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Sir Mark Moody-Stuart

Saudi Arabia’s Giant & Secretive Oil Company, Saudi Aramco

By John Donovan

Interesting to read the news today that the repressive and barbaric Saudi regime is considering publicly listing the state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco. 

The headline on one such article is: “Saudi Arabia’s Giant & Secretive Oil Company May Go For IPO

It is ironical under the circumstances that retired Royal Dutch Shell Chairman Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, the long-time claimed champion of transparency and ethics, is a member of the Saudi Aramco board

His late brother George Moody-Stuart was the highly respected Chairman of Transparency International.  read more

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Shell’s Former Chairman Made a Startling Comment About Climate Change

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Chris Matthews/Fortune

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Screen Shot 2015-06-05 at 21.29.09Sir Mark Moody-Stuart calls for divestment in fossil-fuel companies

When the oilmen themselves are arguing for stronger action to fight climate change, it’s probably time to start acting.

Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, the former chairman of oil giant Royal Dutch Shell, said that the lack of progress the world has made on climate change is, “distressing,” and that it was “rational” for investors to start divesting their money from companies that extract fossil fuels, according to a report in The Guardian.

According to the paper, “His striking remarks are the most supportive of divestment made by any senior figure in the fossil fuel business.” read more

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Fossil fuel divestment is rational, says former Shell chairman

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Screen Shot 2015-06-04 at 12.24.56Fossil fuel divestment is rational, says former Shell chairman read more

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Working for Shell didn’t stop me having morals or accepting climate change, says Mark Moody-Stuart

By John Donovan

The Guardian has published another article by former Royal Dutch Shell Group Chairman, Sir Mark Moody-Stuart.

He is apparently attempting to deal with the recent suggestion by Jonathan Porritt  that oil company employees should conducer quitting their jobs on moral grounds.

Sir Mark says that working for Shell didn’t stop him from having morals or accepting climate change.

He clearly holds himself in high esteem.

Surprising, since all manner of unethical activity took place during his time at the top of Shell, including: read more

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Mark Moody-Stuart a critic of Shell crash diet

Sir Mark Moody Stuart. Photo: Frank Baron of the Guardian

Retired Shell Chairman Sir Mark Moody Stuart

Extracts from a Reuters article by Alex Lawler and Dmitry Zhdannikov published 7 May 2014 under the headline: “After crash diet, oil majors may need new growth”

LONDON, May 7 (Reuters) – The global oil majors’ crash diets may be going too far. That at least is the view of a small number of critics who believe sweeping programmes of asset sales and the trimming of investment plans risk doing longer-term damage. Such projects are important both for the companies’ future, a retired top executive said, as well as the wider world. “It would be a pity if they got put off the larger projects,” said Mark Moody-Stuart, who was Shell chairman from 1998 to 2001. “They are capable of doing it and the world in supply terms needs large projects.” Moody-Stuart is also questioning the reasoning behind the sale of mature oil and gas fields by the majors. “I can see there are some assets you should probably dispose of in order to concentrate your capital, but I would be cautious of divesting oneself of fields whose ultimate recovery can probably be increased by technology,” he said. read more

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Little known key role of Michiel Brandjes in Shell reserves scandal

Screen Shot 2014-03-09 at 23.42.12However, unbeknown to Van de Vijver, Michiel Brandjes (right), who was alarmed by the findings of the report, sent a copy to a New York law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore. This meant that events were no longer in the control of Shell. Instead, Shell’s most sensitive issue since its close association with Adolf Hitler and the Nazis several decades ago, had been disclosed to an outside firm, that had to consider and protect its own reputation.

By John Donovan

In May 2003, Frank Coopman, the then Chief Financial Officer of Shell EP, delivered bad news about Shell’s operations in Nigeria to the Chief Executive of Shell EP, Walter van de Vijver.

Van de Vijver sent Coopman back to Nigeria to investigate further.

The subsequent findings, set out in a status report, were even more devastating, revealing an overstatement of 1.1 billion boe.

Van de Vijver had instructed a team led by Coopman to work on the reserves issues.

The team included a top Shell lawyer, Michiel Brandjes, the then Company Secretary of Royal Dutch Petroleum. read more

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Royal Dutch Shell: Reminiscences of an old EP hand

Screen Shot 2013-10-01 at 07.56.54Then came the roaring 90s. Everything had to be done faster, shareholder value, bonuses, do like ENRON etc etc. This led to an influx of fast talking americans with me first, rest later attitude and the contractor will fix it. Scandals like the Tejas Gas disaster (carefully kept away from the press) and other bad things emerged (just check out the Donovan website). And the fast talking americans then swarmed out over Shell International and changed the culture. Me first, screw the rest. The rest is history…..

Comment “From an old EP hand” posted on Jan 23rd, 2014 at 11:33 

@relieved
Until the early 90s Shell Oil had many great designers and other top professionals. They were second to none when it came to HPHT welldesigns (and offshore development, geophysics etc). Also very pragmatic and hands-on experience.

I remember Leo Broussard, genuine good old boy. He could smoke a big cigar and drink whiskey without taking the cigar from his mouth. But he knew more about well and completion design than anyone else in the world. And he was always willing to share his knowledge. Just not interested in making a career, his passion was designing complicated completions! read more

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Simon Henry and the reserves time bomb

Were they aware that Simon Henry was a key player, as Head of Global Investor Relations, in dealing with the reserves data and actually had responsibility to ensure the quality/accuracy of the data before it was disclosed to analysts and investors? As we all know, it turned out that some of the data was not only inaccurate, but fraudulent. He had been warned that a Gorgon 600 million BOE reserves booking was an IR time bomb.

