MELBOURNE--Investor confidence in BHP Billiton (BHP BBL) Chief Executive Marius Kloppers has declined throughout his five-year tenure and is now a bit below average, The Australian Financial Review reported Wednesday, citing first-hand accounts of a Corporate Confidence Index. The newspaper said the Anglo-Australian company's board is aware of the results of the index, which is compiled based on interviews with analysts and fund managers. Antonios Papaspiropoulos, a spokesman for BHP in Melbourne, declined to comment on the confidential index. Mr. Papaspiropoulos told Dow Jones Newswires the company welcomes feedback from investors and incorporates their views into corporate thinking. "We also have a very active investor engagement program, that includes regular discussions with investors across multiple jurisdictions, including by face-to-face meetings, broader investor briefings, investor conference presentations. Every member of our group management committee interacts with investors regularly," he said. Ross Carmichael Singer, which conducted the surveys, declined to comment. According to its website, its Corporate Confidence Index reports are tailored for each client company according to its requirements. Newspaper website: http://www.afr.com Write to Melbourne bureau at djnews.sydney@dowjones.com Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires
