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Hera Group approves Business Plan to 2021

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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

10/01/2018
Hera Group approves Business Plan to 2021

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.

Online from 10 January 2018 at 15:00:36

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25/03/2020
Price sensitive
Financial Results

Hera Group approves results at 31/12/2019

2020-03-25 Financial results as at 31/12/2019 The Group, included one year ago in the FTSE MIB, closed the year with improvement in all main results, continuing along its path of uninterrupted growth and creating value for shareholders and local areas. Proposed dividends at 10 cents per share, in line with the content of the Business plan. Financial results at 31/12/2019 /group_eng/investor-relations/results-and-presentations/y2019 /documents/1514726/4210686/Financial+results+as+of+31_12_2019.pdf/ca71a0b9-a147-d1af-4660-7e0a8c6f7b6b?t=1629971549137 /documents/1514726/4210686/GruppoHera_FY19_Analyst_presentation.1585141240.pdf/207393c0-65d8-5cf4-d8ee-aa99c4513c29?t=1597849359551 /documents/1514726/4880888/GruppoHera+Y2019+eng.1585218776.mp3/c5a801fa-0307-c97b-3ac2-3fd6ba0c29b2?t=1610038357991 http://investornews.gruppohera.it/en/?n=181 /documents/1514726/4210686/Dati_finanziari_31_12_19_eng.1585130996.xls/19917ed5-b596-4b3f-0409-8a2de7b77c51?t=1597849358948 https://www.slideshare.net/Gruppo_Hera/analyst-presentation-y2019 /group_eng/investor-relations/results-and-presentations/interactive-data HTML Y2019 results Financial results as at 31/12/2019 Analyst presentation: Y2019 results Audioconference: Y2019 results Newsletter: Y2019 results Financial data as at 31 December 2019 Slideshare Y2019 Interactive data Financial highlights Turnover at 7,443.6 million euro (+12.3%) Ebitda at 1,085.1 million euro (+5.2%) Net profits at 402.0 million euro (+35.5%) Net profits for Shareholders at 385.7 million euro (+36.8%) Adjusted net debtat 2,690.8 million euro, while Net debt/Ebitda improves to2.48x excluding the transaction with Ascopiave Proposed dividends at 10 Euro cents per share Operating highlights Good contribution to growth coming from business areas, especially the gas, water and waste management sectors Positive results thanks to both internal and external growth Sharp rise in energy customers, which reach roughly 3.3 million thanks to the partnership with Ascopiave Sorted waste increases to an average of 64.6% across the areas served Improvement in all sustainability indicators, with shared value Ebitda growing to 422.5 million euro (+13%) Today, the Hera Group’s Board of Directors, chaired by Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, unanimously approved the consolidated economic results at 31 December 2019 and theReport on remuneration policies and compensation paid, along with the Sustainability report. 17 years of uninterrupted growth, with improvement in all main operating-financial and sustainabilityindicators The Hera Group closed the 2019 financial year with improved results and Ebitda higher than the figure included in the forecast published in January, a significant achievement made despite the effects of a further partial reduction in incentives for waste-to-energy plants and lower income from safeguarded customers. The partnership with Ascopiave, completed last December and responsible for the creation of the largest energy operator in North-Eastern Italy, will be consolidated in the results for 2020. The Group’s path of development, 17 years after its birth, balances regulated and free-market activities and combines internal and external growth, reaching significant economies of scale and increasing synergies, thanks to a multi-business approach that over time has proven to be a winning strategy for Hera, now Italy’s leading multi-utility by capitalisation. The improvement seen in operating-financial results was accompanied by an increased creation of shared value, which for some time now has measured the progress made by the company toward sustainability.  Turnover above 7.4 billion, up 12.3% The Hera Group’s 2019 turnover rose to 7,443.6 million euro, with an 817.2 million increase (+12.3% compared to the 6,626.4 seen in 2018), thanks in particular to trading and higher volumes of gas and electricity sold, as well as higher revenues for waste treatment. Ebitda grows to 1,085.1 million (+5.2%) Group Ebitda increased to 1,085.1 million euro (+5.2%), up 54 million compared to the 1,031.1 million seen in 2018. This growth was sustained by the Group’s various business activities, with the energy areas rising by 20.1 million overall, mainly thanks to a good performance in the gas area and positive contributions also coming from the water and waste management areas. Operating results and pre-tax profits increase Operating results also rose, reaching 542.5 million euro, with a 32.4 million increase (+6.4% compared to the 510.1 seen in 