Registration Document 2005 - Total.com

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Business overview
History and strategy of TOTAL
History and strategy of TOTAL
History and development
TOTAL S.A., a French société anonyme incorporated in France
on March 28, 1924, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates,
is the fourth largest publicly-traded integrated oil and gas company
in the world*.
With operations in more than 130 countries, TOTAL engages in all
aspects of the petroleum industry, including Upstream operations
(oil and gas exploration, development and production, LNG) and
Downstream operations (refining, marketing and the trading and
shipping of crude oil and petroleum products).
TOTAL also produces base chemicals (petrochemicals and fertilizers),
chlorochemicals, intermediates, performance polymers (organized
under Arkema since October 2004) and specialty chemicals for the
industrial and consumer markets. In addition, TOTAL has interests in
the coal mining and power generation sectors, as well as a financial
interest
in the pharmaceutical sector (Sanofi-Aventis).
TOTAL began its Upstream operations in the Middle East in 1924.
Since that time, the Group has grown and expanded its operations
worldwide. In early 1999 the Group acquired control of PetroFina S.A.
(“PetroFina” or “Fina”) and in early 2000, the Group acquired control
of Elf Aquitaine S.A. (“Elf Aquitaine” or “Elf”). The Company currently
owns 99.5% of Elf Aquitaine shares and, since early 2002, 100% of
PetroFina shares.
The Group, which operated under the name TotalFina from June 1999
to March 2000, and then under the name TotalFinaElf, since the General
Meeting held on May 6, 2003, operates under the name TOTAL.
The Company’s principal address is 2, place de la Coupole,
La Défense 6, 92400 Courbevoie, France;
its telephone number is 33 1 47 44 45 46 and its website
address is www.total.com.
TOTAL S.A. is registered in France with the Nanterre Trade
Register under the registration number 542 051 180.
* based on market capitalization as of December 31, 2005.
10 TOTAL - Registration Document 2005
Strategy
TOTAL’s strategy is to:
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grow its hydrocarbon exploration and production activities
throughout the world, and reinforce its position as one of the
global leaders in the natural gas and LNG markets;
develop and adapt its refining system and consolidate its position
in the marketing segment in Europe, while expanding its positions
in the Mediterranean basin, African and Asian markets;
rationalize and develop its chemicals portfolio by giving priority
to improving profitability and to creating a new decentralized
entity encompassing the Vinyl Products, Industrial Chemicals and
Performance Products activities. This entity, named Arkema, was
officially created on October 1, 2004 and is expected to become
a stand-alone entity when the Company’s shareholders vote
on the proposed spin-off, thereby allowing the Group to focus
its Chemicals activities on petrochemicals (base chemicals and
polymers) and specialty chemicals.