Orlen

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Orlen S.A.
Company typeSpółka Akcyjna
ISINPLPKN0000018
IndustryPetroleum
FoundedPłock, Poland
7 September 1999 as Polski Koncern Naftowy
Headquarters,
Area served
Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Slovakia
Key people
Witold Literacki (acting)(President and CEO)
Wojciech Popiołek (Chairman of the supervisory board)
ProductsFuel, crude oil and other natural gas
BrandsOrlen, CPN, Star, Unipetrol, Benzina, Orlen Lietuva, Turmöl
RevenueIncrease PLN 278.509 billion
59.447 billion (2022)[1]
Increase PLN 8.657 billion (2019)
Increase PLN 21.441 billion (2022)[1]
Total assetsIncrease PLN 272.747 billion (2022)
Total equityPLN 535 million (2017)
Number of employees
64,494 (2022)[2]
Websiteorlen.pl

Orlen S.A. (formerly Polish: Polski Koncern Naftowy Orlen Spółka Akcyjna, PKN Orlen SA., lit.'Polish Oil Concern Orlen Public Corporation'), commonly known as Orlen, is a Polish multinational oil refiner and petrol retailer headquartered in Płock, Poland. The company's subsidiaries include the main oil and gas companies of the Czech Republic and Lithuania, Unipetrol and Orlen Lietuva respectively.

The corporation is a significant European publicly traded firm with operations in Poland as well as Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Pakistan, and Slovakia.[3] As of March 2024, the largest shareholder of the company is the Polish state (via the State Treasury) with 49.9% of the shares ahead of Nationale-Nederlanden OFE with 5.2% of the shares.[4]

The company is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and, as of 2022, its reported revenue constituted over PLN 278 billion (ca. US$62 billion). It employs over 64,000 people,[5] owns more than 3,400 service stations in seven countries and markets its advanced products to over 100 countries worldwide.[6][7][8][9]

Orlen is the largest company in Central and Eastern Europe[10] and is listed in global rankings such as Fortune Global 500, Platts TOP250 and Thomson Reuters TOP100.

History[edit]

Foundation (1999–2002)[edit]

PKN Orlen was created in 1999 after the Council of Ministers of Poland in the previous year decided to partially privatise and merge two state-run petrochemical firms: Centrala Produktów Naftowych, Communist Poland's petroleum retail monopoly, and Petrochemia Płock, the state firm in charge of the oil refineries in Płock, the largest complex of its kind in Poland. After said merger, the company was renamed as Polski Koncern Naftowy (PKN), with Orlen added several months later as the consortium's brand name. The new name is derived from Orl- for "orzeł" (Polish: eagle) and its adjective "orli", and -en for "energia" (Polish: energy).[citation needed]

Orlengate[edit]

Orlengate is the biggest corruption scandal in the modern political history of Poland. The scandal started with the arrest on 7 February 2002 by the UOP (Office for State Protection) of Andrzej Modrzejewski, then CEO of PKN Orlen. He was accused of insider trading and disclosure of confidential information.[11] Zbigniew Wrobel directly succeeded as CEO and proposed in December 2002 $160 million for the purchase of 295 German gas stations from the British BP PLC. It was the first step in Wrobel's strategy of expanding west. At this time PKN Orlen was Poland's largest company, with sales of $7.2 billion.[12]

International expansions (2003–2014)[edit]

MAN TGA semi-trailer tank truck operated by PKN Orlen in Wolin (September 2009)
Mažeikiai oil refinery, part of Orlen Lietuva

After losses in 2000 and 2001 the fund returned 25% in 2002. Until July 2003, it grew by nearly one-third since March and in total the fund was up by about 60% since the start of 1994.[13]

In 2003, PKN Orlen acquired 500 filling stations in Northern Germany from BP under premise of a competition law when BP took over Aral AG. As of 2007 Orlen has 581 filling stations in Germany (484 under the Star brand, 58 under the Orlen brand and 29 under a supermarket brand).

