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“In late December 2007, Basell AF S.C.A. (“Basell”), a Luxembourg entity controlled by Leonard Blavatnik (“Blavatnik”), acquired Lyondell Chemical Company (“Lyondell”), a Delaware corporation headquartered in Houston—forming a new company after a merger (the “Merger”), LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A….” http://www.nysb.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions/183363_696_opinion.pdf

Click to access equistar.pdf

“Thousands of contaminated sites exist nationally due to hazardous waste being dumped, left out in the open, or otherwise improperly managed. These sites include manufacturing facilities, processing plants, landfills and mining sites….” https://www.epa.gov/superfund/what-superfund

Steven D. Cook worked as Senior Corporate Counsel for Lyondell Chemical Company (LyondellBasell Industries). He has been appointed head of the EPA’s Superfund Task Force. See: “Superfund Chief’s Last Job: Lawyer for Polluter“, June 2, 2018 https://www.voanews.com/a/superfund-chiefs-last-job-lawyer-for-polluter/4420523.html

It seems that everyone has overlooked the large ownership stake of Russian oligarch Len Blavatnik’s Access Industries in LyondellBasell. Blavatnik apparently objects to the term oligarch, but it is doubtful that he would prefer the more appropriate traditional American term of Robber Baron: Russian Robber Baron Blavatnik


https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1489393/000119312518054181/d533271d10k.htm

Len Blavatnik, owner of Access Industries and born in the Soviet Union, appears to tie many of the Republican Senate-Trump-Russia threads together. Blavatnik’s Access Industries has given millions to right wing PACs, including over $1.5 million to the (Republican) Senate Leadership Fund, at least a million to South Carolina Senator Graham’s presidential campaign, and a million to Trump’s inaugural committee. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/
Inaugural Committee Donations: http://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/286/201704180300150286/201704180300150286.pdf

Access Industries recently bought Calpine along with Trump donor and fund-raiser, nuclear waste king, Doug Kimmelman’s Energy Capital Partners (Energy Solutions), and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. Kimmelman is a Goldman Sachs “alumnus”. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/916457/000091645717000107/exhibit991-8182017.htm

According to Bloomberg, Blavatnik’s Access Industries owns 18% of LyondellBasell:
https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/len-blavatnik
Blavatnik may own more of LyondellBasell either directly or through another company.

According to LyondellBasell’s SEC filing for 2017: “For purposes of this disclosure, in addition to the registrant’s executive officers and members of its Supervisory Board, the registrant has included Access Industries, LLC and its affiliates as “affiliates.” The registrant had 394,556,328 shares outstanding at February 20, 2018 (excluding 183,883,835 treasury shares)….” The filing refers to Access Industries, which is owned by Blavatnik, as being a “more than five percent shareholder of the Company“. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1489393/000119312518054181/d533271d10k.htm

“In late December 2007, Basell AF S.C.A. (“Basell”), a Luxembourg entity controlled by Leonard Blavatnik (“Blavatnik”), acquired Lyondell Chemical Company (“Lyondell”), a Delaware corporation headquartered in Houston—forming a new company after a merger (the “Merger”), LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A. (as used by the parties, “LBI,” or here, the “Resulting Company”),1 Lyondell’s parent—by means of a leveraged buyout (“LBO”). The LBO was 100% financed by debt, which, as is typical in LBOs, was secured not by the acquiring company’s assets, but rather by the assets of the company to be acquired. Lyondell took on approximately $21 billion of secured indebtedness in the LBO, of which $12.5 billion was paid out to Lyondell stockholders. In the first week of January 2009, less than 13 months later, a financially strapped Lyondell filed a petition for chapter 11 relief in this Court…” (US Bankruptcy Court Southern District of New York). http://www.nysb.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions/183363_696_opinion.pdf

Blavatnik is linked to Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner through Chabad. Trump’s father was linked to Chabad through Bunny Lindenbaum. Netanyahu is an old friend of Donald Trump and even Trump’s father, as well as a friend of the Kushners. Haaretz reported that Blavatnik is a Netanyahu friend: “Kremlin-linked Billionaire, Netanyahu Friend Donated to Trump’s Private Legal Fund : Len Blavatnik, who made his fortune in the former Soviet Union in the oil business, appears on a legal defense fund list uncovered by the Wall St. Journal” Haaretz and News Agencies Sep 25, 2017 1:28 Pm.
“Blavatnik is a member of the Global Advisory Board of the Centre for International Business and Management at Cambridge University,…..” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Blavatnik A connection to the Cambridge Analytica researcher? https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2018/03/23/dual-identity-soviet-born-cambridge-researcher-linked-to-cambridge-analytica-also-teaches-at-russian-state-owned-university-putins-alma-mater-from-cambridge-spy-ring-to-cambridge-analytica-spectr/
Access Industries just bought Calpine along with Trump donor and fund-raiser, nuclear waste king, Doug Kimmelman’s Energy Capital Partners (Energy Solutions), and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. Kimmelman is a Goldman Sachs “alumnus”. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/916457/000091645717000107/exhibit991-8182017.htm

