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Hera Board of Directors approves 1st quarter 2016 results

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Asset Publisher

Press releases
19/06/2024
Hera Spa
Price sensitive

Hera Group ranks first in the 2024 ESG Identity Corporate Index (formerly IGI)

<p><em>For the fourth consecutive year, the Group is on the podium of the overall index ranking, which rewards Italian companies that stand out for integrating ESG factors into their governance. This comes as further recognition of the Group’s commitment to creating long-term value for its shareholders and all its stakeholders</em></p>
Online since 19-06-2024 at 11:08
Press releases
11/06/2024
Hera Spa
M&A
Price sensitive

Inrete Distribuzione Energia acquires Soelia’s gas network

<p><em>The Hera Group, through its subsidiary operating in the natural gas distribution sector, strengthens its presence in the area served</em></p>
Online since 11-06-2024 at 11:57
Press releases
15/05/2024
Shareholders’ meeting
Price sensitive
Hera Spa

Publication of documents pertaining to the Shareholders Meeting

Online since 15-05-2024 at 10:35
Press releases
15/05/2024
Price sensitive
M&A
Hera Spa

Hera Group acquires Soelia’s gas network

Through its subsidiary Inrete Distribuzione Energia, the Group was awarded the tender for the gas distribution plants and network serving the municipality of Argenta in Ferrara area

Online since 15-05-2024 at 10:38
Press releases
14/05/2024
Price sensitive
Financial Results
Hera Spa

Hera Group BoD approves results for 1Q 2024

<p>The consolidated quarterly report at 31 March shows improvement in the main operating and financial indicators. The Group’s financial solidity and commitment to sustainability and the ecological transition were confirmed, along with the creation of value for all stakeholders and significant investments in the areas served to improve our assets resilience and to guarantee service quality and continuity</p>
Online since 14-05-2024 at 12:41
Press releases
30/04/2024
Shareholders’ meeting
Hera Spa
Price sensitive

Hera Shareholders Meeting: 2023 financial statements approved and dividend increased to 14 cents

The Group continues along its path of uninterrupted growth, closing 2023 with record performance in the main operating and financial indicators, thus constantly creating value for its stakeholders.

Online since 29-04-2024 at 12:53
Press releases
23/04/2024
Hera Spa
Other press releases

Hera Group at the top of ARERA’s water service quality ranking

The multiutility confirms itself among Italy’s most outstanding operators, securing the first and third positions, with reference to all macro-indicators, as proof of the very high standards adopted by the Group in this field. A commitment that the Hera fulfils with significant investments to ensure the highest quality and continuity of service to around 3.6 million citizens and an increasingly efficient and circular use of resources. Important results have been achieved, particularly in Emilia-Romagna.

08/04/2024
Other press releases
Hera Spa

Publication of the Draft Separate and Consolidated Financial Statements as of 31.12.2023, the Sustainability Report - Consolidated Non-Financial Statement, the Corporate Governance Report, and the Report on Remuneration and Compensation Paid

29/03/2024
Hera Spa
Other press releases

Rigid plastics recycling: one of Europe’s most innovative plants to be built in Modena

<p><em>Thanks to investments totalling approximately 50 million euro, the Hera Group will build a state-of-the-art facility within its own plant complex. Starting from plastic waste that has so far been difficult to recycle, it will produce high quality polymers with characteristics similar to those shown by virgin materials, thus making sectors such as consumer electronics and the automotive industry increasingly sustainable</em></p>
Press releases
27/03/2024
Shareholders’ meeting
Hera Spa

Publication of documents pertaining to the Shareholders Meeting to be held on 30 April 2024

Press releases
26/03/2024
Other press releases
Hera Spa
Price sensitive
Financial Results

Hera Group approves results as at 31/12/2023

<p><em>The year closed with main financial indicators rising and the targets included in the strategic Plan to 2026 exceeded three years ahead of schedule. The Group’s financial solidity and flexibility allowed it to continue along its path of industrial growth, increasing its investments and successfully grasping market opportunities, both internal and external, while continuing to generate value benefitting all stakeholders. The proposed dividend was raised, reaching 14 eurocents per share</em></p>
Online since 26-03-2024 at 12:47
Press releases
11/03/2024
Hera Spa
Other press releases

Green energy and a new urban forest: the Hera Group’s Energy Park arrives in Bologna

<p><em>Sustainability, decarbonisation, liveability and biodiversity protection are the keywords of this project, which will be developed in the northern part of the city and will contain a new urban park with facilities, complemented by areas dedicated to protecting animal and plant species, and an agrivoltaic field that will allow an annual saving of 6,000 tons of CO2.</em></p>
Press releases
04/03/2024
Shareholders’ meeting
Hera Spa
Other press releases

The passing of Hera S.p.A.'s Vice Chairman, Mr. Gabriele Giacobazzi

We hereby inform you that on March 3, 2024, the Vice Chaiman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Gabriele Giacobazzi, passed away.

Press releases
13/02/2024
Hera Spa
Other press releases

Hera Group among Europe’s leaders in sustainability and the fight against climate change

<p><em>The Group achieved the leadership band in the CDP questionnaire and was included among “TOP 1%” Multi and Water Utilities of the S&amp;P Global’s Sustainability Yearbook 2024. These recognitions prove Hera’s commitment to sustainable development and creating shared value for local areas.</em></p>
Press releases
06/02/2024
Hera Spa
Other press releases

Hera Group: over 1 million new electricity customers as of 1 July

<p><em>With the 7 lots awarded in the tender for the Gradual Protection Service for non-vulnerable household customers, the Hera Group consolidates its position as the sector’s third largest operator in Italy.</em></p>
Press releases
25/01/2024
M&A
Hera Spa
Other press releases

Hera Group expands in the industrial waste sector with TRS Ecology

<p><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="line-height:106%"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"></span></span></span></i>With the acquisition of 70% of the Piacenza-based company, the Group reinforces its leadership in the waste management sector. This transaction, at full capacity, is expected to contribute to growth in the Hera Group’s Ebitda with approximately 6 million euro.<i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="line-height:106%"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> </span></span></span></i></p>
Press releases
24/01/2024
Price sensitive
Financial Results
Hera Spa
Other press releases

Hera Group presents Business Plan to 2027

<p><em>Development, resilience and creating shared value for stakeholders are at the heart of the Group’s new strategic document, which foresees investments totalling 4.4 billion to speed up the ecological transition and enhance asset resilience to climate change. The preliminary results for 2023 outperform the previous Plan’s goals that have been achieved three years ahead of schedule, thanks to the numerous development actions implemented and the Group’s ability to grasp market opportunities.</em></p>
Online since 24-01-2024 at 12:02
Press releases
22/01/2024
Shareholders’ meeting
Hera Spa
Other press releases
Price sensitive

Calendar of corporate events

Online since 22-01-2024 at 13:24
18/01/2024
Hera Spa
Other press releases

Hera Top Employer for the 15th Consecutive Year

<p><em>The company reaffirms, once again in 2024, its position among the best performers in human resources management, thanks to substantial investments in welfare, training, and skill development.</em></p>
Press releases
02/01/2024
Hera Spa
Other press releases

Hera Group has obtained the “Gender equality certification”

<p><em>A further confirmation of the importance of Hera’s achievements in terms of gender equality and inclusion</em></p>

Asset Publisher

11/05/2016
Hera Board of Directors approves 1st quarter 2016 results

The interim results at 31 March show positive figures and growth in all main indicators, despite a difficult first quarter, affected by the lesser revenues in gas, electricity and water distribution caused by recent regulatory changes.

Financial results as at 31 March 2016

Financial highlights

  • Revenues at € 1,235.4 million (-5.8%)
  • EBITDA at € 278.4 million (+0.4%)
  • Net profit post minorities at € 91.2 million (+5.3%)
  • Net debt improves, reaching € 2,504.5 million

Operational highlights

  • Management focus on extracting efficiencies and synergies
  • Simultaneously, commercial expansion into new markets continues
  • Solid customer base in energy markets, with approximately 2.2 million customers
  • Good contribution to growth coming from the electricity business

Today, the Hera Group’s Board of Directors unanimously approved the consolidated financial statements at 31 March 2016, which confirm the trend of growth in all main indicators, in spite of a difficult first quarter.

On the one hand, organic growth aimed at achieving efficiencies and synergies, along with complementary efforts towards market expansion, succeeded in compensating for 75% of the cut in remuneration for regulated activities; on the other, M&A operations, involving above all acquisitions made in late 2015, contributed to growth in results.

Note in particular that, with reference to legislative decree 25/2016, an implementation of Directive 2013/50/EU (so-called Transparency Directive), the Hera Group has voluntarily decided to publish its interim financial statements, as in the past, taking into account the high value given to communicating with the stakeholders. This decision may be modified in the future, based on changes in regulations.

Revenues amounting to € 1,235.4 million

In the first quarter of 2016 revenues came to € 1,235.4 million, dropping compared to the € 1,311.9 million seen in the corresponding period of 2015. The reasons for this decrease include lesser volumes of gas sold, owing to particularly mild temperatures; lesser revenues in electricity and gas sales and trading following a drop in the price of raw materials; the impact on regulated gas, electricity and water cycle services caused by the new method for calculating return on invested capital. These negative effects were only partially compensated by an increase in revenues due to greater volumes of electricity sold and higher revenues due to an increase in disposed waste.

EBITDA rises to € 278.4 million

EBITDA  went from € 277.2 million after the first three months of 2015 to € 278.4 million at the end of March 2016, showing a growth of € 1.2 million (+0.4%). This result is particularly significant if one recalls that it was achieved in the first quarter, the period of the year in which decreases in WACC for gas, electricity and water distribution have, due to seasonal factors, a greater negative impact on revenues and EBITDA, reaching – in the case at hand – € 9.5 million (respectively: 3.9 in gas, 0.7 in electricity and 4.9 in water). The increase in EBITDA was mainly sustained by energy activities, which maintained their margins and more than compensated for the performance of regulated activities.

Growth in Ebit and pre-tax profits, improvement in liability management

Ebit at 31 March 2016 came to € 170.8 million, up compared to the € 170.1 million seen in the first quarter of 2015 (+0.4%), in spite of higher depreciation due to changes in the operating area, partially compensated by lesser provisions. Liability management improved by € 3.7 million, coming to € 25.7 million at the end of the first quarter (-12.6% compared to the same period in 2015), thanks in particular to lower average debt and greater efficiency in rates. In light of this situation, pre-tax profits went from € 140.7 million in the first three months of 2015 to € 145.1 million in the first quarter of 2016, showing a further increase in the rate of growth (+3.1%).

Increased net profits post minorities, reaching € 91.2 million (+5.3%)

Net profits recorded an increase of 4.7%, going from € 92.5 million in the first three months of 2015 to € 96.8 million in the corresponding period in 2016, on account of a reduction of the tax burden leading to a tax rate of 33.3% (an improvement compared to the 34.3% applied in the same period in 2015, thanks to the benefits obtained in 2016 deriving from the application of the “patent box” and tax credits for research and development, in addition to tax concessions for maxi amortisations). Profits post minorities came to € 91.2 million, rising by € 4.6 million on the first three months of 2015 (+5.3%), due among other things to reduced minority interests, mainly caused by the complete acquisition of Akron and Romagna Compost.

Over 70 million of capital expenditure, reduction of net debt

In the first three months of 2016, the Group’s operating capex amounted to 73 million, including 4.5 million in capital grants, with an increase on the same period in 2015 (€ 64.1 million), as foreseen by the business plan. These investments mainly concerned interventions on plants, networks and infrastructures, in addition to regulatory upgrading above all in the gas area, due to a massive meter substitution, and water purifying and sewerage plants.

