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PRESS RELEASE
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27 February 2012 Elia to join BEL20 index
Elia, the transmission system operator in Belgium and Germany, is to be listed on the BEL20 index, pursuing its strategy and growth in Europe with the support of its shareholders and the financial markets. NYSE Euronext Brussels announced today that Elia System Operator (“Elia�) is to be included in the BEL20 index starting on 19 March 2012. The change will take effect after the markets close on Friday, 16 March 2012. According to Daniel Dobbeni, CEO and Chairman of the Elia Management Committee, "our joining the BEL20 index confirms the importance of Elia's role and mission as the owner and operator of electricity transmission systems in Belgium and Germany, while supporting and implementing European policies on energy and the climate. We are convinced that this crucial step will help provide Elia with the resources to continue its strategy and growth based on the development in Europe of high-performance grids interconnecting production and consumption offshore and onshore. We would like to thank our shareholders for their ongoing support and all our personnel who are committed day and night to providing the very high level of reliability and quality of supply expected by all of our customers and the community at large." Elia was founded in June 2001 as the independent transmission system operator in the wake of the liberalisation of the internal energy market. The federal government officially appointed it as transmission system operator in September 2002. The company went public in 2005 and, in 2010, expanded its business internationally when it joined forces with Industry Funds Management to acquire 50Hertz, the transmission system operator for northern and eastern Germany. Elia holds 60% of the shares, while IFM holds the remaining 40%. The core shareholder is Publi-T and the public float is 52.10%. About the BEL20 index The BEL20Ž index is a real-time index reflecting the price trends of the 20 most liquid shares (blue chips) listed on Euronext Brussels. The weight of the index components is based on market capitalisation and public float. The index is published continuously and the closing prices are published after 5:40 pm. More information on www.euronext.com
About Elia: Elia is the Belgian transmission system operator, transmitting electricity from producers to distribution system operators and major industrial users. Elia is responsible for importing and exporting electricity from and to neighbouring countries. Elia owns the entire Belgian very high voltage grid (150 to 380 kV) and some 94% (ownership and user rights) of the Belgian high-voltage grid (30 to 70 kV). The Elia grid comprises 5,608 km of overhead lines and 2,775 km of underground connections and is a key link between electricity markets in northern and southern Europe. It also links Belgian producers and consumers. Belgium's recent investment in interconnection capacity with its neighbours makes it one of the most open and interconnected grids in Europe. In 2010 Elia expanded its activities in Europe and, following its acquisition of German TSO 50Hertz and in cooperation with Industry Funds Management (IFM), is now one of the top five transmission system operators in Europe. For further information, please contact Elia: Media: Lise Mulpas Axelle Pollet Investor relations: Bert Maes
+32 2 546 73 75 +32 478 65 28 90 +32 2 546 75 11 +32 475 84 38 91
lise.mulpas@elia.be axelle.pollet@elia.be
+32 2 546 72 39 +32 472 40 69 97
bert.maes@elia.be
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