Hera Group unveils FIB3R, a pioneering plant that regenerates carbon fibre
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The Consolidated Half-Year Financial Report as at 30 June reports a 16% increase in net profit and a 56% rise in investments, higher than in the previous period. The operational and financial soundness has been confirmed and the targets for the current year with regard to external growth have already been achieved in the first half. The results achieved at the end of June will enable the multi-utility to further enhance its infrastructure in the second half of the year and seize new development opportunities.

Economic and financial highlights
- Revenues adjusted* at €6,494.6 million (-3%)
- EBITDA adjusted* at €715.5 million (+7.5%)
- Net profit attributable to shareholders adjusted* at €227.6 million (+15.8%)
- Investments of €652.5 million, up 56%
- ROI adjusted* at 9.4% and ROE adjusted* at 10.9%
- Net financial position at €4,248.6 million, with a net debt/EBITDA ratio of 2.75x
The Hera Group's Board of Directors, chaired by Executive Chairman Cristian Fabbri, today approved the consolidated results as at 30 June 2026, which show a positive structural performance, with margins and net profit up compared to the same period of the previous year. The growth is even more significant if the results are compared with the first half of 2025 adjusted.
The results achieved highlight the Hera Group's ability to operate effectively even in a macroeconomic and geopolitical environment characterised by elements of uncertainty. The continuation of international tensions and the volatility of the energy markets did not affect operations, which recorded an improvement in gross margins and operating profit or loss compared to the first half of 2025, confirming the solidity of the business model and the constant generation of value.
The group’s business strategy, based on a balance between regulated and free-market activities, remains a key element for addressing the challenges anticipated for the remainder of 2026. The diversification of businesses and the ability to promptly seize the opportunities offered by the market make it possible to pursue the industrial growth and sustainability objectives defined by the Business Plan, confirming the solidity and flexibility of the Group's business model.
With reference to growth opportunities through M&A, during 2026 the multi-utility further strengthened its presence, especially in waste management, through the acquisitions of the Sostelia Group, one of Italy's leading operators specialising in industrial and civil water treatment technologies and services, and of control of Servizi Ecologici Ambientali (SEA), which operates a multifunctional special waste storage and treatment facility located in Camerata Picena (Ancona).
Cristian Fabbri, Executive Chairman of the Hera Group, stated:

"The results achieved by the Hera Group as at 30 June 2026 confirm the strong impetus for growth provided by the Business Plan. The more than 7% increase in EBITDA on a like-for-like basis compared with the first half of 2025, is supported by all business lines and highlights the strength of the business portfolio, despite a complex external environment. The acceleration in investments, which exceeded 650 million euro, up by more than 50% compared to 2025, testifies to the Group’s ability to continue its path of external growth through M&A and infrastructure development, as reflected by the fact that 65% of EBITDA is generated by infrastructure businesses, 44% of which are regulated. The significant increase in development capex, which exceeded 800 million euro over the last 18 months, is only partially reflected in the results achieved in the first half of the year and constitutes a visible reserve of value to support future growth. The increase in net profit, in line with analysts' estimates before the IRAP surcharge, and the 9.4% return on invested capital highlight the Group's consistent focus on value creation.”
Orazio Iacono, CEO of the Hera Group, stated:
“In the first half of 2026, the Group achieved further improved economic and financial results compared to the corresponding period in 2025, despite a macroeconomic environment characterised by persistent elements of uncertainty. Net profit attributable to shareholders amounted to 227.6 million euro, up 15.8% compared to the like-for-like figure for the first half of 2025. This trend confirms the Group's ability pursue growth and transferring it down to the bottom line of the P&L. The acceleration of investments, both organic and for the M&A of Sostelia and SEA, was supported by the solid operating cash flows, exceeding 700 million euro in the first half of 2026. The strength of the capital structure is confirmed by a net financial position/EBITDA ratio of 2.75x, a figure that also incorporates the effects of the annual dividend recent distribution and shows ample room to fund further growth opportunities."
Revenues adjusted at €6.5 billion
Revenues for the first half of the year amounted to €6,494.6 million, compared to €6,645.0 euro as at 30 June 2025, mainly due to the reduction in volumes in the last resort markets and Consip.
EBITDA adjusted up 7.5%
EBITDA as at 30 June 2026 stood at 715.5 million euro, up 7.5% compared with the first half of 2025 adjusted thanks to the contribution of all business areas. 65% of EBITDA adjusted is generated by the two infrastructure business areas, Networks and Waste.
EBIT adjusted rises
EBIT as at 30 June 2026 rose to 386.5 million euro, recording double-digit growth (+14.7%) when compared with the adjusted value for 2025. This result is due to normalised provisions, which offset higher depreciation and amortisation related to infrastructure growth.
Net profit attributable to shareholders adjusted up 15.8%
Despite the increase in the tax rate to 29.5%, compared with 29.0% in the first half of 2025, due to the increase in IRAP for the 2026-2027 period introduced by the Bollette Decree, adjusted net profit as at 30 June 2026 rose to €245.8 million, up 13.5%. Likewise, adjusted net profit attributable to the Group's shareholders increased to €227.6 million (+15.8%), compared with the adjusted result for the first half of 2025. Excluding the IRAP surcharge, net profit attributable to the Group's shareholders adjusted would amount to €232 million, in line with analysts' consensus estimates. All these results once again confirm value creation for all stakeholders, fully in line with the expectations set out in the Business Plan.
Investments up 56% and further strengthening of the Group's solidity
In terms of capital expenditures and investments, the Hera Group also recorded significant growth compared to the previous year, confirming its commitment to expanding infrastructure and strengthening the resilience of the assets under management, and to promoting technological evolution in support of the green and digital transition.
In particular, operating capital expenditures in the first half of 2026, including capital grants, rose to 510.5 million euro (+23.3%) compared to 414 million euro at 30 June 2025.
In addition to operating capital expenditures, there were investments for M&A relating to Sostelia and SEA amounting to 142 million euro.
The net financial position stood at 4,248.6 million euro, up from 3,944.4 million euro as at 31 December 2025, with a net debt/EBITDA ratio of 2.75x, confirming the financial strength and flexibility of the multi-utility, which will be able to continue to seize further growth opportunities, both organic and through M&A.
Sustainability: shared-value EBITDA is growing, reaching almost 60% of the total
In the first six months of the year, shared-value EBITDA, relating to business activities that also contribute to the objectives of the Global Agenda, rose to 435 million euro, accounting for 59.9% of total EBITDA, up one percentage point compared with the same period in 2025.
The Hera Group has continued to work intensively to combine its growth strategies with the generation of value in the medium and long term, as confirmed by the numerous milestones achieved: from the inclusion of Hera’s stock in the FTSE4Good Index Series for the seventh consecutive year, for its active commitment to sustainable development, to first place in the ESG Identity Corporate Index 2026, obtained for the integration of ESG factors into its strategy, governance and corporate culture.
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* To provide a clearer view of the Group's underlying performance, the "Adjusted" figures include certain adjustments to the 2025 and 2026 reported results, as shown in the table attached. For further details, please refer to the section "Reconciliation of special items with the financial statements" in the Half-Year Financial Report.
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Hera Group unveils FIB3R, a pioneering plant that regenerates carbon fibre
Innovation and performance define the first plant of this kind in Europe to operate on an industrial scale, built in Imola to recycle carbon fibre composites while reducing environmental impact

