2403160 - NullPointerException in Data Hub when using YRETAIL PACKAGE 1.1 for Articles Master Data replication

When using YRETAIL PACKAGE 1.1 for Articles Master Data replication and sending ARTMAS Idocs without using WGSE transaction first to replicate class hierarchies and classification data you can see in the logs NullPointerExceptions and after sending some other Idoc that will use the same pool - the pool gets stuck (status remains IN_PROGRESS) and no other Idocs can be processed on that pool. The stack trace for this issue:

[DEBUG] [c.h.d.s.i.PublicationActionHandler] Creating Target Items for type: 'CanonicalArticle', and Target System: HybrisCore
[DEBUG] [c.h.d.s.i.DefaultTargetItemService] Creating Target Items for type TargetArticle from 4 Canonical Items
[WARN] [c.s.r.d.s.t.ArticleUtils] Cannot find category with categoryType=026 and categoryID=WATER_PROOFING
[ERROR] [c.h.d.s.i.DefaultTargetItemService] Unexpected error transforming attribute from canonical item CanonicalItem{integrationKey='000000000000592772', status=SUCCESS, compositionStatusDetail='null'BaseDataItem{id=212, dataPool=GLOBAL, fields={unit=EA, blocked=null, articleGroup=HRBK01, articleID=000000000000592772, blockedFrom=00000000, characteristicProfile=WATER_PROOFING, category=01, type=HAWA}}}
com.hybris.datahub.service.spel.TransformationExpressionException: Could not transform by expression determineVariantCategoriesAndCategoryName(articleGroup,
                                articleID)
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.spel.impl.CompilableSpelExpressionProcessor.transform(CompilableSpelExpressionProcessor.java:93) ~[datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.impl.DefaultTargetItemService$TargetTypeItemFactory.lambda$populateTargetItemFromCanonicalItem$6(DefaultTargetItemService.java:298) [datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.impl.DefaultTargetItemService$TargetTypeItemFactory$$Lambda$223/1984719957.accept(Unknown Source) [datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at java.util.stream.ForEachOps$ForEachOp$OfRef.accept(ForEachOps.java:184) [na:1.8.0_51]
    at java.util.stream.ReferencePipeline$2$1.accept(ReferencePipeline.java:175) [na:1.8.0_51]
    at java.util.HashMap$KeySpliterator.forEachRemaining(HashMap.java:1540) [na:1.8.0_51]
    at java.util.stream.AbstractPipeline.copyInto(AbstractPipeline.java:512) [na:1.8.0_51]
    at java.util.stream.AbstractPipeline.wrapAndCopyInto(AbstractPipeline.java:502) [na:1.8.0_51]
    at java.util.stream.ForEachOps$ForEachOp.evaluateSequential(ForEachOps.java:151) [na:1.8.0_51]
    at java.util.stream.ForEachOps$ForEachOp$OfRef.evaluateSequential(ForEachOps.java:174) [na:1.8.0_51]
    at java.util.stream.AbstractPipeline.evaluate(AbstractPipeline.java:234) [na:1.8.0_51]
    at java.util.stream.ReferencePipeline.forEach(ReferencePipeline.java:418) [na:1.8.0_51]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.impl.DefaultTargetItemService$TargetTypeItemFactory.populateTargetItemFromCanonicalItem(DefaultTargetItemService.java:294) [datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.impl.DefaultTargetItemService$TargetTypeItemFactory.createTargetItem(DefaultTargetItemService.java:245) [datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.impl.DefaultTargetItemService$TargetTypeItemFactory$$Lambda$218/1834225426.apply(Unknown Source) [datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at java.util.stream.ReferencePipeline$3$1.accept(ReferencePipeline.java:193) [na:1.8.0_51]
    at java.util.ArrayList$ArrayListSpliterator.forEachRemaining(ArrayList.java:1374) [na:1.8.0_51]
    at java.util.stream.AbstractPipeline.copyInto(AbstractPipeline.java:512) [na:1.8.0_51]
    at java.util.stream.AbstractPipeline.wrapAndCopyInto(AbstractPipeline.java:502) [na:1.8.0_51]
    at java.util.stream.ReduceOps$ReduceOp.evaluateSequential(ReduceOps.java:708) [na:1.8.0_51]
    at java.util.stream.AbstractPipeline.evaluate(AbstractPipeline.java:234) [na:1.8.0_51]
    at java.util.stream.ReferencePipeline.collect(ReferencePipeline.java:499) [na:1.8.0_51]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.impl.DefaultTargetItemService$TargetTypeItemFactory.createTargetItemInStream(DefaultTargetItemService.java:226) [datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.impl.DefaultTargetItemService$TargetTypeItemFactory.lambda$createItemsFrom$4(DefaultTargetItemService.java:215) [datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.impl.DefaultTargetItemService$TargetTypeItemFactory$$Lambda$212/537234179.doInTransaction(Unknown Source) [datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at org.springframework.transaction.support.TransactionTemplate.execute(TransactionTemplate.java:133) [spring-tx-4.1.5.RELEASE.jar:4.1.5.RELEASE]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.impl.DefaultTargetItemService$TargetTypeItemFactory.createItemsFrom(DefaultTargetItemService.java:215) [datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.impl.DefaultTargetItemService.lambda$createPublicationTargetItems$1(DefaultTargetItemService.java:91) [datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.impl.DefaultTargetItemService$$Lambda$207/834289199.apply(Unknown Source) [datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at java.util.stream.ReferencePipeline$7$1.accept(ReferencePipeline.java:267) [na:1.8.0_51]
    at java.util.stream.ReferencePipeline$2$1.accept(ReferencePipeline.java:175) [na:1.8.0_51]
    at java.util.Iterator.forEachRemaining(Iterator.java:116) [na:1.8.0_51]
