Wintershall-DEA: The anatomy of a merger
The Wintershall-DEA deal brings together businesses that in 2017 had combined sales of €4.7bn
At the end of September, almost a year on from the announcement that Wintershall and DEA had agreed in principle to merge, their respective owners—Germany chemicals company BASF and LetterOne, the Luxembourg-based investment fund co-founded by the Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman in 2013—signed a "definitive transaction agreement". Assuming the merger is approved by the relevant authorities, the transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2019. It will bring together businesses that in 2017 had combined sales of €4.7bn, and oil and gas production of 575,000 boe/d. The merger is expected to generate synergies of at least €200m a year and create a regionally more balanced footprint.
Also in this section
20 January 2026
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the host of the 25th WPC Energy Congress on 26-30 April 2026. The Ministry of Energy spoke with Petroleum Economist about the key messages and opportunities for the global energy community.
20 January 2026
As the global energy system undergoes its most profound transformation in a century, the need for credible leadership, practical solutions and inclusive dialogue has never been greater. In 2026, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will stand at the centre of this conversation as host of the 25th WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh.
19 January 2026
Newfound optimism is emerging that a dormant exploration frontier could become a strategic energy play and—whisper it quietly—Europe’s next offshore opportunity
16 January 2026
The country’s global energy importance and domestic political fate are interlocked, highlighting its outsized oil and gas powers, and the heightened fallout risk
