Extract from the ebook “John Donovan, Shell’s Nightmare” (now available on Amazon websites globally)
(BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT SHELL’S EPIC 25 YEAR FEUD WITH JOHN DONOVAN – which puts the extracts below in overall context.)
Extract from page 55
The main Smart litigation was so long drawn out and intensely reported that it was said to have scuppered a merger deal between Shell and Texaco.
Extracts from a related magazine article dated July/August 1999 (the linked file also contains a salient letter circulated by Shell to Shell retailers):
One ex-Shell employee said, “This has been an on-going saga for so long now, one could reasonably assume that the action had become a fly in the ointment for any potential deal. From the language of the statements it does seem that Shell has wanted to draw a line under this action and secure the future of Smart. This could now pave the way for a merger, and Texaco would be the likely candidate.” The recent fluctuations in the oil price and the need to rationalise and cut costs across major markets has led oil giants into increasingly ambitious partnerships.
Shell’s proposed merger with Texaco was halted last year. Uncertainty over the long-term legal ownership of the Smart concept would certainly be a barrier to such a deal.
Extract from the John Donovan ebook end.
RELATED
While the dramatic cross-examination of Shell executive AJL was in progress and reaching a climax, Shell suddenly settled the high court litigation brought by John Donovan in relation to SHELL SMART and related libel actions. Shell paid all legal costs said to be over £1 million pounds and John Donovan received a secret payment as part of the settlement, the full terms of which were deliberately withheld by Shell from the Judge, the late Mr Justice Laddie. The judge made comments at the end of the trial unaware of the full terms of settlement, a fact later confirmed to John Donovan in writing by Shell Legal Director Richard Wiseman, now retired. The comments made by the judge later triggered a repudiation of the settlement by Shell.
EARLIER EXTRACTS
John Donovan, Shell’s nightmare: Genesis
John Donovan, Shell’s nightmare: Süddeutsche Zeitung article
GERMAN TV: John Donovan’s revelations cost Shell billions
ARGUS FSU ENERGY INTERVIEW WITH KREMLIN ATTACK DOG, OLEG MITVOL
How Shell lost its majority stake in Sakhalin II
John Donovan, Group Chairman, Royal Dutch Shell PLC companies
Donovan family relationship with Shell
Long association with the Royal Dutch Shell
Since the 1990s, Shell has been at war with John Donovan
An unscrupulous Shell executive
SHELL PROJECT HERCULES RIGGED TENDER PROCESS
Shell caught red-handed in Make Money deception
Donovan Defamation Actions Against Shell
Shell in legal row over Smart Card
Defamatory Posters on Display at Shell HQ
SHELL DEFAMATION PROCEEDINGS AGAINST SHELL WHISTLEBLOWER DR JOHN HUONG
399 Former Shell Malaysia Employees Sued Shell for Misappropriation of Retirement Funds
Don Marketing posts legal warning about Shell
Bombarded by threats from Shell
This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.