Introduction: A draft of the article below was supplied to Shell in advance, namely to Mr Michiel Brandjes, the Company Secretary & General Counsel Corporate of Royal Dutch Shell Plc and the CFO, Mr. Simon Henry. We invited Shell to point out any factual inaccuracy and/or supply comment for unedited publication with the article. No response other than an automated message has been received.

ARTICLE

By John Donovan

On 13 March 2009, the Financial Times published an article about Simon Henry, who was about to become Chief Financial Officer of Royal Dutch Shell Plc. It said that he had survived the reserves misreporting scandal with his reputation intact. I wonder how much investigation of the facts was undertaken before arriving at that conclusion? read more

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Short list of praiseworthy senior Royal Dutch Shell executives

Now we have his equally scandal tainted successor, Peter Voser, Chairman of the UBS Audit Committee at the time when UBS was engaged in all kinds of criminal activity.

Posting on Shell Blog by LondonLad on Jan 17th, 2013 at 19:56

In all honesty can the Donovan’s kindly list some of the past and present senior executives of Royal Dutch Shell that they would support for their good work, honesty, ability to abide by country HSE requirements, etc. etc. More and more it seems that if you work for RDS at a (very) senior level they’ll get shafted via real AND tabloid reporting on this website, Greenpeace (dick-heads), and other tree hugging websites. We (the countries around the world) need to advance, risks need to be taken as a result…. read more

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Jeroen van der Veer exit from Shell

I am only surprised that an ex CEO of Shell leaves the board at a young age. Is Jeroen washing his hands in innocence or trying to put light between him and Shell?? In the past they used to hang in there for long periods until they had to get up too often to take a pee during shareholders meetings. But in recent times Herkstroter left premature, so did Moody-Stuart. And Watts sought salvation…

13/12/2012

Royal Dutch Shell plc has announced today that Mr Gerrit Zalm has been appointed a Non-executive Director of the Company with effect from January 1, 2013. Mr Zalm is the Chairman of the Board of Management of ABN AMRO Bank N.V., a position he has held since February 2009. Prior to that Mr Zalm was the Minister of Finance of the Netherlands from 1994-2002 and from 2003-2007. Mr Zalm will seek re-appointment by shareholders at the next Annual General Meeting (AGM), scheduled to be held in May 2013. (information taken from Shell website) read more

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SHELL BUSINESS PRINCIPLES – GENUINE OR CON TRICK?

By John Donovan

Shell has for many years supposedly operated within an ethical code which, according to its current shell.com webpage on the subject, was first published in 1976.

This does not tally with the relevant pages in “A HISTORY OF ROYAL DUTCH SHELL, Volume 3,” about the history of the code – known in the 1990’s as the Shell Statement of General Business Principles.

Apparently they were first drafted in 1962, restated and first published in 1976, made freely available to the public from 1981 and reformulated in 1997, for the first time including human rights. read more

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Editorial Integrity of “A History of Royal Dutch Shell”

In fact all three Shell members of the editorial committee, Watts, Van der Veer and Munsiff, had form in the culture of corporate cover-up and were therefore ideal from the standpoint of Shell to have editorial influence over inclusion (or non-inclusion) of the dark side of Shell’s history and how that information was treated (spun?)

By John Donovan

The official history of Royal Dutch Shell published in three volumes in 2007 was commissioned by the company and authored by historians associated with Utrecht University who were given unrestricted access to Royal Dutch Shell archives.

The relevant historians, who describe themselves as the researchers and authors of the work, say that none of them are Shell employees and claim that the work is “the fruit of our independent research” with their progress “monitored by an editorial committee, with an equal number of economic historians and company representatives.” read more

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How Shell’s Move To Revamp Culture Ended in Scandal

FROM OUR NOVEMBER 2004 SHELL NEWS ARCHIVE

How Shell’s Move To Revamp Culture Ended in Scandal: “The root of the problem, however, goes significantly further back than Sir Philip’s reign, which began in 2001”: “These deeper roots are significant because the company has yet to make a full break with its past. Mr. van der Veer is a longtime Shell executive who sat on the committee that received — and dallied over — warnings about the accounting problems.”: “In addition to its ambitious plans to discover new oil and gas cheaply, Shell under Sir Mark was redefining how it counted existing reserves.”: “Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, chairman from 1998 to 2001, remains on the board of Shell’s English parent… He declined to comment about reserves issues. And Shell still can’t seem to get a handle on its reserves.”

As New-Age Style Came In,
Geology Skills Lost Out;
Imitating Jerry Springer
Oilmen at a Rainy Playground

By CHIP CUMMINS and ALMAR LATOUR Staff Reporters of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

November 2, 2004; Page A1

In late 2000, the head of the Dutch exploration unit at Royal Dutch/Shell Group asked his planners to deliver five-minute skits pitching ideas for discovering oil and gas.

In one skit, a naked employee ran on stage to catch the boss’s attention, say two people who attended. Another featured a mock episode of the Jerry Springer show, the incendiary daytime TV talk program. A third, after a bit of fun and games, promised to extract large quantities of natural gas cheaply from seemingly declining Dutch fields. 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.

Watchdog’s bark far worse than its bite

From our November 2005 Shell News Archive

The Times: Watchdog’s bark far worse than its bite

“In the Shell case, the FSA had plenty of evidence of a conspiracy at the highest level against the interests of shareholders. The company’s own investigation unearthed compelling e-mail evidence, not least former exploration director Walter van de Vijver’s infamous complaint that he was “becoming sick and tired about lying about the extent of our reserves issues”.: “…it looks downright embarrassing that the FSA official who fought Sir Philip, former acting enforcement head David Mayhew, will later this month wave goodbye to the FSA and walk straight into a highly paid job at Herbert Smith — the firm advising Sir Philip.”

