Vattenfall AB · Stockholm Sweden

Europe's all abuzz, thanks in part to Vattenfall, which supplies and distributes electricity to 4.7 million retail customers in Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, the UK. The Nordic region's largest utility group has more than 32,000 MW of generating capacity in the region from interests in nuclear, hydroelectric, and fossil-fueled power plants; it also markets wholesale energy and operates district heating facilities. State-owned Vattenfall is focusing on its northern European operations. That year it acquired Belgium-based Nuon (renamed Business Gtoup Benelux) in a $10.9 billion deal, boosting its position as a major European energy group. To read the full description, subscribe now.