Document:

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                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.4

                                AMENDMENT TO THE

             GELSENBERG PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT DATED JULY 15, 2001

                                 by and between

                                     BP plc;

                       Britannic House, 1 Finsbury Circus,
                                 London EC2M 7BA

                                       and

                                 Deutsche BP AG,

                         Max-Born-Str. 2, 22761 Hamburg

                                       and

                                    E.ON AG,

                         E.ON-Platz 1, 40479 Dusseldorf

                                       and

                    E.ON Zehnte Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH,

                         E.ON-Platz 1, 40479 Dusseldorf

WHEREAS in the Gelsenberg Partcipation Agreement dated July 15, 2001 (the "PA")
the parties agreed to establish a joint venture in Gelsenberg Aktiengesellschaft
("Gelsenberg") with E.ON AG ("E.ON") as a 51% shareholder and BP p.l.c. ("BP")
as a 49% shareholder by way of a capital increase with effect as of the
Effective Date, i.e. the first day of the calendar month following obtainment of
all Required Approvals.

WHEREAS in the PA a Put Option is granted to the joint venture partner BP for
their minority stake in Gelsenberg exercisable from 1 January 2002.

WHEREAS the Required Approvals (in the given situation, the approval by the
Bundesminister fur Wirtschaft und Technologie pursuant to Section 42 GWB), have
not yet been received.

WHEREAS RAG Aktiengesellschaft (formerly Ruhrkohle Aktiengesellschaft) has
waived all pre-emption rights pursuant to the two agreements between Deutsche BP
and Ruhrkohle Aktiengesellschaft dated 27 April 1979.

WHEREAS BP has come to the conclusion that it intends to exit the joint venture
immediately upon its establishment.
<PAGE>

WHEREAS the parties agree that instead of establishing a joint venture with BP
immediately exercising its put option in accordance with the provisions of the
PA, BP shall directly sell and transfer its existing shares in Gelsenberg to
E.ON under economic terms equivalent to those which would apply pursuant to the
PA.

WHEREAS the parties agree that E.ON may nominate E.ON Zehnte
Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH as the acquirer of BP's one million bearer shares in
Gelsenberg in its stead, notwithstanding E.ON remaining jointly and severally
liable.

WHEREAS the parties agree that Deutsche BP AG ("DBP") may be nominated by BP as
the seller of the one million bearer shares in Gelsenberg, notwithstanding BP
remaining jointly and severally liable:

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows (all defined terms, unless
otherwise mentioned, having the meaning as defined in the PA):

1        Clause 4.1 of the PA shall be amended as follows:

         "Each of E.ON and BP agrees that E.ON shall purchase, and BP shall
         sell, BP's 1 million bearer shares in Gelsenberg with economic effect
         as of the Effective Date subject to the conditions of Clause 2.1 and
         pursuant to the terms of this Agreement."

2        The introduction to Clause 4.2 of the PA shall be amended as follows:

         "Both, E.ON and BP, agree that they shall or shall procure that a
         member of the E.ON Group or BP Group, respectively, carries out the
         following:"

3        Clauses 4.2.1 - 4.2.6 of the PA shall be deleted.

4        Clause 4.2.8 of the PA shall be amended as follows:

         "Deutsche BP shall, to the extent legally permissible, procure that

         (i)      all of the members of the supervisory board of Gelsenberg
                  shall resign with effect from the Effective Date, and

         (ii)     the Gelsenberg representative on the supervisory board of
                  Ruhrgas shall resign and be replaced by an E.ON nominee with
                  effect from the Effective Date."

5        Clauses 4.2.9 - 4.2.11 of the PA shall be deleted.

6        Clause 8 of the PA shall be replaced by the following new Clause:

         "8.      PURCHASE PRICE, TRANSFER AND ASSIGNMENT OF THE SHARES

         8.1      The preliminary purchase price for the shares, which shall be
                  subject to adjustment pursuant to Clause 9, shall amount to
                  Euro 400,000,000 (Euro two billion and four hundred million;
                  the "Preliminary Purchase Price") and shall be due and payable
                  in accordance with Clause 8.3.

         8.2      The one million bearer shares held by Gelsenberg are
                  documented in one share certificate (Globalaktie Nr. 5),
                  issued November 10, 1992 with the share numbers 5.759.971 to
                  No. 6.209.860 and 6.209.891 to. 6.760.000. DBP hereby
                  transfers and assigns to E.ON which hereby accepts such
                  transfer and assignment, its 1 million bearer shares in
                  Gelsenberg with a nominal value of DM 100 each subject to and
                  legally effective immediately upon fulfillment of the
                  following conditions precedent and hereby irrevocably
                  instructs Deutsche Bank as the Escrow Agent,

<PAGE>

                  which at the signing hereof receives in escrow the aforesaid
                  share certificate to hold it for and hand it out to E.ON as
                  soon as the following conditions precedent have been
                  fulfilled:

                  8.2.1   receipt by E.ON of an unconditional (ohne Bedingungen
                          im Rechtssinne) approval of the Bundesminister fur
                          Wirtschaft und Technologie for the acquisition as
                          filed with the German cartel authorities on 15 August
                          2001, or

                  8.2.2   if an approval of the Bundesminister fur Wirtschaft
                          und Technologie for the acquisition as filed with the
                          German cartel authorities on 15 August 2001 is subject
                          to conditions (Bedingungen im Rechtssinne),
                          satisfaction of these conditions by E.ON, and

                  8.2.3   payment by E.ON of the full amount of the Preliminary
                          Purchase Price to an escrow account pursuant to Clause
                          8.3 and the remaining in such account of the full
                          amount until the conditions in Clauses 8.2.1 or 8.2.2
                          have been satisfied.

                  E.ON shall use all reasonable endeavours to procure
                  satisfaction of all conditions to an approval of the
                  Bundesminister fur Wirtschaft und Technologie, if any.

         8.3      Payment of the Preliminary Purchase Price shall be effected by
                  way of including Deutsche Bank AG as an escrow agent in
                  accordance with the Escrow Agreement attached hereto in draft
                  form as Exhibit A not later than on 27 June 2002, and, in
                  accordance therewith, by payment of the Preliminary Purchase
                  Price to an escrow account which the parties shall establish
                  immediately following the signing of this Amendment with the
                  escrow agent.

                 8.3.1    E.ON shall pay the full amount of the Preliminary
                          Purchase Price into the escrow account at the latest
                          on July 1 2002; earlier payments shall be permissible
                          at any given time. If the aforesaid approval has not
                          been granted by 15 August 2002, E.ON following a 3
                          Business Days advance written notification addressed
                          to the escrow agent with a copy to BP shall be
                          entitled to request repayment of any amounts paid by
                          E.ON into the escrow account and interest accrued.

