Bloomberg News (8/5, Patel) reports, "Veolia Environnement SA (VIE) will stop operations in at least 37 countries as Chairman Antoine Frerot accelerates a restructuring plan to restore profit at the world's largest water company." The French utility "which supplies water to more than 100 million people worldwide, said it swung to a net loss of 67.2 million euros ($95.9 million) in the first half from a profit of 374.2 million euros a year earlier after writedowns on operations in Italy, Morocco and the US Operating profit was less than analysts expected." Veolia, as well as its competitor Suez
