On June 10, 2008, N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie was added into the Nord Stream AG shareholders register as a new shareholder.

Pursuant to the Umbrella Agreement entered into by Gazprom and Gasunie, the Dutch company obtained a 9 per cent stake in Nord Stream AG owing to a reduction in E.ON Ruhrgas and Wintershall Holding stakes by 4.5 per cent each.

The Gasunie’s entry into the Nord Stream project deal was clinched upon receipt of approvals from Nord Stream AG shareholders’ regulatory bodies and signing of a number of documents set out in the Umbrella Agreement.

As a result, Nord Stream AG shareholdings are now split in the following way: Gazprom – 51 per cent, Wintershall Holding and E.ON AG – 20 per cent each, N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie – 9 per cent.

The deal is a crucial event for deeper cooperation between Gazprom and Gasunie. The participation of a new partner in Nord Stream will raise its status of an international project aimed at ensuring reliable gas supply to European consumers and fostering energy security of the continent.