Royal Dutch Shell to Change Headquarters from Hague to London

Royal Dutch Shell shareholders are expected to vote on Friday to approve the plan to end the company's dual share structure and move its headquarters to London.

The plan first surfaces in November, as board members said they believe the share structure change would strengthen Shell's competitiveness and make share buybacks and paying dividends easier.

In order to become reality, the plan requires approval from 75% of votes cast at a meeting in Rotterdam. Board members will meet later to make a final decision, with the move is so far planned for early 2022.

Some say Shell's decision is partially due to a Dutch court ruling in May that ordered it to cut carbon emissions by 45% by 2030. Taxation is also a factor. With its headquarters and tax home now in the Netherlands, dividends paid on its "A" shares are subject to a 15% Dutch withholding tax. Equal payments for "B" shares are distributed through a "Dividend Access Mechanism" that sees them streamed through a trust registered on the Channel Island Jersey to avoid the Dutch tax. The new single-share structure and a British tax home will resolve those issues. Britain does not levy a dividend withholding tax.

*The products advertised are only available to clients under Fondex Limited (SDL No: SD037). Trading CFDs involves significant risk of loss.