                 8.3.2    The full credit balance (other than interest) on the
                          escrow account shall solely be attributable to BP from
                          and including the day, the condition precedent
                          pursuant to Clauses 8.2.1 and 8.2.2 are fulfilled. As
                          of this moment, BP shall be the sole beneficiary of
                          the escrow account.

                 8.3.3    E.ON shall immediately inform BP and the escrow agent
                          in writing by telefax notice of the receipt of the
                          approval by the Bundesminister fur Wirtschaft und
                          Technologie, conditions to it, if any, and the
                          satisfaction of such conditions, if any.

                 8.3.4    Interest accrued on the escrow account until (but
                          excluding the day of) receipt of an unconditional
                          approval of the Bundesminister fur Wirtschaft und
                          Technologie pursuant to Section 42 GWB or until the
                          satisfaction of the conditions thereto, if any, shall
                          be attributable to E.ON and paid out to E.ON by the
                          escrow agent following the information to be rendered
                          by E.ON pursuant to Clause 8.3.3, interest accrued
                          thereafter shall be attributable and be paid out to
                          BP.
<PAGE>

                 8.3.5    BP shall at the latest on the Effective Date pay to
                          E.ON interest at LIBOR (as defined in the PA) on the
                          Preliminary Purchase Price for the period from and
                          including the date of payment of the Preliminary
                          Purchase Price into the escrow account or receipt or
                          unconditionality of the approval by the Bundesminister
                          fur Wirtschaft und Technologie, whatever is the later,
                          until and excluding the Effective Date."

7        Clause 9 of the PA shall be amended as follows:

         "9.      ADJUSTMENT OF THE PRELIMINARY PURCHASE PRICE

         Each of E.ON and BP agrees that the Preliminary Purchase Price shall be
         adjusted to reflect the following:

         9.1      a deduction of any amount validly claimed by E.ON and agreed
                  by BP in respect of a breach of warranty by BP pursuant to
                  clause 5.1 above in the period between signing this PA and the
                  Gelsenberg Economic Transfer Date. If no agreement is reached,
                  E.ON may still claim such amount as a breach of warranty
                  pursuant to this Agreement;

         9.2      an adjustment in respect of the amount which E.ON and BP shall
                  agree represents:

                 9.2.1    Retained Earnings of the Gelsenberg Group on a
                          consolidated basis for the period from 1 January 2001
                          to the Effective Date. Retained Earnings means the
                          earnings of the Gelsenberg Group generated by its
                          operations after deduction of net interest,
                          depreciation, amortisation, taxation, minority
                          interests and distributions.

                 (i)      Retained Earnings shall be calculated in accordance
                          with German GAAP and following Gelsenberg's existing
                          accounting policies, procedures and practices
                          consistently applied in drawing up the Gelsenberg
                          Group for the financial years ending on 31 December
                          2000, provided, however, that the actual dividend paid
                          by Ruhrgas to Gelsenberg in 2002 shall be allocated
                          pro rata temporis to each month of the calendar year
                          2002 irrespective of whether such dividend is paid
                          before or after the Effective Date.

                 (ii)     Each of E.ON and BP agrees that if the Ruhrgas
                          dividend payable to Gelsenberg for 2002 has not been
                          paid at the Effective Date, then the parties shall
                          agree an estimated dividend based on the dividend paid
                          by Ruhrgas to Gelsenberg for the year ending 2001
                          which amount shall be subsequently adjusted once the
                          actual Ruhrgas dividend for 2002 is paid.

                 9.2.2    an agreed proportion of the revenue expenditure
                          incurred by the Gelsenberg Group in excess of the
                          amount set out in the Reserved Matters in respect of
                          such revenue expenditure otherwise than in the
                          ordinary course of business.

         9.3      To the extent possible, any payment required by this Clause 9
                  shall be paid within 5 Business Days of the agreement or
                  determination of such adjustments. Such payments shall bear
                  interest at LIBOR from (and including) the Effective Date
                  until (but excluding) the date of payment.

         9.4      The relevant amounts as of the Effective Date for calculation
                  of the adjustments pursuant to Clause 9.2.1 shall be
                  calculated on the basis of audited interim financial
                  statements of the Gelsenberg Group. E.ON and BP shall procure
                  on a basis

<PAGE>

                  and timetable to be agreed that Gelsenberg's auditors
                  appointed to audit the Gelsenberg financial statements of 2001
                  draw up an audited interim financial statement of the
                  consolidated Gelsenberg Group (based on German GAAP and
                  consistent with the accounting policies for the Accounts for
                  the year ended 31 December 2000) as of the Effective Date.

         9.5      BP agrees to indemnify and hold E.ON harmless against any
                  liability, loss or cost suffered by Gelsenberg as a result of
                  AGIP failing to comply with its existing contractual
                  obligations to make payments to Gelsenberg in respect of
                  pensions and related costs of former employees of RVI."

         The repetition of the wording of Clause 9.2 of the PA in this Amendment
         shall not prejudice different opinions E.ON and BP are having with
         respect to the proper interpretation of this Clause 9.2 and the
         calculation of Retained Earnings.

8        Clause 10 of the PA shall be deleted.

9        Clause 11.1 of the PA shall remain in full force. The words
         "Subscription Date" shall be replaced by "Effective Date". Clause 11.2
         of the PA shall be replaced by the following new Clause:

         "BP shall be entitled to rescind the PA if E.ON, notwithstanding a
         written notice from BP after payment has been falling due, has not paid
         the Preliminary Purchase Price into the escrow account pursuant to
         Clause 8.3 of the PA (as amended) within a grace period of 3 Business
         Days."

         The following new Clause 11.3 shall be added to the PA:

         "In case of a rescission, the escrow agent shall repay to E.ON any
         amounts paid into the escrow account plus interest accrued. Should the
         receiver of a notice of rescission contest the validity of the
         rescission, the escrow agent shall be entitled to withhold repayment of
         the funds in escrow until the parties have reached an agreement or a
         final and binding decision (including a decision by the arbitral
         tribunal pursuant to Clause 13.9.2 of the PA) has been issued.
         Contractual or statutory claims and rights of the parties against each
         other, irrespective of their legal ground, shall not be affected by a
         rescission."

10       Clause 12 of the PA shall be deleted.

11       All provisions of the PA not deleted or amended by this Amendment
         Agreement shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect.

