WORKING AT DANSKE COMMODITIES

At Danske Commodities we have a saying: “Our people are our greatest asset”. You may think it is just a catchphrase to grab the attention of talents like yourself, but I can assure you that it is not. As an energy trading house, our success is built solely on having the brightest and most innovative people working across the entire organisation: on our trading floors, in our customer business and in our back office.

Energy markets are constantly changing and with every change, we see an opportunity to do business. When Danske Commodities was founded in 2004, it was built on the simple idea of moving energy across the border between Denmark and Germany. Since then, both the markets and our company have evolved beyond our wildest expectations. Now, we trade energy

across 38 markets in Europe and Australia – and we are still expanding!

When you join Danske Commodities, you join a company full of dedicated and competitive people from all over the world. In fact, we have 25 different nationalities working here right now. That is because we believe that the best ideas are brought to life, when different minds are combined.

Are you up for the challenge?

Helle Østergaard Kristiansen, CEO

ENERGY MARKETS NEVER STAND STILL. SO NEITHER DO WE.

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3.2CUPS OF COFFEE

consumed per employee per work day on average, equalling 180,000 Nespresso capsules.

including 50+ sports events, a summer party, season’s gatherings and more.

125+

295

SOCIAL EVENTSPER YEAR

EMPLOYEES

77%23%

MEN

WOMEN

33 YEARS IS THE AVERAGE AGE

OF ALL EMPLOYEES HAVE A MASTER’S

DEGREE OR HIGHER

6000+TABLE FOOTBALL GOALS YEARLY

17FORMER ATHLETES

25NATIONALITIES EMPLOYED

who have played sports on a pro-fessional or semi-professional level. Including disciplines like golf, football and fistball.

of business relevant data processed by DC throughout the year: the equivalent of storage available on 1.83 million iPads.

117,219,750

GIG

ABYTES

3PROFESSIONAL POKER PLAYERS

52%SPEAK THREE OR MORE LANGUAGES

GET TO KNOW USDC IN NUMBERS

73%4 5

What made you apply for a job at DC?When I was studying, DC was the company that me and my fellow classmates were looking up to. We saw it as an innovative, young company that would take you to the next level, or in other words, “the place to be”. When I started my master’s, I found the perfect student job and challenged myself to apply. It’s difficult to explain the rush I felt when I received the call that I was selected to be part of the team.

What do you do at DC?I work in the Trade Support team where I am responsible for the Day Ahead operations for the power markets. On a daily basis, I work with different VBA and SQL tools that can help optimise operations, prevent mistakes and avoid imbalances. No two days are the same as there are countless opportunities to improve daily processes and routines.

What is the culture like at DC?People at DC are extremely ambitious, always seeking new challenges and taking all opportunities to grow. It’s a privilege to work with so many talented and incredibly smart people! In my team, as in the rest of the company, there is a culture of always challenging current practices and exploring if better solutions exist.

What is your most significant achievement? This is a difficult question since I have experienced so many different situations at DC. But working here has helped me get to know myself better. I have also attained skills I never thought of before, and the level of responsibility I was given right from the start has helped me grow more than I ever expected.

We’ve asked Miruna Tapalaga, a Dispatcher in our Trade Support team, a few questions about working at Danske Commodities. Miruna has been with DC since 2015, where she was hired as a student employee. She has a Master’s degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management and is originally from Romania.

MIRUNA TAPALAGADISPATCHER

“IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH SO MANY TALENTED AND INCREDIBLY SMART PEOPLE”

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CAREERS FOR EXPLORERS

At DC, we try to create the perfect workplace for visionary minds. We believe that a competitive, yet helpful, international environment enables us to be the best versions of ourselves.

Among the bestWe’ve been named one of Denmark’s best workplaces for several reasons. We spend our workdays in an airy new office in Denmark’s second largest city, Aarhus, and have small teams situated in London, Hamburg and Istanbul. There’s a unique and palpable atmosphere in our offices characterised by the almost 300 people, who work closely together as one team.

