NYSE Euronext Takes Over Carbon Quota And Credit Market - Development Of This Market To Continue In Association With Caisse Des Dépôts Through A New Entity Named BlueNext

NYSE Euronext and Caisse des Dépôts are delighted with the decision taken by Powernext shareholders at today's Extraordinary General Meeting to approve NYSE Euronext's acquisition of Powernext Carbon, the company's market operator specializing in CO2 emission permits.

This transaction will be associated with the sale of NYSE Euronext's 34% interest in Powernext to HGRT (Holding de Gestionnaires de Réseaux de Transport).

As a consequence, NYSE Euronext and Caisse des Dépôts are setting up a new joint enterprise named BlueNext, which will be the operator for the organized international market in CO2 permits, taking responsibility for trading and related settlement and delivery.

Caisse des Dépôts will contribute to BlueNext the settlement and delivery business it handled for Powernext Carbon.

NYSE Euronext will hold 60% of BlueNext's equity and Caisse des Dépôts the remaining 40%. The company will be headed by Serge Harry, the NYSE Euronext Management Committee member responsible for group strategy, who will be assisted by Deputy CEO Pierre Ducret, who heads banking services at Caisse des Dépôts. BlueNext will base its business development on Powernext Carbon, Europe's leading cash market in the field, drawing strength from NYSE Euronext's international network and know-how in market operation, combined with the recognized expertise of Caisse des Dépôts in carbon emission finance, particularly as regards the technology of permit markets.