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Hera Group presents Business Plan to 2026

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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

08/02/2023
Hera Group presents Business Plan to 2026

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. Dividends are also expected to increase, and financial solidity is confirmed.

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

Today, the Hera Group’s Board of Directors, chaired by Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, 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.

Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, Executive Chairman of the Hera Group:
“The growth seen in the preliminary figures for the year just ended confirms the resilience of our business. We will thus continue to pursue our development strategy, relying on our distinctive know-how in the areas of circularity, efficiency and the energy transition, to meet the rapidly growing demand coming from customers who are increasingly sensitive to energy saving and environmental sustainability. In the new Plan, focused on creating value for all stakeholders, we expect to make significant investments and increase all previous commitments, including those related to the dividend payment policy.”

Orazio Iacono, CEO of the Hera Group:
“Our development strategy, as defined by the Plan, relies on a solid foundation and is focused on achieving higher levels of efficiency, reinforcing all services offered and increasing the resilience and digitalisation of our infrastructures, thus supporting the areas served in moving towards the ecological transition, with the help of NRRP funding. Having already optimised emissions in our production processes many years ago, our focus will increasingly go to supporting families, businesses and all our stakeholders in this transition. As confirmation of our solidity, furthermore, the growth foreseen over the period covered by the Plan will be flanked by a conservative financial leverage, which will allow us to grasp further opportunities.”

Over 20 years at the side of the areas served, with preliminary Ebitda for 2022 rising to almost 1.3 billion
Last November, the Hera Group celebrated its 20th anniversary: since its establishment, the Group has achieved an uninterrupted path of growth which, relying on a multi-business industrial model and balance between internal growth and M&As (more than 40 since 2002), has made it one of the most important Italian multi-utilities, holding a position of consolidated leadership in the sectors in which it operates.
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.
These preliminary figures thus indicate the resilience of industrial margins and the validity of the Group’s multi-business model, which capitalises on the experience gained over the years, preserving its assets and accelerating the sustainable growth of the company and the communities it serves.

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.
Of the investments planned between 2022 and 2026, 70% will go towards the targets set by the UN’s 2030 Global Agenda, and regarding the European Taxonomy, all, or virtually all, of the capital allocated to eligible assets (approximately 98%) is in line with the technical criteria defined by the European Regulation. Furthermore, 40% of investments will be reserved for interventions aimed at enhancing the safety and resilience of the assets under our management, and more than 30% will go towards promoting digitisation and innovation.
The positive cash flow over the period covered by the Plan will finance the upcoming investments, progressively bringing leverage back to below 3x, with the goal of reaching 2.8x by 2026.

The Group’s main projects to contribute to current transitions
The strategy to 2026 has been designed to respond to the sector’s most significant challenges, with outstanding projects in all geographical areas in which the Group operates.
This Plan also confirms the Group’s commitment to the energy transition and the contribution it will make, for example with initiatives aimed at developing renewable sources of electricity and gas. This will include the installation of photovoltaic plants on sites owned by Hera and by household and industrial customers, and the production of biomethane and hydrogen, to be fed into the distribution network or for local consumption (“Hydrogen Valleys”), thanks to technologies that have already been tested (biomethane from organic sources) or are unique nationwide (a power-to-gas plant combined with the integrated water cycle).
Energy efficiency initiatives will also contribute to the ecological transition, from those reserved for industrial customers, condominiums, and public administrations to various solutions that will allow our Group to reduce energy consumption by 10% compared to 2013. 
Likewise, the new Business Plan will intensify the evolution shown by the Group and our customers towards a circular economy model. On the one hand, this involves innovative plants for recycling rigid plastics or carbon fibres, which will lead to a twofold increase in volumes of recycled plastics compared to 2017. On the other, the commercial and plant solutions offered by Herambiente Servizi Industriali to its customers and the smart equipment reserved for household customers in which to deposit their waste, will be aimed at a 73% packaging recycling rate as early as 2026 and 77% sorted waste collection, with the introduction of smart collection systems and new technological devices measuring waste deposited by the unit.
Lastly, the Hera Group’s strategy will be developed thanks to a solid contribution coming from innovation, an enabling element for the ecological transition broadly speaking. Our infrastructures (networks and plants) will make the most of opportunities coming from remote management, remote control and automation, to provide the area served with greater resilience to increasingly frequent climate phenomena, with the possibility of accurate and immediate interventions, and therefore risk mitigation for the services provided.

Ebitda at roughly 1.5 billion euro in 2026, thanks to internal and external growth
As regards the main economic aspects of the Business Plan to 2026, Ebitda totalling 1,470 million euro is expected, up 246 million compared to 2021, with average annual growth coming to roughly 50 million and balance between internal growth and M&A. This is a particularly considerable goal, given that strong negative impacts will also be absorbed, for example due to revised tariffs related to WACC for regulated businesses (electricity distribution, gas and the water cycle), the gradual expiry of incentives related to energy production from waste-to-energy plants and the end of certain incentives for works in condominiums (insulation bonus and 110% super eco bonus).
With a positive contribution expected from all business segments, internal growth will account for 146 million of the overall increase in Ebitda, driven mainly by the margins associated with new projects, the industrial and commercial developments foreseen by the Plan and efficiencies and synergies in the current scope of operations. A further contribution amounting to 100 million will come from M&As, of which about 24 million from recently concluded acquisitions involving two companies in the waste management sector, Macero Maceratese in the Marche region and ACR in Modena – leading to a strengthened leadership in the industrial waste sector, reclamation and global service activities in particular – and one currently being finalised in the North East in the telecommunications sector, involving Asco TLC, in a partnership with Ascopiave. Additionally, further acquisitions of companies operating in the waste management and energy businesses will lead to an expansion of the Group’s range of services or the extraction of synergies.

Focus on our stakeholders: shared-value Ebitda at 62% by 2026, dividends up 25%
Sustainability remains one of the cornerstones of the Group’s growth strategy, perfectly integrated and covering all areas in which it operates, with an increasing focus on creating value for all stakeholders. Shared-value Ebitda itself, reported since 2016, has increased steadily over the years and is expected to account for 62% of the Group’s total Ebitda in 2026, amounting to roughly 910 million and rising to 70% in 2030, following a path that generates concrete benefits for the areas served and local communities, at the same rate as the company’s own development.
Confirming its constant focus on creating value for shareholders, the Group also plans to pay continuously increasing dividends. With the approval of the 2022 financial statements, it will in fact propose to the Board of Directors a 12.5 cents per share dividend, up from 12 cents in 2021. A progressive increase in dividends is also expected over the period covered by the Plan, reaching 15 cents per share in 2026, up 25% from the last dividend paid.
Earnings per share are expected to rise by more than 3% on average per year.

