OREANDA-NEWS. The Board of Royal Dutch Shell plc (“RDS”) today announced an interim dividend in respect of the first quarter of 2013 of USD 0.45 per A ordinary share (“A Share”) and B ordinary share (“B Share”), an increase of USD  0.02 on the equivalent 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 first quarter 2013 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 Q1 2013
RDS A shares (USD ) 0.45
RDS B shares (USD ) 0.45


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 June 10, 2013.
Per ADS Q1 2013
RDS A ADSs (USD ) 0.90
RDS B ADSs (USD ) 0.90

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 a Scrip Dividend Programme.

Under the Programme shareholders can increase their shareholding in RDS by choosing to receive new shares instead of cash dividends if declared by RDS.  Only new A Shares will be issued under the Programme, including to shareholders who currently hold B Shares.

Joining the Programme may offer a tax advantage in some countries compared with receiving cash dividends. In particular, dividends paid out as shares will not be subject to Dutch dividend withholding tax (currently 15 per cent) and will not generally be taxed on receipt by a UK shareholder or a Dutch corporate 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 declared by RDS.

Shareholders who held only B Shares and joined the Scrip Dividend 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.