12       E.ON hereby nominates E.ON Zehnte Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH as the
         acquirer of BP's 1 million bearer shares in its stead and E.ON Zehnte
         Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH hereby joins as additional party and
         accepts all terms and conditions of the PA as amended hereby such that
         upon fulfilment of the conditions E.ON Zehnte Verwaltungsgesellschaft
         mbH shall directly acquire title to BP's one million bearer shares in
         Gelsenberg. E.ON expressly confirms that it remains a party to the PA
         and is jointly and severally liable with E.ON Zehnte
         Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH for all obligations and liabilities arising
         thereunder. BP hereby agrees to the aforesaid nomination of E.ON Zehnte
         Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH as acquirer and additional party to the PA.

13       BP hereby nominates DBP as the seller and transferor of the 1 million
         bearer shares of Gelsenberg and DBP hereby joins as an additional party
         and accepts all terms and conditions of the PA as amended hereby such
         that upon fulfilment of the conditions DBP shall directly sell and
         transfer title to the shares and receive the consideration. BP
         expressly confirms

<PAGE>

         that it remains a party to the PA and is jointly and severally liable
         with DPB. E.ON AG and E.ON Zehnte Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH agree to
         the accession of DBP as seller and additional party to the PA.

                        , this     June 2002
------------------------       ---

BP p.l.c.:                         Deutsche BP AG:

E.ON AG:                           E.ON Zehnte Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH:<PAGE>
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.5

Unofficial English Translation of:
Register of Notarial Instr., Rec. No. 2002/213
May 20, 2002
Stephan Cueni, Notary Public
Basel, Switzerland                                                 Executed Copy

                                     RAG AG

                              RAG BETEILIGUNGS-GMBH

                           RAG PROJEKTGESELLSCHAFT MBH

                             EBV AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

                                     E.ON AG

                              CHEMIE VERWALTUNGS AG

                            E.ON VERMOGENSANLAGE GMBH

                                   ----------

                               FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT

                                   ----------

<PAGE>

Register of Notarial Instr., Rec. No. 2002/213

                              NOTARIZED INSTRUMENT

                                    AGREEMENT

Heard in Basel, Switzerland, this day, May 20, 2002 (May the twentieth,
two-thousand-and-two).

The persons below appeared before me, the undersigned Notary Public,

                                 STEPHAN CUENI,

at my chambers in Basel, Switzerland:

1.       Mr. Johannes Perlitt, born August 29, 1962, Attorney-at-Law, German
         citizen, having his principal place of business at Mainzer Landstrasse
         46, DE-60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and residing at Arndtstrasse
         6, DE-61462 Konigstein am Taunus, Germany, and identified to the
         undersigned Notary Public by means of a valid national identity card,
         and

         according to his own declaration, acting not on his own behalf, but
         rather, with all personal liability excluded, as the duly authorized
         representative of

         RAG Aktiengesellschaft, having its registered office at Rellinghauser
         Strasse 1-11, D-45128 Essen, Germany, and being registered under
         Registration No. HRB 1712 in the Commercial Register of the Essen
         District Court (Amtsgericht) in Germany, as evidenced by a power of
         attorney dated May 16, 2002, the original of which was submitted to the
         undersigned Notary Public, and of which a copy, duly authorized by the
         undersigned Notary Public, is annexed hereto, said power of attorney
         being supported by an attested specimen of the holder's signature and a
         notarized instrument certifying the holder as a duly authorized
         representative,

                                      - hereinafter also referred to as "RAG" -;

<PAGE>
                                                                               2

2.       Ms. Barbara Zihlmann (lic.iur.), born February 20, 1975, lawyer, Swiss
         citizen, residing at Schulgasse 12, CH-4105 Biel-Benken, Switzerland,
         of identity established to the satisfaction of the undersigned Notary
         Public, and

         according to her own declaration, acting not on her own behalf, but
         rather, with all personal liability excluded, as the duly authorized
         representative of

         RAG Beteiligungs-GmbH, having its registered office at Rellinghauser
         Strasse 1-11, D-45128 Essen, Germany, and being registered under
         Registration No. HRB 5398 in the Commercial Register of the Essen
         District Court (Amtsgericht) in Germany,

         as evidenced by a power of attorney dated May 16, 2002, the original of
         which was submitted to the undersigned Notary Public, and of which a
         copy, duly authorized by the undersigned Notary Public, is annexed
         hereto, said power of attorney being supported by an attested specimen
         of the holder's signature and a notarized instrument certifying the
         holder as a duly authorized representative,

                                       - hereinafter also referred to as "BG" -;

3.       Mr. Tobias Treyer (lic.iur.), born August 16, 1973, lawyer, Swiss
         citizen, residing at Rebgasse 18, CH-4144 Arlesheim, Switzerland, of
         identity established to the satisfaction of the undersigned Notary
         Public, and

         according to his own declaration, acting not on his own behalf, but
         rather, with all personal liability excluded, as the duly authorized
         representative of

         RAG Projektgesellschaft mbH, having its registered office at
         Rellinghauser Strasse 1-11, D-45128 Essen, Germany, and being
         registered under Registration No. HRB 16415 in the Commercial Register
         of the Essen District Court (Amtsgericht) in Germany,

         as evidenced by a power of attorney dated May 16, 2002, the original of
         which was submitted to the undersigned Notary Public, and of which a
         copy, duly authorized by the undersigned Notary Public, is annexed
         hereto, said power of attorney being supported by an attested specimen
         of the holder's signature and a notarized instrument certifying the
         holder as a duly authorized representative,

                              - hereinafter also referred to as "the Offerer" -;

               Register of Notarial Instr., Rec. No. 2002/213 Cu
<PAGE>
                                                                               3

4.       Mr. Philipp Rupp (lic.iur.), born June 10, 1970, lawyer, Swiss citizen,
         residing at Rebgasse 21, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland, of identity
         established to the satisfaction of the undersigned Notary Public, and

         according to his own declaration, acting not on his own behalf, but
         rather, with all personal liability excluded, as the duly authorized
         representative of

         EBV Aktiengesellschaft, having its registered office in D-52134
         Herzogenrath, Germany, and being registered under Registration No. HRB
         293 in the Commercial Register of the Aachen District Court
         (Amtsgericht) in Germany,

         as evidenced by a power of attorney dated May 16, 2002, the original of
         which was submitted to the undersigned Notary Public, and of which a
         copy, duly authorized by the undersigned Notary Public, is annexed
         hereto, said power of attorney being supported by an attested specimen
         of the holder's signature and a notarized instrument certifying the
         holder as a duly authorized representative,

                                      - hereinafter also referred to as "EBV" -;

