BP 2009 Annual Report Download - page 103

101
BP Annual Report and Accounts 2009
Additional information for shareholders
Additional information for shareholders
Pence Dollars
American
depositary
Ordinary shares sharesa
High Low High Low
Year ended 31 December
2005 686.00 499.00 72.75 56.60
2006 723.00 558.50 76.85 63.52
2007 640.00 504.50 79.77 58.62
2008 657.25 370.00 77.69 37.57
2009 613.40 400.00 60.00 33.71
Year ended 31 December
2008: First quarter 648.00 495.00 75.87 57.87
Second quarter 657.25 501.34 77.69 60.25
Third quarter 583.00 446.00 69.10 48.35
Fourth quarter 541.25 370.00 51.49 37.57
2009: First quarter 566.50 400.00 49.83 33.71
Second quarter 543.75 426.50 53.24 38.50
Third quarter 568.50 459.25 55.61 44.63
Fourth quarter 613.40 528.00 60.00 50.60
2010: First quarter (to 18 February) 639.00 552.30 62.38 52.11
Month of
September 2009 568.50 514.80 55.61 50.30
October 2009 598.00 528.00 58.69 50.60
November 2009 599.30 562.50 60.00 56.22
December 2009 613.40 572.00 58.99 55.77
January 2010 639.00 585.10 62.38 55.87
February 2010 (to 18 February) 595.00 552.30 57.26 52.11
aAn ADS is equivalent to six 25 cent ordinary shares.
Market prices for the ordinary shares on the LSE and in after-hours
trading off the LSE, in each case while the NYSE is open, and the market
prices for ADSs on the NYSE are closely related due to arbitrage among
the various markets, although differences may exist from time to time
due to various factors, including UK stamp duty reserve tax.
On 18 February 2010, 886,409,646 ADSs (equivalent to
5,318,457,873 ordinary shares or some 28.34% of the total issued
share capital, excluding treasury shares and shares bought back for
cancellation) were outstanding and were held by approximately 132,684
ADS holders. Of these, about 131,204 had registered addresses in the
US at that date. One of the registered holders of ADSs represents some
698,373 underlying holders.
On 18 February 2010, there were approximately 314,028 holders
of record of ordinary shares. Of these holders, around 1,540 had
registered addresses in the US and held a total of some 4,343,899
ordinary shares.
Since certain of the ordinary shares and ADSs were held by
brokers and other nominees, the number of holders of record in the US
may not be representative of the number of beneficial holders or of their
country of residence.
Memorandum and Articles
of Association
The following summarizes certain provisions of the company’s
Memorandum and Articles of Association and applicable English law. This
summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the UK Companies Act
and the company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association. Information
on where investors can obtain copies of the Memorandum and Articles
of Association is described under the heading ‘Documents on display’ on
page 105.
At the AGM held on 17 April 2008, shareholders voted to adopt new
Articles of Association, largely to take account of changes in UK company
law brought about by the Companies Act 2006. Further amendments to
the Articles of Association are being proposed at our AGM in 2010, to
reflect the full implementation of the Companies Act 2006, among other
matters.
Under the Companies Act 2006 the Memorandum serves a
more limited role as historical evidence of the formation of the company.
Since October 2009 the provisions of the company’s Memorandum are
deemed to form part of BP’s Articles of Association.
Objects and purposes
BP is incorporated under the name BP p.l.c. and is registered in England
and Wales with registered number 102498. Clause 4 of BP’s
Memorandum of Association provides that its objects include the
acquisition of petroleum-bearing lands; the carrying on of refining and
dealing businesses in the petroleum, manufacturing, metallurgical or
chemicals businesses; the purchase and operation of ships and all other
vehicles and other conveyances; and the carrying on of any other
businesses calculated to benefit BP. The memorandum grants BP a
range of corporate capabilities to effect these objects.