News & Media releases

Royal Dutch Shell plc retains PricewaterhouseCoopers as its sole audit firm

27/10/2005

Joint Announcement by Royal Dutch Shell plc and N.V. Koninklijke Nederlandsche Petroleum Maatschappij ('Royal Dutch Petroleum Company')

Earlier this year it was decided that Royal Dutch Shell plc would move to a single audit firm. The decision making process has now been completed and upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Board of Directors of Royal Dutch Shell plc has today announced that it has decided to retain PricewaterhouseCoopers as the sole audit firm for Royal Dutch Shell plc.

Going forward PricewaterhouseCoopers will perform the audit and audit related services of the worldwide operations of Royal Dutch Shell plc, provide the audit opinion on the financial statements and review the quarterly results.

The engagement of PricewaterhouseCoopers as the sole auditor will take effect on November 7, 2005. The current joint audit engagement with both KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers ends as of that date.

KPMG will be resigning as sole auditor of Royal Dutch Petroleum Company and it is intended that PricewaterhouseCoopers will become the auditor of Royal Dutch Petroleum Company.

The transition process has started and the 2005 Annual Report/20-F of Royal Dutch Shell plc will be audited solely by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

CFO Peter Voser said "The choice of a single audit firm for the company is another step towards simplification and standardisation of our processes. We are pleased to continue with PricewaterhouseCoopers as our sole auditor. We also look forward to working with KPMG as a provider of non-audit services. We would like to express our appreciation for the excellent professional service we have received from both KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers over the years".