In January 2003, PKN Orlen and MOL signed a Memorandum of Understanding whereby they agreed intention to initiate co-operation in the Central and Eastern European oil sector. They hoped that the collaboration would allow them both to benefit from the synergies and to compete more effectively in the global competition.[14] In July 2003, the Croatian INA refinery was sold for $505 million to PKN Orlen's competitor, the Hungarian oil company MOL. This strengthen MOL's position in the battle for control of Central Europeans and Balkan fuel markets.[15]

Furthermore, PKN Orlen was involved in merger talks with the MOL Group in 2005. If merged, the two firms would have created a regional giant, and controlled much of Central Europe's oil industry. However, the planned merger failed due to high politicization. Following the dropped merger plans, PKN Orlen bought a majority stake in Czech Unipetrol.[16] During May 2006, the company announced its largest investment ever when it took over a majority share of 84.3% of the largest company of Lithuania, Mažeikių Nafta. It was partly bought from Yukos (53.7%) and partly from the Lithuanian government (30.6%) in December.[17] Earlier on 12 October a fire damaged the Mažeikių refinery, which caused a loss about $75 million.[18] With the completion of the takeover, PKN Orlen became Central Europe's largest company.

In May 2007, after Lithuania sold its refinery to PKN Orlen, the Russian government approved the construction of a new $2 billion pipeline, that passes Belarus and Lithuania.[19]

In 2007, the unit of Polish oil group PKN Orlen PKNA.WA and Dwory Chemicals bought a synthetic rubber company Kaucuk from Czech oil group Unipetrol UNPEsp.PR. The sale was part of a drive by Unipetrol to divest non-core assets and to focus on petrochemical, oil refinery and fuel retailing business.[20]

In 2010, PKN Orlen had a reported revenue of $28.8 billion.[21] Next year it was the largest fuel retailer in Poland with over 2000 locations. The company ran the most advanced and the second largest complex for terephthalic acid production in Europe.[22] PKN Orlen also sponsors the Orlen Arena in Płock since its opening in 2010.

In 2013, PKN Orlen and Klaipedos Nafta oil terminal negotiated the co-operation on a new pipeline supported by the Lithuanian government.[23] In order to establish the company in Canada and to become an oil producer Orlen bought the oil and gas company TriOil Resources Ltd for $169 million in September 2013. After its first foreign expansion the company acquired Birchill Exploration Ltd due to double its production in May 2014.[24]

PKN Orlen, under a joint venture with the Dutch-American firm LyondellBasell, also owns Poland's largest plastics company called Basell Orlen Polyolefins Sp. z o.o.

Diversification (2015–present)[edit]

Orlen Paczka parcel locker in Bytom (November 2022)

In 2019, PKN Orlen opened its first petrol station in Slovakia through its Czech subsidiary Unipetrol under the Benzina brand.[25] At the end of 2020, 20 Orlen stations were operating in Slovakia.

At the end of 2019, PKN Orlen and PZU established the "Sigma Bis" media agency.

PKN Orlen has been implementing a development strategy since 2018, which involves transforming the company into a multi-energy and commercial group. In April 2020, Orlen acquired 80% of Energa shares, and on 14 July 2020 announced that it obtained permission the European Commission's for the takeover of Grupa Lotos, first announced in 2018.[26] On 1 August 2022, Orlen finalised the merger with Lotos.[27]

In November 2020, PKN Orlen purchased 65% of the shares of the financially troubled newsagents chain Ruch SA. On 7 December 2020 Orlen signed an agreement to acquire 100% of shares in the media and press company "Polska Press sp. z o.o."[28][29][30] and the transaction was carried out on 1 March 2021.[31] This decision was met with criticism from Polish Ombudsman, Adam Bodnar, who expressed his concern about the risk to freedom of speech that this takeover poses as PKN Orlen is a state-owned company and the constitutional right to press freedom excludes the possibility of political influence on the press, even an indirect one.[32]

In December 2020, PKN Orlen bought an agricultural biogas plant Bioenergy Project, which it will transform into a biomethane plant. To secure supplies, the company Biozec, responsible for the sale and distribution of thermal energy supplied by the biogas plant, was also acquired. In 2021, Orlen bought 4 wind farms: in February, the Kanin farm with a capacity of 20 MW, and in March, another three with a total capacity of 89.4 MW.[33][34]

On 14 July 2020, PKN Orlen announced its intention to take over PGNiG, and on 10 May 2021, it submitted a takeover application to the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection.[35][36] In October 2022, shareholders of PGNiG approved the company's takeover by PKN Orlen, this came after PKN Orlen Sharholders had done the same.[37]

In 2020, the company announced its plans to become emission-neutral by 2050 becoming the first oil company from Central Europe to do so. In order to achieve this goal, by 2030, Orlen aims to reduce CO2 emissions from its current refining and petrochemical assets by 20% and emissions from power generation by 33% CO2/MWh.[38]

