F-3ASR
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 7, 2008
Registration No. 333-
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM F-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
|
|
|
ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC
|
|
SHELL INTERNATIONAL FINANCE B.V. |
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
|
|
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) |
|
|
|
England and Wales
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
|
|
The Netherlands
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
|
|
|
Not Applicable
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
|
|
Not Applicable
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
|
|
|
Carel van Bylandtlaan 30
2596 HR The Hague
The Netherlands
(011 31 70) 377 9111
(Address and telephone number of Registrants principal executive offices)
|
|
Carel van Bylandtlaan 30
2596 HR The Hague
The Netherlands
(011 31 70) 377 9111
(Address and telephone number of Registrants principal executive offices) |
|
|
|
Mr. Donald J. Puglisi
Managing Director
Puglisi & Associates
850 Library Avenue, Suite 204
Newark, Delaware 19711
1-302-738-6680
(Name, address, and telephone number of agent for service)
|
|
Mr. Donald J. Puglisi
Managing Director
Puglisi & Associates
850 Library Avenue, Suite 204
Newark, Delaware 19711
1-302-738-6680
(Name, address, and telephone number of agent for service) |
Please send copies of all communications to:
|
|
|
William P. Rogers, Jr., Esq.
Philip J. Boeckman, Esq.
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
CityPoint, One Ropemaker Street
London EC2Y 9HR
England
(011 44 20) 7453 1000
|
|
Ashar Qureshi, Esq.
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
City Place House
55 Basinghall Street
London EC2V 5EH
England
(011 44 20) 7614 2226 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the
effectiveness of this registration statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or
interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. o
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or
continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. þ
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule
462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same
offering. o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities
Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the
earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. or a
post-effective amendment thereon that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. þ
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to
General Instruction I.C. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of
securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. o
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount to be registered / |
|
|
|
|
|
Title of each class of |
|
|
Proposed maximum aggregate price per unit/ |
|
|
Amount of |
|
|
securities to be registered |
|
|
Proposed maximum aggregate offering price |
|
|
registration fee |
|
|
Debt Securities of Royal Dutch Shell plc and Shell International Finance B.V. |
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
|
Warrants of Royal Dutch Shell plc(2) |
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
|
Royal Dutch Shell plc Class A ordinary shares, nominal value 0.07 per share(3) |
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
|
Royal Dutch Shell plc Class B ordinary shares, nominal value 0.07 per share (including
associated interests in a dividend access trust)(3) |
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
|
Guarantees by Royal Dutch Shell plc of Shell International Finance B.V. Debt Securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
An unspecified and indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number of securities is
being registered as may from time to time be offered in U.S. dollars or the equivalent in
other currencies and at indeterminate prices. |
|
(2) |
|
There are being registered hereby such indeterminate number of Warrants as may be issued at
indeterminate prices. Such Warrants may be issued together with any of the securities
registered hereby. Warrants may be exercised to purchase any of the other securities
registered hereby or other equity securities. |
|
(3) |
|
The ordinary shares may be represented by American Depositary Shares. Each American
Depositary Share will represent two ordinary shares. American Depositary Receipts evidencing
American Depositary Shares issuable on deposit of ordinary shares will be registered pursuant
to separate registration statements on Form F-6 (File No. 333-125035 relating to the Class A
ordinary shares and File No. 333-125038 relating to the Class B ordinary shares). |
|
(4) |
|
In accordance with Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the registrants are deferring payment of all of the registration fee, except for fees of
$912,627.26 which are a portion of the fees previously paid in connection with the securities
registered on File No. 333-126726; 333-126726-01, initially filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on July 20, 2005, of which $7,753,842,500 of securities remain unsold.
Pursuant to Rule 457(p) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, such unutilized
registration fees may be applied to the fee payable pursuant to this registration statement. |
|
(5) |
|
Pursuant to Rule 457(n) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, no separate fee for the
Guarantees by Royal Dutch Shell plc of Shell International Finance B.V. Debt Securities is
payable. |
PROSPECTUS
ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC
SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
WARRANTS
CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES
CLASS B ORDINARY SHARES
SHELL INTERNATIONAL FINANCE B.V.
SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
Fully and unconditionally guaranteed by
ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC
Royal Dutch Shell plc may use this prospectus to offer from time to time senior or
subordinated debt securities, warrants or Class A ordinary shares or Class B ordinary shares,
directly or in the form of American Depositary Receipts. Shell International Finance B.V. may use
this prospectus to offer from time to time senior or subordinated debt securities fully and
unconditionally guaranteed by Royal Dutch Shell plc. Royal Dutch Shell plcs Class A ordinary
shares and Class B ordinary shares are admitted to the Official List of the U.K. Listing Authority
(UKLA) and to trading on the main market for listed securities of the London Stock Exchange under
the symbols RDSA and RDSB, respectively, and listed on Euronext Amsterdam by NYSE Euronext
(Euronext Amsterdam) under the symbols RDSA and RDSB, respectively. Royal Dutch Shell plcs
Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares are admitted for trading in the form of
American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols RDS.A and
RDS.B, respectively.
This prospectus describes the general terms that may apply to the securities and the general
manner in which they may be offered. The specific terms of any securities to be offered and the
specific manner in which they will be offered will be set forth and described in a prospectus
supplement to this prospectus. Such supplements may also add to, update, supplement or clarify
information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any applicable
prospectus supplement regarding the particular issue of securities carefully before you invest.
We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus through underwriters or dealers,
directly to purchasers or through agents. The names of any underwriters, dealers or agents
involved in the sale of the securities, together with any applicable commissions or discounts, will
be stated in an accompanying prospectus supplement. This prospectus may not be used to consummate
sales of any securities unless it is accompanied by the applicable prospectus supplement.
All dealers that effect transactions in the securities, whether or not participating in this
offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers obligation
to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or
subscriptions.
Investing in the securities involves certain risks. See Risk Factors beginning on page 4 to
read about certain risk factors you should consider before investing in the securities.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or
disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offence.
Prospectus dated November 7, 2008
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form F-3 that we filed on November 7,
2008 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), utilizing a shelf registration
process. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer and sell any combination of the
securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you
with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we use this prospectus to
offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information
about the offering and the terms of those securities. The prospectus supplement may also add,
update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus
and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading
Where You Can Find More Information, prior to purchasing any of the securities offered by this
prospectus. However, if there are any inconsistencies between the information contained herein and
the prospectus supplement, the information in the prospectus supplement shall prevail.
When acquiring any securities discussed in this prospectus, you should rely only on the
information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement
and any free writing prospectus that we authorize to be delivered to you. Neither we, nor any
underwriters or agents, have authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are
not offering the securities in any jurisdiction in which an offer or solicitation is not authorized
or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to
whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation.
You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or
any document incorporated by reference is truthful or complete at any date other than the date
mentioned on the cover page of those documents.
In this prospectus Royal Dutch Shell refers to Royal Dutch Shell plc and, where the context
requires, its direct and indirect subsidiaries. Shell Finance refers to Shell International
Finance B.V. Royal Dutch refers to N.V. Koninklijke Nederlandsche Petroleum Maatschappij (also
known as Royal Dutch Petroleum Company). Shell Transport refers to The Shell Transport and
Trading Company Limited (formerly The Shell Transport and Trading Company, p.l.c). References to
the Shell Group refer to Royal Dutch Shell and its subsidiaries collectively and references to
we, our and us refer to Royal Dutch Shell or the Shell Group, as the context may require.
In this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, U.S. dollars or $ refers to the lawful
currency of the United States (U.S.), pounds sterling, £ or pence refers to the lawful
currency of the United Kingdom (U.K.), and euro or refers to the currency established for
participating member states of the European Union as of the beginning of stage three of the
European Monetary Union on January 1, 1999.
In this prospectus Admitted Institution means the institutions which hold Royal Dutch Shell
ordinary shares on behalf of their clients through Euroclear Nederland as an admitted institution
of Euroclear Nederland or, as the context so permits, which hold Royal Dutch Shell ordinary shares
on behalf of their clients through an institution which is an admitted institution of Euroclear
Nederland. References in this prospectus to Royal Dutch Shell ordinary shares in bearer form or to
Royal Dutch Shell shares shall, where the relevant shares are held by Euroclear Nederland in its
capacity as central institute (centraal instituut) under the Dutch Securities Giro Act (Wet giraal
effectenverkeer) and the context so permits, include references to interests held in such shares by
other persons in accordance with the Dutch Securities Giro Act.
In connection with any issue of securities through this prospectus, a stabilizing manager or
any person acting for him/her may over-allot or effect transactions with a view to supporting the
market price of such securities and any associated securities at a level higher than that which
might otherwise prevail for a limited period after the issue date. However, there will be no
obligation on the stabilizing manager or any agent of his/her to do this. Such stabilizing, if
commenced, may be discontinued at any time, and must be brought to an end after a limited
period.
3
ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC
Royal Dutch Shell is the single parent company of Shell Petroleum N.V. (the legal successor of
Royal Dutch) and Shell Transport. From 1907 until 2005, Royal Dutch and Shell Transport were the
parent companies of a group of companies known collectively as the Royal Dutch/Shell Group. All
operating activities were conducted through the subsidiaries of Royal Dutch and Shell Transport,
which operated as a single economic enterprise. On July 20, 2005, Royal Dutch Shell became the
single parent company of Royal Dutch and Shell Transport, the two former public parent companies of
the Shell Group (the Unification).
The companies of the Shell Group are engaged worldwide in all the principal aspects of the oil
and natural gas industry.
You can find a more detailed description of the Shell Groups business and recent transactions
in the 2007 20-F (as defined below) and the Q3 Form 6-K (as defined below), which are incorporated
by reference in this prospectus, as well as any subsequent filings incorporated by reference into
this prospectus.
The Q3 Form 6-K also presents, on pages 18-19, based on International Financial Reporting
Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, (i) the unaudited consolidated
ratio of earnings to fixed charges of Royal Dutch Shell for the last four fiscal years and the nine
month period ended September 30, 2008; and (ii) the unaudited consolidated combined capitalization
and indebtedness of Royal Dutch Shell as of September 30, 2008, which items are incorporated by
reference into this prospectus.
SHELL INTERNATIONAL FINANCE B.V.
Shell Finance was incorporated as a private limited liability company under the laws of The
Netherlands on March 5, 2004. Shell Finance was renamed to its current name and became an 100%
owned subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell on July 20, 2005. Shell Finance is a financing vehicle for
Royal Dutch Shell and its consolidated subsidiaries. Shell Finance has no independent operations,
other than raising debt for use by the Shell Group, hedging such debt when appropriate and
on-lending funds raised to companies in the Shell Group. Shell Finance will lend substantially all
proceeds of its borrowings to companies in the Shell Group. Royal Dutch Shell will fully and
unconditionally guarantee the guaranteed debt securities issued by Shell Finance as to payment of
principal, premium (if any), interest and any other amounts due.
RISK FACTORS
Investing in the securities offered using this prospectus involves risk. Accordingly, you
should consider carefully all of the information included, or incorporated by reference, in this
document and any risk factors included in the applicable prospectus supplement before you decide to
buy securities. If any of these risks actually occur, our business, financial condition and
results of operations could suffer, and the trading price and liquidity of the securities could
decline, in which case you may lose all or part of your investment.
Risks Relating to Royal Dutch Shells Business
You should read Risk Factors on pages 13 to 15 in the 2007 20-F, which is incorporated by
reference in this prospectus, or similar sections in subsequent filings incorporated by reference
in this prospectus, for information on risks relating to Royal Dutch Shells business.
Risks Relating to Royal Dutch Shells Ordinary Shares
Our Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares and Class A ADRs and Class B ADRs may
trade at different prices.
Each class of our ordinary shares and ADRs may trade at different prices based on, among other
things, the fact that dividends to be received by holders of Class A ordinary shares or Class A
ADRs will have a Dutch source, for Dutch and U.K. tax purposes, and dividends to be received by
holders of Class B ordinary shares or Class B ADRs will have a U.K. source, for Dutch and U.K. tax
purposes, to the extent paid through the dividend access mechanism (as further described in
Description of Royal Dutch Shell Ordinary Shares Dividend Access Mechanism for Class B
4
ordinary shares). Prices also may differ owing to differing levels of demand in different
markets for reasons external to Royal Dutch Shell, such as index inclusion and relative index
performance.
Certain provisions of our Articles of Association may limit your ability to obtain monetary or
other relief, or increase the cost of seeking and obtaining recoveries in a dispute.
Our articles of association generally require that, except as noted below, virtually all
disputes (i) between a shareholder in such capacity and us and/or our directors, arising out of or
in connection with our articles of association or otherwise; (ii) so far as permitted by law,
between us and any of our directors in their capacities as such or as our employees, including all
claims made by us or on our behalf against our directors; (iii) between a shareholder in such
capacity and our professional service providers (which could include our auditors, legal counsel,
bankers and ADR depositaries); and (iv) between us and our professional service providers arising
in connection with any claim within the scope of (iii) above, shall be exclusively and finally
resolved by arbitration in The Hague, The Netherlands under the Rules of Arbitration of the
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), as amended from time to time. This would include all
disputes arising under U.K., Dutch or U.S. law (including securities laws), or under any other law,
between parties covered by the arbitration provision. Accordingly, the ability of shareholders to
obtain monetary or other relief, including in respect of securities law claims, may be determined
in accordance with these provisions, and the ability of shareholders to obtain monetary or other
relief may therefore be limited and/or their cost of seeking and obtaining recoveries in a dispute
increased.
Disputes relating to our failure or alleged failure to pay all or part of a dividend which has
been declared and which has fallen due for payment will not be the subject of the arbitration and
exclusive jurisdiction provisions of our articles of association. Any derivative claim brought
under the U.K. Companies Act 2006 (the Companies Act 2006) will not be the subject of the
arbitration provisions of our articles of association. Pursuant to the exclusive jurisdiction
provision in our articles of association, if a court in any jurisdiction determines that the
arbitration requirement described above is invalid or unenforceable in relation to a particular
dispute in that jurisdiction, such dispute may only be brought in the courts of England and Wales,
as is the case with any derivative claim brought under the Companies Act 2006. See Description of
Royal Dutch Shell Ordinary Shares Disputes between a shareholder or ADR holder and Royal Dutch
Shell, any subsidiary, director or professional service provider.
Risks Relating to the Debt Securities and Warrants
Because Royal Dutch Shell is a holding company and conducts its operations through
subsidiaries, your right to receive payments on debt securities issued by Royal Dutch Shell or on
the guarantees is subordinated to the other liabilities of its subsidiaries.
Royal Dutch Shell is organized as a holding company, and substantially all of its operations
are carried on through subsidiaries of Royal Dutch Shell. Royal Dutch Shells ability to meet its
financial obligations is dependent upon the availability of cash flows from its domestic and
foreign subsidiaries and affiliated companies through dividends, intercompany advances and other
payments. Moreover, Shell Finance is a special purpose financing vehicle that was formed for the
purpose of raising debt for the Shell Group. Shell Finance conducts no business or
revenue-generating operations of its own. Shell Finance has no subsidiaries and will rely on
payments (including principal and interest) from Royal Dutch Shell and other subsidiaries in the
Shell Group to whom it has on-lent the proceeds of any debt securities issued by it in order to
make payments on securities issued by it. Royal Dutch Shells subsidiaries are not guarantors of
the debt securities that may be offered under this prospectus. Claims of the creditors of Royal
Dutch Shells subsidiaries have priority as to the assets of such subsidiaries over the claims of
Royal Dutch Shell. Consequently, in the event of insolvency of Royal Dutch Shell, the claims of
holders of debt securities guaranteed or issued by Royal Dutch Shell would be structurally
subordinated to the prior claims of the creditors of subsidiaries of Royal Dutch Shell.
Because the debt securities are unsecured, your right to receive payments may be adversely
affected.
The debt securities that we are offering will be unsecured. If Royal Dutch Shell or Shell
Finance defaults on the debt securities or Royal Dutch Shell defaults on the guarantees, or in the
event of bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization, then, to the extent that Royal Dutch Shell or
Shell Finance have granted security over their assets, the assets that secure these debts will be
used to satisfy the obligations under that secured debt before Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance
could make payment on the debt securities or the guarantees, respectively. If there is not enough
5
collateral to satisfy the obligations of the secured debt, then the remaining amounts on the
secured debt would share equally with all unsubordinated unsecured indebtedness, including the
senior debt securities. In addition, Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance may have to satisfy
obligations mandatorily preferred by law applying to companies generally before Royal Dutch Shell
or Shell Finance could make payments on the debt securities or the guarantees respectively.
The debt securities and warrants lack a developed trading market, and such a market may never
develop.
Each of Royal Dutch Shell and Shell Finance may issue debt securities in different series with
different terms in amounts that are to be determined. Although any such debt securities issued may
be listed on a recognized stock exchange in the U.S. or Europe, there can be no assurance that an
active trading market will develop for any series of debt securities. Similarly, there can be no
assurance that an active trading market will develop for any warrants issued by Royal Dutch Shell.
There can also be no assurance regarding the ability of holders of our debt securities and warrants
to sell their debt securities or warrants or the price at which such holders may be able to sell
their debt securities or warrants. If a trading market were to develop, the debt securities and
warrants could trade at prices that may be higher or lower than the initial offering price and, in
the case of debt securities, this may result in a return that is greater or less than the interest
rate on the debt securities, in each case depending on many factors, including, among other things,
prevailing interest rates, Royal Dutch Shells financial results, any change in Royal Dutch Shells
credit-worthiness and the market for similar securities.
Any underwriters, broker-dealers or agents that participate in the distribution of the debt
securities or warrants may make a market in the debt securities or warrants as permitted by
applicable laws and regulations but will have no obligation to do so, and any such market-making
activities may be discontinued at any time. Therefore, there can be no assurance as to the
liquidity of any trading market for the debt securities or warrants or that an active public market
for the debt securities or warrants will develop.
The substitution of the obligor on a particular series of our debt securities generally would
cause you to realize taxable gain or loss for U.S. tax purposes, if any, on any such debt
securities that you hold.
We have the right to cause Royal Dutch Shell or any of its subsidiaries to assume the
obligations of Shell Finance under any series of debt securities as described in Description of
Debt Securities Substitution of Shell Finance as Issuer below. Also an entity that becomes the
owner of 100% of the voting stock of Royal Dutch Shell may assume the obligations of Royal Dutch
Shell with respect to one or more series of debt securities as described in Description of Debt
Securities Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets below. Under U.S. tax law, the change in
the obligor on our debt securities under these provisions could be treated as a disposition of any
such debt securities that you hold, requiring you to realize gain or loss on our debt securities
even though you continue to hold our debt securities and receive no distribution in connection with
the deemed disposition. See Taxation U.S. Taxation of Debt Securities Sale or Retirement of
Debt Securities for discussion of possible tax consequences.
Any subordinated debt securities that we issue will be subordinate in ranking to our existing
debt and future senior debt.
We may issue one or more series of debt securities that by their terms are subordinated to all
existing and future senior debt (as defined in the relevant indenture). Under the subordination
terms, the subordinated debt will be subordinated in right of payment to all senior debt and may be
subject to payment blockage, standstill and other terms designed to enhance the rights of the
senior debt. As a result of these subordination terms, holders of subordinated debt may receive
less upon any bankruptcy or liquidation than holders of senior debt. See Description of Debt
Securities Provisions Applicable Solely to Subordinated Debt Securities. You should read
carefully the specific terms of any particular series of debt securities which will be contained in
the prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities.
Shell Finance ability to satisfy its obligations in respect of the guaranteed debt
securities is dependent on other members of the Shell Group.
Shell Finance is a finance vehicle and its primary business is the raising of money for the
purpose of on-lending to other members of the Shell Group. Shell Finances ability to satisfy its
obligations in respect of the guaranteed debt securities will depend on payments made to Shell
Finance by other members of the Shell Group in respect of loans and advances made by Shell Finance.
6
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
The SEC encourages companies to disclose forward-looking information so that investors can
better understand a companys future prospects and make informed investment decisions. This
prospectus, any prospectus supplement and documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus
and any prospectus supplement may contain forward-looking statements concerning the financial
condition, results of operations and businesses of Royal Dutch Shell. All statements other than
statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on
managements current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from
those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other
things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Royal Dutch Shell to market risks and
statements expressing managements expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and
assumptions.
These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as
anticipate, believe, could, estimate, expect, intend, may, plan, objectives,
outlook, probably, project, will, seek, target, risks, goals, should and similar
terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Royal
Dutch Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the
forward-looking statements included in this prospectus, including (without limitation):
|
|
|
price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; |
|
|
|
|
changes in demand for the Shell Groups products; |
|
|
|
|
currency fluctuations; |
|
|
|
|
drilling and production results; |
|
|
|
|
reserve estimates; |
|
|
|
|
loss of market and industry competition; |
|
|
|
|
environmental and physical risks; |
|
|
|
|
risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties
and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; |
|
|
|
|
the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to
international sanctions; |
|
|
|
|
legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments including potential litigation and
regulatory effects arising from recategorization of reserves; |
|
|
|
|
economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; |
|
|
|
|
political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of
contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects
and delays in the reimbursement for shared cost; and |
|
|
|
|
changes in trading conditions. |
All forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are expressly qualified in their
entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. You should not
place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as
of the date of the particular statement. Neither Royal Dutch Shell nor any of its subsidiaries
undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of
new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ
materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in
this prospectus.
7
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
Royal Dutch Shell is subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) and, in accordance with those
requirements, files annual reports and other information with the SEC. However, as a foreign
private issuer, Royal Dutch Shell and its shareholders are exempt from some of the Exchange Act
reporting requirements. The reporting requirements that do not apply to Royal Dutch Shell or its
shareholders include proxy solicitations rules, the short-swing insider profit disclosure rules of
Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to Royal Dutch Shells shares and the rules regarding
the furnishing of quarterly reports to the SEC, which are required to be furnished only if required
or otherwise provided in our home country domicile.
The materials Royal Dutch Shell files with or furnishes to the SEC (and the materials Royal
Dutch and Shell Transport filed with or furnished to the SEC) may be inspected and copied at the
following location of the SEC:
Public Reference Room
100 F Street, N.E.
Room 1580
Washington, D.C. 20549
You may also obtain copies of this information by mail from the Public Reference Section of
the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. You may
obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330. All filings made by Royal Dutch Shell and its predecessors after December 15, 2002
are also available online through the SECs EDGAR electronic filing system. Access to EDGAR can be
found on the SECs website, at http://www.sec.gov.
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference information into this prospectus. This means
that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to other documents filed
separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of
this prospectus, except for any information that is superseded by information that is included
directly in this prospectus.
The information that we incorporate by reference is an important part of this prospectus. We
incorporate by reference the following documents:
|
|
|
Annual Report on Form 20-F of Royal Dutch Shell for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2007, as filed with the SEC on March 17, 2008 (File No. 001-32575) (the 2007 20-F); |
|
|
|
|
Report on Form 6-K of Royal Dutch Shell furnished to the SEC on November 5, 2008,
containing the unaudited condensed interim financial report of Royal Dutch Shell and its
consolidated subsidiaries for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2008 (File No.
001-32575) (the Q3 Form 6-K); |
|
|
|
|
Reports on Form 6-K of Royal Dutch Shell furnished to the SEC on May 5, 2008 and August
4, 2008, containing the unaudited condensed interim financial report of Royal Dutch Shell
and its consolidated subsidiaries for the three- and six-month period ended March 31, 2008
and June 30, 2008 respectively (File No. 001-32575); |
|
|
|
|
Reports on Form 6-K of Royal Dutch Shell furnished to the SEC on February 5, 2008 (2),
February 6, 2008 (only with respect to report with SEC accession no. 0001168548-08-000008),
May 2, 2008 (3), May 6, 2008 (2), May 8, 2008 (3 reports, excluding report with SEC
accession no. 0001309014-08-000255), May 15, 2008, May 21, 2008, May 23, 2008 (only with
respect to report with SEC accession no. 0001168548-08-000034), June 19, 2008, July 11,
2008, July 14, 2008, August 5, 2008, August 7, 2008, September 2, 2008, September 3, 2008,
November 3, 2008 and November 4, 2008; and |
|
|
|
|
The description of our share capital contained in the Report on Form 6-K of Royal Dutch
Shell furnished to the SEC on July 20, 2005 (File No. 333-125035) (the Capital Stock Form
6-K) and any amendment or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
8
We also incorporate by reference any future filings that we make with the SEC under Section
13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act until we sell all of the securities. Our reports on Form
6-K furnished to the SEC after the date of this prospectus (or portions thereof) are incorporated
by reference in this prospectus only to the extent that the forms expressly state that we
incorporate them (or such portions) by reference in this prospectus.
Information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supercede information in
documents filed with the SEC at earlier dates. All information appearing in this prospectus is
qualified in its entirety by the information and financial statements, including the notes,
contained in the documents that we incorporate by reference in this prospectus.
You can obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus through us,
or from the SEC. Documents incorporated by reference are available from us without charge,
excluding all exhibits unless an exhibit has been specifically incorporated by reference into this
prospectus, by requesting them in writing or by telephone from us at the following address and
telephone number:
Royal Dutch Shell plc
Carel van Bylandtlaan 30
2596 HR The Hague
The Netherlands
Tel. No.: (011 31 70) 377 9111
Royal Dutch Shells Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares are admitted to the
Official List of the U.K. Listing Authority and to trading on the market for listed securities of
the London Stock Exchange and listed on Euronext Amsterdam. Royal Dutch Shells Class A ordinary
shares and Class B ordinary shares are admitted for trading in the form of ADRs on the New York
Stock Exchange. You can consult reports and other information about Royal Dutch Shell that it
files or makes public pursuant to the rules of the London Stock Exchange, Euronext Amsterdam and
the New York Stock Exchange at such exchanges.
Additional information regarding Royal Dutch Shell may be obtained on its website at
www.shell.com. Such information is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
9
ENFORCEABILITY OF CERTAIN CIVIL LIABILITIES
Royal Dutch Shell is a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and
Wales. Shell Finance is a private limited liability company incorporated under the laws of The
Netherlands. A majority of our directors and officers and some of the experts named in this
document reside outside of the U.S. and a majority of our assets are located outside of the U.S.
As a result, it may not be possible for investors to effect service of process within the U.S. upon
us or these persons or to enforce against it or them, either in the U.S., the U.K. or The
Netherlands, judgments of U.S. courts predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S.
federal or state securities laws.
The articles of association of Royal Dutch Shell provide that, subject to certain exceptions,
virtually all disputes (i) between a shareholder in such capacity and us and/or our directors,
arising out of or in connection with our articles of association or otherwise; (ii) so far as
permitted by law, between us and any of our directors in their capacities as such or as our
employees, including all claims made by us or on our behalf against our directors; (iii) between a
shareholder in such capacity and our professional service providers; and (iv) between us and our
professional service providers (which could include our auditors, legal counsel, bankers and ADR
depositaries) arising in connection with any claim within the scope of (iii) above, shall be
exclusively and finally resolved by arbitration in The Hague, The Netherlands under the Rules of
Arbitration of the ICC, as amended from time to time. See Description of Royal Dutch Shell
Ordinary Shares Disputes between a shareholder or ADR holder and Royal Dutch Shell, any
subsidiary, director or professional service provider.
The following discussion with respect to the enforceability of certain U.S. court judgments in
England and Wales assumes a judgment is rendered in a U.S. court notwithstanding the charter
provision of Royal Dutch Shell described above and is based upon advice provided to us by our
English counsel, Slaughter and May. The U.S. and the U.K. do not have a treaty providing for the
reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (although the
U.S. and the U.K. are both parties to the 1958 Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of
Foreign Arbitral Awards). Any judgment rendered by any federal or state court in the U.S. based on
civil liability, whether or not predicated solely upon U.S. federal securities law, would not be
directly enforceable in England and Wales. In order to enforce any such judgment in England and
Wales, proceedings must be initiated by way of fresh legal proceedings in respect of the judgment
debt before a court of competent jurisdiction in England and Wales. In this type of action, an
English court generally will not (subject to the matters identified below) reinvestigate the merits
of the original matter decided by a U.S. court and will treat the judgment as conclusive. The
matters which would cause an English court not to enforce a judgment debt created by a U.S.
judgment are that:
|
|
|
the relevant U.S. court did not have jurisdiction under English rules of private
international law to give the judgment; |
|
|
|
|
the judgment was not final and conclusive on the merits. A foreign judgment which could
be abrogated or varied by the court which pronounced it is not a final judgment. However,
a judgment will be treated as final and conclusive even though it is subject to an appeal
or if an appeal is actually pending, although in such a case a stay of execution in England
may be ordered pending such an appeal. If the judgment is given by a court of a law
district forming part of a larger federal system such as in the U.S., the finality and
conclusiveness of the judgment in the law district where it was given alone are relevant in
England. Its finality and conclusiveness in other parts of the federal system are
irrelevant; |
|
|
|
|
the judgment is not for a definite sum of money or is for a sum payable in respect of
taxes or other charges of a like nature or in respect of a fine or other penalty or
otherwise based on a U.S. law that an English court considers to be a penal, revenue or
other public law; |
|
|
|
|
the enforcement of such judgment would contravene public policy in England and Wales; |
|
|
|
|
the enforcement of the judgment is prohibited by statute (for example, section 5 of the
U.K. Protection of Trading Interests Act 1980 prohibits the enforcement of foreign
judgments for multiple damages and other foreign judgments specified by statutory
instrument concerned with restrictive trade practices. A judgment for multiple damages is
defined as a judgment for an amount arrived at by doubling, trebling or otherwise
multiplying a sum assessed as compensation for the loss or damage sustained by the judgment
creditor); |
10
|
|
|
the English proceedings were not commenced within the relevant limitation period; |
|
|
|
|
before the date on which the U.S. court gave judgment, a judgment has been given in
proceedings between the same parties or their privies in a court in the U.K. or in an
overseas court which the English court will recognize; |
|
|
|
|
the judgment has been obtained by fraud (on either the part of the party in whose favor
judgment was given or on the part of the court pronouncing the judgment) or in proceedings
in which the principles of natural justice were breached; |
|
|
|
|
the bringing of proceedings in the relevant U.S. court was contrary to an agreement
under which the dispute in question was to be settled otherwise than by proceedings in the
U.S. courts (to whose jurisdiction the judgment debtor did not submit by counterclaim or
otherwise); or |
|
|
|
|
an order has been made and remains effective under section 9 of the U.K. Foreign
Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1933 applying that section to U.S. courts including
the relevant U.S. court. |
If an English court gives judgment for the sum payable under a U.S. judgment, the English
judgment will be enforceable by methods generally available for this purpose. The judgment
creditor is able to utilize any method or methods of enforcement available to him/her at the time.
In addition, it may not be possible to obtain an English judgment or to enforce that judgment if
the judgment debtor is subject to any insolvency or similar proceedings, or if the judgment debtor
has any set-off or counterclaim against the judgment creditor.
Subject to the foregoing, investors may be able to enforce in England and Wales judgments in
civil and commercial matters obtained from U.S. federal or state courts in the manner described
above using the methods available for enforcement of a judgment of an English court. It is,
however, uncertain whether an English court would impose liability on us or such persons in an
action predicated upon the U.S. federal securities law brought in England and Wales.
De Brauw Blackstone London B.V. (De Brauw), our Dutch legal counsel, has advised us that
there is doubt as to the enforceability in The Netherlands, in original actions or in actions for
enforcement of judgments of U.S. courts, of civil liabilities solely based on the U.S. federal
securities laws. We have further been advised by De Brauw that the U.S. and The Netherlands do not
currently have a treaty providing for reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments (other
than arbitration awards) in civil and commercial matters. As a consequence, a final judgment for
the payment of money rendered by any federal or state court in the U.S. based on civil liability,
whether or not predicated solely upon the federal securities laws of the U.S., would not be
directly enforceable in The Netherlands. However, if the party in whose favor such final judgment
is rendered brings a new suit in a court of competent jurisdiction in The Netherlands, such party
may submit to the Dutch court the final judgment that has been rendered in the U.S.. If the Dutch
court finds that the jurisdiction of the federal or state court in the U.S. has been based on
grounds that are internationally acceptable and that proper legal procedures have been observed,
the court in The Netherlands would, under current practice, give binding effect to the final
judgment that has been rendered in the U.S. unless such judgment contravenes Dutch public policy.
11
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise indicated in an accompanying prospectus supplement, the net proceeds from the
sale of securities will be used for general corporate purposes.
12
LEGAL OWNERSHIP
Street Name and Other Indirect Holders
We generally will not recognize investors who hold securities in accounts at banks or brokers
as legal holders of securities. When we refer to the holders of securities, we mean only the
actual legal and (if applicable) record holder of those securities. Holding securities in accounts
at banks or brokers is called holding in street name. If you hold securities in street name, we
will recognize only the bank or broker or the financial institution the bank or broker uses to hold
its securities. These intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions pass along
principal, interest and other payments on the securities, either because they agree to do so in
their customer agreements or because they are legally required. If you hold securities in street
name, you should check with your own institution to find out:
|
|
|
how it handles securities payments and notices; |
|
|
|
|
whether it imposes fees or charges; |
|
|
|
|
how it would handle voting if it were ever required; |
|
|
|
|
whether and how you can instruct it to send you securities registered in your own name
so you can be a direct holder as described below; and |
|
|
|
|
how it would pursue rights under the securities if there were a default or other event
triggering the need for holders to act to protect their interests. |
Direct Holders
Our obligations, as well as the obligations of the trustee and those of any third parties
employed by us or the trustee, under the securities run only to persons who are registered as
holders of securities. As noted above, we do not have obligations to you if you hold in street
name or other indirect means, either because you choose to hold securities in that manner or
because the securities are issued in the form of global securities as described below. For
example, once we make payment to the registered holder, we have no further responsibility for the
payment even if that holder is legally required to pass the payment along to you as a street name
customer but does not do so.
Global Securities
What is a Global Security?
A global security is a special type of indirectly held security, as described above under
Street Name and Other Indirect Holders. If we choose to issue securities in the form of global
securities, the ultimate beneficial owners can only be indirect holders.
We require that the securities included in the global security not be transferred to the name
of any other direct holder unless the special circumstances described below occur. The financial
institution that acts as the sole direct holder of the global security is called the depositary.
Any person wishing to own a security must do so indirectly by virtue of an account with a broker,
bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary. The prospectus
supplement relating to an offering of a series of securities will indicate whether the series will
be issued only in the form of global securities.
Special Investor Considerations for Global Securities
As an indirect holder, an investors rights relating to a global security will be governed by
the account rules of the investors financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general
laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize this type of investor as a holder of
securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.
If you are an investor in securities that are issued only in the form of global securities,
you should be aware that:
|
|
|
You cannot get securities registered in your own name. |
13
|
|
|
You cannot receive physical certificates for your interest in the securities. |
|
|
|
|
You will be a street name holder and must look to your own bank or broker for payments
on the securities and protection of your legal rights relating to the securities, as
explained above under Street Name and Other Indirect Holders. |
|
|
|
|
You may not be able to sell interests in the securities to some insurance companies and
other institutions that are required by law to own their securities in the form of physical
certificates. |
|
|
|
|
The depositarys policies will govern payments, transfers, exchange and other matters
relating to your interest in the global security. We and the trustee have no
responsibility for any aspect of the depositarys actions or for its records of ownership
interests in the global security. We and the trustee also do not supervise the depositary
in any way. |
|
|
|
|
The depositary will require that interests in a global security be purchased or sold
within its system using same-day funds. By contrast, payment for purchases and sales in
the market for corporate bonds and other securities is generally made in next-day funds.
The difference could have some effect on how interests in global securities trade, but we
do not know what that effect will be. |
Special Situations When the Global Security Will Be Terminated
In a few special situations described below, the global security will terminate and interests
in it will be exchanged for physical certificates representing securities. After that exchange,
the choice of whether to hold securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor;
provided, however, that the physical certificates are issued in a registered form for U.S. federal
income tax purposes. Investors must consult their own bank or brokers to find out how to have
their interests in securities transferred to their own name so that they will be direct holders.
The rights of street name investors and direct holders in the securities have been previously
described in the subsections entitled Street Name and Other Indirect Holders and Direct
Holders.
The special situations for termination of a global security are:
|
|
|
When the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualified to
continue as depositary. |
|
|
|
|
When an event of default on the securities has occurred and has not been cured.
Defaults on debt securities are discussed below under Description of Debt Securities
Provisions Applicable to Each Indenture Events of Default. |
|
|
|
|
If we determine not to have the securities represented by a global security. |
The prospectus supplement may also list additional situations for terminating a global
security that would apply only to the particular series of securities covered by the prospectus
supplement. When a global security terminates, the depositary, and not we or the trustee, is
responsible for deciding the names of the institutions that will be the initial direct holders.
In the remainder of this description you means direct holders and not street name or other
indirect holders of securities. Indirect holders should read the previous subsection entitled
Street Name and Other Indirect Holders.
14
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The debt securities of Royal Dutch Shell and Shell Finance covered by this prospectus will be
Royal Dutch Shells and Shell Finances unsecured obligations. The debt securities of Shell
Finance will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Royal Dutch Shell. Royal Dutch Shell will
issue senior debt securities under an indenture among Royal Dutch Shell, as issuer, and Deutsche
Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee or another trustee identified in the prospectus supplement.
Shell Finance will issue senior debt securities unconditionally guaranteed by Royal Dutch Shell on
a senior unsecured basis under an indenture, among Shell Finance, as issuer, Royal Dutch Shell, as
guarantor, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee or another trustee identified in
the prospectus supplement. We refer to these indentures as the senior indentures and these
securities as the senior debt securities.
Royal Dutch Shell will issue subordinated debt securities under an indenture among Royal Dutch
Shell, as issuer, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee or another trustee
identified in the prospectus supplement. Shell Finance will issue subordinated debt securities
unconditionally guaranteed by Royal Dutch Shell on a subordinated unsecured basis under an
indenture among Shell Finance, as issuer, Royal Dutch Shell, as guarantor, and Deutsche Bank Trust
Company Americas, as trustee or another trustee identified in the prospectus supplement. We refer
to these indentures as the subordinated indentures and these securities as the subordinated debt
securities.
The indentures of Royal Dutch Shell and Shell Finance will be substantially identical except
with regards to the guarantees. We refer to the senior indentures and the subordinated indentures
collectively as the indentures. The indentures will be substantially identical, except for
provisions relating to subordination and covenants.
We have summarized material provisions of the indentures, the debt securities and the
guarantees below. This summary is not complete. We have filed the form of senior indentures and
the form of subordinated indentures with the SEC as exhibits to this registration statement, and
you should read the indentures for provisions that may be important to you.
In this summary description of the debt securities, unless we state otherwise or the context
clearly indicates otherwise, all references to Royal Dutch Shell mean Royal Dutch Shell only and
all references to Shell Finance mean Shell Finance only. We refer to the indentures of Shell
Finance as the Shell Finance indentures.
Provisions Applicable to Each Indenture
General. None of the indentures limits the amount of debt securities that may be issued under
that indenture, and none of the indentures limits the amount of other unsecured debt or securities
that Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance may issue. Royal Dutch Shell and Shell Finance may issue
debt securities under the indentures from time to time in one or more series, each in an amount
authorized prior to issuance.
Royal Dutch Shell conducts substantially all its operations through subsidiaries, and those
subsidiaries generate substantially all its operating income and cash flow. As a result,
distributions or advances from those subsidiaries, repayment or refinancing of intra-group lending
and interest flows are the principal source of funds necessary to meet the debt service obligations
of Royal Dutch Shell and Shell Finance. Contractual provisions or laws, as well as the
subsidiaries financial condition and operating requirements, may limit the ability of Royal Dutch
Shell to obtain cash from its subsidiaries that it requires to pay its debt service obligations,
including any payments required to be made under the debt securities and its guarantee of Shell
Finances debt securities. In addition, holders of the debt securities and Royal Dutch Shells
related guarantee will have a junior position to the claims of creditors of the subsidiaries of
Royal Dutch Shell on their assets and earnings. The articles of association of Royal Dutch Shell
also limit the borrowings of the Shell Group to two times its adjusted capital and reserves, as
such terms are defined therein. Such limit can be exceeded with the approval of Royal Dutch Shell
shareholders.
None of the indentures contains any covenants or other provisions designed to protect holders
of the debt securities in the event Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance participates in a highly
leveraged transaction or upon a change of control. The indentures also do not contain provisions
that give holders the right to require Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance to repurchase their
securities in the event of a decline in Royal Dutch Shells credit ratings for any reason,
including as a result of a takeover, recapitalization or similar restructuring or otherwise.
15
Terms. The prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities being offered will
include specific terms relating to the offering. These terms will include some or all of the
following:
|
|
|
whether the debt securities will be senior or subordinated debt securities; |
|
|
|
|
whether Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance will be the issuer of the debt securities; |
|
|
|
|
any stock exchange on which debt securities will be listed; |
|
|
|
|
the title of the debt securities; |
|
|
|
|
the total principal amount of the debt securities of the series offered and any limit on
the future issuance of additional securities of that series; |
|
|
|
|
whether the debt securities will be issued in individual certificates to each holder or
in the form of temporary or permanent global securities held by a depositary on behalf of
holders; |
|
|
|
|
the date or dates on which the principal of and any premium on the debt securities will
be payable; |
|
|
|
|
any interest rate, which may be fixed or variable, the date from which interest will
accrue, interest payment dates and record dates for interest payments; |
|
|
|
|
any right to extend or defer the interest payment periods and the duration of the
extension; |
|
|
|
|
any mandatory or optional sinking funds or analogous provisions or provisions for
redemption at the option of the holder; |
|
|
|
|
whether and under what circumstances any additional amounts with respect to the debt
securities will be payable; |
|
|
|
|
the place or places where payments on the debt securities will be payable; |
|
|
|
|
any provisions for optional redemption or early repayment, including conditions
precedent for such optional redemption; |
|
|
|
|
any provisions that would require the redemption, repurchase or repayment of debt
securities; |
|
|
|
|
whether payments on the debt securities will be payable in currency or currency units or
another form and whether payments will be payable by reference to any index or formula; |
|
|
|
|
the portion of the principal amount of debt securities that will be payable if the
maturity is accelerated, if other than the entire principal amount; |
|
|
|
|
any additional means of defeasance of the debt securities, any additional conditions or
limitations to defeasance of the debt securities or any changes to those conditions or
limitations; |
|
|
|
|
any changes or additions to the events of default or covenants described in this
prospectus; |
|
|
|
|
any restrictions or other provisions relating to the transfer or exchange of debt
securities; |
|
|
|
|
any terms for the mandatory or optional conversion or exchange of the debt securities; |
|
|
|
|
with respect to the subordinated indenture, any changes to the subordination provisions
for the subordinated debt securities described in this prospectus; |
|
|
|
|
the currency of payment and the denominations in which the debt securities will be
issuable; and |
16
|
|
|
any other terms of the debt securities not inconsistent with the applicable indenture. |
Royal Dutch Shell and Shell Finance may sell the debt securities at a discount, which may be
substantial, below their stated principal amount. These debt securities may bear no interest or
interest at a rate that at the time of issuance is below market rates.
If material to a particular series of securities and not already described in this prospectus,
we will describe in the prospectus supplement the restrictions, elections, tax consequences,
specific terms and other information relating to those debt securities.
Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets. The indentures generally permit a consolidation,
merger or similar transaction involving Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance. They also permit Royal
Dutch Shell or Shell Finance, as applicable, to transfer or dispose of all or substantially all of
their assets. Each of Royal Dutch Shell and Shell Finance has agreed, however, that it will not
consolidate with or merge into any entity (other than, with respect to Shell Finance, Royal Dutch
Shell) or transfer or dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to any entity (other than,
with respect to Shell Finance, Royal Dutch Shell) if, immediately after giving effect to such
transaction or transactions, an event of default, or an event that, after notice or lapse of time
or both, would become an event of default, has occurred and is continuing; and unless:
|
|
|
it is the continuing corporation; or |
|
|
|
|
if it is not the continuing corporation, the resulting entity or transferee assumes the
performance of its covenants and obligations under the indentures and, in the case of Royal
Dutch Shell or Shell Finance as issuer, the due and punctual payments on the debt
securities or, in the case of Royal Dutch Shell with respect to the debt securities of
Shell Finance, the performance of the related guarantee. |
Additionally, in the event that any entity shall become the owner of 100% of the voting stock
of Royal Dutch Shell, such entity may, but is not obligated to, assume the performance of Royal
Dutch Shells covenants and obligations under any or all of the indentures, either as issuer and/or
as guarantor for the debt securities of Shell Finance (a Voluntary Assumption). See Taxation
U.S. Taxation of Debt Securities Merger and Consolidation/ Substitution of Issuer for
discussion of possible tax consequences.
Upon any such consolidation, merger or similar transaction or asset transfer or disposition
involving Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance, or any such Voluntary Assumption, the resulting
entity, transferee or assuming entity, as applicable, will be substituted for Royal Dutch Shell or
Shell Finance, as applicable, under the applicable indenture and debt securities. Royal Dutch
Shell or Shell Finance, as applicable, will thereupon be released from the applicable indenture.
Events of Default. Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement,
the following are events of default with respect to a series of debt securities:
|
|
|
failure to pay interest or any additional amounts on that series of debt securities for
30 days when due; |
|
|
|
|
failure to pay principal of or any premium on that series of debt securities for 14 days
when due; |
|
|
|
|
failure to redeem or purchase debt securities of that series for 14 days when required; |
|
|
|
|
failure to comply with any covenant or agreement in that series of debt securities for
90 days after written notice by the trustee or by the holders of at least 25% in principal
amount of the outstanding debt securities issued under that indenture that are affected by
that failure; |
|
|
|
|
specified events involving bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of Royal Dutch Shell
and, with respect to Shell Finances debt securities, Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance;
and |
|
|
|
|
any other event of default provided for that series of debt securities. |
A default under one series of debt securities will not be a default under another series.