Leader in waste management, with over 100 state-of-the-art plants and innovative projects to meet carbon neutrality and circular economy targets
Ebitda for the waste management business is expected to rise by 149 million, with the total figure increasing from 292 million in 2021 to 441 million in 2026, driven by both internal and external growth. Over the period covered by the Plan, the Group aims to further strengthen its national leadership in the waste management area and, supporting this growth, it foresees roughly 1.2 billion in investments, three quarters of which in waste treatment and recovery, aimed at augmenting the Groups’ set of plants.
With over 100 state-of-the-art plants, the Group is able to treat all types of waste (municipal, industrial and plant by-products), with a total of approximately 8.7 tonnes expected by 2026. To support the growth in volumes treated, in addition to expanding the set of plants, a greater commitment to waste intermediation has been planned, by establishing an international network of partnerships with European players.
The distinctive objectives of the Group’s strategy also include renewable gas production. Based on the excellent results achieved by the Sant’Agata Bolognese (Bologna) plant, which produces biomethane from the organic fraction of waste, the Plan calls for a further increase in the quantities produced, reaching 12 million cubic metres per year in 2026, partially thanks to the contribution coming from the partnership with the Cremonini Group company Inalca. In early 2023, work on a plant equipped with the most advanced anaerobic digestion and upgrading technologies indeed began in Spilamberto (Modena). When fully operational, this plant will produce 3.7 million cubic metres of biomethane per year and approximately 18,000 tonnes of compost from the sorted collection of organic waste and agri-food waste.
The Group subsidiary Aliplast, a leader in plastics recycling, also plans new industrial development projects with investments reaching over 80 million euro. This will expand plant capacity in the segments already covered, such as the production of recycled PET for food use and recycled polymers for cosmetics and food, and in innovative niche segments. In particular, two new platforms will be built that are absolutely at the forefront at a European level, both from a technological point of view and for the strategic importance of the materials involved, so much so that they have also received NRRP funding for their innovative features: the Imola (Bologna) plant for carbon fiber regeneration and the plant for rigid plastic recovery that will be located in Modena. These plants will make it possible for sectors such as the automotive, nautical, aerospace and consumer electronics industries, which until now have mainly used virgin materials, to become increasingly sustainable.
Alongside plant construction, commercial development will concern the context of waste management, driven by larger national and international customers who increasingly demand advanced solutions in terms of circularity and waste recovery, and who find an ideal partner in Herambiente Servizi Industriali.

A target of 4 million energy customers by 2026, to be enabled and supported in the energy transition
Over the period covered by the Plan, Ebitda for the energy area is expected to increase by 16 million, from 423 million to 439 million in 2026, more than offsetting the discontinuities of the period, thanks to a progressive increase in the customer base and higher demand for value-added services (VAS). To support this growth, 650 million in investments have therefore been allocated for the five-year period 2022-2026.
In addition to a 16% increase compared to 2021 in the customer base, which will reach 4 million in 2026 – well balanced between electricity and gas – and thus consolidate the Group’s position as third in the energy sector, over the period covered by the Plan the Group intends to further support its customers in moving towards the energy transition and electrification of consumption, with enhanced and enriched VAS offers, new products and increasingly advanced solutions. The more innovative VAS proposals include offers that allow customers to monitor and reduce losses, thanks to tools that increase energy efficiency in homes, self-production and sustainable mobility, with the goal of reaching 2,300 photovoltaic systems sold to household customers over the period covered by the Plan.
At the same time, the Group’s efforts in the field of renewable energy will also be reinforced with several projects that will bring the installed photovoltaic capacity owned by the Group to over 90 MW by 2026. Including installations on sites owned by customers, from traditional photovoltaic panel systems to the new distributed power generation models, with the establishment of Energy Communities, the installed capacity by 2026 will come to 150 MW.
Innovation will also be a key lever in evolving the relationship between seller and customer towards new standards of quality and satisfaction, increasing customer loyalty through individualised offers that will make the most of data collected by second-generation meters, and through the introduction of artificial intelligence solutions to support the various business applications used in customer relations.

Increasingly resilient networks, ready for the energy transition
Ebitda for the network sector is expected to grow by 74 million, from the current 472 million to 546 million in 2026, after taking Arera’s recent tariff revision into account.
Development in this area will be sustained by internal growth, in turn driven by the significant investment plan foreseen for the five-year period in question, amounting to roughly 2.2 billion. Approximately half of these resources will be allocated to the integrated water cycle, while another large portion, coming to 42%, will be invested in gas and electricity distribution.
Network infrastructures will boast increasing resilience to external effects (climatic and otherwise), thanks to numerous digitisation and automation projects, which will make interventions on the systems managed more rapid. The use of predictive maintenance and functional modelling tools will also make it possible to better classify, plan and establish the parameters of each required intervention on the range of networks managed, benefiting the end customer in terms of both efficiency and service quality.
Another boost to innovation in the sector will come from installing roughly 410,000 second-generation (2G) electricity meters, which will allow for more precise measurement of consumption, about 300,000 NexMeter gas smart meters, patented by the Group, having with advanced safety functions in the event of leaks or earthquakes and also useable for blends with ‘green gas’, and approximately 100,000 residential smart meters for the water cycle.
The network sector will also contribute to the energy transition, by both adapting and making a positive contribution. On the one hand, the Group will intensify projects aimed at experimenting with the production of hydrogen and renewable gas, such as the power-to-gas plant in Bologna, one of the first of its type to be built internationally, which will come into operation within 2025 inside the largest purification plant by catchment area among those managed by the Group. On the other, tests for hydrogen injection into the gas distribution network will continue in order to prepare this infrastructure to accommodate new renewable forms of energy, on which European energy strategies are also based.
Once again with a view to decarbonisation, the Group will invest roughly 160 million in district heating, with projects aimed at developing and optimising existing systems and maximising the use of heat from renewable sources. The projects in Bologna, Ferrara and Forlì, which were recently awarded NRRP funding, are a concrete example of the path that will be pursued and, alone, will reduce emissions by almost 29,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide and will reduce fossil fuel consumption by 12,500 tonnes of oil equivalent per year.
In addition, various circular economy initiatives have been planned for saving, reusing and recovering water, at both customer locations and the Group’s worksites and offices, which include optimising sewage sludge management and recycling materials coming from water cycle waste with dedicated plant facilities and innovative tools. Projects aimed at safeguarding water resources, with a focus on reducing losses, controlling energy consumption and safeguarding sources, have been developed in the North-East by Group subsidiary AcegasApsAmga, partially financed by the NRRP and presented alongside other operators. Some examples include the “Smart Water Management FVG”, which aims to reduce network losses in Friuli-Venezia Giulia by 13% through asset digitisation projects, and the “Sustainable water management” project, intended to reduce losses in the aqueduct systems in the provinces of Padua and Vicenza. Lastly, in Padua, seven new biodryers will be installed in purification plants, with benefits including a significant reduction in the volume of sludge to be sent for recovery and a lower use of energy, while in Udine an innovative plant will be built to treat the sludge coming from all the purifiers in Friuli-Venezia Giulia and eastern Veneto.

