Managing your shares

The Shareview service from our registrar, Equiniti, gives you more control of your shares and other investments.

Features include:

• direct access to data held for you on the share register including recent share movements and dividend details
• the ability to change your address or dividend payment instructions online
• the option to receive shareholder communications electronically instead of by post where this is offered by the company

It’s easy to sign up for Shareview – you just need the ‘shareholder reference’ printed on your proxy form or dividend stationery, and knowledge of your registered address – the service is FREE, there is no charge to register.

When you register with the site, you can confirm your preferred format (post or e-mail) for shareholder communications. If you select ‘e-mail’ as your mailing preference, you will be sent shareholder communications, such as proxy forms and notice of Royal Dutch Shell results by e-mail instead of post, as long as this option is available. If you choose ‘post’ as your preference, you will be sent paper documents as usual.

Visit the site for more details: www.shareview.co.uk. Details of software and equipment requirements are given on the website.

You can also visit the Shareview Help pages at: https://help.shareview.co.uk/4/Help/Default/En/Pages/Help.aspx - you do not need to have a Shareview account to use this service.

For further information please contact:

Equiniti
Aspect House
Spencer Road
Lancing
West Sussex
BN99 6DA

Telephone: 0800 169 1679 (UK only)
Telephone: +44 (0)121 415 7073

Royal Dutch Shell plc (RDS) is simplifying the way dividends and other distributions are paid, by only making payments directly into a nominated bank account.This is known as Direct Payment. After March 2020, RDS will no longer make payments by cheque. Furthermore, Shell will introduce the option to receive Shell’s dividends in US dollar in addition to the existing ability to receive your dividend in Sterling or Euro

Why is RDS is changing the way in which it pays its dividend to you?

• Tens of thousands RDS cheques issued remain uncashed;
• Around 400,000 investors are already registered for Direct Payment and have access to the funds on the payment date; and
• Direct Payment is faster, more secure and avoids the risk of cheques going uncashed, astray or being stolen.
• Outside of the UK cashing in cheques is becoming increasingly more costly, cumbersome and time-consuming for investors

Do I have any alternatives?

From April 2020 RDS can pay your dividend in Euro, Sterling or US Dollar via Direct Payment into your bank account. For this purpose you could nominate a Euro, Sterling or US Dollar bank account and apply, to the extent required, a matching currency election.

Instead of receiving dividend payments by Direct Payment, you may wish to build up your shareholding in RDS by using your cash dividends to purchase further RDS shares. Equiniti’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (‘DRIP’) is a way to do this. Visit shareview.co.uk/info/drip for a DRIP application form. Terms and conditions apply. NOTE: If you are not eligible to join the DRIP, or you revoke your DRIP instruction, you will need to provide your bank or building society account details in order for future dividends to be paid to you. For further information please contact Equiniti.

Or, if you do not have a Euro, GBP or US Dollar bank account, you may wish to receive your dividend in a different currency. This may avoid or reduce charges of your bank. Equiniti’s International Payment Service (IPS) is a way to do this. Visit shareview.co.uk/info/ops for a IPS application form. Terms and conditions apply.

In order to arrange any of the above please contact Equiniti on 0800 169 1679 (UK only) or +44 (0)121 415 7073

When will RDS stop sending cheques?
March 2020 will be the last dividend for which you will be able to receive a cheque. From April 2020 any monies payable in connection with your shares will only be able to be paid by Direct Payment (or reinvested via the DRIP if applicable). It is therefore important that you take action as soon as possible to avoid any interruption to your payments.

If you provide a GBP bank account bank account before February 14, 2020, you will receive the dividend in March 2020 into your bank account.

Is Direct Payment safe?
Direct Payment is a more secure method of payment than cheques. It is used by most large organisations to pay, for example, employees’ salaries and pensions.

How much does Direct Payment cost?
There is no fee charged by RDS or Equiniti for this service.

What type of account can I nominate?
Any bank account you nominate must be able to receive payments in the currency you elect for. For Sterling this can for instance be any UK Bank or building society account.

In order to nominate your bank account and make a matching currency election please contact Equiniti on 0800 169 1679 (UK only) or +44 (0)121 415 7073

The first dividend payment using your new details will be in June 2020, unless you provide GBP bank account details, which can be used from March 2020.

What if I want to change my nominated account?
By registering for a Shareview Portfolio at shareview.co.uk, you can manage many aspects of your shareholding online, including updating your bank details. If you are a sole shareholder with 2,500 shares or fewer you can also update your bank details by calling Equiniti on 0800 169 1679 (UK only) or +44 (0)121 415 7073

When will I receive my dividend payment?
Dividends will be paid into your nominated account on the dividend payment date.

How will I know that my dividend has been paid?
If you register for electronic communications at shareview.co.uk, you will be sent an electronic notification on the day the dividend is paid. If you are not registered, you will receive an annual consolidated dividend statement by post setting out details of all dividends paid to you in the previous twelve months. These statements are currently sent out in March each year.

Why is RDS doing this?
RDS has for many years encouraged shareholders to have their dividends paid by Direct Payment rather than by cheque as it is a more efficient, secure, and environmentally-friendly method of payment.

Furthermore, one in five RDS shareholders failed to cash their cheques before they expire, often incurring reissue fees as a result.

What if I don’t provide my bank account details?

If you do not provide this information, you will still receive an annual dividend statement; however, you will not receive the money until your bank details are received, after which payment will be credited to your account as soon as possible. Your dividends will not accrue interest while they are being held for you and there may be a fee for Equiniti to reissue payments.

