LONDON, January 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Board of Royal Dutch Shell plc ("RDS") (NYSE: RDS.A) (NYSE: RDS.B) today announced an interim dividend in respect of the fourth quarter of 2008 of US$0.40 per A and B ordinary share, an increase of 11% over the US dollar dividend for the same quarter last year.
The Board expects that the first quarter of 2009 interim dividend will be $0.42, an increase of 5% over the US dollar dividend for the same period in 2008. The first quarter 2009 interim dividend will be declared on April 29, 2009.
Dividends declared on A ordinary shares ("A shares") will be paid by default in euro, although holders of A shares will be able to elect to receive dividend in pounds sterling. Dividends declared on B ordinary shares ("B shares") will be paid by default in pounds sterling, although holders of B shares will be able to elect to receive dividend in euro. Dividends declared on American Depository Receipts ("ADRs") will be paid in US dollars.
Details relating to the fourth quarter 2008 interim dividend
This dividend will be payable on March 11, 2009 to those members whose names are on the Register of Members on February 6, 2009. The shares will become ex-dividend on February 4, 2009.
It is expected that the dividends on the B shares will be paid via the Dividend Access Mechanism from UK-sourced income of the Shell Group.
Per ordinary share Q4 2008
RDS A shares (US$) 0.40
RDS B shares (US$) 0.40
Per ADR Q4 2008
RDS A ADRs (US$) 0.80
RDS B ADRs (US$) 0.80
Dividends on A shares will be paid, by default, in euro at the rate of EUR0.3025 per A share. Holders of A shares who have validly submitted pounds sterling currency elections by January 28, 2009 will be entitled to a dividend of 27.97p per A share.
Dividends on B shares will be paid, by default, in pounds sterling at the rate of 27.97p per B share. Holders of B shares who have validly submitted euro currency elections by January 28, 2009 will be entitled to a dividend of EUR0.3025 per B share.
Holders of A or B shares in ADR form will be entitled to a dividend of US$0.80 per ADR.
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 2008 interim dividend of US$0.40 (27.97p or EUR0.3025) is US$0.04 (3.11p or EUR0.0336) per ordinary share and the dividend and tax credit together amount to US$0.44 (31.08p or EUR0.3361).
Dividend reinvestment plan
ABN AMRO Bank N.V. trading under the name RBS ("RBS") and Equiniti (formerly known as Lloyds TSB Registrars) each have established a dividend reinvestment facility which enables RDS shareholders to elect to have their dividend payments used to purchase RDS shares of the same class as those already held by them. The dividend reinvestment plans (the "DRIPs") are provided by RBS in respect of shares held through Euroclear Nederland and by Equiniti 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 are available through The Bank of New York Mellon.
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 Equiniti. Enquiries relating to the DRIPs for ADRs (both Class A ADRs and Class B ADRs) should be made to The Bank of New York Mellon.
