becoming a stronger Marubeni

SmartestEnergy is backed by Marubeni Corporation, one of Japan’s largest general trading houses with wide-ranging global interests across energy, agriculture, minerals and manufacturing.

Founded in 1858, its shares are listed on the Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka stock exchanges and the company is ranked at 199 in the 2011 Fortune Global 500 list of the world’s largest companies.

Marubeni operates across 128 offices in 70 countries and employs over 30,000 people worldwide. The recovery seen in the global economy and continued growth in emerging markets during 2010/11 contributed to Marubeni’s net profits increasing by 43% to ¥136.5bn ($1.7bn), the highest figure since 2007/08.

The total volume of trading transactions rose by 13% to ¥9.02 trillion ($117.4bn). During the year the company launched a roadmap to deliver
sustainable growth exceeding expectations and with the aim of ‘Building a Stronger Marubeni’ in the years ahead. Providing high added-value and truly distinctive products and service is seen as key to that strategy.

SmartestEnergy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marubeni, is part of the Power Projects and Infrastructure Division which is a core business in its medium-term business plan. The division has a strong presence in the global
power market with a net generating capacity of 8.7 GW including a growing portfolio of renewable generation projects.

Significantly, Marubeni Corporation has recently agreed to buy a 49.9% stake in the 172MW Gunfleet Sands offshore wind farm in the Thames Estuary. The £200m investment will represent the first in UK renewable generation by the
Marubeni Corporation.