Shell full year 2014 update: Balancing growth and returns

The Hague, 29 January 2015. Shell's CEO Ben van Beurden today updates on 2014
performance and his priorities for the company, in presentations to financial
markets.


Van Beurden commented: "Shell has delivered where it counts in 2014. We are
stepping up our drive for stronger capital efficiency, whilst being careful not
to over-react to the recent fall in oil prices.

  * Successful delivery of 2014 programme. Improved financial and operating
    performance including $25 billion free cash flow: strengthening of the
    balance sheet; $15 billion of dividends and share buybacks; reduction of
    capital investment; early completion of $15 billion divestment target; and
    implementation of tighter performance management.

  * 2015 to see continuation of 2014 drive to balance growth and returns. New
    restructuring programmes in world-wide resources plays and upstream
    engines, leveraging oil price downturn to capture multi-billion supply
    chain cost opportunities world-wide, and plans to reduce Shell's operating
    costs in 2015.

  * Organic capital investment in 2015 is expectedto be lower than2014 levels,
    and we havecurtailedover $15billion of potential spendingover the next
    three years. Shell has options to further reduce spending, but we are not
    over-reacting to current low oil prices and keeping our best opportunities
    on the table.

Shell's strategy is founded on disciplined capital investment, integrated
operations, technological expertise and large scale. This is underpinned by an
unrelenting focus on safety. Investment in long term opportunities is balanced
with short term delivery.

Van Beurden continued: "We set out an agenda in 2014 to balance growth and
returns in Shell, and our results in 2014 show that this strategy is impactful
where it matters: at the bottom line. By successfully delivering against our
three key priorities of better financial performance, enhanced capital
efficiency and continued strong project delivery, we are improving Shell's
competitive position in the oil & gas industry."

Delivery in 2014 included:

  * Improved earnings and returns, including $25 billion of free cash flow,
    underpinning $15 billion of dividends and share buybacks.

  * Tighter performance management and accountability implemented across the
    company, including increased shareholding requirements for senior
    management to further align interests with shareholders.

  * Restructuring programmes and cost reduction in North America resources
    plays, where major portfolio changes are now complete; and in Oil Products,
    where substantial progress has been made and new cost programmes were
    launched at the end of 2014.

  * Increased asset sales - some $15 billion in 2014, completed before markets
    weakened across the end of the year, and reduced capital spending, as we
    make decisions on portfolio to improve Shell's capital efficiency.

  * Successful delivery of new projects including deep water, and successful
    integration of the LNG portfolio purchased from Repsol, which delivered
    over $1 billion to CFFO in 2014.

  * A firm uptick in the 2014 exploration performance, with 10 material
    discoveries in frontier and heartland basins, and a further 41 near-field
    discoveries.

Van Beurden continued: "Our strategy is delivering, but we're not complacent.
Weaker oil prices underline that there's a lot more to do. The three themes of
financial performance, capital efficiency and project delivery will remain as
Shell's priorities in 2015."

In 2015, these priorities will include a focus on the following:

Financial performance

  * This will include a continued drive to improve performance in Oil Products
    and North America resources plays, and new restructuring programmes in
    Upstream engines and International resources plays.

  * Cost competitiveness is integral to our tighter performance management
    drive. Our established programmes and new initiatives are expected to move
    operating costs down in 2015.

Capital efficiency

  * Given Shell's rich portfolio funnel and today's lower oil prices,
    investment levels are under severe pressure in the near term. Today's lower
    prices are creating opportunities to reduce our own costs and to take costs
    out of the supply chain, where there is multi-billion dollar savings
    potential for Shell.

  * In addition, the company is deferring spending in many areas, without
    compromising on HSSE, exiting selective growth positions, and driving costs
    down in the supply chain. This should result in reduction of potential
    capital investment for 2015-17 of over $15 billion.

  * 2015 organic capital investment is expected to be lower than 2014 levels.
    Shell is considering further reductions to capital spending should the
    evolving market outlook warrant that step, but is aiming to retain growth
    potential for the medium term.

Project delivery

  * 2015 should see further ramp-up from the new fields brought on line in
    2014. The company continues to invest in a competitive suite of new oil &
    gas fields and LNG, with the next wave of significant start-ups in the
    2016-18 timeframe.

Van Beurden continued: "The agenda we set out in early 2014 to balance growth
and returns has positioned us well for the current oil market downturn.
However, lower oil prices and the impact of our 2014 divestments will likely
reduce this year's cash flow."

Shell announced dividends of $12 billion in 2014 and repurchased $3.3 billion
of shares. We slowed our buyback program at the end of 2014 to conserve cash,
and near-term oil prices will dictate the buyback pace.

Van Beurden concluded: "We are taking a prudent approach here and we must be
careful not to over-react to the recent fall in oil prices. Shell is taking
structured decisions to balance growth and returns."

Enquiries

Shell Media Relations

International: +44 20 7934 5550

Americas: +1 713 241 4544

Shell Investor Relations

International: +31 70 377 4540

North America: +1 832 337 2034

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