What gives RDS the authority to request my account details?
The RDS Articles of Association provide the legal authority for this decision. Providing your account details does not give Equiniti or RDS access to your account beyond enabling Equiniti to pay your dividends directly into your account through the normal inter-bank facilities.

Royal Dutch Shell plc has instructed ProSearch, a specialist tracing company, to communicate with investors who have cash and share entitlements outstanding. This could be following the Combination of Royal Dutch Shell plc and BG Group plc in February 2016, or merely dividend payments that remain unclaimed

There are a number of reasons why we may not be able to contact shareholders direct, which can include:

• shareholders not notifying the Registrar or the Company of a change of address;
• beneficiaries or executors of an estate not being aware of the shareholding; and
• shareholders who simply forget about or are uncertain about their shareholdings.

We have worked with ProSearch in this capacity since 2009. During this period we are pleased to have successfully reunited a large number of shareholders with their investments.

Who are ProSearch?
ProSearch (ProSearch Asset Solutions Limited) are a professional Asset Reunification company with a 30 year heritage in the provision of Asset Reunification solutions. ProSearch has worked with many FTSE 100 and 250 clients to facilitate the repatriation of entitlements to eligible investors following corporate actions (take-overs). If you have received a communication from ProSearch or were a former BG Group plc shareholder and think you may be due entitlements and would like further information please contact ProSearch directly. 

Why are we doing this?
Following the Combination of Royal Dutch Shell plc and BG Group plc, the share register is larger in number and includes a larger proportion of shareholders who have lost touch with their investment or have unclaimed dividend payments.

The ProSearch service proactively reunites shareholders with their unclaimed entitlements. However, shareholders who feel they may have all the necessary documentation can approach our Registrar, Equiniti directly themselves. ProSearch and Equiniti Limited are both part of the Equiniti Group of companies. This allows them to work in close cooperation and enables us to offer shareholders a choice of service to meet their different needs. In our experience, this provides the most effective means of reuniting shareholders with their unclaimed entitlements.

Why do ProSearch make a charge?
Prosearch provide a search and identification service designed to trace shareholders and return unclaimed entitlements as efficiently as possible. Included within ProSearch’s costs are data subject analysis, mailings, identity confirmation, claim validation against a number of reference sites, validated claims submission, and a free helpline. This is required to ensure the right funds are returned to the right person. ProSearch will ensure that the claims process is simple and quick and secure.

What action should I take?
ProSearch has designed a service that provides an easy way for shareholders to claim their entitlements and update their details which commences with signing and returning the ProSearch Claim Form. Alternatively, shareholders can make their own arrangements to recover their entitlements. Any shareholders preferring to claim their entitlements direct or not wishing to receive any further letters from ProSearch, should let ProSearch know by calling their helpline.

What should I do if I do not want to use the ProSearch service?
You can contact our Registrar, Equiniti, on 0800 169 1679 (+44 121 415 7073 if calling from outside the UK) who will be able to assist you. Please be aware that there may also be charges for the services provided by Equiniti.

ProSearch’s details
ProSearch can be contacted FREE of charge or commitment on 0800 389 6480 (Freephone helpline) or +44 (0)121 415 0067 if calling from outside the UK. Lines are open 8.30am – 5.30pm Monday to Friday.

www.prosearchassets.com

ProSearch Asset Solutions Limited (ProSearch) is registered in England and Wales number 2158381 and is a member of the Equiniti Group. Registered Office: Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex, United Kingdom BN99 6DA.

You can write to ProSearch at Sutherland House, Russell Way, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 1UH.

Equiniti Financial Services Limited ("Equiniti")* are able to provide UK residents a facility to hold their Royal Dutch Shell A or B shares in a stocks and shares ISA. This is solely an Equiniti product. For further details about the service or to open an ‘Equiniti Shareview Dealing ISA’, please go to www.shareview.com/isa or contact Equiniti at 0345 300 0430.

Please note that this is not a recommendation that you should use Equiniti's services as there are other ISA providers available and you should make your own judgment as to whose services you should use. If you are unsure about what action to take, if any, you should contact an authorised financial advisor.

Transfer your shares into an ISA

You can choose to transfer your Sharesave shares up to a maximum value of £20,000 per annum (for the tax year 2018/2019) into an ISA less any contributions you make to any combination of permitted ISAs in the same tax year. You must do this within 90 days of the exercise date to avoid a Capital Gains Tax liability on the transfer.

_{* Equiniti Financial Services Limited and Equiniti Limited are part of the Equiniti Group. Equiniti Limited is the Registrar for Royal Dutch Shell plc.}

If you require a Dividend Currency Election Form this can be found at: www.shareview.com/election

Further forms and a range of helpful information can be found at: www.shareview.co.uk

For further information please contact:

Equiniti
Aspect House
Spencer Road
Lancing
West Sussex
BN99 6DA

Telephone: 0800 169 1679 (UK only)
Telephone: +44 (0)121 415 7073

Be ScamSmart

Remember: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Investment scams are designed to look like genuine investments.  Fraudsters may use high pressure and convincing tactics to scam investors, so it is important to spot the warning signs.

Have you been:

• contacted out of the blue
• promised tempting returns and told the investment is safe
• called repeatedly, or
• told the offer is only available for a limited time?

If so, you might have been contacted by fraudsters.

How to avoid investment Fraud

1. Reject cold calls
2. Check the FCA Warning List
3. Get impartial advice

If you suspect that you have been approached by fraudsters please tell the FCA using the reporting form at www.fca.org.uk/consumers.  You can also call the FCA Consumer Helpline on 0800 111 6768.

If you have lost money to investment fraud, you should report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, or online at www.actionfraud.police.uk.

For further information, please visit www.fca.org.uk/scamsmart