Posted Friday 11 Nov 2005

SHELL, we were told by the Financial Services Authority last summer, was guilty of “unprecedented misconduct”. For five years, from 1998 to 2003, the company had repeatedly misled shareholders over its oil and gas reserves. It was so culpable that the regulator felt it had no choice but to fine it a then-record £17 million.

Yet we are now asked to believe that no one running the company at the time was actually to blame. The FSA yesterday dropped its investigation into and proceedings against the former chairman, Sir Philip Watts, and other unnamed individuals. After an 18-month inquiry the regulator’s enforcement arm had assembled a case against the individuals. But its Regulatory Decisions Committee, which makes the final judgment, was unconvinced. Or was it simply unwilling? For years the FSA has banged the drum about how it would hold senior figures to account when companies broke the rules. Yet time and again, the FSA finds companies guilty of serious offences while failing to secure individual scalps. The Citigroup bond trading scandal ended with all the traders who had been involved reinstated and no senior figure so much as formally reprimanded by the authorities. 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 Shell’s Move To Revamp Culture Ended in Scandal

FROM OUR NOVEMBER 2004 SHELL NEWS ARCHIVE

How Shell’s Move To Revamp Culture Ended in Scandal

Paddy Briggs, a retired Shell communications executive, recalls one event where he and about 40 executives were issued shovels and pick-axes and dispatched to a Dutch village to help it restore an old playground. The oilmen gave up around lunchtime amid heavy rain. Such gimmicks became the butt of jokes, “but nobody said, ‘Hey, have we lost our minds here?’ “says Mr. Briggs.

As New-Age Style Came In,
Geology Skills Lost Out;
Imitating Jerry Springer
Oilmen at a Rainy Playground

By CHIP CUMMINS and ALMAR LATOUR

Staff Reporters of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

November 2, 2004; Page A1

In late 2000, the head of the Dutch exploration unit at Royal Dutch/Shell Group asked his planners to deliver five-minute skits pitching ideas for discovering oil and gas.

In one skit, a naked employee ran on stage to catch the boss’s attention, say two people who attended. Another featured a mock episode of the Jerry Springer show, the incendiary daytime TV talk program. A third, after a bit of fun and games, promised to extract large quantities of natural gas cheaply from seemingly declining Dutch fields. 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.

A DREADFUL DAY FOR SHELL SHAREHOLDERS, ESPECIALLY UK SHELL SHAREHOLDERS

FROM OUR OCTOBER 2004 SHELL NEWS ARCHIVE

Friday 29 October, 2004 – A DREADFUL DAY FOR SHAREHOLDERS IN SHELL TRANSPORT AND TRADING COMPANY PLC

The Times (UK): The Hague for head office: “ALTHOUGH it maintains otherwise, Shell is effectively going Dutch…”: “From May, the big decisions will be taken by a new board in The Hague, which has seven Dutch members and only four Britons.”: “…from 2006 it will hold AGMs only in The Hague.”

The Times (UK): Fear of new Shell reserves downgrade: “ROYAL Dutch/Shell yesterday raised fears that it may have to write down its reserves by more than 1.5 billion barrels…”: “With less than 60 per cent of its reservoir audit completed, Shell was unable yesterday to put a ceiling on the potential downgrade of its reserves…”

Daily Telegraph (UK): Dutch chiefs take helm of merged Shell: “The radical move, which needs to be approved by shareholders, is likely to be seen as a Dutch takeover of the energy giant…”: “The news was overshadowed by yet more revelations about the company’s “proven” reserves…” 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’s not well for Shell directors

FROM OUR SHELL NEWS ARCHIVE SEPT 2004

The Times: Oil’s not well for Shell directors

“The debacle over the reserves lifted the lid on an organisation that appears to have knowingly deceived investors.”: “It was when Sir Mark Moody-Stuart was in charge in 1998 that a paper was produced under the title: Creating Value through Entrepreneurial Management of Hydrocarbon Resource Values. Inflating the reserve figures certainly did that.

By Patience Wheatcroft

Business Editor’s Commentary

Posted 24 Sept 04

SHELL directors are looking into an abyss when they would prefer to be gazing down an oil well. For years the company has been using its reserves faster than it has been replenishing them and it does not take a highly qualified petroleum engineer to tell that continuation of that strategy does not make for a happy future.

So although Jeroen van der Veer and his colleagues must have known that, in the wake of the devastating reserves scandal, a more cautious approach to business might be appropriate, they have decided this was an option they could not afford. So Shell is taking a deep breath and hoping the oil price is going to remain high while it goes off in search of new wells whose contents are likely to be rather more expensive to retrieve than it would wish. 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 Shell Show, a tragicomedy in an unlimited number of parts

FROM OUR AUGUST 2004 SHELL NEWS ARCHIVE

The Daily Telegraph: The landslide bringing down Shell grandees

The SEC and FSA reports, however, go back to the previous regime, when Sir Mark Moody-Stuart was chairman.”: Even Shell fell for the “group bonding” mumbo-jumbo, and he was videoed stumbling blindfold around head office during one such session, talking of his desire to “encourage the creativity of people” around him. He seems to have succeeded.”

(Filed: 28/08/2004)

The Securities & Exchange Commission has announced its intention to pin the reserves scandal on individuals, writes James Moore

The Shell Show, a tragicomedy in an unlimited number of parts, featured a powerful double act this week.

On Tuesday America’s Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Services Authority both gave the company a good kicking for wrongly booking billions of barrels of oil and gas reserves as “proven”.