5.       Dr. Olaf Muller-Michaels, born January 27, 1967, Attorney-at-Law,
         German citizen, having his principal place of business at Breite
         Strasse 69, DE-40213 Dusseldorf, Germany, and residing at Kleverstrasse
         73, DE-40477 Dusseldorf, Germany, and identified to the undersigned
         Notary Public by means of a valid national identity card, and

         according to his own declaration, acting not on his own behalf, but
         rather, with all personal liability excluded, as the duly authorized
         representative of

         a)       E.ON AG, a stock corporation having its registered office at
                  E.ON-Platz 1, D-40479 Dusseldorf, Germany, and being
                  registered under Registration No. HRB 22315 in the Commercial
                  Register of the Dusseldorf District Court (Amtsgericht) in
                  Germany,

                  as evidenced by a power of attorney dated May 17, 2002, the
                  original of which was submitted to the undersigned Notary
                  Public, and of which a copy, duly authorized by the
                  undersigned Notary Public, is annexed hereto, said power of
                  attorney being supported by an attested specimen of the
                  holder's signature and a notarized instrument certifying the
                  holder as a duly authorized representative,

               Register of Notarial Instr., Rec. No. 2002/213 Cu
<PAGE>
                                                                               4

                                     - hereinafter also referred to as "E.ON" -,

         and as the duly authorized representative of

         b)       Chemie Verwaltungs AG, having its registered office at
                  E.ON-Platz 1, D-40479 Dusseldorf, Germany, and being
                  registered under Registration No. HRB 15722 in the Commercial
                  Register of the Dusseldorf District Court (Amtsgericht) in
                  Germany,

                  as evidenced by a power of attorney dated May 17, 2002, the
                  original of which was submitted to the undersigned Notary
                  Public, and of which a copy, duly authorized by the
                  undersigned Notary Public, is annexed hereto, said power of
                  attorney being supported by an attested specimen of the
                  holder's signature and a notarized instrument certifying the
                  holder as a duly authorized representative,

                                     - hereinafter also referred to as "CVAG" -,

         and as the duly authorized representative of

         c)       E.ON Vermogensanlage GmbH, having its registered office at
                  E.ON-Platz 1, D-40479 Dusseldorf, Germany, and being
                  registered under Registration No. HRB 34226 in the Commercial
                  Register of the District Court (Amtsgericht), Dusseldorf,
                  Germany,

                  as evidenced by a power of attorney dated May 17, 2002, the
                  original of which was submitted to the undersigned Notary
                  Public, and of which a copy, duly authorized by the
                  undersigned Notary Public, is annexed hereto, said power of
                  attorney being supported by an attested specimen of the
                  holder's signature and a notarized instrument certifying the
                  holder as a duly authorized representative,

                                  - hereinafter also referred to as "E.ON VG" -.

       - Hereinafter, RAG, BG, the Offerer, EBV, E.ON, CVAG and E.ON VG are also
                                    referred to collectively as "the Parties" -.

The Notary Public explained to the persons appearing the prohibition on
conflicts of interest imposed on Notaries Public by the Notaries Public
legislation of the City of Basel (EG ZGB Section 233(1)(4)) and by the German
Notarization and Authentication Act (Beurkundungsgesetz, Section 3(1)(7)).
Accordingly, the Parties and the Notary Public

               Register of Notarial Instr., Rec. No. 2002/213 Cu
<PAGE>
                                                                               5

confirmed that neither the Notary Public, his practice partners, nor any person
with whom the Notary public works in a professional capacity or with whom the
Notary Public shares chambers within the meaning of said legislation had had any
prior dealings with the matter herein notarized. The persons appearing, acting
in the capacities as defined herein above, made the following declarations and
requested that said declarations be notarized and entered in the Register of
Notarial Instruments:

                                    RECITAL:

A.       RAG holds a stake in Ruhrgas AG, Essen, ("Ruhrgas") equivalent to
         approximately 18.3948% ("stake in Ruhrgas"), made up as follows:

         -        a direct interest of approximately 0.1480 %; that is, of the
                  Euro 1,125,000,000 capital stock in Ruhrgas, which is divided
                  into 440,000,000 non-certificated quasi no-par-value shares
                  (Stuckaktien), RAG directly owns 651,200 shares,

         -        an indirect interest equivalent to approximately 18.0377432 %
                  (the equivalent of a Euro 202,924,611 stake in the capital
                  stock of Ruhrgas) via its subsidiary, BG, which holds a stake
                  with a nominal value of Euro 83,002,970.61 ("eighty-three
                  million, two-thousand, nine-hundred-and-seventy euro and
                  sixty-one euro cents") in Bergemann GmbH, Essen,
                  ("Bergemann"), a company registered under Registration No. HRB
                  5963 in the Commercial Register of the District Court, Essen,
                  and which in turn holds a stake in Ruhrgas equal to
                  approximately 34.7558 %, and

         -        an indirect interest equivalent to approximately
                  0.20920906666667% (the equivalent of a Euro 2,353,602 stake in
                  the capital stock of Ruhrgas) via EBV, an affiliate in which
                  RAG indirectly holds approximately 99% of the stock, which
                  holds a stake with a nominal value of Euro 962,711.48
                  ("nine-hundred-and-sixty-two thousand seven-hundred-and-eleven
                  euro and forty-eight euro cents") in Bergemann (the stakes in
                  Bergemann held by BG and EBV will, in the following, be
                  referred to collectively as "RAG's holdings in Bergemann").

B.       RAG is willing to sell its stake in Ruhrgas, and E.ON is willing to
         acquire this stake. To this end, E.ON and RAG on March 1 and March 5,
         2003, signed a Heads of Agreement for the sale and purchase of RAG's
         stake in Ruhrgas ("Heads of Agreement"). In the Heads of Agreement,
         E.ON and RAG agreed that RAG would sell its stake in Ruhrgas only if
         RAG, by using the purchase money from the sale of

               Register of Notarial Instr., Rec. No. 2002/213 Cu
<PAGE>
                                                                               6

         the stake in Ruhrgas as well as other sources of finance, were able to
         acquire and finance a majority holding in another company that, from
         RAG's viewpoint, is suitable and comparable to the stake in Ruhrgas.
         RAG, BG, EBV and E.ON will today implement the Heads of Agreement by
         entering into a notarized purchase agreement (the "Ruhrgas Purchase
         Agreement").

C.       The Parties are in agreement that the reinvestment referred to in
         paragraph B above will take the form of a step-by-step acquisition of a
         total stake of 50.1% of the shares in Degussa AG, Dusseldorf
         (hereinafter referred to as "Degussa", and said 50.1% stake therein as
         "the stake in Degussa"), by RAG Projektgesellschaft mbH, a wholly-owned
         affiliate of BG, hereinafter also referred to as "the Offerer".