17
If an event of default for any series of debt securities occurs and is continuing, the trustee
of the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series
affected by the default (or, in some cases, 25% in principal amount of all debt securities issued
under the applicable indenture that are affected, voting as one class) may declare the principal of
and all accrued and unpaid interest on those debt securities to be due and payable. The holders of
a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series affected by the
default (or, in some cases, of all debt securities issued under the applicable indenture that are
affected, voting as one class) may in some cases rescind this accelerated payment requirement.
A holder of a debt security of any series issued under an indenture may pursue any remedy
under that indenture only if:
|
|
|
the holder gives the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default for that
series; |
|
|
|
|
the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of
that series make a written request to the trustee to pursue the remedy; |
|
|
|
|
the holders offer to the trustee indemnity satisfactory to the trustee; |
|
|
|
|
the trustee fails to act for a period of 60 days after receipt of the request and offer
of indemnity; and |
|
|
|
|
during that 60-day period, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt
securities of that series do not give the trustee a direction inconsistent with the
request. |
This provision does not, however, affect the right of a holder of a debt security to sue for
enforcement of any overdue payment.
In most cases, holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of
a series (or of all debt securities issued under the applicable indenture that are affected, voting
as one class) may direct the time, method and place of:
|
|
|
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee; and |
|
|
|
|
exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee relating to or arising as a
result of an event of default. |
The indentures of Royal Dutch Shell require Royal Dutch Shell, and the indentures of Shell
Finance require Shell Finance, to file each year with the trustee a written statement as to their
compliance with the covenants contained in the applicable indenture.
Modification and Waiver. Each indenture may be amended or supplemented if the holders of a
majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series issued under that
indenture that are affected by the amendment or supplement (acting as one class) consent to it.
Without the consent of the holder of each debt security affected, however, no modification may:
|
|
|
reduce the amount of debt securities whose holders must consent to an amendment,
supplement or waiver; |
|
|
|
|
reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on the debt security; |
|
|
|
|
reduce the principal of the debt security or change its stated maturity; |
|
|
|
|
reduce any premium payable on the redemption of the debt security or change the time at
which the debt security may or must be redeemed; |
|
|
|
|
change any obligation to pay additional amounts on the debt security; |
|
|
|
|
make payments on or with respect to the debt security payable in currency other than as
originally stated in the debt security, except as permitted under Redenomination below; |
18
|
|
|
impair the holders right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or
with respect to the debt security; |
|
|
|
|
make any change in the percentage of principal amount of debt securities necessary to
waive compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or to make any change in the
provision related to modification; |
|
|
|
|
with respect to the subordinated indentures, modify the provisions relating to the
subordination of any subordinated debt security in a manner adverse to the rights of holder
of that security in any material respect; or |
|
|
|
|
waive a continuing default or event of default regarding any payment on or with respect
to the debt securities. |
Each indenture may be amended or supplemented or any provision of that indenture may be waived
without the consent of any holders of debt securities issued under that indenture in certain
circumstances, including:
|
|
|
to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency; |
|
|
|
|
to comply with the sections of the indenture governing when Royal Dutch Shell or Shell
Finance may merge (or consummate a similar transaction), transfer their assets or
substitute obligors, including any assumption of the obligations of Shell Finance under any
series of debt securities by Royal Dutch Shell or any other subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell
or any Voluntary Assumption; |
|
|
|
|
to provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated
debt securities, provided, however, that the uncertificated debt securities are issued in a
registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code (as defined in Taxation U.S.
Taxation) or in a manner such that such uncertificated debt securities are described in
Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code; |
|
|
|
|
to provide any security for, any guarantees of or any additional obligors on any series
of debt securities or, with respect to the senior indenture, the related guarantees; |
|
|
|
|
to comply with any requirement to effect or maintain the qualification of that indenture
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939; |
|
|
|
|
to add covenants that would benefit the holders of any debt securities or to surrender
any rights Royal Dutch Shell or, with respect to the Shell Finance indentures, Royal Dutch
Shell or Shell Finance has under the indenture; |
|
|
|
|
to add events of default with respect to any debt securities; |
|
|
|
|
to establish the form or terms of securities of any series as permitted by the
indenture; |
|
|
|
|
to supplement any of the provisions of the indenture to such extent as shall be
necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of securities
pursuant to the indenture; provided, however, that any such action shall not adversely
affect the interest of the holders of securities of such series or any other series of
securities in any material respect; |
|
|
|
|
to provide for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect of the securities of
one or more series or to provide for the administration of the trusts under the indenture
by more than one Trustee; and |
|
|
|
|
to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of holders of any
outstanding debt securities of any series issued under that indenture. |
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series
(or, in some cases, of all debt securities issued under the applicable indenture that are affected,
voting as one class) may waive any existing or past default or event of default with respect to
those debt securities. Those holders may not, however, waive any default or event of default in
any payment on any debt security or compliance with a provision that cannot be amended or
supplemented without the consent of each holder affected.
19
Defeasance. When we use the term defeasance, we mean discharge from some or all of our
obligations under the indentures. If any combination of funds or government securities are
deposited with the trustee under an indenture sufficient to make payments on the debt securities of
a series issued under that indenture on the dates those payments are due and payable, then, at the
option or Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance, as applicable, either of the following will occur:
|
|
|
Royal Dutch Shell and, with respect to the Shell Finance indentures, Royal Dutch Shell
and Shell Finance will be discharged from its or their obligations with respect to the debt
securities of that series and, if applicable, the related guarantees (legal defeasance);
or |
|
|
|
|
Royal Dutch Shell and, with respect to the Shell Finance indentures, Royal Dutch Shell
and Shell Finance will no longer have any obligation to comply with the merger covenant and
other specified covenants under the applicable indenture, and the related events of default
will no longer apply (covenant defeasance). |
If a series of debt securities is defeased, the holders of the debt securities of the series
affected will not be entitled to the benefits of the applicable indenture, except for obligations
to register the transfer or exchange of debt securities, replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt
securities or maintain paying agencies and hold moneys for payment in trust. In the case of
covenant defeasance, the obligation of Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance to pay principal, premium
and interest on the debt securities and, if applicable, Royal Dutch Shell guarantees of the
payments will also survive.
Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement or unless such defeasance occurs
within one year of when the securities would be due and payable or called for redemption, we will
be required to deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel that the deposit and related defeasance
would not cause the holders of the debt securities to recognize income, gain or loss for U.S.
federal income tax purposes. If we elect legal defeasance, that opinion of counsel must be based
upon a ruling from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or a change in law to that effect.
Substitution of Shell Finance as Issuer. We may at our option at any time, without the
consent of any holders of debt securities, cause Royal Dutch Shell or any other subsidiary of Royal
Dutch Shell to assume the obligations of Shell Finance under any series of debt securities,
provided that the new obligor executes a supplemental indenture in which it agrees to be bound by
the terms of those debt securities and the relevant indenture. To the extent that Royal Dutch
Shell is not itself the new obligor, its guarantee shall remain in place after the substitution
unless another entity assumes the role of a guarantor in respect of the debt securities of Shell
Finance following a Voluntary Assumption. If the new obligor is not a U.S. or U.K. company it must
be a member of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (or any successor) and it
must also agree in the supplemental indenture to be bound by a covenant comparable to that
described under Payment of Additional Amounts below with respect to taxes imposed in its
jurisdiction of residence. In such cases, the new obligor will benefit from any optional
redemption provision for tax reasons as described below under Optional Tax Redemption or
provided for in the prospectus supplement. In the case of such a substitution, the relevant
finance subsidiary will be relieved of any further obligations under the assumed series of debt
securities. See Taxation U.S. Taxation of Debt Securities Merger and Consolidation/
Substitution of Issuer for discussion of possible tax consequences.
Governing Law. New York law will govern the indentures and the debt securities.
Trustee. Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, or another trustee we identify in the
prospectus supplement, will be the trustee under the indentures. The address of Deutsche Bank
Trust Company Americas is 60 Wall Street, 27th Floor, New York, New York 10005, Attention: Global
Transaction Banking, Trust and Securities Services. Royal Dutch Shell and Shell Finance, as
applicable, may appoint another trustee or a substitute trustee under the indentures or appoint an
entity qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 to serve as trustee under the indentures.
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas has served as trustee, paying agent, auction agent, exchange
agent and in similar capacities in transactions involving entities in the Shell Group or relating
to the debt or long term payment obligations of members of the Shell Group. Additionally, Deutsche
Bank Trust Company Americas and its affiliates perform certain commercial banking services for us
for which they receive customary fees and are lenders under various outstanding credit facilities
of subsidiaries of Royal Dutch Shell.
If an event of default occurs under an indenture and is continuing, the trustee under that
indenture will be required to use the degree of care and skill of a prudent person in the conduct
of that persons own affairs. The trustee will
20
become obligated to exercise any of its powers under that indenture at the request of any of
the holders of any debt securities issued under that indenture only after those holders have
offered the trustee indemnity satisfactory to it.
Each indenture contains limitations on the right of the trustee, if it becomes a creditor of
Royal Dutch Shell or, if applicable, Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance, to obtain payment of
claims or to realize on certain property received for any such claim, as security or otherwise.
The trustee is permitted to engage in other transactions with Royal Dutch Shell and, if applicable,
Royal Dutch Shell and Shell Finance. If, however, it acquires any conflicting interest, it must
eliminate that conflict or resign within 90 days after ascertaining that it has a conflicting
interest and after the occurrence of a default under the applicable indenture, unless the default
has been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated within the 90-day period.
Form, Exchange, Registration and Transfer. The debt securities will be issued in registered
form, without interest coupons. There will be no service charge for any registration of transfer
or exchange of the debt securities. However, payment of any transfer tax or similar governmental
charge payable for that registration may be required.
Debt securities of any series will be exchangeable for other debt securities of the same
series, the same total principal amount and the same terms but in different authorized
denominations in accordance with the applicable indenture. Holders may present debt securities for
registration of transfer at the office of the security registrar or any transfer agent Royal Dutch
Shell or Shell Finance, as applicable, designates. The security registrar or transfer agent will
effect the transfer or exchange if its requirements and the requirements of the applicable
indenture are met.
The trustee will be appointed as security registrar for the debt securities. If a prospectus
supplement refers to any transfer agents Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance, as applicable,
initially designates, Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance, as applicable, may at any time rescind
that designation or approve a change in the location through which any transfer agent acts. Royal
Dutch Shell or Shell Finance, as applicable, is required to maintain an office or agency for
transfers and exchanges in each place of payment. Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance, as
applicable, may at any time designate additional transfer agents for any series of debt securities.
In the case of any redemption, Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance, as applicable, will not be
required to register the transfer or exchange of:
|
|
|
any debt security during a period beginning 15 business days prior to the mailing of the
relevant notice of redemption or repurchase and ending on the close of business on the day
of mailing of such notice; or |
|
|
|
|
any debt security that has been called for redemption in whole or in part, except the
unredeemed portion of any debt security being redeemed in part. |
For purposes of the indentures, unless we inform you otherwise in a prospectus supplement, a
business day is any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions
in any of New York, New York; London, England; or a place of payment on the debt securities of that
series is authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed.
Payment and Paying Agents. Unless we inform you otherwise in a prospectus supplement,
payments on the debt securities will be made in U.S. dollars at the office of the trustee and any
paying agent. At the option of Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance, as applicable, however,
payments may be made by wire transfer for global debt securities or by check mailed to the address
of the person entitled to the payment as it appears in the security register. Unless we inform you
otherwise in a prospectus supplement, interest payments may be made to the person in whose name the
debt security is registered at the close of business on the record date for the interest payment.
Unless we inform you otherwise in a prospectus supplement, the trustee will be designated as
the paying agent. Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance, as applicable, may at any time designate
additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the
office through which any paying agent acts.
If the principal of or any premium or interest on or additional amounts with respect to debt
securities of a series is payable on a day that is not a business day, the payment will be made on
the following business day.
21
Subject to the requirements of any applicable abandoned property laws, the trustee and paying
agent will pay to us upon written request any money held by them for payments on the debt
securities that remains unclaimed for two years after the date upon which that payment has become
due. After payment to us, holders entitled to the money must look to us for payment. In that
case, all liability of the trustee or paying agent with respect to that money will cease.
Book-Entry Debt Securities. The debt securities of a series may be issued in the form of one
or more global debt securities that would be deposited with a depositary or its nominee identified
in the prospectus supplement. Global debt securities may be issued in either temporary or
permanent form. We will describe in the prospectus supplement the terms of any depositary
arrangement and the rights and limitations of owners of beneficial interests in any global debt
security.
Optional Tax Redemption. We may have the option to redeem the debt securities in the two
situations described below. The redemption price for the debt securities, other than original
issue discount debt securities, will be equal to the principal amount of the debt securities being
redeemed plus accrued (but unpaid) interest and any additional amounts due on the date fixed for
redemption. The redemption price for original issue discount debt securities will be specified in
the prospectus supplement for such securities. Furthermore, we must give you between 15 and 60
days notice before redeeming the debt securities.
The first situation is where, as a result of a change in, execution of or amendment to any
laws or treaties or the official application or interpretation of any laws or treaties, either:
|
|
|
Royal Dutch Shell, or in the case of debt securities issued by Shell Finance, Royal
Dutch Shell or Shell Finance, would be required to pay additional amounts as described
later under Payment of Additional Amounts; or |
|
|
|
|
Royal Dutch Shell or any of its subsidiaries would have to deduct or withhold tax on any
payment to any of the issuers to enable them to make a payment of principal or interest on
a debt security. |
This applies only in the case of changes, executions or amendments that occur on or after the
date specified in the prospectus supplement for the applicable series of debt securities.
We would not have the option to redeem in this case if we could have avoided the payment of
additional amounts or the deduction or withholding by using reasonable measures available to us.
The second situation is where a person assumes the obligations of Royal Dutch Shell or, in the
case of debt securities issued by Shell Finance, Shell Finance, as described above under
Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets and Substitution of Shell Finance as Issuer and is
required to pay additional amounts. We would have the option to redeem the debt securities even if
we are required to pay additional amounts immediately after such assumption (except in the case of
a Voluntary Assumption). Additionally, we would not be required to use reasonable measures to
avoid the obligation to pay additional amounts in this situation. However, we would have the
option to redeem the securities in the circumstances described above only if a change in, execution
of or amendment to any laws or treaties or official application of any law or treaty occurs after
such assumption.
Payment of Additional Amounts. The government of any jurisdiction where Royal Dutch Shell or,
in the case of debt securities issued by Shell Finance, Shell Finance, is resident may require
Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance to withhold or deduct amounts from payments on the principal or
interest on a debt security or any amounts to be paid under the guarantees, as the case may be, for
taxes or any other governmental charges. If the jurisdiction requires a withholding or deduction
of this type, Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance, as the case may be, may be required to pay you an
additional amount so that the net amount you receive will be the amount specified in the debt
security to which you are entitled. However, in order for you to be entitled to receive the
additional amount, you must not be resident in the jurisdiction that requires the withholding or
deduction. Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance, as the case may be, will not have to pay additional
amounts under any of the following circumstances (including any combination of the following):
|
(i) |
|
The U.S. government or any political subdivision of the U.S. government is the entity
that is imposing the tax or governmental charge. |
22
|
(ii) |
|
The tax or governmental charge is imposed only because the holder, or a fiduciary,
settlor, beneficiary or member or shareholder of, or possessor of a power over, the holder,
if the holder is an estate, trust, partnership or corporation, was or is connected to the
taxing jurisdiction, other than by merely holding the debt security or guarantee or
receiving principal or interest in respect thereof. These connections include where the
holder or related party: |
|
(a) |
|
is or has been a citizen or resident of the jurisdiction; |
|
|
(b) |
|
is or has been engaged in trade or business in the jurisdiction; or |
|
|
(c) |
|
has or had a permanent establishment in the jurisdiction. |
|
(iii) |
|
The holder is a fiduciary, partnership or other entity that is not the sole beneficial
owner of the payment of the principal of, or any interest on, any debt security, and the
laws of the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or
therein) require the payment to be included in the income of a beneficiary or settlor for
tax purposes with respect to such fiduciary, a member of such partnership or other entity,
or a beneficial owner who would not have been entitled to such additional amounts had such
beneficiary, settlor, member or beneficial owner been the holder of such security. The
amount of the additional payments otherwise payable to such fiduciary, partnership or other
entity will be reduced in proportion to the interest that the ultimate beneficial owners
described in the previous sentence own in such holder. |
|
|
(iv) |
|
The tax or governmental charge is imposed due to the presentation of a debt security,
if presentation is required, for payment on a date more than 30 days after the security
became due or after the payment was provided for. |
|
|
(v) |
|
The tax or governmental charge is on account of an estate, inheritance, gift, sale,
transfer, personal property or similar tax or other governmental charge. |
|
|
(vi) |
|
The tax or governmental charge is for a tax or governmental charge that is payable in a
manner that does not involve withholdings. |
|
|
(vii) |
|
The tax or governmental charge is imposed or withheld because the holder or beneficial
owner failed to make a declaration (of non-residence or other similar claim for exemption)
or satisfy any information requirements that the statutes, treaties, regulations or
administrative practices of the taxing jurisdiction require as a precondition to exemption
from all or part of such tax or governmental charge. |
|
|
(viii) |
|
The tax or governmental charge is imposed or withheld because the holder or beneficial
owner failed to comply with any request by Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance to provide
information about the nationality, residence or identity of the holder or beneficial owner. |
|
|
(ix) |
|
The withholding or deduction is imposed on a payment to an individual and is required
to be made pursuant to any law implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to
conform to European Council Directive 2003/48/EC or any other Directive implementing the
conclusions of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) meeting of November 26
and 27, 2000 on the taxation of savings income. |
|
|
(x) |
|
The withholding or deduction is imposed on a payment to a holder or beneficial owner
who could have avoided such withholding or deduction by presenting its debt securities to
another paying agent. |
These provisions will also apply to any taxes or governmental charges imposed by any
jurisdiction in which a successor to Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance is resident. The
prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities may describe additional circumstances in
which Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance would not be required to pay additional amounts.
Redenomination. Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance, as applicable, may without your consent
elect that, on the Redenomination Date specified in a notice to the trustee, a series of debt
securities may be redenominated in euro.
The election will have effect as follows:
23
|
(i) |
|
each series of debt securities denominated in the specified currency will be deemed to
be denominated in such amount of euro as is equivalent to its denomination in the specified
currency at the Established Rate, subject to such provisions (if any) as to rounding (and
payments in respect of fractions consequent on rounding) as Royal Dutch Shell or Shell
Finance, as applicable, may decide with the approval of the trustee, and as shall be
specified in the notice; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
after the Redenomination Date, all payments in respect of such series of debt
securities will be made solely in euro, including payments of interest before the
Redenomination Date, as though reference in the series of debt securities to the specified
currency were to euro; and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
such changes may be made to the relevant indenture as Royal Dutch Shell or Shell
Finance may decide, with the approval of the trustee, as may be specified in the notice, to
conform it to conventions then applicable to instruments denominated in euro or to enable
the notes to be consolidated within one or more series of other notes, whether or not
originally denominated in the specified currency or euro. |
Established Rate means the rate for the conversion of the specified currency into euro
established by the Council of the European Union pursuant to Article 1091(4) of the Treaty
establishing the European Community, as amended (the Treaty).
Redenomination Date means any date specified by Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance for
payment of interest on the debt securities if the country of the specified currency is one of the
countries then participating in the third stage of European economic and monetary union pursuant to
the Treaty. If the country of the specified currency is not so participating, then the
Redenomination Date means, with respect to such debt securities, any date for payment of interest
so specified that falls on or after the date that such country does so participate.
Provisions Applicable Solely to Senior Debt Securities
Ranking. The Senior Debt securities will constitute Senior Debt of Royal Dutch Shell or Shell
Finance, as applicable, and will rank equally with all of their unsecured and unsubordinated debt
from time to time outstanding.
Guarantee of Shell Finance Senior Debt Securities. Royal Dutch Shell will fully and
unconditionally guarantee on a senior unsecured basis the full and prompt payment of the principal
of, any premium and interest on, and any additional amounts which may be payable by Shell Finance
in respect of the Senior Debt securities issued by Shell Finance when and as the payment becomes
due and payable, whether at maturity or otherwise. The guarantees provide that in the event of a
default in the payment of principal of, any premium and interest on, and any additional amounts
which may be payable by Shell Finance in respect of a Senior Debt security, the holder of that debt
security may institute legal proceedings directly against Royal Dutch Shell to enforce the
guarantees without first proceeding against Shell Finance. The guarantees will rank equally with
all of Royal Dutch Shells other unsecured and unsubordinated debt from time to time outstanding.
Provisions Applicable Solely to Subordinated Debt Securities
Ranking. The subordinated debt securities will rank junior to all Senior Debt of Royal Dutch
Shell or Shell Finance, as applicable, and may rank equally with or senior to other subordinated
debt of Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance, as applicable, that may be outstanding from time to
time.
Guarantee of Shell Finance Subordinated Debt Securities. Royal Dutch Shell will fully and
unconditionally guarantee on a subordinated unsecured basis the full and prompt payment of the
principal of, any premium and interest on, and any additional amounts which may be payable by Shell
Finance in respect of the subordinated debt securities issued by Shell Finance when and as the
payment becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or otherwise. The guarantee will provide that
in the event of a default in the payment of principal of, any premium and interest on, and any
additional amounts which may be payable by Shell Finance in respect of a subordinated debt
security, the holder of that debt security may institute legal proceedings directly against Royal
Dutch Shell to enforce the guarantees without first proceeding against Shell Finance. The
guarantee will rank junior to all Senior Debt of Royal Dutch Shell and may rank equally with or
senior to other subordinated debt of Royal Dutch Shell that may be outstanding from time to time.
24
Subordination. Under the subordinated indenture, payment of the principal of and any premium
and interest on and any additional amounts with respect to the subordinated debt securities will
generally be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior
Debt. Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, Royal Dutch Shell or Shell
Finance, as applicable, may not make any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on the
subordinated debt securities if it fails to pay the principal, interest, premium or any other
amounts on any Senior Debt when due.
The subordination does not affect the obligation of Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance, as
applicable, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay, when due, the principal of and any premium
and interest on or additional amounts respect to the subordinated debt securities. In addition,
the subordination does not prevent the occurrence of any default under the subordinated indenture.
The subordinated indenture does not limit the amount of Senior Debt that Royal Dutch Shell or
Shell Finance, as applicable, may incur. As a result of the subordination of the subordinated debt
securities, if Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance, as applicable, becomes insolvent, holders of
subordinated debt securities may receive less on a proportionate basis than other creditors, or may
receive nothing.
Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, Senior Debt will mean all debt,
including guarantees, of Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance, as applicable, unless the debt states
that it is not senior to the subordinated debt securities or other junior debt of Royal Dutch Shell
or Shell Finance, as applicable. Senior Debt with respect to a series of subordinated debt
securities could include other series of debt securities issued under the subordinated indenture.
25
DESCRIPTION OF ROYAL DUTCH SHELL WARRANTS
Royal Dutch Shell may issue warrants to purchase debt securities of Royal Dutch Shell or Shell
Finance or equity securities of Royal Dutch Shell. Warrants may be issued independently or
together with any securities and may be attached to or separate from those securities. Each series
of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into by Royal Dutch
Shell and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all as will be set forth in the applicable
prospectus supplement. It is expected that at the time of any warrant offering, the offering would
be structured so as to comply with the requirements of the U.K. Financial Services Authority and
any other pertinent regulations, including being made by an appropriately authorized person, as
necessary.
Subject to applicable law and our articles of association, any warrants in respect of ordinary
shares (or preference shares where the preference shares have the right to participate beyond a
specified amount in a dividend or capital distribution) which are issued by us for cash must first
be offered to existing shareholders in proportion to their existing holdings. See Description of
Royal Dutch Shell Ordinary Shares for further information on shareholders pre-emption rights.
Debt Warrants
Royal Dutch Shell may issue warrants for the purchase of debt securities issued by Royal Dutch
Shell or Shell Finance. Each debt warrant will entitle its holder to purchase debt securities at
an exercise price set forth in, or to be determined as set forth in, the applicable prospectus
supplement. Debt warrants may be issued separately or together with any other securities.
The debt warrants are to be issued under debt warrant agreements to be entered into by Royal
Dutch Shell and one or more banks or trust companies, as debt warrant agent, all as will be set
forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. At or around the time of an offering of debt
warrants, a form of debt warrant agreement, including a form of debt warrant certificate
representing the debt warrants, reflecting the alternative provisions that may be included in the
debt warrant agreements to be entered into with respect to particular offerings of debt warrants,
will be added as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part by
an amendment or incorporation by reference to a subsequent filing.
The particular terms of each issue of debt warrants, the debt warrant agreement relating to
such debt warrants and such debt warrant certificates representing debt warrants will be described
in the applicable prospectus supplement. This description will include:
|
|
|
the initial offering price; |
|
|
|
|
the currency, currency unit or composite currency in which the exercise price for the
debt warrants is payable; |
|
|
|
|
the title, aggregate principal amount, issuer and terms of the debt securities that can
be purchased upon exercise of the debt warrants; |
|
|
|
|
the title, aggregate principal amount, issuer and terms of any related debt securities
with which the debt warrants are issued and the number of the debt warrants issued with
each debt security; |
|
|
|
|
if applicable, whether and when the debt warrants and the related debt securities will
be separately transferable; |
|
|
|
|
the principal amount of debt securities that can be purchased upon exercise of each debt
warrant and the exercise price; |
|
|
|
|
the date on or after which the debt warrants may be exercised and any date or dates on
which this right will expire in whole or in part; |
|
|
|
|
if applicable, a discussion of material Dutch, U.K. and U.S. federal income tax,
accounting or other considerations applicable to the debt warrants; |
26
|
|
|
whether the debt warrants will be issued in registered or bearer form, and, if
registered, where they may be transferred and registered; and |
|
|
|
|
any other terms of the debt warrants. |
Equity Warrants
Royal Dutch Shell may issue warrants for the purchase of equity securities of Royal Dutch
Shell (including its ordinary shares). As explained below, each equity warrant will entitle its
holder to purchase equity securities at an exercise price set forth in, or to be determined as set
forth in, the applicable prospectus supplement. Equity warrants may be issued separately or
together with any other securities.
The equity warrants are to be issued under equity warrant agreements to be entered into by
Royal Dutch Shell and one or more banks or trust companies, as equity warrant agent, all as will be
set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. At or around the time of an offering of equity
warrants, a form of equity warrant agreement, including a form of equity warrant certificate
representing the equity warrants, reflecting the alternative provisions that may be included in the
equity warrant agreements to be entered into with respect to particular offerings of equity
warrants, will be added as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms
a part by an amendment or incorporation by reference to a subsequent filing.
The particular terms of each issue of equity warrants, the equity warrant agreement relating
to such equity warrants and the equity warrant certificates representing such equity warrants will
be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. This description will include:
|
|
|
the title and aggregate number of such warrants; |
|
|
|
|
the initial offering price; |
|
|
|
|
the currency, currency unit or composite currency, in which the initial price for the
equity warrants is payable; |
|
|
|
|
the currency, currency unit or composite currency in which the exercise price for the
equity warrants is payable; |
|
|
|
|
the designation and terms of the equity securities (for example, ordinary shares or
preferred stock) that can be purchased upon exercise of such warrants; |
|
|
|
|
the total number of equity shares that can be purchased upon exercise of each such
warrant and the exercise price; |
|
|
|
|
the date or dates on or after which the equity warrants may be exercised and any date or
dates on which this right will expire in whole or in part; |
|
|
|
|
the designation and terms of any related equity shares with which such warrants are
issued and the number of such warrants issued with each equity share; |
|
|
|
|
if applicable, whether and when the equity warrants and the related equity shares will
be separately transferable; |
|
|
|
|
if applicable, a discussion of material Dutch, U.K. and U.S. federal income tax,
accounting or other considerations applicable to the such warrants; and |
|
|
|
|
any other terms of the equity warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations
relating to the exchange and exercise of the such warrants. |
27
DESCRIPTION OF ROYAL DUTCH SHELL ORDINARY SHARES
The following is a summary of the material terms of Royal Dutch Shells ordinary shares,
including brief descriptions of the provisions contained in our memorandum and articles of
association and applicable laws of England and Wales in effect on the date of this document. This
summary does not purport to include complete statements of these provisions. References to the
provisions of our memorandum and articles of association are qualified in their entirety by
reference to our full memorandum and articles of association which are exhibits to the registration
statement on Form F-3 of which this prospectus is a part. See the Description of Royal Dutch
Shell American Depositary Receipts section below for more information about the rights of holders
of our ADRs. For the purposes of the discussion below, references to we, us and our refer to
Royal Dutch Shell.
Share Capital
For information about our share capital as of September 30, 2008, see Capitalisation and
Indebtedness on page 19 in the Q3 Form 6-K, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus,
and any future descriptions of our share capital filed in our reports under the Exchange Act. For
information about our share capital history for the last three fiscal years, see the consolidated
statement of changes in equity included in the Consolidated Financial Statements on page 115 in the
2007 20-F, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
Shareholders Meetings
Under English law, we are required in each year to hold an annual general meeting of
shareholders in addition to any other meeting of shareholders that may be held. The annual general
meeting must be held each year within six months of the end of our previous financial year.
Shareholders may submit resolutions for consideration at our annual general meeting in accordance
with section 338 of the Companies Act 2006.
Our directors have the power to convene a general meeting of shareholders at any time. In
addition, our directors must convene a meeting upon the request of shareholders holding not less
than 10% of our paid-up capital carrying voting rights at general meetings of shareholders pursuant
to section 303 of the Companies Act 2006. A request for a general meeting of shareholders must
state the objects of the meeting and must be authenticated by the requesting shareholders and
deposited at our registered office. If our directors fail to give notice of such meeting to
shareholders with 21 days from receipt of notice, the shareholders that requested the general
meeting, or any of them representing more than one-half of the total voting rights of all
shareholders that requested the meeting, may themselves convene a meeting which must be called
within 3 months from the date of receipt by the directors of the aforementioned notice. Any such
meeting must be convened in the same manner, as readily as possible, as that in which meetings are
to be convened by our directors.
We are required to provide at least 21 clear days notice of any annual general meeting and at
least 14 clear days notice for all other general meetings.
In addition to any requirements under the legislation, the notice for any general meeting must
state where the meeting is to be held (the principal meeting place) and the location of any
satellite meeting place, which shall be identified as such in the notice. At the same time that
notice is given for any general meeting, an announcement of the date, time and place of that
meeting will, if practicable, be published in a national newspaper in The Netherlands. The listing
rules (the Listing Rules) of the UKLA, the Euronext Amsterdam rules and the rules of the New York
Stock Exchange require us to inform holders of our securities of the holding of meetings which they
are entitled to attend.
A shareholder is entitled to appoint a proxy (which is not required to be another shareholder)
to represent and vote on behalf of the shareholder at any general meeting of shareholders,
including the annual general meeting.
Business may not be transacted at any general meeting, including the annual general meeting,
unless a quorum is present. A quorum is two people who are entitled to vote at that general
meeting. They can be shareholders who are personally present or proxies for shareholders entitled
to vote at that general meeting or a combination of both.
If a quorum is not present within five minutes of the time fixed for a general meeting to
start or within any longer period not exceeding one hour (as decided by the Chairman of the
meeting), then (i) if the meeting was called by shareholders it will be canceled; and (ii) any
other meeting will be adjourned to any day (being not less than three nor
28
more than 28 days later), time and place stated in the notice of the meeting. If the notice
does not provide for this, the meeting shall be adjourned to a day, time and place decided upon by
the Chairman of the meeting. One shareholder present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote
will constitute a quorum at any adjourned general meeting.
Record dates
In relation to ordinary shares in uncertificated form, the holders of those shares that are on
the register of members on the record date have the right to attend and vote at meetings. In
relation to ordinary shares in certificated form, holders of those shares that are on the register
of members at the time of a meeting of shareholders are entitled to attend and vote at meetings.
Voting rights
The Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares have identical voting rights and vote
together as a single class on all matters including the election of directors unless a matter
affects the rights of one class as a separate class. If a resolution affects the rights attached to
either class of shares as a separate class, it must be approved either in writing by shareholders
holding at least three-quarters of the issued shares of that class by amount, excluding any shares
of that class held as treasury shares, or by a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of
the registered holders of the relevant class of shares.
It is the intention that all voting at our general meetings will take place on a poll. On a
poll, every holder of Class A ordinary shares or Class B ordinary shares present in person or by
proxy has one vote for every share he/she holds.
This is subject to any rights or restrictions which are given to any class of shares. No
shareholder is entitled to vote if he/she has been served with a restriction notice after failure
to provide us with information concerning interests in his/her shares required to be provided under
section 793 of the Companies Act 2006.
A poll is voting by means of a ballot where the number of shares held by each voting
shareholder is counted, as opposed to voting by way of a show of hands where the actual number of
shares held by voting shareholders is not taken into account.
Under the Companies Act 2006, if a poll is demanded, the resolution conducted on a poll must
be approved by holders of at least a majority of the votes cast at the meeting. Special
resolutions require the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the votes cast at the meeting to be
approved.
Major shareholders have no differing voting rights.
Dividend rights and rights to share in our profit
Under the applicable laws of England and Wales, dividends are payable on Class A ordinary
shares and Class B ordinary shares only out of profits available for distribution, as determined in
accordance with the Companies Act 2006 and under International Financial Reporting Standards.
Subject to the Companies Act 2006, if our directors consider that our financial position
justifies the declaration of a dividend, we can pay an interim dividend.
Our shareholders can declare dividends by passing an ordinary resolution. Dividends cannot
exceed the amount recommended by our directors.
It is the intention that dividends will be declared and paid on a quarterly basis. Dividends
are payable to persons registered as shareholders on the record date relating to the relevant
dividend.
All dividends will be divided and paid in proportions based on the amounts paid upon our
shares during any period for which that dividend is paid.
Any dividend or other money payable in cash relating to a share can be paid by sending a
cheque, warrant or similar financial instrument payable to the shareholder who is entitled to it by
post addressed to his/her registered address, or it can be made payable to someone else named in a
written instruction from the shareholder (or all joint
29
shareholders) and sent by post to the address specified in that instruction. A dividend can
also be paid by inter-bank transfer or by other electronic means (including payment through CREST)
directly to an account with a bank or other financial institution (or another organization
operating deposit accounts if allowed by Royal Dutch Shell) named in a written instruction from the
person entitled to receive the payment under this article. Such account is to be an account in the
U.K. unless the share on which the payment is to be made is held by Euroclear Nederland and the
Securities Giro Act applies to such share. Alternatively, a dividend can be paid in some other way
requested in writing by the shareholder (or all joint shareholders) and agreed with us. Where any
dividends or other amounts payable on a share have not been claimed, the directors can invest them
or use them in any other way for our benefit until they are claimed. Royal Dutch Shell will not be
a trustee of the money and will not be liable to pay interest on it. If a dividend or other money
has not been claimed for 12 years after being declared or becoming due for payment, it will be
forfeited and go back to us unless the directors decide otherwise.
We expect that dividends on our outstanding Class B ordinary shares will be paid under the
dividend access mechanism described below. Our articles of association provide that if any amount
is paid by the issuer of the dividend access share by way of dividend on the dividend access share
and paid by the dividend access trustee to any holder of Class B ordinary shares, the dividend that
we would otherwise pay to such holder of Class B ordinary shares will be reduced by an amount equal
to the amount paid to such holder of Class B ordinary shares by the dividend access trustee.
Issuance of additional shares; other changes in share capital
Subject to applicable law and our articles of association, we can issue shares with any rights
or restrictions attached to them as long as this is not restricted by any rights attached to
existing shares. These rights or restrictions can be decided either by an ordinary resolution
passed by our shareholders, or by our directors as long as there is no conflict with any resolution
passed by our shareholders. Accordingly, without further shareholder approval but subject to the
limitations described above, including pre-emption rights, the directors could issue one or more
series of preferred shares and establish the rights, preferences, redemption terms and other
provisions of those shares.
Subject to the provisions of applicable law and the provisions of our articles of association,
shareholders can increase our share capital by passing an ordinary resolution. This resolution
will fix the amount of the increase and the amount of new shares.
Subject to applicable law and the provisions of our articles of association, shareholders can
pass an ordinary resolution to do any of the following:
|
(i) |
|
consolidate, or consolidate and then divide, all or any of
our share capital into shares of a larger amount than the existing shares; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
divide some or all of our shares into shares of a smaller
amount than the existing shares. The resolution can provide that holders of the divided shares will have different
rights and restrictions if those rights or restrictions are of a kind which we can apply to
new shares; and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
cancel any shares which have not been taken, or agreed to be taken, by anyone at the
date of the resolution and reduce the amount of our share capital by the amount of the
canceled shares. |
Subject to applicable law and the provisions of our articles of association, shareholders can
pass a special resolution to reduce our share capital, any capital redemption reserve, any share
premium account or any other undistributable reserve in any way.
We may, subject to applicable law and existing shareholder rights, and to any requirements
imposed by any relevant listing authority in respect of securities admitted to listing, purchase
our own shares including redeemable shares.
Rights in a winding up
If we are wound up (whether the liquidation is voluntary, under supervision of the court or by
the court), the liquidator can, with the authority of a special resolution passed by our
shareholders and any other sanction required by
30
legislation, divide among the shareholders (excluding any shareholder holding shares as
treasury shares) the whole or any part of our assets. For this purpose, the liquidator can set the
value that the liquidator considers fair upon any property and decide how such division is carried
out as between shareholders or different groups of shareholders.
Redemption provisions
Ordinary shares are not subject to any redemption provisions.
Sinking fund provisions
Ordinary shares are not subject to any sinking fund provision under our memorandum and
articles of association or as a matter of the laws of England and Wales.
Liability to further calls
No holder of our ordinary shares will be required to make additional contributions of capital
in respect of our ordinary shares in the future.
Discriminating provisions
There are no provisions in our memorandum and articles of association discriminating against a
shareholder because of his/her ownership of a particular number of shares.
Variation of Rights
Under the Companies Act 1985, our shareholders have power to amend the objects or purpose
clause in our memorandum of association or any provision of our articles of association by special
resolution, subject to, in the case of amendments to the objects clause of our memorandum of
association, the right of dissenting shareholders to apply to the courts to cancel the amendments.
Under the Companies Act 1985, our Board of Directors is not authorized to change our
memorandum or articles of association. Our articles of association provide that, if permitted by
legislation, the rights attached to any class of our shares can be changed if this is approved
either in writing by shareholders holding at least three-quarters of the issued shares of that
class by amount (excluding any shares of that class held as treasury shares) or by a special
resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the relevant class of shares. At every
such separate meeting, all of the provisions of our articles of association relating to proceedings
at a general meeting apply, except that the quorum is to be the number of persons who hold or
represent by proxy not less than one-third in nominal value of the issued shares of the class.
These provisions are not more stringent than required by the laws of England and Wales.
Limitations on rights to own shares
There are no limitations imposed by the applicable laws of England and Wales or our memorandum
or articles of association on the rights to own shares, including the right of non-residents or
foreign persons to hold or vote our shares, other than limitations that would generally apply to
all of our shareholders.
Transfer of shares
Unless our articles of association provide otherwise, a shareholder may transfer some or all
of his/her shares in certificated form to another person. A transfer of certificated shares must
be either in the usual standard form or in any other form approved by the directors. The share
transfer form for certificated shares must be signed or made effective in some other way by or on
behalf of the person making the transfer.
In the case of a transfer of a certificated share, where the share is not fully paid, the
share transfer form must also be signed or made effective in some other way by or on behalf of the
person to whom the share is being transferred.
Unless our articles of association provide otherwise, a shareholder may transfer some or all
of his/her shares in uncertificated form through CREST (the computerized settlement system to
facilitate the transfer of title to shares in uncertificated form operated by Euroclear U.K. &
Ireland Limited). Provisions of our articles of association do not
31
apply to any uncertificated shares to the extent that those provisions are inconsistent with
the holding of shares in uncertificated form or with the transfer of shares through CREST.
The person making a transfer will continue to be treated as a shareholder until the name of
the person to whom the share is being transferred is put on the register for that share.
Our directors may, without giving any reasons, refuse to register the transfer of any shares
which are not fully paid. Our directors may also refuse to register the transfer of any shares in
the following circumstances:
Certificated shares
|
(i) |
|
A share transfer form cannot be used to transfer more than one class of shares. Each
class needs a separate form; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
Transfers may not be in favor of more than four joint holders; and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
The share transfer form must be properly stamped or certified or otherwise shown to
our directors to be exempt from stamp duty and must be accompanied by the relevant share
certificate and such other evidence of the right to transfer as our directors may
reasonably require. |
Uncertificated shares
|
(i) |
|
Registration of a transfer of uncertificated shares can be refused in the circumstances
set out in the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 (SI 2001 No. 3755), as amended
from time to time; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
Transfers may not be in favor of more than four joint holders. |
Title to certificated shares will be evidenced by entry in the register of our members and
title to uncertificated shares will be evidenced by entry in the operator register maintained by
Euroclear U.K. & Ireland (which forms part of the register of our members).
Our directors may refuse to register a transfer of any certificated shares by a person with a
0.25% or greater holding of the existing capital (calculated excluding any shares held as treasury
shares) if such a person has received a restriction notice (as defined in our articles of
association) after failure to provide us with information concerning interests in these shares
required to be provided under the legislation unless our directors are satisfied that they have
been sold outright to an independent third party.
Dividend Access Mechanism for Class B ordinary shares
General
Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares are identical, except for the dividend
access mechanism, which will only apply to the Class B ordinary shares.
Dividends paid on Class A ordinary shares have a Dutch source for tax purposes and are subject
to Dutch withholding tax.
It is the expectation and the intention, although there can be no certainties that holders of
Class B ordinary shares will receive dividends through the dividend access mechanism. Any
dividends paid on the dividend access share will have a U.K. source for U.K. and Dutch tax
purposes. There will be no Dutch withholding tax on such dividends and certain holders (not
including U.S. holders of Class B ordinary shares or Class B ADRs) will be entitled to a U.K. tax
credit in respect of their proportional shares of such dividends. For further details regarding
the tax treatment of dividends paid on the Class A and Class B ordinary shares and ADRs, please
refer to Taxation.
Description of Dividend Access Mechanism
A dividend access share has been issued by Shell Transport to Lloyds TSB Offshore Trust
Company Limited (formerly Hill Samuel Offshore Trust Company Limited) as dividend access trustee.
Pursuant to a declaration of trust,
32
Lloyds TSB Offshore Trust Company Limited will hold any dividends paid in respect of the
dividend access share on trust for the holders of Class B ordinary shares from time to time and
will arrange for prompt disbursement of such dividends to holders of Class B ordinary shares.
Interest and other income earned on unclaimed dividends will be for the account of Shell Transport
and any dividends which are unclaimed after 12 years will revert to Shell Transport. Holders of
Class B ordinary shares will not have any interest in the dividend access share and will not have
any rights against Shell Transport as issuer of the dividend access share. The only assets held on
trust for the benefit of the holders of Class B ordinary shares will be dividends paid to the
dividend access trustee in respect of the dividend access share.
The declaration and payment of dividends on the dividend access share will require board
action by Shell Transport and will be subject to any applicable limitations in law or in the Shell
Transport articles of association in effect from time to time. In no event will the aggregate
amount of the dividend paid by Shell Transport under the dividend access mechanism for a particular
period exceed the aggregate of the dividend declared by our board on the Class B ordinary shares in
respect of the same period.
Operation of the Dividend Access Mechanism
If, in connection with the declaration of dividends by Royal Dutch Shell on the Class B
ordinary shares, the board of Shell Transport elects to declare and pay a dividend on the dividend
access share to the dividend access trustee, the holders of the Class B ordinary shares will be
beneficially entitled to receive their share of that dividend pursuant to the declaration of trust
(and arrangements will be made to ensure that the dividend is paid in the same currency in which
they would have received a dividend from us).
If any amount is paid by Shell Transport by way of a dividend on the dividend access share and
paid by the dividend access trustee to any holder of Class B ordinary shares, the dividend which we
would otherwise pay on the Class B ordinary shares will be reduced by an amount equal to the amount
paid to such holders of Class B ordinary shares by the dividend access trustee.
We will have a full and unconditional obligation, in the event that the dividend access
trustee does not pay an amount to holders of Class B ordinary shares on a cash dividend payment
date (even if that amount has been paid to the dividend access trustee), to pay immediately the
dividend declared on the Class B ordinary shares. The right of holders of Class B ordinary shares
to receive distributions from the dividend access trustee will be reduced by an amount equal to the
amount of any payment actually made by us on account of any dividend on Class B ordinary shares.
Any payment by us will be subject to Dutch withholding tax (unless in any particular case an
exemption is obtained under Dutch law or the provisions of an applicable tax treaty). If for any
reason no dividend is paid on the dividend access share, holders of Class B ordinary shares will
only receive dividends from us directly.
The dividend access mechanism may be suspended or terminated at any time by our directors or
the directors of Shell Transport, for any reason and without financial recompense. This might, for
instance, occur in response to changes in relevant tax legislation.
The dividend access mechanism has been approved by the Dutch Revenue Service pursuant to an
agreement (vaststellingsovereenkomst) with us and Royal Dutch Petroleum dated October 26, 2004 as
supplemented and amended by an agreement between the same parties dated April 25, 2005. The
agreement states, among other things, that dividend distributions on the dividend access share by
Shell Transport will not be subject to Dutch dividend withholding tax provided that the dividend
access mechanism is structured and operated substantially as set out above. We may not extend the
dividend access mechanism to any future issuances of Class B ordinary shares without the approval
of the Dutch Revenue Service. Accordingly, we would not expect to issue additional Class B
ordinary shares unless we obtained that approval or determined that the continued operation of the
dividend access mechanism was unnecessary. Any further issue of Class B ordinary shares is subject
to advance consultation with the Dutch Revenue Service.