Now Harold Degenhardt, the director of the Securities & Exchange Commission’s office in Fort Worth, Texas, is hard at work on the sequel. “What people need to focus on is that companies only act through people,” he says. read more

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Shell’s woes mount as it admits cost overruns and delays

FROM OUR JULY 2005 SHELL NEWS ARCHIVES…

THE TIMES: Shell’s woes mount as it admits cost overruns and delays

“FURTHER delays and soaring expenditure in big energy projects emerged at Royal Dutch Shell yesterday when the company admitted that the start-up of Bonga, a giant offshore Nigerian oilfield, had been pushed back until late this year.“: “Bonga’s budget has already swelled from a $2.7 billion estimate in 2001 to about $4 billion (£2.3 billion).”: “In a reference to the Sakhalin cost overruns, admitted by Shell a fortnight ago, Mr van der Veer said: “It is clear we must improve project management.”

Friday 29 July 2005

By Carl Mortished, International Business Editor

FURTHER delays and soaring expenditure in big energy projects emerged at Royal Dutch Shell yesterday when the company admitted that the start-up of Bonga, a giant offshore Nigerian oilfield, had been pushed back until late this year.

The billion barrel oilfield was expected to start producing in the summer but Peter Voser, Shell’s finance director, said that production would not get going until the fourth quarter. Bonga’s budget has already swelled from a $2.7 billion estimate in 2001 to about $4 billion (£2.3 billion). 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 and Friends of the Earth exhange fire via the FT

By John Donovan

Stumbled across this interesting correspondence conducted publicly via the letters page of the Financial Times several years ago between Sir Mark Moody-Stuart of Shell and Mr Tony Juniper, Executive Director, Friends of the Earth, London. As can be seen, Sir Mark scored a spectacular own goal. Got his facts wrong.

FROM OUR JUNE 2005 SHELL NEWS ARCHIVE

Shell Director Sir Mark Moody-Stuart & Tony Juniper, Executive Director, Friends of the Earth, exchange fire  via the letters page of the Financial Times

Financial Times: Enjoy a free trip and get to ask Shell a question: By Sir Mark Moody-Stuart

Thursday 30 June 2005

By Mark Moody-Stuart

From Sir Mark Moody-Stuart.

Sir, Attending my last annual meeting of Shell as a director, I was interested to note that almost half of the 20 or so questions asked came from individuals from areas in the neighbourhood of Shell operations in Sakhalin, Brazil, Nigeria, the Philippines and the US. According to Craig Bennett of Friends of the Earth (FoE), who summed up their concerns, these people had been brought to England by FoE to reflect locally held views. read more

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FINAL SHELL TRANSPORT AGM started and ended to refrain of Bing Crosby crooning: You can be sure of Shell

ARTICLE FROM OUR 2005 SHELL NEWS ARCHIVE

(MICHAEL HOLLIDAY VERSION OF THE SHELL SONG)

ShellNews.net: The Shell Transport FINAL AGM resulting from the reserves scandal, started and ended to the refrain of Bing Crosby crooning: “You can be sure of Shell”:

Wednesday 29 June 2005

By John Donovan

Editor, ShellNews.net

Shell’s marathon AGM was held yesterday in sweltering conditions in what seemed like a large aircraft hanger (the ExCel Centre) adjoining the City of London Airport. It concluded after what seemed an eternity – over three hours of hot air. 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.

New report exposes Shell complicity in Nigerian human rights abuses

Graphics from the Guardian article: Unloveable Shell, the Goddess of Oil

By John Donovan

Monday, 3 October 2011

Shell fueled human rights abuses in Nigeria by paying huge contracts to armed militants, according to a new report published today by Platform and a coalition of NGOs and featured in The Guardian.

This evening we received an email of thanks from Ben Amunwa of platformlondon.org. Ben is the author of the 41 page report called Counting the Cost, which uncovers how Shell’s routine payments to armed militants exacerbated conflicts, in one case leading to the destruction of Rumuekpe town where it is estimated that at least 60 people were killed. 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.

‘YOU CAN BE SURE OF SHELL’: The biggest confidence trick in history

By John Donovan

Many people fondly remember the advertising slogan…

“You can be Sure of Shell”

The legendary crooner, Bing Crosby, sung the praises of Shell in the 1950’s.

MICHAEL HOLIDAY VERSION

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IdhOXh_g7s

Our research indicates that the slogan

“YOU CAN BE SURE OF SHELL”…

was first used in Great Britain by Shell in 1937 (right) months after the forced resignation of Sir Henri Deterding, the man most responsible for the creation and global success of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. read more

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Exploiting boardroom connections of Sir Mark Moody-Stuart

Hermes Equity Ownership Services, which advises funds on governance, is banking on Sir Mark's boardroom relationships. These include Shell, which he chaired, where investors have opposed pay policies.

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 in legal row over Smart Card

Update 7 July 2008: Shell settled the claim three weeks into the trial paying all of John Donovan’s legal costs. Donovan also received a payment as part of the top secret settlement, the terms of which, as Shell General Counsel Richard Wiseman confirmed in an email to John Donovan on 17 June 2008, were not even disclosed to the Judge, Mr Justice Laddie who approved the settlement and made ill informed comments believing he had been given the true facts. A so-called “Joint Press Release” actually issued by Shell Media, contained a false account of the settlement designed to deceive Shell stakeholders, the media and the public. In other words a typical example of Royal Dutch Shell intrigue, deception and cover-up, in this instance personally approved by the then Group Chairman, Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, who, prior to the court proceedings, sent a letter to John Donovan containing a threat. His wife, Lady Judy Moody-Stuart, personally intervened in the litigation prior to the trial. A copy of her extraordinary letter and subsequent post card message sent to Alfred Donovan at the commencement of the trial was passed to the Judge.

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.

Aramco sets global strategy

The reformed board now includes James Kinnear, former Texaco president and CEO, Mark Moody-Stuart, former chairman of Royal Dutch Shell Group...