Net debt reduced by no less than € 147 million, going from 2,651.7 in 2015 to 2,504.5 at 31 March 2016 (-5.6%). This result, which is partially natural, tied to seasonal factors in the gas business, was sustained by both a reduction in working capital, owing to a continuous and constant attention in trade receivables management, and the generation of a higher operating cash flow. The debt/equity ratio thus dropped below 0.96x, showing an improvement in financial solidity.

Gas

EBITDA for the gas business, which includes services in distribution and sales of natural gas and LPG, district heating and heat management, reached € 128.7 million in the first quarter of 2016, with a slight growth compared to the € 128.4 seen at 31 March 2015, thanks to greater margins for activities in sales and trading and greater margins for district heating and heat management services. These positive effects more than compensate for the lesser volumes of gas sold on account of mild temperatures, and the € 3.9 million drop in gas distribution revenues, an effect of the WACC reduction.

The gas area accounted for 46.2% of Group EBITDA.

Water cycle

EBITDA for the integrated water cycle business, which includes aqueduct, purification and sewerage services, went from € 50.5 million in the first three months of 2015 to € 49.8 million in the first quarter of 2016. This result was impacted above all by € 4.9 million in lesser revenues for delivery, an effect of the WACC reduction, which in turn were almost entirely compensated by the operational efficiencies created.

The integrated water business accounted for 17.9% of Group EBITDA.

Waste management

EBITDA for the waste business, which includes services in waste collection, treatment and disposal, went from € 64.9 million in the first quarter of 2015 to € 62.4 million in the corresponding period in 2016. Among the factors with a negative influence, particular attention must go to the tariffs for waste collection and street sweeping, which have not as yet been updated and are currently under local authorities’ approval. As regards activities in waste recycle, treatment and disposal, results were equal to those seen in the previous year, thanks to the contribution obtained from acquisitions carried out in 2015, which compensated for the temporary stall in landfills currently being enlarged, the reduction in prices for energy certificates, and the lower amount of green certificates for the Ferrara WTE plant. Good results were seen in sorted waste, which rose to 56.2%, compared to 55.2% in the first three months of 2015, thanks to the many projects implemented across all geographical areas served.

The waste business accounted for 22.4% of Group EBITDA.

Electricity

EBITDA for the electricity business, which includes services in electricity production, distribution and sales, rose from € 29.3 million in the first quarter of 2015 to € 33.2 million at 31 March 2016 (+13.3%), thanks above all to greater margins both in sales and trading activities and in electricity generation. This increase was only partially reduced by lesser revenues in the regulated distribution service, coming to € 0.7 million. In this area, furthermore, an increase in both customers (almost 60,000 more than in 2015) and volumes sold was seen, thanks among other things to reinforced commercial initiatives.

The electricity business accounted for 11.9% of Group EBITDA.

The person responsible for drafting the company’s accounting statements, Luca Moroni, declares, pursuant to article 154-bis paragraph 2 of the TUF, that the information contained in the present press release corresponds to the documentation available and to the account books and entries.

The interim financial statements and related materials are available to the public at the Company Headquarters and on the website www.gruppohera.it.

Unaudited extracts from the Interim Financial Statements at 31 March 2016 are attached.

Profit & Loss (m€) Mar 2016 Inc% Mar 2015 Inc.% Ch Ch %
Sales 1,235.4   1,311.9   -76.5 -5.8%
Other operating revenues 73.7 6.0% 71.4 5.4% +2.3 +3.2%
Raw material (608.5) -49.3% (702.3) -53.5% -93.8 -13.4%
Services costs (281.7) -22.8% (266.6) -20.3% +15.1 +5.7%
Other operating expenses (12.1) -1.0% (9.9) -0.8% +2.2 +22.2%
Personnel costs (132.9) -10.8% (131.4) -10.0% +1.5 +1.1%
Capitalisations 4.6 0.4% 4.1 0.3% +0.5 +12.1%
Ebitda 278.4 22.5% 277.2 21.1% +1.2 +0.4%
Depreciation and provisions (107.6) -8.7% (107.1) -8.2% +0.5 +0.5%
Ebit 170.8 13.8% 170.1 13.0% +0.7 +0.4%
Financial inc./(exp.) (25.7) -2.1% (29.4) -2.2% -3.7 -12.6%
Pre tax profit 145.1 11.7% 140.7 10.7% +4.4 +3.1%
Tax (48.4) -3.9% (48.2) -3.7% +0.2 +0.4%
Net profit 96.8 7.8% 92.5 7.0% +4.3 +4.7%
Attributable to:
Shareholders of the Parent Company
Minority shareholders

91.2
5.6

7.4%
0.5%

86.6
5.9

6.6%
0.4%

+4.6
-0.3

+5.3%
-4.8%

 

Balance sheet (m€) Mar 2016 Inc% Mar 2015 Inc.% Ch Ch %
Net fixed assets 5,509.0 108.0% 5,511.3 106.9% (2.3) 0.0%
Working capital 105.0 2.1% 157.0 3.0% (52.0) (33.1%)
(Provision) (512.7) 10.1% (513.5) (9.9%) +0.8 (0.2%)
Net invested capital 5,101.3 100.0% 5,154.8 100.0% (53.5) (1.0%)
Net equity (2,596.8) 50.9% (2,503.1) 48.6% (93.7) +3.7%
Long term net financial debt (2,746.5) 53.8% (2,743.6) 53.2% (2.9) +0.1%
Short term net financial debt 242.0 (4.7%) 91.9 (1.8%) +150.1 +163.3%
Net financial debts (2,504.5) 49.1% (2,651.7) 51.4% +147.2 (5.6%)
Net invested capital (5,101.3) 100.0% (5,154.8) 100.0% +53.5 (1.0%)
Online from 11 May 2016 at 13:07:34

Search Results

10/05/2018
Price sensitive
Financial Results

Hera BoD approves 1Q 2018 results

2018-05-10 Results as at 31 March 2018 The consolidated quarterly report at 31 March shows growth in all operating and financial indicators, with a positive contribution coming from all business areas and further improvement in net debt. Hera BoD approves 1Q 2018 results /documents/1514726/4880892/GruppoHera_relazione_trimestrale_consolidata_al_31_03_2018_eng.1525946951.pdf/eb209a34-d9c9-040c-9f99-624083c0090a?t=1610019058696 /documents/1514726/4667212/Dati_finanziari_ed_operativi_di_sintesi_1Q_2018_eng.1525768847.xls/0def4519-5b1f-7457-26b8-3919a059699f?t=1608550138175 /documents/1514726/4667212/GruppoHera_Analyst_Presentation_1Q_2018.1525940338.pdf/8f6496cb-d392-7c7f-01a3-43a2f3de9304?t=1608550138945 /group_eng/investor-relations/results-and-presentations/archive/financial-benchmark http://investornews.gruppohera.it/en/?n=55 Financial results as at 31 March 2018 Financial data as at 31 March 2018 Analyst presentation: financial results as at 31 March 2018 Benchmark of consolidated results Newsletter: financial results as at 31 March 2018 Financial highlights Revenues at € 1,741.3 million (+10.4%) Ebitda at € 322.7 million (+5.2%) Net profits for shareholders at € 120.5 million (+9.6%) Net debt decreased, coming to € 2,502.1 million Operating highlights Good contribution to growth coming from the main businesses, and the gas area in particular Solid customer base in Energy, increasing to roughly 2.4 million customers Management geared towards extracting efficiencies and expansion Today, the Hera Group’s Board of Directors unanimously approved the consolidated operating results for the first quarter of 2018, which confirm the ongoing positive trend and show rises in all main performance measures. These results were achieved thanks to the Group’s time-tested multi-business strategy, balanced between regulated and free market activities. This model was pursued by calibrating internal growth with the opportunities offered by the market and external development. In particular, the changes in the scope of operations witnessed during the first quarter were due to the consolidation of the Aliplast Group and Verducci Servizi, the transfer of Medea to Italgas and the exclusion of waste collection and street sweeping services in the Forlì area. M&As, instead, were concentrated above all in the energy area, with the acquisitions of Blu Ranton and 49% of Sangroservizi, in addition to 13,000 new “maggior tutela” customers served in the municipality of Gorizia through EnergiaBaseTrieste. Revenues amount to roughly € 1.74 billion Revenues for the first quarter of 2018 came to € 1,741.3 million, increasing compared to the € 1,577.8 million seen in the same period of 2017. A larger amount of commodity trading and higher revenues coming from gas and electricity sales were mainly responsible for this result, as were revenues from the waste management area and energy efficiency certificates. Ebitda rises to € 322.7 million Ebitda went from € 306.8 million in the first quarter of 2017 to € 322.7 in the same period of 2018, recording an increase of almost € 16 million (+5.2%). While this growth is due to the good performances seen in the Group’s main areas, the gas area contributed in particular, thanks to higher volumes sold and an increase in income from trading. Operating results and pre-tax profits increase, financial management improves Operating profits at 31 March 2018 came to € 197.6 million, up compared to the € 187.3 million recorded at the same date in 2017 (+5.5%). A € 5.6 million improvement was seen in financial management, coming to € 17.5 million at the end of the first quarter, thanks to efficiency in interest rates and higher income for interest derived from safeguarded customers. In light of this situation, pre-tax profits went from € 164.2 million in the first three months of 2017 to € 180.1 million in the same period of 2018, showing an increase in the rate of growth, which came to +9.7%. Net profit for shareholders grow to € 120.5 million (+9.6%) Net profit at 31 March 2018 rose to € 125.9 million, up compared to the € 115.3 million seen in 2017. € 120.5 million is the profit pertaining to Group shareholders, which increased by € 10.6 million over the € 109.9 million in the same period in 2017. These results, corresponding to a tax rate of 30.1%, are due to the Group’s continuous commitment to grasping opportunities recognised by law regarding the amortisation of the consistent investments made in a move towards Utility 4.0, in addition to tax credits for research and development and the final balance of previously acquired benefits. Roughly € 85 in investments, and a slightly improved net debt In the first three months of 2018, Group investments amounted to € 84.6 million, including the acquisitions made in the companies Blu Ranton and Sangroservizi. Operating investments grew by 5.9% and mainly concerned interventions on plants, networks and infrastructures, in addition to investments in an extensive meter substitution and in the purification and sewerage areas. Net debt improved for the third consecutive quarter, coming to € 2,502.1 million (compared to the € 2,523.0 million recorded at 31 December 2017). This was due to a positive and increasing cash generation, which among other things allowed the recent acquisitions to be financed. The 12-month rolling net debt/Ebitda ratio settled at 2.5, pointing towards further improvement in financial solidity. Gas Ebitda for the gas business, which covers services in natural gas and LPG distribution and sales, district heating and heat management, came to € 148.2 million in the first quarter of 2018, an increase over the € 135.6 million recorded at 31 March 2017 (+9.3%), thanks to higher volumes of gas sold, a rise in trading volumes and the larger scope of operations for this service. The number of gas customers rose to 1.4 million, up 1.1% over the same period in 2017, thanks to marketing initiatives. The gas business accounted for 45.9% of Group Ebitda. Water cycle Ebitda for the integrated water cycle, which covers aqueduct, purification and sewerage services, went from € 53.3 million in the first quarter of 2017 to € 55.6 million in the same period of 2018 (+4.3%), thanks above all to higher revenues from dispensing. These results also benefited from “quality premium”, granted by the regulatory authorities based on current methods for tariff calculation. The integrated water cycle accounted for 17.2% of Group Ebitda. Waste management Ebitda for the waste management business, which covers services in waste collection, treatment, recovery and disposal, went from € 64.0 million in the first quarter of 2017 to € 66.5 million at 31 March 2018 (+3.9%). This trend is mainly due to the encouraging results achieved in the area of waste treatment, which followed positive market trends. Good results were also seen in sorted waste, which rose to 59.5% compared to the 57.5% recorded in the first three months of 2017, thanks to the many projects launched over all areas served. The waste management area accounted for 20.6% of Group Ebitda. Electricity Ebitda for the electricity business, which covers services in electricity production, distribution and sales, showed a slight drop, going from € 48.4 million in the first quarter of 2017 to € 45.3 million at 31 March 2018, owing to the temporary suspension of some plants for planned maintenance. In spite of this, electricity reached the goal of 1 million customers for the first time, rising 10.6% over the first quarter of 2017, and also saw a 23.7% overall increase in volumes sold, with considerable growth in both the free and safeguarded markets. This significant result is due to the Group’s continuous reinforcement of marketing initiatives and the enlargement of its customer base. The electricity area accounted for 14% of Group Ebitda. The manager responsible for drafting the company’s accounting statements, Luca Moroni, declares, pursuant to article 154-bis paragraph 2 of the TUF, that the information contained in the present press release corresponds to the documentation available and to the account books and entries. The quarterly management report and related materials are available to the public at Company Headquarters and on the website www.gruppohera.it. Unaudited extracts from the Interim Financial Statements at 31 March 2018 are attached. Profit & Loss (m€) 31/03/2018 Inc% 31/03/2017 Inc.% Ch. Ch. % Sales 1,741.3 1,577.8 +163.5 +10.4% Other operating revenues 95.3 5.5% 89.8 5.7% +5.5 +6.1% Raw material (831.4) -47.7% (732.2) -46.4% +99.2 +13.5% Services costs (538.5) -30.9% (488.8) -31.0% +49.7 +10.2% Other operating expenses (12.7) -0.7% (12.0) -0.8% +0.7 +5.8% Personnel costs (140.0) -8.0% (137.2) -8.7% +2.8 +2.0% Capitalisations 8.7 0.5% 9.4 0.6% -0.7 -7.5% Ebitda 322.7 18.5% 306.8 19.4% +15.9 +5.2% Depreciation and provisions (125.0) -7.2% (119.6) -7.6% +5.4 +4.5% Ebit 197.6 11.3% 187.3 11.9% +10.3 +5.5% Financial inc./(exp.) (17.5) -1.0% (23.1) -1.5% -5.6 -24.3% Pre tax profit 180.1 10.3% 164.2 10.4% +15.9 +9.7% Tax (54.2) -3.1% (48.9) -3.1% +5.3 +10.8% Net profit 125.9 7.2% 115.3 7.3% +10.6 +9.2% Attributable to: Shareholders of the Parent Company 120.5 6.9% 109.9 7.0% +10.6 +9.6% Minority shareholders 5.4 0.3% 5.4 0.3% -0.0 -0.1% Balance Sheet (m€) 31/03/2018 Inc.% 31/12/2017 Inc.% Ch. Ch.% Net fixed assets 5,792.4 109.1% 5,780.6 110.5% +11.8 +0.2% Working capital 92.3 1.7% 23.2 0.4% +69.1 +297.8% (Provisions) (576.7) (10.8%) (574.9) (10.9%) (1.9) +0.3% Net invested capital 5,308.0 100.0% 5,229.0 100.0% +79.0 +1.5% Net equity 2,805.9 52.9% 2,706.0 51.7% +99.9 +3.7% Long term net financial debt 2,739.9 51.6% 2,735.4 52.4% +4.5 +0.2% Short term net financial debt (237.8) )4.5%) (212.4) (4.1%) (25.4) +12.0% Net financial debts 2,502.1 47.1% 2,523.0 48.3% (20.9) (0.8%) Net invested capital 5,308.0 100.0% 5,229.0 100.0% +79.0 +1.5% Press release 1Q2018 2017-05-08 11:30:53 Hera BoD approves 1Q 2018 results
Press releases
26/04/2018
Shareholders’ meeting
Price sensitive

