Emmanuel Ukudolo
The Hague, March 11, 2016 – The Board of Royal Dutch Shell plc (“RDS”) today announced the British Pounds Sterling and Euro equivalent dividend payments in respect of the fourth quarter 2015 interim dividend, which was announced on February 4, 2016 at US$0.47 per A ordinary share (“A Share”) and B ordinary share (“B Share”).
In a statement, RDS said dividends on A Shares will be paid, by default, in Euro at the rate of €0.4221 per A Share.
“Holders of A Shares who have validly submitted pounds sterling currency elections by March 4, 2016 will be entitled to a dividend of 32.78.p per A Share.
“Dividends on B Shares will be paid, by default, in Pounds Sterling at the rate of 32.78p per B Share’’, the statement said. It added that holders of B Shares who have validly submitted Euro currency elections by March 4, 2016 will be entitled to a dividend of €0.4221 per B Share.
“This dividend will be payable on March 29, 2016 to those members whose names were on the Register of Members on February 19, RDS said.
Shell explained that 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. It added that provided certain conditions are met, shareholders in receipt of A Share dividends may also be entitled to a non-payable dividend tax credit in the United Kingdom.
“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 2015 interim dividend of US$0.47 (32.78p or €0.4221) is US$0.05 (3.64p or €0.0469) per ordinary share and the dividend and tax credit together amount to US$0.52 (36.42p or €0.4690)”, RDS said.
