Capital expenditure increases in the second quarter

The Group’s aggregate capital expenditure (capex) totalled €481 million as at the end of June 2010, which reflects a slight year-on-year increase of 0.6% (previous year: €478 million). Funds were used mainly to replace and expand assets as follows: €409 million was invested in property, plant and equipment, and €72 million in intangible assets excluding goodwill. Investments in property, plant and equipment related mainly to advance payments and assets under development (€139 million), technical equipment and machinery (€92 million), transport equipment (€53 million), aircraft (€41 million) and IT equipment (€35 million). 

Our regional investments focused mainly on Europe and the Americas. In Europe, investments were centred on Germany and the UK.