D.       Degussa has a capital stock of Euro 205,623,590, which is divided into
         205,623,590 quasi no-par-value bearer shares (auf den Inhaber lautende
         Stuckaktien). Via direct and indirect interests, E.ON holds the
         equivalent of 132,752,610 shares (the equivalent, approximately, of a
         64.56% stake) in Degussa, made up as follows:

         -        a direct holding of 96,467,040 shares (approximately 46.914%),

         -        an indirect holding of 32,805,570 shares (approximately
                  15.954%) via its wholly-owned subsidiary, CVAG, and

         -        an indirect holding of 3,480,000 shares (approximately 1.692%)
                  via its wholly-owned subsidiary, E.ON VG.

E.       It is intended that the stake in Degussa be acquired in two stages. The
         objective of the first stage, to be completed in 2002, is to give RAG
         and E.ON equal stakes in Degussa by means of a public tender offer
         ("Tender Offer") submitted by the Offerer in which E.ON, CVAG, and E.ON
         VG will participate to an extent specified herein; in the second stage,
         the objective of which is to give the Offerer a majority stake in
         Degussa, the Offerer will acquire additional shares in Degussa from
         E.ON, CVAG or E.ON VG by means of a forward purchase contract ("Forward
         Purchase Contract") which will be concluded today between RAG, BG, the
         Offerer, and E.ON and which will take effect on May 31, 2004.

F.       RAG will finance its indirect acquisition of the stake in Degussa
         partly from the proceeds of the sale of the stake in Ruhrgas, including
         the increase amounts and interest stipulated in the Ruhrgas Purchase
         Agreement (the "purchase price for the

               Register of Notarial Instr., Rec. No. 2002/213 Cu
<PAGE>
                                                                               7

         stake in Ruhrgas"). Most of the remainder of the purchase price for the
         stake in Degussa will be financed via a bridge loan granted to BG by
         the banks ("the Banks") as per the loan agreement (the "Loan
         Agreement") and collateralized via the security contracts ("Security
         Contracts") indicated in the Loan Agreement. BG intends to repay this
         loan using the proceeds of other stake sell-offs.

G.       The Security Contracts include the creation of a security interest in
         those Degussa shares acquired by the Offerer in the first and second
         acquisition phases that are financed by loan funds. In contexts
         relating to Degussa shares financed by loan funds during the
         loan-financing phase, references in the Transaction Contracts (as
         defined below), the Loan Agreement, and the Security Contracts to the
         acquisition of Degussa shares by the Offerer refer to the acquisition
         of the voting rights and rights to dividend payments.

H.       RAG, the Offerer, E.ON, CVAG, and E.ON VG will today enter into a
         shareholders' agreement ("Shareholders' Agreement"), effective as from
         the time when the Degussa shares submitted for sale to the Offerer on
         the basis of acceptance of the Tender Offer are actually acquired by
         the Offerer ("Completion of the Tender Offer"). By said Shareholders'
         Agreement, RAG, the Offerer, E.ON, CVAG, and E.ON VG will bundle their
         interests as shareholders of Degussa.

I.       The purpose of this Framework Agreement is to record the individual
         steps required for completing the transactions intended by the Parties
         (acquisition of the stake in Ruhrgas by E.ON, loan to BG, acquisition
         of the stake in Degussa by the Offerer, and Shareholders' Agreement by
         the shareholders in Degussa) and put in place the required legal
         framework. The Ruhrgas Purchase Agreement, the Forward Purchase
         Contract, and the Shareholders' Agreement will be referred to
         collectively as the "Other Transaction Contracts", and the term "the
         Transaction Contracts" will be used to refer collectively to said
         contracts/agreements and this Framework Agreement. A list of the
         definitions used in the Transaction Agreements is provided in Schedule
         1 hereto.

J.       The transactions (including the Tender Offer) framed by this Framework
         Agreement and draw-downs under to the Loan Agreement are, as per the
         relevant provisions in the Transaction Contracts, the Loan Agreement
         and the Tender Offer, subject, among other things, to the condition
         precedent that the government of the Federal Republic

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                                                                               8

         of Germany and the government of the federal state (Land) of North
         Rhine-Westphalia shall have approved the overall transaction as
         described herein above.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above provisions, the Parties hereby
agree as follows:

                          I. RUHRGAS PURCHASE AGREEMENT

1.       SALE OF STAKE IN RUHRGAS BY RAG, BG AND EBV TO E.ON

1.1      RAG, BG and EBV for their part, and E.ON for its part shall on this day
         conclude the Ruhrgas Purchase Agreement, a contract in notarized form
         which gives effect to the sale to E.ON of the stake in Ruhrgas subject
         to the conditions precedent stated in said Ruhrgas Purchase Agreement,
         and which transfers the stake in Ruhrgas to E.ON subject to certain
         conditions precedent being met, as per the draft attached hereto as
         Schedule 1.1.

1.2      RAG shall apply the purchase price received for the stake in Ruhrgas to
         the acquisition of the stake in Degussa.

                                II. TENDER OFFER

2.       TENDER OFFER

2.1      The Offerer, a wholly-owned affiliate of BG, shall submit a tender
         offer for Degussa which shall be subject to the conditions precedent
         stated in this Framework Agreement.

2.2      Immediately after this Framework Agreement has been duly executed and
         notarized, the Offerer shall notify the organizations specified in
         Section 10(2) of the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act
         (WpUG) of its decision to submit a tender offer for Degussa, and,
         following this, publish the details of its decision, including details
         of the offer price, as required by Section 10(1) of the German
         Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (WpUG).

2.3      The tender-offer documentation which the Offerer is required by Section
         11 of the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (WpUG) to
         publish shall contain a description of the main provisions of the
         Transaction Contracts, the Loan Agreement, and the Security Contracts.
         The Offerer shall obtain the approval of E.ON and

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                                                                               9

         Degussa for this description. The Offerer and E.ON shall endeavor to
         ensure that the positions of the Degussa Board of Management,
         Supervisory Board and Works Council are made known in the offer
         documentation.

2.4      RAG need not name the "Offerer", that is, RAG Projektgesellschaft mbH,
         as being the offerer, but, rather, shall have the right instead to
         identify itself, BG or any other subsidiary that it wholly owns as
         being the offerer.

