Managing your shares
Information about managing your Royal Dutch Shell plc shares including share registration and shareholder forms.
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Share registration
Information on managing your shares and replacing lost share certificates.
Certificates
If you lose your share certificate please contact Equiniti.Ā They will arrange for a replacement certificate to be issued on completion of an indemnity to cover the company for any loss arising from dispute of ownership of the shares.Ā The Registrars will advise the appropriate charges that will be incurred.
Changes in circumstances- Moving:Ā Please advise the Registrars in writing if you change your address and include your old and new address together with your account number if possible.
- Bank details:Ā If your dividends are paid direct to your bank and you change your bank details you will have to complete a new Direct Payment Form.Ā Printed forms can also be obtained from the Registrars.
- Change of name:Ā Please advise the Registrars in writing of any change of name together with the original or certified copy of your marriage certificate or other legal document.
- Death of shareholder:Ā In the event of the death of a shareholder, please advise the Registrars in writing.
Contact information:Website:Ā www.shareview.co.uk
Equiniti
Aspect House
Spencer Road
Lancing
West Sussex
BN99 6DAFreephone:Ā 0800 169 1679 (UK only)
Telephone: +44 (0)121 415 7073Ā (international)
- Moving:Ā Please advise the Registrars in writing if you change your address and include your old and new address together with your account number if possible.
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Royal Dutch Shell Nominee Service
In holding your shares in the Royal Dutch Shell Nominee Service provided by Equiniti Financial Services Limited* you will be able to:
- receive any dividends paid by Royal Dutch Shell plc
- receive regular information from Royal Dutch Shell plc such as the annual report and accounts and other information relating to any major changes in Royal Dutch Shellās business
- attend Annual General Meetings of shareholders
- vote on matters put to shareholders
When you join the Royal Dutch Shell Nominee Service you will be sent an opening statement by Equiniti Financial Services Limited.Ā Thereafter you will receive four quarterly statements, three electronically and one paper (in March). If you wish to receive all four of your quarterly statements in paper or all four electronically, please contact Equiniti. These statements show the number of shares held on your behalf by Equiniti Financial Services Limited.
You can manage your holding online by registering free of charge for a Shareview Portfolio via www.shareview.co.uk/info/register (you will need your Shareholder Reference as provided on your nominee statement).
Below you can download a copy of the Terms and Conditions for the Royal Dutch Shell Nominee Service.
For a printed copy please contact:
Equiniti Financial Services Limited
Aspect House
Spencer Road
Lancing
West Sussex BN99 6DAWebsite:Ā www.shareview.co.uk
Telephone: 0800 169 1679Ā (from the UK)
Telephone: +44 (0)121 415 7073Ā (from outside the UK)
Lines open 8.30am to 5.30pm (UK time), Monday to Friday (excluding UK public holidays)* Equiniti Financial Services Limited and Equiniti Limited are part of the Equiniti Group. Equiniti Limited is the Registrar for Royal Dutch Shell plc.
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Buying or selling Royal Dutch Shell shares
Dealing services
The company has arranged for a choice of dealing services to be offered to shareholders wishing to buy or sell Royal Dutch Shell A or B shares held in certificated form or to participants in the Royal Dutch Shell Nominee Service.
- Equiniti Financial Services Limited offers internet and telephone dealing to residents in the UK, during UK market hours 8.00am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday (excluding UK public holidays), settling in Sterling. More information including the relevant terms and conditions can be obtained online at www.shareview.co.uk/dealing or by callingĀ 03456 300 2947 (+44 121 415 7560 if calling from outside the UK).
- Equiniti Financial Services Limited also offer a postal dealing service designed for use by residents in the UK or EEA, on a trade + 2 days basis. A form together with terms and conditions can be obtained by calling 0371 384 2248 (+44 121 415 7172 if calling from outside the UK). Lines open 8.30am to 5.30pm (UK time), Monday to Friday (excluding UK public holidays). The form can also be downloaded from www.shareview.co.uk/dealing.
- ABN AMROĀ also provides a share dealing serviceĀ for selling sharesĀ with an option to settle in Euro or Sterling. For more information about this service and details of their rates call their Amsterdam office on +31 20 343 6609 or +31 20 343 6611.
