Reference is made to the stock exchange notice published by Norsk Hydro ASA (Hydro) on February 28, 2011.

The new share capital of Hydro is NOK 2,271,760,107.048 divided into 2,068,998,276 shares, each with a nominal value of NOK 1.098. Hydro holds 33,387,070 own shares and the number of outstanding shares is consequently 2,035,611,206.

As a result of the completion of the transaction, Vale now holds 447,834,465 shares in Hydro representing 21.6 percent of the shares issued and 22.0 percent of the shares outstanding.

• Investor contact
  Contact: Stefan Solberg
  Cellular: +47 91727528
  E-mail:   Stefan.Solberg@hydro.com
  
  

• Press contact
  Contact: Erik Brynhildsbakken
  Cellular: +47 41751271
  E-mail:   Erik.Brynhildsbakken@hydro.com 

Certain statements included within this announcement contain forward-looking information, including, without limitation, those relating to (a) forecasts, projections and estimates, (b) statements of management’s plans, objectives and strategies for Hydro, such as planned expansions, investments or other projects, (c) targeted production volumes and costs, capacities or rates, start-up costs, cost reductions and profit objectives, (d) various expectations about future developments in Hydro’s markets, particularly prices, supply and demand and competition, (e) results of operations, (f) margins, (g) growth rates, (h) risk management, as well as (i) statements preceded by “expected”, “scheduled”, “targeted”, “planned”, “proposed”, “intended” or similar statements.

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, these forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and forecasts that, by their nature, involve risk and uncertainty.  Various factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected in a forward-looking statement or affect the extent to which a particular projection is realized.  Factors that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to: our continued ability to reposition and restructure our upstream and downstream aluminium business; changes in availability and cost of energy and raw materials; global supply and demand for aluminium and aluminium products; world economic growth, including rates of inflation and industrial production; changes in the relative value of currencies and the value of commodity contracts; trends in Hydro’s key markets and competition; and legislative, regulatory and political factors.

No assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct.  Hydro disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.