18 Dec 2019 07:00
Shell introduces option to receive dividend in US dollars and moves to full electronic settlement of its dividends
Royal Dutch Shell plc (“Shell”) today announces that it will introduce the option for shareholders to receive Shell’s dividends in US dollars with effect from the fourth quarter 2019 interim dividend. Furthermore, Shell will settle its dividend with its shareholders fully electronically either in CREST or via interbank transfers.
Introduction of US dollar as additional currency electionFrom the fourth quarter 2019 interim dividend, shareholders can elect to receive their dividend in US dollar.
Shareholders are reminded that dividends on A and B shares will be paid in euro and pound sterling respectively, unless shareholders elect to receive an alternative currency. With the addition of US dollar, shareholders of A and B shares will be able to receive their dividends in euro, pound sterling and or US dollar. Dividends on American Depository Shares continue to be paid in USD.
Full electronic settlement of dividendsFrom the fourth quarter 2019 interim dividend payment, shareholders that hold their shares in dematerialised form, will receive their dividends primarily in CREST. These shareholders will need to ensure that Euroclear UK and Ireland has set their dividend mandate flag accordingly. Furthermore, in order to receive dividends across the three available currencies, euro, pounds sterling and US dollars, these shareholders should provide CREST Memorandum Accounts for each of these three currencies.
Alternatively, shareholders who do not opt to receive dividends in CREST, should provide their euro, pounds sterling and US dollars bank account details to Shell’s Registrar, Equiniti Limited. Shell’s Registrar, Equiniti Limited, will shortly approach all shareholders holding their shares in dematerialised form in CREST with further detail.
From the first quarter 2020 interim dividend, shareholders that hold their shares in certificated form and all participants in Shell’s Corporate Sponsored Nominee (“CSN”) will receive their dividends fully electronically. Certificate holders and CSN participants that have not yet provided their bank account details, will shortly receive a letter with further detail, alongside their third quarter 2019 interim dividend cheques.
Shareholders timely taking the suggested actions is critical to receive one’s dividends going forward. Therefore, any shareholder or CSN participant that has not received communication from Shell’s Registrar, Equiniti Limited, by December 20, 2019, is requested to contact Equiniti Limited itself via the following phone numbers:
0800 169 1679 (UK only)+ 44 121 415 7073 (Rest of world)Investors holding their Shell shares via a bank, custodian, broker or nominee do not have to take any action to continue to receive their dividends. If these investors are interested in receiving their fourth quarter 2019 interim dividend and future dividends in USD, they should approach their bank, custodian, broker or nominee.
More information on Shell’s dividend can be found at: https://www.shell.com/investors/dividend-information
More information on Shell’s Registrar and CSN can be found at: https://www.shell.com/investors/retail-shareholder-information/managing-your-shares.html
Royal Dutch Shell plcThe Hague, December 18, 2019
Contacts:
Investor RelationsEurope: + 31 (0) 70 377 4540North America: +1 832 337 2034
MediaInternational: +44 (0) 207 934 5550Americas: +1 832 337 4355
Cautionary noteThe companies in which Royal Dutch Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this announcement “Shell”, “Shell group” and “Royal Dutch Shell” are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. ‘‘Subsidiaries’’, “Shell subsidiaries” and “Shell companies” as used in this announcement refer to entities over which Royal Dutch Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. Entities and unincorporated arrangements over which Shell has joint control are generally referred to as “joint ventures” and “joint operations”, respectively. Entities over which Shell has significant influence but neither control nor joint control are referred to as “associates”. The term “Shell interest” is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest.
This announcement contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Royal Dutch Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Royal Dutch Shell to market risks and statements expressing management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “aim”, “ambition’, ‘‘anticipate’’, ‘‘believe’’, ‘‘could’’, ‘‘estimate’’, ‘‘expect’’, ‘‘goals’’, ‘‘intend’’, ‘‘may’’, ‘‘objectives’’, ‘‘outlook’’, ‘‘plan’’, ‘‘probably’’, ‘‘project’’, ‘‘risks’’, “schedule”, ‘‘seek’’, ‘‘should’’, ‘‘target’’, ‘‘will’’ and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Royal Dutch Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this announcement, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell’s products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; and (m) changes in trading conditions. No assurance is provided that future dividend payments will match or exceed previous dividend payments. All forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Royal Dutch Shell’s Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2018 (available at www.shell.com/investor and www.sec.gov). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward-looking statements contained in this announcement and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this announcement, December 18, 2019. Neither Royal Dutch Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement.
This announcement may contain references to Shell’s website. These references are for the readers’ convenience only. Shell is not incorporating by reference any information posted on www.shell.com.
We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this announcement that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC. U.S. investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov.
LEI number of Royal Dutch Shell plc: 21380068P1DRHMJ8KU70