People development We have a strong focus on people development through our very own DC University. All employees are offered

an individual development plan and 78% of our leaders have been grown and promoted internally. And as a part of Equinor, we offer temporary assignments and further specialisation through our international network all around the world. Specialised, dynamic and diverseWhen you join Danske Commodities, you become part of a flat organisation in a modern, fast-paced and entrepreneurial work environment, where 73% of the employees hold a Master’s degree or higher. With an average age of 33 years, we’re a young and dynamic company. And with colleagues from more than 25 different countries, you’ll be part of a truly versatile workplace.

Global Employee and Leadership Index (GELx):

Top in Class category

Universum: Denmark’s Top 100 Ideal Employers

OUR BENEFITS We’re a flexible workplace that always strives to accommodate our employees and their work-lifebalance. Some of the benefits, we offer, include:

▪ Strong focus on people development through our DC University and individual development plans

▪ Family-friendly benefits, such as an attractive maternity and paternity package and discount schemes

▪ Lots of social events, including company parties, family events, regular Friday bars, DC Sports events

▪ Tasty food, including breakfast, organic fruit, healthy and varied lunch and dinner when working late

▪ Access to Equinor employee share programme

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ENERGY TRADING is the core of our business. About a third of our employees work within trading, covering gas and power trading, automated trading and trade support functions.

ORIGINATION is the industry term for business development and sales. Our Origination teams cover different activities that all contribute to turning our trading capabilities into value-adding products and services for energy producers and consumers.

Power and gas tradingOur traders have many different backgrounds, from PhDs in cosmology to finance and real estate brokerages. But what really characterises a good trader is an innate competitive spirit, a winning mentality as well as the ability to think quickly and keep a cool head under pressure.

AnalysisIn our trading teams, there are several analysts, who help provide the strategies, analyses and data that our traders base their decisions on. These analysts are highly specialised within numerical or quantitative techniques, engineering, physics, meteorology or similar.

Automated tradingOur Automated Trading team develops tools, systems and algorithms allowing computer-based solutions to analyse data, automatically execute and monitor trading activities. Working in this team requires an understanding of complex financial problems, mathematical and statistical modelling and technical implementation of software solutions.

Trade supportLastly, our Trade Support team helps our traders schedule and complete electricity flows to ensure overall balance in the power grids. They also develop trading tools using various programming languages. To work in the support team, you have to be very diligent and systemised.

International origination and business developmentOur international originators and business developers are the link to our customers. They conduct analyses, develop new business and are responsible for selling our products and services. Although most have a master’s degree, their educational backgrounds are very diverse. But they do have many skills in common, among those an instinctive under-standing of market conditions, a solid business acumen, people skills and a competitive mindset.

Portfolio and asset managementOur portfolio and asset management teams manage our customers’ positions in the short-term markets and help optimise their forecasts. They also support customers in the long run, for example by hedging their positions and helping them manage risks, and focus on optimising the production of our asset-owning customers - mainly combined heat and power plants. Most of our portfolio and asset managers have a background within finance, engineering, economics or data analysis combined with a solid technical understanding.

OUR BUSINESS AREAS

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OUR BUSINESS AREAS

FINANCE constitutes a solid back office that supports all day-to-day operations and is the crucial backbone to our company’s success. Here, we have described a selection of business areas within the unit.

IT has always been a top priority at DC. We have a best-in-class IT set-up, develop many of our systems and tools in-house and host them ourselves.

HR AND COMMUNICATIONS uphold the company’s brand internally and externally, take care of all recruitment and support management in setting the strategic direction.

Finance and accountingOur Finance & Accounting teams forecast future profit and losses and monitor costs, while our accounting teams take care of invoicing, financial settlements and reporting. To work in these teams, you have to be structured and precise. Educational backgrounds range from finance and economics to accountancy.

Risk managementIn a business with ever-changing market conditions and significant volatility, our Risk Management team ensures that we always have our trading positions under control. Most of our risk analysts are number crunchers by nature and have a sound business understanding. Their backgrounds are mainly within economy, math, physics or finance.

TreasuryOur Treasury department functions as an in-house bank. They monitor all cash in- and outflows to ensure there are sufficient resources to fund company operations and they invest and optimise our liquidity. Most team members have a background within finance or from the banking sector, and they all have an eye for investments.

Legal and complianceOur Legal & Compliance team has been recognised among the best in-house legal teams in Scandinavia. They negotiate, administrate and manage contracts, oversee compliance and enable market access for our traders. Unsurprisingly, most of the team members have studied law.