Hera Shareholders Meeting: 2017 financial statements and dividends rising to 9.5 cent/share approved

2018-04-26 Improvement seen in all operating-financial and sustainability indicators, with results exceeding expectations and a renewed commitment to creating shared value. Appointment of Alessandro Melcarne, co-opted last November as member of the Board of Directors, confirmed. Hera Shareholders Meeting Hera's Ordinary Shareholders Meeting called to approve the 2017 financial statements was held in Bologna this morning. Furthermore, the 2017 sustainability report (a consolidated non-financial statement drafted pursuant to legislative decree 254/2016) was presented and the appointment of Alessandro Melcarne, priorly co-opted as member of the Board of Directors during the session held on 8 November 2017, was confirmed. Approval of the financial statements and a dividend rising to 9.5 cent/share In the Ordinary session, the Shareholders Meeting approved the balance sheets pertaining to 2017, which showed improvement in all operating-financial indicators, with results exceeding expectations: turnover reached € 6,136.9 million, up 10.3% over the previous year, Ebitda came to € 984.6 million (+7.4%) and net profits amounted to € 266.8 million (+21.1%). In 2017, overall Group investments, including capital grants, came to € 440.5 million (+14% compared to 2016). Net debt improved, amounting to € 2,523 million and the net debt/EBITDA ratio saw a further decrease compared to the previous year, settling at 2.56, thanks to growth in operating results and the reduction in net debt. These results are particularly positive, and confirm the validity of the Group's multi-business strategy, which allows the company to successfully balance regulated and free-market activities in addition to maintaining a sustainable risk profile. The combination of two fundamental levers, internal growth and external development, moreover allowed the Group to continue expanding, owing to factors including its ability to anticipate and grasp the best opportunities seen within an increasingly challenging regulated and market scenario, whose development models are progressively evolving. These results, in line with the content of the Business Plan to 2021, are the crowning achievement of the multi-utility's 15 years of activity, which have seen it reach significant goals: from a quintupled Ebitda to net profits that have grown by almost 8 times compared to 2002, without counting the 25 acquisitions completed, producing remarkable synergies. The Meeting then approved the Board of Directors' proposal to pay a 9.5 cent/share dividend, showing an increase over the past and in line with what had previously been announced in the Business Plan to 2021. The ex coupon date has been set at 18 June 2018, with payment beginning on 20 June 2018. The dividend paid, based on the price of Hera stock at 31/12/2017, corresponds to an annual return of over 3%. This confirms once again the Group's high degree of attention towards the creation of shared value, as indicated in the recent Business Plan, which calls for a policy of rising dividends compared to the Group's historical trend, with a further increase foreseen reaching 10 cent/share in 2018 and 2019, and coming to 10.5 cents in 2020 and 2021. The results achieved, the business model's resilience and the solid bases of the Business Plan, it is worthwhile noting, all recently allowed the Hera Group to obtain a revision of the company's outlook rating from Standard & Poor's, going from stable to positive. An entirely renewed sustainability report, with shared value Ebitda coming to € 329 million The 2017 sustainability report was also presented during the Meeting: entirely renewed from every angle, regarding both editorial criteria and content, it brings to light an increasingly strong attention towards the creation of shared value. This is accomplished by recording business activities that, in addition to generating operating income for the company, are also in line with the drivers for sustainable growth set out in the UN Agenda. More specifically, the Hera Group's shared value Ebitda amounted to € 329 million, up 10% over the previous year. This result perfectly matches the path marked by the Business Plan, which expects this value to reach 40% by 2021. Furthermore, in 2017 the Group also invested roughly € 200 million (approximately 41% of total investments) in the development of shared value. A rise was also seen in the overall wealth distributed in local areas, benefiting workers, shareholders, financers, banking institutions, public administrations, local communities and suppliers. This wealth came close to 2 billion euro in 2017, showing a 6.5% growth over 2016, with positive consequences for local economies and employment rates. The main interventions involved producing biomethane from the organic portion of waste, developing waste recycling, upgrading the wastewater purification service and digitalising services in a move towards utility 4.0. With sorted waste rising to 57.7% of the total, the Hera Group has continued reducing the use of landfills, which decreased to 7% as compared to the European target of 10% within 2035. An excellent performance was moreover seen in packaging recycling, which reached 68%, already over the European target of 65% by 2025. The strategic companies in recovering materials were Waste Recycling and Aliplast: in 2017 alone, the latter's plants in fact produced roughly 103 thousand tonnes of recycled plastic. The Group continues to show commitment to decarbonisation, with a 16% reduction in the carbon footprint in energy production compared to 2015. In the area of energy efficiency, the interventions implemented allowed the company to decrease its own energy consumption by 3.6% compared to 2013, surpassing the target of 3% and approaching the 5% set for 2020. Furthermore, for all the activities it manages in the Emilia-Romagna region, as of 2017 Hera has been using exclusively renewable energy, a choice made this year by AcegasApsAmga and Marche Multiservizi as well. Moreover, 67.5% of the energy produced by the Group itself comes in turn from renewable sources and cogeneration. Other resolutions approved The Meeting approved the renewal of its authorisation for the Board of Directors to purchase treasury shares (and arrangements for their disposal), for a maximum amount of € 200 million over 18 months, at the same time annulling the unimplemented part of the prior resolution, dating to the previous year.This renewal of authorisation was requested to pursue the aims provided for by current regulations and accepted market practices, including investment opportunities entailing the use of treasury shares to increase the creation of value, any acquisitions of holdings that may involve equity trading, and transactions involving financial instrument issuance. The Meeting furthermore approved the remuneration policy report, in line with international best practices. Lastly, the report on corporate governance was presented to the Meeting. The appointment of Alessandro Melcarne as member of the BoD confirmed The meeting lastly confirmed the appointment of Alessandro Melcarne as member of the Board of Directors of Hera S.p.A. Melcarne had previously been appointed by cooptation during the Board of Directors meeting held on 8 November 2017, substituting the resigning Aldo Luciano, and will remain in office until the date set for the appointment of the next Board of Directors, i.e. until the Meeting called to approve the financial statements for 2019. Director Melcarne confirmed that he meets the independence requisites foreseen by law and does not hold any shares in Hera S.p.A. His CV can be consulted on the website www.gruppohera.it, within the Corporate Governance/BoD section. Hera Shareholders Meeting press_release_hera_shareholders_meeting_2018.1524735826.pdf 2017-06-23 13:15:59 Hera Shareholders Meeting Read more Hera Shareholders Meeting
Press releases
18/04/2018
Price sensitive
M&A

