BHP raises $US5 billion in bonds BHP Billiton has raised $US5 billion ($A5.37 billion) on global bond markets. The maturities of the funds ranged from three to 30 years. The longest dated bonds were $US2.5 billion in securities with 30-year maturities and a 5.0 per cent coupon rate. The other $US2.5 billion have maturity dates of between three and 10 years. The last time BHP, the world's largest mining company, issued a major US dollar bond raising was in February 12 in a $US5.25 billion sale. BHP's debt rose to a record level above $US30 billion this year and the company has told investors it wants to get that below $US25 billion, with selling mines one way of doing so.