TNK-BP partners to meet as Bob Dudley is banned
BP and its Russian co-owners in TNK-BP plan to meet next month in an effort to resolve their feud over the groups management and to consider a partial flotation.
News of the extraordinary meeting, to be held on September 25, emerged as BP was dealt a fresh blow in its attempt to maintain control of TNK-BP after a Moscow court banned Bob Dudley, the joint ventures chief executive, from working in Russia for two years.
The ban, which followed claims that Mr Dudley had breached Russian labour laws, was described by BP as evidence of a continuing campaign of harassment by TNK-BPs Russian co-owners, designed to help them to win control of the company, which is Russias third-biggest producer of crude oil.
BP said it was very disappointed with this decision and added that it would seek to overturn it. We believe this is clearly a further example of administrative activity orchestrated by the other shareholders in TNK-BP, the company said, adding that Mr Dudley remained chief executive pending an appeal.
BP also said that Mr Dudley, who fled Moscow last month after problems with his work visa and a string of raids on TNK-BPs offices, continued to have its full support. However, if the appeal fails, the ban on Mr Dudley working in Russia will effectively terminate his leadership.
He remains at an undisclosed location outside Russia from where he is running the company remotely, but Tony Hayward, BPs chief executive, has admitted that Mr Dudley can maintain control from outside Russia for no longer than a few months.
TNK-BP, a joint venture with the AAR consortium of four Soviet-born billionaires, has been torn apart by a feud over ownership.
It emerged yesterday that AAR is seeking to modify the shareholding structure of complex holding companies related to TNK-BP. Analysts said this could be a prelude to widening the shareholder base of TNK-BP itself. Options could include a partial flotation.
AAR wants to dislodge Mr Dudley, an American former BP employee, accusing him of favouring BP and of poor financial performance. BP has rejected the claims, accusing AAR of the kind of corporate raiding commonplace in Russia in the 1990s.In particular, BP has rejected AARs insistence on a management shake-up at TNK-BP that would include the departure of Mr Dudley.
BP is understood to be prepared to consider some management changes but only as part of a package of measures, possibly including the departure of Viktor Vekselberg and German Khan two of the AAR oligarchs who retain executive roles at TNK-BP.
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http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/natural_resources/article4535184.ece
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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A head-cut image of Alfred Donovan (now deceased) appears courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.