The Plan to 2026 confirms the path towards the main industrial objectives for 2030 as previously defined
The many projects set out in the Business Plan to 2026, discussed here simply as examples, will make it possible to define a path consistent with all the ecological transition targets to be reached by 2030 that the Hera Group established some years ago.
As regards the Group’s commitment to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, the range of initiatives make it possible to confirm the ambitious 37% reduction target to 2030, already approved by the prestigious international network Science Based Target initiative (SBTi). Furthermore, in order to make a tangible contribution to the energy transition, in energy sales the Group has set itself the goal of increasing the portion of renewable electricity out of total sales to 50% within 2030, and furthermore plans to reduce internal energy consumption by 10% within 2030 (compared to 2013 consumption).
Concerning the circular economy, the 2030 objectives to increase recycled plastics (+150% compared to 2017), recycle packaging (up to 80%), reuse wastewater (up to 18% by 2030) and reduce internal water consumption (-25% by 2030, compared to 2017 consumption) can all be confirmed.

See the press release

Online from 08 February 2023 at 15:00:00

Search Results

Press releases
06/04/2021
Price sensitive
Shareholders’ meeting

Publication of the draft Separate and consolidated financial statements as at 31/12/2020, the Sustainability report – consolidated non-financial statement and Shareholders meeting documentation

2021-04-06 Kindly note that the following documents, approved by the Hera S.p.A. Board of Directors, have been made available to the public at company headquarters, on the website www.gruppohera.it and on the authorised storage platform 1INFO (www.1Info.it): <>folder containing the draft Separate and consolidated financial statements at 31/12/2020; Sustainability report – consolidated non-financial statement drafted pursuant to L. Decree 254/2016. In the same way, the Group’s Report on the remuneration policy and fees paid and the 2020 Corporate Governance Report are also available. Press release Financial Statements DNF Y20.pdf 2018-11-06 18:33:00 sede_Gruppo110.1534760363.jpg sede_Gruppo110.1534760363.jpg
Press releases
26/03/2021
Shareholders’ meeting
Price sensitive

Publication of documents pertaining to the Shareholders Meeting to be held on 28 April 2021

2021-03-26 Kindly note that the following documentation, pertaining to the Shareholders Meeting convened for 28 April 2021, is available to the public at the Company headquarters, on the authorised storage website 1INFO (www.1Info.it) and on Hera Group’s website (https://eng.gruppohera.it/group_eng/corporate-governance/shareholders-meetings) 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 2 on the Agenda – Ordinary 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 on the Agenda – Ordinary session Hera S.p.A. Board of Directors’ Explanatory Report regarding item 5 on the Agenda – Ordinary session Press release Publication of documents pertaining to the Shareholders Meeting of 28 April 2021.pdf 2019-03-28 09:17:00 110x150_heraspa.1475082913.jpg 110x150_heraspa.1475082913.jpg
Press releases
24/03/2021
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Financial Results
Hera Spa