The Hera Group is moving swiftly towards the circular economy of the future and has inaugurated, in Imola (Bologna), the first plant of its kind in Europe, capable of regenerating carbon fibre on an industrial scale. It is called FIB3R, a name that reflects the 3 R's that stand at the basis of the project: recover, reduce, reuse. Carbon fibre is thus recovered and reused, reducing the use of virgin fibre and therefore the environmental impact that would be required to produce it.
There is one important competitive advantage: the fibre regenerated from FIB3R retains the virgin fibre’s characteristic lightness and high strength, guaranteeing - through a state-of-the-art pyrogasification process - that the regenerated product is ready to be reused, rewoven and/or impregnated, for the high-performance purposes for which this type of material is intended. The number of industrial sectors interested in these outstanding features is increasing, ranging from automotive to aerospace, nautical, furniture, textiles and fashion in the broadest sense, only to give a few examples.
The Hera Group’s commitment to advancing the ecological transition, as well as the expected increase in demand for carbon fibre over the next few years, have led it to anticipate this megatrend, accepting the challenge of applying it to this material as well, on an industrial scale. This will reinforce the virtuous path towards the circular economy that has been the basis of its strategy for years, combining economic growth with environmental sustainability. This path is the right one, as confirmed by the interest of the European Union, which has allocated FIB3R financing coming to more than 2.2 million euro as part of NextGenerationEU for its innovative technology and the strategic importance of the materials processed. The total investment planned by the Hera Group to build the Imola plant amounts to 8 million euro.
At present, the plant is expected to produce 160 tonnes of recycled carbon fibre each year, with energy savings coming to 75% compared to virgin fibre.
“FIB3R is the first plant of its kind in Europe able to recycle carbon fibre. It is aimed at promoting short and circular supply chains, in line with the strategy of making our served areas more competitive and resilient,” states Orazio Iacono, CEO of the Hera Group. “FIB3R is also a concrete example of how the Hera Group is able to combine technological innovation and sustainability, by exploiting the cross fertilisation between the advanced skills of the Group’s various sectors. Recovering carbon fibre not only reduces the environmental impact of this waste, but also creates new market opportunities in strategic industrial sectors. Investing in this kind of circular infrastructure increases the resilience of production chains, reduces dependence on imports of critical raw materials and, at the same time, creates value through sustainable business models. With over 100 advanced plants and 5 new facilities under construction, we have consolidated our country’s largest and most modern set of plants for material treatment and recovery, strengthening our role as a reference operator in the sector and a driving force for the circular economy in Italy. Our Business Plan confirms this strategy, with 2 billion euro in investments for 2024-2028 destined for regenerating resources, a commitment intended to generate value for all our stakeholders.”
The inauguration of the FIB3R plant within the Group’s main facility in Imola, near Bologna, offered a chance to engage in a debate on the future of carbon fibre, combining innovation and sustainability. After the institutional welcome given by Marco Panieri, Mayor of Imola, and Irene Priolo, Councillor for the Environment, Local Planning, Mobility and Transport and Infrastructures of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Herambiente CEO Andrea Ramonda opened the event. This event saw the participation of important representatives of the industrial and academic communities: Davide Abate, Ferrari’s Chief Technologies and Infrastructures Officer; Roberto Frassine, Chairman of Assocompositi; Loris Giorgini, Director of the Department of Industrial Chemistry at the University of Bologna; Raffaella Luglini, Chief Sustainability Officer Leonardo; Horacio Pagani, Founder of Pagani Automobili; Andrea Rangone, Full Professor of Entrepreneurship and Digital Business Innovation at the Milan Politecnico; Ferruccio Resta, Chairman of the Fondazione Bruno Kessler FBK. The meeting came to a conclusion with a contribution by Orazio Iacono, CEO of the Hera Group.
For further information
Find out more on FIB3R webpage
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