Share allocations in newly-privatised Northern Ireland Electricity

have been scaled back after demand outstripped supply.

About 490,000 applications were made for the shares on offer to the

public and extra shares had to be clawed back from big institutional

investors.

Even after the claw-back was invoked, the sell-off was over-subscribed

about 2.7 times.

A total of 107 million shares have been allocated to the public --

including employees and pensioners -- representing two thirds of the

offer.

All NIE customers who registered in advance with the Share Information

Office will get some shares. Of these, 44% have been allocated all they

applied for. Some 93% of non-customers will also receive some shares.

Details of the basis of allocation will be published in the Financial

Times and the Northern Ireland papers on Monday, when stock market

dealings are expected to begin.