Hera Group approves results at 31/12/2020

2021-03-24 Results as at 31 December 2020 The year ended positively, despite the nationwide impact coming from the Coronavirus emergency, during which Hera stood by its stakeholders and provided support. Thanks to its solid, efficient and sustainable multi-business strategy, Hera thus continued to grow and create value for shareholders and local communities. Owing to a good cash generation, the proposed dividend was revised upwards, now set at 11 cents per share Il Gruppo Hera approva i risultati al 31/12/2020 /documents/1514726/7351398/Economic+data+Y2020.xls/3a392394-7380-b819-e7cc-ca7b723ae937?t=1617192710757 /group_eng/investor-relations/results-and-presentations/interactive-data Financial data as at 31 December 2020 Interactive data Financial highlights Revenues at 7,079.0‬ million euro (+2.4%) Ebitda at 1,123.0 million euro (+3.5%) Net profits for Shareholders at 302.7 million euro (+0.6%) Net debt improves to 3,227.0 million euro, with net debt/Ebitda ratio falling to 2.87x Proposed dividend increases to 11 cents per share (+10%) Operating highlights Positive results come from both internal and external growth Good contribution towards growth from energy areas in particular, including the Ascopiave partnership Improvement in all sustainability indicators, with shared value Ebitda increasing to 420.0 million euro (+7.2%) Today, the Hera Group’s Board of Directors, chaired by Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, unanimously approved the consolidated economic results at 31 December 2020 and the Report on remuneration policies and compensation paid, along with the Sustainability report. 18 years of uninterrupted growth, thanks to good operating, financial and fiscal management The Hera Group closed the 2020 financial year positively, as well as in all quarters, even during a particularly difficult year on account of the Coronavirus emergency. Thanks to its solid and efficient multi-business model, and good operating, financial and fiscal management, Hera succeeded in maintaining growth in its results while at the same time supporting its stakeholders. Even during the lockdown, indeed, Hera guaranteed continuity, safety, quality and efficiency in all services and also provided help not only for its own employees but also its customers, suppliers and local communities. This consisted first in allowing customers to pay with delays or by instalments and offering reverse factoring to small and medium businesses, and later participating in specific solidarity initiatives across the areas served. These initiatives were appreciated by customers, as appears in the recent customer satisfaction poll which, despite the difficult external context, confirmed a high customer satisfaction rate (73/100), with approval of the management and services provided during the emergency coming to 85/100. More generally speaking, the Hera Group succeeded in continuing along the path of uninterrupted growth seen since its establishment in 2002, once again leveraging its own strategy: a balanced mix of internal and external growth, with significant economies of scale and higher synergies than expected. All of this while continuously striving to create value for its stakeholders, respecting the directions set out by the new Business Plan to 2024, which aims at accompanying all areas served in a recovery that respects European strategies and the goals on the UN’s 2030 Agenda. Revenues at over 7 billion, up 2.4% The Hera Group’s 2020 revenues rose to 7,079 million euro, up 166.2 million (+2.4% compared to the 6,912.8 million seen in 2019), thanks above all to the energy sector and in particular the change in scope of operations caused by the exceptional Ascopiave transaction which, through EstEnergy, led to the creation of the foremost energy operator in North-Eastern Italy. Growth in the heat management business also contributed to this result, with interventions linked to incentives for work on facades and energy efficiency. Ebitda increases, reaching 1,123.0 million (+3.5%) Group Ebitda rose to 1,123.0 million euro (+3.5%), up 37.9 million compared to the 1,085.1 million euro seen in 2019, with contributions mainly coming from external growth, in addition to internal growth. The businesses that played the greatest role in this increase were electricity and gas, thanks in particular to the Ascopiave transaction, but the water cycle and the other services in which Hera operates also made a positive contribution. The extraordinary efforts deployed by Hera to face the health emergency allowed the impact on Ebitda to be contained within the limits foreseen last year at the beginning of the pandemic, thanks in particular to all the support measures introduced. Operating results grow to 551.3 million (+1.6%) Net operating results also increased, coming to 551.3 million euro, up 8.8 million (+1.6% compared to the 542.5 million seen in 2019), despite the higher amortisation mainly linked to changes in the scope of operations. Pre-tax profits reflected the higher imputed costs involved in the Ascopiave put option, in addition to lower profits from joint ventures, which felt the effects of the health emergency. These factors were partially offset by efficiencies in the financial structure and other income. Net profits pertaining to Shareholders increase to 302.7 million euro (+0.6%) For reasons including clear improvement in the tax rate, which came to 25.7% as against the 28.3% seen in the previous year, owing to the Group’s commitment towards investments for technological, digital and environmental transformation in the direction of Utility 4.0, net results for the period rose to 322.8 million (+1.8%), showing a 5.7 million growth compared to the 317.1 million seen in 2019. Net profits pertaining to Shareholders were also up, settling at the end of 2020 at 302.7 million euro (+0.6%) compared to the 2019 figure of 300.8 million (excluding 2019 non recurring results from “special items”). Net investments grow to 528.5 million, net debt/Ebitda ratio further improves to 2.87x In 2020, net investments – including the 46.9 million euro involved in acquiring financial shareholdings mainly concerning Ascopiave – came to 528.5 million, up 3.8% compared to the 509.2 million seen in 2019. Operating investments totalling 506.4 million euro, including capital grants, were mainly allocated to interventions on plants, networks and infrastructures, in order to guarantee quality, efficiency, safety, resilience and innovation, in addition to regulatory upgrading that concerned gas distribution above all, with a large-scale metre substitution, and the purification and sewerage sector. These investments allowed the value of regulated infrastructures (RAB) to remain almost unchanged, despite the assets in gas networks transferred as part of the Ascopiave transaction. At the same time, investments contributed to growth and recovery in the areas served, since they were carried out by the Group’s suppliers, most of which are small-medium local businesses, which were thus able to continue working without interruption thanks to the support offered by Hera. The Group’s net debt settled at 3,227.0 million, improving compared to the 3,274.2 million seen in 2019, with a 47.2 million euro reduction of financial debt. In particular, operations generated positive and growing cash flows, which allowed investments, M&A transactions, the dividends paid and the treasury shares acquired to be entirely financed. Thanks to the double lever of an increased Ebitda and a lower net debt, the net debt/Ebitda ratio settled at 2.87x, showing clear improvement with respect to the 3.02x seen in 2019. The Group’s financial solidity is reflected by the opinions released by major rating agencies: Moody’s assigned Hera a Baa2 rating with a stable outlook, while Standard & Poor’s gave it a BBB/A-2 rating with a positive outlook. The Group’s attention towards sustainability confirmed, with shared value Ebitda rising to 420.0 million These positive operating results were matched by Hera’s increasing attention towards sustainability. The Hera Group was the first to introduce, in 2016, shared value reporting, concerning all business activities that, in addition to creating operating earnings, respond to the drivers for sustainable growth set out in the UN’s 2030 Agenda and, more generally, by various national and international policies. In 2020, shared value Ebitda rose to 420.0 million euro (+7.2% compared to 2019), coming to 37.4% of overall Ebitda. This result confirms the path set out in the Business Plan, which expects this indicator to reach 648 million by 2024, almost 50% of total Ebitda. Shared value has acted for some time as a benchmark for Hera’s progress towards sustainability and its business model over the years – all the more so in these difficult months – and has now proven to be winning and resilient, the most concrete guarantee for a future with further development, for Hera and for the areas served, with the goal of accompanying them during recovery. The Hera Group’s best practices in ESG areas, moreover, have been confirmed by its inclusion in the FTSE4Good index series and, even more so, in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, World and Europe – one of the most authoritative stock market indices evaluating social responsibility – as “Industry leader” out of the roughly 3,500 companies with the highest capitalisation in the world. The Group’s attention towards sustainability and transparency has furthermore been confirmed by its decision to work towards the “Well below 2°C” goal in the “Science Based Targets initiative”. This involves pursuing carbon neutrality and applying the recommendations provided by the “Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures” (TCFD) in its reporting as of the 2020 financial year, to provide stakeholders with all information required to assess opportunities and risks linked to the climate. Proposed dividend up to 11 cents per share The Board of Directors, considering the positive results reached, has decided to put an 11 cents per share dividend to the Shareholders Meeting to be held on 28 April, up 10% compared to the last dividend paid and outperforming Business Plan target for the current year. This will furthermore benefit the shareholder remuneration policy described in the Business Plan, since this new starting point will be applied, thus arriving at a dividend coming to 13 cents per share by 2024, with constant increases introduced year after year. The rise in financial expenditure for the dividends foreseen over the period covered by the Plan will be fully covered by the cash already generated in 2020. The ex-dividend date has been set at 5 July 2021, with payment as of 7 July 2020. The dividend will be paid to shares recorded on 6 July 2021. Report on remuneration policy and compensation paid approved The Board of Directors furthermore approved the Report on remuneration policy and compensation paid, in line with international best practices. Gas Ebitda for the gas area – which includes services in natural gas distribution and sales, district heating and heat management – increased significantly compared to the previous year, in terms of both earnings and volumes sold, rising to 374.4 million euro (+9.6%), 32.8 million more than the 341.6 million seen in 2019. This result was reached in spite of the impact of the health emergency, the milder winter temperatures, the spin-off of part of the gas distribution network following the Ascopiave transaction and the latest revision of tariffs by the Authority, all of which decreased Ebitda by roughly 50 million. Contributions to growth in Ebitda came mainly from the Ascopiave partnership, with the acquisition of companies belonging to the EstEnergy Group and AmgasBlu, and from the 8 portions of the last resort gas service in 16 regions of Italy and 5 portions of the default gas distribution service in 12 regions awarded for the period from 1 October 2020 to 30 September 2021. This growth was also sustained by the heat management business, with facade incentives. The number of gas customers reached almost 2.1 million, up by roughly 27 thousand over 2019 (+1.3%). In 2020, gross investments coming to 135.3 million were made, mainly going to interventions in the large-scale meter substitution and activities linked to acquiring new customers. The gas area’s contribution to Group Ebitda rose to 33.3%. Water Ebitda for the water area – which includes services in the aqueduct, purification and sewerage – came to 265.8 million euro, with a slight increase over the 265.3 million seen one year earlier. This result is due to the efficiency enhancing initiatives introduced by the Group, which fully offset the lower new connections, customer requests and subcontracted works owing to the health emergency. A slight increase in customers was also seen, amounting to 3 thousand, which now reach almost 1.5 million overall. Including capital grants, investments amounted to 166.2 million euro, mainly involving extensions, reclamations and network and plant upgrading, as well as regulatory adjustments, especially in the area of purification and sewage. Among other projects, work continued on the Rimini seawater protection plan, one of the most important, cutting-edge works in Italy in the field of sewerage and purification, in addition to upgrading the sewerage network in other areas. Requests for new water and sewerage connections increased compared to the previous year. The water area accounted for 23.7% of Group Ebitda. Waste Ebitda for the waste area – in which Hera Group is Italy’s foremost operator, and which includes waste collection, treatment and disposal services – settled at 258.0 million euro, compared to the 264.2 million euro seen in 2019, mainly due to a reduction in the earnings for regulated activities of municipal waste collection and sweeping. This result felt the effects of the health emergency, owing to the reduction in waste production seen during the lockdown, as well as the drop in demand for recycled plastic material and in prices for recycled products, and lower revenues from electricity generation in waste-to-energy plants. Nevertheless, in this context, Hera was able to react promptly thanks to its cutting-edge set of plants, with approximately ninety plants able to treat all types of waste, from the point of view of a circular economy as well, which proved to be a fundamental strategic lever in the Italian scenario, considering the country’s structural shortage of plants. This is confirmed by the positive results achieved by the waste management sector in the last quarter of 2020, which, along with the increase seen in waste treatment prices, made it possible to offset the Covid ’19 impact on Ebitda. Total investments coming to 68.3 million euro were mainly allocated to maintenance and upgrades on plants. This set of assets was further reinforced thanks to recent acquisitions – such as the one concerning Pistoia Ambiente – and agreements with outstanding partners. The latter include an agreement between Aliplast and NextChem, a company belonging to the Maire Tecnimont Group, aimed at creating an innovative structure for producing high-quality recycled polymers, which will make it possible to recycle rigid plastics and thus introduce greater sustainability in industrial sectors, such as the IT sector, which until now have used only virgin plastics. Again, a partnership was signed between Herambiente and Eni Rewind for creating, in Ravenna, an avant-garde environmental platform to manage industrial waste, minimizing disposal in favour of material and energy recovery. In 2020 as well, protecting environmental resources was confirmed as a priority objective for Hera, along with maximising their reuse, as is demonstrated by the additional increase in sorted municipal waste collection, which went from 64.6% in 2019 to 65.3% in 2020. The waste area accounted for 23% of Group Ebitda. Electricity The electricity area – which covers electricity generation, distribution and sales services – recorded an Ebitda coming to 188.2 million, up 9.7 million (+5.5%) compared to 178.5 million seen during the previous year. This result is mainly linked to the Ascopiave partnership, thanks to the acquisition of EstEnergy and AmgasBlu, and to higher margins from electricity generation in the dispatching service market, all of which considerably contained the negative effect of the health emergency. Increases were also seen in requests for new connections and in investments, which amounted to 47.7 million euro, 4.3 million more than in the previous year, mainly involving non-recurring maintenance on plants and distribution networks in the Modena, Imola, Trieste and Gorizia areas. Electricity customers rose to 1.3 million (+3.5%), up 44.8 thousand compared to 2019, with growth mainly seen on the free market, thanks to reinforced sales initiatives; safeguarded customers, instead, remained virtually the same as in the previous year. The electricity area accounted for 16.8% of Group Ebitda. Statement by Executive Chairman Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano The Hera Group’s 2020 financial statements prove, once again, our solidity and the effectiveness of our strategies, but also our close relations with local areas and stakeholders. These results indeed reflect our uninterrupted activities, in spite of the pandemic, supporting the economic fabric in which we operate. Quarter after quarter, we succeeded in meeting the challenges posed by the emergency, reacting quickly to reorganise our work and find solutions to protect our assets on the one hand, and customers on the other. In a complex context, we defined new projects and signed agreements with outstanding partners, and in the second half of 2020, gaining speed in particular towards the end of the year, we benefitted from the overall recovery seen in economic activities in the areas we serve. These positive results were reflected in all main indicators and are all the more significant in light of the difficulties caused by the health emergency: we thus confirmed our track record of 18 years of growth and further improved our financial solidity, with positive consequences for our public and private shareholders, to whom we have decided to pay, already this year, an increased dividend coming to 11 cents per share. The good cash generation seen in 2020, furthermore, will allow us to fully cover our policy of increased dividends through to 2024. Statement by CEO Stefano Venier The growth achieved by the Hera Group was strongly supported by its partnership with Ascopiave, which enabled the Group to expand further in the Triveneto region. Despite the complex context, we were able to immediately extract a significant part of the expected synergies, thus giving a crucial contribution to the increase in our cash flows in 2020. The year was also dedicated to further progress in fully integrating sustainability into our business strategies: we are committed to promoting further development in this direction, with projects for circularity, carbon neutrality and technological innovation, respecting European policies and the goals on the UN’s 2030 Agenda. This also includes a few collaborations recently launched, such as the one with Snam for developing hydrogen. Green gases, in fact, are a particularly interesting frontier for us precisely because we operate in more than one business: by providing our wide range of expertise and our broad infrastructures, we can create innovative examples of carbon neutral circularity between supply chains. 28 April 2021 Shareholders Meeting In light of the ongoing need for prudence in avoiding situations of risk caused by the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic, and therefore respecting fundamental principles of health protection, those entitled to take part in the Shareholders Meeting will be able to intervene without access to the physical premises and only through the Designated Representative. The notice calling the meeting and the documents pertaining to the Shareholders Meeting to be held on 28 April will be communicated to Shareholders and made available to the public in the regular forms provided for by law and the Articles of Association. 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 6 April 2021. Unaudited extracts from the Financial Statements at 31 December 2020 are attached. Profit & Loss (m€) 31/12/20 Inc.% 31/12/19 Inc.% Ch. Ch. % Sales 7,079.0 6,912.8 +166.2 +2.4% Other operating revenues 467.8 6.6% 530.8 7.7% (63.0) (11.9%) Raw material (3,410.6) (48.2%) (3,458.2) (50.0%) (47.6) (1.4%) Services costs (2,424.9) (34.3%) (2,318.2) (33.5%) +106.7 +4.6% Other operating expenses (58.9) (0.8%) (59.3) (0.9%) (0.4) (0.7%) Personnel costs (572.7) (8.1%) (560.4) (8.1%) +12.3 +2.2% Capitalisations 43.3 0.6% 37.6 0.5% +5.7 +15.1% Ebitda 1,123.0 15.9% 1,085.1 15.7% +37.9 +3.5% Depreciation and provisions (571.7) (8.1%) (542.6) (7.8%) +29.1 +5.4% Ebit 551.3 7.8% 542.5 7.8% +8.8 +1.6% Financial inc./(exp.) (116.7) (1.6%) (100.0) (1.4%) +16.7 +16.7% Pre tax profit 434.6 6.1% 442.5 6.4% (7.9) (1.8%) Taxes (111.8) (1.6%) (125.4) (1.8%) (13.6) (10.8%) Net profit 322.8 4.6% 317.1 4.6% +5.7 +1.8% Results from special items - 0.0% 84.9 1.2% (84.9) +100.0% Net profit for the period 322.8 4.6% 402.0 5.8% (79.2) (19.7%) Attributable to: Shareholders of the Parent Company 302.7 4.3% 385.7* 5.6% (83.0) (21.5%) Minority shareholders 20.1 0.3% 16.3 0.2% +3.8 +23.3% Balance Sheet (m€) 31/12/20 Inc.% 31/12/19 Inc.% Ch. Ch. % Net fixed assets 6,983.6 109.4% 6,846.3 108.9% +137.3 +2.0% Working capital 53.6 0.8% 87.0 1.4% (33.4) (38.4%) (Provisions) (654.9) (10.2%) (649.1) (10.3%) (5.8) +0.9% Net invested capital 6,382.3 100.0% 6,284.2 100.0% +98.1 +1.6% Net equity 3,155.3 49.4% 3,010.0 47.9% +145.3 +4.8% Long term net financial debt 3,617.1 56.7% 3,383.4 53.8% +233.7 +6.9% Short term net financial debt (390.1) (6.1%) (109.2) (1.7%) (280.9) +257.2% Net financial debts 3,227.0 50.6% 3,274.2 52.1% (47.2) (1.4%) Net invested capital 6,382.3 100.0% 6,284.2 100.0% +98.1 +1.6% Results as at 31 December 2020 Press release Y2020.pdf 2019-11-11 13:14:00 110x150.be-bs.jpg Il Gruppo Hera approva i risultati al 31/12/2020
Online dal 24/03/2021 alle ore 13:14
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26/02/2021
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Potentialpark 2021: Hera awarded for its ability to attract talent