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 attempt to thwart US Ogoni Class Action Lawsuit fails

ROYAL DUTCH SHELL attempt to thwart US Ogoni Class Action Lawsuit fails

Royal Dutch Shell attempt to thwart Ogoni US Class Action Lawsuit fails: Thurs 8 Sept 2005 17.20pm ET

By John Donovan

A US Magistrate Judge, Henry Pitman, has recommended in a report to a US District Judge that motions filed by Royal Dutch Shell to dismiss a class action lawsuit by former residents of Ogoniland, Nigeria, now living in the United States, should be denied.

The case in question before the UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK (Case No. 02-CV-7618) relates to Shell’s oil operations in Ogoniland, an area located in the Niger River delta area of Nigeria. The plaintiffs have charged Royal Dutch Shell with violations of the laws of nations and customary international law and seeks legal recognition of a class consisting of “all Ogoni or Ogoni family members who resided in Ogoniland during the period of October 1, 1990 to May 28, 1999” who were injured during the course of the alleged misconduct by Shell. The class could potentially consist of hundreds of thousands of people. 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 woes mount as it admits cost overruns and delays

THE TIMES (UK): Shell’s woes mount as it admits cost overruns and delays

“FURTHER delays and soaring expenditure in big energy projects emerged at Royal Dutch Shell yesterday when the company admitted that the start-up of Bonga, a giant offshore Nigerian oilfield, had been pushed back until late this year.“: “Bonga’s budget has already swelled from a $2.7 billion estimate in 2001 to about $4 billion (£2.3 billion).”: “In a reference to the Sakhalin cost overruns, admitted by Shell a fortnight ago, Mr van der Veer said: “It is clear we must improve project management.”

Friday 29 July 2005

By Carl Mortished, International Business Editor

FURTHER delays and soaring expenditure in big energy projects emerged at Royal Dutch Shell yesterday when the company admitted that the start-up of Bonga, a giant offshore Nigerian oilfield, had been pushed back until late this year.

The billion barrel oilfield was expected to start producing in the summer but Peter Voser, Shell’s finance director, said that production would not get going until the fourth quarter. Bonga’s budget has already swelled from a $2.7 billion estimate in 2001 to about $4 billion (£2.3 billion). 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.

FINANCIAL TIMES: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: THE DOUBLE STANDARDS OF SIR MARK MOODY-STUART

ShellNews.net: FINANCIAL TIMES: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: THE DOUBLE STANDARDS OF SIR MARK MOODY-STUART

Tuesday 5 July 2005

By John Donovan

ShellNews.net Editor and a Shell shareholder

Sir

I am writing with regard to the letter from Sir Mark Moody-Stuart published by The Financial Times on 30 June 2005 under the headline: “Enjoy a free trip and get to ask Shell a question.”

In his letter Sir Mark questioned the independence of individuals who asked questions at his final AGM as a Shell Transport director. He also made reference to the “Alternative Shell Report” published by the Friends of the Earth. I note that Tony Juniper, Executive Director of the FOE subsequently confirmed that the FOE did not pay for the relevant individuals to travel to the AGM as Sir Mark had wrongly alleged. read more

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No longer just shareholders who have their say

Financial Times: Letters: No longer just shareholders who have their say

Friday 1 July 2005

By Tony Juniper
From Mr Tony Juniper.

Sir, Once again Shell seems to have got its facts wrong (Letters, June 30). Friends of the Earth did not pay for community representatives to travel to this year’s Shell annual meeting as Sir Mark Moody-Stuart claims.

Perhaps if he, and others from Shell, were to spend more time talking to and meeting people in the communities where they work, then these people would not feel the need to attend the AGMs.

Because stakeholders are not listened to by Shell or by other big companies, their options for making their concerns known are limited. That is why it is time the UK government amended company law to ensure that affected communities are given rights and it is no longer just shareholders who have their say. read more

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No longer just shareholders who have their say

Financial Times: Letters: No longer just shareholders who have their say

Friday 1 July 2005

By Tony Juniper
From Mr Tony Juniper.

Sir, Once again Shell seems to have got its facts wrong (Letters, June 30). Friends of the Earth did not pay for community representatives to travel to this year’s Shell annual meeting as Sir Mark Moody-Stuart claims.

Perhaps if he, and others from Shell, were to spend more time talking to and meeting people in the communities where they work, then these people would not feel the need to attend the AGMs.

Because stakeholders are not listened to by Shell or by other big companies, their options for making their concerns known are limited. That is why it is time the UK government amended company law to ensure that affected communities are given rights and it is no longer just shareholders who have their say. read more

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Enjoy a free trip and get to ask Shell a question: By Sir Mark Moody-Stuart

Financial Times: Enjoy a free trip and get to ask Shell a question: By Sir Mark Moody-Stuart

Thursday 30 June 2005

From Sir Mark Moody-Stuart.

Sir, Attending my last annual meeting of Shell as a director, I was interested to note that almost half of the 20 or so questions asked came from individuals from areas in the neighbourhood of Shell operations in Sakhalin, Brazil, Nigeria, the Philippines and the US. According to Craig Bennett of Friends of the Earth (FoE), who summed up their concerns, these people had been brought to England by FoE to reflect locally held views.