2018), despite higher operating amortisation for capital expenditures made in developing infrastructures. Pre-tax profits went from 418.5 million euro in 2018 to 442.5 million (+5.7%), up 24 million euro, and financial management increased by 8.3 million. Net profits pertaining to Shareholders increase to 385.7 million euro (+36.8%) Group net profits grew to 402.0 million euro (+35.5%), showing a 105.4 million increase over the 296.6 seen one year earlier. Without considering the non-recurring effects of the transaction with Ascopiave, net profits pre-minorities would amount to 317.1, up 6.9%. The adjusted tax rate, based on pre-tax results net of special items, came to 28.3%, improving compared to the 29.1% recorded at 31 December 2018, thanks in particular to the Group’s commitment towards sustaining capital expenditures for technological, digital and environmental transformation, along the lines of Utility 4.0. Profits pertaining to Shareholders came to 385.7 million euro (+36.8%), with a sharp increase over the 281.9 million seen in 2018. Capital expenditures rise to 533.8 million euro, with Net debt/Ebitda ratio showing further improvement at 2.48 Including capital grants, overall 2019 capital expenditures came to 533.8 million euro, up 15.4% compared to the 462.6 million seen one year earlier. Capital expenditures mainly went towards interventions on plants, networks and infrastructures, in order to guarantee efficiency, safety, resilience and innovation, in addition to regulatory upgrading that primarily concerned gas distribution, with an intensive meter substitution, and the purification and sewerage areas. Net capital expenditures amounted to 509.2 million. Adjusted net debt, excluding the transaction with Ascopiave, settled at 2,690.8 million euro, rising compared to the previous year (2,585.6 million in 2018), mainly as a result of adopting the new accounting standard IFRS 16. An increase in operating cash flow generation allowed higher capital expenditure and higher dividends, in addition to the M&A transactions seen over the year, to be almost entirely covered. Further improvement was seen in the Net debt/Ebitda ratio, which fell to 2.48x (compared to 2.51 in 2018), not including the financial impact of the Ascopiave transaction; including the latter, this indicator came to 3.02x. The Group’s financial solidity is reflected by the opinions expressed by major rating agencies: Baa2 with a Stable outlook from Moody’s and BBB with a Positive outlook from Standard & Poor’s. Further improvement in the Group’s sustainability, shared value Ebitda rises to 39% These positive operating results were matched by the Group’s ever-increasing attention towards sustainability. The Hera Group was among the first to introduce, in 2016, shared value reporting, covering all business activities that in addition to generating Ebitda for the company respect the drivers of sustainable development defined by the UN’s 2030 Agenda and, more generally speaking, various national and international policies. The Hera Group’s 2019 shared value Ebitda amounted to 422.5 million euro, accounting for 39% of overall Ebitda (+13% compared to the 375.2 million seen one year earlier). This result is perfectly in line with the path set out by the Business plan, in which this indicator is projected to reach 42% by 2023, and testifies to the Group’s strong commitment towards the issues involved in sustainability. Proposed dividends at 10 cents per share The Board of Directors, in light of the positive results achieved, has decided to put a dividend of 10 cents per share to the Shareholders Meeting called for 29 April 2020, in line with the previously published content of the Business plan. In agreement with Borsa Italiana, the ex-dividend date has been set at 6 July 2020, with payment as of 8 July 2020. The dividend will be paid to shares recorded on 7 July 2020. Notice of call for the Shareholders Meeting The Shareholders Meeting has been called for 29 April 2020. Considering the current epidemiological emergency caused by COVID-19 and its developments, which cannot be foreseen at the moment, the Company reserves the right, if and when so allowed or required by any possible future legislation and regulations, and within the limits defined therein, to: postpone the date of the Shareholders Meeting and, consequently, the deadlines for exercising the shareholders’ rights indicated in the notice; indicate the specific forms in which Shareholders may participate in the meeting; in any case, adopt all measures and introduce all initiatives deemed necessary or even only appropriate in order to allow the meeting to be held in safe conditions, in accordance with the aforementioned legislation. In this event, the notice of call, as potentially modified, will be communicated to Shareholders and made available to the public in the forms ordinarily foreseen by the law and the Articles of Association, unless otherwise indicated by future developments in legislation. Approval for the Report