ABSTRACT
Europe has both the oldest private water and sewerage companies and the highest penetration of private companies in the water sector in the world. This means that private European water companies has have a unique comparative advantage when opportunities emerge both in Europe and globally. The two biggest such water TNCs, Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux and Vivendi, are French. The long tradition of water management delegated to private companies in France made it possible for them to take an early lead in the privatisation of water and sewerage service contracts in the world. In this section we will take a close look at these two companies and their strategies. Furthermore, we will also examine yet another French water company, SAUR/Bouyges, as well as other old and new private companies operating in the global water sector.
