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January, 2016:

Separating ‘Shell Marketing’ from the Upstream

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Screen Shot 2015-12-23 at 13.33.20One of the issues surrounding the takeover of BG by Royal Dutch Shell that most commentators have missed is that it will make RDS even more of an “Upstream” company than it is now. The exploration and production of hydrocarbons is ALL that BG does.

It is also by far Shell’s core business. In the circumstances it makes little sense for RDS to continue with its “Downstream” (Refining, Marketing, Chemicals, Trading …). 

These Shell-branded businesses cry out to be freed from the yoke of having to exist in a largely alien world where they are starved of attention and capital.  read more

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.

It’s time to debunk the myths around Shell’s bid for BG Group

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Patrick Hosking: 6 JAN 2016

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FULL ARTICLE

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.

A message for Shell: Follow the law or get out

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5 Jan 2016

OUR expert columnists here at The Manila Times continually remind of us of critically important issues we might otherwise have overlooked in our efforts to cover day-to-day news, a mission that is challenging even under the easiest circumstances.

One of those issues was brought to our attention again by Atty. Dodo Dulay, whose “Flipside” column yesterday addressed the incredible situation in which major oil company Pilipinas Shell – the local component of global oil giant Royal Dutch Shell BV – has been allowed to evade compliance with the 1998 Oil Deregulation Law for nearly 18 years up to now. read more

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.

Despite Low Oil Prices, Royal Dutch Shell Is An Attractive Long-Term Investment

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Arie Goren

Summary

In my opinion, at the current price Royal Dutch Shell is an excellent long-term investment, first for the generous dividend yielding 8.2% and second for a significant price appreciation when oil prices recover. In my view, the combination with BG is a smart move by Shell, and the acquisition of BG is expected to grow Shell’s reserves and generate meaningful synergies. The merger will accelerate Shell’s worldwide leading position in LNG and deep water. The worldwide leading position in LNG of the combined company will contribute a substantial growth of the company. Global LNG demand is expected to continue to grow strongly. My calculations demonstrate that even in the case of continued low oil prices, Shell will continue to generate strong cash flow due to a significant increase from downstream. Moreover, Shell has a strong balance sheet and good valuation, and its stock is currently trading below book value. read more

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: Investors Should Reconsider Support of BG Deal

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By Mushhood Khan on Jan 5, 2016 at 9:46 am EST

Just as Royal Dutch Shell plc (ADR) (NYSE:RDS.A) edges closer to its $50 billion takeover of BG Group, investors are losing confidence in the company.

Shell has secured regulatory approval from related authorities across the globe; the deal now only requires the shareholders’ vote, which will be obtained later this month. With oil prices trading at record lows, fund managers who own stakes in both BG and Shell, have reduced their share in the former.

Capital Group, one of the world’s leading investment groups, sold off majority of its stake in the BG deal during December. According to its securities filings, the Group sold around $600 million of BG shares last month, bringing down its stake from 2.2% to 0.9%. read more

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.

Shell’s finance chief tries to persuade investors into £36bn BG merger deal despite oil prices plunge

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By LAURA CHESTERS FOR THE DAILY MAIL: 5 JAN 2016

Royal Dutch Shell’s finance boss Simon Henry has just returned from the ski slopes. The first week back after New Year is usually slow as people readjust to the office.

But for Henry and chief executive Ben van Beurden there is no time to waste. The pair are straight into endless rounds of shareholder meetings.

They are trying to convince investors to agree to Anglo-Dutch giant Shell swallowing BG Group in a £36billion deal.

The deadline is the two big shareholder meetings set for January 27 and 28 when investors vote, and it needs 50 per cent of its shareholders to approve the mega-deal.  read more

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.

Shell warns that oil could hit $20 a barrel – but defends £36bn takeover of BG as a long-term deal over 15-year period

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By LAURA CHESTERS FOR THE DAILY MAIL: 5 JAN 2016

The finance boss of Shell has warned the price of oil could fall to $20 a barrel within weeks but has defended its £36billion takeover of BG Group as a long-term deal.