on remuneration policies and compensation paid The Board of Directors furthermore approved the Report on remuneration policies and compensation paid, in line with international best practices. Gas area Ebitda for the gas area – which includes services in natural gas distribution and sales, district heating and heat management – grew significantly compared to the previous year, in terms of both margins and volumes sold, rising to 341.6 million euro (+7.9%), 25.1 million higher than the 316.5 million seen in 2018. This result was reached mainly thanks to a larger amount of trading and higher sales margins recorded for both final customers and in default market and last-resort supply (FUI) services. For the latter two services, a lower number of customers was awarded for the period from 1 October 2019 to 30 September 2020 compared to the previous year, but with more advantageous margins. The overall number of gas customers increased by almost 600 thousand (+40.8%), reaching a total of 2 million users, mainly due to the transaction with Ascopiave, which brought marketing companies acquired through EstEnergy and Amgas Blu into the Group’s consolidated scope. Net operating capex coming to 138.3 million euro were made in 2019, with a sharp increase over the 115.4 million seen in 2018. This involved both distribution, to guarantee and improve the high quality standards of networks and plants, both with an intensive meter substitution and further work in cathodic protection in the areas served by AcegasApsAmga, and sales, concerning activities involved in acquiring new customers. The contribution of the gas area to Group Ebitda rose to 31.5%. Water cycle area In 2019, the integrated water cycle area – which includes aqueduct, purification and sewerage services – recorded Ebitda amounting to 265.3 million euro, with a 15.6 million euro (+6.2%) increase over the 249.7 seen one year earlier. This growth was mainly due to higher revenues from new connections and distribution, which reflected the tariffs introduced by the Authority for 2016-2019, and the premiums awarded for contract quality. Net operating capex amounted to 151.5 million euro (showing strong growth over the 127.6 recorded in 2018). Including capital grants, capex totalled 175.8 million and were mainly dedicated to extensions, network and plant upgrading and reclamations, including interconnections in the water system, for example in the Modena area, and interventions aimed at creating district-based networks. Work continued on the Rimini seawater protection plan, one of the most important interventions, at the forefront nationwide as regards sewerage and purification, in addition to upgrading the sewerage network in many areas, including those served by the company AcegasApsAmga. The water cycle area accounted for 24.5% of Group Ebitda. Waste management area Ebitda for the waste management area – which includes waste collection, treatment and disposal services – also grew, coming to 264.2 million euro (+4.8%), up 12.2 million over the 252.0 million seen in 2018. The Group further consolidated its position as a national leader in the waste management sector, thanks to outstanding performances in the area of sorted waste, which went from 62.5% in 2018 to 64.6% at the end of 2019, and to roughly ninety advanced plants handling all types of waste (and supporting a circular economy), which represent a fundamental strategic lever, above all considering the country’s lack of plants. This increase in Ebitda was mainly sustained by higher prices for special and industrial waste treatment, the contribution coming from Aliplast and new facilities, such as the waste treatment plant completed in Cordenons (PN) and the innovative biomethane production plant in Sant’Agata Bolognese (BO), both now fully operational. The results also benefitted from the acquisitions of Cosea Ambiente, including the Gaggio Montano (BO) landfill, and Pistoia Ambiente, further reinforcing the basic capacity on which the Group’s set of waste recycling, reuse and regeneration plants can rely. As regards efficiency enhancement, note furthermore the merger of Waste Recycling into Herambiente Servizi Industriali, which is now Italy’s largest industrial waste management company, and Aliplast, which continues to show growth thanks to market development and merger synergies. These positive results were able to more than offset the lower incentives seen for electricity production. Operating capex amounting to 81.5 million euro, up over the previous year, went mainly to plant maintenance and upgrading. The waste management area accounted for 24.3% of Group Ebitda. Electricity area The electricity area – which includes services in electricity production, distribution and sales – recorded an Ebitda coming to 178.5 million, essentially in line with the 183.5 million seen the previous year. This result was mainly due to lower margins in the safeguarded market, which were offset by higher margins in electricity production in the distribution