By: MICHEAL KAUFMAN
Published: Dec 29, 2014 at 2:17 pm EST
Ashley Armstrong, the Telegraph’s merger and acquisition columnist, hinted at the possibilityof a merger between London-based BP plc (NYSE:BP) and Netherlands-based Royal Dutch Shell plc (ADR) (NYSE:RDS.A) in a piece over the weekend.
M&A activity during 2014 reached the $3.5 trillion mark, the highest since the 2008 financial downturn. Ms. Armstrong expects more huge deals next year.
She thinks that the decline in commodity prices will act as a catalyst for M&A between mining and natural resources companies. Since this year’s peak in late June, crude oil prices have fallen 45% and are on track to record the biggest decline since the financial crisis. The slump in crude oil prices to $60 per barrel will negatively impact the profitability of some energy companies at the very least, and bring into question the business models of some businesses at worst.
“…the tumbling commodities price has meant that takeover chatter has spread to even the fantasy realms of BP and Shell. Once considered unthinkable, senior sources are now saying that there is merit in doing the colossal deal…”; “Companies will not be able to continue with business as usual and must either cut back on expensive exploration plans or cut their dividends, or both…” 
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.