In June 2021, PKN Orlen opened its first Orlen w ruchu standalone convenience store in Warsaw, competing in this segment with Carrefour Express, Circle K and Żabka.[39] In September 2021, the company entered the parcel locker sector with the launch of Orlen Paczka in co-operation with Poczta Polska.[40]

In December 2022, PKN Orlen entered the Hungarian market with the takeover of 143 petrol stations from Hungary's MOL in a deal related to the acquisition of 410 petrol stations in Poland by MOL under an agreement between Orlen and Grupa Lotos. The sale was the result of the European Commission requiring PKN Orlen to divest its assets in order to approve the company's acquisition of Grupa Lotos in accordance with EU competition law.[41]

In March 2023, PKN Orlen began to sponsor the Stadion im. Kazimierza Górskiego, located opposite the Orlen Arena in Płock.[42] In the same month, Ukrainian oil company Ukrnafta signed a contract with PKN Orlen to allow the latter to export petrochemical products to Ukraine.[43]

On 3 July 2023, the company changed its name from PKN Orlen to Orlen S.A., to reflect its diversification from fossil fuels.[44] In September 2023, the European Commission approved the takeover by Orlen Group of the consumer retail division of the Austrian oil trading company Doppler-Gruppe [de], which operates 266 filling stations in Austria under the Turmöl [de] discount brand.[45]

In December 2023, the Polish government approved the construction of 24 new small modular reactor (SMR) units in six sites across the country. Orlen Synthos Green Energy (OSGE), a joint venture between Orlen and chemicals company Synthos, plans to deploy Poland's first small reactors by 2030.[46]

Sponsorship[edit]

PKN Orlen has sponsored the Polish Athletic Association,[47] the Polish Volleyball Association,[48] the Polish Olympic and Paralympic Committees,[49] and various Polish motorsport competitors such as Bartosz Zmarzlik, Jakub Przygoński, Bartek Marszałek, Grupa Żelazny and Wojtek Bógdał.[50]

In 2019, PKN Orlen sponsored Williams Racing and driver Robert Kubica in Formula One with €10 million.[51] After Kubica's move to Alfa Romeo Racing in a reserve driver role in 2020, the Polish petrol retailer became the co-title sponsor of the team as Alfa Romeo Racing Orlen in 2020 and 2021 and as Alfa Romeo F1 Team Orlen in 2022.[52][53] In January 2023, PKN Orlen signed a multi-year agreement with Scuderia AlphaTauri as a principal partner.[54] In November 2023, the company became an official sponsor of the ski jumping hill in Oberstdorf, Germany, presently known as ORLEN Arena Oberstdorf.[55]

Brands and subsidiaries of Grupa Orlen (Orlen Group)[edit]

Orlen station in Poland
Orlen station for refueling boats in Poland
CPN station in Poland
Star station in Germany
Benzina station in the Czech Republic
Turmöl station in Austria

Brands of Orlen[edit]

  • Orlen (Polish market petrol station brand)
    • CPN (Polish revived Communist-era petrol station monopoly brand, active in two locations in Warsaw[56] and Płock[57])
  • Star (German market petrol station brand)[58]
  • Unipetrol (Czech national petrol firm)[59]
  • Orlen Lietuva (Lithuanian market petrol station brand)[60]
  • Benzina (Czech and Slovak market petrol station brand)[61]
  • Turmöl (Austrian market petrol station brand)

Orlen Group structure[edit]

Orlen Group structure[62]
Name Description
CEO division
Anwil S.A. production of PVC, nitrogenous fertilisers & other chemicals
Orlen Ochrona security services
Orlen Upstream crude exploration
Sigma Bis S.A. marketing services
Unipetrol a.s. leading Czech refining & petrochemical group
CFO division
Orlen Capital AB eurobond issue
Orlen Centrum Usług Korporacyjnych book keeping & accounting services
Orlen Holding Malta Limited shareholding in other entities
Orlen Insurance Ltd Orlen Group's assets insurance
Orlen Usługi finansowe financial services
Development division
AB Orlen Baltics Retail liquid fuel trade & marketing
Orlen Deutschland GmbH retail sales of fuel across Germany
Production division
AB Orlen Lietuva crude processing, logistics and marketing of petroleum products
Baltic Power production, distribution & trading of electric energy
Basell Orlen Polyolefins production, distribution & marketing of poliethylene and polipropylene
Orlen Południe S.A. crude processing, production & marketing of fuels
Orlen Serwis S.A. maintenance services
Retail sales division
Orlen Budonaft construction and fuel stations service
Orlen Centrum Serwisowe retail outlets service
Orlen Laboratorium S.A. laboratory services
Orlen Projekt S.A. civil engineering & process design services
Wholesale and international trade division
Orlen trading Switzerland GmbH trading division
IKS Solino S.A. underground storage of crude & fuels; salt production & marketing
Kopalnia Soli Lubień underground storage of crude & fuels; salt production & marketing
Orlen Asfalt production & marketing of bitumen products
Orlen Aviation Sp. z o.o. liquid fuels trade
Orlen KolTrans S.A. rail shipment & maintenance of the rail stock
Orlen Oil production & marketing of lub oils and lubricants
Orlen Paliwa Sp. z o.o. liquid fuels (petrol and diesel fuel) and Ekoterm Plus light heating oil
SHIP - Service SA supplies of marine fuels, sea & land cargo shipment
Corporate division
Orlen Administracja office, administrative & catering services
Orlen Eko waste disposal, HSE
PPPT S.A. research & development of technologies