Hera now part of the Leading Utilities of the World

2018-04-18 Hera_SpA_2380_GWI_870_1524149606.1533218688.jpg The first Italian company to be admitted within this network, Hera confirms the international standing of its activities in the water cycle, reflecting its participation in the Global Compact's CEO Water Mandate and its entry as part of the CE100. The Group's commitment takes concrete shape with over 110 million invested in the sector each year. Hera SpA The Hera Group - Italy's second operator in the water cycle, with 300 million m3 of water sold and 3.6 million citizens served - has now become part of the Leading Utilities of the World (LUOW), a network that brings together the planet's most innovative and successful companies in the water and wastewater sector and aims at promoting shared knowledge, projects and new objectives, in addition to favouring collaboration. This new entry came about during the 2018 Global Water Summit, which was brought to a close yesterday in Paris. Hera is Italy's first operator to obtain this recognition, which chronologically follows its membership in the CEO Water Mandate, an initiative launched by the Global Compact of the United Nations and designed to encourage companies to show greater commitment in sustainable water management. In order to become part of the LUOW, the Hera Group passed the four phases involved in selection. The company was requested to provide extensive documentation proving its commitment and innovative contribution to managing water and wastewater activities. Following an additional phase of dialogue with the evaluation committee, which took place in France during the last few days, the Group became the twenty-eighth company to join the network. Hera thus confirms the international status of its activities, which for some time now - as recorded in detail in its sustainability report - have been fully in line with the path set out by the European Union and the UN's 2030 Global Agenda. The water sector, after all, is the area in which Hera has always concentrated the majority of its investments, coming to an average of more than 110 million per year over the last five years. This allows the Group to maintain over 53 thousand km of network in good health, in addition to approximately 900 production, treatment and purification plants. All users are thus provided with safe and inexpensive water, guaranteed by over 2 thousand analyses per day and capable of successfully overcoming periods of serious drought, such as the one seen during 2017. One of the strong points of Hera's integrated water service lies in its orientation towards innovation, with cutting-edge solutions based on automation and remote control of networks and plants, to guarantee continuity in supply and maintain leakage in its networks among the lowest in the country. This context includes, for example, the development of a technique involving satellite research for water leaks that Hera, the first to do so in Italy, developed in collaboration with the Israeli company Utilis, significantly increasing the amount of water recovered. Acting together with the National Health Institute, moreover, Hera is currently implementing the Water Safety Plans, a European protocol for monitoring all phases involved in drinking water production and distribution. Hera SpA press_release_leading_utilities_.1524143605.pdf 2017-06-23 12:14:59 2020 Integrated Governance Index: Hera once again ranked at the top of sustainable finance Read more 2020 Integrated Governance Index: Hera once again ranked at the top of sustainable finance
Press releases
06/04/2018
Price sensitive
M&A

Hera Group: transfer of Medea to Italgas completed

2018-04-06 Hera_Italgas870_1513853697.1533218766.jpg All conditions set forth in the agreement having been fulfilled, the 100% divestment of the company holding concessions for gas distribution and sales in the city of Sassari has been completed. Hera thus continues in its process of rationalizing the Group's holdings. Hera SpA Hera and Italgas completed today in Milan the transfer of 100% of Medea S.p.A., the company holding the concession for gas distribution and sales in the city of Sassari. This acquisition follows up on the binding agreement signed by the parties on 21 December 2017 and results from all conditions set forth in the contract having been met. Medea's overall enterprise value was set at € 24.1 million. The entire price was paid on a cash basis, net of debt. This transaction is part of a larger process through which the Hera Group is rationalising its holdings and concentrating on its own reference territories. The baton was handed to Italgas, Italy's main operator in the gas distribution sector, following a fruitful twenty-year collaboration between Hera and the municipals administrations in office over this period of time, which allowed Medea to be transformed into the largest company of its kind in Sardinia. Thanks to investments reaching over 20 million euro in favour of this area, the company now serves approximately 13,000 customers, all of whom reside in the city centre of Sassari and to whom it distributes a volume of over 5 million m3 per year. Hera SpA press_release_aprile_2018_medea_italgas.1523006520.pdf 2017-06-23 13:44:59 2020 Integrated Governance Index: Hera once again ranked at the top of sustainable finance Read more 2020 Integrated Governance Index: Hera once again ranked at the top of sustainable finance
04/04/2018
Price sensitive
Financial Results

Publication of the draft Separate and consolidated financial statements at 31/12/2017, the Sustainability report - consolidated non-financial statement and Shareholders meeting documentation

2018-04-04 Publication of the draft Separate and consolidated financial statements at 31/12/2017, the Sustainability report - consolidated non-financial statement and Shareholders meeting documentation Kindly note that the following documents, approved by the Board of Directors, have been made available to the public at company headquarters, on the website www.gruppohera.it and on the authorised storage platform 1INFO (www.1Info.it): folder containing the draft Separate and consolidated financial statements at 31/12/2017; Sustainability report - consolidated non-financial statement drafted pursuant to decree 254/2016. In the same form, the following documents are also available: the Hera S.p.A. Board of Directors' Explanatory report for item 2 on the Agenda; the Hera S.p.A. Board of Directors' Explanatory report for item 3 on the Agenda. press_release_pubblication_report.1522854149.pdf 2018-04-04 18:56:42 Hera Spa
27/03/2018
Price sensitive
Financial Results

