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PGGM and Shell explore potential joint acquisition of Eneco

PGGM and Shell have joined forces to explore the opportunity to participate in the controlled auction for the sustainable energy provider Eneco. In December 2018 Eneco and its shareholders’ committee announced the start of the privatisation process.


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This consortium is impressed with Eneco’s achievements in transforming the Dutch energy system through investments in sustainability and renewable energy. PGGM and Shell combine the knowledge, ambitions and financial commitment to build on Eneco’s sustainable strategy and are determined to competitively grow the renewable energy products and services offer for millions of customers in North West Europe.

With their roots in Dutch society, both PGGM and Shell understand Eneco’s unique position in taking on the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition. The consortium envisages that Eneco will be a platform for growth, operating from Rotterdam, with potential investments inside and outside of the Netherlands. Eneco could realise this as a separate entity, leveraging a strong identity, durable customer relations and a committed and experienced workforce within the company.

 “The energy transition offers good opportunities for long-term investments in a more sustainable economy and we think Eneco can play a central role in realising the consortium’s shared ambitions. PGGM and Shell bring complementary experience and expertise across Eneco’s activities, which will support the delivery of affordable sustainable energy to a growing number of customers in North West Europe,” says Frank Roeters van Lennep, Chief Investment Officer Private Markets PGGM.

Through its existing business and activities Shell offers access to clean-tech research and development, connected mobility and digital start-ups as well as a substantial number of partners and customers. “This provides opportunities along the entire energy value chain, from generation of renewable power to trading and delivery at home, on the road and at work,” says Shell’s Integrated Gas & New Energies Director Maarten Wetselaar. “Eneco’s business neatly fits with Shell’s New Energies activities and ambitions to continuously find new ways to reduce carbon emissions and provide more and cleaner energy. The consortium is committed to expand and develop business models that create both societal and commercial value.”

PGGM sees sustainability as a cornerstone of its investment policy for Dutch pension capital, investing for the long term in the energy transition around the world. As pension fund investor PGGM aims to combine sound financial returns on investments with tangible societal returns. Eneco would greatly add to PGGM’s growing global portfolio of sustainable investments which provide concrete climate solutions (currently valued at over 8 billion dollar), lower the carbon footprint of pension capital and offer a unique chance to invest directly in the Dutch economy.

Shell is amplifying its role in the energy transition with increasing levels of investments in offshore wind, solar, e-mobility, and the power sector. Shell established its New Energies business to create business opportunities in the transition to a low-carbon future. Any potential investment should competitively fit within the company’s strategy and financial framework and stated capital investment guidance range of $25-30 billion per annum.

The consortium partners understand that Eneco will be brought to the market via a controlled auction, subject to shareholder approval. PGGM and Shell realise this process is at an early stage and respect that it is up to the shareholders to determine the next steps in the sale process. The consortium looks forward to further assessing the potential opportunity and has shared an open letter further outlining its intent.

About PGGM

PGGM is a cooperative Dutch pension fund service provider. Institutional clients are offered: asset management, pension fund management, policy advice and management support. On June 30, 2018 PGGM had EUR 215 billion in assets under management and was administrating pensions of 4.2 million participants. Around 750,000 workers in the Dutch healthcare are connected to PGGM&CO, our members organization. Either alone or together with strategic partners, PGGM develops future solutions by linking together pension, care, housing and work.
www.pggm.nl

About Shell New Energies

Shell’s New Energies business builds on our experience in lower-carbon technology and explores new commercial models focused on the world’s energy transition. Shell aims to make electricity a significant part of its business, from generating it to buying, selling and supplying electricity directly to customers. Our New Energies business is seeking to leverage the company’s strengths in fast-growing and commercial parts of the energy industry. For more information on Shell New Energies see: www.shell.com/newenergies

Cautionary Note

The companies in which Royal Dutch Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this press release “Shell”, “Shell group” and “Royal Dutch Shell” are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to Royal Dutch Shell plc and subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. ‘‘Subsidiaries’’, “Shell subsidiaries” and “Shell companies” as used in this press release refer to entities over which Royal Dutch Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. Entities and unincorporated arrangements over which Shell has joint control are generally referred to as “joint ventures” and “joint operations”, respectively.  Entities over which Shell has significant influence but neither control nor joint control are referred to as “associates”. The term “Shell interest” is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest.

This press release contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Royal Dutch Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Royal Dutch Shell to market risks and statements expressing management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “aim”, “ambition’, ‘‘anticipate’’, ‘‘believe’’, ‘‘could’’, ‘‘estimate’’, ‘‘expect’’, ‘‘goals’’, ‘‘intend’’, ‘‘may’’, ‘‘objectives’’, ‘‘outlook’’, ‘‘plan’’, ‘‘probably’’, ‘‘project’’, ‘‘risks’’, “schedule”, ‘‘seek’’, ‘‘should’’, ‘‘target’’, ‘‘will’’ and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Royal Dutch Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this press release, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell’s products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; and (m) changes in trading conditions. No assurance is provided that future dividend payments will match or exceed previous dividend payments.  All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Royal Dutch Shell’s 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2017 (available at www.shell.com/investor and www.sec.gov ). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward-looking statements contained in this press release and should be considered by the reader.  Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this press release, 14 January 2019. Neither Royal Dutch Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this press release that United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC.  U.S. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov.


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