EXHIBIT 99

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                             August 30, 1999

ARCO SHAREHOLDERS APPROVE COMBINATION WITH BP AMOCO
- ---------------------------------------------------

LOS ANGELES - ARCO (NYSE: ARC) shareholders today overwhelmingly approved the
company's proposed combination with BP Amoco (NYSE: BPA) at a special
shareholder meeting.

The all-share transaction, previously approved by the boards of both companies,
will involve the exchange of 0.82 BP Amoco American Depository Shares (ADS) for
each ARCO share.

BP Amoco's Extraordinary General Meeting to vote on the combination is scheduled
Wednesday, September 1, in London.

The combination remains subject to the approval of regulatory authorities,
including the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the European Commission.

The companies currently are working to close the transaction later in the year.

"BP Amoco's scale and financial strength will significantly enhance the value of
ARCO's assets and allow greater value to be realized than if ARCO remained an
independent oil and gas company," ARCO Chairman and CEO Mike Bowlin told
shareholders at today's meeting. "The new enterprise will have a stronger
strategic position, enhanced efficiencies and cost competitiveness, and will
generate significant growth opportunities."

ARCO is an integrated hydrocarbons corporation with operations encompassing all
aspects of the oil and gas business: exploration, production, refining and
marketing of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids.

BP Amoco is an international company involved in the exploration and production
of crude oil and natural gas; refining, marketing, supply and transportation of
hydrocarbons; and manufacturing and marketing of petrochemicals and solar power
generation.

                                     # # #

MEDIA CONTACT: Linda Dozier or Marylou Flynn, 213-486-3384

INVESTOR RELATIONS: Eden Warner or David De Sonier, 213-486-1511

For a menu of ARCO news releases or to retrieve a specific release, visit our
web site at http://www.arco.com on the Internet.
            -------------------