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Hera Group presents Business Plan to 2027

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24/01/2024
Hera Group presents Business Plan to 2027

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

Business Plan to 2027, operating and financial highlights

  • 2027 Ebitda: 1.650 billion euro (+27% compared to 2022)
  • Five-year investments at 4.4 billion euro
  • Increased return on net invested capital, from 7.9% to 9.5% in 2027
  • Net debt/Ebitda below 3x over the period covered by the Plan: 2.7x in 2027
  • 7% average annual increase in Earnings per Share
  • Dividends to rise by 28% (up to 16 €cents per share in 2027)
  • Average annual Total Shareholder Return (TSR) at 12%.


Business highlights: sustainable growth

  • 2.5 billion euro in investments aligned with the European Taxonomy for Sustainable Investments (98% of eligible investments)
  • Shared-value investments coming to over 70% during the entire five-year plan
  • Increase in shared-value Ebitda, up to over 55% in 2027, reaching 64% of total Ebitda
  • Commitment to reduce total CO2 emissions by 29% within 2027 and by 37% within 2030 confirmed
  • 30% of the investment plan goes towards digitisation and infrastructure innovation
  • 40% of the investment plan contributes to increasing the climate-change resilience of the Group’s infrastructures
  • 10 billion euro distributed over the five-year period 2023-2027 to stakeholders in the areas served by the Group


Highlights from 2023 preliminary results

  • Ebitda expected to rise over 1,480 million euro (+14%)
  • Net debt/Ebitda ratio expected to settle below 2.6x (from 3.3x in 2022)
  • Dividend expected at 14 euro cents (+12% over 2022), higher than forecast by the Plan


The Hera Group’s Board of Directors, chaired by Cristian Fabbri, reviewed the preliminary results for 2023 and approved the Business Plan to 2027.
Growth in all main key operating and financial indicators, from Ebitda to ROI, earnings per share and dividends, accompanies a focus on financial balance, with net debt/Ebitda ratio stably below 3x.
The significant investment plan allocated for the 2023-2027 five-year period will support numerous projects and accelerate activities geared towards strengthening resilience and generating shared value and sustainable development. Hera thus confirms itself as a solid point of reference in its reference markets responding to the challenges of the external context and enabling the ecological, energy and digital transition, the circular economy and resource protection.

 

Cristian Fabbri, Executive Chairman of the Hera Group:



“4.4 billion in investments aimed at industrial development, sustainable growth and resilience underpin our projections of the Ebitda coming to 1.65 billion euro in 2027, up 28% compared to 2022, along with a dividend increase of 5% CAGR. 40% of capex plan will contribute to making our infrastructures even more resilient. A 29% reduction in carbon emissions and our commitment to resource regeneration are concrete examples of our contribution to the ecological transition, and the Ebitda generated by activities that also meet the targets set out in the UN Agenda will rise to 64%. Furthermore, over the five years covered by the Plan we will distribute 10 billion euro to the stakeholders. This Plan fully responds to our Group’s purpose: to generate sustainable value by promoting a ‘just’ transition. The record growth in Ebitda seen in 2023, which we expect to come to over 1.48 billion euro, and the considerable decrease in debt, with the net debt/Ebitda ratio expected below 2.6x, are promising indications and fundamental building blocks of this Business Plan. They are matched by the provisional awarding of more than one million customers in the Italian electricity market liberalization process, allowing us to more rapidly reach 4.3 million energy customers and to consolidate our position as Italy’s third largest operator in this sector.”