Hera Group approves results at 31/12/2017

2018-03-27 be2017_870x320_slide_eng.1522151642.jpg Improvement seen in all operating, financial and sustainability indicators. These results, which exceeded expectations, crown a path of development that has led the multi-utility to quintuple its EBITDA over its 15 years of operations. The Group's multi-business model and the balance between internal and external growth prove once again to be key factors in its success. Proposed dividends rise to 9.5 cent/share. S&P upgrades the outlook from stable to positive. Hera Group approves results at 31/12/2017 /group_eng/investor-relations/results-and-presentations/y2017 /documents/1514726/4210743/Financial+results+as+of+31_12_2017.pdf/103e1350-e7eb-ee2d-5f2f-6e985bffc353?t=1629971620065 /documents/1514726/4210743/GH_Analyst_Presentation_Y2017.1522145272.pdf/c3609f23-0deb-f41b-fc1f-3605403b85f5?t=1597908284022 http://investornews.gruppohera.it/en/?n=54 /documents/1514726/4210743/Dati_finanziari_31_12_17_eng.1522145521.xls/62fdb8c6-aa55-736c-1dfb-5e5c82422c2b?t=1597908283687 https://www.slideshare.net/Gruppo_Hera/analyst-presentation-y2017 /group_eng/investor-relations/results-and-presentations/archive/benchmark-by-business /group_eng/investor-relations/results-and-presentations/archive/financial-benchmark /group_eng/investor-relations/results-and-presentations/interactive-data HTML Y2017 results Financial results as at 31/12/2017 Analyst presentation: Y2017 results ( 1077kb - PDF) Newsletter: Y2017 results Financial data as at 31 December 2017 Slideshare Y2017 Benchmark by business Benchmark of consolidated results Interactive data Financial highlights Turnover at € 6,136.9 million (+10.3%) EBITDA at € 984.6 million (+7.4%) Net profits at € 266.8 million (+21.1%) Net debt improves, coming to € 2,523.0 million Proposed dividends rise to 9.5 cent/share S&P rating: BBB with positive outlook Operating highlights Contributions to growth come from all business areas, in particular free market activities, such as the Electricity and Waste Benefits derive from recent Group acquisitions in liberalised waste management and energy markets (most notably Aliplast) Further reinforcement of the energy customer base, reaching 2.4 million users, thanks to marketing operations, recent acquisitions and the tender awarded for safeguarded services Improvement in all sustainability indicators, with 2017 shared value EBITDA rising by 10% to € 329 million Today, the Hera Group’s Board of Directors unanimously approved the consolidated financial results at 31 December 2017, along with the Sustainability Report. All operating, financial and sustainability indicators improve, crowning 15 years of uninterrupted growth The 2017 financial year closed for the Hera Group with results higher than expected, and with all operating, financial and sustainability indicators showing clear improvement over 2016. These particularly positive results, in line with the content of the Business Plan to 2021, confirm the validity of the company’s multi-business strategy, which allows it to successfully balance regulated and free-market activities, in addition to maintaining a sustainable risk profile. The combination of two fundamental levers, internal growth and external development, furthermore permitted the Group to achieve continued growth, which resulted from factors including its ability to foresee and grasp the best opportunities in an increasingly challenging regulated and free-market scenario, whose models for future development continue to evolve. These results represent the culmination of a path that has led the multi-utility to achieve significant goals over its 15-year lifespan: from a quintupled EBITDA to almost eight times the amount of net profits (compared to 2002), only to mention a couple, without counting the 25 acquisitions brought to completion, which have produced considerable synergies. Moreover, the results reached confirm the Group’s constant pursuit of objectives involving all aspects of sustainable development: environmental, social and economic. A 10% rise in shared value created was in fact seen in 2017, through activities that meet the UN Agenda’s drivers for sustainable development and the goals defined by various levels of government. Turnover exceeds 6 billion, rising by 10.3% In 2017, turnover came to € 6,136.9million and, on equal terms, showed an increase over the € 5,561.5 seen in the previous year (+10.3%). This result reflects, in addition to the entrance of the Aliplast Group and other minor acquisitions now part of the company’s scope of operations, a higher amount of trading, a rise in regulated revenues from the water service and an increase in revenues and volumes of gas and electricity sold. EBITDA grows to € 984.6 million (+7.4%) EBITDA rose to € 984.6 million, with a sharp increase over the € 916.6 million seen in 2016 (+7.4%). This growth in EBITDA was sustained by the good performance shown by all businesses, above all the energy areas, which recorded a € 50.3 million increase. This rise was driven above all by Electricity, ensuing from higher earnings in asset management and trading activities, and in free market and safeguarded sales. The contribution coming from the waste area was also remarkable, for reasons including an enhancement of recycling activities. Operating results and pre-tax profits rise, and financial management improves Operating profits increased to € 479.3 million, compared to the € 457.1 million recorded in 2016 (+4.9%), in spite of the higher amortisation owing to changes in the scope of operations and higher provisions for bad debt, mainly involving the new safeguarded customers acquired through the tenders held in late 2016. Pre-tax profits increased to € 377.8 million (+11.2% compared to the € 339.7 million seen in 2016), as an effect of the improvement in financial management, which contributed with € 16 million more than in the previous year. These good performances can be ascribed to higher financial revenues and a more efficient and flexible financial structure, which allowed the cost of debt to be lowered. Strong increase in net profits, reaching € 266.8 million (+21.1%) Group net profits rose to € 266.8 million, with a significant increase (+21.1%) compared to the € 220.4 million witnessed in the previous year, owing among other things to a lower average tax rate, which settled at 29.6% instead of the 35.1% seen in 2016. Profits pertaining to Group Shareholders came to € 251.5 million, up 21.3% over the previous year. Investments reach € 440 million, Net debt/EBITDA ratio further improves to 2.56, S&P rating BBB with positive outlook In 2017, Group investments amounted to € 396.2 million. Including approximately € 44 million in capital grants, the Group’s overall investments came to € 440.5 million, growing by roughly 14% compared to the previous year and mainly destined to interventions on plants, networks and infrastructures. These were flanked by regulatory upgrading above all concerning gas distribution, with an intensive meter substitution, and the purification and sewerage areas. Net debt in 2017 came to € 2,523.0 million, improving by roughly € 36 million compared to the € 2,558.9 recorded in 2016, thanks to an increase in operating cash flows that allowed higher investments and M&A operations to be financed and June’s annual dividend payment to be entirely covered (coming to € 140 million overall). The net debt/EBITDA ratio fell to 2.56, with a further decrease following the one seen in 2016; this ratio benefitted from both rising operational results and a reduction in net debt. The results reached, the resilience of the Group’s business model and the solid foundations of its Business plan allowed it to obtain a revision in the outlook of its rating from Standard & Poor’s, going from stable to positive. Further improvement in the Group’s sustainability profile, along with a 10% increase in shared value EBITDA The positive operating results were matched by data confirming the multi-utility’s growing attention towards sustainability, as witnessed by the approval of the Sustainability Report at the same time as the year-end financial statements for the twelfth consecutive year. Furthermore, the Hera Group was among the first to introduce, as of last year, a new and evolved approach to sustainability, including shared value in its financial reporting, i.e. all business activities that in addition to generating EBITDA for the company respect the drivers of sustainable development defined by the UN Agenda and the goals set by various levels of government. In 2017, the Hera Group’s shared value EBITDA reached € 329 million, increasing by 10% over the previous year: this result perfectly reflects the path marked out in the Business Plan, in which this indicator is projected to reach 40% by 2021. Improvements were seen in all performances measured by energy consumption (from decarbonisation to energy efficiency operations and renewable source development), and by material recovery (from indicators concerning recycling, landfill use and initiatives promoting the concrete development of a circular economy), in addition to all social and local factors involved. In line with this perspective, the Group is now part of international programs such as the CEO Water Mandate and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s CE100, a network made up of the world’s 100 companies most committed to the transition towards a circular economy. Proposed dividends rise to 9.5 cent/share The Board of Directors, in light of the results achieved and the solidity of the Group’s assets, has decided to put a dividend of 9.5 cents per share to the Shareholders Meeting to be held on 26 April, higher than in the past and in line with the content of the Business Plan. The ex-dividend date has been set at 18 June 2018, with payment as of 20 June 2018. Gas EBITDA for Gas, which includes services in natural gas distribution and sales, district heating and heat management, rose to € 301.7 million, fundamentally in line with the € 300.6 million seen in 2016. This result was obtained mainly thanks to internal growth, with positive contributions coming from the management of distribution and sales activities, an expanded customer base, the positive trend seen in prices and higher volumes of trading. These positive results proved more than able to offset lower earnings in district heating. The results were also sustained by the acquisition of the Abruzzo company Verducci Servizi and the default gas service, which allowed volumes sold to increase, with the number of customers rising to roughly 1.4 million (+14,900 customers), to which sales activities and customer loyalty programs also contributed. Net investments in Gas exceeded € 100 million in 2017, with a € 6.2 million increase compared to 2016, mainly destined to non-recurring maintenance on networks and plants and the large-scale meter substitution introducing new-generation devices and making the networks smarter. The gas business accounted for 30.6% of Group EBITDA. Water cycle The integrated water cycle, which includes aqueduct, purification and sewerage services, recorded an EBITDA of € 229.9 million, showing a slight growth over the € 228.8 million seen in 2016, thanks to higher regulated revenues and operative efficiencies, which offset the lower revenues for new connections. Owing to the high level of service quality, moreover, the corresponding bonuses were granted by the Authority. Net investments in the integrated water cycle amounted to € 113.1 million. Including capital grants, investments in this area came to € 156.6 million (up compared to the € 131.8 million seen in 2016), of which € 63.8 million in the aqueduct, € 42 million in sewerage and € 50.8 million in purification. The integrated water cycle business accounted for 23.3% of Group EBITDA. Waste EBITDAfor Waste, which includes waste collection, treatment and disposal services, settled at € 246.0 million, growing by 6.6% over the € 230.7 million recorded in 2016. This positive result is due to both changes in the scope of operations, with the 2017 acquisitions of the Aliplast Group and Teseco, which gave an important impulse towards a circular economy and the management of industrial waste, and internal growth sustained by higher volumes of market waste treated and a positive trend in prices. This allowed the loss of incentives concerning the Isernia plant and a few non-recurring entries to be offset, the latter mainly involving a temporary halt in some WTE plants (in the first part of the year) and costs for demolition in the S. Agata Bolognese site, where one of Italy’s first plants for bio-methane production is now in the advanced stages of construction, which will become operational within 2018. Good results were also seen in the area of sorted urban waste collection, which rose to 57.7%, compared to the 56.4% seen in 2016, thanks to a range of projects implemented across all areas served. The waste management business accounted for 25% of Group EBITDA. Electricity Electricity, which includes services in electricity production, distribution and sales, recorded an EBITDA of € 184.5 million, with a sharp improvement compared to the € 135.3 million recorded in 2016 (+36,4%), thanks to activities in trading, higher income in production and in free market and safeguarded market sales. The number of electricity customers is now over 980,000 (+9% compared to 2016), thanks to reinforced marketing operations and the larger customer base deriving from the tender awarded for safeguarded services. The amount of Group EBITDA accounted for by the electricity area rose to 18.7%. Statement by Executive Chairman Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano “The results reached allow us to draw a few conclusions as to the path of growth followed by Hera over these first 15 years of its history: an operating performance that clearly shows through in Group EBITDA, which has quintupled compared to the one seen in 2002, without counting the positive effects of financial and fiscal management, which in turn bear witness to an even more considerable growth, given that 2017 net profits reached 7.8 times those recorded in 2002. Opportunities for internal and external development (with 25 companies acquired over the years) have led not only to an increase in size, but above all to higher efficiencies and productivity, as is proven by EBITDA per employee, which has virtually tripled. The central role given to creating value for our shareholders has also been confirmed: on the basis of the results reached, we will put to the Shareholders Meeting a dividend of 9.5 cents/share, up 5.5% compared to the dividend paid in 2016 and in line with the policy communicated last January. The return implied by this dividend would thus come to 3.3% and, considering the 32.8% rise in the price of Hera stock seen over 2017, the overall return for shareholders will exceed 36%.” Statement by CEO Stefano Venier “The 2017 results confirm the validity of our actions in financial planning and management, to the point that they have already allowed us to lower our debt more than was expected. The substantial improvement in operating and financial indicators, furthermore, was accompanied by excellent working performances, confirming the quality of the business initiatives deployed to achieve a long-lasting and sustainable growth. Even the targets met in terms of higher creation of shared value allow us to affirm that 2017 was, for us, an important milestone along our path of growth and, in various senses, represented a new starting point to give an effective response and a tangible contribution to the noteworthy challenges that lie in the future.” The manager responsible for drafting the company’s accounting statements, Luca Moroni, declares, pursuant to article 154-bis paragraph 2 of the TUF, that the information contained in the present press release corresponds to the documentation available and to the account books and entries. The financial statement and related materials will be available to the public pursuant to the terms established by law at the Company Headquarters, on the website www.gruppohera.it and on the authorised storage platform 1Info (www.1info.it), within 4 April 2018. Unaudited extracts from the Financial Statements at 31 December 2017 are attached. PROFIT & LOSS(M€) 31/12/2017 INC% 31/12/2016 RECLASSIFIED* INC.% CH. CH. % Sales 5,612.1 5,131.3 +480.8 +9.4% Other operating revenues 524.8 9.4% 430.2 8.4% +94.6 +22.0% Raw material (2,606.8) -46.4% (2,176.8) -42.4% +430.0 +19.8% Services costs (1,952.2) -34.8% (1,896.7) -37.0% +55.5 +2.9% Other operating expenses (84.6) -1.5% (75.0) -1.5% +9.6 +12.8% Personnel costs (551.6) -9.8% (524.1) -10.2% +27.5 +5.2% Capitalisations 43.0 0.8% 27.8 0.5% +15.2 +54.7% Ebitda 984.6 17.5% 916.6 17.9% +68.0 +7.4% Depreciation and provisions (505.3) -9.0% (459.6) -9.0% +45.7 +9.9% Ebit 479.3 8.5% 457.1 8.9% +22.2 +4.9% Financial inc./(exp.) (101.5) -1.8% (117.4) -2.3% -15.9 -13.5% Pre tax profit 377.8 6.7% 339.7 6.6% +38.1 +11.2% Tax (111.8) -2.0% (119.3) -2.3% -7.5 -6.3% Net profit before special items 266.0 4.7% 220.4 4.3% +45.6 +20.7% Special items 0.8 0.0% - 0.0% +0.8 +100.0% Net profit 266.8 4.8% 220.4 4.3% +46.4 +21.1% Attributable to: Shareholders of the Parent Company 251.5 4.5% 207.3 4.0% +44.2 +21.3% Minority shareholders 15.3 0.3% 13.1 0.3% +2.3 +17.4% *The amount of 2016 revenues has been adjusted (with no effect on results) to account for the reclassification of system charges and contributions coming from former green certificates. BALANCE SHEET(M€) 31/12/2017 INC.% 31/12/2016 INC.% CH. CH.% Net fixed assets 5,780.6 110.5% 5,564.5 108.7% +216.1 +3.9% Working capital 23.2 0.4% 99.9 2.0% (76.7) (76.8)% (Provisions) (574.8) (10.9%) (543.4) (10.7%) (31.4) +5.8% Net invested capital 5,229.0 100.0% 5,121.0 100.0% +108.0 +2.1% Net equity 2,706.0 51.7% 2,562.1 50.0% +143.9 +5.6% Long term net financial debt 2,735.4 52.4% 2,757.5 53.9% (22.1) (0.8)% Short term net financial debt (212.4) (4.1%) (198.6) (3.9%) (13.8) +6.9% Net financial debts 2,523.0 48.3% 2,558.9 50.0% (35.9) (1.4)% Net invested capital 5,229.0 100.0% 5,121.0 100.0% +108.0 +2.1% Press release Y2017 2018-03-22 13:31:00 Hera Group approves results at 31/12/2017
20/03/2018
Price sensitive
M&A

Hera Group acquires 49% of Sangroservizi

2018-03-20 Nuova_Palazzina_1_870x.1533219432.jpg Headquartered in Atessa (Chieti), Sangroservizi offers natural gas sales services to roughly 7,000 customers. Following the recent acquisition of Blu Ranton and prolonging the operations concluded over the last three years, Hera thus further consolidates its presence and its strong local roots in the Abruzzo region. Hera Group: green light for the merger between Marche Multiservizi and Megas.net Slightly over a month after the acquisition of Blu Ranton, the Hera Group continues consolidating its locally rooted presence in the Abruzzo region. Through its subsidiary Hera Comm, indeed, it has purchased 49% of Sangroservizi S.r.l. from the Municipalities of Atessa, San Vito Chietino and Paglieta (all located in the Province of Chieti). Established in 2003 and legally headquartered in Atessa, Sangroservizi is a company active in natural gas sales with roughly 7,000 customers. This operation prolongs the series of acquisitions involving Fucino Gas, Alento Gas, Julia Servizi, Gran Sasso,Verducci Servizi and Enerpeligna, in addition to the aforementioned Blu Ranton. Thanks to them, in the last three years the Hera Group has become an outstanding operator in Abruzzo and in the adjacent Marche region, where it already provides electricity and gas services to over 240,000 customers, including its progressive integration with Hera Comm Marche. The multi-utility thus continues to pursue its development of a model that brings together the local, physical kind of presence typical of smaller enterprises on the one hand, and on the other the potentialities for innovation in services and offers and the competitiveness that ensue from belonging to a Group that is among the main operators in Italy's energy market. "With this operation, we have reinforced our presence in the Province of Chieti, fully respecting the process of developing our activities in the Abruzzo and Marche regions" explains Cristian Fabbri, CEO of Hera Comm. "Applying our business model, which unites local management of services for citizens and a global vision to guarantee greater opportunities and competitiveness, allows us to have an increasingly widespread and well-structured presence over the localities served. This system makes it possible for us to meet all of our customers' needs, from daily assistance to a growing request for tailor-made services, improving, day after day, their customer experience. Our new customers as well will soon be able to tangibly appreciate this improvement". press_release_sangroservizi.1521563231.pdf 2018-03-09 17:13:00 Read more Hera Group: green light for the merger between Marche Multiservizi and Megas.net
Press releases
07/03/2018
Price sensitive
M&A

