The Environment ST cares deeply about the environment and the comm- unities that share it. The Company believes firmly that financial performance and ecological responsibility are compatible goals: the most successful companies will be those that have learned how to combine environmental protection requirements with their own production processes. In 1994, ST’s Environmental Decalogue established ambitious goals for 10 main ecological issues, and today, at the end of the decade, most targets have been reached. Among the aggressive goals ST has set for the next decade are the total elimination of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) that contribute to the greenhouse effect, and through energy conservation, renewable energies and carbon sequestration, reduce to zero the net CO2 emissions by the year 2010. Education and Training ST is committed to the power and influence of learning, and continuous education has been a fundamental part of the Co- mpany’s past and present success. Located in the south of France, close to Aix-en-Provence, STUniversity runs more than 70 courses, including a mas- ters degree in Microelectronics Technology and Manufacturing Management. ST’s training strategy is closely aligned to the needs of the business, at both a corporate and a personal level. Skills necessary to meet corporate strate- gic goals are identified and training programs are then tailored to achieve a strategic advantage for ST. Recognition 1999 was a year of accolades for ST with the Company’s initiatives in Quality, the Environment, Education, and Business Excellence being recognized by prestigious awards. The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the highest level of nati- onal recognition for quality a US company can receive, was presented to ST’s US subsidiary, STMicroelectronics, Inc. The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s 1999 Climate Protection Award recognized ST’s outstanding accomplishments in protecting the Earth’s climate. The Singapore Productivity and Standards Board Quality Award for Bus- iness Excellence was presented to STMicroelectronics Asia/Pacific for all aspects of its operations in Singapore. The Dow Jones Sustainability Group Indexes ranked ST as one of the world’s top two companies for sustainability. The Arthur Andersen and Il Sole 24 Ore 1999 Customer Satisfaction Award recognized ST’s commitment to customer care and satisfaction. The Cahners In-Stat Group’s Kachina Award in 1999 singled out ST’s continued excellence ininnovation, stability, leadership and management within the semiconductor industry. The 1999 Corporate University Award granted by the Corporate University Xchange in New York and sponsored by the Financial Times, recognized the excellence of STU in developing and implementing innovative marketing techniques to encourage learning. The Moroccan National Quality Award recognized ST’s successful implementation of the Total Quality Management process in its Moroccan operations.