 

Orazio Iacono, CEO of the Hera Group:



“With Ebitda expected to reach almost 1.5 billion euro in 2023, and financial leverage strongly improving to less than 2.6x, we will meet and exceed the targets set out in the previous Business Plan to 2026 three years ahead of schedule. These results prove the validity of our Group’s strategic vision in seizing market opportunities and our commitment towards sustainable growth in the areas served. This commitment has been confirmed once again by our new Business Plan, with shared-value Ebitda expected to exceed 1 billion euro in 2027, showing a 55% increase in absolute terms over 2022-2027, higher than the growth rate of overall Ebitda, testifying to the growing importance of initiatives that not only generate margins for our company, but are also in line with the objectives found in the UN Agenda. More than 70% of the investments made over the time covered by the Plan will indeed be allocated to sustainability projects that benefit all our stakeholders. Regarding our various businesses, the next five years will see an important contribution to growth in the Group’s results coming from all activities, in particular the waste management sector, thanks to our strategy that leverages a portfolio of global waste services that will further strengthen our leadership in this market, and the networks sector, which will see a significant investment plan, accompanying the areas served towards the green transition.”

 

Business Plan to 2027

The strategic objective underlying the Hera Group’s new Business Plan is to create value benefitting all stakeholders, thanks to financial, environmental and social sustainability objectives, along with a business model and an industrial structure that are resilient to the negative effects of climate change and external market crises.

Creating value: 2027 Ebitda up to 1.650 billion and dividend up to 16 €cents (+28%)

The projects planned will bring overall Ebitda to more than 1,650 million euro in 2027, with a 355 million euro improvement compared to the 2022 result. Taking into account a number of business opportunities that will no longer be present during the time covered by the Plan and that contributed with roughly 120 million euro to the 2022 result, the growth will reach 475 million euro with an average annual rate coming to 7%.

Sustainable growth to support the ecological transition: shared-value Ebitda at 64% in 2027 and economic contribution to local areas at 10 billion euro

The Hera Group has confirmed its focus on the circular economy and decarbonisation, in order to encourage and support the ecological transition of the areas served with initiatives aimed at citizens, public administrations and industrial customers, offering its extensive set of plants and the know-how it has accumulated in various business sectors.
The initiatives set out in the Business Plan to 2027 make it possible to project a path that is perfectly consistent with achieving the industrial objectives to 2030 in terms of circular economy and decarbonisation.
As regards the circular economy, for example, the route to be followed confirms 2030 targets such as an increase in recycled plastics (+150% compared to 2017) and the reuse of wastewater (reaching 18% of total wastewater by 2030).

Balanced growth in the multi-business portfolio and increased resilience

The Business Plan expects growth to be equally distributed among the three main lines of business (networks, energy and waste management), maintaining their current balance. Continuity is also expected in the Group’s development model, which has ensured a high degree of resilience in results within all scenarios witnessed over the last twenty years, allowing for uninterrupted growth in both sustainability targets and operating-financial and service performances.
 

Total investments at 4.4 billion euro, with additional projects funded by 400 million in grants coming from the NRRP and other institutions

The investment plan amounts to 4.4 billion euro, 48% of which will go to development initiatives and M&As. 55% of investments will be earmarked for regulated businesses, while the remaining 45% will support growth in free-market businesses.
The over 870 million euro invested each year on average will accelerate the Group’s commitment to the ecological transition (with roughly 60% of the entire investment plan going to decarbonisation and the circular economy) and to generate sustainable development in the areas served. In this sense, more than 70% of the investment plan will be allocated to initiatives capable of creating shared-value Ebitda.
In light of the introduction of the new aspects related to the European Taxonomy, the Group estimates that operational investments coming to 2.5 billion euro (or 98% of eligible investments) will be aligned with the requirements of the European framework, and will therefore be able to gain full access to subsidised sustainable finance instruments, with benefits in terms of financial costs as well.

