Royal Dutch Shell

Royal Dutch Shell plc is a major energy company, one of the top four vertically integrated private sector oil/gas companies in the world (along with BP, ExxonMobil, and Total). Shell also has a significant petrochemicals business (Shell Chemicals) and an embryonic renewable energy sector developing wind and solar opportunities. Its corporate headquarters are in The Hague, Netherlands, with legal headquarters in London, United Kingdom.

Ownership

Prior to unification on 20 July 2005, the group was a dual listed company. The two holding companies were the Royal Dutch Petroleum Company of the Netherlands and The "Shell" Transport and Trading Company plc of the United Kingdom. These two companies jointly owned all the operating companies in the group, although some (e.g. Shell Canada) also have local shareholders and are traded on local stock markets. The Shell interest in subsidiaries is always divided 60/40 in favor of Royal Dutch. In many cases, subsidiary companies are held in partnership with other companies or governments.

Related Topics:
20 July - 2005 - Dual listed company - Netherlands - United Kingdom - Shell Canada - Governments

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Even now, likely for tax reasons, the company's shares are divided into two classes, A and B, representing the former Royal Dutch and Shell shares respectively.

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Although, to meet company law in all countries, there were executive and non-executive nominated directors of both Royal Dutch and Shell Transport and Trading , the Group had in fact been run by an executive body called the "Committee of Managing Directors" (CMD), whose members were the (executive) Managing Directors of the two parent companies.

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An original investor, the largest single shareholder of Royal Dutch Shell is the holding company owned by the Dutch Royal Family, which was set up by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands.

Related Topics:
Dutch Royal Family - Wilhelmina of the Netherlands

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