Transparency declaration by Threadneedle Asset Management Holding Limited: Divestment of voting securities

Threadneedle Asset Management Holding Limited, with registered office at Holbrook House, Swindon, SN1 1HH, United Kingdom, has notified the CBFA and Umicore that on 27 July 2009 it has crossed the statutory threshold of 3%, detaining 2.89% of Umicore's shares and voting rights. # voting % name date threshold rights denominator voting rights Threadneedle Asset Management Holding 27/07/2009 3,468,249 120,000,000 2.89% Limited TOTAL 27/07/2009 < 3.00% 3,468,249 120,000,000 2.89% The chain of control has been describes as follows: Ameriprise Financial, Inc. controls Threadneedle Asset Management Holdings Sarl which controls the voting rights in Umicore of Threadneedle Asset Management Ltd, Threadneedle International Ltd and Threadneedle Pensions Ltd The declaration can be found on: http://www.investorrelations.umicore.com/en/shareInformation/shareholderStructure/Declarations/Threadneedle090729.pdf For more information Investor Relations: Mr. Geoffroy RASKIN +32 2 227 71 47 geoffroy.raskin@umicore.com Media Relations: Mr. Bart CROLS +32 2 227 71 29 +32 476 98 01 21 bart.crols@umicore.com Director of Group Communications: Mr. Tim WEEKES +32 2 227 73 98 tim.weekes@umicore.com This announcement was originally distributed by Hugin. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.