For further information
Press release​​​​​​​
Investors web area
Hera Overview

 

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24/01/2024

Hera Group presents Business Plan to 2027

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

18/01/2024

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Search Results

04/05/2023

Over € 2.3 billion for the territories in 2022

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 our 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 Our 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. For further information Press release 2022 Sustainability Report Watch the video img_primo_piano_bs_eng.png The 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 img_110x150BS_eng.jpg
27/04/2023

Shareholders Meeting: new Board of Directors appointed, 2022 financial statements approved and dividend increased to 12.5 cents

Hera’s Ordinary Shareholders Meeting, chaired by Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, was held this morning in Bologna to approve the 2022 financial statements and the payment of a dividend rising to 12.5 cents per share, in line with what was previously announced during the presentation of the Business Plan to 2026. 2022 financial statements approved with results showing growth The Assembly approved the 2022 financial statements, which confirmed growth in key operating and financial indicators and in investments. These figures demonstrate, once again, the validity of the management policies implemented by the Group, which, together with its solid and resilient multi-business industrial model, have proved effective in responding to the complex external scenario, enabling it to guarantee continuity and quality of services and to create value for the company and all stakeholders, while pursuing sustainable development. Dividends paid rise to 12.5 cents per share The Shareholders Meeting then approved the Board of Directors’ proposal to distribute a dividend coming to 12.5 cents per share, up 4.2% compared to the last dividend paid. The ex-dividend date was set at 19 June 2023, with payment as of 21 June 2023. The dividend will be paid to shares recorded on 20 June 2023. The dividend paid, based on the Hera share price at 31/12/2022, corresponds to an annual return of 4.94%. Sustainability Report: Shared-value Ebitda up sharply to 670.3 million euro The 2022 Sustainability Report was also presented during the Shareholders Meeting, showing that improvement in operating and financial indicators goes hand in hand with the Group’s focus on sustainability and its attention towards all stakeholders. More specifically, in 2022, shared-value Ebitda, which refers to business activities that also respond to the drivers for sustainable growth and therefore involve operations that help meet the targets on the Global Agenda, rose to 670.3 million euro, up significantly compared to 2021 (+17.5%) and corresponding to 51.8% of overall Ebitda. Board of Directors and the Board of Statutory Auditors renewed The Board of Directors and the Board of Statutory Auditors were renewed for the next three years (their mandate expiring on the date of the Shareholders Meeting held to approve the 2025 financial statements). As an outcome of the vote, the following directors were appointed: majority list (representing Hera’s public shareholders agreement): Cristian Fabbri, Orazio Iacono, Gabriele Giacobazzi, Fabio Bacchilega, Gianni Bessi, Grazia Ghermandi, Alessandro Melcarne, Lorenzo Minganti, Milvia Mingozzi, Marina Monassi and Monica Mondardini minority lists: Francesco Perrini, Paola Gina Maria Schwizer, Alice Vatta, Bruno Tani. The CVs of the new directors can be consulted at: https://eng.gruppohera.it/group_eng/corporate-governance/board-of-directors As regards the Board of Statutory Auditors, the following auditors were appointed: majority list (representing Hera’s public shareholders agreement): Marianna Girolomini, Antonio Gaiani (standing auditors), Susanna Giuriatti (alternate auditor) minority list: Myriam Amato (Chairman), Stefano Gnocchi (alternate auditor). The CVs of the new auditors can be consulted at: https://eng.gruppohera.it/group_eng/corporate-governance/board-of-statutory-auditors Executive Chairman, Vice Chairman and CEO appointed The inaugural meeting of Hera’s Board of Directors, appointed in the morning by the Shareholders Meeting, was held this afternoon in Bologna. The Board appointed the Chairman, Vice Chairman and CEO. Cristian Fabbri, who has been with the company since 2006, was appointed Executive Chairman. Within the Group, he held positions involving increasing responsibilities before becoming Hera’s Central Market Director, CEO of Group subsidiaries Hera Comm and EstEnergy, and a member of the Boards of Directors of other Group companies. Gabriele Giacobazzi was confirmed as (non-executive) Vice-Chairman, the role he has covered since 2020. President of the Association of Engineers, he has been a professor at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. Orazio Iacono was confirmed as CEO, the position he has held at Hera since May 2022. He previously worked at RFI and later Trenitalia, eventually acting as CEO and General Manager, a position he held until 2020. In 2021 he was Senior Advisor Oaktree Capital Management/PwC Italy and later became Chief Operating Officer Sustainable Infrastructures at Saipem. Lastly, the Board of Directors thanked Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, whose term of office came to an end after more than 20 years at the helm of the Hera Group, for his fundamental contribution to the company’s growth. “I am honored to have been appointed Executive Chairman of Hera and I thank the Shareholders and the Board of Directors for their trust - declared the new Executive Chairman of the Hera Group, Cristian Fabbri -. I have been working in this Group since its constitutive phases in 2002. In 21 years we have achieved ambitious growth and value creation goals by working to eliminate the carbon neutrality of our activities and those of our customers, the regeneration of resources and the resilience of the system of services in the area. Together with the CEO Orazio Iacono, all the management and employees, we will continue in this direction for the benefit of the local ecosystem, future generations, our customers and our shareholders. I take the baton from Dr. Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano who led the Hera group for 21 years in an uninterrupted growth path and who leaves a solid company ready to face new challenges and hit ambitious goals. Special thanks to him." For further information Press release Shareholders’ Meeting 2023 Online Report FY2022 Online Sustainability Report 2022 primo_piano_assemblea_azionisti_2023_870.png The Group continues along its path of growth, creating value shareholders and the local areas served. Cristian Fabbri appointed Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors and Orazio Iacono confirmed as CEO assemblea_azionisti_2023_110.jpg
14/04/2023

