Issued by: BHP Billiton Plc

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 22 April 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):

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
New Zealand Stock Exchange
Johannesburg Stock Exchange
Deutsche Bank

 

Date: 22 April 2004

For Release: Immediately

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

Notification of Major Interests in Shares

 

The following notification was received on 25 February 2004 by BHP Billiton Plc in a letter from Franklin Resources, Inc, dated 24 February 2004, relating to major interests in shares of BHP Billiton Plc as at 24 February 2004:

"S.198 Companies Act - Disclosure of Share Interests

We are acting on behalf of Franklin Resources, Inc. and its affiliates, which includes Franklin Mutual Advisers, LLC and Templeton Worldwide, Inc. and its affiliates. Franklin Resources, Inc. and its affiliates perform investment management and advisory services for clients on a global basis.

We wish to advise you of interests in the share capital of your Company under management of Franklin Resources, Inc. and its affiliates on behalf of clients, as detailed in the attached schedule."

SCHEDULE

BHP BILLITON PLC

Outstanding Shares

2,468,147,002

Registered Holder

No. of Shares

% of Class

Chase Nominees Ltd

Woolgate House

54,213,610

2.1965%

Coleman Street

London

EC2P 2HD

Bank of New York (BONY)

3 Birchin Lane

611,137

0.0248%

LONDON

EC3V 9BY

Northern Trust Co.

155 Bishopgate

2,788,806

0.1130%

LONDON EC2M 3XS

Citibank

LONDON

838,203

0.0340%

State Street Bank & Trust Co.

London

8,926,360

0.3617%

Royal Trust Corp of Canada

London

1,012,116

0.0410%

Mellon Bank

LONDON

5,402,109

0.2189%

HSBC LONDON

21,515

0.0009%

TOTAL

73,813,856

2.9907%

 

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

 

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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: 22 April 2004