Hera Group presents Business Plan to 2026
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Based on positive preliminary results for 2022, the new five-year Plan builds on the solid foundations of the previous one and is enriched with important projects aimed at promoting the circular economy, the energy transition and network resilience, with more than 4.1 billion in investments furthering the creation of value benefitting all stakeholders
Operating and financial highlights
- 2026 Ebitda: approximately 1.5 billion (+246 million compared to 2021)
- Total investments amount to over 4.1 billion (+53% compared to the last 5 years)
- Net debt/Ebitda at 2.8x in 2026
- Dividends further increase to 15 cents per share in 2026 (+25% compared to last dividend paid)
- More than 130 million in NRRP (National Recovery and Resilience Plan) grants obtained to accelerate the Group’s investments in the areas served
Industrial highlights
- Development driven by both internal and external (M&A) growth and balanced between regulated and free market activities
- Target of 4 million energy customers by 2026
- 2026 Shared-value Ebitda: 62% of total Ebitda, or roughly 910 million, in line with 2030 target of 70%
- Key goals for 2030 include a 150% increase in recycled plastics and a 37% reduction in emissions
- Solid point of reference to help local areas move towards the ecological and digital transition and social cohesion
The Hera Group’s Board of Directors approved the Business Plan to 2026, which confirms the Group’s commitment to maintain a significant volume of investments over the next five years. Accelerating the evolution of all business areas in which it operates and the strategic guidelines defined one year ago, the Plan is in line with EU policies and responds to the particularly challenging external context, with the aim of continuing to create value for all stakeholders and confirming itself as a solid reference point for the areas served.
Over 20 years at the side of the areas served, with preliminary Ebitda for 2022 rising to almost 1.3 billion
As confirmation of the achievements made over the twenty years since its establishment, the Hera Group expects to close the 2022 financial year with growth in results exceeding expectations: preliminary Ebitda stands at approximately 1,285 million euro, roughly 60 million euro higher than 2021 Ebitda, while the Net debt/Ebitda ratio is expected to come to approximately 3.3x, improving compared to previous quarters, which is all the more appreciable considering the extraordinary market situation, the increase in the cost of energy commodities and the higher investments sustained in 2022, totalling roughly 780 million.
An effective strategy to respond to the challenging context
In a challenging external context – marked by high uncertainty caused by geopolitical instability, market volatility, rising inflation, higher energy prices and supply chain problems – the Group has turned challenges into opportunities and drawn up a Plan that follows up on the path previously undertaken. Its concrete projects are consistent with the main national and international policies on the energy transition, circular economy and innovation.
Within this framework, cities will play a key role in mitigating climate change: Bologna and Padua are among the 100 selected by the EU Commission to become “smart zero-impact cities” by 2030, and the Hera Group has already launched investments and key projects to support municipalities in achieving carbon neutrality.
Investments amounting to over 4.1 billion euro, supported by NRRP contributions
The Plan to 2026 foresees total investments coming to over 4.1 billion euro, with an average of roughly 825 million euro per year, an increase over the previous Plan. Of these investments, 60% will go to regulated businesses and the remaining 40% to free market businesses.
These figures include concrete initiatives in the areas served, to which more than 130 million euros in NRRP funding have already been allocated. Additional funds have been earmarked for urban waste collection and street sweeping projects, for which a decision is expected in the coming months.
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