BHP Group Limited — Capital/Financing Update 2009

Dec 7, 2009

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ASX Release 8 December 2009 ASX Code: UMC

CANCELLATION OF NON‐RENOUNCEABLE RIGHTS ISSUE

We refer to the prospectus issued by United Minerals Corporation NL ("UMC") on 10 September 2009 for the pro‐rata non‐renounceable rights issue of up to 15,511,233 New Options on the basis of one (1) New Option for every ten (10) Shares held (“Rights Issue”).

The directors of UMC have decided not to proceed with the Rights Issue and will return all subscription monies by cheques to applicants as soon as practicable, without interest.

On 16 October 2009, UMC announced that it had received a conditional offer, under which a subsidiary of BHP Billiton Limited (“BHP Billiton”) proposes to acquire all of the issued shares in UMC via a board recommended scheme of arrangement (“Scheme”). Under the proposed Scheme, BHP Billiton will offer UMC shareholders consideration of $1.30 cash for each UMC share they own, which values UMC at approximately $204 million.

It was a condition of BHP Billiton’s offer that the Rights Issue not proceed. This condition of the BHP Billiton offer has now been satisfied.

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Patrick Tan Company Secretary