Reuters: Shell unveils corporate governance review plans
Thu 17 June, 2004 08:09
LONDON (Reuters) – Royal Dutch/Shell plans to reveal details of an ongoing corporate governance review later this year as it struggles to win back the trust of investors.
The world’s third-largest oil group shocked investors in January by slashing its proven oil and gas reserves by 20 percent. Further smaller reserve cuts, while not as dramatic as the first, dealt further blows to shareholder confidence.
Shell said on Thursday it planned to make results of the review public in November and that it would put into effect any resulting changes after its annual shareholder meeting in 2005.
It said it would consider simplifying its board structure, something investors have long called for.
“Amongst other alternatives, forms of unified boards, to which a CEO (chief executive officer) would report, are being studied. Nothing is ruled out at this stage,” Shell said in a statement.
The reserves scandal led to the ousting of Chairman Philip Watts, oil and gas chief Walter van de Vijver and Chief Financial Officer Judy Boynton, and has sparked a probe by U.S. regulators.
Oriel Securities analyst Richard Rose said Shell’s corporate goverance review was a step in the right direction.
“It sends out the right signals, although the review had been widely expected by investors,” said Rose, who rates Shell an “add”.
Shell’s London-listed shares closed at 406-1/4 pence on Wednesday. Its Amsterdam-listed shares were up 0.5 percent at 42.95 euros in morning trade.
This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.
Royal Dutch Shell conspired directly with Hitler, financed the Nazi Party, was anti-Semitic and sold out its own Dutch Jewish employees to the Nazis. Shell had a close relationship with the Nazis during and after the reign of Sir Henri Deterding, an ardent Nazi, and the founder and decades long leader of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. His burial ceremony, which had all the trappings of a state funeral, was held at his private estate in Mecklenburg, Germany. The spectacle (photographs below) included a funeral procession led by a horse drawn funeral hearse with senior Nazis officials and senior Royal Dutch Shell directors in attendance, Nazi salutes at the graveside, swastika banners on display and wreaths and personal tributes from Adolf Hitler and Reichsmarschall, Hermann Goring. Deterding was an honored associate and supporter of Hitler and a personal friend of Goring.
Deterding was the guest of Hitler during a four day summit meeting at Berchtesgaden. Sir Henri and Hitler both had ambitions on Russian oil fields. Only an honored personal guest would be rewarded with a private four day meeting at Hitler’s mountain top retreat.
IN JULY 2007, MR BILL CAMPBELL (ABOVE, A RETIRED GROUP AUDITOR OF SHELL INTERNATIONAL SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERY UK MP AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS: 
MORE DETAILS:
A head-cut image of Alfred Donovan (now deceased) appears courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.
