1. Press release
Milan/Munich, 11 February 2011
Desertec: UniCredit SpA first Italian financial institution
to join industrial initiative Dii as shareholder
Milan/Munich - UniCredit is the first Italian financial institution to join Dii as shareholder,
the unique private industry joint venture that was launched as the 'Desertec Industrial
Initiative' in July 2009.
Dii aims at creating the framework for generating sustainable and climate-friendly power
from sun and wind energy in the deserts of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and
prepare the integration with the European energy market. The long-term goal is to
satisfy both a substantial part of the energy needs of the MENA countries and to meet up
to 15% of Europe’s electricity demand by 2050.
“We chose to become shareholders of Dii as a further step within our comprehensive
sustainability strategy and to give our contribution to fight climate change - stated Mr.
Vittorio Ogliengo, Head of Global Financing and Advisory -. UniCredit is strongly
committed to reducing its internal greenhouse gases emissions and to provide its
customers with financially suitable solutions for the development of the green economy.
We firmly believe that the Desertec vision is key for the transition to a low carbon
economy and for sustainable growth in the 21st century and are very much pleased to be
part of Dii.”
Paul van Son, CEO of the Dii: “We are very proud that UniCredit joins our industry
initiative. Our aim is to create a renewable energy partnership in the Mediterranean
region. This will involve investments, the development of new industries in MENA
countries, the creation of jobs and the transfer of knowledge and know-how. The ever-
increasing support of highly notable financial institutions such as UniCredit proofs that
large-scale renewable energy development is also regarded as an attractive and
promising business opportunity.”
UniCredit, as unique italian bank shareholder, play an active role in developping the
project. Davide Mereghetti, Massimo Pecorari and Simone Marcucci represent UniCredit in
Dii Shareholders Assembly.
About UniCredit
UniCredit is a major international financial institution with strong roots in 22 European
countries. Our network, which is present in roughly 50 markets, includes an estimated
9,600 branches and more than 161,000 employees (as of September 30, 2010).
In the CEE region, the Group operates the largest international banking network with nearly
3,900 branches.

2. About Dii (www.dii-eumena.com)
Dii is the industrial consortium founded in 2009 with the aim of realizing the Desertec
vision. It is now backed by more than 50 international institutions that support Dii as
shareholders or associated partners. Dii’s core objectives are to
• analyze and develop a technical, economic, political and regulatory framework for
feasible investments into renewable energy and interconnected grids,
• originate 2-3 reference projects to demonstrate the overall feasibility of the
Desertec vision,
• develop a long-term roll-out plan for the period up to 2050 providing investment
and financing guidance.
Shareholders of Dii:
ABB | Abengoa Solar | Cevital | DESERTEC Foundation | Deutsche Bank | Enel Green Power | E.ON
Flagsol | HSH Nordbank | Munich Re | M+W Group | NAREVA Holding | Red Eléctrica de España | RWE
Saint-Gobain Solar | SCHOTT Solar | Siemens | Terna (Italy) | UniCredit
Associated Partners of Dii:
3M | AGC | Audi | BASF | BearingPoint | Bilfinger Berger | Bosch Rexroth | Commerzbank | Concentrix Solar
Conergy | Deloitte | Dow Corning | Evonik Industries | FCC Energía | First Solar | FLABEG
Fraunhofer Gesellschaft | GL GARRAD HASSAN | HSBC | IBM | ILF Consulting Engineers | Italgen | KAEFER
Lahmeyer International | Maurisolaire | Max-Planck-Gesellschaft | Morgan Stanley | NUR ENERGIE | OMV
Schoeller Renewables | SMA Solar Technology | TERNA ENERGY (Greece) | TÜV SÜD
Contact for media: Alexander Mohanty
UniCredit Media Relations: Dii GmbH
E-Mail: MediaRelations@unicredit.eu E-Mail:mohanty@dii-eumena.com
Phone: +39 02 88628236 Phone: +49 89 340 7705 20
www.unicreditgroup.eu www.dii-eumena.com