2021-02-26 The Hera Group ranks among the most “talent-friendly” companies, for the fifth consecutive year, according to the Swedish research firm Potentialpark. Recognition comes once again for Hera’s efforts in online and social communication, aimed at young graduates in search of employment: second place overall in Italy and first for the career page on its site Sede Hera Only a few weeks after obtaining Top Employer certification, for the 12th consecutive year and ranking first overall in Italy for the second year in a row, the Hera Group has also been included once again among the companies with the best ability to attract talent. This has been established by the 2021 Italian edition of the Online Talent Communication study, carried out by the Swedish research firm Potentialpark, that each year drafts a ranking of companies who, through their online communication, are the most attractive for candidates in search of employment. In Potentialpark’s 2021 edition, Hera came in second in Italy, further improving its position in the overall ranking. Excellent results were also obtained by the Group in specific categories: first in the “Career Website” category, thanks to continuous improvements in the “Work with us” section of the company’s site (https://www.gruppohera.it/gruppo/lavora-con-noi). The Group furthermore maintained second place in the Mobile category, for the ease with which candidates may apply using a cell phone/smartphone. The Hera Group, moreover, has been focusing on innovation for some time now, offering candidates the best available technology. Social recruiting activities, i.e. interaction with candidates on the main social networks, are increasing: this effort was also recognised by Potentialpark, which included the Group in this category’s Top 10, with a significant improvement over previous years. The Group’s profile on LinkedIn, the main social network for professional relations, continues to grow and has now reached over 80,300 followers. These are significant results, that highlight the constant and growing commitment shown by the Hera Group towards communication and involving talented people, using all portals and digital tools. In addition to creating and spreading information, in fact, Hera makes efforts to customise its content, to meet the needs of the job market and rank among the best companies to which young people can look with interest. In fact, numerous activities have been designed to facilitate the application process and provide all information required to understand “life” at Hera. By visiting the Group’s website, young people looking for opportunities can indeed become familiar with the company, obtain information on salary policies, contracts, methods used to improve the balance between private life and professional careers, and learn about the company’s welfare plan and the HerAcademy corporate university, the first in Italy to be created by a multi-utility. Sede Gruppo Hera Press release Potentialpark 2021.pdf 2020-04-29 10:00:25 Sede Gruppo Hera Sede Hera
Online dal 26/02/2021 alle ore 10:00
24/02/2021
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Diversity and inclusion: Hera receives 2021 Top Utility prize

