Press releases

2023-05-15 Kindly note that as of today the minutes of the Shareholders Meeting held on 27 April 2023 are available at company headquarters, on the Hera Group’s website (https://eng.gruppohera.it/group/) in the section dedicated to Corporate Governance, and on the authorised storage website 1INFO. We also inform that the aforementioned minutes was registered with the Companies' Register of Bologna on 10 May 2023. 20230515 Minutes of AMG 2023 have been published.pdf 10:59:00 Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg See the press release Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg

2023-05-10 The Board of Directors of Hera S.p.A. met today and assessed the independence of all members, appointed by the Shareholders Meeting held on 27 April 2023. Based on the declarations made by the Directors and the information made available to the company, all directors, with the exception of the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer, who are executive directors, and of director Gianni Bessi, were found to meet the independence requirements set forth in the Corporate Governance Code and Article 148, paragraph 3 of Legislative Decree 58/1998. Also note that the Board of Statutory Auditors, in compliance with the provisions of the Corporate Governance Code, verified the independence requirements for all its members and reported the results of this verification to the Board of Directors. Furthermore, the members of the Internal Committees were appointed: for the “Executive committee”: Cristian Fabbri, acting as Chairman, Gabriele Giacobazzi, acting as Vice Chairman, Orazio Iacono and Marina Monassi were appointed; for the “Remuneration committee”: Gabriele Giacobazzi, acting as Chairman, Monica Mondardini, Fabio Bacchilega and Alice Vatta were appointed; for the “Control and risks committee” (corresponding to the Operations with Related Parties Committee): Gabriele Giacobazzi, acting as Chairman, Alessandro Melcarne, Lorenzo Minganti and Paola Gina Maria Schwizer were appointed; for the “Ethics and sustainability committee”: Alice Vatta, acting as Chairman, Nicoletta Tranquillo, Filippo Maria Bocchi and Francesco Perrini were appointed. 20230510 Pr Independence for directors and statutory auditors and internal committees of Hera Group.pdf 15:02:00 Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg See the press release Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg

2023-05-10 The consolidated quarterly report at 31 March shows growth in the main operating-financial indicators, once again proving the financial solidity and strength of the Group’s multi-business model. Hera continues to combine corporate growth with sustainable development, confirming its commitment to creating value for all stakeholders and the local communities. Financial highlights Revenues at 5,628.9 million euro (+6.0%) Ebitda* at 410.2 million euro (+9.4%) Net profit attributable to shareholders* at 128.2 million euro (+0.7%) Net debt at 3,777.6 million euro, down 11% compared to 31 December 2022, with net debt/Ebitda* at 2.84x Business highlights Good contribution to growth coming from all main businesses, the energy and environment sectors in particular Further development of initiatives for the ecological transition and the circular economy through state-of-the-art plants and increasingly green services Ongoing growth in the energy customer base, reaching almost 3.6 million Today, the Board of Directors of the Hera Group, chaired by Cristian Fabbri, unanimously approved the consolidated results for the first quarter of 2023. For the Hera Group, the first quarter closed with improved operating results and investments compared to one year earlier, even though the scenario still shows a considerable amount of uncertainty, with effects on the commodity prices and a slowdown in production and international trade. Both internal and external growth drivers in Hera’s multi-business portfolio enabled it to achieve an excellent operating and financial performance while pursuing the creation of value for all stakeholders. The consolidated quarterly report at 31 March thus highlights growth in the main indicators, once again demonstrating the Group’s financial solidity and the strength of its business model. The 20.5% increase in capital expenditures compared to one year earlier provides further proof of the Group’s ongoing focus on growth, increasing value and reinforcing the resilience of assets under management. Cristian Fabbri, Hera Group Executive Chairman: “The first quarter of 2023 closed with increased operating results, supported by the positive performance of the free-market energy and waste management businesses. We have thus confirmed our ability to gain new market shares, to provide services that are favoured by customers, and effectively leverage upon our competitive advantages in all our activities. The significant positive cash flow over the first quarter allowed us to reduce our debt and significantly improve the net debt/Ebitda ratio, which now stands at 2.84x.” Orazio Iacono, Hera Group CEO: “The positive operating cash flow of Q1 was able to fully cover a significant increase both in capital expenditures and investments which mainly concerned strengthening the infrastructures and plants managed, to the benefit of the quality of services provided to the customers as well as the resilience of our infrastructures and plants. We also strengthened and optimised our debt structure, thanks to the recent issue of a sustainability-linked bond worth 600 million euro and the simultaneous subscription of a 450 million euro sustainable revolving credit line. These are two additional milestones in sustainable finance and will lead us to allocate more than 1 billion euro in financing to green transition projects, to achieve the goals on the 2030 Agenda with concrete initiatives and respond to the challenges of a sustainable transition rooted