GDF Suez Romania
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Utilities, Water distribution, Electricity generation, Natural gas supply, Waste management |
| Predecessor | Compagnie de Suez, Lyonnaise des eaux |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Defunct | 2008 |
| Fate | Merged with Gaz de France to form GDF Suez (now Engie) |
| Successor | GDF Suez (Engie), Suez Environnement |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
Area served | Worldwide (services to approximately 117.4 million people globally as of 2004/5) |
| Products | Water distribution, Electricity generation, Natural gas supply, Waste management services |
Suez S.A., which operated under the name Suez-Lyonnaise des eaux from 1997 until 2001, was a prominent French multinational corporation based in Paris's 8th arrondissement. Its core operations encompassed water distribution, electricity generation, natural gas supply, and waste management services. The company originated from the 1997 merger between Compagnie de Suez and a leading French water enterprise. During the early 2000s, Suez briefly held interests in media and telecommunications sectors before divesting those assets. As reported in the Masons Water Yearbook 2004/5, the corporation provided services to approximately 117.4 million individuals globally. On 22 July 2008, Suez combined with Gaz de France to establish GDF Suez, which was later rebranded as Engie in 2015. Subsequently, Suez's water and waste divisions were separated into the publicly listed company Suez Environnement.
History
As one of the world's longest-standing multinational firms, Suez's origins can be traced back nearly two hundred years through various restructurings and mergers to the establishment of the Algemeene Nederlandsche Maatschappij ter begunstiging van de volksvlijt in 1822 by King William I of the Netherlands (connected to Société Générale de Belgique). The company's name is derived from one of its founding organizations, the Compagnie universelle du canal maritime de Suez, which was responsible for constructing the Suez Canal during the mid-19th century.
Merger with Gaz de France
On 25 February 2006, then French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin revealed plans for a merger between Suez and Gaz de France, aiming to create the largest global entity in liquefied natural gas. In 2005, Gaz de France recorded revenues near €22.4 billion, whereas Suez reported about €41.5 billion. The CGT trade union opposed the merger, labeling it as a "masked privatization."
By 3 September 2007, both companies reached an agreement on merger conditions whereby Gaz de France would acquire Suez through an exchange of 21 Gaz de France shares for every 22 shares of Suez. Following this transaction, the French government maintained ownership exceeding 35% in the combined enterprise named GDF Suez. To comply with European Commission regulatory requirements for approval, Suez divested its Belgian gas subsidiary Distrigas to Italian firm Eni for €2.7 billion on 29 May 2008. The newly formed group GDF Suez, with an annual turnover of €74 billion, was officially launched on 22 July 2008.
Currently under Engie
- Suez Energy International – energy sector operations
- Electrabel – electricity provider in Europe with a dominant presence in Belgium
- Tractebel Engineering – global engineering consultancy services
- – building services and facilities management
Currently under SUEZ
- Sita — waste management services
- Suez Environnement — water and waste service operations
- Degrémont — engineering solutions for water and wastewater treatment
- United Water — water service provider in the United States and Adelaide, Australia
- Grupo Agbar — water and waste management activities
- Purite Ltd – water purification technologies
- GE Water and Process Technologies (including Ionics, Ecolochem, ZENON, Osmonics)
- Driplex Water Engineering Pvt. Ltd.
- Driplex Water Engineering International Pvt. Ltd.