Vattenfall Europe Contacts Potential Investors for Its German High Voltage Grid

STOCKHOLM, Sweden--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News:

Vattenfall Europe AG, Vattenfall’s German subsidiary, will contact potential investors for the transmission system operator Vattenfall Europe Transmission GmbH in the next few days. The background to this decision is formed by the political debate that has been going on for months and concerns ownership unbundling of the power generators and the high-voltage grids.

“We have closely reviewed all options in the past months, and have reached the conclusion that a sale of our high voltage grid to a bona fide and financially strong investor might be a sensible solution“, explained Tuomo Hatakka, Chairman of the Vattenfall Europe Management Board.

“We take our responsibility towards the society seriously. Three criteria will be applied to every potential investor: They must have a long-term focus, ensure substantial investments in network extension, and promote European integration of the electricity market by continuing to guarantee non-discriminatory grid access. Vattenfall Europe itself has a keen interest in seeing these criteria fulfilled, as the stability of the system and its further extension are prerequisites ensuring that we, too, can continue to feed electricity from our power plants into the system and provide reliable supplies to our customers.“

Potential investors will have the opportunity to submit an indicative offer on the basis of a confidential information pack. A small group of bidders will then be offered the opportunity to review detailed documentation about Vattenfall Europe Transmission GmbH (due diligence). This will be the basis for binding offers to be submitted. If a sale is indeed concluded, the transaction is intended to be completed by the end of the first half 2009 at the latest.

Vattenfall will be advised by Citigroup in this transaction, who will also act as direct contact for potential investors.

Detailed information around the subjects of electricity grids and grid divestiture has been posted by Vattenfall Europe on the site http://www.vattenfall.de/stromnetzfakten/ (in German).

Vattenfall discloses the information provided herein pursuant to the Swedish Securities Market Act.

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