2021-02-24 Yet another recognition for the Group in this area. This prize, which analyses and valorises the best performances of Italy’s public service companies, was awarded today during the digital conference for its ninth edition Top Utility Analysis Attention towards gender equality, care given to diversity and inclusion: these issues are at the centre of the Hera Group’s strategies and corporate culture. This has been recognised among others by Top Utility, which today, during its digital conference, awarded to the Group first place in the Diversity category “for its efforts in making policies favouring diversity, inclusion and social responsibility”. Currently at its ninth edition, Top Utility analyses and valorises the changes made and performance shown by Italy’s 100 largest utilities on a yearly basis. Ranking as Top Utility in the Diversity category comes as recognition for the numerous initiatives introduced by the Hera Group, applied not only to its corporate culture but also to the management and development of its human resources. One example lies in the meritocratic systems planned and measured to be concrete applied, with compensation tools and benefits focused on performance, complexity in professional roles and market comparisons, regardless of characteristics involving gender or generation. The ensuing career paths see a growing percentage of women in roles of responsibility, now coming to roughly 30%. The attention given to these issues and the approach taken towards them by businesses is, furthermore, increasingly important for the international financial community, with investors showing growing interest towards listed companies with excellent policies in this area. For this reason as well, Hera has integrated these aspects within its Business plan, and provides transparent information on them each year in its sustainability report. “We are committed to making the Hera Group a place where everyone can feel ‘well’ and included”, remarks Susanna Zucchelli, Diversity Manager and Water Director at Hera. “A place where everyone knows they can make their own contribution to important projects that enrich the communities served, aiming at quality and favouring collaboration and communication. This is a company to which younger generations as well can look with interest as regards their future career. Receiving these recognitions gratifies us, motivates us and encourages us to do even better, to make our company a truly enabling party, developing and integrating these issues within the social fabric.” Hera’s leadership has also been recognised by other important awards. First and foremost, the Top Employer certification, achieved for the 12th consecutive year, confirming in 2021 as well the Hera Group’s top ranking overall in Italy. For years, furthermore, Hera has been included in the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index and is among the leading companies in the Refinitiv Diversity & Inclusion Index. Press release Top Utility 2021.pdf 2020-04-29 11:53:25 Top Utility Analysis
Online dal 24/02/2021 alle ore 11:53
22/02/2021
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Snam and Hera: kicking off a technological collaboration for hydrogen development

2021-02-22 Depuratore Gruppo Hera Snam and Hera announce that they have signed a Letter of Intent for a technological collaboration aimed at developing hydrogen, for their own areas of activity respectively. Depuratore Gruppo Hera The aim is to test and subsequently implement a number of solutions able to respond to the decarbonisation needs of the Emilia-Romagna region in a cross-cutting manner, from production to mobility to individual citizens. This agreement will also contribute to promote the development of renewable energies in Italy, in line with the guidelines set out by the European Union. The accord involves several areas of action, starting from the collaboration on power-to-gas technology. Specifically, an innovative plant is at an advanced stage of design at the Bologna Corticella multi-utility treatment plant, which will transform excess renewable electricity into “green” hydrogen to be injected into the networks by exploiting purified water and returning oxygen, biogas and sludge to the water purification process, thus obtaining a mutually beneficial “symbiosis” between the two plants, with an additional environmental benefit. In the industrial field, the two companies will also study the application of hydrogen for thermal uses in the most energy-intensive sectors and with processes that are difficult to electrify. Other options under study include the creation of plants to extract green hydrogen from water, using the renewable energy generated by the Hera Group’s waste-to-energy plants, with the aim of contributing to the decarbonisation of industrial sectors such as the production of fertilisers and fuels. Finally, the Letter of Intent provides for a possible joint experimentation of injecting a mixture of natural gas and hydrogen into a portion of Hera’s distribution network in Emilia-Romagna, similar to what Snam has already done on its own transmission network. At the heart of this experimentation is the gas network of Modena. “The agreement with Hera - Marco Alverà, CEO of Snam said - is part of the collaboration we are starting with energy and industrial companies to develop hydrogen-related technologies and implement projects in different areas of the Italian territory. Hydrogen will be a decisive element, together with electricity from renewable sources, to enable Europe to become the first continent with net zero emissions by 2050. Snam intends to contribute to this path, by providing its infrastructure, combined with its skills and innovation capacity, to create a national hydrogen supply chain capable of accelerating the path to decarbonisation and create new opportunities for development and employment.” “With this partnership we wish to concretely contribute to the development of the hydrogen option to pursue the carbon neutrality of the territories, consistent with the commitment to sustainable development that has always guided our actions. – Stefano Venier, CEO of the Hera Group commented - Signing this protocol is part of the strategy outlined in our 2024 Business Plan, which calls for numerous actions and investments for energy transition and environmental protection in line with European strategies and the objectives of the UN 2030 Agenda. Green gases, including hydrogen, are a particularly interesting frontier for us because we operate in several businesses: by making available our cross-sector expertise and our extensive infrastructure platform we can create innovative examples of carbon neutral circularity among supply chains.” This agreement is likely subject to subsequent binding agreements that the parties will define in compliance with the applicable regulatory profiles. Depuratore Gruppo Hera Press release Snam-Hera.pdf 2020-04-29 11:01:00 Depuratore Gruppo Hera
Online dal 22/02/2021 alle ore 11:01
08/02/2021
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Hera 2021 gold medal in S&P Global’s Sustainability Award