While certainly there are problems that need addressing around Shell’s operations, and which are proper subjects for discussion at an AGM, in my experience the views expressed did not fully reflect the facts on the ground or represent a cross section of local opinion. read more

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FINAL SHELL TRANSPORT AGM started and ended to refrain of Bing Crosby crooning: You can be sure of Shell

ARTICLE FROM OUR 2005 SHELL NEWS ARCHIVE

(MICHAEL HOLLIDAY VERSION OF THE SHELL SONG)

ShellNews.net: The Shell Transport FINAL AGM resulting from the reserves scandal, started and ended to the refrain of Bing Crosby crooning: “You can be sure of Shell”:

Wednesday 29 June 2005

By John Donovan

Editor, ShellNews.net

Shell’s marathon AGM was held yesterday in sweltering conditions in what seemed like a large aircraft hanger (the ExCel Centre) adjoining the City of London Airport. It concluded after what seemed an eternity – over three hours of hot air. read more

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Shell News Archive Sunday 14 November 2004

From our Shell News Archive Sunday 14 November 2004

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Loony Training Fads Are New Form of Snake Oil: “Your page-one article “Changing Drill: How Shell ‘s Move to Revamp Culture Ended in Scandal” (Nov. 2) is indicative of the loony and devastating training fads and cultural initiatives I’ve seen in Fortune 500 companies over the past quarter-century…” (ShellNews.net) Posted 14 Nov 04

THE RELATED ARTICLE:THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: How Shell’s Move To Revamp Culture Ended in Scandal: “The root of the problem, however, goes significantly further back than Sir Philip’s reign, which began in 2001”: “These deeper roots are significant because the company has yet to make a full break with its past. Mr. van der Veer is a longtime Shell executive who sat on the committee that received — and dallied over — warnings about the accounting problems.”: ” In addition to its ambitious plans to discover new oil and gas cheaply, Shell under Sir Mark was redefining how it counted existing reserves.”: “Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, chairman from 1998 to 2001, remains on the board of Shell’s English parent… He declined to comment about reserves issues. And Shell still can’t seem to get a handle on its reserves.” (ShellNews.net) 2 Nov 04 read more

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All the worst Shell traits – secrecy, haughtiness, inertia

From our Shell News Archive Sunday 31 October, 2004

The fallout from the Shell reserves fraud continues…

The Independent On Sunday (UK): Business View: Shell’s real location problem is finding more black stuff: “The misreporting of reserves scandal showed all the worst Shell traits – secrecy, haughtiness, inertia.”: “So what’s the hurry? Was it because Shell had to admit that it had uncovered another 900 million barrels of doubtful crude in its reserves and was likely to uncover 600 million more?”

Sunday Express (UK): Shell boardroom changes backfire on reserves news: “ONE OF the world’s most influential financial firms has given the thumbs down to an announcement from Shell it is to end its 97-year-old dual board structure.”: “…financial ratings agency Standard & Poor’s said it had adjusted Shell’s investment rating downwards to “creditwatch negative”, a status which implies there may be more bad news to come from the company.”

Mail on Sunday (UK): Shell bosses in a charm offensive: “The Board, headed by Jeroen van der Veer, will see thousands of staff to explain the proposed changes and shore up the mood of the employees damaged by scandals over Shell’s inflated oil reserves.”: “Last week, Shell was forced to downgrade its estimates of proven oil reserves for the fifth time this year. Reserves are now a third lower than originally thought” read more

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DREADFUL DAY FOR SHELL SHAREHOLDERS, ESPECIALLY UK SHELL SHAREHOLDERS

FROM OUR OCTOBER 2004 SHELL NEWS ARCHIVE

Friday 29 October, 2004 – A DREADFUL DAY FOR SHAREHOLDERS IN SHELL TRANSPORT AND TRADING COMPANY PLC

The Times (UK): The Hague for head office: “ALTHOUGH it maintains otherwise, Shell is effectively going Dutch…”: “From May, the big decisions will be taken by a new board in The Hague, which has seven Dutch members and only four Britons.”: “…from 2006 it will hold AGMs only in The Hague.”

The Times (UK): Fear of new Shell reserves downgrade: “ROYAL Dutch/Shell yesterday raised fears that it may have to write down its reserves by more than 1.5 billion barrels…”: “With less than 60 per cent of its reservoir audit completed, Shell was unable yesterday to put a ceiling on the potential downgrade of its reserves…”

Daily Telegraph (UK): Dutch chiefs take helm of merged Shell: “The radical move, which needs to be approved by shareholders, is likely to be seen as a Dutch takeover of the energy giant…”: “The news was overshadowed by yet more revelations about the company’s “proven” reserves…” read more

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Jeroen van der Veer, Democratic Dutchman with a charisma bypass

The Guardian: Democratic Dutchman with a charisma bypass

“One of his endearing traits is to ask his exploration director Malcolm Brinded, a more natural performer it must be said, to tell him if he gets things wrong: “Malcolm, check me if I drop the ball,” van der Veer said at one stage.”: “An outsider would be better suited for that post, especially as van der Veer’s name comes up, along with other Shell directors, in class actions in the US. It must be hard to focus on the way forward with the cloud of the past hanging over you…”

Terry Macalister

Posted 24 September 2004

In the halcyon days pre-January, Shell used to summon analysts and the media to its landmark tower overlooking the Thames.

Those occasions were presided over by former chairmen Sir Philip Watts or Sir Mark Moody-Stuart with a certain hauteur.

Now, the trouble-prone group prefers to keep oil-watchers out of its headquarters, and yesterday used the Plaisterers Hall near the Barbican for what it had billed as a major strategy briefing.

Another break with the past is that current chairman Jeroen van der Veer is a democratic Dutchman who could not do smugness if he tried. read more

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Oil’s not well for Shell directors

FROM OUR SHELL NEWS ARCHIVE SEPT 2004

The Times: Oil’s not well for Shell directors

“The debacle over the reserves lifted the lid on an organisation that appears to have knowingly deceived investors.”: “It was when Sir Mark Moody-Stuart was in charge in 1998 that a paper was produced under the title: Creating Value through Entrepreneurial Management of Hydrocarbon Resource Values. Inflating the reserve figures certainly did that.”

