The Exeltium deal is built on an innovative partnership between EDF and major electro-intensive industrial companies operating in France.  Exeltium's long-term mission is to securitise purchases of electricity made by these shareholder companies. This initiative benefits from the support of the French government, which put in place a specific legal framework to govern the structure of the project. Exeltium received final approval from the European Commission in August 2008.
 
The project is headed up by Air Liquide, Arcelor Mittal, Arkema, Rhodia, Rio Tinto Alcan and Solvay. To date, these six founding members have been joined by 20 new industrial shareholders.

Senior financing of a total amount of EUR 1,590m, with a maturity of 9.5 years, was arranged and distributed by Société Générale, BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole CIB and Natixis. The Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations subscribed separately to a junior facility for about EUR 233m.