Exercise caution in Russia, Tony Hayward warns investors
By Russell Hotten
Foreign investors in Russia should tread carefully, according to Tony Hayward, the chief executive of BP, who is fighting over control of the company’s oil joint venture in the country, TNK-BP.
Mr Hayward said that BP would not be “intimidated by strong-arm tactics” allegedly being used in its dispute with Russian shareholders in the 50-50 venture.
For months BP has been engaged in a power struggle with a group of oligarchs for control of Russia’s third largest oil company. Last week, the joint venture’s chief executive, Robert Dudley, left Russia for a secret location in central Europe.
Speaking yesterday, during a press conference to announce BP’s profit figures, Mr Hayward said: “Russia is quite a challenging place to do business.” Asked what message the TNK-BP saga had for other investors, he said: “My advice would be, tread with caution.”
BP and a group of Russian billionaires operating under a consortium called Alfa-Access-Renova are in dispute over TNK-BP’s investment and expansion strategy. BP links a series of problems to the row, including a refusal by Moscow to renew visas, legal action, police raids and the alleged harassment of Mr Dudley. AAR denies any involvement in these.
Mr Hayward’s message for AAR was that it would “vigorously defend” its rights, including taking legal action outside Russia. “We cannot be sure how things will pan out in Russia, but I can tell you that we are committed to trying to find a solution that’s acceptable to all parties. Whether that’s possible we’ll see.”
He added that BP had no intention of selling its stake or leaving Russia. Mr Hayward also made a strong defence of TNK-BP’s performance, which is criticised by AAR. He said the joint venture’s dividends, organic growth rate and rate at which it replaces oil reserves were all the highest in Russia.
Mr Dudley left Russia last Thursday amid intense secrecy, and intends to run TNK-BP from outside the country. He is “taking a break” somewhere “in central Europe” and will make an appearance within the next few days, said Mr Hayward.
Asked if BP was prepared to stop TNK-BP from paying dividends to put pressure on AAR, he said all options were on the table.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/07/30/cntnk130.xml
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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: 
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