Important
All dealing services are subject to their own specific terms and conditions of use, and are available on request from the service provider. You should check the terms and conditions for each service before submitting your instructions as they form the basis on which services will be provided to you
You may buy or sell shares through other share dealing providers. However, if you wish to sell your shares and they are held in the Royal Dutch Shell Nominee Service, you must first either transfer the shares to another nominee provider, or arrange for a share certificate to be issued to you (please note there may be a charge for these transactions as set out in the Royal Dutch Shell Nominee Service Terms and Conditions.
The information above does not constitute a recommendation by Royal Dutch Shell plc, Equiniti Financial Services Limited, or ABN Amro. If you are unsure about what action to take, if any, you should contact an authorised financial advisor.
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Shareview and e-communication
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
Itās easy to sign up for Shareview ā you just need the āshareholder referenceā printed on your proxy form or dividend stationery, and knowledge of your registered address ā 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 āe-mailā 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 āpostā as your preference, you will be sent paper documents as usual.
Visit the site for more details:Ā www.shareview.co.uk. Details of software and equipment requirements are given on the website.
You can also visit the Shareview Help pages at:Ā https://help.shareview.co.uk/4/Help/Default/En/Pages/Help.aspxĀ - you do not need to have a Shareview account to use this service.
For further information please contact:Equiniti
Website:Ā www.shareview.co.uk
Aspect House
Spencer Road
Lancing
West Sussex
BN99 6DATelephone:Ā 0800 169 1679Ā (from the UK)
Telephone: +44 (0)121 415 7073Ā (from outside the UK)
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Cheque Removal
Royal Dutch Shell (āRDSā) has simplified the way dividends and other distributions are paid, by only making payments directly into a nominated bank account. This is known as Direct Payment. RDS no longer makes these payments by cheque. Furthermore, RDS has introduced the option to receive dividends in US dollars, in addition to the existing ability to receive your dividend in Sterling or Euro.
Why has RDS changed the way in which it pays its dividend to you?
- Tens of thousandsĀ RDS cheques issued remain uncashed;
- Around 400,000 investors were already registered for Direct Payment and had accessĀ 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. Equinitiās Dividend Reinvestment Plan (āDRIPā) is a way to do this. Visit shareview.co.uk/info/drip for a DRIP application form. To be eligible for the next dividend, you must make a valid dividend reinvestment election before the published date for the close of elections (please see:www.shell.com/dividend). 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. Equinitiās 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 (from the UK)Ā or +44 (0)121 415 7073Ā (from outside the UK).
When did RDS stop sending cheques?
March 2020 was the last dividend for which you were able to receive a cheque.Ā 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.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, employeesā 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 (from the UK) or +44 (0)121 415 7073Ā (from outside the UK).
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 EquinitiĀ on 0800 169 1679 (from the UK)Ā or +44 (0)121 415 7073Ā (from outside the UK).When will I receive my dividend payment?
Provided banking instructions are in place by the closing elections date (please refer to www.shell.com/dividend), your dividend will be paid into your nominated account on the dividend payment date. If your banking instructions are received after the closing election date, this will be paid in line with the companyās dividend policy with the next dividend.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 donāt 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. -
Asset reunification
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.Ā
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 provideĀ a search and identification service designed to trace shareholders and return unclaimed entitlements as efficiently as possible. Included within ProSearchās 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 Contact Details
ProSearch can be contacted FREE of charge or commitment onĀ 0800 389 6485 (Freephone helpline) or +44 (0)121 415 0067 if calling from outside the UK.Ā Lines are open Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm; excluding UK bank holidays.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 KingdomĀ BN99 6DA.
You can write to ProSearch at Sutherland House, Russell Way, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 1UH.
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Individual Savings Account (ISA)
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 āEquiniti Shareview Dealing ISAā, 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 2019/2020) 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.
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Shareholder forms
If you require a Dividend Payment Instruction Form this can be found at: Currency Election Form
If you hold your shares in CREST please visit directdividends pageĀ and download the Royal Dutch Shell CREST Mandate Form which is available under the āChange the mandate for a corporate holdingā heading.
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 6DATelephone:Ā 0800 169 1679Ā (from the UK)
Telephone: +44 (0)121 415 7073Ā (from outside the UK) -
Warning to Shareholders
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
- Reject cold calls
- Check the FCA Warning List
- 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
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