The entire business is dependent on our IT Operations & Services team, which makes sure trading systems run smoothly. Our Business Intelligence team supports the collection, analysis, presentation and dissemination of business information. The Software Development team is responsible for helping invent smart software solutions, making the entire company more efficient. The Business Analysis team ensures a strong link between business and IT through sharp analysis and specification of requirements. And our Project Management team focuses on ensuring our IT projects are managed as effectively as possible.

Educational backgrounds range from degrees within computer science to business and economics.

Our People & Culture team is responsible for everything from recruitment to ensuring the continuous development of our people. Strategy & Communications consists of creative and committed strategists, communicators and marketers, who work closely together with top-management on setting and communicating the direction of the company – internally as well as externally.

To work in the team, you need to have great stakeholder management and organisational skills, the ability to think outside the box and juggle working both strategically as well as operationally.

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Although our outlook is not limited by any borders, DC’s roots (and our headquarters) lie in Denmark’s second biggest city: Aarhus. Here, you can learn more about working and living in “the city of smiles”.

A city of specialistsEducation is a key focus area and a true point of difference for Aarhus. With more than 55,000 students, you will find one of the highest concentrations of students in Northern Europe, and the general education level is twice as high as the rest of Denmark.

Families are welcomeAccording to international rankings by IMD, Denmark is at the top of the list when it comes to quality of life. Aarhus offers a high standard of living, an excellent work-life balance and a safe environment for your family and children. Day-care is both high in quality and relatively inexpensive, which means that career ambitions

and a fulfilling family life are easily combined. DC’s flexible work environment further supports this.

After working hoursAarhus is perfect for anyone who enjoys the buzz of city life and the beauty of nature in equal measure. If you are into outdoor activities, you can enjoy the sea, stunning beaches and forests within easy reach from the city center. All you really need to get around is a decent bicycle.

Aarhus houses inspiring venues, theaters and museums as well as a wide selection of shops, cafés and restaurants – including Michelin-starred ones. The city’s condensed shopping experience, combined with a sprawling cultural scene, gives Aarhus a dynamic urban atmosphere. This is part of why Aarhus is one of the most attractive cities in Denmark.

AARHUS IN SHORT

▪ The second largest city in Denmark with 1.2 million people in the greater Aarhus area

▪ Home to 55,000 students and a university ranked in the top 100 in the world

▪ 49% of inhabitants have a higher education

▪ Innovation hubs covering cleantech, food, ICT, healthcare, design, architecture and fashion

▪ Two airports within a 1-hour drive (approx. 50 international destinations)

▪ Denmark’s international container port (nearly 60% of Denmark’s total container traffic)

▪ Home to many international companies besides Danske Commodities, such as Arla, Bestseller, Danish Crown, DuPont, Google, IBM, Johnson Controls, Uber and Vestas

▪ A full-scale expat environment and high quality of life

“Forget Copenhagen, Aarhus is Denmark’s new capital of cool” - The Independent

“This small city will have you soaking in the centuries with its historic medieval buildings to its modern-day university-town vibe” - National Geographic

LIVING IN AARHUS

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MEET OUR PEOPLE

My background During my studies, I applied for a student position in Intraday Trading in 2012, as I wanted some study-related work. I thought this could be a step towards full-time employment, which DC luckily offered me before handing in my thesis.

Why I wanted to work for DCI had read about DC and heard from two student peers that it was an interesting company – that is what made me send the application and I believe my student peer, who today is still a colleague, put in a good word for me to my boss at the time.

What I do I’m responsible for all our activities including strategy development, business area focus and recruitment in our department, which trades in

the shortest time frame possible - down to five minutes before actual delivery of the physical electricity.

My typical work dayUsually consists of meetings with my colleagues in Trading and in my own team discussing trends, performance and development as well as certain business areas. Recruitment and setting the best team with the best people is always top of mind, so I also spend a lot of time assessing the poten-tial of our current traders and analysts.

The best part of my jobWorking with so many skilled and passionate people!

My background I have always been interested in a lot of different - seemingly unrelated – things. On my journey to BI I have been singing opera, studied German and Business administration, been an aerobics instructor and a physics and mathematics teacher until I met my husband who convinced me to study IT.

