The continuing travails of British Petroleum (BP) and the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico highlight the onus upon owners of the beleaguered company to relay their concerns as part of their wider social responsibility or societal obligation. Below is a list of the institutional owners of BP and their ownership stake in the company from two sources. The first source is from the 2009 BP Annual Report. The second source is from NASDAQ figures dated 31^st March 2010.

Owners of the company from BP's 2009 Annual Report[i]

"BlackRock, Inc. [ http://www.blackrock.com/ ] holds interests in 1,112,967,596 ordinary shares (5.93% of the ordinary share capital excluding shares held in treasury and shares bought back for cancellation).

"Legal & General Group plc [ http://www.legalandgeneralgroup.com/ ] hold interests in 783,820,456 ordinary shares (4.18% of the company’s ordinary share capital excluding shares held in treasury and shares bought back for cancellation).The company’s major shareholders do not have different voting rights.

“The National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Limited [ http://www.nfumutual.co.uk/ ] holds interests in 945,000 8% cumulative first preference shares (13.07% of that class) and 987,000 9%cumulative second preference shares (18.03% of that class).

“M&G Investment Management Ltd [ http://www.mandg.co.uk/ ] holds interests in 528,150 8% cumulative first preference shares (7.30% of that class) and 644,450 9% cumulative second preference shares (11.77% of that class).

“Gartmore Investment Management Limited [ http://www.gartmore.com/ ] holds interests in 394,538 8% cumulative first preference shares (5.45% of that class) and 500,000 9% cumulative second preference shares (9.14% of that class).

“Duncan Lawrie Ltd [ http://www.duncanlawrie.com/ ] holds interests in 461,876 8% cumulative first preference shares (6.39% of that class).

“Ruffer LLP [ http://www.ruffer.co.uk/ ] holds interests in 587,000 9% cumulative second preference shares (10.72% of that class).

“Lazard Asset Management Ltd. (U.K.) [ http://www.lazardnet.com/lam/uk/index.shtml ] holds interests in 328,500 9% cumulative second preference shares (6.0% of that class)."

Source: BP Annual Report (2009: 98)

Predominantly American Institutional Owners of BP PLC[ii]

This table lists the top 30 institutional investor owners of BP PLC as at 31^st March 2010. A notable owner is the trust of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which is ranked no.9 in the list. Australia’s Macquarie Group became a substantial owner of BP at no.25 when it bought the Delaware Business Management Trust from Lincoln National Corporation.