List of CEOs[edit]

  • Andrzej Modrzejewski – 16 April 1999 – 8 February 2002
  • Zbigniew Wróbel – 8 February 2002 – 28 July 2004
  • Jacek Walczykowski – 28 July 2004 – 16 August 2004
  • Igor Chalupec – 21 September 2004 – 18 January 2007
  • Piotr Kownacki – 18 January 2007 – 28 February 2008
  • Wojciech Heydel – 30 April 2008 – 18 September 2008
  • Dariusz Krawiec – 18 September 2008 – 16 December 2015
  • Wojciech Jasiński – 16 December 2015 – 5 February 2018
  • Daniel Obajtek – 5 February 2018[63] – 5 February 2024
  • Witold Literacki (acting) – 6 February 2024 – present

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Financial data". orlen.pl.
  2. ^ "Orlen w liczbach". orlen.pl. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  3. ^ "ORLEN w czołówce zestawienia 500 największych firm w Europie". orlen.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Shareholders structure | PKN ORLEN". www.orlen.pl. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  5. ^ "Orlen w liczbach". orlen.pl. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  6. ^ "Post-merger fourth-quarter 2022 results posted by ORLEN Group provide solid foundation to support economic growth and enhance energy security for Poland". Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  7. ^ "Company overview". Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  8. ^ "About us". Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  9. ^ "ORLEN pojawi się w Austrii". orlen.pl (in Polish). 4 July 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  10. ^ "COFACE CEE TOP 500 COMPANIES". cofacecentraleurope.com. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  11. ^ "Finance scandal rocks Poland". 8 February 2002. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  12. ^ "Zbigniew Wrobel". Bloomberg. 7 July 2003. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  13. ^ "World of Investing : For risk-takers, look at Poland". The New York Times. 26 July 2003. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  14. ^ Greenroom. "MOL and PKN ORLEN sign memorandum of understanding - MOL Magyarország". mol.hu. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  15. ^ Green (NYT), Peter S. (18 July 2003). "World Business Briefing | Europe: Croatia: Refiner Sold". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  16. ^ "Mazeikiu Nafta - The biggest transaction in the history - PKN ORLEN". www.orlen.pl. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  17. ^ Kramer, Andrew E. (15 December 2006). "World Business Briefing | Europe: Poland: Oil Concern Buys a Refinery". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  18. ^ Kramer, Andrew (28 October 2006). "Lithuanians are given a taste of how Russia plays the Oil Game". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  19. ^ Bohlen, Celestine (3 July 2007). "Letter from Lithuania: Baltic state seeks freedom from Russia's energy 'friendship'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  20. ^ "Poland's Orlen to buy Czech rubber firm Kaucuk". Reuters. 29 January 2007. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  21. ^ Sobczyk, Marcin (10 February 2011). "Polish Oil Firm Sets Central Europe's Revenue Record". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  22. ^ "Launch of Europe's most advanced PX/PTA complex - PKN ORLEN". www.orlen.pl. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  23. ^ "Lithuania Seeks Pipeline Memo Between Orlen and Klaipedos Nafta". Bloomberg. 4 September 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  24. ^ "PKN Orlen of Poland Buys Birchill to Double Canadian Oil Output". www.bloomberg.com. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  25. ^ "Orlen Group opens its first petrol station in Slovakia". Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  26. ^ Koper, Anna; Banacka, Anna (12 January 2022). "Poland refiner PKN to sell Lotos assets to Aramco, MOL to complete takeover". Reuters. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  27. ^ Orlen finalises merger with Lotos - TVN24 in English https://tvn24.pl/tvn24-news-in-english/polands-oil-giant-orlen-completes-merger-with-lotos-6019372
  28. ^ Koper, Alicja Ptak (7 December 2020). "Poland uses state-owned refiner to buy regional media firm". Reuters.