Here’s what the Guardian says about him: “Blavatnik, a UK and US citizen, was knighted for his philanthropy this year. His links to Vladimir Putin’s Russia and controversy in his business background mean criticism has often followed his donations….” https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/sep/03/len-blavatnik-oligarch-controversy-philanthropy-resignation-oxford-professor This is a conservative (as in cautious) article as it was apparently put through the wringer by Blavatnik’s lawyer. For instance, the Guardian was made to apologize for calling Blavatnik a Putin pal in an earlier version. Blavatnik lawyers argue that he’s not an oligarch. The Guardian disagrees: “Further, Sir Leonard Blavatnik’s lawyers have informed the Guardian that the term “oligarch” in his view does not apply to him. The Guardian editor-in-chief disagrees.” See: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/sep/03/len-blavatnik-oligarch-controversy-philanthropy-resignation-oxford-professor

For this article, as well, Blavatnik’s lawyers contacted the Guardian:
“Oxford University criticised for accepting oligarch’s £75m donation: 
Institution should ‘stop selling its reputation to Putin’s associates’ and rethink cash from Len Blavatnik, critics say ”. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/nov/03/oxford-university-accused-over-oligarch-len-blavatnik-75m-donation

The US government had trouble deporting Mafia boss Carlos Marcello because he was so rich and could afford lawyers for endless appeals.

Haaretz reported (2018/05/26): “Trump, Russia, Mueller: The countless Israeli connections: Vekselberg partnered with Israeli-Russian billionaires Len Blavatnik, who is invested in Israeli media, connected to Netanyahu and is also under Mueller’s spotlight, as well as Russian-Israeli billionaire Mikhail Fridman“. https://www.haaretz. com/us-news/.premium-trump-russia-mueller-probe-the-israel-connections-1.6116639

“ROBERT E. GERBER UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY JUDGE
In late December 2007, Basell AF S.C.A. (“Basell”), a Luxembourg entity controlled by
Leonard Blavatnik (“Blavatnik”), acquired Lyondell Chemical Company (“Lyondell”), a
Delaware corporation headquartered in Houston—forming a new company after a merger (the “Merger”), LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A. (as used by the parties, “LBI,” or here, the “Resulting Company”),1 Lyondell’s parent—by means of a leveraged buyout (“LBO”). The LBO was 100% financed by debt, which, as is typical in LBOs, was secured not by the acquiring company’s assets, but rather by the assets of the company to be acquired. Lyondell took on approximately $21 billion of secured indebtedness in the LBO, of which $12.5 billion was paid out to Lyondell stockholders.

In the first week of January 2009, less than 13 months later, a financially strapped Lyondell filed a petition for chapter 11 relief in this Court.2 Lyondell’s unsecured creditors then found themselves behind that $21 billion in secured debt, with Lyondell’s assets effectively having been depleted by payments of $12.5 billion in loan proceeds to stockholders. Lyondell’s assets were allegedly also depleted by payments incident to the LBO and the Merger—of approximately $575 million in transaction fees and expenses, and another $337 million in payments to Lyondell officers and employees in change of control payments and other management benefits.

Those events led to the filing of what are now five adversary proceedings—three against shareholder recipients of that $12.5 billion, one dealing with unrelated issues,3 and one other—this action, which was originally the first of the five—against Blavatnik and companies he controlled; Lyondell’s officers and directors; and certain others….” “UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK In re: LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY, et al., Debtors. Chapter 11 Cases No. 09-10023 (REG) (Jointly Administered) EDWARD S. WEISFELNER, AS LITIGATION TRUSTEE OF THE LB LITIGATION TRUST, Plaintiff, v.
LEONARD BLAVATNIK, et al., Defendants. Adversary Proceeding No. 09-1375 (REG) “. http://www.nysb.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions/183363_696_opinion.pdf

Click to access equistar.pdf