Change in Borealis ownership structure final

Company Backgrounders

Borealis

Borealis is a leading, innovative provider of plastics solutions. Its technology shapes daily life products and forms the basis of next generation innovation and creative development in plastics. There is a commitment to the vision of ‘Shaping the Future with Plastics’ since Borealis’ technology and products are playing an increasingly important role and are necessary for the development of modern society and tomorrow’s world.

In 2004, the company had a net income of EUR 203 million. With EUR 5 billion revenue in sales and 4,500 employees, Borealis has more than 40 years of experience as a reliable supplier of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) products. Borealis is a partner to its customers manufacturing and developing products such as food packaging, diapers, appliances, automotive parts, distribution pipes for water, gas and sewage, power cables, sporting equipment and medical devices.

IPIC

The International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) is the Abu Dhabi state enterprise responsible for all foreign investments in the oil and chemicals sector. It is supervised by the Supreme Petroleum Council of Abu Dhabi which oversees the Emirates' oil and gas operations as well as related industries. It is an internationally active, strategic investment company from Abu Dhabi which holds a 17.6% stake in OMV Aktiengesellschaft.

OMV Aktiengesellschaft

With Group sales of EUR 9.88 billion and a workforce of 6,475 employees in 2004, as well as market capitalization of approx. EUR 15 billion, OMV Aktiengesellschaft is Austria’s largest listed industrial company. As the leading oil and gas group in Central Europe, OMV is active in Refining and Marketing (R&M) in 13 countries and has set the goal to increase its market share to 20% by 2008. In Exploration and Production (E&P) OMV is active in 17 countries on five continents. In the Gas business segment OMV has storage facilities and a 2,000 km long pipeline system, transporting 43 bcm of natural gas annually to countries such as Germany and Italy. OMV holds stakes in integrated chemical and petrochemical plants – 50% in AMI Agrolinz International GmbH and 35% stake in Borealis A/S, one of the world’s leading producers of polyolefin. Other important holdings are: 51% of Petrom SA, 50% of EconGas GmbH, 45% of the BAYERNOIL refining network and 10% of the Hungarian company MOL.

With the acquisition of a majority stake in Petrom, Romania’s biggest oil and gas company in 2004, OMV has become the largest oil and gas group in Central Europe, with oil and gas reserves of over 1.4 billion boe, daily production of around 340,000 boe and an annual refining capacity of 26.4 million metric tons. OMV now has over 2,457 gas stations in 13 countries. The market share of the group in the R&M business segment in the Danube Region is now approximately 18%.

Statoil

Statoil, an integrated oil and gas company, is one of the world’s largest net crude oil sellers. It is a major supplier of natural gas in the European market and has substantial industrial operations. The Group is operator for 60% of all Norwegian oil and gas production and its international production is rising steeply. The Group employs about 24,000 people and has activities in 29 countries.