service market, for reasons including the plants in Campania, operational once again, higher volumes sold and lower costs for acquiring energy customers. Electricity customers rose to 1.3 million (+17.2%), up 184.2 thousand, thanks to the entry of EstEnergy and Amgas Blu within the Group’s consolidated scope, in addition to growth on the free market – which contributed with roughly 82 thousand new customers and 60 thousand new contracts for added value services – thanks to reinforced marketing initiatives, in particular in regions of Central Italy. This growth more than offset the fall in safeguarded customers. Operating capex amounting to 43.4 million euro, almost twice as much as the previous year, went mainly to non-recurring maintenance of plants and networks in the Modena, Imola, Trieste and Gorizia areas. An increase was also seen in requests for new connections. The electricity area accounted for 16.4% of Group Ebitda. Statement by Executive Chairman Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano These results demonstrate the merits of Hera’s multi-utility formula which, in a year made difficult by factors including a significant negative impact in the safeguarded customer segment, was able to deploy a wide range of development projects that guaranteed, quarter after quarter, positive growth in all activities. Our expectations were thus outperformed and, at the same time, our track record with 17 years of uninterrupted growth was confirmed, further improving our financial solidity in a year in which unprecedented efforts were seen in capital expenditures. In 2019, furthermore, two fundamental targets included in the business plan to 2022 were reached in advance: the finalised transaction with Ascopiave led the Hera Group to amply meet its objective of 3 million energy customers and, with our enlarged set of waste treatment plants, we were fully able to grasp the positive market trends seen as of 2019. Statement by CEO Stefano Venier The growth achieved with these results confirms the creation of value, as can be deduced by the rates of return on capital, maintained well above its average cost. The progress made by this value shows that it is increasingly shared, respecting 11 out of the 17 fundamental goals defined by the UN. The Group’s risk profile, now more important than ever, continues to be extremely conservative, and has allowed the Group to continue expanding through a transaction, involving Ascopiave, that brought us among the highest-ranking companies in Italy for energy sales, only behind the two ex-incumbent energy groups. These are solid grounds, therefore, on which to rely in difficult moment, such as the one currently witnessed due to COVID-19, with respect to which we were able to activate, in a short period of time, all measures necessary to guarantee that our activities are not interrupted and health protection is provided for our employees and for all our stakeholders, along with proactive assistance for all our customers, whether households or companies. 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 8 April 2020. Unaudited extracts from the Financial Statements at 31 December 2019 are attached. Profit & Loss (m€) 31/12/19 Inc.% 31/12/18 Inc.% Ch. Ch. % Sales 6,912.8 6,134.4 +778.4 +12.7% Other operating revenues 530.8 7.7% 492.0 8.0% +38.8 +7.9% Raw material (3,458.2) (50.0%) (2,984.1) (48.6%) +474.1 +15.9% Services costs (2,318.2) (33.5%) (2,040.5) (33.3%) +277.7 +13.6% Other operating expenses (59.3) (0.9%) (62.5) (1.0%) (3.2) (5.1%) Personnel costs (560.4) (8.1%) (551.4) (9.0%) +9.0 +1.6% Capitalisations 37.6 0.5% 43.3 0.7% (5.7) (13.2%) Ebitda 1,085.1 15.7% 1,031.1 16.8% +54.0 +5.2% Depreciation and provisions (542.6) (7.8%) (521.0) (8.5%) +21.6 +4.1% Ebit 542.5 7.8% 510.1 8.3% +32.4 +6.4% Financial inc./(exp.) (100.0) (1.4%) (91.7) (1.5%) +8.3 +9.1% Pre tax profit 442.5 6.4% 418.5 6.8% +24.0 +5.7% Tax (125.4) (1.8%) (121.9) (2.0%) +3.5 +2.9% Net profit 317.1 4.6% 296.6 4.8% +20.5 +6.9% Special items 84.9 1.2% 0.0 0.0% +84.9 +100.0% Net profit 402.0 5.8% 296.6 4.8% +105.4 +35.5% Attributable to: Shareholders of the Parent Company 385.7 5.6% 281.9 4.6% +103.8 +36.8% Minority shareholders 16.3 0.2% 14.7 0.2% +1.6 +10.9% Balance Sheet (m€) 31/12/19 Inc.% 31/12/18 Inc.% Ch. Ch. % Net fixed assets 6,846.3 108.9% 5,905.1 108.7% +941.2 +15.9% Working capital 87.0 1.4% 115.4 2.1% (28.4) (24.6%) (Provisions) (649.1) (10.3%) (588.2) (10.8%) (60.9) +10.4% Net invested capital 6,284.2 100.0% 5,432.3 100.0% +851.9 +15.7% Net equity 3,010.0 47.9% 2,846.7 52.4% +163.3 +5.7% Long term net financial debt 3,383.4 53.8% 2,558.8 47.1% +824.6 +32.2% Short term net financial debt (109.2) (1.7%) 26.8 0.5% (136.0) (507.5%) Net financial debts 3,274.2 52.1% 2,585.6 47.6% +688.6 +26.6% Net invested capital 6,284.2 100.0% 5,432.3 100.0% +851.9 +15.7% Financial results as at 31/12/2019 Press release results at 31/12/2019 2020-03-23 13:19:00 Financial results at 31/03/2020
17/03/2020
Shareholders’ meeting
Price sensitive

