ST. JOHN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR--(Marketwire - June 21, 2011) - On Monday, June 20, 2011, the Government of Belize (the "Government") passed legislation and then issued an order, delivered on Tuesday, June 21, 2011, to expropriate the ownership interest of Fortis Inc. ("Fortis" or the "Corporation") (TSX:FTS) in BEL and dismiss the Board of Directors of BEL, including nominees of Fortis. Compensation remains to be determined.

At expropriation, Fortis held an approximate 70% ownership interest in BEL, an integrated electric utility and the principal distributor in Belize, Central America, following investment at the invitation of the Government in 1999. Fortis also owns Belize Electric Company Limited ("BECOL"), a non-regulated hydroelectric generation business that operates three hydroelectric generating facilities in Belize. No expropriation order has been served in respect of BECOL.

As at March 31, 2011, the assets of BEL represented less than 2% of the total assets of Fortis; the combined assets of BEL and BECOL represented approximately 3% of the total assets of Fortis.