core sector communique

BHP Billiton

Petrohawk Energy Corporation Announces Expiration of its Offer to Purchase For Cash its 10.5% Senior Notes Due 2014 and 7.875% Senior Notes Due 2015

November 16, 2011 Petrohawk Energy Corporation today announced the expiration of its offer to purchase for cash all or any part of its outstanding US$600 million aggregate principal amount of 10.5 per cent Senior Notes due 2014 and US$800 million aggregate principal amount of 7.875 per cent Senior Notes due 2015 . The Offer expired at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on 9 November, 2011.An aggregate principal amount of US$10,360,000 of the 2014 Notes and US$389,000 of the 2015 Notes were tendered for purchase in the Offer. Accordingly, on 15 November, 2011, the Settlement Date of the Offer, the Company will repurchase the Notes tendered in the Offer and an aggregate principal amount of US$589,640,000 of the 2014 Notes and US$799,611,000 of the 2015 Notes will remain outstanding.Petrohawk Energy Corporation, an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of BHP Billiton Limited, is an oil and natural gas company engaged in the exploration, development and production of predominately natural gas properties located in the United States.