Manner of holding shares
There are several ways in which our registered shares or an interest in these shares can be
held, including:
33
|
|
|
directly as registered shares in uncertificated form or in certificated form in a
shareholders name; |
|
|
|
|
indirectly through Euroclear Nederland (in respect of which the Dutch Securities Giro
Act is applicable); |
|
|
|
|
through our Corporate Nominee Service; and |
|
|
|
|
as a direct or indirect holder of either a Class A or Class B ADR (see the Description
of the Royal Dutch Shell American Depositary Receipts section of this prospectus). |
Holdings through Euroclear Nederland
We expect that the Admitted Institution or, if applicable, other bank or financial institution
where a person who holds interests in our shares through Euroclear Nederland maintains a relevant
securities account will send such person a statement detailing the interests in our shares such
person holds through Euroclear Nederland. However, whether and, if so, how they do so, will depend
on the individual arrangements between such Admitted Institution or other bank or financial
institution and that person.
Euroclear Nederland has indicated that each person who holds interests in our shares through
it will be able to exercise rights relating to those shares such that he/she will (subject to the
individual arrangements between that person and the Admitted Institution or other bank or financial
institution where that person maintains a relevant securities account):
|
|
|
be able to attend and speak at, all of our general meetings; |
|
|
|
|
be able to give directions as to voting at all of our general meetings; and |
|
|
|
|
be able to receive dividends via Euroclear Nederland and participate in capital events, |
in each case, so far as is possible in accordance with the Securities Giro Act, other applicable
law and the Euroclear Nederland rules and regulations issued pursuant to the Securities Giro Act
and further subject to compliance by all concerned with any applicable policies and procedures.
Holdings through the Corporate Nominee Service
In order to allow the persons who hold our shares through the corporate nominee service
provided by Equiniti Financial Services Limited (the Corporate Nominee Service) to exercise
rights relating to those shares, we have entered into an agreement with Equiniti Financial Services
Limited (the Corporate Nominee) requiring it to ensure that persons holding our shares through
the Corporate Nominee Service will:
|
|
|
receive notices of, and be able to attend and speak at, all of our general meetings; |
|
|
|
|
be able to give directions as to voting at all of our general meetings; |
|
|
|
|
have made available to them and be sent, on request, copies of our annual report and
accounts and all the other documents issued to shareholders by us; |
|
|
|
|
be able to receive dividends via the Corporate Nominee Service; |
|
|
|
|
be able to participate in capital events in the same manner as registered holders of the
same class of our shares; and |
|
|
|
|
be treated in the same manner as registered holders of the same class of our shares in
respect of all other rights attaching to those shares, |
in each case, so far as is possible in accordance with the Uncertificated Securities Regulations
2001 and other applicable law. In particular, residents in, or citizens of, jurisdictions outside
the U.K. should be aware that they will not be able to participate in capital events as registered
holders of our shares unless the Corporate Nominee is satisfied that such participation or
treatment would not breach any applicable laws or regulations in those jurisdictions.
34
It is the responsibility of persons resident in, or citizens of jurisdiction outside the U.K.
to inform themselves of, and to satisfy themselves as to the full observance of, the laws of the
relevant jurisdiction in connection with any applicable legal requirements in respect of holding
our shares through the Corporate Nominee Service, including the obtaining of any governmental,
exchange control or other consents which may be required, or the compliance with other necessary
formalities that are required to be observed. If, due to applicable legal requirements, it is not
permissible or practical to hold our shares through the Corporate Nominee Service, persons resident
in, or citizens of, that jurisdiction should request that they be sent a share certificate for the
our ordinary shares to which they are entitled.
For so long as a person holds our shares through the Corporate Nominee Service, we will ensure
that the Corporate Nominee sends each such person a statement of his/her holding of our shares at
least once a year.
Change in the manner of holding our shares
Holders of our shares may, subject as set out below, change the manner in which they hold such
shares. The ability to change the manner of holding our shares is subject to, in each case,
compliance with any relevant regulatory requirements and, in respect of holdings through the
Corporate Nominee Service, the agreement of the Corporate Nominee and acceptance by the holder of
our shares of the terms and conditions of the Corporate Nominee Service.
Holders of our shares who wish to change the manner in which they hold such shares are urged
to consult their own legal, tax and financial advisers with respect to the legal, tax and cost
consequences of any such change.
Repurchase of shares
Subject to applicable law and our articles of association, we may purchase our own shares if:
(i) in the case of an open-market purchase, authority to make the market purchase has been given by
an ordinary resolution of our shareholders; or (ii) in the case of an off-market purchase,
authority has been given by a special resolution. However, the guidance from the Association of
British Insurers is that authority to repurchase shares on market should be given by special
resolution. We can only repurchase our own shares out of distributable reserves or the proceeds of
a new issuance of shares made for the purposes of funding the repurchase.
We have entered into agreements with the Dutch Revenue Service regarding the Dutch tax
consequences of the repurchase of both Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares.
Accordingly, we will consider such Dutch tax consequences if and when it decides to repurchase
ordinary shares. See Taxation Dutch Taxation Dutch taxation of Ordinary Shares and ADRs
Withholding tax on dividend payments.
Shareholders pre-emptive rights
Under the U.K. Companies Act 1985 of England and Wales (the Companies Act 1985), if we
propose to issue for cash:
|
|
|
equity securities (which are securities carrying a right to participate in dividends or
capital beyond a specified amount); or |
|
|
|
|
rights to subscribe for or convert into equity securities, |
they must be offered first to each person who holds equity securities on the same or more favorable
terms in proportion to those securities which is as nearly as practicable equal to the proportion
in nominal value of the equity securities held by him/her to the aggregate issued equity
securities. These pre-emption rights can be disapplied by a special resolution passed by
shareholders in a general meeting, either generally or specifically, for a maximum period not
exceeding five years.
Subject to applicable law and our articles of association, any equity shares issued by us for
cash must first be offered to existing shareholders in proportion to their existing holdings (the
shareholders pre-emption rights). Both the Companies Act 1985 and the Listing Rules allow for the
disapplication of the shareholders pre-emption rights. The pre-emption rights may be waived by a
special resolution of the shareholders, either generally or specifically, for a maximum period not
exceeding five years.
35
Ability to pay commission on shares and to issue shares at a discount
In connection with any share issued, we can use all the powers given by applicable law to pay
commissions or brokerage. Subject to the provisions of applicable laws and our articles of
association, we can (i) pay the commissions in cash or by allotting shares or by a combination of
both; and (ii) issue further shares of a class already issued at a discount to the market price.
The Listing Rules limit the maximum discount under which shares may be issued in an open offer to
10% of the middle market price of those shares at the time of announcing the terms of the open
offer. Furthermore, shares may not be allotted at less than their par value.
Disputes between a shareholder or ADR holder and Royal Dutch Shell, any subsidiary, director
or professional service provider
Except as noted below, virtually all disputes (i) between a shareholder in such capacity and
us and/or our directors, arising out of or in connection with our articles of association or
otherwise; (ii) so far as permitted by law, between us and any of our directors in their capacities
as such or as our employees, including all claims made by us or on our behalf against our
directors; (iii) between a shareholder in such capacity and our professional service providers
(which could include our auditors, legal counsel, bankers and ADR depositaries); and (iv) between
us and our professional service providers arising in connection with any claim within the scope of
(iii) above, shall be exclusively and finally resolved by arbitration in The Hague, The Netherlands
under the Rules of Arbitration of the ICC, as amended from time to time. This would include all
disputes arising under U.K., Dutch or U.S. law (including securities laws), or under any other law,
between parties covered by the arbitration provision.
The tribunal shall consist of three arbitrators to be appointed in accordance with the Rules
of Arbitration of the ICC. The chairman of the tribunal must have at least 20 years experience as
a lawyer qualified to practice in a common law jurisdiction which is within the Commonwealth and
each other arbitrator must have at least 20 years experience as a qualified lawyer.
Pursuant to the exclusive jurisdiction provision in our articles of association, if a court in
any jurisdiction determines that the arbitration requirement described above is invalid or
unenforceable in relation to a particular dispute in that jurisdiction, such dispute may only be
brought in the courts of England and Wales, as is the case with any derivative claim brought under
the Companies Act 2006.
Disputes relating to our failure or alleged failure to pay all or part of a dividend which has
been declared and which has fallen due for payment will not be the subject of the arbitration and
exclusive jurisdiction provisions of our articles of association. Any derivative claim brought
under the Companies Act 2006 will not be the subject of the arbitration provisions of our articles
of association.
The governing law of our articles of association is the substantive law of England and Wales.
We have incorporated arbitration clauses into all indemnities granted by us to our directors
and into all service contracts between directors and our subsidiaries. We have incorporated an
arbitration clause into the deposit agreements relating to the Class A ADRs and Class B ADRs which
applies as between us and holders of the Class A ADRs and Class B ADRs (but not the depositaries).
Pursuant to the relevant deposit agreement, as summarized under Description of Royal Dutch
Shell American Depositary Receipts, each holder of ADRs is bound by the arbitration and exclusive
jurisdiction provisions of our articles of association as described in that section as if that
holder were a shareholder.
Summary of Certain Provisions of Royal Dutch Shells Memorandum and Articles of Association
For a description of certain provisions contained in our memorandum and articles of
association, see Change of Control, Threshold for Disclosure of Share Ownership and Capital
Changes, each respectively included in Supplementary Information Control of Registrant
(unaudited) on page 179 in the 2007 20-F and which are incorporated by reference in this
prospectus, and subsequent filings incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
In our 2008 Annual General Meeting, which was held on May 20, 2008, our shareholders voted in
favor of adopting the new articles of association (the New Articles) to replace our then
existing articles of association (the
36
Old Articles). The New Articles were adopted primarily to reflect the provisions of the
Companies Act 2006. Below is a summary of the principal changes to our articles of associations
following the adoption of the New Articles.
Certain provisions in the Old Articles that replicate provisions contained in the Companies
Act 2006 were removed in the New Articles. Such provisions included (i) the provisions regarding
the proceedings and specific quorum requirements for a meeting convened to vary class rights; and
(ii) the provisions dealing with the convening of general meeting and the length of notice required
to convene such meeting.
Certain provisions in the Old Articles became irrelevant due to new rules included in the
Companies Act 2006 and therefore were removed in the New Articles. Such provisions included the
provision requiring a directors age to be disclosed if he/she has attained the age of 70 years or
more in the notice convening a meeting at which the director is proposed to be elected or
re-elected.
The provisions dealing with the appointment of proxies in the Old Articles were altered to
grant the directors discretion, when calculating relevant time limits, to exclude weekend and bank
holidays, in order to comply with new rules included in the Companies Act 2006. In addition,
multiple proxies may be appointed provided that each proxy is appointed to exercise the rights
attached to a different share held by the shareholder.
In addition, the New Articles allow the directors to authorize conflicts and potential
conflicts of interests that a director might face. Such conflicts may appear if a director becomes
a director of another company or a trustee of another organization. The New Articles contain
safeguards which will apply when directors decide whether to authorize a conflict or a potential
conflict. First, only directors who have no interest in the matter being considered will be able
to take the relevant decision and, secondly, in taking the decision the directors must act in a way
they consider, in good faith, will be most likely to promote our success. The directors will be
able to impose limits or conditions when giving authorization if they find it appropriate.
The provisions in relation to euro deferred shares were removed in the New Articles as they
are no longer necessary.
37
DESCRIPTION OF ROYAL DUTCH SHELL AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS
General
The Bank of New York Mellon as depositary for our ADRs, will execute and deliver the Class A
ADRs and Class B ADRs (collectively, the ADRs). Each Class A ADR and Class B ADR is a
certificate evidencing a specific number of Class A or Class B American depositary shares (Class A
ADSs and Class B ADSs and, collectively, ADSs), respectively. Each Class A ADS will represent
two of our Class A ordinary shares (or a right to receive two shares) deposited with the custodian
for the depositary. Each Class B ADS will represent two of our Class B ordinary shares (or a right
to receive two shares) deposited with the custodian for the depositary. Each ADS will also
represent any other securities, cash or other property which may be held by the depositary. The
shares and any other securities, cash or other property held under the relevant deposit agreement
are referred to as the relevant deposited securities. The depositarys office at which the ADRs
will be administered is located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286.
You may hold ADSs either (A) directly (i) by having an ADR registered in your name; or (ii) by
having ADSs registered in your name in the Direct Registration System, or (B) indirectly by holding
a security entitlement in ADSs through your broker or other financial institution. If you hold
ADSs directly, whether certificated or uncertificated, you are a registered ADS holder, also
referred to as an ADR holder. This description assumes you are an ADR holder. If you hold the
ADSs indirectly, you must rely on the procedures of your broker or other financial institution to
assert the rights of ADS holders described in this section. You should consult with your broker or
financial institution to find out what those procedures are.
The Direct Registration System, or DRS, is a system administered by the Depository Trust
Company (DTC), pursuant to which the depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated
ADSs, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements sent by the depositary to the
registered holders of uncertificated ADSs.
As an ADR holder, we will not treat you as one of our shareholders and you will not have
shareholder rights. English law generally governs shareholder rights. The depositary or its
nominee will be the holder of the shares underlying your ADSs. As a holder of ADRs, you will have
ADR holder rights. A deposit agreement for each class of ADRs among us, the depositary and you, as
an ADR holder, and the beneficial owners of ADRs sets out ADR holder rights as well as the rights
and obligations of the depositary. As of the date of this registration statement the two deposit
agreements are identical, except that each relates to a different class of ordinary shares and the
relevant class of ADRs issuable under it. New York law governs the deposit agreements and the ADRs
except that the arbitration and exclusive jurisdiction provisions are governed by English law.
The following is a summary of the material provisions of the deposit agreements. For more
complete information, you should read the entire relevant deposit agreement and the form of ADRs.
The deposit agreement relating to the Class A ADRs and the form of Class A ADR relating thereto,
and the deposit agreement relating to the Class B ADRs and the form of Class B ADR relating
thereto, are also attached as exhibits to the Capital Stock Form 6-K and incorporated herein by
reference. See Taxation U.S. Taxation U.S. Taxation of Ordinary Shares and ADRs for a
description of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. holders of holding our
ADRs.
Dividends and Other Distributions
How will you receive dividends and other distributions on the shares?
The depositary has agreed to pay to you the cash dividends or other distributions it or the
custodian receives on the relevant deposited securities, after deducting its fees and expenses.
You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of shares your ADSs represent.
|
|
|
Cash. While the depositary may receive cash dividends and other distributions from us
in U.S. dollars (in which case no conversion will be required) to the extent the depositary
receives a cash dividend or other cash distribution in a currency other than U.S. dollars,
the depositary will convert such cash dividend or other distribution we pay on the shares
into U.S. dollars, if it can do so on a reasonable basis and can transfer the U.S. dollars
to the U.S. If that is not possible or if any government approval is needed and cannot be
obtained, the deposit agreement allows the depositary to distribute the foreign currency
only to those ADR holders to |
38
|
|
|
whom it is possible to do so. It will hold the foreign currency it does not distribute for
the account of the ADR holders who have not been paid. It will not invest the foreign
currency and it will not be liable for any interest. |
|
|
|
Before making a distribution, the depositary will deduct any withholding taxes that must
be paid. It will distribute only whole U.S. dollars and cents and will round fractional
cents to the nearest whole cent. If the exchange rates fluctuate during a time when the
depositary cannot convert the foreign currency, you may lose some or all of the value of
the distribution. |
|
|
|
|
Ordinary shares. The depositary may distribute additional ADSs representing any shares
we distribute as a dividend or free distribution on the relevant deposited securities. The
depositary will only distribute whole ADSs. It will use its reasonable efforts to sell shares which would require it to deliver a fractional ADS and distribute the net proceeds
in the same way as it does with cash. If the depositary does not distribute additional
ADRs, the outstanding ADSs will also represent the new shares. |
|
|
|
|
Rights to purchase additional shares. If we offer holders of the relevant deposited
securities any rights to subscribe for additional shares or any other rights, the
depositary may make these rights available to you. If the depositary decides, after
consultation with us, it is not legal or feasible to make the rights available but that it
is practical to sell the rights, the depositary may sell the rights and distribute the
proceeds in the same way as it does with cash. The depositary will allow rights that are
not distributed or sold to lapse. In that case, you will receive no value for them. |
|
|
|
|
If the depositary makes rights available to you, and you elect to exercise such rights, it
will exercise the rights and purchase the shares on your behalf. The depositary will then
deposit the shares and deliver ADSs to you. It will only exercise rights if you pay it the
exercise price and any other charges the rights require you to pay. |
|
|
|
|
U.S. securities laws may restrict transfers and cancellation of the ADSs represented by shares purchased upon exercise of rights. For example, you may not be able to trade these
ADSs freely in the U.S.. In this case, the depositary may deliver restricted depositary shares that have the same terms as the ADSs described in this section except for changes
needed to put the necessary restrictions in place. |
|
|
|
|
Other Distributions. The depositary will send to you anything else we distribute on the
relevant deposited securities by any means it thinks is equitable and practical. If it
cannot make the distribution in that way, the depositary has a choice, after consulting
with us to the extent practical. It may decide to sell what we distributed and distribute
the net proceeds, in the same way as it does with cash. However, the depositary is not
required to distribute any securities (other than ADSs) to you unless it receives
satisfactory assurance from us that it is legal to make that distribution. |
The depositary is not responsible if it decides that it is unlawful or impractical to make a
distribution available to any ADR holders. We have no obligation to register ADSs, shares, rights
or other securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act). We also
have no obligation to take any other action to permit the distribution of ADRs, shares, rights or
anything else to ADR holders. This means that you may not receive the distributions we make on our
shares or any value for them if it is deemed illegal or impractical for us to make them available
to you.
Deposit and Withdrawal
How are ADSs issued?
The depositary will deliver ADSs if you or your broker deposits shares or evidence of rights
to receive shares with the relevant custodian. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any
taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will register
the appropriate number of ADSs in the names you request and will deliver the ADRs at its office to
the persons you request.
39
How do ADS holders cancel an ADR and obtain shares?
You may surrender your ADRs at the depositarys office. Upon payment of its fees and expenses
and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the depositary
will deliver (i) shares to you or to an account designated by you which may be an account
designated by such owner with Euroclear Nederland or an Admitted Institution; and (ii) any other
deposited securities underlying the ADR to you or a person you designate at the office of the
respective custodian. Or, in the case of certificated shares, at your request, risk and expense,
the depositary will deliver the deposited securities at its office, if feasible.
Voting Rights
How do you vote?
Under the deposit agreements, upon the written request of an ADR holder, the depositary will
endeavor to cause the appointment of such holder as its proxy with power to vote the number of
shares its ADSs represent. This means that, subject to the procedures described below, if you are
a registered holder of ADSs, you will have a right to attend and vote directly at shareholders
meetings. You also have a right to instruct the depositary how to vote the number of shares your
ADSs represent. The depositary will notify you of shareholders meetings and arrange to deliver
our voting materials to you if we ask it to. Those materials will describe the matters to be voted
on and explain how you may vote directly or instruct the depositary how to vote. For instructions
to be valid, they must reach the depositary by a date set by the depositary. In order for you to
vote, the depositary must receive your request to be a proxy prior to the date specified for each
meeting.
The depositary will try, as far as practical, subject to English law and the provisions of our
articles of association, to vote the number of shares or other relevant deposited securities
represented by your ADSs as you instruct. The depositary will only vote or attempt to vote as you
instruct.
We cannot ensure that you will receive voting materials or otherwise learn of an upcoming
shareholders meeting in time to ensure that you can become appointed as a proxy to vote or
instruct the depositary to vote your shares.
The depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out voting instructions
or for the manner of carrying out voting instructions. This means that you may not be able to vote
and there may be nothing you can do if your shares are not voted as you requested.
40
Fees and Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
Persons depositing shares or ADR holders must pay: |
|
For: |
|
|
|
|
|
$5.00 (or less) per 100 ADSs (or
portion of 100 ADSs)
|
|
|
|
Issuance of ADSs,
including issuances
resulting from a
distribution of shares or
rights or other property |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cancellation of ADSs for
the purpose of
withdrawal, including if
the relevant deposit
agreement terminates |
|
|
|
|
|
A fee equivalent to the fee that
would be payable if securities
distributed to you had been shares
and the shares had been deposited
for issuance of ADSs
|
|
|
|
Distribution of
securities distributed to
holders of deposited
securities which are
distributed by the
respective depositaries
to ADR holders |
|
|
|
|
|
Registration or transfer fees
|
|
|
|
Transfer and registration
of shares on our share
register to or from the
name of the respective
depositary or its agent
when you deposit or
withdraw shares |
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses of the depositary in
converting foreign currency to
U.S. dollars
Expenses of the depositary
|
|
|
|
Cable, telex and
facsimile transmissions
(when expressly provided
in the deposit agreement) |
|
|
|
|
|
Taxes and other governmental
charges payable on any ADR or
share underlying an ADR, for
example, stock transfer taxes,
stamp duty or withholding taxes
|
|
|
|
As necessary |
Payment of Taxes
The depositary may deduct the amount of any taxes owed from any payments to you. It may also
sell deposited securities, by public or private sale, to pay any taxes owed. You will remain
liable if the proceeds of the sale are not enough to pay the taxes. If the depositary sells
deposited securities, it will, if appropriate, reduce the number of ADSs to reflect the sale and
pay to you any proceeds, or send to you any property, remaining after it has paid the taxes.
Reclassifications, Recapitalizations and Mergers
|
|
|
|
|
If we: |
|
Then: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change the nominal or par value of our shares
|
|
The cash, shares or
other securities
received for the
account of the
depositary will
become deposited
securities. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reclassify, split up or consolidate any of
the relevant deposited securities
|
|
Each ADS will
automatically
represent its equal
share of the new
relevant deposited
securities. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distribute securities on the relevant
deposited securities that are not
distributed to you
|
|
The depositary may
distribute some or
all of the
securities it
received. It may
also deliver new
ADRs or ask you to
surrender your
outstanding ADRs in
exchange for new
ADRs identifying
the new deposited
securities. |
|
|
Recapitalize, reorganize, merge, liquidate,
sell all or substantially all of our assets,
or take any similar action |
|
|
41
Amendment and Termination
How may the deposit agreement be amended?
We may agree with the depositary to amend the deposit agreements and the ADRs without your
consent for any reason. If an amendment adds or increases fees or charges, except for taxes and
other governmental charges or expenses of the depositary for registration fees, facsimile costs,
delivery charges or similar items, or prejudices a substantial right of ADR holders, it will not
become effective for outstanding ADRs until 30 days after the depositary notifies ADR holders of
the amendment. At the time an amendment becomes effective, you are considered, by continuing to
hold your ADRs, to agree to the amendment and to be bound by the ADRs and the relevant deposit
agreement as amended.
How may the deposit agreement be terminated?
The depositary will terminate the deposit agreements if we ask it to do so. The depositary
may also terminate the deposit agreements if it has told us that it would like to resign and we
have not appointed a new depositary bank within 60 days. In either case, the depositary must
notify you at least 30 days before termination.
After termination, the depositary and its agents will do the following under the relevant
deposit agreement but nothing else: (1) advise you that the deposit agreement is terminated, (2)
collect distributions on the deposited securities, (3) sell rights and other property, and (4)
deliver shares and other deposited securities upon surrender of ADRs. Six months or more after
termination, the depositary may sell any remaining relevant deposited securities by public or
private sale. After that, the depositary will hold the money it received on the sale, as well as
any other cash it is holding under the relevant deposit agreement for the pro rata benefit of the
ADR holders that have not surrendered their ADRs. It will invest the money in direct obligations
of the federal government of the U.S. and has no liability for interest. The depositarys only
obligations will be to account for the money and other cash. After termination our only
obligations will be to indemnify the depositary and to pay fees and expenses of the depositary that
we agreed to pay.
Limitations on Obligations and Liability
Limits on our Obligations and the Obligations of the Depositary; Limits on Liability to Holders
of ADRs
The deposit agreements expressly limit our obligations and the obligations of the depositary.
They also limit our liability and the liability of the depositary. We and the depositary:
|
|
|
are only obligated to take the actions specifically set forth in the relevant deposit
agreement without negligence or bad faith; |
|
|
|
|
are not liable if either of us is prevented or delayed by law or circumstances beyond
our control from performing our obligations under the relevant deposit agreement; |
|
|
|
|
are not liable if either of us exercises discretion permitted under the relevant deposit
agreement; |
|
|
|
|
have no obligation to become involved in a lawsuit or other proceeding related to the
ADRs or the deposit agreements on your behalf or on behalf of any other person; |
|
|
|
|
may rely upon any documents we believe in good faith to be genuine and to have been
signed or presented by the proper party; and |
|
|
|
|
are not liable for the depositarys or any of its agents reliance upon the authority of
any information in, or for the depositarys or any of its agents compliance with
directions from, any DTC participants in connection with the Direct Registration System. |
By holding an ADR or an interest therein you will be agreeing that the depositary and its
agents may fully respond to any and all demands or requests for information maintained by or on its
behalf to the extent such information is requested or required by or pursuant to any lawful
authority, including without limitation laws, rules, regulations, administrative or judicial
process, banking, securities or other regulators.
42
Neither we nor the depositary nor any of our or its respective agents shall be liable to
registered or other holders of ADSs or any other third party or parties for any indirect, special,
punitive or consequential damages.
In the deposit agreements, we agree to indemnify the depositary for acting as depositary,
except for losses caused by the depositarys own negligence or bad faith, and the depositary agrees
to indemnify us for losses resulting from its negligence or bad faith and in connection with
issuance of pre-released ADRs.
Requirements for Depositary Actions
Before the depositary will deliver or register a transfer of an ADR, make a distribution on an
ADR, or permit withdrawal of shares or other property, the depositary may require:
|
|
|
payment of stock transfer or other taxes or other governmental charges and transfer or
registration fees charged by third parties for the transfer of any shares or other relevant
deposited securities; |
|
|
|
|
satisfactory proof of the identity and genuineness of any signature or other information
it deems necessary; and |
|
|
|
|
compliance with regulations it may establish, from time to time, consistent with the
relevant deposit agreement, including presentation of transfer documents. |
The depositary may refuse to deliver ADRs or register transfers of ADRs generally when the
transfer books of the depositary or our transfer books are closed or at any time if the depositary
or we think it advisable to do so.
Your Right to Receive the Ordinary Shares Underlying your ADRs
You have the right to cancel your ADRs and withdraw the underlying shares or have shares
credited to an account with Euroclear Nederland (in the case of Admitted Institutions only) or an
Admitted Institution at any time except:
|
(i) |
|
When temporary delays arise because: (a) the depositary has closed its transfer books
or we have closed our transfer books; (b) the transfer of shares is blocked to permit
voting at a shareholders meeting; or (c) we are paying a dividend on our shares. |
|
|
(ii) |
|
When you or other ADR holders seeking to withdraw shares owe money to pay fees, taxes
and similar charges. |
|
|
(iii) |
|
When it is necessary to prohibit withdrawals in order to comply with any laws or
governmental regulations that apply to relevant class of ADRs or to
the withdrawal of shares or other deposited securities. |
This right of withdrawal may not be limited by any other provision of the deposit agreements.
Pre-release of ADRs
The deposit agreements permit the depositary to deliver ADRs before deposit of the underlying
shares. This is called a pre-release of the ADRs. Subject to the terms and conditions of the
deposit agreements, the pre-release of ADRs may occur only if (i) pre-released ADRs are fully
collateralized (marked to market daily) with cash or U.S. government securities in an amount equal
to not less than 100% of the market value of the pre-released ADRs held by the depositary for the
benefit of owners of the applicable shares (but such collateral shall not constitute deposited
securities), (ii) each recipient of pre-released ADRs agrees in writing with the respective
depositary that such recipient (a) owns such shares, (b) assigns all beneficial right, title and interest therein to the
respective depositary, (c) holds such shares for the account of the respective depositary and (d)
will deliver such shares to the respective custodian as soon as practicable and promptly upon
demand therefor; and (iii) all pre-released ADRs of the relevant class evidence not more than 20%
of all ADRs of that class (excluding those evidenced by pre-released ADRs) or such other percentage
as we and the respective depositary may from time to time agree in writing, of the total number of
shares of that class represented by ADRs except to the extent, if any, that such limitation is
exceeded solely because of the surrender of ADSs subsequent to the execution and delivery of
pre-released ADRs in compliance with such limitation. As discussed in U.S. Taxation of Ordinary
Shares and ADRs Deposits, withdrawals, and Pre-Releases, the U.S. Treasury has expressed
concerns regarding certain transactions involving the pre-release of ADRs.
43
Arbitration
Under the deposit agreements, each holder of ADSs is bound by the arbitration and exclusive
jurisdiction provisions of our articles of association as if the applicable ADS holder was our
shareholder. For a description of the arbitration and exclusive jurisdiction provisions of our
articles of association see Description of Royal Dutch Shell Ordinary Shares Disputes between a
shareholder or ADR holder and Royal Dutch Shell, any subsidiary, director or professional service
provider.
Direct Registration System
In the deposit agreements, all parties to the deposit agreements acknowledge that the DRS and
Profile Modification System (Profile) will apply to uncertificated ADSs upon acceptance thereof
to DRS by DTC. DRS is the system administered by DTC pursuant to which the depositary may register
the ownership of uncertificated ADSs, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements
sent by the depositary to the registered holders of uncertificated ADSs. Profile is a required
feature of DRS which allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of a registered holder of
ADSs, to direct the depositary to register a transfer of those ADSs to DTC or its nominee and to
deliver those ADSs to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt by the depositary of
prior authorization from the ADS holder to register the transfer.
In connection with and in accordance with the arrangements and procedures relating to
DRS/Profile, the parties to the deposit agreements understand that the depositary will not verify ,
determine or otherwise ascertain that the DTC participant which is claiming to be acting on behalf
of an ADS holder in requesting registration of transfer and delivery described in the paragraph
above has the actual authority to act on behalf of the ADS holder (notwithstanding any requirements
under the Uniform Commercial Code).
Shareholder communications; inspection of register of holders of ADSs
The depositary will make available for your inspection at its office all communications that
it receives from us as a holder of relevant deposited securities that we make generally available
to holders of relevant deposited securities. The depositary will send you copies of those
communications if we ask it to. You have a right to inspect the register of holders of ADRs of the
relevant class, but not for the purpose of contacting those holders about a matter unrelated to our
business or the ADSs.
44
CLEARANCE AND SETTLEMENT
Securities we issue may be held through one or more international and domestic clearing
systems. The principal clearing systems we will use are the book-entry systems operated by the
Depositary Trust Company (DTC) in the U.S., Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (Clearstream,
Luxembourg), in Luxembourg and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. (Euroclear), in Brussels, Belgium.
These systems have established electronic securities and payment transfer, processing, depositary
and custodial links among themselves and others, either directly or through custodians and
depositaries. These links allow securities to be issued, held and transferred among the clearing
systems without the physical transfer of certificates.
Special procedures to facilitate clearance and settlement have been established among these
clearing systems to trade securities across borders in the secondary market. Where payments for
securities we issue in global form will be made in U.S. dollars, these procedures can be used for
cross-market transfers and the securities will be cleared and settled on a delivery against payment
basis.
Cross-market transfers of securities that are not in global form may be cleared and settled in
accordance with other procedures that may be established among the clearing systems for these
securities. Investors in securities that are issued outside of the U.S., its territories and
possessions must initially hold their interests through Euroclear, Clearstream, Luxembourg or the
clearance system that is described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The policies of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg will govern payments, transfers,
exchange and other matters relating to the investors interest in securities held by them. This is
also true for any other clearance system that may be named in a prospectus supplement.
We have no responsibility for any aspect of the actions of DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream,
Luxembourg or any of their direct or indirect participants. We have no responsibility for any
aspect of the records kept by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg or any of their direct or
indirect participants. We also do not supervise these systems in any way. This is also true for
any other clearing system indicated in a prospectus supplement.
DTC, Euroclear, Clearstream, Luxembourg, and their participants perform these clearance and
settlement functions under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers. You
should be aware that they are not obligated to perform these procedures and may modify them or
discontinue them at any time.
The description of the clearing systems in this section reflects our understanding of the
rules and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg as they are currently in effect.
Those systems could change their rules and procedures at any time.
The Clearing Systems
DTC
DTC has advised us as follows:
|
(a) |
|
a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of
New York; |
|
|
(b) |
|
a banking organization within the meaning of the New York Banking Law; |
|
|
(c) |
|
a member of the Federal Reserve System; |
|
|
(d) |
|
a clearing corporation within the meaning of the New York Uniform
Commercial Code; and |
|
|
(e) |
|
a clearing agency registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of
the Exchange Act. |
|
(ii) |
|
DTC was created to hold securities for its participants and to facilitate the clearance
and settlement of securities transactions between participants through electronic
book-entry changes to accounts of its participants. This eliminates the need for physical
movement of certificates. |
45
|
(iii) |
|
Participants in DTC include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and
clearing corporations and may include certain other organizations. DTC is partially owned
by some of these participants or their representatives. |
|
|
(iv) |
|
Indirect access to the DTC system is also available to banks, brokers, dealers and
trust companies that have relationships with participants. |
|
|
(v) |
|
The rules applicable to DTC and DTC participants are on file with the SEC. |
Clearstream, Luxembourg
Clearstream, Luxembourg has advised us as follows:
|
(i) |
|
Clearstream, Luxembourg is a duly licensed bank organized as a société anonyme
incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg and is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg
Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector (Commission de Surveillance du
Secteur Financier). |
|
|
(ii) |
|
Clearstream, Luxembourg holds securities for its customers and facilitates the
clearance and settlement of securities transactions among them. It does so through
electronic book-entry changes to the accounts of its customers. This eliminates the need
for physical movement of certificates. |
|
|
(iii) |
|
Clearstream, Luxembourg provides other services to its participants, including
safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities
and lending and borrowing of securities. It interfaces with the domestic markets in over 30
countries through established depositary and custodial relationships. |
|
|
(iv) |
|
Clearstream, Luxembourgs customers include worldwide securities brokers and dealers,
banks, trust companies and clearing corporations and may include professional financial
intermediaries. Its U.S. customers are limited to securities brokers and dealers and banks. |
|
|
(v) |
|
Indirect access to the Clearstream, Luxembourg system is also available to others that
clear through Clearstream, Luxembourg customers or that have custodial relationships with
its customers, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies. |
Euroclear
Euroclear is the international central securities depositary of the Euroclear group.
Euroclear has advised us as follows:
|
(i) |
|
Euroclear is incorporated under the laws of Belgium as a bank and is subject to
regulation by the Belgian Banking and Finance Commission (Commission Bancaire et
Financiére) and the National Bank of Belgium (Banque Nationale de Belgique). |
|
|
(ii) |
|
Euroclear holds securities for its customers and facilitates the clearance and
settlement of securities transactions among them. It does so through simultaneous
electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical
movement of certificates. |
|
|
(iii) |
|
Euroclear provides other services to its customers, including credit custody, lending
and borrowing of securities and tri-party collateral management. It interfaces with the
domestic markets of several other countries. |
|
|
(iv) |
|
Euroclear customers include banks, including central banks, securities brokers and
dealers, trust companies and clearing corporations and may include certain other
professional financial intermediaries. |
|
|
(v) |
|
Indirect access to the Euroclear system is also available to others that clear through
Euroclear customers or that have relationships with Euroclear customers. |
46
|
(vi) |
|
All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis. This means that specific
certificates are not matched to specific securities clearance accounts. |
|
|
(vii) |
|
Royal Dutch Shell Class B ordinary shares listed on the London Stock Exchange are
settled on the CREST system, which is operated by Euroclear U.K. & Ireland, a U.K.
subsidiary of Euroclear. The settlement procedures for this system are described in the
CREST reference manual, which can be found on Euroclear U.K. & Irelands website at
www.euroclear.com. |
|
|
(viii) |
|
Royal Dutch Shell Class A ordinary shares listed on Euronext Amsterdam are settled
through Euroclear Nederland, a Dutch subsidiary of Euroclear. The settlement procedures
for this system are described on the Euroclear Nederland website at www.euroclear.com. |
It should be noted that Euroclear is not involved in the settlement of Class A ordinary shares
and Class B ordinary shares between CREST and Euroclear Nederland.
Other Clearing Systems
We may choose any other clearing system for a particular series of securities. The clearance
and settlement procedures for the clearing system we choose will be described in the applicable
prospectus supplement.
Primary Distribution
The distribution of the securities will be cleared through one or more of the clearing systems
that we have described above or any other clearing system that is specified in the applicable
prospectus supplement. Payment for securities will be made on a delivery versus payment or free
delivery basis. These payment procedures will be more fully described in the applicable prospectus
supplement.
Clearance and settlement procedures may vary from one series of securities to another
according to the currency that is chosen for the specific series of securities. Customary
clearance and settlement procedures are described below.
We will submit applications to the relevant system or systems for the securities to be
accepted for clearance. The clearance numbers that are applicable to each clearance system will be
specified in the prospectus supplement.
Clearance and Settlement Procedures DTC
DTC participants that hold securities through DTC on behalf of investors will follow the
settlement practices applicable to U.S. corporate debt obligations in DTCs Same-Day Funds
Settlement System, or such other procedures as are applicable for other securities.
Securities will be credited to the securities custody accounts of these DTC participants
against payment in same-day funds, for payments in U.S. dollars, on the settlement date. For
payments in a currency other than U.S. dollars, securities will be credited free of payment on the
settlement date.
Clearance and Settlement Procedures Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg
We understand that investors that hold their securities through Euroclear or Clearstream,
Luxembourg accounts will follow the settlement procedures that are applicable for such securities
in their respective settlement systems.
Securities will be credited to the securities custody accounts of Euroclear and Clearstream,
Luxembourg participants on the business day following the settlement date, for value on the
settlement date. They will be credited either free of payment or against payment for value on the
settlement date.
47
Secondary Market Trading
Trading Between DTC Participants
We understand that secondary market trading between DTC participants will occur in the
ordinary way in accordance with DTCs rules. Secondary market trading will be settled using
procedures applicable to U.S. corporate debt obligations in DTCs Same-Day Funds Settlement System
for debt securities, or such other procedures as are applicable for other securities.
If payment is made in U.S. dollars, settlement will be in same-day funds. If payment is made
in a currency other than U.S. dollars, securities settlement at DTC will be free of payment. If
payment is made other than in U.S. Dollars, separate payment arrangements outside of the DTC system
must be made between the DTC participants involved.
Trading Between Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg Participants
We understand that secondary market trading between Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg
participants will occur in the ordinary way following the applicable rules and operating procedures
of Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg. Secondary market trading will be settled using
procedures applicable for such securities in their respective settlement systems.
Trading between a DTC Seller and a Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg Purchaser
A purchaser of securities that are held in the account of a DTC participant must send
instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg at least one business day prior to settlement.
The instructions will provide for the transfer of the securities from the selling DTC
participants account to the account of the purchasing Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg
participant. Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, as the case may be, will then instruct the
common depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg to receive the securities either
against payment or free of payment.
The interests in the securities will be credited to the respective clearing system. The
clearing system will then credit the account of the participant, following its usual procedures.
Credit for the securities will appear on the next day, European time. Cash debit will be
back-valued to, and the interest on the securities will accrue from, the value date, which would be
the preceding day, when settlement occurs in New York. If the trade fails and settlement is not
completed on the intended date, the Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg cash debit will be valued
as of the actual settlement date instead.
Euroclear participants or Clearstream, Luxembourg participants will need the funds necessary
to process same-day funds settlement. The most direct means of doing this is to preposition funds
for settlement, either from cash or from existing lines of credit, as for any settlement occurring
within Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg. Under this approach, participants may take on credit
exposure to Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg until the securities are credited to their
accounts one business day later.
As an alternative, if Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg has extended a line of credit to
them, participants can choose not to preposition funds and will allow that credit line to be drawn
upon to finance settlement. Under this procedure, Euroclear participants or Clearstream,
Luxembourg participants purchasing securities would incur overdraft charges for one business day,
(assuming they cleared the overdraft as soon as the securities were credited to their accounts).
However, interest on the securities would accrue from the value date. Therefore, in many cases,
the investment income on securities that is earned during that one business day period may
substantially reduce or offset the amount of the overdraft charges. This result will, however,
depend on each participants particular cost of funds.
Because the settlement will take place during New York business hours, DTC participants will
use their usual procedures to deliver securities to the depositary on behalf of Euroclear
participants or Clearstream, Luxembourg participants. The sale proceeds will be available to the
DTC seller on the settlement date. For the DTC participants, then, a cross-market transaction will
settle no differently than a trade between two DTC participants.
48
Special Timing Considerations
You should be aware that investors will only be able to make and receive deliveries, payments
and other communications involving securities through Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear on days
when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when
banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the U.S.
In addition, because of time-zone differences, there may be problems with completing
transactions involving Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear on the same business day as in the
U.S. U.S. investors who wish to transfer their interests in the securities, or to receive or make
a payment or delivery of securities, on a particular day, may find that the transactions will not
be performed until the next business day in Luxembourg or Brussels, depending on whether
Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear is used.
49
TAXATION
U.S. Taxation
This section describes the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of acquiring, owning
and disposing of securities we may offer pursuant to this prospectus. It applies to you only if
you acquire the offered securities in an offering or offerings contemplated by this prospectus and
you hold the offered securities as capital assets for tax purposes. This section is the opinion of
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, U.S. counsel to the issuer.
This section applies to you only if you are a U.S. holder. You are a U.S. holder if you are a
beneficial owner of an offered security and you are for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
|
|
|
a citizen or resident of the U.S.; |
|
|
|
|
a corporation, or entity taxable as a corporation, that was created or organized under
the laws of the U.S. or any of its political subdivisions; |
|
|
|
|
an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source;
or |
|
|
|
|
a trust if (i) a U.S. court can exercise primary supervision over the trusts
administration and one or more U.S. persons are authorized to control all substantial
decisions of the trust; or (ii) the trust has made a valid election under applicable U.S.
Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. |
This section does not apply to you if you are a member of a special class of holders subject
to special rules, including:
|
|
|
a dealer in securities or currencies; |
|
|
|
|
a trader in securities that elects to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for its
securities holdings; |
|
|
|
|
a regulated investment company; |
|
|
|
|
a real estate investment trust; |
|
|
|
|
a tax-exempt organization; |
|
|
|
|
an insurance company; |
|
|
|
|
a bank; |
|
|
|
|
in the case of warrants, ordinary shares or ADRs, a person that actually or
constructively owns 10% or more of the voting stock of Royal Dutch Shell; |
|
|
|
|
a person that holds offered securities as part of a straddle or a hedging or conversion
transaction (including, in the case of debt securities, debt securities owned as a hedge,
or that are hedged, against interest rate or currency risks); |
|
|
|
|
a person who is an investor in a pass through entity (such as a partnership); |
|
|
|
|
a person who acquires shares through the exercise of options, or otherwise as
compensation, or through a tax-qualified retirement plan; |
|
|
|
|
holders of options granted under any benefit plan; |
|
|
|
|
a person liable for alternative minimum tax; or |
|
|
|
|
a person whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar. |
50
This section is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), its
legislative history, existing and proposed regulations, published rulings and court decisions, all
as currently in effect. These laws are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis.
If a partnership holds the offered securities, the tax treatment of a partner generally will
depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner
of a partnership holding the offered securities, you should consult your tax advisor.
This summary does not address the alternative minimum tax, any non-income tax or any state,
local or non-U.S. tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership or disposition of our securities.
You are urged to consult your own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state and local and other
tax consequences of acquiring, owning and disposing of offered securities in your particular
circumstances.
U.S. Taxation of Ordinary Shares and ADRs
Taxation of Cash Distributions and Distributions of Stock. The gross amount of any
distribution (other than in liquidation and certain pro-rata stock distributions), including the
fair market value of all distributions of Royal Dutch Shells ordinary shares or ADRs whenever a
holder may elect to receive cash distributions instead of distributions of Royal Dutch Shells
ordinary shares or ADRs, that a U.S. holder receives with respect to Royal Dutch Shells ordinary
shares or ADRs (before reduction for Dutch tax, if any, withheld from such distributions) generally
will be includible in such U.S. holders gross income on the day on which, in the case of a holder
of our ordinary shares, such holder receives such distribution or, in the case of a holder of our
ADRs the depositary receives such distribution on behalf of the holder of the applicable ADRs.
Depending on the amount of the dividend and the amount of the U.S. holders adjusted tax basis in
the applicable ordinary shares or ADRs, distributions will be taxed in the following manner:
To the extent that distributions paid by Royal Dutch Shell with respect to the underlying
ordinary shares do not exceed Royal Dutch Shells current or accumulated earnings and profits
(E&P), as calculated for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such distributions will be taxed as
dividends. The current maximum rate of tax imposed on certain dividends received by U.S. holders
that are individuals is 15% (0% for individuals in the lower tax brackets) (the Reduced Rate), so
long as certain holding period requirements are met. The Reduced Rate applies to dividends
received before January 1, 2011. In order for dividends paid by a non-U.S. corporation to be
eligible for the Reduced Rate, the non-U.S. corporation must be a Qualified Foreign Corporation
(QFC) and must not be a passive foreign investment company (a PFIC) in either the taxable year
of the distribution or the preceding taxable year. We believe that Royal Dutch Shell will be a QFC
and will not be a PFIC. As a result, dividends received by individual U.S. holders before January
1, 2011 will generally constitute qualified dividend income (QDI) for U.S. federal income tax
purposes and be taxable at rates applicable to net capital gains (see Taxation of Sale or Other
Disposition), provided that certain holding period and other requirements are satisfied. There
can be no assurance, however, that Royal Dutch Shell will continue to be considered a QFC or that
Royal Dutch Shell will not be classified as a PFIC in the future. Thus, there can be no assurance
that Royal Dutch Shells dividends will continue to be eligible for the Reduced Rate. Special
rules apply for purposes of determining the recipients investment income (which limits deductions
for investment interest) and non-U.S. income (which may affect the amount of foreign tax credit)
and to certain extraordinary dividends. Each U.S. holder that is an individual is urged to consult
his/her tax advisor regarding the possible applicability of the Reduced Rate under the Act and the
related restrictions and special rules.
