Registration document 2007 - 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 (limited company)
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 (1) .
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) 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
Sanofi-Aventis.
TOTAL began its Upstream operations in the Middle East in
1924. Since that time, the Company has grown and expanded
its operations worldwide. Early in 1999 the Company acquired
control of PetroFina S.A. (thereafter referred to as “PetroFina” or
“Fina”) and in early 2000, the Company acquired control of Elf
Aquitaine S.A. (thereafter referred to as “Elf Aquitaine” or “Elf”).
The Company currently owns 99.5% of Elf Aquitaine shares and,
since early 2002, 100% of PetroFina shares.
The Company, which operated under the name TOTAL FINA S.A.
from June 1999 to March 2000, and then under the name
TotalFinaElf, has been operating under the name TOTAL FINA
ELF S.A. since the shareholders’ meeting of May 6, 2003.
The Company’s principal office 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.
(1) Based on market capitalization at year-end 2006
TOTAL – Registration Document 2006
Strategy
TOTAL’s strategy is to:
• grow its hydrocarbon exploration and production activities
throughout the world, and strengthen 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, the African and the
Asian markets;
• grow its petrochemicals business, particularly in Asia and the
Middle East, while improving the competitiveness of its
operations in mature areas.