First investment in France by the GDF SUEZ Rassembleurs d'Energies solidarity company to develop energy-efficient public housing

Created in 2011, this solidarity company is among others supported by the GDF SUEZ Rassembleurs d’Energies solidarity fund, which is the first of its kind in terms of size and within the energy industry. This fund will reach 100 million euros by the end of 2013, of which, up to 10% will be invested in socially responsible companies active in the fields of improving energy access and reducing energy insecurity. It will be supported by an investment fund for company employees (Fonds Commun de Placement d’Entreprise or FCPE), that will be offered beginning of this year to the Group’s 160,000 employees and retirees in France as part of the employee savings plan.

For its first investment, the GDF SUEZ Rassembleurs d’Energies solidarity company, has decided to support Chênelet real estate company. The latter is a socially responsible company that employs people mainly in job placement programs to build low-energy-certified public housing for tenants eligible for subsidized housing. This €300,000 investment involves acquiring a 15% minority interest in the company and will contribute to the construction of 70 additional housing units in 2012 and 2013.

On top of the involvement of Group’s employees during the preliminary stages and the follow up of the projects, the FCPE will enable all the French employees to have an opportunity to become stakeholders in an ambitious social initiative consistent with their skills while doing something meaningful with their savings.

This fund will supplement the measures taken by the GDF SUEZ Corporate Foundation and by the Group’s employee associations, which have provided, through their achievements, energy access to more than one million people around the world in the last 10 years.

Gérard Mestrallet, the Chairman and CEO of GDF SUEZ, took this opportunity to note that “Access to energy and the fight against energy insecurity, the reasons behind the GDF SUEZ Rassembleurs d’Energies initiative, are essential elements for access to development. Their impact on education and health are the main factors behind the commitment of GDF SUEZ and its employees to the GDF SUEZ Rassembleurs d’Energies initiative. Many projects will be looked at throughout the world, not withstanding our historical markets.”