Because Royal Dutch Shell is not a U.S. corporation, dividends Royal Dutch Shell pays
generally will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction allowable to corporations under
the Code.
To the extent that distributions by Royal Dutch Shell exceed its current or accumulated E&P,
such distributions will be treated as a tax-free return of capital, to both individual and
corporate U.S. holders, to the extent of each such U.S. holders adjusted tax basis in Royal Dutch
Shells ordinary shares or ADRs, and will reduce such U.S. holders adjusted tax basis in the
ordinary shares or ADRs on a dollar-for-dollar basis (thereby increasing any gain or decreasing any
loss on a disposition of the ordinary shares or ADRs). To the extent that the distributions exceed
the U.S. holders adjusted tax basis in the ordinary shares or ADRs, such U.S. holder will be taxed
as having recognized gain on the sale or disposition of the ordinary shares or ADRs (see
Taxation of Sale or Other Disposition).
51
It is anticipated that any distributions on our ordinary shares will be made in euros or
pounds sterling; any dividends so paid generally will be includible in a U.S. holders gross income
in a U.S. dollar amount calculated by reference to the exchange rate in effect on the day the U.S.
holder receives the dividend.
Holders of our ADRs will receive dividend payments in U.S. dollars from the depositary. It is
anticipated that we will pay to the depositary a U.S. dollar amount calculated by reference to the
exchange rate in effect on the day that the dividend is declared, notwithstanding that the dividend
will have been declared in euros. In this case, the U.S. holder would include in gross income as a
dividend the U.S. dollar amount received by the depositary. Though not anticipated, it is possible
that we will pay to the depositary an amount in a currency other than U.S. dollars. In such a
case, any dividends so paid generally will be includible in a U.S. holders gross income in a U.S.
dollar amount calculated by reference to the exchange rate in effect on the day the depositary
receives the dividend. In such a case, the U.S. holder may recognize foreign exchange gain or
loss, taxable as ordinary income or loss, if the depositary does not convert such currency into
U.S. dollars before the U.S. holder is required to take the distribution into gross income for U.S.
federal income tax purposes. The gain or loss recognized will generally be based upon the
difference between the exchange rate in effect when such currency is actually converted and the
spot exchange rate in effect at the time the distribution is taken into account and any gain
realized generally will be treated as U.S.-source income for U.S. foreign tax credit limitation
purposes.
Dividends paid by Royal Dutch Shell generally will be treated as foreign source income for
U.S. foreign tax credit limitation purposes. Subject to certain limitations, U.S. holders may
elect to claim a foreign tax credit against their U.S. federal income tax liability for non-U.S.
tax withheld (if any) from dividends received in respect of the ordinary shares or ADRs. (See
Dutch Taxation Dutch Taxation of Ordinary Shares and ADRs Withholding Tax on Dividend
Payments for a discussion of Dutch withholding taxes and applicable treaty exemptions.) The
limitation on non-U.S. taxes eligible for credit is calculated separately with respect to specific
classes of income. For this purpose, dividends paid in respect of Royal Dutch Shells ordinary
shares or ADRs generally will be passive category income and therefore any U.S. federal income
tax imposed on these dividends cannot be offset by excess foreign tax credits that such U.S.
holders may have from non-U.S. source income not qualifying as passive income. In the case of
certain types of U.S. holders, any such dividends may be treated as general category income for
purposes of calculating the U.S. foreign tax credit limitations. U.S. holders that do not elect to
claim a foreign tax credit may instead claim a deduction for non-U.S. tax withheld (if any).
We understand that although dividends paid through the dividend access mechanism generally
will bear a U.K. tax credit available to individual taxpayers in the U.K., under the current
U.S.-U.K. income tax treaty (which came into force on March 31, 2003) that tax credit will not be
available to U.S. holders, and no offsetting withholding will be imposed by the U.K. As a result,
the cash amount of the dividend will be the gross dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes,
and there will not be any U.K. tax in respect of which to claim a credit against any U.S. federal
income tax liability.
Distributions of ordinary shares and ADRs to U.S. holders with respect to their holdings of
ordinary shares or ADRs, as the case may be (such previously held ordinary shares or ADRs being
Old Stock), that are pro rata with respect to their holdings of Old Stock will generally not be
subject to U.S. federal income tax (except with respect to cash received instead of fractional
ordinary shares or ADRs). A U.S. holders adjusted tax basis in the ordinary shares or ADRs so
received will be determined by allocating the U.S. holders adjusted tax basis in the Old Stock
between the Old Stock and the ordinary shares or ADRs so received.
Taxation of Sale or Other Disposition. A U.S. holder generally will recognize capital gain or
loss upon a sale or other disposition of ordinary shares or ADRs in an amount equal to the
difference between the amount realized on their disposition and such U.S. holders adjusted tax
basis in the ordinary shares or ADRs. Under current law, capital gains realized by corporate and
individual taxpayers generally are subject to U.S. federal income taxes at the same rate as
ordinary income, except that long-term capital gains realized by non-corporate U.S. holders are
subject to U.S. federal income taxes at a maximum rate of 15% for taxable years beginning before
January 1, 2011 (and 20% thereafter). Certain limitations exist on the deductibility of capital
losses by both corporate and individual taxpayers. Capital gains and losses on the sale or other
disposition by a U.S. holder of ordinary shares or ADRs generally should constitute gains or losses
from sources within the U.S.
For cash basis U.S. holders who receive foreign currency in connection with a sale or other
taxable disposition of ordinary shares or ADRs, the amount realized will be based on the U.S.
dollar value of the foreign currency received
52
with respect to such ordinary shares or ADRs as determined on the settlement date of such sale
or other taxable disposition.
Accrual basis U.S. holders may elect the same treatment required of cash basis taxpayers with
respect to a sale or other taxable disposition of ordinary shares or ADRs, provided that the
election is applied consistently from year to year. Such election may not be changed without the
consent of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. Accrual basis U.S. holders who or which do not elect
to be treated as cash basis taxpayers (pursuant to the U.S. Treasury regulations applicable to
foreign currency transactions) for this purpose may have a foreign currency gain or loss for U.S.
federal income tax purposes because of differences between the U.S. dollar value of the foreign
currency received prevailing on the date of the sale or other taxable disposition of ordinary
shares or ADRs and the date of payment. Any such foreign currency gain or loss generally will
constitute gain or loss from sources within the U.S. and generally will be treated as ordinary
income or loss and would be in addition to gain or loss, if any, recognized on the sale or other
taxable disposition of ordinary shares or ADRs.
Deposits, Withdrawals and Pre-Releases. Deposits and withdrawals by U.S. holders of ordinary
shares in exchange for ADRs and of ADRs in exchange for ordinary shares will not be subject to any
U.S. federal income tax. The U.S. Treasury Department, however, has expressed concerns that parties
involved in transactions where depositary shares are pre-released may be taking actions that are
not consistent with the claiming of foreign tax credits by the holders of the applicable ADRs.
Accordingly, the analysis of the creditability of non-U.S. withholding taxes described above could
be affected by future actions that may be taken by the U.S. Treasury Department.
U.S. Backup Withholding and Information Reporting. In general, information reporting
requirements will apply to payments of dividends on ordinary shares or ADRs and the proceeds of
certain sales of ordinary shares or ADRs in respect of U.S. holders other than certain exempt
persons (such as corporations). A 28% backup withholding tax (31% for 2011 and thereafter) will
apply to such payments if the U.S. holder fails to provide a correct taxpayer identification number
or other certification of exempt status or, with respect to certain payments, the U.S. holder fails
to report in full all dividend and interest income and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service notifies
the payer of such under-reporting. Amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be
credited against a holders U.S. federal tax liability, and a refund of any excess amounts withheld
under the backup withholding rules may be obtained by filing the appropriate claim form with the
U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
U.S. Taxation of Warrants
A prospectus supplement will describe, if applicable, the U.S. federal income tax consequences
of your ownership of warrants and any equity or debt securities issued together with them.
U.S. Taxation of Debt Securities
This discussion deals only with debt securities that are treated as indebtedness for U.S.
federal income tax purposes. The U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning debt securities
that are not so treated will be discussed in an applicable prospectus supplement.
Merger and Consolidation/Substitution of Issuer
If we engage in the activities described under Description of Debt Securities -
Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets or Description of Debt SecuritiesSubstitution of Shell
Finance as Issuer, a U.S. holder could be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as having
constructively exchanged its debt securities for new debt securities in a taxable transaction,
resulting in realization of gain or loss. U.S. holders are urged to consult their tax advisors
with regard to whether our engaging in such activities results in a constructive exchange and, if
so, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of such constructive exchange and of holding the new
debt securities such holder is deemed to receive.
Additional Amounts
All references to principal, interest or other amounts payable on the debt securities include
any additional amounts payable by Royal Dutch Shell as described in Description of Debt Securities
Payment of Additional Amounts.
53
Interest
The tax treatment of interest paid on the debt securities depends upon whether the interest is
Qualified Stated Interest. A debt security may have some interest that is Qualified Stated
Interest and some that is not.
Qualified Stated Interest is any interest that meets all the following conditions:
|
|
|
It is payable at least once each year in cash or property (other than additional debt
securities). |
|
|
|
|
It is payable over the entire term of the debt security. |
|
|
|
|
It is payable at a single fixed rate or under a single formula. |
|
|
|
|
The debt security has a maturity of more than one year from its issue date. |
If any interest on a debt security is Qualified Stated Interest, then
|
|
|
If the U.S. holder is a cash method taxpayer (including most individual holders), such
U.S. holder must report that interest in income when received. |
|
|
|
|
If the U.S. holder is an accrual method taxpayer, such U.S. holder must report that
interest in income as it accrues. |
If any interest on a debt security is not Qualified Stated Interest, it is subject to the
rules for original issue discount (OID) described below.
Subject to certain limitations, U.S. holders may elect to claim a foreign tax credit against
their U.S. federal income tax liability for non-U.S. tax withheld (if any) from interest received
in respect of debt securities. Interest paid on, and OID, if any, accrued with respect to the debt
securities that are issued by Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance will constitute income from
sources outside the U.S., and generally will be passive category income, and therefore any U.S.
federal income tax imposed with respect to such interest and OID, if any, cannot be offset by
excess foreign tax credits from non-U.S. source income not qualifying as passive income. In the
case of certain types of U.S. holders, any such interest or OID may be treated as general category
income for purposes of calculating the U.S. foreign tax credit limitations. If the U.S. holder
does not elect to claim a foreign tax credit, such U.S. holder may instead claim a deduction for
non-U.S. tax withheld (if any).
Determining Amount of OID
Debt securities that have OID are subject to additional tax rules. The amount of OID on a
debt security is determined as follows:
|
|
|
The amount of OID on a debt security is the stated redemption price at maturity of the
debt security minus the issue price of the debt security. If this amount is zero or
negative, there is no OID. |
|
|
|
|
The stated redemption price at maturity of a debt security is the total amount of all
principal and interest payments to be made on the debt security, other than Qualified
Stated Interest. In a typical case where all interest is Qualified Stated Interest, the
stated redemption price at maturity is the same as the principal amount. |
|
|
|
|
The issue price of a debt security is the first price at which a substantial amount of
the debt securities are sold to the public. |
|
|
|
|
Under a special rule, if the OID determined under the general formula is very small, it
is disregarded and not treated as OID. This disregarded OID is called de minimis OID.
If all the interest on a debt security is Qualified Stated Interest, this rule applies if
the amount of OID is less than the following items multiplied together: (a) .25% (that is,
1/4 of 1%), (b) the number of full years from the issue date to the maturity date of the
debt security, and (c) the principal amount. |
54
Accrual of OID into Income
If a debt security has OID, the following consequences arise:
|
|
|
U.S. holders must include the total amount of OID as ordinary income over the life of
the debt security. |
|
|
|
|
U.S. holders must include OID in income as the OID accrues on the debt securities, even
if such holders are on the cash method of accounting. This means that such holders are
required to report OID income, and in some cases pay tax on that income, before receiving
the cash that corresponds to that income. |
|
|
|
|
OID accrues on a debt security on a constant yield method. This method takes into
account the compounding of interest. Under this method, the accrual of OID on a debt
security, combined with the inclusion into income of any Qualified Stated Interest on the
debt security, will result in the U.S. holder being taxable at approximately a constant
percentage of such U.S. holders unrecovered investment in the debt security. |
|
|
|
|
The accruals of OID on a debt security generally will be less in the early years and
more in the later years. |
|
|
|
|
If any of the interest paid on the debt security is not Qualified Stated Interest, that
interest is taxed solely as OID. It is not separately taxed when it is paid. |
|
|
|
|
Tax basis in the debt security is initially its cost to the U.S. holder. It increases
by any OID (not including Qualified Stated Interest) reported as income. It decreases by
any principal payments received on the debt security and by any interest payments received
that are not Qualified Stated Interest. |
Debt Securities Subject to Additional Tax Rules
Additional or different tax rules apply to several types of debt securities that we may issue.
Short-Term Debt Securities: We may issue debt securities with a maturity of one year or less.
These are referred to as short-term debt securities.
|
|
|
No interest on these debt securities is Qualified Stated Interest. Otherwise, the
amount of OID is calculated in the same manner as described above. |
|
|
|
|
U.S. holders may make certain elections concerning the method of accrual of OID on
short-term debt securities over the life of the debt securities. |
|
|
|
|
If the U.S. holder is an accrual method taxpayer, a bank, a securities dealer, or in
certain other categories, OID must be included in income as it accrues (determined on a
ratable basis, unless the holder elects to use a constant yield method). |
|
|
|
|
If the U.S. holder is a cash method taxpayer not subject to the accrual rule described
above, OID will not be included in income until payments on the debt security are actually
received. Alternatively, the U.S. holder can elect to include OID in income as it accrues
(determined on a ratable basis, unless the holder elects to use a constant yield method). |
|
|
|
|
Two special rules apply if the U.S. holder is a cash method taxpayer and does not
include OID in income as it accrues. First, if the debt security is sold or it is paid at
maturity, producing a taxable gain, then the gain is ordinary income to the extent of the
accrued OID on the debt security at the time of the sale that has not yet been taken into
income. Second, if the U.S. holder borrows money (or does not repay outstanding debt) to
acquire or hold the debt security, then while the debt security is held, any interest on
the borrowing that corresponds to accrued OID on the debt security cannot be deducted until
OID is included in income. |
Floating Rate Debt Securities: Floating rate debt securities are subject to special OID
rules.
55
|
|
|
If the interest rate is determined using a single fixed formula and is based on
objective financial information (which may include a fixed interest rate for the initial
period) or if it reflects variations in the cost of newly borrowed funds, all the interest
will be Qualified Stated Interest. The amount of OID (if any), and the method of accrual
of OID, will then be calculated by converting the debt securitys initial floating rate
into a fixed rate and by applying the general OID rules described above. |
|
|
|
|
If the debt security has more than one formula for interest rates, it is possible that
the combination of interest rates might create OID. We suggest that you consult your tax
advisor concerning the OID accruals on such a debt security. |
Foreign Currency Debt Securities: A foreign currency debt security is a debt security
denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars. Special tax rules apply to these debt
securities:
|
|
|
If the U.S. holder is a cash method taxpayer, such holder will be taxed on the U.S.
dollar value of any foreign currency received as interest. The dollar value will be
determined as of the date when payments are received. |
|
|
|
|
If the U.S. holder is an accrual method taxpayer, such holder must report interest
income as it accrues. The U.S. holder can use the average foreign currency exchange rate
during the relevant interest accrual period (or, if that period spans two taxable years,
during the portion of the interest accrual period in the relevant taxable year). In this
case, such holder will recognize foreign exchange gain or loss upon receipt of the foreign
currency to reflect actual exchange rates at that time. Certain alternative elections also
may be available. |
|
|
|
|
Any OID on foreign currency debt securities as well as the amortization of any bond
premium will be determined in the relevant foreign currency. OID must be accrued in the
same manner that an accrual basis holder accrues interest income. |
|
|
|
|
The initial tax basis in a foreign currency debt security is the amount of U.S. dollars
paid for the debt security (or, if paid in foreign currency, the value of that foreign
currency on the purchase date). Adjustments are made to reflect OID and other items as
described above. |
|
|
|
|
If foreign currency is collected upon the maturity of the debt security, or if the debt
security is sold for foreign currency, gain or loss will be based on the U.S. dollar value
of the foreign currency received. For a publicly traded foreign currency debt security,
this value is determined for cash basis taxpayers on the settlement date for the sale of
the debt security, and for accrual basis taxpayers on the trade date for the sale (although
such taxpayers can also elect the settlement date). The tax basis in the foreign currency
will then be equal to the value reported on the sale. |
|
|
|
|
Any gain or loss on the sale or retirement of a debt security will be ordinary income or
loss and sourced to the U.S. to the extent it arises from currency fluctuations between the
purchase date and sale date. Any gain or loss on the sale of foreign currency will also be
ordinary income or loss. |
Other Categories of Debt Securities: Additional rules may apply to certain other categories
of debt securities. The Prospectus Supplement for these debt securities may describe these rules.
In addition, we suggest that you consult your tax advisor in these situations. These categories of
debt securities include:
|
|
|
Debt securities with contingent payments; |
|
|
|
|
Debt securities that can be put to us before their maturity; |
|
|
|
|
Debt securities that are callable by us before their maturity, other than typical calls
at a premium; |
|
|
|
|
Indexed debt securities with an index tied to currencies; and |
|
|
|
|
Debt securities the maturity of which is extendable at the U.S. holders option or at
our option. |
56
Premium and Discount
Additional special rules apply in the following situations involving premium or discount:
|
|
|
If a debt security is bought in the initial offering for more than its stated redemption
price at maturitydisregarding that part of the purchase price allocated to accrued
interestthe excess amount paid will be bond premium. The U.S. holder can elect to use
bond premium to reduce taxable interest income from the debt security. Under the election,
the total premium will be allocated to interest periods, as an offset to interest income,
on a constant yield basis over the life of the debt securitythat is, with a smaller
offset in the early periods and a larger offset in the later periods. This election is
made on the U.S. holders tax return for the year in which the debt security is acquired.
However, if the election is made, it automatically applies to all debt instruments with
bond premium that the U.S. holder owns during that year or that are acquired at any time
thereafter, unless the U.S. Internal Revenue Service permits such holder to revoke the
election. A U.S. holder that does not elect to amortize bond premium and that holds a debt
security to maturity generally will be required to treat the premium as a capital loss when
the debt security matures. |
|
|
|
|
Similarly, if a debt security has OID and it is bought in the initial offering for more
than the issue price (but less than the stated redemption price at maturity), the excess is
called acquisition premium. The amount of OID the U.S. holder is required to include in
income will be reduced by this amount over the life of the debt security. |
|
|
|
|
If a debt security is bought in the initial offering for less than the initial offering
price to the public, special rules concerning market discount may apply. |
Appropriate adjustments to tax basis are made in these situations. We suggest that you
consult your tax advisor if you are in one of these situations.
Accrual Election
The U.S. holder can elect to be taxed on the income from the debt security in a different
manner than described above. Under the election:
|
|
|
No interest is Qualified Stated Interest. |
|
|
|
|
Amounts are included in income as they economically accrue. The accrual of income is in
accordance with the constant yield method, based on the compounding of interest. The
accrual of income takes into account stated interest, OID (including de minimis OID),
market discount and premium. |
|
|
|
|
Tax basis is increased by all accruals of income and decreased by all payments received
on the debt security. |
Sale or Retirement of Debt Securities
On sale or retirement of the debt security:
|
|
|
The U.S. holder will have taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the
amount received and such holders tax basis in the debt security. Such gain or loss will
be U.S. source. The tax basis in the debt security is such holders cost, subject to
certain adjustments. |
|
|
|
|
The U.S. holders gain or loss will generally be capital gain or loss, and will be long
term capital gain or loss if the debt security was held for more than one year. For an
individual, the maximum tax rate on long term capital gains is 15% (for taxable years
beginning before January 1, 2011). |
|
|
|
|
If (a) the debt security was purchased with de minimis OID, (b) no election to accrue
all OID into income was made, and (c) the principal amount of the debt security upon the
sale or retirement was received by the U.S. holder, then such holder will generally have
capital gain equal to the amount of the de minimis OID. |
57
|
|
|
If the debt security is sold between interest payment dates, a portion of the amount
received reflects interest that has accrued on the debt security but has not yet been paid
by the sale date. That amount is treated as ordinary interest income and not as sale
proceeds. |
|
|
|
|
All or part of the gain may be ordinary income rather than capital gain in certain
cases, including sales of short-term debt securities, debt securities with market discount,
debt securities with contingent payments and foreign currency debt securities. |
Disclosure Requirements
U.S. Treasury regulations meant to require reporting of certain tax shelter transactions
(Reportable Transactions) could be interpreted to cover transactions generally not regarded as
tax shelters, including certain foreign currency transactions. Under U.S. Treasury regulations,
certain transactions may be characterized as Reportable Transactions including, in certain
circumstances, a sale, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition of debt denominated in a
foreign currency, which results in a foreign currency loss exceeding certain thresholds. Persons
considering the purchase of debt denominated in a foreign currency should consult with their own
tax advisers to determine the tax return disclosure obligations, if any, with respect to an
investment in debt denominated in a foreign currency, including any requirement to file IRS Form
8886 (Reportable Transaction Disclosure Statement).
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Under the tax rules concerning information reporting to the IRS:
|
|
|
Assuming the debt securities are held through a broker or other securities intermediary,
the intermediary must provide information to the IRS and to the U.S. holder on IRS Form
1099 concerning interest, OID and retirement proceeds on the debt securities, unless an
exemption applies. As discussed above under Premium and Discount, if the debt securities
have OID, the amount reported to such holder may have to be adjusted to reflect the amount
that must be reported in such holders tax return. |
|
|
|
|
Similarly, unless an exemption applies, the U.S. holder must provide the intermediary
with such holders Taxpayer Identification Number for its use in reporting information to
the IRS. If the U.S. holder is an individual, this is such holders social security
number. The U.S. holder is also required to comply with other IRS requirements concerning
information reporting. |
|
|
|
|
If the U.S. holder is subject to these requirements but does not comply, the
intermediary must withhold up to 28% (31% for 2011 and thereafter) of all amounts payable
on the debt securities (including principal payments). This is called backup
withholding. If the intermediary withholds payments, the U.S. holder may credit the
withheld amount against its federal income tax liability. |
|
|
|
|
All individuals are subject to these requirements. Some holders, including all
corporations, tax-exempt organizations and individual retirement accounts, are exempt from
these requirements, but may have to establish their entitlement to an exemption. |
U.K. Taxation
The following is a summary of the material U.K. tax consequences for a U.S. holder of the
ownership and disposal of securities we may offer pursuant to this prospectus. This summary is the
opinion of our U.K. tax counsel, Slaughter and May, as to the matters of law set out in this
section headed U.K. Taxation. It is based on current U.K. law and on what is understood to be
the current practice of Her Majestys Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in the U.K., either of which is
subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. Any change in applicable laws or the current
practice of HMRC, or any inaccuracy in the documents upon which Slaughter and May have relied, may
affect the continuing validity of their opinion. Slaughter and May assume no responsibility to
inform you of any such change or inaccuracy that may occur or come to their attention. The opinion
of Slaughter and May is being provided to Royal Dutch Shell in connection with this registration
statement and may not be reproduced, quoted, summarized or relied upon by any other person or for
any other purpose without the express written consent of Slaughter and May. This summary applies
only to U.S. holders who hold their securities as an investment and are the absolute beneficial
owners of them, who are not resident or ordinarily resident for tax purposes in the U.K. or
carrying on a trade (or profession or
58
vocation) in the U.K. and who are not (and have not in the previous seven years been)
employees of Royal Dutch Shell or of any person connected with Royal Dutch Shell. It assumes that
holders of Royal Dutch Shell ADRs will in practice be treated for the purposes of U.K. tax as the
beneficial owners of the Royal Dutch Shell ordinary shares represented by such Royal Dutch Shell
ADRs.
The paragraphs below do not attempt to describe all possible U.K. tax considerations that may
be relevant to a U.S. holder. Any U.S. holders who are in any doubt about any aspect of their
particular tax position should consult appropriate independent tax advisers.
For the purposes of this section a person is a U.S. holder at any time if, at that time,
he/she is regarded as a resident of the U.S. for U.S. tax purposes.
U.K. Taxation of Ordinary Shares and ADRs
U.K. Tax on Income and Chargeable Gains
U.S. holders who satisfy the criteria set out in the first paragraph above under the heading
U.K. Taxation will not be subject to U.K. tax on income or chargeable gains in respect of the
ownership and disposal of Royal Dutch Shell ordinary shares or Royal Dutch Shell ADRs or the
receipt of any dividends that are paid on them.
There is however an exception to this rule in the case of a U.S. holder who is an individual,
who has ceased to be either resident or ordinarily resident for tax purposes in the U.K. or is
regarded as non resident for the purposes of a relevant double taxation treaty (Treaty Non
Resident) but then resumes residence or ordinary residence in the U.K. or, as the case may be,
ceases to be regarded as Treaty Non Resident, before five complete tax years have passed. Such a
holder may be liable to U.K. capital gains tax (subject to any available exemption or relief) on a
disposal of Royal Dutch Shell ordinary shares or Royal Dutch Shell ADRs made whilst not resident or
ordinarily resident for tax purposes in the U.K. or whilst Treaty Non Resident.
U.K. Inheritance Tax
A U.S. holder who is an individual domiciled in the U.S. for the purposes of the U.K./U.S.
Estate and Gift Tax Treaty and who is not a national of the U.K. for the purposes of the U.K./U.S.
Estate and Gift Tax Treaty will not be subject to U.K. inheritance tax in respect of Royal Dutch
Shell ordinary shares or Royal Dutch Shell ADRs on the individuals death or on a gift of such
Royal Dutch Shell ordinary shares or the Royal Dutch Shell ADRs made during the individuals
lifetime unless, inter alia, they are part of the business property of the individuals permanent
establishment situated in the U.K. or pertain to the individuals U.K. fixed base used for the
performance of independent personal services. In the exceptional case where Royal Dutch Shell
ordinary shares or Royal Dutch Shell ADRs are subject to both U.K. inheritance tax and U.S. federal
estate or gift tax, the U.K./U.S. Estate and Gift Tax Treaty generally provides for tax paid in the
U.K. to be credited against tax payable in the U.S., based on priority rules set out in that
treaty.
U.K. Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax (SDRT)
A conveyance or transfer on sale of Royal Dutch Shell ordinary shares other than to a
depositary or clearance service or the nominee or agent of a depositary or clearance service will
usually be subject to ad valorem stamp duty, although not where the amount or value of the
consideration of the transfer is £1,000 or under and the transfer instrument is certified at £1,000
(a Low Value Transaction), and generally at the rate of 0.5% of the amount or value of the
consideration for the transfer (rounded up to the nearest £5). An unconditional agreement for such
transfer, or a conditional agreement which subsequently becomes unconditional, will be liable to
SDRT, unless the transfer is a Low Value Transaction, generally at the rate of 0.5% of the
consideration for the transfer; but such liability will be cancelled if the agreement is completed
by a duly stamped instrument of transfer within six years of the date of the agreement or, if the
agreement was conditional, the date the agreement became unconditional. Where the stamp duty is
paid, any SDRT previously paid will be repaid on the making of an appropriate claim. Stamp duty
and SDRT are normally paid by the purchaser.
Subject to certain exemptions, a charge to SDRT (or in the case of transfer, stamp duty) will
arise on the issue or transfer of Royal Dutch Shell ordinary shares to particular persons providing
a clearance service, their nominees or
59
agents, or to an issuer of depositary receipts, or to its nominee or agent. The rate of stamp
duty or SDRT, as the case may be, will generally be 1.5% of either (i) in the case of an issue of
Royal Dutch Shell ordinary shares, the issue price of the Royal Dutch Shell ordinary shares
concerned; or (ii) in the case of a transfer of Royal Dutch Shell ordinary shares, the amount or
value of the consideration for the transfer or, in some circumstances, the value of the Royal Dutch
Shell ordinary shares concerned, in the case of stamp duty rounded up if necessary to the nearest
multiple of £5.
No stamp duty need be paid on the acquisition or transfer of Royal Dutch Shell ADRs, provided
that any instrument of transfer or contract of sale is executed, and remains at all times, outside
the U.K. Based on our understanding of HMRCs application of the exemption from SDRT for
depositary receipts, an agreement for the transfer of Royal Dutch Shell ADRs will not, in practice,
give rise to a liability to SDRT.
No stamp duty need be paid on the acquisition or transfer of interests in Royal Dutch Shell
ordinary shares held within a clearance service, provided that any instrument of transfer or
contract of sale is executed, and remains at all times, outside the U.K. An agreement for the
transfer of interests in Royal Dutch Shell ordinary shares held within a clearance service will not
give rise to a liability to SDRT provided that, at the time the agreement is made, the clearance
service satisfies various conditions laid down in the relevant U.K. legislation.
U.K. Taxation of Warrants
A prospectus supplement will describe, if applicable, the U.K. tax consequences of your
ownership of warrants of Royal Dutch Shell and any equity or debt securities issued together with
the warrants.
U.K. Taxation of Debt Securities
Payments and Disposal (including Redemption)
U.S. holders who satisfy the criteria set out in the first paragraph above under the heading
U.K. Taxation will not be directly assessed to U.K. tax on income or chargeable gains in respect
of interest on, or the disposal (including redemption) of, debt securities issued by Royal Dutch
Shell or Shell Finance.
Payments of principal and interest on debt securities issued by Shell Finance, and payments of
principal on debt securities issued by Royal Dutch Shell, will not be subject to withholding or
deduction for or on account of U.K. tax.
Provided that interest payments on debt securities issued by Royal Dutch Shell do not have a
U.K. source, such payments will also not be subject to withholding or deduction for or on account
of U.K. tax.
Even if such payments have a U.K. source, they will not be subject to withholding or deduction
for or on account of U.K. tax if:
|
|
|
such debt securities carry a right to interest and are listed on a recognized stock
exchange as defined in Section 1005 of the Income Tax Act 2007. Securities which are
included on the Official List of the U.K., along with securities which are officially
listed, in a country outside the U.K. in which there is a recognized stock exchange, in
accordance with provisions corresponding to those generally applicable in European Economic
Area states, will satisfy this requirement if they are admitted to trading on a recognized
stock exchange. The London Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange, inter alia, are
recognized stock exchanges for these purposes; or |
|
|
|
|
the maturity of the relevant debt security is less than one year from the date of issue
and the debt security is not issued under arrangements the effect of which is to render
such debt security part of a borrowing with a total term of one year or more. |
In all other cases, if payments of interest on debt securities issued by Royal Dutch Shell
have a U.K. source, such payments would in principle be made to U.S. holders after deduction of tax
at the basic rate, which is currently 20%. However, no such deduction need be made if an
appropriate claim relating to that payment has been validly made and accepted by HMRC under the
U.K./U.S. Tax Treaty in respect of income and capital gains and Royal Dutch Shell has received from
HMRC a direction under that treaty allowing the payment to be made without the deduction of U.K.
tax.
60
Guarantee Payments
Neither U.S. holders who satisfy the criteria set out in the first paragraph above headed
U.K. Taxation nor Shell Finance will be directly assessed to U.K. tax on income or chargeable
gains in respect of any payments made by Royal Dutch Shell under the guarantee.
Depending on the legal analysis of any payment made by Royal Dutch Shell under the guarantee
to the persons mentioned above it is possible that such payment could be subject to withholding or
deduction for or on account of U.K. tax if it is regarded as having a U.K. source. However, no
such withholding need be made nor tax deducted if an appropriate claim relating to that payment has
been validly made and accepted by HMRC under the U.K./U.S. Tax Treaty in respect of income and
capital gains and Royal Dutch Shell has received from HMRC a direction under that treaty allowing
the payment to be made without the deduction of U.K. tax.
U.K. Inheritance Tax
A U.S. holder who is an individual domiciled in the U.S. for the purposes of the U.K./U.S.
Estate and Gift Tax Treaty and who is not a national of the U.K. for the purposes of the U.K./U.S.
Estate and Gift Tax Treaty will not be subject to U.K. inheritance tax in respect of debt
securities issued by Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance on the individuals death or on a gift of
such debt securities made during the individuals lifetime unless, inter alia, they are part of the
business property of the individuals permanent establishment situated in the U.K. or pertain to
the individuals U.K. fixed base used for the performance of independent personal services. In the
exceptional case where debt securities are subject to both U.K. inheritance tax and U.S. federal
estate or gift tax, the U.K./U.S. Estate and Gift Tax Treaty generally provides for tax paid in the
U.K. to be credited against tax payable in the U.S., based on priority rules set out in that
treaty.
U.K. Stamp Duty and SDRT
No U.K. stamp duty or SDRT will generally be payable by a holder of debt securities on the
creation, issue or redemption of debt securities by Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance.
No liability for U.K. stamp duty or SDRT will arise on a transfer of, or an agreement to
transfer, debt securities issued by Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance unless such securities carry
a right (exercisable then or later) at the time that the instrument of transfer is executed of
conversion into shares or other securities or to the acquisition of shares or other securities, or
at that or any earlier time such securities carry or have carried:
|
|
|
a right to interest the amount of which falls, or has fallen to be, determined to any
extent by reference to the results of, or of any part of, a business or to the value of any
property (other than where (i) the right reduces in the event of the results of, or of any
part of, a business improving, or the value of any property increasing; or (ii) the right
increases in the event of the results of, or of any part of, a business deteriorating, or
the value of any property diminishing); |
|
|
|
|
a right to interest the amount of which exceeds a reasonable commercial return on their
nominal amount; or |
|
|
|
|
a right on repayment to an amount which exceeds their nominal amount and is not
reasonably comparable with what is generally repayable (in respect of debt securities with
a similar nominal amount) under the terms of issue of debt securities listed on the
Official List of the London Stock Exchange. |
Dutch Taxation
The following describes the material Dutch tax consequences for a U.S. holder of securities
which may be offered under this prospectus who is neither resident nor deemed to be resident in The
Netherlands for Dutch tax purposes and, in the event such holder is an individual, has not opted to
be treated as a resident in The Netherlands for the purposes of the Dutch Income Tax Act 2001, in
respect the ownership and disposal of his/her securities. This summary is the opinion of our Dutch
tax counsel, De Brauw, and is limited as described in this section. This description is not
intended to be applicable in all respects to all categories of U.S. holders. This section does not
purport to describe all possible Dutch tax considerations or consequences that may be relevant to a
U.S. holder. Any holder of securities is advised to consult with his/her tax advisors with regard
to the tax consequences of ownership and disposal of securities
61
in his/her particular circumstances. This section does not purport to describe the possible
Dutch tax considerations or consequences that may be relevant to a U.S. holder of securities who
receives or has received any benefits from these securities as employment income, deemed employment
income or otherwise as compensation.
Neither does this section purport to describe the possible Dutch tax considerations or
consequences that may be relevant to a U.S. holder of securities who has a (fictitious) substantial
interest in Royal Dutch Shell.
Generally, a holder has a substantial interest (aanmerkelijk belang) if such holder, alone or
together with his/her partner, directly or indirectly:
|
(i) |
|
owns, or holds certain rights on, shares representing 5% or more of the total issued
and outstanding capital of Royal Dutch Shell or of the issued and outstanding capital of
any class of shares of Royal Dutch Shell; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
holds rights to acquire shares, whether or not already issued, representing 5% or more
of the total issued and outstanding capital of Royal Dutch Shell, or of the issued and
outstanding capital of any class of shares of Royal Dutch Shell; or |
|
|
(iii) |
|
owns, or holds certain rights on, profit participating certificates that relate to 5%
or more of the annual profit of Royal Dutch Shell or to 5% or more of the liquidation
proceeds of Royal Dutch Shell. |
A holder will also have a substantial interest if his/her partner or one of certain relatives
of the holder or of his/her partner has a (fictitious) substantial interest.
Generally, a holder has a fictitious substantial interest (fictief aanmerkelijk belang) if,
without having an actual substantial interest in Royal Dutch Shell:
|
(i) |
|
an enterprise has been contributed to Royal Dutch Shell in exchange for shares on an
elective non-recognition basis; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the shares have been obtained under inheritance law or matrimonial law, on a
non-recognition basis, while the disposing holder had a substantial interest in Royal
Dutch Shell; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
the shares have been acquired pursuant to a share merger, legal merger or legal
demerger, on an elective non-recognition basis, while the holder prior to this transaction
had a substantial interest in Royal Dutch Shell that was party thereto; or |
|
|
(iv) |
|
the shares held by the holder, prior to dilution, qualified as a substantial interest
and, by election, no gain was recognized upon disqualification of
these shares. |
Except as otherwise indicated, this section only addresses Dutch tax legislation and
regulations, as in effect on the date hereof and as interpreted in published case law on the date
hereof and is subject to change after such date, including changes that could have retroactive
effect. A change in legislation or regulations may thus invalidate all or part of this section.
Unless otherwise specifically stated herein, this section does not express any opinion on Dutch
international tax law or on the rules promulgated under or by any treaty or treaty organization and
does not express any opinion on any Dutch legal matter other than Dutch tax law.
Dutch Taxation of Ordinary Shares and ADRs
Withholding tax on dividend payments
Dividends distributed by us to a U.S. holder of an ordinary share or ADR are generally subject
to withholding tax imposed by The Netherlands at a rate of 15%. Dividends paid through the
dividend access mechanism to holders of Class B ordinary shares will not be subject to any Dutch
withholding tax. Dividends distributed by us include, but are not limited to:
|
(a) |
|
distributions of profits in cash or in kind, whatever they may be named or
in whatever form; |
62
|
(b) |
|
proceeds from our liquidation or, as a rule, proceeds from the repurchase
of shares by us, in excess of the average paid-in capital recognized for Dutch
dividend withholding tax purposes; |
|
|
(c) |
|
the par value of shares issued to a holder of shares or an increase in the
par value of shares, to the extent that no contribution, recognized for Dutch
dividend withholding tax purposes, has been made or will be made; and |
|
|
(d) |
|
partial repayment of paid-in capital that is: |
|
(i) |
|
not recognized for Dutch dividend withholding tax purposes; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
recognized for Dutch dividend withholding tax purposes, to the extent that we have net
profits (zuivere winst), unless (I) the general meeting of our shareholders has resolved in
advance to make such repayment; and (II) the par value of the shares concerned has been
reduced with an equal amount by way of an amendment to our articles of association. |
As stated above under (b), Dutch tax law treats share buy backs for cancellation as being
subject to withholding tax, however an exemption applies by virtue of their being carried out
within certain annual quantitative limits. These quantitative limits have been agreed with the
Dutch Revenue Service for the Class A ordinary shares (including Class A ADRs) and the limits will
not restrict the share buy back program announced for 2008. Buy backs of Class A ordinary shares
(including Class A ADRs) within these limits will not be subject to Dutch withholding tax. It has
been confirmed by the Dutch Revenue Service that a repurchase of Class B ordinary shares will be
exempt from Dutch withholding tax if the repurchase price does not exceed the fair market value of
the Shell Transport shares surrendered under the Scheme of Arrangement.
In any event, any withholding tax arising on a share buy back would be borne by us and not the
selling shareholder.
A U.S. holder who is entitled to the benefits of the 1992 Double Taxation Convention between
the U.S. and The Netherlands, as amended most recently by the Protocol signed March 8, 2004 (the
Convention), will be entitled to a reduction in the Dutch withholding tax, either by way of a
full or partial exemption at source or by way of a full or partial refund, as follows:
|
|
|
if the U.S. holder is an exempt pension trust as described in article 35 of the
Convention, or an exempt organization as described in article 36 of the Convention, the
U.S. holder will be exempt from Dutch dividend withholding tax; and |
|
|
|
|
if the U.S. holder is a company which holds directly at least 10% of the voting power in
us, the U.S. holder will be subject to Dutch dividend withholding tax at a rate not
exceeding 5%. |
According to Dutch domestic anti-dividend stripping rules, no credit against Dutch (corporate)
income tax, exemption from, reduction in or refund of, Dutch dividend withholding tax will be
granted if the recipient of the dividend paid by us is not considered to be the beneficial owner
(uiteindelijk gerechtigde) of such dividends as meant in these rules.
Dutch Taxes on Income and Capital Gains
A U.S. holder will not be subject to Dutch taxes on income or on capital gains in respect of
the ownership and disposal of ordinary shares or ADRs, other than Dutch withholding tax as
described above, in each case, except if:
|
(i) |
|
the holder derives profits from an enterprise, whether as entrepreneur (ondernemer) or
pursuant to a co-entitlement to the net worth of such enterprise, other than as an
entrepreneur or a shareholder, which enterprise is, in whole or in part, carried on through
a permanent establishment (vaste inrichting) or a permanent representative (vaste
vertegenwoordiger) in The Netherlands to which the ordinary shares or ADRs are
attributable; or |
63
|
(ii) |
|
the holder is an individual and derives benefits from miscellaneous activities
(resultaat uit overige werkzaamheden) carried out in The Netherlands in respect of the
ordinary shares or ADRs, including, without limitation, activities which are beyond the
scope of active portfolio investment activities. |
Dutch Gift, Estate and Inheritance Tax
No Dutch gift tax or inheritance tax is payable in respect of any gift of ordinary shares or
ADRs by, or inheritance of ordinary shares or ADRs on the death of, a U.S. holder of ordinary
shares or ADRs, except if:
|
(i) |
|
at the time of the gift or the death of the U.S. holder, his/her ordinary shares or
ADRs are attributable to an enterprise (or an interest in an enterprise) which is, in whole
or in part, carried on through a permanent establishment or permanent representative in The
Netherlands; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the U.S. Holder passes away within 180 days after the date of the gift and is not, or
is not deemed to be, at the time of the gift, but is, or is deemed to be, at the time of
death, resident in The Netherlands. |
Dutch Taxation of Warrants
A prospectus supplement will describe, if applicable, the Dutch income tax consequences of
your ownership of warrants and any equity or debt securities issued together with the warrants.
Dutch Taxation of Debt Securities
Dutch Withholding Tax
All payments made under Debt Securities issued by Royal Dutch Shell or Shell Finance (the
Issuer) will not be subject to any withholding tax, except if the Debt securities function as
equity for the Issuer, in which case any payment under the Debt Securities, other than a repayment
of principal, will generally be subject to 15% Dutch withholding tax. As determined by case law,
Debt Securities function as equity if:
|
(i) |
|
the Debt Securities are subordinated to senior debt of the Issuer; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the Debt Securities do not have a final maturity or have a term of more than 50 years;
and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
any amount whatsoever to be paid under the Debt Securities is, either wholly or mainly
dependant on the amount of profits realized or distributed by the Issuer. |
Dutch Individual and Corporate Income Tax
A U.S holder of Debt Securities (Debt Holder) will not be subject to any Dutch taxes on any
payment made to the Noteholder under the Debt Securities or on any capital gain made by the Debt
Holder from the disposal, or deemed disposal, or redemption of, the Debt Securities, other than
withholding tax as described above, except if:
|
(i) |
|
the Debt Holder derives profits from an enterprise, whether as entrepreneur
(ondernemer) or pursuant to a co-entitlement to the net worth of the enterprise, other than
as an entrepreneur or a shareholder, which enterprise is, in whole or in part, carried on
through a permanent establishment (vaste inrichting) or a permanent representative (vaste
vertegenwoordiger) in The Netherlands, to which the Debt Securities are attributable; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the Debt Holder is an individual and derives benefits from miscellaneous activities
(overige werkzaamheden) carried out in The Netherlands in respect of the Debt Securities,
including without limitation activities which are beyond the scope of active portfolio
investment activities. |
Dutch Gift and Inheritance Taxes
No Dutch gift tax or inheritance tax is due in respect of any gift of Debt Securities by, or
inheritance of Debt Securities on the death of, a Debt Holder, except if:
64
|
(i) |
|
at the time of the gift or death of the Debt Holder, his/her Debt Securities are
attributable to an enterprise (or an interest in an enterprise) which is, in whole or in
part, carried on through a permanent establishment or permanent representative in The
Netherlands; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the Debt Holder passes away within 180 days after the date of the gift of the Debt
Securities and is not, or not deemed to be, at the time of the gift, but is, or is deemed
to be, at the time of his/her death, resident in The Netherlands. |
Other Taxes and Duties
No other Dutch taxes, including turnover tax and taxes of a documentary nature, such as
capital tax, stamp or registration tax or duty, are payable in The Netherlands by or on behalf of a
holder of Debt Securities and a holder of ordinary shares or ADRs by reason only of the purchase,
ownership and disposal of the Debt Securities, ordinary shares and ADRs.
European Directive on the Taxation of Savings
As of 1 July 2005, based on Directive 2003/48/EC, the tax authorities of the EU Member States
provide each other with details of payments of interest and similar income made to individuals who
are the beneficial owner of those payments, but permits Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg instead to
impose a withholding tax on the payments concerned for a transitional period. The Directive also
provides that no such withholding tax should be levied where the beneficial owner of the payment
authorizes an exchange of information and/or where the beneficial owner presents a certificate from
the tax authority of the EU Member State in which the beneficial owner is resident. A number of
non-EU countries and certain dependent or associated territories have agreed to adopt similar
measures (in certain cases on a reciprocal basis). The Directive does not preclude EU Member States
from levying other types of withholding tax.
65
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus in and outside the U.S. through
underwriters or dealers, directly to purchasers or through agents.