Comunicazione dell'ammontare complessivo dei diritti di voto

2018-03-07 (redatta ai sensi dell'art. 85-bis, comma 4-bis, del Regolamento Consob 11971 del 14 maggio 1999) List of shareholders with a stake of over 3% Bologna , 7 march 2018 - Nella seguente tabella sono riportati i dati relativi alle azioni in circolazione e al numero di diritti di voto costituenti il capitale sociale al 28 febbraio 2018. Situazione aggiornata Situazione precedente Numero azioni che compongono il capitale sociale Numero diritti di voto Numero azioni che compongono il capitale sociale Numero diritti di voto Totale di cui: 1.489.538.745 2.273.359.480 1.489.538.745 2.273.401.461 Azioni ordinarie (godimento regolare: 01.01.2017) - cod. ISIN IT0001250932 Cedola in corso: n. 16 705.718.010 705.718.010 705.676.029 705.676.029 Azioni ordinarie con voto maggiorato (godimento regolare: 01.01.2017) - cod. ISIN IT0005159972 Cedola in corso: n. 16 783.820.735 1.567.641.4702 783.862.716 1.567.725.432 20180307_Hera_comunicazione_ammontare_complessivo_diritti_di_voto_eng.1520421570.pdf 2017-06-23 11:08:00 110x150_heraspa.1475082913.jpg List of shareholders with a stake of over 3%
07/03/2018
Price sensitive
M&A

Hera Group: green light for the merger between Marche Multiservizi and Megas.net

2018-03-07 MMS_Megas870_1520433311_1533042726.1533218896.png Today, the two companies' Shareholders Meetings approved, in an extraordinary session, the project for merger by incorporation of Megas.Net into Marche Multiservizi. Hera Group: green light for the merger between Marche Multiservizi and Megas.net The project for an incorporation of Megas.Net and Marche Multiservizi (MMS), the largest multi-utility in the Marche region and part of the Hera Group (which currently holds 49.59% of MMS), has now become reality. Today, indeed, the two companies' Shareholders Meetings approved, in an extraordinary session, the project for a merger by incorporation of Megas.Net into Marche Multiservizi. The merger, which had already been given the go-ahead by the majority of the town councils of the two companies' Municipality shareholders and by trade unions, complies with the regulatory indications provided by legislative decree 175/2016 (so-called "Madia decree"). Above all, however, it represents a strategic operation for the area in question, allowing a range of objectives to be reached, including enhanced service efficiency, expense rationalisation and a more consolidated MMS. The final act of this corporate operation will see the stipulation of a deed of merger, after the amount of time required by law as of the shareholders meetings' resolutions. When the operation is concluded, public shareholders will hold roughly 55% of the share capital of Marche Multiservizi. press_release_merger_marchemultiservizi_megasnet.1520583862.pdf 2018-03-09 17:16:00 Read more Hera Group: green light for the merger between Marche Multiservizi and Megas.net
Press releases
08/02/2018
Price sensitive
M&A

Hera Group acquires 100% of Blu Ranton

2018-02-08 Nuova_Palazzina_1_870x.1533219586.jpg Based in Pescara, the company operates in gas and electricity sales, with roughly 17,000 customers in the Marche and Abruzzo regions, to be added to the 225,000 already served in these areas. Local roots confirmed with new services and offers. Hera S.p.A. Only a few weeks after the approval of the Business Plan to 2021, the Hera Group is continuing to enlarge its energy customer base and its presence in the Marche and Abruzzo regions. Through subsidiary Hera Comm Marche it has brought to conclusion today the acquisition from Ranton S.r.l. of 100% of Blu Ranton S.r.l., a company operating in free market gas and electricity sales. Established in 2003 with legal headquarters in Pescara, Blu Ranton has roughly 15,000 gas customers and 2,000 electricity customers, primarily distributed across the provinces of Macerata, Teramo and Pescara. With this operation, that follows up on the acquisitions of Fucino Gas, Alento Gas, Julia Servizi and Gran Sasso,in addition to Verducci Servizi and Enerpeligna, concluded in 2017, the Hera Group has further consolidated its presence in the two regions, where it already provides electricity and gas services to over 225,000 customers. The multi-utility is thus proceeding with developing a model that integrates on the one hand the regional presence, in a physical sense as well, typical of local businesses, and on the other the innovative potentialities in services and offers and the competitiveness that both come from belonging to a Group that is among the main operators in the Italian energy market. "Our presence in local areas is becoming increasingly extensive", explains Cristian Fabbri, CEO of Hera Comm. "This is due to our solid and at the same time flexible business model, which allows us to perfectly integrate locally managed services for citizens with a global vision that guarantees greater opportunities and offers. This system lets us meet all of our customers' needs, from daily assistance to services increasingly tailored to fit specific requests, improving, day after day, customer experience. We are sure that these new customers as well will show their appreciation for all the possibilities we will soon make available to them". Hera S.p.A. 08022018_press_release_hera_acquires_blu_ranton.1518082699.pdf 2017-06-23 10:06:00 Hera S.p.A. Read more Hera S.p.A.
Press releases
02/02/2018
Price sensitive
Financial Results

List of shareholders with a stake of over 3%, registered in the special eligibility list and benefitting from the double voting right of HERA S.P.A. after 24 months of ownership.

2018-02-02 Nuova_Palazzina_870x.1533218220.jpg List of shareholders with a stake of over 3% Update Before N. of shares in the total share capital N. of voting rights N. of shares in the total share capital N. of voting rights Total amount with a breakdown as follows: 1,489,538,745 2,273,401,461 1,489,538,745 2,273,701,461 Shares (regular: 01.01.2017) - cod. ISIN IT0001250932 coupon: n. 16 705,676,029 705,676,029 705,376,029 705,376,029 Double voting right shares (regular: 01.01.2017) - cod. ISIN IT0001250932 coupon: n. 16 783,862,716 1,567,725,432 784,162,716 1,568,325,432 List of shareholders with a stake of over 3% 2_feb_2018_ENG_comunicato_voto_maggiorato.1517587235.pdf 2017-06-23 12:26:59 110x150_heraspa.1475082913.jpg List of shareholders with a stake of over 3%
30/01/2018
Price sensitive
Financial Results

Hera responds to the UN's call and endorses the CEO Water Mandate

2018-01-30 Stefano_Venier.1534403921.jpg The second Italian company to do so, Hera thus confirms its own orientation towards the objectives set out in the UN's 2030 Agenda, re-launching its commitment to a sustainable water resource management, which in the areas served is worth over 110 million in investments per year. Gruppo Hera "The challenges involved in water resources must be considered on a global scale", states Stefano Venier, Hera Group CEO. "This is why Hera intends to continue giving shape to its efforts according to the framework set out by the United Nations. In this sense", Venier adds, "the CEOWater Mandate represents a valid tool for activation with which companies all over the world can identify, and come together for the future of the planet. After all", concludes the multi-utility's CEO, "Hera has long been active in all of the focus areas indicated by the mandate, demonstrating its ability to anticipate many of the orientations that the international community has rightly chosen." press_release_Hera_CEO_Water_Mandate.1517320783.pdf 2018-01-30 sinistra 13:47:00 Read more Gruppo Hera
Press releases
29/01/2018
Hera Spa
Products/Services
Sustainability

With Scart, waste becomes art also in Bologna

2018-01-29 Tomaso_Tommasi_di_Vignano.1509632134.1534410649.jpg After Ravenna, Imola, Modena, Udine and Pisa, the travelling exhibition of Hera Group comes to the city tomorrow, to coincide with Arte Fiera. Until 18 February, works made out of waste by young artists can be viewed free of charge at Palazzo Pepoli Campogrande. On Saturday at 6 pm, a performance by Angela Nocentini. /documents/1514726/4186020/Cartolina_SCART.1516183080.pdf/de76e2d5-80c7-3572-98e9-bf9c2992830a?t=1596720613147 Leaftlet Scart in Bologna sinistra "We are very proud of the collaborations with the Fine Art Academies of Bologna and Florence - stated Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, Executive President of Hera Group - as they have enabled us to take this exhibition on tour around different regions over the past months, helping us to spread an important message. The artistic regeneration of waste materials - continues Tommasi - actually inspires all the other regenerations on which the circular economy is based and for which the Group works every day through people, resources, processes and plants. By taking part in the Arte Fiera circuit - the President of Hera concludes - we want to give even more emphasis to the themes and ideas of this exhibition, which besides being about waste and art is above all about "second lives", which is what new development models, based on recycling materials and resources, should help us to think about and achieve, in the interests of everyone." Scart 20180129_Con_Scart_anche_a_Bologna_i_rifiuti_diventano_arte.1516971547_ing.1533804894.pdf 2018-01-29 sinistra 15:40:21 Scart Read more
Online dal 29/01/2018 alle ore 15:40
Press releases
23/01/2018
Price sensitive
Financial Results

Hera Group receives 110 million financing from the EIB

2018-01-23 sede_Gruppo_Hera_4505_1516717240_1532967068.1533219811.jpg The loan is destined to support investments in the environment area, with the aim of introducing innovative projects to help further increase the percentage of sorted waste and the efficiency of treatment and recovery plants. Sede Hera http://ha.gruppohera.it Herambiente The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Hera Group have finalised a € 110 million financing contract intended to support the 2017-2021 development program of this Italian multi-utility, listed on the Milan stock exchange. Through this loan, the European bank chose in particular to finance 19 projects involved in the waste cycle that are in line with EU directives and foresee interventions in various regions of Italy. 50% of the cost of these projects, coming in turn to roughly € 227 million, will thus be covered by financing from the EIB. More specifically, the line of credit will be destined to further improvements in the performance of Hera's waste management services, above all by increasing the amount of sorted waste, as indicated in the regional objectives set out by the areas serves, but also by Herambiente, the Hera Group company that is a nationwide leader in waste treatment, recycling and recovery. The Group aims at increasing the efficiency of its own processes to a greater extent, and improving the sustainability standards of its set of plants, whose emissions are, moreover, already far below the limits set by law. With this financing, which falls within EIB policies, new resources will therefore be made available in the transition towards the model of a circular economy, a transition to which Hera has long contributed, as is shown by its entry as part of the CE100, the program promoted by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation that brings together the 100 most active figures in this field worldwide. An additional positive element, furthermore, lies in the satellite activities and the consequences in employment which, over the period in which the Hera Group's multi-year investment plan is put into effect, are believed to help reinforce growth in the economies of the areas concerned. The operation provides the Hera Group with an important contribution to the consolidation of its own financial structure and follows up on the collaboration set into place over time between the EIB and the Group: four other operations (concerning investments in waste management and networks) have in fact been signed by the EIB and Hera in recent years, amounting to over € 700 million. Sede Hera 20180123_financing_EIB.1516712635.pdf 2018-01-16 14:28:00 Sede Hera Read more Sede Hera
22/01/2018
Price sensitive
Financial Results

Calendar of corporate events

2018-01-22 Calendar of events CALENDAR OF CORPORATE EVENTS (*) In accordance with art. 2.6.2 (Required Reporting) of the "Rules of the markets organised and managed by Borsa Italiana S.p.A.", please find below our annual calendar of corporate events: 27 March 2018 - Meeting of the Board of Directors to approve the previous year's preliminary financial statements. 26 April 2018 - Shareholders Meeting to approve the previous year's financial statements. 10 May 2018 - Meeting of the Board of Directors to approve additional financial information for the period ending on 31 March 2018. 30 July 2018 - Meeting of the Board of Directors to approve the half-year financial report at 30 June 2018. 8 November 2018 - Meeting of the Board of Directors to approve additional financial information for the period ending on 30 September 2018. The Board of Directors, as communicated for the previous financial year and in line with the past, in order to guarantee regularity in the information provided to the financial market and investors, has decided to continue preparing and publishing this information quarterly, on a voluntary basis and in line with current regulations. (*) barring changes 20180122_calendar_press_release.1516638074.pdf 2017-01-26 17:26:00 Related contents Calendar of events
Press releases
16/01/2018
Price sensitive
Financial Results