Over 1 billion Euro for green transition, decarbonisation and plastic regeneration through sustainability-linked bond issue and facility agreement

With the second “sustainability-linked bond” and the activation of a new “Sustainability-Linked Revolving Credit Facility”, we will allocate more than 1 billion Euro in financing to projects in favour of the green transition. In particular, the Euro 600 million of the new non-convertible bond is part of the sustainability strategy aimed at decarbonising and recycling plastics, while the new Euro 450 million “Sustainability-Linked Revolving Credit Facility” further expands the innovative financial products and instruments adopted, contributing to maintain its financial soundness. The characteristics of the second “sustainability-linked bond” The aggregate amount of the second “sustainability-linked bond”, reserved to qualified investors, to be issued under the company’s Euro Medium-Term Notes Programme, is equal to Euro 600 million, repayable after 10 years. Also this second “sustainability-linked bond”, like the one launched in 2021, met a great interest from international investors. In fact, the transaction saw significant participation from international investors (France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom), most of them specialised in sustainable finance products. The strong demand, with subscription requests of approximately 2.7 billion euro, equal to 4.5 times the offer, and the quality of the orders received have therefore allowed the price to be set at excellent levels. The bond provides for an annual fixed-rate coupon of 4.250%, while the yield at the time of issue is 4.310%. Starting from the interest payment date of 2032, a possible step-up (interest rate increase) is foreseen in case the company does not reach the targets of (1) reduction of Green House Gas emissions expressed in CO₂ tonnes (rate increase of 0.30%) and (2) increase in the amount of recycled plastic, expressed in thousands of tonnes (rate increase of 0.20%). The sustainability-linked bond is part of our strategy aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the amount of recycled plastic. In particular, we intend to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 37% by 2030 (compared to 2019), thanks to concrete internal actions and to the involvement of suppliers and customers, in relation to the sale of electricity and gas: one of the most ambitious goals for a company in Italy, validated by the highly respected international network Science Based Target initiative (SBTi). For further information Press release primo_piano_hera_870.png Strong interest of international investors for the second sustainability-linked bond of the multiutility, for an amount equal to Euro 600 million and a maturity of 10 years, which received subscription requests for about Euro 2.7 billion, 4.5 times higher than the amount offered centrata 009__DSC8293-LOWRES.jpg
21/03/2023

