Its boss, Ulrich Hartmann, continues to pooh-pooh the idea that big companies should devote themselves to just one business and let investors diversify.

ECONOMIST: German conglomerates

In April 1993 a handsome lawyer named Ulrich Hartmann was named chief executive of Veba AG, Germany's fourth- largest industrial combine (after Daimler-Benz, Siemens and Volkswagen).

FORBES: Ulrich Hartmann's second act

Nearly three years ago Ulrich Hartmann, then the CEO of Veba, the German industrial combine, spoke eagerly of his ambition to expand the company beyond its home country's borders (" Ulrich Hartmann's second act, " Nov. 30, 1998).

FORBES: Another Look