Veolia Environnement SA (formerly Vivendi Environnement) is a leading French-based multinational with activities in four main areas - water, waste management, energy and transport services. In 2003 it had revenues of €28.6bn and employed around 250,000 people. It is quoted on the Paris and New York stock exchanges.

History

In 1853, a water company named "Compagnie Générale des Eaux" (CGE) was created by Imperial decree in order to supply water to the public in Lyon. It served in this capacity for over a hundred years. Beginning in 1980, CGE began diversifying its operations from water into waste management, energy, transport services, and construction and property.

In 1998, the company changed its name to Vivendi, and sold off its property and construction divisions the following year. In July 2000, the company spun off the remaining water and waste companies into Vivendi Environnement, which in 2003 was renamed Veolia Environnement.

Major subsidiaries

• Water: Veolia Water (formerly Vivendi Water)
• Waste Management: Onyx Environment
• Energy: Dalkia
• Transport services: Connex

External links

• Veolia Environnement main site (http://www.veoliaenvironnement.com)
• Veolia Environnement investor relations site (http://www.veoliaenvironnement-finance.com)
• Yahoo! - Veolia Environnement SA Company Profile (http://biz.yahoo.com/ic/101/101315.html)