Simon Henry said Goldman Sachs’ prediction that Brent crude oil could fall to $20 a barrel ‘may actually happen in the next few weeks’ but argued the mega-deal is sound on a long-term basis over a 15-year period.

Oil fluctuated around $37 a barrel yesterday after traders acknowledged the panic in the Chinese stock markets and the growing dispute between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the biggest rivals in the Opec oil cartel. read more

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.

Oil price surge makes Shell swoop for BG more palatable

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Jamie Nimmo: 5 Jan 2016

The oil price surge made Shell’s swoop for smaller rival BG slightly more palatable for investors, despite concerns the deal could be called off. The regulatory hurdles have all been cleared, but shareholders must now give  their views on the cash and shares deal, currently worth £37bn – £10bn less than when it was struck in April last year.

That was when the oil price was near $60 a barrel. It now stands at $38 a barrel, even after a 2 per cent jump yesterday.

Shell and BG’s backers vote on 27 and 28 January respectively, but the former could be forced by its own shareholders to renegotiate. read more

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.

Ruairí McKiernan: Corrib gas protesters did State some service

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…many of those involved have been ridiculed, slandered, spied on, harassed, beaten and jailed – all for upholding their democratic right to peaceful dissent. Incidents included the 2005 jailing of the Rossport Five, who spent 94 days in prison at the behest of Shell.

Ruairí McKiernan

As gas is flared into the skies above north Mayo, it is worth reflecting on a project that has been one of modern Ireland’s greatest scandals, a stunning fiasco in planning, economics, environmental protection and the abuse of civil liberties.

Far from it being just about energy supply, jobs and development, the Corrib gas project cuts to the core of this republic and asks big questions about how the country is run.

For more than 10 years now, campaigners have attempted to highlight the project’s many flaws. read more

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.

Major shareholder sheds BG stake as merger vote looms

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The fund management company cut its holding from 2.2 percent to 0.9 percent and continued offloading shares even after Shell published the deal prospectus, in which the Anglo-Dutch oil major revealed further capex and opex cuts that would boost the merger’s appeal.

Although the mega-merger was announced at a time when oil was pushing multi-year lows, prices have continued sliding since, eroding the immediate financial appeal of the combination.

Shell said last month that it expects the acquisition to break even with Brent crude prices in the low $60s in 2016, while the deal would add to operating cash flow per share at $50 a barrel. read more

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.

NIOC, Shell reach final agreement on debt settlement

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TEHRAN, Jan. 04 (MNA) – Iran’s NIOC and Anglo-Dutch Shell have reached the final agreement on how to settle the outstanding 2.3-billion-dollar debt.

Upon conducting several negotiations between officials of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and the Anglo–Dutch Royal Dutch Shell, the two sides eventually reached a consensus of how to pay off the unpaid debt worth 2.3 billion dollars.

Seyed Mohsen Ghamsari, Executive Director for International Affairs at National Iranian Oil Company, confirmed the reaching of an accord with the Shell oil company adding “the resumption of Iran’s crude oil sales to the company remains subject to the payment of previous debts.” read more

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.

EPA investigating gas flaring levels at Corrib gas project

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Shell acknowledged that the flaring was “exceptional” on December 31st, and has promised to “take all measures” to minimise further occurrences…

Lorna Siggins: Mon 4 Jan 2016

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says it is investigating the intense flaring of gas at the Corrib gas plant which alarmed north Mayo residents on New Year’s Eve.

The EPA has confirmed it is “liaising and will continue to liaise with the licensee, Shell E&P Ireland Ltd regarding the operation of the flare”.

It says under the project’s emissions licence conditions, flaring can only be used “for safety reasons or for non-routine operational conditions”. read more

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.

Nigeria: Shell Spill Set Ablaze in Bayelsa Community

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By Igoniko Oduma: 3 JANUARY 2016

Yenagoa — An oil spill site at Oruma/Yiba-Ama community, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, has been set ablaze by unknown persons.

