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Does the Oil Industry Need to Clean Up its Act?

A recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive indicates the need to enhance the image of the oil industry

LONDON – March 24, 2006 – A recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive® suggests a need to enhance the image of the oil industry. The research was designed to understand consumer attitudes toward oil companies, compared with companies in the banking, food manufacture, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and power generation sectors. A total sample of 7,987 adult consumers (nationally representative in each country, aged 16 and older) was surveyed via the Internet in four different markets: Great Britain, France, Germany and Spain.

The findings from the study, which focused on five image-related questions, clearly show why work needs to be carried out by the oil industry to enhance perceptions of its image:

Trust: In the four markets surveyed, overall, fewest adults trust in oil (7%) and chemicals (9%) companies to look after their welfare. More say they trust banks (17%) and power generation companies (20%); however, it is the food manufacturers (28%) and pharmaceutical companies (30%) that show highest numbers trusting them.

Improving living standards: Only one in four (26%) of adults agree that oil companies "improve the standard of living for society as a whole," a similar proportion to the banking (24%). Almost a third (30%) agree that chemical companies (30%) do whilst in other sectors; food manufacturers (47%), power generation companies (49%) and pharmaceutical companies (53%), are perceived by roughly half of adults to be improving the standard of living.

Concern about the local community and environment: Oil and chemical companies are seen as the least concerned about the local community and environment, according to adults. Only seven and eight percent, respectively, agreed that these types of companies "are concerned about the local community and environment," compared with around one in five who agreed that food manufacturers (22%), pharmaceutical (19%) and power generation (19%) companies are concerned.

Ethical business practices: Oil and chemical companies are also least likely to be perceived as adopting ethical business practices. Again, only six and eight percent, respectively, agreed that these types of companies "adopt ethical business practices." Food manufacturers were the most likely to be seen to adopt ethical business practices, with 18% of adults agreeing, followed by pharmaceutical companies (16%).

An industry to work for: Of all the industries represented in the survey, oil and chemical companies are the ones fewest adults would like to work for. Only 16 and 13 percent, respectively, agreed that they would "like to work for one of these companies", compared with 25 to 30 percent who say this for the other sectors.

To summarise, on the five areas of opinion about which adults were questioned, oil companies came out lowest or second lowest on all the areas.

Farrokh Suntook, senior vice president, Business Development, at Harris Interactive comments: "Despite some oil companies taking considerable steps to improve consumer perceptions of the oil industry, it appears that there is still a credibility gap and much more work remains to be done."

TABLE 1

AGREEMENT WITH STATEMENT (TOP 2 BOX PERCENT AND RANK POSITION)

Base: All adults (n=7,987)

Oil Companies

Pharmaceutical Companies

Food Manufacturers

Power Generation Companies

Banks

Chemical Companies

% (Rank)

% (Rank)

% (Rank)

% (Rank)

% (Rank)

% (Rank)

"I can trust these companies to look after my welfare."

7 (6)

30 (1)

28 (2)

20 (3)

17 (4)

9 (5)

"These companies improve the standard of living for society as a whole."

26 (5)

53 (1)

47 (3)

49 (2)

24 (6)

30 (4)

"These companies are concerned about the local community and environment."

7 (6)

19 (2)

22 (1)

19 (2)

14 (4)

8 (5)

"These companies adopt ethical business practices."

6 (6)

16 (2)

18 (1)

12 (3)

11 (4)

8 (5)

"I would like to work in one of these companies."

16 (5)

27 (2)

26 (3)

25 (4)

29 (1)

13 (6)

Mean Percent

12.4

29.0

28.2

25.0

19.0

13.6

Mean Rank

4.7

1.3

1.7

2.3

3.2

4.2

Methodology

Harris Interactive® conducted the online survey between 1 and 9 December 2005, among 7,987 adults aged 16 and over from four Western European countries: Great Britain (1,912) France (2,069), Germany (2,174), and Spain (1,832). Data were weighted to be representative of the general adult population in each country with respect to age, sex, income, education, geographic location and propensity to be online. In theory, with probability samples of this size, one could say with 95% certainty that the results have a sampling error of +/-1 percentage point for the overall W. Europe sample and the sampling error is higher and varies for the results from individual country sub-samples. This online sample was not a probability sample.

About Harris Interactive®
Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States, Europe (www.harrisinteractive.com/europe) and Asia offices, its wholly-owned subsidiary Novatris in Paris, France (www.novatris.com), and through an independent global network of affiliate market research companies. EOE M/F/D/V

Harris Interactive Inc. (www.harrisinteractive.com), based in Rochester, New York, is the 13th largest and the fastest-growing market research firm in the world, most widely known for The Harris Poll® and for its pioneering leadership in the online market research industry. Long recognized by its clients for delivering insights that enable confident business decisions, the Company blends the science of innovative research with the art of strategic consulting to deliver knowledge that leads to measurable and enduring value.

To become a member of the Harris Poll OnlineSM and be invited to participate in future online surveys, go to www.harrispollonline.com.

For further details about this specific survey or about our overall services please contact:

Caroline North

+44 (0) 208 263 5246

cnorth@harrisinteractive.com

Jennifer Cummings

+1 585 214 7720

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