OPL 245 corruption scandal coming to the boil again

Bonus Group: Bonus Group has previously mentioned John de Lange, once upon a time VP Well Engineering and Operations BG Brasil, last heard of kicking his heels in Chad as VP Operations for Glencore E&P (Canada) Inc before he fell foul of jackals and going to ground. This very wealthy man by his own admission now finds himself literally in hot water, or more precisely as a director of Geothermie Groep Nederland B.V. This is probably the best outcome for the oil and gas industry as his competency and motives were questionable at best.

USA USA USA: John, thanks for posting the article on the Trump visit to Penn Chem. Most insiders don't think Shell will really want that kind of connection to Trump. But if he asks to come with the EPA administrator and DOE Minister, what can you do, but say yes? Saying no would have resulted in a backlash for sure. Makes it difficult to stay politically neutral. Shell still wants to play both sides on the US agenda, and win regardless of the outcome. This is more troubling for many, as it shows the messaging in EU is low carbon future, in the USA its drill baby drill. It makes your point on culture, that some still seem to doubt.

USA USA USA: it was very interesting to see Shell host President Trump at Penn Chem for Energy Speech that turned into a campaign rally. More interesting that he seemed to take credit for making it happen. https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2019/08/13/donald-trump-in-beaver-county/ Scroll down to the middle and you can watch the full hour speech.

Mateusz: Hello, I am interested in purchasing royaldutchshellplc.com Are you interested?

REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN

I would have taken your question more seriously if you had contacted me privately via email rather than via a public forum.

NAZI OBSESSION: What makes you think that anyone is interested in Shell's business dealings with the Germans several decades ago?

REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN

Shell's historians must have thought someone would be interested or they would not have included dozens of pages filled with supporting evidence in "A History of Royal Dutch Shell" Volumes 1 & 2 published in 2007. Understandably, they spun the evidence in favour of their paying client, Shell. Another indication of interest is the many thousands of visitors to our new sister website shellnazihistory.com. Likewise, 17,918 blocked malicious login attempts on the new site with 1,696 blocked spam comments (by Akismet). All stats as of today, 13 July 2019. In addition to the public interest, clearly, there is evil intent towards the website. Wonder who that might be?

Bonus Group: In answer to uscitizen's post proclaiming the wonders of the acquisition of BG Group by Shell, it should be remembered that Shell had a 'fire sale' of a plethora of BG 'dross' assets in order to raise $30Bn to disguise the amount by which they had overpaid for BG Group. Sooner or later there must be another reserves recategorisation. The Brasil Asset is a prime candidate for this given that it is still staffed by ex-BG sycophants propping up the illusion. As highlighted by Bogus Group, it would seem that Knarr is the latest posthumous failure of BG Group. They were always over stating the value to the shareholders.

Bogus Group: In 2015 this prospect was given a production life of "at least 10 years"Did Shell expect such an early exit, or was this another BG Group recoverable miscalculation?https://www.upstreamonline.com/hardcopy/1805800/shell-to-pull-plug-at-knarr

uscitizen: Shell, the world’s second-largest listed oil and gas company after Exxon, cut costs heavily following its 2016 acquisition of BG Group for $53 billion and the 2014 oil crash. Despite a slow and bumpy recovery in oil prices, it reported the largest profit among its peers last year and a jump in revenue from previous years. Shell said its free cash flow - cash available for dividends and share buybacks - was set to rise to around $35 billion per year by 2025 based on a Brent crude oil price of $60 per barrel. That compares with $28-33 billion in free cash flow it expects to deliver by the end of next year. Brent is currently trading just under $61 per barrel. Shell, the world’s biggest dividend payer at $16 billion in 2018, expects to increase its dividend payouts to shareholders once it completes the $25 billion share buyback by the end of 2020 that it promised following the BG acquisition. Shell last increased its quarterly dividend in the first quarter of 2014 to $0.47 per share.

uscitizen: All of the folks bashing Shell for the BG merger, I think we can now say this has been a very good financial move. Shell has overtaken Exxon and Integrated Gas is a big reason why. I am sure there are examples where some good people got pushed out, and I hate to hear that. However, lets not pull the wool over folks eyes and say this business decision was not sound.

Bonus Group: Further to yesterday's post. Sound Energy plc ("Sound Energy" or the "Company") Director/PDMR Shareholding Sound Energy, the Moroccan focused upstream gas company, announces that it has been notified that Brian Mitchener, Executive Director, has today purchased 150,000 ordinary shares in the Company ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 12.04 pence per Ordinary Share. As a result of this purchase, Mr Mitchener is interested in 150,000 Ordinary Shares, representing 0.0142% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital.

Bonus Group: UnSound Energy? Readers may wonder why the darling of the AIM Market is now preparing itself for a sale of its Eastern Morocco acreage. Perhaps, the answer may be found in the Annual Report 2018 available to download as a .PDF from the Sound Energy Website: Page 49 Loss of Office and Change of Control Provisions In the event of a change of control of the Company, the CEO, CFO and Exploration Director have the option to give notice and receive a lump sum equivalent to 18 months’ salary for the CEO, 12 months’ salary for the CFO and 8 months’ salary for the Exploration Director.All of the Company’s current share plans contain provisions relating to a change of control. On a change of control, outstanding awards would normally vest and become exercisable, subject to the satisfaction of any performance conditions at that time. Page 50 Summary Of Actual Remuneration (including Benefits in Kind and Performance Awards) Of Directors Executive Directors James Parsons £995,000 Brian Mitchener £323,000 (RSU Awards No. of Shares 862,682, Granted 26.04.18 Settlement date 01.01.21) JJ Traynor £168,000 (RSU Awards No. of Shares 961,194, Granted 26.04.18 Settlement Date 01.01.21) It should be remembered that Brian Mitchener is of the failed BG Group stable. It would seem that Bonus Group habits are hard to let g0!

Bogus Group: I concur with Bonus Group recollection of the tin pot, lacklustre, parvenu outfit. There was no place in BG Group for experienced professionals if they didn’t possess the sycophant tendencies required to stoke the egos of those deluded by corporate grandeur. Large remuneration packages were not uncommon then too, the chief executive received circa £13mm (published) in bonuses throughout his 12 year tenure. During that period there were 26 fatalities, roughly £500k for each. That was more than distasteful.

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