in the social and industrial fabric. This operation, particularly appreciated by the market, guarantees additional financial flexibility.” Revenues amounting to over 5.6 billion In the first quarter of 2023, revenues amounted to 5,628.9 million euro, up 6% from the 5,312.0 million euro seen in the same period of 2022. The energy segments above all contributed to this result – mainly due to the higher volumes of electricity sold as a result of reinforced commercial initiatives and the safeguarded lots awarded last autumn – and the waste management area, partially due to acquisitions in the remediation and industrial waste treatment market. Furthermore, higher turnover was recorded in energy services, as was a rise in value-added services for customers. These increases were partially offset by lower gas sales due to the particularly mild weather. Ebitda* rises to 410.2 million Ebitda at 31 March 2023 rose to 410.2 million euro, +9.4% compared to 375.1 million euro in the first three months of 2022. This positive growth was mainly due to the overall contribution coming from the energy areas and the good performance of the waste management area. Increased net operating result* and stable pre-tax result* Ebit* at 31 March 2023 increased to 236.1 million euro, up 6.7% from 221.2 million euro in the first quarter of 2022. This performance was positive even after higher depreciation and amortisation due to the significant increase in investments and provisions for bad debts resulting from the increase in turnover, including last resort markets. The pre-tax result* amounted to 191.7 million euro, consistent with the figure seen at 31 March 2022, considering the increased weight of financial operations, mainly due to the medium- and long-term credit lines stipulated in 2022. The financial structure has now been additionally reinforced, to insure the Group against potential liquidity risks arising from market tensions and to guarantee the Group’s operations and significant activities in investments. Net profit* rises to 140.3 million euro Thanks to a tax rate coming to 26.8%, down from the previous year, net profit* rose to 140.3 million euro (+1.2%), as against 138.6 million euro in the first quarter of 2022. Net profit attributable to Group shareholders* settled at 128.2 million euro, up +0.7% from 127.3 million euro at 31 March 2022. Sharp increase in operating investments and Group solidity reinforced The Group’s capital expenditures, including capital grants, amounted to 155.7 million euro, up sharply (+20.5%) compared to 129.2 million euro at 31 March 2022, and mainly involved work on plants, networks and infrastructures. Regulatory upgrading, instead, mainly concerned gas distribution, with a large-scale meter replacement, and the purification and sewerage area. Net debt totalled 3,777.6 million euro, down 472.2 million euro from the amount seen at 31 December 2022. As proof of the Group’s financial solidity, the net debt/Ebitda* ratio dropped to 2.84x, in line with Hera’s long-standing prudential policy. Gas Ebitda* for the gas area, which includes natural gas distribution and sales, district heating and energy services, stood at 193.8 million euro, as against 202.5 million euro at 31 March 2022. This decrease was due to lower sales, mainly owing to milder weather compared to the same period one year earlier, partially offset by the contribution of energy services and higher volumes sold by the subsidiary Hera Comm on default, last resort and public administration (Consip) services. In the first quarter of 2023, investments in the gas area amounted to 49.3 million euro, up 20 million euro compared to the previous year. In particular, gas distribution saw higher investments for plants and networks in the new municipalities awarded with the ATEM Udine2 tender, while in gas sales the higher investments were aimed at acquiring new customers. The number of gas customers reached almost 2.1 million, a slight increase (0.2%) compared to the previous year. The gas area accounted for 47.2% of Group Ebitda. Electricity Ebitda for the electricity area, which includes electricity generation, distribution and sales, rose to 64.5 million euro, compared to 30.4 million euro for the same period in 2022. The first quarter of 2023 showed significant growth in terms of both margins and volumes sold to end customers, thanks to commercial development, mainly in the free market, innovative offers (relating to electric mobility, photovoltaics, heating and air conditioning) and value-added services. Contributions also came from higher volumes sold to public administrations (Consip) and the initial effects of the lots awarded last autumn in the safeguarded service for 2023 and 2024, one more lot than in the previous two years. In the first quarter of 2023, investments made in the electricity area amounted to 21.7 million euro, up 6.2 million euro over the previous year. In electricity distribution, investments mainly regarded extraordinary maintenance and upgrading on plants and distribution networks in the Modena, Imola, Trieste and Gorizia areas, as well as the ongoing large-scale meter replacement and work on improving network resilience. In the energy sales segment, investments in activities related to acquiring new customers increased. The number of electricity customers increased by 7.4% compared to the same period in 2022, reaching approximately 1.5 million. This growth occurred mainly on the free market, as a result of reinforced commercial activities. The electricity area accounted for 15.7% of Group Ebitda. Water cycle At 31 March 2023, Ebitda for the integrated water cycle area, which includes aqueduct, purification and sewerage services, amounted to 55.6 million euro, essentially in line (+0.2%) with the 55.5 million euro seen in the same period in 2022. In the first quarter of 2023, investments made in the water cycle area, including capital grants, rose to more than 47 