    at java.util.Spliterators$IteratorSpliterator.forEachRemaining(Spliterators.java:1801) [na:1.8.0_51]
    at java.util.stream.AbstractPipeline.copyInto(AbstractPipeline.java:512) [na:1.8.0_51]
    at java.util.stream.AbstractPipeline.wrapAndCopyInto(AbstractPipeline.java:502) [na:1.8.0_51]
    at java.util.stream.ReduceOps$ReduceOp.evaluateSequential(ReduceOps.java:708) [na:1.8.0_51]
    at java.util.stream.AbstractPipeline.evaluate(AbstractPipeline.java:234) [na:1.8.0_51]
    at java.util.stream.ReferencePipeline.collect(ReferencePipeline.java:499) [na:1.8.0_51]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.impl.DefaultTargetItemService.createPublicationTargetItems(DefaultTargetItemService.java:92) [datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.impl.PublicationActionHandler.lambda$createOnePageOfItemsToPublish$115(PublicationActionHandler.java:312) [datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.impl.PublicationActionHandler$$Lambda$203/885153833.doInTransaction(Unknown Source) [datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at org.springframework.transaction.support.TransactionTemplate.execute(TransactionTemplate.java:133) [spring-tx-4.1.5.RELEASE.jar:4.1.5.RELEASE]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.impl.PublicationActionHandler.createOnePageOfItemsToPublish(PublicationActionHandler.java:301) [datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.impl.PublicationActionHandler.createTargetItemsInMultipleTransactions(PublicationActionHandler.java:212) [datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.impl.PublicationActionHandler.handlePublicationAction(PublicationActionHandler.java:102) [datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.impl.PublicationActionHandler.handleActionInternal(PublicationActionHandler.java:95) [datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.impl.PublicationActionHandler.handleActionInternal(PublicationActionHandler.java:68) [datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.impl.AbstractTransactionManagingActionHandler.handleEventInRetryContext(AbstractTransactionManagingActionHandler.java:76) [datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.impl.AbstractTransactionManagingActionHandler.lambda$executeWithRetry$14(AbstractTransactionManagingActionHandler.java:49) [datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.impl.AbstractTransactionManagingActionHandler$$Lambda$104/1391871667.doWithRetry(Unknown Source) [datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at org.springframework.retry.support.RetryTemplate.doExecute(RetryTemplate.java:263) [spring-retry-1.1.1.RELEASE.jar:na]
    at org.springframework.retry.support.RetryTemplate.execute(RetryTemplate.java:168) [spring-retry-1.1.1.RELEASE.jar:na]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.impl.AbstractTransactionManagingActionHandler.executeWithRetry(AbstractTransactionManagingActionHandler.java:48) [datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.impl.PublicationActionHandler.handleAction(PublicationActionHandler.java:89) [datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.impl.PublicationActionHandler.handleAction(PublicationActionHandler.java:68) [datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.impl.AbstractProcessEventListener.lambda$null$75(AbstractProcessEventListener.java:38) [datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.impl.AbstractProcessEventListener$$Lambda$103/25467244.run(Unknown Source) [datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture$AsyncRun.run(CompletableFuture.java:1618) [na:1.8.0_51]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.ExceptionHandlingAsyncTaskExecutor$2.run(ExceptionHandlingAsyncTaskExecutor.java:80) [datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor.runWorker(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:1142) [na:1.8.0_51]
    at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:617) [na:1.8.0_51]
    at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:745) [na:1.8.0_51]
Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException: null
    at com.sap.retail.datahub.saparticle.publication.resolver.DetermineVariantCategoriesAndCategoryName.determineCategoryNamesFromProfile(DetermineVariantCategoriesAndCategoryName.java:123) ~[saparticle-1.1.0.0-RC2.jar:na]
    at com.sap.retail.datahub.saparticle.publication.resolver.DetermineVariantCategoriesAndCategoryName.execute(DetermineVariantCategoriesAndCategoryName.java:91) ~[saparticle-1.1.0.0-RC2.jar:na]
    at org.springframework.expression.spel.ast.MethodReference.getValueInternal(MethodReference.java:129) ~[spring-expression-4.1.5.RELEASE.jar:4.1.5.RELEASE]
    at org.springframework.expression.spel.ast.MethodReference.getValueInternal(MethodReference.java:85) ~[spring-expression-4.1.5.RELEASE.jar:4.1.5.RELEASE]
    at org.springframework.expression.spel.ast.SpelNodeImpl.getValue(SpelNodeImpl.java:120) ~[spring-expression-4.1.5.RELEASE.jar:4.1.5.RELEASE]
    at org.springframework.expression.spel.standard.SpelExpression.getValue(SpelExpression.java:242) ~[spring-expression-4.1.5.RELEASE.jar:4.1.5.RELEASE]
    at com.hybris.datahub.service.spel.impl.CompilableSpelExpressionProcessor.transform(CompilableSpelExpressionProcessor.java:89) ~[datahub-service-5.7.0.13-RC2.jar:5.7.0.13-RC2]
    ... 61 common frames omitted

SAP Hybris Commerce Suite 5.7

YRETAIL PACKAGE 1.1

KBA , CEC-COM-HUB , SAP Commerce Data Hub , CEC-COM-BSC-MDX-ART , Retail Article Replication , Bug Filed