1st Feb 2007 07:01
Fourth quarter 2006 interim dividend and announcement of change in dividend declaration currency with effect from first quarter 2007
The Board of Royal Dutch Shell plc today announced an interim dividend in respect of the fourth quarter of 2006 of ¢â€š¬0.25 per A and B share, an increase of 9% over the same quarter last year.
The Board also announced that effective from the first quarter 2007 dividends will be declared in US dollars and expect that the first quarter of 2007 interim dividend will be $0.36, an increase of 14% over the US dollar dividend for the same period in 2006. The first quarter 2007 interim dividend will be declared on May 3, 2007.
Royal Dutch Shell's dividend policy of growing dividend at least in line with inflation over a number of years has not changed. Going forward the inflation level will be based on inflation levels in global, developed, economies, rather than a blend of European inflation rates. Dividend growth going forward will be measured in US dollars.
Royal Dutch Shell will continue to announce the euro and pounds sterling equivalent amounts at the same time as the US dollar declaration, using an exchange rate from the day before the declaration date.
Dividends declared on A shares will continue to be paid by default in euros, although holders of A shares will be able to elect to receive dividend in pounds sterling. Dividends declared on B shares will continue to be paid by default in pounds sterling, although holders of B shares will be able to elect to receive dividend in euro. Dividends declared on ADRs will continue to be paid in US dollars.
Details relating to the fourth quarter 2006 interim dividend
This dividend will be payable on March 14, 2007 to those members whose names are on the Register on February 9, 2007*. The shares become ex-dividend on February 7, 2007.
It is expected that the dividends on the B shares will be paid via the Dividend Access Mechanism from UK sourced income of the Royal Dutch Shell Group.
\* The record date for shares held in Euroclear Nederland is February 6, 2007.
Per share Q1 2006 Q2 2006 Q3 2006 Q4 2006 2006
Royal Dutch Shell A Shares 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 1.00 (euros)
Royal Dutch Shell B Shares 17.13 17.08 16.77 16.60 67.58 (pence)
ADR Q1 2006 Q2 2006 Q3 2006 Q4 2006 2006
Royal Dutch Shell A Shares 0.6305 0.6308 0.6294 0.6500 2.5407 (US$)
Royal Dutch Shell B Shares 0.6305 0.6308 0.6294 0.6500 2.5407 (US$)
Dividends on A shares will be paid, by default, in euros. Holders of A shares who have validly submitted pounds sterling currency elections by January 31, 2007 will be entitled to a dividend of 16.60p per share.
Dividends on B shares will be paid, by default, in pounds sterling at the rate of 16.60p per share. Holders of B shares who have validly submitted euro currency elections by January 31, 2007 will be entitled to a dividend of ¢â€š¬0.25 per share.
Holders of A or B shares in ADR form will be entitled to a dividend of $0.6500 per ADR.
Details relating to the first quarter 2007 interim dividend
This dividend will be payable on June 13, 2007 to those members whose names are on the Register on May 11, 2007*. The shares become ex-dividend on May 9, 2007.
It is expected that the dividends on the B shares will be paid via the Dividend Access Mechanism from UK sourced income of the Royal Dutch Shell Group.
\* The record date for shares held in Euroclear Nederland is May 8, 2007.
Dividends on the A shares will continue to be paid, by default, in euros. Holders of A shares who validly submit pound sterling currency elections by May 2, 2007 will be entitled to receive their dividend in pounds sterling.
Dividends B shares will continue to be paid, by default, in pounds sterling. Holders of B shares who validly submit Euro currency elections by May 2, 2007 will be entitled to receive their dividend in Euro.
Holders of A or B shares in ADR form will be paid in US dollars.
Taxation
Dividends on A shares will be subject to the deduction of Netherlands dividend withholding tax at the rate of 15%, which may be reduced in certain circumstances.
Shareholders resident in the United Kingdom, receiving dividends on B shares through the Dividend Access Mechanism, are entitled to a tax credit. This tax credit is not repayable. Non-residents may also be entitled to a tax credit, if double tax arrangements between the United Kingdom and their country of residence so provide, or if they are eligible for relief given to non-residents with certain special connections with the United Kingdom or to nationals of states in the European Economic Area.
The amount of tax credit is 10/90ths of the cash dividend, the tax credit referable to the Fourth quarter 2006 interim dividend of ¢â€š¬0.25 (16.60p) is ¢â€š¬ 0.0278 (1.844) per share and the dividend and tax credit together amount to ¢â€š¬ 0.2778 (18.444p).
Dividend reinvestment plan
ABN AMRO Bank NV and Lloyds TSB Registrars each have established a dividend reinvestment facility which enables shareholders to elect to have their dividend payments used to purchase Royal Dutch Shell shares of the same class as those already held by them. The dividend reinvestment plans (the "DRIPs") are provided by ABN AMRO Bank NV in respect of shares held through Euroclear Nederland and by Lloyds TSB Registrars in respect of all other shares (but not ADRs). DRIPs for the ADRs (both Class A ADRs and Class B ADRs) traded on the NYSE will be available through The Bank of New York.
Enquiries about the DRIPs, including how to elect to participate and information about the reinvestment mechanisms under the respective plans should, in the case of shareholders holding through Euroclear Nederland, be directed to their bank or broker and in the case of all other shareholders (other than holders of ADRs) to Lloyds TSB Registrars. Enquiries relating to the DRIPs for ADRs (both Class A ADRs and Class B ADRs) should be made to The Bank of New York.
February 1, 2007
ROYAL DUTCH SHELL 'B' PLCRelated Shares:
RDSA.LRDSB.L