The prospectus supplement relating to any offering will include the following information:
|
|
|
the terms of the offering; |
|
|
|
|
the names of any underwriters or agents; |
|
|
|
|
the purchase price of the securities from us and, if the purchase price is not payable
in U.S. dollars, the currency or composite currency in which the purchase price is payable; |
|
|
|
|
the net proceeds to us from the sale of the securities; |
|
|
|
|
any delayed delivery arrangements; |
|
|
|
|
any underwriting discounts, commissions and other items constituting underwriters
compensation; |
|
|
|
|
the initial public offering price; |
|
|
|
|
any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and |
|
|
|
|
any commissions paid to agents. |
Sale Through Underwriters or Dealers
If we use underwriters in the sale of securities, they will acquire the securities for their
own account. The underwriters may resell the securities from time to time in one or more
transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying
prices determined at the time of sale. Underwriters may offer securities to the public either
through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one
or more firms acting as underwriters. Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement,
the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to conditions, and
the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the securities if they purchase any of them.
The underwriters may change from time to time any initial public offering price and any discounts
or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.
During and after an offering through underwriters, the underwriters may purchase and sell the
securities in the open market. These transactions may include over allotment and stabilizing
transactions and purchases to cover syndicate short positions created in connection with the
offering. The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid, whereby selling concessions allowed to
syndicate members or other broker-dealers for the offered securities sold for their account may be
reclaimed by the syndicate if such offered securities are repurchased by the syndicate in
stabilizing or covering transactions. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect
the market price of the offered securities, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise
prevail in the open market. If commenced, these activities may be discontinued at any time.
If we use dealers in the sale of securities, we will sell the securities to them as
principals. They may then resell those securities to the public at varying prices determined by
the dealers at the time of resale. The dealers participating in any sale of the securities may be
deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of
those securities. We will include in the prospectus supplement the names of the dealers and the
terms of the transaction.
Direct Sales and Sales Through Agents
We may sell the securities directly. In that event, no underwriters or agents would be
involved. We may also sell the securities through agents we designate from time to time. In the
prospectus supplement, we will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities, and
we will describe any commissions payable by us to the agent. Unless
66
we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its
reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment.
We may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to
be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those
securities. We will describe the terms of any such sales in the prospectus supplement.
Delayed Delivery Contracts
If we so indicate in the prospectus supplement, we may authorize agents, underwriters or
dealers to solicit offers from certain types of institutions to purchase securities from us at the
public offering price under delayed delivery contracts. These contracts would provide for payment
and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts would be subject only to those
conditions described in the prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will describe the
commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.
General Information
We may have agreements with the agents, dealers and underwriters to indemnify them against
civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to
payments that the agents, dealers or underwriters may be required to make. Agents, dealers and
underwriters may engage in transactions with us or perform services for us in the ordinary course
of their businesses.
67
EXCHANGE CONTROLS
There is no legislative or other legal provision relating to exchange controls currently in
force in England or The Netherlands or arising under our memorandum or our or Shell Finance
articles of association restricting remittances to non-resident holders of our securities or
affecting the import or export of capital for use by us.
LIMITATIONS ON RIGHTS TO OWN SECURITIES
There are no limitations imposed by English law or our memorandum or articles of association
on the right to own our debt securities, warrants or ordinary shares, including the rights of
non-residents or foreign persons to hold or vote our ordinary shares (other than would generally
apply to our shareholders) or to hold its debt securities or warrants. There are no limitations
imposed by Dutch law or Shell Finances articles of association on the rights to own its debt
securities, including the rights of non-resident or foreign persons to hold the debt securities.
LEGAL MATTERS
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, U.S. counsel for us and Shell Finance, and Cleary Gottlieb Steen
& Hamilton LLP, U.S. counsel for any underwriters, will pass upon the validity of the debt
securities, debt warrants and guarantees as to certain matters of New York law. Slaughter and May,
our English solicitors, will pass upon the validity of the debt securities, guarantees, warrants
and ordinary shares as to certain matters of English law. De Brauw, our Dutch counsel, will pass
upon Dutch law matters.
EXPERTS
Our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for each of the
three years in the period ended December 31, 2007 and managements assessment of the effectiveness
of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007 (which is included in
managements report on internal control over financial reporting), incorporated in this prospectus
by reference to the 2007 20-F, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the
authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
68
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 8. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Article 142 of Royal Dutch Shells articles of association provides that, as far as the
legislation allows this, Royal Dutch Shell: (i) can indemnify any director of the company against
any liability; and (ii) can purchase and maintain insurance against any liability for any director
of the company. As Royal Dutch Shells articles of association do not prohibit the indemnification
of officers of the company against liability, we may purchase and maintain insurance against any
liability for any of Royal Dutch Shells officers.
Royal Dutch Shell has entered into a deed of indemnity with each of the Royal Dutch Shell
directors. The terms of each of these deeds are identical and they reflect the statutory
provisions on indemnities contained in the Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community
Enterprise) Act 2004. Under the terms of each deed, Royal Dutch Shell undertakes to indemnify the
relevant Royal Dutch Shell director, to the widest extent permitted by law, against any and all
liability, howsoever caused (including by that directors own negligence), suffered or incurred by
that director in respect of that directors acts or omissions on or after the date that the deed
was entered into in the course of that director acting as a director or employee of Royal Dutch
Shell, any member of the Shell Group or certain other entities. In addition, Royal Dutch Shell
undertakes to lend such funds to the director as it, in its reasonable discretion, considers
appropriate for him/her to meet expenditure incurred or to be incurred by him/her in defending any
criminal or civil proceedings or in connection with certain applications under the Companies Act
1985 and 2006. It will be a term of each indemnity that Royal Dutch Shell and the relevant
director agree to be bound by the provisions in Royal Dutch Shells articles of association
relating to arbitration and exclusive jurisdiction.
The relevant provisions of the Companies Act 2006 include sections 232 to 235.
Section 232 states that, any provision to exempt to any extent a director from liability for
negligence, default, breach of duty or trust by him/her in relation to the company is void. Any
provision by which a company directly or indirectly provides (to any extent) an indemnity for a
director of the company or an associated company against any such liability is also void unless it
is a qualifying third party indemnity provision or a qualifying pension scheme indemnity provision.
Royal Dutch Shell is still permitted to purchase insurance against any such liability for a
director of the company or an associated company.
A qualifying pension scheme indemnity means a provision indemnifying a director of a company
that is a trustee of an occupational pension scheme against liability incurred in connection with
the companys activities as trustee of the scheme or qualifying pension scheme indemnity.
An indemnity is a qualifying third party indemnity as long as it does not provide: (i) any
indemnity against any liability incurred by the director to the company or to any associated
company; (ii) any indemnity against any liability incurred by the director to pay a fine imposed in
criminal proceedings or a sum payable to a regulatory authority by way of a penalty in respect of
non-compliance with any requirement of a regulatory nature; and (iii) any indemnity against any
liability incurred by the director in defending criminal proceedings in which he/she is convicted,
civil proceedings brought by the company or an associated company in which judgment is given
against him/her or where the court refuses to grant him/her relief under an application under
sections 144(3) and (4) (acquisition of shares by innocent nominee) of the Companies Act 1985 or
its power under section 1157 (general power of the court to grant relief in case of honest and
reasonable conduct) of the Companies Act 2006 (described below). Any qualifying third party
indemnity or qualifying pension scheme indemnity in force for the benefit or one or more directors
of the company must be disclosed in the directors annual report.
Section 205 of the Companies Act 2006 provides that a company can provide a director with
funds to meet expenditures incurred or to be incurred by him/her in defending any criminal or civil
proceedings or in connection with any alleged negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of
trust by the director in relation to us or an associated company or an application for relief under
sections 144(3) and (4) (acquisition of shares by innocent nominee) of the Companies Act 1985 or
its power under section 1157 (general power of the court to grant relief in case of honest and
reasonable conduct) of the Companies Act 2006. Such loan must be repaid if the director is
convicted, judgment is found against him/her or the court refuses to grant the relief on the
application.
II-1
Section 1157 of the Companies Act 2006 provides that:
|
(1) |
|
If in any proceedings for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust
against an officer of a company or a person employed by a company as an auditor (whether
he/she is or is not an officer of the company) it appears to the court hearing the case
that that officer or person is or may be liable in respect of the negligence, default,
breach of duty or breach of trust, but that he/she has acted honestly and reasonably, and
that having regard to all the circumstances of the case (including those connected with
his/her appointment) he/she ought fairly to be excused for the negligence, default, breach
of duty or breach of trust, that court may relieve him/her, either wholly or partly, from
his/her liability on such terms as it thinks fit. |
|
|
(2) |
|
If any such officer or person as above-mentioned has reason to apprehend that any claim
will or might be made against him/her in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty
or breach of trust, he/she may apply to the court for relief; and the court on the
application has the same power to relieve him/her as under this section it would have had
if it had been a court before which proceedings against that person for negligence,
default, breach of duty or breach of trust had been brought. |
|
|
(3) |
|
Where a case to which subsection (1) applies is being tried by a judge with a jury, the
judge, after hearing the evidence, may, if he/she is satisfied that the defendant (in
Scotland, the defender) ought in pursuance of that subsection to be relieved either in
whole or in part from the liability sought to be enforced against him/her, withdraw the
case in whole or in part from the jury and forthwith direct judgment to be entered for the
defendant (in Scotland, grant decree of absolvitor) on such terms as to costs (in Scotland,
expenses) or otherwise as the judge may think proper. |
The following provisions would only apply in circumstances where the arbitration provisions of
our articles of association would be invalid or inapplicable. While English law permits a
shareholder to initiate a lawsuit on behalf of the company only in limited circumstances, the
Companies Act 2006 permits a shareholder whose name is on the register of shareholders of the
company to apply for a court order:
|
(i) |
|
when the companys affairs are being or have been conducted in a manner unfairly
prejudicial to the interests of all or some shareholders, including the shareholder making
the claim; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
when any act or omission of the company is or would be so prejudicial. |
A court has wide discretion in granting relief, and may authorize civil proceedings to be
brought in the name of the company by a shareholder on terms that the court directs. Except in
these limited circumstances, English law does not generally permit class action lawsuits by
shareholders on behalf of the company or on behalf of other shareholders.
The articles of association of Shell Finance provide that Shell Finance shall cover the costs
of all legal proceedings in which a director is involved in his/her capacity as director of Shell
Finance and shall hold harmless the director in question. If and in so far as it appears from a
ruling that the director in question is seriously negligent, Shell Finance shall be authorized to
demand reimbursement of the costs that it covered before the ruling, and the obligation of further
indemnification shall not apply.
Dutch law does not explicitly prohibit the indemnification of a director of a private company
with limited liability (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) against any
liabilities which would otherwise attach to him/her. However, regardless of whether or not an
indemnification exists, a director may be held liable with respect to the company for improper
performance of duties in the case of serious negligence (ernstig verwijt). Whether a specific line
of action can be regarded as serious negligence is dependent upon the specific circumstances of a
case. If a certain matter pertains to the assigned field of activities of more than one director,
each of the directors involved is jointly and severally liable for a shortcoming. An individual
director may avoid liability by proving that the shortcoming is not attributable to him/her and
that he/she has not been negligent with regard to taking measures to prevent the consequences of
the shortcoming. In addition, in the case of bankruptcy, each director is jointly and severally
liable to the bankruptcy estate for the liquidation deficit, in the event that it is evident that
the director has performed his/her duties improperly and it may be assumed that this improper
fulfillment of duties has been an important cause of the bankruptcy. An individual director may
avoid liability by proving he/she was not negligent.
II-2
The form of Underwriting Agreement relating to the offering of Debt Securities filed as an
Exhibit to this registration statement provides that each underwriter, severally, will indemnify
Royal Dutch Shell and Shell Finance, each of their respective directors, each of their respective
officers who signed the registration statement and each person, if any, who controls Royal Dutch
Shell or Shell Finance within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act from and against certain civil liabilities.
II-3
Item 9. Exhibits
|
|
|
Exhibit |
|
|
Number |
|
Description |
1.1
|
|
Form of Underwriting Agreement* |
4.1
|
|
Form of Senior Indenture, among Royal Dutch Shell plc and Deutsche Bank Trust Company
Americas.** |
4.2
|
|
Form of Subordinated Indenture, among Royal Dutch Shell plc and Deutsche Bank Trust Company
Americas.** |
4.3
|
|
Form of Senior Indenture, among Shell International Finance B.V., Royal Dutch Shell plc and
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas.** |
4.4
|
|
Form of Subordinated Indenture, among Shell International Finance B.V., Royal Dutch Shell plc
and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas.** |
4.5
|
|
Form of Senior Debt Securities for Royal Dutch Shell plc.** |
4.6
|
|
Form of Subordinated Debt Securities for Royal Dutch Shell plc.** |
4.7
|
|
Form of Senior Debt Securities of Shell International Finance B.V.** |
4.8
|
|
Form of Subordinated Debt Securities of Shell International Finance B.V.** |
4.9
|
|
Form of Debt Warrant Agreement including a form of debt warrant certificate.*** |
4.10
|
|
Form of Equity Warrant Agreement including a form of equity warrant certificate.*** |
4.11
|
|
Articles of Association of Royal Dutch Shell plc**** |
4.12
|
|
Memorandum of Association of Royal Dutch Shell plc******* |
4.13
|
|
Class A Deposit Agreement among Royal Dutch Shell plc, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and Owners
and Holders of Class A American Depositary Receipts***** |
4.14
|
|
Class A American Depositary Receipts representing Royal Dutch Shell plc American Depositary
Shares each evidencing the right to receive two Class A ordinary shares of Royal Dutch Shell
plc (included as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.13 herein) |
4.15
|
|
Class B Deposit Agreement among Royal Dutch Shell plc, The Bank of New York, and Owners and
Holders of Class B American Depositary Receipts***** |
4.16
|
|
Class B American Depositary Receipts representing Royal Dutch Shell plc American Depositary
Shares each evidencing the right to receive two Class B ordinary shares of Royal Dutch Shell
plc (included as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.15 herein) |
4.17
|
|
Dividend Access Trust Deed dated May 19, 2005 between Royal Dutch Shell plc, Lloyds TSB
Offshore Trust Company Limited (formerly Hill Samuel Offshore Trust Company Limited) and The
Shell Transport and Trading Company, Public Limited Company****** |
5.1
|
|
Opinion of Slaughter and May, English solicitors to Royal Dutch Shell plc, as to the validity
of the Debt Securities of Royal Dutch Shell plc, the Guarantees and the Warrants of Royal Dutch
Shell plc and the ordinary shares as to certain matters of English law. |
5.2
|
|
Opinion of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, U.S. legal advisors to Royal Dutch Shell plc and Shell
International Finance B.V., as to the validity of the Debt Securities, the Guarantees and the
Debt Warrants issued as to certain matters of New York law. |
5.3
|
|
Opinion of De Brauw Blackstone London B.V., Dutch legal advisors to Royal Dutch Shell plc and
Shell International Finance B.V., as to the validity of the Guaranteed Debt Securities of Shell
International Finance B.V. as to certain matters of Dutch law. |
8.1
|
|
Opinion of Slaughter and May, English solicitors to Royal Dutch Shell plc, as to certain
matters of U.K. taxation. |
8.2
|
|
Opinion of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, U.S. legal advisors to Royal Dutch Shell plc and Shell
International Finance B.V., as to certain matters of U.S. taxation (included in Exhibit 5.2
herein). |
8.3
|
|
Opinion of De Brauw Blackstone London B.V., Dutch legal advisors to Royal Dutch Shell plc and
Shell International Finance B.V., as to certain matters of Dutch taxation (included in Exhibit
5.3 herein). |
12.1
|
|
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (incorporated by reference from the table
under Ratio of earnings to fixed charges appearing on page 18 of the Form 6-K of Royal Dutch
Shell plc, furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 5, 2008). |
23.1
|
|
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP |
23.2
|
|
Consent of Slaughter and May, English solicitors to Royal Dutch Shell plc (included in Exhibit
5.1 herein). |
II-4
|
|
|
Exhibit |
|
|
Number |
|
Description |
23.3
|
|
Consent of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, U.S. legal advisors to Royal Dutch Shell plc and Shell
International Finance B.V. (included in Exhibit 5.2 herein). |
23.4
|
|
Consent of De Brauw Blackstone London B.V., Dutch legal advisors to Royal Dutch Shell plc
(included in Exhibit 5.3 herein). |
24.1
|
|
Powers of attorney (included as part of the signature pages hereof). |
25.1
|
|
Statement of eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 with respect to Royal Dutch Shell plc. |
25.2
|
|
Statement of eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 with respect to Shell International Finance B.V. |
|
|
|
* |
|
Filed as an exhibit to the Report on Form 6-K of Royal Dutch Shell
plc, furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission on June
20, 2006, and incorporated by reference herein. |
|
** |
|
Filed as an exhibit to Registration Statement No. 333-126726;
333-126726-01, and incorporated by reference herein. |
|
*** |
|
To be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference to a
subsequently filed Report on Form 6-K with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. |
|
**** |
|
Filed as an exhibit to the Report on Form 6-K of Royal Dutch Shell
plc, furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission on
November 5, 2008, and incorporated by reference herein. |
|
***** |
|
Filed as an exhibit to the Report on Form 6-K of Royal Dutch Shell
plc, furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission on July
20, 2005, and incorporated by reference herein. |
|
****** |
|
Filed as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 20-F of Royal
Dutch Shell plc, for the year ended December 31, 2006, and
incorporated by reference herein. |
|
******* |
|
Filed as an exhibit to Form F-4 of Royal Dutch Shell plc, filed to
the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 18, 2005, and
incorporated by reference herein. |
II-5
Item 10. Undertakings
Each of the undersigned registrants hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales of the registered securities are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement;
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date
of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,
individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set
forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered
would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of
the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the
aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the
maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the Calculation of Registration Fee table in
the effective registration statement;
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not
previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such
information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) do not apply if the information
required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in
reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by each registrant pursuant to Section 13 or
Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the
registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)
that is part of the registration statement;
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such
post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to
be the initial bona fide offering thereof;
(3) To remove from the registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the
securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering;
(4) To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any
financial statements required by Item 8.A. of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or
throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by
Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act need not be furnished, provided that each registrant
includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements
required pursuant to this paragraph (4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other
information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial
statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act or Item 8.A. of
Form 20-F if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed
with or furnished to the Commission by each registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration
statement;
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any
purchaser:
(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrants pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be
deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was
deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7)
as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made
pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information
required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act, shall be deemed to be part of and included
in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first
used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the
offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of
the issuers and any person
II-6
that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective
date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement
to which the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement
made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or
made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration
statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser
with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any
statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the
registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective
date;
(6) That, for the purpose of determining liability of a registrant under the Securities Act
to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned undertakes
that in a primary offering of securities of an undersigned registrant pursuant to this
registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to
the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of
the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser
and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to
the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of
an undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering
containing material information about an undersigned registrant or its securities provided
by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned
registrant to the purchaser.
Each of the undersigned registrants hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any
liability under the Securities Act, each filing of Royal Dutch Shell plcs annual report pursuant
to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each
filing of an employee benefit plans annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted
to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrants pursuant to the foregoing
provisions, or otherwise, the registrants have been advised that in the opinion of the Securities
and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrants, of expenses incurred or paid
by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrants in the successful defense of any
action, suit or proceeding) is asserted against the registrants by such director, officer or
controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrants will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
II-7
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Royal Dutch Shell plc
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it has met all of the requirements for
filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in The Hague on November 7, 2008.
|
|
|
|
|
|
ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Peter Voser
|
|
|
|
Name: |
Peter Voser |
|
|
|
Title: |
Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby
constitutes and appoints Peter Voser and Andrew Longden, and each of them, as such persons true
and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such
person and in such persons name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign and file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission any and all amendments and post-effective amendments to this
registration statement and any subsequent registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462 of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all respective exhibits thereto and
any and all other documents in connection therewith, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent
full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to
be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or any
substitutes therefor, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration
statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
|
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
Title |
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chairman
|
|
November 7, 2008 |
Jorma Ollila |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Lord Kerr of Kinlochard
Lord Kerr of Kinlochard
|
|
Deputy Chairman and
Senior Independent
Non-executive Director
|
|
November 7, 2008 |
II-8
|
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
Title |
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chief Executive
|
|
November 7, 2008 |
Jeroen van der Veer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
November 7, 2008 |
Peter Voser |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Maarten Van Den Bergh
|
|
Non-executive Director
|
|
November 7, 2008 |
Maarten Van Den Bergh |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-executive Director
|
|
November 7, 2008 |
Nina Henderson |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-executive Director
|
|
November 7, 2008 |
Sir Peter Job |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-executive Director
|
|
November 7, 2008 |
Wim Kok |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Malcolm Brinded
Malcolm Brinded
|
|
Executive Director Exploration
and Production
|
|
November 7, 2008 |
II-9
|
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
Title |
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Linda Cook
Linda Cook
|
|
Executive Director Gas & Power, Shell
Trading, Global Solutions and Technology
|
|
November 7, 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive Director Oil Sands, Oil Products
and Chemicals
|
|
November 7, 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-executive Director
|
|
November 7, 2008 |
Nick Land |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Christine Morin-Postel
|
|
Non-executive Director
|
|
November 7, 2008 |
Christine Morin-Postel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-executive Director
|
|
November 7, 2008 |
Lawrence Ricciardi |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-executive Director |
|
|
II-10
Pursuant to the requirements of the Section 6(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the undersigned has signed this registration statement in the capacity of the duly authorized
representative of Royal Dutch Shell plc in the U.S. in Delaware on November 7, 2008.
|
|
|
|
|
|
PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Donald J. Puglisi
|
|
|
|
Name: |
Donald J. Puglisi |
|
|
|
Title: |
Managing Director |
|
II-11
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Shell International
Finance B.V. certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it has met all of the
requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in The Hague on November 7, 2008.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SHELL INTERNATIONAL FINANCE B.V.
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Michiel Brandjes |
|
|
|
Name: |
Michiel Brandjes |
|
|
|
Title: |
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/
Theo Keijzer |
|
|
|
Name: |
Theo Keijzer |
|
|
|
Title: |
Director |
|
|
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby
constitutes and appoints Andrew Longden, Michiel Brandjes, Theo Keijzer and Tjerk Huijsinga, any
two of them acting jointly, as such persons true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents for such
person and in such persons name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign and file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission any and all amendments and post-effective amendments to this
registration statement and any subsequent registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462 of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all respective exhibits thereto and
any and all other documents in connection therewith, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or
any substitutes therefor, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration
statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
|
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
Title |
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Michiel Brandjes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Director
|
|
November 7, 2008 |
II-12
|
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
Title |
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Theo Keijzer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Director
|
|
November 7, 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Tjerk Huijsinga |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Director
|
|
November 7, 2008 |
II-13
Pursuant to the requirements of the Section 6(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the undersigned has signed this registration statement in the capacity of the duly authorized
representative of Shell International Finance B.V. in the U.S. in Delaware on November 7, 2008.
|
|
|
|
|
|
PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Donald J. Puglisi
|
|
|
|
Name: |
Donald J. Puglisi |
|
|
|
Title: |
Managing Director |
|
II-14
EXHIBIT INDEX
|
|
|
Exhibit |
|
|
Number |
|
Description |
1.1
|
|
Form of Underwriting Agreement* |
4.1
|
|
Form of Senior Indenture, among Royal Dutch Shell plc and Deutsche Bank Trust Company
Americas.** |
4.2
|
|
Form of Subordinated Indenture, among Royal Dutch Shell plc and Deutsche Bank Trust Company
Americas.** |
4.3
|
|
Form of Senior Indenture, among Shell International Finance B.V., Royal Dutch Shell plc and
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas.** |
4.4
|
|
Form of Subordinated Indenture, among Shell International Finance B.V., Royal Dutch Shell plc
and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas.** |
4.5
|
|
Form of Senior Debt Securities for Royal Dutch Shell plc.** |
4.6
|
|
Form of Subordinated Debt Securities for Royal Dutch Shell plc.** |
4.7
|
|
Form of Senior Debt Securities of Shell International Finance B.V.** |
4.8
|
|
Form of Subordinated Debt Securities of Shell International Finance B.V.** |
4.9
|
|
Form of Debt Warrant Agreement including a form of debt warrant certificate.*** |
4.10
|
|
Form of Equity Warrant Agreement including a form of equity warrant certificate.*** |
4.11
|
|
Articles of Association of Royal Dutch Shell plc**** |
4.12
|
|
Memorandum of Association of Royal Dutch Shell plc******* |
4.13
|
|
Class A Deposit Agreement among Royal Dutch Shell plc, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and Owners
and Holders of Class A American Depositary Receipts***** |
4.14
|
|
Class A American Depositary Receipts representing Royal Dutch Shell plc American Depositary
Shares each evidencing the right to receive two Class A ordinary shares of Royal Dutch Shell
plc (included as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.13 herein) |
4.15
|
|
Class B Deposit Agreement among Royal Dutch Shell plc, The Bank of New York, and Owners and
Holders of Class B American Depositary Receipts***** |
4.16
|
|
Class B American Depositary Receipts representing Royal Dutch Shell plc American Depositary
Shares each evidencing the right to receive two Class B ordinary shares of Royal Dutch Shell
plc (included as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.15 herein) |
4.17
|
|
Dividend Access Trust Deed dated May 19, 2005 between Royal Dutch Shell plc, Lloyds TSB
Offshore Trust Company Limited (formerly Hill Samuel Offshore Trust Company Limited) and The
Shell Transport and Trading Company, Public Limited Company****** |
5.1
|
|
Opinion of Slaughter and May, English solicitors to Royal Dutch Shell plc, as to the validity
of the Debt Securities of Royal Dutch Shell plc, the Guarantees and the Warrants of Royal Dutch
Shell plc and the ordinary shares as to certain matters of English law. |
5.2
|
|
Opinion of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, U.S. legal advisors to Royal Dutch Shell plc and Shell
International Finance B.V., as to the validity of the Debt Securities, the Guarantees and the
Debt Warrants issued as to certain matters of New York law. |
5.3
|
|
Opinion of De Brauw Blackstone London B.V., Dutch legal advisors to Royal Dutch Shell plc and
Shell International Finance B.V., as to the validity of the Guaranteed Debt Securities of Shell
International Finance B.V. as to certain matters of Dutch law. |
8.1
|
|
Opinion of Slaughter and May, English solicitors to Royal Dutch Shell plc, as to certain
matters of U.K. taxation. |
8.2
|
|
Opinion of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, U.S. legal advisors to Royal Dutch Shell plc and Shell
International Finance B.V., as to certain matters of U.S. taxation (included in Exhibit 5.2
herein). |
8.3
|
|
Opinion of De Brauw Blackstone London B.V., Dutch legal advisors to Royal Dutch Shell plc and
Shell International Finance B.V., as to certain matters of Dutch taxation (included in Exhibit
5.3 herein). |
12.1
|
|
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (incorporated by reference from the table
under Ratio of earnings to fixed charges appearing on page 18 of the Form 6-K of Royal Dutch
Shell plc, furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 5, 2008). |
23.1
|
|
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP |
23.2
|
|
Consent of Slaughter and May, English solicitors to Royal Dutch Shell plc (included in Exhibit
5.1 herein). |
II-15
|
|
|
Exhibit |
|
|
Number |
|
Description |
23.3
|
|
Consent of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, U.S. legal advisors to Royal Dutch Shell plc and Shell
International Finance B.V. (included in Exhibit 5.2 herein). |
23.4
|
|
Consent of De Brauw Blackstone London B.V., Dutch legal advisors to Royal Dutch Shell plc
(included in Exhibit 5.3 herein). |
24.1
|
|
Powers of attorney (included as part of the signature pages hereof). |
25.1
|
|
Statement of eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 with respect to Royal Dutch Shell plc. |
25.2
|
|
Statement of eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 with respect to Shell International Finance B.V. |
|
|
|
* |
|
Filed as an exhibit to the Report on Form 6-K of Royal Dutch Shell
plc, furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission on June
20, 2006, and incorporated by reference herein. |
|
** |
|
Filed as an exhibit to Registration Statement No. 333-126726;
333-126726-01, and incorporated by reference herein. |
|
*** |
|
To be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference to a
subsequently filed Report on Form 6-K with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. |
|
**** |
|
Filed as an exhibit to the Report on Form 6-K of Royal Dutch Shell
plc, furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission on
November 5, 2008, and incorporated by reference herein. |
|
***** |
|
Filed as an exhibit to the Report on Form 6-K of Royal Dutch Shell
plc, furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission on July
20, 2005, and incorporated by reference herein.. |
|
****** |
|
Filed as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 20-K of Royal
Dutch Shell plc, for the year ended December 31, 2006, and
incorporated by reference herein. |
|
******* |
|
Filed as an exhibit to Form F-4 of Royal Dutch Shell plc, filed to
the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 18, 2005, and
incorporated by reference herein. |
II-16
EX-5.1
Exhibit
5.1
[On Slaughter and May headed notepaper]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 November 2008 |
|
|
|
The Directors
Royal Dutch Shell plc
Shell Centre
London
SE1 7NA
|
|
Your reference
Our reference
MSXH/MVF
Direct line
020 7090 3063 |
Dear Sirs,
Registration Statement on Form F-3 of Royal Dutch Shell plc dated 7 November 2008 (the
Registration Statement)
We have acted as legal advisers to Royal Dutch Shell plc (the Company) as to English law in
connection with the proposed registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (as
amended) (the Securities Act) of (i) debt securities (the Guaranteed Debt Securities) of Shell
International Finance B.V. (Shell Finance), unconditionally guaranteed by the Company as to the
payment of principal, premium (if any) and interest, (ii) debt securities of the Company (the RDS
Debt Securities and, together with the Guaranteed Debt Securities, the Debt Securities), (iii)
debt warrants of the Company (the Debt Warrants), (iv) equity warrants of the Company (the
Equity Warrants and, together with the Debt Warrants, the Warrants) and (v) Class A and Class B
ordinary shares of the Company with a nominal value of 0.07 per share (the Shares). We have
taken instructions solely from the Company.
This opinion is delivered in connection with the Registration Statement to be filed with the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission on 7 November 2008. We have not been concerned with
investigating or verifying the facts set out in the Registration Statement.
For the purposes of this opinion, we have examined copies of the following documents:
1. |
|
the form of senior indenture filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement, to be
entered into between the Company and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (the RDS Senior
Indenture); |
|
2. |
|
the form of subordinated indenture filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement, to be
entered into between the Company and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (the RDS
Subordinated Indenture and, together with the RDS Senior Indenture, the RDS Indentures); |
3. |
|
the form of senior indenture filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration Statement, to be
entered into between Shell Finance, the Company and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (the
Shell Finance Senior Indenture) including the guarantee to be given by the Company (the RDS
Senior Guarantee); |
|
4. |
|
the form of subordinated indenture filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration Statement, to be
entered into between Shell Finance, the Company and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (the
Shell Finance Subordinated Indenture and, together the Shell Finance Senior Indenture, the
Shell Finance Indentures and, together with the RDS Indentures, the Indentures) including
the guarantee to be given by the Company (the RDS Subordinated Guarantee and, together with
the RDS Senior Guarantee, the Guarantees); |
|
5. |
|
the form of senior debt security of the Company filed as Exhibit 4.5 to the Registration
Statement; |
|
6. |
|
the form of subordinated debt security of the Company filed as Exhibit 4.6 to the
Registration Statement; |
|
7. |
|
the form of senior debt security of Shell Finance filed as Exhibit 4.7 to the Registration
Statement; |
|
8. |
|
the form of subordinated debt security of Shell Finance filed as Exhibit 4.8 to the
Registration Statement; |
|
9. |
|
the form of the Trust Deed for the Royal Dutch Shell Dividend Access Trust, filed as Exhibit
4.17 to the Registration Statement (the Dividend Access Trust Deed); |
|
10. |
|
the form of Articles of Association of the Company, filed as Exhibit 4.11 to the Registration
Statement; |
|
11. |
|
the form of Memorandum of Association of the Company, filed as Exhibit 4.12 to the
Registration Statement; |
|
12. |
|
a copy of a certificate of the Assistant Secretary of the Company dated 7 November 2008 and
the documents annexed thereto; |
|
13. |
|
copies of the certificate of incorporation of the Company and the certificate of
incorporation on change of name and re-registration as a public company of the Company; and |
|
14. |
|
the entries shown on the CH Direct print out obtained by us from the Companies House database
on 6 November 2008 of the file of the Company maintained at Companies House (the Company
Search). |
2
This letter sets out our opinion on certain matters of English law as at todays date. We have not
made any investigation of, and do not express any opinion on, any other law. This letter is to be
governed by and construed in accordance with English law.
For the purposes of this letter, we have assumed each of the following:
(A) |
|
All signatures are genuine; |
|
(B) |
|
The conformity to original documents of all copy documents examined by us; |
|
(C) |
|
That the Indentures and the Guarantees will have been duly executed and delivered by the
parties thereto in the form examined by us (subject to any minor amendment having no bearing
on our opinion set out in this letter); |
|
(D) |
|
The accuracy and completeness of the statements made in the certificate of the Assistant
Secretary of the Company referred to in paragraph 12 above; |
|
(E) |
|
That (1) the information disclosed by the Company Search and by our telephone search of 6
November 2008 of the Central Registry of Winding-Up Petitions in relation to the Company was
complete, accurate and up to date as at the date of the Company Search and has not since then
been altered or added to, (2) no petition for an administration order in respect of the
Company has been presented in any court in England and Wales and (3) the Company Search and
the telephone search did not fail to disclose any information relevant for the purposes of
this opinion. It should be noted that the searches are not capable of revealing whether or not
a petition for winding-up or administration has been presented in a County Court or District
Registry or the High Court of Justice; notice of a winding-up or administration order made or
winding-up resolution passed or receiver appointed may not be filed at Companies House
immediately. However, the certificate of the Assistant Secretary referred to in paragraph 12
above confirms that to the Assistant Secretarys knowledge, no such event had occurred as at 7
November 2008; |
|
(F) |
|
The debt warrant agreements relating to the Debt Warrants, the Indentures, the Guarantees,
the RDS Debt Securities and the Debt Warrants will be valid and binding on the parties under
the laws of the State of New York (New York law) by which law the debt warrant agreements
relating to the Debt Warrants, the Indentures, the Guarantees, the RDS Debt Securities and the
Debt Warrants are expressed to be governed; |
|
(G) |
|
The equity warrant agreements relating to the Equity Warrants and the Equity Warrants will be
governed by English law; |
|
(H) |
|
The Debt Securities will be duly issued, authenticated and delivered in accordance with the
provisions of the relevant Indenture; |
3
(I) |
|
That no law of any jurisdiction outside England and Wales would render such issue,
authentication or delivery illegal or ineffective and that, insofar as any obligation under
the debt warrant agreements relating to the Debt Warrants, the Indentures, the Guarantees, the
RDS Debt Securities or the Debt Warrants is performed in, or is otherwise subject to, any
jurisdiction other than England and Wales, its performance will not be illegal or ineffective
by virtue of the law of that jurisdiction; |
|
(J) |
|
That the aggregate initial offering price of all Debt Securities, Warrants or Shares issued
will not exceed the amount to be registered as set forth in the Registration Statement or in
any additional registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act,
that each Debt Security will be in the form set out in the relevant Indenture and will be
subject to the terms and conditions of that Indenture; |
|
(K) |
|
That the issuance of any Debt Securities, Warrants or Shares will not cause the Company or
its directors to be in default under articles 99 and 100 of the Companys Articles of
Association; |
|
(L) |
|
That the Indentures, the Guarantees and the RDS Debt Securities will have been entered into
by the Company in good faith and in furtherance of the Companys objects under its Memorandum
of Association; |
|
(M) |
|
That the debt warrant agreements relating to the Debt Warrants, the Indentures, the
Guarantees, the RDS Debt Securities and the Debt Warrants are in the best interests and to the
advantage of the Company; |
|
(N) |
|
That the terms and conditions applicable to the Debt Securities, Warrants and Shares will not
be inconsistent with the Registration Statement; |
|
(O) |
|
That, in respect of each issue of Shares and of Equity Warrants, the Company will have
sufficient authorised but unissued share capital and the directors of the Company will have
been granted the necessary authority to allot the relevant Shares or Equity Warrants and will
have resolved to allot the relevant Shares or Equity Warrants; |
|
(P) |
|
That the debt warrant agreements relating to the Debt Warrants, the Indentures, the
Guarantees, the RDS Debt Securities and the Debt Warrants have the same meaning and effect as
if they were governed by English law; and |
|
(Q) |
|
That since 20 July 2005 no amendments have been made to the documents numbered 1 to 9 above,
and all such documents continue in full force and effect as at the date hereof. |
Based on and subject to the foregoing, and subject to any matters not disclosed to us, we are of
the opinion that:
4
1. |
|
The Company is a public company limited by shares duly incorporated under the laws of England
and Wales and is a validly existing company. |
|
2. |
|
The debt warrant agreements relating to the Debt Warrants, the Debt Warrants, the Indentures,
the Guarantees and the RDS Debt Securities have been duly authorised by the Company. |
|
3. |
|
The signing and delivery of the Indentures, the Guarantees and the RDS Debt Securities by the
Company and the exercise of its rights and the performance of its obligations under the
Indentures, the Guarantees and the RDS Debt Securities are not prohibited by the Memorandum of
Association and Articles of Association of the Company. |
|
4. |
|
On the assumption that the debt warrant agreements relating to the Debt Warrants, the
Indentures, the Guarantees, the RDS Debt Securities and the Debt Warrants will, when executed
and delivered, create valid and binding obligations of the parties under New York law, English
law will not prevent any provision of the debt warrant agreements relating to the Debt
Warrants, the Indentures, the Guarantees, the RDS Debt Securities or the Debt Warrants from,
when executed and delivered, being valid and binding obligations of the Company. |
|
5. |
|
When (i) the equity warrant agreements relating to the Equity Warrants and the Equity
Warrants have been duly authorised, executed and delivered and (ii) the terms of the Equity
Warrants and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the
Companys Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association and so as not to violate any
applicable law or breach of any agreement binding on the Company, the Equity Warrants will
constitute valid and binding obligations of the parties under English law. |
|
6. |
|
When the Shares are issued and delivered against full payment therefor as contemplated in the
Registration Statement and in conformity with the Companys Memorandum of Association and
Articles of Association and so as not to violate any applicable law, such Shares will have
been duly issued and fully paid and no further contribution in respect thereof will be
required to be made to the Company by the holders thereof, by reason solely of their being
such holders. |
|
7. |
|
If Class B ordinary shares are issued, the registered holders of such shares will, if a
dividend is paid on the Dividend Access Share (as defined in the Dividend Access Trust Deed)
in circumstances where they are registered holders of such shares as at the relevant dividend
record date, have a beneficial interest in the funds representing such dividend (in accordance
with their respective holdings of Class B ordinary shares) pursuant to the trust formed in
accordance with the Dividend Access Trust Deed and subject to the terms of the Dividend Access
Trust Deed. |
5
8. |
|
The statements in the Registration Statement in the third, fourth and fifth paragraphs of the
section headed Enforceability of Certain Civil Liabilities insofar as they refer to
statements of law or legal conclusions, in all material respects present fairly the
information shown. |
Our reservations are as follows:
I. |
|
Undertakings, covenants and indemnities contained in the debt warrant agreements relating to
the Debt Warrants, the equity warrant agreements relating to the Equity Warrants, the
Indentures, the Guarantees, the RDS Debt Securities and the Warrants may not be enforceable
before an English court insofar as they purport to require payment or reimbursement of the
costs of any unsuccessful litigation brought before an English court. |
|
II. |
|
Insofar as any obligation under the debt warrant agreements relating
to the Debt Warrants, the equity warrant agreements relating to the
Equity Warrants, the Indentures, the Guarantees, the RDS Debt
Securities or the Warrants is to be performed in any jurisdiction
other than England and Wales, an English court may have to have
regard to the law of that jurisdiction in relation to the manner of
performance and the steps to be taken in the event of defective
performance.
|
|
III. |
|
We express no opinion as to whether specific performance, injunctive
relief or any other form of equitable remedy would be available in
respect of any obligation of the Company under or in respect of the
debt warrant agreements relating to the Debt Warrants, the equity
warrant agreements relating to the Equity Warrants, the Indentures,
the Guarantees, the RDS Debt Securities or the Warrants.
|
|
IV. |
|
The obligations of the Company under or in respect of the debt
warrant agreements relating to the Debt Warrants, the equity warrant
agreements relating to the Equity Warrants, the Indentures, the
Guarantees, the RDS Debt Securities and the Warrants will be subject
to any law from time to time in force relating to liquidation or
administration or any other law or legal procedure affecting
generally the enforcement of creditors rights. |
|
V. |
|
In our opinion under English law there is doubt as to the enforceability in the United
Kingdom, in original actions or in actions for enforcement of judgments of United States
courts, of civil liabilities predicated solely upon the United States Federal or State
securities laws. |
|
VI. |
|
Our opinion in paragraph 7 above is subject to the legal capacity of the relevant registered
holders of Class B ordinary shares. Such capacity (and therefore our opinion) may be affected
by matters such as bankruptcy, insolvency and death. In addition, there may be arrangements
in place in respect of the relevant registered holders (for example, nominee arrangements)
such that any beneficial interest in a dividend to which they might otherwise be entitled
under the terms of the Dividend Access Trust Deed is vested |
6
|
|
in the hands of third parties. The relevant registered holders may also have
waived their entitlement to dividends. |
|
VII. |
|
Our opinion in paragraph 8 above is based upon
existing statutory, regulatory and judicial
authority, all of which may be changed at any time
with retroactive effect. Any change in applicable
laws or the facts and circumstances surrounding the
offering of the securities being registered on the
Registration Statement, or any inaccuracy in the
statements upon which we have relied, may affect the
continuing validity of our opinion in paragraph 8
above. We assume no responsibility to inform you of
any such change or inaccuracy that may occur or come
to our attention. |
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to
the references to this opinion therein and to the references to us under the headings
Enforceability of Certain Civil Liabilities, Taxation and Legal Matters in the Registration
Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons
whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules or regulations of the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder. This opinion is being
provided to the Company in connection with the Registration Statement and may not be reproduced,
quoted, summarised or relied upon by any other person or for any other purpose without our express
written consent.
|
|
|
|
|
Yours faithfully
|
|
|
/s/ Slaughter and May |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7
EX-5.2
Exhibit 5.2
[Letterhead of]
CRAVATH, SWAINE & MOORE LLP
November 7, 2008
Opinion of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Regarding Legality and Certain U.S. Tax Matters
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as U.S. counsel to Royal Dutch Shell plc, a public company limited by shares
incorporated in England and Wales (RDS), and Shell International Finance B.V., a Dutch private
limited liability company (Shell Finance), in connection with the registration under the
Securities Act of 1933 (the Act) of (i) guaranteed debt securities (the Guaranteed Debt
Securities) of Shell Finance, unconditionally guaranteed as to the payment of principal, premium
(if any) and interest, by RDS (the Guarantees), (ii) debt securities of RDS (the RDS Debt
Securities, and, together with the Guaranteed Debt Securities, the Debt Securities), (iii) debt
warrants of RDS (the Debt Warrants and, together with the Debt Securities, the Securities),
(iv) equity warrants of RDS and (v) Class A and Class B ordinary shares of RDS, nominal value of
0.07 per share, with an unspecified and indeterminate aggregate initial offering price.
In that connection, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to
our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records and other instruments as we have deemed
necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion including: (a) the Registration Statement
on Form F-3 of RDS and Shell Finance (the Registration Statement); (b) the forms of senior
indenture and subordinated indenture relating to the RDS Debt Securities included in the
Registration Statement as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2 (the RDS Indentures); (c) the forms of notes
relating to the RDS Debt Securities included in the Registration Statement as Exhibits 4.5 and 4.6
(the RDS Notes); (d) the forms of senior indenture and subordinated indenture relating to the
Guaranteed Debt Securities included in the Registration Statement as Exhibits 4.3 and 4.4 (the
Shell Indentures and together with the RDS Indentures, the Indentures), including the
guarantees to be given by RDS; and (e) the forms of notes relating to the
2
Guaranteed Debt Securities included in the Registration Statement as Exhibits 4.7 and 4.8 (the
Shell Notes and together with the RDS Notes, the Notes).
Based on the foregoing and subject to the qualifications set forth herein and in the
Registration Statement, we are of opinion as follows:
1. Assuming that the Indentures have been or will be duly authorized, executed and delivered
by RDS and Shell Finance, the Indentures will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of
RDS and Shell Finance, as applicable, enforceable against RDS and Shell Finance in accordance with
their terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent
transfer and other similar laws affecting creditors rights generally from time to time in effect
and to general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality,
reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law).
2. Assuming that the Notes have been or will be duly authorized, executed and authenticated in
accordance with the provisions of the Indentures and issued and sold as contemplated in the
Registration Statement, as amended, the Notes and the Guarantees will constitute legal, valid and
binding obligations of RDS and Shell Finance, as applicable, entitled to the benefits of the
Indentures and enforceable against RDS and Shell Finance in accordance with their terms (subject to
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and other
similar laws affecting creditors rights generally from time to time in effect and to general
principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good
faith and fair dealing, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
3. Assuming that one or more debt warrant agreements relating to the Debt Warrants have been
or will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by RDS, such debt warrant agreements will
constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of RDS enforceable against RDS in accordance with
their terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent
transfer and other similar laws affecting creditors rights generally from time to time in effect
and to general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality,
reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law).
4. Assuming that debt warrant certificates relating to the Debt Warrants have been or will be
duly authorized, executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the relevant debt
warrant agreement and issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement, as amended,
such debt warrant certificates will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of RDS entitled
to the benefits of the relevant debt warrant agreement and enforceable against RDS in accordance
with their terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
fraudulent transfer and other similar laws affecting creditors rights generally from time to time
in effect and to general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of
materiality,
3
reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding
in equity or at law).
