Dividends

Policy

Our policy is to grow the US dollar dividend through time in line with our view of Shell’s underlying earnings and cash flow. When setting the dividend, the Board of Directors looks at a range of factors, including the macroeconomic environment, the current balance sheet and future investment plans.

Scrip Dividend Programme

The Company’s Scrip Dividend Programme, until the third quarter of 2017, enabled shareholders to increase their shareholding by choosing to receive new shares instead of cash dividends (if approved by the Board). Only new A shares were issued under the programme, including to shareholders who hold B shares.

A and B shares

$

 

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

Q1

0.47

0.47

0.47

0.47

0.45

Q2

0.47

0.47

0.47

0.47

0.45

Q3

0.47

0.47

0.47

0.47

0.45

Q4

0.47

0.47

0.47

0.47

0.45

Total announced in respect of the year

1.88

1.88

1.88

1.88

1.80

A shares

€[A]

 

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

[A]

Euro equivalent, rounded to the nearest euro cent.

Q1

0.42

0.42

0.42

0.35

0.34

Q2

0.39

0.42

0.42

0.36

0.34

Q3

0.40

0.44

0.43

0.38

0.33

Q4

0.38

0.44

0.42

0.43

0.32

Total announced in respect of the year

1.59

1.72

1.69

1.53

1.34

Amount paid during the year

1.65

1.70

1.71

1.42

1.34

B shares

Pence[A]

 

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

[A]

Sterling equivalent.

Q1

37.12

32.98

30.75

28.03

28.99

Q2

36.28

35.27

30.92

29.09

28.67

Q3

35.02

37.16

31.07

30.16

27.51

Q4

33.91

38.64

32.78

31.20

26.88

Total announced in respect of the year

142.33

144.05

125.52

118.48

112.05

Amount paid during the year

147.06

138.19

123.94

114.16

113.96

A and B ADSs

$

 

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

Q1

0.94

0.94

0.94

0.94

0.90

Q2

0.94

0.94

0.94

0.94

0.90

Q3

0.94

0.94

0.94

0.94

0.90

Q4

0.94

0.94

0.94

0.94

0.90

Total announced in respect of the year

3.76

3.76

3.76

3.76

3.60

Amount paid during the year

3.76

3.76

3.76

3.72

3.56

Scrip issuance A shares

Number of shares in million

 

2017[A]

2016

2015[B]

2014[B]

2013

[A]

Our Scrip Dividend Programme was cancelled with effect from the fourth quarter 2017 interim dividend.

[B]

Our Scrip Dividend Programme was cancelled with effect from the second quarter 2014 interim dividend and reintroduced with effect from the first quarter 2015 interim dividend.

Q1

47.8

65.7

38.0

25.6

Q2

33.9

50.6

23.4

26.6

23.6

Q3

33.8

44.1

23.9

39.1

Q4

52.7

58.9

49.0

37.3

Total

168.2

219.3

96.3

64.6

125.6

Number of shares repurchased [A]

Number of shares in million

 

2017

2016

2015[B]

2014

2013

[A]

Share repurchases based on the trading date. Settlement usually occurs three working days after each trading day.

[B]

Our share buyback programme was suspended in February 2015.

Q1

12.7

32.4

16.1

Q2

9.5

56.2

Q3

21.4

45.4

Q4

24.4

27.2

Total

12.7

87.7

144.9