  29. ^ "Poland: State-run oil company buys leading media group | DW | 08.12.2020". Deutsche Welle.
  30. ^ "PKN ORLEN to take over Polska Press - PKN ORLEN".
  31. ^ Orlen dopiął swego, Polska Press jest już jego własnością
  32. ^ "Zakup Polska Press przez PKN Orlen. Rzecznik o zagrożeniach dla wolności słowa". bip.brpo.gov.pl (in Polish). 17 December 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  33. ^ Orlen kupił trzy farmy wiatrowe
  34. ^ PKN Orlen kupił farmy wiatrowe o mocy 89,4 MW za 380 mln zł
  35. ^ Obajtek: ważny krok w kierunku połączenia Orlenu i PGNiG
  36. ^ Orlen zgłosił zamiar przejęcia PGNiG do UOKiK
  37. ^ "Poland's PGNiG shareholders approve takeover by PKN Orlen". Reuters. 10 October 2022.
  38. ^ "PKN ORLEN to be emission-neutral by 2050". Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  39. ^ "Orlen chce zbudować sieć 4 tys. Automatów paczkowych".
  40. ^ "PKN Orlen rejestruje znak "Orlen Paczka". Firma stworzy sieć 10 tys. Punktów nadań i odbiorów przesyłek". 30 March 2021.
  41. ^ "Polish energy group ORLEN enters Hungarian market". budapesttimes.hu. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  42. ^ "Wyborcza.pl".
  43. ^ "Ukrnafta Concluded a Contract for the Supply of Petroleum Products with the Polish PKN Orlen | Ukrainian Energy".
  44. ^ "PKN ORLEN adopts a new name".
  45. ^ "EC approves Orlen takeover of Turmol fuel station chain in Austria". thefirstnews.com. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  46. ^ "Poland approves construction of SMR nuclear units at six sites". reuters.com. 7 December 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  47. ^ "ORLEN Sports Group and Polish Athletic Association". www.orlen.pl. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  48. ^ "Polish Volleyball Association". www.orlen.pl. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  49. ^ "Cooperation with The Polish Olympic and Paralympic Committees". www.orlen.pl. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  50. ^ "Supporting Polish motorsport". www.orlen.pl. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  51. ^ Media, dziennik.pl (26 November 2018). "Inwestycja w Kubicę się zwróci? "Ta umowa to zakład. Orlen wygra, jeśli Kubica zacznie wygrywać" - dziennik.pl". sport.dziennik.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 28 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  52. ^ "The eagle soars as PKN ORLEN joins Alfa Romeo Racing as Official Co-Title Sponsor". Sauber Group. 1 January 2020. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  53. ^ Tudose, Sergiu (21 January 2022). "Alfa Romeo F1 Unveils New Team Name and Logo for Upcoming 2022 Season". autoevolution. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  54. ^ "PKN ORLEN is our new Principal Partner | SCUDERIA ALPHATAURI". 27 January 2023. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  55. ^ "Skocznia w Obersdorfie z logo ORLEN. Spółka została oficjalnym sponsorem obiektu". nowymarketing.pl (in Polish). 22 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  56. ^ "Orlen uruchamia w Warszawie retro stacje paliw. Jeszcze w tym tygodniu zatankujemy pod logo CPN". Warszawa Nasze Miasto (in Polish). 11 December 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  57. ^ "Wraca marka CPN. W tym tygodniu PKN Orlen zmieni szyldy na wybranych stacjach paliw". 11 December 2018.
  58. ^ "PKN Orlen to install fast-chargers at 150 service stations in Poland". www.petrolplaza.com. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  59. ^ "Jakub Kosmowski is the new marketing director of Unipetrol". www.petrolplaza.com. October 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  60. ^ "Poland: Orlen launches two new, quality fuels". www.petrolplaza.com. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  61. ^ Shah, Shakhil (29 August 2018). "PKN Orlen set to take full control of Unipetrol". Emerging Europe. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  62. ^ "ORLEN Group Structure - PKN ORLEN". www.orlen.pl. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  63. ^ "Daniel Obajtek". europeawards.ceotodaymagazine.com. Retrieved 28 September 2023.

External links[edit]