5. The statements under the section of the Registration Statement entitled Taxation U.S.
Taxation accurately describe the material U.S. Federal income tax consequences to U.S. holders
(within the meaning of that section) of holding, and disposing of, the securities described
therein.
Our opinion in paragraph 5 above is based upon existing statutory, regulatory and judicial
authority, all of which may be changed at any time with retroactive effect. Any change in
applicable laws or the facts and circumstances surrounding the offering of the securities being
registered on the Registration Statement, or any inaccuracy in the statements upon which we have
relied, may affect the continuing validity of our opinion in paragraph 5 above. We assume no
responsibility to inform you of any such change or inaccuracy that may occur or come to our
attention.
We are admitted to practice in the State of New York, and we express no opinion as to matters
governed by any laws other than the laws of the State of New York and the Federal laws of the
United States of America. In particular, we do not purport to pass on any matter governed by the
laws of England and Wales or The Netherlands. For purposes of our opinion, we have assumed that
(i) RDS has been duly incorporated and is a validly existing company under the laws of England and
Wales and (ii) the Indentures, the RDS Notes, the Debt Warrant Agreement and the Debt Warrant
Certificates have been or will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by RDS insofar as the
laws of England are concerned. With respect to all matters of English law, we note that you are
being provided with the opinion, dated the date hereof, of Slaughter and May, English counsel to
RDS. For purposes of our opinion, we have also assumed that (i) Shell Finance has been duly
incorporated and is a validly existing company under the laws of The Netherlands and (ii) the
Indentures relating to the Guaranteed Debt Securities and the Shell Finance Notes have been or will
be duly authorized, executed and delivered by Shell Finance insofar as the laws of The Netherlands
are concerned. With respect to all matters of Dutch law, we note that you are being provided with
the opinion, dated the date hereof, of De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek N.V., Dutch counsel to RDS and
Shell Finance.
We have also relied as to certain matters on information obtained from public officials,
officers of RDS and Shell Finance and other sources believed by us to be responsible, and we have
assumed that the Indentures will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee
thereunder, an assumption which we have not independently verified.
We consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
Commission) as Exhibit 5.2 to the Form F-3 Registration Statement, and to the references to this
opinion therein and to the references to us under the headings Taxation and Legal Matters in
the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the
category of persons whose consent is required under
4
Section 7 of the Act, or the rules or regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
This opinion is being provided solely for the benefit of RDS and Shell Finance so that RDS and
Shell Finance may comply with their obligations under the Federal securities laws. The filing of
this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and the references to such opinion and our
Firm therein are not intended to create liability under applicable state law to any person (other
than any liability of our Firm to RDS and Shell Finance, our clients).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Very truly yours,
|
|
|
/s/ Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Royal Dutch Shell plc
Carel van Bylandtlaan 30
2596 HR
The Hague
The Netherlands
Shell International Finance B.V.
Carel van Bylandtlaan 30
2596 HR
The Hague
The Netherlands
O
EX-5.3
Exhibit 5.3
Advocaten
Notarissen
Belastingadviseurs
|
|
|
Shell International Finance B.V.
|
|
5th Floor East Wing |
Carel van Bylandtlaan 30
|
|
10 King William Street |
2596 HR Den Haag
|
|
London EC4N 7TW |
|
|
|
|
|
T +44 20 7337 3510
F +44 20 7337 3520 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date 7 November 2008
|
|
Niek Biegman |
|
|
Advocaat |
Our ref. M5499082/1/91003024
|
|
T +44 20 7337 3511 (direct) |
|
|
T +44 20 7337 3518 (secretary) |
Shelf registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933,
as amended,
of senior and subordinated guaranteed debt securities
Dear Sirs,
1 |
|
Introduction |
|
|
|
I have acted as legal adviser (advocaat) to Shell International Finance B.V., with
corporate seat in The Hague, (the Company) in connection with a shelf registration (the Registration) by the Company and its parent company Royal Dutch Shell Plc (the
Parent Company) with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of (i) senior debt
securities (the Senior Debt Securities) and (ii) subordinated debt securities (the
Subordinated Debt Securities and together with the Senior Debt Securities, the Dutch Debt
Securities) which may be issued by the Company and which will be fully and unconditionally
guaranteed by the Parent Company and (iii) senior and subordinated debt securities, warrants,
class A ordinary shares and class B ordinary shares which may be issued by the Parent Company. |
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek London is a branch of De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek London B.V.,
registered with the Commercial Register in The Hague, The Netherlands under no. 27172367;
registered with the Companies Register in England & Wales under Branch number BR4545.
2 |
|
Dutch Law |
|
|
|
This opinion is limited to Dutch law as applied by the Dutch courts and published and in effect on the date of this
opinion. It is given on the basis that all matters relating to it will be governed by, and that it (including all terms
used in it) will be construed in accordance with, Dutch law. |
|
3 |
|
Scope of Inquiry |
|
|
|
For the purpose of this opinion, I have examined the following documents: |
|
3.1 |
|
The form of indenture for senior debt securities filed as exhibit 4.3 to the Registration
Statement between the Company, the Parent Company and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas as
trustee (the Senior Indenture). |
|
3.2 |
|
The form of indenture for subordinated debt securities filed as exhibit 4.4 to the
Registration Statement between the Company, the Parent Company and Deutsche Bank Trust Company
Americas as trustee (the Subordinated Indenture and together with the Senior Indenture, the
Indentures). |
|
3.3 |
|
The form of global security for the Senior Debt Securities of the Company filed as exhibit
4.7 with the Registration Statement. |
|
3.4 |
|
The form of global security for the Subordinated Debt Securities of the Company filed as
exhibit 4.8 with the Registration Statement. |
|
3.5 |
|
The registration statement, including a prospectus, filed on 7 November 2008 (the
Registration Statement) on Form F-3 relating to the Registration, including the terms and
conditions (the Terms and Conditions) of the Dutch Debt Securities (excluding the documents
incorporated in it by reference and any exhibits to it). |
|
3.6 |
|
A notarial copy of the Companys deed of incorporation and its articles of association as
most recently amended on 6 June 2005 according to the trade register extract referred to in
paragraph 3.7, both as filed with the chamber of commerce and industry for Haaglanden (the
Chamber of Commerce). |
|
3.7 |
|
A trade register extract regarding the Company provided by the Chamber of Commerce and dated
4 November 2008. |
|
3.8 |
|
A photocopy of a written resolution dated 5 November 2008 of the Companys managing board
(directie). |
2/8
|
|
In addition, I have obtained the following confirmations given by telephone on the date
of this opinion: |
|
3.9 |
|
Confirmation from the Chamber of Commerce that the trade register extract referred to in this
paragraph 3 is up to date. |
|
3.10 |
|
Confirmation from the office of the bankruptcy division (faillissementsgriffie) of the The
Hague district court that the Company is not registered as having been declared bankrupt or
granted suspension of payments. |
|
|
|
My examination has been limited to the text of the documents and I have not investigated
the meaning and effect of any document governed by a law other than Dutch law under that
other law. |
|
4 |
|
Assumptions |
|
|
|
For the purpose of this opinion, I have made the following assumptions: |
|
4.1 |
|
All copy documents conform to the originals and all originals are genuine and complete. |
|
4.2 |
|
Each signature is the genuine signature of the individual concerned. |
|
4.3 |
|
Any written resolutions referred to in paragraph 3 were validly passed and remain in full
force and effect without modification. Any confirmation referred to in paragraph 3 is true. |
|
4.4 |
|
The Registration Statement has been filed with the SEC and the Indentures have been filed or
will have been entered into, and the Dutch Debt Securities will have been issued, in the form referred to in paragraph 3 and the terms and
conditions governing the Dutch Debt Securities conform to the Terms and Conditions in
all material respects. |
|
4.5 |
|
The Indentures are within the capacity and powers of, and have been or will have been validly
authorised and entered into by, each party other than the Company and the Dutch Debt
Securities have been or will have been validly authenticated in accordance with the
Indentures. |
|
4.6 |
|
The Indentures have been or will have been signed on behalf of the Company by two of its
managing directors or a person validly authorised to do so and the Dutch Debt Securities will
have been signed on behalf of the Company by two of its managing directors. |
|
4.7 |
|
There is no works council whose advice on the Companys entry into the |
3/8
|
|
Indentures or issue of Dutch Debt Securities must be sought pursuant to the Works
Councils Act (Wet op de ondernemingsraden). |
|
4.8 |
|
There are no dealings between the parties which affect the Indentures or the Dutch Debt
Securities. |
|
4.9 |
|
The Dutch Debt Securities have been, are and will be offered in the Netherlands only in
accordance with the Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht, the
FMSA). |
|
4.10 |
|
At the time of the agreement to issue Dutch Debt Securities, no party possessed knowledge
(voorwetenschap) of any fact in respect of the Company or the trade in the Dutch Debt
Securities which (i) has not been publicly disclosed and (ii) which, if disclosed, might
reasonably be expected to affect the trading price of the Dutch Debt Securities, irrespective
of whether the price would move up or down. |
|
4.11 |
|
None of the Dutch Debt Securities qualify as game or wager (spel en weddingschap) within the
meaning of Section 7A:1825 Civil Code (Burgerlijk Wetboek, CC) and no issue of Dutch Debt
Securities falls within the scope of the Games and Chance Act (Wet op de kansspelen). |
|
4.12 |
|
The Company complies with Section 3:2 FMSA and therefore does not require a banking licence
pursuant to that Act. |
|
4.13 |
|
The Indentures and each transaction entered into pursuant to them have been entered into on
an arms length basis. |
|
5 |
|
Opinion |
|
|
|
Based on the documents and confirmations referred to and the
assumptions in paragraphs 3 and 4 and subject to the qualifications in
paragraph 6 and to any matters not disclosed to me, I am of the
following opinion: |
|
5.1 |
|
The Company has been incorporated and is existing as a private company with limited liability
(besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) under Dutch law. |
|
5.2 |
|
The Company has the corporate power to enter into and perform the obligations under the
Indentures and to issue and perform the Dutch Debt Securities. |
|
5.3 |
|
The Company has taken all necessary corporate action to authorise its entry into and
performance of the Indentures. |
4/8
5.4 |
|
The choice of New York law as the governing law of the Indentures and the Dutch Debt
Securities is recognised under Dutch law by the Dutch courts (provided that the choice of New
York law as the governing law of the Indentures and the Dutch Debt Securities is recognised
under New York law as valid and binding), and accordingly under Dutch law (i) New York law
determines the validity and binding effect of the Indentures and the Dutch Debt Securities and
(ii) the Dutch courts are legally bound to apply New York law to the Indentures and the Dutch
Debt Securities and to determine the validity and binding nature of the Indentures and the
Dutch Debt Securities by so applying New York law. |
|
5.5 |
|
The entry into and performance of the Indentures, and the issue and performance of the Dutch
Debt Securities by the Company do not violate Dutch law or the articles of association of the
Company. |
|
5.6 |
|
The statements in the Registration Statement under the heading Taxation Dutch taxation
and Enforceability of Certain Civil Liabilities, to the extent that they are statements as
to Dutch law, are correct. |
|
6 |
|
Qualifications |
|
|
|
This opinion is subject to the following qualifications: |
|
6.1 |
|
This opinion is subject to any limitations arising from bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation,
moratorium, reorganisation and other laws of general application relating to or affecting the
rights of creditors. |
|
6.2 |
|
With respect to opinion paragraph 5.4 only: under Dutch law, notwithstanding the recognition
of New York law as the governing law of the Indentures and the Dutch Debt Securities: |
|
|
|
effect may be given to the law of another jurisdiction with which the situation
has a close connection, insofar as, under the law of that jurisdiction, that law is
mandatory irrespective of the governing law of the Indentures and those Dutch Debt
Securities; |
|
|
|
|
Dutch law will be applied insofar as it is mandatory irrespective of the
governing law of the Indentures and those Dutch Debt Securities; |
|
|
|
|
the application of New York law may be refused if it is manifestly incompatible
with Dutch public policy; |
|
|
|
|
regard will be had to the law of the jurisdiction in which performance takes
place in relation to the manner of performance and the steps to be taken in the
event of defective performance. |
5/8
6.3 |
|
The enforcement in a Dutch court of the Indentures and the Dutch Debt Securities and of
foreign judgments is subject to Dutch rules of civil procedure. |
|
6.4 |
|
To the extent that Dutch law applies, a provision to the effect that the holder of a Dutch
Debt Security may be treated as its absolute owner may not be enforceable under all
circumstances. |
|
6.5 |
|
To the extent that Dutch law applies, title to a Dutch Debt Security may not pass if (i) the
Dutch Debt Security is not delivered (geleverd) in accordance with Dutch law, (ii) the
transferor does not have the power to pass on title (beschikkingsbevoegdheid) to the Dutch
Debt Security or (iii) the transfer of title is not effected pursuant to a valid title of
transfer (geldige titel). |
|
6.6 |
|
To the extent that Dutch law applies, Section 11.02 of the Subordinated Indenture may not be
enforceable under all circumstances. |
|
6.7 |
|
To the extent that Dutch law applies, the provisions in the Indentures to the effect that in
any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and also proceedings in which a declaratory judgment
of a court may be sought as to the interpretation or construction of any provision of the
Indentures to which the Trustee shall be a party), the Trustee shall be held to represent all
the Holders (as defined therein) of the Dutch Debt Securities to which such proceedings
relate, and that it shall not be necessary to make any Holders of such Dutch Debt Securities
parties to any such proceedings, may not be enforceable. |
|
6.8 |
|
To the extent that Dutch law applies, the provisions in the Indentures to the effect that no
Holder (as defined therein) of any Dutch Debt Security of any series shall have the right by
virtue or by availing of any provision of the Indentures to institute any action or proceeding
at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise upon or under or with respect to the
Indentures, or for the appointment of an administrator, bewindvoerder, receiver, liquidator,
curator, sequestrator, trustee or other similar officer or for any other remedy under the
Indentures, unless such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice as
further provided in the Indentures, may not be enforceable under all circumstances. |
|
6.9 |
|
No opinion is expressed on the validity of any lien as security of the Dutch Debt Securities
of one or more series of any property or assets as contemplated by Section 7.07 of the
Indentures for whatever purpose contemplated by the said section of the Indentures. |
6/8
6.10 |
|
Although Section 3:277 CC provides that a creditor and a debtor can agree that the creditors
claim against the debtor will be subordinated to one or more other claims of the debtor, I do
not express any opinion as to the effect of the subordination provisions of the Subordinated
Indenture and the Subordinated Debt Securities. |
|
6.11 |
|
I do not express any opinion as to Section 11.05 of the Subordinated Indenture. |
|
6.12 |
|
To the extent that the Indentures or the Dutch Debt Securities constitute general conditions
within the meaning of Section 6:231 CC, a holder of a Dutch Debt Security may nullify
(vernietigen) a provision of them if (i) the Company has not offered the holder a reasonable
opportunity to examine them or (ii) the provision, having regard to all relevant
circumstances, is unreasonably onerous to the holder. A provision in general conditions as
referred to in Section 6:236 CC is deemed to be unreasonably onerous, irrespective of the
circumstances, if the holder of a Dutch Debt Security is a natural person not acting in the
conduct of a profession or trade. The provisions in clauses 5.02 and 5.03 of the Indentures
might fall within the scope of Section 6:236 CC. |
|
6.13 |
|
If a Dutch Debt Security has been signed on behalf of the Company (manually or in facsimile)
by a person who is at the signing date, but ceases to be before the date of the Dutch Debt
Security and its authentication and issue, a duly authorised representative of the Company,
enforcement of the Dutch Debt Security in a Dutch court may require that the holder of the
Dutch Debt Security submit a copy of the Indenture under which the Dutch Debt Security has
been issued. |
|
6.14 |
|
To the extent that Dutch law applies, a power of attorney (including a proxy) (a) does not
preclude the principal from performing the legal acts covered by the power of attorney and (b)
can be made irrevocable only (i) insofar as it has been granted for the purpose of performing
a legal act in the interest of the authorised person or a third party and (ii) subject to any
amendments made or limitations imposed by the courts on serious grounds (gewichtige redenen). |
|
6.15 |
|
In proceedings in a Dutch court for the enforcement of the Indentures or the Dutch Debt
Securities, the court may mitigate amounts due in respect of litigation and collection costs. |
|
6.16 |
|
Under Dutch law any trust to which the Convention on the Law applicable to Trusts and their
Recognition 1985 (the Trust Convention) applies, will be |
7/8
|
|
recognised subject to the Trust Convention. Any trust to which the Trust Convention does
not apply may not be recognised. |
|
6.17 |
|
The trade register extract referred to in paragraph 3 does not provide conclusive evidence
that the facts set out in it are correct. However, under the 2007 Trade Register Act
(Handelsregisterwet 2007), subject to limited exceptions, a company cannot invoke the
incorrectness or incompleteness of its trade register registration against third parties who
were unaware of it. |
|
6.18 |
|
The confirmation from the office of the bankruptcy division referred to in paragraph 3 does
not provide conclusive evidence that the Company has not been declared bankrupt or granted
suspension of payments. |
|
6.19 |
|
Except for paragraph 5.6, I do not express any opinion as to taxation matters. |
|
7 |
|
Reliance |
|
|
|
This opinion is solely for the purpose of the registration of the
Dutch Debt Securities with the SEC pursuant to the Registration
Statement. I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement to be filed with the SEC, and to
the reference to De Brauw Blackstone London B.V. under the headings
Enforceability of Certain Civil Liabilities, Taxation- Dutch
Taxation and Legal Matters in the Registration Statement. In giving
such consent, I do not thereby admit that I am in the category of
persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the US Securities
Act, or the rules or regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder. |
Yours faithfully,
Niek Biegman
for De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek London B.V.
8/8
EX-8.1
Exhibit 8.1
[On Slaughter and May headed notepaper]
|
|
|
|
|
7 November 2008 |
|
|
|
The Directors
|
|
Your reference |
Royal Dutch Shell plc
|
|
|
Shell Centre
|
|
Our reference |
London
|
|
WNCW/TEMJ |
SE1 7NA
|
|
Direct line
020 7090 5007 |
Dear Sirs,
Registration Statement on Form F-3 of Royal Dutch Shell plc dated 7 November 2008 (the
Registration Statement): U.K. Tax Section
We have
acted as legal advisers to Royal Dutch Shell plc (RDS) as to certain matters of U.K. tax
law relevant to the preparation of the section of the Registration Statement entitled Taxation -
U.K. Taxation (the U.K. Tax Section).
In that connection, we have examined the Registration Statement and such other documents as we
believe to be necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.
Based upon the Registration Statement and those other documents and subject to the qualifications
set out below and in the Registration Statement, we are of the opinion that the statements
contained in the U.K. Tax Section, summarising the material U.K. tax consequences for a U.S. holder
of the ownership and disposal of securities that may be offered by RDS or Shell International
Finance B.V. (Shell Finance) pursuant to the Registration Statement, fairly summarise the matters
therein described.
Our opinion is based upon existing statutory, regulatory and judicial authority, all of which may
be changed at any time with retroactive effect. Any change in applicable laws or the current
practice of HM Revenue and Customs, or any inaccuracy in the documents upon which we have relied,
may affect the continuing validity of our opinion. We assume no responsibility to inform you of
any such change or inaccuracy that may occur or come to our attention. Finally, our opinion is
limited to the tax matters specifically covered in the U.K. Tax Section. We have not been asked to
address, nor have we addressed, any other tax consequences for U.S. holders (or generally, tax
consequences for RDS or Shell Finance).
We consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 8.1
to the Form F-3 Registration Statement and to the references to this opinion in the Registration
Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons
whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules
or regulations of the SEC promulgated under that section. This opinion is being provided to RDS in
connection with the Registration Statement and may not be
reproduced, quoted, summarised or relied upon by any other person or for any other purpose without
our express written consent.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yours faithfully,
|
|
|
/s/ Slaughter and May |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EX-23.1
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form F-3 of
Royal Dutch Shell plc of our report dated March 12, 2008, relating to the consolidated financial
statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Royal Dutch Shell
plc, which appears in the Annual Report on Form 20-F of Royal Dutch Shell plc for the year ended
December 31, 2007. We also consent to the references to us under the headings Experts in such
Registration Statement.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
London United Kingdom
7 November 2008
EX-25.1
Exhibit 25.1
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
SECTION 305(b)(2)
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
(formerly BANKERS TRUST COMPANY)
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
|
|
|
NEW YORK
(Jurisdiction of Incorporation or
organization if not a U.S. national bank)
|
|
13-4941247
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification no.) |
|
|
|
60 WALL STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
(Address of principal
executive offices)
|
|
10005
(Zip Code) |
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
Attention: Lynne Malina
Legal Department
60 Wall Street, 37th Floor
New York, New York 10005
(212) 250 0677
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
|
|
|
England and Wales
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation
or organization)
|
|
Not Applicable
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number) |
|
|
|
Carel van Bylandtlaan 30
2596 HR the Hague
The Netherlands
(Address of principal executive offices)
|
|
Not applicable
(Zip Code) |
SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
(Title of the indenture securities)
Item 1. General Information.
Furnish the following information as to the trustee.
|
(a) |
|
Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. |
|
|
|
Name |
|
Address |
|
Federal Reserve Bank (2nd District)
|
|
New York, NY |
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
|
|
Washington, D.C. |
New York State Banking Department
|
|
Albany, NY |
|
(b) |
|
Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
|
|
|
|
Yes. |
Item 2. Affiliations with Obligor.
If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation.
None.
Item 3. -15. Not Applicable
Item 16. List of Exhibits.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit 1
|
|
Restated Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust
Company dated August 6, 1998, Certificate of Amendment
of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company
dated September 25, 1998, Certificate of Amendment of
the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company
dated December 16, 1998, and Certificate of Amendment of
the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company
dated February 27, 2002, copies attached. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit 2
|
|
Certificate of Authority to commence business -
Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2 filed with
Form T-1 Statement, Registration No. 33-21047. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit 3
|
|
Authorization of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust
powers Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2
filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration No.
33-21047. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit 4
|
|
Existing By-Laws of Deutsche Bank Trust Company
Americas, as amended on April 15, 2002. Copy attached. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit 5
|
|
Not applicable. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit 6
|
|
Consent of Bankers Trust Company required by Section
321(b) of the Act. Incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 4 filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration
No. 22-18864. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit 7
|
|
The latest report of condition of Deutsche Bank Trust
Company Americas dated as of June 30, 2008. Copy
attached. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit 8
|
|
Not Applicable. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit 9
|
|
Not Applicable. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the trustee,
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the
State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in The City of New York, and State of New York, on this
7th day of November, 2008.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Carol Ng
|
|
|
|
|
Carol Ng |
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
I, MANUEL KURSKY, Deputy Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York, DO HEREBY APPROVE
the annexed Certificate entitled CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE OF
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY Under Section 8005 of the Banking Law, dated September 16, 1998, providing
for an increase in authorized capital stock from $3,001,666,670 consisting of 200,166,667 shares
with a par value of $10 each designated as Common Stock and 1,000 shares with a par value of
$1,000,000 each designated as Series Preferred Stock to $3,501,666,670 consisting of 200,166,667
shares with a par value of $10 each designated as Common Stock and 1,500 shares with a par value of
$1,000,000 each designated as Series Preferred Stock. |
Witness, my hand and official seal of the Banking Department at the City of New York, |
this 25th day of September in the Year of
our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight. |
Deputy Superintendent of Banks |
RESTATED
ORGANIZATION
CERTIFICATE
OF
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
Under Section 8007
Of the Banking Law
Bankers Trust Company
1301 6th Avenue, 8th Floor
New York, N.Y. 10019
Counterpart Filed in the Office of the Superintendent of Banks, State of New York, August 31, 1998
RESTATED ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE
OF
BANKERS TRUST
Under Section 8007 of the Banking Law
We, James T. Byrne, Jr. and Lea Lahtinen, being respectively a Managing Director and an
Assistant Secretary and a Vice President and an Assistant Secretary of BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, do
hereby certify:
1. The name of the corporation is Bankers Trust Company.
2. The organization certificate of the corporation was filed by the Superintendent of Banks of
the State of New York on March 5, 1903.
3. The text of the organization certificate, as amended heretofore, is hereby restated without
further amendment or change to read as herein-set forth in full, to wit:
Certificate of Organization
of
Bankers Trust Company
Know All Men By These Presents That we, the undersigned, James A. Blair, James G. Cannon, E.
C. Converse, Henry P. Davison, Granville W. Garth, A. Barton Hepburn, Will Logan, Gates W.
McGarrah, George W. Perkins, William H. Porter, John F. Thompson, Albert H. Wiggin, Samuel
Woolverton and Edward F. C. Young, all being persons of full age and citizens of the United States,
and a majority of us being residents of the State of New York, desiring to form a corporation to be
known as a Trust Company, do hereby associate ourselves together for that purpose under and
pursuant to the laws of the State of New York, and for such purpose we do hereby, under our
respective hands and seals, execute and duly acknowledge this Organization Certificate in
duplicate, and hereby specifically state as follows, to wit:
I. The name by which the said corporation shall be known is Bankers Trust Company.
II. The place where its business is to be transacted is the City of New York, in the State of
New York.
III. Capital Stock: The amount of capital stock which the corporation is hereafter to have is
Three Billion One Million, Six Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred Seventy Dollars
($3,001,666,670), divided into Two Hundred Million, One Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred
Sixty-Seven (200,166,667) shares with a par value of $10 each designated as Common Stock and 1,000
shares with a par value of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) each designated as Series Preferred
Stock.
(a) Common Stock
1. Dividends: Subject to all of the rights of the Series Preferred Stock, dividends may be
declared and paid or set apart for payment upon the Common Stock out of any assets or funds of the
corporation legally available for the payment of dividends.
2. Voting Rights: Except as otherwise expressly provided with respect to the Series Preferred
Stock or with respect to any series of the Series Preferred Stock, the Common Stock shall have the
exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and for all other purposes, each holder of
the Common Stock being entitled to one vote for each share thereof held.
3. Liquidation: Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, whether
voluntary or involuntary, and after the holders of the Series Preferred Stock of each series shall
have been paid in full the amounts to which they respectively shall be entitled, or a sum
sufficient for the payment in full set aside, the remaining net assets of the corporation shall be
distributed pro rata to the holders of the Common Stock in accordance with their respective rights
and interests, to the exclusion of the holders of the Series Preferred Stock.
4. Preemptive Rights: No holder of Common Stock of the corporation shall be entitled, as such, as
a matter of right, to subscribe for or purchase any part of any new or additional issue of stock of
any class or series whatsoever, any rights or options to purchase stock of any class or series
whatsoever, or any securities convertible into, exchangeable for or carrying rights or options to
purchase stock of any class or series whatsoever, whether now or hereafter authorized, and whether
issued for cash or other consideration, or by way of dividend or other distribution.
(b) Series Preferred Stock
1. Board Authority: The Series Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time by the Board
of Directors as herein provided in one or more series. The designations, relative rights,
preferences and limitations of the Series Preferred Stock, and particularly of the shares of each
series thereof, may, to the extent permitted by law, be similar to or may differ from those of any
other series. The Board of Directors of the corporation is hereby expressly granted authority,
subject to the provisions of this Article III, to issue from time to time Series Preferred Stock in
one or more series and to fix from time to time before issuance thereof, by filing a certificate
pursuant to the Banking Law, the number of shares in each such series of such class and all
designations, relative rights (including the right, to the extent permitted by law, to convert into
shares of any class or into shares of any series of any class), preferences and limitations of the
shares in each such series, including, buy without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
following:
(i) The number of shares to constitute such series (which number may at any time, or
from time to time, be increased or decreased by the Board of Directors, notwithstanding that
shares of the series may be outstanding at the time of such increase or decrease, unless the
Board of Directors shall have otherwise provided in creating such series) and the
distinctive designation thereof;
(ii) The dividend rate on the shares of such series, whether or not dividends on the
shares of such series shall be cumulative, and the date or dates, if any, from which
dividends thereon shall be cumulative;
(iii) Whether or not the share of such series shall be redeemable, and, if redeemable,
the date or dates upon or after which they shall be redeemable, the amount or amounts per
share (which shall be, in the case of each share, not less than its preference upon
involuntary liquidation, plus an amount equal to all dividends thereon accrued and unpaid,
whether or not earned or declared) payable thereon in the case of the redemption thereof,
which amount may vary at different redemption dates or otherwise as permitted by law;
(iv) The right, if any, of holders of shares of such series to convert the same into, or
exchange the same for, Common Stock or other stock as permitted by law, and the terms and
conditions of such conversion or exchange, as well as provisions for adjustment of the
conversion rate in such events as the Board of Directors shall determine;
(v) The amount per share payable on the shares of such series upon the voluntary and
involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation;
(vi) Whether the holders of shares of such series shall have voting power, full or
limited, in addition to the voting powers provided by law and, in case additional voting
powers are accorded, to fix the extent thereof; and
(vii) Generally to fix the other rights and privileges and any qualifications,
limitations or restrictions of such rights and privileges of such series, provided, however,
that no such rights, privileges, qualifications, limitations or restrictions shall be in
conflict with the organization certificate of the
corporation or with the resolution or
resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issue of any series of which
there are shares outstanding.
All shares of Series Preferred Stock of the same series shall be identical in all respects,
except that shares of any one series issued at different times may differ as to dates, if any, from
which dividends thereon may accumulate. All shares of Series Preferred Stock of all series shall
be of equal rank and shall be identical in all respects except that to the extent not otherwise
limited in this Article III any series may differ from any other series with respect to any one or
more of the designations, relative rights, preferences and limitations described or referred to in
subparagraphs (I) to (vii) inclusive above.
2. Dividends: Dividends on the outstanding Series Preferred Stock of each series shall be
declared and paid or set apart for payment before any dividends shall be declared and paid or set
apart for payment on the Common Stock with respect to the same quarterly dividend period.
Dividends on any shares of Series Preferred Stock shall be cumulative only if and to the extent set
forth in a certificate filed pursuant to law. After dividends on all shares of Series Preferred
Stock (including cumulative dividends if and to the extent any such shares shall be entitled
thereto) shall have been declared and paid or set apart for payment with respect to any quarterly
dividend period, then and not otherwise so long as any shares of Series Preferred Stock shall
remain outstanding, dividends may be declared and paid or set apart for payment with respect to the
same quarterly dividend period on the Common Stock out the assets or funds of the corporation
legally available therefor.
All Shares of Series Preferred Stock of all series shall be of equal rank, preference and
priority as to dividends irrespective of whether or not the rates of dividends to which the same
shall be entitled shall be the same and when the stated dividends are not paid in full, the shares
of all series of the Series Preferred Stock shall share ratably in the payment thereof in
accordance with the sums which would be payable on such shares if all dividends were paid in full,
provided, however, that any two or more series of the Series Preferred Stock may differ from each
other as to the existence and extent of the right to cumulative dividends, as aforesaid.
3. Voting Rights: Except as otherwise specifically provided in the certificate filed pursuant
to law with respect to any series of the Series Preferred Stock, or as otherwise provided by law,
the Series Preferred Stock shall not have any right to vote for the election of directors or for
any other purpose and the Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of
directors and for all other purposes.
4. Liquidation: In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, each series of Series Preferred Stock shall have
preference and priority over the Common Stock for payment of the amount to which each outstanding
series of Series Preferred Stock shall be entitled in accordance with the provisions thereof and
each holder of Series Preferred Stock shall be entitled to be paid in full such amount, or have a
sum sufficient for the payment in full set aside, before any payments shall be made to the holders
of the Common Stock. If, upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, the
assets of the corporation or proceeds thereof, distributable among the holders of the shares of all
series of the Series Preferred Stock shall be insufficient to pay in full the preferential amount
aforesaid, then such assets, or the proceeds thereof, shall be distributed among such holders
ratably in accordance with the respective amounts which would be payable if all amounts payable
thereon were paid in full. After the payment to the holders of Series Preferred Stock of all such
amounts to which they are entitled, as above provided, the remaining assets and funds of the
corporation shall be divided and paid to the holders of the Common Stock.
5. Redemption: In the event that the Series Preferred Stock of any series shall be made redeemable
as provided in clause (iii) of paragraph 1 of section (b) of this Article III, the corporation, at
the option of the Board of Directors, may redeem at any time or times, and from time to time, all
or any part of any one or more series of Series Preferred Stock outstanding by paying for each
share the then applicable redemption price fixed by the Board of Directors as provided herein, plus
an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends to the date fixed for redemption, upon such notice
and terms as may be specifically provided in the certificate filed pursuant to law with respect to
the series.
6. Preemptive Rights: No holder of Series Preferred Stock of the corporation shall be
entitled, as such, as a matter or right, to subscribe for or purchase any part of any new or
additional issue of stock of any class or series whatsoever, any rights or options to purchase
stock of any class or series whatsoever, or any securities convertible into, exchangeable for or
carrying rights or options to purchase stock of any class or series whatsoever, whether now or
hereafter authorized, and whether issued for cash or other consideration, or by way of dividend.
(c) Provisions relating to Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A.
(Liquidation value $1,000,000 per share.)
1. Designation: The distinctive designation of the series established hereby shall be
Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A (hereinafter called Series A Preferred
Stock).
2. Number: The number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall initially be 250 shares.
Shares of Series A Preferred Stock redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired by the corporation
shall be cancelled and shall revert to authorized but unissued Series Preferred Stock undesignated
as to series.
3. Dividends:
(a) Dividend Payments Dates. Holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to
receive non-cumulative cash dividends when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors of the
corporation, out of funds legally available therefor, from the date of original issuance of such
shares (the Issue Date) and such dividends will be payable on March 28, June 28, September 28 and
December 28 of each year (Dividend Payment Date) commencing September 28, 1990, at a rate per
annum as determined in paragraph 3(b) below. The period beginning on the Issue Date and ending on
the day preceding the first Dividend Payment Date and each successive period beginning on a
Dividend Payment Date and ending on the date preceding the next succeeding Dividend Payment Date is
herein called a Dividend Period. If any Dividend Payment Date shall be, in The City of New York,
a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions are authorized by law to close,
then payment will be postponed to the next succeeding business day with the same force and effect
as if made on the Dividend Payment Date, and no interest shall accrue for such Dividend Period
after such Dividend Payment Date.
(b) Dividend Rate. The dividend rate from time to time payable in respect of Series A
Preferred Stock (the Dividend Rate) shall be determined on the basis of the following provisions:
(i) On the Dividend Determination Date, LIBOR will be determined on the basis of the offered
rates for deposits in U.S. dollars having a maturity of three months commencing on the second
London Business Day immediately following such Dividend Determination Date, as such rates appear on
the Reuters Screen LIBO Page as of 11:00 A.M. London time, on such Dividend Determination Date. If
at least two such offered rates appear on the Reuters Screen LIBO Page, LIBOR in respect of such
Dividend Determination Dates will be the arithmetic mean (rounded to the nearest one-hundredth of a
percent, with five one-thousandths of a percent rounded upwards) of such offered rates. If fewer
than those offered rates appear, LIBOR in respect of such Dividend Determination Date will be
determined as described in paragraph (ii) below.
(ii) On any Dividend Determination Date on which fewer than those offered rates for the applicable
maturity appear on the Reuters Screen LIBO Page as specified in paragraph (I) above, LIBOR will be
determined on the basis of the rates at which deposits in U.S. dollars having a maturity of three
months commencing on the second London Business Day immediately following such Dividend
Determination Date and in a principal amount of not less than $1,000,000 that is representative of
a single transaction in such market at such time are offered by three major banks in the London
interbank market selected by the corporation at approximately 11:00 A.M., London time, on such
Dividend Determination Date to prime banks in the London market. The corporation will request the
principal London office of each of such banks to provide a quotation of its rate. If at least two
such quotations are provided, LIBOR in respect of such Dividend Determination Date will be the
arithmetic mean (rounded to the nearest one-hundredth of a percent, with five one-thousandths of a
percent rounded upwards) of such quotations. If fewer than two quotations are provided, LIBOR in
respect of such Dividend Determination Date will be the arithmetic mean (rounded to the nearest
one-hundredth of a percent, with five one-thousandths of a percent rounded upwards) of the rates
quoted by three major banks in New York City selected by the corporation at approximately 11:00
A.M., New York City time, on such Dividend Determination Date for loans in U.S. dollars to leading
European banks having a maturity of three months commencing on the second London Business Day
immediately following such Dividend Determination Date and in a principal amount of not less than
$1,000,000 that is representative of a single transaction in such market at such time; provided,
however, that if the banks selected as aforesaid by the corporation are not quoting as
aforementioned in this sentence, then, with respect to such Dividend Period, LIBOR for the
preceding Dividend Period will be continued as LIBOR for such Dividend Period.
(ii) The Dividend Rate for any Dividend Period shall be equal to the lower of 18% or 50 basis
points above LIBOR for such Dividend Period as LIBOR is determined by sections (I) or (ii) above.
As used above, the term Dividend Determination Date shall mean, with respect to any Dividend
Period, the second London Business Day prior to the commencement of such Dividend Period; and the
term London Business Day shall mean any day that is not a Saturday or Sunday and that, in New
York City, is not a day on which banking institutions generally are authorized or required by law
or executive order to close and that is a day on which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are
transacted in the London interbank market.
4. Voting Rights: The holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall have the voting power and
rights set forth in this paragraph 4 and shall have no other voting power or rights except as
otherwise may from time to time be required by law.
So long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the corporation shall
not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least a majority of the votes of
the Series Preferred Stock entitled to vote outstanding at the time, given in person or by proxy,
either in writing or by resolution adopted at a meeting at which the holders of Series A Preferred
Stock (alone or together with the holders of one or more other series of Series Preferred Stock at
the time outstanding and entitled to vote) vote separately as a class, alter the provisions of the
Series Preferred Stock so as to materially adversely affect its rights; provided, however, that in
the event any such materially adverse alteration affects the rights of only the Series A Preferred
Stock, then the alteration may be effected with the vote or consent of at least a majority of the
votes of the Series A Preferred Stock; provided, further, that an increase in the amount of the
authorized Series Preferred Stock and/or the creation and/or issuance of other series of Series
Preferred Stock in accordance with the organization certificate shall not be, nor be deemed to be,
materially adverse alterations. In connection with the exercise of the voting rights contained in
the preceding sentence, holders of all series of Series Preferred Stock which are granted such
voting rights (of which the Series A Preferred Stock is the initial series) shall vote as a class
(except as specifically provided otherwise) and each holder of Series A Preferred Stock shall have
one vote for each share of stock held and each other series shall have such number of votes, if
any, for each share of stock held as may be granted to them.
The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, in connection with the matters specified,
provision is made for the redemption or retirement of all outstanding Series A Preferred Stock.
5. Liquidation: Subject to the provisions of section (b) of this Article III, upon any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, the
holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall have preference and priority over the Common Stock
for payment out of the assets of the corporation or proceeds thereof, whether from capital or
surplus, of $1,000,000 per share (the liquidation value) together with the amount of all
dividends accrued and unpaid thereon, and after such payment the holders of Series A Preferred
Stock shall be entitled to no other payments.
6. Redemption: Subject to the provisions of section (b) of this Article III, Series A
Preferred Stock may be redeemed, at the option of the corporation in whole or part, at any time or
from time to time at a redemption price of $1,000,000 per share, in each case plus accrued and
unpaid dividends to the date of redemption.
At the option of the corporation, shares of Series A Preferred Stock redeemed or otherwise
acquired may be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Series Preferred Stock.
In the case of any redemption, the corporation shall give notice of such redemption to the
holders of the Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed in the following manner: a notice specifying
the shares to be redeemed and the time and place of redemption (and, if less than the total
outstanding shares are to be redeemed, specifying the certificate numbers and number of shares to
be redeemed) shall be mailed by first class mail, addressed to the holders of record of the Series
A Preferred Stock to be redeemed at their respective addresses as the same shall appear upon the
books of the corporation, not more than sixty (60) days and not less than thirty (30) days previous
to the date fixed for redemption. In the event such notice is not given to any shareholder such
failure to give notice shall not affect the notice given to other shareholders. If less than the
whole amount of outstanding Series A Preferred Stock is to be redeemed, the shares to be redeemed
shall be selected by lot or pro rata in any manner determined by resolution of the Board of
Directors to be fair and proper. From and after the date fixed in any such notice as the date of
redemption (unless default shall be made by the corporation in providing moneys at the time and
place of redemption for the payment of the redemption price) all dividends upon the Series A
Preferred Stock so called for redemption shall cease to accrue, and all rights of the holders of
said Series A Preferred Stock as stockholders in the corporation, except the right to receive the
redemption price (without interest) upon surrender of the certificate representing the Series A
Preferred Stock so called for redemption, duly endorsed for transfer, if required, shall cease and terminate. The corporations obligation to provide moneys in
accordance with the
preceding sentence shall be deemed fulfilled if, on or before the redemption
date, the corporation shall deposit with a bank or trust company (which may be an affiliate of the
corporation) having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, having a capital and
surplus of at least $5,000,000 funds necessary for such redemption, in trust with irrevocable
instructions that such funds be applied to the redemption of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock
so called for redemption. Any interest accrued on such funds shall be paid to the corporation from
time to time. Any funds so deposited and unclaimed at the end of two (2) years from such
redemption date shall be released or repaid to the corporation, after which the holders of such
shares of Series A Preferred Stock so called for redemption shall look only to the corporation for
payment of the redemption price.
IV. The name, residence and post office address of each member of the corporation are as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
Residence |
|
Post Office Address |
|
|
|
|
|
James A. Blair
|
|
9 West 50th Street,
|
|
33 Wall Street, |
|
|
Manhattan, New York City
|
|
Manhattan, New York City |
|
|
|
|
|
James G. Cannon
|
|
72 East 54th Street,
|
|
14 Nassau Street, |
|
|
Manhattan New York City
|
|
Manhattan, New York City |
|
|
|
|
|
E. C. Converse
|
|
3 East 78th Street,
|
|
139 Broadway, |
|
|
Manhattan, New York City
|
|
Manhattan, New York City |
|
|
|
|
|
Henry P. Davison
|
|
Englewood,
|
|
2 Wall Street, |
|
|
New Jersey
|
|
Manhattan, New York City |
|
|
|
|
|
Granville W. Garth
|
|
160 West 57th Street,
|
|
33 Wall Street |
|
|
Manhattan, New York City
|
|
Manhattan, New York City |
|
|
|
|
|
A. Barton Hepburn
|
|
205 West 57th Street
|
|
83 Cedar Street |
|
|
Manhattan, New York City
|
|
Manhattan, New York City |
|
|
|
|
|
William Logan
|
|
Montclair,
|
|
13 Nassau Street |
|
|
New Jersey
|
|
Manhattan, New York City |
|
|
|
|
|
George W. Perkins
|
|
Riverdale,
New York
|
|
23 Wall Street,
Manhattan, New York City |
|
|
|
|
|
William H. Porter
|
|
56 East 67th Street
|
|
270 Broadway, |
|
|
Manhattan, New York City
|
|
Manhattan, New York City |
|
|
|
|
|
John F. Thompson
|
|
Newark,
|
|
143 Liberty Street, |
|
|
New Jersey
|
|
Manhattan, New York City |
|
|
|
|
|
Albert H. Wiggin
|
|
42 West 49th Street,
|
|
214 Broadway, |
|
|
Manhattan, New York City
|
|
Manhattan, New York City |
|
|
|
|
|
Samuel Woolverton
|
|
Mount Vernon,
|
|
34 Wall Street, |
|
|
New York
|
|
Manhattan, New York City |
|
|
|
|
|
Edward F.C. Young
|
|
85 Glenwood Avenue,
|
|
1 Exchange Place, |
|
|
Jersey City, New Jersey
|
|
Jersey City, New Jersey |
V. The existence of the corporation shall be perpetual.
VI. The subscribers, the members of the said corporation, do, and each for himself does,
hereby declare that he will accept the responsibilities and faithfully discharge the duties of a
director therein, if elected to act as such, when authorized accordance with the provisions of the
Banking Law of the State of New York.
VII. The number of directors of the corporation shall not be less than 10 nor more than 25.
4. The foregoing restatement of the organization certificate was authorized by the Board of
Directors of the corporation at a meeting held on July 21, 1998.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have made and subscribed this certificate this 6th day of
August, 1998.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ James T. Byrne, Jr.
|
|
|
James T. Byrne, Jr. |
|
|
Managing Director and Secretary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Lea Lahtinen
|
|
|
Lea Lahtinen |
|
|
Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
State of New York
|
) |
|
|
|
|
) ss: |
|
County of New York
|
) |
|
|
|
Lea Lahtinen, being duly sworn, deposes and says that she is a Vice President and an Assistant
Secretary of Bankers Trust Company, the corporation described in the foregoing certificate; that
she has read the foregoing certificate and knows the contents thereof, and that the statements
herein contained are true.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Lea Lahtinen
|
|
|
Lea Lahtinen |
|
|
|
|
|
Sworn to before me this
6th day of August, 1998.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sandra L. West |
|
Notary Public |
|
|
|
|
|
SANDRA L. WEST
Notary Public State of New York
No. 31-4942101
Qualified in New York County
Commission Expires September 19, 1998
I, MANUEL KURSKY, Deputy Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York, DO HEREBY APPROVE
the annexed Certificate entitled RESTATED ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE OF BANKERS TRUST COMPANY Under
Section 8007 of the Banking Law, dated August 6, 1998, providing for the restatement of the
Organization Certificate and all amendments into a single certificate. |
Witness, my hand and official seal of the Banking Department at the City of New York, |
this 31st day of August in the Year of our
Lord one thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight. |
Deputy Superintendent of Banks |
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF THE
ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE
OF BANKERS TRUST
Under Section 8005 of the Banking Law
We, James T. Byrne, Jr. and Lea Lahtinen, being respectively a Managing Director and Secretary
and a Vice President and an Assistant Secretary of Bankers Trust Company, do hereby certify:
1. The name of the corporation is Bankers Trust Company.
2. The organization certificate of said corporation was filed by the Superintendent of Banks
on the 5th of March, 1903.