3.       CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO BE CONTAINED IN THE TENDER OFFER

3.1      The Tender Offer shall contain provisions stating that it will not take
         effect unless and until:

3.1.1    either the EU Commission and the competent antitrust authorities in the
         USA and Canada have expressly given their permission for the
         acquisition of the stake in Degussa and the Shareholders' Agreement
         with E.ON to proceed, or all applicable deadline periods for the
         imposition of prohibitions by the EU Commission and the antitrust
         authorities have elapsed without any prohibitions being imposed on the
         above-stated transactions;

3.1.2    the government of the Federal Republic of Germany and the government of
         the federal state (Land) of North Rhine-Westphalia have unconditionally
         approved both the RAG Projektgesellschaft mbH Tender Offer for Degussa
         AG and the Ruhrgas Purchase Agreement; and

3.1.3    the sale of RAG's holdings in Bergemann (which RAG owns indirectly via
         BG and EBV) to E.ON is completed in accordance with the provisions of
         the Ruhrgas Purchase Agreement.

3.2      The parties shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that the
         conditions precedent stated in clause 3.1 hereof are met.

3.3      The Tender Offer shall expressly provide that the condition precedent
         stated in clause 3.1.1 hereof must be met by March 31, 2003 at the
         latest, and the other conditions precedent by January 1, 2003; and
         that, failing this, the Tender Offer will not be completed.

3.4      The inclusion in the Tender Offer of additional conditions or the
         waiver of the conditions listed in clause 3.1 hereof requires the prior
         approval of E.ON; however,

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                                                                              10

         as regards the condition precedent stated in clause 3.1.2 hereof, the
         Offerer has the right (but not the obligation) at any time to
         unilaterally waive the requirement that the government approvals be
         unconditional.

4.       SUBSTANTIVE CONTENT OF THE TENDER OFFER

4.1      The Tender Offer shall name as the consideration for the Degussa shares
         a money amount of Euro 38 (thirty-eight euro) per Degussa share (the
         "Offer Price").

4.2      The Offerer shall decide on the time limit for acceptance of the offer
         when drawing up the offer documents.

4.3      The earliest at which the Tender Offer can be completed is 10 bank
         working days following the date on which all the conditions precedent
         for the Tender Offer have been met.

5.       FINANCING FOR THE ACQUISITION OF THE STAKE IN DEGUSSA BY THE OFFERER

5.1      To secure financing for the Offerer's acquisition of the stake in
         Degussa, BG shall to the required extent deposit into the Offerer's
         reserves funds which BG receives on the basis of payment claims against
         E.ON (as its share of the purchase money from the sale of the stake in
         Ruhrgas) and on the basis of the Loan Agreement, as well as any
         additional funds that may be necessary.

5.2      The funds payable pursuant to BG's right to disbursement under the Loan
         Agreement and pursuant to BG's right to its share of the purchase price
         under the Ruhrgas Purchase Agreement shall be remitted directly to a
         separate account, which BG must nominate in good time, at Morgan
         Stanley Bank AG (the "Settlement Bank"), the Receiving and Exchange
         Agent for the technical settlement of the Tender Offer; said account
         must be pledged to the Settlement Bank as collateral to secure the
         financing of the Tender Offer. As soon as the funds are deposited, BG
         shall direct the Settlement Bank to transfer them to another separate
         account which the Offerer holds at the Settlement Bank, which the
         Offerer must nominate in sufficient time, and which must also be
         pledged as collateral to the Settlement Bank.

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6.       CONFIRMATION OF FINANCING PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 WPUG; RECOURSE
         AGREEMENT

6.1      BG, the Offerer, and Morgan Stanley Bank AG (the "Finance-Confirmation
         Bank") have entered into a settlement agreement, pursuant to which the
         Finance-Confirmation Bank undertakes, among other things, to give the
         confirmation of financing mandated by Section 13 of the German
         Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (WpUG), on the basis of a
         recourse agreement ("Recourse Agreement"), a draft of which is attached
         hereto as Schedule 6.1. E.ON and BG shall sign the Recourse Agreement
         as soon as this Framework Agreement has been duly signed and notarized.

6.2      BG shall pay the costs of the confirmation of financing.

7.       NATURE AND EXTENT OF ACCEPTANCE OF THE TENDER OFFER BY E.ON

7.1      Notwithstanding anything in clause 7.2 hereof, E.ON, CVAG and E.ON VG
         are entitled and obligated to accept the Tender Offer within the
         extended acceptance period provided by Section 16(2) of the German
         Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (WpUG) to the extent necessary
         to enable them to sell to the Offerer as many Degussa shares at the
         Offer Price as are necessary to ensure that

         -        when taken together with the Degussa shares already sold by
                  minority shareholders who have accepted the Tender Offer, the
                  Tender Offer gives the Offerer a controlling interest in
                  Degussa within the meaning of Section 29(2) of the German
                  Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (WpUG) (at least 30%
                  of the Degussa voting rights), and

         -        the Offerer and E.ON (including CVAG and E.ON VG), at the end
                  of the first acquisition phase, each have equal stakes in
                  Degussa.

7.2      E.ON, CVAG and E.ON VG hereby irrevocably waive acceptance of the
         Tender Offer if and to the extent that the number of shares transferred
         by their acceptance would exceed the parameters defined in clause 7.1
         hereof. Prior to any acceptance, E.ON, CVAG and E.ON VG shall reach
         agreement among themselves as to the internal distribution of the
         shares to be sold.

7.3      E.ON, CVAG and E.ON VG shall be entitled to payment from the Offerer
         for the shares they have sold to the Offerer on the basis of their
         acceptance of the Tender

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                                                                              12

         Offer only once E.ON has met its payment obligations to BG arising out
         of the Ruhrgas Purchase Agreement.

7.4      RAG shall ensure that, 36 hours prior to the end of the extended
         acceptance period provided by Section 16(2) of the German Securities
         Acquisition and Takeover Act (WpUG), the Offerer informs E.ON of the
         number of Degussa shares sold as of that time by minority shareholders
         who have accepted the Tender Offer. E.ON, or in lieu of E.ON a bank to
         whom E.ON has issued irrevocable instructions, and the Settlement Bank
         shall determine the number of shares that E.ON, CVAG and E.ON VG must
         sell by means of acceptance of the Tender Offer and the time at which
         said shares must be sold. E.ON, CVAG and E.ON VG shall not submit their
         Degussa shares for sale via Clearstream Banking AG, but rather shall
         deposit them separately with the Settlement Bank, provided that this is
         permitted by law, is technically feasible and accords with the wishes
         of the Settlement Bank, and provided that the Settlement Bank is able
         to perform delivery-versus-payment settlement with or without the
         involvement of Clearstream Banking AG.