Publication of documents pertaining to the Shareholders Meeting to be held on 29 April 2020

2020-03-17 Kindly note that the following documentation, pertaining to the Shareholders Meeting convened for 29 April 2020, is available to the public at the Company headquarters, on the authorised storage website 1INFO (www.1Info.it) and on Hera Group's website (www.gruppohera.it/gruppo/corporate_governance/assemblee/): Hera S.p.A. Board of Directors' Explanatory Report regarding item 1 on the Agenda - Extraordinary session Hera S.p.A. Board of Directors' Explanatory Report regarding item 2 on the Agenda - Extraordinary session Hera S.p.A. Board of Directors' Explanatory Report regarding item 3 on the Agenda - Ordinary session Hera S.p.A. Board of Directors' Explanatory Report regarding item 4, 5, 6, and 7 on the Agenda - Ordinary session 20200317_Publication_of_documents_pertaining_to_the_Shareholders_Meeting_of_29_April_2020.1584430422.pdf 2019-03-28 08:30:00 110x150_heraspa.1475082913.jpg
31/01/2020
Shareholders’ meeting
Price sensitive

Hera acquires 2.5% of Ascopiave's share capital from Amber

2020-01-31 Hera acquires 2.5% of Ascopiave's share capital from Amber Hera acquires 2.5% of Ascopiave's share capital from Amber. The shareholding purchase operation, which arose from a market opportunity, was shared with Asco Holding. It further reinforces the partnership launched with the transaction finalised last December and will be followed by a similar transaction by Ascopiave. 20200131_comunicato_azioni_Ascopiave_ENG.1580457419.pdf 2020-01-31 08:51:00 Hera acquires 2.5% of Ascopiave's share capital from Amber
30/01/2020
Shareholders’ meeting
Price sensitive

The Hera Group is once again a Top Employer

2020-01-30 Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano - Hera's Executive Chairman The Group has been certified for the eleventh consecutive year, rewarding a strategic management that focuses on people and gets them involved in pursuing shared goals. Investments in welfare, training, diversity and innovation continue. The Hera Group is once again a Top Employer "Receiving this certification for the eleventh consecutive year proves that the path we have taken is valid", states Hera's Executive Chairman, Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano. "This does not lead us to believe, however, that it is sufficient. Indeed, we wish to continue dedicating significant resources to our employees, in terms of development, wellbeing and training. We will thus offer them the best working conditions possible, which also means guaranteeing an inclusive and participative workplace. Hera is a constantly growing company, and its results are due to the commitment shown by its employees, who with their daily activities create value in the areas we serve. The path before us leads to the best services for citizens and local communities, and without people, without putting them at the centre of value-creating processes, without giving them a sense of being protagonists in the business and the challenges of our times, no strategy could be converted into reality". Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano - Hera's Executive Chairman 20200130_comunicato_Top_Employers_2020_eng.1580395393.pdf 2020-01-30 sinistra 15:02:00 The Hera Group is once again a Top Employer

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Giuseppe Gagliano

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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