3. The organization certificate as heretofore amended is hereby amended to increase the
aggregate number of shares which the corporation shall have authority to issue and to increase the
amount of its authorized capital stock in conformity therewith.
4. Article III of the organization certificate with reference to the authorized capital
stock, the number of shares into which the capital stock shall be divided, the par value of the
shares and the capital stock outstanding, which reads as follows:
III. The amount of capital stock which the corporation is hereafter to have is
Three Billion, One Million, Six Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred Seventy
Dollars ($3,001,666,670), divided into Two Hundred Million, One Hundred Sixty-Six
Thousand, Six Hundred Sixty-Seven (200,166,667) shares with a par value of $10 each
designated as Common Stock and 1000 shares with a par value of One Million Dollars
($1,000,000) each designated as Series Preferred Stock.
is hereby amended to read as follows:
III. The amount of capital stock which the corporation is hereafter to have is
Three Billion, Five Hundred One Million, Six Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred
Seventy Dollars ($3,501,666,670), divided into Two Hundred Million, One Hundred
Sixty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred Sixty-Seven (200,166,667) shares with a par value of
$10 each designated as Common Stock and 1500 shares with a par value of One Million
Dollars ($1,000,000) each designated as Series Preferred Stock.
5. The foregoing amendment of the organization certificate was authorized by unanimous
written consent signed by the holder of all outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have made and subscribed this certificate this 25th day of September,
1998
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ James T. Byrne, Jr.
|
|
|
James T. Byrne, Jr. |
|
|
Managing Director and Secretary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Lea Lahtinen
|
|
|
Lea Lahtinen |
|
|
Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
|
|
|
|
|
State of New York |
|
) |
|
|
) ss: |
County of New York |
|
) |
Lea Lahtinen, being fully sworn, deposes and says that she is a Vice President and an
Assistant Secretary of Bankers Trust Company, the corporation described in the foregoing
certificate; that she has read the foregoing certificate and knows the contents thereof, and that
the statements herein contained are true.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Lea Lahtinen
|
|
|
Lea Lahtinen |
|
|
|
|
|
Sworn to before me this 25th day
of September, 1998
|
|
|
|
|
Sandra L. West
|
|
|
Notary Public |
|
|
|
SANDRA L. WEST
Notary Public State of New York
No. 31-4942101
Qualified in New York County
Commission Expires September 19, 2000
I, P. VINCENT CONLON, Deputy Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York, DO HEREBY
APPROVE the annexed Certificate entitled CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE
OF BANKERS TRUST COMPANY Under Section 8005 of the Banking Law, dated December 16, 1998, providing
for an increase in authorized capital stock from $3,501,666,670 consisting of 200,166,667 shares
with a par value of $10 each designated as Common Stock and 1,500 shares with a par value of
$1,000,000 each designated as Series Preferred Stock to $3,627,308,670 consisting of 212,730,867
shares with a par value of $10 each designated as Common Stock and 1,500 shares with a par value of
$1,000,000 each designated as Series Preferred Stock. |
Witness, my hand and official seal of the Banking Department at the City of New York, |
this 18th day of December in the Year of
our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight. |
Deputy Superintendent of Banks |
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF THE
ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE
OF BANKERS TRUST
Under Section 8005 of the Banking Law
We, James T. Byrne, Jr. and Lea Lahtinen, being respectively a Managing Director and
Secretary and a Vice President and an Assistant Secretary of Bankers Trust Company, do hereby
certify:
1. The name of the corporation is Bankers Trust Company.
2. The organization certificate of said corporation was filed by the Superintendent of Banks
on the 5th of March, 1903.
3. The organization certificate as heretofore amended is hereby amended to increase the
aggregate number of shares which the corporation shall have authority to issue and to increase the
amount of its authorized capital stock in conformity therewith.
4. Article III of the organization certificate with reference to the authorized capital
stock, the number of shares into which the capital stock shall be divided, the par value of the
shares and the capital stock outstanding, which reads as follows:
III. The amount of capital stock which the corporation is hereafter to have is
Three Billion, Five Hundred One Million, Six Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred
Seventy Dollars ($3,501,666,670), divided into Two Hundred Million, One Hundred
Sixty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred Sixty-Seven (200,166,667) shares with a par value of
$10 each designated as Common Stock and 1500 shares with a par value of One Million
Dollars ($1,000,000) each designated as Series Preferred Stock.
is hereby amended to read as follows:
III. The amount of capital stock which the corporation is hereafter to have is
Three Billion, Six Hundred Twenty-Seven Million, Three Hundred Eight Thousand, Six
Hundred Seventy Dollars ($3,627,308,670), divided into Two Hundred Twelve Million,
Seven Hundred Thirty Thousand, Eight Hundred Sixty- Seven (212,730,867) shares with
a par value of $10 each designated as Common Stock and 1500 shares with a par value
of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) each designated as Series Preferred Stock.
5. The foregoing amendment of the organization certificate was authorized by unanimous
written consent signed by the holder of all outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have made and subscribed this certificate this 16th day of December,
1998
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ James T. Byrne, Jr.
|
|
|
James T. Byrne, Jr. |
|
|
Managing Director and Secretary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Lea Lahtinen
|
|
|
Lea Lahtinen |
|
|
Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
State of New York
|
) |
|
|
|
|
) ss: |
|
County of New York
|
) |
|
|
|
Lea Lahtinen, being fully sworn, deposes and says that she is a Vice President and an
Assistant Secretary of Bankers Trust Company, the corporation described in the foregoing
certificate; that she has read the foregoing certificate and knows the contents thereof, and that
the statements herein contained are true.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Lea Lahtinen
|
|
|
Lea Lahtinen |
|
|
|
|
Sworn to before me this 16th day
of December, 1998
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Sandra L. West
|
|
|
Notary Public |
|
|
|
|
|
SANDRA L. WEST
Notary Public State of New York
No. 31-4942101
Qualified in New York County
Commission Expires September 19, 2000
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
ASSISTANT SECRETARYS CERTIFICATE
I, Lea Lahtinen, Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Bankers Trust Company, a corporation
duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, the United States of America,
do hereby certify that attached copy of the Certificate of Amendment of the Organization
Certificate of Bankers Trust Company, dated February 27, 2002, providing for a change of name of
Bankers Trust Company to Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and approved by the New York State
Banking Department on March 14, 2002 to effective on April 15, 2002, is a true and correct copy of
the original Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company on
file in the Banking Department, State of New York.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of Bankers Trust Company this
4th day of April, 2002.
[SEAL]
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Lea Lahtinen
|
|
|
Lea Lahtinen, Vice President and Assistant Secretary Bankers Trust Company |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
State of New York |
) |
|
|
|
|
) ss.: |
|
County of New York |
) |
|
|
|
On the 4th day of April in the year 2002 before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for
said state, personally appeared Lea Lahtinen, personally known to me or proved to me on the basis
of satisfactory evidence to be the individual whose name is subscribed to the within instrument and
acknowledged to me that she executed the same in her capacity, and that by her signature on the
instrument, the individual, or the person on behalf of which the individual acted, executed the
instrument.
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Sonja K. Olsen
|
|
|
Notary Public |
|
|
SONJA K. OLSEN
Notary Public, State of New York
No. 01OL4974457
Qualified in New York County
Commission Expires November 13, 2002
State of New York,
Banking Department
I, P. VINCENT CONLON, Deputy Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York, DO HEREBY APPROVE
the annexed Certificate entitled CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE OF
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY under Section 8005 of the Banking Law dated February 27, 2002, providing for
a change of name of BANKERS TRUST COMPANY to DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS.
Witness, my hand and official seal of the Banking Department at the City of New York,
this 14th day of March two thousand and two.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ P. Vincent Conlon
|
|
|
Deputy Superintendent of Banks |
|
|
|
|
|
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF THE
ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE
OF
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
Under Section 8005 of the Banking Law
We, James T. Byrne Jr., and Lea Lahtinen, being respectively the Secretary, and Vice President and
an Assistant Secretary of Bankers Trust Company, do hereby certify:
1. The name of corporation is Bankers Trust Company.
2. The organization certificate of said corporation was filed by the Superintendent of Banks on the
5th day of March, 1903.
3. Pursuant to Section 8005 of the Banking Law, attached hereto as Exhibit A is a certificate
issued by the State of New York, Banking Department listing all of the amendments to the
Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company since its organization that have been filed in
the Office of the Superintendent of Banks.
4. The organization certificate as heretofore amended is hereby amended to change the name of
Bankers Trust Company to Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas to be effective on April 15, 2002.
5. The first paragraph number 1 of the organization of Bankers Trust Company with the reference to
the name of the Bankers Trust Company, which reads as follows:
1. The name of the corporation is Bankers Trust Company.
is hereby amended to read as follows effective on April 15, 2002:
1. The name of the corporation is Deutsche Bank Trust Company
Americas.
6. The foregoing amendment of the organization certificate was authorized by unanimous written
consent signed by the holder of all outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have made and subscribed this certificate this 27th day of February, 2002.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ James T. Byrne Jr.
|
|
|
James T. Byrne Jr. |
|
|
Secretary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Lea Lahtinen
|
|
|
Lea Lahtinen |
|
|
Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
State of New York
|
) |
|
|
|
|
) ss.: |
|
County of New York
|
) |
|
|
|
Lea Lahtinen, being duly sworn, deposes and says that she is a Vice President and an Assistant
Secretary of Bankers Trust Company, the corporation described in the foregoing certificate; that
she has read the foregoing certificate and knows the contents thereof, and that the statements
therein contained are true.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Lea Lahtinen
|
|
|
Lea Lahtinen |
|
|
|
|
|
Sworn to before me this 27th day
of February, 2002
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Sandra L. West
|
|
|
Notary Public |
|
|
|
|
|
SANDRA L. WEST
Notary Public, State of New York
No. 01WE4942401
Qualified in New York County
Commission Expires September 19, 2002
EXHIBIT A
State of New York
Banking Department
I, P. VINCENT CONLON, Deputy Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York, DO HEREBY CERTIFY:
THAT, the records in the Office of the Superintendent of Banks indicate that BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York as a trust
company, pursuant to Article III of the Banking Law; and
THAT, the Organization Certificate of BANKERS TRUST COMPANY was filed in the Office of the
Superintendent of Banks on March 5, 1903, and such corporation was authorized to commence business
on March 24, 1903; and
THAT, the following amendments to its Organization Certificate have been filed in the Office of the
Superintendent of Banks as of the dates specified:
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in number of directors filed on January 14, 1905
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed on August 4, 1909
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in number of directors filed on February 1, 1911
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in number of directors filed on June 17, 1911
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed on August 8, 1911
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in number of directors filed on August 8, 1911
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed on March 21, 1912
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for a decrease in number of directors filed on January 15, 1915
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for a decrease in number of directors filed on December 18, 1916
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed on April 20, 1917
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in number of directors filed on April 20, 1917
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed on December 28, 1918
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed on December 4, 1919
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in number of directors filed on January 15, 1926
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed on June 12, 1928
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for a change in shares filed on April 4, 1929
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for a minimum and maximum number of directors filed on January 11,
1934
Certificate of Extension to perpetual filed on January 13, 1941
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for a minimum and maximum number of directors filed on January 13,
1941
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed on December 11, 1944
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed January 30, 1953
Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed November 6, 1953
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed on April 8, 1955
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed on February 1, 1960
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed on July 14, 1960
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for a change in shares filed on September 30, 1960
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed on January 26, 1962
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for a change in shares filed on September 9, 1963
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed on February 7, 1964
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed on February 24, 1965
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for a decrease in capital stock filed January 24, 1967
Restated Organization Certificate filed June 1, 1971
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed October 29, 1976
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed December 22, 1977
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed August 5, 1980
Restated Organization Certificate filed July 1, 1982
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed December 27, 1984
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed September 18, 1986
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for a minimum and maximum number of directors filed January 22,
1990
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed June 28, 1990
Restated Organization Certificate filed August 20, 1990
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed June 26, 1992
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed March 28, 1994
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed June 23, 1995
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed December 27, 1995
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed March 21, 1996
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed December 27, 1996
Certificate of Amendment to the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed June 27, 1997
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed September 26, 1997
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed December 29, 1997
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed March 26, 1998
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed June 23, 1998
Restated Organization Certificate filed August 31, 1998
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed September 25, 1998
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed December 18, 1998; and
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for a change in the number of directors filed September 3, 1999;
and
THAT, no amendments to its Restated Organization Certificate have been filed in the Office of the
Superintendent of Banks except those set forth above; and attached hereto; and
I DO FURTHER CERTIFY THAT, BANKERS TRUST COMPANY is validly existing as a banking organization with
its principal office and place of business located at 130 Liberty Street, New York, New York.
WITNESS, my hand and official seal of the Banking Department at the City of New York this 16th day
of October in the Year Two Thousand and One.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ P. Vincent Conlon
|
|
|
Deputy Superintendent of Banks |
|
|
|
|
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
BY-LAWS
APRIL 15, 2002
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
New York
BY-LAWS
of
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
ARTICLE I
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
SECTION 1. The annual meeting of the stockholders of this Company shall be held at the office of
the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, in January of each year, for the
election of directors and such other business as may properly come before said meeting.
SECTION 2. Special meetings of stockholders other than those regulated by statute may be called at
any time by a majority of the directors. It shall be the duty of the Chairman of the Board, the
Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Co-President to call such meetings whenever requested
in writing to do so by stockholders owning a majority of the capital stock.
SECTION 3. At all meetings of stockholders, there shall be present, either in person or by proxy,
stockholders owning a majority of the capital stock of the Company, in order to constitute a
quorum, except at special elections of directors, as provided by law, but less than a quorum shall
have power to adjourn any meeting.
SECTION 4. The Chairman of the Board or, in his absence, the Chief Executive Officer or, in his
absence, the President or any Co-President or, in their absence, the senior officer present, shall
preside at meetings of the stockholders and shall direct the proceedings and the order of business.
The Secretary shall act as secretary of such meetings and record the proceedings.
ARTICLE II
DIRECTORS
SECTION 1. The affairs of the Company shall be managed and its corporate powers exercised by a
Board of Directors consisting of such number of directors, but not less than seven nor more than
fifteen, as may from time to time be fixed by resolution adopted by a majority of the directors
then in office, or by the stockholders. In the event of any increase in the number of directors,
additional directors may be elected within the limitations so fixed, either by the stockholders or
within the limitations imposed by law, by a majority of directors then in office. One-third of the
number of directors, as fixed from time to time, shall constitute a quorum. Any one or more
members of the Board of Directors or any Committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the
Board of Directors or Committee thereof by means of a conference telephone, video conference or
similar communications equipment which allows all persons participating in the meeting to hear each
other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at such a
meeting.
All directors hereafter elected shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the stockholders
and until their successors are elected and have qualified.
No Officer-Director who shall have attained age 65, or earlier relinquishes his responsibilities
and title, shall be eligible to serve as a director.
SECTION 2. Vacancies not exceeding one-third of the whole number of the Board of Directors may be
filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, and the directors so
elected shall hold office for the balance of the unexpired term.
SECTION 3. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at meetings of the Board of Directors. In his
absence, the Chief Executive Officer or, in his absence the President or any Co-President or, in
their absence such other director as the Board of Directors from time to time may designate shall
preside at such meetings.
SECTION 4. The Board of Directors may adopt such Rules and Regulations for the conduct of its
meetings and the management of the affairs of the Company as it may deem proper, not inconsistent
with the laws of the State of New York, or these By-Laws, and all officers and employees shall
strictly adhere to, and be bound by, such Rules and Regulations.
SECTION 5. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held from time to time provided,
however, that the Board of Directors shall hold a regular meeting not less than six times a year,
provided that during any three consecutive calendar months the Board of Directors shall meet at
least once, and its Executive Committee shall not be required to meet at least once in each thirty
day period during which the Board of Directors does not meet. Special meetings of the Board of
Directors may be called upon at least two days notice whenever it may be deemed proper by the
Chairman of the Board or, the Chief Executive Officer or, the President or any Co-President or, in
their absence, by such other director as the Board of Directors may have designated pursuant to
Section 3 of this Article, and shall be called upon like notice whenever any three of the directors
so request in writing.
SECTION 6. The compensation of directors as such or as members of committees shall be fixed from
time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE III
COMMITTEES
SECTION 1. There shall be an Executive Committee of the Board consisting of not less than five
directors who shall be appointed annually by the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board
shall preside at meetings of the Executive Committee. In his absence, the Chief Executive Officer
or, in his absence, the President or any Co-President or, in their absence, such other member of
the Committee as the Committee from time to time may designate shall preside at such meetings.
The Executive Committee shall possess and exercise to the extent permitted by law all of the powers
of the Board of Directors, except when the latter is in session, and shall keep minutes of its
proceedings, which shall be presented to the Board of Directors at its next subsequent meeting.
All acts done and powers and authority conferred by the Executive Committee from time to time
shall
be and be deemed to be, and may be certified as being, the act and under the authority of the Board
of Directors.
A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, but the Committee may act only by the
concurrent vote of not less than one-third of its members, at least one of who must be a director
other than an officer. Any one or more directors, even though not members of the Executive
Committee, may attend any meeting of the Committee, and the member or members of the Committee
present, even though less than a quorum, may designate any one or more of such directors as a
substitute or substitutes for any absent member or members of the Committee, and each such
substitute or substitutes shall be counted for quorum, voting, and all other purposes as a member
or members of the Committee.
SECTION 2. There shall be an Audit Committee appointed annually by resolution adopted by a majority
of the entire Board of Directors which shall consist of such number of directors, who are not also
officers of the Company, as may from time to time be fixed by resolution adopted by the Board of
Directors. The Chairman shall be designated by the Board of Directors, who shall also from time to
time fix a quorum for meetings of the Committee. Such Committee shall conduct the annual
directors examinations of the Company as required by the New York State Banking Law; shall review
the reports of all examinations made of the Company by public authorities and report thereon to the
Board of Directors; and shall report to the Board of Directors such other matters as it deems
advisable with respect to the Company, its various departments and the conduct of its operations.
In the performance of its duties, the Audit Committee may employ or retain, from time to time,
expert assistants, independent of the officers or personnel of the Company, to make studies of the
Companys assets and liabilities as the Committee may request and to make an examination of the
accounting and auditing methods of the Company and its system of internal protective controls to
the extent considered necessary or advisable in order to determine that the operations of the
Company, including its fiduciary departments, are being audited by the General Auditor in such a
manner as to provide prudent and adequate protection. The Committee also may direct the General
Auditor to make such investigation as it deems necessary or advisable with respect to the Company,
its various departments and the conduct of its operations. The Committee shall hold regular
quarterly meetings and during the intervals thereof shall meet at other times on call of the
Chairman.
SECTION 3. The Board of Directors shall have the power to appoint any other Committees as may seem
necessary, and from time to time to suspend or continue the powers and duties of such Committees.
Each Committee appointed pursuant to this Article shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of
Directors.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
SECTION 1. The Board of Directors shall elect from among their number a Chairman of the Board and a
Chief Executive Officer; and shall also elect a President, or two or more Co-Presidents, and may
also elect, one or more Vice Chairmen, one or more Executive Vice Presidents, one or more Managing
Directors, one or more Senior Vice Presidents, one or more Directors, one or more Vice Presidents,
one or more General Managers, a Secretary, a Controller, a Treasurer, a General Counsel, a General
Auditor, a General Credit Auditor, who need not be directors. The officers of the corporation may
also include such other officers or assistant officers as shall from time to time be elected or
appointed by the Board. The Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or, in their
absence, the President or any Co-President, or any Vice Chairman, may from time to time appoint
assistant officers. All officers elected or appointed by the Board of Directors shall hold their
respective offices during the pleasure of the Board of Directors, and all assistant officers shall
hold office at the pleasure of the Board or the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive
Officer or, in their absence, the President, or any Co-President or any Vice Chairman. The Board
of Directors may require any and all officers and employees to give security for the faithful
performance of their duties.
SECTION 2. The Board of Directors shall designate the Chief Executive Officer of the Company who
may also hold the additional title of Chairman of the Board, or President, or any Co-President, and
such person shall have, subject to the supervision and direction of the Board of Directors or the
Executive Committee, all of the powers vested in such Chief Executive Officer by law or by these
By-Laws, or which usually attach or pertain to such office. The other officers shall have, subject
to the supervision and direction of the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee or the
Chairman of the Board or, the Chief Executive Officer, the powers vested by law or by these By-Laws
in them as holders of their respective offices and, in addition, shall perform such other duties as
shall be assigned to them by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee or the Chairman of
the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.
The General Auditor shall be responsible, through the Audit Committee, to the Board of Directors
for the determination of the program of the internal audit function and the evaluation of the
adequacy of the system of internal controls. Subject to the Board of Directors, the General
Auditor shall have and may exercise all the powers and shall perform all the duties usual to such
office and shall have such other powers as may be prescribed or assigned to him from time to time
by the Board of Directors or vested in him by law or by these By-Laws. He shall perform such other
duties and shall make such investigations, examinations and reports as may be prescribed or
required by the Audit Committee. The General Auditor shall have unrestricted access to all records
and premises of the Company and shall delegate such authority to his subordinates. He shall have
the duty to report to the Audit Committee on all matters concerning the internal audit program and
the adequacy of the system of internal controls of the Company which he deems advisable or which
the Audit Committee may request. Additionally, the General Auditor shall have the duty of
reporting independently of all officers of the Company to the Audit Committee at least quarterly on
any matters concerning the internal audit program and the adequacy of the system of internal
controls of the Company that should be brought to the attention of the directors except those
matters responsibility for which has been vested in the General Credit Auditor.
Should the General Auditor deem any matter to be of special immediate importance, he shall
report
thereon forthwith to the Audit Committee. The General Auditor shall report to the Chief Financial
Officer only for administrative purposes.
The General Credit Auditor shall be responsible to the Chief Executive Officer and, through the
Audit Committee, to the Board of Directors for the systems of internal credit audit, shall perform
such other duties as the Chief Executive Officer may prescribe, and shall make such examinations
and reports as may be required by the Audit Committee. The General Credit Auditor shall have
unrestricted access to all records and may delegate such authority to subordinates.
SECTION 3. The compensation of all officers shall be fixed under such plan or plans of position
evaluation and salary administration as shall be approved from time to time by resolution of the
Board of Directors.
SECTION 4. The Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, the Chairman of the Board, the
Chief Executive Officer or any person authorized for this purpose by the Chief Executive Officer,
shall appoint or engage all other employees and agents and fix their compensation. The employment
of all such employees and agents shall continue during the pleasure of the Board of Directors or
the Executive Committee or the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or any such
authorized person; and the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, the Chairman of the Board,
the Chief Executive Officer or any such authorized person may discharge any such employees and
agents at will.
ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND OTHERS
SECTION 1. The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Section 7018 of the New York
Banking Law, indemnify any person who is or was made, or threatened to be made, a party to an
action or proceeding, whether civil or criminal, whether involving any actual or alleged breach of
duty, neglect or error, any accountability, or any actual or alleged misstatement, misleading
statement or other act or omission and whether brought or threatened in any court or administrative
or legislative body or agency, including an action by or in the right of the Company to procure a
judgment in its favor and an action by or in the right of any other corporation of any type or
kind, domestic or foreign, or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
enterprise, which any director or officer of the Company is servicing or served in any capacity at
the request of the Company by reason of the fact that he, his testator or intestate, is or was a
director or officer of the Company, or is serving or served such other corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise in any capacity, against judgments,
fines, amounts paid in settlement, and costs, charges and expenses, including attorneys fees, or
any appeal therein; provided, however, that no indemnification shall be provided to any such person
if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the director or officer establishes that (i)
his acts were committed in bad faith or were the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and, in
either case, were material to the cause of action so adjudicated, or (ii) he personally gained in
fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he was not legally entitled.
SECTION 2. The Company may indemnify any other person to whom the Company is permitted to provide
indemnification or the advancement of expenses by applicable law, whether pursuant to
rights granted pursuant to, or provided by, the New York Banking Law or other rights created by (i) a
resolution of stockholders, (ii) a resolution of directors, or (iii) an agreement providing for
such indemnification, it being expressly intended that these By-Laws authorize the creation of
other rights in any such manner.
SECTION 3. The Company shall, from time to time, reimburse or advance to any person referred to in
Section 1 the funds necessary for payment of expenses, including attorneys fees, incurred in
connection with any action or proceeding referred to in Section 1, upon receipt of a written
undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay such amount(s) if a judgment or other final
adjudication adverse to the director or officer establishes that (i) his acts were committed in bad
faith or were the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and, in either case, were material to
the cause of action so adjudicated, or (ii) he personally gained in fact a financial profit or
other advantage to which he was not legally entitled.
SECTION 4. Any director or officer of the Company serving (i) another corporation, of which a
majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of its directors is held by the Company, or
(ii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or any corporation referred to in clause (i) in any
capacity shall be deemed to be doing so at the request of the Company. In all other cases, the
provisions of this Article V will apply (i) only if the person serving another corporation or any
partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise so served at the
specific request of the Company, evidenced by a written communication signed by the Chairman of the
Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Co-President, and (ii) only if and to the
extent that, after making such efforts as the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer,
the President or any Co-President shall deem adequate in the circumstances, such person shall be
unable to obtain indemnification from such other enterprise or its insurer.
SECTION 5. Any person entitled to be indemnified or to the reimbursement or advancement of expenses
as a matter of right pursuant to this Article V may elect to have the right to indemnification (or
advancement of expenses) interpreted on the basis of the applicable law in effect at the time of
occurrence of the event or events giving rise to the action or proceeding, to the extent permitted
by law, or on the basis of the applicable law in effect at the time indemnification is sought.
SECTION 6. The right to be indemnified or to the reimbursement or advancement of expense pursuant
to this Article V (i) is a contract right pursuant to which the person entitled thereto may bring
suit as if the provisions hereof were set forth in a separate written contract between the Company
and the director or officer, (ii) is intended to be retroactive and shall be available with respect
to events occurring prior to the adoption hereof, and (iii) shall continue to exist after the
rescission or restrictive modification hereof with respect to events occurring prior thereto.
SECTION 7. If a request to be indemnified or for the reimbursement or advancement of expenses
pursuant hereto is not paid in full by the Company within thirty days after a written claim has
been received by the Company, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the
Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the
claimant shall be entitled also to be paid the expenses of prosecuting such claim. Neither the
failure of the
Company (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have
made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of or
reimbursement or advancement of expenses to the claimant is proper in the
circumstance, nor an
actual determination by the Company (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel,
or its stockholders) that the claimant is not entitled to indemnification or to the reimbursement
or advancement of expenses, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the
claimant is not so entitled.
SECTION 8. A person who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of a civil
or criminal action or proceeding of the character described in Section 1 shall be entitled to
indemnification only as provided in Sections 1 and 3, notwithstanding any provision of the New York
Banking Law to the contrary.
ARTICLE VI
SEAL
SECTION 1. The Board of Directors shall provide a seal for the Company, the counterpart dies of
which shall be in the charge of the Secretary of the Company and such officers as the Chairman of
the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary may from time to time direct in writing, to
be affixed to certificates of stock and other documents in accordance with the directions of the
Board of Directors or the Executive Committee.
SECTION 2. The Board of Directors may provide, in proper cases on a specified occasion and for a
specified transaction or transactions, for the use of a printed or engraved facsimile seal of the
Company.
ARTICLE VII
CAPITAL STOCK
SECTION 1. Registration of transfer of shares shall only be made upon the books of the Company by
the registered holder in person, or by power of attorney, duly executed, witnessed and filed with
the Secretary or other proper officer of the Company, on the surrender of the certificate or
certificates of such shares properly assigned for transfer.
ARTICLE VIII
CONSTRUCTION
SECTION 1. The masculine gender, when appearing in these By-Laws, shall be deemed to include the
feminine gender.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
SECTION 1. These By-Laws may be altered, amended or added to by the Board of Directors at any
meeting, or by the stockholders at any annual or special meeting, provided notice thereof has been
given.
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AM ERICAS
Legal Title of Bank
JERSEY CITY
City NO
State FDICCertificate Number: 00623
Printed on 08/4/2008 at 2:27 PM
07311-3901
Zip Code
FFIEC 031
Page RC-1
13
Consolidated Report of Condition for Insured Commercial and State-Chartered Savings Banks for June 30, 2008
All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars. Unless otherwise indicated, report the amount outstanding as of the last business day of the quarter.
Schedule RC- Balance Sheet
Collar Amounts in Thousands
ASSETS 1. Cash and balances due from depositoy institutions (from Schedule RC-A):
a. Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin (1)
b, Interest-bearina balances (2)
1 Securities:
a. HeId-to-maturity securities from Schedule RC-B, column A}
b. Available-for-sale securities (from Schedule RGB, column D)
3, Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:
a. Federal funds sold in domestic off ices
b. Securities purchased under agreements to resell (3)
A, Loans and lease financing receivables (from Schedule RC-C}:
a. Loans and leases held for sale
b. Loans and leases, net of unearned income
c. LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses
B528 12,849,000
3123 104,000
d, Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance of item A, b minus Arc)
5. Trading assets (from Schedule RC-Dl
6, Premises and fixed assets including capitalized leases^
7. Other real estate owned from Schedule RC-M}
8. Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies from Schedule RC-M)
9. Not applicable 10. Intangible assets:
a. Goodwill
b, Other intangible assets (from Schedule RC-M)
11. Other assets from Schedule RC-F)
12, Total assets (sum of items 1 through 11)
RCFD
0081 2,125,000 1.a
0071 546,000 l.b
1754 0 2.a
1773 1,804,000 2.b.
RCON
B987 6,868,000 3.a
RCFD
B989 6,013,000 3.b
5369 0 4.1
4.b
4.C
B529 12,745,000 4.d
3545 10,214,000 5
2145 159,000 6
2150 0 7
2130 0 8
3143 0 10.a
0426 78,000 10.b
2150 5,519,000 11
2170 46,071,000 12
(1) Includes cash items in process of collection and un posted debits.
(2) Includes time certificates of deposit not held for trading.
(1) Includes all securities resale agreements in domestic and foreign offices, regardless of maturity.
SCHEDULE RC-CONTINUED
Dollar amounhts in thousands
liabilities
13. deposits
a. In domestic offices (sum of totals of columns a and c from schedule RC-E
part I) Noninterest-bearing(1)
(2) Interest-bearing
b. In foreign offices, edge and agreement subsidies, and IBFs
(form Schedule RC-E, part II
(1) Noninterest-bearing
(2)Interest-bearing
14. Federa funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:
a. Federal funds purchased in domestic offices (2)
b. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase (3)
15. Trading liabilites (from Schedule RC-D)
16. Other borrowed money (includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations
under capitalized leases) (from Schedule RC-M)
17. and 18. Not applicable
19. Subordinated notes and debentures(4)
20. Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G)
21. Total liabilites (sum of items 13 through 20)
22. Minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries
EQUITY CAPITAL
23. Perpetual preferred stock and related suplus
24.Common stock
25. Surplus (exclude all suplus related to preferred stock)
26. a. Retained earnings
b. Accumulated other comprehensive income (5)
27. Other equity capital components (6)
28. Total equity capital (sum of items 23 through 27)
29. Total liabilities, minority interest, and equity capital (sum of items 21, 22, and 28)
6631 3,273,000
6636 11,722,000
6631 5,235,00
6636 3,468,000
RCON
2200 14,995,000 13.a
RCFN
2200 8,703,000 13.b
13.b.1
13.b.2
RCON
B993 8,697,000 14.a
RCFD
B995 0 14.b
3348 261,000 15
3190 1,012,000 16
3200 0 19
2930 3,388,000 20
2948 37,056,000 21
3000 505,000 22
3838 1,500,000 23
3230 2,127,000 24
3839 592,00 25
3632 4,302,000 26.s
B530 (11,000) 26.b
A130 0 27
3210 8,510,000 28
3300 46,071,000 29
Memorandum
To be reported with the March Report of Condition
1. indicate in the box at the right the number of the statement below that best describes the most comprehensive level of auditing work performed for the bank by independent external auditors as of any date during 2007
RCFD Number
1.6724 N/A M.1
1 . = Independent audit Of the bank conducted in accordance with generaIly accepted auditing Standards by a certified public accounting firm which submits a report on the bank.
2. = Independent audit Of the banks parent holding company conducted in accordance with generaIly accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting firm which submits a report on the consolidated holding company (but not on the bank separately)
3. = Attestation on bank management's assertion on the effectiveness Of the banks internal control over financial reporting by a certified public accounting firm.
4 Directors' examination of the bank conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting firm (may be required by state chartering authority)
5= Directors examination of the bank, performed by other external auditors may be required by slate chartering authortty) -
6=Review of the bants fi na ncia I Statements by eatemaI auditors
7=Compilation of the ba nlia financial slatemems by estemal auditors
8 = Other audit procedures {excluding tax preparation work.)
9= No tatemd audit work
EX-25.2
Exhibit 25.2
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
SECTION 305(b)(2)
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
(formerly BANKERS TRUST COMPANY)
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
|
|
|
NEW YORK
(Jurisdiction of Incorporation or
organization if not a U.S. national bank)
|
|
13-4941247
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification no.) |
|
|
|
60 WALL STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
(Address of principal
executive offices)
|
|
10005
(Zip Code) |
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
Attention: Lynne Malina
Legal Department
60 Wall Street, 37th Floor
New York, New York 10005
(212) 250 0677
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
SHELL
INTERNATIONAL FINANCE B.V.
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
|
|
|
The Netherlands
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation
or organization)
|
|
Not Applicable
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number) |
|
|
|
Carel van Bylandtlaan 30
2596 HR the Hague
The Netherlands
(Address of principal executive offices)
|
|
Not applicable
(Zip Code) |
SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
(Title of the indenture securities)
Item 1. General Information.
Furnish the following information as to the trustee.
|
(a) |
|
Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. |
|
|
|
Name |
|
Address |
|
Federal Reserve Bank (2nd District)
|
|
New York, NY |
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
|
|
Washington, D.C. |
New York State Banking Department
|
|
Albany, NY |
|
(b) |
|
Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
|
|
|
|
Yes. |
Item 2. Affiliations with Obligor.
If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation.
None.
Item 3. -15. Not Applicable
Item 16. List of Exhibits.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit 1
|
|
Restated Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust
Company dated August 6, 1998, Certificate of Amendment
of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company
dated September 25, 1998, Certificate of Amendment of
the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company
dated December 16, 1998, and Certificate of Amendment of
the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company
dated February 27, 2002, copies attached. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit 2
|
|
Certificate of Authority to commence business -
Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2 filed with
Form T-1 Statement, Registration No. 33-21047. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit 3
|
|
Authorization of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust
powers Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2
filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration No.
33-21047. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit 4
|
|
Existing By-Laws of Deutsche Bank Trust Company
Americas, as amended on April 15, 2002. Copy attached. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit 5
|
|
Not applicable. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit 6
|
|
Consent of Bankers Trust Company required by Section
321(b) of the Act. Incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 4 filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration
No. 22-18864. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit 7
|
|
The latest report of condition of Deutsche Bank Trust
Company Americas dated as of June 30, 2008. Copy
attached. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit 8
|
|
Not Applicable. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit 9
|
|
Not Applicable. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the trustee,
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the
State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in The City of New York, and State of New York, on this
7th day of November, 2008.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Carol Ng
|
|
|
|
By: |
Carol Ng |
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
I, MANUEL KURSKY, Deputy Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York, DO HEREBY APPROVE
the annexed Certificate entitled CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE OF
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY Under Section 8005 of the Banking Law, dated September 16, 1998, providing
for an increase in authorized capital stock from $3,001,666,670 consisting of 200,166,667 shares
with a par value of $10 each designated as Common Stock and 1,000 shares with a par value of
$1,000,000 each designated as Series Preferred Stock to $3,501,666,670 consisting of 200,166,667
shares with a par value of $10 each designated as Common Stock and 1,500 shares with a par value of
$1,000,000 each designated as Series Preferred Stock. |
Witness, my hand and official seal of the Banking Department at the City of New York, |
this 25th day of September in the Year of
our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight. |
Deputy Superintendent of Banks |
RESTATED
ORGANIZATION
CERTIFICATE
OF
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
Under Section 8007
Of the Banking Law
Bankers Trust Company
1301 6th Avenue, 8th Floor
New York, N.Y. 10019
Counterpart Filed in the Office of the Superintendent of Banks, State of New York, August 31, 1998
RESTATED ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE
OF
BANKERS TRUST
Under Section 8007 of the Banking Law
We, James T. Byrne, Jr. and Lea Lahtinen, being respectively a Managing Director and an
Assistant Secretary and a Vice President and an Assistant Secretary of BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, do
hereby certify:
1. The name of the corporation is Bankers Trust Company.
2. The organization certificate of the corporation was filed by the Superintendent of Banks of
the State of New York on March 5, 1903.
3. The text of the organization certificate, as amended heretofore, is hereby restated without
further amendment or change to read as herein-set forth in full, to wit:
Certificate of Organization
of
Bankers Trust Company
Know All Men By These Presents That we, the undersigned, James A. Blair, James G. Cannon, E.
C. Converse, Henry P. Davison, Granville W. Garth, A. Barton Hepburn, Will Logan, Gates W.
McGarrah, George W. Perkins, William H. Porter, John F. Thompson, Albert H. Wiggin, Samuel
Woolverton and Edward F. C. Young, all being persons of full age and citizens of the United States,
and a majority of us being residents of the State of New York, desiring to form a corporation to be
known as a Trust Company, do hereby associate ourselves together for that purpose under and
pursuant to the laws of the State of New York, and for such purpose we do hereby, under our
respective hands and seals, execute and duly acknowledge this Organization Certificate in
duplicate, and hereby specifically state as follows, to wit:
I. The name by which the said corporation shall be known is Bankers Trust Company.
II. The place where its business is to be transacted is the City of New York, in the State of
New York.
III. Capital Stock: The amount of capital stock which the corporation is hereafter to have is
Three Billion One Million, Six Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred Seventy Dollars
($3,001,666,670), divided into Two Hundred Million, One Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred
Sixty-Seven (200,166,667) shares with a par value of $10 each designated as Common Stock and 1,000
shares with a par value of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) each designated as Series Preferred
Stock.
(a) Common Stock
1. Dividends: Subject to all of the rights of the Series Preferred Stock, dividends may be
declared and paid or set apart for payment upon the Common Stock out of any assets or funds of the
corporation legally available for the payment of dividends.
2. Voting Rights: Except as otherwise expressly provided with respect to the Series Preferred
Stock or with respect to any series of the Series Preferred Stock, the Common Stock shall have the
exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and for all other purposes, each holder of
the Common Stock being entitled to one vote for each share thereof held.
3. Liquidation: Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, whether
voluntary or involuntary, and after the holders of the Series Preferred Stock of each series shall
have been paid in full the amounts to which they respectively shall be entitled, or a sum
sufficient for the payment in full set aside, the remaining net assets of the corporation shall be
distributed pro rata to the holders of the Common Stock in accordance with their respective rights
and interests, to the exclusion of the holders of the Series Preferred Stock.
4. Preemptive Rights: No holder of Common Stock of the corporation shall be entitled, as such, as
a matter of right, to subscribe for or purchase any part of any new or additional issue of stock of
any class or series whatsoever, any rights or options to purchase stock of any class or series
whatsoever, or any securities convertible into, exchangeable for or carrying rights or options to
purchase stock of any class or series whatsoever, whether now or hereafter authorized, and whether
issued for cash or other consideration, or by way of dividend or other distribution.
(b) Series Preferred Stock
1. Board Authority: The Series Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time by the Board
of Directors as herein provided in one or more series. The designations, relative rights,
preferences and limitations of the Series Preferred Stock, and particularly of the shares of each
series thereof, may, to the extent permitted by law, be similar to or may differ from those of any
other series. The Board of Directors of the corporation is hereby expressly granted authority,
subject to the provisions of this Article III, to issue from time to time Series Preferred Stock in
one or more series and to fix from time to time before issuance thereof, by filing a certificate
pursuant to the Banking Law, the number of shares in each such series of such class and all
designations, relative rights (including the right, to the extent permitted by law, to convert into
shares of any class or into shares of any series of any class), preferences and limitations of the
shares in each such series, including, buy without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
following:
(i) The number of shares to constitute such series (which number may at any time, or
from time to time, be increased or decreased by the Board of Directors, notwithstanding that
shares of the series may be outstanding at the time of such increase or decrease, unless the
Board of Directors shall have otherwise provided in creating such series) and the
distinctive designation thereof;
(ii) The dividend rate on the shares of such series, whether or not dividends on the
shares of such series shall be cumulative, and the date or dates, if any, from which
dividends thereon shall be cumulative;
(iii) Whether or not the share of such series shall be redeemable, and, if redeemable,
the date or dates upon or after which they shall be redeemable, the amount or amounts per
share (which shall be, in the case of each share, not less than its preference upon
involuntary liquidation, plus an amount equal to all dividends thereon accrued and unpaid,
whether or not earned or declared) payable thereon in the case of the redemption thereof,
which amount may vary at different redemption dates or otherwise as permitted by law;
(iv) The right, if any, of holders of shares of such series to convert the same into, or
exchange the same for, Common Stock or other stock as permitted by law, and the terms and
conditions of such conversion or exchange, as well as provisions for adjustment of the
conversion rate in such events as the Board of Directors shall determine;
(v) The amount per share payable on the shares of such series upon the voluntary and
involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation;
(vi) Whether the holders of shares of such series shall have voting power, full or
limited, in addition to the voting powers provided by law and, in case additional voting
powers are accorded, to fix the extent thereof; and
(vii) Generally to fix the other rights and privileges and any qualifications,
limitations or restrictions of such rights and privileges of such series, provided, however,
that no such rights, privileges, qualifications, limitations or restrictions shall be in
conflict with the organization certificate of the
corporation or with the resolution or
resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issue of any series of which
there are shares outstanding.
All shares of Series Preferred Stock of the same series shall be identical in all respects,
except that shares of any one series issued at different times may differ as to dates, if any, from
which dividends thereon may accumulate. All shares of Series Preferred Stock of all series shall
be of equal rank and shall be identical in all respects except that to the extent not otherwise
limited in this Article III any series may differ from any other series with respect to any one or
more of the designations, relative rights, preferences and limitations described or referred to in
subparagraphs (I) to (vii) inclusive above.
2. Dividends: Dividends on the outstanding Series Preferred Stock of each series shall be
declared and paid or set apart for payment before any dividends shall be declared and paid or set
apart for payment on the Common Stock with respect to the same quarterly dividend period.
Dividends on any shares of Series Preferred Stock shall be cumulative only if and to the extent set
forth in a certificate filed pursuant to law. After dividends on all shares of Series Preferred
Stock (including cumulative dividends if and to the extent any such shares shall be entitled
thereto) shall have been declared and paid or set apart for payment with respect to any quarterly
dividend period, then and not otherwise so long as any shares of Series Preferred Stock shall
remain outstanding, dividends may be declared and paid or set apart for payment with respect to the
same quarterly dividend period on the Common Stock out the assets or funds of the corporation
legally available therefor.
All Shares of Series Preferred Stock of all series shall be of equal rank, preference and
priority as to dividends irrespective of whether or not the rates of dividends to which the same
shall be entitled shall be the same and when the stated dividends are not paid in full, the shares
of all series of the Series Preferred Stock shall share ratably in the payment thereof in
accordance with the sums which would be payable on such shares if all dividends were paid in full,
provided, however, that any two or more series of the Series Preferred Stock may differ from each
other as to the existence and extent of the right to cumulative dividends, as aforesaid.
3. Voting Rights: Except as otherwise specifically provided in the certificate filed pursuant
to law with respect to any series of the Series Preferred Stock, or as otherwise provided by law,
the Series Preferred Stock shall not have any right to vote for the election of directors or for
any other purpose and the Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of
directors and for all other purposes.
4. Liquidation: In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, each series of Series Preferred Stock shall have
preference and priority over the Common Stock for payment of the amount to which each outstanding
series of Series Preferred Stock shall be entitled in accordance with the provisions thereof and
each holder of Series Preferred Stock shall be entitled to be paid in full such amount, or have a
sum sufficient for the payment in full set aside, before any payments shall be made to the holders
of the Common Stock. If, upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, the
assets of the corporation or proceeds thereof, distributable among the holders of the shares of all
series of the Series Preferred Stock shall be insufficient to pay in full the preferential amount
aforesaid, then such assets, or the proceeds thereof, shall be distributed among such holders
ratably in accordance with the respective amounts which would be payable if all amounts payable
thereon were paid in full. After the payment to the holders of Series Preferred Stock of all such
amounts to which they are entitled, as above provided, the remaining assets and funds of the
corporation shall be divided and paid to the holders of the Common Stock.
5. Redemption: In the event that the Series Preferred Stock of any series shall be made redeemable
as provided in clause (iii) of paragraph 1 of section (b) of this Article III, the corporation, at
the option of the Board of Directors, may redeem at any time or times, and from time to time, all
or any part of any one or more series of Series Preferred Stock outstanding by paying for each
share the then applicable redemption price fixed by the Board of Directors as provided herein, plus
an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends to the date fixed for redemption, upon such notice
and terms as may be specifically provided in the certificate filed pursuant to law with respect to
the series.
6. Preemptive Rights: No holder of Series Preferred Stock of the corporation shall be
entitled, as such, as a matter or right, to subscribe for or purchase any part of any new or
additional issue of stock of any class or series whatsoever, any rights or options to purchase
stock of any class or series whatsoever, or any securities convertible into, exchangeable for or
carrying rights or options to purchase stock of any class or series whatsoever, whether now or
hereafter authorized, and whether issued for cash or other consideration, or by way of dividend.
(c) Provisions relating to Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A.
(Liquidation value $1,000,000 per share.)