Sources said Shell abandoned the Ogbia segment of the spill incident without carrying out clean-up and remediation of the devastated Oruma/Yiba-Ama environment.

The report of the Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) carried out on the oil spill which was concluded on 25 June, 2015, indicated that the incident was allegedly caused by third party interference with 306 barrels of crude oil spilled. read more

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.

How Ben van Beurden could turn from sinner to saint overnight

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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.

Investor halves BG Group stake as doubts grow over Shell deal

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By Ben Martin, and Ben Marlow, THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: 3 JAN 2016

One of the world’s largest investors has more than halved its stake in BG Group, sparking fresh speculation that some of the oil explorer’s top shareholders are sceptical about the prospects for its proposed tie-up with rival Royal Dutch Shell.

Capital Group, which is also one of the biggest investors in Shell, offloaded £417m of BG shares over the course of December, slashing its shareholding in the FTSE 100 giant from 2.2pc to 0.9pc, stock exchange filings show.

The American fund management firm continued to reduce its stake even after Shell published the prospectus for the blockbuster BG takeover on December 22, in which it sought to convince shareholders of the merits of the deal by outlining additional capital spending cuts. read more

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.

Environmental group condemns Shell for poor response to oil spill incident at Adibawa Oil field

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By NAN on January 2, 2016

An Environmental Rights group has condemned what it called the ‘slow response of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to the oil spill incident of July 12,2015 at the Adibawa Oil field, operated by the company.

Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) made the condemnation in its field report on the oil field, a copy which was made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa on Saturday.

The group regretted that more than six months after the oil leak incident was reported, oil recovery was yet to be completed, exposing the environment to continued pollution by spilled crude. read more

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.

US Gulf oil spill nearly ruined BP, says chief Bob Dudley

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Screen Shot 2015-12-07 at 20.08.32Saturday 2 Jan 2016

The giant oil spill from a BP rig off the US coast in 2010 nearly ruined the company, its chief executive has said.

Bob Dudley described the fire on the Deepwater Horizon and its aftermath as “a near death experience” for the firm.

It was one of the worst environmental disasters in the US and saw BP pay fines and compensation and sell off more than £30bn ($45bn) in assets.

Mr Dudley told ex-BP boss Lord Browne – a guest editor on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme – it was a “tragic accident”. read more

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.

Fund management industry’s credibility on show in planned BG-Shell merger

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Screen Shot 2015-12-23 at 09.03.45By Ian McVeigh: 3:35PM GMT 02 Jan 2016

Shell bid for BG in April last year, after the oil price had halved. It is impossible to say what the price of BG would be without the bid, far lower for sure and most calculations suggest that a premium of around $20bn to $25bn is being paid to the shareholders of BG.

I am not suggesting that the board and management of Shell are thinking “I’ll be gone, you’ll be gone”.

The people at Shell take a more long-term view than those on the trading desks of the banks might take, but when you consider the CFO’s comment not to worry about the price paid, this sounds like a classic case of a deal made using other people’s money to me. read more

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.

Gas flaring at Corrib plant ‘frightening’, says resident

Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 22.40.21Lorna Siggins: Friday 1st January 2016

Residents living close to the Corrib gas plant in north Mayo have expressed alarm over the intensity of gas flaring during New Year’s Eve.

Shell E&P Ireland acknowledged on Friday evening that the flaring level was “exceptional”.

“As the start up process continues, there may be further intermittent flaring activity in the coming days,” it said.

“This will not be at the same level and we will take all measures to minimise any flaring occurrences,” it said. read more

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.

The business figures with most at stake in 2016

Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 22.16.08Terry Macalister: 1 Jan 2016

Few chief executives enter 2016 under as much pressure as Ben van Beurden, the Shell boss. 

A decision to use low crude prices as an opportunity for a £40bn takeover of rival BG has left him facing City critics worried that Shell’s sacred dividend is now under threat as the price of crude plunges relentlessly downwards.

FULL ARTICLE

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.