2021-02-08 The Group has received Gold Class status for ranking as "Industry leader" in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, one of the world's most authoritative stock market indices assessing ESG factors. Hera also given special mention as "Industry mover". Sede Hera The Hera Group has received a worldwide gold medal for social responsibility. S&P Global, indeed, has awarded the company its Gold Class 2021, the highest recognition reserved for companies included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), the authoritative international stock market index assessing the ESG factors of roughly 3,500 listed companied with the highest capitalisation globally. This prestigious result was released today with the publication of the Sustainability Yearbook 2021, a report that contains the results of analyses carried out for gaining access to the index last year, and the names of companies that achieved the highest sustainability scores. Following its inclusion in the FTSE MIB in 2019, Hera participated in the selection process for the DJSI and, in only 2 years, rapidly rose in the classification, being included in the World and European indices at the same time and ranking as "Industry leader", i.e. the best "Multi-utility and Water" in the world, with a score of 87/100, compared to a sector average coming to 45/100. Compared to the other companies assessed by the DJSI, Hera stood out in particular for its environmental and economic sustainability, and its governance. The Sustainability Yearbook 2021 gives particular emphasis to the significant results achieved by Hera in the areas identified as most challenging for its sector, such as resource management and protection, the ability to grasp market opportunities and relations with stakeholders. In addition to Gold Class status, Hera also received special mention as "Industry mover", that is, the company that recorded the most significant improvement, rising by no less than 19 points compared to the score of 68/100 in 2019. These recognitions provide further confirmation of the valid sustainability strategy pursued by Hera, which represents its fundamental approach, substantiated once again by its Business plan to 2024, presented to investors 20 days ago. In the Plan, operating and financial results are expected to improve continuously, with a solid cash generation and ESG targets to 2030. The Plan foresees investments and initiatives for energy and environmental transition and technological evolution, in line with European strategies and the UN's 2030 Agenda. The most significant challenges include the field of renewable energies and pursuing carbon neutrality. In particular, Hera aims to achieve ambitious goals in reduction, following the criteria of the "Science Based Target initiative" especially as regards "Well below 2°C", (intended to limit the increase in the Earth's temperature to significantly under 2°C). Among the numerous international recognitions going to the Group for its attention towards sustainability, also note Hera's inclusion in 2020 in the FTSE4Good Index Series, a set of ethical indices conceived by FTSE Russell to encourage investments in companies that meet strict criteria in the area of ESG. Not by chance, attention towards ESG factors is an increasingly central issue for investors as well, and was included by Hera in its mission as of 2002, the year of its establishment. Press release Hera Sustainability Yearbook.pdf 2020-01-24 12:50:00 Sede Hera
Online dal 08/02/2021 alle ore 12:50
04/02/2021
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Sustainable agriculture: Hera with Yara Italia and Sapio for green hydrogen

2021-02-04 Aimed at contributing to decarbonising the agriculture sector, Hera has signed a memorandum intended to study the feasibility of a project for generating and using green hydrogen, linked to a concrete goal: fuelling the fertiliser produced by Yara Italia, the leader in this industry. Sapio is also involved, for the technological aspects and hydrogen management Sede Hera In times of climate change, a transition in the agricultural transition is a challenge as urgent as it is complex, because it requires not only reducing high water consumption but also limiting the emissions involved in the many processes concerned by agriculture, both directly and indirectly. The fertiliser sector is unquestionably among these processes, and is the subject of the memorandum signed by the Hera Group – one of Italy’s largest multi-utilities – with Yara Italia, a leader in nitric and complex fertiliser production, and by Sapio, a leading figure in the field of technical and medical gases. The memorandum is intended to explore the possibility of increasing sustainability in the agriculture sector, by using green hydrogen. A plant able to produce up to 500 tons/year of green hydrogen Based on this agreement, Hera, Yara and Sapio will begin a coordinated series of analyses that, within the year’s end, will assess the technological, economic and regulatory feasibility of a concrete project for using renewable energy and developing the green hydrogen industry. The project covers green hydrogen generation, transportation and use to fuel fertiliser production. In particular, the experimental plant intended for generating hydrogen would use the renewable energy produced by Hera’s Ferrara WTE plant, to produce hydrogen from water and thus fuel Yara Italia’s nearby industrial facility, dedicated to fertiliser production. Scouting the plant technologies will be done by Sapio, who will also be responsible for further evaluations concerning the technical solutions through which Yara’s facility will be supplied. An annual green hydrogen production capacity coming to 500 tons is expected. Commitment to green energy at the centre of Hera’s strategies By signing this memorandum, the Hera Group has given new impetus, only a few weeks after the approval of its Business Plan to 2024, to its commitment towards innovation, renewable energy and carbon neutrality. In line with European strategies and the goals on the UN’s 2030 Agenda, the environmental content of the Plan calls for not only promoting a circular economy and intervening to increase infrastructure resilience, but also all actionsfor energy transition and the fight against climate change, which increasingly involve biomethane, hydrogen and green syngas. The Group’s investments in technological innovation are fundamental in this sense, essential in searching for sustainable solutions in the area of so-called “clean energies”. Hera has been working towards sustainability in the agriculture sector for some time, for example through a circular and resilient management of water that also involves various projects in regenerating water resources and reusing waste water. “Developing clean energy”, remarks Stefano Venier, Hera Group CEO, “necessarily involves periods of research that, following the spirit underlying this memorandum, consolidate the expectations of our most advanced projects. Furthermore, it is equally important to set out these projects in a concrete and sustainable way, to meet the needs of sectors such as agriculture, which still have a significant environmental impact in terms of resource consumption, from water to energy. A commitment to sustainability, in any case, has always been in our DNA, as is further proven by Hera’s recent inclusion in theDow Jones Sustainability Index, and our decision to voluntarily apply the recommendations of the “Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures” (TCFD) in our reporting as of the 2020 financial year. Our goal, reaffirmed in the Business Plan to 2024 as well, is to keep raising the bar, and forward-looking projects such as the one launched with Yara Italia and Sapio go precisely in this direction, exploring possibilities that, in a modular way, can be replicated elsewhere as well.” Yara Italia, the Italian branch of the Norwegian multinational Yara International ASA, a world leader in the fertiliser sector, has been successfully working for years to shape change as regards sustainability. Reducing CO2 emissions and water consumption, improving the environmental and energy sustainability of production processes and implementing regenerative solutions for soil that increase the effectiveness of fertiliser and thus reduce overuse, are at the top of the Group’s list of strategic priorities. Participating in this project is for Yara an additional, significant step in this direction. Sapio has maintained its vision of sustainability for almost a century, and is strongly committed to remaining at the forefront in developing and promoting the hydrogen sector, to allow Italy, which boasts an advantageous geographical position and important distribution networks, to become a European leader. Sapio, an active member of H2IT (the Italian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association) and the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance, covers all modalities of hydrogen production and distribution, through to its final applications, guaranteeing a high-quality offer with significant technological value. “Hydrogen is the future. And the future is now”, remarks the Chairman of the Sapio Group and the Associazione H2IT, Alberto Dossi. “We are witnessing an important historical moment, and it is equally important to collaborate with companies such as Hera and Yara. This example proves that this sector, in our country, is prepared to lead Italy to play a central role in the energy transition. We have both an industrial and a scientific mission, thanks to our relations with leading universities and research centres. To rise to the challenge of decarbonisation, the time has come to formulate a national strategy for hydrogen, that will allow us to reach the ambitious goals set out by the Ministry of Economic Development, which call for a usage of hydrogen coming to 20% within 2050.” Press release Sustainable agriculture Hera with Yara Italia and Sapio for green hydrogen.pdf 2020-01-24 10:51:00 Sede Hera
Online dal 04/02/2021 alle ore 10:51
27/01/2021
Hera Spa
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Hera Group part of the 2021 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index

