With annual revenues of 9.1 billion euros in 2000 ($8.5 billion), 60,000 employees and a presence in 130 countries, ONDEO offers a full range of solutions to meet the water-related needs of cities, consumers and industries. To expand its already leading market share, ONDEO is implementing a growth strategy focusing on both internal and external opportunities.
Suez has united its existing water activities (as well as a newly established company that provides industrial water solutions) under a single global brand. ONDEO?s water solutions organization consists of the following companies:
- ONDEO Services - leader in water management services to cities (resources, drinking water, sanitation services), formerly operating under the company name Lyonnaise des Eaux;
- ONDEO Nalco - leader in water treatment and process chemicals for industries, formerly operating under the name Nalco;
- ONDEO Degrémont - water treatment specialist and leader in turnkey engineering, formerly operating under the name Degrémont;
- ONDEO Industrial Solutions - a new company created to satisfy a full range of industrial water needs.
No layoffs are expected as a result of the creation of ONDEO.
Gérard Mestrallet, Chairman and CEO of Suez said, "The creation of ONDEO, one of Suez?s core businesses, is a major milestone in our history. We are creating today the world?s premier water solutions group whose scale, global reach, and financial resources are without equal."
"In ONDEO, we have created a group possessing the expertise, financial resources and research and development capabilities required to provide customized solutions to our millions of customers worldwide. We expect ONDEO to dramatically increase its market share in the fast-growing water services industry," Gérard Payen, Chairman and CEO of said.
Activities benefiting cities and the consumer markets represent 64 percent of ONDEO?s worldwide revenues. Today, only 5 percent of the population benefits from private sector water and wastewater services. According to the Global Water Partnership, "Framework for Action," an estimated $180 billion investment per year between 2000 and 2025 will be necessary to develop water services in developing nations, twice the current annual spending. In the United States alone, an estimated $14 billion annual investment will be necessary to upgrade infrastructure and meet even stricter regulations.
Source: Suez