By Patience Wheatcroft

Business Editor’s Commentary

Posted 24 Sept 04

SHELL directors are looking into an abyss when they would prefer to be gazing down an oil well. For years the company has been using its reserves faster than it has been replenishing them and it does not take a highly qualified petroleum engineer to tell that continuation of that strategy does not make for a happy future.

So although Jeroen van der Veer and his colleagues must have known that, in the wake of the devastating reserves scandal, a more cautious approach to business might be appropriate, they have decided this was an option they could not afford. So Shell is taking a deep breath and hoping the oil price is going to remain high while it goes off in search of new wells whose contents are likely to be rather more expensive to retrieve than it would wish. read more

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Shell inquiry widens as attention turns to executives

The Times: Shell inquiry widens as attention turns to executives

“THE US Attorney’s office in New York has demanded boxes of documents related to the alleged oil reserve fraud at Royal Dutch/Shell, signalling an escalation of a federal investigation into the scandal.”: “disgruntled American investors amended their lawsuit to include Sir Mark Moody Stuart…”: “The lawsuit also names PriceWaterhouseCoopers UK and KPMG”

From James Doran, Wall Street Correspondent

September 15, 2004

THE US Attorney’s office in New York has demanded boxes of documents related to the alleged oil reserve fraud at Royal Dutch/Shell, signalling an escalation of a federal investigation into the scandal.

It is understood that federal investigators are now looking into the activities of individual Shell directors who are named in class action lawsuits surrounding the scandal, rather than seeking to prosecute the company as a whole.

The demand marks a dramatic shift in the inquiries under way at Shell, which had until now been involved in civil investigations led by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the market watchdog, and the Financial Services Authority, its British equivalent. read more

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The unpalatable truth about Shell Management

TELLSHELL: The unpalatable truth about Shell Management

“While the Ogoni people sit on top of oil fields, but remain abysmally poor, Sir Philip Watts sits on an $18 million (US dollar) pension pot. It is in my humble opinion simply obscene and indefensible.”

4 September 04

This message was posted on “TellShell”, the forum for supposed “lively debate” on the website of Shell.com. It was in response to comments posted by “Richard” who stated that “as a bemused onlooker with many years of overseas experience within the Shell Group, I find it hard to accept that Shell management is as corrupt, hypocritical and immoral as you depict, or that the Ogoniland campaigners are all the knights in shining armour that your posts suggest.” He also believes that I have made unfair comparisons between the Statement of General Business Principles and my view of Shell’s actual behaviour. His full comments can be read on TellShell under the topic heading “Our recent performance – what do you think?”. read more

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Thinking big: ‘edu-tainment’

The Times: Thinking big: ‘edu-tainment’

“when activists stage a protest at the home of the Royal Dutch Shell chairman Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, they end up staying for tea.”

September 04, 2004

As Morgan Spurlock challenges a fast food nation, Arwa Haider discovers why he and others are using cinema to make a difference

There’s a revolution happening in our cinemas. No longer are local multiplexes screening only action fantasies and rom-coms, they’re also showing a new breed of documentary film whose aim is to provoke thought, to challenge the way we live, and ultimately to change it.

Michael Moore deserves some credit for getting the ball rolling with Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11, which proved that films with a message can make money as well as a political point. But there’s more than Moore out there; this summer, it has been impossible to ignore the buzz surrounding Super Size Me, Morgan Spurlock’s startling, humorous fast food documentary, which goes on general release here on Friday. read more

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Shell-shocked

Financial Times: Shell-shocked

“Shell was found to have “announced false or misleading reserves and reserves replacement ratios throughout the period 1998 to 2003″…: “three heads have rolled… other people in key positions during that time remain. They include Jeroen van der Veer… and Sir Mark Moody-Stuart”

By Jane Fuller

Published: August 28 2004 0

Speaking of oil companies, Royal Dutch/Shell endured another pasting from regulators this week.

We already knew it had been fined $120m by the US Securities and Exchange Commission and £17m by the Financial Services Authority for market abuse. But we had not been treated to the full reasons.

Shell was found to have “announced false or misleading reserves and reserves replacement ratios throughout the period 1998 to 2003”. While three heads have rolled for covering up or failing to act on this problem, other people in key positions during that time remain. They include Jeroen van der Veer, newly installed as chairman of the committee of managing directors, who has been an MD since 1997; and Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, who preceded the departed Phil Watts as chairman of the CMD and is still a non-executive director. read more

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FSA’s report accuses Shell of market abuse

The Times: That was the week: “FSA’s report accuses Shell of market abuse by announcing false oil reserves between 1998 and 2003, implicating several major executives in the scandal, including Sir Mark Moody-Stuart”

August 28, 2004

The Financial Services Authority says that the misreporting of a quarter of Shell’s oil and gas reserves was part of an attempt over several years to boost its poor exploration performance.

The FSA’s report accuses Shell of market abuse by announcing false oil reserves between 1998 and 2003, implicating several major executives in the scandal, including Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, former chairman of Shell’s committee of managing directors.

The FSA imposes a £17 million fine, the largest in its history, for misconduct amounting to market abuse. read more

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The landslide bringing down Shell grandees

FROM OUR AUGUST 2004 SHELL NEWS ARCHIVE

The Daily Telegraph: The landslide bringing down Shell grandees

The SEC and FSA reports, however, go back to the previous regime, when Sir Mark Moody-Stuart was chairman.”: Even Shell fell for the “group bonding” mumbo-jumbo, and he was videoed stumbling blindfold around head office during one such session, talking of his desire to “encourage the creativity of people” around him. He seems to have succeeded.”

