DGAP-News: H&R AG / Key word(s): Change of Personnel H&R AG: H&R AG reorganises Executive Management Board

12.12.2011 / 16:44

Press release

H&R AG reorganises Executive Management Board

- Niels H. Hansen named as new Chief Executive Officer

- Luis Rauch appointed as Chief Financial Officer

- Executive Committee expands leadership structure

Salzbergen, Germany, 12 December 2011. The Supervisory Board of H&R AG has appointed Niels H. Hansen as new CEO at a meeting held today. At the same time the Supervisory Board named Luis Rauch as CFO. Both appointments are effective January 1, 2012. Having worked in the USA and Spain before, Niels H. Hansen (46) has worked for the Hansen & Rosenthal Group since 1990. During this period he has contributed to all important transactions, from the acquisition of the Salzbergen refinery in 1994 to the merger between the lubricant refinery Salzbergen and Wasag Chemie AG to form the current H&R AG. Niels H. Hansen was appointed to the Executive Board in 2001 and has successfully been responsible for sales. Since 2004, he has also been in charge for the development of the international business. In future, Niels H. Hansen will concentrate on Group development, international business and corporate communications. Luis Rauch (54) was most recently finance director at the Friedhelm Loh Group, one of Germany's largest family businesses. Prior to that he worked for more than ten years at Dyckerhoff AG, a producer of construction materials, the last five years of which as finance director of the Italian parent company Buzzi Unicem S.p.A. At the Dyckerhoff Group, Rauch successfully restructured and modernised the finance department and was responsible for several international acquisitions. Luis Rauch also spent more than 15 years at the chemical and pharmaceutical group Hoechst (now Sanofi Aventis), where his responsibilities included the leading of export finance for Europe, North America and Japan. In addition he was in charge of risk management for the Hoechst Group and held a seat on the management board of Hoechst Invest Amsterdam.

Luis Rauch succeeds Andreas Keil, who had previously notified the Supervisory Board that he would not be extending his contract and would resign from his post as chief financial officer effective December 31, 2011. Following his successful occupation in the last few years and the refinancing of the company Andreas Keil wants to pursue business opportunities elsewhere. The Supervisory Board would like to thank Mr Keil for the close and prosperous collaboration in recent years and wishes him all the very best for his professional future. Bernd Günther, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of H&R AG said, 'We are very pleased that Niels H. Hansen is to continue the tradition of the Hansen & Rosenthal Group at H&R AG. In addition, with the appointment of Luis Rauch to the Executive Board we have again managed to attract a renowned business leader. His wide-ranging experience in both publicly listed companies and family-run businesses make him an ideal partner for our Group.'

An Executive Committee is also to be established as a second-tier management level in 2012 to support the Executive Board. The committee will initially have five members, who will either head the Group's divisions or hold responsibility for technical and strategic matters. Steve Parkinson (53) and Joe Zhou (49) have already been named as members of the committee. Parkinson is British and has been at H&R AG since 2006, following 14 years spent at Exxon Mobil. Joe Zhou is an American citizen of Chinese descent. He also has many years of experience in the oil business in Asia and the United States. The Executive Board will appoint the remaining members of the Executive Committee in due course.

The next scheduled dates:

17th February 2012 Preliminary figures for the financial year 2011 Press and Analysts' conference 30th March 2012 Final figures for the financial year 2011 14th May 2012 Q1 Interim Report 2012 31st May 2012 Annual Shareholders Meeting Hamburg

Contact: H&R AG, Investor Relations / Communications, Tanja Hemker-Passlack Neuenkirchener Straße 8, 48499 Salzbergen, Germany Phone: +49 40 43218-301, Fax: +49 40 43218-390 Email: tanja.hemker.passlack@hur.com www.hur.com

H&R AG: H&R AG is an SDAX listed specialist chemicals company. It develops and manufactures crude oil-based chemical and pharmaceutical products and high-precision plastic parts.

Forward-looking statements and forecasts: This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current estimates and forecasts made by the Executive Board and the information available to the Board at this time. Forward-looking statements should not be interpreted as guarantees that the projected future developments and results will materialise. Future developments and results are dependent on a range of factors. They comprise various risks and imponderables and rest on assumptions which may prove incorrect. We do not accept any obligation to update the forward-looking statements made in this press release.

End of Corporate News

12.12.2011 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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Language: English
Company: H&R AG
Neuenkirchener Str. 8
48499 Salzbergen
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)40 43 218 321
Fax: +49 (0)40 43 218 390
E-mail: investor.relations@hur.com
Internet: www.hur.com
ISIN: DE0007757007
WKN: 775700
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt (Prime
Standard), Hamburg; Freiverkehr in Berlin, Hannover,
München, Stuttgart


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149440 12.12.2011