Hera Group approves results at 31 December 2022

Today, the Board of Directors of the Hera Group, chaired by Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, unanimously approved the consolidated operating results at 31 December 2022 and the Report on remuneration policies and compensation paid, as well as the Sustainability report. Uninterrupted growth in business and value created for stakeholders Thanks to its consolidated multi-business model, balanced between regulated and free-market activities, and its good operational, financial and fiscal management, the Hera Group closed 2022 with operating results and investments up on the previous year. It therefore dealt positively with a particularly complicated external scenario, marked by ongoing volatility on the energy market and a highly unstable international geopolitical situation. The management policies implemented by the Group, together with its solid and resilient industrial model, once again proved effective in responding to these external complexities, making it possible to guarantee continuity and quality in services and creation of value for all stakeholders, while at the same time pursuing sustainable development. In addition to the flexibility shown towards suppliers, who were allowed to revise their supply conditions based on inflation, numerous initiatives were introduced to support customers, with particular attention to those facing hardship, including reinforcing instalment plans for bills, extending protocols with municipalities and social bonuses for district heating, and supporting digital tools and qualified operators for consumption analysis and efficiency. The Group thus proved able to turn challenges into opportunities and confirmed its significant volume of investments in the energy transition, the circular economy and innovation, with concrete projects coherent with the main national and international policies. More specifically, in 2022 an increase coming to over 20% was seen in investments compared to 2021, demonstrating the Group’s ongoing focus on valorising and strengthening the resilience of assets under management, with the ultimate goal of continuing to create value for stakeholders. “The 2022 financial year closed positively – Executive President, Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, emphasized – with results exceeding expectations and fully consistent with previous quarters. After 2021, this is one of the best growth rates recorded in more than twenty years by the Hera Group, all the more appreciable in light of the external context in which it was achieved. Relying on the strength of our consolidated business model and our risk-averse policies, we have once again confirmed our commitment to creating value for the company and for all our stakeholders. The proposed increase in dividends, coming to 12.5 cents per share and in line with the communications made when presenting the Business Plan to 2026, also goes in this direction. On the one hand, we have continued to make investments, in order to face the energy crisis and ensure that all our assets remain resilient and performing, thus ensuring that our strategic plans are carried out and the quality of the services managed stays high. On the other, we have pursued the company’s development along external lines, with M&A transactions in the energy and waste management sectors, with the goal of consolidating our position in the reference markets and further improving the competitiveness and efficiency of the solutions we offer to our customers.” "The positive results – Chief Executive Officer, Orazio Iacono, added – achieved allow us to face the future with confidence, continuing to invest to grow and increase the resilience and digitisation of our infrastructure. Our efficient financial management, along with cash flow generation, allowed us to close the financial year 2022 with a net debt/Ebitda ratio coming to 3.28x, which, excluding the gas storage investments now falling back into line, drops to below 3x, in line with the Group’s historically prudential policy. Shared-value Ebitda rose to 670 million, 51.8% of total Ebitda, and showed growth outpacing that of overall Ebitda, which proves that we are progressively making our operations more and more sustainable. 2022 was also a record year for investments, which came to over 700 million euro, 62% of which were put in place to pursue carbon neutrality, promote the circular economy, enable resilience and innovate. A number of innovative initiatives in the area of renewables also moved in this direction: for example, in 2022 we expanded our biomethane production capacity by around 50% with the construction of a second plant, and we were the first in Italy to introduce a hydrogen-natural gas blend into a city’s network intended for households. Partially thanks also to this latter operation, our gas distribution networks have become fully aligned to the European Taxonomy.” For further information Press release Interactive 2022 annual report Visit Investors area 2022 sustainability report 2022 Sustainability Report Highlights primo_piano_BE2022.png The year ended positively, with growth in the main operating and financial indicators. The dividends proposed rise to 12.5 cents per share 110x150_BE2022_primo-piano.jpg

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