RWE is one of Europe’s five leading electricity and gas companies. We are active in the generation, trading, transmission and supply of electricity and gas. This integrated business model enables us to take advantage of the rising demand for energy. More than 70,000 employees supply over 16 million customers with electricity and approximately 8 million customers with gas. In fiscal 2009, we recorded about €48 billion in revenue.

Europe is our market: RWE is the No. 1 power producer in Germany, No. 2 in the Netherlands, and No. 3 in the UK. We continuously expand our position in Central and South Eastern Europe.

Our power plant portfolio and our investment programme for building new, environmentally friendly and flexible generation capacity are the main basis for growing earnings in the future. Energy from renewables plays a key role. Our leading position in European energy trading helps us make optimal use of our power plants on the market. We react to changes in customer needs by offering new products for homes, commerce and industry. In this context, climate protection and energy efficiency are becoming increasingly important.

Our gas and oil production businesses are displaying above-average growth. In light of the long-term global rise in demand for gas, we plan to steadily increase the amount we produce in-house.

Our aim is to create value for our investors, customers and employees. Therefore, our strategy centres on profitable, organic growth, supplemented by value-increasing acquisitions. Our takeover of the Dutch-based energy utility Essent takes us a major step forward in this direction. We want our shareholders to continue to take part in the Group’s success to a great extent in the future.