Press release

Trieste, 5 May 2009 – The tax authorities have served Acegas-Aps with a notice of assessment regarding the repayment of state aid linked to the “tax moratorium”, which, through Decision 2003/193/EC, the European Union has judged to be incompatible with the Treaty regulations.
The EU decision has been appealed by the Italian government and the affected companies before the European Court of Justice, whose deliberations are still underway.
The Italian tax authorities, in accordance with article 24 of Decree Law no. 185 of 29 November 2008, converted with amendments into Law no. 2 of 28 January 2009, have ordered Acegas-Aps to reimburse by the end of May €0.8 million in state aid in addition to €0.5 million in default interest.