U.K. U.K.'s ROCE declined to 9.2 percent in 2007. The primary neg- ative factor was the decline in the operating earnings contri- bution from the retail business, which was partially offset by a decrease in the capital basis resulting from a reduction in working capital. Nordic In 2007, Nordic increased its ROCE to 9.7 percent, markedly surpassing its cost of capital. This value creation is principally due to the significant year-on-year increase in adjusted EBIT Nordic achieved, which more than offset an invest- ment-driven increase in capital employed. U.S. Midwest U.S. Midwest's ROCE declined slightly compared with the prior year, resulting primarily from timing effects in the recovery of gas procurement costs from customers. This effect does not constitute a lasting reduction in ROCE. 47To Our Shareholders Supervisory Board Year in Review Combined Group Management Report Additional Information Market Units Corporate Governance Consolidated Financial Statements Tables and Explanations 2007 670 6,886 9.7% 8.8% 62 2006 512 6,423 8.0% 9.0% ­64 2007 388 6,780 5.7% 7.8% ­142 2006 426 7,118 6.0% 8.0% ­142 2007 ­232 1,180 ­ ­ ­ 2006 ­403 ­1,280 ­ ­ ­ 2007 9,208 63,287 14.5% 9.1% 3,417 2006 8,356 60,756 13.8% 9.0% 2,916 E.ON GroupCorporate Center/New MarketsU.S. MidwestNordic