PRINCIPAUX EVENEMENTS FINANCIERS EN 2005

Press release

Morges, 3 July 2015

Romande Energie becomes sole shareholder of Forces Motrices du Grand-Saint-Bernard (Valais canton) Romande Energie has become the outright owner of Forces Motrices du Grand-Saint- Bernard, whose hydroelectric output from the Toules dam and the Pallazuit power plant equates to the annual demand of more than 26,000 households, after acquiring the 25% shareholding owned to date by Alpiq. This transaction crystallises Romande Energie's strategy of developing proprietary generation capacity primarily through renewable energy.

Founded in 1954, Forces Motrices du Grand-Saint-Bernard (FGB SA), which is headquartered in Bourg-Saint-Pierre (Valais canton), owns two installations situated along the upper Dranse d'Entremont river: the Toules dam and the Pallazuit hydropower station. Fed by waters from the dam, the power station generates over 98 million kilowatt-hours annually, which corresponds to the average demand of more than 26,000 households.
FGB SA was previously co-owned by Romande Energie (75%) and Alpiq (25%). After Alpiq announced plans to sell its stake, Romande Energie acquired ownership of the 5,000 shares making up this holding. The transaction was finalised on 2 July 2015.

Regional source of renewable energy

Romande Energie handles the day-to-day management of the assets belonging to FGB SA. As outright owner, it will now exercise full control over the facilities and the power they produce.
Power is fed into the Saint-Triphon substation, thus helping to ensure a secure supply of energy on a regional level. It covers some of the demand for municipalities situated in the lower Valais region (via Romande Energie Group subsidiary Bas-Valais Energie SA) while at the same time providing power to the municipalities of Bourg-Saint-Pierre and Liddes.
This acquisition, which is being announced today, is a sign that Romande Energie is intent on building up proprietary sources of production through a focus on renewable energy - in keeping with Switzerland's 2050 Energy Strategy.

Notes to editorial desks

This press release is being issued outside the trading hours of the SIX Swiss Exchange as required by the SIX Listing Rules on ad hoc publicity.

Contact

Karin Devalte
Head of Communications
Direct line: +41 (0) 21 802 95 67
Mobile: +41 (0) 79 386 47 67

Email: karin.devalte@romande-energie.ch

Romande Energie at a glance

Romande Energie Group is the leading electricity distributor in Western Switzerland. Through its subsidiary Romande Energie Commerce, it supplies more than 300,000 end-customers directly in approximately 300 municipalities in the cantons of Vaud, Valais, Fribourg and Geneva. Its core business lines are the generation, distribution and marketing of power together with energy services.

Priorities are liaising with customers to ensure high-quality services in line with expectations; guaranteeing a reliable, sustainable and competitive supply of energy; developing proprietary power generation through priority investments in renewable energy; and promoting innovative energy-efficiency solutions.

Romande Energie's corporate social responsibility policy systematically guides its approach to business.

For more information on Romande Energie Group, visit www.romande-energie.ch

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