million euro (29.8 million euro in the aqueduct, 12.4 million euro in sewerage and 5 million euro in purification), mainly involving extensions, reclamation and enhancements on networks and plants, as well as regulatory upgrading mainly in the purification and sewerage areas. The integrated water cycle area accounted for 13.5% of Group Ebitda. Waste Ebitda for the waste management area, which includes waste collection, treatment and recovery services, rose to 87.6 million euro (+11%), as against 78.9 million euro at 31 March 2022, due to increased margins from energy management, partially thanks to production in plants that returned to full operations during the first quarter, and recent acquisitions in the industrial waste treatment sector. These positive effects more than offset the higher purchase prices of consumables and an increase in treatment and transport costs. Thanks to its excellent set of roughly one hundred state-of-the-art plants, capable of treating any type of waste, which continues to represent a strategic and distinctive asset on the market, the Group was able to seize further opportunities for growth, confirming its ability to react with great resilience to the market context. It thus expanded its market shares in industrial waste treatment (+27%, volumes treated), also benefiting from an enlarged scope of operations thanks to M&A transactions. In particular, note the recent partnership with the Modena-based company A.C.R. di Reggiani Albertino S.p.A.®, which enabled Hera to consolidate its leadership in the waste management area and has led to the birth of Italy’s largest operator in the environmental remediation and industrial waste global service sector, with widespread coverage throughout the country. Moreover, in the first three months of 2023, all main initiatives in the circular economy continued, from material recovery to renewable energy production. Also note the beginning of operations at the new biomethane production plant in Spilamberto (Modena), in a partnership with the Cremonini Group company Inalca. Following the NRRP grants awarded to construct platforms for material recovery, including in niche segments such as rigid plastics recycling and carbon fibre recovery, the Group was awarded further funding for upgrading and digitalising collection centres and “smart” facilities in the areas served, which will make it possible to optimise waste management services by making them increasingly innovative and efficient. Sorted municipal waste reached 70.7%, up 4.5 percentage points compared to the previous year, thanks to the development of projects in the areas served by the Group. In the first quarter of 2023, investments in the waste management area amounted to roughly 20 million euro, mainly involving maintenance and upgrading on waste treatment plants. The waste management area accounted for 21.4% of Group Ebitda. Special items and operational adjustments / balance sheet reconciliation IFRS financial statements Income statement Statement of financial position 20230510 Hera Group 1Q2023 results.pdf 12:27:00 cover_BS_2022_110x150.jpg See the press release cover_BS_2022_110x150.jpg

2023-05-04 The multi-utility’s 2022 Sustainability Report confirms its commitment to a just transition. Pursuing carbon neutrality, regenerating resources, enabling resilience and innovating remain the main levers for shared value. Reporting with clarity and transparency on the results achieved, sharing the challenging objectives on which corporate choices are based with stakeholders and, above all, striving to make people, needs and the enhancement of territories our focus: these criteria once again form the basis underpinning the Hera Group’s 2022 Sustainability Report. As in 2021, the document also includes a report on all activities in accordance with the EU taxonomy of environmentally sustainable activities, with particular reference to climate change mitigation and adaptation objectives. In total compliance with Brussels and the primary international policies, the multi-utility thus continues its path towards change, combining climate action and social inclusion, in the belief that no step forward can be sustainable unless it is fully endorsed by everyone. Creating value together with communities: over € 2.3 billion distributed in the serviced territories The Hera Group's sustainable growth is the result of a business model that continues to enhance people and support the communities it services towards a more just future in environmental, economic and social terms. Compared to 2021, total economic value for stakeholders rose to more than € 3 billion: this includes employees (601.1 million), shareholders (236.3 million), the public administration (151.8 million) and suppliers (approximately 1.4 billion). Over € 2.3 billion of this amount, or 76%, is distributed in the territories serviced, where the multi-utility guarantees service continuity and efficiency, with significant investments to innovate its infrastructure assets, which will be decisive in meeting climate challenges in coming years. Shared-value EBITDA also increased: € 670.6 million (+17%) Among the most significant achievements, the shared-value Gross Operating Margin (EBITDA) - i.e., referring to business activities generating environmental and social benefits in the three areas of carbon neutrality, the circular economy, resilience and innovation - rose to € 670.6 million (+17% compared to 2021) or 52% of total EBITDA, with an improvement across all target parameters. In other words, it means making what has been done even more sustainable and continuing to grow, evolving the business in the right direction. Despite the difficulties created by a complex international context and an unprecedented energy scenario, the growth in EBITDA in terms of shared value is thus confirmed in line with the trajectory outlined in the Business Plan, projecting it to 62% in 2026, to reach a target of 