Confirmation Of The Dow Jones Stoxx Methodology - Treatment Of The Unification Of Royal Dutch Petroleum And “Shell” Transport And Trading Company

Based on the joint company announcement from Thursday, October 28, 2004, proposing the unification of Royal Dutch Petroleum (NL0000009470) and Shell Transport and Trading Company (GB0008034141) into a single parent company, Royal Dutch Shell plc, STOXX Ltd. will follow its procedures as described in the Dow Jones Stoxx Indexguide (subject to regulatory approval):

Regional Classification

Dow Jones STOXX Rules, 2.2 “Regional Classification” states that to be eligible for Dow Jones Eurozone indexes companies must be incorporated in the Eurozone, with the primary listing there and trading in Euro. According to this rule Royal Dutch Shell PLC (incorporated in the U.K. with a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange) will not be eligible for Dow Jones STOXX Eurozone indexes, including Dow Jones EURO STOXX 50, Dow Jones EURO STOXX and its respective sector indexes.

Most liquid line

Dow Jones STOXX Rules, 7.3 “Size Indexes – Dow Jones STOXX 600” states that only the most liquid class will be included in Dow Jones STOXX 600 and therefore in the Dow Jones STOXX blue chip indexes. According to this rule only the “A” class or the “B” class will be eligible for the Dow Jones STOXX 50 index.

Replacements

At the effective date, the less liquid class of Royal Dutch Shell plc will be replaced in the Dow Jones STOXX 50 and Dow Jones STOXX 600 and Royal Dutch Petroleum (NL0000009470) will be replaced in Dow Jones EURO STOXX 50.

The replacements will be selected among the largest non-components in the respective Dow Jones STOXX Blue Chip and Dow Jones STOXX 600 Monthly Selection Lists (Dow Jones Index Guide, 8.1. “Replacements”).