21 December 2012
BP p.l.c.
Third quarter interim dividend for 2012
Allotments for Scrip Dividend Programme
Ordinary shares
BP p.l.c. confirms the allotment and issue of 72,744,552 ordinary shares of US$0.25 each ('shares') to shareholders who elected to receive ordinary shares under the Scrip Dividend Programme as an alternative for the third quarter interim dividend for 2012, payable on 21 December 2012. This allotment and issue includes the election made by the Depositary, JPMorgan Chase Bank in order to issue ADSs to ADS holders who elected to receive ADSs under the Scrip Dividend Programme, as outlined below. The shares rank pari passu with the existing issued ordinary shares of the Company.
Following the issue of the above shares, the number of ordinary shares in issue will be 20,957,547,237 of which 1,824,177,096 are held as treasury shares leaving a balance of 19,133,370,141 ordinary shares with voting rights.
Application has been made to the Financial Services Authority for the shares to be admitted to the Official List and to the London Stock Exchange for the shares to be admitted to trading. Dealings in the shares are expected to commence on 21 December 2012.
American Depositary Shares ('ADSs')
In accordance with the terms of the Scrip Dividend Programme for ADS holders and the Deposit Agreement between BP p.l.c. and the Depositary, JPMorgan Chase Bank, 1,072,341.21 ADSs (each representing 6 ordinary shares) are to be issued to ADS holders who elected to receive ADSs under the Scrip Dividend Programme. This number reflects an adjustment for the fee payable to the Depositary under the Deposit Agreement ($0.05 per ADS). Prior to the first quarter 2012 dividend payment stamp duty reserve tax ("SDRT") of 1.5% was deducted from this calculation, but following a recent tax tribunal decision, HM Revenue & Customs will no longer seek to impose 1.5% SDRT on issues of UK shares and securities to non-EU clearance services and depositary receipt systems.Application has been made to the New York Stock Exchange for the listing of the ADSs on the New York Stock Exchange. Dealings in the ADSs are expected to commence on 21 December 2012.
Details of the third quarter dividend are available at www.bp.com/dividends and details of the Scrip Dividend Programme are available at www.bp.com/scrip.
Jens Bertelsen
Deputy Company Secretary