Gaz de France and Suez have announced the new group's operational and financial objectives, corporate governance and timetable of the merger project.
The operational and financial objectives of the new group mirror an ambitious, shared industrial vision focused on creating shareholder value and relying on outstanding teams. Supported by capital expenditures of E10 billion per year on average between 2008 and 2010, GDF Suez’s industrial strategy aims at developing profitable, top-flight positions in all of the Group’s businesses.
GDF Suez intends to consolidate its leadership positions in its domestic markets, France and Benelux. Its development will be based on the complementary nature of its businesses, thereby strengthening its commercial offering (a dual gas/electricity offering and innovative energy services).
GDF Suez will accelerate its industrial development, particularly in upstream gas activities (exploration & production, LNG), infrastructures and power generation, notably nuclear and renewable energies. The investment program of E10 billion per year on average between 2008-2010, of which over E8 billion in 2008, will be split between development capex, accounting for 75%, and maintenance capex, accounting for 25%, of total investment. Capex will follow strict investment criteria, in line with the two companies’ existing policies.