Notes for editors:

HELM AG is a family-owned company based in Hamburg, Germany, with a business tradition over 117 years old. As a multifunctional sales and distribution organisation, HELM is active in the chemicals industry through its Feedstocks and Derivatives business units, in the crop protection industry, in active pharmaceutical ingredients, pharmaceuticals and medical products, and in the fertilizer industry. HELM is one of the world's major independent chemicals marketing enterprises and secures access to the world’s key markets through its specific regional knowledge and over 100 subsidiaries, sales offices and participations in over 30 countries.

Brenntag, one of the global market leaders in chemical distribution, covers all major markets with its extensive product and service portfolio. Headquartered in Essen, Germany, the company operates a global network with more than 530 locations in 74 countries. In 2017, the company, which has a global workforce of more than 15,000 employees, generated sales of EUR 11.7 billion (USD 13.3 billion). Brenntag connects chemical manufacturers and chemical users. The company supports its customers and suppliers with tailor-made distribution solutions for industrial and specialty chemicals. With over 10,000 products and a world-class supplier base, Brenntag offers one-stop-shop solutions to around 185,000 customers. This includes specific application technology, an extensive technical support and value-added services such as just-in-time delivery, product mixing, formulation, repackaging, inventory management and drum return handling. Long-standing experience and local excellence in the individual countries characterize the global market leader for chemical distribution.

Rosneft is the third largest player in the German oil refining market with a throughput of about 12.5 million tons per year, which is more than 12% of all German refining throughput. The average conversion rate at the Company's facilities is 93%, the average Nelson complexity index is 9.1. The operations are performed by Rosneft Deutschland GmbH, a subsidiary of Rosneft that manages the supply of feedstock to the refineries owned by Rosneft: PCK Raffinerie GmbH, MiRO refinery, Bayernoil refinery, and also sale of petroleum products.