70% in 2030. Significant results for the Hera Group, which for the third year running, was also awarded the S&P Global Gold Class, the highest award for listed companies in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, where the multi-utility had been confirmed last year as sector leader in the ESG (environmental, social and governance) dimensions. Pursuing carbon neutrality Transition and promoting energy efficiency continue to be at the heart of the Hera Group's strategies. This is the direction that is being pursued at a rapid pace for the commitment to increase sustainable sources of energy. One example is the production of biomethane from the organic fraction of waste, at the Sant'Agata Bolognese and Spilamberto plants (in partnership with the Cremonini Group's Inalca company): the Hera Group intends to almost quadruple this by 2030, to reach 30 million cubic metres per year. Furthermore, the multi-utility achieved 100 per cent renewable electricity to power internal consumption a year ahead of schedule. Other important initiatives include the development of hydrogen as an energy carrier and the production of energy from photovoltaics. The Group's objective is to have more than 90 MW of installed photovoltaic power by 2026, which, when added to the systems installed at customers' premises and the energy communities that Hera is helping to develop, will provide 150 MW. With regard to total greenhouse gas emissions, the multi-utility has already reduced these by 11.7%, compared to 2019, with a target of -37% by 2030; a target validated by the prestigious international network “Science Based Targets Initiative”. In addition, the ISO 50001 certification on energy management for 11 Group companies, where 96% of the multi-utility's energy consumption takes place, is also proof of the strong focus on energy efficiency in all activities carried out and in servicing apartment buildings, companies and the public administration. Regenerating resources and closing the circle The environment is another fundamental driver guiding the Hera Group's objectives and actions. The multi-utility has always worked to regenerate natural resources, promote their more sustainable use and close the circle on the circular economy. Local collections, collections from homes, and ecological stations are the cornerstones of its urban waste management system, which focuses increasingly on the recovery of materials: 57% waste recycling had already been achieved by 2022 in the territories serviced, exceeding the EU target for 2025. Aliplast recycled more than 79,000 tons of plastic, 33% more than in 2017, the year when the multi-utility signed its commitment to reduce plastic waste pollution, in the scope of the Ellen Mac Arthur Foundation initiative. The aim is to further increase these volumes to around 150,000 tons by 2030. The integrated and sustainable management of water resources follows the same approach. As Italy's second largest operator in the integrated water cycle, from abstraction to drinking water and distribution, from sewage systems to purification, the Hera Group bases its care of water on circular management. In addition to guaranteeing quality and consistently controlled tap water using a system based on excellence, it also promotes reuse. Examples of this are the important protocols signed with the Emilia-Romagna Region and the decontamination consortia, and the experimental project at the Cesena plant for re-using purified water for agriculture. A focus and the protection of water start by setting a good example: in 2022, the multi-utility recorded a 20.5% reduction in its internal consumption (about 315.1 million cubic metres saved since 2017), with a target of -25% by 2030. Enabling resilience and innovating Ensuring service continuity and the availability of resources means first and foremost, having intelligent installations and sensitive networks. The Hera Group is well aware of this, having made digitalisation and business innovation its strategic assets: last year alone, the multi-utility invested € 102.8 million in innovation. In the critical context of water availability, the water service has shown its resilience by ensuring service continuity (without rationing drinking water) in all territories, with interventions aimed at mitigating the risk of drought and also interventions on infrastructure, with the construction of new wells and reservoirs, aqueduct interconnections, and the upgrading of withdrawal points, including the upgrading of the Po river pumps in Ferrara: investments of € 30 million are planned for this type of intervention by 2026 in the Triveneto and Emilia-Romagna regions. Community resilience also means working to promote social inclusion and the creation of shared value in the communities serviced: purchases from local suppliers in the past year amounted to € 881 million (65% of the total). More specifically, value relating to social cooperatives amounted to over € 82 million (+14% compared to 2021) and enabled the employment of 899 disadvantaged persons, with a consequent benefit for the public administration that can be estimated at over € 3.8 million. Central to this is the support provided to households: in 2022, around 272,000 bills (+36% compared to 2021), worth € 354 million, were paid in instalments. The significant increase, both in terms of numbers and value, confirms the Group's commitment to allowing payments by instalments, which has been and continues to be at significant levels in recent years. In addition, there are 135 Municipalities that have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to avoid the suspension of supplies to households experiencing economic difficulties monitored by Social Services (26 more protocols signed in 2022 in Modena, Ferrara and Bologna). 20230504_Hera Group_Over € 2.3 billion for the territories in 2022.pdf cover_BS_2022_110x150.jpg See the press release cover_BS_2022_110x150.jpg