8.       ADJUSTMENT TO ENSURE EQUAL STAKES

         Immediately after expiration of the extended acceptance period, the
         Offerer and E.ON shall, as between themselves, adjust their respective
         holdings in Degussa to the extent necessary, first, to give the Offerer
         control over Degussa within the meaning of Section 29 of the German
         Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (WpUG) and, secondly, to ensure
         that the Offerer and E.ON have equal stakes in Degussa.

9.       WARRANTY

         Subject to the exclusion of all warranty claims provided by statute,
         E.ON, CVAG and E.ON VG hereby warrant and represent that the Degussa
         shares they sell the Offerer are fully paid-up, are their property,
         and, except for the rights described in Degussa's Bylaws, are not
         encumbered by third-party rights. E.ON, CVAG and E.ON VG give no other
         warranties and make no other representations.

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                                                                              13

                         III. FORWARD PURCHASE CONTRACT

10.      FORWARD PURCHASE CONTRACT

         RAG, BG, the Offerer and E.ON shall on this day enter into a Forward
         Purchase Contract as per the draft agreement attached hereto as
         Schedule 10. By this agreement the Offerer will on May 31, 2004,
         acquire from E.ON additional Degussa shares at the Offer Price and
         thereby increase the Offerer's stake in Degussa.

                    IV. LOAN AGREEMENT AND SECURITY CONTRACTS

11.      LOAN AGREEMENT AND SECURITY CONTRACTS

11.1     BG shall no later than May 21, 2002, sign a Loan Agreement
         worded largely as per the draft attached hereto as Schedule
         11.1 (but, if necessary, with clarification of clause 3.1.2,
         "Completion of the sale of RAG's holdings in Bergemann"), by
         means of which the Banks will grant BG a loan of up to Euro 2
         (two) billion by way of bridging finance for the acquisition
         of the stake in Degussa, and which the Banks named therein
         have already signed.

11.1.1   The provisions of the Loan Agreement relating to collateral stipulate
         that a percentage of the Degussa shares must remain available to the
         public (free float). Therefore, in order to give effect to the Loan
         Agreement, the Offerer and E.ON shall keep each other informed as to
         the number of voting rights in Degussa each of them hold at any given
         time; E.ON's part of this obligation extends to CVAG and E.ON VG. In
         addition, if either the Offerer or E.ON becomes aware that shareholders
         other than those named above in this clause have, in accordance with
         the German Securities Trading Act (WpHG), given notice that they hold
         5% of the voting rights in Degussa, or that they have reached,
         exceeded, or fallen below this 5% threshold (hereinafter referred to as
         "Material Shareholders"), then that party (the Offerer or E.ON) shall
         notify the other.

11.1.2   If, during the term of the Loan Agreement, the proportion of voting
         rights held by free-float shareholders (all shareholders apart from the
         E.ON shareholders and the RAG shareholders--as defined in the
         Shareholders' Agreement--and the Material Shareholders) should fall
         below 10% of total voting rights in Degussa, then, as between the
         Offerer and E.ON, the free float in Degussa shall be deemed to have

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                                                                              14

         fallen below 10% and the Offerer and E.ON shall be required to
         immediately and jointly issue written instructions to the Agent (as
         defined in the Loan Agreement), directing said Agent to apply a
         notional market value for the Degussa shares--in lieu of the then
         current stock-exchange price stipulated by clause 10.2.3 of the Loan
         Agreement--when calculating the amount required to equalize the
         difference in prices (as defined by the Loan Agreement).

11.1.3   In all other respects BG and E.ON shall cooperate in good faith in
         order to give effect to the Loan Agreement. The mechanism created by
         clauses 11.1.1 and 11.1.2 hereof shall lapse once all sums owed to the
         Banks under the Loan Agreement have been repaid.

11.2     RAG, BG, the Offerer and E.ON shall without delay as soon as this
         Framework Agreement has been duly signed and notarized sign the
         Security Contracts attached hereto as Schedule 11.2 and listed herein
         below, provided in each case that they are parties to the contracts in
         question:

         -        the option contract (the "Option Contract") between E.ON,
                  Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A. and Morgan Stanley Senior
                  Funding, Inc.;

         -        the Security Transfer Agreement (over shares) between the
                  Offerer and Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A.;

         -        the Bank-Account Pledge Contract between BG, the Offerer,
                  Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding,
                  Inc. and other banks;

         -        the Guarantee Agreement between E.ON, Deutsche Bank Luxembourg
                  S.A. and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., and a written
                  guarantee request from BG and the Offerer to E.ON.

11.3     If the Banks exercise their rights under the Option Contract to sell to
         E.ON the Degussa shares described in said Option Contract, then E.ON
         shall have the right to acquire from RAG, BG and the Offerer the
         Degussa shares that they hold (including any Degussa shares released
         pursuant to the Security Contracts) at the Offer Price stated in clause
         4.1 hereof plus interest at the rate of 5% p.a. accrued as from the
         date when the Tender Offer was implemented, and less dividends paid by
         Degussa to RAG, BG or the Offerer. RAG will ensure that this right can
         be exercised against other RAG Group companies who hold Degussa shares.

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                                                                              15

                           V. SHAREHOLDERS' AGREEMENT

12.      SHAREHOLDERS' AGREEMENT

         RAG, the Offerer, E.ON, CVAG and E.ON VG shall on this day enter into a
         Shareholders' Agreement as per the draft attached hereto as Schedule
         12. The Shareholders' Agreement will not be effective until the Tender
         Offer has been completed.

                                VI. MISCELLANEOUS

13.      PROVISIONS TO BE APPLIED IN THE EVENT THAT THE RUHRGAS PURCHASE
         AGREEMENT IS RESCINDED

13.1     If the Ruhrgas Purchase Agreement is rescinded, then the Offerer shall
         be entitled and obligated to sell back to E.ON or a third party named
         by E.ON the Degussa shares that the Offerer had acquired from E.ON,
         CVAG and E.ON VG; in which case, said shares shall be sold back at the
         Offer Price plus interest at the rate of 5% p.a., calculated as from
         the time when said shares were acquired by the Offerer, less the amount
         of any dividends paid by Degussa to the Offerer.

13.2     If the Ruhrgas Purchase Agreement is rescinded, E.ON shall then
         endeavor to help RAG obtain the remaining Degussa shares.

13.3     If the Ruhrgas Purchase Agreement is rescinded, then E.ON, or the third
         party nominated by E.ON, shall be obligated to remit to the Agent
         defined in the Loan Agreement in accordance with the special-repayment
         provisions contained in the Loan Agreement the amount that E.ON, or the
         third party nominated by E.ON, owes on the basis of the buy-back
         arising from the rescission. If E.ON has nominated a third party, then
         E.ON shall be liable for ensuring that said third party performs E.ON's
         obligations as defined in the preceding sentence. The Offerer hereby
         gives its approval for this remittance by E.ON or by the third party
         nominated by E.ON (Section 362(2) German Civil Code (BGB).