Clean energy for Bio-on's new biopolymers "factory" thanks to a trigeneration plant built by Gruppo Hera

2018-01-16 hera_bioon870_1516176236.1533219940.jpg Clean energy for Bio-on's new biopolymers 'factory' thanks to a trigeneration plant built by Gruppo Hera http://hse.gruppohera.it/ Hera Servizi Energia Bio-on, the leader in eco-sustainable chemical technologies, and Gruppo Hera, one of Italy's main multi-utility providers, have reached an agreement for the supply of clean energy thanks to the realisation and management of a new technological-energy hub that will house a newly designed trigeneration plant. The deal was signed by Bio-on S.p.A. with Hera Servizi Energia, a subsidiary of Gruppo HERA, and will guarantee clean electric energy for the new plant producing innovative biopolymersthat Bio-on is currently constructing in Castel San Pietro Terme, outside Bologna. The plant, due to open by the middle of 2018 and begin PHAs bioplastic production thanks to a 15 million Euro investment, will employ approximately 40 people.The plant will occupy an area of 30,000 m2, 3,700 of which is covered and 6,000 land for development, and will have a production capacity of 1,000 tons per year expandable to 2,000. It will be equipped with state-of-the-art technologies and the most advanced research laboratories, where Bio-on will test and develop new types of PHAs bioplastic using agricultural and agro-industrial waste as raw material. Bio-on also demonstrates its focus on environmental sustainability in its choice of site, opting to convert a former factory, meaning no new land is wasted. Through the agreement, Gruppo Hera will supply Bio-on's new plant with a) Power produced and self-consumed, b) Heating in the form of steam, and c) Cooling. The multiannual agreement includes the realisation and maintenance of the entire technological-energy hub associated with the supply of energy, for a total investment from Hera Servizi Energia of 2.4 million Euro. Hera Servizi Energia is the landmark ESCO in Gruppo Hera's industrial sector, which over the years has developed a portfolio of cogeneration plants built with the best technologies on the market, able to guarantee major energy and economic savings. The project developed for Bio-on envisages the realisation of the entire technological-energy hub comprising a 1 MW trigeneration power plant, two steam boilers, two high-efficiency industrial coolers and a modern water treatment plant. The energy saving generated is over 800 TOE (tonnes of oil equivalent) per year, equivalent to the amount of CO2 a 320-hectare woodland absorbs in one year or the equivalent of 810 diesel cars being taken off the roads. "We are extremely proud of this agreement," explains Bio-on S.p.A. Chairman and CEO Marco Astorri, "because it allows us to increase and complete the industrial sustainability of our new production plant. We chose to not use agricultural land by converting a derelict plant, and with HERA we can add strong GREEN credentials in our energy usage to produce a biopolymer like MINERV PHAs that is sustainable and completely biodegradable in nature." Bio-on, a fast-growing company, fundamentally met the objectives of its business plan presented on 22 November 2016 for 2017 and looks to 2018 with major new projects, including its sustainable energy collaboration with HERA. All the PHAs (polyhydroxyalkanoates) developed by Bio-on are made from renewable plant sources with no competition with food supply chains. They can replace a number of conventional polymers currently made with petrochemical processes using hydrocarbons; they guarantee the same thermo-mechanical properties as conventional plastics with the advantage of being completely eco-sustainable and 100% naturally biodegradable. The agreement between the two companies has come out of a highly dynamic territory that represents the technological cutting edge in Italy. "For a company such as ours, which has innovation and sustainability at its foundations,"explained Giorgio Golinelli, managing director of Hera Servizi Energia, "the collaboration with Bio-on is a natural meeting of the minds and a convergence of views that we believe can be developed with an increasing number of players operating in sustainably developing the economy and the territory. With this agreement, thanks to the breadth and quality of our service offering, we can put an additional green stamp on a project that aims to change the world of eco-plastics. Hera has been at the forefront of this sector for some time, encouraging the transition towards a circular economy model that extends the life of raw materials and resources through recycling, reuse and longer-lasting products." Gruppo Hera It is one of Italy's largest multi-utility providers working in Environment (waste collection and treatment), Energy (electricity and gas distribution and sale) and Water (waterworks, sewers and purification). The Group employs over 9,000 people and works every day to meet the many and varied needs of over 4.4 million citizens. It serves over 350 local municipalities mainly in the Emilia Romagna, Marche, Tuscany, Abruzzo, Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions. Bio-on S.p.A. Bio-On S.p.A., an Italian Intellectual Property Company (IPC), operates in the bioplastic sector conducting applied research and development of modern bio-fermentation technologies in the field of eco-sustainable and completely naturally biodegradable materials. In particular, Bio-On develops industrial applications through the creation of product characterisations, components and plastic items. Since February 2015, Bio-On S.p.A. has also been operating in the development of natural and sustainable chemicals for the future. Bio-On has developed an exclusive process for the production of a family of polymers called PHAs (polyhydroxyalkanoates) from agricultural waste (including molasses and sugar cane and sugar beet syrups). The bioplastic produced in this way is able to replace the main families of conventional plastics in terms of performance, thermo-mechanical properties and versatility. Bio-On PHAs is a bioplastic that can be classified as 100% natural and completely biodegradable: this has been certified by Vincotte and by USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). the Issuer's strategy envisages the marketing of licenses for PHAs production and related ancillary services, the development of R&D (also through new collaborations with universities, research centres and industrial partners), as well as the realisation of industrial plants designed by Bio-On. Hera Group press_release_bio_on.1516091129.pdf 2019-07-02 centrata 08:00:00 Hera Group Read more Clean energy for Bio-on's new biopolymers 'factory' thanks to a trigeneration plant built by Gruppo Hera
10/01/2018
Price sensitive
Financial Results