1. Designation: The distinctive designation of the series established hereby shall be
Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A (hereinafter called Series A Preferred
Stock).
2. Number: The number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall initially be 250 shares.
Shares of Series A Preferred Stock redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired by the corporation
shall be cancelled and shall revert to authorized but unissued Series Preferred Stock undesignated
as to series.
3. Dividends:
(a) Dividend Payments Dates. Holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to
receive non-cumulative cash dividends when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors of the
corporation, out of funds legally available therefor, from the date of original issuance of such
shares (the Issue Date) and such dividends will be payable on March 28, June 28, September 28 and
December 28 of each year (Dividend Payment Date) commencing September 28, 1990, at a rate per
annum as determined in paragraph 3(b) below. The period beginning on the Issue Date and ending on
the day preceding the first Dividend Payment Date and each successive period beginning on a
Dividend Payment Date and ending on the date preceding the next succeeding Dividend Payment Date is
herein called a Dividend Period. If any Dividend Payment Date shall be, in The City of New York,
a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions are authorized by law to close,
then payment will be postponed to the next succeeding business day with the same force and effect
as if made on the Dividend Payment Date, and no interest shall accrue for such Dividend Period
after such Dividend Payment Date.
(b) Dividend Rate. The dividend rate from time to time payable in respect of Series A
Preferred Stock (the Dividend Rate) shall be determined on the basis of the following provisions:
(i) On the Dividend Determination Date, LIBOR will be determined on the basis of the offered
rates for deposits in U.S. dollars having a maturity of three months commencing on the second
London Business Day immediately following such Dividend Determination Date, as such rates appear on
the Reuters Screen LIBO Page as of 11:00 A.M. London time, on such Dividend Determination Date. If
at least two such offered rates appear on the Reuters Screen LIBO Page, LIBOR in respect of such
Dividend Determination Dates will be the arithmetic mean (rounded to the nearest one-hundredth of a
percent, with five one-thousandths of a percent rounded upwards) of such offered rates. If fewer
than those offered rates appear, LIBOR in respect of such Dividend Determination Date will be
determined as described in paragraph (ii) below.
(ii) On any Dividend Determination Date on which fewer than those offered rates for the applicable
maturity appear on the Reuters Screen LIBO Page as specified in paragraph (I) above, LIBOR will be
determined on the basis of the rates at which deposits in U.S. dollars having a maturity of three
months commencing on the second London Business Day immediately following such Dividend
Determination Date and in a principal amount of not less than $1,000,000 that is representative of
a single transaction in such market at such time are offered by three major banks in the London
interbank market selected by the corporation at approximately 11:00 A.M., London time, on such
Dividend Determination Date to prime banks in the London market. The corporation will request the
principal London office of each of such banks to provide a quotation of its rate. If at least two
such quotations are provided, LIBOR in respect of such Dividend Determination Date will be the
arithmetic mean (rounded to the nearest one-hundredth of a percent, with five one-thousandths of a
percent rounded upwards) of such quotations. If fewer than two quotations are provided, LIBOR in
respect of such Dividend Determination Date will be the arithmetic mean (rounded to the nearest
one-hundredth of a percent, with five one-thousandths of a percent rounded upwards) of the rates
quoted by three major banks in New York City selected by the corporation at approximately 11:00
A.M., New York City time, on such Dividend Determination Date for loans in U.S. dollars to leading
European banks having a maturity of three months commencing on the second London Business Day
immediately following such Dividend Determination Date and in a principal amount of not less than
$1,000,000 that is representative of a single transaction in such market at such time; provided,
however, that if the banks selected as aforesaid by the corporation are not quoting as
aforementioned in this sentence, then, with respect to such Dividend Period, LIBOR for the
preceding Dividend Period will be continued as LIBOR for such Dividend Period.
(ii) The Dividend Rate for any Dividend Period shall be equal to the lower of 18% or 50 basis
points above LIBOR for such Dividend Period as LIBOR is determined by sections (I) or (ii) above.
As used above, the term Dividend Determination Date shall mean, with respect to any Dividend
Period, the second London Business Day prior to the commencement of such Dividend Period; and the
term London Business Day shall mean any day that is not a Saturday or Sunday and that, in New
York City, is not a day on which banking institutions generally are authorized or required by law
or executive order to close and that is a day on which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are
transacted in the London interbank market.
4. Voting Rights: The holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall have the voting power and
rights set forth in this paragraph 4 and shall have no other voting power or rights except as
otherwise may from time to time be required by law.
So long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the corporation shall
not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least a majority of the votes of
the Series Preferred Stock entitled to vote outstanding at the time, given in person or by proxy,
either in writing or by resolution adopted at a meeting at which the holders of Series A Preferred
Stock (alone or together with the holders of one or more other series of Series Preferred Stock at
the time outstanding and entitled to vote) vote separately as a class, alter the provisions of the
Series Preferred Stock so as to materially adversely affect its rights; provided, however, that in
the event any such materially adverse alteration affects the rights of only the Series A Preferred
Stock, then the alteration may be effected with the vote or consent of at least a majority of the
votes of the Series A Preferred Stock; provided, further, that an increase in the amount of the
authorized Series Preferred Stock and/or the creation and/or issuance of other series of Series
Preferred Stock in accordance with the organization certificate shall not be, nor be deemed to be,
materially adverse alterations. In connection with the exercise of the voting rights contained in
the preceding sentence, holders of all series of Series Preferred Stock which are granted such
voting rights (of which the Series A Preferred Stock is the initial series) shall vote as a class
(except as specifically provided otherwise) and each holder of Series A Preferred Stock shall have
one vote for each share of stock held and each other series shall have such number of votes, if
any, for each share of stock held as may be granted to them.
The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, in connection with the matters specified,
provision is made for the redemption or retirement of all outstanding Series A Preferred Stock.
5. Liquidation: Subject to the provisions of section (b) of this Article III, upon any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, the
holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall have preference and priority over the Common Stock
for payment out of the assets of the corporation or proceeds thereof, whether from capital or
surplus, of $1,000,000 per share (the liquidation value) together with the amount of all
dividends accrued and unpaid thereon, and after such payment the holders of Series A Preferred
Stock shall be entitled to no other payments.
6. Redemption: Subject to the provisions of section (b) of this Article III, Series A
Preferred Stock may be redeemed, at the option of the corporation in whole or part, at any time or
from time to time at a redemption price of $1,000,000 per share, in each case plus accrued and
unpaid dividends to the date of redemption.
At the option of the corporation, shares of Series A Preferred Stock redeemed or otherwise
acquired may be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Series Preferred Stock.
In the case of any redemption, the corporation shall give notice of such redemption to the
holders of the Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed in the following manner: a notice specifying
the shares to be redeemed and the time and place of redemption (and, if less than the total
outstanding shares are to be redeemed, specifying the certificate numbers and number of shares to
be redeemed) shall be mailed by first class mail, addressed to the holders of record of the Series
A Preferred Stock to be redeemed at their respective addresses as the same shall appear upon the
books of the corporation, not more than sixty (60) days and not less than thirty (30) days previous
to the date fixed for redemption. In the event such notice is not given to any shareholder such
failure to give notice shall not affect the notice given to other shareholders. If less than the
whole amount of outstanding Series A Preferred Stock is to be redeemed, the shares to be redeemed
shall be selected by lot or pro rata in any manner determined by resolution of the Board of
Directors to be fair and proper. From and after the date fixed in any such notice as the date of
redemption (unless default shall be made by the corporation in providing moneys at the time and
place of redemption for the payment of the redemption price) all dividends upon the Series A
Preferred Stock so called for redemption shall cease to accrue, and all rights of the holders of
said Series A Preferred Stock as stockholders in the corporation, except the right to receive the
redemption price (without interest) upon surrender of the certificate representing the Series A
Preferred Stock so called for redemption, duly endorsed for transfer, if required, shall cease and terminate. The corporations obligation to provide moneys in
accordance with the
preceding sentence shall be deemed fulfilled if, on or before the redemption
date, the corporation shall deposit with a bank or trust company (which may be an affiliate of the
corporation) having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, having a capital and
surplus of at least $5,000,000 funds necessary for such redemption, in trust with irrevocable
instructions that such funds be applied to the redemption of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock
so called for redemption. Any interest accrued on such funds shall be paid to the corporation from
time to time. Any funds so deposited and unclaimed at the end of two (2) years from such
redemption date shall be released or repaid to the corporation, after which the holders of such
shares of Series A Preferred Stock so called for redemption shall look only to the corporation for
payment of the redemption price.
IV. The name, residence and post office address of each member of the corporation are as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
Residence |
|
Post Office Address |
|
|
|
|
|
James A. Blair
|
|
9 West 50th Street,
|
|
33 Wall Street, |
|
|
Manhattan, New York City
|
|
Manhattan, New York City |
|
|
|
|
|
James G. Cannon
|
|
72 East 54th Street,
|
|
14 Nassau Street, |
|
|
Manhattan New York City
|
|
Manhattan, New York City |
|
|
|
|
|
E. C. Converse
|
|
3 East 78th Street,
|
|
139 Broadway, |
|
|
Manhattan, New York City
|
|
Manhattan, New York City |
|
|
|
|
|
Henry P. Davison
|
|
Englewood,
|
|
2 Wall Street, |
|
|
New Jersey
|
|
Manhattan, New York City |
|
|
|
|
|
Granville W. Garth
|
|
160 West 57th Street,
|
|
33 Wall Street |
|
|
Manhattan, New York City
|
|
Manhattan, New York City |
|
|
|
|
|
A. Barton Hepburn
|
|
205 West 57th Street
|
|
83 Cedar Street |
|
|
Manhattan, New York City
|
|
Manhattan, New York City |
|
|
|
|
|
William Logan
|
|
Montclair,
|
|
13 Nassau Street |
|
|
New Jersey
|
|
Manhattan, New York City |
|
|
|
|
|
George W. Perkins
|
|
Riverdale,
New York
|
|
23 Wall Street,
Manhattan, New York City |
|
|
|
|
|
William H. Porter
|
|
56 East 67th Street
|
|
270 Broadway, |
|
|
Manhattan, New York City
|
|
Manhattan, New York City |
|
|
|
|
|
John F. Thompson
|
|
Newark,
|
|
143 Liberty Street, |
|
|
New Jersey
|
|
Manhattan, New York City |
|
|
|
|
|
Albert H. Wiggin
|
|
42 West 49th Street,
|
|
214 Broadway, |
|
|
Manhattan, New York City
|
|
Manhattan, New York City |
|
|
|
|
|
Samuel Woolverton
|
|
Mount Vernon,
|
|
34 Wall Street, |
|
|
New York
|
|
Manhattan, New York City |
|
|
|
|
|
Edward F.C. Young
|
|
85 Glenwood Avenue,
|
|
1 Exchange Place, |
|
|
Jersey City, New Jersey
|
|
Jersey City, New Jersey |
V. The existence of the corporation shall be perpetual.
VI. The subscribers, the members of the said corporation, do, and each for himself does,
hereby declare that he will accept the responsibilities and faithfully discharge the duties of a
director therein, if elected to act as such, when authorized accordance with the provisions of the
Banking Law of the State of New York.
VII. The number of directors of the corporation shall not be less than 10 nor more than 25.
4. The foregoing restatement of the organization certificate was authorized by the Board of
Directors of the corporation at a meeting held on July 21, 1998.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have made and subscribed this certificate this 6th day of
August, 1998.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ James T. Byrne, Jr.
|
|
|
James T. Byrne, Jr. |
|
|
Managing Director and Secretary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Lea Lahtinen
|
|
|
Lea Lahtinen |
|
|
Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
State of New York
|
) |
|
|
|
|
) ss: |
|
County of New York
|
) |
|
|
|
Lea Lahtinen, being duly sworn, deposes and says that she is a Vice President and an Assistant
Secretary of Bankers Trust Company, the corporation described in the foregoing certificate; that
she has read the foregoing certificate and knows the contents thereof, and that the statements
herein contained are true.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Lea Lahtinen
|
|
|
Lea Lahtinen |
|
|
|
|
|
Sworn to before me this
6th day of August, 1998.
|
|
|
|
|
Sandra L. West |
|
Notary Public |
|
|
|
|
|
SANDRA L. WEST
Notary Public State of New York
No. 31-4942101
Qualified in New York County
Commission Expires September 19, 1998
I, MANUEL KURSKY, Deputy Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York, DO HEREBY APPROVE
the annexed Certificate entitled RESTATED ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE OF BANKERS TRUST COMPANY Under
Section 8007 of the Banking Law, dated August 6, 1998, providing for the restatement of the
Organization Certificate and all amendments into a single certificate. |
Witness, my hand and official seal of the Banking Department at the City of New York, |
this 31st day of August in the Year of our
Lord one thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight. |
Deputy Superintendent of Banks |
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF THE
ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE
OF BANKERS TRUST
Under Section 8005 of the Banking Law
We, James T. Byrne, Jr. and Lea Lahtinen, being respectively a Managing Director and Secretary
and a Vice President and an Assistant Secretary of Bankers Trust Company, do hereby certify:
1. The name of the corporation is Bankers Trust Company.
2. The organization certificate of said corporation was filed by the Superintendent of Banks
on the 5th of March, 1903.
3. The organization certificate as heretofore amended is hereby amended to increase the
aggregate number of shares which the corporation shall have authority to issue and to increase the
amount of its authorized capital stock in conformity therewith.
4. Article III of the organization certificate with reference to the authorized capital
stock, the number of shares into which the capital stock shall be divided, the par value of the
shares and the capital stock outstanding, which reads as follows:
III. The amount of capital stock which the corporation is hereafter to have is
Three Billion, One Million, Six Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred Seventy
Dollars ($3,001,666,670), divided into Two Hundred Million, One Hundred Sixty-Six
Thousand, Six Hundred Sixty-Seven (200,166,667) shares with a par value of $10 each
designated as Common Stock and 1000 shares with a par value of One Million Dollars
($1,000,000) each designated as Series Preferred Stock.
is hereby amended to read as follows:
III. The amount of capital stock which the corporation is hereafter to have is
Three Billion, Five Hundred One Million, Six Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred
Seventy Dollars ($3,501,666,670), divided into Two Hundred Million, One Hundred
Sixty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred Sixty-Seven (200,166,667) shares with a par value of
$10 each designated as Common Stock and 1500 shares with a par value of One Million
Dollars ($1,000,000) each designated as Series Preferred Stock.
5. The foregoing amendment of the organization certificate was authorized by unanimous
written consent signed by the holder of all outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have made and subscribed this certificate this 25th day of September,
1998
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ James T. Byrne, Jr.
|
|
|
James T. Byrne, Jr. |
|
|
Managing Director and Secretary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Lea Lahtinen
|
|
|
Lea Lahtinen |
|
|
Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
|
|
|
|
|
State of New York |
|
) |
|
|
) ss: |
County of New York |
|
) |
Lea Lahtinen, being fully sworn, deposes and says that she is a Vice President and an
Assistant Secretary of Bankers Trust Company, the corporation described in the foregoing
certificate; that she has read the foregoing certificate and knows the contents thereof, and that
the statements herein contained are true.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Lea Lahtinen
|
|
|
Lea Lahtinen |
|
|
|
|
|
Sworn to before me this 25th day
of September, 1998
|
|
|
|
|
Sandra L. West
|
|
|
Notary Public |
|
|
|
SANDRA L. WEST
Notary Public State of New York
No. 31-4942101
Qualified in New York County
Commission Expires September 19, 2000
I, P. VINCENT CONLON, Deputy Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York, DO HEREBY
APPROVE the annexed Certificate entitled CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE
OF BANKERS TRUST COMPANY Under Section 8005 of the Banking Law, dated December 16, 1998, providing
for an increase in authorized capital stock from $3,501,666,670 consisting of 200,166,667 shares
with a par value of $10 each designated as Common Stock and 1,500 shares with a par value of
$1,000,000 each designated as Series Preferred Stock to $3,627,308,670 consisting of 212,730,867
shares with a par value of $10 each designated as Common Stock and 1,500 shares with a par value of
$1,000,000 each designated as Series Preferred Stock. |
Witness, my hand and official seal of the Banking Department at the City of New York, |
this 18th day of December in the Year of
our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight. |
Deputy Superintendent of Banks |
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF THE
ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE
OF BANKERS TRUST
Under Section 8005 of the Banking Law
We, James T. Byrne, Jr. and Lea Lahtinen, being respectively a Managing Director and
Secretary and a Vice President and an Assistant Secretary of Bankers Trust Company, do hereby
certify:
1. The name of the corporation is Bankers Trust Company.
2. The organization certificate of said corporation was filed by the Superintendent of Banks
on the 5th of March, 1903.
3. The organization certificate as heretofore amended is hereby amended to increase the
aggregate number of shares which the corporation shall have authority to issue and to increase the
amount of its authorized capital stock in conformity therewith.
4. Article III of the organization certificate with reference to the authorized capital
stock, the number of shares into which the capital stock shall be divided, the par value of the
shares and the capital stock outstanding, which reads as follows:
III. The amount of capital stock which the corporation is hereafter to have is
Three Billion, Five Hundred One Million, Six Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred
Seventy Dollars ($3,501,666,670), divided into Two Hundred Million, One Hundred
Sixty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred Sixty-Seven (200,166,667) shares with a par value of
$10 each designated as Common Stock and 1500 shares with a par value of One Million
Dollars ($1,000,000) each designated as Series Preferred Stock.
is hereby amended to read as follows:
III. The amount of capital stock which the corporation is hereafter to have is
Three Billion, Six Hundred Twenty-Seven Million, Three Hundred Eight Thousand, Six
Hundred Seventy Dollars ($3,627,308,670), divided into Two Hundred Twelve Million,
Seven Hundred Thirty Thousand, Eight Hundred Sixty- Seven (212,730,867) shares with
a par value of $10 each designated as Common Stock and 1500 shares with a par value
of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) each designated as Series Preferred Stock.
5. The foregoing amendment of the organization certificate was authorized by unanimous
written consent signed by the holder of all outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have made and subscribed this certificate this 16th day of December,
1998
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/James T. Byrne, Jr.
|
|
|
James T. Byrne, Jr. |
|
|
Managing Director and Secretary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/Lea Lahtinen
|
|
|
Lea Lahtinen |
|
|
Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
State of New York
|
) |
|
|
|
|
) ss: |
|
County of New York
|
) |
|
|
|
Lea Lahtinen, being fully sworn, deposes and says that she is a Vice President and an
Assistant Secretary of Bankers Trust Company, the corporation described in the foregoing
certificate; that she has read the foregoing certificate and knows the contents thereof, and that
the statements herein contained are true.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/Lea Lahtinen
|
|
|
Lea Lahtinen |
|
|
|
|
Sworn to before me this 16th day
of December, 1998
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Sandra L. West
|
|
|
Notary Public |
|
|
|
|
|
SANDRA L. WEST
Notary Public State of New York
No. 31-4942101
Qualified in New York County
Commission Expires September 19, 2000
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
ASSISTANT SECRETARYS CERTIFICATE
I, Lea Lahtinen, Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Bankers Trust Company, a corporation
duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, the United States of America,
do hereby certify that attached copy of the Certificate of Amendment of the Organization
Certificate of Bankers Trust Company, dated February 27, 2002, providing for a change of name of
Bankers Trust Company to Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and approved by the New York State
Banking Department on March 14, 2002 to effective on April 15, 2002, is a true and correct copy of
the original Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company on
file in the Banking Department, State of New York.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of Bankers Trust Company this
4th day of April, 2002.
[SEAL]
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Lea Lahtinen
|
|
|
Lea Lahtinen, Vice President and Assistant Secretary Bankers Trust Company |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
State of New York |
) |
|
|
|
|
) ss.: |
|
County of New York |
) |
|
|
|
On the 4th day of April in the year 2002 before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for
said state, personally appeared Lea Lahtinen, personally known to me or proved to me on the basis
of satisfactory evidence to be the individual whose name is subscribed to the within instrument and
acknowledged to me that she executed the same in her capacity, and that by her signature on the
instrument, the individual, or the person on behalf of which the individual acted, executed the
instrument.
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Sonja K. Olsen
|
|
|
Notary Public |
|
|
SONJA K. OLSEN
Notary Public, State of New York
No. 01OL4974457
Qualified in New York County
Commission Expires November 13, 2002
State of New York,
Banking Department
I, P. VINCENT CONLON, Deputy Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York, DO HEREBY APPROVE
the annexed Certificate entitled CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE OF
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY under Section 8005 of the Banking Law dated February 27, 2002, providing for
a change of name of BANKERS TRUST COMPANY to DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS.
Witness, my hand and official seal of the Banking Department at the City of New York,
this 14th day of March two thousand and two.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ P. Vincent Conlon
|
|
|
Deputy Superintendent of Banks |
|
|
|
|
|
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF THE
ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE
OF
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
Under Section 8005 of the Banking Law
We, James T. Byrne Jr., and Lea Lahtinen, being respectively the Secretary, and Vice President and
an Assistant Secretary of Bankers Trust Company, do hereby certify:
1. The name of corporation is Bankers Trust Company.
2. The organization certificate of said corporation was filed by the Superintendent of Banks on the
5th day of March, 1903.
3. Pursuant to Section 8005 of the Banking Law, attached hereto as Exhibit A is a certificate
issued by the State of New York, Banking Department listing all of the amendments to the
Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company since its organization that have been filed in
the Office of the Superintendent of Banks.
4. The organization certificate as heretofore amended is hereby amended to change the name of
Bankers Trust Company to Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas to be effective on April 15, 2002.
5. The first paragraph number 1 of the organization of Bankers Trust Company with the reference to
the name of the Bankers Trust Company, which reads as follows:
1. The name of the corporation is Bankers Trust Company.
is hereby amended to read as follows effective on April 15, 2002:
1. The name of the corporation is Deutsche Bank Trust Company
Americas.
6. The foregoing amendment of the organization certificate was authorized by unanimous written
consent signed by the holder of all outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have made and subscribed this certificate this 27th day of February, 2002.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ James T. Byrne Jr.
|
|
|
James T. Byrne Jr. |
|
|
Secretary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Lea Lahtinen
|
|
|
Lea Lahtinen |
|
|
Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
State of New York
|
) |
|
|
|
|
) ss.: |
|
County of New York
|
) |
|
|
|
Lea Lahtinen, being duly sworn, deposes and says that she is a Vice President and an Assistant
Secretary of Bankers Trust Company, the corporation described in the foregoing certificate; that
she has read the foregoing certificate and knows the contents thereof, and that the statements
therein contained are true.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Lea Lahtinen
|
|
|
Lea Lahtinen |
|
|
|
|
|
Sworn to before me this 27th day
of February, 2002
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Sandra L. West
|
|
|
Notary Public |
|
|
|
|
|
SANDRA L. WEST
Notary Public, State of New York
No. 01WE4942401
Qualified in New York County
Commission Expires September 19, 2002
EXHIBIT A
State of New York
Banking Department
I, P. VINCENT CONLON, Deputy Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York, DO HEREBY CERTIFY:
THAT, the records in the Office of the Superintendent of Banks indicate that BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York as a trust
company, pursuant to Article III of the Banking Law; and
THAT, the Organization Certificate of BANKERS TRUST COMPANY was filed in the Office of the
Superintendent of Banks on March 5, 1903, and such corporation was authorized to commence business
on March 24, 1903; and
THAT, the following amendments to its Organization Certificate have been filed in the Office of the
Superintendent of Banks as of the dates specified:
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in number of directors filed on January 14, 1905
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed on August 4, 1909
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in number of directors filed on February 1, 1911
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in number of directors filed on June 17, 1911
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed on August 8, 1911
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in number of directors filed on August 8, 1911
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed on March 21, 1912
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for a decrease in number of directors filed on January 15, 1915
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for a decrease in number of directors filed on December 18, 1916
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed on April 20, 1917
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in number of directors filed on April 20, 1917
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed on December 28, 1918
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed on December 4, 1919
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in number of directors filed on January 15, 1926
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed on June 12, 1928
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for a change in shares filed on April 4, 1929
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for a minimum and maximum number of directors filed on January 11,
1934
Certificate of Extension to perpetual filed on January 13, 1941
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for a minimum and maximum number of directors filed on January 13,
1941
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed on December 11, 1944
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed January 30, 1953
Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed November 6, 1953
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed on April 8, 1955
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed on February 1, 1960
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed on July 14, 1960
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for a change in shares filed on September 30, 1960
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed on January 26, 1962
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for a change in shares filed on September 9, 1963
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed on February 7, 1964
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation providing
for an increase in capital stock filed on February 24, 1965
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for a decrease in capital stock filed January 24, 1967
Restated Organization Certificate filed June 1, 1971
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed October 29, 1976
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed December 22, 1977
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed August 5, 1980
Restated Organization Certificate filed July 1, 1982
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed December 27, 1984
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed September 18, 1986
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for a minimum and maximum number of directors filed January 22,
1990
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed June 28, 1990
Restated Organization Certificate filed August 20, 1990
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed June 26, 1992
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed March 28, 1994
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed June 23, 1995
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed December 27, 1995
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed March 21, 1996
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed December 27, 1996
Certificate of Amendment to the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed June 27, 1997
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed September 26, 1997
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed December 29, 1997
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed March 26, 1998
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed June 23, 1998
Restated Organization Certificate filed August 31, 1998
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed September 25, 1998
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for an increase in capital stock filed December 18, 1998; and
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate providing
for a change in the number of directors filed September 3, 1999;
and
THAT, no amendments to its Restated Organization Certificate have been filed in the Office of the
Superintendent of Banks except those set forth above; and attached hereto; and
I DO FURTHER CERTIFY THAT, BANKERS TRUST COMPANY is validly existing as a banking organization with
its principal office and place of business located at 130 Liberty Street, New York, New York.
WITNESS, my hand and official seal of the Banking Department at the City of New York this 16th day
of October in the Year Two Thousand and One.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ P. Vincent Conlon
|
|
|
Deputy Superintendent of Banks |
|
|
|
|
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
BY-LAWS
APRIL 15, 2002
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
New York
BY-LAWS
of
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
ARTICLE I
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
SECTION 1. The annual meeting of the stockholders of this Company shall be held at the office of
the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, in January of each year, for the
election of directors and such other business as may properly come before said meeting.
SECTION 2. Special meetings of stockholders other than those regulated by statute may be called at
any time by a majority of the directors. It shall be the duty of the Chairman of the Board, the
Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Co-President to call such meetings whenever requested
in writing to do so by stockholders owning a majority of the capital stock.
SECTION 3. At all meetings of stockholders, there shall be present, either in person or by proxy,
stockholders owning a majority of the capital stock of the Company, in order to constitute a
quorum, except at special elections of directors, as provided by law, but less than a quorum shall
have power to adjourn any meeting.
SECTION 4. The Chairman of the Board or, in his absence, the Chief Executive Officer or, in his
absence, the President or any Co-President or, in their absence, the senior officer present, shall
preside at meetings of the stockholders and shall direct the proceedings and the order of business.
The Secretary shall act as secretary of such meetings and record the proceedings.
ARTICLE II
DIRECTORS
SECTION 1. The affairs of the Company shall be managed and its corporate powers exercised by a
Board of Directors consisting of such number of directors, but not less than seven nor more than
fifteen, as may from time to time be fixed by resolution adopted by a majority of the directors
then in office, or by the stockholders. In the event of any increase in the number of directors,
additional directors may be elected within the limitations so fixed, either by the stockholders or
within the limitations imposed by law, by a majority of directors then in office. One-third of the
number of directors, as fixed from time to time, shall constitute a quorum. Any one or more
members of the Board of Directors or any Committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the
Board of Directors or Committee thereof by means of a conference telephone, video conference or
similar communications equipment which allows all persons participating in the meeting to hear each
other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at such a
meeting.
All directors hereafter elected shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the stockholders
and until their successors are elected and have qualified.
No Officer-Director who shall have attained age 65, or earlier relinquishes his responsibilities
and title, shall be eligible to serve as a director.
SECTION 2. Vacancies not exceeding one-third of the whole number of the Board of Directors may be
filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, and the directors so
elected shall hold office for the balance of the unexpired term.
SECTION 3. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at meetings of the Board of Directors. In his
absence, the Chief Executive Officer or, in his absence the President or any Co-President or, in
their absence such other director as the Board of Directors from time to time may designate shall
preside at such meetings.
SECTION 4. The Board of Directors may adopt such Rules and Regulations for the conduct of its
meetings and the management of the affairs of the Company as it may deem proper, not inconsistent
with the laws of the State of New York, or these By-Laws, and all officers and employees shall
strictly adhere to, and be bound by, such Rules and Regulations.
SECTION 5. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held from time to time provided,
however, that the Board of Directors shall hold a regular meeting not less than six times a year,
provided that during any three consecutive calendar months the Board of Directors shall meet at
least once, and its Executive Committee shall not be required to meet at least once in each thirty
day period during which the Board of Directors does not meet. Special meetings of the Board of
Directors may be called upon at least two days notice whenever it may be deemed proper by the
Chairman of the Board or, the Chief Executive Officer or, the President or any Co-President or, in
their absence, by such other director as the Board of Directors may have designated pursuant to
Section 3 of this Article, and shall be called upon like notice whenever any three of the directors
so request in writing.
SECTION 6. The compensation of directors as such or as members of committees shall be fixed from
time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE III
COMMITTEES
SECTION 1. There shall be an Executive Committee of the Board consisting of not less than five
directors who shall be appointed annually by the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board
shall preside at meetings of the Executive Committee. In his absence, the Chief Executive Officer
or, in his absence, the President or any Co-President or, in their absence, such other member of
the Committee as the Committee from time to time may designate shall preside at such meetings.
The Executive Committee shall possess and exercise to the extent permitted by law all of the powers
of the Board of Directors, except when the latter is in session, and shall keep minutes of its
proceedings, which shall be presented to the Board of Directors at its next subsequent meeting.
All acts done and powers and authority conferred by the Executive Committee from time to time
shall
be and be deemed to be, and may be certified as being, the act and under the authority of the Board
of Directors.
A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, but the Committee may act only by the
concurrent vote of not less than one-third of its members, at least one of who must be a director
other than an officer. Any one or more directors, even though not members of the Executive
Committee, may attend any meeting of the Committee, and the member or members of the Committee
present, even though less than a quorum, may designate any one or more of such directors as a
substitute or substitutes for any absent member or members of the Committee, and each such
substitute or substitutes shall be counted for quorum, voting, and all other purposes as a member
or members of the Committee.
SECTION 2. There shall be an Audit Committee appointed annually by resolution adopted by a majority
of the entire Board of Directors which shall consist of such number of directors, who are not also
officers of the Company, as may from time to time be fixed by resolution adopted by the Board of
Directors. The Chairman shall be designated by the Board of Directors, who shall also from time to
time fix a quorum for meetings of the Committee. Such Committee shall conduct the annual
directors examinations of the Company as required by the New York State Banking Law; shall review
the reports of all examinations made of the Company by public authorities and report thereon to the
Board of Directors; and shall report to the Board of Directors such other matters as it deems
advisable with respect to the Company, its various departments and the conduct of its operations.
In the performance of its duties, the Audit Committee may employ or retain, from time to time,
expert assistants, independent of the officers or personnel of the Company, to make studies of the
Companys assets and liabilities as the Committee may request and to make an examination of the
accounting and auditing methods of the Company and its system of internal protective controls to
the extent considered necessary or advisable in order to determine that the operations of the
Company, including its fiduciary departments, are being audited by the General Auditor in such a
manner as to provide prudent and adequate protection. The Committee also may direct the General
Auditor to make such investigation as it deems necessary or advisable with respect to the Company,
its various departments and the conduct of its operations. The Committee shall hold regular
quarterly meetings and during the intervals thereof shall meet at other times on call of the
Chairman.
SECTION 3. The Board of Directors shall have the power to appoint any other Committees as may seem
necessary, and from time to time to suspend or continue the powers and duties of such Committees.
Each Committee appointed pursuant to this Article shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of
Directors.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
SECTION 1. The Board of Directors shall elect from among their number a Chairman of the Board and a
Chief Executive Officer; and shall also elect a President, or two or more Co-Presidents, and may
also elect, one or more Vice Chairmen, one or more Executive Vice Presidents, one or more Managing
Directors, one or more Senior Vice Presidents, one or more Directors, one or more Vice Presidents,
one or more General Managers, a Secretary, a Controller, a Treasurer, a General Counsel, a General
Auditor, a General Credit Auditor, who need not be directors. The officers of the corporation may
also include such other officers or assistant officers as shall from time to time be elected or
appointed by the Board. The Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or, in their
absence, the President or any Co-President, or any Vice Chairman, may from time to time appoint
assistant officers. All officers elected or appointed by the Board of Directors shall hold their
respective offices during the pleasure of the Board of Directors, and all assistant officers shall
hold office at the pleasure of the Board or the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive
Officer or, in their absence, the President, or any Co-President or any Vice Chairman. The Board
of Directors may require any and all officers and employees to give security for the faithful
performance of their duties.
SECTION 2. The Board of Directors shall designate the Chief Executive Officer of the Company who
may also hold the additional title of Chairman of the Board, or President, or any Co-President, and
such person shall have, subject to the supervision and direction of the Board of Directors or the
Executive Committee, all of the powers vested in such Chief Executive Officer by law or by these
By-Laws, or which usually attach or pertain to such office. The other officers shall have, subject
to the supervision and direction of the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee or the
Chairman of the Board or, the Chief Executive Officer, the powers vested by law or by these By-Laws
in them as holders of their respective offices and, in addition, shall perform such other duties as
shall be assigned to them by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee or the Chairman of
the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.
The General Auditor shall be responsible, through the Audit Committee, to the Board of Directors
for the determination of the program of the internal audit function and the evaluation of the
adequacy of the system of internal controls. Subject to the Board of Directors, the General
Auditor shall have and may exercise all the powers and shall perform all the duties usual to such
office and shall have such other powers as may be prescribed or assigned to him from time to time
by the Board of Directors or vested in him by law or by these By-Laws. He shall perform such other
duties and shall make such investigations, examinations and reports as may be prescribed or
required by the Audit Committee. The General Auditor shall have unrestricted access to all records
and premises of the Company and shall delegate such authority to his subordinates. He shall have
the duty to report to the Audit Committee on all matters concerning the internal audit program and
the adequacy of the system of internal controls of the Company which he deems advisable or which
the Audit Committee may request. Additionally, the General Auditor shall have the duty of
reporting independently of all officers of the Company to the Audit Committee at least quarterly on
any matters concerning the internal audit program and the adequacy of the system of internal
controls of the Company that should be brought to the attention of the directors except those
matters responsibility for which has been vested in the General Credit Auditor.
Should the General Auditor deem any matter to be of special immediate importance, he shall
report
thereon forthwith to the Audit Committee. The General Auditor shall report to the Chief Financial
Officer only for administrative purposes.
The General Credit Auditor shall be responsible to the Chief Executive Officer and, through the
Audit Committee, to the Board of Directors for the systems of internal credit audit, shall perform
such other duties as the Chief Executive Officer may prescribe, and shall make such examinations
and reports as may be required by the Audit Committee. The General Credit Auditor shall have
unrestricted access to all records and may delegate such authority to subordinates.
SECTION 3. The compensation of all officers shall be fixed under such plan or plans of position
evaluation and salary administration as shall be approved from time to time by resolution of the
Board of Directors.
SECTION 4. The Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, the Chairman of the Board, the
Chief Executive Officer or any person authorized for this purpose by the Chief Executive Officer,
shall appoint or engage all other employees and agents and fix their compensation. The employment
of all such employees and agents shall continue during the pleasure of the Board of Directors or
the Executive Committee or the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or any such
authorized person; and the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, the Chairman of the Board,
the Chief Executive Officer or any such authorized person may discharge any such employees and
agents at will.
ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND OTHERS
SECTION 1. The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Section 7018 of the New York
Banking Law, indemnify any person who is or was made, or threatened to be made, a party to an
action or proceeding, whether civil or criminal, whether involving any actual or alleged breach of
duty, neglect or error, any accountability, or any actual or alleged misstatement, misleading
statement or other act or omission and whether brought or threatened in any court or administrative
or legislative body or agency, including an action by or in the right of the Company to procure a
judgment in its favor and an action by or in the right of any other corporation of any type or
kind, domestic or foreign, or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
enterprise, which any director or officer of the Company is servicing or served in any capacity at
the request of the Company by reason of the fact that he, his testator or intestate, is or was a
director or officer of the Company, or is serving or served such other corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise in any capacity, against judgments,
fines, amounts paid in settlement, and costs, charges and expenses, including attorneys fees, or
any appeal therein; provided, however, that no indemnification shall be provided to any such person
if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the director or officer establishes that (i)
his acts were committed in bad faith or were the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and, in
either case, were material to the cause of action so adjudicated, or (ii) he personally gained in
fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he was not legally entitled.
SECTION 2. The Company may indemnify any other person to whom the Company is permitted to provide
indemnification or the advancement of expenses by applicable law, whether pursuant to
rights granted pursuant to, or provided by, the New York Banking Law or other rights created by (i) a
resolution of stockholders, (ii) a resolution of directors, or (iii) an agreement providing for
such indemnification, it being expressly intended that these By-Laws authorize the creation of
other rights in any such manner.
SECTION 3. The Company shall, from time to time, reimburse or advance to any person referred to in
Section 1 the funds necessary for payment of expenses, including attorneys fees, incurred in
connection with any action or proceeding referred to in Section 1, upon receipt of a written
undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay such amount(s) if a judgment or other final
adjudication adverse to the director or officer establishes that (i) his acts were committed in bad
faith or were the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and, in either case, were material to
the cause of action so adjudicated, or (ii) he personally gained in fact a financial profit or
other advantage to which he was not legally entitled.
SECTION 4. Any director or officer of the Company serving (i) another corporation, of which a
majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of its directors is held by the Company, or
(ii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or any corporation referred to in clause (i) in any
capacity shall be deemed to be doing so at the request of the Company. In all other cases, the
provisions of this Article V will apply (i) only if the person serving another corporation or any
partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise so served at the
specific request of the Company, evidenced by a written communication signed by the Chairman of the
Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Co-President, and (ii) only if and to the
extent that, after making such efforts as the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer,
the President or any Co-President shall deem adequate in the circumstances, such person shall be
unable to obtain indemnification from such other enterprise or its insurer.
SECTION 5. Any person entitled to be indemnified or to the reimbursement or advancement of expenses
as a matter of right pursuant to this Article V may elect to have the right to indemnification (or
advancement of expenses) interpreted on the basis of the applicable law in effect at the time of
occurrence of the event or events giving rise to the action or proceeding, to the extent permitted
by law, or on the basis of the applicable law in effect at the time indemnification is sought.
SECTION 6. The right to be indemnified or to the reimbursement or advancement of expense pursuant
to this Article V (i) is a contract right pursuant to which the person entitled thereto may bring
suit as if the provisions hereof were set forth in a separate written contract between the Company
and the director or officer, (ii) is intended to be retroactive and shall be available with respect
to events occurring prior to the adoption hereof, and (iii) shall continue to exist after the
rescission or restrictive modification hereof with respect to events occurring prior thereto.
SECTION 7. If a request to be indemnified or for the reimbursement or advancement of expenses
pursuant hereto is not paid in full by the Company within thirty days after a written claim has
been received by the Company, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the
Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the
claimant shall be entitled also to be paid the expenses of prosecuting such claim. Neither the
failure of the
Company (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have
made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of or
reimbursement or advancement of expenses to the claimant is proper in the
circumstance, nor an
actual determination by the Company (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel,
or its stockholders) that the claimant is not entitled to indemnification or to the reimbursement
or advancement of expenses, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the
claimant is not so entitled.
SECTION 8. A person who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of a civil
or criminal action or proceeding of the character described in Section 1 shall be entitled to
indemnification only as provided in Sections 1 and 3, notwithstanding any provision of the New York
Banking Law to the contrary.
ARTICLE VI
SEAL
SECTION 1. The Board of Directors shall provide a seal for the Company, the counterpart dies of
which shall be in the charge of the Secretary of the Company and such officers as the Chairman of
the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary may from time to time direct in writing, to
be affixed to certificates of stock and other documents in accordance with the directions of the
Board of Directors or the Executive Committee.
SECTION 2. The Board of Directors may provide, in proper cases on a specified occasion and for a
specified transaction or transactions, for the use of a printed or engraved facsimile seal of the
Company.
ARTICLE VII
CAPITAL STOCK
SECTION 1. Registration of transfer of shares shall only be made upon the books of the Company by
the registered holder in person, or by power of attorney, duly executed, witnessed and filed with
the Secretary or other proper officer of the Company, on the surrender of the certificate or
certificates of such shares properly assigned for transfer.
ARTICLE VIII
CONSTRUCTION
SECTION 1. The masculine gender, when appearing in these By-Laws, shall be deemed to include the
feminine gender.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
SECTION 1. These By-Laws may be altered, amended or added to by the Board of Directors at any
meeting, or by the stockholders at any annual or special meeting, provided notice thereof has been
given.
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AM ERICAS
Legal Title of Bank
JERSEY CITY
City NO
State FDICCertificate Number: 00623
Printed on 08/4/2008 at 2:27 PM
07311-3901
Zip Code
FFIEC 031
Page RC-1
13
Consolidated Report of Condition for Insured Commercial and State-Chartered Savings Banks for June 30, 2008
All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars. Unless otherwise indicated, report the amount outstanding as of the last business day of the quarter.
Schedule RC- Balance Sheet
Collar Amounts in Thousands
ASSETS 1. Cash and balances due from depositoy institutions (from Schedule RC-A):
a. Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin (1)
b, Interest-bearina balances (2)
1 Securities:
a. HeId-to-maturity securities from Schedule RC-B, column A}
b. Available-for-sale securities (from Schedule RGB, column D)
3, Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:
a. Federal funds sold in domestic off ices
b. Securities purchased under agreements to resell (3)
A, Loans and lease financing receivables (from Schedule RC-C}:
a. Loans and leases held for sale
b. Loans and leases, net of unearned income
c. LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses
B528 12,849,000
3123 104,000
d, Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance of item A, b minus Arc)
5. Trading assets (from Schedule RC-Dl
6, Premises and fixed assets including capitalized leases^
7. Other real estate owned from Schedule RC-M}
8. Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies from Schedule RC-M)
9. Not applicable 10. Intangible assets:
a. Goodwill
b, Other intangible assets (from Schedule RC-M)
11. Other assets from Schedule RC-F)
12, Total assets (sum of items 1 through 11)
RCFD
0081 2,125,000 1.a
0071 546,000 l.b
1754 0 2.a
1773 1,804,000 2.b.
RCON
B987 6,868,000 3.a
RCFD
B989 6,013,000 3.b
5369 0 4.1
4.b
4.C
B529 12,745,000 4.d
3545 10,214,000 5
2145 159,000 6
2150 0 7
2130 0 8
3143 0 10.a
0426 78,000 10.b
2150 5,519,000 11
2170 46,071,000 12
(1) Includes cash items in process of collection and un posted debits.
(2) Includes time certificates of deposit not held for trading.
(1) Includes all securities resale agreements in domestic and foreign offices, regardless of maturity.
SCHEDULE RC-CONTINUED
Dollar amounhts in thousands
liabilities
13. deposits
a. In domestic offices (sum of totals of columns a and c from schedule RC-E
part I) Noninterest-bearing(1)
(2) Interest-bearing
b. In foreign offices, edge and agreement subsidies, and IBFs
(form Schedule RC-E, part II
(1) Noninterest-bearing
(2)Interest-bearing
14. Federa funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:
a. Federal funds purchased in domestic offices (2)
b. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase (3)
15. Trading liabilites (from Schedule RC-D)
16. Other borrowed money (includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations
under capitalized leases) (from Schedule RC-M)
17. and 18. Not applicable
19. Subordinated notes and debentures(4)
20. Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G)
21. Total liabilites (sum of items 13 through 20)
22. Minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries
EQUITY CAPITAL
23. Perpetual preferred stock and related suplus
24.Common stock
25. Surplus (exclude all suplus related to preferred stock)
26. a. Retained earnings
b. Accumulated other comprehensive income (5)
27. Other equity capital components (6)
28. Total equity capital (sum of items 23 through 27)
29. Total liabilities, minority interest, and equity capital (sum of items 21, 22, and 28)
6631 3,273,000
6636 11,722,000
6631 5,235,00
6636 3,468,000
RCON
2200 14,995,000 13.a
RCFN
2200 8,703,000 13.b
13.b.1
13.b.2
RCON
B993 8,697,000 14.a
RCFD
B995 0 14.b
3348 261,000 15
3190 1,012,000 16
3200 0 19
2930 3,388,000 20
2948 37,056,000 21
3000 505,000 22
3838 1,500,000 23
3230 2,127,000 24
3839 592,00 25
3632 4,302,000 26.s
B530 (11,000) 26.b
A130 0 27
3210 8,510,000 28
3300 46,071,000 29
Memorandum
To be reported with the March Report of Condition
1. indicate in the box at the right the number of the statement below that best describes the most comprehensive level of auditing work performed for the bank by independent external auditors as of any date during 2007
RCFD Number
1.6724 N/A M.1
1 . = Independent audit Of the bank conducted in accordance with generaIly accepted auditing Standards by a certified public accounting firm which submits a report on the bank.
2. = Independent audit Of the banks parent holding company conducted in accordance with generaIly accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting firm which submits a report on the consolidated holding company (but not on the bank separately)
3. = Attestation on bank management's assertion on the effectiveness Of the banks internal control over financial reporting by a certified public accounting firm.
4 Directors' examination of the bank conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting firm (may be required by state chartering authority)
5= Directors examination of the bank, performed by other external auditors may be required by slate chartering authortty) -
6=Review of the bants fi na ncia I Statements by eatemaI auditors
7=Compilation of the ba nlia financial slatemems by estemal auditors
8 = Other audit procedures {excluding tax preparation work.)
9= No tatemd audit work