SUBSCRIBER NOTE: Sakhalin Blend crude assessments to replace Vityaz from May 4

As previously announced, Platts will publish an assessment reflecting the price of Russia's Sakhalin Blend crude from May 4, 2015. This assessment is identical to, and published alongside, the existing Vityaz crude assessment. Platts will discontinue the existing Vityaz assessment from January 2, 2016. The new Sakhalin Blend assessment and associated code would carry the historical data for the Vityaz assessment. The change in name would not alter any other aspects of Platts assessment of the Russian crude. The proposed change ensures that Platts assessments and terminology conform with the latest market convention. Platts understands that Sakhalin Energy, operator of the Sakhalin-2 offshore project in Russia's Far East, has replaced its Vityaz crude grade with the Sakhalin Blend since December 2014. The official trade name of the crude associated with production from Sakhalin-2 offshore project and other entities is Sakhalin Blend.

The Sakhalin Blend assessment is published in Platts Global Alert on pages 2214 and 2215; and in Platts Oilgram Price Report, Platts Crude Oil Marketwire, and Platts Asia Pacific/Arab Gulf Marketscan. The assessment is found under the following codes: AAREN00, AARBN00, AARDN00, AARCN00, and AAREN03, AARBN03, AARDN03, AARCN03 for the monthly averages.