Hera Group approves Business Plan to 2021

2018-01-10 Based on the forecast for year 2017, EBITDA amount reached roughly 980 million, the Group's path of growth will continue to focus on investments, innovation and agility, in order to seize the emerging opportunities in the utility sector. Internal growth will be favoured by efficiencies and by innovative and sustainable solutions, while the Group's financial soundness will allow external growth to proceed. Operating-financial highlights 2021 EBITDA: € 1,135 million (+218 million over 2016 EBITDA) Overall industrial and financial investments: almost € 2.9 billion (+62% over the investments seen in the past five years) Net debt/EBITDA ratio remains below 3 Profits/share to increase by an annual average of roughly 5% over the duration of the Plan Dividends expected to keep rising, reaching 10.5 cents per share as early as 2020 (+17% over the last dividend paid) Industrial highlights The 5 strategic priorities confirmed: growth, efficiency and excellence, with an increasing focus on innovation and agility Group development based on a balanced mix of internal and external (M&A) growth Reconfirmation of current grants in tenders for gas distribution and urban waste collection, and confirmation of the trends of growth in the waste recycling and treatment sector, in line with the principles of a Circular Economy Strategy reflects the main transitions currently underway in the sector: Circular Economy, Customer Experience, Utility 4.0 Objective of over 3 million energy customers at 2021, with 30,000 new gas and electricity customers acquired as of the current year and a reinforcement of commercial synergies, thanks to the recent acquisition of a further 29.5% of Hera Comm Marche Shared value to reach over € 450 million Preliminary consolidated results for 2017 show roughly 980 million in EBITDA, and a plan geared towards growth This morning, the Hera Group's Board of Directors, which met to discuss the Business plan to 2021, also examined the preliminary consolidated results for 2017, which confirm a year-end EBITDA of roughly € 980 million, up almost 7% over the 917 million seen at 31 December 2016 and exceeding the forecast of the previous business plan. The Group's financial solidity will thus see an improvement in the net debt/EBITDA ratio, at approximately 2.6x. On the firm basis provided by this result and by an increased financial flexibility, the Board of Directors approved the new Plan to 2021, which reflects a strong commitment to further growth in the Group's businesses, within a scenario marked by far-reaching changes. A deeply evolving scenario The scenario promises to be denser than ever in events that will bring about a profound evolution in almost all sectors in which the Group is active. In a framework showing clear and positive signals of economic recovery, Italian operators will be called to participate in the process, already underway thanks to the tenders for gas distribution announced by the Authority, of a significant rationalisation in the number of operators. In the waste collection sector, considering the recent transfer of power to the national Authority for energy, gas and the water service (renamed ARERA), service concession tenders which have already expired or will do so during the next five years are expected to be initiated. Other regulatory changes are also expected for segments involving protected energy service customers, intended to promote a further increase in added value for the services offered and greater competition on the marketplace. To this one must add the ongoing processes of consolidation in the energy sales and waste treatment sectors, which are currently among the most fragmentary in Europe and are, in the environmental services sector, at the root of the country's shortcomings in efficiency and infrastructures. The investment plan and the solidity of the Group's assets Faced with the numerous and diversified opportunities offered by the new scenario, the Plan to 2021 foresees investments amounting to almost € 2.9 billion, up roughly 400 million over the previous strategic plan. On the one hand, they will serve to fuel growth over the upcoming five years, and on the other to spark a transformation of Group businesses towards the new industrial paradigms of Circular Economy and Utility 4.0. Over 70% of the investments expected by the Plan will in fact be dedicated to networks, partially going towards a reconfirmation of the concessions for gas distribution in the areas served, and partially to significant interventions in infrastructure modernisation and development, such as installing electronic meters, completing the Rimini seawater protection plan and upgrading the Servola and Cà Nordio purifiers. Furthermore, investments in innovative projects, such as extending smart grids to aqueducts or introducing new technologies for optimising purification sludge recovery, will allow an increase in network efficiency and a reduction in and energy and material consumption. This investment plan proves to be sustainable from a financial point of view, thanks to a positive and rising cash generation, sufficient to cover the investments themselves and dividend payments. The Group's financial solidity, as foreseen by the Plan, expressed in a 2021 net debt/EBITDA ratio of 2.9, will potentially leave room for additional investments, used to grasp opportunities not currently included in the Plan, without jeopardising the parameters that the Group has long maintained as a reference point. Strategy confirmed for seizing the opportunities offered by the scenario and creating shared value The actions envisaged by the Group will be founded on its fundamental principles, efficiency, excellence, growth, innovation and agility; this set of strategic priorities has led the Group to set in place, ahead of time, the necessary preconditions to adequately deal with the changing scenario that lies ahead. The strategy outlined in the Plan is concretely articulated according to the paradigms of a Circular Economy and the opportunities offered by Utility 4.0, through a growing digitalisation of processes, data collection and analysis and the widespread use of "intelligent" infrastructures. The Group, which has always been attentive to the issue of sustainability, in 2016 furthermore began financial reporting as to Shared Value, i.e. the portion of profits generated by projects that benefit the company and at the same time contribute to reaching the UN's 2030 Agenda (covering at least 10 of the 17 objectives indicated). In 2016 this portion accounted for roughly 30% of Group EBITDA and it is expected to rise to 40% or € 450 million overall (amounting to a 150 million increase) within 2021. Increasing EBITDA objectives, balanced between the various business areas, between regulated and free market activities, and between internal and external growth In view of the investment plan to be launched covering the upcoming five years, EBITDA is expected to reach € 1,135 million in 2021, with an almost 220 million increase over the 917 million recorded at the end of 2016. This growth will prove once again to be balanced between the Group's various business areas, while maintaining its current conservative risk profile thanks to the breakdown of its activity portfolio and the wider range of opportunities for growth offered by the reference scenario. A contribution to the increase in EBITDA over the duration of the Plan will indeed come from all areas (Networks, Waste and Energy), and will also be balanced between profits coming from regulated and free market activities and between internal and external growth. As regards internal growth, a high degree of attention towards extracting efficiencies has been confirmed, as has the continuation of plans to expand in markets, with an overall contribution at 2021 of € 138 million (up 17% over the 118 million of the previous five-year plan), sustained by progress in innovation in addition to the support coming from development investments. Further impetus towards growth will come from the lever of gas tenders, with an incremental EBITDA expected to reach 29 million through a reconfirmation of concessions in the current reference areas. For tenders involving waste collection the Plan is based on the idea of reconfirming services in the areas now served, while waiting for the future arrangements set out by the national Authority, ARERA. Concerning external development (M&A), the Plan expects a 107 million euro contribution to growth in EBITDA over the five years in question. This contribution is in line with what the Hera Group has achieved in the past, ever since it was established, through both mergers with other multi-utilities and acquisitions of mono-business companies operating in the energy sales and waste treatment sectors. The latter have been included in the Plan only as regards the operation concerning the Aliplast Group, carried out in 2017 (through the subsidiary company Herambiente, Hera now holds 80% of this Group, with the possibility of acquiring the remaining 20% within 2022), while additional opportunities offered by liberalised markets have been left "on top" of the objectives contained in the Plan. Increasing value for shareholders and an improved dividend policy The Plan confirms the Group's care towards creating value for shareholders, with profits per share increasing by an annual average of approximately 5% and an improved dividend policy with respect to both the past and the forecast of the previous Business plan. The dividend will indeed rise to 9.5 cents/share as of the payment pertaining to 2017 (to be made during the current financial year) and settle at 10.0 cents in 2018 and 2019, reaching 10.5 cents for 2020 and 2021 (+17% compared to the last dividend paid). Networks: smart infrastructures and excellence in services at the root of the Utility 4.0 model The majority of the growth over the duration of the Plan is expected to come from the networks area: EBITDA traceable to electricity and gas distribution, the water cycle and remote heating services will go from € 424 million in 2016 to 552 million in 2021, thus contributing to roughly half of the Group's overall EBITDA. A strong impulse will come from the over 2 billion in investments dedicated to the evolution and modernisation of networks, by adopting innovative technologies able to guarantee an excellent customer service (efficiency, safety, information exchange) and improve management competitiveness, with the aim of reconfirming the concessions already gained in the Group's reference areas. Efficiencies remain a strategic priority, and will contribute to growth over the five-year period with 24 million overall, to which one must add 15 million coming from the innovations introduced in networks (from energy efficiency projects applied to the most energy consuming activities, to automation systems in networks). Consolidating the Group's role as a reference point in the waste sector The waste sector EBITDA is expected to grow from the € 231 million seen in 2016 to 282 million in 2021. This growth will be sustained by the current positive trends in demand, and by approximately € 600 million in investments over the duration of the Plan. The latter will be dedicated to fuelling innovation in environmental services and maintaining an appropriate capacity of waste treatment in the reference area, without neglecting trustworthiness and sustainability. One concrete example of the application of the best technologies currently available is the creation in the Bologna area of the first biomethane production plant, which will become functional within 2018 and allow the circle to be "come home": from collecting the organic part of sorted waste and agricultural trimmings to introducing the methane produced into the network, achieving a particularly sustainable cycle and clear benefits for air quality. Particular attention will continue to go to developing sorted waste, expected to grow from 56% in 2016 to 70% in 2021, including improvement from a qualitative point of view as well, in order to gain the most value from the portions collected and increasingly reduce both environmental impact and tariffs for citizens. Efficiencies remain a cornerstone for the expected results, which will also be sustained by the innovations foreseen (the latter will contribute roughly 8 million to overall growth in the waste area). Furthermore, in 2017 the entrance of Aliplast within the Group's scope of operations has allowed Hera, already a leader in the sector, to introduce a new phase and be among the nation's precursors in developing a model of a circular economy. In the future as well, attention will go to solutions able to further increase the circularity of the Group's activities. The avant-garde position it has reached in treatment, reuse, recycling and energy valorisation thus becomes a heritage made available to industrial customers. The latter already see the Hera Group as a point of reference and a trustworthy partner, able to provide them with support in the evolution of their production processes, in line with the principles of a circular economy, by offering them an all-round service in waste management. Energy: over 3 million customers The energy sector will increase its EBITDA from the € 241 million seen in 2016 to 259 million in 2021. The challenging objective set by the Group is to reach over 3 million energy customers by the end of the Plan, making the most of both internally developing its own customer base, in line with its track record, and the opportunities offered by the market. These involve, for example, extinguishing protected categories in electricity, or the upcoming assignment of last resort services, in which the Hera Group has accumulated a solid experience over the years. Beginning with the over 2.3 million customers reached in 2017, the enlarged customer base will be able to rely on 30,000 new energy clients in the current year: 13,000 protected electricity customers in the municipality of Gorizia, recently acquired through the subsidiary EnergiaBaseTrieste, with 17,000 further gas and electricity customers soon added in the Marche and Abruzzo regions, thanks to a binding deal signed in the last few days. The strong point of both operations lies in integrating a local presence, in a physical sense, that is typical of smaller businesses, with the potential for innovation in services and offers, and the competitiveness that come from belonging to a Group that is among the main operators in the Italian energy market. This is the light in which Marche Multiservizi's acquisition of 29.5% of the share capital of Hera Comm Marche must also be seen, as brought to completion last December, in line with the consolidated decision to reinforce both the integration between Group companies and synergies across the areas served. The customer base will be enlarged thanks to the introduction of new offers, increasingly innovative and personalised, that combine energy sales with the supply of services with added value that are closely tied to the commodity itself (for example, tools for increasing energy efficiency in households). Furthermore, the Group will be able to defend its own customer base with increasing attention to customer experience, turning to digitalised processes and adopting efficient data management and analysis systems to guarantee an excellent service and accelerate the "time to market". Lastly, thanks to the knowhow gained in energy efficiency both within the company and when acting for third parties, the Group will be able to interface with public administrations, condominiums or businesses as reference partners for defining and implementing effective solutions for energy saving, an element which is increasingly crucial in local and national energy strategies. Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, Hera Chairman The reference scenario shows deep changes occurring in all sectors in which the Group is active, and requires us to "change gears" in order to seize the opportunities that we have been preparing to handle for some time now. The challenging objectives contained in the Plan rest on the solid results achieved until present, and that we wish to turn into further growth from all points of view, both in terms of size and regarding improvements in quality, risk profile and sustainability. The targets reached, as is also demonstrated by the 2017 forecast, allow us to look towards an incremental profit projection compared to the previous Plan, and towards growing payments to shareholders, with an additional increase in dividends, following up on the one announced last year. Stefano Venier, Hera CEO Already today, the new frontiers of circularity and shared value are a reality for the Group, which it can use as levers for an increasingly avant-garde industrial development, with the goal of meeting our customers' evolving needs and facing the urgent drive towards sustainability set out in the agendas of all countries. Our Plan envisages an intense investment program, amounting to almost 3 billion euros, confirming the Group's financial solidity and leaving further room for additional opportunities. press_release_business_plan_2021.1515582769.pdf 2018-01-08 15:00:36 Il Gruppo Hera approva il Piano industriale al 2021
Press releases
02/01/2018
Price sensitive
M&A

List of shareholders with a stake of over 3%, registered in the special eligibility list and benefitting from the double voting right of HERA S.P.A. after 24 months of ownership.

2018-01-02 sede_HERA.1501171881.jpg (list drew up in accordance with article n. 143-quater, subparagraph 5, of the CONSOB regulation n. 11971/99) List of shareholders with a stake of over 3% Data of circulating shares and number of share capital voting rights, as at 31 December 2017 Update as at 31 December 2017 Before 31 December 2017 N. of shares in the total share capital N. of voting rights N. of shares in the total share capital N. of voting rights Total amount with a breakdown as follows: 1,489,538,745 2,273,701,461 1,489,538,745 2,273,694,459 Shares (regular: 01.01.2017) - cod. ISIN IT0001250932 coupon: n. 16 705,376,029 705,376,029 705,383,031 705,383,031 Double voting right shares (regular: 01.01.2017) - cod. ISIN IT0001250932 coupon: n. 16 784,162,716 1,568,325,432 784,155,714 1,568,311,428 List of shareholders with a stake of over 3% 20180102_Hera_Group_list_shareholders_with_stake_over_3.1514995772.pdf 2017-06-23 16:36:59 110x150_heraspa.1475082913.jpg 110x150_heraspa.1475082913.jpg
Press releases
21/12/2017
Price sensitive
M&A

Italgas and Hera sign a binding agreement for the transferral to Italgas of 100% of Medea S.p.A.

2017-12-21 Stefano_Venier.1534411037.jpg Thanks to this operation, Italgas will further reinforce its presence in Sardinia while Hera continues its process of rationalising Group. Italgas and Hera sign a binding agreement for the transferral to Italgas of 100% of Medea S.p.A. Stefano Venier, CEO of the Hera Group, has stated: "This transaction is part of a broader process of rationalising the Hera Group's investments and concentrating on its reference territories. Our thanks go to the Sassari customers and administration for their fruitful collaboration during these years. In any case, we are pleased to sell Medea to a fully reliable counterpart with strategic interests in the Region". Stefano Venier Italgas and Hera sign a binding agreement for the transferral to Italgas of 100% of Medea S.p.A. press_release_italgas_hera.1513850622.pdf 2017-06-23 sinistra 13:08:00 Hera Group Read more Italgas and Hera sign a binding agreement for the transferral to Italgas of 100% of Medea S.p.A.
14/12/2017
Price sensitive
M&A

Hera Group: control of Aliplast reaches 80%

2017-12-14 Tomaso_Tommasi_di_Vignano.1509632134.1534411389.jpg Today, Herambiente completed the purchase of a further 40% of the Treviso company's shares, and the ensuing change in governance. The remaining 20% of the shares of this national leader in plastic recycling will be acquired within June 2022, as foreseen in the deal signed last January. Hera Group: control of Aliplast reaches 80% http://ha.gruppohera.it Herambiente "Being part of such a large company having deep roots in the communities served, as well as financial solidity and widely diversified specialisations, such as the Hera Group", explains the Chairman of Aliplast, Roberto Alibardi, "allows us, more and more every day, to broaden our horizons. It furthermore provides additional assuredness in continuing to develop our skills through a greater amount of attention given to research and technological innovation. This is the direction towards which we work on a daily basis, just as, at the same time, we are committed to furthering the process of integration and extending our competence in a sector as complex as plastics, following the business objectives defined together and pursuing new and ever more challenging goals". Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano 20171214_press_release_Aliplast.1513261391.pdf 2017-12-14 sinistra 13:20:00 Read more Hera Group: control of Aliplast reaches 80%

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Group Director of Communication And External Relations

Giuseppe Gagliano

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MEDIA AND PRESS CONTACT

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Telephone: +39 051 287111

HERA SPA

Viale Carlo Berti Pichat nr. 2/4 - 40127

 

Bologna

Contacts

Telephone: +39 051 287111

HERA SPA

Viale Carlo Berti Pichat nr. 2/4 - 40127

 

Bologna

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Interactive financial statements and sustainability reports
The consolidated economic results at 31 December 2023 and the 2023 sustainability report were approved by the Board of Directors of the Hera Group on 26 March 2024

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Hera SpA, Viale Carlo Berti Pichat 2/4, 40127 Bologna, Tel.051287111 www.gruppohera.it