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14.      DUTIES OF THE PARTIES TO SUPPORT THE TENDER OFFER

14.1     The Parties undertake to do everything within their power to facilitate
         all the processes and procedures imposed by competition and anti-trust
         laws in respect of the transactions governed by the Transaction
         Contracts. In particular, the Parties shall take all reasonable steps
         to ensure that said transactions are approved by the competition and
         anti-trust authorities.

14.2     E.ON shall not take any measures that may jeopardize the success of the
         Tender Offer.

15.      CHANGE OF PARTIES

15.1     Unless already provided in this Framework Agreement or in one of the
         contracts in the Schedules hereto, or agreed upon with the Settlement
         Bank in connection with the assignment of individual claims and rights
         owned by RAG, BG or the Offerer, the transfer of status as a party to
         this Framework Agreement or to one of the Other Transaction Contracts,
         and the assignment of individual claims or rights under the Transaction
         Contracts shall require the prior written approval of the other
         Parties, notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in the
         Transaction Agreements. This requirement for approval shall also apply
         to transfers and assignments to affiliated companies except in cases
         where the transfer or assignment does not impair the legal or
         commercial position of the other parties.

15.2     The immediate and any subsequent successors in title shall likewise be
         required to accept the duties and obligation hereby imposed.

16.      PUBLICATIONS AND DUTIES OF NON-DISCLOSURE

16.1     Unless there is as a duty of disclosure imposed by statute or
         capital-market rules, each party to the Transaction Contracts shall
         keep secret from third parties all confidential matters of which it
         gains knowledge in its capacity as a party to the Transaction
         Contracts, particularly the negotiations undertaken in relation to
         these matters and the resolutions adopted by the shareholders of the
         Parties in relation to these matters.

16.2     E.ON and RAG shall coordinate all press statements and other public
         announcements regarding the transactions governed by the Transaction
         Contracts, the Loan

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                                                                              17

         Agreement, the Recourse Agreement, and the Security Contracts in such a
         way that each of these two parties affords the other sufficient
         opportunity to review each such public announcement and put forward
         counterproposals. The Parties shall endeavor to reach agreement on the
         content of all public announcements. Wherever permissible by law, the
         same shall apply, mutatis mutandis, in respect of ad-hoc disclosure
         notices (ad-hoc-Mitteilungen) issued by E.ON pursuant to its duties of
         ongoing disclosure under the German Securities Trading Act (WpHG).

17.      COSTS

         With the exception of the costs of the Tender Offer procedures, and
         notwithstanding any separate provisions in the Other Transaction
         Contracts, E.ON and BG shall each pay half the costs of notarizing and
         implementing the Transaction Contracts. Each party shall pay the costs
         of their own consultants and advisors.

18.      ARBITRATION CLAUSE

         All disputes arising out of or in connection with the Transaction
         Contracts or relating to their validity shall be settled finally and
         bindingly in accordance with the Rules of Arbitration of the German
         Institution of Arbitration (DIS) and without recourse to the ordinary
         courts of law. The venue for arbitration proceedings is Dusseldorf,
         Germany. Each dispute shall be heard by a panel of three arbitrators.
         If the parties are unable to agree on the appointment of the presiding
         arbitrator, the presiding arbitrator shall be appointed by the
         President of the Upper Regional Court (OLG), Dusseldorf.

19.      APPLICABLE LAW

         The Transaction Contracts shall be governed by the laws of the Federal
         Republic of Germany.

20.      FINAL PROVISIONS

20.1     The Transaction Contracts supersede and replace all prior oral or
         written agreements between the Parties that deal with subject matter of
         this Framework Agreement; the Heads of Agreement is the sole exception
         to this. There are no collateral agreements.

20.2     RAG is liable for the performance of all the obligations owed by BG,
         EBV, the Offerer, and their successors in title under the Transaction
         Contracts as if RAG itself

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                                                                              18

         were (the sole) party to said contracts. Dispositions of Degussa shares
         within the RAG Group are subject to clause 6.2 of the Shareholders'
         Agreement.

20.3     E.ON is liable for the performance of all the obligations owed by CVAG,
         E.ON VG, and their successors in title under the Transaction Contracts
         as if E.ON itself were (the sole) party to said contracts. Dispositions
         of Degussa shares within the E.ON Group are subject to clause 6.2 of
         the Shareholders' Agreement.

20.4     If there are any conflicts between this Framework Agreement and the
         Other Transaction Contracts or the Heads of Agreement, or if there are
         any uncertainties as to construction and interpretation, then this
         Framework Agreement shall take precedence.

20.5     Any additions and amendments to this Framework Agreement must be in
         writing unless notarization is required. The same applies to any
         changes to this clause.

20.6     If any provision of the Transaction Contracts should be or become
         invalid or unenforceable, whether wholly or in part, then that
         provision shall be severed, and the remaining provisions of the
         Transaction Contracts shall remain valid and enforceable. The same
         shall apply if any of the Transaction Contracts contains a gap or gaps.
         The parties shall cure the invalid or unenforceable provision or gap by
         substituting a valid and enforceable provision which as nearly as
         permissible by law approximates that which the Parties intended or,
         judging by the spirit and intent of the Transaction Contracts, would
         have intended if they had turned their minds to the point at issue when
         entering into the Transaction Contracts or, subsequently thereto, when
         adding a provision to the Transaction Contracts. This shall apply even
         if the invalidity of a provision relates to a scope of service or a
         time parameter (deadline period or deadline date); in such cases, the
         Parties shall cure the invalid scope of service or time parameter by
         substituting a valid scope of service or time parameter which as nearly
         as possible approximates the intended scope of service or time
         parameter.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I, the undersigned Notary Public, read this written record
and the attached Schedules to the persons appearing, who then indicated their
approval and acceptance of this written record by signing the same in their own
hand, whereupon I signed the same in my own hand and affixed my official seal.

Done in Basel, on this day, May the twentieth, two-thousand-and-two.

                                                --------------------------------

                                                --------------------------------

                                                --------------------------------

                                                --------------------------------

                                                --------------------------------

                                                --------------------------------
                                                Stephan Cueni, Notary Public

                REGISTER OF NOTARIAL INSTR., REC. NO. 2002/213 CU

<PAGE>

Register of Notarial Instr., Rec. No. 2002/213

                REGISTER OF NOTARIAL INSTR., REC. NO. 2002/213 CU

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