2021-01-27 Once again, for the second consecutive year, Hera has been included in this index, which measures gender equality and the promotion of diversity and inclusion. The Hera Group pays close attention to gender equality and to promoting diversity and inclusion, and stands out in particular for its transparency in providing information on these issues and its harassment prevention and sanctioning policies. The Group has indeed been included this year as well - after becoming part of it for the first time in 2020 - in the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, which evaluates 11,700 companies worldwide committed to promoting and creating equal and inclusive workplaces. Diversity awareness is indeed an increasingly important issue for the international financial community, with investors showing growing interest towards listed companies with outstanding policies in this area. Hera's confirmation within the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index - achieving significant results, even compared to the average in the utility sector - bears witness to the quality of the path chosen by the Group, which over time has been enriched with new content and increased dimensions, involving a growing number of employees. Today, diversity valorisation policies are an integral part of the Group's strategy, and are also defined in its Business Plan to 2024. Promoting diversity, inclusion and people development is central in human resource management. At Hera, equality in access to development and professional growth is reached through meritocratic systems designed and calibrated to guarantee their own concrete application. The tools used include compensation and benefits focused on performance, the complexity of one's role and market comparisons, regardless of gender or generation, and career paths that see an increasing percentage of women with roles of responsibility, now coming to roughly 30%. Additional proof of the Group's attention towards these issues comes from the score obtained in the 2020 Refinitiv (previously Thomson Reuters) "Diversity & Inclusion Index", where Hera further improved its position, ranking as the 12th company in the world, 2nd in Italy and the leading multi-utility overall. In November 2020, moreover, Hera was defined as "Industry leader" and included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index World and Europe, one of the most authoritative stock market indices evaluating social responsibility, that brings together companies showing the best sustainability performances internationally. Press release Bloomberg Gender Equality Index.pdf 2015-11-12 13:22:00 GEIseal 2021_WHT_110x150.png
Online dal 27/01/2021 alle ore 13:22
25/01/2021
Hera Spa
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Hera a Top Employer for the 12th time

2021-01-25 Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano The Group, after gaining recognition as the best company in Italy in 2020, has once again obtained this certification of excellence in managing human resources. This comes as a reward for its strategy focused on people, with investments in welfare, training and diversity, with an organisation promoting agility in work and digitalisation. A company's workers are the true key to its success. The Hera Group knows this well, and continues to dedicate resources, attention and commitment to its team of over 9,000 employees. And the results are clear to all, as is shown by Top Employer, an international certification of excellence in human resource management, awarded to Hera in 2021 as well, for the 12th consecutive year. This recognition comes from the Holland-based Top Employer Institute, which carries out research on the quality of human resource management, examining over 1,600 businesses. Hera, recognised as the best company in 2020, has once again been certified as a Top Employer for its business strategies, in which attention towards human resources has always been fundamental, thanks to its best practices regarding welfare, working conditions, development and training, diversity and innovation. The Group, indeed, puts people at the centre of its policies, with processes designed from the outset to fit its employees and to increase and innovate their skills, guaranteeing paths in mobility and development and favouring self-learning. The Group also stands out for its organisational methods, which promote worker agility and digitalisation, with a smart working project launched in 2017 that created the bases to effectively face the emergency that struck our country, with no effect on service quality and efficiency, protecting at the same time the health and safety of its employees and customers. In 2020, Hera immediately introduced a range of measures that ensured it would remain close to its workers: from upgrading technological tools favouring collaboration and communication among employees, to redesigning training in order to meet new obligations concerning remote work, and setting in place a Covid-19 insurance policy for its employees, with all expenses covered by the company. Hera's most outstanding human resource policies include Hextra, the integrated corporate welfare plan intended for all Group employees, investments for which reached 4.5 million euro in 2020 alone. The Group also offers its employees campaigns aimed at awareness, prevention, cure, overall wellbeing and education. Hera has also confirmed its ranking among the leading Italian businesses that invest in their employees' personal and professional development, with 26 hours of training per capita each year and a total of roughly 236,000 hours provided, thanks to investments coming to approximately 2 million euro. In this area, a fundamental role is played by HerAcademy, the Group's corporate university that allows it to communicate with businesses and the main local institutions. Furthermore, through the Hera Educational set of initiatives, the Group constantly reinforces its role in the area served, consolidating its partnerships with various figures in the educational system. Lastly, a special focus goes to sustainability and guaranteeing equal opportunity, inclusion and diversity valorisation. This is proved by the Group's presence in the 2020 Refinitiv "Diversity & Inclusion Index" 2020 (formerly Thomson Reuters) and its entrance in the 2020 "Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index". In November 2020, as regards ESG factors, which also cover human resource management and development, Hera was recognised as "Industry leader" and included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index World and Europe, one of the most authoritative stock market indices evaluating social responsibility, which brings together the companies showing the best sustainability performances in the world. "We are proud to receive this certification in 2021 as well, which attests once again to the investments we make in human resources", states the Hera Group's Executive Chairman, Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano. "This recognition is all the more significant in a complex period such as the present, where we have proven our ability to react to difficulties and show resilience, obtaining quality in our results, aiming at sustainability and creating value for stakeholders and the area served. We have reached this goal thanks to the work done by all our employees, and we wish to continue investing in them, providing wellbeing, training and development, and offering the best possible working conditions within an inclusive and participative context". Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano Press release Hera a Top Employer for the 12th time.pdf 2015-11-12 10:41:00 top_employer_2021_110x150.1611570319.png
Online dal 25/01/2021 alle ore 10:41

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