Holding shares and ADSs

Method of holding shares or an interest in shares

There are several ways in which Shell plc registered shares or an interest in these shares can be held, including:

• directly as registered shares either in uncertificated form or in certificated form in a shareholder’s own name;
• indirectly through Euroclear Nederland (in respect of which the Dutch Securities Giro Act (Wet giraal effectenverkeer) is applicable);
• through the Shell Corporate Nominee Service;
• through another third-party nominee or intermediary company; and
• as a direct or indirect holder of either ADS with the Depositary.

American depositary shares

The Depositary is the registered shareholder of the shares underlying the ADSs and enjoys the rights of a shareholder under the Articles. Holders of ADSs will not have shareholder rights. The rights of the holder of an ADS are specified in the Deposit Agreement with the Depositary and are summarised below.

The Depositary will receive all cash dividends and other cash distributions made on the deposited shares underlying the ADSs and, where possible and on a reasonable basis, will distribute such dividends and distributions to holders of ADSs. Rights to purchase additional shares will also be made available to the Depositary who may make such rights available to holders of ADSs. All other distributions made on the Company’s shares will be distributed by the Depositary in any means that the Depositary thinks is equitable and practical. The Depositary may deduct its fees and expenses and the amount of any taxes owed from any payments to holders and it may sell a holder’s deposited shares to pay any taxes owed. The Depositary is not responsible if it decides that it is unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available to holders of ADSs.

The Depositary will notify holders of ADSs of shareholders’ meetings of the Company and will arrange to deliver voting materials to such holders of ADSs if requested by the Company. Upon request by a holder, the Depositary will endeavour to appoint such holder as proxy in respect of such holder’s deposited shares entitling such holder to attend and vote at shareholders’ meetings. Holders of ADSs may also instruct the Depositary to vote their deposited securities and the Depositary will try, as far as practical and lawful, to vote deposited shares in accordance with such instructions. The Company cannot ensure that holders will receive voting materials or otherwise learn of an upcoming shareholders’ meeting in time to ensure that holders can instruct the Depositary to vote their shares.

Upon payment of appropriate fees, expenses and taxes: (i) shareholders may deposit their shares with the Depositary and receive the corresponding class and amount of ADSs; and (ii) holders of ADSs may surrender their ADSs to the Depositary and have the corresponding class and amount of shares credited to their account.

Further, subject to certain limitations, holders may, at any time, cancel ADSs and withdraw their underlying shares or have the corresponding class and amount of shares credited to their account.

Fees paid by holders of ADSs

The Depositary collects its fees for delivery and surrender of ADSs directly from investors depositing shares or surrendering ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal or from intermediaries acting for them. The Depositary collects fees for making distributions to investors by deducting those fees from the amounts distributed or by selling a portion of distributable property to pay the fees. The Depositary may generally refuse to provide fee-attracting services until its fees for those services are paid. See page 321.

Payments by depositary to the company

J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Depositary, has agreed to share with the Company portions of certain fees collected, less ADS programme expenses paid by the Depositary. For example, these expenses include the Depositary’s annual programme fees, transfer agency fees, custody fees, legal expenses, postage and envelopes for mailing annual and interim financial reports, printing and distributing dividend cheques, electronic filing of US federal tax information, mailing required tax forms, stationery, postage, facsimile and telephone calls and the standard out-of-pocket maintenance costs for the ADSs. From January 1, 2021, to February 21, 2022, the Company received $2,500,542.19 from the Depositary.

Dividend reinvestment plan

Equiniti Financial Services Limited, part of the same group of companies as the Company’s Registrar, Equiniti Limited, operates a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP) which enables Shell plc shareholders to elect to have their dividend payments used to purchase Shell plc ordinary shares. More information can be found at www.shareview.co.uk/info/drip or by contacting Equiniti.

ABN AMRO Bank N.V. and JP Morgan Chase Bank N.A. also operate dividend reinvestment options. More information can be found by contacting the relevant provider.

In addition to the above, the Depositary may charge: (i) a dividend fee of $5.00 or less per 100 ADSs (or portion of 100 ADSs) for cash dividends or issuance of ADSs resulting from share dividends and (ii) an administrative fee of $5.00 or less per 100 ADSs (or portion of 100 ADSs) per calendar year. The Company and Depositary have agreed not to charge these fees at this time.

Exchange controls and other limitations affecting security holders

Other than restrictions affecting those individuals, entities, government bodies, corporations, or activities that are targeted by European Union (EU) or UK sanctions for example, regarding Syria, Russia or North Korea, and the general EU prohibition to transfer funds to and from for example, North Korea or Syria, we are not aware of any other legislative or other legal provision currently in force in the UK, the Netherlands, the EU or arising under the Articles restricting remittances to holders of the Company’s ordinary shares who are non-residents of the UK, or affecting the import or export of capital.