(Filed: 28/08/2004)

The Securities & Exchange Commission has announced its intention to pin the reserves scandal on individuals, writes James Moore

The Shell Show, a tragicomedy in an unlimited number of parts, featured a powerful double act this week.

On Tuesday America’s Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Services Authority both gave the company a good kicking for wrongly booking billions of barrels of oil and gas reserves as “proven”.

Now Harold Degenhardt, the director of the Securities & Exchange Commission’s office in Fort Worth, Texas, is hard at work on the sequel. “What people need to focus on is that companies only act through people,” he says. read more

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Shell Chairman responsible for Shell’s descent into cover-up, scandal and shame – Sir Mark Moody-Stuart

The Shell Chairman responsible for Shell’s descent into cover-up, scandal and shame on an epic scale – Sir Mark Moody-Stuart

By Alfred Donovan, 27 August 2004

(This article was written at the kind invitation of Mr Charles Wiwa, the nephew of Ken Saro-Wiwa, for publication in a US newsmagazine circulated to university students. Charles Wiwa is one of the parties in a U.S. Class Action lawsuit being brought against Shell in respect of its misdeeds in Nigeria.)

It is now confirmed by the reports by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission and the UK Financial Services Authority that the deception regarding Shell reserves started during the tenure of Shell Chairman Sir Mark Moody-Stuart. He is identified in many newspaper reports as being implicated in the reserves debacle. As will become obvious when reading this article, the news stories naming Moody-Stuart came as no surprise to me. read more

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The misreporting scandal: Shell penalties ‘bolster’ “BILLION-DOLLAR” class action lawsuits

The Times: The misreporting scandal

Shell penalties ‘bolster’ “BILLION-DOLLAR” class action lawsuits

“A source close to the SEC told The Times last night that a list of questions had been sent to all Shell executives involved in the inquiry. It is understood that those questions have been passed to, among others, Sir Mark Moody-Stuart”

From James Doran, Wall Street Correspondent

August 26, 2004

BILLION-DOLLAR class action lawsuits against Shell will be bolstered by the company’s settlement with UK and US regulators over its oil reserves misreporting scandal, Wall Street lawyers said last night.

Melvyn Weiss, the senior partner of Milberg Weiss, said that the $150 million (£84 million) in fines imposed on Shell by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) on Tuesday “demonstrate that our allegations are well founded”. The New York law firm is claiming damages from Shell on behalf of the company’s employee pension fund. read more

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The Shell Chairman responsible for Shell’s descent into cover-up and scandal

ShellNews.net: The Shell Chairman responsible for Shell’s descent into cover-up, scandal and shame on an epic scale – Sir Mark Moody-Stuart

By Alfred Donovan, 25 August 2004

(This article was written at the kind invitation of Mr Charles Wiwa, the nephew of Ken Saro-Wiwa, for publication in a US newsmagazine circulated to university students. Charles Wiwa is one of the parties in a U.S. Class Action lawsuit being brought against Shell in respect of its misdeeds in Nigeria.)

It is now confirmed by the reports by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission and the UK Financial Services Authority that the deception regarding Shell reserves started during the tenure of Shell Chairman Sir Mark Moody-Stuart. He is identified in many newspaper reports as being implicated in the reserves debacle. As will become obvious when reading this article, the news stories naming Moody-Stuart come as no surprise to me. read more

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London Evening Standard: Shell scandal ‘could be repeated’

London Evening Standard: Shell scandal ‘could be repeated’

“Findings by regulators have widened the scandal by accusing Shell of giving false reserve figures from 1998 to 2003, raising questions about the role of executives, including Sir Mark Moody-Stuart”

Steve Hawkes,

25 August 2004

REPEAT of the reserves crisis at Shell may be unavoidable despite moves by the US regulators to force oil and gas majors to hire third parties to check the size of their discoveries.

Ryder Scott, the US firm brought in to requantify Shell’s reserves earlier this year, claims there are simply too few of its type around to cover the number of companies operating in the energy industry.

Ryder Scott chief executive Ron Harrell said: ‘Clearly there are not enough of us qualified to serve the needs of companies reporting to the Securities and Exchange Commission in conducting annual, meaningful reserve certifications.’ read more

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The horror story that has emerged from Shell

The Times: An auditor of no account

“the horror story that has emerged from Shell”: “determination to present the City with inflated numbers…widespread”

by Patience Wheatcroft

Business Editor’s Commentary

August 25, 2004

IT cannot have been much fun being the Group Reserves Auditor (GRA) of Shell. With no staff and limited resources, the part-timer could only visit a fraction of the group’s operating units in any one year. And it seems that he might have just as well not have bothered anyhow.

Reading the Financial Services Authority’s report into why it felt Shell deserved a £17 million fine, it emerges that the GRA was given as much respect in the organisation as the tea lady might have had. He could voice concerns about the valuations the company chose to use and they would be totally ignored. He had no authority to enforce the official rules on how reserves should be valued or even hold the company to its own guidelines. read more

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FSA exposes long-running deception by Shell executives

The Times: FSA exposes long-running deception by Shell executives

“raises questions about the role of senior executives who led Shell in the late 1990s, including Sir Mark Moody-Stuart”

By Carl Mortished, International Business Editor

August 25, 2004

THE Shell oil reserves scandal grew yesterday as the Financial Services Authority said that the misreporting of a quarter of Shell’s oil and gas reserves was part of an attempt led from the top over many years to boost its poor exploration performance.

The FSA’s report, which accuses Shell of market abuse in announcing false oil reserve figures from 1998 to 2003, raises questions about the role of senior executives who led Shell in the late 1990s, including Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, chairman of Shell’s committee of managing directors (CMD). read more

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