London Branch

112,155

24 Bishopsgate

London EC2N 4BQ

UK

 

 

Registered Name                                                                                                       Local Shares

Deutsche Bank AG

524,409

23 Great Winchester Street

London EC2P 2AX

UK

HSBC Bank plc

755,657

Securities Services, Mariner House

Pepys Street

London EC3N 4DA

JP Morgan

7,810,796

Lloyds Bank

18,400

Central Settlement Section

Branches Stock Office

34 Threadneedle Street

London

 

Midland Bank plc

1,816,911

5 Laurence Poutney Hill

EC4R 0E

United Kingdom

Morgan Stanley

111,205

National Westminster Bank

123,900

Nortrust Nominees Limited

82,386

155 Bishopsgate

London EC2M3XS

 

Registered Name                                                                                                       Local Shares

Pictet & Cie

96,600

Geneva

RBSTB Nominees Ltd

286,700

67 Lombard Street

London EC3 3DL

UK

Royal Bank of Scotland

200,906

Regents House, 42 Islington High St

London N1 8XL

UK

State Street Bank & Trust Co

98,581

State Street Nominees Limited

47,700

Canary Wharf

27th Floor, 1 Canada Square

London E14 5AF

 

Total

 

16,815,351

 

Schedule of holdings in BHP Billiton Plc as of 15 October 2004

 

Capital International, Inc.

Registered Name                                                                                                       Local Shares

Bank of New York Nominees

803,848

Bank of New York

3 Birchin Lane

London EC3V 9BY

Bankers Trust

22,991

59 1/2 Southwark Street

2nd Floor

London SE1 0HH

Brown Bros

418,302

One Mellon Bank Center

Pittsburgh, PA 15258

Chase Nominees Limited

3,099,310

Woolgate House

Coleman Street

London EC2P 2HD

Citibank

32,147

Citibank London

79,205

11 Old Jewry

London EC2R 8D8

UK

Citibank NA

391,544

Toronto

 

Registered Name                                                                                                       Local Shares

HSBC Bank plc

236,500

Securities Services, Mariner House

Pepys Street

London EC3N 4DA

JP Morgan Chase Bank

740,000

Midland Bank plc

388,814

5 Laurence

Poutney Hill

EC4R 0E

UK

Northern Trust

49,889

C/o NorTrust Nominees Limited

155 Bishopsgate

London EC2M 3XS

Nortrust Nominees Limited

370,498

155 Bishopsgate

London EC2M3XS

Royal Bank of Scotland

342,969

Regents House, 42 Islington High St

London N1 8XL

UK

RBSTB Nominees Ltd

71,795

67 Lombard Street

London EC3 3DL

UK

State Street Bank & Trust Co

470,488

 

Registered Name                                                                                                       Local Shares

State Street Nominees Limited

Canary Wharf

27th Floor, 1 Canada Square

London E14 5AF

4,370,401

 

Total

 

11,888,701

 

Schedule of holdings in BHP Billiton Plc as of 15 October 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:
21 October 2004