Royal Dutch Shell plc third quarter 2017 interim dividend
Nov 2, 2017
The Board of Royal Dutch Shell plc (“RDS”) today announced an interim dividend in respect of the third quarter of 2017 of US$0.47 per A ordinary share (“A Share”) and B ordinary share (“B Share”), equal to the US dollar dividend for the same quarter last year.
RDS provides eligible shareholders with a choice to receive dividends in cash or in shares via a Scrip Dividend Programme (“the Programme”). For further details please see below.
Details relating to the third quarter 2017 interim dividend
It is expected that cash dividends on the B Shares will be paid via the Dividend Access Mechanism from UK-sourced income of the Shell group.
Per ordinary share | Q3 2017 |
---|---|
RDS A shares (US$) | 0.47 |
RDS B shares (US$) | 0.47 |
Cash dividends on A Shares will be paid, by default, in euro, although holders of A Shares will be able to elect to receive dividends in pounds sterling.
Cash dividends on B Shares will be paid, by default, in pounds sterling, although holders of B Shares will be able to elect to receive dividends in euro.
The pounds sterling and euro equivalent dividend payments will be announced on December 7, 2017.
Per ADS | Q3 2017 |
---|---|
RDS A ADSs (US$) | 0.94 |
RDS B ADSs (US$) | 0.94 |
Cash dividends on American Depository Shares (“ADSs”) will be paid, by default, in US dollars.
ADS stands for an American Depositary Share. ADR stands for an American Depositary Receipt. An ADR is a certificate that evidences ADSs. ADSs are listed on the NYSE under the symbols RDS.A and RDS.B. Each ADS represents two ordinary shares, two A Shares in the case of RDS.A or two B Shares in the case of RDS.B. In many cases the terms ADR and ADS are used interchangeably.
Scrip Dividend Programme
RDS provides shareholders with a choice to receive dividends in cash or in shares via the Programme.
Under the Programme shareholders can increase their shareholding in RDS by choosing to receive new shares instead of cash dividends, if approved by the Board. Only new A Shares will be issued under the Programme, including to shareholders who currently hold B Shares.
In some countries, joining the Programme may currently offer a tax advantage compared with receiving cash dividends. In particular, dividends paid out as shares by RDS will not be subject to Dutch dividend withholding tax (currently 15 per cent), unlike cash dividends paid on A shares, and they will not generally be taxed on receipt by a UK shareholder or a Dutch shareholder.
Shareholders who elect to join the Programme will increase the number of shares held in RDS without having to buy existing shares in the market, thereby avoiding associated dealing costs.
Shareholders who do not join the Programme will continue to receive in cash any dividends approved by the Board.
Shareholders who held only B Shares and joined the Programme are reminded they will need to make a Scrip Dividend Election in respect of their new A Shares if they wish to join the Programme in respect of such new shares. However, this is only necessary if the shareholder has not previously made a Scrip Dividend Election in respect of any new A Shares issued.
For further information on the Programme, including how to join if you are eligible, please refer to the appropriate publication available on www.shell.com/scrip.
Dividend timetable for the third quarter 2017 interim dividend
Event | Date |
---|---|
Announcement date | November 2, 2017 |
Ex-dividend date RDS A ADSs and RDS B ADSs (See Note 1) | November 16, 2017 |
Ex-dividend date RDS A shares and RDS B shares | November 16, 2017 |
Record date | November 17, 2017 |
Scrip reference share price announcement date | November 23, 2017 |
Closing of scrip election and currency election (See Note 2) | December 1, 2017 |
Pounds sterling and euro equivalents announcement date | December 7, 2017 |
Payment date | December 20, 2017 |
Notes
Note 1:
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), with effect from September 5, 2017, reduced the standard settlement cycle in accordance with the SEC amendments to Exchange Act Rule 15c6-1(a). Under these rules, regular settlement will occur on a T+2 basis for trades occurring on or after the SEC's implementation date of September 5, 2017.
As a result RDS A ADSs and RDS B ADSs traded on the NYSE markets will now settle in line with RDS A shares and RDS B shares traded on European markets, who moved to a T+2 settlement basis for trades in 2014, resulting in the same ex-dividend date for RDS A shares, RDS B shares, RDS A ADSs and RDS B ADSs. Record dates will not change. The timings of these in relation to the third quarter 2017 interim dividend are reflected above, resulting in a change to the ex-dividend date for the RDSA and RDS B ADSs from the timetable previously communicated on November 1, 2016.
Note 2:
Both a different scrip and currency election date may apply to shareholders holding shares in a securities account with a bank or financial institution ultimately holding through Euroclear Nederland. This may also apply to other shareholders who do not hold their shares either directly on the Register of Members or in the corporate sponsored nominee arrangement. Shareholders can contact their broker, financial intermediary, bank or financial institution for the election deadline that applies. A different scrip election date may apply to registered and non-registered ADS holders. Registered ADS holders can contact The Bank of New York Mellon for the election deadline that applies. Non-registered ADS holders can contact their broker, financial intermediary, bank or financial institution for the election deadline that applies.
Taxation - cash dividends
Cash dividends on A Shares will be subject to the deduction of Dutch dividend withholding tax at the rate of 15%, which may be reduced in certain circumstances. Based on a policy statement issued by the Dutch Ministry of Finance on April 29, 2016 (which has been formalised in law with effect from January 2017), and depending on their particular circumstances, non-Dutch resident shareholders may be entitled to a full or partial refund of Dutch dividend withholding tax. As from 2018, Dutch and non-Dutch resident shareholders who are exempt from corporate income tax may elect for an exemption from Dutch dividend withholding tax instead of requesting a refund if tax was withheld.
Furthermore, in April 2016, there were changes to the UK taxation of dividends. The dividend tax credit was abolished, and a new tax free dividend allowance introduced. Dividend income in excess of the allowance is taxable at the following rates: 7.5% within the basic rate band; 32.5% within the higher rate band; and 38.1% on dividend income taxable at the additional rate.
If you are uncertain as to the tax treatment of any dividends you should consult your own tax advisor.
Royal Dutch Shell plc
The Hague, November 2, 2017
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