Why I wanted to work for DCI like being part of a success, and I really believe DC lives up to that tag. I love the dynamic and fast paced environment where everyone’s ideas are valued and put into action.

What I do Data availability and quality is crucial to DC. I am responsible for coordinating all BI tasks across teams to make sure we always deliver on the most important tasks first. Furthermore, I am responsible for the well-being of our growing Polish team.

My typical work dayI start my day reviewing deadlines for tasks in the pipeline and ‘nagging’ my colleagues with ques-tions about estimates and progress of their assigned tasks. Around 10, I have a Skype meet-ing with our Polish developers. Throughout the day, I create and follow up on tasks and have a handful of meetings with stakeholders.

The best part of my jobWhen I get to deliver chocolate to my team mem-bers and different stakeholders in the company to thank them for their effort and collaboration. And when we can help each other across teams to lift tasks that would otherwise fall to the ground.

ANDERS DAMM

Education: Master’s in Information Technology

Position: Head of Business Intelligence - Operations

Employed since: May 2016

Fun fact: I’m an amateur opera singer

Education: Master’s in Finance and International Business

Position: Head of Intraday Asset Trading

Employed since: February 2012

Fun fact: I’ve practiced bowling as a sport

ASTRID GRAVERSEN

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MEET OUR PEOPLE

My background Originally from Southern Jutland (“Synnejylland”), I’m a misfit geek from the countryside. I experi-mented with music in my teenage years before letting myself engulf by academia and the world of nanoscience. This led me to a Bachelor and a PhD in Theoretical Physics which, perhaps a bit out of the ordinary, led to a Software Developer position in DC.

Why I wanted to work for DCBecause of the extremely fascinating business area, the high pace and the young and modern culture.

What I do I develop and maintain software to support the business flow in DC – from trading to invoicing.

My typical work dayA typical day at work does not exist at DC! But I

divide my time between supporting the business (keeping the software systems running and solv-ing what problems that may appear) and doing actual software development. Both tasks require a close contact with colleagues ensuring that development is on the right path and that support and maintenance works effectively.

The best part of my jobThe variety of different tasks combined with the possibility to immerse yourself into complex assignments – and of course the wonderful col-leagues.

Education: PhD in MathematicsPosition: Senior Quantitative AnalystEmployed since: October 2013Fun fact: I have recently taken up fencing

AMIT DE

Education: PhD in Theoretical Physics and NanosciencePosition: Software DeveloperEmployed since: September 2013Fun fact: I have six children and don’t drink coffee

JAKOB RASMUSSEN

My background I was born and grew up in New Delhi. I learned quite early that I am fairly competent at three things: mathematics, physics and boxing. Fortu-nately, for everyone concerned, including myself, I chose to pursue the first two. I did my Bachelor’s and Master’s in Mathematics in India before traveling to Aarhus for my PhD.

Why I wanted to work for DCI wanted to work in a company that had a creative, innovative and thorough atmosphere. I found out these qualities define DC, and so here I am.

What I do Like all ‘quants’ in my group, the responsibilities are myriad and varied. One of my responsibilities is to create quality forward curves for power and gas. Other than that, I make mathematical models that allow us to quantify probabilistically the risk that might be associated with a business case.

My typical work dayThis is slightly problematic to answer because I don’t have a typical work day – some days I’ll be working on the forward curves, on another I’ll be neck deep analysing a business case and quanti-fying, on another day I’ll be given responsibility to come up with a new mathematical model for a previously unstudied phenomenon to aid better risk control. The best part of my jobWell, let’s see. Creating a mathematical is genu-inely my idea of FUN and this is precisely my job and indeed my hobby. So let’s see – I get paid to have fun, responsibly! Need I say anything more?

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Danske Commodities is an energy trading company that specialises in short-term power and gas trading and offers balancing, optimisation and hedging services to energy producers and suppliers. Every day, the company completes more than 3750 trades across 38 countries, constantly moving energy from where there is more than needed to where it is needed most. Danske Commodities is a wholly-owned subsidi-ary to Norwegian energy company Equinor, operating under its own name and brand.

DANSKE COMMODITIESVAERKMESTERGADE 3DK 8000 AARHUS CDENMARK

PHONE +45 8833 8181

INFO@ DANSKECOMMODITIES.COMWWW.DANSKECOMMODITIES.COM