Municipal and Industrial Outsourcing Businesses of USFilter Now Operating as Veolia Water North America
Adoption of Parent Company Name Reinforces Water Company's Commitment to Providing Long-Term Outsourcing Services to Municipal and Industrial Markets
USFilter Operating Services, Inc., is now Veolia Water North America Operating Services, Inc., adopting the name of its parent company.
The name change results from a Sept. 2003 announcement by USFilter's parent company, Veolia Environment, of its intention to sell select USFilter equipment and consumer businesses and to focus on its core outsourcing services business.
"While the USFilter name certainly has brand recognition, we will have a greater advantage in the marketplace under the Veolia Water name," said Mike Stark, president and CEO of Veolia Water North America. "With the transition to the Veolia Water name, our business is focused at the very core of Veolia Water's $13 billion global business -- the provision of long-term design-build and operate water and wastewater services through public-private partnerships and industrial outsourcing agreements. Our business is what Veolia Water does every day around the world for more than 110 million people and thousands of companies."
The name change, which does not involve any sale or asset transfer, will not affect the business -- except to improve it, added Stark. Veolia Water North America customers now have greater access to technology through Veolia Water Systems, the company's global equipment and technology arm, and through partnerships with independent technology providers. Additionally, thousands of global water experts and ongoing research are immediately available as needed.
"Our name is changing, but more importantly, so is the market -- and very quickly," said Stark. "Cities and towns will need to spend an estimated $500 billion to $1 trillion on water and wastewater infrastructure over the next 20 years, according to various estimates from the EPA and water industry associations. Consequently, most communities need help improving their water and wastewater infrastructure and ensuring water quality while keeping rates affordable. Public-private partnerships are continuing to prove a valuable tool for more than 1,200 communities across North America, and they are constantly being refined. Our industrial customers, too, continue to see the benefit of outsourcing utility operations to the water utility experts.
"With our tightened focus, Veolia Water North America will continue to grow and change to meet the needs of this quickly evolving and expanding market. Municipalities and businesses alike need long-term technical expertise focused on cost efficiency and the environment, and that's what we can offer," said Stark.
Headquartered in Houston, Veolia Water North America generated more than $600 million in revenue in 2003 and, according to Public Works Financing, commands a 29 percent share of the municipal market.
Veolia Water North America also services a wide of range of industrial markets, including automotive, chemical, steel and oil and gas, to name a few. The company's Process Solutions division is a leading provider of crystallization and proactive sludge management programs, offering several options for separation and secondary waste recycling. Additionally, the company offers capital project management services to both municipal and industrial customers.
Veolia Water North America
- employs more than 3,100 in North America;
- operates and manages approximately 400 municipal and industrial treatment facilities;
- treats more than 2.2 billion gallons of water and wastewater per day;
- operates the nation's largest partnership for water services in Indianapolis, serving approximately 1.1 million people;
- operates the nation's very first partnership, established in 1972 with Burlingame, Calif., which is also the nation's longest-running partnership; and,
- provides water services to more than 14 million people.
Veolia Water North America is the leading provider of comprehensive water and wastewater services to municipal and industrial customers, providing services to approximately 14 million people in more than 600 communities. The company is part of Veolia Water, the No. 1 water company in the world serving more than 110 million customers. Veolia Water is the Water Division of Veolia Environment (NYSE:VE)(BOURSE:VIE), the largest environmental services company in the world with more than 295,000 employees in about 100 countries and annual revenues of more than $28.5 billion. Visit the company's web sites at www.veoliawaterna.com.
Editor's note: In September 2003, USFilter's parent company, Veolia Environment, announced its intention to sell non core USFilter equipment and related businesses as well as its Culligan consumer business. The companies being sold continue to operate under their respective brand names.
Important Disclaimer. Veolia Environnement is a corporation listed on the NYSE and Euronext Paris. This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside our control, including but not limited to: the risk of suffering reduced profits or losses as a result of intense competition, the risk that changes in energy prices and taxes may reduce Veolia Environnement's profits, the risk that governmental authorities could terminate or modify some of Veolia Environnement's contracts, the risk that Veolia Environnement's compliance with environmental laws may become more costly in the future, the risk that currency exchange rate fluctuations may negatively affect Veolia Environnement's financial results and the price of its shares, the risk that Veolia Environnement may incur environmental liability in connection with its past, present and future operations, and the risks related to Veolia Environnement's relationship with Vivendi Universal, as well as the risks described in the documents Veolia Environnement has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Veolia Environnement does not undertake, nor does it have, any obligation to provide updates or to revise any forward-looking statements. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of documents filed by Veolia Environnement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from Veolia Environnement.